Friday January 16, 1925 - Got Grease ready for Soap

Snowed early this A.M., a clinging snow. Thawing very fast today.

Bill came to lunch at 1:00.

Baking bread and "Kuchen"1 today, also ironing and washed Reva's brown dress + got grease ready for soap2.
Baked Pie.
Finished ironing this eve. Clara came this evening stayed to dinner. Bill went to Sweeney's3, Ret'd at 9:00. We took Clara home, Ret'd at 1:00, girls still not in bed yet.

Papers $.04
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1. German for cake - typically a coffee-cake or strudel topped cake.
2.Here is a modified basic soap recipe from a 1920's recipe book:

1 can of lye, 12 ounces
3 pounds of lard
Water

Pour 3 cups of very cold water into the 2-quart saucepan. Slowly add the lye stirring it with the a wooden utensil. Above all use no metal. The mixture will get very hot. ( a sassafras branch can used to stir, imparting a fragrance and insect deterrent for mosquitoes, lice, fleas and ticks.) Let cool at least one hour in a safe place. Meanwhile, the unwrapped lard should be warming up to room temperature. Slowly pour the lye in with the lard. The lard will melt. Mix thoroughly, at least 15 minutes, until it looks like thick pudding. Let it set until the next morning, then cut it into bars. It will get harder after a few days
3. Not sure what this is - bar? Person's house?