More Projects!

I haven't blogged much, because I just can't seem to force myself to sit down and sit still long enough to write something. I have had so much extra energy in the second trimester (I'm 21 weeks now) and I figure I better use it to get everything done now before I move into the third trimester! So I've been cleaning--deep cleaning. Opening up cupboards in the kitchen, reorganizing closets, and finally getting to projects that I've put off for too long.

I've also been doing a lot of sewing. I'm working on getting my diaper stash ready:

This is my favorite of the diapers I've made so far. What do you think? Is it a good choice for gender neutral?

Of course, in all of my projects, I always have my little "helpers"

How would I get anything done without them? :P

I'm also planning on using cloth wipes. I've sewn 30 so far and have 20 to go. A friend taught me how to use my serger so now I can finish these super fast! I have quickly fallen in love with serging...

I've also been preparing for the Holidays. We don't have a lot of money to spend on Christmas this year (actually our budget is close to zero), so I'm trying to be creative and make most of our gifts for family and friends. One way I do that is by giving the gift of home-canned apple butter! People love it and it is super cheap if you get the apples on sale.

What projects have you been up to before the Holidays? Leave a link, as I'd love to see --I'm always looking for inspiration!

Homemade Laundry Soap

I've been using this recipe for years because it is simple, effective, and cheap: 

Powdered Laundry Soap

• 1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap
• 1/2 cup washing soda
• 1/2 cup Borax

The only tools you'll need are a cheese grater, a bowl, and a plate.

First I grate the Fels Naptha--this is the only "hard" part. I recommend wearing a dampened bandana over your face as you do this so as not to inhale the particles of soap. If you had a real mask that would be even better, but, I do not.

My not-so-helpful but certainly beautiful assistant watches the whole process...

I didn't have exactly 2 cups to double the recipe, but I doubled it anyway. You can't really go wrong with it. 

Mix everything together....and voila! Your own homemade laundry soap for pennies.

Use 2 Tbsp. for normal loads and 3 Tbsp. for larger/dirtier loads. 

Saturday Morning Realizations--Cats and Parenting

I haven't been writing much lately, even though I have the best intentions to. I feel like I'm currently busy living life and don't have the time to sit down and write about it. Most days I feel like I'm going, going, going, and by the time I get back from work, I'm gone. Too tired to write or think creatively.

But this morning I woke up and suddenly needed to write. Things that have been swirling around in my mind during the week finally pieced themselves together into a realization on a Saturday morning.

I've always imagined myself being a good parent, like most non-parents do. Those tantrums Johnny is throwing in the store? I'll handle them like a pro. It's always easy to look and parents and see what you will do when it's not your child. When you haven't been dealing with the same thing for weeks and months and years.

I've always thought that I could be calm in the midst of stressful situations and when my child is screaming could answer in a sweet voice. I know a mother like this and I admire her greatly, and I thought I could do the same....but...

Then I got a cat. A five week old kitten to be exact. I didn't realize that it would be a sanctification process in the making. I didn't realize that it would open up my eyes to what I may lack in "parenting" skills.

I knew a kitten would be a handful, but by jove and I didn't realize that it would bring me to my knees on a Saturday morning and make me wonder if I should cry or scream, as I picked bobby pins out of my drain and out of her litterbox. I found a sponge on my bed. My hair ties are in her waterbowl. She'd figured out how to open my medicine cabinet and pull everything out. There were whiffs of shredded toilet paper floating around. I found old treasures and letters from special friends I'd had in elementary school scattered in various places on the kitchen floor. And on top of this, she'd spent all morning biting me, after a night of meowing and keeping me up.

 I consider myself a strong person. I really do. Not much can break me, or so I thought. But over weeks, when it's the same thing over and over again...I lose my resolve. I get angry. I yell.

And here I am thinking I'll be a perfect parent. As I sat there scooping bobby pins out of the litterbox, I had to laugh. I became aware of my selfish little thoughts, as I whined inwardly. I just want one calm perfect day to myself, is that too much to ask? 

And suddenly I realized how much I am going to need God if I ever become a mother one day. I already need Him so much now, when all I'm dealing with is a cat.  Inwardly I have mounds of selfishness that need to be chipped away. I want rest. I want perfection. I want a clean house and eight hours of sleep. Not necessarily bad things, except when I will sin to get them.

I'm hopelessly lost on my own. I need my Savior in heaps and droves. And I'm thankful of how He reminds me of my need, on Saturday mornings, with a silly cat.

Creepy Crawlies and Other Critters

Ever since I moved to the country, my life has been full of encounters with all sorts of critters--some good and some not so good. I had no idea that where I was moving was a spider haven. I find a spider in my house almost every day.

The first one I found was a black widow. I have never in my 24 years seen a black widow indoors. To find it in my living room in plain sight multiplied the horror by ten.

I had placed a box near my front door with a bunch of things I was going to take to Goodwill and apparently the black widow thought it was a good place to take up residence. I have since sprayed my entire exterior for spiders, which has been greatly helping decrease the amount coming inside. Even so, I still had one plop down into the dishwater as I was washing dishes yesterday (thankfully not a black widow). *shudder*

Next in line on my encounters list were the green caterpillars that suddenly attacked my tomatoes. I'd been noticing that the tomatoes were going down hill and couldn't figure it out, until I took a closer look...

Not being aware or on the lookout for these guys, I'd probably let them attack my plants for a few days. They blend in well until you look closely. And the squirt a nasty yellowish liquid at you when you try to pluck them off.

And lastly, the only "good" critter on my list, is the kitten I adopted two weeks ago. I've named her Nora. She keeps me company and makes my house feel more like a cozy home.