New pasture fence project:

Oh my... there's always one summer project that turns into a fiasco, and it would seem that this year, the new fence is it.  We're about 40 hours in (over a 10 day period) and haven't really made as much progress as we would have liked.   Stifling heat, down pours and work obligations are going to make this project drag out for another week or so I'm afraid.  Our awesome neighbor came over and drilled some holes for us with this incredible machine (he works for cookies) but then it poured and the holes filled back in before we got the cement poured.  Today we hope to get the holes cleared and all the posts in before it gets to hot.

My Holy Shit I Look Old Exfoliating Facial Mask

After seeing some un-doctored photos of myself at a recent photo shoot, I concluded that perhaps it's been a while since I did anything nice for my skin. This mask will literally rip a few years right off your face.  But beware, it's not for people with sensitive or sagging skin, and keep it away from your hairline and eyebrows!  if you spread it too thin it won't peel off nice, so slap it on thick! 

• mix 2 tablespoons of unflavored gelatin with 2 tablespoons milk
• microwave for 10 seconds
• apply to face (avoiding your hairline and eyebrows)
• let harden for about half an hour, then peel off
• do not, under any circumstance, answer your door with this stuff on your face (unless its trick or treat night)

What the f@%k am I gonna do with all this ham?

Leftovers are the bane of my existence, they crowd my refrigerator, inhabit all my favorite containers, irritate my husband (he has no place to put beer). I cook constantly so my stove is very seldom cool enough to even wipe off. And oh, did I mention, no one that lives here will eat leftovers! The divas that I cater to will stick up their noses at anything that's been re-heated. So I've had to devise a few ways to disguise "recycled" food. Back to my ham problem, I've already done all the usual things with it, omelets, raviolis, cold sandwiches and I still have a gallon sized zip-lock bag in my freezer. Anyway, so I'm making Ham Croquettes with a side of Cucumber Salad, and whatever is left I'm feeding to Sullivan, our lovely yeti of a Saint Bernard.

Ham Croquettes:

• 1 lb. finely chopped ham
• 1 rounded tablespoon each of Onion Onion and Garlic Garlic (Tastefully Simple Seasoning)
• 1 and a half cups of fresh grated sharp cheddar
• 3 cups rolled oats
• salt and pepper
• 3 eggs
• seasoned bread crumbs

Put bread crumbs one bowl, put everything else in another, mix up ham mixture and pat into balls, roll in bread crumbs, bake at 375 until golden brown, or fry in oil





Cucumber Salad:

• 1 large cucumber
• 4oz. light vanilla yogurt
• 40z. light sour cream
• 1 tablespoon each Onion Onion and Garlic Garlic
• salt & pepper
• tablespoon fresh dill

slice cucumber then half slices, combine all ingredients and chill for a few hours before serving

The Chicken Project: Chicklets :)

 The rain let up, so we're back to our outside projects, our girls got to spend a lovely afternoon foraging through the grass for unsuspecting insects.  We moved the whole pen out to the grass next to the side yard so they were visible at all times (predators are an issue here, even when the chicks are in a pen).  Outside play time is important for them, it helps them to gradually acclimate to living outside.  They also had a chance to see their future horsey neighbors. :)

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

I stopped buying commercially manufactured liquid laundry detergent over a year ago and started making my own.  I did this for a variety of reasons, it's cost effective, safer for my septic system, doesn't generate empty plastic bottles, and most importantly, none of us get a rash from it.  Also I needed a strong detergent I could put in my high efficiency washer that wouldn't destroy my cloth diaper covers.  It looks intimidating, but it takes less time then making soup once you get the hang of it.

• 1/3 bar of Fels Naptha
• 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda
• 1/2 cup borax powder (20 mule team)
• 2 or 3 gallon bucket

All of those products can be found in the laundry isle of the grocery store.

Start by grating the soap into a sauce pan, add 6 cups of water & heat until the soap melts, add washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved, remove from heat,  pour four cups hot water into the bucket, add soap mixture and stir, add one gallon plus 6 cups water and stir, let it stand 24 hours so it can gel. After it gels you'll need to stir it again before you use it. The finished product won't look like watered down store bought detergent, it will be an opaque, with a thick pea soup consistency.

~Use 1/2 cup per a load, the total yield is about a gallon and a half :)

Garage Organization Project: The best Drive by Junking ever!

Our outdoor projects keep getting rained out, we have the chicken coop project almost completed, and the new pasture fence started.  The weather has really been a bummer, but on the up side, the rain left us with an opportunity to take on yet another project......organizing the garage. (Our house is pretty small, so efficiently using the space we have to accommodate our growing family is pretty important).  We were standing around debating our next move, when my dad pulled up with a truck load of salvaged steel shelving (what a coincidence).  These types of visits from my father are lovingly known as "drive by junkings" around here. He used to have this really bad habit of dropping stuff off at our house without asking us first.  The shelf system was removed from a medical office building by my father ( who fortunately for us happens to be in the salvage business). You don't need to have a hook-up in the salvage business to be able to access great finds, the newspaper, craigs list, free-cycle and the Re Place are great resources. We got enough shelving, to set up a new re-cycling station, organize our gear, and we have lots left over for when we get around to conquering the storage room.

what a great surprise!

new recycling area

Setting it up

Zi's 10 dollar big Bag-O-Swag :)

Occasionally I have to share my lovely little diva with the rest of the world.  It makes me sad but it also gives me opportunities to surprise her with fun girly stuff when she returns.  This weekend she spent some time with her grandparents while I shopped for new fall inventory for Mayzi's on-line vintage boutique.  Because Zi is the world's tinniest eco-chic gal out there, everything needs to be recycled, salvaged, and of course very hip. So needless to say, a surprise from her favorite Goodwill store really lights up her face.  For a few bucks her baby brother and I were able to throw together a very cool gift bag.  We filled it with lots of sparkly little girl swag, all very gently used items.  I do the fashionista gift bags for her every chance I get, all of them themed after a different decade of fashion. This little get-up has an 80's new wave theme.  For ten dollars we got a silver metallic tote bag with coin purse, three belts, three braclets, a black fuzzy boa, studded Hello Kitty Tee, Levi's cuffed denim shorts, and a bottle of glitter hand sanitizer with holder.