Posted in Homestead

Every now and again we become bored with a room. This boredom may be the result of the same color scheme, set up, or a need to change or expand the function of a room.

You can change a room for no cost, simply by rearranging the contents. During this process, you can remove some of the contents or add contents from other rooms. A room renovation for FREE! Simple and easy. The simplest solution to jazz up a room.

Now, when you want more than just a minor upgrade, what are you always told? Paint it. Painting is just about the least expensive way to bring about a more dramatic change to a room. It's also the best way to get rid of all those scuff marks, stains, and chips. I agree with this thought process.

However, paint isn't inexpensive. So if you are in need of a more dramatic change than furniture rearrangement, but do not want to spend the cost on painting the room entirely, consider another option. Paint for less. Here are a few ideas of how you can paint a room less.

• Don't think color scheme before you go paint shopping. When you are in the paint section check out the deep discounts on the custom colors that were someone else's mistakes. Is there a color available that would compliment your furnishings yet change up the room? No? Don't be discouraged. Ask a salesman how often you should check back for new additions to the sales shelf. If you have a specific color in mind and you are not shopping at a national chain hardware store, as the salesman if he would be willing to call you if a certain color becomes available. Don't be too picky when requesting a color, because you probably will never get a call. If you give him a color range, aquas, taupes, deep reds, he will more than likely be happy to do so.
• Consider painting only one wall. An accent wall can give a dramatic change to a room! Again, shop the discount rack. I have seen this done coupled with a rearrangement resulting in BIG impact. This is a wonderful option especially if you are not certain you will like a color change you have in mind. One wall is easier to live with when the color isn't exactly what you want, than a whole room. You will not have spent nearly as much money. You can do this again in a few months if you really don't like the color and only be out a second can of discounted paint.
• Give the walls on your room a good wash. I don't mean a cleaning, I mean a color wash. Pick a color that compliments the current wall color. Now purchase just a gallon. Using a 5 gallon bucket, mix the paint with 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon of water. Use a brush and paint the color over a small area of the wall. Now wipe it off with a rag. You can very this process A LOT! You can use different wiping techniques, vary the intensity of the wash, or use different items to pick the wash color up off the wall. Again, there is a double savings if you can pick up a can off the discount shelf.

Can't seem to ever find a color you like on the discount shelf, but are ready for a change? Wait just a few weeks. Paint companies will be offering sales around Memorial Day.

These are my thoughts.

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The Homesteading Carnival is being hosted by The Perils of Parenting & Other Ponderings. This week there is a wonderful collection of articles to gather LOTS of information as you travelt hrough the homestead. Some of the information I found especially useful is:

• Saving money with milk. (FYI the gallon of milk in the article cost less than $3. Here milk costs around $5. Even with my cost difference the tips included would STILL SAVE!)
• Flowers, Herbs, & Containers. (This article has inspired me to get out my buckets and get planting!)
• Sprouting. (If you have never grown your own sprouts, this article will get you pumped to do so! Even as a hs project, this is a great article!)
• Exploding Rainbow. (Guess what we will be doing this week?!)

So travel on over to the Perils of Parenting & Other Ponderings and get a BIG dose of information on saving money and inspiration!

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The 35th Carnival of Homesteading is up!

Oh this one is FABOO! The theme is the colors of the rainbow. Each entry is listed within a color of the rainbow. Some items you will find are:

• entertaining on a shoestring
• homemade cough syrup
• peaches and cream bath salts
• cornbread
• pine cones as fire starters

This is juast a tidbit of what you will find at the carnival this week. So hop on over to The Lighter Side for the 35th Carnival of Homesteading!

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Have you been to the Homesteading Carnival?

If you haven't you are missing on some really great stuff!

You don't need to pack a lunch, get dressed, load the kids in the car, spend money on gas, eat til your belly hurts, ride til you get sick, suffer from blisters on your feet, spend money on games...hey you don't even need to brush your hair or get out of your jammies!

The 34th Carnival of Homesteading is hosted by Elcloud. There you will find several scrumptious recipes, ideas for homemade products such as toothpaste and hair rinses, a GREAT read about winter gardening, and fun stuff like bunny trails. There are some true gems at the carnival! Bring your mental basket and gather them up!

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I just read the Fall edition of The Old Schoolhouse magazine.  I was flipping through over lunch and stopped to read Lisa Vitello's article entitled, The Many Blessings of the Clothesline.  I chuckled and smiled as I read through the article; thoughts swirling around my head about how often I try to encourage people to hang their laundry.  Lisa has written an excellent article detailing her personal joy from hanging laundry on a line, as well as some of the more cost effectiveness of this practice.  I'd like to take a bit of space here to expand on her article, because this is of much importance, in my humble opinion. 

To get the full benefits of hanging laundry, from a cost effective standpoint, one should hang laundry in such a way that it needs no further care, other than folding.  It is possible to do this with any item. 

With pants, you want to hand them upside down.  This will be the only time you will use 4 pins per item (unless you are tolaking bedding or towels).  By hanging pants upside down, the weight of the wet fabric will allow the pants to dry  without wrinkles, so no ironing will be needed.  Begin by grabbing the waistline and giving it a good shake or two.  Then turn the pants upside down and grab the side seam of one leg.  Attach with a pin.  Do the same for the other side of the same leg.  Now, repeat with the second leg.  The only exception is that when you get to the last pin, you will want to have your next item ready so that the pin is holding the last seam side of the pant leg and the next item to be hung.

Likewise, shirts should also be hung inverted, for the same reason.  In addition, hanging in this position will help the shirt to retain its shape.  However, if you have a sotton shirt that flairs our, you may not want to put the pins exactly at each end, but an inch or so in.  Begin by turning the shirt upside down and giving a shake or two.  Then take on seam and attach with a pin.  Now, run the shirt along the line and secure with next pin (which will likely also hold the first side of the next item).  By keeping the shirt taught, you will reduce wrinkling even more, and thus no ironing will be needed.  The exception might be if you have a sleeveless shirt (like a tank) that you might opt to hang right side up, if some wrinkling is not important.  You might choose to do this to save line space on items that aren't necessary to have completely wrinkle-free.  For button up shirts, you will want to use a few more pins, as with pants, for a wrinkle free finish.  Turn the shirt upside down and shake.  Then take one end and pin.  Next, take the second seam and pin (remember to keep it taught against the line).  Do this for the next seam and the final edge.  To keep sleeves from being riddled with wrinkles, hold the base of the shirt and give a little tup on each sleeve once the garmet is hung. 

Socks should be hung in pairs, so they can be folded together as soon as they come off the line.  Undies and bras can be hung one pair to a pin or one side to each pin, adjoining several pairs together in a row.  Your hanging style will depend on your preference for undergarments when you put them on.  

Even work clothes can be hung on the line and require no extra care with these simple tips.  Remember, if you want your laundry to stay wrinkle free, it must be folded or hung up as soon as it comes off the line.  With towels and jeans, you will not want to forget to add fabric softener to your wash, so they do not become stiff.  Well, that is, unless you prefer stiff towels (my nanny did).   

I cannot express strongly enough how this can make a sifference to a family.  We cut our electric bill in half by not using a dryer.  BUT we also save on our clothing budget.  Why?  Firstly, the clothes do not become faded as quickly (unless left in the strong summer sun for too long).  Secondly, all that lint in your dryer lint trap are fibers from your clothing.  This is what weakens seams and fabric allowing for holes.  It is like shaving a bit off your fabric each time you put them through a dryer cycle. 

Lastly, I know that in many states winter is in full gear.  As long as temperatures are not freezing, you can still hang on the line.  If you want to be a zealot, add a little salt to your wash cycle and your clothes will not freeze in very cold temps.  If that doesn't suit you, consider running a line or two in your basement.  When I lived up north, I had 5 lines in my basement and was able to be dryer-free year round! 

Save money each month and on your clothing budget...hang your clothes!

These are my thoughts.

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Ya know what makes me crazy about Christmas?  The way the entire country is completely obsessed with stuff.  I saw on the news last night that people have been in line for 2 days waiting on the sidewalks of some stores for those Black Friday sales.  One group had Thanksgiving dinner on the sidewalk.  I wonder, isn't that some code violation?  Anyway, I had no idea it had gotten so extreme.  We have never shopped on Black Friday.  However, this year we were are needing to replace a TV, so the hubby said he would brave the masses at 5am to try to get one at a great deal.  What he found was unbelievable!

He went to our Wally World and could barely navigate the store and so went on to the next town, thinking it would be less crowded.  Not so.  The check out line was so long he left.  Next he went to Target.  The line to get in was around the corner, so he decided to wait it out and went acrosst eh street to Toys R Us.  By the time he got there, he said he couldn't believe his eyes.  The check out lines were literally wrapped all the way around the outter aisles of the store!!!  In his opinion it would have taken an hour or better to be able to check out.  So he went back to Target.  He could get in the store with ease, but once he got in he said it was mayhem.  More of the same as the other stores.  He found one random item after traying to look for a TV (which he never got) and again when he saw the check out line, he decided it wasn't worth the savings.  So he went golfing instead!

All this to say, I had no idea how bad it was out there.  I am all for saving a buck.  Anyone who visits here knows that is my thing.  But when is saving a buck not saving at all?  For me personally, I would have an anxiety attack, so I have never shopped on Black Friday.  I guess that is why I didn't realize how intense it is.  If you get a movie for $3.99 that normally cost $15.99, yet have to wait in line for 90 minutes to purchase it, what have you saved?  For me, nothing.  I would rather go without the movie.  But this is gift giving season.  Yet, why do gifts have to be so extravagant and purchased from a store? 

Most every year I make at least some gifts.  Since our olders receive 3 gifts each, we don't have much trouble shopping for them.  The littletons, well they still are Santa believin folk, so they get one from each family member and then a few from Santa.  Still, not too much shopping.  When it comes to other people, that is where the snafu comes into play.  There are some whom we give to that judge us by the gift, which really causes us to not want to give, but we do.  Why?  Well, I truly am enthralled with giving to others, so it is usually I that makes the gesture.  Then there are a few people in our lives who expect gifts, thus we give under obligation.  That said, the hubby and I do not exchange gifts.  Well, sometimes we do, but it depends.  If I find something I really want to get for the hubby, I get it; the same applies for him.  If he gets me a gift and I didn't get him one, it makes no difference.  Most years we exchange nothing.  Gift giving between us means nothing of the Christmas Season.  Hey...why am I rambling?  Someone slap me..............

Ok Thanks!  What I wanted to let you in on was the great concept of gift giving.  There are so many cool gifts you can make at home, that cost less, and mean more.  I have done bath salts, home baked goodies, gift baskets, toys, etc.  One year, our kids did not receive one store bought toy.  I refinished a 1950's doll high chair I purchased at a yard sale for $1, one of those horse heads on a stick, dolls, refinished a doll house (that had been mine as a child)  completely for free with old wall paper books, games, puppets, blocks,etc.  While I have never had a completely homemade Christmas since (it took about 6 months of work to complete all the toys), I always make some gifts. 

I can't disclose the gifts I am making this year, for some gift recipients will be reading this blog.  But just check out all the cool stuff on the internet for homemade gifts.  There is plenty of time for pulling together some great gifts!  Check out these links for ideas and instructions.

Gifts in a Jar (I always make a few of these, because people truly seem to appreciate them.)

Holiday Gifts and Crafts (I have made the journal jar twice for a very special someone...ME!)

Homemade Christmas Gifts (I check this site every year, because I can usually find some good idea for a gift the kids can make.)

Homemade (and Cheap!) Gifts (really good ideas for pulling together a nice gift)

Homemade Gifts (This site has a GREAT recipe for making cinnamon ornaments.  Your home will smell sooooo good with these hanging on your tree, so don't forget to make some for those special someones, too!)

Christmas Gifts Kids can Make (This site has an easy link section according to age, which is very helpful for those moms with not a lot of time to surf the net.)

Handmade Holidays (If you can sew, even a bit, this is a FABULOUS resource.  Some gifts are more intricate, but most are VERY simple!)

Homemade Gifts for Kids (There are some really simple yet cool gifts here.  Consider using the ideas and putting your own unique twist on it.)

Homemade Gift Basket Ideas (Great inspiration for a wide variety of gift baskets)

I have many more links, if anyone one is interested.  Just leave a comment or email me, if you are looking for a specific type of homemade gift.  Also, if you have a site that has gift ideas, be it crochet/knit projects, cooking, archival, sewing, drawing, painting, paper craft, etc, please add a link in a comment, or email me a link to add to this post! 

These are my thoughts.

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Thanksgiving is here.  You likely have already purchased your supplies and are ready for the big day of cooking.  The smells, the laughter, the Macy's Day parade, the food, the smell...oh I said that already. 

With any holiday, there can be an abundance of chaos, leading to a non-enjoyment of the day.  However, Thanksgiving and Christmas can be the most stressful.  You can tame the chaos of the day by trying a few simple things today. 

1. Make dishes ahead starting today.  Mashed Potatoes, Dressing, Salads, Jello dishes, Scalloped Potatoes, Bread dough, etc.  These can all be made ahead to create some ease on T Day.  It makes a HUGE difference, trust me on this one.  Some have asked me if the food tastes good being that it isn't "fresh" (meaning made the day of).  The truth is, that dressing, stuffing, potatoes, jello, etc all taste better when they have had time to let the tastes flow together.  Try it this year, and you will find that things taste even better with even less work on the actual day. 
2. Check Black Friday Sales today.  I never shop on Black Friday.  This is not frugal, but I have some other personal issues that keep me from the stores.  If you are venturing out, it would be good for you to get online and check out the sales ads, which are already posted, and compare it with your list.  With gas as high as it is, you will want to keep driving to a minimum if possible, in order to reap the greatest bargains.  So check your gift lists with the Black Friday Sales today, so you can focus on getting some good rest after the celebrations to gear you up for a day of shopping. 
3. Check linens today.  Make certain that everything you need for setting the table is ready to go.  There is no need to add this activity to your To Do list on T Day, when you can squish it in today.  It will make setting the table a more pleasant experience on T Day, knowing you have everything ready today.
4. In the same vein, if you will be using real silver settings, make certain to polish silver today or tomorrow.  Who wants to be polishing silver on T Day?
5. Make sure you have seating for everyone.  When you are setting your tables it can cause a panick if you haven't thought about seats for everyone. 
6. Plan some activities for kids.  Want to keep them busy for hours?  Have a few activities planned to alternate with free play time.  The breaking up of free play and planned activities will assure tons of fun without stress.
7. Take your Turkey out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator NOW; as in right now.  I forgot this one year, and chaos reigned. 
8. If you are decorating the table, consider allowing your kids to make the decorations.  There is nothing better than getting your kids involved in the preparations and having something they contributed out for all to see. 

Planning ahead will make for a relaxed Thanksgiving, and that is something we all can give thanks for. 

These are my thoughts. 

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If you have plants (indoor or outdoor) you know that watering is essential for survival.  Often times we are told about using plant food to ensure they are getting proper nutrition.  For those of us that try to keep them well watered, we can also have a mold issue. 

A great way to feed your plants and prevent mold is to use something you likely already have in your home.  Next time you are using eggs, do not put the shells in the trash or the compost bin.  Instead place them in a container or watering can with water.  Let them sit for about an hour.  Then use the water for your plants.  The protein the shells provide in the water will help feed your plants and help fight against mold.

Free plant food cannot be beat!

These are my thoughts.

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These days there is no shortage of emphasis on environmentalism, especially in regards to lifestyle at home.  With more and more studies coming to a close that show the danger of all those wonderful cleaning chemicals we've all grown up with, green clean is taking a forefront.  There are many cleaners on the market that can be purchased from Wally World, Target, Home Depot, and many chain grocers.  These products claim green cleaning abilities, but one thing they lack, is the need to include what ingredients are used and in what proprtions.  The U.S. Government has no regulations regarding this market, yet.  So, how is one to know if they are truly cleaning green?  One answer may be to call the company that makes the product and ask questions.  If the product is on the up and up, the company will have no problems anwering any and all of your questions.

Another solution is to make your own cleaning products.  There are several easy to make recipes available widely across the internet.  Here are a few to get you started.

Drain Cleaner:

This is my favorite!  Pour 1 2 liter of Coke down the drain.  Rinse with hot water. 

OR

1/2 c baking soda

1/2 c vinegar

2 quarts boiling water

Place the baking soad in the drain.  Add the vinegar and let sit 5 minutes.  Run hot water down the drain for several minutes.

Dusting Cloths:

Use old dryer fabric softener sheets.

Oven Cleaner and Soft Scrub:

Baking soda and water.  Make a paste and scrub away. 

Toilet Cleaner:

Vinegar

Baking soda

Sprinkle baking soda in toilet.  Scrub with Brush.  Add vinegar.  Come back in 10 min and flush.  (GREAT for septic systems)

Furniture Polish:

1 c lemon juice

1 c olive oil

Put in a bottle and shake well before each use.  Put on a cloth and start polishing. 

Bathtub Scrubber:

Use the Oven cleaner/Soft Scrub paste recipe above.  This is perfect for bath because it rinses away easily and cleanly.  No residue!

Not only are these better for your health and the planet, but they are considerably less expensive than anything on the market.  However, I do use some products from a green clean company.  If you are interested in looking at them, email me and I will hook you up with a website. 

These are my thoughts.

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Is company coming?  Will they be here in an hour?  No time to do a rigorous cleaning?  House a little unsightly?  Here are a few tips that can have your house together in company ready condition in under an hour.

• Assign a room to every family member.  Each person is responsible for picking anything out of place up and putting it away. 
• Vacumm all floors.
• Wipe all doors (you would be surprised how much dirt and finger prints are grubbing them up if you don't clean them regularly.
• Dust baseboards.
• Clean the bathroom.

With all of these things accomplished, your home will be ready for company in under and hour! 

(Oh April, next time I will run through this list for you all.  I did vacuum though!)

These are my thoughts.

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In planning for posts for the Spring Cleaning Fling, to make this as simple, quick, and thorough as possible, you should probably list all of the rooms in your home, including hallways.  They do not have to be grouped.  Just listed.  We will deal with grouping later. 

I will list my rooms and appx room size so you can get an idea of what I am doing, how I am doing it, and use my time frame as a jumping board for yourself.

Rooms in My Home:

Master BR 15 x 16 (closets not included)

Master bath 8 x 16 (tub, shower, potty, double sink)

Kitchen 16 x 17 (fridge, oven, microwave, double sink, cupboards, pantry)

Laundry room 7 x 7

Dinning room 11 x 17

Living Room 18 x 32

Playroom 15 x 30

BR 1 12 x 12

Office 12 x 12

BR 2 15 x 15

BR 3 15 x 15

Guest Room 11 x 12

Bath 2 8 x 6

Bath 3 6 X 8

2 hallways (don't know the dimensions)

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Are lives are so busy and chaotic these days, that you may feel as though you have no extra time.  When it comes to being a consumer, this can be a detriment.  I cannot count the number of times that I have had experience as a customer or with a product that I feel should brought to the attention of the company, but the chaos of life can prevent me from doing so.  More and more, people are taking less time to contact companies about products or services.

This is a large part of the fact that people get the idea that companies don't care.  However, my experience has been that they do.  Companies do want your business and they care what you think, for the most part.  If you own or purchase something that you feel exceeds your expectations, take time to call the company.  Yes, you can use a few moments on the internet to go to the company's website and email a commant as well.  However, because they kow that people lead busy lives, they cherish those phone calls even more.  Everyone likes to have a pat on the back, but companies truly want to know when they are doing a good job, manufacturing a good product, or are providing a good service.  More often than not, they will make it worth your time by offering coupons for their products and/or services. 

This holds true when you call to report products and services that are not up to snuff.  For example, the hubby and I visited Cracker Barrel for lunch one day.  I was thoroughly disappointed to find what they had put in front of me as my meal.  Later that week, I called to let them know that I found their product unacceptable.  They took my name and number and thanked me for contacting them.  A few days later the manager of the Cracker Barrel we ate at, contacted me to get a more full picture.  As a token of his appreciation for taking time to alert him to the situation, he sent us a coupon for 2 free meals.  Other calls I have taken the time to make is to report exceptional customer service, an exceptional product, a suggestion for improving a product, an idea for a new usage of a product, poor customer service, a product that has been a great disappointment.  Each time I have been offered something from the company as a thank you for taking the time to contact them. 

I am not suggesting you call every company for every product you use or service that you recieve, because you would be on the phone constantly, and no one has time for that.  However, when something is above or below the norm or your expectations, take time out of your life to contact the company.  Not only may your opinions affect positive change, but you will most times be rewarded for your time. 

These are my thoughts. 

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I rarely invest in cleaning tools.  Aside from rags and a good scrub brush, I have found few tools that are worth the purchase.  I would include a good vacuum, however our home has central vac, so I haven't looked at vacuums for years, and would not be able to make an intelligent recommendation. 

Clean floors are a must.  To clean a linoleum, tile, or laminate floor properly, one needs to to do this with many rags on the knees.  I know there are tons of mops and electric vacuum/scrubbers on the market, but they do not clean your floor any better than a regular mop.  If you truly want a clean floor, it is necessary to do the nasty, and get down on the floor.  In this way you can get every crack and crevice cleaned as well as prevent dispersing dirt around the floor.

However, rest asssured I do not clean my floor each day on my knees.  On the inbetween days I use a mop; but not just any mop.  Investing in a mop, just as in any cleaning tool, you should look at durability, function, and overall usage.  With these in mind, I have owned one mop for years, that I would hate to live without.  This heaven sent mop is called the Sh-mop.

This mop can do a better job of cleaning a floor in nearly half the time.  Also, it is as close to hand cleaning on your knees as you can get.  The design is so smart that you can clean under the edge of a fridge, oven, furniture etc, all with this one tool.  In addition, you can wipe down the walls and ceiling of a room easily with this wonderful mop.  The cleaning surface has replaceable cloth heads. This means when a mop is soiled, you just take it off and replace with another and keep moving.  When you are finished cleaning, pop the cloths in the washing machine and there you go.  Dry or wet, this mop cleans it all; quickly and effectively.

A few notes about the Sh-mop.  This is a mop that will last for years!  The handle is the most durable I have used, and also the most comfortable.  It has easy maneuverablitiy.  The head, which you place the cloth covers on, is large enough to be controllable and never gets mold or mildew.  This is a HUGE plus for Floridians.  In addition I have owned the Sh-mop for 4 years and just felt a need to replace the cloth covers.  The covers have not worn out in any way, however, they are discolored.  After 4 years, I figured I could see my way clear to purchase some new ones.  If I didn't want to purchase new covers, I could safely say they would last another few years without losing effectiveness.  How many mops can tout that?! 

This is a great time of year to check out the Sh-mop As many are in the process or planning stages of a good spring cleaning.

These are my thoughts.

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If you have been with me for awhile, you know that I often recommend evaluating cost with quality.  There are times and items that do not need to be quality.  However, one of the biggest problems we face today is that manufacturing has evolved to producing good looking, but low quality products.  If you purchase a low quality product for a cheap price, but have to replace that item several times in the life expectancy of the high quality product, you have not made a good buy.  You simply must read this article.

"The designers of modern furniture are attempting to meet chenaged conditions of living with furniture of h onest construction.

They are attempting only what the machine can do well.  There is no attempt to copy the lovely hand carving of the old masters.  They are relying rather on beauty of finish, and upholstery materials.  They are attempting in their turn to become worthy creators of style.  Time alone can decide definitely  how they are succeeding.  Meanwhile, things new are always interesting and stimulating.  Watch for some of their models that you may adapt to the things you already have.

Having decided whether a piece of furniture is good or bad artistically, examine to see whether or not it has qualities that will make it durable.  (1) Find out whether the piece is solid or veneered wood.  (2) Discover whether it is genuine mahogany (for example) or mahogany finish.  (3) Is it mahogany exterior?  (4) Is it combination mahogany?

Mahogany finish means that no mahogany is used, but that some other wood is finished in imitation.  Mahogany exterior means that all exposed surfaces are mahogany, but that the back of the pieces and the inside parts of the drawers are some other pieces of wood.  Combination mahogany means that only the large exposed surfaces, such as the top and front, are of mahogany.  The rest will be of some other type of wood.

Good furniture is expensive.  It is poor economy to buy anything but good furniture.  You are entitled to the best possible value for your money.  Gumwood and birch are all right in themselves but you do not want to pay the price of walnut and mahogany for them, nor pay for solid wood when you are buying veneered. 

See if the legs, arm supports, and the uprights of chair backs are clear cut or blurred and clumsy.  See if the depths of grooves and carvings are smmoth or rough.  See if the exposed wood portions are beautiful in tone and color and hand rubbed or waxed, or finished with a dark muddy stain that hides the grain of the wood.  Is the wood covered with coats of shiny, sticky looking varnish?  See if drawers slide easily.  Examine the upright supports.  See whether the construction is continuous or doweled.

Have teh piece tipped upside down and examine the bracing.  See whether they are nailed or screwed in.  Swing all doors to see if they fit correctly.  Examine the linings.

Overstuffed furniture is even more difficult to judge.  Springs, joints, framework, the entire construction is concealed.  Here you must depend upon the reliability of the merchant and the price.  You can, however, notice whether the upholstery is firm and smooth, yet luxurious yielding when you try it with your hand.  Notice whether the gimp is glued as well as tacked.

Never under any consideration buy poor overstuffed furniture.  Substitute something else until you can buy a good piece; not necessarily the very best, but not a cheap one.  The upholstery material may be an inexpensive denim, or even sateen, but the interior construction and frame must be excellent.  No type of furniture is more comfortable than a good overstuffed piece of good proportion to fit the individual for whom it is bought."

This is another excerpt from the Home-Maker's Guide of 1929.  It reads as a modern article might.  You can see that people have been battling the concept of statisfy now, and cheap, or save and buy one piece that will last a life time.  Today there are stores that thrive on cheap, but good looking.  These stores are often set up so that you can see a whole room arranged.  However, the furniture manufactured by these stores is cheap and will not withstand any length of time.  Buying a sofa for $500, that will need replaced every 3 years is not a good investment of money, when you you could save the payments of such and wait a 12-18 months and buy a quality piece of furniture.  The concept we miss today is that we should wait and save our money to buy something of quality, instead of getting the immediate gratification.  Waiting and Saving are not part of the modern venacular.  Also, these stores often offer "superb" financing such as "Buy NOW with no payments for 3 years."  While you could be disciplined to pay this off before the 3 years comes around, what good would it do, when the furniture needs replaced by that time? 

Being a good steward of money can be a most trying obstacle.  Using sound mind and good sense, coupled with a little bit of furniture knowledge will help you make good choices. 

These are my thoughts. 

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Everywhere you turn you are being told about good nutrition.  What foods to pick, how many servings of each, etc.  Here is a selection you should pay special attention to:

"Raw tomatoes, oranges, and raw cabbage are leading vitamin carriers, particularly of vitamin C, which most easily succumbs to cooking, and which you must take pains to include, or it will escape you.  And without itgeneral vitality suffers.

You should have green vegetables, which should be eaten four or five times a week.  Some green vegetables to be chosen from are asparagus, beet greens, Swiss chard, Brussel sprouts, dandelion greens, kale, lettuce, endive, romaine, string beans, and spinach.  Other vegetables to be given to children are beets, carrots, kohl-rabi, beans, eggplant, lentils, onions, peas, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and turnips. 

Steaming vegetables avoids loss of nutrient into the water, which occurs when they are boiled.  However, since boiling may likely be morea more common process in many households. let us say right now that the water in which the vegetables are cooked should never be thrown away, but saved and used for soups, or prepared into sauce to serve over the vegetables. 

Bread.  Give preference to whole wheat, with white milk with raisins, corn and graham fruit muffins and rye for variety.  Finely ground whole wheat may be used to make cookies, gingerbread, and biscuits, as well as bread.  The whole wheat is more complete in itself."

You can read this and know that it comes from a nutrition guide or magazine that is promoting good nutrition through whole foods.  This is a sign of the times.  Our society has come a long way being able to determine what is nutritionally valuable and what is devoid.  Whole foods is the thing these days.  It's a new look on eating that will promote long lasting health benefits.  Or is it?

The above excerpt is taken from a Homemaker's Guide from 1929!  I was given this book as a gift from my good friend Judy, because she likes me.  =)  Of course, being a genuine reader and an antique book lover, it was THE perfect gift for me.  =)  I poured through the book and found much of what we are being told today was what was being told back then.  For those who's brains are not turned on yet, we are talking early depression era.  There is so much more in this book to chew on; discussing everything from ettiquette, to stain removal, and how to make things last.  That's something you don't see much now a days. 

So, the Doctors, Researchers, and Media aren't as smart as they try to have us believe.  They are regurgitating the lifestyle choices we have walked away from, knowing that they are truly more beneficial to a long and healthful life.  In an effort to keep people in the know and up to date with the latest findings these things are being broadcast and dispersed as new findings.  Who wants to admit that our ancestors knew better than us?  Who wants to admit that the constant effort of moving forward may not always be the most beneficial path?  Everything old is new again.

These are my thoughts.

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Recently, an emailer requested a few titles of books that I think are worthy of a new bride, specifying she was looking for books that stand the test of time.  Well, I had to think about this, because I do not know the bride or she and her future husband's lifestyles.  However, with a little thought, I came up with, what I thought, was a good list that would be well recieved and used by a person of any lifestyle (well except maybe a convenience oriented couple). 

• Home Comforts, by Crystal Mendelson  Firstly, a new bride can never go wrong with a book about all things of home care.  I continue to learn from this book.  Everything from how to fold a fitted sheet to caring for cookware.  This is the best book about home care.  All the things my mother never taught me are here. 

I would include a cookbook that covers a wide range of cooking, such as:

• Joy of Cooking, Irma S. Rombauer
• Betty Crocker Cookbook, by Betty Crocker Editors

I definitely, would include a book about food storage, even if the bride is more convenience minded.  Once a woman tries some type of stocking up, they stick with it.

• Stocking Up, by Carol Hupping

This is a book that is a great way to be happy and thankful at the most basic levels.  Starting a new bride in this mindset will produce years of joy.

• Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breathnach

In the same vain, any new bride (christian) would be blessed to have this addition to her bookshelf to begin her new marriage.

• The Power of a Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian

Every new couple should have a title that pertains to home finances.  My recommendation is always:

• The Complete Tightwad Gazette, by Denise Dacyczyn  This is one of the most used and referenced books in my home.  Each time something comes up, I check the index to see if there are any articles regarding such.
• Everyday Cheapskate's Greatest Tips, by Mary Hunt  Mary Hunt now has several excellent titles.  This one touches a little bit on all areas, so a good beginning resource for a new couple.  If the title is well received, you will soon find all of Mary's titles on their shelves. 

What I did not include, because it would be unique to each situation are specific titles geared towards a specific style of cooking, a book of local outtings, and a hobby or music book.  Please, never forget to include at least one book that is for the groom.  A library for a new life, together, is an excellent gift for the new couple.   *Pssst!  These titles are not just for newlyweds.  They are excellent resources to search out at any!*

These are my thoughts.

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Awareness of the fact that we are to rest, is wide.  You hear it on commercials and radio; it is seen in magazines, books, and on TV.  Somehow "experts" keep saying it, but our lives grow ever more busy and rest gets pushed further away.  Any "expert" on homesteading (of any type) will tell you that rest is essential to the jobs and lifestyles involved. 

A homesteader on a large scale may own a 100 acre cattle farm.  This farmer and his family will have jobs that will require their daily attention from dawn to dusk.  Likewise, the urban homesteader may have employment and/or family obligations that keep them busy from dawn to dusk.  The location and size of the homestead matters not; work loads are full wherever you call home.  So how can we assure ourselves of the important time of rejuvenation?

Consider scheduling recess for yourself.  Yes I said recess, like in school.  School's schedule recess for students and faculty (planning periods).  Other places of employment schedule "recess" called breaks.  Why?  Because it is imperative for one to work to the best of his/her abilities.  The mind needs refreshed. 

If you have a very harried life, you may be thinking that there is no way you could possibly make time for rest, when you are already working 12 hours a day AND still not getting it all done.  Think Simply.  Find a quiet place of respite.  This can be a bench outside, a porch swing, a closet, the car, the bathroom, a barn, etc.  It matters not where you go, as long as you will be undisturbed.  For moms with little ones the bathroom might be the last place you consider and you may feel your children cannot be unattended for a moment.  However, you have to think about how you run your home.  Do you have the children playng in the living room while you walk to the laundry room to switch over a load of laundry?  Children can be trained to give mom's that needed break by using an egg timer.  Here's how it works.

If you do not have young children needing you constantly, try to make your recess area a place where you feel relaxed.  If you are a secretary, going to the mail room may continue to give you a feeling of apprehension.  If you are a mechanic, the parts room may not offer you a true break from your work.  A mom may not find she can concentrate on refreshing herself in the laundry room; staring at a pile of laundry.  Pick a place where your mind can be free of your regular daily commitments.  Now set your timer to 15 minutes.  Pray, read scripture, jot down dreams, journal, mentally plan a vacation, think about a craft or art project, ponder a story or book you have been reading, etc.  Think of something that refreshes your mind and let God use the time to refresh your soul.  15 minutes will seem like an hour and you will find you are less hurried than before. 

For moms with small children, try 5 minute increments.  Set up a safe play area for the children.  Tell them you need a few minutes and where you are going.  Set the timer and tell them they may come to that place when the buzzer rings.  As the children become accustomed to this practice, you will be able to lengthen the time until you reach 15 minutes.  You will find that you are not only rejuvenated, but that you are finding more creative activities for your children to partake in while you are taking recess. 

The bottom line is, when you make time (even a few short moments) for yourself, everyone around you benefits.  You will be a better wife, mom, teacher, employee, and volunteer, when you take care of yourself first.  This is so simple and it will help regain a sense of simplicity in even the most harried of lives.

These are my thoughts. 

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Most areas of the country have some type of severe weather season; hurricanes, tornadoes, snow storms, ice storms, etc.  We often know when these types of severe weather conditions are possible, but we wait until there is a high warning before we take stock of what our family might need in the event that we are unable to get to a store for a few days.  These weather condistions can cause complications we might not think about before, such as no power, no water, no gas, no food, lack of driving conditions, etc.  Using a little knowledge and pre-planning you can avoid the hectic chaos of fear that people have right before a severe weather prediction.  There is nothing worse than trying to shop and prepare for an event, when everyone else is doing the same.

Firstly, make a list of items you will need to get your family through 4-5 days in the event of being "stuck" at home.  This list should include not only food, but items like batteries, extra blankets, wood (a better explanation later), water, 5 gallon buckets, first aid supplies, propane, medicine and prescriptions, detergents and antibacterial gel, premade wipes (more later), generator, camping lanterns, candles, and other essential items.  By purchasing these items prior to any severe weather season, you will not need to fight with the crowds of frantic people during the season.  Also, you arelikely to be able to locate and get the items, whereas waiting until a storm is approaching will result in you possbily finding the items out of stock.

You should try to keep 4-5 five gallon buckets on hand.  When you know a storm is approaching, fill those buckets with water.  This is the water you will use if you lose power and need to flush the toilet and cleansing.  Make certain to have at least a small stock of wood on hand.  If all else fails, you can make a small campfire for cooking food.  Even in towns where there is yard burning restrictions, this is allowable in a state of emergency.  If you use wood for a heat source (even partially, you will want to have enough wood on hand to get you through 4-5 days of no power.  Stock up on essential foods and make certain your freezer is filled to capactiy.  In the event of a several day power outtage, that food will remain frozen and you can open the freezer once a day and get what you need out of it, before you really will need to worry.  If you have a generator, you could hook your freezer up to the generator for 2 hrs per day and the food in there would keep for a couple of weeks!  Make certain your laundry is caught up before a server weather storm, so that if y ou cannot wash clothes for a week, you will have enough stock of clothes to get your through. 

Make certain your propane tank for your grill is filled, or that you have enough charcoal to get you through at least 2 meals perday.  In a storm that knowck out electric, gas, and water, this may be the only source of cooking you have.  Even if it isn't, if the storm comes at a hot and humid time of the year, you will be glad to cook outside and keep the heat out there. 

If you have a large family, even a few 5 gallon buckets of water will not be enough to cook, clean, and flush.  To help stretch this water, simply make some wipes to keep on hand.  You can make a batch for cleaning dishes and a batch for clenaing people.  When using these wipes to clean yourself or your dishes, you will not always need rinse water and if you do it will be a minimal amount.  If you need to wash hands frequently, use a little antibacterial gel then use a small plastic cup to scoop water and pour over hands.  If more than one person is cleaning hands at the same time, place a bowl under hands to catch the rinse water and use for the next person. 

You can usually find a list in your area of essential items to keep on hand for whatever the conditions might be.  However, keep in mind, when the season is over, you need to use those items (food, water, medicine, or anything that will spoil or expire). 

These are my thoughts.

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 There are always times when we feel like we are running out of space in our homes.  We can alleviate that feeling by ridding ourselves of items that we no longer need.  However, sometimes, you simply  need to re-evaluate the way your rooms are set up.

Believe it or not, rearranging a room can add a lot of space!  This usually takes a little time and some thought.  Firslty, you need to look at the room as if it is the first time you are seeing it.  This is difficult for me, but the rewards of working towards this are always abundant.  Next, think about what you want to accomplish in the room.  Do have a long living room that seems to be functional, yet want a work space included?  You get the idea. 

Now, you want to try to find a way to regroup the room to incorporate the new area.  Better Homes & Gardens offers a GREAT online program that allows you to arrange a room.  I have used this MANY times.  Click here to go directly to the site.   Using this tool you can not only rearrange the furniture in your room to see what will work best, but you can add furniture to accomplish your goal, and see if it works for you. 

I do not rearrange furniture very often.  The reason is, that when I want to accomplish something with space, I have used this tool so successfully, that I rarely have a desire to change the room afterwards.  However, when I have a room that needs rescuing, or I want to use in a different way, I look at it from new eyes, think about mygoal, and use the BHG Arrange a Room tool. 

These are my thoughts.

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I often hear women talking about redecorating.  Some do it and others just wish.  I do both of these things.  But, I rarely DO it, because of cost.  I wondered, did women in hard times past think about redecorating, when so many other things were more important?  Then I caught an episode of the Waltons (set in the 1930's) and Olivia (mom) was making furniture covers.  She made a comment to Grandma that even though times were tough, their was no reason they couldn't spruce the place up a bit.  She only made a cover for one chair, because that was all the fabric she had, but it answered the question for me.

When you think about redecorating, think first about what you want to accomplish.  Many times a fresh coat of paint (which is inexpensive and often free on recycling boards) and a rearranging of furniture is all that it takes to give a room a new look.  I have seen those TV programs that re-do rooms for minimal amounts of money in 2 days AND they mostly look fabulous.  But how many of us have a crew to work with, including a master carpenter and desginer who can not only get phenomonal discounts, but has knowledge and access to resources we don't. 

So if a room needs a little pick me up think simple.  New color, rearrange the furniture, perhaps some new pillows?  I redecorated a bedroom with a set of sheets that were given to me.  I used one flat sheet to make a window dressing and accent table cloths.  I pulled blankets and a comforter from another room.  Then we took a lamp from another room.  Know what, it looked very cute.  Not drop dead shnazzy, but it brightened the room and gave it the change we were looking for. 

If you are in need of fabric and aren't finding any at the bargain tables in the craft stores, consider going to a thrift store and rummage through the sheets and table cloths.  You'd be surprised by what can be done with those items to spruce up a room!

These are my thoughts.

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