Dehydrating the s l o w way!

Yes, how did I dry this, is the question.  I asked myself that. A little while back my dehydrator shorted and it melted, sadly.  Now, less a the proper tool, I thought I'd put it in the oven on the lowest setting....and then the light in my head went on - "oh ya, this is my 'one small change' addition this month"!  I assume that my ovens do pull A LOT of power.  So I changed the regime - when I'm pulling something out of my oven - in go my peels, to soak up the drying heat while the oven cools s l o w l y - because it is an old oven!    Thanks for asking Garden Mama!

Our One Small Change Update

This week we've had some time to put this post into practice!  People who know me, believe that I'm of the mindset of prevention - and I AM - but in my weakness I still fly to my books on holistic remedies for answers when fevers flare in effort to avoid medicating if possible (how do I prepare that concoction again?).

 The 'littles' have been on and off sick for a couple of weeks now - but this week it erupted in a volcano of...shall I say it?....

s n o t !

Our Cough-Syrup of choice is raw honey infused with garlic and onion, and a drop of oil of oregano per tsp. "Gulp it down as quick as possible!"  I say, as Papa follows them with some fresh squeezed orange juice.  It is NOT tasty!

So between a mountain of extra laundry, a few nights of less sleep (Isn't that just part of the life of families with young children?), enjoying some extra time with our hard working Papa (he took the week off) - that is our week in review.

Our month in review.  January twenty-ten.  One Small Change (thanks to Hip Mountain Mama) has been both a success and challenge!  I started at the beginning declaring that we were going to sprout!  I had forgotten how sprouting is like having a pet, much like a kombucha mushroom or sourdough....it needs some attention - that - unfortunately for my seeds - I did not give that good of attention.  So it became apparent by mid month that I was going to switch my habit for One Small Change and incorporate sprouting at a later date.

The habit that we incorporated this month was the use of cloth wipes for dipes instead of disposable wet wipes.  I really should have done it a long time ago - we cloth diaper much of the time, so you would think by now I would have a cloth wipe regime going on....(blush) I did not.  So what better time to make That change than now!

February welcomes our next small change and that one we started implementing this past week.  As I was rushing through the pages of this or that plant/remedy book,  I came across some teas.  Teas of dried orange, lemon, and grapefruit peels.  So this month instead of throwing of composting our citrus peels, (and I've added the odd apple slices and other organic fruit remains), we're drying them.  I'll follow up on the how the teas go!

Something else that is in the works, is my first blog giveaway! This past year I graciously accepted a huge amount of vintage infant and children's wear from the 60's and 70's.  One grandmother had kept all her favorite items that her children had worn some 40 years ago - and she passed much of it on to me. Some I have already passed on, some I had for sale in my Etsy store, some my family enjoys, and some I want to give away to some other vintage loving folks.

This is the beginnings of a Vintage Baby giveaway that I hope to have put together this upcoming week - so  visit back shortly!

Am I related to Star Trek's Spock?

This is my brother.

Mike!

"I like Mike and my bike likes Mike"

(we always sang, growing up)

~ sorry 'felletti', I didn't ask if I could use this photo...but you know FB's policies.~

I love my brother.  He is a well of creativity and a compassionate soul!

AND he just so happens to look a bit like Zachary Quinto, the new Spock in the latest Star Trek movie.  Well, this post was inspired by my 2 yr. old son's latest hair cut....I know I am biased but this picture is TOO cute to keep a secret!

Perhaps he will follow in his Grandfather's footsteps as another Trekkie !

~Have a Great Day!!!

Haiti's on my heart..steps toward sustainable living; make your own laundry detergent

Soule Mama pretty much summed it up....thinking about Haiti....Haiti's on my heart...sobering.

Well how CAN I follow that - everything seems frivolous...and yet we live...we keep on, keeping on...I did take Soule Mama's challenge to heart - asking myself, "what can we do?"  So I'm going to consider what we can give out of our home over the next little while. 

It does bring home for me the importance of integrating more sustainable living habits into our everyday lives.  Creating for our homes and families environments that are not completely dependent on industry and the market place.

Today I bring to you a few laundry soap recipes, you may or may not already be aware of.

Rabbit Trail:  SOAP NUTS!?  Have you ever tried these?  Can you tell me how to use these properly?  I did research soap nuts before I bought my first sack - I LOVE the idea - just hasn't 'washed out' the way I had hoped (pun intended).  Apparantly there is no soapy residue - so technically you could really be saving on water as well, because you do not need a rinse cycle.  But sadly, after MANY loads, I have not found that our clothes are getting clean - If YOU have some direction in this area, I am all ears. 

::Liquid Laundry Soap::

1 bar good quality real soap grated

1/2 cup borax

1/2 cup washing soda

6 cups hot water

6 liters (quarts) of hot water

Combine soap, washing soda, borax and first amount of water in a saucepan and stir over low heat until dissolved. Place into your container (I either use a 3 gal bucket or a 10L water jug) and slowly add second amount water. Stir or shake gently. Let set 24 hours, stirring or gently shake occasionally. Use about 1 cup per load.

:: Dry Laundry Soap :: 

12 cups Borax


8 cups Baking Soda

8 cups Washing Soda

8 cups bar of good quality soap (grated)

Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.

Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load
I use a variation of this; basically I fill a pail with 1 part borax, 1 part washing soda and 1 part grated bar soap, and perhaps some baking soda.

Nancy I hope this is useful???  I'd like to continue to find other options - so if you know of others, folks, feel free to drop a link or post YOUR advice!  I'd be happy to repost on our laundry recipe ventures. Yellow House had a great laundry tutorial a while back as well.

:: Blessings AND have a lovely weekend,  hug your loved ones close - read Soule Mama's post - and hold life dear!

:: New Day Giveaway ::

This morning we awoke to a beautiful sight.  There was horror frost on all the trees,  branches and brush...creating a world right out of a story book.  During our walk with the 'littles', it was hard  not to walk with our necks cranked back, gazing at the wonderful, icy, crystal branches.

It is such a relief to feel the weather warm up a little...sunny, prairie winters can be glorious when the temperature is as it was today....A couple of days ago, it was -23 with a crazy wind chill - just running to and fro from the family vehicle, I wind-burnt my ear....it wasn't too bad.

Twenty-Ten....It feels weird to say!

Hip Hip Hooray FOR a Brand New Day....

 I have high hopes for this year and many new year's resolutions.  Like every year I hope to be MORE organized, a little more simplified.....presently there are about 6 garbage bags full, and several boxes to giveaway - hooray - for each decluttering accomplishment....and as I type this I am QUITE glad that you do not see the desk top beside me :) 

One of this year's NEW things for me, is being introduced to network marketing.  I'll admit besides the fact that most network marketing companies truly have superior products (Norwex, Miessence, Usana and a million others), I did not have the most optimistic view of them....my feelings have changed.  We are still 100-mile-diet-folks, as I've mentioned in the past.  While the concept of paying households instead of the big-bad-box-stores is a really significant thought to me.  I'm thinking the bad rap that network marketing companies may have, comes from the "hard sales" pitches and the 'you'll make a million dollars' takes.  Like many other stay at home mamas helping the household along, with a little other income here and a little other income there, helps us all accomplish our family dreams a little sooner.  If you haven't already, come and join my ethical chocolate giveaway, it closes midnight January 15th. 

~

 Blessings to all and to all a GoodNight!

going green baby green

What A LOVELY week - A WONDERful start to this new year AND new decade!  T'was a snowy day yesterday - You know the KIND...Big, Soft, Fluffy snowflakes that fall at a Slow, S L O W speed!             My friend had her first baby this week - and she invited me to be a birth attendent - OH....if you haven't noticed I LOVE Birth, pregnancy and all the magic that happens there!  She was amazing, she asked for the drugs right at the right time - when she was fully dilated, thus did it naturally and narcotic free!   It was truly fate that I sadly missed the actual birth part - between dear husband's schedule and nursing my own baby  - I had to leave just as she was ready to push.....when the story unfolded later, I knew it was best I wasn't there, else I may have lost my cool with the OBGYN - I won't mention it now - don't want to spoil your day, all to say that, like many births she DID some UNNECESSARY things......On to a brighter side - WHAT a BEautiFUL Baby she was, gorgeous!   By whatever measures, whatever circumstances something AMAzing came!    So in this year of new beginnings....taking BABY steps there is a wonderful thing happening through Hip Mountain Mama. Just under 200 people are envloved so far with One Small Change .  AND so I am jumping on board aswell - the Blog community is really a wonderful thing! 

When an idea or concept crosses my path more than once....I think the Creator is speaking to me!  This week I participated in a Green Smoothie challenge brought to us by Enchanted Chameleon !  She had some fabulous smoothie recipes to cheer us on with.  I was encouraged, encouraged that I should really be sprouting again on a regular basis - SO THAT is what my change will be for this month!  A weekly Sprout Jar.  I love feeding my children LIVE, nutritious, flu-fighting foods...so this is perfect....and a perfect ingredient to our daily green smoothies!  We buy locally as much as possible, we cannot grow cocoa beans sadly - perhaps one day - so the next best thing is ethical chocolate right?  So sprouting it is!  THanks Hip Mountain Mama and Enchanted Chameleon!

I'm dreaming of a wood Christmas...AND li'l rag curl tutorial

Perhaps it should be more accurately said, "I'm dreaming of a green Christmas..", and by green I don't mean snowless...(although we weren't far from that in our Canadian prairie city this year)!  Green - ecofriendly - sustainible - LESS PLASTIC! 

HOORAY! It's happening!  3 children in 5 years can equal ALOT of plastic in gifts and hand-me-downs.  I hope I'm not sounding ungrateful - I am VERY grateful for my family blessing our children, and it is definately NOT expected.  This year I can say honestly that I am truly thankful for family's thoughtfulness.  Some new wood toys and rag dolls grace the floors and corners of my home!  I found some used Ryan's Room on ebay that were in great shape - and I was happy to give them a new home.

In other news Thank-you to Rural Mama for the lovely swap!  I sent her a hardcoverd book on plant dyes, some healthy chocolate and mama magazines, she sent me some loveliness from her home to mine, some handmade soap, beautiful sewn cards and holiday copper earings that I adore!  Thank-you!

 ::  -  ::  -  ::

I am haveing a healthy chocolate giveaway on the facebook group, Chocolate Revelation.  Have a look!  In the process of  building a healthy chocolate blog, I'm hoping to chart my adventure there!

::  -  ::  -  ::

Thank-you to Garden Mama for asking about our rag curls!  My mother curled our hair in rags before special occasions and her mother curled her hair in a rags and so the story carries on for who knows how many generations!  My hair is not very curl-friendly...I remember my mother trying to do a home perm on me in the early 80's - I think it was called a Tony?  Well it stuck for ABOUT a day - that is how straight my hair is!  My oldest daughter however was blessed with my husband's gene's in this area!  BUT, as I do not have much experience with curls - it easily becomes frizzy and flatish a day or so after wash day.   So we've started a little ritual of rag curls once or twice a week, and that seems to really keep it in some ringlettes, less frizz, and less tangles (YAY).

As my mother did, we rip a rag into some strips and curl a section around the strip, until the hair-wound-rag is close to the head, then we tie it - just once, OTHERWISE you may be cutting it out of the hair after.  We put these in after hair has been washed and wet and detangled.

 Have a wonderful New Year's celebration!  We'll be heading over to my parents 30th New Year's Crepe breakfast....Hope your day is just how you like it!