Waking up your Senses

Maine Man has been asking me for some time to learn how to make shampoo. After a bit of googling I finally made it happen. I have made 2 batches so far and the kids and MM like it.

~I heated 16 oz. of distilled water (I would think tap water would suffice)

~Added 2 tea bags (cranberry pomegrate)

~Let it seep for 30 minutes and then removed tea bags

~Added 8 tablespoons of castile pepermint soap

(In the second batch I added a dash of olive oil)

The consistency is watery but the smell and the cool clean feel of the pepermint make up for it.

Here is one of the sites I referenced.

Total costs approximately .75/16 oz bottle.

While researching I found many great sites about the multiple uses of castille soap.

Here is one I'd like to share. This site interests me most because of the recipe for the laundry detergent at the very bottom. It is similar to the one I use but instead of Fels Naptha it calls for castile soap and it has baking soda in it. What I've missed most of store bought detergent is the scent. I love yummy smelling stuff but it costs too much to add essential oils to a few gallons of detergent. Fortunately, castile soap comes in many scents and may be the answer I've been looking for. I will definetly experiment with this and report which I like best.

Here is another informative site from Green Living Tips.

I also made soap for the VERY FIRST time and I am SO EXCITED!

I followed the recipe that I saw at From My Homestead here is the link. What I liked MOST: It was SO EASY! I used lemon eucalyptus essential oil and it smells HEAVENLY!

ALL YOU NEED IS:

5 simple ingredients: water, olive oil, oatmeal, lye, and essentail oils me

If you to are a beginner soap maker THIS is great soap recipe to follow. I used a mixer to combine the ingredients because I did not have a blender. I have read that immersion blenders work great for mixing too.

I guess the scariest part for me was working with the lye. I took precautions, wearing gloves, protective eyewear, and I made it in the shed (away from the kiddos and with room to run in case of an explosion.)

Despite all my worries I pulled it off without incident.

Anyone have any soap recipes they'd like to share?

Winter Wonderland

Today was the first official snow fall in my little town in Maine. We have had a few flurries but nothing that stuck to the ground. I enjoy all the seasons but winter like many can be tough at times. To keep those winter blues away I vow to make the best of it and get out. We will ice skate on the pond once it is safe. We will get out onto freshly packed powder with our cross country skis and my hiking boots & I will hit the trail on a regular basis! Fortunately, the main snowmobile trail goes right through our property so I have access to acres and acres of packed trails. No excuse not to get out unless it is below 0! There is no sense in whining because it is here to stay.





This winter I will also make lots of goodies in the kitchen. I have been making broth with any chicken or turkey bones I have remaining. I use it up mostly in soups but I plan to try it in rice. Until a few months back I had NEVER made it. To me broth came from a can at the store. When I first started making it I always cooked it on the stove top but now I cook it overnight in my crock pot. That idea came from Erica's 3 part series about "Making the Most of a Chicken". She is over at One Busy Momma and she is just that with lots of clever ideas.




I am trying to make more and more foods from scratch and I must admit (except for the dishes) I am having a good time doing it and I am learning lots along the way.



We have had a few batches of squash and pumpkin seeds. I mix them up with sea salt and olive oil and cook them up on a cookie sheet.



I have cooked up several pumpkins and squash since reading about how to cook it up over at Angie's blog . Here is the post if you want to check it out. I have made up a couple of batches of pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and for Thanksgiving I made a yummy squash pie. I might attempt to make up a squash soup unless any of you have any suggestions for something better.
I am also in search for some bean recipes. I recently had a three bean casserole that was to die for. If any of you have some good bean recipes on your blogs please direct me.

~Sweat Dreams ~ Kim

Thanksgiving Funnies

Can you even imagine being so obsessed that you would put this on the back of your pickup?
We were driving behind this vehicle on Thanksgiving night and I couldn't help but take a picture.

On Thanksgiving morning this is what I found in the cracked corn.
The kids decided to capture him and place them in there catch and release tank.
As we were preparing the tank Leah was "suppose" to be standing guard.

Suddenly we heard a loud screech come from the barn so Luke and I went running expecting to find that the mouse had bitten her. She hysterically described how it climbed up her arm into her pj's went across her back and then back down her other sleeve. We laughed so hard we had tears running down.

That night the kids went to check on "cheese" and said he was sleeping. A little while later I went out with flashlight and discovered cheese was not sleeping but dead. I'd stay the stress of it all?? It was either that or the cat would have taken him out.

No Sew Blankets

Isn't she sweet? My niece turned 1 last week and Luke and I made her a "no sew" blanket.
Good thing it did not require sewing because my friend Mary has had my sewing machine for the last 8 years or so because of my lack of patience to operate the darn thing. I know where it is if I ever develop any patience (highly unlikely). I made the kids a bigger version of these blankets 2 years ago and they may be getting a couple new ones shortly but we will keep that hush, hush for now. I learned how to do this from my c0-worker Pam and to refresh my memory this time around I did a Google search and there are a couple good sites with pictures.

Supplies needed:

~2 pieces of fleece, one plain colored and the other with a pattern
(2 yards of each)

~ good pair of scissors - I bought some new ones and they are now in hiding from the kids

~ 4" square cut out of cardboard

You will need a big area to work. The above blanket is only made out of 1 yard because she is just a little tike so I was able to make it on the table but the 2 yard blankets I make on the floor.


Step 1 : Lay fabric out wrong sides facing together.

Step 2 : Using the cardboard as a measuring tool cut a 4" square out of all 4 corners.

Step 3: Pick a side to start with. Fold back material to that 4 " depth and go down sides cutting 1" strips (I just eyeball it, this blanket is very forgiving). I cut all 4 sides before knotting.

Even the kitties love these blankets!

Get the idea?

WARNING: Injuries may occur in the making of this blanket!
See those band aids on my boys thumb? Fleece burn from knotting.

Step 4: Start knotting the 1" strips.

There you have it!
1 no-sew blanket. Total cost $9.50
Everyone loves them, GREAT GIFT for ALL AGES!!

P.S. I am way behind on comments I will catch up shortly I promise!
Upcoming post on wreath making.

I am Thankful For...

I am thankful for... Angie at Children in the Corn and Linda at A Truckers Wife.

They both presented me with the butterfly award. I am also thankful for the Hot Blog award handed over from my other blogging friend, Grey Wolf at Two Old Cripples.

THANKS AGAIN!

If I wasn't so stinking pooped and stuffed from today's events I'd pass these along BUT since I like to break rules I will just end it in saying YOU ALL have wonderful blogs!

There are many blogs I read although I do not have time to visit them daily. I do catch up and read back whenever I get a chance. I read an array of blogs from homesteading, hunting, self-sufficiency, animal loving, parenting, and even some that are somewhat religious (although I am not the least bit religious per se. I do believe in prayer and God) I just don't get into following what one group feels is the "right way". I have my own beliefs and my own way of doing things. I do not need to go to church and kneel on the benches when I can go in my back garden and kneel on soft dirt while reflecting on my life. To me the outdoors is my chapel. Don't mean to rant, just my opinion! (Too many years in catholic school) What I am getting at is that we all are so different but we all bring something to the table and there is so much to learn from one another. That is what I love most about blogging!

Since I started blogging in March I have done and tried so many new things. I contribute it to the new path I've taken in my my life along with all the new things I've learned from my blogging friends . I just want to say... Thanks for being REAL. Thanks for the SUPPORT you all offer in hardships. Thanks for the ADVICE you give and Thanks for sharing all of your great IDEAS.

There are many more things I am thankfull for, my family, my friends, this farm, my health, but I share that with you throughout the year and today I thought would be a good time to show my gratitute to my fellow bloggers.

On a final note, THE WINNERS of my giveaway are.......SARAH so girl you best be going to get your ears re-pierced because those fish earrings will be headed your way via snail mail and MANDIE those colorful earring are all yours but there will be a slight delay as I am waiting for my headpins to arrive. If you both leave me a comment with your e-mail addresses I will contact you asap.

Are You My Momma?

Tasty..

As Leah layed on the couch Cookie latched on to her toe and suckled for quite some time.

What can I say? We are easily entertained!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Making Earrings 101 & GIVEAWAY

Supplies needed: sterling silver hooks, sterling head pins, sterling silver balls, needle nose pliers,
small wire cutters, glass beads.

I order all my silver products from Fire Mountain
Sometimes I get beads from there but I get most of them through local craft stores.

1st step : gather your supplies

2nd step: Assemble to your liking. I often use this pattern but there are tons of variations. I sometimes photocopy peoples earring, cut pictures out of magazines, or just peak around the www for ideas.

3rd step: Cut your head pin. Length is crucial and curl the wire. (I suggest practice with cheap stainless head pins) See the video of Maine Man doing this below. He helps me with this too, aren't I spoiled to have such an all around man? He does everything from slaughtering the chickens, laundry, and yes helping me make earrings.
That always drives my buddy Mary crazy because she does her own cutting and curling. She's just jealous! ;)

While I am talking about Mary she is the one who deserves ALL credit for this post as she was the one who introduced me to this. She is the "Martha" of earring making. She has 2 kilns and does all kinds of fancy stuff with fused and dichroic glass. Here's a picture of us a couple years ago when she got married. We go WAY BACK, we've been best friends for 20 years. I was the rebel kid that moved next door. She is more like a sister and let me tell you I had some dirt of her in that diary that went up in flames.
Ain't she cute? The bitch, I mean my buddy still gets carded. That ceased years ago for me.

When I am making earrings I often use an egg carton to put them into after they are assembled just to keep parts together and earring pairs matched up.




This is an earring I have from years ago that I saved. I want to make a pair using silver. I just bought some beads similar to. I just need some wire to wrap with.


These are a real easy pair to make, just add a hook. I bought the pewter fish pieces through fire mountain. They could be yours just leave a comment and let me know which one is your first choice and I'll mail them to you if you get picked.

These are already spoken for but I am going to the craft store this morning to get some more and as soon as my Fire Mountain order arrives with my headpins I'll mail you out a pair if you prefer these. I made these for a friend at work and she wore them ALL the time and says she got tons of compliments until she lost one. She begged me to make her another one "All I want for Christmas is..." is really how she put it and of course Santa came through. If these are the earrings you choose you will get them but there will be a delay. I am a woman of my word!

Choose from the 2 pair of earring just above, leave a comment with your e-mail or check back in to see if your the lucky one.
Giveaway deadline.....THANKSGIVING EVE at Midnight! Off to my nieces 1st birthday party!