Whilst doing a little catching up on emails I came across this wonderful article:
Ornament Christmas Devotional . When you have a chance take a gander at it.
Hope that your Christmas prep is not making you CRAZY. Let us remember that it is the season for joy, peace and love. We have got a little catching up on our Jesse Tree for this year...our schedule and Dad's schedule have not gee-hawed so far this week. That's OK, just gives us a little longer in our family devo time...not so bad.
Blessings to you and yours during these Holy Days.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Saving money, time and energy!!!
OK, I finally did it and made my own laundry detergent. It was Soooooo easy!!! If you can melt butter and boil water you can make your own detergent!!! I finally used up all of the commercial detergent my hubby bought and what better time to try something new??? My goal was to make my detergent thin enough to go through the spout of the old container. Much to my surprise the recipe needed NO alteration!!! It was just perfect, well, perhaps not perfect. You do need to shake the jug every so once in a while and you do need to make sure that the screw cap is fairly loose so that the detergent can come down. If that is the hardest part....I AM SOLD ON IT. I do not recall which blog it was that I read this recipe...so, to whom ever posted the original recipe...Thanks a bundle!! I take no credit for the recipe!!!
Here is the recipe I tried (yes, it only makes a "small" batch about a gallon --the original recipe was double this) I wanted to be sure I would like it first:
1/3 bar of Octagon Soap grated (some folks recommended Fels Naptha)
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda (No, baking soda will not work)
16 cups water--divided-read rest of instructions CAREFULLY
8 drops of Lemon Oil (optional)
3 drops of Lavender Oil (optional)
Items you will need
sauce pan
box grater (you can use your food processor if doing a bigger batch)
spoon or whisk
container to put the detergent in
measuring cups
funnel
Into a heavy bottomed sauce pan place the grated soap. Add 3 cups of water and over medium heat, melt ALL of the soap flakes. Add the Borax and Washing Soda to the melted soap and stir until it dissolves then take pan off heat. Put 2 cups HOT water into detergent container then pour the melted & dissolved mixture into container and stir (or shake). Next pour in remaining 11 cups of water and shake well. Let this sit overnight to gel to a nice "snot" like consistency. I added the essential oils to the detergent after it had cooled, but not fully "gelled". For each load of laundry I use 1/2 cup of detergent.
I have not done a cost comparison, but think that I must be saving some money AND I no longer have to put up with having to recycle the plastic containers the store bought detergent comes in. On some blogs folks were saying that the soap did not come out of their clothes...we have great well water here in the country and I have not had a problem, having only made 2 batches of detergent (I know, I kn0w...I need to make bigger batches) I have not noticed any problems. Some bloggers recommended using white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Now, full disclosure time...My hubby likes for me to use Downy. This I already dilute with 1/3 Downy, 1/3 water, 1/3 white vinegar.
This detergent is "low sudsing" and great for High Efficiency front loader washers. I have also used it as an all purpose cleaner by diluting 2 Tbs of detergent into 2 cups of water.
In addition to making our own detergent, we have also stopped using paper products like paper napkins and paper towels. It was a little hard for the hubby to make the transition...he kept looking for a paper towel to clean up a mess. The best thing I have found for paper towel withdrawl is making sure that you have a good alternative already made up!!! A black pique dress was given to me by a friend and I did not really wear it much so, I thought it would make great "clean up" rags and it has worked. Because it is black it does not look grungy even when it is dirty, I ruined one of my crocheted dish rags by cleaning up a nasty coffee spill (no, I did not chuck it...it just doesn't make it out when company comes ;o}) .
So, there you go. Just a few things we are doing around here to save some money and be wise stewards of what we have been blessed with. See, it's not so crazy.
Here is the recipe I tried (yes, it only makes a "small" batch about a gallon --the original recipe was double this) I wanted to be sure I would like it first:
1/3 bar of Octagon Soap grated (some folks recommended Fels Naptha)
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda (No, baking soda will not work)
16 cups water--divided-read rest of instructions CAREFULLY
8 drops of Lemon Oil (optional)
3 drops of Lavender Oil (optional)
Items you will need
sauce pan
box grater (you can use your food processor if doing a bigger batch)
spoon or whisk
container to put the detergent in
measuring cups
funnel
Into a heavy bottomed sauce pan place the grated soap. Add 3 cups of water and over medium heat, melt ALL of the soap flakes. Add the Borax and Washing Soda to the melted soap and stir until it dissolves then take pan off heat. Put 2 cups HOT water into detergent container then pour the melted & dissolved mixture into container and stir (or shake). Next pour in remaining 11 cups of water and shake well. Let this sit overnight to gel to a nice "snot" like consistency. I added the essential oils to the detergent after it had cooled, but not fully "gelled". For each load of laundry I use 1/2 cup of detergent.
I have not done a cost comparison, but think that I must be saving some money AND I no longer have to put up with having to recycle the plastic containers the store bought detergent comes in. On some blogs folks were saying that the soap did not come out of their clothes...we have great well water here in the country and I have not had a problem, having only made 2 batches of detergent (I know, I kn0w...I need to make bigger batches) I have not noticed any problems. Some bloggers recommended using white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Now, full disclosure time...My hubby likes for me to use Downy. This I already dilute with 1/3 Downy, 1/3 water, 1/3 white vinegar.
This detergent is "low sudsing" and great for High Efficiency front loader washers. I have also used it as an all purpose cleaner by diluting 2 Tbs of detergent into 2 cups of water.
In addition to making our own detergent, we have also stopped using paper products like paper napkins and paper towels. It was a little hard for the hubby to make the transition...he kept looking for a paper towel to clean up a mess. The best thing I have found for paper towel withdrawl is making sure that you have a good alternative already made up!!! A black pique dress was given to me by a friend and I did not really wear it much so, I thought it would make great "clean up" rags and it has worked. Because it is black it does not look grungy even when it is dirty, I ruined one of my crocheted dish rags by cleaning up a nasty coffee spill (no, I did not chuck it...it just doesn't make it out when company comes ;o}) .
So, there you go. Just a few things we are doing around here to save some money and be wise stewards of what we have been blessed with. See, it's not so crazy.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thanksgiving Recipes and Crafts
Thanksgiving Recipes and Crafts
Have you seen the great ideas the friendly folks at Vision Forum are providing for Thanksgiving??? Check it out, try a few things, learn a little something and have fun with your family...Now, that's not Crazy!!!
Have you seen the great ideas the friendly folks at Vision Forum are providing for Thanksgiving??? Check it out, try a few things, learn a little something and have fun with your family...Now, that's not Crazy!!!
Friday, September 12, 2008
CRAZY commercials
Two commercials have just struck me in two very different ways.
Commercial #1: (Imagine birds chirping, sun shining, soft breeze blowing) Loving couple having a picnic in the park. She offers him a red popsicle and says, "Take a bite". He responds, "I thought you loved me?" Her reply,"Then take 2 bites". He questions her again,"But it has high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)in it(he doesn't mention the Red Dye #40), you know what that does." She reassures him,"Oh, HFCS is made from corn--that's a vegetable.(duh!) It is just as sweet as sugar and is good for you ." *******************Whoa....Wait a minute.
Did she just say that HFCS was GOOD for the man she loves???
OK, maybe I am just over reacting because our Sunday School lesson for this week is about Adam and Eve and how Eve succumbed to the tempting of Satan and then she "lovingly" shared with Adam. Am I so "off" as to see the similarity between these two examples of what women do wrong?? When will we see the commercial of this woman blaming her guy for the fact that she is overweight, diabetic and her body is riddled with fungus???????????????~~~~~~~~~~Hummmmmmmmmm~~~~~~~~~~This is me breathing out and breathing in~~~~~~Hummmmmmmmmmmm~~~~~~~
Commercial #2: (Imagine sinister music playing, dark, shadowy city streets, car horns honking, evil lurking in every corner, comic book style images) A young man in a hooded sweatshirt approaches an intersection where stands an elderly woman. It appears that he is going to snatch her purse.....BUT(remember, Behold the Underlying Truth) a stream of blood red hearts comes flowing across the screen and envelopes the youth, he takes the woman's heavy grocery bag and assists her across the street. Another scene unfolds, two drivers vie for the same parking space, tempers flare, horns blow, angry faces made to each other. Again, the blood red hearts flow across the screen and envelopes one of the drivers and he allows the other to take the parking place. Then the driver who had received the kindness of the other driver finally returns home ragged and disheveled, weary and tired. Opens the door of his abode and finds his kids fighting and the poor mother (at her wits end, can I get a witness????) trying to defuse the situation. Just when you think the dad is going to explode, here come those red hearts across the screen. Peace is restored and they (you assume) have a great evening together as a family.
Now, each time the "blood red hearts" flow across the screen a song is sung about how we need more of God's love.*******************
What, more of God's love???? I am thinking it is a Latter Day St's commercial--but no. It is an Interstate Battery commercial. www.interstatebattery.com/godslove Go and check this one out. It is so cool. chairman presents the gospel and then has another link guiding folks to accept Christ. Wow, what a blessing.
Notice how each commercial starts. The one singing the praises of HFCS starts off with the happy, loving couple---all is right with the world, yet it's message is to assure you that it's OK to eat HFCS and lots of it. Sneaky, sly and just plain wrong. The other commercial starts off dark and sinister, yet produces a message full of hope and love.
God bless those at Interstate Battery, for spreading the Good News in a time of internal strife and mass hatetred. God bless them for sticking their necks out for the cause of Christ.
Lord, increase my boldness. Thank you for assisting me in the desire to spread your word. Thank you for putting it in my heart to spend more time in your word and to develop an stronger and deeper understanding of your word.
Just a quick side note: As I was publishing this post, my hubby called me to tell me of a strange thing happening in our closest town. Apparently, because of hurricane Ike, it has been reported that gas prices will jump to $5.50 per gallon for regular unleaded. Folks are lined up at all of the gas stations in town, blocking Main Street and then he saw a fight brake out between two guys in line. We really do need more of God's love pouring out on others. Please, take this time to pray for those emergency workers and government staffers whose duty it is to stay behind and make sure that peace is held and to assist those who did not heed the warnings to leave. Pray for those whose nerves are frazzled and are anxious.
Commercial #1: (Imagine birds chirping, sun shining, soft breeze blowing) Loving couple having a picnic in the park. She offers him a red popsicle and says, "Take a bite". He responds, "I thought you loved me?" Her reply,"Then take 2 bites". He questions her again,"But it has high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)in it(he doesn't mention the Red Dye #40), you know what that does." She reassures him,"Oh, HFCS is made from corn--that's a vegetable.(duh!) It is just as sweet as sugar and is good for you ." *******************Whoa....Wait a minute.
Did she just say that HFCS was GOOD for the man she loves???
OK, maybe I am just over reacting because our Sunday School lesson for this week is about Adam and Eve and how Eve succumbed to the tempting of Satan and then she "lovingly" shared with Adam. Am I so "off" as to see the similarity between these two examples of what women do wrong?? When will we see the commercial of this woman blaming her guy for the fact that she is overweight, diabetic and her body is riddled with fungus???????????????~~~~~~~~~~Hummmmmmmmmm~~~~~~~~~~This is me breathing out and breathing in~~~~~~Hummmmmmmmmmmm~~~~~~~
Commercial #2: (Imagine sinister music playing, dark, shadowy city streets, car horns honking, evil lurking in every corner, comic book style images) A young man in a hooded sweatshirt approaches an intersection where stands an elderly woman. It appears that he is going to snatch her purse.....BUT(remember, Behold the Underlying Truth) a stream of blood red hearts comes flowing across the screen and envelopes the youth, he takes the woman's heavy grocery bag and assists her across the street. Another scene unfolds, two drivers vie for the same parking space, tempers flare, horns blow, angry faces made to each other. Again, the blood red hearts flow across the screen and envelopes one of the drivers and he allows the other to take the parking place. Then the driver who had received the kindness of the other driver finally returns home ragged and disheveled, weary and tired. Opens the door of his abode and finds his kids fighting and the poor mother (at her wits end, can I get a witness????) trying to defuse the situation. Just when you think the dad is going to explode, here come those red hearts across the screen. Peace is restored and they (you assume) have a great evening together as a family.
Now, each time the "blood red hearts" flow across the screen a song is sung about how we need more of God's love.*******************
What, more of God's love???? I am thinking it is a Latter Day St's commercial--but no. It is an Interstate Battery commercial. www.interstatebattery.com/godslove Go and check this one out. It is so cool. chairman presents the gospel and then has another link guiding folks to accept Christ. Wow, what a blessing.
Notice how each commercial starts. The one singing the praises of HFCS starts off with the happy, loving couple---all is right with the world, yet it's message is to assure you that it's OK to eat HFCS and lots of it. Sneaky, sly and just plain wrong. The other commercial starts off dark and sinister, yet produces a message full of hope and love.
God bless those at Interstate Battery, for spreading the Good News in a time of internal strife and mass hatetred. God bless them for sticking their necks out for the cause of Christ.
Lord, increase my boldness. Thank you for assisting me in the desire to spread your word. Thank you for putting it in my heart to spend more time in your word and to develop an stronger and deeper understanding of your word.
Just a quick side note: As I was publishing this post, my hubby called me to tell me of a strange thing happening in our closest town. Apparently, because of hurricane Ike, it has been reported that gas prices will jump to $5.50 per gallon for regular unleaded. Folks are lined up at all of the gas stations in town, blocking Main Street and then he saw a fight brake out between two guys in line. We really do need more of God's love pouring out on others. Please, take this time to pray for those emergency workers and government staffers whose duty it is to stay behind and make sure that peace is held and to assist those who did not heed the warnings to leave. Pray for those whose nerves are frazzled and are anxious.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Still Cheap & Green
Just a quick update on my post about dish washing. Recently, we purchased some "glasses" made by Rubbermaid - they are not supposed to break, so far - so good. After coming out of the dishwasher a couple of times they looked a bit scratched up. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind I recalled seeing someone post that they used Borax and Baking Soda, not Washing Soda for use in their dishwasher. First, I was pleased that I remembered the info. Second, I tried it and it worked!!!
Now, my unbreakable "glasses" look great and I can still be CHEAP & GREEN!!!!!
Remember, 1/2 Borax and 1/2 Baking Soda and use 1-2 Tbs.
Should'da done this post yesterday and had it be what WFM - Oh, well - next time.
I'm always a day late and a $ short.
Now, my unbreakable "glasses" look great and I can still be CHEAP & GREEN!!!!!
Remember, 1/2 Borax and 1/2 Baking Soda and use 1-2 Tbs.
Should'da done this post yesterday and had it be what WFM - Oh, well - next time.
I'm always a day late and a $ short.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Six Random Things
- Amy from Sonshine Cottage has tagged me with a meme. Rules are as follows: 1. Link to the person who tagged you. 2. Post the rules on your blog. 3. Write six random things about yourself. 4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. 5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. 6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
- Well, I must be off -----
- I once smoked a cigarette and considered getting a tattoo. Have not done or considered either since.
- I am quickly becoming intrigued by fondue.
- Focus is not my strong point.
- For 3 days last week I did not eat solid food and lost 10#'s. Did I mention I had the stomach flu??12 more days and I will loose those extra 40#'s.
- I am a pack rat.
- I do not know 6 people to tag - so, what do I do???
- I had to look up what a "meme" was. (I know, it said 6 things - but, I could not resist going against the grain.)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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