How to Help a Grieving Friend

 I keep sharing this because so many have told me it has helped them on both sides of the table in different types of grief including divorce. 

Repost from 10/15/2018: This post has helped a lot of people on both sides of the coin and has been printed as a handout.

Believe me, it's no time for words when the wounds are fresh and bleeding; no time for homilies when the lightning's shaft has smitten, and the man lies stunned and stricken. Then let the comforter be silent; let him sustain by his presence, not by his preaching; by his sympathetic silence, not by his speech. -George C. Lorimer

October 15 is the national day of remembrance for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. I've lost nine precious babies to stillbirth and miscarriage. Much of what you read here can be applied more broadly to include other types of loss and pain.

Here is a video from Megan Devine, which a friend recently shared, that shares about what works for those grieving and why other things like "cheering them up" do not. It will better equip you to help the hurting in your life.

When I lost one of my miscarried and stillborn babies, one of the things that helped me the most was someone telling me, "This sucks!!" I knew by their succinct words that they understood my pain. You don't need eloquence to show compassion. Your job isn't to move them to where you want them to be; it's to meet them where they are.

One of the most hurtful things ever said to me, for example, was by a Christian in law who claimed to be pro-life who told me less than 24 hours after the loss of my baby that crying was "feeling sorry for myself." Their words created a lot of pain in my heart. They did not care what I was going through, and their words showed it. Their words suggested I was doing something wrong by mourning my baby. I share this with the goal that others won't say such hurtful things in a woman's time of great pain. It is not helpful, but it is very hurtful. 

Crying is a normal, natural response to loss. Jesus cried in grief too. Would you have said, "It's self pity for you to cry since you are going to raise Lazarus anyway?" Or, would you have shown Him understanding and compassion? Think before you speak. Words hurt and can't be taken back, but they can be forgiven. Be gentle and kind with each other even when you do not understand what the other person is going through.

Please don't add your misplaced expectations to someone else's struggle. You will only burden them further. Acknowledge a person's right to feel as they do. 

If you have had a pregnancy loss, I am praying for you today and offer my friendship. My email is in the header. 

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, 
but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.
-A.W. Tozer

I had a friend comment:

That person that said that to you COULD NOT be a Christian! They may be a self proclaimed Christian, but if they really had Christ in their heart they could have never said something so cruel and cold! 

My reply: Christians aren't perfect, and we fail each other often. We have to bear with each other in love to keep unity in the church. I have forgiven them completely and have love for them. Grudges lead to bitterness and that's a weed I don't want growing in my life. It's too destructive! I pray for their well being and success of their business daily. Doing that honors Jesus and gives me peace and keeps me growing in Christ. Their words are a good example to show others what not to say to someone because it does not in any way help. It creates another burden on the person. If we claim to be pro-life, but deny a mother the freedom to mourn a pregnancy loss, we really aren't very pro-life. We have to come beside people and meet them where they are in whatever circumstance life throws at them...not drag them along to where we want them to be. I fail people too and am thankful when they forgive me and bear with me in love.

Heating Pad Thieves (How I am treating my injured knee at home)

Pretty Penny the Poodle, and Marty the 13.75-year-old rescued Chihuahua who has enjoyed her nearly four years of being free from a crate.

I got up for less than a minute, and these two took the opportunity to steal the heating pad!

I slipped in mud while carrying two cattle panels across a steep ditch earlier this month. My knee grew as big as a softball, but it is responding very well to what I am doing for it. From online medical diagnosis flow charts and talking with my friends who are nurses, I believe I have a torn meniscus. If it was not responding to what I am doing for it, I would go to a doctor for imaging. 

Btw, I am not anti-doctor as some claim. I am anti-germy doctor's offices. Many years ago, I grew very tired of coming home with confirmation of what I had already figured the issue was plus something "extra" that ran through my family. 

I am almost always contacted and asked how I am treating something at home. The following is to answer that question, but remember I am not a medical doctor. With that in the forefront of your mind, this is how I am treating my knee injury at home. I took triple the doses of an OTC joint formula. A doctor shared years ago that this can be done for a week for most people. Two days of that and rest really helped with the pain level. Half of the inflammation is still there, so I am using castor oil spread around the joint wrapped in plastic wrap with a heating pad to reduce it. At night, I use my comfrey salve and wrap it with plastic to keep it from ruining my sheets. I use a heating pad on it for at least an hour at night. I have a vibrating heating knee brace I can wear too. This helps stimulate blood flow which helps speed healing. #amazonaffiliate "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” 

Just so ya know, when I took the heating pad back to treat my knee, I was given some very dirty canine looks! :-)

How to Help a Grieving Friend

Repost from 10/15/2018: This post has helped a lot of people on both sides of the coin and has been printed as a handout.

Believe me, it's no time for words when the wounds are fresh and bleeding; no time for homilies when the lightning's shaft has smitten, and the man lies stunned and stricken. Then let the comforter be silent; let him sustain by his presence, not by his preaching; by his sympathetic silence, not by his speech. -George C. Lorimer

October 15 is the national day of remembrance for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. I've lost nine precious babies to stillbirth and miscarriage. Much of what you read here can be applied more broadly to include other types of loss and pain.

Here is a video from Megan Devine, which a friend recently shared, that shares about what works for those grieving and why other things like "cheering them up" do not. It will better equip you to help the hurting in your life.

When I lost one of my miscarried and stillborn babies, one of the things that helped me the most was someone telling me, "This sucks!!" I knew by their succinct words that they understood my pain. You don't need eloquence to show compassion. Your job isn't to move them to where you want them to be; it's to meet them where they are.

One of the most hurtful things ever said to me, for example, was by a Christian in law who claimed to be pro-life who told me less than 24 hours after the loss of my baby that crying was "feeling sorry for myself." Their words created a lot of pain in my heart. They did not care what I was going through, and their words showed it. Their words suggested I was doing something wrong by mourning my baby. I share this with the goal that others won't say such hurtful things in a woman's time of great pain. It is not helpful, but it is very hurtful. 

Crying is a normal, natural response to loss. Jesus cried in grief too. Would you have said, "It's self pity for you to cry since you are going to raise Lazarus anyway?" Or, would you have shown Him understanding and compassion? Think before you speak. Words hurt and can't be taken back, but they can be forgiven. Be gentle and kind with each other even when you do not understand what the other person is going through.

Please don't add your misplaced expectations to someone else's struggle. You will only burden them further. Acknowledge a person's right to feel as they do. 

If you have had a pregnancy loss, I am praying for you today and offer my friendship. My email is in the header. 

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, 
but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.
-A.W. Tozer

I had a friend comment:

That person that said that to you COULD NOT be a Christian! They may be a self proclaimed Christian, but if they really had Christ in their heart they could have never said something so cruel and cold! 

My reply: Christians aren't perfect, and we fail each other often. We have to bear with each other in love to keep unity in the church. I have forgiven them completely and have love for them. Grudges lead to bitterness and that's a weed I don't want growing in my life. It's too destructive! I pray for their well being and success of their business daily. Doing that honors Jesus and gives me peace and keeps me growing in Christ. Their words are a good example to show others what not to say to someone because it does not in any way help. It creates another burden on the person. If we claim to be pro-life, but deny a mother the freedom to mourn a pregnancy loss, we really aren't very pro-life. We have to come beside people and meet them where they are in whatever circumstance life throws at them...not drag them along to where we want them to be. I fail people too and am thankful when they forgive me and bear with me in love.

Capping Herb

Part of my day entails encapsulating some herbs to use as natural supplements. My Cap M Quik is close to 30 years old. It's cracked on one side from where I dropped it. It is stained from use and is missing the spacers, but it's still going! Capping my own allows me to know I am working with quality ingredients and can avoid unnecessary fillers companies use to lower their costs. I do buy supplements already capped, but I make a lot of my own too. My Cap M Quik machine is one of the best purchases I have ever made.

Compost Tip aka Ditch One Chore and Save Money on Chicken Litter

A compost bin has to be turned and watered regularly. If you use a compost bin vs a pile, the container also needs to be cleaned out and washed. Some people check the temperature of their pile frequently, but I never have. Composting is not an overwhelming job. However, it is added work when you already have too much on your plate.

I used to keep compost piles and bins so I could be a good steward of our leftover organic material even though it added more to my to-do list.  

I gave away my barrel composter and stopped composting in a pile. I now toss everything into the chicken coop and let the chickens turn it over. They are very happy to do it too!

My chicken coop is very large. It use to be 40 x 20. I use to have peafowl in that pen and they needed the room. I have since cut that in half to 20 x 20. (I have so many chickens now that I may have to open it back up.) I use to keep straw for the litter in the coop to keep the chickens and their eggs cleaner. I don't do that anymore either.

Now, I take all of my organic matter including torn cardboard, and throw that into the coop as litter. The chickens turn it over and it breaks down much faster than it did when I was trying to compost it myself.

This has saved me time by reducing my workload by a few chores. It has cut my chicken feed costs because the chickens eat what they can. It draws insects to their coop which they gobble up immediately which further lowers my feed expense. I also save because I no longer buy litter. It has also saved room in the yard, and I don't have to mow around the pile or bins.

Whenever I need soil, I pull the top layer over and collect the soil I need from underneath. I am happier and the chickens are happier.

I still use one big bin I keep in one of my fenced gardens. I work to fill it all winter. When summer comes, I grow a heavy feeder, like a tomato plant, in it.

Clogged Ears?

 Ever since I was a child, I have had issues with my ears clogging which resulted in ear infections. I was told I have a curve in my ears that makes it easy for them to retain fluid. Recently, I was exposed to a cold virus which was very mild but had some congestion. Like always, it went straight to my ears.

My friend Tom has the same issues with everything going to his ears too. He was told about a device that helps open clogged ears. He tried it, and it helped him. He shared the name with me. Thank you, Tom!!

The NeilMed Eustachi is basically a gentle air pump that puts pressure into your sinus cavities. When you swallow while using it, it helps your eustachian tubes to open. The Eustachi does work. 

I started using it as soon as I received it. I found it worked better for me if I was sipping a straw while using it. Now, you have to get a firm seal as you apply it to your nostril. You have to pinch the other nostril closed and close your mouth. So, I received some strange looks as I sat there doing those things while drinking through a straw. 

My ears were seriously clogged, and it was making me miserable. A difference was felt the first few times I used it. I continued to use it about 20 times the first day. The next day, the pressure was not so oppressive. I could function at a higher level. I continued to use it on the second day and continued to see improvement day. By the third day, my ears were only a little congested. 

I did get a little dizzy feeling off and on, but that makes sense since our inner ears vestibular system influences balance. Other than that, it was very helpful to me. I am sharing here to help someone else with this aggravating condition.

My love to all!

Speed Cleaning

I know I have scored a home run when Clint uses my tools to clean something.
He preferred his battery-powered industrial drill over my el cheapo plug-in drill.

I needed to clean this tub for someone so they could repair the scratches that caused the rust. These cleaning brushes and sponges worked beautifully! 

They have saved my hands, saved me time, and saved me money on cleaners. My oldest, Brandon, gave me the tip! You can clean EVERYTHING with these brushes and it makes the jobs so much easier!! You can use them in your home, on outside furniture, on your car, etc. They are FANTASTIC!!

I prefer a plug-in drill because I run them for so long on some jobs that shuffling batteries back and forth to a charger becomes a PITB. I don't mind getting out an extension cord because I will use it in multiple rooms.

I'm a participant in the amazon associate program which means I'll earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you buy through some of the links on this website, in which case I thank you. #AmazonAffiliate If I don't share the previous sentence, they will not pay me my ten to fifty cents commission. :-D

Fight for the right side

also applies to Church family.

How good and pleasant it is 

when God’s people 

live together 

in unity!

Psalm 133:1

This is how we know who the children of God are and
who the children of the devil are:
Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child,
nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
I John 3:10

Clowning Around Again

Tonight, I am putting Valentine's Day candy on my children's pillows including my adult children who own their own houses. Bethany is getting a treat mailed to her. This mask is going into Brandon's fridge. He hates clowns, and I've used them a lot with him. He chuckles about it. SHMILY= See How Much I Love You. We've been playing that family-building game since they were little, but it became more interesting when they grew to be teenagers. (I put a big, ugly rubber rat in Brandon's fridge last week with SHMILY on it and a note to keep it going. He told me he likes the rat too much and is going to keep it in his fridge.) We have a lot of fun because everyone is a good sport.

Shared with a friend who said the mask would scare her: "I think we are all shockproof after the years of playing with each other. Brandon will love it. You have to really know your target.  Joshua would like this mask too. Joshua would keep it and wear it at his friends' houses to make them laugh. SHMILY used to be sweet and fuzzy until they became pre-teens and teenagers. Then it became more fun and a little crazy." 

Late winter can be depressing. Playing around with like this is an easy way to "check on" people and lift their spirits. It also lets people know you are thinking about them and helps strengthen bonds. This stuff may seem silly to some, but it serves good purposes in a fun way.

Another SHMILY story I shared with a friend: There was one time I scared Amanda for a few seconds. It didn't last long, but it got her. She likes snakes and had a corn snake in her house for a while...until it escaped and was never seen again. 

 I hid a rubber snake in her bed AFTER she hid one in MY BED. Her bedroom is very dark due to the paint and curtains. When she hit the snake with her bare arm she grabbed it to see what it was and felt it was a snake. She jumped clean out of her bed as she slung the snake across the room. Then she turned on the light to find it. She told me she had a bad moment until she saw it and realized it was rubber. Then she threatened to put me in a nursing home when I got old.  She still talks and laughs about it...and threatens me some more. 

Fodder Rack

I was unhappy with my old fodder system, so I converted to these trays and a 10-shelf shoe rack. The fodder racks on Amazon have a design flaw where you can't get the trays in and out easily. I do not have that issue with the shoe racks.

The shoe rack holds 30 trays very easily. If you didn't mind it being a tight fit, you could probably get 4 trays on each shelf. I currently stack the white strainer trays to the sink and rinse about ten at a time. Then I put the paper on each and spray the paper as I place them back. The paper holds in the moisture longer since I have a fan running to help strengthen my garden seedlings.

Eventually, I want this to be automated to water three times a day with solar power, but I have a commitment I have to finish first. Hopefully, I will have that project done before the end of the year.

We feed the fodder to our livestock in the dead of winter. It's like giving them a dose of vitamins in a way they consider a nice treat.

just some oat grass
The seeds spilled when we cleaned out the garden closet, so we put them into some dirt in a container and grew them. I use any decent-sized rectangular deli-type trays for the same purpose.

I'm a participant in the amazon associate program which means I'll earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you buy through some of the links on this website, in which case I thank you. #AmazonAffiliate If I don't share the previous sentence, they will not pay me my ten to fifty cents commission. :-D

Black Mold Help

I have a lot of experience with black mold because of my side job. An ozone generator does a fantastic job of killing black mold. If you let it run long enough, it will get into the walls and kill mold growing inside those too. A few will argue that point, but I've actually torn out walls after the generator has run for 1-3 days, so I have seen this firsthand. 

Most people don't let them run long enough which is why some will say it does not kill the mold in the walls. I let it run until I smell it as I approach the front door which tells me it has permeated the structure. I use a plug that runs outside so I do not have to enter. I unplug it, leave, and come back later to air out the house. Breathing ozone is harmful to health so airing it out thoroughly is necessary. I use fans to speed up the process of airing it out.

If the house is large, I close off portions and treat small sections of the house longer and multiple times. I agree there are limitations but think about it: If spiders and mice can find their way into homes through the walls, can't air penetrate the small cracks and openings in the walls also? I think most people rush through the treatment so the structure can be occupied again. I believe I am successful where others have tried because I take my time. 

The homes I have treated have zero problems with mold years later, so I know what I am doing is working well. The ozone also kills things like spiders and bugs living inside the walls too. While it may help, it won't eradicate an active infestation of termites or carpenter ants. The structure must be aired out thoroughly before anyone occupies the building again. 

If you have not solved the moisture issue first, new mold will grow. So, you need to solve that before or very shortly after you treat it.

I have been to an abandoned home someone wanted to salvage that had major roof issues that had 80-90% of the internal structure covered in mold. I could smell the mold before Clint and I approached the door. Through the windows, you could see thick mold growing on the ceilings, walls, cabinets, furniture, curtains, etc. We weren't even sure if the structure was sound due to all of the visible water damage from a badly neglected roof. We would not even walk into the place, and we told the person to tear it down. I reckon running the generator for a good long while and doing multiple treatments would kill all of it. However, in that circumstance, I wasn't willing to be the one who tested the limits of the generator. Even thinking about that place has me wanting a shower as I type. It was the worst I've ever seen while a building was still standing.

Another benefit is that ozone eliminates pet, smoking, and other foul odors which is helpful in a wide range of situations. One of my sons purchased a car to flip that had been previously owned by a very heavy smoker. When you cleaned the glass, the water turned yellow from the nicotine staining. He brought the car to me and I treated it for 24 hours. After the ozone treatment, you could not tell if anyone had ever smoked in the car. 

I've had my ozone generator for a while and the exact one is not available anymore. The one I have is very similar to this one. There is some maintenance you need to do with them, so don't forget to read and follow the owner's manual. One can pick up side jobs as it gets out that you own one. :-) 

I'm a participant in the amazon associate program which means I'll earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you buy through some of the links on this website, in which case I thank you. #AmazonAffiliate If I don't share the previous sentence, they will not pay me my ten to fifty cents commission. :-D

Seed Starting in Trays with Soil Technique

Once I have my soil in my trays like I want it, I wiggle the blade of a knife to make a diagonal groove to the right depth inside each sell. I overseed my trays for two reasons. I start hundreds of plants every year for my family, neighbors, friends, and also have enough to sell. Also, I do not like reseeding or having empty cells.

Once I seed the trays, I use the blunt backend of the knife to gently tamp the soil down. You want the soil to stay in contact with the seeds so they stay moist to germinate.

My love to all!

How to Help a Grieving Friend

Repost from 10/15/2018: This post has helped a lot of people on both sides of the coin and has been printed as a handout.

Believe me, it's no time for words when the wounds are fresh and bleeding; no time for homilies when the lightning's shaft has smitten, and the man lies stunned and stricken. Then let the comforter be silent; let him sustain by his presence, not by his preaching; by his sympathetic silence, not by his speech. -George C. Lorimer

October 15 is the national day of remembrance for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. I've lost nine precious babies to stillbirth and miscarriage. Much of what you read here can be applied more broadly to include other types of loss and pain.

Here is a video from Megan Devine, which a friend recently shared, that shares about what works for those grieving and why other things like "cheering them up" do not. It will better equip you to help the hurting in your life.

When I lost one of my miscarried and stillborn babies, one of the things that helped me the most was someone telling me, "This sucks!!" I knew by their succinct words that they understood my pain. You don't need eloquence to show compassion. Your job isn't to move them to where you want them to be; it's to meet them where they are.

One of the most hurtful things ever said to me, for example, was by a Christian in law who claimed to be pro-life who told me less than 24 hours after the loss of my baby that crying was "feeling sorry for myself." Their words created a lot of pain in my heart. They did not care what I was going through, and their words showed it. Their words suggested I was doing something wrong by mourning my baby. I share this with the goal that others won't say such hurtful things in a woman's time of great pain. It is not helpful, but it is very hurtful. 

Crying is a normal, natural response to loss. Jesus cried in grief too. Would you have said, "It's self pity for you to cry since you are going to raise Lazarus anyway?" Or, would you have shown Him understanding and compassion? Think before you speak. Words hurt and can't be taken back, but they can be forgiven. Be gentle and kind with each other even when you do not understand what the other person is going through.

Please don't add your misplaced expectations to someone else's struggle. You will only burden them further. Acknowledge a person's right to feel as they do. 

If you have had a pregnancy loss, I am praying for you today and offer my friendship. My email is in the header. 

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, 
but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.
-A.W. Tozer

I had a friend comment:

That person that said that to you COULD NOT be a Christian! They may be a self proclaimed Christian, but if they really had Christ in their heart they could have never said something so cruel and cold! 

My reply: Christians aren't perfect, and we fail each other often. We have to bear with each other in love to keep unity in the church. I have forgiven them completely and have love for them. Grudges lead to bitterness and that's a weed I don't want growing in my life. It's too destructive! I pray for their well being and success of their business daily. Doing that honors Jesus and gives me peace and keeps me growing in Christ. Their words are a good example to show others what not to say to someone because it does not in any way help. It creates another burden on the person. If we claim to be pro-life, but deny a mother the freedom to mourn a pregnancy loss, we really aren't very pro-life. We have to come beside people and meet them where they are in whatever circumstance life throws at them...not drag them along to where we want them to be. I fail people too and am thankful when they forgive me and bear with me in love.

How I Save on Cleaning Supplies

Welcome! I have other money-saving tips in the blog. You can use the search bar in the upper left corner or look under the labels frugal, homemaking, and large family. I love hearing from new people, so feel free to use the email address in the header to say hello. I always respond to people (not spam bots) if I see it.

I was asked how I saved on cleaning supplies. 

These tips were gathered over three and a half decades from friends who run cleaning businesses, books on professional cleaning procedures, and tips I received from the food industry where several members of our family have worked for years. While I wish I could give credit to each one for the tips, I really do not recall what piece of advice came from what source. 

Because every home has different needs, what I do may not work for you. Take what you can use, and leave the rest. 

I purchase concentrated cleaners. Then, I make sure I read and follow the directions on the bottle for diluting the cleaners correctly with water. Most people are using FAR too much. 

I use Simple Green and OdoBan because they are economical and Climate Friendly products. The OdoBan is also EPA approved to kill the coronavirus in 60 seconds. I use Simple Green for light cleaning. I use OdoBan when there is a strong smell that needs conquering. I used it to remove cigarette and stale odors from my mother-in-law's home with great success. It has a strong fragrance when you use it at stronger concentrations, but it works exceptionally well to remove bad odors. 

I also use Dawn dish detergent or the Sams Club similarly formulated version. I pour just a little in a soap dispensing scrub brush and fill it the rest of the way with water. That method cleans very well quickly and saves me a fortune on dish detergent. If a brush is not what I need, I pour a little of the blue dish soap on an industrial scrubby pad, which I cut to size or dishcloth. I use it to scrub the item out of the sink water. I keep that cloth in a bowl so it stays soapy for the next item that needs cleaning until it needs rinsing. It never goes into the soapy sink water because it will get diluted too much to do the harder jobs. This method cuts down on the amount of dish soap I use which helps with stewardship over the earth and my wallet. 

For dishes, I also wash from the cleanest to the dirtiest which really helps cut down on the amount of soap needed. Greasy pots or pans are always washed last. I actually put water in them FIRST so they are quick to wash when I am ready for them. A little boiling water in a very dirty pan works wonders! I will also heat water to a boil in a pot that is harder to clean. 

Dawn or similar can be used in so many ways to clean so many things. I use it to pretreat stains on clothing. I also use it with vinegar to cut soap scum in our bathroom shower. I bathe our dogs in it in the summer with 5-minute wait times between rinsing to kill fleas and ticks. I also use IGR (home and yard), Pyrethrins (home), and nematodes (yard). We also use Dawn or similar to wash our cars, clean off our deck, wash our heavy industrial mats (aka dirt-catching rugs for traffic areas), car parts, etc. 

I use the $ 5-a-gallon commercial pink dish detergent for when my family washes dishes (you can guess why). I also use that diluted with water in the hand soap dispensers in our home. 

Foaming soap dispensers will also help cut down on how much you use. You can use these for dish soap at the kitchen sink and hand soap in the bathroom. 

To keep from buying paper towels, I have been using cloth and microfiber towels for most household cleaning needs for decades now. Many of the cleaning cloths I use are worn-out clothing that I cut up. I wash and reuse them until they have to be discarded. Cut-up sweat clothing is great for dusting furniture.

Because worn-out clothing doesn't cut it for everything, I also use what I call "fancy" microfiber cloths. 

Now, there are a lot of name brand products out there to take your money, but an insider tip from the agriculture industry (friends who sell meat and various dairy products from their farm with FDA approval) and the restaurant business (packaging industry and restaurant) say these grey silver infused cloths do the job just as well as the expensive ones and only cost $1 a cloth. Some claim they clean better. I know of a family who uses them as their washcloths too.

You can clean a lot of things with just plain water using the "fancy microfiber cloths" which is also good for the pocketbook and environment. I've used them for a long time and absolutely love them! 

I also have a couple of sets of E-cloths for windows, which come with a five-year guarantee. I like the polishing cloths in these sets. I clean most windows and glass using these and water. If I use my very hard well water, I need that polishing cloth to remove the "mineral haze." If I use distilled water, I do not need the polishing cloths.  

Another thing I do to use to cut costs is clean up solid messes with a plastic grocery bag over my hand before I clean it with a cloth. Let's say spaghetti landed on the floor. I would put a bag over my hand/s and scoop up all I could into a bag or into a bowl. Then I would clean behind it with a paper sales flyer (mail). I save the ones that look like newspapers for cleaning. The final clean would be with a cloth. It does not take me any longer than it would with paper towels, but it saves me from having to purchase them. That saves a lot of paper towels over the course of a year right there.

I do use paper towels sometimes. I use them when I am camping/off-roading. I take microfiber cloths, but I use paper towels when I am afraid I'll ruin them with campfire soot, etc. I also use them when someone vomits because it is more sanitary than washing out a cloth that will then spread the germs all over the sink and then a laundry basket. I will put those sick-laden paper towels inside-of-a-plastic-grocery-bag inside-of-a-plastic-grocery-bag inside-of-a-grocery-bag and then in the trash bag. We mamas of large families do not play around with germs! 

I have been using essential oils for medicine and cleaning since before they became a popular thing. I think they are wonderful! Cleaning can become pricey using them at the scale and rate I clean though, so I use the Simple Green and Odoban. I do use the essential oils for air freshening though. I put a few drops in water, shake the bottle, and spray the house. 

(Extra tip: I also use essential oils for perfume. It is healthier and more economical.)

After trying everything under the sun, I have not found a good solution to one area of my home. Did I mention we have hard water? Multiply that by several showers a day. Our shower turns orange almost as soon as I can clean it. It has been a cleaning issue that has really challenged me. I have to use a strong cleaner to clean those orange mineral deposits. In between the heavy cleanings, I use the blue (Dawn off-brand) dish soap in a spray bottle with vinegar. It is fantastic at cutting the soap scum which slides right down into the bottom of the tub. It does not solve the issues with the mineral build-up though. If you have actually experienced this problem and know of something economical and environmentally friendly that will work, please let me know. 

The minerals are so bad that I use a tear-off system for our shower curtain. I install several inexpensive ones at one time over a nicer one. I pull them off once they are heavily discolored to reveal the new one underneath. 

Before those water guys start calling: We've had whole house water systems but the systems were constantly failing. We never had one last a full year. Our water mineral load is literally way off of the professional test kit charts. There are many wonderful advantages to living along a river, but this is not one of them. Our water is fine for drinking and cooking, but it is rough on the tub and dishwashers (which I gave up on). 

I shared my challenge because I don't want you to think I am someone I am not. While I do try to be as environmentally friendly as I can, I am not perfect at it. But, I am not perfect in any area of life. I'm pretty flawed, but, thanks to Jesus, I am also REDEEMED!

One thing I do to help save time with cleaning is staying on top of decluttering and putting things in their spot. Dusting and mopping generally take the same amount of time each time I do it, but tossing things and putting things away can grow into a huge job. If I stay on top of that, the rest goes much easier. 

Fels Naptha soap is good for treating stains on clothing. It is also great for bathing within two hours of being exposed to poison ivy. I have been saved from rashes after direct skin contact many times by bathing with Fels Naptha within two hours. I soap up three times and let it sit on my skin for a few minutes between rinsing which seems to help cut the urushiol oils. Following the same technique with other soaps has not given the same good results, so I keep a few bars of Fels Naptha on hand.

Another tip to save money is to make your own cleaners. There are some very good recipes out there to try, so there is no need to repeat them here. I have made my own laundry detergent, window cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, oven cleaner, stainless steel polish, brass polish, furniture polish, etc, etc over the years. There were a few recipes I would not try again, but most of them were cheaper and worked at least as well if not better than the chemical-laden store-bought cleaners. 

In addition to repurposing worn-out clothing, you can also use worn-out toothbrushes to clean those hard-to-get areas. I wrap duct or electrical tape around the handle so everyone knows it is a cleaning toothbrush. I hang my clothes outside, but if I used a dryer, I'd reuse the fabric softener dryer sheets for as many things as I could. 

When I am cleaning, I fold the cloth to the size I need. Then I open and refold as the used side becomes too dirty. This saves me time and allows me to use the entire cloth. If you are using paper towels, this trick will help you save too. 

As you can see, I try to purchase products that can be used for many cleaning issues instead of a product that is very specific. 

I have also saved money on very nice furniture care products by purchasing them from thrift stores. At the nicer furniture stores when you buy a piece of furniture with a warranty, they give you a kit to clean and care for it. These are expensive to acquire without the purchase. These kits turn up in thrift stores in my area for $1-$2, so I grab them. The kits usually include decent-sized bottles of leather care, fabric cleaner, stain and moisture protectant spray, and wood polish. 

One of my Mom of Many friends has ten children. She shops for convenience. She stacks savings by using store coupons with store sales and manufacturer's coupons to buy the cleaners she needs. She finds some fantastic deals. One of her favorite places to shop is Dollar General so she can use the $5 coupon off of $25 on the weekends. 

Stubborn Stain on Shower Base Pan

I was hired to clean the floor of a shower that had a long, dark stain that the homeowner had battled for years. I think the stain came from chemicals leeching off some of the metallic color on the shower wand's hose.

I tried all kinds of cleaners including oven cleaner to remove it. Nothing worked. I finally solved the problem by wet sanding using a drywall sanding block. Wendy for the win!!!

(I'm a participant in the Amazon associate program which means I'll earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you buy through some of the links on this website, in which case I thank you. #amazonaffiliate)

Read the center column and bottom row

I was asked if this was possible. Not only is it possible, but here are the time tables from a book. 

European friends still water bath can everything. Pressure cookers are very rare there. 

Pioneer women water bath canned everything over open fires.

You can also can in half-gallon jars. I do. Just call me a rebel! ;-)

I encourage you to do your own research. Then make up your own mind. 

Any agency that is funded by the gov that says it has not been able to afford to do testing on any additional foods since the 80s is just full of it. There is a reason they have not invested in that area.

How do you battle tiredness due to workload?

How do you battle tiredness due to workload? I am raising four children, homeschool, work part-time, and run a small hobby farm. I am beyond tired!

I understand. I truly do. Different boat, but same waters. Decades of experience. 

A teacher from my high school told me about a year ago that I have always been a high achieving and highly productive person with a very strong drive to perform well. I had never considered myself that way at all, probably because my job has been mostly "at home." There is no corporate ladder within these walls to climb, so I guess I had underrated myself and my roles. She even used the word phenomenal in her description of me which I found shocking!! I kind of pushed what she said aside, so God sent another friend who shared her observations of my life to reinforce the point. These ladies helped me to see myself, my family, and my role in Christ differently.  I think most of us tend to belittle what we do and reproach ourselves for not doing more or doing it better. Seeing ourselves through someone else's lens can be very uplifting and encouraging. 

A few quick tips to try to see if they work for you: 

Evaluate and assess your situation often.  When I started earning money from home, I tried three different things at one time which were in addition to running our hobby farm, kennel, homeschooling our seven children, raising a big garden, cooking from scratch, pressure canning, etc. Much of the time, it ran well, but there were times I'd get very run down. I'd have to reassess and see what was working and what wasn't. Where were the points things became backed up? Once I had an accurate assessment, I'd implement changes and see how those worked. When something just wasn't working no matter what I tried, I tossed it and looked for something that did work to help me reach my goals. 

I think having goals is also key. Why are you doing what you are doing? Define that as simply as you can. Use that as an assessment tool and a compass. 

If you have children, delegate the easiest tasks to the youngest. It keeps the oldest from having too much to do as you get them to help. 

Take breaks when you need them because you will be much more productive when you are well-rested and refocused. 

Look for ways to cut the workload. (A recent example from my life: I was composting in piles I had to flip. Now, I throw everything into the chicken coop. They turn it for me! I pull aside the fresh on top and get the soil from below when I need it. It's one less thing I have to worry about and cut around in the yard...and, the chickens are doing it better and much faster!!) 

I also automated some things on our place. Other jobs, I combined. 

For certain projects I wanted to take on, I have put off until next year simply because I can't handle it right now. 

Don't expect more from yourself than you would your best friend with the same workload...iow, be your own best friend. 

From time to time, I would downsize my life because I was struggling to do it well. 

From the details of your life you have shared, it sounds like you also have a high drive to be highly productive. You don't have to do it all, mama. And, you don't have to do it all RIGHT NOW. 

My love to you and yours! Happy homeschooling, homesteading, and homemaking! I have other tips in the blog, but you will have to search for them. 

How to Keep a Cool during Power Outages

I shared this on a FB group and am sharing it here for any who can make use of the ideas. My love to all.

These are just a few of the things I do. 

I use mylar blankets with shades behind them on the windows to keep sunlight out. My house looks like a NASA experiment, but I save on cooling costs. 

I open a window in our attic and let it vent out the hot air which keeps the downstairs cooler as it pulls a draft from the cooler side of the house where I open a window when I see the temperature dropping on that side. 

I open windows on the shady side of the house and close and cover (insulate the heat out) the ones on the sunny side. 

I know to get my work outside done in the morning or evenings if at all possible.

 

Close off the rooms that are on the sunny side of the house to keep the rest of the house cooler. 

Learn how to trap the coolest air in the morning in your house before the day heats up. I know which windows to open to get the airflow right to cool down the whole house quickly. Airflow varies from home to home so what I do will be different than what you do. 

Staying well-hydrated is crucial to keeping the body cooler. 

Digestion creates heat, so eat lightest when it is the warmest. A farmer told me to feed my animals right before bed on the coldest nights to help keep them warmer. 

My family had to work outside doing heavy manual labor in 90F+ with high humidity. The heat indexes were over 100F. There was no power on this site for months. We had a battery bank for the tool batteries and a generator that we would use with a pump to pull water from the well. We also had a hand pump we could put on the well for when the generator was in use at another site. That or stored water in a cooler area might be an option for those who do not have an alternate water source. 

We cooled down in the middle of the day under a tree with our feet and calves in a bucket of cool water from the well. We also applied and frequently changed cool cloths around our necks, on our heads, and around our wrists. Cooling the pulse points (where the blood flows closer to the surface of the skin) helps cool down the entire body. While we did that, we hydrated with bottles of water that we cooled down in well water in a cooler that was kept under a building. 

The effects were pretty impressive and got us back on our feet working. It depended on the day and what job we were doing, but the cooling effects lasted for at least an hour or so before they needed to be repeated. Some days we only needed one cool-down break but we were doing lighter work on those days. 

Sweating = evaporative cooling. It is how the body cools down. Applying water that can evaporate can help your body cool off faster. Using herbs in the water that have a cooling effect also helps. For example, research peppermint cooling spray. 

There are evaporative bandanas with polymer crystals you can purchase. You can tie them to your wrists as well as place them around your neck. 

I researched how people cooled down their homes and bodies before electricity and learned a lot from that. Research window quilts. Many homesteading minded are using those to cut cooling and heating costs.

DIY Seed Tape

Some of my friends have been making seed tapes for years. I always wondered if it was worth it time-wise. I read a thread in a group where people were sharing how the tape makes more efficient use of space and seed with much higher germination rates over other sowing methods. I had to at least give it a try. I am happy to report I found it worth my time.

The seed tape is $7 for 15 feet of seed tape. I made the equivalent of 222 feet of seed tape in an hour to an hour and a half. I saved myself a little over $100 which is not bad "pay" for that time. I can't be more precise with the time than that because I had an interruption in the form of an upstairs plumbing leak that was first discovered when it started "waterfalling" down a wall. I got back to work and let Joshua take over the plumbing problem which damaged a small section of ceiling. (I can fix it cheaply myself. I need to paint the room anyway.)

As a mother of many, I have learned to work fast to cover as much ground as I can. Well, I've always been a fast worker. They nicknamed me "Speedy Gonzalez" at a place I use to work and co-workers told me to slow down because I was making them look bad. As a young mother, I read books and learned a lot from efficiency experts because I wanted more time to enjoy my children while they were home.

So, I was rolling quickly along and not worried about neatness picking up and dropping paste with a toothpick. I mean, I AM going to cover this up with dirt. And, it's not about neatness, now, is it? It's about getting the task done reasonably well in an efficient manner. 

About as fast as a hand could speed from bowl to paper towel is how fast I was going with the paste. The little seeder helped with dropping seeds too. Mistakes were "happy little accidents." A dry toothpick helped move seeds that fell outside of the target onto the paste.

The paste is equal parts flour and water. I mixed two tablespoons of each at a time. I had ceiling fans on due to the aforementioned plumbing issue. The moving air dried the paste a little so I added water to thin it again. The fans also helped dry the paste on the paper towels well enough that I was able to stack them on top of each other where they dried without sticking to each other.

The seed I am trying to use up is about 3 years old, so I let a few extra fall into the paste dots to guarantee germination. I really dislike having blank spots in my garden rows. :-)

That time includes some experimentation. Toilet paper did not work well for me. I also tried extra napkins from a restaurant take-out order. They were too thin for my liking. The half-sheet paper towels worked the best. 

I placed the carrot seeds 2" apart. I made the rows about an inch apart on the paper towel. I will layer the paper towels and then cut the rows into strips before I put them in the garden beds. 

Some packets of seeds say to plant the carrots 4" apart. I do not like having extra room in my garden beds. It allows weeds to grow. I REALLY do not like weeds! My thought process is "If a weed will grow here, why not plant something edible?" So intensive planting is what I do. I will do some thinning by using the some of the carrots before the reach maxium size.

I will get to see how these seeds perform against the other sowing methods I've used. Gardening is a fun skill to have because there is always something new to learn and something new to try.

Happy Gardening!

Hen Pecked

This is where the term "henpecked" comes from. As with most animals, there is a hierarchy in chickens. If one steps out of line, the hens and sometimes the rooster will go at them. Sometimes it happens on other parts of the body. It can get much worse than this. Ugly stuff!

She's OK. I have her in with the rabbits for a while to allow her time to rest and heal. Usually that time of separation is enough to stop the problem. If not, I observe the situation and decide on whether to cull the one being pecked (if many hens are pecking) or the one doing the pecking (if it is limited to one hen). Culling can mean removal through a trip to another farm or it can mean a trip to Freezer Camp.

I get to deal with bumblefoot in a turkey very soon. :-P It's gross but necessary.