More Homemades.....

Okay....I may add to this post as I think of things to add or as I have time (my babies are due up anytime)...
Another Homemade that I do is I don't buy cough syrup. THE BEST cough syrup ever is.....Honey. You will be amazed at just how quick 1 TABLESPOON of honey will cure a cough. Of course, do not give it to an infant under age 1. I use the kind of honey that hasn't had a lot of processing--the kind from a honey farmer is the best (straight from the bee farm). You can check your health foods store or see if you have a honey farm in your area. My dad is my honey farmer, but he doesn't always have honey. :)
Learn to make your own mixes. I never buy boxed Pancake mix. It is a waste of money. You can't go wrong with this recipe.
HOMEMADE PANCAKE MIX
1 cup of AP flour
2 tps of baking power
1 tp of salt (I usually don't measure, but you don't want to add too much salt, pancakes are not to be salty)
MIx and add...
1 cup of Milk
1 egg
I find the consistency is better if I use a mixer for just a few seconds, but most of the time, I don't make the effort and I just whisk really fast with my whisk.If it is too thick, add a little more milk (you can use buttermilk too for yummier pancakes). DO NOT overmix--your pancakes will be tough. Also, if your batter is too thick, your pancakes will be tough.
DON'T buy Pancake Syrup from the store. It is artificially flavored and is just HIGH FRUCTOSE syrup. The best is Pure Maple Syrup, but it is expensive. A good natural alternative is Pure Cane syrup. It is cheaper and is really good.
Okay....next is MAKE YOUR OWN BREAD.
This is the cheapest thing you can do for your grocery budget. Now I have a bread machine (bought by my MIL for $10, I think...check your thrift store or yard sales) that does ALL the work for me and makes really good bread. But the BEST bread is made by hand and it can be really therapeutic to make bread! It takes time, so you will have to do it when the kids are involved in an intensive activity or napping, because you will be in the kitchen for awhile. Making bread can be the most rewarding homemaking thing you can do for your family. Here is my favorite recipe. Although it uses a lot of "White" things (verses wheat, etc), it is still WAY healthier than store bought brands.
For ONE loaf:
3 cups Bread Flour
1 pkg yeast (I use about 3/4 tp..not the whole pkg)
1 & 1/2 tps salt
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup WARM water
1/2 of 1/4th cup of oil (understand this? )
I think that's it....like I said it's coming from my memory.
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water and let it 'proof'--this means let it get foamy...takes about 10 minutes. Do this is a large bowl, because you will add the other stuff to this bowl. After it proofs, add the oil and the salt and stir lightly. Last you add the flour one cup at a time, stirring after each cup. You want the texture at the end of 3 cups to be really soft, not too sticky, more flour-y than sticky. You may have to add just a little more flour. If so, just throw a little in from your flour bag, until you get the right texture. Knead this mixture for a few minutes--5 or so minutes. To Knead, grab the mixture with your hands and turn it over in the bowl, pressing it down a few times before the next turn. You will get the 'feel' and hang of it. Meanwhile, turn your oven on the lowest setting to get warm. When you are through kneading and the dough has sort of formed a large ball, cover the bowl with a loose towel (can make it damp, in case the dough rises high, it won't stick to the towel) and put into the warm over to rise for about an hour. Don't forget to turn off the oven, you don't want the bread to cook. After an hour, take out the bowl (dough should have risen a pretty good bit), punch down the dough and knead it a few more times. Then in a greased loaf pan (don't forget to grease the sides), put the dough in and sort of shape it to fit the loaf pan. I smooth down the sides and let the middle be higher because I like the look of professional bread, lol. Okay, stick back into the oven , put the cloth back on, and let rise for about 45 more minutes or an hour (until the dough has doubled or risen 1 inch or so over the top of the loaf pan). Last, take out the pan, preheat your oven to 350 and then you're ready to bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy the aroma and watch your bread the last few minutes. Some stoves are different so check it. You don't want it to burn and you don't want it to undercook. Browning on top doesn't always mean it is done in the middle. You will 'get it right' with time. Don't give up if it doesn't turn out as well the first few times.
Let me know if you try this recipe! I hope I didn't leave out anything crucial. Like I said, it's coming from a pretty foggy, prego brain! :o)
Well, I'm off to start a load of the childrens' laundry and to get started on my chores. The children are still sleeping, so I'm going to see what I can get done! :o) I'll try to add more to this blog later on. Hope this helps!

Homemade Things...

Before I get on to my topic, I thought I'd do a quick update. I would love to be blogging everyday, but it seems I can't get into the swing of things, so every post I do, I have to update, it seems. We had the sickies move in last week starting with youngest son. I did take him to the doctor, which I usually don't do, but I followed my instincts and did. He had an ear infection, swollen glands, and just a yucky upper respiratory infection. He is cutting 3 teeth that have been boogers, let me tell you. He has never displayed such an ill temperament since he has been born as he has this past week/weekend. It was trying, but thank goodness, God gives us strength, He causes time to heal, and things do get better. He was a little better it seemed yesterday, so I hope we are on the mend. Middle child, dear daughter, has a bad cold and she has been feeling really poorly. The good part is that I don't think her ears are hurting and she is not teething, so she is taking things better. She seemed to be some better yesterday as well. Oh, I pray, I pray, we are getting better! Every time my kids get sick, however, it causes me to evaluate how I"ve been feeding them and if I've been taking precautions (for ex. seeing that their hands get washed as frequently as they should) that are necessary to prevent germs (as much as possible). I'm by no means a germ freak. In fact, it would do me good to be a little more germ conscious. I can always improve on the healthy eating aspect. One thing I'm planning on doing is planning out my meals for lunch and breakfast instead of just supper planning. It's easy to take the 'quick' or the 'junk' route for lunch instead of fixing a healthy meal. At least taking the time to cut up some fruit for them to eat with breakfast and lunch. Or taking the time to think about what raw vegetables they WILL eat and setting those before them for snacks. Oh, yes, I can improve! Also, seeing that they take their vitamins and immune boosters (like Elderberry tablets, etc) regularly. Youngest son never slacks in this dept because he wakes up asking for his 'ray-ray' or vitamins (I don't have a clue how he got that out of the word, vitamin).
We took a little weekend trip down to Pensacola, Florida, to a church fellowship meeting and enjoyed in immensely. I know some people would probably think us crazy for 'taking vacations' to church fellowship meetings or campmeetings, but we love it. We love church and seeing people that we haven't seen in years (like I did this weekend, meeting a girl I met about 14 or 15 years ago at a church in north Arkansas, who had 3 children, the oldest in whom she had NAMED HER AFTER ME! Isn't that amazing?! We were visiting while our children played at the swings and she and I got to talking and found out that we knew each other! It was amazing! She said that she remembered my name when she had her daughter--who was 13-- and liked it because she didn't know any more "Monica's"--and decided to name her that. We enjoyed talking and I give her my address and Email.) Anyway, one of the cool things about vacationing to fellowship meetings. Another cool thing is hearing testimonies of people saved from sin and delivered from meth and crack, etc.--people who came with a Homeless Ministry from Oklahoma. Wow, it is amazing what God is doing. We enjoyed ourselves in spite of our children being so poorly in health during that time. God's people are the most wonderful people, don't you agree? And the amazing thing is that He desires for EVERYONE to be His people.
Well...I promised a friend that I would do a blog on some homemade things or tips that I implement in my own home. Money savers, if you will. Maybe you can find one of these Homemades to use in your home.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP
I began making my own soap about 2 years ago, probably. My very favorite laundry detergent is Mrs. Meyers and would you believe that a month or so ago, I found several containers of Mrs. Meyers Laundry Detergent at a burnout type store in which I love to shop? I stocked up (my mom and I, who is more health conscious than I) and was in laundry heaven for a while. Anyway...my supply is gone and I'm back to my homemade version. Here it is...It is very cheap and the recipe I'm giving here lasts about a week for a family of 5 (if you wash everyday like me).]
Grate 2 bars of Ivory soap (with a cheese grater...do not use the tiny holes, it will take forever)
1 cup of Baking soda
2 cups of Borax (can buy in the laundry section)

Shake up and store in a plastic container (mine is a Rubber maid one that I got in the storage section at walmart--I think it's a 8 cup container or something of the sort). Use 1/2 cup in your laundry. Now the only thing is that this has no smell. That may bother some people, but it doesn't me because I have severe allergies and I don't need an unnatural smell (Mrs. Meyers uses essential oils for the smell). I also hang out my clothes and get that 'fresh' smell the air gives. You can purchase Lavendar Essential oils or a few more 'flavors' at a health food store and add a drop or two to your laundry water to get that fresh smell. I did that once, but all I had was peppermint oils and it wasn't too pleasant to have my laundry smelling like peppermint! LOL
So...those are two ways to save on your laundry budget. Make your own detergent and hang out your clothes.
Now I am going to do a separate post for the other homemades....

Ah..normalcy

Well, here to stay is the new belly bump, but gone, it seems, is the tiredness and drained feeling. Yes, I'm glad for some normalcy around here. We have settle back into a routine after a routine of doing what ever I *felt* like at the time, which wasn't much, I tell you. Is it a coincidence that I'm feeling better just in time for the flowers to be in full bloom and the freshly mowed grass to tickle my nose? Spring does wonders in dragging a body out of the pregnancy pit of despair. Yes, it does.
With my new burst of energy I have been working on maintaining the house in a state of something other than irrepair and disaster zone. I have also been feeling like being a schoolteacher again and we have been doing school work (complete with written lesson plans) full force. It is really going great and for the fifteenth time, I have no regrets about homeschooling. None whatsoever. I think it is making my son a little more clingy to me, but I will take that anyday over "Eww, those are my parents?" attitude that would hit around 6th or 7th grade in public school (when he would all of the sudden value his peers' opinion of things over his parents').
This week will consist of wiping a fresh truckload of ew..snotty noses (Evan, teething and just croupy), doing Laundry and getting to hang my clothes out (ahhh), schooling (including my now FOUR year old daughter), going on a field trip (Thursday with the local homeschooling group), and just. doing. normal. things.
Normalcy. Mundane. Routine. Aren't those nice words?

Well I thought I'd better...

try to get back in the groove of posting. I don't know what has gotten in me. I guess it's the spirit of "Laziness" when it comes to the computer. I guess it's a blessing in disguise, because I'm sure I don't have the time to devote to the computer that I'd really like to be able to do. I did so enjoy blogging, though, when I was getting to do it regularly. This post will just be an update of sorts...

This morning I woke up with a refreshed, renewed sense of mind. Does that every happen to you? I have been in a funk for awhile it seems with different areas of my life, even spiritually, but just mentally and in other ways I can't describe. I'm still trying to get up early and seek the Lord, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing, but it seems even when I succeed, I'm not getting 'to Him' like I had been. I know it is just a drought and maybe even a testing time, so I'm not discouraged. I start the book of Acts tomorrow and I know that it will be just what I need! We are doing good in our church and are enjoying the move of God, so that is most encouraging. There are some major changes that are occuring among us that could appear discouraging, but the Lord is really moving among us which lets me know that we are increasingly in His thoughts!

My baby girl ( I will try to get a picture posted, but who knows, I hear child #3 stirring in the next room) turns FOUR today!!! Oh my, I can't believe it. She is so excited about her birthday. I'm going to attempt a horse cake so I'm sure that the experience may prove humbling.

Speaking of baby, I'm so excited to know that there IS life within me. Having not been to the doctor yet (I'm trying to totally avoid the whole dr thing, can you tell?) OR having not taken a pregnancy test, even though my waistline is increasing, there is still something unbelievable about my being pregnant, yk? Well, yesterday (at 14 wks) I felt my first gentle nudge from this baby. It was way noticeable and I was really hungry, having skipped breakfast, so I think she or he was nudging me to get some nourishment going on! I usually feel the baby between 15 and 16 weeks, but since I really know what to 'feel' for, I'm not surprised at feeling the baby already. Anyway, I can rest assured that I'm not just getting fat! :)

Well, that's all for now. I will hurry and try to get a picture on here before I am surrounded by sleepy-eyed youngsters.

Drop me a comment if you're still reading! :)