wanna be......

I would love to be able to be this kind of woman.  I know women had to do so much "back in the day".  We have to do more now, though.  Most of us have some kind of work outside the home or at least not related to home.  Each of the tasks this lady is doing I have to do after I have put in a full day in town.  I missed so much when my son was growing up and regret it now.  I know we all do what we have to do, but looking forward to retirement day shouldn't be part of it.  Don't get me wrong, I am very blessed to have a career that I love.  I can't imagine myself doing anything else, but teaching Kindergarten.  I just feel that I give so much to those at school and was always wore out by the time I got home.  I hope if you are reading this you have been blessed enough to have been able to stay home while your children were young and watch them grow up.  

  OK let me get back to the kitchen sink.  

My First Party

I just joined a linky party, but I don't even know if I'm doing what I need to do.  I was never much of a "partier".  It looks like fun so I joined in.  If you want to join up grab the button to the right for Homemaker on a Dime Party.

on a cold and wet evening

 The weather has been so gloomy here.  Spending a day inside a classroom with 21 5 yr. olds can be tiring, when they are all full of wiggles from staying in everyday.  A nice hot cup of tea can feel so good when sipped in front of a nice warm fire.  What makes you feel good at the end of hard day?

This is the first year I didn't have to go out and help cut and bring in the wood.  The only downside I have found to this is the floor is always dirty and needs a good sweeping.

In response to a question about the homemade laundry detergent I got the recipe from Mary Jane over at http://thebeehivecottage.blogspot.com/.

I only cut mine down to one cup of each with one bar of the Fels-Naptha since I didn't know if we would have a reaction to it. (my DH is allergic to lots of detergents)  There was no reaction so I'll be making more this weekend.  I like this recipe with the baking soda as the baking soda helps eliminate odors and there are lots of those on a farm.  The vinegar in the rinse didn't leave any smell REALLY!!  I even tried it in the dryer on a cloth and it kept the static down.  Wouldn't my Gramma be proud?  Let me know if you try it and how you like it.

I have found a GREAT exercise site, exercisetv.com.   It has lots of free videos to workout with, for any level.  In my mobile home space is limited and jumping is questionable, but they have so many varieties.  This is good for those bad weather days when you can't get out, don't have time or the kids can't go.  CHECK IT OUT!!!

and the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down.

So I'm stuck inside all day with a pot of homemade soup, my DH (dear hubby) and rain on the tin roof.  I've washed several of loads of clothes and my homemade detergent works good.  DH has had no reaction and the cost is next to nothing.  Now I'm on a mission to see how many other things I can make that are economical and better for me and my little world.  

If only I could go outside and get sticks to whittle for clothes pins.  

new year new life

With temperatures outside freezing we're still busy farming on the inside.  These chick started hatching Sunday which was our coldest day this year so far.  We have them under a 25 watt light and hope they survive.

It's that time again !!

Last year was the first year we made an effort to grow heirloom vegetables.  We had waited until almost march to get started so most of what we got came from online.  This year we have been bombarded with great catalogs.  This is going to be fun if we could only find the time to sit down together and make some decisions.

I love the artwork on the covers.  It's just so simple and homey.

 A bar of soap and a cup each of washing soda, baking soda and borax makes a simple detergent.

A vintage bread box to keep it in and a little apple cider vinegar for rinse and I'm off to a clean start. 

I did wash dishes in the detergent to see how well it worked and it did.  I don't know about a dishwasher.

What are you doing to improve your quality of life this year?