fly to the brutal clean

Castile soap is a name used in English-speaking countries for olive oil based soap made in a style similar to that originating in the Castile region of Spain, as early as the 1600s. The word "castile" actually means "land of castles". A few weeks ago, I mentioned in my poem "Molt" about sprouting "castile wings" and flying to the "brutal clean".

The poetic metaphor conjured images of the Kirk's Castile soap of my childhood, so much so, that I couldn't stop thinking about its distinctive scent.  Friday, when I was grocery shopping, I spied a small stack of Kirk's on the bottom shelf of the soap aisle at Kroger and tossed a three-pack in my cart.

It still has the white paper wrapper, now jazzed-up with a slick finish.  I was a bit disappointed, since it seems quite unscented, without any distinguishable traces of the unique trademark scent I remember so well. Maybe my olfactory system isn't as keen as it once was? Nevertheless, I adore the silky way it lathers, especially in well-water. It's the brutal clean, without dryness. I even like it better on my face than my pricey facial cleanser.  I love thriftiness. And chain reactions.  Do you have a favorite soap?

I'd like to be rich enough 

so I could throw soap away 

after the letters are worn off.

Andy Rooney

do what you can

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

Theodore Roosevelt

In the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt and our current economy, I gave my dining room a much needed update this week; I only used what I already had, without buying anything new. Okay, I will have to credit my in-house master painter, WT, with a lot of the painting, but we used some leftover black paint from the cellar and a partial bolt of fabric I purchased a few years back, a chair project that was only a pipe dream, to cover the seat cushions.

Here's what the china cabinet looked like before; a tired old ho-hum set, purchased in 1983, full of a hodge-podge-lodge of doily-lady stuff. I removed the top shelf in the center section, added the resident manor rooster and random stacks of vintage red books.

And this is the transformation of the chairs. Amazing what some fabric and a staple gun can do. Welcome, dining room, to the 21st century. What a change, huh? I'm set for some great holiday entertaining. Now I just have to plan the food...