Laundry Detergent: Joy in Homemaking

Quick & Easy Laundry Detergent

RECIPE:

1/3 bar of Fels Naptha soap (grated)
1/2 c. Arm & Hammer washing soda
6 c. water
1/2 c. Borax
Large pot

Blender

Heat water, soap, soda & borax on med-hi. Bring to boil stirring constantly-15 min.

Stay with it! It can foam & boil over. Remove from heat, should be consistency of honey.

Now here's what we do differently:

Pour equal amounts in 3 gal. jugs & add hot water to the top. Wait until cool before 

placing covers on.  Let set 24 hours.

Next, I have another additional gallon or 2 empty jugs set aside.  You'll notice the

detergents gel-like consistency.  This can cause a problem

(or at least it did for our machine) in your washer's filter & flood your basement :) 

So, pull the blender out & fill it half way with your

detergent and about 3/4 of the way up with water. Blend from low to med.

Depending on your blender until smooth. 

Pour this into a new jug & repeat until you've gone through all the

previously made detergent.  I get about 5-6 gallons of detergent from this method.

It lasts a long time for my size family.  It does not hurt or clog my machine,

it cleans & sure is inexpensive!

  

Ok, so it would be a lot quicker & a lot easier

to go to the market and purchase

laundry soap, right?.

Quick for me means something I can do

while waiting for something else getting done!

Easy means I don't need directions or a

recipe to get it done.

For our family of 6

I've had to adopt new mindsets of what easy & frugal are

and in the same sentence!

The key is, "finding JOY in it", as I teach my girls daily.

Being a wife, mother, homemaker, & everyother

hat we domestic engineers must wear, are merely subcategories

under what our real job is being a

Godly Woman in Christ 
This is what makes US significantly happier!




Every day has it's ups & downs,
any task has it's highs & lows.
But, I've found that
Starting my day in CHRIST
& in His Word
is THE only way to find true joy, self worth, & self-preservation
and makes our tasks even more than worthwhile!


I've taught and am continuing to teach my
daughters the significance of
an orderly "Homemakers" life:

The Lord first,
Husband second,
Children next,
and then everything else is after that.


I truly love my occupation-it's MY LIFE!
Thankyou Father for teaching me!
He can teach you too!  :)



My Husband:The Hunter

Peter taken in 2011


I didn't grow up in a "hunting" family.
Nor did I ever imagine I would marry a man who hunts.

One of the first times I went to my "to be" husband's for dinner,
he had his 2 children, Daniel & Sarah at home and was in the middle of
preparing a meal...


Peter asked me if I wouldn't mind going downstairs to his spare freezer to
see if he had any bread.
I of course, said, "Sure!" and headed on down.


I made my way to the basement thinking, "See, I am already
showing him what a wonderful & submissive wife I will be!"

I found the freezer and opened the door only then 
to let out a blood-curling scream....


I had only a a few seconds to unscramble what my eyes were
focusing on...
a very dead racoon perched on a shelf,
 waving his "hand" at me.
Soon after I practically had an asthema attack & went into convulsions,
I heard the pack of them upstairs roaring in laughter!
I seriously think the racoon was smiling at me too.


My husband-2011

Well, at least Peter showed me what a "comforter" he was,
holding my trembling body....telling me he was sorry.... and everything was going to be alright.

Although, I think he
was shaking even more than me!
Oh.....now I remember...
he was failing at a stifled chortle .


I have to admit, he does look handsome in his hunting apparel! :)
(Spoken like a true female, huh?)

  

Taken in NH-2011

He's definitely proved to be a keeper!

I am truly blessed! 

  

Meatloaf From the Heart

My heart-shaped meatloaf was made from the heart & done so frugally!

I prepared this dish for our 2011 Valentine Feast but, this can be made anytime you want to say,

"I love you!"

Ingredients:

-Family-size ground beef (or whatever ground meat you prefer)

-2 eggs

-italian bread crumbs

-seasonings to taste(salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, additional ital. seasonings)

-1/2 cup milk (check consistancy-depends on bread crumbs)

-prepared mashed potatos (box or real pot.)

-prepared vegies (I used brocolli, steamed in the microwave)

After mixing all these ingredients, I took enough for that evening's dinner and hand-shaped

it into a heart. The remaining was shaped into ordinary meatloaf for another meal (either for the freezer or for thru the week). Next place the heart-shaped meatloaf into a large enough cake pan.

Bake at 350 and check after 30 minutes.

While waiting for the meatloaf to cook, prepare mashed potatos and vegetables.

When meatloaf is ready, place in center of platter. "Frost" with mashed potatos & outline with vegetables.

I also "decorated" the top with a sprig of rosemary.

It was "Delicious!" Show your husband & family how much you love them tonight!!!

Afterall, they are a BLESSING!!!! :)