Pantry Power

I know you could care less about my pantry, but you don't understand! I never had a pantry until we moved into this house nearly four years ago. And during the past four years, my "walk-in" pantry has suffered from the "sling and reach" syndrome. Sling it in, then reach for what you want.

I have conquered pantry management and have proof (see photos!). My objectives
included:

• The desire to actually "see" everything.
• To be able to walk in the walk-in.
• To purge unwanted...everything!
• To have a pantry my children could use, including giving them the ability
  to put groceries away.
• To have a place for everything, and everything in it's place.
• To label everything.

There are a couple of things I'm particularly pleased with:

• My pan/sheet holder: which is a heavy wire plate holder laying on it's side. It sits on the floor. Works like a dream!


• My emergency basket: It includes paper plates, etc., great for quick on-the-go meals or when unexpected guests (of the child variety) appear.


• My overflow tub: includes all the paper towel rolls, tin foil, etc. Things I can never remember I have and always over buy because of it. Or run out. Equally bad!

Heavy items rarely used are up high. Note the pans in the lower right.

Like items are near each other. Meal items are on the left side and back wall.

The right side includes baking and breakfast items.

Under the griddle is a 66qt tub with kitchen linens (mostly seasonal).

Again, tubs for overflow, bulk, and items like mixer attachments (necessary to keep close).

Grocery bags & drinks. Once these bags are full, all other bags are going in the trash!

Emergency "picnic" basket.

Everything labeled!

Project Up

We are soon to finish our third week of school and I've been feeling a bit restless. For someone who is very project-driven, to have months of school planning take off means I've got a clean "project" slate. This could be bad!

There is always the usual tweaking to be done with our school lessons, but I'm beginning to smell the winter craft bug. Images of crocheting, scrapbooking, baking, and rug making are filling my head. This is not a good thing! I have too much day-to-day homekeeping that I haven't mastered.

My typical reaction is shut-down mode. This is where, instead of continuing to be productive while I contemplate the future, I shut down. Zone out. Vegg. In other words, be worthless. Of course, it hasn't helped that the husband is business tripping it on the other side of the continent (more on that later). My vision isn't necessarily blurry; just my reality!

Those who know me well might tell you that I'm an all or nothing type. That would be fairly accurate. If I can't do it all, I do nothing--at least for as long as it takes me to get a grip. I'm getting a grip right now, by the way. So I start out daydreaming and end up cleaning like a tornado. Then I project plan to my heart's content! "I wanna..., I wanna..., I wanna..." is my mantra. I wanna make beautiful things. I wanna bake incredible goodies. I wanna have time for tea.

I think about my extremely creative and industrious grandmother and I sigh. I love all the things she loved, and I so wish she had lived past my eleventh year. My, oh my.

By tomorrow night, I'll know whether or not I'm truly out of my ever-lovin' mind. That's when the hubby returns...And hopefully I'll have the perfect project plan, up and running. Until then, the grip-getting continues...the tornado cleaning begins!

Why is that scrapbook table looking at me like that?

Just Routine?

I was thinking about another chore routine the other day, when it hit me. The more diligent I become in caring for my family and our home, the less need there is for a system. Diligence, in this instance, has come to mean doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. And when there is time.

Over the years I've struggled with establishing a daily, weekly, seasonal way of "doing". I'm organized by nature, so this seemed a natural extension of that. Then I would become so frustrated with the inability to keep up. Especially in light of the many disruptions of life. I was always trying to overcome, and always falling short.

But, as I was having my moment of inspiration, I realized that everything does get done! If it's summer time and the trash cans need cleaned, it gets done. It doesn't need to be planned for the 4th Thursday of June each year! I look in the bottom of a can, say "ewww gross!" and send the boy out to the hose with that can and all the rest of them.

Whether or not my eyes are focused on keeping our home, and keeping the family well, is up to me. No plan can establish that for me. It has more to do with my desire to serve my family and be in obedience to the Lord.

At the same time, routine can be key. But habit can be better. Following a step by step procedure can be great, but I'd much rather spend my time in the kitchen in habit, rather than work. I'd rather our morning be full of the habit of "helps", rather than the drudgery of a list of chores. There is most definitely a fine line. I think I've found that line in my heart relationship to all that I do. As I've accepted and claimed my position as help meet to my husband, child of the King, and even mother to my babies, I've come to a place of peace in the doing. Where the blessings come from God rather than a completed check list. Thankfulness is key.

I was walking through Target yesterday, taking my little one to the bathroom (and we all know how fun it is to run from one side of the store to the other with a full cart, a ton more to do, and a child yelling she needs to potty!). We were moving quickly and all of the sudden I had an internal glimmer of what the look on my face must be at that moment. My heart became thankful as I realized she hadn't had an accident, she'd done what she was supposed to do--tell me. We had a cart of full of yummy fruit and things we needed (and even a fun new croquet set) that we could pay for. It was a beautiful day. We were together. No body was fighting (that came later at the grocery **grin**). Was there any reason to be glum? Just because of an interruption? Just because things didn't go MY way?

Ahhhh. Thankfulness! The habit that affects EVERYTHING! So while routine is peachy, habit is better. So here's a hardy farewell to all cleaning management "systems". May they never cause me strife again! Not to say that there is nothing good to glean from them. Not to imply that list making is bad. They, too, can be a useful habit. It's the slavery to them that changes the focus. May we learn good habits instead, and implement them. May thankfulness be the order of the day.

"O Lord, that lends me life,

Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness."

William Shakespeare

Little Steps Are Nice

Recognizing little steps has been very encouraging to me on our quest for healthier, more simple living. Yesterday, for example, was the first time I poured vinegar into my rinse aid dispenser in the dish washer! Vinegar that is a lot cheaper than Jet Dry and also not toxic. My children (oldest) can even fill it now. That's a good feeling. Another thing to not have to buy!

We also made our second batch of laundry soap. Love it. We have had no adverse affects from the change over at all! Two cups lasted over a month! That's at least 30 washes; more like 45! Works like a charm. Mr. Sensitive Nose--that would be the husband--even approves! Still haven't finished my giant box of Bounce sheets yet, so not sure what I'm going to do then for softener. I'm still in "discovery" mode!

The Envious Heart

Our family just watched the documentary, "The Journey Home". This is a Christian film about a father who gives up his job to take his family out into the boondocks to live more simply and spend more time as a family. It's a really good film.

Farming becomes their life and source of income. They go from 5 kids to 11. The mom goes from curled black hair--a nice 80's style!--to lower-back length grey. Mine would no doubt be the same color without Garnier Nutrisse. Designer clothes, to blue jumpers. It's a common story these days. It seems the longer we homeschool, the more of these types of stories we hear.

It all could not be further from our suberb/neighborhood existence...where you can't even have a clothes line--against the rules!

There are so many things appealing about their story and lifestyle. Spending NO money, looks good. Needing nothing looks good. Having your children unaffected and untouched by anything inappropriate, looks good. No urban drama. Nothing but reliance on God and total discipline.

It makes me a bit envious, though I know very well that God made individuals and the two grown up individuals in this house, wouldn't last a week (or a day!). But I really find myself asking why? Why couldn't we? Why haven't we?

Really, the craving--the desire--is to be in a perceived sinless life. Never making bad choices. Never spending more than we have. Never allowing our children too much computer time... Never yelling. Always having the house in order; the meals to perfection (including healthy). Being perfect role models and having the children be little saints. Utopia. Heaven?

Doing all the things we want to do and never doing the things we don't! Of course, this is not only unrealistic, but sin filled envy in it's own right. Instead of keeping up with the Jones', it's keeping up with the Smith's--the homeschool Smith's...the homeschooling, homesteading Smith's. The "look how obedient we are to God" Smith's. Though, of course, the "Smith's" would never say that or probably even think that--I'm just saying...

There is a fine line between contentment and obedience. I know that most of the time when I am discontent, I am in disobedience. Not to the world, or any lifestyle. Not to a set of rules or laws. But to God, whom in my own personal relationship, I have not followed the Holy Spirit's leading. I'll take my eyes off the Father for an instant and the instant is a week, or longer. The damage I do in that time has consequences. Now I better understand why my parents used to ask for the Lord's return. They were always so eager for better things. I get it.

I'm so thankful that the Lord has a hold on me. He gently turns my eyes toward Him and those eyes are able to see things in a new light. They see things more for what they are. Sometimes those things are unwanted and hard to envision, but they are true because of Jesus.

I want to live each moment in truth. I want to set aside my selfish affectations and do the job He has given me for such a time as this. With that goal firmly planted in my brain, the days look easier. Without it, they look impossible. I'm tired of impossible days.

Psa 90:1-17 ESV [A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.] Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. (2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (3) You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!" (4) For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (5) You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: (6) in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. (7) For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. (8) You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. (9) For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. (10) The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. (11) Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? (12) So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (13) Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! (14) Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (15) Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. (16) Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. (17) Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Master Bedroom Round Up

Laura, over at Organized Junkie is "Rounding Up" the Master Bedroom this month. I love these round ups because it has helped me focus on a certain area and with an end in sight. It also has helped me by choosing, for me, which area to work on!

We have a large bedroom; more of a master suite. I've done little things over the three years we've lived here, but there is still much to do. There are three things, essentially, that I'll be working on. One--moving my computer and and homeschool work OUT of the room to an as-yet-undetermined location. Two--hang the blinds that have been leaning in the corner for six months. Three--do SOMETHING about a head board for our bed. I think I may finally have a plan for that.

My goals for the room are to make it a nest; a retreat--comfortable, inviting, and romantic for this 'ole married couple! It is the only place in the house where I read, so my personal books to read are here. Husband's magazines should be here for the same reason. My current computer nook will now be solely for Quiet time and reading.

Because we spend our evenings here, I wouldn't mind having a little handiwork present like my crochet basket, or needlework. Lap work type of things. Husband also works on his computer in here in the evenings, but that's his decision whether or not to change it. I enjoy that he works in here with me. Sometimes we'll watch a movie together, but we don't have TV so that isn't an issue.

I want the room to be beautiful, smell good (candles!), totally lack clutter (including clothes piles). I do NOT want it to be a playroom, office, or laundry mat. I want to WANT to be here, and not HAVE to be because work is eminent. I would like music, but we just invested in an IPod system that is set up in our main living area. We'd have to move it all the time.

I definitely need a place for everything (and everything in it's place!). Color is something to consider. Our walls are all cream color. I've thought about accent color, but haven't decided. This is our favorite room to fill with pictures of our kids, so I'll probably update those a bit.

We invested in a Sleep Number bed a few years back, but it has no head or foot board. This bugs the tar out of me. We've looked for years, but have never found exactly what we want. In the most recent issue of Martha Stewart Living, she had a picture of a headboard made from a quilt, hung on a curtain rod as the head board. I like it! It has flexible appeal and possibilities. And it's cheaper.

Habits. Oh boy! As I've worked on habits with the children, I've noticed a few of my own that could use some help. Making the bed. This is not something I was ever encouraged to do and though I do it MOST of the time, I don't do it ALL the time and I don't always do it RIGHT. By right, I mean beautifully; decorative pillows in place, all comfy and fluffed, with the sheets out of sight.

Another habit is piles. I greatly dislike piles and *I* am the biggest pile maker of the bunch. The floor by my side of the bed is a joke! Piles of books, papers. Wanna shock? My bedside table currently has water bottles (2), a glass, a cup (that is daughters and she is currently using as she lays in my bed with a fever) 3 pencils, 2 pens, lip balm, ear plugs, baby's medicine, song sheet from church, a timer (I have NO idea!) a back massager, a jar candle, a wash cloth (huh?), my memory verse file box, a basket with books, magazines, mail and ear phones, tags from my plants (which I took out of my pocket last night), a coaster (that neither glass is on), hair pins and ponytail holder, more ear plugs and body butter--oh, and a bottle BioFreeze plus a medicine measure. And dust. We can't forget the dust! And hello! Let's not forget the clock, lamp and controller to the bed. Whew! There are also FOUR drawers in the stand--full of junk. So a little change in behavior may be in order!

It's just too humiliating to post before pictures, so I will commit to "after" pictures by the end of the month.

I Took The HomeMade Laundry Soap Plunge!

Yes, I did! I took the plunge and made my own dry laundry soap concoction. It took less than ten minutes, will save a ton of money and hopefully, a ton of skin problems! This is so easy, I'm a bit incensed at myself for not trying this sooner!

My good friend EEEEMommy took this plunge a while ago and reported good things. That was enough for me! I have actually planned this for awhile--with all the ingredients ready--but had a LARGE jug of Tide to use up first. In the mean time, we were dealing with way too much soap residue that we couldn't seem to rinse out of our clothes. Itchy, dry--ridiculously dry!--skin issues. Fading clothes. Junk like that! I believe that this will make some difference.

So here's what I did: 1 bar of Fels-Naptha (completed grated in the food processor) available at most all grocery stores (laundry aisle). This came out to a little over 1 cup. 1/2 c Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (also readily available in the laundry aisle). Lastly, 1/2 c of 20-Mule Team Borax (pretty much available everywhere). YOU USE ONE TABLESPOON PER LOAD! Now this would be for a regular size/regular dirt load. Use a bit more for larger or more dirty clothes. I haven't dealt with the pre-treating issue. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up my Spray N'Wash yet. We'll see.

So, I checked out things during the wash cycle and there were little to NO suds. This is the lack of sulfates, from what I understand. The Sodium Laurel Sulfates that "greenies" talk about being so bad, are the things that foam your toothpaste, or suds your soap & shampoo. And apparently, your laundry soap! You do not need suds for "clean".

Also, from what I understand, since these natural ingredients are so much better all round, including helping clothes last longer by actually helping the fibers instead of destroying them, a little longer wash time may be called for--or even a soak. I've gotten into the habit of 6 min washes to hurry. I realize that won't do the trick. Not a big deal at all!

So far, so good. My husband is very sensitive to soapy smells, so I think he'll appreciate the lack there of. I was encouraged when I took a big whiff of the finished product. You could add a scent using essential oils, if you wished.

So eliminating bleach is next. I've checked things out and it appears either 1/2 c vinegar or 1/2 c borax will do the trick--or both, for whitening AND brightening. That will be interesting, but I'm anxious to try it. My poor men of the house are struggling with the skin issues.

I also want to get rid of the dryer sheets. I've heard so many mixed things about this, I'm just going to have to do more research. One thing I read said that vinegar in the wash eliminates the need for softener? I'm not sure. Not very chemistry minded here! I know that I've developed a seemingly abnormal craving to hang clothes on a line! Since our neighborhood association doesn't appreciate seeing such despicable items, I would be rebellion. I've considered the pros and cons, and am still deliberating!

Regardless, I'm excited to make this first step if for no other reason than money! What a boatload this will save. It's something like 95% savings. I can dig that! I'm so glad not to have to heft those huge "tanks" of soap anymore too!

Farewell to Winter

I know everyone, including me, is all excited about Spring...and everyone, including me, went on and on about the snow for some time (like all winter!) but I'm finding this very difficult transitional weather hard to deal with! Besides the fact that it is extremely wet, and incredibly dark and gloomy, the up and down temps have me feeling like I'm going bonkers. I can't seem to get anything done. I'll sit down to have a cup of tea to warm up, and I don't ever want to get up!

I called it Spring Break this week and it's over half through and I'm disappointed because it wasn't what I'd hoped. Let me just say this for all you Spring Cleaning fans, I CANNOT Spring Clean in this weather! I tried. Really I did. I just need sunshine and warmth. I actually have my heat on higher than I did all winter! It's like I'm more cold now that it's supposedly warmer. Thirty-eight degrees is NOT warmer.

And these storms are wreaking havoc with my head. Every pressure system that moves through, goes right through my head like a ton of bricks. I believe I could predict the weather better than some of our weather people.

And not to be a whiner, but I went to the Chiropractor today and he took X-Rays and MAN the curve in my back is way bad (thank you, Mother who's now in Heaven with a straight spine). Think backward "C" sitting on top of a little "c". That's depressing. So I've been icepacking it today--doesn't help with the whole "cold" thing--hoping that the whole "walking without agony" thing will stop soon (it comes and goes).

In all fairness, it hasn't been a totally hopeless week. I got to see my Dad, whom I miss terribly since he ran off and got married. I did clean out one closet in a room with no windows. I got one bookcase up--whooppeee! I filed away all the winter decor and bought vegetable seeds that it is way too late to plant so I'll probably return them--and I don't have a grow light anyway and it's DARK AND GLOOMY! Do you hear the violins?!

My children just came in the room laughing because daughter has giant legos stuffed down her pants and she's "pooping" them as they fall through her pant legs to the floor. They think this is extremely funny. Ah!

So tomorrow is another day. The first day of Spring! Here's to the first day of Spring--may it be better than the last day of Winter!

Piled So High, It Almost Touched the Sky!

It was over the top of that basket you see, before requiring intervention. As I mentioned earlier, I've researched ideas thoroughly and laughed and cried till I'm sick with it.

Here's what doesn't work:

• Doing all the laundry in one day. This hurts my back, wears me out and depresses the tar out of me till it's completely finished. Then it usually sits for days before it's put away. Not a good plan.
• Doing one person's per day doesn't work. Too many variables--size and color of load.
• Doing what's needed and sorting into baskets by family member. They never get folded or put away with this method!

Here's what works!:

• Do one load per day to completion! That means put away too!

I've been doing this a week now and have discovered side benefits. Don't you just love side benefits!! This is actually how it's worked:

• I have my sorters in the laundry room and everything is brought in over the weekend and sorted.
• Each day I start a load after daughter goes to bed.
• When son goes to bed an hour later, I move it to the dryer.
• The dryer is already full from the day before. I take THAT load and fold and sort.
• I put away husbands, and my own.
• I stack each child's and the next day they are required to put it away.

Time? Hardly any! I love it. Daughter has really gotten in to this, too. She seems to look forward to her "stack"! For son, he's not overwhelmed with a huge load all his, so it's gone quickly and there have been no complaints!

By doing things this way, I finally have a sense of accomplishment with laundry! It's not perfect, but it's regular completion. No body is running out of anything (so far). I used to do about ten or so loads per week. That's more than one per day. For some reason, I'm not having that much! I think I was actually going closer to two weeks before attacking it--thus the tall pile! Oh. I also have available laundry baskets now, instead of them being full and stuffed into the laundry room. So where you see the pile above, is now two baskets--one for lights and one for darks. They are not overflowing before it's time to carry them in. Do you know how hard it was to carry THAT pile to the laundry room? Grrrrr!! My laundry room is neat and orderly and usable!

Husband said to me this very morning--and with a smile on his face, "I'm not even close to running out of laundry. I don't have to looking for socks! This is working great! Keep it up!" I was encouraged.

So this is my laundry victory! Next step? Homemade laundry soap. I have the ingredients and am waiting till I use up my current stash.

Every Day or Periodic

I believe with Spring finally around the corner, I'm turning my own corner. I'm coming out of the hum-drum mode and sparks of thought are flying. Lots of itty bitty light bulb moments are helping me reach new milestones in my planning, homekeeping, and daily caretaking of my family.

Spark #1: We are more daily driven as a family, than periodically driven. I'm referring to routine and the ability to easily move from one task to the next. I'm beginning to see that things I do daily, whether for lessons or homekeeping, come much easier in both time and motivation. At the same time, things we do less often, don't always happen. It's those things that have become obstacles and have restricted our progress, to a degree.

Lesson learned? Well, this may seem dumb to those of you to whom this comes naturally, but I'm slow. Anything I have down for once or even twice a week (especially if not a two-day back to back) is not happening. Re-think, re-do. One "for instance" on my list was art. Even having a different sort of art each day did not help. What DID help was having one part of art always the same everyday, plus something different. This came very naturally with Bible, and I've also applied it to history and it works like a charm. It's routine.

Spark #2: Laundry! Throwing in laundry everyday and even sorting it does NOT work for me. I'm now on to laundry system number 47--One load. Just one load. Everyday. To completion. That means put away. It's ALL about getting it put away! That still leaves me with gathering it once a week, but I'm NOT depraved enough to do THAT everyday--yet. AND! What I've discovered is that the kids don't mind folding and putting away their clothes when there isn't a 100lb basket full each time I ask them! Who'd a thought?