RUGS

 One of my latest crafts is rug making. When I was younger I tried hooked rug making but found it too slow and tedious.

 Recently I discovered a type of knotted rug that goes by the name of toothbrush rugs, or pencil rugs.  It is basically a crochet type knot that doesn't need a hook, just a pencil.  It is so easy to do, and comes together really quickly, which suits my personality beautifully.

  They look good, don't they?

  God Bless,

  Jenny

SPRING

 Well spring has finally sprung down here in the Southern Hemisphere. The days are  getting longer and warmer, although our nights are still very cold. The chickens are starting to lay more beautiful free- range eggs, and I have been busy  cleaning! Isn't it funny how the end of winter stirs the need to refresh the house, to wash down walls, and make the windows sparkle? Even the fridge got a spring clean.

  In recent years I have tried to use more natural cleaners in our home.   The effect that so many chemicals in our everyday cleaners, can have on my children is worrying. Their  skin absorbs  these chemicals a lot more readily than adults, and only now does science seem to be discovering the damage they can do to our bodies. But I always thought that natural, more old-fashioned cleaners were not as effective. So I began  with good old common vinegar. I have used it to clean my windows and mirrors, and it does a good job. I have found that wiping with old terry nappies works well, and doesn't leave any streaks, which is aways nice :)

  I then tried Bicarb of Soda (baking soda) on my oven. I made a paste, and slathered it all over the inside of the oven, left it for a few minutes, and then took a gentle scourer and scrubbed gently. Now my oven has not been cleaned for a good long time ( to long to mention really) and I do cook the occasional roast in winter, so it was fairly dirty. It took some work, but the bicarb removed a lot of the more cooked on food, and left the oven reasonably clean.  Possibly not as quick and easy as Mr Muscle  would work, but with none of the fumes or chemicals either.

  I wipe down my walls and kitchen cupboards with sugar soap. I haven't discovered a replacement yet, but I am looking.

  I am thrilled that some natural cleaners do work. It seems silly now to buy chemically laden products, and I wonder why I did so for so many years, but it is hard to change what you know sometimes, isn't it?


  God Bless,

  Jenny

Good Things

Well the biscuit tin is full, and so is the cake tin. The house has been cleaned, and the washing is inside. Dinner is organised and the children are quiet. How I love a day where my to-do list gets accomplished :)

Apple Rings

My dehydrator is getting a work out at the moment. I have been drying orange  rounds purely for decoration, and apple rings for eating.

My children love eating  apple rings by themselves or on cereal in the mornings for breakfast. I love them in my muesli. With the season of Gala apples so short, it is also a great way to preserve them for the rest of the year ( if they last that long!) . My next job is to get my Granny Smiths into jars as apple sauce, and maybe as a chutney or relish.

 I am trying to replace our store bought sauces, like tomato, BBQ, and Steak, with homemade relishes and preserves, so I need to find recipes while it is apple season, because apples seem to be a staple ingredient in many homemade sauces. When I was growing up we didn't use many condiments at all, so making them is all very new to me. So  my challenge for this autumn is to try out new recipes.

  God Bless,

 Jenny