The Sky is Falling

With all the panic being shouted from the rooftops about food shortages and rationing, I thought this would be an ideal time to introduce a new category for this blog. So without further delay, I introduce. ~ Making it From Scratch Monday’s

Part of improper spending and mismanagement of anything is due to lack of preparedness. Running the home is a management situation that is so minimized that wives rarely see their importance. Managing the kitchen is the most important area, because this is the area that most Americans waste so much.

For this post, I am sharing how one can make your money stretch and making a product from scratch. It seems to work out that way almost every time, saving while making from scratch. Oh and it is not just saving money, but your health, as you know every ingredient put in the recipe and its health options or risks.

I switched to using olive oil almost 100% a few years ago. What I found is that the store bought olive oil spread is quite pricy and offers such a small amount. So here is a great way to make an olive oil spread for just a few quarters!

Ingredients
Olive Oil-1/2 cup
Unsalted butter (organic if possible)-1 cup
Water-1/2 cup


Directions: Leave the butter at room temperature until it is soft. Then add the olive oil and water and mix with a whisk. It will become light and fluffy and will be perfect as the spread easy spread for toast and the likes. How amazingly simple!
Cost to buy at the store $1.78, making from scratch 79 cents!!!


Enjoy!
Next Week~ Granola cereal

In the World Not of the World

This is going to be my new Sunday theme. I am sure that I will never run out of things to post about, so consider this a weekly column!

Here are some verses that will lead me in today’s post:
John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

~ok this is the verse that I am going to hone in on today~

John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

John 17:14- we are not of the world. Do you understand this? We are in the world, and Jesus has given us His Word to live by, but we are not of the world. So what do you think that this means? I believe that this verse means that one should know immediately that we are not like everyone else.

First, as I type this one may think to themselves that I am a legalist as I am going to write some things that make most of us uncomfortable. You see since television has taken its Idol- like place in our home, we cannot clearly discern what is of God, and what is of man. According to statistics most Americans have not one TV, but at least two. So we watch the TV much more than we are in His Word.

Second, I am human and am one that realizes that it is easier said than done. What I mean by this is that it is easier to say that I am visiting, and then immerse myself in the “worldly culture” then it is to, recognize that as a visitor, my family and I must act as guests, and understand that my ways will bother my hosts. You know what I mean, after a few days even a loved guest, drives the host to readily await their departure. That is how the world sees a Christian that knows and lives by this verse. The world impatiently awaits the Christian to leave the room to tell off-color jokes. The world mocks the Christian attitude towards waiting until marriage for sex. The world chides and attempts to shame or belittle the Christian for believing in the Creation account that God gives us in the Bible.

Third, and most importantly as a Christian, we are to pattern our lives after the way the Bible describes, not after the current clothing trends, hairstyles, nor spending habits of non-Christians.
This is the hardest one. I know, because one will be seen as different. I mean, if a Christian man lives by the example that the Bible patterns for him, he is seen as meek and weak. Well he will also be seen as is suppressing the woman, and controlling the children. If the Christian woman lives by the example given in the Bible, she will not wear costly attire, nor dress immodestly. Uh-oh there is the nasty legal word that makes many a Christian angry and/ or uncomfortable. Modest for the world in 2008 is NOT the definition of modest that God sets for us in His Word.

It is not legal to live by His Word. I am certain that the robe argument will come up. Please remember this, whose standards are you aiming to keep: God’s or the worlds?

Not of the world is a biggie. When Bill and I were stationed in Germany, it was painfully obvious that we were not German. But we opted to not live on base, and we did learn of Germany, and the language and the people. We loved our neighbors, but we never desired to become Germans. We also lived off base in Las Vegas, Nevada. Believe me, we stood out! You see we could never be the family that lives by the motto “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!”

This is the mentality that we Christians need to embrace. We are not of the world. Fine, so stop dressing, acting, and spending like we are. God wishes for women to be modest. Pray about what modest means. Study His Word, and compare this study to what you believe is modest. If today you were to worship Him…could you do so with every outfit that you have in your closet? No this is not a legal issue, but a very reverent question. He is our Father in heaven, and yes He made the rules. Remember the woman caught in the very act of adultery? Jesus may have seen her scantily clad, as the men were quick to wish to stone her for her crime. Jesus told her one thing, Go and sin no more. You see when the sin is brought to your attention, you need to repent of it, and sin no more.

So take out your Bible and get in His Word and not of the world.

Farm Projects Updated with Photos

Although I took a month off, to work on a few things, I am still progressing on the repair and renewal of our house. We have now been in the home six months and although I see vast differences, it will be a work in progress for years to come. Fortunately I am enjoying each step.

We are in the raining season here (translation: it is cloudy and overcast and over 100 F, yet the rain passes us). I do anticipate a few days of rain as we seem to have around 7 days each year that I recall rain.

I am getting ready to go and paint a bit, and then muck out the chicken pens, the duck pen, and goat pen. The kids help, but I have come to enjoy making sure that the animals have a weekly thorough cleaning of the little area that they live in! I am not sure why, as of course this entails scraping, shoving and raking up poo and the likes.

I will try and take some new pictures of some of our humble creatures to share the growth and changes, which we are enjoying.

Here is Fourth with our LaMancha goat Maizy.


Except for the brown hen, this is our Dominique flock, which we are raising to continue a historical breed.


This is our mixed flock. We call their pen the pig pen, because the people we bought them from had pigs...and it made it easy to name the pens different names!


These are the Wyandotte's and a turkey(named Christmas...Yummy). They are 3 weeks old and they are in the baby pen.(oh and one of the mixed flock snuck in when I opened the pen).


This flock is in the nursery. There are 11 birds in here, a mother hen named Ms. Scarlet(we love clue) a turkey(named Thanksgiving) and 7 mixed chicks and 2 turkens. This flock all is 9 weeks old.


This is Buffy the American Buff Goose. Only one hatched this year, so he gets to live awhile longer!


Here are 3 of the four Rouen ducks, I could not get the fourth to get in the photo!


Here are the turkens. We have a male and female and plan on raising these to sell, as they are scary~ cute;).

Soon we will have the sheep, as we completed most of the fencing today. Hope you enjoyed the photo tour!

Friday Foto

Do you know what kitties do when you are not home? Anything that they want!

Do you know what kitties do when you are home? Anything that they want!


This kitty is Teeger and she is my climber of everything! She definitely is inspired by the mountains out doors. Of course, like all kitties, in this picture she shares her favorite hobby: snoozing.

Low Cost Tip

Since I began on my journey of simplicity, I have discovered several things. One thing that I discovered was that we women have been sold a bill of goods. What do I mean by this statement? Well let’s see, when you are out and about in your daily activities or at church does everyone you encounter look like they rolled out of a fashion magazine? Of course not! Some look as though they have added some layers to their face with the quantity of makeup they apply, some have puffy made up faces, some use eye makeup to the point that you wouldn’t recognize then without it, and others do things to their hair that would be impossible without sprays, gels and a variety of other resources.

My point is this we look the same just covered more. So why do we spend billions of dollars to achieve something that is not natural? Until the early 1920’s very few women wore makeup because it was associated with prostitution. Then bam, everyday women began wearing makeup and quickly thereafter it was realized that money could be made off of our insecurities. Yes, it is again about money. The preparation and morning routine that women go through is tedious and wasteful and actually downright the cause of ones self esteem being equated to the external features. You see if you are constantly trying to cover up your natural you, then somewhere inside you must think that YOU are not good enough.

So for today’s tip I am offering a simple baby step change in the cost of a facial product for you. Instead of using a facial cleanser and expensive wipe, and then a lotion, and cream and what-not, try using just Witch Hazel as your astringent. I have been using Witch Hazel for about a year now. The bottle costs around a dollar and last at least two months. Oh and I close my eyes and wipe them with a cotton ball of Witch Hazel. I have seen the removal of the bags and puffiness, and my pores have closed and my skin looks soft and supple. Oh and I am over 40! So why not take this step and try using Witch Hazel? Young or old this is perfect for you.

Oh and by the way, you are good enough as God tells us that He created us in His image. No makeup can alter the design He chose for you. You will age no matter what so stop lining the pockets of companies whose sole job is to make you feel as though you are not good enough, so that you will buy their newest latest greatest beauty product. Shock yourself and embrace that you have all you need today.

If you desire to say no more totally, this will truly be another area of savings. Calculate how much you have in makeup and beauty products and multiply that by 12, and then however long you have worn makeup. It adds up quickly. A woman by curbing this expense, staying home and being a stay home wife is becoming more feasible. Nickels and dimes here and there turn a household into a two income household because they can’t make ends meet. Thinking back to creating your own niceties, using cloth napkins, and reducing the cost of beauty products, you will be able to be a Proverbs 31 woman and stay home.

Here are some posts that I wrote about this on my other blog Act Your Age
and
Friday Question

Definitely swing over and read these posts and watch the youtube video, so you understand that it really is what I said about self esteem and money.

Making things for the home

I have come to love making things for the home. It has really been something that I enjoy so much. Do you make things for the home? Did you realize that you can personalize your home by creating simple things?

We live in times where everything is presented as perfect and I think that has caused many to never try to create decorations for their homes. The television and the media (magazines, papers etc) have brought zillions of ideas to us, but they are presented so glamorously that we think that it is out of reach.

Believe me on the path to simplicity home creations are just another arena to dabble in. Now the dinner table is an area that brings the family together. It is an area to share the day, to talk, and to just enjoy each other’s company. So for this project for the home I have made simple placemats and cloth napkins.

The fabric was remnants from curtains that I had made and a wedding present that I made for the couple Bill married in May. If sewing is not your thing, I must confess that it is not really mine thing either, but the stitches are in straight lines(generally:0) so continue on with me.

Here are 2 of the placemats so you can see the front and back. I love mixing prints and fabrics!

By making niceties for your family you celebrate them daily. Sometimes we forget that the place to be the mostest hostest is in your home for your family.

The cloth napkins are one of the easiest things that you can make on a path to simplicity. The savings from the cloth napkins add up. I used to spend around $6.00- $12.00 a month on napkins. Think about this: it may seem like minimal savings, but really this small amount could reduce debt on credit cards, or be put in savings or on the house note. Many people do not look long term and think that this small amount is worthless to put away. But after I share several other things that I have made to reduce throwaway or unnecessary products, the small amount increases. Be positive and think of how this money is in hourly pay. If you are on salary break down the time it takes for you to work for a product that you wipe once on your mouth and throw away. This is where you realize that your sweat in your job is much more valuable than perishable items.

Back to the placemats- the pattern I made used four complementary colors, and I created a simple pattern. The napkins were made in the fabric that was the most left over. How pretty and nice the table looks when you have set it so lovely? Everyone gets in the mood when the table is set. Manners are out and conversation reflects the mood. Take one afternoon and make a new table placemat setting and cloth napkins today.

Here is the placemat simply displayed with the cloth napkin on the top. It is so easy to create this ambiance for your home!

Here are a few other styles of placemats and napkins that I have made for the home.

If you'll notice some are crocheted and some are actually painted on. I have fun with my daughter and we come up with projects like these.




Oh and here are 4 other things that with a bit of help from Bill I created. This project has been in constant change and always a delight to the home

Hello Again

Hello my friends! I pray that all of you have had a pleasant start to summer(or autumn for those Down Under).

I have thought long and hard about the purpose that I have with blogging and have decided that with this blog it is to share the path of simplicity. I am going to be a bit more focused on my topics and unless an unscheduled event occurs I am going to stick to this schedule.

I have had some interesting things occur in this past month and if you would like to read of some of the happenings check out pen of jen. Oops my link did not work before(I guess I was away awhile!)
More soon...
Jennifer