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| Part of My Father's World programme |
Monday, August 29, 2011
Front door improvements
We didn't have a covered front verandah or porch, we had to walk straight into the house and traipse dirt into the house. So I asked Beloved to extend the eaves and add a seat so we could sit and pull our shoes on and off, also a place to keep the shoes outside but safe from a chewing dog ;o)
DS20 made me a terrific seat, the shoes hid underneath. I think it looks very cosy. DD16 sits outside to have her breakfast admiring the new day. It was all made from recycled timbers and cost virtually nothing. Even the mirror was old, the note the back said to the installer "here's 50 cents for a drink up at no. 47" LOL
The paint was left over from the fence and the window was an old one from our "Steptoe and son" stockpile.
We still have to put the eaves and I think we will have to buy them. We have the screen doors to hang on.
DS20 made me a terrific seat, the shoes hid underneath. I think it looks very cosy. DD16 sits outside to have her breakfast admiring the new day. It was all made from recycled timbers and cost virtually nothing. Even the mirror was old, the note the back said to the installer "here's 50 cents for a drink up at no. 47" LOL
The paint was left over from the fence and the window was an old one from our "Steptoe and son" stockpile.
We still have to put the eaves and I think we will have to buy them. We have the screen doors to hang on.
Back to homeschooling
Our little ones have been really sick with Scarlet fever. They have missed over a month of school, so as they got well enough I started doing schooling work with them. I am pleased to have the boys home as their health improves, it is asthma season for our littlest and ds7 still has very itchy skin and suffering with dry eyes. I can't imagine a school being able to accommodate this so frequently. We are hoping it all improves of course.
I forgot how much I love homeschooling! The children are enjoying themselves so much, they even ask to do school work on Saturday:o-
I have applied for registration and eagerly await my visit. So here' s peep at what were are doing and where. Fingers crossed it ticks all the boxes and pleases the homeschooling registration man :o)
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| http://www.mfwbooks.com/ |
There is a lot of paper work to handle so I'm using a portable filing cabinet. So far so good. A section of the main curriculum, the work sheets and then each child's work.
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| Portable filing box |
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| We have snuggled up for stories here |
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| Nice view for the little ones :o) |
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| New light |
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saving with foamy soap pumps
A foaming soap dispenser
We bought one of these commercial soap dispensers because we ran out quickly with 7 people washing their hands. So this was the least industrial I could find.
It came with a box of refills that were quite expensive but I hoped I'd be able to refill. I scarified many empty containers until I mastered it and here's the trick :o)
Drill a small hole in the top and use a syringe to fill. I used the point of scissors to make the hole.
I used 150 ml of chosen shampoo and topped the rest with water. The containers take 1 litre but I couldn't fill it to capacity as they collapse as they empty in the 'real' refills. I got near enough and it mixed as I filled it so slowly. It works and feels as cleansing as the ready made real refills :o)
We bought one of these commercial soap dispensers because we ran out quickly with 7 people washing their hands. So this was the least industrial I could find.
It came with a box of refills that were quite expensive but I hoped I'd be able to refill. I scarified many empty containers until I mastered it and here's the trick :o)
Drill a small hole in the top and use a syringe to fill. I used the point of scissors to make the hole.
I used 150 ml of chosen shampoo and topped the rest with water. The containers take 1 litre but I couldn't fill it to capacity as they collapse as they empty in the 'real' refills. I got near enough and it mixed as I filled it so slowly. It works and feels as cleansing as the ready made real refills :o)
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Craft room update
We are getting the pergola section of the craft room done. Slowly we gathered the metal and have welded and painted the bits ready to be set in place. Looking good, it will make a great outdoor area. If Pooh is feeling well enough tomorrow they might go up :o)
The craft room is going to share it's space and be a school room. I've been very busy sorting and I've run out of space :o-
I wonder if Pooh will make me another room? lol
The craft room is going to share it's space and be a school room. I've been very busy sorting and I've run out of space :o-
I wonder if Pooh will make me another room? lol
LEGO in Canberra
We attended the Lego Exhibition in Canberra on the weekend. We waited in line for an hour, yes, one hour! The exhibition was so full, so hot and very hard to see :o( It would have been great if it had run for a week and the crowds were less so the children could get a good look. On the up side it was $10 a family and the money went to the hospital, pediatrics section.
Then is true thrifty living style, we didn't buy lego from the exhibition at inflated prices, we popped over to Big W and found it to be a fair bit cheaper. We had promised the boys they could spend their money at the Lego Exhibition. Close enough and they were happy.
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| Pooh giving advice |
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| Advice not received |
Then is true thrifty living style, we didn't buy lego from the exhibition at inflated prices, we popped over to Big W and found it to be a fair bit cheaper. We had promised the boys they could spend their money at the Lego Exhibition. Close enough and they were happy.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Power House membership and reciprocal rights
For those of you in country NSW or 150km from Sydney and like to take your children to museums etc check out the powerhouse membership offer. We have one for our family and today we took the children to Questacon in ACT under reciprocal rights, so no cost :o) We found it cheaper to belong to Power house than to Questacon, but still can go unlimited times. Interesting hey. (However it doesn't work if you live in ACT, they don't let you go to Questacon on a PH membership)
I confess this was an accidental discovery, we went to take the kids to the Lord of the Rings exhibition years ago and it was cheaper to get a membership than to pay individually to see the exhibit. We have had a membership since:o)
Powerhouse: $160 for 3 years. For "Country Household".
Questacon: $220 to join for only 2 years then $195 to renew. For a "Family" 2A 3C extra children $23 each for 2 year memberships.
Powerhouse membership
Reciprocal rights
The little ones had a ball today and it cost nothing other than fuel.
Friday, June 17, 2011
One lovely blog award
I have been awarded a "One lovely blog award" from Sammy http://myhealthyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/
Sherrie from http://simpleliving-sherrie.blogspot.com/
and Peta at http://greatgoogamoogas.blogspot.com/
They have gorgeous blogs and so worth making time for a coffee and a good read!
7 facts you might not know about me:
1. I love hand made gifts
2. I don't like cooking
3. I long to live Henry Thoreau style
4. I would have loved more children
5. I want to be a missionary once the children leave home/old enough to be left
6. The thought of sago makes me dry reach
7. Pooh and I met under the shower
The cost of home cappuccino
We do enjoy a nice cup of coffee and we used to treat ourselves to shop bought ones. I though homemade one might be good but I was too nervous to buy a home coffee machine, when I looked at them I got over whelmed by the choices and did away with the plans.
However, we were blessed to recieve a machine from friends who didn't use one they were given.
So how much does it cost? 90 cents! *Obviously not including the cost of the coffee machine.*
We use Organic fair trade coffee beans. We had a grinder that I used for nuts. We use lactose free milk.
33c for 14grams of beans
50c for 200mls of milk -Bearing in mind it's expensive lactose free stuff
5c for power usage of coffee machine
1c for grinder usage
1c for chocolate dusting powder
I think it would be cheaper with 'normal' milk
I honestly think they taste better than the shop bought in most cases :o)
However, we were blessed to recieve a machine from friends who didn't use one they were given.
So how much does it cost? 90 cents! *Obviously not including the cost of the coffee machine.*
We use Organic fair trade coffee beans. We had a grinder that I used for nuts. We use lactose free milk.
33c for 14grams of beans
50c for 200mls of milk -Bearing in mind it's expensive lactose free stuff
5c for power usage of coffee machine
1c for grinder usage
1c for chocolate dusting powder
I think it would be cheaper with 'normal' milk
I honestly think they taste better than the shop bought in most cases :o)
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| Oh so yum! |
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tea Cosy
Just because you are thrifty it doesn't mean things can't be fun. I'm making a tea cosy for our tea pot.
Here's it being tried on the teapot for size.
I got the pattern from Wild Tea Cosies by Loanie Prior that I borrowed from the library. I also learnt to knit on a round! Here is a link to her blog and a free pattern.
Here's it being tried on the teapot for size.
Waldorf Steiner Dolls
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| This is my doll, Elsie, she was made by someone else. |
I'll add a tutorial later but just thought I'd share what I am up too.
We had a birthday in the house.
We had a wee one celebrate a birthday! We made a Tissue paper star for the occasion. These are popular in the Waldorf world for brightening the windows in winter.
Here is a link to a tutorial if you want to make some.
I had got my knickers in a knot recently about the poor quality food that is often served up at children parties. While some argue that it is only a party, I struggle to see why we serve completely nutritionally defunct food as a celebration! My healthy suggestions were declared unappealing by some and tasty by others. So the pressure was on of course to serve edible food!
Menu was homemade pizza and blue fluff and cake.
I made pizza bases in the bread machine. I assume most have a pizza/pastry setting.
I made huge ones and tiny toddler sized bases.
I had ham, cheese, pineapple with carmelised onions and potato (oil, garlic, salt) for the children to make their own. They and juice and water to drink.
The adults mediterranean - chargrilled veggies, fetta, olives and pesto base
Tandoori chicken- 2 chicken breasts cooked and marinated in Tandoori paste and yoghurt. Yoghurt and cashews on top (I forgot the mint leaves)
Then flummery and cake. Cappuccinos for the adults. Big sister made 3 gollywog cakes From Enid Blyton's Three Little Gollywogs, a fav book at the moment with the little ones.
For a quick midweek party in the pouring rain, it was great and everyone was happy and full!
I had got my knickers in a knot recently about the poor quality food that is often served up at children parties. While some argue that it is only a party, I struggle to see why we serve completely nutritionally defunct food as a celebration! My healthy suggestions were declared unappealing by some and tasty by others. So the pressure was on of course to serve edible food!
Menu was homemade pizza and blue fluff and cake.
I made pizza bases in the bread machine. I assume most have a pizza/pastry setting.
I made huge ones and tiny toddler sized bases.
I had ham, cheese, pineapple with carmelised onions and potato (oil, garlic, salt) for the children to make their own. They and juice and water to drink.
The adults mediterranean - chargrilled veggies, fetta, olives and pesto base
Tandoori chicken- 2 chicken breasts cooked and marinated in Tandoori paste and yoghurt. Yoghurt and cashews on top (I forgot the mint leaves)
Then flummery and cake. Cappuccinos for the adults. Big sister made 3 gollywog cakes From Enid Blyton's Three Little Gollywogs, a fav book at the moment with the little ones.
For a quick midweek party in the pouring rain, it was great and everyone was happy and full!
Saving money in Winter
Trying to save money in winter!
We don't go out much if we can help it in winter so there's a petrol saving, albeit small.
We have our fire going with wood from the property so it's virtually free.
As I am more likely to be home all day in winter I do simmer dinner on the heater. I initially cook it on the gas stove, brown the meat and bring to boil etc them pop the lid on and transfer it to the heater.
Wow! I've opened the door so you could see the nice fire as it didn't photograph with door shut and now I've added to the ash layering. I can honestly say fires make the house warm 'n cosy and dusty as!
The foods we generally eat in winter are stews and soups and you can get away with cheaper cuts and frozen veg. While our waist lines don't need it, we like puds for afters too.
We continue to have porridge in the thermal cooker each night, ready for the morning. I use quick oats from Aldi, a drizzle of honey from our bees and that's it. Yum.
I think the house might also be at it's messiest in winter, with an unrelenting ash layer everywhere, throws and blankets on all the chairs and lounges (for snuggling up under to watch a movie), we add to the look with the 'chinese laundry' each night. I'm not going to add a picture because you know what I mean! All the clothes that didn't dry on the line wait in turn to hang over the fire surround ;o)
Not much is happening in the garden so minimal out lay there.
Clothes, well I don't really like to be out in the cold so I don't shop but I do like to knit.
Did you know that even the hair on your head grows slower in winter, now there's another saving! LOL
We could be guilty of having longer showers in winter... no saving what so ever there ;o)
We don't go out much if we can help it in winter so there's a petrol saving, albeit small.
We have our fire going with wood from the property so it's virtually free.
As I am more likely to be home all day in winter I do simmer dinner on the heater. I initially cook it on the gas stove, brown the meat and bring to boil etc them pop the lid on and transfer it to the heater.
The foods we generally eat in winter are stews and soups and you can get away with cheaper cuts and frozen veg. While our waist lines don't need it, we like puds for afters too.
We continue to have porridge in the thermal cooker each night, ready for the morning. I use quick oats from Aldi, a drizzle of honey from our bees and that's it. Yum.
I think the house might also be at it's messiest in winter, with an unrelenting ash layer everywhere, throws and blankets on all the chairs and lounges (for snuggling up under to watch a movie), we add to the look with the 'chinese laundry' each night. I'm not going to add a picture because you know what I mean! All the clothes that didn't dry on the line wait in turn to hang over the fire surround ;o)
Not much is happening in the garden so minimal out lay there.
Clothes, well I don't really like to be out in the cold so I don't shop but I do like to knit.
Did you know that even the hair on your head grows slower in winter, now there's another saving! LOL
We could be guilty of having longer showers in winter... no saving what so ever there ;o)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
A quick catch up post
It's been a long time since the last post and life has been very busy!
Been to Melbourne a few times, once to take small children to see grandparents and again for mothers day. Children got diarrhoea and we were in a camper :o( Nasty. Reviewing love for camper ;o)
The garden has produced beautifully. This year we only had a small garden but every night for months we had the loveliest beans and silverbeet. The beans have now finished and we have saved some to plant next next time.
We have had night time rain and puddles were left for day time fun! It's hard to remember it just washes off. Life too short to stay clean ;o)
Been to Melbourne a few times, once to take small children to see grandparents and again for mothers day. Children got diarrhoea and we were in a camper :o( Nasty. Reviewing love for camper ;o)
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| Learning form the master ;o) |
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| Drying beans |
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| The garden still producing, unlike the chickens! |
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Homemade sandwich wrap
My boys have been using lunch wraps and they are so handy, no more plastic wrap!
They are easy to make, choose a cute patchwork fabric and nylon ripstop and velcro.
Cut both fabrics into 31cm squares and sew around edges leaving a small gap to turn inside out. Edge stitch and sew on 12cm of velcro diagonally as seen in pic, loops on rip stop side and the fuzz on the cotton side. Wash and all done! I wipe them each night and put them through the washing machine each weekend.
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| Outside fabric and you can see the velcro position |
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| Inside wrap, the ripstop and again the position of the velcro |
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| Folding the wrap around the sandwich, lining velcro up |
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| Finished and sandwich is fresh for many hours! |
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