are ya ready for the next recipe???

okay kiddies...are ya ready for the next installment of non toxic homemade cleaning recipes??? this recipe I got from the Readers Digest Homemade book. I changed it to my own specifications and added some extra stuff. this recipe also works in the dishwasher quite well. kinda cool I think.
Scouring Powder
1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1 cup salt (either regular table or large crystal salt)
mix all together and place in a closed container. use as you would other store bought scouring powder.

since using this recipe I have found that whatever I use it on seems cleaner than with the other stuff. maybe it is because I made it myself and that makes me feel better. it doesnt burn your hands either.

I could get on my soapbox (hahahaha funny!) and say that I use this because it is good for the environment, the septic tank, etc. but honestly I use it because it saves me money. whether or not I get a job right away when the kids go back to school, I will still continue to use this stuff. there is no need to use the toxic stuff when you can make it yourself and save a few bucks a month.
stay tuned for more........

way back in time

before I lost my job to the Big Wigs, jon and I had been starting to look at how we could save money. we thought about not buying as much groceries, but the kids didn't like only eating once a day. and they got grumpy...eating the cat and dog were out of the question, cuz theres only two of them and frankly not knowing how to cook good chinese food, that wasnt gonnna work either. not being able to drink (you know DRINK) was Completely Out of the Question! many other things came to mind but none were anything we could comfortably live with.
Laundry detergent came to mind. I made my first batch and it lasted probably a couple of months(I dont have a specific time cuz I didnt write it down) next came counter cleaner, then came dishwasher cleaner and then a "comet" like cleaner. I also make my own bread (which I will happily sell to any of you!!) , my own yogurt, and some other stuff too. the first recipe I will share is my detergent. now I have to say that the second batch turned out differently than the first, but it still works just as well.
1 quart of water
2 c borax
2 c washing soda
2 c grated soap (I used soap flakes from a company in GR, but then this time I used ivory)
1 c baking soda
melt all together then add 2 gal water.
now the prob I had with this was as it cooled all of the components came together in one large thick block. I remelted it and the same thing happened. I then broke it up with my hands, squishing it thru my fingers. then I got smart and used my handmixer and it broke it up.
when i use it now all I need to do is just mix it before I put it in the washer.
If you have any questions contact me via this blog.
good luck and happy washing
more recipes to come.......

slow day today

today is wednesday or hump day. finally a day that I dont have to go anywhere or do anything for anyone else. not that I mind helping others, its just that the past week or so has been busy; emotionally and physically. the sky is blue with occas clouds and the kids are outside. the dog of course will not go outside without me, she is that attached to me.
ooooohhhhh and tonight I get to have some cathey time with my friend suzie. I recently got hooked up with her and her sheep. but thats another story for the other blog.(which by the way is catsyarnaddiction.blogspot.com(check it out!!)
now that the kids are out of school, me time is all but gone unless I go out at night. and since I have not done that in A LONG TIME, it kinda feels wierd. but if im gonna be A Good Mom, I need some Adult Conversation with someone other than my hubby.
so today I get a break from being a helper and I dont have to go anywhere, so im gonna spend some time with the kids and digging in my yard.

in the circle of care

so we had to send my mother in law to the hospital again. this time she ended up staying over night and had a stress test this morning. she passed the test with flying colors. the doc said he did not think the chest pain was caused by the heart. she went home with a prescription for prilosec otc and nitroglycerin. it is still odd for me to be in the position that I am in. I spent so much time as the RN at the ED, watching other family members be in the circle of care. I was removed from the money earning care setting and now am in the family care circle. jon (my hubby) and I are the only ones that bev(my mother in law) has to depend on. we are it. we are the ones that she calls when she is in need. this is also a turn around situation for my hubby; her son. now he is the "parent" and we are making sure she is safe, we remember for her when she doesnt remember all of the events leading up to where she is now. life takes a 180 degree turn.........

and so I've decided....

I took the jump and started a new blog. I have the same fears about the new one as I did about the old one...will anyone read it, will anyone care, will anyone find that they have to go to the blogspot and find out what cat has posted or if she has any cool pics? I do hope that someones reads it and finds it interesting. I chose to start the second blog for my yarn addictions, hence cats yarn addiction. word of mouth or in this case typing of the fingers is the best way to get things around.
This is the window that was left open for me (to squeeze thru) and it is allowing me to fly.
follow me and my adventures at catsyarnaddiction.blogspot.com

friday, day 2

today is the second day of summer break. the gremlins last day was wednesday. they had a half day; like that was necessary. it is no longer quiet in my house in the mornings. so far I have heard I'm bored twice from my youngest. there have been grumblings between them. my oldest gets mad and frustrated because his little brother doesnt always do what he wants him to do.
My schedule is to say the least is very different. the days of being able to sit at the computer for at least an hour in the morning while I have coffee and eat breakfast (while sharing my toast with my 150lb lap dog) and then knitting or spinning while watching law and order, or gone. now I am not saying I dont like having my boys home. thats not it. its the change we have to go through sometimes when you least expect it.
I also found myself in the caregiver role with my mother in law. Not as a nurse but as the family member, in a hospital setting. I have been a part of the whole senario while working in the ED. Now I am in that position. It feels weird.
and so my days go....

I'm here, where are you?

I had coffee with a good friend of mine this morning. She looked just awesome. we talked about various things and as she said "out conversation is very schizophrenic" and I said "look theres a chicken". we have matching senses humor, and I love that about her. I can say anything and she will come back with something that is thoughtful and sarcastic all rolled into one. not many people like us out there.
which brings me to me. I saw an old "friend" this past weekend., we lost touch after her and her hubby got divorced. it was awkward to say the least, but I realize now that people put alot into appearances. It got me thinkg about what I looked like and what others think of me. and now I ask...what does it matter? I am who God made me and I have shaped the person into someone I can live with. I will always think I am fat no matter how much I weigh, but I can look in the mirror and be okay with how my hair looks, and the clothes I wear. I doesnt matter what I look like, what does matter is that I have kept Gods initial layout of the me on the inside: the love I give, the passion I have, the dedication and loyalty and the peace and love of God.
When I first started this blog I was mad. and I wanted others to know how mad I was and for everyone to read and comment on my blog. I guess if you want to read it thats cool, if ya wanna post a comment great or if ya just wanna think about what I have written thats fine too. enjoy the words and thoughts.