Creating my Homestead....one seed at a time

Soapmaking

canadamomma — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:03:47 +0000

Well this past few weeks has proven to be amazing for learning techniques.

Soapmaking and baking in its finest….for an amateur anyhow here are some images

I taught myself cold process and hot process soap making…..both very interesting in their own ways, the cold process did not trace for me as I thought it should but hardened all the same, and the hot process went as planned, and was cut the same day, mere hours later. I have made (so far) honey and oatmeal (cold process) and clove with cocoa for color, (hot process) both hopefully will be used as part of my Christmas gifts this year.
I will post pictures as soon as I get them uploaded off the camera, in the middle of packing again for the big move to the new house.
Its coming along well, the septic was put in this week. As well as we chose the spot in the basement for the 3rd bathroom to be roughed in.
So darn exciting!! I have the best most amazing husband ever…who never ceases to amaze me.
Still trying for baby number 3….and he informs me he want babies…not baby….lovely lol so maybe two more is in my future <3
I am so very lucky.
I am looking into the snugglywrap as opposed to a sling, more versatile in the long run as hubby can wear it as well as me, not having to purchase two separate carriers.
I am soooo excited, I can’t wait to go through it all over again <3

A week of triumphs

canadamomma — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:34:23 +0000

Its been quite the productive week in my busy little life….I taught myself 3 different techniques, all different subjects yet rounding out to the same outcome really, to save money and control what goes in our systems.
First I made homemade apple butter, nothing new for me really, its delicious and oh so simple to make. The spin is we went to the orchards and picked our own apples this year ( I love family field trips) and I canned them as opposed to just freezing it. So I can hand it out at Christmas in baskets.
Number two; I made our own laundry soap; was quite simple actually, and is great for the HE washing machine, low suds…..and for about 13 dollars I made a little over 300 loads worth. Not bad for a start, and it smells soo divine.
The third and most interesting so far is I taught myself to knit, I knew the basics years ago but not much and last night I started out, and by this morning I had made a dishcloth and am proudly using it in the kitchen already. My son got so excited he asked if he could use it to clean the table tonight, so adorable.
It was an amazing week, an amazing birthday today as well, my essential oils and coconut oil came in the mail, and my MIL bought me the stock pot and digital kitchen scale that I need to make my soaps. Awesome so very excited to learn.
My wonderful husband bought me a Cricut package with 3 cartridges in it for our new office/craft room in the new house. We cannot wait, the foundation is dug, hopefully poured by the weekend.
The house is starting out as a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom (our master bedroom has its own….YAY) and by the end of next year hopefully it will be a 5 bedroom 2 1/2 bath…..
Oh the possibilities……
More to come <3

Eye Candy

canadamomma — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:20:48 +0000

This week I have been fairly focused…fixated if you will…on wraps. I want a Moby or a Cuddlywrap but I cannot for the life of me decide which, I like the fact that the Moby has UV cloth as well as organic cotton, which is important to me so maybe a trip home to Ottawa will include a trip to Milkface….
Just returned home from the FREX, spent the day there with Daphne Adam and Erica, was a blast..Matt is still scared of heights to the point where he was yelling at us during one ride, I laughed so hard I was tearing up; it was sad and hilarious all rolled into one.
Tomorrow is a family outing day; apple picking yummy….
I will be making batch after batch of apple butter, to hand out as gifts.
My essential oils are all ordered and should be here on Friday, right after my birthday woohoooo, then its just getting the scale/pot and lye and we are all set, 4 different batches of soap, I will post pictures once I get at least one done.
Then its back to school on Tuesday for my little gaffer…..time has flown by into grade 3 already, too bright for his age too, but thats a promotion of healthy learning environments, a class of home schooling I prefer.
Sigh, I am a sleepy woman, needing her sleep, lots to think of and lots to plan.

Its time?

canadamomma — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:44:13 +0000

That time of year again, the harvests are slowly rolling in….and I am busy preparing Christmas gifts. The soap take a while to cure so therefore getting a jump on it is in my best interest.
I will be regaining the knowledge of knitting this week, refreshing myself with the various stitches so I can begin on the other half of the gifts. I hope these turn out well. I know people appreciate something you make by hand but I just hope its at a quality level I would appreciate.

Tomorrow is registration for school; its wonderful that the school Matt is slated to attend here is the same school he will be attending once the house is built as well so no switching, not that it would matter much to him, hes so complacent.
I will miss him once he goes back but it will also be nice to get back into a routine of my own, starting aerobics with my doting MIL soon enough as well.
We are officially trying to extend our family now; a sense of euphoria and peace has settled over my heart; all these warm and fuzzy thoughts rolling through my mind. I am scared and excited all at the same time but its something we both want, and now is as good a time as any.

Cleansing

canadamomma — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:14:54 +0000

We just returned home from an amazing….absolutely amazing week at the cottage.
The weather was perfect, only two cloudy days in all, and they were well spent playing board games and watching movies.
Parlee beach was beautiful, but the eco center beach was much more so, less crowded and did not cost a dime to get in. Also seen jelly fish and were able to walk out forever in the beautiful sand.
We went canoeing, which was a little scary as I got pulled into the current, and I had never canoed alone before, was just Matt and I…..thank goodness my Husband came to rescue me in his kayak…
We spent all week hiking, walking, sun bathing and hanging out…best week ever. Was definitely relaxing.
Lots of ideas are flowing for making soaps, Daphne and I are going to try it out in the next few weeks. We visited a Soaperie near the cottage, saw the process being done, and brainstormed a tonne of ideas.
I am sleepy now, lots of ideas running through our minds, following the theme of colors in our new house, my talented husband will be building lots for us.
Time for bed….time to dream <3

Christmas planning? Mayhaps

canadamomma — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:23:43 +0000

I spent the majority of the day today researching recipes, techniques and videos on how to make soap. Would make wonderful Christmas gifts…to say the least.
I love the whole idea of natural soap, natural cleansers, natural everything. If I can control what my family ingests and lathers on their bodies; I will.
Much safer environment in the long run, I do not have a very large carbon footprint herein and I hope to maintain that.
A compost bin is already being designed by my wonderful husband as well as a greenhouse. Wonderful ideas, hes even putting them before the plans for his workshop/2 bay garage.
Its amazing, to be so handy, to be so down to earth, and to be so creative.
Just look at the wonderful things a person can do when they feel they have the self worth to do so.
Self worth is a very powerful tool, one I now see in my Husbands eyes. Finally.

Stones Throw

canadamomma — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:00:27 +0000

Where our home will be built

It has officially begun
This morning we met with the contractor who will be up heaving and clearing out our 1 acre lot for our new home to be built in. Very exciting to imagine our new yard, there are lots of trees behind the “house” which pose a lot of possibilities. Right now my husband is in the midst of designing me a greenhouse for winter growth. I will be plotting our garden area as soon as we move in, as well as building a compost bin. How exciting is this.
I posed a goal for myself, before the end of Fall I want to have learned to knit dishcloths for myself (and others of course)
Enough of the new house, its too hard to think of anything else lately, especially if I write about it.
Last weekend we camped at Bay of Fundy National Park, was my first time camping there, our son’s first time camping period and it was amazing. Two nights in the park, 3 campsites side by side, we went with two other families. Its nice to have best friends who are able to co-ordinate weekends and outings together. Taking the time out to enjoy one another is essential in happiness. It was also Erica’s first time camping, she’s merely two years old; and despite worries from Mama and myself she did wonderfully, slept great, slept in even and thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors.
Friday we leave for a cottage for a week with friends. Time away for the wives to be a little spoiled, not that we aren’t at home, but any chance to be spoiled in a new environment, I won’t shy away.
Parlee beach, canoeing, relaxing by a bonfire in the backyard. Sounds delicious. Especially the 2 acres of waterfront….
Its good to be home and I truly cannot wait to be in “our home”
Countdown is on, should be 30-40 days left on construction and its going by so painfully slow at this point.