7×7 Link Award

In accepting the “7×7 Link Award”, I would like to thank Assia from Assia’s Kaleidoscope for nominating me, whose article Bacillus Bulgaricus and What To Do With It has inspired me to think seriously about making my own yogurt.

By accepting this award, I am to:

• Thank the nominating blogger, and link to their blog;
• List 7 random facts about me;
• List 7 of my posts in 7 different categories (see the categories below); and
• Nominate 7 more bloggers.

Here are 7 random facts about me:

1. I am a very private person.
2. I used to think I had a black thumb, but have recently found that I’m not too bad at gardening.
3. I am happy to stay at home all day everyday, cooking and cleaning.
4. In helping my daughter sell Avon, I have discovered that I have an inordinate fascination with make-up and jewelry.
5. Reading is my favorite pastime.
6. I love chocolate, but can’t eat it.
7. I am a perfectionist.

My posts in 7 different categories:

1. Most beautiful: Treasure in my Garden
2. Most helpful: 4 Things to Help you Cope
3. Most popular: The Benefit of Ignoring Work (Sometimes)
4. Most controversial:Does Practice Really Make Perfect?
5. Surprisingly successful: A Simple Way to Save Your Sanity
6. Most underrated: The Power of Positive Influence
7. Pride worthy: Ice Sculpture Collection

Now for the 7 I wish to nominate:

• Jolene Sloan from With Love from Israel  – Jolene is thoughtful insightful in her accounts of life as a missionary’s wife.  I have often been inspired by her writing to do more in my own ministry as a wife and mother.

• Melanie from A Sewing Journal  – I love to look at the things that Melanie has sewn or found inspirational and wistfully wish I had taken sewing more seriously.
  

• Kristy from Eat, Play, Love - Kristy’s fun accounts of her family cooking together are fascinating. 
  

• Heather from Olive and Ollie - Heather’s lovely quilting brings back memories of my own grandmothers’ quilting.  She also has links to tutorials for some of the projects that she showcases.
  

• Michigan in Pictures – Being from Michigan, I just love the pictures and history posted here.
  

• Melissa from Everlasting Felicity - Melissa is a good friend who I always knew was creative and thoughtful; I just didn’t realize how so until she started her own blog.
  

• Rina from Rina Marie – I only recently found Rina’s blog, but she has many good articles about her experiences with her children and many lovely photos.

Thanks to all those who follow my blog.

making stamps with a no.2 pencil

Reblogged from whollykao:

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Howdy! I told you this tutorial was going to be about making stamps out of pencil erasers...right?

Well, let's cut to the chase. I saw this tutorial on Creature Comforts a while ago, and thought it was a fantastic idea. It's an easy and cost effective way to spruce up cards and packaging. I tried it over the weekend and had a lot of fun using the stamps to make little cards.

Read more… 347 more words

This is such a great way to make your own cards or dress up letters and envelopes!

Press on.

“Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” ~ President Calvin Coolidge

As a mom and a former teacher, I have found this quote to be all too true.  I have found all too often we are willing to tell our children how smart they are and how talented they are.  We let them believe that if they know enough, they’ll make it in life.

The sad reality is it isn’t the smart ones or most talented who necessarily succeed.  In fact as a teacher, I’ve often seen those fail.  It’s the ones who work the hardest and make the best of what they have regardless of their circumstances.

We need to teach our children to have character enough to keep on in the face of adversity, to do what is right because it is right to do, to be willing to be better than average, to truly work toward being all that they could be.

Spring Canisters

These are the lovely canisters (available from Tupperware) I purchased to help with reorganizing our pantry. They worked like a charm!

Re-organizing

This is the next space that will be re-organized.

Spring cleaning time is here again and we are in full swing re-organizing and cleaning our house. (No, we’re not finished.)

For years now I have found myself hanging on to items because I feel guilty giving certain things away.  Worried that the person who gave the item would be upset if I did give it away or sell it.  Truthfully that person may get upset if he finds out I gave away certain items, but who is the one that is left with the clutter and not really enjoying her things because of the clutter?

Well, in the midst of our recent re-organizing, I have also been after my daughter to do the same.  For many years now, I have cajoled her into keeping things that I like or that I thought should be special to her.  And as hard as it has been I finally have come to the place (I believe because of my own clutter), that I need to let her decide what she would like to keep and what she would like to give away.

Needless to say, I’ve been rethinking this whole hanging on to objects thing.  Here is what I’ve come up with:

1.  When you give (or sell) something to someone, it’s none of your business what they do with it after that.  That person ought to be able to enjoy that item to the fullest and be able to pass it on later to someone else who will enjoy that item just as much if not more.  And what if the recipient doesn’t really need the item?  That person ought to feel free to pass the item along to someone who can use it, rather than hanging on to something simply because the giver will be angry or upset.

2.  Remembering the past is good; living in it is not.  When we are not willing to let go of items, no matter how fond we are of them because of the memory of the person who gave the gift, after a while you have so much stuff, it gets in the way of the present.  So, let go of some things.  You’re not dishonoring a person or their memory.  Often when given to someone else who can use the item, you’re bringing joy or fulfilling a need for that person and creating a new memory with the gift.

3.  Although, we have just begun our efforts, we already feel more productive and creative.  Home is more of a haven rather than just one more unfinished project.

4.  It’s okay to go slowly.  Sometimes, you just want to put the trash can at the end of the desk and slide everything in so you can be finished today.  But you don’t have to finish today or even by the end of the week, unless of course you want to.

However, I have found that since we have been taking our time and really clearing out the clutter, it makes it a little easier to maintain the organized look and feel of the area.

5.  Finally, I have also learned that in helping my daughter reorganize, I have to allow her to let go or hold onto things as she sees fit, to let her honor her memories in a way that pleases her.  The things that I think should have special value are not the same for her.  She needs to be able to keep what she knows she can use and that are special to her without interference from me.

More Adventures in Soap Making

Several posts ago, I told about our adventure in homemade laundry soap.

My soap is stored in this giant cheese ball container from Target.

Having now made our own laundry soap a second time (my first batch lasted 4 months, app. 250 loads), I have found the experience fun and very satisfying.

Not only is the soap delightful to use, but it is very inexpensive.  I spent about $5.84 for the batch (I had left-over borax and washing soda) and that averages out to 2 cents a load.  As an added bonus, I save further money because I found I also don’t need to add fabric softener to my loads anymore.  You can if you just like the smell or you don’t think your laundry is soft enough.

So here is my recipe for what I call laundry paste, although I should call it icing because that is what it feels and smells like.  Try not to eat it!

Tisa’s Laundry Paste

2 14.1 oz bars Lirio Soap (or what laundry bar you’d  prefer to use), grated

4 cups borax

4 cups washing soda

12 cups water + 8 more for finishing soap

 

Heat water – you want it hot and steamy, not boiling.  Add soap a little at a time stirring all the while to avoid clumps.  Cook until all the soap is dissolved, about 20 minutes.

 

Turn off heat and add borax and washing powder, stirring until dissolved.  At this point you should have about 4 1/2 quarts of liquid.

 

Let sit for 3 hours (or until you have time to come back to it).  Heat 8 cups of water and using a knife divide your soap into 8 portions.  Add one portion of soap and one cup of water to your blender and whirl until smooth and well mixed.  Pour into your desired storage container and repeat with each section.

 

Stir final mixture together.  The soap should be soft and silky like icing.  Use 1 1/2 Tbsp. per load of laundry.  No need to add fabric softener.

 

Many sites with laundry soap recipes say that your soap may not come out the same each time you make.  So far, I have made this twice and it has come out the same both times.

Have fun and enjoy!

Thank God for You

Thank God for you, good friend of mine,

Seldom is friendship such as thine;

How very much I wish to be

As helpful as you’ve been to me – -

Thank God for you.

 

When I recall from time to time

How you inspired this heart of mine,

I find myself inclined to pray,

“God bless my friend this very day” – -

Thank God for you.

 

Of many prayer quests, one thou art

On whom I ask God to impart

Rich blessings from His storehouse rare,

And grant to you His gracious care – -

Thank God for you.

 

So often at the throne of grace

There comes a picture of your face,

And then instinctively I pray

That God may guide you all the way – -

Thank God for you.

 

Some day I hope with you to stand

Before the throne at God’s right hand,

And say to you at journey’s end,

Praise God, you’ve been to me a friend – -

Thank God for you.

 

 

Author Unknown