WW: Homemade

A Birthday To Remember

It was a delightful day to turn thirteen. 

Nana arrived well ahead of the guests in order to make the dainty cupcakes.  (Thank you, Mom! So glad you could be here for this special day.) 

The birthday girl was put to work, too.  She made a platter full of fruit kabobs. 

A gift of fresh lavender added charm to the table.  (It's now planted out front with the zinnias. )

One special touch to the hostess before guests arrived.

Good friends arrive to hang out, do crafts, play piano, paint nails, play goofy games, and eat lots of food!

And, I got a big thank you in the end!  
 

Weekending Notes

Just a quick note about our weekend.  It was the perfect balance of leisure and commitments.  

Saturday highlights: 

• Coffee on the cleaned up deck Saturday morning with my dear one listening to big band.
• A trip to the best farm market around.  
• Grilling once and eating 4 meals from the bounty.
• Sweet, juicy watermelon from Florida!
• Angelfood cake (from the market) with strawberries and whipped cream.
• Reading old homemaking books on the Nook. 
• Listening to the 3 guys passionately playing Wii together! 
• Daughter volunteering to wash and slice 4 pounds of strawberries.   

Sunday highlights:

• Meeting with the youth pastor and other families to discuss 7th grade promotion.
• Going to the 8th grade graduation, worshiping with teens.
• Eating more leftovers!
• Watching my daughter try on my wedding dress and then spending two hours looking at wedding gowns online. 
• Listening to my two boys playing together.  
• Thankful for a husband who takes youngest son to his choir rehearsal.  
• Rain!  It's been so dry.  I am thankful it rained in the evening. 

Been Dreaming Again

It's about that time of the year again.  We've been in "taxing season" for what seems like a long time, but really not when I think of those who have husbands in much more demanding careers.  (((Hugs to you Jeannie!)

I hesitate to even write this as I have nothing to complain about.  I think it is a bit of spring fever that starts to well up inside of me. (I want to go camping!  It's been six whole months!  And the weather has been awesome, adding to the fever.  And we cannot go camping until "taxing season" is over, just a few more weeks!)  There is the problem, and the solution is patience.  *sigh*

So, all that said... 


I took my beloved on a little wild goose chase this past weekend, trying to find this house that I saw listed that was supposed to be only 16 miles up the road.  Why?  I don't really know, perhaps all that I wrote  above?  I needed an outlet for my frustrations?  Or perhaps it is spring and I am feeling the itch to move to the country again?  Or it was a pretty day for a drive despite the fact that gas is $4 a gallon! 

Thankfully, the wild goose chase helped me to see that this is not the house for me.  It's 30 miles from church!  We'd have to seriously give up some weekly trips.  Plus, it is an extra 30 miles (each way) for Jeff to drive to work. 

But, it is 30 miles closer to the lake!  :-)  And it is my dream house, a little white farm house with a porch, barn, and detached garage!  Still, not really enough to pull me from this current home situated so perfectly to our church, work, library, friends, family, etc., I am mature enough to see that the dream can wait a little while longer.

I guess I had to see it to believe it and get it out of my system.  No more looking at those ads.  I promise!   Time to put that energy into good things around here like our garden boxes and cleaning baseboards! 

The Simpler the Life the Greater the Peace

"The willingness to be and to have just what God wants us to be and to have, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else, would set our hearts at rest, and we would discover that the simpler the life the greater the peace."
Elisabeth Elliot


"Be on your guard against all kind of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Luke 12:15

Am I truly willing to be and to have just what God wants me to be and to have?  The older I get, the closer I get to this state of being.  I remember a time when I was out of control with my wants.  I was also jealous of anyone who seemed to have the very thing I wanted.  Thankfully, I have learned to be content with what I have.

If there is something that I think I want and I do not have it, I can rest easy knowing that there is some reason that the Lord does not wish me to have it.  Perhaps this "thing" might become an idol and take my heart from Him.  Certainly I do not want that.

I remember a time when I had a longing for a house with a basement.  It seemed all  my friends had one.  (They still do.)  What I did have was a house that my husband could afford.  Grumble, grumble, grumble went my little discontent heart.  And then, a few years later, I had no house to grumble about!  Talk about learning a lesson the hard way!  By the grace of God, I learned that lesson well.

I learned not to be greedy for gain.  I learned to be content.  I learned that having a house on this earth is not my right.  It is a privilege.  Thank you, Lord for being a gentle, yet firm teacher. And, as it turns out, I have a sunken family room that is kind of like a basement.  I am getting closer! 

Therefore, I do believe that my heart is at rest with my circumstances.  I may never own another home.  If I do, it will be a gift from Him and I will appreciate it as such. It certainly would take a miracle to be able to buy a house in the next few years. And it is not something I long for, either.  What I long for is to be in the will of the Lord, having nothing more or nothing less than what He wants me to have.

Elisabeth Elliot also says, "Heaven is not here, it's There.  If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next.  God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for."


"In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."  2 Peter 3:13

How to Write More Blog Posts

Where the magic happens. 

I'll let you in on a little secret.  Actually, it is not a secret.  It's just an underused tool we bloggers have.  It's called "Scheduled Posts." Right now, I have in my post list 3 drafts in progress and 3 posts scheduled to be published.  I love this feature.  And here is why.

First, it makes my blogging time so much more controllable.  I do not have to spend as much time all at once pouring over one post.  I simply get an idea and start a draft.  Then when a moment allows, I flesh it out, little by little.  As more time allows, I add pictures or proof read it or polish it a bit. In the course of a few days it is ready to be scheduled.  Simple! 

Second, it fosters more creativity on my part.  I find myself thinking about things I could write about.  I write more.  I get a little better at it, just like my kids, whom I encourage to write and re-write.  Perhaps it will even keep my brain younger?

And lastly, it makes my blog seem like an active, vibrant place, a place where you know you will read something new every couple days or so.  Being consistent builds a community. Communities are much needed in our line of work where we are frequently alone all day with KIDS! 

The next time you get an extra moment and an idea, sit down and start a draft.  Let it sit for a few days or come back to it when you have a free moment and give it a tweak.  Come back another day and add a picture.  When it is ready to publish, click "post options".  From there you click "scheduled at".  Pick your time and date.  Then click "publish post".  Then start another draft and repeat.  

So there you have it.  Why not give it a try yourself?

Habitaflex Homes

In my spare time, I sometimes find myself looking at unique home ideas.  I have it in mind to one day have a place debt free, by the grace of God. This dream is going to take some creativity to make it happen.  So, I look around for ideas. Here is one such creative option, indeed! I have no idea how much they cost. But the people who came up with these are very creative.


After I watched it, I wondered where all the furniture goes when it is folded down? Hm. I guess you have to get a Uhaul too? Well, it is still a pretty ingenious idea. I am all for it! It might just beat the grain bin home or yurt I was thinking about earlier. Now, I just need a little plot of land.

Hair Update

I keep meaning to write a follow up post to my other post about going "No Poo".  So far, I am very happy.  It did take three weeks to adjust, but the adjustment was very mild.  Now on the second day, my hair is no longer oily.  I have found that it helps to rinse my hair with water on the days between the washings with soda.  I also read that you can let those washing go farther between as your hair adjusts.

One day I skipped the vinegar rinse because I forgot to make more before I was already in the shower.  Boy, was I surprised at how tangled my hair was afterwards.  The vinegar rinse really does work.

I only have one other family member joining me on this journey, so far.  The others might have to join by default, as they are soon to need shampoo and I just might not buy any! 

Again, I am just so pleased with my hair.  I have no reason to go back. 
~Jenn

"No Poo" & a New Doo

6 inches gone! 

Hello Dear Friends,

Six inches of my locks are gone!  What a relief!  It was getting so tangled and taking a lot of time to comb it after I washed it and used 2 different products to get the comb through.

I made another change regarding my hair.  I decided to go "no poo."  I have been reading about this craze for a long time.  I did not think much of it until I started to think about the cheap shampoo I use and how many chemicals are in there.  I won't be saving much money, by switching to this method, but I will be avoiding those unwanted chemicals, no longer using a detergent on my hair, and stop stripping the natural oils in my hair.  

So what is "no poo?"  It certainly doesn't mean not washing your hair, as I had thought.  It is very simple, actually.  You wash your hair with a baking soda and water mixture, then you rinse it in an apple cider and water mixture.  I am amazed at how great my hair feels after using this method for the last few washes.

To learn more and read a better blog about this method, go here.

Have any of you gone this route?  Are there other personal care products you've switched from to a more natural product?

Pretty Over the Kitchen Sink

It's a Linky Party hosted by Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter!  Leila has been teaching us how to have a reasonably clean house for awhile now.  Her recent focus has been on the kitchen.  The assignment at hand is to make your kitchen sink area pretty.

The above photo is my after picture.  Here is the before.  Not too much has changed, just put away some of the clutter.

But, what a difference it makes!  My only concern is that I really do need those items.  And I don't have a lot of cabinet space, as this is a 1960's tiny kitchen.  I like my dish drainer for drying those plastic things that won't get dry in the dish washer.  Maybe it is laziness?  I could hand dry them.  Or better yet, assign that job to a child.  It does become an unsightly mess...  *sigh*

The basket of dish clothes in the corner is going to move out this weekend.  This assignment inspired me to once again ask my darling to caulk around the sink so that we could use the two drawers.  I have not used them as water leaks in and it is a mess.  I really need those drawers, so the caulking has been done.  I now just need to wait for it to dry.  *smile*

My window decor is pretty simple, but pretty to me.  The lovely crochet bird that hangs in my window is a gift from a bloggy friend.

The Bluebird of Happiness is a gift from my grandmother and makes me smile.  The little plastic square is from my daughter.  She said it is my sunshine, as this window faces north.  The cross is another gift from Him.

I really liked Leila's idea about not having the soap container out in the open, so I hunted in my stash and found this one. It is not a match for the colors in the kitchen, but it is better than that soap container!  Maybe I will find a red one at a thrift store one of these days.

My kitchen is old and outdated and not so big, but I don't let that worry me.  It would be useless to fret about such things.  I like being debt free more than having a fancy kitchen.  I would like to make some curtains this coming summer when I will have more time.  Until then, I will enjoy the less cluttered look and look forward to what Leila writes about next.  Thank you, Leila!

Making a Family Home

Browsing through the new books at the library, my eye was caught by the title, Making a Family Home by Shannon Honeybloom.  At first glance I thought it was a decorating book.  Digging deeper, I found it to be just the opposite.  Mrs. Honeybloom offers good insights into making a home work for you and your family while maintaining order, peace, and safety with simplicity, modesty, and joy. She visits each area of a home and offers her thoughts on making the area pleasant and functional.  Now, as is usual, there are some things I needed to overlook, like some references to world views I do not hold.  All in all, it is a good book, a quick read, and if your library has it, I'd be sure to take a look.  You just might be inspired too.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book: 

"I found that paying attention to my home was (and is) a way to ground myself in the center of all the information and noise of my life. Home is the place that forms the basis for a child's future. Home is the place where children are introduced to the world. Home can help children thrive and unfold and gather courage to meet their future."  (pg. 10)

"Having grown up during the depression, my grandmother, had the habit of not buying many things and fixing her things when they broke.  Her home was spotless and uncluttered.  Each item was carefully cleaned, place, considered."  (pg. 12)

I pray all my US friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with your dear ones.  We will be hosting this year as the baton has been passed to my generation.  I will be honored to provide this to my family.  It's going to be a hard year without my grandparents here, a first. 
~Jenn

Simple Housing

We jumped off the "have a big mortgage" lifestyle a few years ago, when we decided to get debt free.  Since then, renting has been the only option.  Not that that is going to change anytime soon, but I keep finding hope while reading about others who have found creative solutions to their housing needs.

I am very interested in projects like the one above.  (click here to read the full story.)    I am also interested in people who live in modern Yurts or reclaimed grain bins.  Perhaps part of me knows that deep down I don't ever want another mortgage.  I'd rather live in a whole in the ground!

Note of Praise

I have been contemplating finances this morning.  I don't think we've had a raise in more than 5 years, yet the big corporations have kept up their cost of living increases all this time!  I see increases in every thing I buy.  I am forced to do more with less and less.  I am not upset.  This gives me the opportunity to give all the glory to God in this area.  It has to be a God thing, for sure.  Makes me feel like the widow and her endless jug of olive oil sometimes.  I just don't know how else we are still able to spend less than we earn.
~Jenn :-)

Warshing Clothes Recipe

This was sent to me in an email yesterday.  Thanks, Arlene! 

Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook -with spelling errors and all.  

WARSHING CLOTHES  

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water. 

Sort things, make 3 piles 

1 pile white, 

1 pile colored, 

1 pile work britches and rags. 

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water. 

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch. 

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.   

Hang old rags on fence. 

Spread tea towels on grass. 

Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. 

Turn tubs upside down. 

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs.. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings. 

================================================ 

Paste this over your washer and dryer Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks.. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer. 

For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse ;) 

 AND WE THOUGHT WE HAVE IT ROUGH

How to Survive on One Income

The amusing answer would be to make sure that one income is really BIG!  However, for most of us surviving on one income, the real world doesn't work like that.

When we jumped off the two income bandwagon, we had no clue how to manage money, even with one of us being a CPA.  Looking back, we would have been so much better off if we started living as if we had one income from the start before kids.

We made some errors along the way, too. We thought we could get the bigger house, nicer van, weekly trips to stuff mart, a yearly trip away too.  All that led up to was being in deep debt.  Four years later, all that debt is paid for.  It was the hard way that has taught us a thing or two!

I am happy to be debt free, but at the same time it is no picnic.  Without sounding like too much of a complainer, I am always feeling as if I need something that I can't have.  I feel poor.  I know this is not a true fact.  I am certainly blessed.  We have two vehicles in working order. We are healthy.  We have food in the pantry.  We still take trips, but ones we can save for.  I must combat those lies with truth at all times.

My wise husband always says it is not how much money you make, but how much you spend.  (Maybe he got that from Dave Ramsey?)  Keeping our spending in line is a full time effort.  I make lists of things I think we need and try to prioritize them.  I pray over these lists.  Sometimes it takes a long time to mark an item off.  Recently we were able to buy tires, a battery and brake pads for the van.  The next biggest item on my list is dental care for the whole family.  My prescription sunglasses broke on our anniversary trip.  I need clothes!  The kids need clothes and will need shoes soon.  And Christmas is coming.  I dread Christmas.

So, how does one survive on one humble income?  It takes prayer, sacrifice and a hatred of debt!  It takes courage, too.  Lots of courage!

Simple Living

I've wanted to write, but with school resuming, I have had little time to myself.  What time I do have, I like to spend gathering from other bloggers who have much more to offer than I.  If you have a little extra time, you might like to visit A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.  Her latest post sums up pretty well what I've been thinking about simple living.

So True...

"Enjoyment of life is enhanced by the knowledge that we don't need much in order to be happy." 
Mother Earth News, August/September 2010 issue

But Will It Make You Happy?

My love, hate relationship with stuff continues to rage!  Recently, we've been blessed with more really good stuff as family downsizes.  I love the new sectional!  The books are treasures. The kids like the extra TV that only plays VHS tapes.  But, I feel my chest start to constrict as I look around me.  More stuff here and there really makes me crazy!  My frustrations burst out and then I try to convince myself that this is probably just a stage of life.  When you have kids, you are going to have stuff.   My chest relaxes, a little.  Then I get a call from my dear mom.  Do we want her extra refrigerator?  I know my husband's answer will be, "YES!"  And really, it would be handy to have, but oh my, how will he ever get it here and then it will take up more precious space in the garage.  Maybe I live in a fantasy world, thinking I can get my possessions down to the right amount for our space. Yes, it is a fantasy!  Anyway, here is an article about a couple who did it  (without kids, I might add.)  *wink* 

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110275/but-will-it-make-you-happy

Making Noodles the Prairie Way

Just Thinking Out Loud

If I could buy a stove, it would be just like this one.  We had one like it when I was very small.  I remember it breaking once and Grandpa came to fix it.  Yep, if I could buy a stove...

PS And if I could buy a house, I'd buy one that this stove would fit right in!