Typical Fall evening at Deer Ridge.

Well, my posting is getting a little more consistent. I have discovered that blogging is therapeutic in a way. I want to tell stories about life, get up on a soapbox, and share cool recipes that help other moms save money. I want to share exciting events and discoveries with whoever wants to look and listen. In July, we planted two native gardens on either side of our driveway. They are doing great and require very little water or maintenance. We tend to them about twice a month. Soooo, last night was a fairly typical evening at our house. JW got home at a decent hour. Things always just seem to go better when he gets home early. Chase's behavior is better and he is in a better mood when Daddy is home. So, we let Daddy decompress and then we do something together. I wanted to post some pics of what this looks like for us. Of course, Dixie has to be right in the middle of everyone. She's casing the scene, making sure everyone is safe, no strange dogs are going to get her family!! Sunday, we went to Lowes to get some mulch for these beds. We are contemplating using river pebbles. I will keep you posted on that. Anyway, we didn't leave with mulch, we left with mums, kale, pansies, and russian sage for the native beds. So, I did some fall containers, and I loooove them. I really like having a light colored house, totally different bedding plants and containers than I have planted for the last several years. I am looking for the perfect white pumpkin to set between these two. Also, I am happy to report, got my fall decorations up!! I just love fall decorations. They are so festive! They also signify the end of HOT, HOT, HEAT. Oh yah, that's a band, well anyway, you get the point. I love fall and I love decorating for fall. I like a little scary and a lot of pumpkins! I love black and what goes better with black than Halloween???

OK, here goes.

Today is the day. I have gathered the necessary equipment and will be making my very own, homemade laundry soap. To me, questionable economic times aren't a bad thing. It has encouraged us to save more money and be creative. God has always taken care of us financially, so it is not out of worry, but rather preparation that I try this out. Maybe a little morbid curiosity and a lot of tightwad. If I can make a month's worth of laundry soap for $2.50 that smells fresh and clean AND works well, I am all over it!! I must give my friend, Lindsey, credit for this recipe. I used a different kind of soap and tweaked it a little, but it is basically her recipe.
So, it goes like this:
Boil 4 cups of water.
While waiting for water to boil, grate 1/2 of a bar of Zote pink laundry soap bar. Grate all the way to the "T." When you unwrap the bar, you will see what I mean.
Drop by handfuls into the boiling water. Reduce heat to med/high and stir. The soap will sort of ball up, mash balls with a spoon. It took right at 20 minutes for it to dissolve completely. The fragrance is clean and fresh. My whole house smells clean today.
While the Zote is melting, get a lidded container that will hold at least 4 gallons of liquid.
Put 3 gallons of hot water in the container. I used a small tote. Put 3/4 of a cup of "20 Mule Team Borax" in the warm water in the tote.(Now, I must confess, I keep Borax on hand and use to for many cleaning purposes. I will list them after the recipe.)
Next, put one cup of Arm & Hammer washing soda. I am anxious to do some research and see what other uses this stuff has. Some of the suggestions on the box were awesome! BTW, I got this at United in Canyon. Apparently, it can be tough to find.
Get a big spoon and stir the mixture in tote until the Borax and soda have dissolved.
Once the Zote has completely dissolved, pour it into the tote as well. Stir well, cover and let sit for 24 hours before using.
Some notes, I did a little research on the different types of bar soap to use and found several tips against heavily fragranced soap. Fels Naptha was also suggested along with Zote as good choices. I would have never bought this Zote, so it was an exciting little adventure. I will post my thoughts soon on how well it works. I almost doubled the recipe, but decided to be cautious just in case I want to tweak it a little more.
Borax Uses:
We recently used Borax to scrub garage floor. It is a wonderful scrubbing paste to use on delicate surfaces instead of Comet. It will get grime off of white fridge handles (learned this several years ago, still amazed by it, I had tried EVERYTHING to get those things clean.) I also put 1/2 cup in with a hot water load of whites, along with Clorox, it smells wonderful and gets the clothes whiter. It is also a great grout scrub. It will get grout white like it is brand new. I have had a few clients do this to get their houses ready to sell. Not that I am green obsessed, but not only are these ideas frugal, but they really cut down on waste. I actually had saved some old laundry soap bottles and am going to pour the detergent into them once it cures. Now you go try it! Happy washing!

Blogging Mood

So, I've noticed that the mood to post is kind of like creativity. When it is here, it is here. When it is gone, it's gone. Nothing exciting to report. Hectic week. Working with a first time home buyer, which I really enjoy doing. Got an offer on one of my listings, God is so in control. Ministry is awesome. Small groups have kicked off for Hillside Canyon and new friends are abundant! I must say, a few times this last week I thought, OK, this is it, I am getting sick. I would just cast it out in the name of Jesus, go on with my business and by dang, I would feel better. Well, it happened again today! Came home, took and nap and healed in the name!! So, will try to post again soon. Ta ta for now.

Sunday Sunday la la, la la la

I think the song was actually Monday Monday, but you get the point. Today was a really great day. With being the Preschool and Nursery Coordinator (man, that's long) for Hillside Canyon, we have to be there at 7:00 a.m. We usually don't get out until 1:00 or so. That may make it sound like Sundays are long, hard days, but actually, it goes by so fast. Every Sunday, we say, man it feels like we just got here. We absolutely love it. We had to walk through a little fire to get here, but we are really thankful to be on the other side. We have met so many great people right here in the town that we have lived in for a long time. Never would have known they existed. We both miss our old friends, but are grateful for new ones. Small group has taken on a whole new meaning for the Steelmans this past week. Thank you Jesus.

So, more house pics. This is actually the first dresser I painted. The doors are actually wrapping paper I got on clearance at Old Navy, of all places, for like .99. Couldn't believe it when I found if. I have several sheets left, but already have plans in my mind for them. I painted everything else on it. I am still not completely happy with the top, I am going to sand it at little. Anywho, there it is. There pics are, clearly, of our living room. It has taken me two years to get to this point and I still have big plans. I saw a color today that I considered for the entry hall, it was a deep orange, like pumpkin. I quickly thought, am I just liking this color because I am thrilled about fall, or do I really want an orange entry hall? Last week I was liking a shade of blue. So, clearly, little more consideration in order there. I painted the front bathroom and guestroom blue, so I was thinking, better layoff the blue. Don't want to blue myself into a corner. When I decorate, or make a color choice, I usually ponder it for quite some time. I really try to visualize what the color will look like on the walls. I also consider what color I am pondering for the adjacent rooms and how they will all coordinate. I have bought the paint for the hall and JW just hung a "new" chandelier in there on Friday. My mom had taken it down out of her house they just sold on Stromberg and it was an antiqued white, not my color, but I was glad to have it and knew I could spray paint it black. Satin finish, black spray paint is a decorating "cure all" for us. The color is "Mustard Gold," and is a deep, drama shade of yellow. (Deep and dramatic, me?? Noooo.) It could almost qualify for gold, but is hanging on by its fingernails to yellow. I will post pics when I get it finished. No time frame on that one. I like to have the paint ready when the mood hits. I also am an early morning painter. I need to have every thing ready to go, first thing in the morning. I get more done.

Favorite, are you kidinnnnggg?

So, yesterday we take Grandma to Amarillo with us. JW was casually informed by his employer that there is no work and he will be blessed with the day off. As the Lord has commanded us to be prepared and stock our warehouses, we make great effort to do that. So, we were able to enjoy a random day off instead of be angry or fret about the bills. We decided to take Grandma to lunch at Chili's (for which she had a free dessert coupon and the molten chocolate cake ought to be illegal.) Sinnfully good is an understatement, Let me be clear, I do believe in indulging from time to time, just not everyday. So, went to her house, looked at all her little stuff, gave her a TV and a light fixture we took down, and headed to Chili's. We chatted the afternoon away. After Chili's, we went to Lowe's, got some fantastic purple pansies, paint for the hall, and some other random stuff. Then MRL, I did find a few things I am pondering, may go back. So, as we are heading back to Canyon, Grandma tells me that our house is her favorite. THEN she tells me it is Kim and Kaci and everybody's favorite. I felt a tear emerging. US? OUR house? I really have worked hard on it lately and now that I know it is world famous, I am going to post some pics. Comment, if you like. I am going to randomly post pics of different rooms. This particular room is our guest room and my crafty room, it is full of heirloom and hand me down furniture. The mirror over the bed was my Granaw's, my Dad's mother. She was the neatest person and paramount in my spiritual walk. She used to tell me about the Lord when I was very little. The bed is her mother's, who was known as Me Me. She would have been my great grandmother, but she passed before I was born. She may be where I get my shortness. The little end table was one that Mom found in a repo and she re-finished it in the 90's and when she got tired of it, she gave it to me. The busy little hand painted dresser was my little sister's. It actually has doors that go over the drawers, but at the advice of others, after I finished it, I left them off. I actually hung them on the wall improperly and they keep falling, so I will hopefully remember to post pics of them once they are secured. Now, let me clairify, these pieces did not look the way they do now when I was given them. One of my passions/hobbies is re-purposing and creativly painting unwanted things to make them new and cute. Stayed tuned.

OK, so this is really just O.C.D.

This is what I do. Late last night, then first thing this morning, then next month. Sheeesh. Just trying to perfect this blogging business. I really like the fact that I can just pour my thoughts out through my finger tips. Social networking sites, not a good idea to do this. All though we have all seen folks, mostly woman, do this. I have often wanted to say, "Listen, you are making a fool of yourself and it is clear to all your fb friends that you are emotionally unstable and need to get a life." Little harsh, I know. I can be harsh sometimes. To me, it is kind of like spanking your child. Of course, controlled consistence is absolutely a must, but swift action, a couple of harsh swats, get the message across loud and clear. Mom ain't goin' for that business. Harshness. There is a fine art to knowing when and how much and what degree of pressure. Sometimes I nail it, sometimes, too harsh, sometimes too passive. I have found that the element of regret is as present with being too passive as with being too harsh.

Anywho, working on house today. JW has been cleaning on the garage for sometime now. He started last night and got about half way through and now he is on it again this morning. He went to Lowe's and bought an awesome, chrome shelf for all my gardening garb and a rack to hang up all the rakes and what such. Yay. We have had quite a struggle since we have lived in this house about that garage. First of all, he informed me that it was his and I was not to touch it. So, I informed him that the kitchen was mine and he was not to touch it. So, he got the point that both things are OURS. ....And the two shall become one flesh. ONE FLESH. No grey area there. If we are one flesh, how can that garage belong to only you??? He is painfully meticulous about some things and so am I. We compliment eachother in these differences, just took us a couple of years to perfect the communication part. He likes the garage clean, I could care less. I like the trash taken out, he would pile it for days, until it stinks, of course. He notices foreign smells immediately. He likes the yard perfectly mowed to a certain height and direction (we alternate directions.) I want it to look decent, but beyond that........ Anyway, he has been commenting that I need to clean out that garage b/c it is ALL my stuff. Well, now we all know that's not true, only about 90% of that is mine. Yes, I have a lot of stuff in the garage and I collect old furniture and what such that I have big plans of giving a face lift to. But it isn't ALL mine. It is a family medley. I have come to the conclusion, however, that I don't clean garages. I don't take out trash, and I don't mow. Until the men folk around here start cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, painting, and scrubbing toliets, I will not be mowing or garage or barn cleaning. It is a Biblical concept really. God made men to accomplish certain tasks and women to accomplish certain tasks. That is why we are "help mates." Men do not rule the home, rather they partner with a woman. Now, I know that Ephesians 5:22-24 is arguably the most mis-interpreted verse in the whole book. Yes, submit spiritually, but this puts a HUGE responsibility on the husband. HUGE. This means if you have someone go off the deep end, who was responsible for their salvation, that's right, Daddy-o. Not that mom doesn't play a role, of course she does. But Daddy will have to answer to the big boss about that. Not a job I am going to knock any man down for, I assure you. So, as for harmony in the home, decorating, dining decisions, candle fragrances, MY GIFT BUDDY, back off. I don't go out to your garage/barn telling you where and how things are going to go, don't even come in here and tell me. You may make suggestions and I will consider them. Let me tell you a little more of what that verse doesn't say. It doesn't say, Dad is the boss and mom's opinion doesn't matter. It doesn't say, Dad can run around and practice questionable morals and values and mom has to stay at home and wash his dirty underwear. It doesn't say that Dad can verbally or physically abuse mom or kids. Most importantly, it does not say that Dad and his desires and opinions are the only ones that matter in the home, like what we watch on TV, who we hang around with, what color anything is going to be (in my opinion) and especially where we will attend church. C'mon girls, be a woman. God blessed you with precious gifts, use them. I understand that we must find our common ground with our men. We must figure out where he is gifted and and where we are gifted. Our gifting balance is unique to our marriage and yours will be to yours. Don't be a mushball, spineless, pantie waste. Set a strong example of the powerhouse that mom can be, while submitting to Dad spiritually. Also, keep Dad accountable to Biblical principle on marriage and family and he you.

BUT, it does say, when he is being your helpmate and doing daunting tasks like garage cleaning, be sweet, make lunch, thank him, tell him you love him, and stay out of his way!!! Wow. (OK, I admit, I did help at the end.)

Daaaaaannnnnnnnnnggggggg!!

Ok, this one is bad. A month and a daaaaaaaaay???? Determination is the key here. I am having a love hate relationship with Facebook. I love how I can stay connected with friends and family and see their pictures and know from day to day what is going on in their lives. However, I have it set to send me emails when someone sends me a message or writes on my wall, or comments on a post of mine or after me. So, when I am meticulously trying to get some work done, I go to check email, see that someone did something and then I look up and it's 38 minutes later. Ugh. I really like it and hate it at the same time. I have got to get some self control going here. JW told me the other day on Bob and Tom (a really vulgar radio show he likes that is so geared toward men) they were talking about people being treated for Facebook addiction. I think I may be friends with some of them. Anyway, I definitely thought that was a little over the top, however, it can be a problem.

Aside from that, the Fair started today. The neighborhood is dark. I may be mistaken, but I am certain that we are the only family in the TX Panhandle tonight who are not at the Fair. Ya know, JW and I like to consider ourselves cool parents, but I must state that the Tri State Fair pushes my cool parentism to the absolute limit. I truly despise that thing. We take Chase every year. We always wait until they are running a special b/c that place could officially qualify as highway robbery. $5 for a ride that sounds like a manual can opener and is clearly filthy? $6 for a corndog, are you kidding me? That's like .78 worth of heart disease on a stick and you are trying to charge me $6? I won't even comment on the poor carnies, God love those pitiful people. I could really get on a soapbox about this, but you get my point. Not a Fair fan, but will grace it with our presence as we do every year at the begging ramblings of our precious little boy.

So, it's fall. I know, technically we have 3 days left of summer, but here, it's fall. The weather is cool, thank you Jesus, apple cinnamon candles smell good, starting to see pumpkins popping up everywhere, turkey black bean chili, spaghetti, Hawaiian haystacks, homemade ckn noodle soup, all are becoming our diets staples, once again. Now, I have something embarrassing to admit. I still don't have my Halloween and Fall decorations out yet. I KNOW, I KNOW, I am so laying down on the job. All I am asking for is a little grace here. OK, list of excuses, new ministry job (loving it!) little sister's baby shower, (got so much done with my house, and had an amazing turn out) real estate, (haven't closed anything in a while, but takes plenty of time none the less. I have some wonderful clients right now, so really enjoying it!) PTA exec. board/directory committee, (same thing, fun, made several new friends, time taker). So, I hope you will sympathize with my lateness. I mean, every year, I put the stuff up Labor Day weekend....and EVERY YEAR, JW walks in and says Halloween? I know, it is a bit early, but like the next day, all of the sudden, BAM, FALL. Anywho, better get to work. Just thought I would let you see the "tubs," I know, a little crazy, but my fall stuff is so stinkin' cute, I am telling you!!!