Central Girls

We have all been busy lately with 4-H and camps and trips and school, so finding a class time has been hard. But Thursday we got home from dogs about nine and after about a half hour to relax, Keely runs into my back door. We took the goats for a short walk, being called hicks only once. We decided to go to Keelys house for class at about 1030. We encountered some old 'friends' on the walk to Keelys. The drunk girl called us hoes, and before I could register it I said "oh, hello" so yes, I'm a dork. anyway, we got to Keelys and started watching the video, which was about breadmaking. The girls were the west girls, so we are the central girls. We learned basic bread, sour dough, buns, cinnimon rolls and pizza crust. there are several more on the video, but it was about midnight we were hungry. we went down to make cinnimon rolls, it wasn't that hard, but it was a matter of being patient. we accidently rolled them length wise rather than width, so they were very thick. we learned that you cut cinnimon rolls with thread. well we sent Keely upstairs to get some, she yells down the stairs 'will yarn work?' No, we knew better than to try that. Keely did however use a potato peeler... we had to let them rise for an hour, so we decided to run to town for some more flour and pop. randomly Keely says 'you know, we could be teenage bedmakers' I assumed she meant prostitues and told her that she needed to give up that dream. though it pays better than missionary work, I highly doubt God (or Jason) would approve. she meant breadmakers. shes funny. well we got back and made what I would have to say was one of the best pizzas I'd ever had. Then the cinnimon rolls were ready, we forgot the syrup, but they were still good. We need to watch the rest of the video and bake some more.

Lighten Up Your Pantry

This next week's assignment as some preparation work, so don't procrastinate girls! I'd like each of you to ask your mothers about lightening up the pantry. You can agree to grab a bag or a box and choose 2-5 items, maybe even 10, that you know your family should really not be eating and just get rid of the temptation. The next step is to start seeking replacements or alternatives for those items that you got rid of, or to take the opportunity to add a few new and healthier items to your kitchen instead.

Here is a list of items that you might consider removing from your home. These foods of course, don't have to come from the pantry alone, but maybe the refrigerator or freezer.

Margarine (or half/half) or imitation butter spread or spray (toxic oils)

Soda (sugar, dye, caffeine)

Conventional soup bouillon cubes, powder, soup mix (MSG)

Sandwich meats, hot dogs, sausages, etc - basically any processed meat (nitrates, additives)

Juice drinks, powdered mix (sugar, sugar and more sugar)

Artificial sweeteners - diet sodas, Crystal Light, lite lemonade or ice tea mixes, Splenda/Equal, chewing gum (toxic chemicals)

White bread

Soy products - except fermented products

Kids snacks such as fruit roll-ups, gummy snacks, packaged crackers, cookies (hydrogenated oils, dyes, sugar)

Boxed cereal (hydrogenated oils, dyes, sugar)

Packaged convenience foods such as noodles, Kraft dinner, canned soup, instant potatoes (minimal nutrieints, white flour, preservatives, MSG, dyes)

Some of these items can be replaced with whole foods. Kids can snack on fruit rather than the sweetened items. Other items can be baked at home. Maybe it would help to select just a few items at a time so the challenge isn't too over whelming. The goal is making lifestyle changes.

We will talk in our next session what products you can replace for those listed above. However, please bring some of your own ideas to the group to share.

Quo Vadis

I had planned for the girls to go with me today to watch a speech and debate tourney, as I was scheduled to judge for a few of the competitions. A few of the girls were being punished and unable to attend, others were out of town, one was in the competition, and another was avoiding my direction through reading a book and pretending to babysit.

I however, thoroughly enjoyed my day and was once again extremely impressed with the organization of this competition and the level of skill these children have attained. The vast majority far supersede the level of skill of those I taught at the collegial level.

Next year, Keely and Noah will participate in Quo Vadis even at the expense of taking cooperative classes. I wish I had started Keely several years ago, as this is directly related to the profession she hopes to aspire towards.

Car Maintenance

A few weeks ago for class, we learned about car maintenance. Stephanie, Leanne, Nora and I all got the opportunity to get dirty with oil. We learned how to change oil and change an air filter. Dad was a great teacher!!! It was fun being in the garage with him and learning about the things he loves best. We all had fun and appreciated dad teaching us. Thanks Dad!!!

Keely

Make Overs

Today Stephanie, Leanne, and I for class went to Marle Mormon. They gave us a tour around the store wish involved many laughs and of course blonde moments. After the tour, they gave me a mini make over. Steph and Leanne were greatly concerned about having to answer questions, so there was no thought about who was having the make over.
The make over was fabulous! All three of us had so much fun and learned so much. We all want to go back very soon for more make overs. Thanks Mom!!!

Keely

Label Lingo

Manufacteurs are not required by law to disclose the ingredients in cleaning products. This makes figuring out whether it is safe or not a challenge. Here are some definitions of terms you're likely to encounter when shopping. Your safest bet is to buy from companies that list all ingredients on their labels, or better yet, purchase the two or three ingredients necessary for creating your own cleaning products at home.

BIODEGRADABLE
This term means the product will broken down over time into harmless materials. It doesn't mean the product is safe for the environment unless the manufacteur says how long it will take it to biodegreade. The sooner, the better of course.

CHLORINE FREE
This means the product contains no chlorine, a toxic chemical responsible for more household poisonings annually than any other and a cause of ozone depletion. Opt for chlorine-free versions of all cleansers and stop cleaning with chlorine bleach, for your health and the environment's.

NATURAL
Natural products do not contain synthetic ingredients. Us of the term isn't regulated however. You can verify the claim only by checking ingredients on the label or with the manufacturer.

NEUTRAL pH (NON-CORROSIVE)
The product is neither highly acidic nor alkaline. It is generally safe on skin and this fact is really only important if you are going to use it with your bare hands.

NONTOXIC
Only a very large amount will cause damage when a product is genuinely nontoxic. Use of the terms isn't regulated however, so choose products from manufacturers that indicate in what way products are nontoxic (such as "non-toxic if inhaled").

OXYGENATED
Term indicates that it is useful for whitening and brightening by releasing oxygen, which breaks up stains and eliminates mildew. It is safer than chlorine bleach. Oxygenated products may not work as quickly as chlorine-based products, but they are effective when you follow label directions.

PHOSPHATE-FREE
Meaning, it contains no phosphates (which increase a detergent's effectiveness). When phosphages enter water-ways, they spur algae to overgrow, depleting oxygen and killing fish. This term is rather meaningless with regards to marketing. Phosphates are banned by law in all cleaning products except autmatic dishwasher detergents.

SURFACTANT
The active cleaning agent in detergents is surfactant. Conventional products often use petroleum-based surfactants. Opt for surfactants described as plant-based; these are a better choice for the environment.

Go to OrganicStyle.com for a printable wallet-size card listing toxic and nontoxic ingredients commonly found in household cleaning products.

I visited OrganicStyle.com and found a few more recipes. These look a bit more fun too.

Kitchen Cleanser
Baking soda
Essential oil (optional; available at health food stores)
PREP: Fill a plastic flip-top or stainless steel shaker (like the kind used for powdered sugar) halfway with baking soda. Add 15 to 20 drops essential oil (try lemon). Stir. Add more baking soda until it reaches the top of the shaker. Secure the lid and shake to mix.
USE: Sprinkler on counters or in sinks, hen wipe with a damp cloth or cellulose sponge. Rinse well. Don't use too much or you'll need to keep rinsing and wiping.

Floor Cleaner
Distilled white vinegar
Filtered water
Essential oil (optional)
PREP: Fill a clean 16-ounce squirt bottle with equal amounts vinegar and water. Add 15 to 20 drops essential oil (try peppermint). Mix.
USE: Squirt on floor and wipe with a clean rag or mop. This cleaner can be used on finished wood, ceramic tile, and vinyl.

Tub and Tile Cleaner
1 2/3 cups baking soda
1/2 cup liquid soap
1/2 cup filtered water
2 Tablespoons distilled white vinegar
PREP: Mix baking soda and liquid soap in a bowl. Dilute with water and add the vinegar. Mix with a fork until any lumps are gone and mixture has a pourable consistency (you may need to add more water). Pour into a clean 16-ounce squeeze container (the kind with a squirt flip-top lid). Shake well before using; keep the lid tightly closed to prevent the mixture from drying out.
USE: Squirt on tile, tub, sink. or toilet bowl and scrub. Rinse well. If any baking soda residue remains, rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water and next time use a little less baking soda in the recipe.

Glass Cleaner
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup liquid soap;
2 cups filtered water
Essential oil (optional)
PREP: Mix soap and water in a clean 16-ounce spray bottle. Add vinegar and essential oil (try lemon). Shake well.
USE: Spray windows and either squeegee off or wipe with a paper towel. One you have cleaned your windows a couple of times with this formula, omit the soap (which removes the waxy residue left behind by conventional cleaners) and switch to 1/2 cup of vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water.

All-Purpose Cleaner
2 tablespoons distilled
1 teaspoon borax (available at grocery stores in the laundry aisle)
16 ounces hot, filtered water
1/4 cup liquid soap (try Dr. Bronner's castile soap, available at health food stores)
PREPARATION: Mix vinegar and borax in a clean 16-ounce spray bottle. Fill with water and shake until the borax has dissolved. Add the liquid soap. Shake to mix again.
USE: Spray and wipe.

How to Recycle: Household Cleaners
The average home contains as much as 25 pounds of toxic cleaning products, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The easiest way to dispose of them is simply to use them up, recycle the containers, and then replace them with healthier alternatives. If you can't bring yourself to finish using products that may be toxic, take them to a household-products exchange where you can swap them for other products or leave them for someone else to use. If the product is in an aerosol can or has the words flammable, corrosive, toxic, or danger on it, take it to a household hazardous-waste site. To find an exchange or hazardous-waste site, go to earth911.org.

Homemade Household Cleaning Products

This week I plan to teach the girls how to streamline their cleaning products to the five basics: all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, wood polish, abrasive cleaner for the bathroom and kitchen, and floor cleaner. It is my hope to find a homemade recipe for each of these, as not only are they most cost-effective but are much more friendly to our earth and our home environment. I'll have Keely share her homemade laundry soap recipe as well.

If you are joining us and would like to make your own cleaning products, pick up a few spray bottles, some vinegar, baking soda, and if you'd like, lavendar and tree tea oil might be a nice addition.

Tips for cleaning the toilet. Use of vinegar and here, baking soda and coarse salt, essential oils and lemons or potatoes, and even a YouTube Video!

Here are a few more recipes:

Drain cleaner – create a mixture of six tablespoons of soap to one gallon of water and let it stand in the drain. Soaps designed to cut down grease are especially recommended for this. You can also pour vinegar into the drain to help destroy the clog.
Carpet freshener – combined ¼ cup of talcum powder, two tablespoons of corn starch, and ¾ cup of baking soda. Sprinkle this on the carpet and then vacuum it up after about 15 minutes.
General cleaner – mix a half cup of white vinegar and a fourth cup of baking soda. This is great for cleaning bathtubs, showers, and other bathroom fixtures.
Air Fresheners – small dishes of vinegar or baking soda can absorb odors from the air, as can fresh coffee grounds. To get rid of garbage disposal smells, put a sliced up lemon down it.
Bathroom mold – mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with two parts of water and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray any mold you see. Be sure to wait an hour before using the shower if you’ve sprayed there.

Stain Glass Windows

Amy Kirbow will offer the girls a lesson in creating stain glass windows and hopefully a discussion in ministry. Amy is a missionary with a heart for Africa, particularly women and families of Africa. Her art is part of the Isaiah Project which funds the needs of our sisters in the Middle East. Visit her site. Purchase her art. Spread the word. Donate money.

If you are attending the class the first week of February, you will need to purchase an 8x10 frame and bring it to us by the last Monday in January so Amy can prepare it. You will also need to purchase Weld Bond from Wal-Mart. A donation to her ministry would be a fabulous gift for her time!