Otis Takes a LONG Walk

By: Otis Smiley


. Today my Grandma and Grandpa Steckbeck took my Mommy and me on a LONG walk.
. My grandma always tells me how nice it is that my mom and dad got a house in Broad Ripple. Now she can visit me lots! Here’s my story….


.We walked along the Central Canal in Indianpolis, all the way from my home to Butler University and back. I really had fun. I saw a lot of dogs, mostly bigger than me. One of the dogs I met was the Butler Bulldog.









.But, I was not afraid of them because I was wearing my "Super Otis Cape," so nothing could hurt me!









.Here's me and my Grandma. The ground was snowy, and wet and muddy.









.My mom said I had to have a bath when I got back home.









.Baths are okay, but I like LONG walks better!

Sara's Soap

I learned to make soap from my Mom, who had been doing it for years. She used her soap for everything from the bath to dishwashing. It takes some special equipment and a bit of time, but I find it is worth the trouble because the soap is so mild, and I like carrying on the tradition!

Here is what you need, if you'd like to try making some soap yourself.

RECIPE
38 oz rendered Beef Fat (tallow)
24 oz Olive Oil
24 oz Coconut Oil
12 oz Lye
32 oz soft water (cannot be hard water)

Click on the following links to see detailed instructions.

EQUIPMENT (pictured above)

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

ENJOY !

I hope you enjoy your soap as much as I do mine. Let me know if you make a batch and how it turned out ! ~Sara

Key West Vacation

What a marvelous bird is the pelican!

His beak can hold more than his belly-can.

He can hold more in his beak than he can eat in a week,

And I wonder just how in the hell-he-can !

Jerry and Sara's 10th wedding anniversary was on January 1, 2008. They celebrated by taking a very fun vacation to the Florida Keys. Jerry's favorite part was a chartered fishing trip (are we surprised?). Sara's favorite experience was visiting the Ernest Hemingway home on Key West, and learning about his life.

Here are links to pictures. Hover your mouse over the pictures for a title!

People & Places

Animals, Sunsets and Other Neat Stuff