What I Am Listening To Today

Okay, to know me is to understand I am an old soul.  I am not dressed everyday in vintage, but it swirls around me in how I furnish my house, to the luggage I use, to the utensils I have in my kitchen, and yes, the music I play.  Now don't get me wrong, I love the modern stuff, too, but more often than naught, my Spotify targets crooners and long forgotten recordings from the '20s. 

Now with that background info. out of the way, it should come to no surprise that my new favorite album belongs to the multi-talented Emmy Rossum.  For those of you saying, "Hey, that name sounds familiar!", she is better know for her work in the film Phantom of the Opera and the television show, Shameless.  I discovered this gem by accident this week with a visit to Barnes and Noble.  As I cruised around the store with my pretentious drink of choice from Starbucks, I completely became entranced with the music playing.  I forgot about the book in my hand, and had to ask the clerk what CD was playing. The vocals are almost perfect.   I find her interpretations pure, sweet, and sometimes heart wrenching,  as in the case of "Autumn Leaves".   The songs are the old standards you will recognize, but instead of retooling the formula for modern ears, Ms. Rossum is content to play tribute to  the glamour and beauty of long gone days.  It works.  This is a CD my granny and I could have enjoyed together. 

This album is a perfect way to end a long summer day.  Sit on your porch, wine glass in had, and let the "Summer Wind" transport you away to 1944.  This is one is one "Sentimental Journey" worth taking.

Never Know What You Will Find

As I mentioned yesterday, my granny died in December.  It seemed liked the final chapter of my childhood just closed.  My parents are now in the house, and we began sorting through eighty-six years of memories.  Loving all things retro, I received the dishes from the 40s, 50s, and 60s.  Little odds and ends, have found their way into my home, but the real treasure came in an Aigner shoebox, circa 1978.

I was going through the linen closet, an odd place for some of the items she stored.  Her organizational methods were changing as she aged, and you didn't know what you would find and where.  It made sense to her.  I pulled out this and that, and noticed most items belonged to my grandfather.  I modeled my papaw's fez for my husband.  Squealed in delight as I found several books that we once read together.  Then just as I was going to close the door, shoeboxes caught my attention.  Pulling them from the top shelf, I wondered what I would find next.  To my surprise, it was years upon years of my grandfather's sermons.

He wrote out his ideas on index cards and clipped them with paper clips.  I remember playing under the kitchen table as he worked on Saturday mornings.  If he could finish in time, we would watch Bugs Bunny together.  One particular morning, I made a request.  I wanted my own sermon.  I wanted it to be specifically on King David.  He was/is my favorite Biblical figure, and I wanted my papaw to tell his story.  This was 1976, and I was four.

Papaw wrote my sermon, and he found it very difficult to write.  He wanted to make special for me, a preschooler, but he also wanted to make it relevant for his congregation.  I told my husband the story, and I wondered how if I would be able to find the sermon in this burgundy box.

That evening I put the box on my bed and just stared.  How would I find it?  There were hundreds of packets of cards, and how would I find that particular one.  The only hope I had was faith and a little bit of hard work.  I stuck my hand inside the box and pulled out one sermon, and then my little miracle took place.  In my hand was a sermon from 1976 entitled, "The Bible's Biggest Sinner".  It is was a sermon on faith and redemption and grace.  It was mine.  My sermon.  I couldn't believe it.  I had my papaw's gift in my hands. 

Miracles aren't always grand and earth shattering, and sometimes they are found in quiet, simple places.  A little burgundy shoe box is my miracle.  It was a reminder, twenty years after my grandfather's death, that I was loved.

So much....

So much has happened since my last post.  In the words of Dickens, "It was the worst of times; it was the best of times."   In the stress of dealing with good and bad, I lost the urge to blog and share.  I lost the urge to write, but with school out and the computer on, I once again want to explore, read, write, create.  I am not that good at it, but it is an outlet for me, and I feel like it does make me a healthier person. 

I think my grandmother's death in December silenced me for a while.  It was too traumatic and raw to even explore.  She died suddenly the weekend before Christmas, and my children and I were visiting.  My mother went to check on her and she was just gone.  I am so thankful my babies didn't find the body, but my daughter, who is certified in CPR, did rush in and tried to revive her, as we waited for the paramedics.  I want to protect her from the world, but when our world was falling apart, she stepped up and showed me the woman she will one day become.

It isn't all doom and gloom.  In April, I married the Flatlander.  He and I met April of 1993, so it seemed fitting to elope during our spring break.  We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Tennessee, on a clear, warm day, next to a waterfall.  It was simple, sweet, and just what he and I wanted.  We were fortunate enough to have all four of our children with us, and we celebrated afterwards with laser tag.  Well, they did.  A long dress usually isn't the best attire for such activity. 

Now, I am still using coconut oil at night as a face cream.  I am still making my own detergent, and Paul and I are now thinking about making our own candles.  No garden this year because of the lack of time, but I am still looking for new recipes to try.  In fact, I am making a peach custard pie tonight.  I found the recipe in Redbook, and I cannot wait to see the final product.

So, that is it for today.  Do I dare try again tomorrow?

Coconut Oil

DIY experiment continues with coconut oil.  I am using it in two different ways, moisturizer and body scrub.  I am using the scrub in the shower before I shave, and my legs have never felt smoother.  LOVE IT. 

I was nervous to use it on my face, but it has been wonderful.  My complexion looks dewy, which is amazing considering I am over 40.  My make-up is going on more evenly and lasting longer, and I didn't even get a period pimple.  All day moisture with very, very little cost.   You don't need to use that much at all because I little dab will do ya.  It does store as a solid, so rub it between your hands and it will melt quickly. 

Homemade Laundry Detergent Update

In my previous post, I mentioned I was going to make my own detergent.  Well, Sunday morning I pulled out the ingredients and went to work.  Purchasing the three main ingredients ran about 6.75.   I had to buy Borax, Super Washing Soda, and the old fashioned Fels-Naptha.  Even though I had to buy this, the Flatlander and I figured each Tide Pod is .30 per pod.   Making my own detergent took my cost down to .20 per BATCH.  I didn't take this lightly.  I researched the heck out of it.  I even found videos of people making their own batches.  With their knowledge, I took to my own kitchen.   Melting the Fels-Naptha was actually fun.  The house smelled wonderful and clean, and I loved the homey feeling that went along with it.  We had a bucket on hand, so it was easy for me to mix and store it.  The next morning, it was at a perfect consistency.  I only had to mix it with water in my plastic jug.  Since we have a HE machine, I am using 1/4 cup per wash.

Now, how did it turn out?

So far, so good.  The clothes look great and smell fresh without being perfumey.   In fact, when compared to a load of name brand detergent, I cannot tell the difference.  I think this is something we will continue.

I also am using a white vinegar rinse instead of fabric softener.  The clothes don't smell like vinegar, but they are soft and static free.  No heavy perfume smell and no dyes.  I think this is something I will also continue.



Here is the link I found on Pinterest:   http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/slideshows/nesting/easy-inexpensive-diy-recipes-ten-common-cleaning-products/

Long Time No Type

I know it has been months and months, but here I come, once again, with my hat in hand.   To be honest, I have been changing my focus and bearings.  No, it is still faith and family, but we are struggling with how to be less wasteful, gardening disasters (why did he plant that many tomatoes!?), and coming up with a quality life on a budget.

This week I am researching on how to do my own DIY cleaners.  Once again, God bless Pinterest.  I can kill hours trying to be a better person.  Anyway, tomorrow, the Flatlander and I are going to try our hand at making our own detergent.  I really hope it cleans well.  I found the recipe, and the source is from a Dugger Family website.  If anybody knows how to do laundry, it should be them.  I love my Tide Pods,  but with all of our laundry, it is costing me a fortune.  Here is the link:  http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/duggar-recipe-liquid-laundry-soap.html

Keep your fingers crossed for us, and I will let you know in our next post how it goes.

Easy Taco Bake

Today at lunch, I wanted a quick meal that would appeal to most of the people in the house (Thing One is not doing red meat).  She is getting turkey meat loaf later.  Now, my buddies have been pinning several different recipes for taco casseroles, including one using Doritos.  Since I didn't want a trip to the grocery store, I decided to just go with what I have, and it turned out wonderfully.

Recipe:
1 lb. Ground beef
diced onion
garlic powder
salt/pepper
packet of taco mix
Jar of chunky veggie salsa
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese
Marxian blend of shredded cheese
Nacho chips

Preheat oven to 400 and brown meat with the onion, salt/pepper, garlic powder.
Drain grease except for 1 tbs.
Mix in the taco mix and salsa and heat
Crunch a lawyer of nachos into a casserole dish (sprayed with Pam)
Mix sour cream and cottage cheeses
Pour meat over chip and then spread the sour cream/cottage cheese
Put down a layer of cheese
Another layer of chip

Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Yummy.