A day that almost caused a cuss word

Today was a rough day.
Simple stupid little things, but they just kept coming.

 My basket full of supplies (junk) that I carry everywhere, "just in case" fell out of the truck and spilled everywhere. Things started rolling down the hill into the neighbors yard!

 But, it made me clean it out. I kept the sunscreen, even though summer is over, and the tylenol and chapstick. Emergency sewing kit, first aid kit, goldfish and granola bars. But the cloth napkins needed to be refreshed. Time for clean ones. Same with the emergency fork, knife and spoon. The juice box at the bottom was a flavor no one liked and the straw wrapper just needed to go in the trash. And seriously, I think 6 books are a few too many. Zion and I cut it down to three.
 So that annoyance was turned into something useful.

 We made it back inside after our busy morning away and realized that we had left the kitchen a disaster. As I carried a glass jar of bacon grease (from our authentic German potato salad) to the trash can - of course it slipped out of my hands and shattered all over the floor.

 Not just broken glass.

 Broken glass covered in bacon grease.

 And two seconds into cleaning the phone rings.

 The man Andy had arranged to come pick up some car parts was outside, calling to let me know he was here.

 Sigh.

 Glass all over the floor.

 Grease all over my hands.

 And car parts to load up.

 Thankfully, I had met the man and his wife before. I told them the situation and they were very willing to wait patiently while I cleaned up the mess. Their only grand-daughter is in college already, so I think they enjoy a few minutes with my boys once in awhile.

 But goodness how frustrating it was.

 However....

 It made me steam clean the floor. Not just talk about it.

 The soccer practice schedule had been changed, which made the regular "schedule" of supper complicated.

 Cleats decided to have an exceedingly difficult knot.

 My brand new infusion site decided to slip and HURT every time I moved while at soccer practice.

The rough day just kept staying rough.

 But the knot came undone. Supper was thrown together and even had enough leftover to feed Canaan again after practice. The infusions site was changed, again. A pain in the butt, literally, but it is working, which is what matters. And I was reminded that without it I would be dead. So even if it hurts every once in awhile, I really shouldn't complains!

 All this to leads to my quotes of the day;

 "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." C.S. Lewis

 Which is followed by;

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

 Half way through the day I was actually asking God what I had done wrong to deserve all of this. And now I have to laugh. Because broken glass, tangled shoelaces and a pain in the butt diabetes... well, I really don't think those are worth worrying about!

 Besides... I had chocolate too. He had blessed me with the pre-planning to make brownies- available just when I needed them.

 God is good!

Blessings, 

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, 

Catch up, part 2

I ended the last post at the closing of our vacation. Busy, but beautiful.
 The day after we returned we got a call about a death back "home". Not someone we were close to personally, but a family member of Andy's best friend. It just felt right to drive up and be there for him.
 So, I unpacked from Charleston, did three loads of laundry, and repacked again. I hadn't planned to go north for a few weeks still, but since we were driving that direction anyway, I figured I might as well stay.

 You see, my grandparents recently moved into a retirement home. They took their favorite furnishings, books and dishes with them. However, it is much smaller - and easier to maintain - then the old family homeplace.
 But 60 years worth of memories have to have somewhere to go. My parents house seems to be the catch all, since the other siblings either live farther away, or just aren't interested.

  My parents needed help deciding what, how, where, etc. 

 The four of us sisters decided to try the divide and conquer method...

 Things already in the house had to be cleared out and organized to make room for the "new" stuff coming in. 

 Any wild guesses who this is? 

Mom tucked a picture of Zion down in the corner cause she thinks he looks like me in that picture. 

I found myself doing random things like cleaning out the "junk drawer"... just because it was there. 

I had no idea there were that many writing utensils in my parents house, forget in one drawer!

Before Andy headed back home on Monday I snapped a few pictures of him. He had taken the entire week off while we were in Charleston, so of course, being the military man he is, he hadn't even packed a razor. 

Here is his slightly trimmed up, but still very grungy look.

If he can do this in 10 days, just think what he will be able to do in his two months of terminal leave! December and January will be an adventure. 

For some reason I love this picture. You can see the red in his beard so nicely, and the sun is shining on his ring tattoo. (and he is "talking" to his Garmin, before he drives off and leaves me at my parents for a week.... at least he has the ring saying he belongs to me!)

 It was a busy week, mostly just going through boxes, rearranging furniture, and deciding what to put in a yard sale, pass along to other family members, or simply throw away.

 It was exhausting, but, as always with my family, loads of laughs.

 Well, I thought I had this last one rotated, and it was silly enough the right way up... but somehow, having it upside down makes it even better.
 Four silly girls, smashed together trying to hold the camera ourselves to take our picture. That's what sister's do.
 Now I have a week's worth of your blogs to catch up on reading!

Murphy's oil soap

For anyone who is interested....

 Murphy's oil soap takes crayon right out of carpet. It really is amazing. Of course, you have to then take the steam cleaner to your carpet to get the Murphy's out... but at least it is the right color! And.... while you have the steam cleaner out, you might as well do the whole living room, right? 

 The answer to that is actually a big fat NO! (or as Canaan would say N.   O.   spelled out, one letter at a time) This time of year is entirely too busy for extras! Luckily, I have a fabulous husband, who took it upon himself to clean the carpet while I cleaned the children last night. He said it was even - he would "bathe" the carpet if I would bathe the kiddo's. I lucked out - he even had time to clean out the frog tank too. You know, I may get all the day to day yucky, thankless jobs, but he very willingly volunteers for the big chores, so I won't complain! 

 Another huge project we took on yesterday was cleaning the fridge. It has had a slightly funky smell coming from it for the last few days, and I have been randomly throwing away leftovers, hoping that would solve the problem. 

 It hadn't worked. 

 So, Andy pulled it out away from the wall so that I could open it wide enough to actually pull the drawers all the way out, and remove the shelves. I am pretty good at staying "on top" of keeping it clean, (I am slightly OCD) but it had been at least six months since it had been fully scrubbed, so it was time. We tossed slightly sour dairy products, overly ripe fruit, veggies with a hint of mushiness, more leftovers, even though there was nothing wrong with them. We changed the baking soda box. We washed EVERYTHING. In front, behind, above, below. 

 But my fridge still stinks. 

 That is really really frustrating! 

 If I don't figure out what it is soon, I am going to lose my mind! 

 Any suggestions?