It’s Been A While..Random Thoughts

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: Domestic Relations

So, it’s been a while since I posted last. I went to PA for a week long visit, came home and then I got sick. It has not been going too hot for me now.

I’m downing elderberry, echinacea, and Vitamin C syrup and I’m starting to feel better, but my stomach is still upset and I occationally get dizzy for a few seconds. i will go to the dr. in a few days if it doesn’t improve.

Today I washed my laundry with Soap Nuts for the first time.  I. LOVE. THEM.

I washed Phoebe’s blankie a few times today with Tide and the pee smell didn’t come out.  I put 4 soap nuts in their little bag, tossed in the blanket, and voila! I wonderfully smelling and super soft (with no added fabric softener) blankie!

I’m going to buy stock. RIGHT. NOW.

Korker Bows for the Girls

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: Domestic Relations, Photos, Video

Here are 2 of the korker bows I made for the girls.. I bought the alligator clips on ebay, as well as the ribbon.  I bought the ribbon pre-curled just so I could make sure I’d like them if I made them.

Leena Modeling Phoebes Bows

Leena Modeling Phoebe's Bows

I used this tutorial video on how to make the bows  (after they are curled) and this tutorial on how to line the alligator clips.

My Weekly Menu

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: Domestic Relations

Laura from I’m an Organizing Junkie is having a giveaway on her blog for a menu planning website.  It sounds a lot like Saving Dinner.com (the menu planning website the FlyLady endorses), but it sounds like it has more menu options for less.  They give you 15 options to choose 5 meals from plus one dessert.  It’s for a website called Relish.

In order to get an entry, all I have to do is post my menu for this week and leave Laura a comment on her page.  So without further ado, My Menu.

Monday:  Portuguese Stone Soup  -  Dessert: One chocolate chip cookie

Tuesday:  Baked Macaroni and Cheese with a side of green beans

Wednesday:  Curry Chicken over bismati rice

Thursday:  3 cheese tortellini with herb sauce

Friday:  Beans and Rice (a mixture of onions, black beans, and corn served on a bed of rice) w/ salad

Saturday:  Haystacks (sort of like a taco salad)

Sunday:  Bowtie Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce.

I’m A Knitting Guru

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: 365 Days, Domestic Relations

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can’t imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin.

http://marniemaclean.com

WIP – Henry

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: 365 Days, Domestic Relations

So I’m making “Henry” for someone special this Christmas.  I WAS going to make it for their birthday, but the yarn is running late.. It’s still not here.. I guess they are shearing and dying the wool right now lol.  It’s coming from Shanghai, China sooo.. I’ve got till the 9th before I’ll see it.  Oh well. Still enough time for Christmas!

Knitting: Things I Want To Knit

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: 365 Days, Domestic Relations

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTvogon.html

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTcoachella.html

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTzodiac.html

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTgrrr.html

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring07/PATTribena.html

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring07/PATTdashing.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTeiffel.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTtwinkletoes.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTslingshot.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTbrownbag.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTbookofknitty.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTsheldon.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTnorberta.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTpiggle.html

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTdragonfly.html

Heart and Home: Homesteading

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: Domestic Relations
So, I want to get into homesteading and “simple” living.

I’ve been doing research and I think the way for us to go is Strawbale contruction.  It’s cheap and has great qualities for heating/cooling throughout the year.

My dream home is a pre-1900’s New England style farm house, but I have to weigh the pluses and minuses of both housing structures and the strawbale wins.

We also want to get totally off-grid.  We plan to use solar, wind, and hydro power if we can, as well as generator and propane powered appliances.  Wood heat all the way.

We have been heating with wood since last winter and I LOVE it.  We have also been trying to cut back on other things as well.  We hang dry our clothing instead of using a dryer.  ALL made a bright green bottle of detergent that I used to LOVE. It made the clothing much softer when they dried.  Sadly, I haven’t seen it in the stores for a while.

I’m going to start making my own bread and other groceries.   I recently bought the More with Less cookbook and I already use it everyday.  The rice recipe I found in there has my family ranting and raving :)   I’ll have to post my variation to it later.  I’ll have a recipes section for all the recipes I post here.

I’m writing this after only 4 hours of sleep, so forgive me if it goes all over the place :)

I guess I better go back to sleep!  I’ll write more, in hopefully a coherent state, in a little bit.  I’ll include some recipes and the link to the strawbale contsrution information!!

Food: Indian Tonight!

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: Domestic Relations

So tonight for supper I made Curry Chicken over Savory Bismati Rice.  BOY WAS IT GOOD.  The only thing missing was the Naan and the Beef Samosa’s and Vegi Pakora’s.

Knitting: Simple Knitted Bodice and Sahara

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: Domestic Relations

Has anyone knitted these?  I found them over on Stitch Diva: Knitted Bodice and Stitch Diva: Sahara. Post a comment and tell me how you like it :)

Heart and Home: Emergency Preparedness

Posted by: Lisa  :  Category: Domestic Relations

These 11 Points to Preparedness can be found at the FLYLADY website.

1. PEOPLE: Have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure everyone knows it. Have an emergency bag of food and water for your family.  Include wholesome snacks and treats for the children: driedfruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.

2. PETS: Keep pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets to safety. Also take pet food with you.

3. PICTURES: Keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a family member’s home. Have picture albums in one place ready to grab and go at a moments notice.

4. PAPERS: Have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank and only keep copies at the house. This keeps you from panicking. If you have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it!

5. PRESCRIPTIONS: Take your medications with you. Don’t forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Have small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go. If you have babies; remember their formula or medications.

6. PURSES and PETRO: This is where you keep your identification, credit cards and cash. Keep a stash of cash for emergencies and grab it. You may not be able to use an ATM in the event of a power outage. Make sure your car always has a half a tank of gas.

7. PROPER CLOTHES and COMFORT ITEMS: According to the weather conditions; gather up a change of clothes along with outer clothing: coats, rain gear, boots, gloves and hats. If you have babies remember diapers. Remember to grab your children’s favorite blanket, stuffed animal or toy. A game or a deck of cards could keep them occupied and calm too.

8. PLANNER/CALENDAR/CONTROL JOURNAL: These documents have all the information you will need from phone numbers, insurance numbers and important dates. They are small and filled with things you don’t have to try to remember.

9. PERSONAL PROTECTION: Many of us still have that time of the month. Be sure and grab a box of your preferred protection. It may be hard to find if you have been evacuated. Stress can cause our bodies to do strange things too. So be prepared. Take medication for cramps too.

10. PHONES, RADIOS, FUEL FOR THE CAR: Many of us have cell phones now.  Always keep them charged up and have a charger in the car or an extra battery. They may not work in the event of power outages, but then they might. Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep your battery powered radio tuned to that local station and have plenty of batteries for it. Also keep a old type regular phone that does not operate with electricity. GAS PUMPS don’t work without power either. You can’t leave if your car is on empty. So keep your car fuel tank topped off when it hits a half of tank. This way you will have gas to drive at least a couple of hours. Evacuation routes are usually bumper to bumper traffic. Having a tank filled will keep you less stressed.

11. PATIENCE: This is one of the most important things to pack. Keep it inside of you so that you have a clear calm head. Having your P’s to Preparedness list guiding you will keep you patient. In the event of an evacuation there will be lots of displaced people. Being patient will make things less stressful. Your children need to see you calm and collected. This will help keep them calm too.  We can FLY in the face of Danger and Emergency if we are prepared.  Don’t wait till you are being asked to evacuate. Everyone thinks that it could not happen to them. Well it could and it is up to you to make sure you are prepared. Don’t wait! DO IT NOW!!

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin