Leather Floor?

Nope, it's brown paper bag flooring...that looks like leather! Google it.

The boys have been re-doing our bedrooms. Fixing & painting walls, new flooring & trim etc.

This is what our finished floors look like -- though the trim is not done yet etc.

We rather like it.

We have already noticed that it is considerably warmer than our laminate floors.

We'll have to live on it to see how durable it is, but testimonials we read say that it is very durable. We'll give it a go! If it scratches, we can always add another coat of finish ... or cover it with rugs, lino etc.

At less than $100 per room, it was worth the try. Loads of experience. Tons of fun. A learning experience.

... And learning & lovin' it, is what we're all about here at Live'n'Learn Farm.

Re-Purpose Garden Projects

"Collars" to keep cut-worms off cabbage, brocolli and cauliflower can be made from fish tins, card board tubes, or pop bottles. We need so many we have to get creative and try anything...but they all have a new purpose!





Milk jugs serve as individual "hot caps" for bedding plants or seeded cucs, sqaush a& melons. Just make two flaps out of the bottom of the jug, then press the jug into the dirt with the flaps out in opposite directions and pile on the dirt to keep the wind from whisking away your hot caps. It works for me!

Old socks have served to keep frost off newly germinated seedlings and/or transplants in our gardens in the springtime. while small socks cut open to lay flat cover seedlings, larger socks can usually be cut open and then in half to make two transplant "blankets". It only takes a few minutes to protect a whole bunch of plants ... especially if you only need to grab a pail of "transplant blankets" and put cover the plants. Evenings when frost is threatening are usually calm so there is no risk of the little "blankets" blowing off. Just go early the next morning to collect them all into your basket again. Then I have laundered them so the moist rags wouldn't go moldy in my basket ... 'cause, of course, I want to save them for the next go 'round...or next year.

We keep all of these things to re-use them annually. That way we only have to do the work of collecting and cutting them once.

- the "collars" get stored in old broken laundry tubs in the shop.

- the sock "blankets" also get stored in a re-purposed five gallon pails with a lid ... to keep out mice & cats & other critters that might like to make a snug home in my re-purposed "blankets".

- the "hot caps" are strung up on long lengths of old baler twine then hung behind the shop 'till next year ... I wish I had a picture to show you of the guys carrying the string of hot caps out to the field garden this spring -- it looked like they had a huge white feather "boa" scarf, lol!

Another Smoothie

Breakfast for me is easiest when I make it a smoothie ... and the health I can pack into it is unbeatable.

It tastes good too!

Check out the secret ingredients posted on my Klasse Garden blog.

SWAGBUCKS Birthday

Do you search the web? Do you use Google when you're searching? Or some other search engine? Do they pay you to search? WHAT? They DON"T PAY YOU?

Well, then it's time you sign up with SWAGBUCKS! They pay you to do what you do anyway. I've been searching through SWAGBUCKS for about a year now -- just through my own searches I have gotten almost $40 ... and I honestly do not do a lot of searching, certainly no extra effort is put forth to get this.

Besides that, if I promote SWAGBUCKS here on my blog (like I'm doing now, smile) and any of you sign-up using the link from my blog I would also earn swagbucks everytime you do for the first while. So -- they pay me to advertise for them.

You can do the same ... and get swagbucks also! Go to SWAGBUCKS now to sign-up. Give yourself a gift, it's SWAGBUCKS' birthday.

Little Helpers

In the beginning, work was a pleasure. We know that God created it as a good thing since it was created before the fall of man.

Have you noticed how young children revel in "helping Daddy" or being "Mommy's helper"? Doing a job well or doing something without being told makes little ones stand tall ... then again, we all feel good after a job well done, don't we?

This struck me as being material for a blog post today when I was buying dishwasher soap -- I buy the dishwasher tablets. For two reasons:

1. In my opinion they do a better job getting the dishes clean.
2. Then my little helpers can do that extra little job too. It is a reward that makes filling the dishwasher worth their while!


The cashier that served me had never thought of letting little ones do this job, but she realized right away the value of the idea.

She was equally impressed with another idea that I shared with her - that of storing dishes in the lower cabinets in your kitchen. Again, so that little helpers can readily help to set the table and/or empty the dishwasher. Little ones as young as three and even younger can begin to help around the house. Everyone can earn their keep, so to speak -- after all, everyone likes to eat!

"If a man will not work, he shall not eat..."

These are just a couple ways that we can capitalize on the natural joy that our youngsters have when working. Making it fun and meaningful at that age builds in them the character quality of responsibility and establishes worth in the family.

It also prepares them for life ... and isn't that what parenting is all about?

Helping Haiti

Just another reminder, for us ... and for you.


Just because the pain in Haiti is not over, in fact as these early days progress there is likely new difficulties they face each day.

So, we continue to pray for Haiti -- as individuals, and as a family. Prayer is so powerful. I've been reminded again that it is something that I can do as I continue to minister to the daily and immediate needs of my own family. Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing ... as the Spirit brings someone, something or a national disaster like Haiti to my mind ... I can take that moment to pray!


Financial Gifts:

Our local church set up a fund through which we could give a financial gift of love to our brothers and sisters in Haiti through MCC. The goal of MCC or Mennonite Central Committee is "Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ".

There are many other relief organizations giving to the need in Haiti. Many are listed here by fellow bloggers.

Everyone Can Help Haiti

Their need is so great. We have so much.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

We can give. Here's how: Crystal of MoneySavingMom has organized a means through which bloggers can unite to challenge one another to give to those in need in Haiti.

Who would have thought that a simple click could "make money". This information age is simply amazing! It behooves us to do good:

And you can join in by clicking to give!

Ice-luminaries

Look at this easy, elegant ice-luminary.


We just put a five-gallon pail of water outside to freeze, then when the walls were about 2 inches thick we cut a hole in the top and drained the rest of the water. As it turned out the bottom was very thin still so we just broke out the bottom, put a lit candle on an inverted empty fish tin then placed the ice-shell over-top the candle.

Very elegant.

Someone mentioned seeing this lining the walks outside the church at a wedding -- nice idea, don't you think?

To dress it up, one could freeze decorations into ice as well for extra appeal.

Another tutorial for ice-luminaries can be found here.

Misty's Quincy

Who is Misty, you say?

Misty is our dog, a fun-loving black lab resident at Klasse Woods.

What's a quincy?

It is a man-made snow cave. A pile of snow, any size will harden a "crust" layer on the outside if left alone for an hour or more. Then a cave is hollowed out.

It is a technique that hikers and climbers use for safety & survival in cold climates. We learned of this one year in Saskatchewan when the winter had a low snow yield. It was amazing, the children could enjoy a new form of snow-play. It really doesn't take much snow at all to make a pile big enough for a person to climb in. It is also amazingly warm.

Thus the idea to make a dog house for our dog. We modified it a bit by just covering her previous barrel house with snow. The blue 45 gallon barrel is just laying on its side with a "door" cut into the bottom end of it. It keeps her warm & dry. Now, a nice fresh bed of straw and the dog's own body warmth make it a cozy place for our outdoor dog to take her winter naps.

Our boys had fun shoveling a pile of snow for Misty's own quincy. Thanks guys for taking care of the animals.

Decorative .... Butter?

I like this idea!


These decorative pats of butter add a festive touch to a special dinner. They are very easy to make using inexpensive candy molds.

Simply let the butter soften on the countertop for about 30 minutes. Then, using a butter knife or small spatula, fill the molds. Check the underside to be sure there are no air bubbles.

Set the mold in the freezer for a short time to let the butter harden (it will be easier to get out of the mold if you do this). By applying a small amount of pressure to the underside of the mold, the butter should just pop out. Do be careful though not to dent the butter.

Thanks to Amy from The Prudent Pantry.

Curbing a Cough

Most of us can testify to struggling with a persistent cough. You know the kind that keeps you and your spouse (if you have one) awake at night.

Well, two of my Aunts have given me a suggestion that seems to have worked for at least three of us at various times these last two months. So I figure I'll share it with you -- in case you too can find relief.

Oil of Oregano -- one drop under the tongue stops the cough. Yup, one drop does it! That said though, it is HOT stuff and burns for a bit. I followed the drop with a big drink of water, but it still does the trick.

For administering to little ones? I put the drop of Oil of Oregano onto a quarter teaspoon of honey and followed that with a drink of water. Again, it helped to curb the coughing. PTL! Of course, honey by itself is said to curb a cough, though I find that the duo is even more effective.

Such an easy, healthy fix! I hope someone else finds this useful too.

Favorite Toddler Toys

An empty pop bottle! (For safety sake, tighten the lid well.)







And a cardboard box ...

*************************************************
WORSHIP CONTEST
*************************************************
It is a blessing to worship God with your own original worship songs. This is a contest/project that the whole family can do together.

The details are at:
http://worshipguitarclass.com/contest.html

Check it out if your family or someone you know is a songwriter.

Johnny-Jump-Ups

Edible flower garnishes add beauty, taste, nutrition and elegance to your family meal table. Johnny-jump-ups are delightful in salads or to garnish a dish ... particulary chocolate or white desserts!


Preparation, uses, and tips:

Immerse blossoms in cool water to flush out any tiny insects, and dry thoroughly in a salad spinner. Add to field greens or use as a garnish for desserts.



Buying and storing tips:

Johnny jump-ups can be found primarily in specialty markets. Look for fresh blossoms with no signs of wilting or browning. Store them loosely wrapped in a paper towel placed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Simple Solution

Vinegar, sprayed full strength on dandelions & weeds, is a simple, effective & inexpensive solution to weeds around flower beds, in walkway cracks or on a graveled yard.



In this photo you can see the weeds inside the flowerbed are lush and green while the ones outside were sprayed with vinegar 24 hours earlier. Be careful not to spray the plants you want to keep though because the vinegar will kill it all.

Work From Home

I think I've stumbled upon a work-at-home opportunity that each of us can do...so I'll share it with you:

Early in April I mailed three letters to three different companies. These short letters were kindly letting the companies know my experience with their product. I used the same format for each letter - short and to the point, with a gracious tone.

Here are their responses (click on the picture to make it big enough to read the fine print):


- One diaper company sent two coupons to cover the FULL price of two packages of their new improved diapers (which they are already in the process of developing - they gave me the new product code to watch for) = approximately $25 retail savings.

- Another company sent a coupon for full retail of my choice of their products (a thank you for taking time to send them my results) = approx. $15 retail savings.

- The third company sent a $15 cheque to compensate me for their unsatisfactory product.

So, for a few minutes of my time and few cents spent on stamps I have been compensated with approx. $55.00 !! If I would consistently make that three or four a week? That could add nicely to our household expense budget -- how about yours?
Each of the above reviews were "negative" reviews, in that the product did not perform as they stated and/or I just indicated how the product could be improved upon.

Each company responded with gratefulness to me for the time I had taken to let them know my view of their product.

We are all product testers "in the field". The companies value our opinion!


Designate a time in the week to do this and see it if can benefit your family too. I've made-up sort of a form letter on my Word program so that makes it easier & even less time spent. I keep a running list of products around my home to review and then record when I've sent off a review and what the compensation is, if any. That way I can be careful to only review each product one time. In time, I may run out of products to review, however there are so many brands of each item I doubt that will be anytime soon (every chain store has their own company product) ... I guess we may well be using products that we do not like sometimes. We'll have to see if we can live with that.

I am trying "positive" reviews as well to see how well that is received by the companies. I expect they will appreciate hearing positive product reviews, but they may not "reward" the effort with product coupons?? Still a positive review can potentially brighten someone's day so it would be a good & Godly thing to do.

So, I'm thinking I can use my already budgeted dollars for cleaning, cooking or whatever to purchase items I already need and use ... in fact, I can just write up reviews of products I already have in my home -- and get "paid" for having tried them. Then next time I can buy a different label and review that item.

All of us already are product testers. Try it - Submit a review & wait to receive a reward. Work from home - for yourself & for a myriad of production companies. You be the boss. Your overhead is already in your budget except for the few cents it will take to buy stamps and send off the letters air mail.

Perhaps these reviews could be sent by email. I haven't tried, simply based on my theory that a hardcopy opinion by letter will be perceived as carrying more "weight". For now, I'm enjoying reaping the benefits of product testing this way. If you try the email route please consider sharing your experience with us here? Thanks.

Now if you're thinking you don't use diapers or whatever, think again -- you could use some of those kinds of things to give as gifts, make up gift baskets or diaper cakes. Either way, we can use what God has already blessed us with to bless others and save our family dollars.

Win, Win all around!

A dollar saved is a dollar earned!

Resurrection Rolls

Great Aunt Mary blessed our children with delicious resurrection buns that she had made using her regular bun dough. She then brushed the tops with butter and sprinkled them with cinnamon & sugar mixture.They were delicious and perfectly formed.
Thanks Aunt Mary - you blessed us with your thoughtfulness.

I found the following quick & easy version on the Boyer's blog. Our young men really enjoyed this little project. Next time we'll be more careful to seal all the edges and bake it a little longer:

Resurrection Rolls


Use this object lesson help children understand the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This fun recipe uses Crescent rolls and a disappearing marshmallow!

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:
Crescent rolls
Melted butter
Large marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Read Matthew 27:57-61

1. Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.
2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.
3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.
4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.) This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.
5. Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. (The oven represents the tomb - pretend like it was three days!)
6. Let the rolls cool slightly. The children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN!!!! (The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)

Now read Matthew 28:5-8

Explain: At the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw an angel, who told them not to be afraid. No one had taken Jesus' body, but He Had risen from the dead! The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples what they had seen, that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were so excited, they ran all the way home to tell the disciples the good news! He is risen from the dead! Alleluia!

After that Jesus appeared in person to Peter, then to the 12 disciples and after that, to more than 500 people. Jesus' appearance to eyewitnesses, those who saw Him with their own eyes, would give support and prove that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

By rising from the dead, Jesus proved once and for all that He was the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Chosen One, and the Lamb of God. By dying on the cross and rising from the dead, Jesus did what no other had ever done before. As both God and man, He overcame sin, death, and hell. And now because of what Jesus has done, these things no longer have any power over those who believe in Jesus and allow His Spirit to lead and direct them. Rather than being slaves to sin and death, Christians ( those who love and believe in Jesus) are free to obey God and do good ( Romans 6:17-18). The Bible says in John 8:36, "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

However, we will only obey God if we listen to the Holy Spirit our helper. He enables believers in Jesus to do the right thing. It is important that we read the Bible (God's Word) because one of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us obey God is by reminding us of what He says to us in His Word. God's Spirit will never go against his Word. In fact, when we read God's Word, we are listening to the Holy Spirit. Of course, you won't always do the right thing; the Bible says this ) 1 John 1:5-10). But that is why we need to continue to confess our sins knowing that God forgives us, based on what Jesus did on the cross. This is also a reason we need to spend time with other believers in Christ so they can encourage us in our faith.

May you have a blessed and meaningful Easter!

- Author Unknown -

Enjoy!

EasyClean Stovetop Review

It is now two months since we first applied Turtle Wax to make our "EasyClean Stovetop". It was time to re-apply the wax, especially around the large front burner that we use most frequently.


In review, it is definitely worth it to do this little application - even bi-monthly.

Cleaning the stovetop is so quick and easy with the Turtle Wax applied.

Thanks Mom for making my life just-a-little-bit-easier!

Enter to Win a Booga Bag and More

Hey readers, would you like to win a gift?



If your name is drawn, you will receive a Blue and Purple Booga Bag, a box of All Occasion cards, a Decorative Candle with a lid, 4 Spice Jars with colorful lids, 3 Single Servings of Dandy Blend Instant Dandelion Beverage packets, and a Toby Teaboy. Here is a picture of the prize:


Marci @ Amazing Graze Farm (gotta love that name) has posted a giveaway contest for the above gift package. Go here to put in your entry. The draw will be on March 28th.

Spring into Savings

Yet another great offer this time on topics like: saving money, getting-out-of-debt, frugal living and homemaking tips.


The ladies at LivingOnADime.com and MoneySavingMom.com. have just contacted me to let me know that with the rise in the price of groceries, they have decided to team up to offer you their two grocery savings e-courses along with a huge pile of bonus items. Even better, they are offering this Savin' O The Green 17 e-book package to our readers for $17, a substantial discount off of the regular price of $75 for these e-books.


The e-books that are included in this offer are:


Supermarket Savings 101 eCourse with audio downloads
Grocery Shopping On A Budget eCourse
Money Saving Meats e-book
Saving On Cleaning Supplies e-book
Eating Healthy On A Budget e-booklet
Is Eating Out Eating You Up? e-book
224 Meals In A Hurry e-book
Grocery Savings e-book
Menus That Make Cents e-book
Plan Ahead Leftovers e-book
Quick Dinners e-book
Menu Planning Made Easy
Simply Centsible Breakfasts
Simply Centsible Suppers
Kids Recipes
Menus On A Dime
470 Crockpot Recipes


For more information on this exciting offer, go here.