6 Frugal Prices (We're working towards it, anyway!)

I Just Got Here...

I'm just getting started here, but so far this looks like my kind of place!

I'm going to want to check into the Homesteading library.  I'm hoping I'll find it a helpful resource.    While I was looking around at resources today, I found a recipe for home made laundry soap at http//www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm/  Its a liquid laundry soap that looks to be cheaper than what I buy to use now, so I want to try it out.

   Hopefully, my family will help me record what we're doing at our mini-homestead and pick up ideas on what more we can be doing.  I guess I'm here looking for encouragement.  I've been feeling sort of out of place lately and noticing the differences between our lifestyle and others around us. I'm a sahm.  My husband is a mechanic, who runs a garage with another mechanic/partner.  I try to do my part at home so that we can live well on one lower that average income.  I think the gap between our income and those around us must be increasing,  or maybe its having teen-agers in the house...

We have always home-schooled our 4 kids(lambs )  At our church we're the only home-schoolers, and one of the few single income families...  the only one with kids still in the home and a sahm.  We recently  participated in small-group  fellowship where the main thing that stood out to our family is how little we have in common with everyone else, other than our faith.  We're also active in Bible Study groups but I feel sort of the same way there.  We're used to expecting some pressure to change our lifestyle from family but lately I feel like everywhere I go people would prefer that we try to change to fit in better.  I didn't mean to start out sounding so whiney,  Its just that what I've really felt lately is like we're odd with the lifestyle we're leading now and yet I think my husband and I are more inclined toward becoming 'more odd',  finding ways to continue on the path we're started on, doing our own thing, at home with what we've got to work with.  I've always felt that God has called us to depend on Him and to use what He has given us in as creative a way as we are able.  With a bigger income, we could be bigger consumers, but would it make us better people?  I think I came to this homesteading site because I'm hoping to regain some perspective.  I may be wrong about this but I think the homesteading movement has to do with a return to living creatively.  God created us to be able to do so much more than we have opportunities for when we live the modern, affluent lifestyle I see all around me (living in the middle of the USA).  

  Today we are seeing the snow melt.  Yesterday, we were snowed in.  Besides playing in the snow, the kids have taught me to play Mancala.  Yesterday, I baked - zucchini bread, corn bread...   

here's the zucchini bread recipe

2 c sugar

1 c oil

2 c zuchinni, unpeeled, grated     (I pulled a bag out of the freezer & thawed it)

3 eggs

3 c flour

1 t salt

1 t baking powder

3 t cinnamon

2 t vanilla

1/2 c nuts

   Mix sugar and oil with zucchini.  Add eggs then flour, salt, bakingpowder, cinn., vanilla and nuts.  Mix well.  Pour into 2 well-greased loaf pans.

recipe from, Western Illinois Threshers 25th Anniversary 1992 recipe Mrs. Steve Bolton.

Its time for me to go do some more cooking, maybe check the sheets drying on the clothesline, play a little, pray, et cetera, et cetera.... smiles, Belinda (aka frugal mama to the prices)