Irish Soap

A few nights ago, we were watching a Japanese movie with my mother. A five year old boy is sent away to be trained as a (samurai) vassal to his preteen Lord. It's based on a true story and the young actors on the show absolutely blew me away. How do you get these young children to memorize those lines and cry on cue? Incredible. Ahhhh... I digress...

Anyway, in one scene, the young boy's father visits his son at the monastery and tells his son how his family is all well but were proud of him learning to serve his master. The young boy had been treated to some candy and was eating his share but when he saw his father, he ran to him begging his dad to please give the rest of his sweets to his mother who he had been sorely missing.

That evening, the sweets were shared with the child's sibling but the mother took hers, carefully wrapped it and put it in her jewelry box.

This reminded me of the handmade soap that my son, Jon brought back with him from Ireland. Several years ago, Jon and his girlfriend were doing something called WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).

Here's what I found on the Internet about it:

WWOOF is a world wide network - It started in the UK in 1971 and has since become an international movement that is helping people share more sustainable ways of living.

WWOOF is an exchange - In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.

WWOOF organisations link people who want to volunteer on organic farms or smallholdings with people who are looking for volunteer help.

Jon and Sarah loved their experience on Lambay Island in Ireland and met lots of friendly, wonderful people there. They loved the Irish people and enjoyed spending time doing a lot of different things including making soap from goat's milk. We cherished the special bars of soap he brought back for us to try that he had made with his own hands. However, we just couldn't bring ourselves to use them. We just wanted to keep it and look at them occasionally.

Last night, we gave my mother a bar to use and we used a bar ourselves. They are wonderful. It's hard to believe he actually made them. They seem more silky somehow and feel wonderful on your skin. I love using them. I have one little bar left now.

I think I'll keep it.