Ten things to do while waiting forever for soap to trace
1. Stare blankly out of the window (I did this a lot).
2. Gyrate your hips at the same speed/direction as the whisk for a lower back workout. (Warning: if you do this for a few minutes, it feels really weird when you stop .)
3. Wonder if that itch on your cheek is just an itch or a splash of caustic soap which will burn your entire face off. Itch or disfiguring splash? ITCH OR DISFIGURING FACE BURNING SPLASH?!! Oh, itch.
4. Look up “mixture not tracing” in the troubleshooting section of your soap making book and in a spate of paranoia, decide it’s all those problems together, even the ones that directly contradict each other and also worry that even though the itch on your cheek has stopped, perhaps it’s slowly melting YOUR ENTIRE SKULL.
5. Grow concerned for your mental state.
6. Have a cup of tea to calm down.
7. Think it’s finally tracing because it’s getting harder to stir, then realise no, it’s not tracing, it’s just your arm is getting really, really tired.
8. Wonder if it’ll ever trace. Ever, ever, ever.
9. Decide this is boring and a ballache and should never be attempted again.
10. Decide that once it’s reached trace and is poured into molds to take the dog for a walk and while you’re out go to Netto to buy more oil so you can started another batch this afternoon (I like grinding new skills – ie trying them multiple times in quick succession).
It’s been a long day.
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Taking Stock – May 2015
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Making a little more progress at the allotment
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Allotment, end of round 1 (ding ding)
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Yay, allotment!
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Taking stock – June 2014
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Do it better
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Stitching etc tips from the Knitting & Stitching Show
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No Spend November
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My winter to-do list 2013
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Taking stock: a ‘what I’m up to in my absence’ meme
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Plummy solid square crochet blanket
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Attack of the Crochet Claw
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My low-spend '11: buy less than 12 items of clothing in 2011
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Cold smoking cheese - taste testing the first batch
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Using up the glut: Marrow cake recipe
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How I line dry clothes in winter: my top five tips
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Spicy marrow chutney recipe
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Washing in winter: ideas for reducing laundry?
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Foraging for wild food: do you forage near roads?
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Your favourite fiction books with simple living characters/themes?
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How I spent my Tuesday afternoon
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We *heart* books too (warning: picture heavy post!)
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Portion control
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Baking things that'll last
I know this was all pretty stressful at the time but if it is any compensation it gave me a good laugh just now when I read it. I hope there are no holes in your skull though. :lol:
Glad you found it funny :) And the only holes in my skull are the ones that are supposed to be there :)
very funny!
my books say that sometimes it can take over an hour before you reach trace.
I wish it took an hour! The olive oil was closer to three! (I stirred constantly for about an hour and half, then regularly every five/tens mins or so after that.)
I think it was a combination of starting the olive oil at too low temperature – and just using all olive oil. Definitely something to review in the future.
Super funny!
If you are going to continue soap making (and you should!) get a stick blender! They are a Godsend to your mental state. Trace happens much more quickly with one of these lovelies!
At the (incredibly slow) rate that we’re getting through the stuff I made back in February, I don’t think I’ll have to make any more for quite a while – but I’m definitely going to look for a cheap stick blender before then!