January, Seed Ordering Time

Aaaahh, it's January.

How refreshing.

In so many ways, it is just a continuum of yesterday.

The same snow sits in piles outside.

The calendar page turns once more just as it did last month.

We face the same short days each morning.

But there seems to be something more about January.

For many it's a new year,

a fresh start,

another chance to begin.

We know we don't really need a calendar to be able to do that.

But January offers just a bit of support that so many need.

Maybe it's the rigid cold.

It is upholding and refreshing putting last year behind us.

We can now look forward.

Looking forward of course is a good thing.

We can see spring just around the corner

though it be buried three feet deep with snow.

There is faith and hope.

We know it will be here before long.

In anticipation, we order seeds.

 It would be interesting to hear how others go about their seed order.

Do you have a process or just go down the list and click as you go?

Around here, Mom and I order together.

She gave me her order - just for a few flowers.

I had my list of what I want to plant, then went through the catalog

and found appropriate varieties.

We have a relatively short growing season so I watch the days to harvest.

After I have my list, I pull out my seed box.

You can see more about it here.

I then cross the seeds I have off the list.

I have been trying to improve my seed-saving skills.

The more I do this, the fewer seeds I will need to purchase.

After all that, I place my order.

Now I just have to wait ~ first for the seeds to arrive,

then for spring.

January indeed brings hope 

and great anticipation for the upcoming growing season.

In the mean time, we will just keep shoveling snow.
This picture is from last week - looking out our kitchen window.
We've had more snow since then.
Now we can't even see the car.
This weekend, we will probably hitch up to it and pull it out
since that can't be good for it.

It's January~ Keep Safe and Warm.

                                               

Simple Beard Balm (with recipe)

Yep, this one is for the fellas~

or the gals who have a fella with a beard.

This is beard balm.

Mr. LB decided to let his beard grow for elk season this year

for the extra warmth.

Elk season has come and gone,

but the beard remains.

It was beginning to look a little "untamed" shall we say?

I asked him if he would be interested in some beard balm,

and he asked what that was. :)

I generally like to keep things simple so wanted something 

with only a few ingredients that would do the job.

I searched out recipes, but most had a list of ingredients

that was either too long or contained things I didn't have.
Also, many of them were scented which was not something 
we were interested in.

Since getting the block of beeswax,

I am a little less stingy with it, so this has a beeswax base.

Here's what I came up with:

3 parts beeswax

2 parts coconut oil (regular not fractionated)

1 part apricot kernel oil

I weighed out ounces for my "parts."

It takes very little, and this batch should last quite a while.

First, weigh the beeswax and place in clean veggie can.

I set this on the wood stove stirring occasionally until wax is melted.

Option #2 is to place veggie can in a pan with about an inch of water in it 

on med/med-low heat.

While the wax is melting, measure out the two oils.

Once wax is melted, add the oils and continue over heat stirring occasionally until all is melted and consistent.

Poor into heat resistant container to let it set-up.

I used a little old teacup I had.
(A 1/2 pint canning jar would work well too.)

I know that it's not very masculine, but it's what I had.

Such things don't even phase Mr. LB anymore.

He has been using the balm for several weeks now and likes it.

And, his beard looks so much better and healthier!

To use, just get very small amount on finger-tips then work through beard.
You could use 3 parts beeswax and 3 parts coconut oil, but
the apricot kernel oil is so good for skin and hair.
I didn't figure out a price per batch since it is such a small amount,
but compared to how expensive it can be, it's one more way to save.

***Important Notes***
Beeswax is not like "regular" candle wax.  Whatever pans, tins, utensils you use with it will never be the same.  This is why I use a veggie can for melting and a wooden skewer for stirring.  If I were to use one of my regular kitchen pots for the water method, I would first cover it with tinfoil just incase I dripped a bit of wax.  Please be careful for safety's sake as well as for the long term care of your equipment. 

                           

Friday Quick Tip ~ Fire-starter

These are the easiest fire-starters ever.

I thought I was so clever when I figured this out 
only to find out that it is a really old trick.
Oh well ~ they work!

Also, they are keeping just that much more out of your garbage can.

Simply stuff your dryer lint in your empty toilet paper tubes.

It's easy to have a little container or basket of some sort near the dryer.

As the rolls are emptied, that's where they go.

Each time you clean your lint screen it gets stuffed in a roll.

Save these for winter and you're set.

                                                               

May your hearts and homes be warm.

Wishing you each a blessed and merry Christmas.

Spending Now so We Can Save Money

It kinda sounds like one of those scammer commercials doesn't it?

I'm well aware most of the nation is focused on the upcoming holiday.

I too am looking forward to it.

However, this elf has been busy not making toys

but planning for a new challenge in the upcoming year.

It might sound a bit silly or hair-brained,

but it's what I will be trying.

First, we don't actually shop how most folks shop.

We typically think on an annual basis rather than monthly or weekly.

We purchase a whole grass-fed beef each year.

When canning, we know about how many quarts and pints 

of various veggies we will need to tide us over until the following year's harvest.

That's what "got me to thinkin'."

Why on earth am I going to the store so often?

We do purchase fresh veggies and dairy throughout the year,

but there's sure more than that in the cart.

My solution was to try to think of all the things we need/use in a year's time.

Over the course of the past couple weeks, 

I've been stocking up.

Not just stocking up on food ~ we're pretty good about that.

I've been trying to think of everything including:

dish soap, coffee, vinegar (for cleaning,) TP, ketchup, lye (for soap making.)

These are things we don't make at home.

So why on earth would I torment myself by trying to figure all this out now?

My goal is to save money by staying out of the stores.

I'm already one who tends to put it off.

I don't browse the isles.

And I don't shop for fun (no way!)

What I am apt to do is think,

"Since I'm here, I should pick up X."

What happens is 3-4 days later, I am back in the store to get something else

and do that same thing again.

My plan is to (hopefully) go to the store twice per month.

I figure that should work from a veggie and dairy stand point.

I do use a list, but having set grocery days planned

should eliminate many trips all together.

There are certain things I know we will need like

pet food (not sure how long it keeps) and peanut butter (keeps about 6 mo.)

If we run out of something in October, we will put it on the list and 

pick it up on grocery day.

We aren't punishing ourselves.

We are simply trying to figure out how much and of what we use

so we can budget knowledgeably rather than blindly.

We just seem to work better with figures on an annual scale.

The other thing that has occurred since beginning to work on this is 

I now have a relatively thorough master list.

I am hoping to print it out so I can keep better track 

if adjustments need to be made.

Our electric isn't always reliable 

so I prefer the old-school method of pen and paper.

This could also be done on a computer or phone of course.

We don't make new year's resolutions,

but finances are worked annually so the new year is a reasonable time 

to implement new goals and changes.

As far as results, I will have to let you know.

If nothing else, less time spent in stores will give me just that much more time at home which I relish.

So far, I've spent about twice what our "normal" monthly grocery budget is

and have about a year's worth of supply.

That in itself amazes me and tells me 

there's extra spending that happens weekly/monthly.

I do foresee part of the challenge as being "retraining ourselves."

Once we get used to the new schedule,

it should work more smoothly.

As with any change, the beginning is usually the most difficult.

This does pose a question for you folks though.

Does anyone else plan annually?

If not, how do you plan?

I ask because it often seems like we are "oddballs" for doing so.

Of course, we could just be "oddballs" :).