Mission Project #10 – Garden Tools

As you may recall, or you may not, I put myself on a mission to get some things done around here.  I started last fall when I cleaned out the garden and the goal is to be finished up when I start planting the garden again. 

I had planned to tune up my garden tools long before now but I realized it would be much easier, and nicer too, to wait for a warm day to do this outside rather than to make a mess inside the garage and do it in the cold.

 

I gathered up the offending tools Saturday afternoon while the sun was out and the temperature was hovering at 60° outside.  With sandpaper and the sander the youngest girl and I set to work and smoothed out all the rough handles on our shovels and the garden rake.  Then with a rag we rubbed them all down with boiled linseed oil. 

We also aired up the tire on the wheel barrow and hooked up the garden hose to the spigot.  Now we are ready to get some yard work done and eventually put in our garden.  It’s so exciting!

Spring Cleaning The Chicken Coop

I gave the coop a good spring cleaning Saturday.  We use the “deep litter method” in our chicken coop.  It works best at keeping down odor and debris as well as keeping the hens warm enough through the winter months.  It also means we only need to deep clean the coop about twice a year and do an occasional poop scoop in between. 

Stella came to help.

After completely removing everything from the coop right down to the wood floor I had 3 full buckets of compostable material for our garden.  I replaced the litter with two buckets of fresh new pine shavings.  I decided to leave their lamp up in the coop just in case we get a cold spell but I am hopeful we won’t need it. 

Bessie inspects my work.

I raked out the pen area and cleaned the feeders.  Once refilled I gave the girls some hen scratch mixed with a little ground oyster shell or “candy” as we call it.  They really love the scratch feed.  I also gave them a lot of praise and loves.  They have been such good girls with all their diligent egg laying. 

While I was out there I made some plans for expanding their pen area to give them more room to run around and make it nicer for when we eventually add new chickens to the flock. 

I keep their feed in plastic bins with tight fitting lids in our garage along with the bale of pine shavings.  I usually buy 40 pounds of feed pellets every 10 to 12 weeks and the pine shavings once a year.  Oyster shell lasts a long time and the 20 pounds of hen scratch as well.  I will probably only need to buy three bags of scratch a year, if that. 

We supplement their diets with our kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps and any stale bread, which they love.  We also let them loose in the yard to eat grass and worms plus any bugs they catch while they scratch around.  They definitely got our ant problem in the backyard under control last summer. 

 

Happy ladies!

For the entertainment they provide plus the bug control, not to mention all the eggs, we get a lot of value for the little amount of upkeep needed to care for them.  Feed isn’t all that expensive compared to the price ($4 per dozen) of organic free range eggs sold at the grocery store either.  They definitely earn their keep. 

We sure love our girls.

Last Week’s Thrifty Moves

Crocus blooming in my flower bed.

On Sunday I made two bottles of raspberry pancake syrup using frozen berries I had picked at my parent’s place last summer.  I also made a bottle of maple flavored syrup. 

Monday I went to Winco and did my big monthly haul of grocery shopping.  Four very full shopping bags of pantry staples and some fresh produce. 

I worked on my current baby afghan project. 

I ran the dishwasher this week using soap samples I received in the mail for free. 

My income tax refund arrived this week.  I put most of it into my savings account. 

The weather had warmed up a bit last week so I set our thermostat way low on our main heat and we have been using the fireplace in the living room to take the chill off in the mornings. 

Friday I used store coupons to purchase items for the girl’s Easter baskets. 

·         2 packages jelly beans, 2 for 3.oo at Fred Meyer

·         2 solid chocolate bunnies, 10/$10 at Fred Meyer

·         6 chocolate eggs, 3/$1 at Walgreens 

I did a lot of little home repairs around the house and other projects using items I already had on hand in the garage.  I will post more on this later. 

I had two shelves in my kitchen with broken shelf clips; one in my pantry and the other one in my cupboard where I store my Pyrex mixing bowls and storage containers.  Tippy shelves are no good.  Luckily I was able to repair them myself with items I had in a coffee can of miscellaneous screws and fasteners.  In that can was an extra metal shelf clip for the kitchen cabinet.  A drywall screw was all I needed to fix the shelf in the pantry. 

The chickens blessed us with 19 eggs this week!  They are so awesome!!

 

Sausage & Peppers

One of our family’s favorite meals is an Italian dish of Sausage and Peppers.  I don’t make it a lot so it is a special treat when I do. 

Sausage & Peppers 

2 pkgs. Italian sausages – chicken, turkey or pork

1 bell pepper, cut into one inch pieces

1 small onion, cut into one inch pieces

1 Tbs. oil

2 cans Italian style tomatoes

4 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tsp. dried crushed basil

1 pound spaghetti, cooked

Grated parmesan 

Heat oil in large pot on medium heat, brown sausages.  Add peppers and onions.  Once peppers and onions begin to brown add tomatoes and two cans of water, garlic and basil.  Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. 

Serve over hot spaghetti.  Garnish with parmesan cheese. 

Simple, quick and delicious! 

For leftovers I slice remaining sausages and toss everything together with pasta to reheat for another quick meal.

When Your Daily Routine Becomes …Routine

I tend to be one who functions best with a routine in place.  I prefer to do the same things, the same way on a daily basis.  As a rule I like a set schedule.  I find that I am more efficient this way in getting tasks done and I find comfort in knowing what to expect. 

Just when I find myself in my groove, humming right along I get derailed by the boredom and monotony of my routine lifestyle.  In fact, sometimes I feel like I am about to lose my ever loving mind. 

At the risk of going into complete shutdown mode and letting the housework and laundry pile up and going on strike in the kitchen I quickly shift gears.  I just have to change it up a bit. 

It amazes me how just a little bit of change can pull you out of a funky decent.  Something simple can give you a whole new perspective on the daily grind. 

Here are some of the things I do: 

·         Treat myself to a new top, pair of earrings or a tube of lipstick.

·         Take a different route to work.

·         Listen to some music I haven’t listened to for awhile.

·         Lose myself in someone else’s life for a bit with a new book or movie.

·         Take a break from the kids and spend some time with myself.

·         Enjoy a nice dessert or piece of candy.

·         Hang out with a friend.

·         Try a new hairstyle.

·         Have a dinner party to give me something new to focus on.

·         Buy flowers.

·         Go for a nice long walk or bike ride.

·         Try a whole new activity. 

Ever find yourself in a bit of a funk?  What do you do to put yourself back on track?

Laundry

Like dishes I find that laundry is the other thing I do the most but never seem to ever get completely done.  There is always more.  To keep up on our laundry I have two set days a week that I designate to this task – Sunday and Wednesday. 

Sunday I do all the bedding, towels and whatever dirty clothes need washed.  On Wednesday I run another dark load of clothes and that seems to be enough effort to keep us in clean socks and undies all week long. 

My mother has been trying to get me to try homemade laundry detergent for quite some time.  I had bought two big buckets of laundry soap from Costco awhile back so I was set for soap to last a long time.  Plus, to be honest, the thought of adding one more chore to my list didn’t exactly thrill me. 

I decided as my Kirkland brand detergent was running low that I would go ahead and give the homemade stuff a try.  A lot of people are making it and loving it so I bought the ingredients and made up a batch.  Definitely not an expensive endeavor and my mother has promised me I will love it and my clothes will be cleaner.  Excellent! 

 

Homemade Laundry Detergent 

3 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

3 cups 20 Mule Team Borax

2 bars Fels Naptha soap 

In a 4 quart container place the soda and borax.  Grate the soap bars into the container with a cheese grater.  Snap on a lid and shake to combine. 

Measure out 2 tablespoons (coffee scoop) per load of laundry. 

I made the soap and since I had an extra coffee scoop in my utensil drawer I tossed it into the container as well.  It didn’t take more than ten minutes to make, if that, and if it performs as well as people say I think it will save me money too. 

I do like the idea of using a more pure product that I make myself as opposed to all the ingredients in commercial detergent, most of which I can’t pronounce.  It is also okay to use in my HE front loading washer. 

Do you make your own laundry detergent?

Baby Shower Gifts

Baby shower season is on its way.  You know it, don’t you? 

When it comes to baby showers I keep it simple by basically giving the same gift to everyone, regardless.  I like this as it means no fuss and no stress. 

Because I have a minor amount of talent with a crochet hook I make baby afghans.  I keep three on hand – one for a girl, one for a boy and one that is neutral in color for the parents who decide to wait until birth to find out the sex of their little darling. 

Once I give one out I get busy and make another one to replace it because, I don’t know about you, but it seems like baby showers come in spurts.  You go along with nothing for awhile and then all of a sudden it seems like everyone is expecting. 

How do you handle baby shower gift giving?