My mom and I gave making homemade liquid laundry soap a whirl yesterday. And guess what, IT WAS EASY! And so much fun to do. I tell you, for something so simple, quick and easy to make, it left me with such a feeling of accomplishment! Something about making laundry detergent by hand for so little money instead of paying the corporate prices at the big box stores...... just awesome. We doubled the recipe in the link and we filled the pictured three containers. It cost me less than $10.00 for the ingredients and I have a bunch left over! I will let you know what I think of its cleaning abilities after I give it a couple of tries but let me reassure you that this has been tested and tried by friends of mine that love it. And there budgets love it too! Here is the cost breakdown. All items bought at my local Winco. Box of Borax: $3.38 Box of Arm&Hammer Washing Soda: $3.17 Bar of Fels Naptha: $0.97 Total: $7.52 * *In the recipe, she also adds that you can add in essential oils for scent. We added 10 drops of Lavendar Essential Oil that I purchased a while back from my friend, Karyn. It's not much but a little can go a long way and the Fels Naptha is already scented. Check out Karyn's site, Fit2B on Your Skin, to purchase essential oils and learn about their different properties and how they can boost your laundry detergent's cleaning abilities.
Here is the link to the Laundry Soap: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm She includes a ton of great information about the products she uses, her cost breakout and answers a bunch of reader questions. Happy Soap Making Friends!
My son wants to be a farmer. Yup! I asked him this summer if he would like to move to the country and have a little farm with a big yard to play in and have chickens and a big garden. At the time, his answer was a flat, "No." No. What? Why not? But after hanging out at our friend's house a lot this summer and helping with their farm chores when they were out of town, my son had a change of heart. He told me this as we were driving out to a local farm for produce. And it was so stinkin' cute, when we got there, I had him tell me again so I could record it. : ) Here he is saying why he wants to live on a farm:
Here are a few cell phone pics of the kids on our friend's farm.
So cute! Kids are such precious little gifts from God! Well, us buying property will take some time while we penny pinch in this rough economy just to keep this roof over ourselves. But goals and dreams are good to have and I think it is a great way to teach the kiddos a lesson in patience and saving and hope. In the mean time, we'll help out our friends as they will have us and enjoy fun videos by The Peterson Farm Bros. These young men make some great parody videos about farming. Good, clean fun! Enjoy!
In all seriousness though, a farmers (and ranchers and homesteaders) work is hard but provides for so many. When we lose sight and respect for that, we are in trouble. Thank God for the work they do. In our culture of consumerism, selfishness and greed, let's take a moment to read what God has to say about giving back and having faith in him to provide.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”(Psalms 112:9)
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity (or righteousness) in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
