First, please tell us a little about yourself, your family, any pets, and where you live.
Well, right now I live in Rialto, CA, which is at the foot of the Foothills here in San Bernardino.  I've kind of lived here and there for the last, wow, 30 years, but did most of my young years in Los Angeles.  I have three grown daughters: Angela Lynn ( Angie), Tracey Roxxanne (Roxxie) , and Autumn Rosalita ( Rosie).  They have given me 9 grand children: Christopher - 17, Jimmie - 16, Tanya - 15, Andrea - 13 and Jesse - 11 belong to Angie; Timmy - 8, Adrian - 3 1/2, Brianna (Princess Binana) - 21 months belong to Roxxie; and my baby Rosie has her baby, Julia Rose - 15 months.  I've been a widow for about 8 years, but got engaged to a wonderful guy, Keven, last Holiday Season. We're looking at January, 2006 for our wedding.  I'm pretty fortunate (most days) that all my kids and their kids live fairly close -Roxxie is the farthest away in San Diego.  My Mom lives across the street from me, so family get togethers happen several times a week : ) We have had all kinds of pets over the years, had a small ranch at one time (hence the Lost Girls Ranch name), but right now we have it pared down to a small group:  two dogs of assorted breeds, Golden Bear and Puppy Girl; three cats, Charcoal Briquette, Wiggles and Skank; six goldfish in the pond whose names vary with my mood and one very obnoxious Love Bird, Sancho.  Sancho has some vocal capabilities and likes to say, "Rosie did it" and "Billy Jack, Billy Jack". 

Charcoal the cat says " I am smiling!"

 

Puppy Grrl says "Start each day with a smile - even if you're so old you ain't got many teeth!"

How did you get interested in making soap?
Well, my grandma used to make soap, you know the old utility type of soap, and I used to help her.  I used to make a batch now and then; cooked it for what seemed like hours!  I got interested in making skin loving soap when the goats on our little ranch were producing way more milk than we could use in the kitchen, started playing with different recipes and additives after a while...the rest is history, or her-story, rather.

Angela

What other types of products do you make?  What is your favorite product?
I make all kinds of stuff, like most of us do.  Lotions, creams, scrubs, powders, household products, etc.  I love working with herbs, making potions and such - it is very rewarding when someone use a product and it brings them relief.  For myself, I like playing in lotions- the different oils, butters, waxes and scents.  As soon as I think I've found "it" - the perfect recipe, I'll tweak it just a bit more, and come up with something I like even better.

Bobbie's baby, Rosie, and her baby, Julia-Rose : )

What is your favorite aspect of soapmaking? 
Oh, I like making soap because it is so much like cooking, or well, at least the way I do it. Start with the basics and add a little of this, a little of that, a pinch of this and a smidge of that.  The soaps take on so much personality that way, I think.  It is relaxing, a good creative outlet, and not too many people around here make real soap, so it's something different, also.

Bobbie's Grandson, Junior

If you do, where do you sell your items?  Are you planning on expanding at all, or areyou happy with where your business is right now?
Most of what I sell is done face to face with customers, but I have been growing over the last few years.  I have a few people in Kansas City, Arkansas, Quebec and Czech Republic who sell my things, but this last year I seem to have developed a kind of "different" following.  My stuff is now in a tattoo shop in Long Beach, an adult toy store in San Diego (and these are regular cut bars - no funny stuff - go figure), and a crystal-clutching-New Age kind of shop (where I couldn't sell a bar of patchouli for the life of me - they like all the old-fashioned floral scents there).  In my dreams I have my own shop - filled with herbs, along with all my creations...someday  : )

Bobbie's Purple house (undergoing renovations)

Do you have a job other than making soap?
Well, I retired about 10 years ago from electrical construction and wasn't smart enough to leave well enough alone.  So now I'm director of In Their Moccasins Native American Prison Ministry.  We're a volunteer organization devoted to helping inmates find/maintain their traditional spiritual ways while inside, continuing their spiritual growth on the outside, helping families caught in the middle of incarcerations, etc.  We have a referral database and try to steer ex-mates toward other organizations that help them find the jobs, education, health care, housing they may need.  We also do some work in local schools, through storytellings and our Blankets for Kids program.

Doing one of the things Bobbie likes best - storytelling with our Blankets for the Kids project : )

I know that you are herbally inclined…what are some of your interests and  hobbies outside of soapmaking?
I am fascinated by  the law, and our justice system, so I've been an on-again, off-again student of the law for several years, LOL.   I just hang back for a little while, then jump in and take classes now and then - anything to put off taking the Bar.  I was real gung-ho through several years of school, then one day an instructor clued us in to the reality: when you become a sworn officer of the court, you are taking an oath to make the morals, decisions, and actions of that court your own.  Hmm - cold feet here - just don't know if I could do that. Then I started looking around, at who would be my colleagues, who I would be socializing with, etc.   Well, anyway, it's a big step to make. I'll probably finish my JD and then go teach philosophy or something : )

My other interests are traveling, by car ( I'm a drive-aholic), camping and cooking - I love to cook, unfortunately I love to eat, too!  Oh, and belly dancing - I love this!  I started lessons at the Parks and Rec here about a year ago, and am having so much fun with it.  Belly dancing is so far removed from everything else I do, it really gives me a chance to unwind  - and lord knows I have the belly to dance with : )  

Angie's youngest, Bobbie's grandson, Jesse

How would you describe your personality?
Yikes!  I put this question to my family, my LOVED ones, and I'm not going to put their answers here!  I will cop to being 3/4 Calamity Jane, and 1/4 Earth Mother ;)

The whole fam-damnily ( minus Junior, Chris & Nana).  Yes, I do look like Ma Kettle here - groan.  one of those old-timey shots at Knott's Berry Farm. L-R front Row - Jesse, Angie, Brianna, Bobbie, Rosie & Julia, Adrian, Tanya, Timmy Back Row - Keven, Joe, Roxxie & Andrea

What are some of your goals for yourself this year?
Ah, my number one goal is to no longer be a diabetic... and I have a pretty good chance at this.  I'm not going to jinx myself by talking too much about that here, but I will be making some drastic changes around the first of the year (good timing, eh).  When I am successful, I will tell all.

My number two goal is to get other volunteers to step up and take over the largest part of the Ministry.  I'm ready for a break, before I get burn out, and really want to spend more time with my family and concentrating on my business for while.  This means I will have to "let go" of quite a bit...I'm working on it!

Bobbie's daughter Roxxie, and #1 SIL, Joe

Tell us some of your favorite things...what sort of things make you  happy? 
My grandchildren - definitely my grandchildren : )  Making a meal that makes everyone else happy.  A perfect batch of soap.  Being in almost any kind of water - pool, lake, ocean, little stream - I'm not picky. Live music and any kind of dancing.

Roxxie & Joe's Three: Adrian ( the tough guy), Princess Brianna, and Timmy (playing the seat - he's such a good big brother!)

How did you ever meet up with the Soapnuts list?  What do you like most about it? 
I went online looking for an explanation on my brown rose soap, and the ash on some of my bars, oh way back in 98, I think, and voila!  The answers came from Soapnuts - been here ever since.  I've checked into quite a few soap lists, but find that the most reliable and clear information comes from this list.  I've also "met" some awesome people here - even a few in person!

Bobbie's granddaughter Andrea & her best buddy at the Mall, Andrea (on right)

Do you have any soapmaking tips or ideas to pass on to us? 
Just that one needs to follow their heart when they are creating soap, as with any other creation.  Use your imagination and don't be afraid to try anything- as long as you soap safe.  Some of my favourite recipes have come from "It'll never work" and "You can't do that - you'll get an inferior soap" beginnings : ) 

Bobbie's oldest granddaughter, Tanya.  All-Star Volleyball & Softball

Please share a favorite recipe with us, it can be anything at all, from  chocolate cake to lotion to compost!

WALAKSHIH

2 T sugar
1 c cornmeal
1 c flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Set aside, and then mix together:
3 T butter, melted
1 c buttermilk
2 eggs
1 c corn kernels

Add milk mixture to dry mixture and mix well, forming a stiff dough.  Boil approx 6 cups of wild grape, possum grape, or unsweetened grape juice and reduce heat to keep just a light boil going.

Form corn dough into about 1 inch dumplings and drop in the boiling grape juice.  Continue cooking until the dumplings are cooked through, and the juice is thickened.  Serve hot with several dumplings and plenty of juice in each bowl.

BEAN BREAD

Make this with leftover bean soup - navy bean, pinto beans, etc.

Beat together:
1 to 1 1/4 cup of bean broth
1 egg
1 t sugar
1/2 t baking soda

Add to:
2 cups corn meal
1 to 1 1/4 cups cooked beans

Mix well and add:
Approx 1/4 cup bacon grease or drippings.

Pour into greased pan and cook at 400 for about half an hour.

Anything else that you would like to share with your fellow Nuts?
I love to meet fellow soapers, especially  'Nuts. So, if anyone is ever in the neighborhood, let me know, and plan to fall by the house  for tea, talk, food : )  Could even maybe talk Paula and Jeann into coming by : )