The job for a rainy day finally got done

18 July 2006

Ninety three degrees Fahrenheit is definitely too hot for me to be outside doing anything – apart from doing a tad bit of weeding when I got sidetracked on several occasions when I was in and out getting things from the garage or studio.

I decided to do the job that I was saving for a ‘rainy day’ when I would be stuck indoors. So for different, and unexpected reasons today was that day.

My project was to make another batch of body cream. I made a batch not long ago and it has been so popular with those who have received it as gifts – and I found it brilliant myself – it got rid of eczema that prescription creams from the doctor (including steroid cream) failed to do.

It is an ancient recipe that I adapted as an experiment. My first batches were made of shea butter, cocoa butter, virgin yellow beeswax (from the village beekeeper), and comfrey, lavender, and tea tree oil.

It made a really rich cream, which needed to be kept in the airing cupboard or to be warmed in one’s hands to make it soft enough to use. I used it as an all purpose hand and body cream, and also as a hair wax.

This time I have used cocoa oil, virgin yellow beeswax and shea butter, with greater quantities of cocoa oil to make it a softer cream. I used the same essential oils which are known to be good for the skin too. Posted some off for my baby grandson so they will receive it first thing Wednesday.