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Mold

6/29/2013

Well this is not good! I was glad to see that the mold was black, though, because it was easy to see. This batch is less than a month old and I realize now should have been refrigerated. I made a study of black mold because I learned to fear it in my construction days. Based on my research (Center for Disease Control), however, all molds, even black molds, are common. The green-black mold that created such a scare several years ago has still not been linked by research to severe health effects in most people. But lets face it, unless it's in cheese, we just don't like mold.

I'm currently researching preservatives. Unfortunately, I've been trying to stay away from preservatives as manufactured chemicals - but I'd be foolish to stick up my nose at something that will reduce any health benefits of my products.

So for those of you who, like me, are learning how to make your own lotions and creams, here is a list of possible preservatives:

1. Tea Tree Oil - I've used this with great success, though it has a very strong odor. Tea Tree is a natural antiseptic and excellent for healing anyway. A jar of cream I made two months ago using Tea Tree Oil is still clear of contamination.
2. Honeysuckle Blend - Haven't tried it but I know that honeysuckle is also an antiseptic.
3. Benzylalchohol or DHA - a form of sorbic acid found in many plants including jasmine, hyacinth and ylang-ylang.
4. Caprylyl Glycol or EHG- inhibits both bacteria and fungis, is also a skin moisturizer.
5. EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a carboxylic Acid, colorless and water soluable
6. Paraben or DU - widely used in cosmetic and mostly nontoxic, though there is some question as to a connection to breast cancer. Some alergic reactions. Can be found naturally in grapefruit seeds.
7. Caprylic Acid - fatty acid. Depending on the type, this may have a strong odor and is what makes vinegar and rancid butter smell. However, it may also have a pleasant smell and is often used in perfumes.
8. Phenoxythanol SA - widely used as a substitute for formaldehyde preservatives, you'll find it in personal care products as it inhibits bacteria. Can be toxic to children if ingested.
9. Potassium Sorbate - a type of salt that can be found naturally in certain berries. It's used frequently in preserving wines, foods and cosmetics and inhibits molds. It has been used as a substitute for the more controversial Parabens, but it can be irritating to skin and eyes.

It's recommended you add two ingredients together to get a "broad spectrum" preservative, meaning it works against both fungi and bacteria.

Well, that's enough research for today. I need to get to writing. BUT, I can see I'm going to have to bone up on chemistry!

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Tribute to the real Alfy

6/28/2013

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Squeaky and Alfy - Best friends

I wanted to write about Alfy, a special cat on which I based one of my book's character. Then I found this memorial to him which I wrote shortly after his death. I was distraught and writing him into my story seemed to give me comfort. Now that I want to include stories of amazing cats on my website, it seemed the perfect place to publish this. Thanks for your indulgence.

IN MEMORY OF ALFRED (ALFY)

Too often we dismiss the death of a pet as a minor event, not sharing our grief because we hold animals to be somehow less important than man. But they are fellow souls that contribute richness to the world. They are devoted companions that can mean as much to us as our fellow humans.

Alfy saved my life. He was an extraordinary cat. He woke me each morning at 4:49, a minute before my alarm clock. Even day light savings changes only threw him for a day or two. He was absolutely dependable. Then one morning he woke me two hours early and refused to let me fall back to sleep. At his insistence, I roused enough to smell the faintest hint of smoke in the air. I tried to dismiss it as my roommate sneaking another cigarette on the porch, but Alfy would have none of my sleepy carelessness.

When I rose to investigate, I found a small fire on the porch. A careless cigarette had ignited a pot of discarded butts and the resulting fire had melted the container, spreading the flames across the concrete toward the house. The growing pool of burning plastic had already consumed yard tools and debris. As I looked, the flames were starting on a table leaning against the house. It took me fifteen minutes to douse the fire. Plastic is oil based and seemed to reignite even as I poured water over the traveling mass. I have often wondered how long it would have taken before it burned the house, had Alfy not insisted I get up early that morning.

Alfy was critical in our rescue of a small, injured, orphaned kitten we named Squeaky. Squeaky was barely alive for days after his surgeries to repair a large gash on his leg. Alfy tenderly nursed him back to health, cleaning his fur, coaxing him to eat, playing gently with him, and watching over him. As Squeaky grew they became best friends, and romped through the house together for the next several years.

Alfy coaxed me back to health, too, as my marriage ended. He stayed by my side through my divorce and my forced move to a new city. His natural affection soothed my many tears and made me chuckle, even as I mourned the loss of my dreams. He greeted me at the door each time I came home and nuzzled his way into my arms as I fell exhausted onto the couch after work. I fell asleep each night to the sound of his purring and gentle melodic mews.

There was no time for me to say good-bye when he passed. I neglected to realize how seriously ill he was when I left him behind at the vet’s that day. It never occurred to me that his life force, so strong and joyous, even on that final morning, could so easily pass away. The shock has shifted to guilt and regret. My sorrow is now a pervading loss of feeling. Squeaky and I carry on.

I remember his soft tongue kisses, his caressing paw, his three foot leaping on crooked legs, the smell of his soft fur, and the loving wisdom in his eyes.

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The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

6/25/2013

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This book is a must have for anyone doing serious Shakespeare research. It's definitely my first go-to for information. Ms. Hummel has compiled fascinating, highly detailed information from primary sources. It's a beautiful publication full of colorful photos, illustrations and maps. The appendix contains a handy year by year chronological outline that helps me track important events. The information is presented in context with the politics of the Elizabethan period and Ms. Hummel's conclusions are well supported and surprising. She skillfully explains why there are few pieces of Shakespeare's original work and proposes possible (or probable) activities during his "missing years." As an historical writer, I found the thoroughness of her information extremely helpful. As a lover of history, I thrilled the twists and turns of her interpretation of known events (yes, we historians thrill at stuff like that). This hardback is so elegantly published I can't bear to mar it with notes and highlighting, but I refer to it almost daily in my writing. Thankfully, the chronological sequencing makes it easy for me to locate any information I need. I couldn't put it down!

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Herb Study Day

6/23/2013

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This weekend I'm in Las Vegas watching my nephew compete in American Ninja Warrior. That means VERY late nights (3:30 on Friday), long waits, and exciting watching of some amazing athletes. In my free time I've been studying herbs. I'm compiling a data base I hope to use in my writing. My first source for information is from "Culpeper's Color Herbal" based on the original "The Complete Herbal" published in 1649. He wanted to produce an herbal the commoner could use, based on local English herbs that were easily found. The version I use is published by Sterling Publishing Company in New York, 1983. It includes many colored illustrations of the herbs and modern medical uses of each plant. As you study herbs, you quickly see that many plants are recommended for the same ailments. What isn't as apparent is that only certain herbs might be available during each season, so a variety of options was important to the self healer. I highly recommend this book to any historical writers and herbalists. The information on current medical usage is invaluable to those of us trying to learn how to use this ancient knowledge.

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The Earl of Southampton's Cat

6/18/2013

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I first conceived of adding at cat to my Shakespeare's Witch series when my beloved cat, Alfie, suddenly died. Writing him into the story gave me great comfort and, before I knew it, added an important dimension to the work. However, since then, I have often been questioned about the cat.

I've been advised to remove the cat from the story, assured the cat was not relevant to the plot, and informed that cats were not kept as pets. But I had a feeling over the years that the cat needs to stay.

I love to do my research while I'm eating breakfast and this week I uncovered an amazing piece of information in "Shakespeare and the Earl of Southampton" by G.P.V. Akrigg. The Earl was imprisoned in the Tower of London for treason for several years. Mr. Akrigg reports that ,"In his long periods of loneliness, Southampton had for his companion a cat, one which later tradition reported had been a favorite of his in more fortunate days and, finding its way to the Tower, had reached him by coming down the chimney into his quarters."

This picture, often used in illustrations of the Earl, shows him in his cell in the Tower. Over his left shoulder, you can see a wall hanging of the Tower of London. To his right is ... is "favorite" cat.

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Delphi Classics - Complete Works of William Shakespeare

6/14/2013

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Yes, it's true. I now have five different collections of Shakespeare's work along with individual scripts of each of his plays. But I use them all and each one offers different supplemental information. My Delphi Classics version has drawn me back over and over as I research the Elizabethan period. I have it as a kindle edition, which allows me to verify authenticity of words I may use in my writing. I put in a search and can discover how many times that word is used in Shakespeare's work along with example phrases. I love it!

That said, this particular collection includes some great extras. For example, I can now access Sheakspeare's "Lost Plays" like Love's Labour's Won, Cardenio, and Double Falsehood." A "Sources" section gives me an idea of where Sheakespeare might have found inspiration for each play. Another section provides me with "The Apocryphal Plays" along with explanations for their connections to Shakespeare. Critical essays include notes from Samuel Johnson, Leo Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, and George Bernard Shaw among others. Next comes several biographies by Nicholas Rowe (Shakespeare's first "editor" who helped develop raw flios into published words in the early 17th century), Henry Norman Hudson (an American Critic from the mid 1800's), Sir Sidney Lee (an English biographer and Elizabethan scholar who wrote "Life of William Shakespeare" in 1898), Arthur Acheson ("Shakespeare's Lost Years in London), and Charles Dudley Warner ("The People for Whom Shakespeare Wrote"). The book ends with Shakespeare's Last Will and Testament and a Glossary of Elizabethan Language.

You can see why I value this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in researching Shakespeare. It's a collection of material that draws me back to discover bits of information not found in traditional biographies, along with historical insights from various period perspectives. The kindle version is a bargain at $2.99. It's reasonably formatted for electronic searches and the table of contents works very well. This book was published in 2011.

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Lotions, Creams and Body Butters

6/12/2013

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I've spent a lot of money on beauty products over the years, but I've never been really sure about what it was I was applying. I've recently read that the skin absorbs everything you put on it, unlike the gastro-intestinal system which has a filtering system to modify the foods that enter the body. So it made sense to me to begin paying attention to what products I use.

I've been experimenting with creating lotions and creams with some interesting results. I've now developed a formula that I hope I can apply in general with minor modifications for each type of cream. I learned early on that following recipes directly often gave me more lotion than I can use. After giving much of my new product away away, I realized I needed to experiment with smaller quantities. Now I use a basic unit system that can be converted to ounces, cups, grams, whatever unit of measurement seems to be the most efficient.

BASIC RECIPE:
4 parts soft oils (olive, jojoba, almond, etc.)
4 parts hard oils (shae butter, coconut, cocoa, etc.)
2 parts beeswax
2 parts aloe Vera
2 parts goat's milk
2 parts filtered water
1/2 part citric acid )preservative)
Oil Essences for fragrance

First I melt the waxes and oils. Fill a crockpot with 2 inches of water and set it on warm. Place the oils and wax in a bowl and rest it on a cloth placed in the center of the crockpot. Cover the crockpot and let the oils and wax slowly melt. It will probably take an hour or more, but by using the crockpot I don't have to worry about anything burning so I can be doing other things. Once ingredients are melted,pour the mixture into a mixing bowl. While whipping the mixture, add milk and water, then citric acid and aloe Vera and oil essences for fragrance. Continue to whip ingredients until they cool. The mixture should become light and fluffy. Store in small jars, keeping the extras in the refrigerator.

Adding or reducing the water will determine the thickness of the cream. I added extra water for face cream, but removed the water and goat milk entirely to make a foot cream. The wax and the aloe Vera serves as an emulsifier so you can increase these if you have problems with separation.

Shae butter is very light as a solid oil and highly recommend for facial creams. But cocoa butter and coconut oils are too heavy for the face and best used on the rest of the body. Tea Tree Oil is a great antiseptic if you want to produce a healing ointment, but the smell is very strong and will overpower any other oil essences you add.

You can also replace the water with various teas that have healing properties. Calendula, Chamomile, Lavender and Rosemary are traditional for facial creams. Rose water is also recommended. I'll post again as I learn more about the specific qualities of herbs.

I've having a great time experimenting! I hope you find it as constructive.

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Author

Jodee Steffensen
AKA
J.D. Steffensen

Jodee (J.D.) Steffensen

Historical and Romance Writer, Amateur Herbalist, and Seeker of adventure, new knowledge and all things good!

Hobbies? I've adored cats all my life. I came to love Shakespeare when I was introduced to him in college. I developed an interest in herbs when a dear friend was diagnosed with cancer. I learned about the complex politics of Shakespeare's world when another friend gave me a book, "Shadow Play," by Clare Asquith.

Mold

Tribute to the real Alfy

The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

Herb Study Day

The Earl of Southampton's Cat

Delphi Classics - Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Lotions, Creams and Body Butters

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