A Soapy Situation

Hi,

It's been a long while since I posted here. I'm still writing, but recently I rediscovered my love of crafts. I have many hobbies and I added to the list about six months ago. I was watching a segment of Home and Family on the Hallmark Channel. They had a woman on who made soap. After I finished viewing the segment, I thought, "I can do that."

So I started getting the equipment and ingredients, most of them are sold in the grocery or hardware store. After watching a large number of YouTube videos, I took the plunge and made my first batch.

They smell like lemon and I love them. I've made several batches since then. This week, with having to stay inside as much as possible, I made two batches.

This one is called the Taiwan Swirl. Mine doesn't look like the videos I watched, but it's close and I'm proud of it. Doesn't it look good enough to eat? The scent I used is called Seventh Heaven and they do smell heavenly.

After the Taiwan swirl, I kept thinking of another video I'd watched and decided to try to duplicate the technique. I got pretty close. The colors aren't what I expected, but I love them. They remind me of a Mexican Festival. Their scent is Cotton Candy. Can't you just smell it in the air and remember all the carnivals and theme parks you went to?

What are you doing while you spend many hours indoors?

Enjoy.

Shirley

SPOOKED: A Halloween Dinner

With Halloween just around the corner I went a little overboard this year. While I don't have anyone to take out on the 31st and most of the kids in my neighborhood have grown up and are either in or out of college, the need to decorate should be low on the To Do List.

But it isn't.  I dug out the black plates and the holiday took on a life of it's own.

I started with a napkin. While seeing some of Halloween commercials, I thought about the witches hat and during a long commercial break, I went and got the black napkins and folded one, then another and another until I had enough for the entire table.

Now it was time to go to the store and I found all these wonderful decorations on sale.  The witches hat, needed a pumpkin spray.  This is what I found.

I already had the black plates and the white china.  The placements were hard to find in the number I needed, but eventually I prevailed.

 And how could have set a Halloween table without skulls.  These guys jumped out and I was forced to take them home.

Just a couple more, I said.  At night the candles in the house turn the room to an eerie orange glow.

And finally we were ready for the food.

We're planning to have dinner here on Halloween.  The menu is still under discussion.  Hope you enjoy your time to dress up and collect candy.