cloth diapering

http://simplemom.net/the-simple-mom-cloth-diaper-review/ has been taking us through cloth diapering 101. Take time to look at the information provided in the week long break down of all you need to know about making the change to cloth diapering.

My family is making the switch for a couple reasons:

1. To help cut the cost of keeping our kids' bums clean and covered.
2. My kids have sensitive skin.
3. We already recycle a lot of our packaging and compost so diapers and the packaging they come in take up our small trash can every week.
4. The house always smells like dirty diapers with the disposibles piling in the trash.

Need more information about making the switch for your family? And did I mention a giveaway at Simple Mom?

D70s

Those of you who know me well will realize what a stretch it is for me to say this... I own a digital camera by choice. Jonathan surprised me with a Nikon D70s. It is a digital SLR body that I can use with my lenses from my N4004. I will be taking photos at a special wedding next month which was a great excuse to take the plunge into the digital world more seriously. Also, I have not been able to practice my darkroom skills or for that matter my film skills either.  So, now with the digital SLR I will be able to practice without breaking our bank. We have been saving money here and there as we sold the extra stuff that has been just collecting dust and cluttering our home. It is always hard for me to buy the bigger purchases but we are so excited for me to pursue a passion that has been sitting on the back burner waiting for me to pay it some attention.  I'm not giving up on the black and white darkroom magic but in this season of our lives it will have to wait. 

I want to stretch myself so if you have an experiment or specific shot you would like to see let me know and I would love to take a stab at it. Please email me or leave a comment, and I will get back to you. 

Spring Cleaning Party (Continued)

Life happens.

That is why my postings and honestly my spring cleaning is still in progress.  Just wait though I will get it done or my name isn't knittingnettsie.  

Do you ever notice that your list seems to just multiply instead of get smaller. I am pretty sure I have been working the last week on things that needed to get done but my list feels longer.  So, I suppose I will have one really GREAT post with photos once I have a moment when the baby isn't screaming or my son isn't needing to be on my lap wanting to "type" too. ( read: push random keys that make windows pop up) 

No rest for the weary. 

Yogurt in the Crock Pot

Yogurt making in our crock pot

I used 2% milk that was on its last leg for the date on the gallon but it turned out fine. 

A bit runny but in smoothies fantastic! 

This has got to be the simplist thing in the world. The hardest part was remembering to stop what I was doing and take a minute to do the next step.  This afternoon we had smoothies with our homemade yogurt. 

Spring Cleaning Party: Day Two

"Spring Cleaning Party"

Oh my! I had that much dust on my fans!

 After: Living room floors still wet from mopping

Toys: Before

Toys: After

I will still perfect the toy area but it will do for now.

*Sorry the image is on it's side*

Ceiling fans: Before

Ceiling fans: After

I still need to finish the desk/dining area tomorrow but I did get the majority of the work done today. We even sold our 20" CRT television this evening for some cash in our pocket! YEAH! 

Spring Cleaning Party: Day One

Kitchen counter : Before

Kitchen counter: After

Kitchen floor: Before

Kitchen floor: After

Kitchen bar: Before

Kitchen bar: After

Divider and Desk: Before

Divider and Desk: After

I have been cleaning all stinkin' day! Although it feels nice to have a bit cleared off I am far from clearing off all my surfaces.  I did get the main areas cleared so I will have to be good with that today. 

Chicken Stock in a Crock Pot

Vegetables that I added to the bottom of crock pot

Chicken that I bought on sale for .69/lb (bought 3) 

WITH the neck and innerds YUCK!

Cooked chicken and vegetables straining

I did put the carrots and garlic in with the broth and mixed it with a stick blender 

Removed chicken from bones which were soft enogh for me to squish with my fingers

I only have a 4 qt. crockpot so I got what you see in the picture and 2 cups  that went straight into a meal 

I like to label my jars with sticky notes with item, amount and date

Chicken stock ingredients 

(chicken is in the bowl) 

I was excited to be able to cook this in the crock pot but followed these two recipes. Please go visit and see all that they have to say. You just might be in for a real treat. 

spring cleaning

http://www.sewmamasew.com/media/blog/SMSSpringClean.pdf :checklist

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=786 : cleaning sewing machine

Tomatoes and Peppers

Today my son and I started tomato and pepper seeds inside. Late maybe but I hope he enjoys seeing them grow throughout the summer. 

My daughter went to her two month well-child visit today and got her shots.  There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain.  

Ah well not much excitement going on and I have recipes to add to my household notebook

Eliastown

Photo: Eliastown

After being inside all day because of our snowstorm we were all getting a little crazy so we pulled out the brown landscaping paper, my husband and I started creating a little town that our son could drive is cars around.  It is still a work in progress but it has been fun. I plan to put up a picture of the finished project...stay tuned. 

photo: Gwendolyn and Elias

3/28/09

And here are my wee ones.  My son is sporting a black eye after playing with our dog.  When I held some frozen peas to his face he started snacking on them and ate a lot of them too!  My little girl is now two months old.