Drying Rosemary Simply

We've been blessed with much rosemary these past years.  When we first moved in, I decided to plant the rosemary bush close to the front entrance.  We've enjoyed the wonderful aroma from the rosemary as well using it in our food preparations.  To name a few, we use this herb in our herbed Challah, pizza dough, meat dishes and scrambled eggs. 

Out to Dry!

As a young girl, living out in the country, we had the privilege to be able to hang our clothes out to dry. I say this as I look back but I'm not sure we viewed it as a privilege.  I recall on occasion when taking the clothes off the clothes line that some pants were stiff as a board as we would try to take advantage of the minimal sun as it tried to peak through the clouds in hopes of touching our clothes.  Obviously it didn’t always quite do it’s job in the late autumn days. Inside during the much colder weather, our clothes racks would often be full of clothes drying. There were seven of us. Eventually we jumped on the bandwagon and purchased a clothes dryer.

Simple Knitted Slippers for Papa

I’ve been spending time this past week, catching up on unfinished projects, one being knitting a pair of slippers for papa.

Here is an extremely simple knitting pattern I followed for my husband’s slippers. This pattern has been around for a very long time. My mother used it for many pairs of slippers over the years for us children. One winter I recall when my mother decided to try making slippers for us using Phentex, a nylon yarn, they were the best for sliding around the house. Those were some of the best fun times we had during the cold winter months. Needless to say, the slippers didn’t last, even with the extra knitted sole.

Homemade Deodorant

the beautiful beeswax brick!

Recently, after a drive to the country, we brought home a golden brick.....it smelled delicious. Ok, it was a beeswax brick. And it was sitting on my desk for a while, when I thought of making some homemade deodorant with it. I looked up some recipes online, cleaned out an old store-bought deodorant stick case, and voilà!

Homeschooler's Free Reading Resources

As a homeschooling family, we spend a lot of time in books, reading, learning and discussing many issues. When the children were younger, I purchased many books to have at home for easy access. We also visited the library and would sometimes have as many as 50 books out on loan! As Zachary and Leah became older, we found that purchasing books became too costly. Being able to borrow books from friends also became handy.  Although we try to always purchase books used and sell them when they are no longer needed, we also try to take advantage of free readers we find online. Two good sites that we found helpful are Librivox and Gutenberg.

No 'Poo Update, No Shampoo Method Ebook Review & GIVEAWAY!

NO 'POO UPDATE
 It has been five months since we've been using the no shampoo method, I’m pleased to share that we have been blessed with great results. Our previous post can be read here.  When we first started the no ‘poo method, we were simply using baking soda and water for washing hair and conditioning with apple cider vinegar and water. Having to go through some adjusting is not uncommon when switching from shampoo to the no 'poo method.  And through this period, we have made some positive individual changes.

Money Saving Tips When Buying Clothes For Your Family

Growing up, even though my parents bought new clothes from the stores on occasion, we were always provided for and had all the clothes that we needed. Previously worn clothing was available through our church and from family friends. I also have memories of my mother making the girls cute simple summer dresses.

Saving money most often requires planning ahead. Taking time to go through the wardrobe and making a list of what needs to be replaced helps to be ahead of the game. Here are a few money saving tips that I have found helpful in the past. If you are like me, a stay at home mom and always looking for ways to save money to help your family keep expenses down, you might find a few tips that you haven’t tried yet.

Freecycle ~ Waste Reduction

Who hasn’t heard the words, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?

About five years ago, my sister told me about Freecycle and how she was able to give items away she no longer had use for. In fact, her family was also able to request the items that they needed.

Freecycle is a network which promotes waste reduction to help save landscape from being taken over by landfills. Their mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community. They are all about keeping “stuff out of landfills”. You will find groups all over the United States, Canada and around the world.

No 'Poo Challenge, One Step Closer to Simplicity

 I've recently been reading about the 'No Poo Challenge from other online bloggers.  After about three reads from different posts and hearing it from family, I decided it would be beneficial to try, that was the pull for me a healthy and less expensive alternative to hair cleaning.  We've been using some kind of organic or healthy shampoo now for many years but do we really know what's in the shampoo we are using?  If the ingredient label is too long and has words you don't know, that might be a clue to look for an alternative.

Pebble Crossing Recommends ....

If you've always wanted to learn to prepare naturally-leavened foods of all kinds and are looking for more instructions, then you may be interested in GNOWFLINS Sourdough eCourse. On July 13th, GNOWFLINS will be open for registration.. Lessons will be released week by week into December. There is no rush when being a member, with lifetime access you can come back to the lessons any time, at your convenience. This course is on donations based only. So you pay what you can.  If you would like more information, please be sure to click on the above photo

Leah and I are currently taking the Fundementals eCourse, which is part of her learning to be Keeper of the Home - in the kitchen. In this week's lesson, we are building on the importance of soaking grains.   It has been a blessing for me as we continue to bond in our mother/daughter relationship. This course is also based on donations only - pay what you can.  If you are interested in learning more on this course,  please click on photo below.




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Saving Naturally ~  Live Healthy, Spend Less,  recently new online and sister to  Keeper of the Home offers discounts and coupons for healthy living as well as helpful information on how to manage and organize coupons. Frugal living tips are also being added.   Stephanie Langford, owner of Saving Naturally.  recently published a new book Real Food on a Real Budget which Leah and I are currently reading.

If you have a few minutes, stop by at Saving Naturally, deals are posted daily!. 




Disclaimer: Although Pebble Crossing recommends the above sites to be very beneficial and hopes it may bless someone, we may not agree with everything posted on these sites.  Pebble Crossing is not affiliated with with the above sites,  however does have an affiliate with Real Food on a Real Budget and will receive a small commission from anyone purchasing this book.

Ifr you would like to receive more emails like this one, please subscribe!

Resourcefulness

We are so blessed to have Leah Bruno as a contributing author for Pebble Crossing. Leah, now 14 is currently being homeschooled. She has many ambitions as she continues to strive to please Yahweh and walk in His path. One of her strong qualities is in servtitude and she has a heart to please. Leah hopes to continue to persue her love for writing and with time to be able to publish one of her stories. She loves to spend time with her family. But being around horses ranks way up there also.  Please welcome Leah as she contributes her first article.  


Update: August 18, 2010.  Leah currently blogs and shares her passion for writing, please visit her at BEHIND THE TEMPLE DOOR BLOG


Resourcefulness ~~ When did you last notice the city recycling truck driving around the neighborhood and think, “My, how resourceful!”? People displaying resourcefulness do much more than recycle plastic bottles. They solve problems in creative and often surprising ways. In the words of a dictionary, resourcefulness means this: “Full of initiative and good at problem-solving, especially in difficult situations.” It also means to find and gather that which YAHWEH has given.

Ten Tips on Reusing Bottle and Glass Containers

(one of our kitchen cupboards with glass storage containers)

In our house, its always exciting to come up with creative ways to reuse items which would normally be expected to be recycled. We love to recycle or reuse items, and for me, mamie (French for “mom”) the homemaker, I enjoy reusing glass containers. All it takes is some creativity. Recycling has been, I guess you could say, part of my nature as it’s been nurtured in me and my siblings. Growing up during difficult financial times, we learned to live within our means and to learned to make-do with what we had. I can honestly say I feel truly blessed for having lived in those circumstances, however difficult it was at the time as it is helping us now. My father, an upholsterer by trade, wouldn't think twice to pick up an old couch on the side of the road and reupholster it for our household.

Good Deals at Frontier Coop Wholesale

I’ve been involved in a local Frontier Coop Wholesale  I believe for almost 2 years.  We have been able to take advantage of reduced prices for many of our kitchen as well as toiletry items. If you've shopped at Whole Foods before, you will remember Frontier brand items.  You’ll find herbs, spices, teas in small quantities and also in bulk as well as some kitchen accessories.

One of Frontier's slogan is "We're one company with three great brands.  They currently carry the following: