Tuesday, February 26

Snow was actually melting this week end.  It's back to cold weather, but I know that spring is still coming. 

God has been so good to us.  A friend gave us a wood furnace.  I am so excited.  Our propane bill is very high, too high.  We have plenty of wood on our land and it's very good excercise.  When we moved from our last place, we decided to never burn wood again.  Never say never.  Now we can't wait.

I also bought some laying hens.  They are about 10 months old and I paid $3 a piece, but they should be laying like crazy soon.  So far, though, only two eggs.  I bought 15 hens and I really think they had better get laying. Any ideas to start them laying? I don't have any light on in the coop.  I know cat food can help a bit, and warm water, but I don't know what else.  Our old hens haven't laid all winter, it's getting frustrating.  I've never had this problem before.  Maybe they need more room. 

We're going on a field trip in a week or two over to a neighbor's house.  They are maple syrup makers.  It ought to be fun.  We have maple trees on our land and we use a lot of maple syrup, so maybe next spring we can try and tap our own trees.

Have a glorious day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord.

I am so glad.  I have this unfamiliar feeling this morning. I think it's called -ENERGY.  I'm not sure what happened, but I feel like going out and cleaning the barn, cleaning the shop, hanging laundry.  Wow.  The last week, I've been so tired that I haven't done anything but the very minimum.  The sun is out, the temps are supposed to ge above freezing this weekend.  We're going to the Answers in Genesis seminar this evening-meeting friends for dinner first.  My honey is home for the whole weekend.  I think he's my inspiration and my strength.  I know that he's my best friend. 

Well, better use this energy stuff, while I  have it.

I'll let you know how the seminar goes.

From Glory Farm

I actually use these-

While trying to be frugal and more healthy, I've been making my own body care products.  I thought I'd share the recipes with you.  These are all products that I use daily.  I have to admit that others in my family aren't as eager to use them as I am, but I know these products are healthier and some work better than those I buy.

 Shampoo-  I make 100% olive oil  castile soap.  I won't put that recipe on here, you can find a recipe for it on any soap site.  Grate about 1/3 of a bar.  Take 1/2 oz. of rosemary-stimulates hair folicles, 1/2 oz. nettles-blood purifier and stimulator, 1/2 oz. lavender-reduces itchy and flaky scalp(all of these herbs are dried).  Boil two cups of water and add 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixed herbs into the boiling water.. Take off the stove.  Let steep for 30-40 minutes.  Strain.  Add some of this liquid to the grated soap.  Enough to make a shampoo like consistency.  Save the rest of the liquid in frig. for the next batch of shampoo.  Pour into old shampoo bottle.  This will thicken with time.   Shake before each use.

Conditioner-I use 1/4 of apple cider vinegar mixed with water to make 1 pint.  Pour over hair after shampoo and rinse.  About once or twice a month I use a store bought leave in conditioner.  My hair is much stronger now and is actually growing.  I've been using this combination for about three years.

Deoderant-I can't remember the exact amounts.  But I use petroleum jelly mixed with baking soda and some lemon juice.  I like it better than the powdered deoderant. You can make this using your own homemade petroleum jelly:

Petroleum Jelly-1 oz. beeswax, 1/2 cup baby or mineral oil.  Melt the beeswax in the microwave or double boiler.  Stir in the mineral oil.  Remove from heat and stir until cool.

Toothpaste-Mix together 10 tablespoons baking powder, 5 tablespoons glycerin, 1 teaspoon peppermint oil.  Mix and place into a container.

Hand Cream-2 teaspoons each dried mint, sage and rosemary, 1/2 oz beeswax, 2 oz. lanolin, 1/2 cup wheat germ oil, 1 teaspoon honey.  Mix herbs, pour 1/2 cup boiling water over herbs.  Steep 10 minutes.  Strain through cheesecloth.Cool.  Melt beeswax and lanolin in a heatproof glass set in simmering water.  Add wheat germ oil, while stirring.  Add herbal infusion by teaspoonful and stir until well blended.  Remove glass from water.  Add honey to tepid cream and carefully stir it in until blended.  I also add frangrance or essential oil  I don't care for the smell of wheat germ or lanolin.  Let this cool completely.  Stir cream and transfer to clean containers.  This is kinda goopy going on, but it works better than any other lotion we have in the house.  It just takes a little longer to be absorbed.

I  experiment with other recipes and when I find one that I would recommend, I'll post.

Good Night, sleep tight.

 

Answers in Genesis

I know, I know, you're all tired of hearing about our cold weather.  It's still -18 this morning.  Warm weather is on it's way, though.  It sure will be welcomed.  I feel like Annie- Tomorrow, tomorrow....                      But wait, Lord help me make the most of this day that you've given me.

I have some exciting news.  Answers in Genesis is coming up here to give a seminar on Saturday!  I am so excited!  My honey and I have invited a couple who live next door to come with.  I'm inviting everyone.  You're invited too.  Things like this don'thappen up here very often.  Especially in the small town where this is taking place.  This i s something to be in prayer about.  People are already  upset about it.  Editorials in the local paper show the anti-creation stand of a lot of people up here.  Pray, pray, pray. 

Going to go now.  Got more people to  invite.

God bless,

Rhonda

 

Do you have business plans?

I'd like to help out our financial situation and start a small savings.  I love to sew, make soap,lotions, etc., make paper, bake, make rugs and baskets.  I have an etsy account where I sell the aprons I make. (see side bar)  So, I was thinking, do you think that doll clothes would sell?  DD3 loves the American Girl dolls.  She doesn't have any, but she does have an imitation that we picked up at the thrift store.  I'm cutting out and sewing clothes for it, and I've been cutting out extra and thinking of trying to sell them on my etsy account.  I guess it won't hurt to try?  I thought maybe I could make baskets and then fill them with homemade soaps, lotions, bath salts, etc.  Maybe they would sell.  Just thinking out loud.

I could save up for a greenhouse and a drum carder for my mohair.  More dreaming.

DS would like to take a trip to Arkansas this summer.  I've never been to Arkansas.  That would be fun, too.

I'd better go and stop this rambling.  I'll never get anything done, if I keep blogging.

Have a good and Godly day.