Thrifty and I Know It

So, I've been pretty motivated recently as far as making things from scratch goes. I'm working hard on making a braided rug for our sun-room. Who really wants to go out and spend a whole bunch of money on a floor covering when you can just make one? The process is really simple as well, especially for someone like me who has very little sewing skill (and I mean very little...)

When uncoiled, its about four of my hands wide. I'm pretty excited about it. Since I've started doing this, I've been thinking -- what else can I make myself? The DIY-er in me is beginning to come out.

I've been pretty thrifty in the kitchen...I make all of our food from scratch. This summer I grew most of it. I even make my own chocolate chips to go in our cookies (and they taste so much better too.)

Of course, I took to Google to see what other kinds of things I could add to my project list...and lo, and behold...I found something on making your own mattress!

Essentially, its make of straw. I know, right? A straw mattress! You take about a bale of hay and stuff it inside of a mattress cover (or make your own). And there you have it...and comfy mattress. For about 30 dollars.

Here's the link to the website: http://small-scale.net/yearofmud/2009/09/11/how-to-make-your-own-35-straw-mattress/

There really is so much we can do on our own -- why rely on a flawed system to have what we need? Do you really need a several thousand dollar mattress? 

This is the kind of mentality I'm trying to instill in myself and eventually, by my example, in our children. :)

Rainy Day in GA

Rainy Day in GA

June 11, 2012 -- 2nd Day

Just another rainy day in Georgia. I haven't gone outside yet to check my garden -- slept in rather late. I had to be up at 3:30am with Hubby to help him get ready for work. It's about a 45 minute drive for him to get there, but thankfully he has a company truck. I confess I probably have a crush on his Ford F-150 Super Duty...I get giddy when I jump up into the cab (I'm really short) and back the truck up for Hubby so we can move the car. Ah, and it has air conditioning. But it's the smell of diesel that I love the most. :)

So, because I got up far too late, I'm finding it a little hard to get started with things this morning. All I want to do is sleep! Alas, in order to convince Hubby that I can manage my dreams of keeping chickens/goats/a massive garden AND keep up with the house work, I need to start showing him that everything housework wise can be finished in a relatively short amount of time. Of course, these aren't his "stipulations", but it does make sense that he doesn't want to fund a project that will take away from housework.

Although, as far as gardening goes, there's not much funding to put into it, and actually, I'm saving the family money: 

One cucumber usually costs about $1, right? Well, I just planted 16 cucumber plants, each that will produce at least 4 cucumbers. That's about $64 worth of vegetables there. But, I bought the seed for $1. Amazing, isn't it? I think once Hubby sees the yield, he'll get more excited about my efforts. :)

I love watching the little cucumbers grow. A week has passed and they're up and at 'em! They were supposed to come up in 14 days, but they were pushing on through in three. I'm so proud. :)


Days like this where I can watch my son and garden grow are just perfect.

Cucumbers/Rainy Day Planning

Cucumbers/Rainy Day Planning

June 10th, 2012 -- 1st Day

I never knew I could be so excited about fertilizer and rain -- the two things that are going to push my cucumber seedlings through the soil and into existence. Dear Husband loves cucumbers, but we always have to say 'no' to them at the store because they're so expensive, but guess who has 16 cucumber plants out in the garden right now? Yup, me! I can't wait to see the look on his face when in about a month and a half he eats something that I grew for him. :)

It's amazing how satisfying it is to grow things. It really makes me think about plans for growing things in the future. Mr. Sprinkle (our landlord/resident farmer) is guiding me in the direction of getting a wheat field together. I'm really excited about that. I also want to acquire some chickens/a chicken coop by the end of this year. Along with the wheat, I know I want to grow as much broccoli as possible, along with lettuce, kale, carrots and maybe chard. I need to find a way to store/freeze everything...possibly another freezer? I know broccoli can be frozen for up to six months....:)

Oh, so many things I want to accomplish...I would love to build an outdoor bread oven, wood burning, obviously... A bigger clothesline would be a good idea as well...

Ah, the possibilities. :)

Little House on the Farm

Shabbat - June 9th, 2012

Little House on the Farm -- Counting my Blessings

About a year ago, I never thought I'd be here, sitting in my rocking chair, looking out the window to view farm land. It's a far cry from the view I had then -- a wooden fence, a driveway for a backyard, and bars. Yeah, downtown wasn't exactly our ideal place to start our life, but it worked. 

A year later, I have a son who's 7 months old -- the light of my life. It still amazes me how he went from being this small little 6lb/14oz sea monkey to this 18lb chunky monkey! I feel kind of silly sometimes when I realize how big of a deal I make over his little accomplishments -- sitting up, having two teeth, rolling and rolling and rolling. 

I'm so blessed though, that I do get to make a big deal over these things: most mothers don't get a chance, especially at my age. It's not common that a young woman gets the chance to stay home with her child every single day and marvel over his progress in such a short amount of time. I get to nurture him in ways that no day-care worker can, I have tools that previous generations would have killed to have had, and I have a wonderful support group of family and friends who respect my decisions to home school, breastfeed, co-sleep, etc. I am truly blessed.