Just give me Jesus

Are you in to mood to build something??

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD

The Pompeii Oven™: Plans to Build an Italian Brick Oven



Free Brick Barbeque Plans


07:13 - Sunday, August 3, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment


The Power of God in pictures!!

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
This is what the storm front that blew in Sunday June 15th looked like from my front porch. This is facing north.

Look close.........this 'cloud' from the ground to about the middle of the picture?? IT'S DUST! The front picked up every tiny particle of dust and hurled it at my house, at about 60mph.

This is what the storm looked like as it approached my back yard. This photo is the south west corner of my land.

This was taken 1 hour after the first photo shot. This storm moved at about 65 MPH.

I love to watch God's Awesome Power

02:40 - Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment


Recipes for Home Made Cleaning Supplies

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
Mary Hunt over at Debt-Proof Living---The Everyday Cheapskate has a load of recipes for home made cleaning supplies!!

Enjoy!!

08:09 - Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment


A great cleaning tip from Everyday Cheapskate!!!

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
Closet Rules of Order

What’s behind your closet door? Orderly rows of shoes, stacks of folded t-shirts and hanging clothes arranged by color and season? Or do you have a situation that could be declared a national disaster? If the latter, you might ask the President for federal disaster relief funds—or you could just get organized.

Here are simple steps to find calm in all that chaos. By the way, these same principles for organizing a clothes closet apply to linen or utility closets, too.

Step One: Remove everything. This lets you see exactly the space you have to work with. Prepare to be shocked by the pile of stuff that came out of that closet.

Step Two: Now that you can see the light of day, give that closet a good cleaning from top to bottom. Follow with a fresh coat of white paint.

Step Three: Separate the items you removed. Most people hate this step because it means getting rid of everything you do not use or wear. But there’s no way you could get all of this back into the closet, so buck up and let’s get this job done. Label three containers:

Keep: Put only items into this bin that you have worn or used at least twice in the past year. Be brutally harsh. If it doesn’t fit today, it’s not likely to fit any time soon. Get rid of it. If in doubt, do not put it into this bin.

Sell or Donate: Clothes and other items that are not right for you (as evidenced by the fact that you never wear them), but still have a useful life for someone else should go into this bin. What you consider ugly may be perfect to someone else. Take them to a consignment store or arrange soon to hold a yard sale. Consider donating your good used items to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. You may get a tax break, but more than that, you will feel good. Put all of these items in the garage or back of the car.

Throw Away: Clothes and shoes that are worn out, hopelessly stained, broken or in some other state of calamity go into this bin. Work quickly to ease the pain. Empty this bin often to keep the process moving.

Step Four: Divide the “Keep bin” by season, type and use. If possible, store out-of-season items in another place in your home. Next, separate your work or professional clothes from your casual attire. Now divide each pile into common-wear and infrequent-wear, arranging them so the items you wear most often are the most handy.

Step Five: Use closet organizers. At the minimum you need a sturdy shoe rack, good hangers and shelves in addition to your standard hanging rod. Investing in a few good organizational pieces will make organizing your closet—and keeping it organized—a snap!

Find more Mary Hunt cleaning tips:
Make Your Own Household Cleaning Products


08:06 - Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment


Home made lip wax

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
I paid 10.00 for a lip wax today (service plus tip) and would like to know if there is anything 'natural-organic' I can do at home that will eliminate the upper lip hair just like wax!!
It's just GOT to be cheaper!!!

Thanks

06:15 - Monday, June 9, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment


It's a rainy day in Zone 5

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
So I can't plant.
My plants on the kitchen table are going to die if I don't get them in the dirt soon.........
I planted 30 tomato plants and just had nothing left....my everything hurt so much I had to quit.
That, was maddening.

I still have over 100 plants to put in. Please Lord, I need strength.

SO. I will make the best of a rainy day:

I will plant some flower seeds indoors to start.
Make some appointments (Eye dr, Vet, Stylist)
Work on a volunteer project
Call colleges
Laundry
Get my old homeschool stuff together to sell at a sale in town.
Then I will get into my bathroom and clean it and de-junk it.

Slowly but surely I will get this house cleaned and de-junked. One rainy day at a time!!

06:18 - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment


Energy Saving Tips. Most are a big "duh" but......you never know!!!

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD

Found this on the Duke Energy site.

Water Heater

  • Repair leaky faucets promptly. A faucet that leaks a single drop of hot water each second can waste up to 200 gallons of hot water per month, as well as the energy used to heat it.
  • Wrap your water heater and pipes with insulation. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure safety.
  • Consider setting your water heater temperature at 120 degrees. Take short showers instead of baths. You can use 15 to 25 gallons of hot water for a bath. Showers use 3 to 5 gallons per minute.
  • Don't let the hot water run continuously when you wash dishes or shave.
  • Consider installing low flow showerheads. They could reduce your hot water energy usage by up to one-third.

Washer/Dryer

  • Wash your clothes in cold water using cold water detergents whenever possible. Laundry detergents -- not the water temperature -- whiten your clothes.
  • Clean the lint filter after every dryer load. Clothes will dry faster and you will save energy.
  • Wash full laundry loads, rather than washing multiple small loads. You'll save water, detergent and energy.
  • Don't add wet items to a near-dry load.
  • Don't over dry clothes. Removing clothes from the dryer before they begin to wrinkle can eliminate ironing and save energy.
  • Make sure the dryer is properly vented. Inspect the outside vent opening to be sure it is clear of lint and the damper will close when the dryer is off. 
  • Have a professional inspect the dryer vent pipe. Lint can accumulate in these pipes and reduce airflow.

Dishwasher

  • Operate your dishwasher with a full load and select an energy-saving cycle whenever possible. Use the “air dry” or “overnight dry” setting.
  • In the summer, use the dishwasher in the cooler parts of the day, such as the early morning and late evening hours. Don’t pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
  • Don’t use “rinse hold” on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of water each time.

Oven/Range

  • Cook with the right size pot on the right size burner. Energy is lost up the sides of a small pot on a large burner and adds unnecessary heat to the kitchen.
  • Open the oven door as little as possible. Your oven loses 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit each time you open the door, making it work harder to maintain its temperature.
  • Cover pans to reduce the cooking time and amount of heat needed.
  • If you cook with electricity, turn the stovetop burners and oven off several minutes before the allotted cooking time.
  • Use smaller appliances such as crock pots, toaster ovens and electric skillets whenever possible to save energy.
  • Try to do most of your cooking in the microwave or on top of the range instead of in the oven.
  • You can lower your oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit when baking with glass or ceramic dishes.
  • Cook with aluminum or copper bottom pans for even heat conduction. Pans with straight sides and flat bottoms reduce cooking time and heat loss.
  • Preheat ovens only when necessary. Unless you’re baking breads or pastries, you may not need to preheat the oven at all.
  • Keep range-top burner and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better and save energy.

Refrigerator/Freezer

  • Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the fresh food compartment and 0 degrees for the freezer section.
  • Place your refrigerator and freezer away from heat sources.
  • Keep refrigerator motor and coils clean and unobstructed.
  • Defrost freezers when the build up of ice is more than a quarter of an inch.
  • A full freezer will perform better than a nearly empty freezer.
  • Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
  • Make sure the refrigerator and freezer doors close tightly.
  • Avoid putting hot foods directly into the refrigerator or freezer. Let them cool to room temperature first.

Computer & Other Home Office Equipment

  • In your computer’s Power Options, set up your PC to go into standby mode after 15 minutes of non use and set it to hibernate or sleep after 45 minutes of non use. These energy saving modes cut your PC's electric usage down to just a few watts.
  • Screen savers, while effective in preserving the monitor, use the same amount of energy as when you are using the computer.
  • Turn off your monitor when it is not in use. The monitor consumes over half of the energy used by a computer.
  • Flat panel monitors use less energy than standard monitors.
  • Printing can be the most energy-intensive step, so print only pages you need. Edit documents on-screen and use print preview to reduce the number of drafts you actually print.
  • Use electronic mail instead of fax machines or copiers whenever possible.
  • Laptops use 10 percent or less of the electricity consumed by typical desktop computers.
  • Copiers use more energy than any other type of office equipment. If you need only a couple of copies, use your printer or fax machine instead.
  • Use double-sided copying whenever possible.
  • Try to avoid using cover sheets when faxing. Stick-on fax labels can be used on the front page with transmission details. Check with your manufacturer to make sure the labels are compatible with your fax machine.
  • It takes approximately seven times more energy to produce a piece of paper than to print on it. You can help reduce the energy consumed in paper manufacturing by using recycled paper, double-sided copying, or reusing paper printed on one side.

08:18 - Thursday, May 8, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment


This ALWAYS makes me smile!!!

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD

My cat, last summer (age 11).
My daughter was scratching her neck, and the cat shut her eyes, started to purr............then DROOLED!!!!!
AHAHHAAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHHA
So the baby took a picture!!
This is SO funny.

09:27 - Sunday, May 4, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment


Savings idea

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
Using coupons.
Ok ok, you say, "duh".

At the end of your grocery trip, look at the receipt. It will say "X $'s in coupon savings".
Let's say that number this week is 11.65.

Take 11.65 out of your wallet or out of your account (it has to be cash) and put it in an envelope marked "vacation" or "christmas". Every week, take the amount your grocery receipt says you saved in coupons and add it to that envelope.

IF you save an average of 45.00 a month in coupons (that's average) in one year's time you will have put back $540.00.
You will find that you can save a TON on coupons. Buy one get one.
Places that double your coupons........

For me......saving money is a great idea, but saving for what? You can do all kinds of things to cut costs for the sake of living off less OR you can take the savings, and put it elsewhere to use at a later time!!

07:23 - Friday, May 2, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment


Home buying mistakes I made, and hope not to repeat!!!

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
First, let me say, I am thankful I am not trying to sell a house right now. I am getting this one ready to sell (in 2 years) but I would be crying right now if I were trying to sell.

Second, I would like to share the mistakes I made when I bought this house / sold my other house..........

Mistake #1: Impatience. I prayed every single day. Sometimes multiple times a day. I begged to hear His voice. I begged for clairity. BUT..........that crazy thing called flesh is mighty strong. MIGHTY strong......so beware. Stay oh so close to Him.

Mistake #2: In my impatience.....I began to compromise. Oh please, don't compromise. This is the biggest purchase you will ever make. Here is what we wanted in a home: 4 bedrooms. Formal Dining room. Fireplace. Acreage.
I fell in LOVE with a house, that would have been an hour drive for my dh and I to get to work..and now that gas is 93.00 a gallon, we would be dying! But I just LOOOOOOVED this house. It didn't have 4 bedrooms. It didn't have a fireplace. It had 2 barns. One new and one built in the 1800's and it was in gross disrepair. But I was in LOVE. And God slammed that door shut, and I cried. I said "that's it I am done..........I am not looking any more!"
Three days later..........the house I am living in popped up on the Talk to Tucker webpage. I drove with the kids to look at it, called my agent, was in the door at 8 am the next day, and by 10 am we made an offer.
The compromise? We only have 3 bedrooms, and no formal dining room. I would totally give up the whole basement for the extra bedroom and the formal dining room.......

Mistake #3: Big purchases on short notice. My advice? Don't do it.
I wanted gas hot water.......I was 'talked into' electric. I dislike this a lot, and cannot do anything about it now.
I wanted a gas stove / oven.........I was 'talked into' electric. Wow, big mistake.
When we moved in, the carpet in the house was urine soaked. We ripped it out, and sealed the floors, and recarpeted.
I wanted to put hard wood in the living room..........I was 'talked out of it'........and I really regret that now.
When I bought my appliances, I really wanted one thing, and I allowed the sales person to steer me to another........wow do I really regret that.

All of my poor decisions were made because I was rushed. $5000.00 worth of carpet I don't like......$3500.00 worth of appliances that I don't care for, and that have broken (in less than 5 years of owning them). That's almost 10,000.00 worth of bad decisions because I was rushed, and I compromised. Shame on me.

Mistake #4: Thinking "oh I can live with this". Yes, I can "live with it" but, if I would have been patient, and not compromised, then it would have been a lot smoother.


(God willing) When we move, things will be different. Hopefully because I am 'older and uh, um, wiser' I will be more patient.

On the inside
I want a box. Just a square house with a big front porch.
BIG OPEN kitchen, dining area, living room. The majority of house.
3 bedrooms. They don't have to be big. One obviously for dh and I. The other two for guest.
A full FINISHED walk out basement.
Big living area. A scrapbook room. And an unfinished 'store room' for my canned goods.
The upstairs can be 1500-2000 square feet. The basement the same.

Outside..........
No less than 15 acres. At least 2/3's wooded.
A creek.
A barn (or two)
No where NEAR a main road, airport, helipad, or train tracks.


We are starting to get this house ready to go. Purging, painting, repairs, updates. All the things buyers want to see!!!











07:02 - Tuesday, April 1, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment


One day.....4 sprouts.....the next day.......40 sprouts!

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
I opened the green house yesterday to turn my flats and WA LA, I had a zillion sprouts. Oh my I am so excited!!

Today, I think I will empty the last 5 trash bags of leaves out onto the garden, so when we till in April, it will nourish the soil. I just can't wait to get out there.

I may plant my flower seeds today. Its a grey overcast day, so that will bring some 'sunshine' into the day!! All of the stores are closed, otherwise I would look around for some cheap flower pots!

I am going to make home made bread bowl and have chili for dinner tonight. My fil came into town yesterday (surprise visit) and will be leaving tonight......and I know he will appreciate the chili meal!!

Pretty low key today. Cleaning up the house, maybe planting flowers, making some bread, and just puttering around the house. I need a few 'low key days' to get me back on track!!







07:56 - Sunday, March 23, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment


Love it when the sun shines

Posted in THE HOMESTEAD
Yesterday was a beautiful day!!
Full of sun and warmth. I think we got up to almost 50 degrees!!

SO we cleaned the walls with Simple Green! Not only are the walls the right color now (not 'fingerprint grey!") I did the floors, hands and knees style! Murphy's Oil Soap............my house smells glorious!!

We opened windows. I actually walked around barefoot......for the first time, in MONTHS. How exciting is that??

So today! Into the girls room. De junk. Good Will. Garbage can. Storage. Display.........and by the time I get to "storage" it will be little or none!!!
Deep clean their room. Today, because tomorrow..........

I will be putting my seeds into little trays of love to start my garden!!! WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO
I simply cannot wait!!!!

08:13 - Thursday, March 13, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment


Description
1 Timothy 1:15-16 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
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