Homemade Laundry Detergent

This was so much fun. (I am such a dork sometimes!) I had been wanting to do it ever since I read about it on the internet somewhere. I got my "stuff" at Wal-Mart and then found a bucket in the garage.

It was so easy. Just mixed all the powders together. Then I used my food processor to chop the soap; you can also just grate it. (It reminded me of feta cheese.) Then I mixed it all together. That's it!

I can't wait to use it. I think you use about two heaping tablespoons per load. 

Now all I want is one of these......

By the way.....wash the food processor well!

Nine-Patch Scrap Quilt

I finally got to start a project. It has been way too long since I could get something going. I wanted to make use of some more scraps from the stash that I had bought at a garage sale way back. A nine-patch design is an easy way for me to just throw the "magic" fabric pieces together. So there will be nothing to purchase except some domestic for the sashes, etc.

Looks pretty crazy right now I know.

We're Moving!

Yes, Thursday is moving day. We are getting to move from the 5th wheel back into the house. I am so ready to get back in. The carpet and tile are being cleaned to get all the dirt and dust out. Furniture coming back in then on Thursday evening.

I was sure hoping I didn't have to skip fall decorating and go straight to Christmas when we got in. Whew......thank goodness!!

Of course, it may take me to Christmas to find all the stuff/junk I stashed everywhere.

Makin' You Feel Better!

Just in case you are thinking your house needed a little cleaning or touch up this weekend, don't worry if you didn't get around to it. Just look at mine, and you'll probably feel better immediately! Every room is a plastic maze.

Family and friends coming through just say "Oohhhh ........wow!"

We are still living in our 5th wheel. And that's ok....just an extended camping trip in our own backyard.

Need One of These

With all the stuff going on around here, can someone please find me one of these to post?  (cough..cough)

Yes, I'm trying to find humor in all this. And.....

Praise God for our travel trailer!

Furdown Farewell

Rick and I are are doing some projects/work/stuff around the house. We had some repairs that needed to be done. Needless to say, one thing always leads to another.

It all started with some walls and ceilings that needed some attention. From there the list continued to grow.

So .... the kitchen cabinets made the TOP 10. Since the kitchen/dining ceilings were already getting some of this attention, it was perfect timing to get a crowbar to the furdown. The cabinets came out and the crowbar started its work---thanks to Rick and Justin. Rickie then helped with sheetrock. And now the work continues.......

Just throwing in a few other cuties.......

Joplin Destruction

Earlier in the week Rick and I drove to Joplin, Missouri to get a firsthand look at the city after it was hit by the tornado back in May.  It was eerie, to say the least, driving down streets and streets of destruction. There were so many homes, businesses, and churches affected.

As I looked at the ruins of those homes, my thoughts were with each family. I wondered where they were living now. Or had they not even survived? (At least 134 didn't.) Would they be able to come back to the place they had once called "home?"

Would the business owners be able to eventually rebuild? Did the employees of all those businesses have the opportunity to find jobs elsewhere? So many out of work......

Where were each of the congregations having their services?

I wanted to find the hospital I had seen on television. It wasn't hard to locate. The structure/shell was still standing with steel everywhere. Across the street were white tents and some trailers being used as temporary medical facilities.

Please keep reading now about Mission Joplin.

"Mission Joplin is a new movement of action and life birthed out of the devastation and destruction caused by the May 22nd, 2011 tornado which ravaged Joplin, MO. We exist to connect and coordinate the volunteer efforts of eager organizations who want to give to and serve the immense needs of the city of Joplin and its residents during this time of severe loss." (Go here for more information.)


Keelie shared this with me; she is getting to go with some friends. 

As other weather-related victims from the past, these people need many prayers and so much assistance!

We can each do something---pray, give, or go.

Let's do it.

Jeep Journal

This week was a big one! Lots of progress for sure. Rick now has the jeep not only running, but it has brakes to stop it! He took it out for a run. How do you like that temp seat?

 Jeepers

I wanted to share some pics of the Willys jeep restoration that Rick is doing. Just remember I promised to bore you with updates now and then.

This is a picture before he began on it. Here you can find the story and more pics.

Our Vintage Baby

This is the jeep I mentioned a couple of posts ago. We have actually owned her once before. We were fortunate to be able to secure her again just recently.


Yeah, I know she doesn't look like much. But just give Rick a few months......she'll be looking mighty fine!

1947 Willys CJ2A

I'll be documenting the restoration process with more photos later. And aren't you going to be lucky?  I'm sure I will be boring you with them! HA

Sunny Saturday

We were blessed with a beautiful sunny Saturday; we just couldn't allow ourselves to stay inside.

Jonah and Glory came over. We played and "helped" Papa out in the shop. He's restoring a mustang and  a jeep. (These projects deserve posts all their own.) Jonah loves to help and use Papa's tools. I did catch Glory one time thinking she might want to get in on the action.

"Let There Be Peace..."

".....and Let It Begin With Me."

It's All about Him! Marilyn, my sister, said it so well she is my guest writer for the day!

It's All about Him!
Marilyn, my sister, said it so well she is my guest writer for the day!

Last year, the week of Thanksgiving in our Victory SS Class an extreme need was brought to our attention. We had a handicapped, widow lady that was living in a house that was BAD. I will not dwell on this, other than our class was convicted to do something about this. Our SS teacher became our fearless leader. Praise God for Godly teachers.

One year and one week later we are handing over the keys to a brand new house built by God's people. God says that he gives different talents to others, and we are all different parts of the body to be one. This house is God's way of showing this. Many people and businesses donated materials, time, food, money, and talents for this to come to fruition. I am very careful about what I write, because I do not want us to take any of the credit. It is truly "All about Him." God just allowed us to do His work for Him for us to receive the blessings.

Another ChaChink!

In my quest to use up things on hand, another project is complete. Chachink!

I had new pint jars, rings, and lids. I had peppers that Marilyn had given me. Put these with my love for El Chico's carrots, peppers, and onion relish, this girl is smiling.

I am smiling because, even though I was pushed for time, it's done. I'm smiling because Rick ran the veggies through the food processor for me! I'm smiling because the jars are sealed, and that is a very good thing.

Marilyn has previously posted the knock-off recipe on our recipe blog. If you are interested in it, go here. .

Jelly with a Punch!

I've been trying to use up things in our large freezer--mainly because it needs a good cleaning. This morning I decided to set out two jars of frozen plum juice with plans to make jelly this afternoon. I even had the cute little jelly jars already on hand, too.

So when I got ready to get started late this afternoon I got a little surprise. I discovered that I had one container of plum juice and one container of strawberry punch!

So I'm here to tell you I just mixed the two together and WAALAA. I now have the cutest little jars of strawberry plum jelly you've ever seen.

Tonight we sampled it. Rick gave it two thumbs up, and I have to admit -- it's good!!

Craft Camp

Our crafting camp had a minor adjust on Thursday and Friday. Rather than going to Marilyn's lake house, we needed to stay at home to do it. So we set up everything and worked at my house. We had a full day yesterday working like little bees. All four of us had a productive day. We had muffins for breakfast, and I had made tortilla soup for lunch.

I got so busy during the day I forgot to take any additional pictures. These I had taken early in the morning while getting things out.  

More later.......

Ready for Wreaths?

We recently attended a craft show. Not really sure why I didn't take a boat load of pics. Probably because the vendors highly discourage it, and I totally get that. But this guy gave people permission to do it. So naturally, I whipped out the phone.

Does anyone besides me think this Santa looks frightened from that angle?!