Budget Cognitive Development Toys

So my little Ezra needs Cognitive developmental activities throughout the day  to stimulate his brain and to prevent him from engaging in stimming activities.

I don't have a lot these kinds of toy and activities on hand yet and the weather isn't great for outdoor play for him right now either,  so I've been looking around the house for things I could either repurpose as Cognitive Toys or use "as is".

Such as these party cups I was planning to use for sharing Plexus pink drink and hydroplex, I found some no color ones any way, so I'll use these with Ezra as a budget stacking cups set.

And an old jar of pennies and other coins...we take turns gently tossing these at Ezra, then he throws some around and we put some back together, and he find them in his shirt pocket and so on.

Using A Power Outage To Your Developmental Advantage

 So,  today we had a power out almost at 9 o'clock sharp.  So anytime a power out happens for years now,  I try to get into the headspace of how I'm going to care for my family should this be "it" so today I did something I haven't done yet boil water with a candle flame then make hot cocoa with candle warmed milk....and I had more cool ideas as I was doing this.

I re-purposed my cheese grater as the body for a candle stove.

Placed it in a steel bowl for safety purposes....

And started boiling my water on top of it and pointed out to the kids that this set up is actually quite pretty... But then as I was checking the water a few times to estimate how long it would take to actually boil (little over half an hour for about 2 cups)  I spilled it...knocking a lot of the water on the counter and then decided to look for another thing to place grater and candle in.... A plate!

And here is the second version of the grater turned stove set up.  After the water boiled I stored it in a thermos because my older daughter didn't want any tea.  Then I proceeded to make two of my little ones their warmed up chocolate milk over this makeshift stove and it only took 15 minutes!

While I was doing all this though,  I thought,  as this candle shortens,  it'll become less efficient to heat and cook whatever I put on it so what could I do to deal with that problem to get the most usage out of the candle?   That's when I realized,  I could use my drill to make holes in various size cans to make a kind of "nesting can stove" where each can is progressively smaller to accommodate the shortening of the candle.  When I make that kit I'll post it here,  already got the cans picked out too...

I can just see it now, labels cleaned off, both ends removed, then a nice (hopefully) pattern of holes drilled in each can for the candle's air supply and we'll have our 'nesting can stove'.  I still need to get a taller can though, because the candle are a bit taller then the pumpkin purre' can.  I need to find one about the same height or a little shorter then the cheese grater....stay tuned

2nd sour dough starter experiment

Okay,  so because there was a power out today,  I really wish I would have posted this on the 24 when I filmed it,  because it just so happens that the sourdough seems to be working this time with the addition of the yogurt whey being added to it so the sourdough starter can get a healthy dose of the necessary bacteria.  Can't wait to start using it and seeing it rise to about double everyday.  

Right now though,  it actually smells like a beginning sourdough starter and I've been testing it everyday to see if the little test amount floats in the water.   It's getting lighter weight in the water though and little bubbles come from the starter when it's in the water.  I think that's a good sign.   I'm also doing the discard of about half of the starter each day as well,  and keeping the discarded amount in the fridge.  I think I want to make sourdough discard waffles next week.  It'll be great to see what that tastes like.

Bible Verses Covering the Sabbath Every Christian Should Read

Thinking about all my Christian friends who have likely missed out on a careful reading of the Old Testament,  please,  all of you,  take a little time out to read the Bible verses where God mentions the Sabbath.  Seriously,  we want to be seeing things from His perspective as much as possible,  because we've been getting a lot of things wrong.  Here (below) are many of the areas where the Sabbath is spoken of,  read past these too into the surrounding verses to get an even broader context of God's thinking and attitude toward the Sabbath and see if effects your concept of observing the actual Biblical Sabbath.  Let's not forget either,  that in the early days of Christianity,  followers of Yashua actually went to the temple on the same Sabbath day as the Jews and that was even after Yeshua ascended back up to the Father.  See Acts 13:14 for example.

We need to heavily consider what God actually said in His word and really make sure we're taking Him seriously enough.  Are we really walking the path He actually set out for us? Do we want to do things by His book?  Do we care about the reasons He gave?  Do we even want to know?  Do we want to experience the effects of His methods? Do we take His said consequences serious?  Are we paying attention?

Exodus 16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy

Exodus 31:13-14 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

Leviticus 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

Leviticus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.

Leviticus 26:2 e shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 5:12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

Jeremiah 17:21-27 Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. 24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; 25 Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord. 27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

Mark 2 27-28 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. 

Mark 3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

The Sabbath is going to be just around the corner again later this week,  I'm getting ready,  as I have been for a while now and have experienced many healing blessings because of it.  God is so good.  I hope you'll consider His verses and take them to heart and do them and discover even more of the power God can have in your spiritual life as well. 

How have I been trying to save money so far...

So a big part of getting started homesteading and homemaking is finding ways of saving money.  A lot of this involves either simply not buying some things, making them yourself,  finding free or cheaper alternatives or stretching the stuff you do have to buy.  Here's a few of the ways I've been doing this in our home so far.

reducing power usage to save money on hydro

This worked out pretty good, by keeping the lights off as much as possible,   using cold water or cooler water to rinse dishes and wash clothes and not keeping the heat on unnecessarily we managed to save an extra $25 on our last hydro bill.

planning 'from scratch' meals to reduce our weekly shopping bill and taking potentially profitable courses

Planning our 'from scratch' meals involves using what we have on hand in the house already,  and turning the previous night's supper into the next day's lunch or even breakfast also helps in saving on the grocery bill,  useful when you have $300 + weekly budget for groceries and still have to buy things like diapers,  personal care items and cleaning supplies withing the same budget.

making our own timmy's ice caps right at home for just over a $1 a glass

We're make our ice caps nutritious and with less sugar too by using Plexus Whey Protein shake powder an awesome base to built our rich coffee drinks from.  We've made salted caramel using salt and brown sugar,  mocha with salt and cocoa,  and french vanilla with international delights french vanilla coffee whitener and salt,  and maple flavored pancake syrop for a yummy maple ice cap.  Just add ice and whiz up in the blender and you're done!

baking our own 'from scratch' pizzas in a variety of flavors like butter chicken,  taco and cheese pizzas

a family favorite and way way cheaper than buying delivery pizza.

using one soap to make more than cleaning product

And the trick here is to get a natural dish soap with some kind of germ killing essential oil,  we've been using 7th generation's lavender mint dish soap to dilute as both a spray cleaner and foaming hand wash.  (And we always keep old cleaning product containers so we can do this)

making my kids curly hair products last  twice as long by mixing them with water at 1 to 1 ratio

Here,  I've been using my old green works all purpose spray bottle to mix 1 cup of Aussie detangler with one cup of water and it works just fine to smooth out those knots from my kids' hair.

saving money by reusing compostable items for compost

using compostable paper bags and egg cartons as compost holders instead of buying compost holders

Because I don't intend on buying fertilizer either so I've got a compost pile going in the yard for when the weather is ready for planting again.  God willing,  we'll be able to prepare in advance for any shortages that may happen this coming year by doing so.

making our own fancy condiments for cheap - this is our homemade teriyaki sauce

making our own soft bread for pennies a loaf or set of hot buns

And finding inexpensive ways to entertain my kids and get them to play with each other when possible.

Balloons and bubbles aren't just for parties.

And taking the kids out for a wagon ride at least 2 or 3 times a week instead of a car trip some where.

New Sourdough Experiment and Kombucha after 7+ months of not happening

So after all these years of making sourdough bread I discovered recently that it wasn't "real" sourdough,  you know,  not like the pioneers made it,  rather it's a hybrid type of bread between all out fake sourdough we buy at the store (yeah,  it's just terrible,  store bought sourdough bread isn't really sourdough) and a modern "cheat" sourdough that employs yeast as a rising agent instead of the actual adequately fermented flour we're supposed to be using as the rising agent.  

I of course have to give this pioneer sourdough a shot and see if the flavor is all it's cracked up to be.  I mean after all,  there could come a time when we won't be able to get store bought yeast,  it's nice to know we won't need to  in order to have good bread.

Abigail ,  my little homestead helper,  loves to help me work on all our new projects

Hmmm,  got to ferment this 'just' flour and water mixture...wonder how long it'll take before it's ready?

Then we just cover it with a cloth and get back to it in no more and no less than 24 hrs, but we'll have to repeat it a few times or more before it'll be enough to make that classic sourdough.

My two kombucha jars after 7+ months,  I'm actually surprised they made it this long without going moldy, but they sure did and I've got more than enough starter fluid to make up an all new batch of kombucha.

In 7 - 10 days this will be ready for the 2nd ferment process where I add the flavors I want to put in....  More on that when I get to it for sure.  Kombucha is a healthier alternative to regular pop for sure and when I get my scoby hotel going again I can start selling my excess scobys to people who would like to try this awesome stuff for themselves.  

I can't do that  right now because unfortunately,  my scoby hotel was a casualty of the past 7+ months of neglect it received due to all the trouble our family's been through and I had to get rid of the thing,  it's not good to use anything mold infected.

My 16 litre tea pot full of the new kombucha's tea

Not going to throw away those tea bags,  they're going out to the compost pile I plan to use for starting my vegetable and herb garden next year,  God willing.