shopping

Bill and Christina and Jeff and I went on a double date last night. We went to the movies and saw Fireproof. Its a great movie. Everyone should see it. Small kids might not understand it but others would.

After the movie we went to wal mart where Christina did her best shop ever. Her total was 97.00 before coupons and she paid 21.00 after. I was so proud of her.
My total was about 87.00 before coupons and 25.00 after.

She actually did better than the Queen. LOL.

Stuffed Jalapenos

Stuffed jalapenos are sooooo good. Its easy too. I seem to be allergic to washing them though. I wear plastic gloves and do fine cutting and seeding them but when its time to wash them, I cough like I'm gonna die. Its bad. Jeff said next time I should try wearing a mask. I will take pictures and post them and the recipe later.

TV show

The lady from the Austrian TV station called this morning. She said it would be too expensive for their whole crew to fly into Amarillo, so they were going to film in Virginia instead. She sounded disappointed. Truthfully I was not disappointed. I was afraid they would think we lead a boring life. Which is OK because its the life I want to lead. I had thought we would make soap and do some canning and I was hoping they would be here at milking time to entertain the TV crew. She said she still hopes to come and film us at a later date.

A commenter asked where I get the lye for my soap. I buy it from the grocery store but only one of the three stores I shop has it. They are each in different states as well. That's what happens when you live in the Oklahoma panhandle. I shop in Guymon Oklahoma, 28 miles from here, or Perryton Texas, 33 miles from here or Liberal, Kansas 35-38 miles from here.

fall/autumn

Autumn

all purpose soap

reprinted, orginal posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2008

How I make soap
All Purpose Soap

24 oz. coconut oil = 1lb. 8 oz.

38 oz. lard = 2 lbs. 6 oz.

24 oz. olive oil (inexpensive kind) =1lb. 8 oz.

Total weight of fats is 5# 6oz.

I don’t always use these measurements. If I don’t have enough olive oil, I make up for it with another kind. Sometimes I even use all lard. I even use all recycled oil from the cafe in town after I strain it several times.

12 oz. lye ( I use household 100% lye drain opener)

32 oz. water (When I am making goats milk soap I use fresh goats milk instead of water, it needs to be very cold. It will turn a beautiful yellow and then to a tanish brown. I wish it would stay the lovely yellow.)

2 oz fragrance

½ to ¾ cup chopped oats (optional)

2- thermometers (candy thermometers work fine)

Measure everything by weight.

Line molds with freezer paper (shiny side up) or parchment paper.

Prepare all ingredients before starting process.

Run sink part way full of cold water and set plastic container of water 32oz. into sink.

Slowly pour measured lye into water while stirring.

When lye water and oils are both at 110 – 120 degrees at the same time, slowly add lye water to

oils while mixing with stick blender.

When mixture comes to trace add fragrance, color and other add ingredients if desired.

Mix these in and pour into mold(s).

Cover with parchment or freezer paper and a couple of towels or a blanket.

Let sit undisturbed 24 hours.

At this time remove soap from mold and slice into bars of the desired size.

When I remove the soap from the molds I cut it into 4 bars 2 inches wide.

I then slice it into 1 inch pieces.

My husband made my molds which are 8 in. X 9in.

We used 1X4 lumber for the sides.

For the bottom we just found a board to fit and used that.

I use a mitre box, to cut the soap into one inch pieces.

Let cure for three weeks before using.

This recipe makes approx. 36 bars of soap and fills one 8X9 inch mold.

kefir

Thursday, September 4, 2008



My kefir multiplies like crazy. I send some to friends and still it goes crazy. I finally had to put some to dry again to store in the freezer. I have never tried to use from the freezer because mine is more than enough. It takes up the space in the jar and I have to keep using bigger and bigger jars. I wanted to take a picture to show how I dry mine out to put in the freezer. I just spread it out on paper towels and place paper towels over it to keep out pesky flies or whatnot. I stir it every day with clean hands until it is very dry. I then label it and keep it in the freezer.
I would be glad to send anyone in the continental united states some kefir for $5.00 to cover postage and packaging. Email me at bootstrapdko@yahoo.com please write kefir in the memo section so I will know its not spam.

New tool

I have discovered a great new tool to use in canning. The label maker. Its so much easier than trying to write the info. on those tiny pieces of paper (labels). I haven't done the cost analysis but it probably isn't that much more to print a label than to buy the canning labels.

preserving pears

Yesterday and today I have been making pear honey. Its quite delicious and easy. It just takes a long time. I canned 8 pints this morning with my steam canner from back to basics. You can see it here. http://www.canningpantry.com/steam-canner.html

The steam canner is so easy to use. It takes just 6-7 cups of water. It is much lighter than a water bath canner and it can be used over and over without waiting for all that water to boil.

By the way, I learned about the steam canner from Paul and Bernice Noll's canning web site last year and have been using mine for two years. Remember it does not replace a pressure canner only a water bath canner. The Noll's web site is listed on my right sidebar.

My family

Here is my family. The dad, Jeff, the mom, Debbie, the daughters, Joy, Mollie and Hannah. At least these are the ones still at home.

Quilting Bee

Today Mollie and I went to the senior center to help tie quilts. We tied 7 of them before we decided to call it a day. There was lots of visiting and laughter. We sure enjoy getting together to tie quilts. A few ladies piece the tops and then we get together to tie them and then a couple of the ladies put the binding on. These quilts go to Boys Ranch Texas. These ladies have been making quilts and taking them to boys ranch since 1964. That's 44 years of making quilts for these kids. Many of the folks who grew up there still have their quilts. They try to make sure every child who comes to the ranch gets a quilt of their own. I think these ladies do a wonderful ministry for these kids. Its good to know someone cares about you and wants you to have something of your own. The ladies are such a blessing.

EDIT apparently we tied 9 quilts yesterday. That's pretty good for two frames and only 3 1/2 hours of work.

TV Interview

Our pastor asked us if we would be willing to be interviewed for a TV program from Austria. Apparently the lady wants to interview a homeschooling, christian family. Just as I was typing this she called. She said the TV spot would be aired in Austria. She is going to see if we can watch it on the Internet or she will get us a copy. She said right now they are busy with the hurricane story so she will come the 27th and 28th of this month. Isn't that a hoot? The last time a TV crew came was when they were doing stories about the atheist in our community. Luckily the film that I was on got lost so they came back and re filmed it and we were out of town. It was a good story. At lease our church family looked good when they had the congregation singing. We were all very nervous, that they would try to make fun of our christian beliefs.

lovely poem

A Prayer for Womanhood
God, give each true good woman
Her own small house to keep,
No heart should ache with longing,
No hurt should go too deep.....
Grant her age-old desire:
A house to love and sweep.
Give her a man beside her,
A kind man, and a true,
And let them work together
And love, a lifetime through,
And let her mother children
As gentle women do.
Give her a shelf for dishes,
And a shining box for bread,
A white cloth for her table,
And a white spread for her bed,
A shaded lamp at nightfall,
And a row of books much read.
God, let her work with laughter,
And let her rest with sleep.
No life can truly offer
A peace more sure and deep....
God, give each true woman
Her own small house to keep
~Grace Noll Crowell~~~~~~~1934~~~~~~

wags

Walmart has another 10.00 off when you spend 40.00 coupon for Friday and Saturday. Go here to print.http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ Remember you have to spend 40.00 after all coupons and sales are taken off. Now would be a good time to pick up the Free after rebate items or big ticket items you have been wanting.

kitchen

I was reading a post and I looked over at my kitchen and realized I am working up a storm. LOL My rice cooker is cooking brown rice with a little bit of wild rice and chicken broth for lunch. My washer and dryer and doing my clothes. The bread machine is making a loaf of bread for supper and I am able to work on my computer at the same time.

I deep cleaned my stove this morning. Whew what a mess.

Its a beautiful cool day. I turned on the water for the greenhouse. Cleaned the kitchen.

The girls are doing their school work. Joy's geometry books came in and she is excited. They are teaching textbooks, they have ACT and SAT test lessons built right in. Every single problem is explained. She thinks they will be good.

read the next post then this one to make sense

more images of the skit.