So it's been 6 weeks of curing time and the homemade ash lye soap we made 6 weeks ago has transformed and actually smells like soap! Which is super cool! However lesson learned on the curing process. I placed the soap in a container wrapped in parchment paper with the top exposed to air in … Continue reading Ash lye soap experiment update 1
It snowed and it's really cold... and Conestoga Chuck is really stinky! But it's way too cold to give them a traditional bath... so what to do? Never fear!!!! I have a recipe that's inexpensive and works great at eliminating doggie odors! Better yet the dogs don't seem to mind getting a quick spritzer bath … Continue reading Doggie winter spritzer bath and household cleaner spray
We have a sliding glass door in our house, and if you have pets you know regular hanging curtains will just become a hassle with pets (or small kids) pulling them down (and with cats they like to claw at hanging curtains). So big shout out to my cousin for this idea! We found a … Continue reading Designer, pet/kid friendly, window treatment
So I'm reading my 1924 ladies finishing school book (see my bibliography page for more info) and I learn that in 10 easy minutes I can turn buttermilk into cottage cheese with no other added ingredients! Whoa! I gotta try this! But then ... what am I going to do with the cottage cheese? Right? … Continue reading Homemade buttermilk cottage cheese and cottage cheese raspberry jelly filled cookies!
Well we have been super busy here, but we did take time out for a visit to the local pioneer village museum to purchase some absolutely huge pumpkins to carve, toast seeds, and make some yummy pumpkin treats (pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake etc). 'Tis the season for everything pumpkin! Next we cleaned out … Continue reading Fall farm chores to prepare for winter living, and husking some black walnuts!
Today we are making some hand made dish scrubbys! Much more economical than buying a pack at the store and these work great! One small skein of yarn makes quite a few dish scrubbys so make some for yourself and then a few to give to friends and family. They are very simple to make. … Continue reading Easy Handmade dish scrubby mitt
We try to eat healthy here at Conestoga chuck's house. But buying commercial breakfast cereal is very expensive especially if you buy the "healthy" kind. Fortunately granola style breakfast cereal is very easy to make at home and sooooooo much more economical than buying those tiny boxes at the store that maybe have 3 bowls … Continue reading Homemade granola breakfast cereal: a lot more cereal for your hard earned money!
Over the summer I made sure to stock up on a bunch of beeswax from our local farmers market. But don't worry if you didn't think ahead and didn't stock up locally! I will post a link where you can order some online. You can also check your local craft store. I like to have … Continue reading Beeswax recipe: DIY furniture polish, doggie paw protectant, human hand and foot cream, and winter lip balm!
We got our first snow here in Montana the last week of September already, and it is supposed to snow all next week! So winter is coming! Or maybe it has already arrived? Either way it's time to get the winter gear ready... so it is hat making time! I had a special request to … Continue reading Winter is coming: time to make some hats!
Human here: today I'm preparing some raw wool sheered straight off the sheep so I can use it for felting and spinning etc. Conestoga Chuck has a tendency to stuff his nose in the bag of raw wool occasionally to get a good sniff and so I have to watch or before I know it … Continue reading Preparing raw wool for crafting, felting and spinning into yarn, oh my!
Conestoga Chuck 