Peaches

So peach season, for me came at the wrong time. I was at Shadd's wedding for over a week as the peaches were getting done here. So, because I had let them set, a lot of them became too mushy to can. Although I was able to get still quite a bit in bottles.

Therefore, I made delicious peach jam. Well, it is actually more like peach jelly. It doesn't have chunks in it - just cause I don't really like peach/apricot that way. So it was pretty simple and I got to put them in these cute jam jars that Grandma B let me have.

I think this peach wanted to be an apple.

I had four of these boxes to can on my own. It wasn't too bad once I got started and the results were definitely pleasing.

Green, white and red.

So remember those pillow cases that I was so excited about, well I did finally finish them. Actually quite a while ago, I just never got them posted. Anyways, I am very excited about them because they bring a lot of color into a our very monotone brown room. Brown walls, brown curtains, brown couches, brown piano, brown bookcase, brown carpet, you see what I am saying. A little pizazz of green and red does quite a bit in my opinion.


See the brown I am talking about? However, our quaint little/skinny tree and silver tinsel bring out a bit of holly and Christmas spirit. It is so fun to turn on the lights and watch them light up the room. I absolutely love it.


These, I think sometimes could have been pumpkins with their dotted smiles, but I feel good enough about them. I constructed these all by myself and I am very proud of them. I painted them silver instead of white and I really like the effect. I didn't even have to buy anything. I got the wood from our backyard and the fleece I already had. Super exciting in my opinion! Anyways, I hope you are having fun decorating your home in ways you never thought possible.

Play dough

Did you know you can make play dough? Well you can and it is super easy. It is also edible. Probably not very tasty, but definitely not bad or poisonous.






Andrea was over that day, as well, and helped me sculpture.
Although I absolutely hate mice, I thought this one looked pretty good. Andrea has a pretty good looking Ostrich as well.

Green beans and kitty cats

Michael has this infatuation with cats. He hears their meow and turns his ear towards them. He has started to chase them towards the road, kind of scary but I thought this picture was cute.

Here is Andrea again, helping us snip green beans. We had so many to do. We watched at least 3 movies as 3-5 of us snipped beans. We got quite a few quarts as well.

Raspberries and Jam!

We picked some raspberries from our patch and a friend of ours, just up the road. We decided the best thing to do was to make jam! Freezer jam at that! Hmm, hmm, good. Andrea is the girl you see in the picture, she is in our primary class and our neighbor and I watched her for two weeks before school started.

Did you know that you can can butter?

Yep its true! Just watch for a good sale on butter and purchase a bunch, $1.50 or less for one pound is a good deal here. Then just gather up some pint jars and never been used lids. Put the lids in boiling water so they will seal after placed on the bottle. Here is my little operation set up on our oven.


Make sure you sterilize your jars in the dishwasher, or if you are so fortunate enough to do your dishes by hand, then sterilize them in the oven. I looked up sterilization methods on the internet. My instructions said to leave the jars in the oven at 225 for 20 minutes, and then until you are ready to grab them. Make sure the jar is hot because it will shatter if you pour boiling butter into the cold jar.


Bring your butter, I typically had two pounds of in at one time, to a boil then turn down and simmer for at least five minutes. Simmering it means you won't have to shake it as often as it is settling.





Here is the rest of my setup. Rings, hot pads, recipe book to give me the play by play, and a rag to keep the butter from spilling all over the table. When you fill your hot jars don't fill them all the way, you need space to shake.



See how the butter separates as it sits? You should hear a ping of the seal, informing you that the jars are sealed! After the jars are cool enough to touch, shake them four shakes. Then wait another 15 minutes and shake four times again.



This is the time you place it in the fridge. However, you have to watch it and shake it every five minutes so that they don't settle separated. You want your final product to look the jars on the right. After they have "settled" into their mixed form, leave them for an hour in the fridge.


Then you can make shapes that tell your husband or helper where the jars go. (In our case, down the stairs to the storage room) :)
They have a shelf life of one year.






I am working on some pillowcases for our living room that I can't wait to post, so until next time!

domesticj

Duct tape and Vinegar

I have some good news! And no I didn't save a bunch of money by switching to Geico, but I have some home remedies for you to try next time you are in a pickle. In addition to using duct tape for prom dresses (isn't that dress amazing!), babysitting, good old fashion taping things together and any other sort of thing you might use it for, you can use it to pull slivers out of your flesh. Josh went tubing down the canal last week and got a whole bunch of fiberglass slivers from old duct tape, used to patch a hole, and it was just eating up his arms. Being the "domestic" one that I am, I suggested putting tape on his arm and seeing if it would catch the slivers enough to pull them out. Believe it or not, he called me crazy, but believe it again if only a few minutes later he was on the bed putting duct tape on his arms and asking me to rip it off. Any chance I get to do something like that, I take advantage of. :) Low and behold, it worked! He instantly felt relief and the rash and slivers were gonzo!

Another remedy, especially for you white skin folk is to apply white vinegar to your sunburn. Sure it may stink for a while, but it won't stink as bad when you are peeling and dying of pain! I am a very sun sensitive person, so I take sunscreen and Aloe Vera

very seriously. When mom told me about this, I knew I had nothing to lose. It works for me! As I was searching for this Vinegar picture I ran into a blog that talked about using vinegar to clean things. Check it out! www.vinegartips.com/cleaning

Until next time!

domesticj

Popcorn

Did you know that you can make popcorn on your stove? Well I had never seen this sort of mixing pot for popcorn until I married my hunny. You stick the kernels until they barely cover the bottom, but first make sure you cover the bottom with oil so the popcorn doesn't stick and burn. Then cook it over medium/high and keep stirring the handle to keep things even. It makes the popcorn so yummy! It tastes so much better than stuff you get in a microwaveable bag. You can also make a big bowl at one time! I loved it! It makes me feel like I am getting used to this homemaker thing. Popping popcorn and making cookies from scratch instead of buying them premade. After making something so delicious and exciting, sit on your bed with your hunny and play card games while you watch a movie until your stomach hurts from eating too much popcorn and laughing so hard.


Have you done something a little out of your comfort zone today?

domesticj

Sort of an Oxymoron

So Memorial Day weekend, we went on a four-wheeling ride. Where did we go, you may ask? We went up above the Ririe Dam lake. Only a couple minute drive from our cute little home in Ririe. Anyways, there is a lot of history for the Lovell family in this place, so we took some to get to know it a little better. So you want know a little of the history, eh?

Josh's grandparents grew up in this little town. In fact, his Grandpa George settle Ririe with his family. He is still here today. This amazing man has seen so much and worked this land for many a year. His wife, Amber, farmed here as well. In fact, this is where this four wheeler comes into play. During the farming season, their family would go up, above Ririe Dam lake, and live and well, farm. So, we took some time on Memorial day to not only visit her resting place, but also a place where she once lived!

Want to see how small it was? Go ahead, look at the picture, it was tiny! I was told that they used the "cabin" to prepare meals and store things. The kids would sleep on the roof or just outside the cabin. There is a little fire pit in front of the house where they cooked their meals. There was even a little shelf in this one cabin room where it looks like people who actually want to camp there, use it as storage.



However, I just couldn't even believe how small this place was for nine children! But boy I bet they had some pretty amazing stories. Life, back in the "domestic" era must have been a little more open, a little more carefree and a little less stressful - but I don't know, I didn't live then. However, I would have to say that I am so grateful that I didn't. I like myself and my status right now. It is amazing and so wonderful!

However, the oxymoron I was thinking about was that we were going to go visit this very old and small home, on four wheelers. Not saying that four wheelers are bad, but it felt like we should have been on horseback or something. I know I am odd. However, we did have to hike quite a ways in because there were no trails for the quads. So it kind of worked out in the end. Then we took a long drive up the hills and fields. It's a beautiful place.

If you didn't take an opportunity to, go visit the grave of a friend or loved one. It is never too late.

domesticj

Playmill

So I did something pretty domestic last night. I went to a live show! For those of you who know or are from Idaho, you should know about Playmill. For those of you who don't, it is a cute little nook up in the tiny, however very western town of West Yellowstone (Montana). They put on three shows a year, musicals. Last year we watched Oklahoma! and this year we went to see Footloose and I loved it! I had never seen the movie, heard or read the storyline and so when I got there, I didn't know what to think of what. All I knew was that live entertainment was so awesome! It is so amazing to think of all the hard effort and work that these singers had to get their songs and scripts ready to be performed within two hours. They had to have everything memorized. There was no break. Then when there was the intermission break, they were out selling popcorn and fudge! I mean these kids are busy! They greet you as you come in, sing and tell jokes as you sit down, sell food, perform the whole time, then are back greeting guests at the door as soon as their show is over. I believe a lot different than your traditional movie and popcorn. However, it is a little more expensive. (I believe the only downside.)

I would have to say that the reason that this is found in a very unique, very distant land, is because what it is is very unique. A movie you can watch over and over and over. A song you can listen to over, and over, and over. However, a live production is only heard and seen when the performers are all their doing their part. You get what you see at the time it is done! I believe that it is very well doe and very good entertainment. One of my favorite kinds. Live!

Do it, give it a try! Go watch something live.

domesticj

Dear Little One

A couple years back, in Field Biology, I came to the sudden realization that human beings, unlike their friends in the animal kingdom, depend upon their parents until they are at least 18 years of age! Not to say that it is bad, I believe that is the way it is supposed to be, however it still amazes me. We are so dependent as we begin our life here on earth.

Our little one is almost a year old and does things every day to remind me of this.

He wants to learn how to move, so badly. He doesn't quite crawl yet, but he spins in circles on his butt, he can get into a sitting position when laying down, and if you are nearby he will grab your pointer fingers and look up at you and say, "UH!" He just wants to go, but does not quite have the confidence and strength to just take off on his own. He loves to stand up beside you on the couch and tell these outrageous stories, but that is about as far fetched as he gets, his stories.

I believe our dear little ones need as much love, strength, and support as they can get from their parents until they are ready to be on their own. Like they are when they are just tiny and still learning, they can only do so much. Michael doesn't know how to sit on the toilet, or walk yet. However, someday he will! He looks to us and cries for our attention because he needs the praise and approval of his parents to build his self esteem and confidence. So don't be quick to be angry or frustrated with your little one. Remember that you are there to teach and guide, and only what you do for them will reflect in their later years of behavior and application.

A little more somber than my last ones.

domesticj

Confidence and completion

I can hardly believe I did it, but did it I did. I am taking a Home Decor sewing class right now, and I have just completed my third project - a dust ruffle for my adorable Michael's crib. When I started this semester I had a little, tiny bit of experience sewing things together. Last summer I learned how to make a pillow case with an embroidery picture and a recycled apron, apron made of old denim jeans. However, I had not done anything to extravagant since then besides sewing hooded towels for all my friends babies. So when I started this semester seeing the things I was going to have to make, I was a bit overwhelmed and terrified. However, proceeded forth.

The first thing I made were two hot pads. They are so cute, I will have to get a picture up so you can see them. I did not use a pattern so it was kind of hard to put every thing together, however that did not seem to stop me from trying things. I even took on the challenge of putting on an applique. I think they turned out darling! I even made my own bias to put around the edge. My favorite part though, was the machine quilting. I did little doodads with the sewing machine and I think just made it so much better!





The second thing I made was pillow case. Now this is sized for a regular pillow to have some flange on the outside. however because i pieced it together, in addition to putting cording on it, I have to hand sew the border together. Therefore, Scooby Doo isn't completely finished but he will be by the time Michael gets to needing a pillow.




After making my pillow case, I got a boost of confidence in my ability to sew in straight lines, to make mitered corners and to put cording onto a pillow. I noticed a happier and more confident me in all aspects of my life. I love it! I know that believing in myself is going to benefit me in so much more than I can imagine.

The third thing I made is the dust ruffle. I used some pretty amazing feet to make this. The first is a foot that double folds your fabric over and sews it so you don't have to steam it and pin it. Makes things so fast! I then used the gathering foot to sew the plain and decorative fabric together. I then, this is the scary part, took it to the surger, don don don! I was kind of scared, however I got things working and surged the inside raw edges and completed my project all withing a couple of hours! I cannot believe the confidence I have gained from just learning how to sew and make things. It is just incredible!



I'm sure there is more to come.

domesticj

My little life

This was Michael's first time down the water slide at the Ranch on the 4th of July. He was such a good sport. He only stiffed up as he hit the cold water and never cried! We have a winner!

So, at the moment I live in a little town, small little farming town, nonetheless. Not much has changed from home. But now I live in a very cute and small little house. What is fun about this house is that everybody in this little town knows this little house, because they have all lived in it! It is known as the honeymoon shack. It seems to be that it is the home where everybody starts in, gets their feet a little firmer on the ground, right after they have been married, and then move on so someone else can get the experience.

I have a little family. We are all under 5' 8''. :) We have a little boy who is getting very close to crawling, although he is not very fond of the whole "having to be on his belly." Before a couple weeks ago, he was very content on just sitting on his little bum, but now that he has sort of figured out that he can be a little more mobile, he is wanting it a little more.

My husband is very fond of his job. He gets to work beside his dad on the farm. He loves it! More physical labor and less sitting at a table in front of the computer. I sure hope that he can get a job that fulfills that in the future, for we are just part timing it out here. Even though Josh is on the short end, he does not lack the looks or the muscle. He is very proud and very aware that he looks a little different from everyone else because he is such a hunk of muscle. A little thing, well not too little, that I love about him.

A little about me, I am learning a little at a time to be a better wife, mother and student. I am gaining a little more confidence in myself, especially at the sewing machine. I am getting more content and happy with my place in life and am not rushing myself. It just isn't worth the headache or weariness. If you haven't given it a shot, you should try it sometime. Ask yourself if it is worth the stress and rushing? Or if it isn't. 99% of the time, it can wait for me. I love my new found confidence, it is making me a better person.

Until next time

domesticj

My first post

This last month has taught me a lot about myself. I was busy rushing to and from school, facials, family ad myself that I never realized that I was making myself miserable. I realized that I was rushing myself, rushing myself so badly that it was making me a not so happy individual. I was irritant, I was annoyed, I would easily get frustrated, especially to the ones that I love most, I was acting like I was pregnant! And I know I was not. In order to figure out what was egging at me so, I stopped rushing myself. I stopped committing myself to so many things. I made balance in my life and made myself prioritize things. I brought myself together organized my thoughts and actions, so when I went somewhere I knew where I would need to go and what needed to be done. I stopped trying to keep myself caught up in this extremely busy and technically advanced world and decided to become a little more domestic.

I had a talk with one of my family members and she noted to me that my generation was raised by a generation of women who were themselves one of the first to have so many female rights. Thus, they were implementing in them and teaching their girls the to be a little more free and outgoing. Therefore, we have so many more sport loving girls. Women who do not know how to sew, adult women who have never seen a pressure cooker, let alone know what it is and girls who don't know what it is to have respect for men and their role in the working force. (It is as if they have to prove they are equal or better and can't accept the fact that sometimes they weren't suppose to have that responsibility.)

For those who read this, I ask that you don't stop completely voiding the blessings of technology we take for granted everyday, but ask yourselves what you could do to make you a little more happy. Slow it down and find somehow to be a little more domestic.

I will be posting things that I have and will be doing that help me.

domesticj