Simply Clean!

For some time now I have wanted to try my hand at making homemade cleaners, and a couple weekends ago, I finally did it!  I started with a disinfectant recipe that I found on this website http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm , the recipe is as follows:

*Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.)*   

Here I made a double batch and I was able to reuse old spray bottles!

In my recipe, I did not use castile soap only because I did not have any on hand, but did add some tea tree & sweet orange essential oils.  Tea Tree Oil is used as an anti bacterial, anti microbial, anti septic, anti viral, balsamic, cicatrisant, expectorant and fungicide…just to name a few.  For more information check out this link http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-tea-tree-essential-oil.html which lists them in more details.  I chose sweet orange because it is a natural grease cutter and because it smells great…perfect for cleaning the kitchen!  There are plenty of different homemade disinfectants out there, so try and few and decide for yourself which is your favorite!

It has been three weeks since I have started using my new disinfectant and I’m really enjoying the benefits of not having harmful chemicals in my home as well as creating products for a fraction of the cost.  I have also cut up old t-shirts into easy to use pieces and placed them right next to the cleaner; this way, when I’m ready to clean or wipe something up, I’m not reaching for paper towels.  By having these t-shirt pieces easily accessible, I learning to do without paper towels, which is better for my wallet and better for the environment!  We know that we are living in a tough economy, but I fear this is not then end, so it’s time to start doing more at home and saving money! 

Till next time……

Feathered House Guests

When my husband and I were building our home a couple years ago, we were surprised when we walked into our cellar and found something swoosh right by us.  At first we thought maybe a bird had gotten into the cellar by mistake, but after looking around for a bit, we found a beautiful bird’s nest!!  At this time, we were in the building stages, so the cellar was closed up, all except for the cellar windows which is why our little house guest built a nest on the beam of our cellar—it was dry, safe but not the most quiet spot to raise youngin’s.    While she was out, I grabbed a ladder and crawled up to find her little nest...amazing!

 

 Have a look inside…..how precious!!! 

For the next couple weeks, we left the windows open so that Momma could fly in and out and take care of her little babies.  The picture below is what I call a full nest--aren’t they just adorable??  Till this day, I’m not really sure what type of bird she was due to the fact that her eggs where white with brown spots; either way, she had the cutest little babies. 

 

Fast forward 6 years…I was shocked when I found another nest, but this time it belonged to robins and was outside.  It was a warm spring day, and while walking into my laundry room, a bird swooped by the window and flew away.  I thought to myself “wow that bird is awfully close to the house”, so I went about my laundry and didn’t give it a second thought.  The next day, I went into my laundry room again, not thinking about the bird, and once again that bird flew right by the window….so that got me thinking, “Do we have another nest out there somewhere?”  I dropped what I was doing immediately because after all, this is important!!!  I went outside and started looking around for a nest somewhere and sure enough…..……through my flower bed and in my little decorative pine bush!

And so a new journey began for me…….back inside I went to fetch my camera!   The pine bush is not very tall, probably only 5 feet, so I was able to get a good look at that gorgeous nest and the beautiful little turquoise eggs that filled it!  How cute!

 

 The nest was perfectly round and made with all sorts of things from the forest floor!  I admired the fact that they built this nest facing the house (more protection) and also because this spot had a wonderful canopy (the upper part of my shrub) which came in handy several days during this rainy season.  I found myself sneaking in the laundry room (and I do mean sneaking so I wouldn’t scare them away) and I would sit there and just watch them being parents.  The first thing I noticed was how the parents cared for their little eggs—taking turns guarding them and keeping them warm.  Once the eggs were hatched (which was only a couple weeks from when I actually found the nest), the parents were extremely busy out getting food for the new hatchlings.  Watching them  feed their young was such a riot!  Those babies were always hungry and there was one little guy who just sat there with his mouth open all the time!  Below is a picture of the full nest!

It was just a few short weeks and my little babies were gone.  This experience reminded me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This is a simple reminder for all of us that we need put our trust in God and not to worry;

He is in control and will provide.      

Made with love by Mom!

Today was a great day!  The thing that made it so great is that I was able to spend it with my Mom!!  We had been planning a day of sewing together for quite some time and today’s agenda included cloth napkins which we made from scraps of material and old sheets.  My reasoning for doing this is I am trying to be more earth friendly and also to save some money on unnecessary paper products.

Mom simply took squares of material and sewed them (wrong sides together) leaving a space so that we could turn them right side out.  Once they were turned right side out, we gave them a quick press with the iron and went around the edges with a zig-zag stitch and voila'!  We created various sizes so that my husband and I could try them out and decide which ones we would prefer to use on a regular basis.  Time will tell if I will need to purchase darker material for those meals that include spaghetti sauce and other stubborn staining foods. 

Here is a picture of my Mom cutting the squares and getting ready to sew them together.  My Mom is so creative and makes some of the most gorgeous items you have ever seen.  Her new love is quilting and she has made gorgeous quilts, quillows (a quilt that wraps up to form a pillow—great for car trips for the kids) and place mats/table runners.  I’m not quite ready for quilting, and not sure I am up for the challenge, but I love to see the new projects that she is tackling. 

Mom putting on the finishing touches on the daisy napkins. 

She also organized my sewing container.....thanks Mom!

Here are the finished projects….different sizes and patterns….I can’t wait to use them!

Mom said the next project would be cloth cup coasters that would help absorb the sweating cups in this sticky and humid weather.  I'm guessing that she was not impressed by the coaster I was using while we were sewing!  It's clean and it served it's purpose....and she's lucky I didn't give her one for her cup!!! 

Mom made sure that she left a special tag on one of my napkins.  This message is not only true for the napkins but for everything that Mom does.  God has blessed me with such a loving and caring Mother who puts love in everything she does.  Whatever task is ahead of her, and whether it’s for family, friend or stranger, she puts love into it.  I want her to know how special she is to me and how much I cherish the time that we spend together.  Whenever I use these napkins, I will always remember you telling me to "use my napkin". 

I love you Mom!

I have linked this to the Homestead Barn Hop

Simply Growin'

Simply growin’ is just that…..simply growin’.  Life is all about growing, it’s ever-changing!  My first and most important area of growth is my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ, Who has certainly turned my life around and is opening my eyes to what is truly important in this life.  Secondly, I am growin’ in my desire to live more simply which is causing me to seek and learn how to do things differently; so very different than what I am use to.  And lastly, I’m growin’ physically, not so much in areas that I had hoped, but since I’ve turned 40, things are really changing….all part of simply growin’.   I hope that you will follow me on this journey, I’m not quite sure where it will take us, but I am excited to see where God will lead me.