Make Your Own Dusting Cloths

Want your furniture to shine every time you dust but don't want the expense or time it takes to polish?  I recently discovered how to make your own oiled dusting cloths.  Here's what you need:

• 1/4 cup of lemon oil
• 2 cups of hot water
• soft, reusable cloths (I used handiwipes so that they didn't get mixed in with other cloths)

Mix lemon water and hot water in a bucket and soak cloths (4 or so at a time) for 10 minutes.  Wring out and hang to dry.  When cloths are dry, store in an airtight container.  Doesn't that smell lovely?  Dust away! :)  When cloths are dirty, simply wash and reoil.  I was able to use a whole package (36) of handiwipes in the one recipe, so I'll be dusting for awhile before I have to reoil any cloths. :)

My Dirty Little Secret

Has anyone noticed their clothes not looking as clean as they used to???  I have bought white towels for years because it was always easy to keep them looking new and clean, but lately I've noticed they look dirty even after laundering them.  I've noticed the same problem with some of my husband's golf shirts.  What confused me was that some of my older items still looked clean and fresh while my newer ones looked like I hadn't washed them.  I talked with my mom about it and she claims it's because the products are not made in the USA and are made with a much cheaper and less desirable grade of cotton.  Has anyone else had this problem?  My mom has always reminded me that you "get what you pay for," but even some higher priced, supposed high quality items have fallen into this dirty category.  Any thoughts????

The Task at Hand

This morning as I was reading through my blog newsfeed, I was completely blown away by the creativity of this blog: http://thepleasuresofhomemaking.blogspot.com/ I wanted to immediately jump right back into creative projects. Then I remembered that my house is currently bursting at the seams. In 2002, we voluntarily and happily downsized into a house 1/2 the size of what we were living in. It took a lot of purging to fit into our little bungalow, but it felt wonderful and cozy. Eight years later, we find ourselves overrun by a clutter of books (which we dearly love but for which we have no space), papers that need a home, and clothes worn or outgrown. My task at hand for the present remains to be that of eliminating whatever is not beautiful, useful, or practical. I am sure much would be gained if I applied the same principles of elimination to things which fill up my "spare" time. We are a home that thrives on organization, order, and cleanliness, and I'm afraid that when my health was suffering that those three things were greatly lacking. Once I regain those things, I am certain that creativity and inspiration will once again flow happily and freely. Please do visit the blog linked above; it's a wonderful site!

For the Love of Aprons

A few months ago at an antique mall, I saw an apron with a dish towel sewn on the front. I thought it was a clever idea, but I didn't like the colors of the one I saw. When I went back to the antique mall the other day, the apron was gone, and I have never seen another one. Today I decided to do a google image search to see if I could find one I liked. I stumbled across this one and in the description it said that the towel is held on with a button. Hmmmm, I can sew on a button, and I can sew button holes. Hmmm, this could get interesting....lol

Not Quite Julia

I have always had a deep desire to be a good cook, but unlike Julia Child, I have never had access to cooking lessons in Paris. When I was first married, I took a bread baking class, and my family has reaped the benefits of that class tenfold. But life got in the way of things as it so often does, and that was the only cooking class I have ever attended. My mother used to say that anyone with a cookbook and can read should be able to cook, and while to a certain extent that is true, I have always wanted to know more. Why do certain ingredients when combined with others have such magical affects on dishes? What herbs go with what meats? I want to go beyond following a recipe and be able to create my own. I have created a few dishes that have had great success, but oftentimes in the process of cooking, I didn't have time to jot down what I was doing and the recipe can never be recreated again. So where are the answers to my questions? Most likely I will find them at my fingertips, if I will only take the time to research them. So begins my own adventure.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Below is an article from the Baltimore Sun by Christy Zuccarini


DIY Dishwasher/Scouring Powder
If commercial dish detergents that contain phosphates do indeed end up being banned, it may be worth making your own natural cleaning product, especially considering that current eco-friendly brands like EcoVer and Seventh Generation are so costly.

I pulled the following recipe for natural dishwasher/scouring powder from The New Homemaker. The ingredients are simple and pretty affordable – according to the author you’ll end up saving around 14 cents a load (when compared to a brand like Cascade). On the subject of whether or this detergent cleans as well as commercial brands, opinions are varied. Though the recipe recommends using citrus essential oils, some folks swear by tea tree and peppermint oils. Either way, this may require a little experimentation but it seems worth a try.

In a plastic container with a firmly fitting lid, mix:
1 cup borax (20-Mule-Team Borax, available in any supermarket)
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup citric acid (available in brewing stores among other places--if you haven't tracked it down yet but must try this formula, use two packets of Lemonade-Flavored Kool-Aid, ONLY lemon, or you'll dye your dishwasher! and ONLY unsweetened Kool-Aid!)
30 drops citrus essential oil--lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, or a mixture

Put all of it in the container, shake it up.

Home Cleaners and Your Liver

When we are young, we generally are not very concerned about our livers. This is an odd statement to make, but my liver has been on my mind lately. As we age, our livers naturally shrivel and don't function as in our youth. And, as we age, we oftentimes find ourselves taking more prescription medications which can be quite taxing on our livers. Last week, I filled my sixth regular Rx and, for me, that was the wake up call for me. I began to ponder how many chemicals and toxins my body is exposed to daily. It's time for a change. Obviously, I can't just stop taking blood pressure medications without the possibility of severe consequences, but I can start making changes in my lifestyle that will one day enable me to stop taking most of my prescriptions. But, it's not just the chemicals I'm putting into my body; it's the ones that I inhale or my body absorbs. Cleaning and laundering supplies are obviously full of harmful chemicals, but so are make-up and nail polishes and lotions. What about our food supply? How much of it is tainted with pesticides or growth hormones or antibiotics? Even our water supply is tainted. Before we all panic and move to some primitive country, there are some small changes that we can start with that can help preserve our livers and maybe help out our pocketbooks.

This week I'm starting with cleaning supplies. There are many recipes on the Internet for making your own cleaners that are non-toxic, inexpensive, and effective. Here's the recipe I chose for my all purpose cleaner in a spray bottle:

one part vinegar
three parts water
10 - 15 drops of lavender


If you have a favorite, please share it with me.

Butter Molds

I have always wanted a butter mold but never seriously looked for one. While pausing at the dairy case at the grocery store last week, I casually mentioned to our daughter my wish for one. Without hesitation she suggested using one of our candy molds. Genius! Why didn't I ever think of that? We already had many different candy molds, so her Mother's Day dinner which she prepared for her grandmothers and myself included wonderful butterfly pats of butter. I am exceptionally pleased. :)

Here are some photos of Gram's cabinet redone. I cannot get Picasa to load the before photos, so you will have to imagine it as white, peeling, and covered with black mold spots - ick! The cabinet now sits in our daughter's room and is filled with some of book treasures. 

One of the things that I love best about this time of year is that we can eat every meal on our patio, watching and listening to the birds. When we eat on the patio, our meals always seem more relaxed. Perhaps it is because it is away from the kitchen, and the dishes to be washed are not on my mind. Perhaps it is because there is no telephone, radio, or TV. Or, maybe it is simply because we are outdoors and it is reminiscent of a picnic from long ago. It is so much more relaxing than the atmosphere at a fast food establishment. It is a respite from our all too harried lives, running hither and yon to little avail, rather like reading before a blazing fire in winter. Sometimes, it's good to just be quiet... 

Lately the weather has been great for hanging clothes on a line to dry, but I wonder...if I didn't have a dryer and were forced to always hang my clothes on a line, would I still enjoy it??? I'm afraid that I wouldn't, and I do not like what that reveals about my heart. I know that when my dryer broke down last winter, I whined about the amount of time it took for our clothes to dry on the line. How spoiled I am! There are so many ways that modern conveniences have spoiled us and made us impatient, always desiring immediate gratification. There should be joy in our journey - not just in the arrival at our destination, but with traveling through the day itself. We miss out on so many simple pleasures because we do not see things properly. As you do dishes today, think back to how much fun you may have had playing in the sink suds as a child. When I was young, I loved to scrub the cast iron dutch oven with an S.O.S. pad because I loved to make pretty desings in the soap. Try to remember how much you used to enjoy some of the simpler things in life. Recapture some of the innocence of childhood.  

Colored Towels

Mrs. Calla Lilly always knew that watching TV could cause one to develop a nasty case of envy, but it has now become an apparent by product of blog reading. *eek!* I love reading about other people's lives, their routines, and their thoughts. I love looking for ways to improve my own life, routine, etc. But today, at WalMart, the green-eyed monster had a showdown with Mrs. Calla Lilly. I found myself buying white finger tip towels for my daughter's bathroom to replace her blue and yellow ones - which are perfectly good. Also hopping into Mrs. Calla Lilly's basket were white dish cloths that can be bleached to replace her usable green ones that match the kitchen. These near purchases were the direct result of reading various blogs regarding said products. *oy!* Mrs. Calla Lilly places the blame solely on herself. I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit nudged me before I actually purchased these items, asking me if I really wanted to drive my husband to an early grave by causing him to have to work more hours. :) I can only hope to partially blame this lapse of budget awareness on a sugar low as it was around 10:30 am, and I had no protein for breakfast. Please if you are reading my blog, do not let it lead you astray from your budget. :)

When the Husband's Away...

...the wife will clean. :) I know that seems strange, but I always want to clean, iron, or do gardening while my husband's away. Today I have mopped the floors, cleaned the bathroom, and am in the process of making a new kind of bread. I will still probably dust and vacuum after lunch. Tomorrow I plan on ironing with Mr. Darcy in the VCR. I would iron tonight and stay up late watching Pride & Prejudice, but we have a congregational meeting at church tonight, and dear hubby wants me to attend - blech. (mental note to self - work on attitude) It would be wonderful if I could wash the windows and dust the walls, but I do have energy limits. I just like to have everything fresh when the King comes home to his castle. :) 

Martha Stewart's Guide to Picking Produce

How to Recognize the Best-Tasting Produce

FRUIT

Apples Taut skin, very firm when gently pressed. Avoid those with soft spots or punctures. Flavor and texture vary widely among varieties. Seek them out at local farm stands or farmers’ markets in the fall.

Avocados Look for Hass, with bumpy, dark-green to almost black skin. When ripe, they will give to gentle pressure (pressing too hard will bruise the flesh). If you buy a firm one, store it at room temperature to ripen.

Bananas For flesh that’s neither too firm nor too soft, pick those that are yellow all over, with no green, browning, or spots whatsoever, from stem to end. Store at room temperature to ripen further.

Berries Sneak a taste (Martha! Shame on you!); watch out for mold and mush. Strawberries: fragrant, shiny, firm, not too big, green stems. Blueberries: firm, no green or red areas. Raspberries: full, just soft, but not oozing juice.

Grapefruit and Oranges Heavy for their size. Navel oranges: Avoid severe bruises and soft spots. Juice oranges and grapefruit: taut, shiny skin. Through skin, you should be able to feel the sections inside.

Lemons and Limes Not much more than 3 inches from tip to stem; heavy for their size. Taut, thin skin; avoid those with very hard skin. Through skin, you should be able to feel the flesh inside. Should give slightly when pressed.

Melons Look for those that are fragrant and heavy. Press end opposite stem to feel for a bit of give. Watermelon: Avoid those with flat sides. Presliced, it should be deep red with about 1 inch of white rind.

Pears Fragrant, with no soft spots, punctures, or bruises. To eat right away, they should give easily if pressed gently. For coming days, pick those with less give; ripen at room temperature. (Buy Bosc very firm.)

Stone Fruits Fragrant, with taut skin. Avoid those with wrinkles and bruises. They should have some give when gently pressed; handle carefully, no more than 4 per bag. Leave firmer ones at room temperature to ripen.

Tomatoes Best in season, from farm stands and farmers’ markets. Taut skin, firm flesh, deep and even color (greenish coloring at stem end on heirlooms is okay). Avoid pale ones. Store at room temperature.

VEGETABLES

Asparagus Thickness is a matter of taste. Choose bunches with tightly closed tips without flowering. Stalks should be bright green and firm. Avoid those with stalks that are flattened or wrinkled and feel hollow.

Beans Pole: bright, firm, with no soft spots or wrinkles. Should snap when bent, with very small beans. Avoid tough skin. Shell: pods a bit leathery but firm; no yellowing. Beans should be easily felt through the pod.

Corn Best served the day you buy it; don’t refrigerate. Bright-green husks wrapped tightly around ear, with flowing, moist silk (not brown). Pull back husk; kernels should be small, shiny, firm, and tightly packed.

Cucumbers Look for firm, unwaxed Kirbys (which are nearly seedless) with variegated color from light to dark green, and without wrinkles or soft spots; best no more than 6 inches long. If Kirbys are unavailable, buy English.

Eggplant Flesh should give a bit when gently pressed, with no hard spots. Skin should be shiny, not shriveled, wrinkled, or mottled. Stems should be green. Use within a day or two. Don’t refrigerate.

Mesclun and Lettuces Mesclun: Dig down into bin for freshest greens. There should be no wilted leaves, or wet, mushy, or yellow spots. Romaine: dark green, narrow, stiff leaves. Butter lettuces: small, round, loosely formed heads.

Onions Look for dry, papery skins and flesh that is full and firm, especially at the stem end. Avoid any with mold, discoloration, or soft spots, or ones in net bags; select one by one. Store at room temperature.

Peppers Bell: very firm all over with taut skin. Flesh should be thick without soft spots or wrinkles. Look for bright-green stems. Chiles: Any color you choose should be vibrant and wrinkle-free.

Potatoes Firm, without any soft areas or wrinkled skin; avoid those with sprouting eyes, slits, or a green tinge. Avoid bags; choose individually. Buy all one size to cook evenly. Store at room temperature.

Summer Squash Yellow and green: Choose small to medium, 5 to 6 inches and not bulbous (large ones are watery or fibrous); should feel firm. Skin should be smooth, shiny. Patty pan: no bigger than 4 inches across.

 


Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest;
Home-keeping hearts are happiest.- Henry W. Longfellow, 1807 - 1882

Are You Really a Keeper of the Home?

 

Yesterday, while reading Excellent Wife, I was hit between the eyes with this thought: it is possible to be a stay-at-home wife and mother and NOT be a keeper at home. You can do this by either being too busy with outside activities or by being lazy. I have been guilty on both counts. Wow! What am I really teaching my daughter???

Temptations

I am very tempted to buy this book, but it is not necessary for life at the moment. Has anyone seen this book? It is a 1960's library book for children. 

Longing For Days Gone By

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.

Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

Your goal: To try and make sure your home is a place of peace, order, and tranquillity where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife always knows her place.

Saturday's Jobs

 


As far back as I can remember, Saturday was (and still is) the day for changing sheets. It's one of the rhythms of my childhood that has stayed with me. To some, living life with a schedule is boring, but for me it is most often a source of stability and rest. I don't have to wonder what is first on my chore list on Saturday mornings because changing the sheets on that day is part of my natural rhythm just as trash day is Thursday and watering the plants is on Wednesday. Most household chores such as dishes and laundry need to be done daily, but there are those things which need to be done only weekly. One thing that needs to be done weekly but is not a chore at all is the Sabbath rest.

Proper rest on Sunday must always begin the day before. Are your clothes ready for tomorrow? Does anything need to be ironed or polished? Is your table set for breakfast and do you have a plan for dinner? Is your home neat and picked up to free your mind of the worries of household duties? It is very hard to prepare to worship God if we are scurrying about with things that should have been done the night before. I have begun Sundays both prepared and unprepared, so I know which is most conducive to worship. :) If you do not have preparing for Sunday on your Saturday schedule, give it a whirl and discover what a delight Sunday can become.