Homemaking: Laundry Style + Recipe

This weekend Ruthie Jane and I made Homemade Laundry Soap. Many people say...WHY? Well folks, because it happens to be dirt cheap to make your own laundry soap. So, we gave it a try. We bought the list of ingredients with a cost of roughly $8. And, when you consider how many batches/loads of soap you will get from a measely eight bucks you will be in awe of just how cost effective this homemaking task turns out to be.

First, I started by grating my bar of soap. Ruthie Jane ran around playing outside while I grated my little fingers off. Literally.

Ruthie Jane lovingly referred to it as maccaroni and cheese.

Next, we went indoors to melt the grated cheese.
And, Here are the rest of the ingredients.

Ruthie Jane took great pride in helping out on this project.
She was so excited!

Here's my big helper packing it up for the night.
We were anxiously awaiting for this it to "gel" overnight.

And, guess what!?
It did!
Hip Hip Hooray!

We've been washing our clothing with this Homemade soap for a few days now. It's washing them very nicely. We tend to be a "sensitive family" so I didn't put any type of fragrance in it. However, it has a nice clean orginal scent.

I like it.

Happy Homemaking!

You can find this recipe here.

Or, for you HERE. :)

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap
Front or Top load machine
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)


*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!

This recipe is a Duggar Family Recipe.
Enjoy!

If you were my neighbor...

If you were my neighbor, this is what you would see...

My clothes hanging out to dry
for all the world to see.

The Preacher Man isn't too sure what he thinks of this sight.
He'd rather keep his unmentionables inside and out of direct sunlight.

Hanging my clothes out to dry is a simple pleasure in my life. It's the only thing I requested as we moved to our new house. I just wanted a clothes line. I've never had one before. And, for my birthday this year Pa, a man very dear to my heart crafted me one in his workshop. One of the best birthday gifts I've ever received!

In my opinion, nothing beats drying off with a towel that has been sun-dried. Thanks Pa for making my dreams come true!

Back 2 School Blues

Upon our arrival to our new town, I began searching for some socialization for the Preacher's Kid. I've never left Ruthie Jane for any sort of daytime program. It's always just been she and I, which has been absolutely positively wonderful. However, at the risk of being selfish it would have been nice to have a day for myself. I wasn't quite ready to put her in an every day preschool environment so I opted for a church-based two day program. This seemed to be the one that would fit our family.

The Preacher Man and I went to the Open House and enrolled our sweet little gal. She was very excited and was thrilled with everything new. She didn't hesitate being left with her teacher while we went through a new parent orientation. As the meeting began my stomach began to tense up. I began to have sudden doubts about the program and leaving my little one. I left that Thursday night feeling uneasy. I had much higher expectations than what reality would be in this daytime program. My heart was heavy.

Ruthie Jane on the other hand was  more excited than ever. She was ready. She had her 1st day of school outfit, her lunchbox, and her backpack. So, her first day of school came and I held my composure as I let little Miss Independance go off to school.

Her lunch was packed with all her favorite goodies.

Her hair in "big tails", her favorite hairstyle.

When we walked into the halls of her "school" she caught a glimpse of her classroom and began running with excitement. She was thrilled to be there. She had a fantastic 1st day and loved playing, painting, and making new friends.

Although she loved her first day she wasn't too sure if she wanted to go back for the 2nd. She tossed around not going and was convinced that she wasn't planning on staying. I explained to her that it would be just fine if she didn't want to go. I secretly hoped she wouldn't, but she did. I never thought that I would have these feelings towards a day program. I was so excited that two days a week would be MY days. I was thrilled to think of all the possibilities. But, now those possibilities seem pointless.

I write this post with a heavy heart. The Preacher's Kid left again this morning for school. The Preacher Man takes her to school and I pick her up. Again, she wasn't too sure if she wanted to go, but after her lunch was packed she walked out the door with excitement for the day ahead. I struggle with the fact that I am a homemaker and the Preacher's Kid doesn't HAVE to go anywhere. She could be right here with me, at home, learning.

I've never really given homeschooling a chance in my thought process. But, because I am so uneasy about sending my sweet little three year old two days a week to "school" I've been considering and researching many different avenues of the homeschool realm. I have been dreaming of the many different activities we could do throughout the days that would benefit her far more than any daytime program. Although we may not be a family that will homeschool through the 12th grade, we very well may be an early education homeschool family. 

What about you? Any homeschool Mommas out there? Any advice for this uneasy Mommy?
Please and Thank You.

Parsonage Life

Parsonage life looks a little different theses days. As you know we've relocated to a new yet very familiar town. And, although we still live in a church parsonage it's not in the back yard of the church. It's very unusual for us. We've always lived in a public place, so this is definately a change. A good change that is...

When the Preacher Man and I first married we lived in the back door of a funeral home. I know most of you may think that sounds a little odd, but it's really not. I grew up around the funeral business. My family has owned/operated a funeral home for-ever. So, living there just seemed normal. Normal to me, maybe not the Preacher Man.

After living there for a little while we then found ourselves at our first church parsonage. Our sweet little first home. It was actually a mobile home located in a very rural area. It was a fixer-upper but very dear to my heart. I cozied it up and made it our Home Sweet Home. We lived there for almost a year and then the Lord moved us on...

Our next home was literally out the back door of the church. In fact we were surronded on three sides of the house by a church building. We took only 8 steps from our back door and entered the church. The house had been there for many years and buildings were built all the way around it. We had a teeny tiny yard that the Preacher Man could mow using only a weed eater in fifteen minutes. This home was a nice yet older rock home. I love it here too. It's where we got our first puppy dog. It's the home we brought Ruthie Jane home to. There were many firsts in this home, we lived here almost five years. A home to cherish forever.  And, then the Lord moved us on...

This time we moved a great distance from the normal life. We were no longer surronded by our dearest friends and family. Ruthie Jane was ten months old and we were sent hundreds of miles away, alone. We moved into a very nice 3 bedroom brick home. This time we were 30 steps from the church, we seemed to really be getting our space! In this home Ruthie Jane took her first steps and grew from a baby to a big girl.  We were blessed with many dear friends in which some of them are now considered our family. The Lord used the nearly 3 years here for much growth in our lives. Again, another cherished home. And, then the Lord moved us on...

This time the Lord brought us back to the same sweet church we served in for almost five years previously. This time we moved into the Pastors' Parsonage. It's located almost four miles from the church. We have a giant yard, fantastic front porch that goes the whole length our home, and a garage. Our first garage. It's strange not looking out a window and seeing a church building. Instead we've seen deer and other beautiful wildlife. Folks, I think I could get used to this!

We are so grateful for the Lord's provision for us throughout the years. I love to look back at the homes we have lived in and relive the sweet memories we have made. Each home, each church, each memory so special to us. We are excited for this new season of the Parsonage Life.

Where ya been?

Me?
Where have I been?

One word.
MOVING!


I have not even sat down for a breath of fresh air in about a month. Life has been an absolute whirlwind. We are beginning to get into the swing of things again, so I thought I would give a brief update. Just in case you thought I was gone for-eva. I'm not.

Major update soon.

A Day of Randoms

Today:

• Ruthie Jane ran throughout the house saying, "Fruit Pickles" while laughing hysterically.
• I took a nap. The loss of electricity last night due to the Oklahoma winds left this Mommy without a full nights sleep.
•  A pint of cottage cheese spoiled in our ice box. This never happens, Ruthie Jane lives for cottage cheese.
• The Preacher Man got a sunburn.
• We had Hamburgers and Grilled Squash for supper.
• I overly sweetened our iced tea. This is a hard thing to do.
• I'm currently studying the book of Colossians.
• Ruthie Jane accidentally squashed a caterpillar today. Sometimes she cries at the death of an insect.
• Our bathroom soap smells like cotton candy. It's super yummy.

Random.
I know.

Stages of Mommyhood

Today as I looked at my darling three year old, I realized the progression of mommyhood. I've come a long way, folks. When Ruthie Jane was a newborn I was overly protective of her. She was born during cold/flu season and I didn't get her out for at least a month. I was extremely nervous about taking her to church for the first time in fear that everyone would touch her little hands, in which I knew would go straight into her mouth. After our time of meeting and greeting I never failed to at least wash her sweet little baby hands off to remove the possibility of a virus entering her precious body. Overboard? Yes, yes...I know.

I've always been a bit of a germaphobe. In middle school I remember worrying about santitation more than any middle schooler should. I was bothered by the fact that someone didn't wash their hands and couldn't bare the thought of sharing the same drink with anyone. And, when I birthed my first child the germaphobe Momma is much worse than a germaphobe teenager. But, as Ruthie Jane grew older by the month I let up little by little.

The second year of her life I got a little better, but still refused to allow her entrance into a public restroom. I properly sanitized the shopping carts and had a cover that was placed over any public use high chair. I would leap across the room to intervene upon a Cheerio that had been dropped onto the ground, snatching it before she could consume it. I did however, let up on trying to wash her hands after shaking hands during the meet and greet time on Sunday mornings, but still secretly desire to wash my own hands with restraint until we walk across the lawn to go home.

Again little by little the germaphobe Momma in me fades. As we are in the middle of her third year of life I still despise germs. But, she plays with bugs, pets dogs, occasionally eats something off the floor, and yet she's still a healthy toddler. I don't worry near as much about what millions of germs she comes in contact with and I'm ok with that. I do continue to sanitize shopping carts and use a handy portable potty for the car for her, but when necessary public restrooms work just fine. However, if you look in my purse you will most definately have your choice of one of these for your sanitation needs:

Mommyhood.
Isn't life grand?