Are You Working In Your Garden?

Posted on Nov. 6, 2008 at 07:32 AM by HSB Front Porch - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Looking Forward

Posted on Nov. 5, 2008 at 08:00 AM by HSB Front Porch - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

"If it is true that one of the greatest pleasures of gardening lies in looking forward, then the planning of next year's beds and borders must be one of the most agreeable occupations in the gardener's calendar. This should make October and November particularly pleasant months, for then we may begin to clear our borders, to cut down those sodden and untidy stalks, to dig up and increase our plants, and to move them to other positions where they will show up to greater effect. People who are not gardeners always say that the bare beds of winter are uninteresting; gardeners know better, and take even a certain pleasure in the neatness of the newly dug, bare, brown earth."
-Vita Sackville-West

Yes, I do feel that October and November are particularly pleasant months in my own garden.  How about you?   I enjoy taking inventory, so to speak, and making note of what grew well, what needs a new home, which plants need to be divided and shared with a friend.  I enjoy cleaning out the spent plants, potting up a few tender ones to spend the winter indoors, dividing the perennials and planting a few things for cool weather color.  Then, of course, is the joy of planting bulbs and seeds that will burst forth come Springtime to welcome the new season.

Tell us what your favorite garden or farm task is this time of year.  What do you plant?  Anyone have a veggie or herb recommendation for us?  What grew particularly well for you this year?  What didn't?  Share your gardening days with us!

We planted some zucchini seed that made lovely plants (in both the Spring and Fall garden) but very, very little fruit; which is certainly odd.  I hope I still have the seed packet so I can be certain not to buy that particular variety from that  seed company again.

Hope you are enjoying your garden this November,

Catherine

Save on Holiday Decorations

Posted on Nov. 4, 2008 at 08:18 AM by HSB Front Porch - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Before I get into the post, please remember to Get Out and VOTE Today!

As unwelcomed as it may be in the hearts of many, Christmas officially begins in early to mid October. While we don’t want to see this, it does have a simple and frugal benefit.

The fact is, right now Christmas is IN. This means that autumn is on its way out. Most stores have autumn décor items on clearance already. Think ahead for the upcoming Thanksgiving celebration. Take an inventory of items you may need to acquire, such as linens, place settings, or those wonderful accents that can make a table change from drab to dramatic. Head to the store and see what you can scoop up. Be certain to look for items that are simple enough to be incorporated with the items you already own. Autumn color schemes are usually similar enough that you can mix and match for a low-cost. Don’t wait too long, though. In the next week you may not be able find much available. So get some unparalleled autumn décor savings today!

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. She is a writer, speaker, and vintage seamstress. For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!

Homemade Clean! Dryer Sheets

Posted on Oct. 30, 2008 at 08:19 AM by HSB Front Porch - 4 Comments - Post Comment - Link

We love to keep it simple and frugal around here...here is one idea for the laundry, to do just that!

Make our own Homemade Dryer Sheets!  This is a great way to use up old cloth, and cotton rags or scrap clothing!  Take your piece of cloth and add 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil to it.  (No more than this or you could end up with staining of your clothing in the load and have to re-wash!) These can be reused too, by just adding a couple more drops of the essential oil to the cloth each load; you can “recycle” it back through the wash to be used again and again!

Here are a few ideas for making your own blends for your homemade dryer sheets:

Rosemary and thyme for a natural, earthy scent

Lavender and chamomile for a relaxing, soothing effect

Sweet orange and lemon for a refreshing scent

Eucalyptus and peppermint (or just the eucalyptus) for cold/flu sufferers

Ylang-ylang and jasmine for a romantic floral scent

Or create your own, with your favorite essential oils!

Lisa

www.HomesteadOriginals.com

Excerpt from "Homestead Simplicity: Natural Clean" eBook, copyright 2008

Apples, Apples, Aples

Posted on Oct. 28, 2008 at 02:30 PM by HSB Front Porch - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

One thing we used to struggle with in the autumn was half eaten apples. The autumn brings big delicious apples in abundance and at a great price. However, my kids rarely can eat an entire one of these large beauties. When I would slice up half an apple, they didn’t want to eat the other half later because of browning. I would spread a bit of lemon juice on the cut portion of the apple to prevent it from browning and it will still remain uneaten. So what’s a mom to do. If you end up with half eaten or used apples, have no fear; you do not have to discard those delicious fruits!

• Cut and un-eaten apple flesh away and save in a container. At the end of the week, make a fresh batch of applesauce. This will not make a tremendous amount of applesauce, but it will be enough to accompany a breakfast item. It can be spread on toast and sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon. Or you can use a dollop on top of a bowl of oatmeal.
• Cut unused apples into smaller chunks. Place chunks in small ceramic tart bowls or mugs. Sprinkles some cinnamon and sugar and top with oatmeal (ground into crumbs). Place a few pieces of butter on top. Cover with plastic wrap. When ready to use, remove plastic wrap and cover with paper towel. Place in microwave and cook on high for 3-5 minutes (depending on size of cup and amount of apples).
• Slice uneaten apple. Melt butter in a small frying pan. Place apple slices in. Heat on medium for 1-2 minutes and flip. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Makes a GREAT breakfast or snack!

Buono Appetito!

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!

Simple & Frugal Storage of Plastic-ware Lids

Posted on Oct. 21, 2008 at 11:26 AM by HSB Front Porch - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

One thing that has plagued me for years about organizing plastic kitchen storage containers such as Tupperware and Rubbermaid, is those pesky lids. I don’t know what happens at your home, but they keep coming up with these organizing “gimmick”, such as interlocking lids, and that is NOT a help. When my children put dishes away, they will stack the plastic containers inside one another, but those pesky lids they don’t take the time to put them together according to size and shape. I have tried a variety of solutions over the years. For a while we stored lids in Zip style bags, by size. That actually worked for a while, but then my children became lazy about putting lids away in the right bag and the bag sides finally ripped. We use baskets and other containers in which we could just through the lids, but that takes up precious cupboard space. So, with the gauntlet thrown down, I was determined to sold the problem once and for all.

The criteria for a solution were:

• Take as little space as possible
• Allow for lids of all shapes and sizes to be stored
• Easy access

After about 2 weeks of brainstorming and trial and error, I came up with a solution that worked AND met all of the above criteria!

Materials Needed:

• 2-4 plastic single piece silverware plastic storage basket; the lg skinny type (I got mine at the Dollar Tree)
• 6-8 screws(2 for each storage basket) that are the right length to be screwed into the door of your cabinet, but will not go through the other side

For each cupboard door, you will screw two of these little baskets to the door. Place one of the largest lids in the basket to determine the placement of the basket. Then place the next one above or below that to hold smaller lids.

My cupboard has 2 doors, so I was able to use 4 of these little baskets. Now, when we put our lids away, we only need to open the door and slip them in the baskets. But THE best part of this idea is that I was able to free up space inside the cupboard. Mission Accomplished!

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!

KIds and Frugal Living

Posted on Oct. 14, 2008 at 08:54 AM by HSB Front Porch - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

I so enjoy talking with moms about ways they find to be frugal while raising their families.  Some topics that come to mind are toys, games, clothes, shoes, curriculum, field trips, chores, art projects, and car schooling.  Here are some tips on stretching your dollar with children from my vault.

• Kids only require 2 glasses of milk a day.  Less if they are eating cheese within the same day.  Instead of giving milk every time they ask for a drink (or juice for that matter) give them water.  It is good for them; it's FREE; and it creates an excellent health habit for their future.
• Next time you make pancakes, make extra.  You can freeze these and reheat in the toaster.  Pancakes rarely last out the day in our home, unless I make a Pancake Cooking Fest.  Why?  I have taught my kids to use pancakes for treats.  Spread on jam, peanut butter, honey, or fluff.  Make chocolate chip pancakes and serve the leftovers later in the day cold. 
• Fresh fruit and veggies are less expensive than premade processed snacks AND they pack a powerful nutritional punch.  Get kids to eat these as snacks by cutting them into small pieces.  My kids especially love veggies cut on an angle.   Kids, who aren't required to eat fresh food on a regular basis, often don't develop a taste for it. 
• Buy nuts in bulk at a whole foods or bulk store.  These are a great source of protein, and your kids will enjoy the crunch. 
• Change these nuts into an even more fun snack by baking in the toaster oven with honey or brown sugar drizzled on top. 
• Make your own granola.  It is not only so easy, but it is SOOOO CHEAP!  It keeps for a long time, travels well, and is a great source of nutrition.
• Make homemade versions of playdoh, glue, and paper mache paste.
• Try thrift stores for play shoes.  You can often buy a few pairs for the price of one new pair (great if you have a fashion conscious child). 
• If you don't want the kids to take toys outside, thrift stores again, come in handy for cheap options.
• Check your local stores for end of the season items at rock bottom prices.  I always go to Old Navy the week after Halloween for really cheap costumes.  My kids have a HUGE box full of dress up clothes that probably cost me no more than $20....mind you some of the costumes have been around since my oldest was a littleton (he's 15 now).  Oh dear, there are even a couple of costumes left from when I was a kid!
• Kids begging for an evening treat, try making smoothies.  It's not just a good way to get your kids to eat more fruit; it is an excellent way to use up fruit that is past its prime, thus saving you from throwing it out. Also great for breakfast on the go!
• Use old newborn baby clothes for dolls.
• Instead of buying toys for gifts, consider making some.  I have actually done a few Christmases in which I have made all the toys by hand (i.e doll high chair, horse head on a stick, doll house, blocks, fun pillow cases, puppets, puppet stage, etc)  Start by looking around your home for items that you would like to use for a cause and let your creative mind go to work on how to turn them into something special for your children.

Being frugal with children can be difficult at times.  Don't fret if you give in and buy a DVD from time to time.  Like any other area of saving, if you are keeping your goal and your focus on being a good steward of your money, a splurge here or there is nothing more than that. 

These are my thoughts. 

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking.  

For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!

Mmmm.... Turkey, Sweet Potatoes and What else?

Posted on Oct. 14, 2008 at 07:21 AM by HSB Front Porch - 4 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Autumn Activities

Posted on Oct. 13, 2008 at 03:19 PM by HSB Front Porch - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. 
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."
-  Nathaniel Hawthorne

Oh, how I can relate to those words!  I love Autumn and the blessed relief it brings from Summer's often scorching heat.  I find myself slipping out of doors the moment the sun begins to lighten up the sky in the mornings, and having to force myself to go back indoors to attend to the daily duties that need my attention inside: breakfast, homeschool, the inevitable laundry, dishes, and so forth.  As soon as the "must-do's" are done, I pop right back outside to find some other enjoyable tasks outdoors. 

Here are a few things that I enjoy doing during the lovely days of Autumn:

Planting and tending crops for the Fall & Winter gardening season.  We have a nice garden growing right now, a blessed improvement over our sad Spring/Summer garden.

Planting herbs that enjoy the cooler Autumn & Winter weather here in Texas, such as Parsley, Cilantro, Dill and Calendula. 

Planting flower bulbs for Springtime blossoms.  I like to plant Crocus, Daffodils, Grape Hyacinth, & Tulips.

Planting Violas (my favorite), Pansies, Ornamental Kale & Cabbage for Winter color in the garden and on the porch.

Repotting my Rose Geraniums before bringing them inside for the winter.

Dividing perennial herbs and flowers and sharing the divisions with a friend.

Harvesting the leaves of Lemon Verbena, and drying them for a wonderful Winter tea.

Collecting seed from the annual herbs, flowers, and veggies to dry for next year's plantings and to share with others.

Making a scarecrow to decorate the garden.  I doubt it is very effective at scaring crows, but he (or she) always makes me smile. 

Putting out seeds and other goodies for the birds and other little creatures that visit our yard. 

Decorating the front porch with a pumpkin, Fall flowers, and perhaps a basket of gourds, corn and other pretty Autumn decorations.

Last but definitely not least, sitting on the porch with a cup of tea, a notebook, a few seed catalogs, and planning and plotting my gardens for the Spring!

Please share your favorite Autumn Gardening activities with us!

Now, I'm off to wander about the yard and see what I can find to do this evening.

Blessings,

Catherine

Living Green Can be Simple

Posted on Oct. 7, 2008 at 07:07 AM by HSB Front Porch - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Does it ever confuse you why green living can be so complicated? Some practices are almost a deterrent from incorporating this into our lifestyles. I have found that I desire to use green practices, but not at the cost of sacrificing my simple life practices. But there is one good thing that keeps me from feeling guilty, simple living often incorporates green living by its essence. Having less, means less garbage, less waste, less cleaning products to care for stuff, less time to care for stuff, less stuff to replace, etc. But how can you do more when you are already struggling to incorporate my simple living practices into your life?

Be thoughtful before you purchase an item. Do you need it? How will it affect the environment and now and in the future? Will there be continuing resources to purchase with using the product? Is there an environmentally friendly way to do this? Some products are now environmentally friendly due to companies making it easy for you. Refillable items, sold in recycled easily disposable items that are poured into a permanently re-usable dispenser are a great example of this. Technology companies often offer an easy method to recycle items such as ink cartridges and batteries by including prepaid envelopes to send the old and empty containers back to them in.

Wash your clothes in cold water only. This completely eliminates the heating of water. I have not found any significant difference in the cleanliness or stain removal of our clothing. I have not used warm or hot water for years. Once you get into this practice, if you have to purchase a new washer, you can often save money by purchasing a model that has fewer options. Additionally, with cold water I have noticed that I can use significantly less detergent to clean a load of laundry.

If at all possible, try carpooling for different activities. Even if you can’t use this practice every day, try finding ways to incorporate carpooling one or two days per week. You will save money, and be able save the environment at the same time. When you can’t carpool, consider sharing errands with a friend or neighbor. If you and a friend both have a designated errand day, that fall on different days, call each other the night before to ask if the other needs anything. This will help eliminate the need for you to make an extra trip out for some forgotten, but needed item for you AND your friend. This saves, time, gas, and emissions!

There are lots of ways to being incorporating green practices into your life style in a simple way. As with other simple living practices, don’t wait, and get started today, with just one idea that you can change this month!

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking.  

For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!