Homemade Detergents

In my continuing effort to save money (cause I really don't won't to work that much) I have found some recipes to make your own detergents.

Laundry detergent recipe:

• 2 cups grated bar soap (Ivory)
• 1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
• 1 Cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Uae 2 Tablespoons per load

Grate the bar soap and then run through the food processor to pulverize it into a powder, mix together with A & H and Borax. Place in container.

Note: I'm using my empty plastic coffee canisters to keep it in, and wrote the name and recipe on the lid for future use.

Fabric Softner:

1/4 cup white vinagar

Pour into a Downy ball and toss into washing machine.

Note: I bought a gallon of white vinegar and keep it next to the washing machine just for this use.

Dishwashing Detergent:

Equal parts:

• Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
• 20 Mule Team Borax

Use 1 Tablespoon per load.

Note: Again I mixed mine a put it in a plastic coffee canister, then wrote the Name and directions on the lid.

To find other recipes to make your own detergents go to www.tipnut.com

Clothesline...

I'm not really sure why, but trust me I'm not complaining, we got our electric bill the other day and I have really not been looking forward to it, just thinking it would probably be close to $200.00 since we've been running the air conditioner at 76* the last several weeks. But when I opened the bill it was only $100.61!
The only thing I can think we have really changed was putting up the clothesline and hardly using the dryer anymore. I realized talking with Amanda today that a dryer runs on 220 outlet. Does this mean it uses more electricity then an item that plugs into a 110 outlet?
Last months bill was $96.00 and we really weren't running the air because it was cool enough to have the windows open, but I was still using the dryer.
So if you are interested in trying to save on your bills also, but don't have an old family clothesline lying around for you to reuse, here is a web site I accidentally came across

http://www.tiptheplanet.com/index.php?title=Air_dry_washing

I never knew there were so many different clotheslines out there. Here's to more lower bills in the future. woohoo

Just a note:

Something to remember if you start line drying your clothes...

1. It takes a little longer for things to dry on a cloudy day.
2. Be ready to get them off the line if it begins to sprinkle, or
3. Maybe your neighbor decides to mow the lawn.
4. Fold and put away as soon as they come off the line to cut back on wrinkles.
5. Be prepared for fresh sunshine smells without the extra perfumes.
6. Bath towels and washrags are more scratchy, but we like that.
7. You can't find any clothespins to use on the potato chip bags because there out on the clothesline.
8. Watch your step...how dare the ants/gopher/bumble bee be living under my clothesline.
9. Smile alot knowing your saving money.

Summer dip...

Yesterday as we set at the dining room table, Kenneth saw a bird diving into Dusty's pool and then preening himself, over and over he would dive through the water then set on the clothesline pole or the arm of the porch swing and preen and stretch its wings. All the years we've lived here I always thought that the birds would be drawn to the pool, because it always has water in it, but this is the first. It was fun to watch it having such a good time.

Just to add a note:
I came across these vintage cross-stich patterns that are very similar to the ones I am making, so if your interested in doing some cross-stitching this summer...take a look.
http://tipnut.com/gingham-fruit-cross-stitch-embroidery-pattern-tuesday/

Just Flowers...

A "Good Meal"

cucumbers in mayo

green beans

okra, ready to fry, and our first pepper.

We also had corn on the cob cooked on the grill and bratwurst.

Kitchen dishtowels

I needed something to do at night.

Cross stitch homemade dishtowels.

We went to Wal Mart to buy material. I had to call my Mom to see which type would make dishtowels like my Grandma had in her kitchen. Of course they were made out of "sack cloth" which you can't really find anymore so I picked a medium weight muslin. It was only $2.12 a yard.

Wash the muslin to preshrink it and remove any sizing .

You end up with this.

Next just tear into the size dishtowel you want,

and iron out the wrinkles.
I also iron the first turn of a rolled hem and make rolled hems all the way around.
Next choose a pattern and iron it on.

This is a simple cross-stitch design.

Start sewing.

It comes back to you, like riding a bike.

Peach Cobbler...

Kenneth came home from playing golf Sunday and said he needed a recipe for peach cobbler, because he wanted to cook me something. So I got out my "Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book" and found a simple recipe.

Of course Kenneth ended up having to replace the battery in the purple truck, so I went ahead and made up the cobbler. Since I already had some crust in the freezer I took out 1 ball to thaw while we ran to Wal Mart to get the battery.

Basically all your doing is thickening the juice of a can of sliced peaches. OK, I used two big cans, drained off the juice in a bowl, measure out 3/4 Cup of the juice into a sauce pan, add 1/2 Cup brown sugar, 6 teaspoons flour and a teaspoon nutmeg. Simmer over low heat until it boils and begins to thicken.

Meanwhile I pured the drained peaches into a 8" X 8" pan and since I could still see a little juice in them I sprinkled some Tapioca onto them and mixed it up. Once the juice, basically caramel, is thick pour it over the peaches, roll out your crust and place on top, cut slits for the juices to escape and bake.

It looked like it needed a little cinnamon and sugar on top.

That's better.

Finished product...where's the ice cream!

How to make Foolproof Pie Crust:

Mix together:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoons salt

Cut in with pastry cutter:

1 3/4 cups shortening

(I used Butter Flavored Crisco)

Set aside.

In separate bowl:

1 egg, beaten

Add:

1 tablespoon vinegar
5 tablespoon very cold water

Add liquid mixture to flour, mix just until you form a ball.
Do Not over handle or crust will be tough.
Divide into 4 sections, wrap in plastic wrap. Can be stored in the frig for a few days or placed in Ziploc Baggie and frozen for a couple of months.

I have seen this recipe on two different sites:
http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2008/05/22/foolproof-pie-crust/
and
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/p-p-p-pie_crust_and_its_p-p-p-perfect/

They both show you picture-by-picture steps.
I hope you enjoy, it was really easy to do.

This is Fred.

This is Fred, he is a bumblebee and he's in love with the cantaloupe plant. Everytime I go out there he is there flying from flower to flower.

I know we will have lots of cantaloupe because he's doing a good job of pollinating.

This sunflower was planted out by the burn pile by the birds. It's really pretty. It's only about 3 1/2' tall so I was able to get a better picture of it.

I posted my 1st post on the "Great Sunflower Project" today. I watched the sunflower off the patio for only 16 minutes, from 17:15 - 17:26 and saw 5 bees come to the flower for pollen, 3 honeybees and 2 carpenter bees.

I was truly amazed, because I really didn't think I would see any bees. I feel better knowing we have a least a few.

Garden Update

Our first baby cantalope.

This zucchini makes green/yellow squash, it grows next to the cucumber plants.

This zucchini makes solid yellow squash.

All the zucchini seeds came out of the same seed packet.

Makes you wanna go HUMMM.

Is there a little hanky-panky going on here?

Slicer tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes.