It's been a while since I have written anything. Today I was thinking about my poor neglected blog. Today, my ideas have ranged from reading Homer's Odyssey, making pancakes, bacon and fruit sauce for supper, finding Libby's (R) Pumkin Pie recipe, making Taco Seasoning Mix, the chess game I played last night (Kasparov vs. Karpov #16), eating yesterday's Spicy Potato soup and Peach Cobbler, and reading the New Dress a Day blog. I am also interested in seeing if the movie Julie and Julia is any good or not.
Yesterday's Peach Cobbler was a recipe that had melted butter poured into the baking pan, a batter the consistency of Pancake batter poured into the melted butter and the heated peaches and juice poured on top. I also added cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. I overspiced the nutmeg a little, but I know better for next time.
The Spicy Potato soup was Dan's idea. He peeled and cut up the potatoes and gypsy pepper and browned the ground beef the night before. I just put it all in the crock pot with 8 cups of water, two cans of crushed tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, 1 tablespoon pepper and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and let it cook all day. It was better today than it was yesterday.
New Dress a Day blog -- Brilliant idea. I wish I could try doing something like this. It seems easy enough - besides manipulating difficult corners and fabrics - but I don't know if I could do it every day for a year. The blogger has a secular worldview based on some of the side objects displayed in pictures and logos, but other than that, I have to say I really like what she has to say.
Pancakes for supper - I took it easy today. Being an expectant mother sometimes calls for that. I had a difficult night and didn't sleep much, so I rested, had some coffee, and took a walk so I can sleep tonight. (Exercise equals better sleep, not to mention a healthier and fit pregnancy, and added health benefits before and after labor and delivery.) I chatted with a friend on the phone in the afternoon and we were talking about making pancakes and feeling like eating them for supper. Not my original idea today, but a good one.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Maternity Pants that Fit -- and Feel Good!
I bought a pair of over-the-belly maternity pants when I was expecting my little boy. I heard a friend telling another friend how they were the only pants that worked for her. Naturally, I assumed that meant that they worked best for everybody and the pants with the wide elastic were completely uncomfortable. I had purchased this pair before I was really big enough to tell if they would fit the best. As time went on, I realized that they didn't work that well for me, so I invested in two pairs of jeans that had the wide elastic. They were much more comfortable and didn't feel like they were falling down all the time. I wore them frequently throughout my pregnancy. I also experienced that I preferred pants that didn't have elastic in the waist and sat below the waist line. I believe they are called under-the-belly pants. They seem harder to find, but I may not have looked at the right stores. After I had my little boy, I turned down the elastic on my pants and sewed it in place so that they had a lower waist, and wore them like that until I could finally fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, about five months later.
With my next pregnancy, I have worn my jeans with the elastic that is turned down and sewn in place. I wear jeans a lot, so it is hard to get by with just two pairs of jeans. I have tried wearing my over-the-belly jeans a few times, but always with much discomfort.
Today, I did the cooles thing. I purchased a piece of 3" elastic (I could have used 2" wide elastic just fine though) and sized them it up agains the length of elastic in the maternity capris that are size medium. I wear a size small for most things and can fit into a medium for the last two or three months of a pregnancy. The capris are the most comfortable pair of pants that I have. I sewed the length of the elastic in place to be the same diameter around as the capris. Then I sewed the elastice into the over-the-belly panel. This was a little bit hard to do since the stretchy material is a little bit difficult to manipulate, but after several small blunders and the use of a seam ripper, I finally suceeded.
I then proceeded to turn down the elastic waist and sew it in place on either side of the label, down the fly line and next to the seam on both of the sides.
When I tried on the pants the fit perfectly and now are more comfortable than either of my other two pairs of jeans. The only downside is that the pockets are a slight challenge to get to. The best part about it? The size small jeans have a size medium waist, so they fit in the pants and the waist exactly as I need them to, and comfort is achieved along with practicality! I was so excited that I called up one of my friends just to tell her of my success!
With my next pregnancy, I have worn my jeans with the elastic that is turned down and sewn in place. I wear jeans a lot, so it is hard to get by with just two pairs of jeans. I have tried wearing my over-the-belly jeans a few times, but always with much discomfort.
Today, I did the cooles thing. I purchased a piece of 3" elastic (I could have used 2" wide elastic just fine though) and sized them it up agains the length of elastic in the maternity capris that are size medium. I wear a size small for most things and can fit into a medium for the last two or three months of a pregnancy. The capris are the most comfortable pair of pants that I have. I sewed the length of the elastic in place to be the same diameter around as the capris. Then I sewed the elastice into the over-the-belly panel. This was a little bit hard to do since the stretchy material is a little bit difficult to manipulate, but after several small blunders and the use of a seam ripper, I finally suceeded.
I then proceeded to turn down the elastic waist and sew it in place on either side of the label, down the fly line and next to the seam on both of the sides.
When I tried on the pants the fit perfectly and now are more comfortable than either of my other two pairs of jeans. The only downside is that the pockets are a slight challenge to get to. The best part about it? The size small jeans have a size medium waist, so they fit in the pants and the waist exactly as I need them to, and comfort is achieved along with practicality! I was so excited that I called up one of my friends just to tell her of my success!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Soap
I got to do something really awesome today. I made laundry soap. I used 1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap, 1 cup Borax and 1 cup washing soda. We (a friend was doing it with me) grated the bar of soap in a food porcessor, and then changed blades, added the other ingredients and ground it up together. Voila! That is the soap. It only takes 1 tablespoon of the soap per load, and 2 tablespoons for heavily soiled loads. It equals about 52 loads of laundry. I made enough for 104 loads. The really awesome thing about it is that the price per load works out to just under half a cent per load. Compare that to 22 cents per load! To get a bulk bottle of Purex at Sam's club it costs about $22, and that is still more cost effective than Tide Free and Clear. With this, I can save about $60 or more a year in laundry costs!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Cost of Raising a Child
Every year, experts come out with updated calculations on how much it costs to raise a child. The numbers are always pretty high, somewhere in the thousands, if I remember correctly. The sad thing is that these numbers may not be completely accurate, and I have to wonder how many individuals and couples look at the numbers and say, "Well, that's how much it costs...I don't think we can do this." Some may look at the numbers and say, "Well, it may cost this much but it's worth it...somehow we'll make it work." Okay, I'm guessing as to what the exact response is, but these are the ones that are pretty obvious.
In my experience, however, I think it is pretty safe to say that while raising children is an expensive task, especially once you add up everything parents spend from prenatal costs to college, and perhaps after that if you count weddings (not to mention out-patient care of adult children, but that is another story...) I believe that raising children ends up being quite a bit less than what the experts estimate that it is. Granted, there is no free meal (even the hand-me-downs cost somebody something), but there are many ways of cutting down on costs. I have to admit, I don't know all the secrets to cutting costs yet, but I am learning, and in the time that I have been a mother, I have cut down on many costs already. Not only that, but there are costs that I paid full-price for originally, but when such expenses occur after that initial encounter, I have found ways to pay less the next time.
Here are a few examples of ways to cut down on costs of raising a child:
~ Use cloth diapers and wipes as opposed to disposable diapers and wipes. By doing this, you can cut out $600-$1100 per year.
~ Nurse instead of using formula. This cuts out about another $1000 per year.
~ Buy clothes second hand, such as at rummage sales, thrift stores and classified ads, both for the child and for maternity clothes. Often times, there are many clothes that have been hardly worn, still have plenty of wear left and are even quite fashionable.
~ Alter articles of clothing to give it a new look without having to pay full-price of a new item.
~ Shop the clearance racks and sales, and combine both when you can. Add coupons to this mix when possible.
~ Shop for food items when they are on sale and use coupons on the same purchase whenever possible.
~ Ask friends or family member if you may borrow clothing items that they are not currently using, and return when outgrown. This is helpful when the lender is planning to use the items again but doew not need them at the time. (This can be helpful with both infant clothes and maternity clothes. Just be sure to treat the clothes well while you are using and return when not needed any more. If this will strain the relationship you have with the person, avoid this tip.)
~ Ask friends or family member if they have clothes that they are planning to get rid of that would fit your child, and be willing to give them a little something for them if they are. Many times, people are willing to part with outgrown items at no cost since they would rather not have these items taking up space, but be willing to offer some resonable compensation.
~ Sometimes friends or family members are getting rid of toys or books their child has outgrown. This is another opportunity to save by accepting or paying a small cost for these items.
~ Buy toys at thrift stores and rummage sales. You can always disinfect them before letting your child use them where that is a concern (watch for toys that cannot be washed and avoid these if this is a concern to you). There are some nice toys to be had this way, and if it breaks it is not as big of a deal because you didn't break the bank to get it.
~ Sometimes the network of people you know may give you new items such as for baby showers, birthdays and Christmas. In some cases, you may even be able to supply a wish list if there are specific items needed or desired.
~ Sell items that you are no longer using to buy items that would be more useful for your children. You can have a rummage sale or use classified ads or let the people with whom you network know that you have items you are selling. (Just be sure not to pressure anybody into buying--treat others the way you would want to be treated if you were the one making the purchase.) This is a great way to fund your Christmas and birthday gifts for your children.
~ Sometimes you may purchase a larger, nicer item for a birthday, and in some cases family members are willing to chip in. I am not as much of a fan of this idea, but it is an idea that some people prefer to use.
~ Find entertainment ideas that cost little to nothing, such as packing a picnic lunch and going to a park to eat it, going hiking or letterboxing (see letterboxing.org), disc golfing (there are initial costs to buy the discs, usually about $7-8 for the less expensive discs.), swimming, visiting the library, going on field trips (field trips don't have to be limited to the school year!), etc.
~ When entertainment does have costs involved, look for discounted options. For instance, an Annual Zoo Pass will cost less than paying for each individual visit to the zoo if you be sure to visit the zoo often enough in the year that it pays for the membership. For instance, if getting into the zoo is $20 per visit for the family, and the annual zoo pass is $90, be sure to visit the zoo at least 5 times during the validity of that zoo pass. If you do buy a membership, be sure it is one that your family will enjoy and use often. If it is a membership to a place that is farther than you will travel or that you won't enjoy visiting multiple times, it may not be worth the membership.
~ Find new modes of entertainment that are out of the ordinary, such as visiting an elderly neighbor and getting to know him or her.
~ Don't forget to find ways to give in the process. Giving keeps us from becoming stagnant and horders. For instance, give away toys, books and clothes that are no longer used. Bake cookies or bread for a neighbor and let this be part of a visit. These are great things for children to participate in and helps them learn the joy of giving.
Other aspects to the costs of rasining children that are often forgotten about are things like this:
As a child gets older, he or she will be able to work and produce an income, even if it is small to begin with, and as they do, they can pitch in on their own costs of clothing, school supplies and little luxuries.
Children who aren't sure what kind of education to pursue may forego college and just start working out of high school, and may even be able to make as much or more than their college educated counterparts by entering the workforce sooner, and even by learning to invest their income early and wisely. Those who do go to college can also work their way through college paying off college as they go and may even be able to graduate debt-free. There are grants and scholarships also available if the student is willing to take the time to look for them and do the tasks involved to earn them (such as writing an essay).
Students can also conduct fundraisers or do odd jobs to help pay for school-related expenses. These kinds of activities help children understand that there are costs involved for activities they participate in, it teaches them to have a good work ethic, and it show them that there are rewards for being productive.
I am sure I could think of more ideas, but this is a good start. In fact, I am surprised that I came up with this many! Hopefully, these ideas are helpful to anyone who reads this, including me as my children get older.
In my experience, however, I think it is pretty safe to say that while raising children is an expensive task, especially once you add up everything parents spend from prenatal costs to college, and perhaps after that if you count weddings (not to mention out-patient care of adult children, but that is another story...) I believe that raising children ends up being quite a bit less than what the experts estimate that it is. Granted, there is no free meal (even the hand-me-downs cost somebody something), but there are many ways of cutting down on costs. I have to admit, I don't know all the secrets to cutting costs yet, but I am learning, and in the time that I have been a mother, I have cut down on many costs already. Not only that, but there are costs that I paid full-price for originally, but when such expenses occur after that initial encounter, I have found ways to pay less the next time.
Here are a few examples of ways to cut down on costs of raising a child:
~ Use cloth diapers and wipes as opposed to disposable diapers and wipes. By doing this, you can cut out $600-$1100 per year.
~ Nurse instead of using formula. This cuts out about another $1000 per year.
~ Buy clothes second hand, such as at rummage sales, thrift stores and classified ads, both for the child and for maternity clothes. Often times, there are many clothes that have been hardly worn, still have plenty of wear left and are even quite fashionable.
~ Alter articles of clothing to give it a new look without having to pay full-price of a new item.
~ Shop the clearance racks and sales, and combine both when you can. Add coupons to this mix when possible.
~ Shop for food items when they are on sale and use coupons on the same purchase whenever possible.
~ Ask friends or family member if you may borrow clothing items that they are not currently using, and return when outgrown. This is helpful when the lender is planning to use the items again but doew not need them at the time. (This can be helpful with both infant clothes and maternity clothes. Just be sure to treat the clothes well while you are using and return when not needed any more. If this will strain the relationship you have with the person, avoid this tip.)
~ Ask friends or family member if they have clothes that they are planning to get rid of that would fit your child, and be willing to give them a little something for them if they are. Many times, people are willing to part with outgrown items at no cost since they would rather not have these items taking up space, but be willing to offer some resonable compensation.
~ Sometimes friends or family members are getting rid of toys or books their child has outgrown. This is another opportunity to save by accepting or paying a small cost for these items.
~ Buy toys at thrift stores and rummage sales. You can always disinfect them before letting your child use them where that is a concern (watch for toys that cannot be washed and avoid these if this is a concern to you). There are some nice toys to be had this way, and if it breaks it is not as big of a deal because you didn't break the bank to get it.
~ Sometimes the network of people you know may give you new items such as for baby showers, birthdays and Christmas. In some cases, you may even be able to supply a wish list if there are specific items needed or desired.
~ Sell items that you are no longer using to buy items that would be more useful for your children. You can have a rummage sale or use classified ads or let the people with whom you network know that you have items you are selling. (Just be sure not to pressure anybody into buying--treat others the way you would want to be treated if you were the one making the purchase.) This is a great way to fund your Christmas and birthday gifts for your children.
~ Sometimes you may purchase a larger, nicer item for a birthday, and in some cases family members are willing to chip in. I am not as much of a fan of this idea, but it is an idea that some people prefer to use.
~ Find entertainment ideas that cost little to nothing, such as packing a picnic lunch and going to a park to eat it, going hiking or letterboxing (see letterboxing.org), disc golfing (there are initial costs to buy the discs, usually about $7-8 for the less expensive discs.), swimming, visiting the library, going on field trips (field trips don't have to be limited to the school year!), etc.
~ When entertainment does have costs involved, look for discounted options. For instance, an Annual Zoo Pass will cost less than paying for each individual visit to the zoo if you be sure to visit the zoo often enough in the year that it pays for the membership. For instance, if getting into the zoo is $20 per visit for the family, and the annual zoo pass is $90, be sure to visit the zoo at least 5 times during the validity of that zoo pass. If you do buy a membership, be sure it is one that your family will enjoy and use often. If it is a membership to a place that is farther than you will travel or that you won't enjoy visiting multiple times, it may not be worth the membership.
~ Find new modes of entertainment that are out of the ordinary, such as visiting an elderly neighbor and getting to know him or her.
~ Don't forget to find ways to give in the process. Giving keeps us from becoming stagnant and horders. For instance, give away toys, books and clothes that are no longer used. Bake cookies or bread for a neighbor and let this be part of a visit. These are great things for children to participate in and helps them learn the joy of giving.
Other aspects to the costs of rasining children that are often forgotten about are things like this:
As a child gets older, he or she will be able to work and produce an income, even if it is small to begin with, and as they do, they can pitch in on their own costs of clothing, school supplies and little luxuries.
Children who aren't sure what kind of education to pursue may forego college and just start working out of high school, and may even be able to make as much or more than their college educated counterparts by entering the workforce sooner, and even by learning to invest their income early and wisely. Those who do go to college can also work their way through college paying off college as they go and may even be able to graduate debt-free. There are grants and scholarships also available if the student is willing to take the time to look for them and do the tasks involved to earn them (such as writing an essay).
Students can also conduct fundraisers or do odd jobs to help pay for school-related expenses. These kinds of activities help children understand that there are costs involved for activities they participate in, it teaches them to have a good work ethic, and it show them that there are rewards for being productive.
I am sure I could think of more ideas, but this is a good start. In fact, I am surprised that I came up with this many! Hopefully, these ideas are helpful to anyone who reads this, including me as my children get older.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Streak Free!
I did it! I actually did it! I have wondered my whole life--since I started washing windows--how to get them clean without all the streaks. So last night I did a search for cleaning mirrors and windows without putting streaks on the glass. The source said to use newspaper and vinegar diluted in water.
After watching the video that detailed the process, I decided to try it. Instead of using vinegar, I used window cleaner, since that is what I had on hand, but I used the newspaper and it worked. I discovered as I cleaned the mirror that the key to cleaning glass without streaking it is to use newspaper and to rotate it as you go so that you are always using a dry part of the newspaper. That is why I have not had any luck with the papertowels--I'm always using the part that is already wet. Not only that, but the newspaper is lint-free, unlike many paper towels.
Awesome! Now, off to clean some more glass!
After watching the video that detailed the process, I decided to try it. Instead of using vinegar, I used window cleaner, since that is what I had on hand, but I used the newspaper and it worked. I discovered as I cleaned the mirror that the key to cleaning glass without streaking it is to use newspaper and to rotate it as you go so that you are always using a dry part of the newspaper. That is why I have not had any luck with the papertowels--I'm always using the part that is already wet. Not only that, but the newspaper is lint-free, unlike many paper towels.
Awesome! Now, off to clean some more glass!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Something to Aspire To
I have always noticed that the women who have always stood out to me are those who stay at home with their children, take care of their children's and husband's needs, keep their homes clean and organized and still manage to have a business of their own on the side, or have their fingers in a lot of pies. They have their priorities in order--keeping their family as primary receivers of their attention--while still managing their other dealings. These women would know how to work with others on a professional level even though they are in the home much of the time. This is something that, whether consiously or sub-consiously, I have wanted to aspire to much of my life.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Stripping Diaper
I heard of something new today that I hadn't heard of before: adding washing soda to diapers when stripping them to neutralize the detergent that has built up in the diapers. It helps the detergent to get washed out of the diapers. I will have to remember that for the next time I strip Henry's diapers. Now I just have to find some info on how much washing soda to use.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Cloth Diapers
When I was growing up, my mom used cloth diapers. I was one of the older children in a larger family, so I got the priviledge of changing more than my share of diapers before I ever had children of my own--and most of the time when I was changing diapers they were cloth diapers!!! I decided I would never use cloth diapers when I had children of my own! But what you can't plan on that far in advance is what you'll be able to afford or what kinds of new items will come out that you didn't anticipate.
So, when I was planning what I would use with my first child, I automatically planned on using disposable diapers. But, then a friend who was planning to visit a cloth diaper store asked me to go along. I agreed and went with her. After all, it was a chance to spend some time with her, and I had to admit I was impressed with the cloth diaper system she had. Although it included prefolds--the kind of diapers my mom used, which I absolutely detested--it also included a way to put them on the baby without using pins! And furthermore, there were other things that fascinated me, like all-in-one diapers, and covers that weren't plastic pants. So the idea of seeing more items like this definitely piqued my interest.
All it took was that visit, and I had a new perspective. I wasn't convinced that I would use cloth diapers for sure, or all at once or even right away, but it gave me the motivation to at least give them a try. Thus, I started purchasing the basic items I would need: 24 Prefold diapers, 8-12 covers, and 4 snappis; beyond the basics, I even purchased a couple pocket diapers and a few all-in-ones. I was also impressed with a couple products that I didn't purchase right away, but just from seeing them and knowing how they work--and the fact that they now exist--I was able to realize that this is something I can do. These items are the diaper sprayer that attaches to the toilet so you don't have to dunk the diapers, and the flushable liners.
When my baby was born we started using disposables right away. After a couple weeks I decided I really should use the cloth diapers I had purchased, but getting going wasn't quite so easy. My baby was on the small end of the normal weight range of a newborn and didn't have a lot of baby fat on his legs, so the diapers ended up leaking a lot. I realized that though I saved a little money on my cloth diapers, I would have been better off purchasing the newborn size instead of hoping that the next size up was going to cut it right away. So I kept using the disposables, but I felt bad that I had bought all those cloth diapers and hardly used them, even though I could just find someone to buy them from me, but after all, I already had experience with using cloth diapers. How in the world could I let something defeat me that I had already mastered!?! So I kept giving it a try. I did it during the day because Henry seemed to know when he was wearing a cloth diaper and want it changed right away once it was wet. That is one of the advantages of cloth diapers--the baby feels the wetness and it can be used to help the baby keep from getting used to sitting in wetness and sometimes it can result in potty-training the child earlier. Well, for both Henry and me it was an adjustment, but we made the transition gradually, and by the time he was about four months old I was using cloth diapers full time. It helped that he was a little bigger by now and the diapers fit better, but I had also gotten better at putting them on him with a fold that fit him better. I also got some diapers that were more absorbent for night time.
Well, everything went pretty well till I started feeding him table food. I had been trying to train him to go on the toilet even as early as a couple months old (once he could hold his head up), but now he was starting to fight being on the toilet, and his when he went there were a lot more solids when he pooped. I put up with it and cleaned it off the diaper before putting the diaper in the pail, but I was getting really frustrated with it. I wanted to get a diaper sprayer, or sometimes just wanted to switch to disposables, but now I was stuck in cloth diapering because it was what we could afford! We hadn't thought that it would make that much of a difference financially, but when Henry was about five or six months old we realized how desperately we needed to budget and stick to the budget just to make ends meet, but eventually so we could get out of debt and start saving, and down the road fix up some problem areas on our house. So, I stuck to cloth diapering.
Well, one day I was talking to my friend and telling her my dilemma, and she reminded me about the flushable liners! Oh yes, I remembered now, that was one of the things that I saw that made me realize that I was okay with the idea of using cloth diapers in the first place. So the next time I was able to, I fit it into the budget, and when payday came around I made the purchase immediately. It shipped the next day, and the day after that they came in the mail. Well, how do I feel about cloth diapering now? I don't mind it. I know that with the flushable liners I can keep doing this as long as I need to. When Henry has a messy diaper, I just take him in the bathroom and take off the diaper and put the soiled liner in the toilet, give it a couple minutes for the water to soften it and then flush it down, and go put a clean diaper on Henry. We have a septic system, so I am careful only to flush the liners that are soiled. The wet ones I just put in the garbage. The liners are safe for the septic, but do take a few days to break down once they are flushed, so I keep from overloading it unnecessarily. I do hope that I can get a diaper sprayer eventually since it pays for itself more than the flushable liners, but I do wonder if I will even like that method one I try it since I like these liners so well. I guess I will just have to find out.
So, when I was planning what I would use with my first child, I automatically planned on using disposable diapers. But, then a friend who was planning to visit a cloth diaper store asked me to go along. I agreed and went with her. After all, it was a chance to spend some time with her, and I had to admit I was impressed with the cloth diaper system she had. Although it included prefolds--the kind of diapers my mom used, which I absolutely detested--it also included a way to put them on the baby without using pins! And furthermore, there were other things that fascinated me, like all-in-one diapers, and covers that weren't plastic pants. So the idea of seeing more items like this definitely piqued my interest.
All it took was that visit, and I had a new perspective. I wasn't convinced that I would use cloth diapers for sure, or all at once or even right away, but it gave me the motivation to at least give them a try. Thus, I started purchasing the basic items I would need: 24 Prefold diapers, 8-12 covers, and 4 snappis; beyond the basics, I even purchased a couple pocket diapers and a few all-in-ones. I was also impressed with a couple products that I didn't purchase right away, but just from seeing them and knowing how they work--and the fact that they now exist--I was able to realize that this is something I can do. These items are the diaper sprayer that attaches to the toilet so you don't have to dunk the diapers, and the flushable liners.
When my baby was born we started using disposables right away. After a couple weeks I decided I really should use the cloth diapers I had purchased, but getting going wasn't quite so easy. My baby was on the small end of the normal weight range of a newborn and didn't have a lot of baby fat on his legs, so the diapers ended up leaking a lot. I realized that though I saved a little money on my cloth diapers, I would have been better off purchasing the newborn size instead of hoping that the next size up was going to cut it right away. So I kept using the disposables, but I felt bad that I had bought all those cloth diapers and hardly used them, even though I could just find someone to buy them from me, but after all, I already had experience with using cloth diapers. How in the world could I let something defeat me that I had already mastered!?! So I kept giving it a try. I did it during the day because Henry seemed to know when he was wearing a cloth diaper and want it changed right away once it was wet. That is one of the advantages of cloth diapers--the baby feels the wetness and it can be used to help the baby keep from getting used to sitting in wetness and sometimes it can result in potty-training the child earlier. Well, for both Henry and me it was an adjustment, but we made the transition gradually, and by the time he was about four months old I was using cloth diapers full time. It helped that he was a little bigger by now and the diapers fit better, but I had also gotten better at putting them on him with a fold that fit him better. I also got some diapers that were more absorbent for night time.
Well, everything went pretty well till I started feeding him table food. I had been trying to train him to go on the toilet even as early as a couple months old (once he could hold his head up), but now he was starting to fight being on the toilet, and his when he went there were a lot more solids when he pooped. I put up with it and cleaned it off the diaper before putting the diaper in the pail, but I was getting really frustrated with it. I wanted to get a diaper sprayer, or sometimes just wanted to switch to disposables, but now I was stuck in cloth diapering because it was what we could afford! We hadn't thought that it would make that much of a difference financially, but when Henry was about five or six months old we realized how desperately we needed to budget and stick to the budget just to make ends meet, but eventually so we could get out of debt and start saving, and down the road fix up some problem areas on our house. So, I stuck to cloth diapering.
Well, one day I was talking to my friend and telling her my dilemma, and she reminded me about the flushable liners! Oh yes, I remembered now, that was one of the things that I saw that made me realize that I was okay with the idea of using cloth diapers in the first place. So the next time I was able to, I fit it into the budget, and when payday came around I made the purchase immediately. It shipped the next day, and the day after that they came in the mail. Well, how do I feel about cloth diapering now? I don't mind it. I know that with the flushable liners I can keep doing this as long as I need to. When Henry has a messy diaper, I just take him in the bathroom and take off the diaper and put the soiled liner in the toilet, give it a couple minutes for the water to soften it and then flush it down, and go put a clean diaper on Henry. We have a septic system, so I am careful only to flush the liners that are soiled. The wet ones I just put in the garbage. The liners are safe for the septic, but do take a few days to break down once they are flushed, so I keep from overloading it unnecessarily. I do hope that I can get a diaper sprayer eventually since it pays for itself more than the flushable liners, but I do wonder if I will even like that method one I try it since I like these liners so well. I guess I will just have to find out.
Jeremiah 50-52
Jeremiah 50
Who: Spoken by Jeremiah to Babylon
What: The word of the Lord concerning the destruction of Babylon
Where: On Jememiah's way to Babylon with King Zedekiah in the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign
When: After the nation of Israel has gone into excile
Why: Babylon will be captured, and face terror.
How: On a scroll to the staff officer, Seraiah
God had used Babylon to punish Israel for its rebellion, but now It seemes like Babylon can expect payback for what it did to Israel.
Assyria had been the first to attack Israel, Babylon the last and now Israel will return to her own land and be satisfied.
It almost seems like those who hold to Replacement Theology miss something that is very important concerning Israel: Israel bind themselves to an everlasting coveneant with God, v. 5, and the remnant of Israel that returns will be forgiven and her sins will not be found, v. 20. Israel will not be forsaken in spite of her guilt. 51:5. Isaiah 40:2 also speaks to this, that Israel has paid double for all her sins.
Jeremiah 51 continues the discourse of chapter 50.
Chapter 52
The Destruction of Jerusalem, King Zedekiah tortured and taken into captivity, the Destruction of Solomon's Temple, and the Release of Jehoiachin.
I have often wondered why the Bible puts so much detail into the Temple that Solomon built. If for no other reason, it gives an idea of how drastic of an event it was when the Temple was destroyed. This temple was an object of glory in Israel previously.
Who: Spoken by Jeremiah to Babylon
What: The word of the Lord concerning the destruction of Babylon
Where: On Jememiah's way to Babylon with King Zedekiah in the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign
When: After the nation of Israel has gone into excile
Why: Babylon will be captured, and face terror.
How: On a scroll to the staff officer, Seraiah
God had used Babylon to punish Israel for its rebellion, but now It seemes like Babylon can expect payback for what it did to Israel.
Assyria had been the first to attack Israel, Babylon the last and now Israel will return to her own land and be satisfied.
It almost seems like those who hold to Replacement Theology miss something that is very important concerning Israel: Israel bind themselves to an everlasting coveneant with God, v. 5, and the remnant of Israel that returns will be forgiven and her sins will not be found, v. 20. Israel will not be forsaken in spite of her guilt. 51:5. Isaiah 40:2 also speaks to this, that Israel has paid double for all her sins.
Jeremiah 51 continues the discourse of chapter 50.
Chapter 52
The Destruction of Jerusalem, King Zedekiah tortured and taken into captivity, the Destruction of Solomon's Temple, and the Release of Jehoiachin.
I have often wondered why the Bible puts so much detail into the Temple that Solomon built. If for no other reason, it gives an idea of how drastic of an event it was when the Temple was destroyed. This temple was an object of glory in Israel previously.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Today's Tasks - August 23
X indicates tasks completed.
x Wash vent covers. Note: Washed by hand instead of in dishwasher. Very dirty before cleaning.
x Wash laundry
- Put Henry's toys in dishwasher.
- Dust living room, dining room, bedroom and kitchen.
- Mop Kitchen.
- Declutter surfaces.
- Take pictures of items to get rid of.
- Clean bathroom.
- Call library about returned items that don't seem to be checked in.
- Call Jill about diapers.
- Clean Henry's frog humidifier.
- Harvest beans.
x Wash vent covers. Note: Washed by hand instead of in dishwasher. Very dirty before cleaning.
x Wash laundry
- Put Henry's toys in dishwasher.
- Dust living room, dining room, bedroom and kitchen.
- Mop Kitchen.
- Declutter surfaces.
- Take pictures of items to get rid of.
- Clean bathroom.
- Call library about returned items that don't seem to be checked in.
- Call Jill about diapers.
- Clean Henry's frog humidifier.
- Harvest beans.
Henry - August 23
I gave Henry some pieces of kiwi fruit. To my surprise, he liked it in spite of its tangy taste. This gives me the impression that texture may have something to do with which foods he likes since he doesn't like fresh tomatoes.
This morning, Henry put his sandal on the floor and put a pair of his socks in the sandal. I guess he knows that shoes and socks go together!
This afternoon, Hery laid down on the bed and looked at a book, and was content to stay there for probably 15-20 minutes! It was a nice break while I ate my lunch--without him clamoring for food at the same time!!! I can put that down as an accomplishment!
This morning, Henry put his sandal on the floor and put a pair of his socks in the sandal. I guess he knows that shoes and socks go together!
This afternoon, Hery laid down on the bed and looked at a book, and was content to stay there for probably 15-20 minutes! It was a nice break while I ate my lunch--without him clamoring for food at the same time!!! I can put that down as an accomplishment!
The Clothesline
I just got a new clothesline last week. Actually, Dan built it for me. I am really glad to have it. Last Monday, I washed six loads of laundry and hung all of them on the line. The weather was perfect for it--it was warm, but not too warm, it was sunny and there was a breeze. I was surprised how quickly the laundry dried on the clothesline outside compared to the clothesline in the basement. In the basement, the laundry was likely to take all night to dry a single load of clothes; however, outside, the clothes are likely to dry in about an hour. Even the king-size mattress pad dried in the time it took to wash three loads of laundry, so about two hours and fifteen minutes. I did turn or flip the mattress pad a couple times to maximize the exposure of sunlight to it.
There are some wonderful benefits to using a clothesline. First, it cuts down on energy costs. We have pretty high energy costs for the house we are living in, so we have been looking for and investing in other options for energy use, like unplugging the TV and computers when they are not in use, and having a natural gas line run to the house. Even when some items that are line dried may need some ironing, the energy costs are lower since the dryer takes more energy than an iron. Second, the laundry smells and feels better when it has been hanging out in the fresh air and breeze. Come winter, I don't think hanging the clothes outside will be as effective since the clothes would basically freeze dry, and would need ironing as they de-ice just to complete the drying process. (At least, that is what I have read, but it makes sense.) Third, using the clothesline adds a little more exercise and some fresh air to the usual household chore of doing laundry. This is probably my favorite of the benefits since it has a direct affect on me.
I have experienced only a couple of drawbacks to using the clothesline. The first is that there is a greater presesnce of lint on the laundry items after they have dried. The second is that there are some items that will need to be ironed after drying on the clothesline that may not need to be ironed after drying in the dryer. The solution to the first problem is brushing the clothes with a lint brush rolling a lint roller on the clothes. Fortunately, the lint has been light enough or just traces on items on which it would really matter if there was lint on them, such as work clothes. Items like tee-shirts seem to attract more lint than a woven cotton shirt, but tee-shirts are casual clothing so a little lint on them isn't going to be as big of a deal.
The weather has not been adverse this past week when I was doing laundry, so it has not been a problem to hang out the clothes. There was one day last week when it threatened to rain so I took the diapers off the line before they were completely dry and finished them in the dryer. However, since they were half way dry, they only needed about half the time in the dryer as they would normally need.
The next time that I washed diapers last week, the weather was hot, sunny and somewhat humid, which turned out to be perfect weather for drying diapers on the line.
The cloth diapers I am currenly using are made of multiple layers of microfiber. Because of this, they take longer to dry than my normal laundry would take, and I am guessing they would take longer to dry than cotton prefold diapers would. I think the diapers took about 3 hours to dry. Drying the diaper covers on the line helps the covers dry faster than if they were line dried inside. I always dry the diaper covers on the line as opposed to drying them in the dryer, which increases their lifespan. Drying the covers inside though would take about five or six hours, where drying them outside only takes an hour or two!
As far as clothespinse are concerned, I have noticed that I prefer the clothespins with springs. (The only downfall is if Henry gets a hold of them and starts taking them apart!) I find that I don't really like the stick clothespins. They don't have the same kind of grip effect and adjustability that the springing clothespins have. Also, I find that it is easier to get slivers on the stick clothespins.
As I mentioned previously, some items that are line dried may need some ironing. One good thing I have found though is that items that are line dried outside tend to need less ironing than items that are line dried inside due to the breeze.
I am constantly thinking of things I could write about the clothesline since I am really excited to have and use it and since I have time to think while I am hanging out the laundry. But I think this entry is quite long enough, and what do you know? I have to go outside and hang up another load of wash. Today I have only four loads of laundry, (I may split one into a fifth load since it is large) but I started with hanging out the towels I washed last night and that has set me back a little bit becasue they take longer to dry and it was a little bit cool when I first hung them up this morning. Some of the smaller items dried faster and I took them down to make room for the sheets. In fact, I used all 100 feet of clothesline for the towels this morning! Most of the space was taken up by washclothes which I hung in half at first and then later hung up by the corners as they finish. I digress. Anyway, I have to finish the laundry. Okay, off to the clothesline I go!
Summary:
I like my new clothesline.
Benefits of using a clothesline.
Downfalls of using a clothesline.
Weather allowing for line drying.
Drying cloth diapers.
Clothespin preferences.
Ironing needed for line dried items.
Concluding paragraph
There are some wonderful benefits to using a clothesline. First, it cuts down on energy costs. We have pretty high energy costs for the house we are living in, so we have been looking for and investing in other options for energy use, like unplugging the TV and computers when they are not in use, and having a natural gas line run to the house. Even when some items that are line dried may need some ironing, the energy costs are lower since the dryer takes more energy than an iron. Second, the laundry smells and feels better when it has been hanging out in the fresh air and breeze. Come winter, I don't think hanging the clothes outside will be as effective since the clothes would basically freeze dry, and would need ironing as they de-ice just to complete the drying process. (At least, that is what I have read, but it makes sense.) Third, using the clothesline adds a little more exercise and some fresh air to the usual household chore of doing laundry. This is probably my favorite of the benefits since it has a direct affect on me.
I have experienced only a couple of drawbacks to using the clothesline. The first is that there is a greater presesnce of lint on the laundry items after they have dried. The second is that there are some items that will need to be ironed after drying on the clothesline that may not need to be ironed after drying in the dryer. The solution to the first problem is brushing the clothes with a lint brush rolling a lint roller on the clothes. Fortunately, the lint has been light enough or just traces on items on which it would really matter if there was lint on them, such as work clothes. Items like tee-shirts seem to attract more lint than a woven cotton shirt, but tee-shirts are casual clothing so a little lint on them isn't going to be as big of a deal.
The weather has not been adverse this past week when I was doing laundry, so it has not been a problem to hang out the clothes. There was one day last week when it threatened to rain so I took the diapers off the line before they were completely dry and finished them in the dryer. However, since they were half way dry, they only needed about half the time in the dryer as they would normally need.
The next time that I washed diapers last week, the weather was hot, sunny and somewhat humid, which turned out to be perfect weather for drying diapers on the line.
The cloth diapers I am currenly using are made of multiple layers of microfiber. Because of this, they take longer to dry than my normal laundry would take, and I am guessing they would take longer to dry than cotton prefold diapers would. I think the diapers took about 3 hours to dry. Drying the diaper covers on the line helps the covers dry faster than if they were line dried inside. I always dry the diaper covers on the line as opposed to drying them in the dryer, which increases their lifespan. Drying the covers inside though would take about five or six hours, where drying them outside only takes an hour or two!
As far as clothespinse are concerned, I have noticed that I prefer the clothespins with springs. (The only downfall is if Henry gets a hold of them and starts taking them apart!) I find that I don't really like the stick clothespins. They don't have the same kind of grip effect and adjustability that the springing clothespins have. Also, I find that it is easier to get slivers on the stick clothespins.
As I mentioned previously, some items that are line dried may need some ironing. One good thing I have found though is that items that are line dried outside tend to need less ironing than items that are line dried inside due to the breeze.
I am constantly thinking of things I could write about the clothesline since I am really excited to have and use it and since I have time to think while I am hanging out the laundry. But I think this entry is quite long enough, and what do you know? I have to go outside and hang up another load of wash. Today I have only four loads of laundry, (I may split one into a fifth load since it is large) but I started with hanging out the towels I washed last night and that has set me back a little bit becasue they take longer to dry and it was a little bit cool when I first hung them up this morning. Some of the smaller items dried faster and I took them down to make room for the sheets. In fact, I used all 100 feet of clothesline for the towels this morning! Most of the space was taken up by washclothes which I hung in half at first and then later hung up by the corners as they finish. I digress. Anyway, I have to finish the laundry. Okay, off to the clothesline I go!
Summary:
I like my new clothesline.
Benefits of using a clothesline.
Downfalls of using a clothesline.
Weather allowing for line drying.
Drying cloth diapers.
Clothespin preferences.
Ironing needed for line dried items.
Concluding paragraph
Sunday, August 22, 2010
My Blog
In the past, the idea of having a blog and blogging seemed like a ridiculous fad. It seemed like it was something people did just to show off who they were or put things out in cyberspace that might have no use whatsoever. I never thought that I would have a blog of my own, but lateley the idea has been more intriguing to me.
I guess it intrigues me because sometimes it seems like it is a source of interaction in my world of limited interaction. I interact with people every day, but mostly family members, just because of where I am in life.
But then I found another reason for blogging as well. Being a mom who is home with a little child almost every day, I sometimes feel that I am losing my touch for other things besides washing dishes and diapers and little hands. Those are good things --washing dishes and diapers and little hands--but sometimes it is easy to feel that I would like my day to count for more than just cleaning and taking care of other people. I enjoy caring for others, but sometimes I feel like it is all I do.
Another reason besides keeping up with my typing skills and writing abilities, is that should somebody happend to stumble across my blog, who knows but maybe I will post something that will be helpful to somebody else. For instance, one day, as I was searching for infromation on how to strip cloth diapers, and I ran across somebody else's blog and it was helpful. Not only did it tell me how to do what I needed to do, but it also told about another mom's experience in picking out which kind of diapers she would use and if it was truly more cost-effective to use cloth diapers instead of disposables. I found it to be interesting. And, it gave me the feeling of, "I'm not the only one doing this." True, I know that other moms are doing the same things I am doing from day to day, but sometimes it can make a big difference just knowing you are not alone.
So, that is my reason for blogging.
Hopefully, I can think of interesting things to say besides the mundane things that I may encounter daily. Many days are hardly more than routine, but I do have a myriad of other interests in spite of being a mom. It reminds me of somebody I know who feels that I probably have little more to talk about besides the latest thing my child is doing, but the more I think about that idea, the more I realize that I think about so many other things besides, and that I have so much more I can talk about. Yes, I am a mother, but that doesn't define everything about me. So, this is my attempt to work at something more that "just being a mom."
I guess it intrigues me because sometimes it seems like it is a source of interaction in my world of limited interaction. I interact with people every day, but mostly family members, just because of where I am in life.
But then I found another reason for blogging as well. Being a mom who is home with a little child almost every day, I sometimes feel that I am losing my touch for other things besides washing dishes and diapers and little hands. Those are good things --washing dishes and diapers and little hands--but sometimes it is easy to feel that I would like my day to count for more than just cleaning and taking care of other people. I enjoy caring for others, but sometimes I feel like it is all I do.
Another reason besides keeping up with my typing skills and writing abilities, is that should somebody happend to stumble across my blog, who knows but maybe I will post something that will be helpful to somebody else. For instance, one day, as I was searching for infromation on how to strip cloth diapers, and I ran across somebody else's blog and it was helpful. Not only did it tell me how to do what I needed to do, but it also told about another mom's experience in picking out which kind of diapers she would use and if it was truly more cost-effective to use cloth diapers instead of disposables. I found it to be interesting. And, it gave me the feeling of, "I'm not the only one doing this." True, I know that other moms are doing the same things I am doing from day to day, but sometimes it can make a big difference just knowing you are not alone.
So, that is my reason for blogging.
Hopefully, I can think of interesting things to say besides the mundane things that I may encounter daily. Many days are hardly more than routine, but I do have a myriad of other interests in spite of being a mom. It reminds me of somebody I know who feels that I probably have little more to talk about besides the latest thing my child is doing, but the more I think about that idea, the more I realize that I think about so many other things besides, and that I have so much more I can talk about. Yes, I am a mother, but that doesn't define everything about me. So, this is my attempt to work at something more that "just being a mom."
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