Seed Planning, Laundry and Kitty Snuggles!

Today's post is a bit of this, and a bit of that! Our temperatures have been a lot warmer this week, in fact - (insert a sad face here) - our snow is melting! Now you know how much I love to ski - and all these warm temperatures have caused the snow to make "snow fog" so the view outside our window is perpetually gray and foggy.  But that's okay, I have the perfect solution for that! 

Tulips make everything better - even the loss of the snow that I love so much, and the endurance of many gray days with snow fog!

A little closer view of the tulip! Isn't she lovely!

Another delicious meat and vegetable meal.  I roast a medley of vegetables in the oven at 400. Sometimes I add a little sausage for flavor, many of the veggies are from my garden. 

Our hens really like the warmer weather! I was getting just a few eggs a day (even with extra light provided), but now with the warmer weather, they are producing almost a dozen a day!

Sometimes - it's hard to get moving in the morning to feed the chickens, and go for our morning walk - especially when I have this Little Girl all cozy in my lap! 

I think you'll enjoy this short 60-second 

video of our kitty snuggles!

The power company is doing some tree trimming in our area. I stopped to talk to them, and they agreed to bring the chipped-up trees to our yard! That makes me very excited! I will be busy spreading all this goodness on my garden paths, and around my berry bushes come spring. 

I've been making my own laundry soap, and loving it.  I wanted to share the recipe with you.  This recipe outlasts other laundry detergents by far - and our clothes get just as clean! 

Get a large bucket or tub.  I used a tub purchased at the dollar store, but any large bucket will do. 

You'll need 1 box of Borax

You'll need 1 quart of Epsom salt

You'll need 1 quart (4 cups) of baking soda.
I buy mine in bulk at Costco. 

You'll need a box of washing soda. 

You'll need a tub of laundry booster, I found this natural "knockoff" OxyClean. 

Your favorite essential oil. 

Mix all ingredients in the big tub.  Makes it easier to have it in a large container so you can easily mix it. 

Two  1-gallon jars would hold this recipe, but whatever containers you have on hand will 
work. 

Here is the recipe:

1 box Borax 

4 cups baking soda

1 box washing soda

1 quart (4 cups) Epsom salt

4 cups Oxy-Clean (or similar)

Essential oil of choice

Mix all powders together. Stir until no chunks remain. Mix in 12-15 drops of essential oil of choice. Store detergent in two 1-gallon jars, or other containers of choice.  

To use: 1-2 tablespoons per load, more or less depending on how big your load is. 

You will save a lot of money using this recipe!  I only have to make this detergent about twice a year, for my husband and me.  The total cost for all the ingredients is under $20. 

Also, instead of using fabric softener, I just add 2 Tbsp vinegar to each wash - and my clothes are soft and smell amazing!  Using more natural soaps to clean our clothes has been wonderful, and a huge savings for us! 

It is a season for planning! There is still snow on the ground, but I am busy planning my garden for next year. I keep a  lined notebook of all the seed packets I have planted. I try to remember to mark each seed packet when I start it (either inside, or in the ground).  Then, at the end of each season, I staple in each seed packet, and I go back and write under the seed packet how it worked that year.  It is helpful to go back and see which varieties work well in my garden. 

This is my work table in my covered porch area.  I separate out all my seeds according to when they will be planted. I will start some in February, March/April, and then in May/June when they go into the ground.  I save my seeds from year to year and store them in empty bottles.  I keep a list of all my seeds, and what seeds are necessary for me to order this year, if I don't have any on hand. 

I make a chart of all the seeds that I have on hand, either my own that I have gathered, or from another source, and then decide if I need to order more. Planting tomatoes, and peppers usually begins in late February!

Most of you know that my husband and I have cut sugar out of our diet.  However, we do enjoy a sweet treat now and then made with alternative sugars.  We can use stevia and monk fruit occasionally in a little dessert, and it helps with the sweet tooth desires! 


I follow a dear lady on FB, her name is Brenda Bennett of www.sugarfreemom.com, and she began developing recipes many years ago before all the "keto" recipes became popular. You can click to see her recipe here, but I will also post it below.   I like to make this sugar-free chocolate mug cake as a treat for us occasionally. I have modified the recipe a bit to suit our tastes. No flour! 

1 Minute Sugar-Free Chocolate Mug Cake

1 egg, beaten well
1 Tbsp cacao powder (cocoa powder also works)
1 Tbsp flaxseed meal
1 Tbsp alternative sugar (monk fruit, stevia, Swerve)
2 Tbsp almond milk
1/4 tsp baking powder
Dash salt

Mix all together.  Pour into a greased mug or ramekin. Cook in the microwave for 1 minute or longer depending on your microwave.  The cake will pull away from the edges when done. 

Top with Keto ice cream, if you'd like.  We like the brand called "Keto". The flavor I used on mine is Butter Pecan, and it is delicious, with only 3 grams of carbs. 

You  may remember last week I shared about the snow sliding off my roof.  I submitted that video to the Weather Channel, and never heard any more from them. A friend reached out to me, asking me if that was me on Weather Channel. Sure enough, they posted my video! 

You can watch the video here  It was pretty amazing that I was able to catch the snow falling right in front of my window, because it comes so fast that you don't have time to grab a camera and turn on the video.  Because it was so much snow up on the roof, there was a lot of snow falling, so I had time to catch it.  It sounds like a train rumbling off the roof when it falls.  We have learned what that sound is here, but the cats and Riley still get very nervous when the snow starts to slide.  :) 

This is my latest video - the photos I used are from a family trip that we took to Banff, BC, Canada in 2016.  Some spectacular scenes that I don't think I've used before in my videos. "You'll Make It Through" is an encouraging song that no matter the difficulty, the Lord is with you, and you'll make it through!   

Psalm 59:16-17 (KJV)

But I will sing of thy power; 

yea, I will sing aloud 

of thy mercy in the morning: 

for thou hast been my defence 

and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Unto thee, O my strength, 

will I sing: 

for God is my defence, 

and the God of my mercy.

Stay warm and safe, and be comforted in the Lord! No matter the "goings-on" around the world, and even in our own neighborhoods, remember that Jesus has the answer for it all.  Our hope in Him sustains us! Sing unto the Lord when troubles worry you, He will take care of you :)