Homemade Laundry Soap

I've had a few inquiries about the laundry soap I make. I really like it, except for the fact that it doesn't have any scent to it, hence the reason I was shopping at the soap making store!!!

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 C grated bar soap- Fels Naptha, Ivory, Dove 1 bar usually gives you 2-2/12 cups of soap.
1/2 C Borax
1/2 C Washing Soda This is made by Arm and Hammer, but is
Not baking soda!!! I can only find this at
Fred Meyer or online.

Mix all together and store in an airtight container...or a pretty jar!!!

Use 1 Tbs. for a regular load or up to 2Tbs for a larger or very dirty load.

I use this in my HE front loader and it does just fine.

When I make this recipe I like to do a lot at once and then I use this recipe:

2 bars soap, grated
4 c Borax
4 c Washing soda

I'm going to add the oils to it to see if I get a scent...I really miss the smell of Tide!!!!

There is a liquid version if you prefer. You can go over to www.farmingonfaith.blogspot.com. Carrie has a lot of great homemade cleaning recipes, but this is the only one I have tried.

Good Luck!!!

Oh, and if you want to read a great post today, head on over towww.sugarpiefarmhouse.com. Very inspirational!!!

A Gorgeous Day!

I had a doctor's appointment in Bellingham yesterday. Just routine, but since I was there I thought I 'd do a little shopping/browsing as I don't get down there very often. I went to The Greenhouse and saw this pretty little (big) chair. Very comfy!!! We have a smaller version of this chair. It belonged to Brian's grandparents and now we have it!! We had it recovered, but now I want it to look like this!!!

I went to a couple of antique stores also, but not a thing to be had:( It will save us another trip Lynda!!!!

I also went to a soap making supply store called Otion. They have a ton of different scents that you can add to your soaps and lotions. I've been making my own laundry soap and wanted to make it smell good instead of the neutral smell that it is! I got my favorite: oatmeal, milk and honey; grass stain, which smells like fresh grass; sage and lemon grass; and fresh snow, which kind of smells like a mild Tide. Hope it works!! If not, I'll just use it when I make regular soap! I drove past Bellingham Bay and it was so beautiful!! The water looks tropical!! So many colors!

It was about 60 degrees outside, the sun was shining, and the view outstanding!!

This morning the fog was over the fields, the sun was shining and Mt. Baker was out in all her glory! Pictures of that are on the other camera, however!!!

Off to work now! Enjoy the day!!

Technically Challanged

After almost 3 hours, the play list has been changed!!!!! It took me forever!!!! Last time it was so easy, but not so today my friends! (those of you who are still listening that is!!!)

I have such a hard time choosing songs. I really wanted some winter/love songs. After all, Valentine's day is just around the corner! But then I start listening to all kinds of music, writing out play lists and just when I think I have it set, playlist.com doesn't have a certain song! As I start looking for new songs, I find one's that I don't have on itunes and I have to start all over again!!! I haven't listened to it all the way through, but I hope it's good? Okay? Better than Christmas?!!!

Off to get something done...that's so I can say I did something constructive when Hubby asks what I did all day!!

Treasures, Vintage Syle!

Well, all except for this one!! Miss Tami, http://www.theladyinthestonehouse.blogspot.com/, encouraged me to do a post on my Thrift Store finds, so here we go!!!
Our school, Lynden Christian, has a wonderful thrift store, open Wed. through Saturday. Wednesday is the day to go as all of the new donations that have come in all week are put out that morning. There is a crowd and it's really interesting to see the way people "make it" to the front of the line!!! Anyway, my Wed. job does not start til 10:00 now so I have time to join the crowd at 9:00!!! Whoo hoo!!

This lovely Longaberger basket was holding a variety of items, so I don't think anyone realized it was for sale...but I did!!!! Grabbed that baby and put it in the cart!!!! This was a pricier item, as everyone knows what they're worth now, but still a good deal!

Scored a couple of these lovely picnic baskets. The top one doesn't have a lid, but at $1.99 it will make a great planter!! or book holder!! or???? The bottom one has this great lift out tray. I've never seen this before. Don't know if they usually come with them and people just got rid of them, but I like it!! I have them sitting on my front porch. A little early, but yesterday was a balmy 60 degrees! Sounds like picnic weather to me!!!

I got these beauties in Leavenworth over Christmas. Love the red!!

I've recently started a collection of cow bells...because I didn't have enough collections!! Kind of fun, but I need to find a better place for them.

I've read a lot of blogs recently regarding after-Christmas decorating. Every one's seeming to have a lot of trouble, myself included! I have this beautiful brand new, blank canvas and am really having a hard time deciding what to put where. Things are looking a little stark!!!

I've started a new job at the library and am really enjoying it! Only 4 hr shifts, so it gives me time to do other stuff. Today was so nice that I worked outside, and did some cleaning in the garage and shop. I put all my Hubbard squash and onions in the shop for the winter, but with all the warm weather my squash went bad. Threw all of it out today:( Love that I have onions for the entire year though!! I'd really like to have a root cellar. If anyone knows how to build one, underground, not into a hill, let me know!

Finals are over, tomorrow's a day off for everyone, except B, but he's taking half a day. Hopefully we'll get out of Dodge for a bit and enjoy this time off!!

I Just Can't Do It!!

I know, I know, the Christmas music just isn't appropriate anymore. But when I go to change it I hear Bing or Faith or Johnny and I just can't eliminate them. I don't know why I'm hanging onto Christmas this year, but I just can't let it go!!! I don't know if you've noticed, but there just isn't any good January music!! I like the fun bubbly stuff, but that screams "carefree summer" to me.

I am working on it though. Please have patience!

Cooking and Cleaning!

Happy New Year everyone!! It's been so long since I've posted...sorry about that!!
We had such a great Christmas, but things went downhill quickly and I've had trouble getting out of my funk! It's been 3 weeks of hurt, sadness, frustration and crankiness. People have disappointed and I'm sure I've disappointed also. I feel like a bad mother, wife, friend, etc. I'm questioning everything and I hate living that way. I covet your prayers and I will say that things have improved greatly, but I'm a bit leery at this point!!

On a happy note....the pantry is FINISHED!!!!!!!! No more food in my bedroom! Living out of boxes, card tables and temporary shelving for the last 13 months has not been my favorite thing, although I've handled it better than I thought...right honey???

After a major leak that went into the ceiling and down the walls into my pantry in Nov of 08, we had to rip everything out. Drywall, flooring, shelving...everything! I never did like the slatted metal shelving that was in there and the shape of my pantry is a triangle, so it wasn't all that functional either. So handy honey decided to take on this project of building me a shelving unit and utilizing some more space. He did such a great job!! I love it!

This is the center unit. I wanted to have a place just for baking items with a little table area. I have a few cake mixes I need to start using!!!
I collect old Thermos's but after the remodel, I had no place for them....until now!!! Love them! Hate the light fixture! I'm thinking maybe a cute little chandelier?

This is the genius area of the pantry! As I've said, the pantry is a triangle with the side walls being totally useless. Brian came up with the plan to use the space between the studs for shelving!! We haven't done the other side yet, but isn't this great?? Every thing's adjustable too, so I can change things around.

Hard to get a picture of the whole thing, but hopefully you get the idea. I'd love to replace the door with a screen door so that's what I'm on the look out for!

The laundry room also got finished...almost!

Got the old wooden cooler at the Farm Chickshttp://thefarmchicks.com sale last year and the wringer at Seabold Vintage Markethttp://seaboldvintagemarket.blogspot.com.

When we bought the house the cupboards were all arranged differently...very weirdly actually!! So a few years ago we changed things around and it works a lot better. Because we had a major leak here as well, we needed new flooring. It was so hard to find what I wanted! I was hoping for something solid as it meets up with tile in the hallway. Finding solid, and dark was next to impossible! Finally found one I liked, ordered it, and the company had closed!!!!

Back to square one!!! Found an Armstrong floor that was close so I settled for that! ( At this point I am very tired of making decisions!!) I really like it though! Got my wooden bench at the Farm Chicks show too!! I painted all the walls and Brian put up all new trim.

Some of my baskets on top of the fridge in the laundry room.

Love the little red cowgirl boots!!

My old washer and dryer were 25 years old, so I'd been saving all year for a new set. I knew if I didn't put money aside, they'd break down and I'd be stuck! So I squirreled away my money and Brian's parents gave us money for Christmas. There was a BIG black Friday sale and some rebates too, so now I have a new W and D!! Plus, Whirlpool ran out of the dryer I ordered, so I got an upgrade to the steam dryer! Haven't tried it yet, but it sounds cool!

I'm really pleased with how every thing's turned out and glad that I waited to do everything and didn't settle just to get things done! I also painted the kitchen and the interior of my big hutch. Finished painting a part of the upstairs that wasn't done, got all my Christmas down and put away (which depresses me greatly!) and started working on a quilt!!


I am, however, SICK of projects!!!!! I just want to do something fun for awhile!!! Like quilt, or scrapbook, or nap!!!!

I am blessed beyond belief and deserve none of the blessings I've been given. God is so good and so faithful and while it's been a tough few weeks, we're healthy, have nice clothes, running vehicles, food to eat, a roof over our heads and most important, the promise of Heaven. Thanks for sticking with me!!!