Today was one of those days when, at the end of it, you sigh and note how tired you feel - maybe even feel a little sore! - but it's a "good" tired.  As we are still visiting extended family (who live on a farm), it is great training for myself and our little crew to do more "homesteading" type activities.  It has also made me realize that we can do much to prepare ourselves for our actual homestead even before we move there! 

Today Gram went out with Ben and Jim Bob and worked hauling brush and things to a burn pile in the back of the field.  They had a blast while clearing up, much to the benefit of the horses!  Gram even took a head over heels tumble (but recovered nicely) while dragging a particularly stubborn tree.  It was especially comical when we realized that she wasn't hurt-except for maybe her pride! :) 

I bundled up Tiny Precious and carried her in her sling, while Little Precious trooped along in her boots, anxious to take a ride on the small tractor with Ben.  My main objective was to capture the day's activities in photographs (some of which I will try to upload here soon) as well as get some nice ones of the horses.  Mission accomplished!  After finishing up in the fields, Ben even managed to take my camera and get some nice pics of the deer who meandered over to inspect their handiwork!  He was tickled to get pretty close to them without scaring them off.  He used one of the horses as cover to edge fairly close, and then crouched in the grass.  He may have a future as a photographer!

After the outside work was finished and we had fed the animals and "tucked them in" for the night, it was time for supper.  After that began the kitchen escapades:  dishes, of course, but THEN I started Cinnamon Raisin Bread (with help from Jim Bob and Little Precious).  We used a new recipe which started out in the bread machine, then was finished in the oven.  It turned out pretty good - although I've already noted some "tweaks" if I make it again.  (Note to self:  Roll out thinner before adding the butter-cinnamon-sugar mixture!) 

If I'm going to mess up the kitchen after I just cleaned it, I always figure I might as well get several things made at once, so next I started a batch of Vanishing Chocolate Chip Cookies by setting out the butter to soften.  I named them that because they never seem to stay around long.  It is a recipe I got from the back of a Gold Medal flour sack and then tweaked to my satisfaction (and apparently, everyone else's!).  I had plenty of help with this recipe from Jim Bob, Little Precious AND Tiny Precious (mostly "help" with testing the dough, but what sweet help that is!)   

While waiting for the butter to soften for the cookies, we stirred up a batch of Homemade Laundry Soap.  Yep, you read that right.  It was really easy, mostly because there were several of us helping!  Jim Bob grated the Fels Naptha for it, then stirred.  Gram added the other ingredients and supervised the stirring while I nursed Tiny Precious.  

The recipe is simple: 

Take 1 bar Fels Naptha soap (or Ivory if you prefer) and grate it.  Put it in a saucepan and cover with hot water.  Simmer, stirring occasionally, til all the soap is melted.  Then put this in a 5-gallon bucket.  Add 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (a laundry booster) and 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax.  Stir well.  Then just fill up the bucket with hot water.  Stir well, cover, and let sit for 24 hours.  It should gel up and thicken.  Next day, transfer to old detergent bottles or clean gallon milk jugs - or just leave it in the 5 gallon bucket.  However, if you leave it in the bucket, please cover it securely so little ones and pets cannot get into it.  While the ingredients are natural, it is still a CLEANING PRODUCT!  Safety first.  

(The recipe is one I found online quite some time ago at www.recipezaar.com.) It is supposed to do at least 80 loads, which equals out to very few cents per load.  Very impressive!    If you decide to make your own, there are lots of variations on this recipe out there, and all are similar.  I'd say it is worth a try.  The main reason we decided to try it is not so much to save money as it is to get away from a bunch of chemical additives and things in the commercial laundry detergents.  As a side note, I think next time I make this I will add some lovely smelling essential oils before I let it set up.  I just love great smelling laundry!

As I continue to add entries to my blog, you will probably notice more and more about making our own household cleaners and things, as well as exploring more "back to basics" things.  It is just really important to simplify so that we can enjoy the most important things in life and continue to Always Make Memories!