Newbie questions

[Guest guest]

Marcia,

Welcome to the insanity, um, no I mean the addiction, um, no, must be, thats

right--SOAPING!!!

Congrats on your first batch. Fun isnt it???

There are several sites that delineate plans for a soap cutter. The easiest is

to buy a plastic mitre box and a putty knife from Wally World. Less than $10.

Works well too.

Soap, stored properly, will last indefinitely. I store mine in plastic sweater

boxes. It needs to be clean, dry & out of sunlight.

Lye can be purchased at some hardware stores like Menards. Try to locate a local

chemical vendor. Take him/her a bar of your soap and see if you can order in

bulk. I buy 50# of lye in big bags. If you cannot find a local vendor--look

online at Boyer Corp. They will ship to you. They are VERY nice to work with.

The lingo is easy to learn. It will come eventually. Just ask if it doesnt seem

too obvious.

HTH

Happpy Soappping

Sandy

Newbie questions

Hi there. My name is Marcia. I live in upstate NY. I made my first batch

of real soap last week. It was soooo exciting. It was lavender CP soap. It

came out so nice and smells so pretty. I also made some MP soap that I

colored with a piece of pink crayon, added rose scent and put 10 little

roses in

a long half circle mold. When it was hard I cut it into 10 slices. They

came out so pretty. They are for my great nieces that are from 7-13 years

old.

I have a couple of questions that I could use answers for. I had to stir the

soap for over 3 hours when the instructions said about 2 hours or to trace.

Since I've never seen " trace " before, I had to kind of guess when this

happened. It took over 3 hours of stirring. Did I stir too slow or

something? I

also noticed people on the list talking about stick blenders which cut down

considerabley on the stirring time. What brands to people use? Do they have

to be the expensive ones, or could I use the $20 variety. Also, does anyone

have written plans for soap cutters. I did it by hand, but I am toying

with the idea of making this more than a hobby and selling soap at our

local

farmer's market next summer. How far ahead can I make the soap before

selling it? If I made it this winter, like Jan - March would it still keep

its

scent in July-September? I love this list and I have learned so much from

reading the posts. I have to figure out some of the lingo that you all use,

but I

think I will eventually. Also, where is a more inexpensive website to order

soapmaking supplies? Can people buy lye locally, or does it have to be

ordered. I used to see Red Devil Lye in our stores, but now that I want to

buy

it, I can't seem to find it, even in hardware stores that carry plumbing

supplies. Any suggestions? I would really appreciate the help. Thanks in

advance. Marcia

[Guest guest]

Marcia,

Welcome to the insanity, um, no I mean the addiction, um, no, must be, thats

right--SOAPING!!!

Congrats on your first batch. Fun isnt it???

There are several sites that delineate plans for a soap cutter. The easiest is

to buy a plastic mitre box and a putty knife from Wally World. Less than $10.

Works well too.

Soap, stored properly, will last indefinitely. I store mine in plastic sweater

boxes. It needs to be clean, dry & out of sunlight.

Lye can be purchased at some hardware stores like Menards. Try to locate a local

chemical vendor. Take him/her a bar of your soap and see if you can order in

bulk. I buy 50# of lye in big bags. If you cannot find a local vendor--look

online at Boyer Corp. They will ship to you. They are VERY nice to work with.

The lingo is easy to learn. It will come eventually. Just ask if it doesnt seem

too obvious.

HTH

Happpy Soappping

Sandy

Newbie questions

Hi there. My name is Marcia. I live in upstate NY. I made my first batch

of real soap last week. It was soooo exciting. It was lavender CP soap. It

came out so nice and smells so pretty. I also made some MP soap that I

colored with a piece of pink crayon, added rose scent and put 10 little

roses in

a long half circle mold. When it was hard I cut it into 10 slices. They

came out so pretty. They are for my great nieces that are from 7-13 years

old.

I have a couple of questions that I could use answers for. I had to stir the

soap for over 3 hours when the instructions said about 2 hours or to trace.

Since I've never seen " trace " before, I had to kind of guess when this

happened. It took over 3 hours of stirring. Did I stir too slow or

something? I

also noticed people on the list talking about stick blenders which cut down

considerabley on the stirring time. What brands to people use? Do they have

to be the expensive ones, or could I use the $20 variety. Also, does anyone

have written plans for soap cutters. I did it by hand, but I am toying

with the idea of making this more than a hobby and selling soap at our

local

farmer's market next summer. How far ahead can I make the soap before

selling it? If I made it this winter, like Jan - March would it still keep

its

scent in July-September? I love this list and I have learned so much from

reading the posts. I have to figure out some of the lingo that you all use,

but I

think I will eventually. Also, where is a more inexpensive website to order

soapmaking supplies? Can people buy lye locally, or does it have to be

ordered. I used to see Red Devil Lye in our stores, but now that I want to

buy

it, I can't seem to find it, even in hardware stores that carry plumbing

supplies. Any suggestions? I would really appreciate the help. Thanks in

advance. Marcia

[Guest guest]

I also set my

> timer for 20 min. and then put a layer of plastic (saran wrap)

over the soap to

> eliminate soda ash.

, do you set the timer for 20 min because that's all the time

you need to leave the plastic on to prevent the soda ash?

I didn't know that. When I do it, I leave it on till I unmold the

next day.

[Guest guest]

I also set my

> timer for 20 min. and then put a layer of plastic (saran wrap)

over the soap to

> eliminate soda ash.

, do you set the timer for 20 min because that's all the time

you need to leave the plastic on to prevent the soda ash?

I didn't know that. When I do it, I leave it on till I unmold the

next day.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/2004 7:41:19 AM Eastern Standard Time,

joyces0@... writes:

, do you set the timer for 20 min because that's all the time

you need to leave the plastic on to prevent the soda ash?

I didn't know that. When I do it, I leave it on till I unmold the

next day.

Noooooooooo, I pour the soap, then wait 20 min. to put the plastic on the

soap (that's already in the mold) - the soap has some time to harden up a bit,

and it cuts way down on the wrinkles caused by putting down the plastic on

really soft soap. Then I leave it on until it's unmolded.

Clear as mud??

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/29/2004 2:17:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,

joyces0@... writes:

Clear as mud??

Yup! Got it! Thanx, that's a good idea, although I don't run into

much soda ash for some reason - even not doing anything..I still

like to cover it sometimes. I wonder why it happens sometimes, and

sometimes not?

You are lucky. If I don't cover mine, I do get soda ash. (tried it with

individual mold) - I think it has to do with the oils you use in your formula.

I use coconut, palm and olive. Someone else might use Bassu Oil, or Palm

Kernal and not het ash. It would be an interesting query.

BTW, I'm leaving for Jamacia in the AM, so will be going to no mail for a

few.

Cheers

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/29/2004 2:17:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,

joyces0@... writes:

Clear as mud??

Yup! Got it! Thanx, that's a good idea, although I don't run into

much soda ash for some reason - even not doing anything..I still

like to cover it sometimes. I wonder why it happens sometimes, and

sometimes not?

You are lucky. If I don't cover mine, I do get soda ash. (tried it with

individual mold) - I think it has to do with the oils you use in your formula.

I use coconut, palm and olive. Someone else might use Bassu Oil, or Palm

Kernal and not het ash. It would be an interesting query.

BTW, I'm leaving for Jamacia in the AM, so will be going to no mail for a

few.

Cheers

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/29/2004 2:17:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,

joyces0@... writes:

Clear as mud??

Yup! Got it! Thanx, that's a good idea, although I don't run into

much soda ash for some reason - even not doing anything..I still

like to cover it sometimes. I wonder why it happens sometimes, and

sometimes not?

You are lucky. If I don't cover mine, I do get soda ash. (tried it with

individual mold) - I think it has to do with the oils you use in your formula.

I use coconut, palm and olive. Someone else might use Bassu Oil, or Palm

Kernal and not het ash. It would be an interesting query.

BTW, I'm leaving for Jamacia in the AM, so will be going to no mail for a

few.

Cheers

[Guest guest]

Clear as mud??

Yup! Got it! Thanx, that's a good idea, although I don't run into

much soda ash for some reason - even not doing anything..I still

like to cover it sometimes. I wonder why it happens sometimes, and

sometimes not?

[Guest guest]

Yup, and why does it happen just over certain FOs or certain

colors??????????????????

Inquiring minds...

Sandy

Re: Newbie questions

Clear as mud??

Yup! Got it! Thanx, that's a good idea, although I don't run into

much soda ash for some reason - even not doing anything..I still

like to cover it sometimes. I wonder why it happens sometimes, and

sometimes not?

[Guest guest]

Yup, and why does it happen just over certain FOs or certain

colors??????????????????

Inquiring minds...

Sandy

Re: Newbie questions

Clear as mud??

Yup! Got it! Thanx, that's a good idea, although I don't run into

much soda ash for some reason - even not doing anything..I still

like to cover it sometimes. I wonder why it happens sometimes, and

sometimes not?

[Guest guest]

Yup, and why does it happen just over certain FOs or certain

colors??????????????????

Inquiring minds...

Sandy

Re: Newbie questions

Clear as mud??

Yup! Got it! Thanx, that's a good idea, although I don't run into

much soda ash for some reason - even not doing anything..I still

like to cover it sometimes. I wonder why it happens sometimes, and

sometimes not?

[Guest guest]

Jamaica! Sheesh, must be nice. It's cold and rainy, and I think it

wants to snow or something here in Oregon! Have a good time for all

of us! I'm up to my a..... in getting ready for the annual bazaar

THIS FRIDAY!!! My house looks like a cyclone hit it! (what's new) My

pets and child are neglected. And I have 20 more things I want to do

before the big day. All this for one day! Every year, I say I'm not

gonna do it, I have too much else going on, then on the very last

cut-off day, there I am, handing in my app. in person.

Maybe I don't get ash because I do mine by blender. I most often use

coconut palm and olive as the recipe. I dunno......?

>

>

> If I don't cover mine, I do get soda ash. (tried it with

> individual mold) - I think it has to do with the oils you use in

your formula.

>

> I use coconut, palm and olive. Someone else might use Bassu Oil,

or Palm

> Kernal and not het ash. It would be an interesting query.

>

> BTW, I'm leaving for Jamacia in the AM, so will be going to no

mail for a

> few.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jamaica! Sheesh, must be nice. It's cold and rainy, and I think it

wants to snow or something here in Oregon! Have a good time for all

of us! I'm up to my a..... in getting ready for the annual bazaar

THIS FRIDAY!!! My house looks like a cyclone hit it! (what's new) My

pets and child are neglected. And I have 20 more things I want to do

before the big day. All this for one day! Every year, I say I'm not

gonna do it, I have too much else going on, then on the very last

cut-off day, there I am, handing in my app. in person.

Maybe I don't get ash because I do mine by blender. I most often use

coconut palm and olive as the recipe. I dunno......?

>

>

> If I don't cover mine, I do get soda ash. (tried it with

> individual mold) - I think it has to do with the oils you use in

your formula.

>

> I use coconut, palm and olive. Someone else might use Bassu Oil,

or Palm

> Kernal and not het ash. It would be an interesting query.

>

> BTW, I'm leaving for Jamacia in the AM, so will be going to no

mail for a

> few.

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Yup, and why does it happen just over certain FOs or certain

colors??????????????????

> Inquiring minds...

> Sandy

>

I know! Oh, well, gives us an excuse to rub it around in our hands

and lather it, and smell it and feel it while we wash it off. Hand

made soap has such a smooth, cool and creamy feeling to it.

[Guest guest]

A girl after my own heart...

Yesterday my sis asked me if I had tried such & such soap-I looked her square in

the eye and said, " just how many bars do you think will fit around my tub? " She

just laughed. I continue to buy and make more soap. Only one body to wash-no

matter have much real estate it covers!!!!

Sandy

>>>I know! Oh, well, gives us an excuse to rub it around in our hands

and lather it, and smell it and feel it while we wash it off. <<<

[Guest guest]

Only one body to wash-no matter how much real estate it covers!!!!

> Sandy

i know! it's like lamenting the size of your stomach at your

favorite chinese food buffet! plus with the fever pitch of

creativity and such a backlog of intreging(sp i know there's a u in

there someplace, but it's placement escapes me at the moment)

recipes to try, who even has time for a whole bath? very clean

hands, tho!

[Guest guest]

>>>very clean

hands, tho!<<<<

Yes, Joyce, I have Very clean hands. I love to wash my hands--good thing--I

am a nurse! I prefer washing to that nasty alcohol stuff!!! eewwww!!

Sandy

[Guest guest]

keep everything sterile.

kevin

http://www.essenceprovence.com

sandy wrote:

>>>very clean

hands, tho!<<<<

Yes, Joyce, I have Very clean hands. I love to wash my hands--good thing--I

am a nurse! I prefer washing to that nasty alcohol stuff!!! eewwww!!

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hello Dion,

What you describe could definitely be SMA. One way to tell for sure

is a blood test. The defected gene that causes SMA is known,

therefore, it can be identified via testing.

I was given the prognosis of SMA Type II myself when I was about 2-

3. But it wasn't until I was in college that some doctor made the

decision that he wanted to know for sure, so I had the blood test

done at that time. Which confirmed SMA.

Type I, II, III etc. are just useful categorizations of the disease,

but are not different diseases. The progression of the disease varies

greatly by person as well.

> Greetings!

>

> I am a sufferer of what I suspect is SMA II. I've never been

formally

> diagnosed with this, however, so if anyone out there could answer

my

> questions, it'd be appreciated...

>

> 1. I was born " floppy " and could never walk. I could crawl,

shuffle on

> my knees, roll over, and sit unassisted until about the age of

eight

> (when I had a three-month hospital stay). Is this all consistent

with

> SMA II?

>

> 2. In hospital (at age eight), I was given a test where needles

sending

> electric pulses to the muscles were used on my arms and legs.

(This was

> in 1986.) We were only told, " The signal from the brain telling

the

> muscles to grow is stopping on the spine. " Would that be a

suitable

> oversimplification of SMA?

>

> I've spent most of my life thinking I had a unique condition.

There's a

> whole rant there, but I'll save that for another day.

>

> --

> Dion C. Detterer

> Writer, philosopher, genius

> Email: dion@t...

> Blog: http://thewhimwham.com/

[Guest guest]

Dion C. Detterer wrote:

>In hospital (at age eight), I was given a test where needles sending

>electric pulses to the muscles were used on my arms and legs. (This was

>in 1986.)

>

That sounds very similar to the test they gave me in the 70s to diagnose

me. At least I've been told that is what the test consisted of. I was

only 2 at the time so I don't really remember myself.

Jenn

[Guest guest]

Hi Dion,

Everyone is a bit different, but your experience is quite similar to mine,

including the EEG test. I also have type 2. I wasn't floppy 'til 10 months

old, but my niece who also has type 2 was floppy from birth.

--

Alana R. Theriault

alrt@...

Berkeley, CA, USA - Age 39, SMA II

Messenger - althegrrl

AIM IM - althegrrl

[Guest guest]

Good explanation, Taya.

Taija Heinonen KOTI wrote:

> Hi Dion,

>

> I have SMA type II.

>

> Question 1. Yes, your physical abilities are consistent with SMA type

> II. Type I's usually cannot sit unaided while type III's have usually

> walked a little somewhere during their life. But - the classification

> into different types is, in actual fact, very artificial, since there

> is a continuum of people with SMA - ranging from babies who die well

> before their first birthday to people who have their first symptoms in

> adolescence. Scientists have made the classification into different

> types in order to make some sense of the chaos.

>

> Question 2. Yes and no. When a person decides to move their leg, for

> instance, the command to move the leg starts from the brain, then goes

> down through nerve connections until the spine, then on from the spine

> through another nerve connection to the muscle which then actually

> makes the desired movement in the leg (or hand, or arm, or trunk or

> wherever...). In SMA, this chain of command stops in the spine - for

> some reason which is not yet known. So the command never reaches the

> muscles in the leg and the leg does not move. Because the leg muscles

> do not receive any commands for action, in time they deteriorate

> (atrophy). The muscles are not excercised so they are gradually

> replaced by fatty tissue. So, the signal from the spine IS stopping in

> the spine, which leads to inaction in the muscle, which then leads to

> the muscles not growing but rather wasting away. Your explanation was

> correct, but there was one step missing.

>

> Each muscle has many nerve connections and not all of these die

> simultaneously. So, first, the number of nerve connections just

> diminishes but does not disappear completely. The body tries to

> compensate for the lost connections by making the remaining ones work

> harder. For a time, this process is able to slow down the process of

> deterioration. Eventually, however, the remaining connections have

> overworked themselves and they also die. When all the nerve

> connections of a given muscle are lost, then the entire muscle becomes

> replaced by fatty tissue. That is when we notice some weakening.

>

> For this reason, using the muscles that are still left is important.

> That helps to keep the compensation process going. But - it is a

> tricky balance. If you overuse the remaining connections, they will

> die sooner, because they overwork. So too much excercise accelerates

> the process of deterioriation. What is the right amount of excercise

> then? Your body is the best expert in this. Use your muscles until it

> no longer feels good. For as long as the excercise feels good, you are

> probably doing the right thing. But if you feel any pain, ache or

> discomfort, it is time to take a break and try again later.

>

> Hope this helps

>

> Taya

[Guest guest]

Well, it all sounds like a definite likelihood that I have SMA. The

next step is to test for it genetically -- I have two half-brothers who

need to know about this in particular.

I really wish I was given a name for this condition 19 years ago.

There's something reassuring about there being a body of knowledge about

my own condition, and we could have used it in the past. Even having a

name, though, is empowering.

I'll be seeing my GP on Wed. I'll ask about the test then.

Thank you for the great replies. Assuming my test is positive, I'll be

sticking around.

--

Dion C. Detterer

Writer, philosopher, genius

Email: dion@...

Blog: http://thewhimwham.com/

[Guest guest]

Oops...I meant EMG.

Those Two wrote:

> Hi Dion,

>

> It sounds like you had a EGM. What diagnosis did they give you? I was

> correctly diagnosed with sma II after an EMG in about 1970. Seems like

> they could gave a some kind of diagnosis as they put you through that

> dreaded test.

>

> Lori

>

>

> Dion C. Detterer wrote:

>

> > Greetings!

> >

> > I am a sufferer of what I suspect is SMA II. I've never been formally

> > diagnosed with this, however, so if anyone out there could answer my

> > questions, it'd be appreciated...

> >

> > 1. I was born " floppy " and could never walk. I could crawl, shuffle on

> > my knees, roll over, and sit unassisted until about the age of eight

> > (when I had a three-month hospital stay). Is this all consistent with

> > SMA II?

> >

> > 2. In hospital (at age eight), I was given a test where needles sending

> > electric pulses to the muscles were used on my arms and legs. (This was

> > in 1986.) We were only told, " The signal from the brain telling the

> > muscles to grow is stopping on the spine. " Would that be a suitable

> > oversimplification of SMA?

> >

> > I've spent most of my life thinking I had a unique condition. There's a

> > whole rant there, but I'll save that for another day.

> >

> > --

> > Dion C. Detterer

> > Writer, philosopher, genius

> > Email: dion@...

> > Blog: http://thewhimwham.com/

> >