Home made

My blog about body wash got "pinned" about a year ago. I get comments on it all the time. The sad thing is, I haven't made it, that recipe, in over two years. Actually, probably more then that. And Andy made the last batch of the more recent recipe we used. So people ask all these questions... and I can't remember. I try. Really I do. Lots of other commenters have amazing advice to add also. So I pass that along. But in all actuality, I am a failure.
 So I have this desperate need to offer something useful. The sad thing is, it isn't even mine. The recipe belongs to Autumn. Or at least the original. See...

 I jotted it down in a hurry on the back of a piece of paper. Actually, ironically, on the paper that has the recipe for the wet laundry detergent I use to make. Strange, isn't it?

Very basic materials. 

Mix them together. 

Store in a really, really old Tupperware. One that you never plan to use for food again, so it doesn't matter if it tastes like soap. (perhaps one with a busted lid?)

I case you can't read my hand writing:

(and if you can read my handwriting, I am impressed)

2c grated soap

1c Borax

1c Washing soda

Can add 1c Oxiclean if you want.

(I do)

Use 2-3 Tbsp per load

But it seems that my child has skin that will react to ANYTHING! 

So, Fels-Naptha is out. 

 Could we wash clothes with Ivory? 

 It works for us. 

Obviously, the Ivory detergent doesn't look all pretty and yellow like the container in the picture. I forgot to take a picture of it. Sorry.

How it actually works is:

Canaan and Zion's clothes are washed in the Ivory detergent. Nothing else. Occasionally some Shout or Resolve before hand. They are boys, and they are rough on clothes, but I think that their clothes hold up quite well. And I buy at least half their stuff used! You definitely have to pre-treat grease though. 

 I must admit that I like some scent. I use the Fels-Naptha for Andy and I, and then a nice big cup full of Snuggle. 

Laundry is cheap. And easy. And does a wonderful job.

Unlike the body wash, I actually make this one on a regular basis!

Whew, I feel better, writing something that I actually do. I can answer questions about this one. Although, I can't think of how there could be any. 

Except perhaps if Autumn will be mad at me for sharing her recipe! 

Blessings, 

Guilt relieved

The problem with not writing for a while is that at first you have more to say then you can catch up on. So you are overwhelmed, and let sleep win.
 Then, more events happen, and now guilt starts building... not only have you not shared these beautiful moments, you haven't written at all.
 Guilt.

 Yes, the whole point of this blogging thing is supposed to be for self-expression, sharing a bit of life and a few deep thoughts.
 But suddenly, time has escaped, life has continued in all of it's frantic busy-ness and guilt, foolish guilt, is sitting there mocking you.

 Deep breath.

 So we will simply skim the missed events. I'm not allowed to post pictures of my niece anyway. Her second birthday party was fabulous. The end.

 Soccer season is off with a bang. Practice four nights a week - 2 for Canaan, 2 for Zion, and both have a game every Saturday. More on that later.

 We started homeschool co-op. Thursdays are packed full, but an absolute blast!

 And I realized this week that I am definitely NOT a homeschooler. I'm just not cut out for it.

 Shocked silence from the masses. (see how I fool myself into thinking that someone is actually reading this!)

 You see - we tried sitting at the table and doing book work for the first few weeks this year. And I'm not going to say that every minute was atrocious. I am sure we will pull the text books out again at some point and time. And we are still going to have a verse of the week to memorize (definitely), and practice handwriting with (if we want to). Some spelling words for Canaan (perhaps).

 But I want my children to want to learn. When we come in at night covered in mosquito bites I want them to ask, "Why do mosquito's bite?"... and that be the first thing we look up the next day. So we discover that only females suck your blood, the swelling and itching are an allergic reaction to her saliva, and they help pollinate, just like bees. And that leads to a lesson on exoskeletons, which leads to vertebrae, which leads to digestion. Simply because Zion wanted to know why Mosquito bites itch.  

 I love it when Canaan writes something down on a post-it note and sticks it on the fridge, just to remind us to google soon.

 I love it when we sit together and read portions of four books in a row about China, just to see what we can find out.  

 I am, without a doubt, an unschooler. Poor Andy.

 Now, onto a much bigger concern in my life.
 I keep reading about Dyslexia. Articles. Backgrounds. Signs.
 And soooo many of them point to Zion. Terrifying.
 But I found a blog that was so very encouraging that it made me cry. Truly. I think it helped, also, in the acceptance that it is okay for me to be me. To let my kids be themselves. To know that we don't have to conform to some rigid way of thinking, some scheduled way of life, in order to "help" Zion. Zion will be ready when it is time. And in the meantime, I will teach him the things he is ready to learn. He just isn't ready for reading. And I have to stop pushing him. It frustrates him. It frustrates me. It accomplishes nothing.
 So we will wait.
 Still practice letters and sounds, and maybe see how a few sight words go. Read to him over and over and over, everything we can find that will hold his attention. And be patient.

 Today we read about mosquitos. Talked about the difference between an insect and an arachnid. After looking at pictures of exoskeletons Zion had a blast talking about his spine and how it went all the way to his "bum"... "giggle giggle".
 We dumped out several boxes of noodles and built all sorts of things after reading about tension and compression (and the three little pigs houses).

 We went down the street and bought some local produce. (and stopped at the dollar tree for the glue to hold our noodle towers together.) Made apple waffles for lunch. Canaan read almost half of Stuart Little, just for fun. He read almost half of "The Magic Schoolbus inside a Hurricane" out loud to Zion.

 And I sorted through some old pictures I found in a box. See.

Kelsey and I

Burlington, IN

Halloween, 1986

 The Sharp cousins

Marietta, GA

Easter, 1989

 The Binkley cousins

Geist, IN

Christmas, 1992?

 My sisters and I (and Zion)

For the life of me, I cannot figure out where we are...

Somewhere in GA I would assume!

October? 2005

I love finding old pictures. Especially the ones already on a disk, just waiting to be uploaded!

I hope your last few weeks have been as full of fun, and discovery, as mine have been. Or maybe not. It has been slightly stressful! 

Blessings,