Are you wearing green today? Watch out if you're not, my boys will pinch you!
Following another March 17 tradition, we are going to plant our potatoes today. We are also going to plant onions for the first time.
Last Saturday I picked up some seed potatoes from the local Ace Hardware store. Luke and Jacob cut them into pieces making sure each one had an eye. They have been sitting on cookie sheets toughening up as the instructions said to do.
Yesterday Luke and Jacob tilled both the big garden bed and the small patch. Then we took up our shovels and spread the aged horse manure we had gotten on Saturday from a local horse riding place. Then that got tilled in and we are ready to garden!
The rest of the garden vegetables will wait a few more weeks I think. Last year I planted a little too early and we had a few cold nights.
Along with the potatoes and onions, we will plant:
big tomatoes,cherry tomatoes, jalapeno peppers,bell peppers,cucumbers,zucchini,broccoli,lettuce,snow peas,yellow squash,butternut squash,popcorn,green beans,pumpkin,and more garlic.
Have a great day!
Leat
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Weekend Activities
Our weekend started on Friday morning with the boys and I going over to a friends house to play and have lunch. Friday night we had tacos with homemade taco shells.
Saturday morning, Bri took three of the boys out for breakfast. They picked up a bag of biscuits from Braum's and took them to a local park to eat. Caleb over slept and missed the outing,but he and I had a good time making an oven pancake and reading books together. With everyone back at home, we helped Bri with some reorganizing around the house. That afternoon he,Jacob and Luke built a little shelf together. That evening Bri's parents came over for dinner of hamburgers and oven fries. After dinner we watched one of our family movies we had just gotten transferred to dvd. Such fun watching the boys as babies and toddlers!
Sunday morning we listened to church on the radio and got a couple phone calls about the bike stroller and table and chairs Bri had listed on Craigslist. Both sold. Also gave much needed hair cuts.
In Andover today was the grand opening of the new Dillons Market Place. We went to check it out and pick up a few groceries. As we were leaving, they were giving away 1/2 gallon tea,bread and donuts. Can't beat free stuff!
And of course it wouldn't be the weekend without time at the lake. We took four kayaks and went a ways into Wagon Wheel. Caleb and Nathan riding on the back of two kayaks.
So that's what we have been up to this week end. Off to bed and ready for a new week.
Leat
Saturday morning, Bri took three of the boys out for breakfast. They picked up a bag of biscuits from Braum's and took them to a local park to eat. Caleb over slept and missed the outing,but he and I had a good time making an oven pancake and reading books together. With everyone back at home, we helped Bri with some reorganizing around the house. That afternoon he,Jacob and Luke built a little shelf together. That evening Bri's parents came over for dinner of hamburgers and oven fries. After dinner we watched one of our family movies we had just gotten transferred to dvd. Such fun watching the boys as babies and toddlers!
Sunday morning we listened to church on the radio and got a couple phone calls about the bike stroller and table and chairs Bri had listed on Craigslist. Both sold. Also gave much needed hair cuts.
In Andover today was the grand opening of the new Dillons Market Place. We went to check it out and pick up a few groceries. As we were leaving, they were giving away 1/2 gallon tea,bread and donuts. Can't beat free stuff!
And of course it wouldn't be the weekend without time at the lake. We took four kayaks and went a ways into Wagon Wheel. Caleb and Nathan riding on the back of two kayaks.
So that's what we have been up to this week end. Off to bed and ready for a new week.
Leat
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Homemade Laundry Soap
I made a double batch of homemade liquid laundry soap this morning. Almost excited for laundry day on Monday to try it out! It filled a 5 gallon bucket. I got the bucket for free from the bakery at Wal-Mart. It still had quite a bit of frosting in the bottom that I was able to scrape out and save in a gallon zip lock baggie! On to the recipe.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or Ivory soap. (I used a bar of my homemade lye soap)
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda (I used baking soda)
Grate soap into saucepan. Add 6 cups water and heat to melt. Add both powders;stir to dissolve. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water in bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups water and stir. Let sit 24 hours and it will gel. Use 1/2 cup per load.
This should last our family several months.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or Ivory soap. (I used a bar of my homemade lye soap)
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda (I used baking soda)
Grate soap into saucepan. Add 6 cups water and heat to melt. Add both powders;stir to dissolve. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water in bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups water and stir. Let sit 24 hours and it will gel. Use 1/2 cup per load.
This should last our family several months.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Crazy about Craigslist
We have gone crazy on craigslist lately. If you've never heard of it, Craigslist is a website where you can post for free pretty much anything under the sun to sell,buy, or giveaway. You can search by state,city,or type of thing.
Over the past week we have bought a much needed bigger kitchen table and chairs,and sold an old camcorder,printer,two air machines,a tv and have another tv waiting to be sold.
We now walk around our house with new eyes. "What else can we post and sell?"
It is becoming a fun past time for Bri. It is fun to see what others are wanting to get rid of. It really lives up to the old saying, One persons trash is another persons treasure!
Go to Craigslist.org and see what treasures you can find or sell in your area.
Leat
Over the past week we have bought a much needed bigger kitchen table and chairs,and sold an old camcorder,printer,two air machines,a tv and have another tv waiting to be sold.
We now walk around our house with new eyes. "What else can we post and sell?"
It is becoming a fun past time for Bri. It is fun to see what others are wanting to get rid of. It really lives up to the old saying, One persons trash is another persons treasure!
Go to Craigslist.org and see what treasures you can find or sell in your area.
Leat
Monday, February 16, 2009
Valentine's Weekend
We had a good family weekend. Friday, the boys and I were surprised twice by special deliveries. First the mail lady honked at our front door. No regular mail, but a box labeled Harry and David. Inside was a "Tower of Treats". The large bottom box held six pears. Next came two huge apples,a small tray of six truffle chocolates,a small bag of mixed nuts, and finally a bag of cherry covered chocolate cherries.
Not thirty minutes later, a van pulled up delivering a balloon bouquet tied to two bags of M&M's wrapped in heart covered cellophane.
Both deliveries were from Grandma and Grandpa B.
Then we made a batch of heart shaped oatmeal raisin cookies. Some to share, some to eat ourselves.
Saturday morning, we had our usual breakfast burritos. Then we got cleaned up and stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's for a visit. Then off to the library. Since we just happened to be passing Dillons, I ran in and picked up Chinese for lunch. That night, the boys watched the Charlie Brown special on tv.
Sunday morning we had breakfast and listened to church. Afterward Bri was checking out Craigslist. A fun weekend hobby. He found a table and four chairs that he has been wanting for sometime. I called and left a message. We ran into town to get a treat and walk around wal-mart. The people called back and said it was still available. So we rushed home,hitched up the trailer and headed west across town.
We now have a beautiful light colored rectangle table that all six of us can fit around and even have extra elbow room. It works great for school as well.
My Valentine takes such great care of us!
Not thirty minutes later, a van pulled up delivering a balloon bouquet tied to two bags of M&M's wrapped in heart covered cellophane.
Both deliveries were from Grandma and Grandpa B.
Then we made a batch of heart shaped oatmeal raisin cookies. Some to share, some to eat ourselves.
Saturday morning, we had our usual breakfast burritos. Then we got cleaned up and stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's for a visit. Then off to the library. Since we just happened to be passing Dillons, I ran in and picked up Chinese for lunch. That night, the boys watched the Charlie Brown special on tv.
Sunday morning we had breakfast and listened to church. Afterward Bri was checking out Craigslist. A fun weekend hobby. He found a table and four chairs that he has been wanting for sometime. I called and left a message. We ran into town to get a treat and walk around wal-mart. The people called back and said it was still available. So we rushed home,hitched up the trailer and headed west across town.
We now have a beautiful light colored rectangle table that all six of us can fit around and even have extra elbow room. It works great for school as well.
My Valentine takes such great care of us!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Birthday Weekend
My Dad turned 80 yesterday. It seems weird to say that. When you hear 80 it sounds old. But my Dad is not old. He's just my Dad.
The boys made a video singing happy birthday to him and we sent it over the computer. Mom threw him a surprise party at their house. She said at one point they counted around 32 people! They live in a single wide mobile home with an extended living room.Earlier in the week, the other volunteers down at the hospital, gave him a party.
When I called to wish him a happy birthday, he was down at the hall of their park helping to set up chairs for church.
80 is not old. Dad is still doing what he has always done. Lending a hand whenever to whoever needs it.
Happy Birthday Dad!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Day with Dad
This past Saturday, while I went to the grocery store all four boys stayed home with Bri. Here is how they filled their morning.
Several years ago a friend of Bri's gave him a huge wooden spool that the electric company had used to hold cable. Bri and his Dad and brother would use it as a shooting table. Over the years of being out in the weather, some of the wood started to rot and it collapsed. Bri and the boys turned what was left into a fort for the boys to play in and on. FB stands for Fort B (Our last name)
Have a great day!
Leat
Several years ago a friend of Bri's gave him a huge wooden spool that the electric company had used to hold cable. Bri and his Dad and brother would use it as a shooting table. Over the years of being out in the weather, some of the wood started to rot and it collapsed. Bri and the boys turned what was left into a fort for the boys to play in and on. FB stands for Fort B (Our last name)
Have a great day!
Leat
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