Live The Dream

MADE SOME PEPPERMINT SOAP

08:15, Friday, October 26, 2007 .. 5 comments .. Link

A friend wanted to learn how to make soap so yesterday we got together and we whipped up a batch of peppermint soap. I was using a new soap mold so I wasn't entirely sure I knew what I was doing. LOL But... it turned out great. It smells wonderful and I can't wait to cut it tomorrow. The herbs in the soap look really cool also. Here is a picture:

MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR

09:52, Friday, September 7, 2007 .. 2 comments .. Link

This is absolutely my favorite time of year. Finally, the weather gets cool enough to take long walks in the sun, the air smells of fireplace wood smoke, and the leaves are just beginning to turn. Its beautiful. My children are back at school. They are enjoying themselves. They always get to ansy at the end of the summer, especially when the summer is a HOT ONE. They were ready to get back into school. I wish I knew how to homeschool them. That is the one thing I regret not doing from the very start. I just don't know where to begin. I want to homeschool with our baby when she is of school age though. I'm on the look out for some homeschooling books or some type of literature that can give me a head start. If anyone out there can point me in the right direction, I very much appreciate it.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

09:29, Saturday, August 25, 2007 .. 3 comments .. Link

Remember the day of the "button?" The days when buttons were actually looked at as something special? The day before velcro took over? Well, I remember. I remember when I was a little girl and I ever dared to utter the words "I'm bored" one of my great aunts would throw a box of buttons at me. Anyone born after the 70's would say "what on earth for?" It's sad because those 80's, 90's, and 2000 babies will never know what great fun a button is. Sadly this is due to the fact that more and more children spend their time watching t.v. or using the internet. During the school year my children aren't allowed to do either, except for Fridays and Saturdays when we sit down as a family to watch a movie. Because of this our children get pretty bored during the long, cold winter months so I decided to invest in a few buttons. I felt it was time to educate my 90's baby and my 2000 baby on how great the button can be. For starters we have...

THE BUTTON HISTORY

The buttons history alone is very fascinating. Did you know that when buttons were first invented they were used as decorative ornaments and jewelry and NOT for fastening clothing? Artists and craftsmen tried to out-do one another in their creations of the button, much like people in the fashion industry do today.

Then there is...

BUTTON CRAFTS

Button Boxes (decorating a box with diffent types of buttons)

Button Printing (based on the historical craft of "rubber stamping"). All you need is an assortmant of interesting buttons, hair pins, ink, and a pen. Push a hairpin through the holes of the button and twist to make a handle. Press the button on an ink pad and then onto paper. Flat embossed buttons create small designs; sew-through buttons make rings and bull's eyes. See what designs you can create by combining "button printing" and ink-drawn details.

Button Jewelry (all you need is buttons, thread and needle).

Button Frame (materials: buttons, purchased frame and hot glue). Begin hot gluing a layer of ivory buttons to the frame, then take different colored buttons and layer them all over the frame (overlapping one another). When your done you can use clear acrylic spray for a nice finish.

How about...

BUTTON GAMES

Button on a string (One large button and a piece of 24 inch long string). Thread the string through the two holes, tie the strings together. Position the button in the center, grasp hold of the ends of the strings, rotate both hands the same way until the string is wound, pull hands apart and together with an in and out motion and watch the button spin.

Checkers (12 flat dark colored buttons and 12 flat light colored buttons). Draw a simple checkerboard on a piece of paper or cardboard, you'll need 64 squares alternating between light and dark squares. To play, simply follow the directions for a standard checkers game.

There is much much more to do with buttons. So when your about to throw away an old piece of clothing with buttons attached, don't forget to remove the button and throw it in a box, you never know when it may come in handy for some entertainment on a rainy day.

I WON A BLOG CONTEST

03:47, Saturday, August 25, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

Anne-Marie, my blogging buddy from brambleberry, sent me these lovely gifts after winning a contest on her blog.

Soap, soap and more soap!! Gotta luv handmade soap. I love making soap and having people love my creations. 2nd best is experiencing other peoples creations. All of the goodies Anne-Marie sent me were handmade by various people. Handmade products are indeed the best. Thank you Anne-Marie

MY FIRST ENTRY

11:33, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 .. 4 comments .. Link

This is my first entry into the "homestead" blog. I've been blogging since January/February 2007 and I really enjoy it. I've met lots of great people just by blogging. My other blog is lots of ramblings but on here I will stick just to my wanting to live a homesteading dream.

For over 2 years now I've been wanting to move out of the city and live a more simple existence with my family. One thing after another seems to come up where we are unable to leave. If it isn't money it is some other responsibility. And truly, responsibilities I cannot run away from. But... recently I was out of town up in northern MN and found a great place to move. Great that is, until our realtor started to talk to us about living there in the winter. One of my responsibilities is being available at least 2 days a week here in the cities. a 5-7 hour drive 2 days a week one way just won't work. Especially when I need to be available at a moments notice. So I thought our dream of moving had hit another snag, UNTIL... I started surfing online for realestate closer to the cities but still far enough out that we could live a country style existence. I have a renewed optimism now and look forward to charging full speed ahead on this.

The new snag. Getting this house ready to sell. The market is so not what it use to be. Some times it can take up to a year to sell. That means a 2 year projection for us. But I'll be working on it =)

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Linda
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