between the lines

i warned you that the coming posts would be disorganized.

so, lot's of things going on in between the madness. most of the time these things end up half -finished, half-read, half-done. in an effort to follow through with things i have decided that any knitting or crochet project i do must be made with the needles and yarn i currently have at home. so i started to crochet a really cute twirly scarf, you can find it here. but while trying to escape the recent blizzard i dropped the crochet in two feet of snow.

so now i'm doing the knitted version.

'cause i'm flexible like that.

you can find that one here.

if i finish it, i'll show you. don't hold your breath.

reading lots, too. vegetarian times magazine, my new favorite despite the fact that i'm not a vegetarian.


i also compulsively steal parenting magazines from the pediatrician's office (don't tell.)
but brain child remains my favorite, and you won't find that kind of free-thinking publication in a medical building...



working on the csa program for the restaurant and someone suggested i read sharing the harvest: a citizen's guide to community supported agriculture. if only we could appreciate just how hard a farmer works for so little money.





i'm reading this book to gunter and annika. it's an easy way for us to share something. the book is so well written for kids their ages.




and of course, all things cooking: growing sprouts, making baby food (because really, there is no excuse not to,) making yogurt, making granola, making babies (ha-just makin' sure you're paying attention!)

and our new favorite activity, making our own laundry detergent. that's right, i just got all duggar family on your ass. and while i'm not about to squeeze out five hundred kids and counting, i'm all about saving money and making stuff that's all natural (what a concept!)

here's the recipe:

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.

Yo people, that's $2 a batch-for 40 loads.

No I am not a Duggar.
No I do not live on a commune. Mostly because I haven't found one close enough.
Yes, I am a hippy at heart. But you probably knew that about me.