Our Newest Family Members

On Easter Sunday, the Easter bunny left more than just eggs in our yard, he also left two adorable baby chicks.  The kids found them in a basket with a note from the Easter bunny, asking the kids to give his chicks a good home.

They are growing faster than any other chicks we have had, perhaps because there are only two chicks sharing feed.  Above is a pics on the little girls in their brooder box (basically a wooden box with a heat lamp on top) yesterday, already looking pretty grown up.

As you can see, they are very well loved.

Double Yolker

Have you ever found a double yolked egg in a commercial box of eggs?  I would be a bit surprised if you had, as they are not very common.  However, there are a few things that would increase your odds of finding a double yolker, one is the age of the chicken laying the eggs.  Young chickens are more likely to lay a double yolk egg than older chickens.  Very large eggs laid by young chickens are also more likely to be double yolkers than standard size eggs.    So, when one of my young chickens laid a very large egg, knew what I had on my hands - a double yolker.

In the above picture the two blue/green eggs were laid by my young chickens, and the brown egg was laid by an older chicken.  The brown egg is about the size of a commercial large egg, the smaller blue/green is about the size of a medium commercial egg.  The large blue/green egg in the upper left would not fit in a standard egg carton.

This is what I found when I cracked the egg - two yolks as predicted. Probability in action.

If you would like to learn more about the statistically probabilities associated with double yolked eggs, check out "More or Less" from BBC radio 4.  It really is interesting...really!

Chalk Alternative

I love chalkboard paint.  I use it on just about everything.  Even my dining table is covered in chalkboard paint.  There is just one problem.... chalk.

Even if you forget about allergies, and the mess that chalk dust makes, chalk still has a serious flaw.  Chalk will not hold a point, it simply  breaks too easily.  So it is nearly impossible to write fine lines or on small surfaces with chalk.  I have seen a few new liquid chalk pens that write wonderfully, but they are very expensive (around $5 or $6 per pen).  What is a thrifty, chalkboard loving gal to do?

Buy a soap stone marker like the one pictured above.  Soap stone is an extremely soft stone.  It is so soft that a small amount of it will actually rub off on hard surfaces and leave a light mark.  This mark can be removed, but it does not rub off as easily as chalk, making it ideal for marking on items that will be handled (like the above food jars).  They can even be sharpened like a pencil, so they can write very fine lines.

Soap stone markers are traditionally used by metal workers, as they write easily on metal.  And since they are a tool they can be found, rather cheaply, at hardware stores.  My soap stone marker, seen above, was found at my local hardware store for about $2, and refills can be found for about $1 for a five pack (not that you will need them - I have used the same piece of stone for about 1 year now).

Happy marking...

Fabric Covered Button Tacks

I thought I would give you another little peek at my up and coming studio.  This is a peek at one tiny detail - the tacks I have made for my pin board.

If you would like to make some tacks like these for yourself, it is really very simple.  Start with a fabric covered button kit, a few fabric scraps, and some tacks.  Make sure the buttons you buy are large enough to fit over your tacks.  If you can find them, buy the buttons that do not have a shank attached to the back.  The shanks can be taken off with a heavy duty wire cutter if you are unable to find the buttons with the plain backs.

     

First, remove the shanks if necessary.  Then follow the instructions on your particular button kit.  Once your buttons have been made, use hot glue to attach the tacks to the buttons.

This is a great project to use up scraps of precious fabric that are too small for any other use, as well as fabric covered buttons left over from other projects.  These buttons are also great magnet covers; but if you use the really strong magnets keep them far away from each other until the hot glue has thoroughly cooled – I know from personal experience that the magnets are stronger then the glue.

The Kid's Craft Area

My kid’s have a little craft area adjacent to my own.  Its complete disarray was driving me to distraction.  It was also driving the children into my own craft area.  Something had to be done!

I decided to install 2 small Bygel rails and 8 Bygel containers that I picked up the last time I was at Ikea (total cost around $12 USD).  The containers hold things like colored pencils, markers, and scissors.  I also repurposed some small tin cans to hold crayons.  Under their table 2 cloth boxes I made a while ago hold paper, felt, coloring books, stickers, and other craft embellishments.  The kids started using their newly organized table almost immediately, so quickly in fact that I didn’t get a chance to take a picture of the table while it was mess free.

Now it is time to brag!  The morning after the kid’s craft table was cleaned up my daughter presented me with a project she made entirely on her own.  She turned her little shopping cart into a horse for her dolls to ride in.  I think she did a really wonderful job, and I just had to share.

Recycled Crayons

It is back to school time once again, and you know what that means, new school supplies -  Fresh notebooks, full bottles of glue, and best of all, new whole pointy crayons!  But what do you do with the old broken bits of crayon that sit neglected in the shadow of the new crayons?  You make crayon blobs.

Simply take your broken bits of crayon (paper labels removed), stick them in an oven safe mold, and melt them at 175 degrees Fahrenheit until they are well melted (about 30 minutes).

Helpful Tips:

• Use a mold that will not be used for food later, or line the mold with paper.
• Don’t be tempted to turn the temperature up, or leave them in too long, because the pigment will sink to the bottom of the mold.
• Small molds are easier for little hands.  Try not to make your crayon blobs larger than will comfortably fit in a child’s hand.

If you want to be even greener, you could try putting your filled mold in a car on a very hot day.  I know my car will get hot enough to melt crayons :)

Good, Cheap Yarn

When I saw the Soho Smocked Dress from Modern Top-Down Knitting, it was love at first sight.  I had to knit that dress, but that much good quality yarn doesn't come cheap.  I began searching for good, affordable yarn, but I didn't have much luck.  That was until, quite by accident I came across Little Knits.

I ordered a full bag of Nashua Creative Focus Superwash, and paid just over $20 for the bag, that's about 75% off.  I suspect the yarn was overstock or something similar, because there was a limited color choice.  The yarn came in about a week after I placed my order - not bad for a trip from Seattle to Florida - through the cost of shipping was a bit high.

Overall I couldn't be happier with my purchase, and I would encourage anyone looking for good cheap yarn to give them a look.

Up-cycled Play Pants

After my mosquito fear mongering a few days ago I decided to make a few pairs of play pants for my son (otherwise know as a human mosquito magnet).

I make these pants from up-cycled men's dress shirts I find at thrift shops.   A men's size large is usually big enough for a full length pair of kid's size 2T or 3T pants.  The material is light weight, still fairly durable, highly washable, and cheap.  Best of all, my kid's think they are comfy, and the elastic waistband is easy for them to take on and off for potty breaks.

Success in the Garden

My daughter and I were shocked yesterday when we found these giant cucumbers hiding in the back of our cucumber patch.  They had survived the early plucking most of our other cucumbers have suffered, because they were nestled behind and under the bushy leaves of the plants.  The size of these makes me wonder how much bigger they would have gotten had I not discovered them.

These beauties are Burpee's burp-less variety, grown organically.  The sandy soil they were planted in was heavily amended with compost, and planted throughout with marigolds.  So far these plants have flourished with little care.

Our dinner was graced with these beautiful Roma tomatoes, also picked from our garden.  This is the first year I have successfully grown tomatoes in my garden, and I couldn't be more pleased.  So far the only pest I have encountered is stink bugs, which are more annoying than harmful.  Blossom end rot is a bit of an issue when we get excess rain, but it goes away pretty quickly (I think the raised bed they are planted in helps).

I found this bizarre little creature crawling on my foot while relaxing in the yard the other day.  I have no idea what it is, but I find it's hot pink legs and wings intriguing.  Do you have any idea what this thing might be, besides an abomination?

Everything Gives me a Rash Deodorant

Every deodorant we have come across so far gives Firebeard a rash eventually.  So far it has not mattered wether the deodorant is a major name brand, hypo-allergenic, all natural, or even organic.  They have all eventually given him a rash.  As a result I began researching natural deodorant ingredients to find out which ones might be the culprits.  Through my research, and a bit of experimentation, I believe I have now come up with a recipie for deodorant that won't give Firebeard a rash, and STILL WORKS! I decided to share this recipe with you in the hope that it will help others out there who get deodorant rash.  Enjoy, and please let me know if it works for you!

Everything Gives Me a Rash Deodorant

Ingredients:

• 2 tbl coconut oil
• 1 tsp shea butter
• 1 tsp cocoa butter
• 2 capsules vitamin E (optional preservative)
• 1/2 cup + 3-4 tbl corn starch

Directions:

1. Melt solid/semi-solid butters in a double broiler (or microwave)
2. Stir in liquid oils
3. Remove from heat, and mix in 1/2 cup cornstarch
4. Add up to 4 more tablespoons cornstarch to reach a firm consistency

Put this mixture into a container of your choice, (I used an old deodorant holder that I had cleaned out), and let it cool to room temperature before you use it.  Ta-da!  No more stinky, rashy pits.

So why no essential oil or baking soda?

I did not include baking soda because it has a slightly basic Ph, and human skin prefers neutral or slightly acidic Ph.  If you have very sensitive skin, the basic Ph of baking soda can irritate it.

Likewise I did not include essential oils because they can be irritating to sensitive skin; however, some are gentler than others.  Lavender is generally a good choice for sensitive skin, and tea tree oil, and neem oil will help keep stinky bacteria at bay, but try them in small amounts at first.

Perhaps I should also post the recipe for the deodorant I have made for myself as well, as I have insensitive underarm skin and my recipe is a bit different.

I will be taking off for memorial day, but with luck I will be back by Wednesday with more crafty goodness.

The reason for my silence - My Garden

I have been very busy lately.  While I have been knitting, and sewing, the vast majority of my time has been taken by my garden. It started in early February with my kids helping me start seeds in in egg cartons.  I found that the clear plastic kind did a much better job sprouting seeds than the Styrofoam kind.  The clear plastic kind acted like a mini green house with the top down, keeping the seeds warm and moist.

The kids now have a sense of ownership for the "baby" plants they helped raise from seeds, and a vigilant weed pullers (they don't want the mean weeds to hurt their baby plants), and never fail to water a dry plant.  I hope this translates to eating the fruits of their labors later as well.

We planted primarily those vegetables which we eat most often, like tomatoes, and the herbs I favor cooking with, but can be expensive to buy fresh.  In this way I hope to lower our total food bill, and in subsequent years I plan to plant enough of each veggie, and enough variety to last us through a season or two (with preservation).

I will soon have to update these pictures however, because these were taken when I had originally planned to tell you all about my garden, a few weeks ago.

Reduce - Stop Shopping

One great way to spend less money is to stop spending it.  I am not going to go quite so drastic as to say you should stop paying for everything and buy nothing (y0u probably have bills to pay and a desire to eat), but I think we should all stop looking for stuff to buy.  Unfortunately this is not as easy as it sounds. We are bombarded by advertising every way we turn.  Ads are on TV, radio, the internet, billboards, inside stores, and even in schools.  These ads are designed to tell us why we can't live without something we previously didn't know existed, and they work.

Here is what I suggest;

1. As hard as it may seem (and it is hard) avoid ads.
2. Do not browse in stores or online.
3. Visit stores as little as possible - the fewer opportunities you have to buy the less you will buy.
4. Keep a detailed list of what you need throughout the week.  Go to the store armed with your list.  Buy what is on your list, then get out of the store.

What can you do during those long hours when you are not shopping?I will have a long list of ideas for you next time.

~Gerwerken

Save Money - Reduce, Reuse, and DIY

I have been asked on more than one occasion how my family manages to make end's meet.  After all, I am a stay at home mom, and Firebeard works for the state (not an industry that tends to throw money at its employees).  What do I answer to this enquiry?  Grace, luck, we don't always make ends meet, I don't know.... The truth is that I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve.  With unemployment going up and economic stability still on shaky ground, I decided to share a few of these tricks.

I am calling my method Reduce, Reuse, and DIY.  Reduce involves spending less, changing expectations.  Reuse involves repurposing the goods you already have, or can get 2nd hand cheap/free, so that they suit your new and ongoing needs.  DIY involves the many ways in which doing things your self can save you money.

Since this is such a broad topic I plan to break it down into several posts, so can an eye on this space if you need some money saving tips.

Firewood

Where I live trees fall down when it rains a lot.  I have no idea why this happens, but for the past several years my family has found its occurence very fortuitous.  When a neighbor's tree falls RedBeard (DH) and my FiL offer to cut the tree down and haul the wood away.  The neighbor gets rid of the downed tree, and we get firewood for the next winter. We usually have to wait for hurricane season to get enough rain for a tree to fall, but after several days of rain last week a tree fell in the development being built (by our next door neighbor) in front of our house.

The tree(s) that fell were huge, growing from one giant trunk to a two trunk monstrosity.  For some perspective, here is a pic of red beard atop the tree.  He is 6'3".

The weekend was spent cutting and hauling away the tree.  It was a family affair.  The menfolk did the cutting, while I knit, and the kids played a safe distance away.  When the guys paused to sharpen their saws the kids and I jumped into action loading the trailer.

The second day we were out was much colder,with rain coming in on the wind.  The kids wanted to "help" despite the conditions, and the fact that the only logs left to load were 100+ pounds.

By the way, this is about as close as we get to snow here in Florida, and yes, my kids did try to build a snowman.....or would that be saw dust man.

Tulle Tutu

1 hour + 20 inches of elastic + 10 whip stitches + 9 (yes 9) yards of tulle = 1 happy fairy princess in a giant tulle tutu

I used Grosgrain's simple tutorial, and recycles the tulle from my Halloween costume (I was a ghost).  Voila!  A happy munchkin.

How does DIY Laundry Detergent Work?

After writing my previous article, DIY Laundry Detergent, I realized that there is no reason that any of you would trust a word I say on such a subject.  If I were you I wouldn't trust me, and I don't trust other bloggers on blind faith either.  When I find a topic I an interested in, I research.  Here is some of my findings on DIY Laundry Detergent, and a few links to help you begin your research if you are inclined. ~Gerwerken

How does DIY Laundry Detergent Work?

For thousands of years humans have been washing fabric in water.  At times we have also hit that fabric against rocks, with sticks, or against the beaters in our washing machines.  We have boiled the water, or added things to it, but the use of water hasn’t changed.  Why?  Water cleans really well.  That’s why it is often referred to as, “the universal solvent.”  We could wash our clothes in plain water alone, get pretty clean clothes, and save a lot of money.

So if water does such a good job, why do we bother with soaps and detergents?  The main reason when it comes to laundry is that oil and water don’t mix, soap acts like a match maker.  Soap, or saponified fats, act as emulsifying agents so that oil, and the dirt attracted to it, can be washed away by water.  Washing Soda, or Sodium Carbonate is added to the mix because we rarely wash our clothes in pure soft water.  Instead, we use tap water, hard, soft, or in-between (for a cute story about the difference between hard and soft water click here).  The washing soda bonds with some of the minerals in hard water, particularly magnesium and calcium, so the soap does not have to.  Without the washing soda, we would need a LOT more soap.

Finally Borax, or sodium borate, a naturally occurring alkaline mineral, helps whiten whites and brighten brighten.  Borax converts some of the water molecules to hydrogen peroxide, which you will know if you have ever seen a peroxide blond, acts similarly to bleach.  As an added bonus, it also kills roaches, I bet your old detergent didn’t do that.

DIY Laundry Detergent

So you can knit, sew, cook your food from scratch, and change your own oil.  Can you make your own laundry detergent?  Do you even know what is in your laundry detergent? I started making my own laundry detergent almost a year ago now, and I have been experementing to find the best formula.  At the moment,  I have a keeper.  This formulation has been successful at getting out toddler strength stains.

This is how you make it...

Ingredients:

Castille Soap (grated)

Borax

Washing Soad

Baking Soad (optional)

Essential Oil (optional)

The Formula:  I made a ratio of ingredients rather than an exact recipe so that you can make a small batch or a large batch, and there wouldn't be any problem going from English to metric measures, etc.  Note:  Ratios are by VOLUME.

Mix 2 parts grated soap, 1 part borax, 1 part washing soda, and if desired, 0.5 to 1 part baking soda (use more for heavily soiled clothing), and essential oil as preferred (I like lavender).

Example: 2 cups grated soap (about 1 bar), 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda, 0.5 cup baking soda, and 20 drops essential oil.

Once you mix it all up, stick it in a container with a tight lid, and use about 1/8 cup per regular load of wash.

Restyled Pillow

My daughter loves the soft fuzzy feel of fleece, and was reluctant to give up her fleece footy pj's when they got too small and the temperature got too high.  When she wanted to wear the too small pj's on an 80 degree F night, I was only able to talk her out of it by promising to make her a pillow from the pj's. Here is what I did.

This is what the original PJ's looked like.

Step 1:  Cut off the Sleeves.

Step 2:  Sew a line of stitches perpendicular to the zipper just under where you cut the sleeves off.  Make sure the zipper pull is BELOW this stitch line.

Step 3:  Stitch another line perpendicular to the zipper just above the crotch.

Step 4:  Cut off the sleeve area above the stitch line, and the leg area below the stitch line.  Leave a seam allowance.  I left about 0.5 inch.

Now you have a pillow case.  You can stuff it, find an insert that fits, or use all of the leftovers that you cut off, sew them together into same dimensions as the case and stuff that.  I did the later, and ended up with a Frankenstein's monster esque pillow, that worked really well.

There was only a little bit of fabric leftover.  I cut these pieces into circles roughly 2 inches wide.  I pinched these circles at the middle, then sewed that pinch together.

I sewed these together at the base, then sewed them to the pillow.

Ta Da!