The sale was a huge success – I was blessed to have many friends (old and new) stop by to shop and to lend their encouragement during this season of our lives.  Most of my shoppers brought their children with them, and it was fun to see them run to the patio door to watch the chickens

Getting ready for the sale took most of my time and energy this week, so today I slowed down a bit.  I’m still catching up on paper work and emails.  Even though there is a lot of work to do at my desk, I longed to spend sometime at my loom, and in my garden.  So, scattered throughout the day I managed to do some weaving, and tonight I transplanted some herbs.

I also finished a purse/bag I had started a couple weeks ago.  After making one purse for my niece, I decided I liked the texture of the yarn so much, I just had to make a couple for me too

I was hoping to make a batch of soap today, but I couldn’t fit it in to my schedule.  We’re getting ready to go out of town for the long weekend, so my “Citrus Fresh” soap will have to wait until next week.  Some of my husband’s co-workers have asked to see my soap and other items I make, so he’s taking a basket to the office tomorrow.  One of my readers was asking about the kind of soap mold I use.  I like using a wood loaf mold for my cold-process soap.  Covering the soap helps to reduce the amount of soda ash that sometimes forms on the top of the loaf during drying/curing.  I either use a piece of wood, cardboard, or (when I first started) plastic wrap.

It is such a joy to make soap for my family!  My oldest son has requested that I always keep Tea Tree soap on hand – it is the only thing that helps his acne.  I’m happy that he’s not using harsh chemicals to deal with a skin condition.  After reading Rhonda Jean’s post answering questions about her soapmaking, I tried using my bar soap to do dishes today.  I still like liquid better, but I’m going to try to get used to using the bars until I can make my own liquid dish soap.

My busy-ness this week, has shown me more areas where I need to simplify, and driven home the fact that “life” still must go on, even if I’m ready to slow down.  As we are purposeful, and choose to live more deliberately, we can slowly change the direction and “speed” of our lifestyle – but it all takes time.  Although it was hard to part with those elementary books yesterday, I have wonderful memories of our homeschool years, and now I have more shelf space for yarns, jars, fabric, etc.  My home will change as our family dynamics change with the boys growing up and moving on to work/college.  I’m thankful to be learning new skills, discovering a part of myself that I really didn’t know existed.  I’ve never thought of myself as especially creative, but I find the more things I attempt to create, the more creative I become.  I’ll never be a Martha Stewart, but that’s okay, I’m happy being me….and that’s a good thing

I got the fabric cut to make a couple handkerchief style headcoverings out of linen.  I love how linen feels (keeps me cool) and it tends to stay put on my head better than other fabrics, which is something I’m appreciating more and more as I’m outside working.

I’m back to looking for a rabbit and cage.  It will be a pet, but we will use the manure in the gardens.  Hopefully I’ll be able to pick one up for free. I also did some more research on composting with worms.

I got another washcloth crocheted – this one will be a gift, along with some homemade soap.  I’ll probably stitch up another one tonight during the Presidential debate.

As I watch the economic situation worsening around me, I find myself wishing I had moved forward on many things sooner.  I’m not in a panic though – I know the One Who owns a cattle on a thousand hills and He is my loving Abba, so I have nothing to fear.

In August I made 16 half pints of jam and 12 half pints of peach butter.  It is all delicious.  I still can’t get over how much better “homemade” tastes

Shortly after my last entry, I had the blessing of hearing from Lisa Vitello of New Harvest Homestead.  She encouraged me so much by telling me that there are many other sisters out there who are feeling the same nudge to return to the “basics” and learn lost skills.  Lisa has a wonderful newsletter and she was kind enough to email me a sample issue.  WOW!  Her writings and the contribution of others in her publication are just what I’ve been looking for.  I promptly subscribed AND ordered all the back issues.  It has been money well spent!  I have already gleaned so much information, and, more importantly, I’ve found confirmation and encouragement in every issue!  It seems Lisa and her readers/contributors cover every topic of interest to those of us who have chosen to be “steadfast at home” no matter whether our homestead is a piece of land in the country or an apartment in the city.

I am daily finding many things to do around my urban homestead!  Now that my busy “business” season has ended, I am finding more time to read and begin doing some of the projects I’ve had on my list all summer.  I’ve made several crocheted wash cloths – I’ll never go back to store-bought.  My son and I made soap together (in case you ever wonder…Mountain Dew and lye do NOT mix).  The second attempt turned out much better (minus the Dew!).  I’ve been deciding which edible plants and herbs to put in my front yard, and I’ve begun planning for my raised beds.  Next week, I’ll start my seedlings – yes, it will soon be planting time down here in Southwest Florida.

I’ve had several friends ask me how to make soap, so the other night a few of us got together and everyone made their own 2 lb. batch – I had so much fun sharing my new knowledge.  I do not believe it is by chance that I’ve been called to these pursuits, and it is my prayer to be able to bless as many ladies as possible, while encouraging them to be busy at home in whatever they are called to do.  Just imagine if each woman shared some of her knowledge in any area of homemaking with 2 or 3 others who are not adept in that area!  What a difference this would make in our families, churches and communities!

In some areas we’ve made some real progress on our journey – but then there are those inevitable set backs.  My “brown thumb” is definitely showing, but I’m determined to overcome

The Everglades Tomato seedlings died – I let them get too dry.  I’ll start another set next week.  I learned that you need to put a cage around a tomato seedling BEFORE it grows – I didn’t and, although I did use a stake, it ended up getting bent and the base snapped during and afternoon thunderstorm.  So, another seedling AND cage went in the pot, and they are doing well.

Those cucumber seedlings took off!  I transplanted one of them in a large pot that also contained a pepper plant.  It is vining up the “trellis” that helps to hold up our porch.  The other seedlings stayed in their starter pots for a long time, but I finally got them transplanted last week.  I used a window box I found on clearance and put one at each end.  I need to come up with something for them to climb, as they are not in a good spot to sprawl.  I also put a few bush bean seeds (heirloom) inbetween the cucumbers.  My herbs are growing well and I was excited to use my home-grown basil in a couple dishes this weekend.

Oh, I killed the pepper plant that was in with the cucumber – I over fertilized with the organic stuff I’m using.  So, I pulled it up and replaced it with some lemon balm – I love the smell of this herb!  I’m looking forward to using it in my next batch of soap.

Speaking of soap – I made my first batch two weeks ago and it turned out great!  I can’t wait to make more!  It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be and I have just started using it (it needed to “cure” for a couple weeks).  It is scented with lavender and lemon, colored with BarleyMax powder (the stuff I drink everyday).  Everyone who has seen/smelled it has commented on how nice it turned out.

I have been trying to shop for more in-season fruits and veggies, trying to lower the amount of “food miles” we consume.  Peaches are in season now.  They are not grown locally, but even though they are from Georgia, I take comfort in knowing they are not coming from across the sea/border or across the country.  Since prices on peaches are great right now (I get 3lbs for $2 at the farmer’s market), I’ve decided to try “putting up” some peach preserves, so we can enjoy peaches when they’re not in season.

It has been a bit disheartening to see that even the stuff at the farmer’s market is usually from somewhere outside of Florida.  The produce is traveling from TN, GA, NC and SC mostly.  I guess there just isn’t enough growing down here this time of year.  I can’t wait to be able to eat and preserve our own food so next summer we can be living off of our own efforts.  (She says with a prayer and a bit of trepidation!)

Oh, I’ve been crocheting again too!  I love my crocheted washcloth and want to make some more.  I think two or three cloths and some homemade soap will make nice gifts.

TODAY – we have a hurricane headed our way.  Since we have been putting things aside to be more self-sufficient and prepared for tougher times, I didn’t have to do much last minute shopping.  We have been busy securing the house and my hubby still has to put up the hurricane shutters when he gets home from work.  I want to get my Aladdin lamp working; something I’ve been wanting to do, but never have gotten around to it, since my dad blessed me with 3 of them back in June.  I guess there’s no time like the present!