Life Skills

 

this will be the featured post at Latter-day homeschooling on 11/1/10

Pink Giraffe broom by Casabella
(I own the Cheetah print broom)

What are those three little words a woman wants to hear from her man?
”I do laundry.”
Or how about, “I can cook.”
”I wash dishes.”
Okay, yes, I’m making this a little one sided.  How many young ladies have gone off on their mission with no housekeeping skills, cooking skills, or the ability to do her own laundry (yes, they have to clean their apartments, cook and wash)? How many of us left home without really having any idea what we were in for? (raising my hand, here)  We moms live a life of service, but we  have the responsibility in this serving, somewhere, to teach our children self sufficiency.  I know it is easier to just do it ourselves, that it takes TIME to teach them and we have to SLOW DOWN and be PATIENT while THEY LEARN to do it over and over and over.

Now, this has not been easy for me to do, personally, and I’m still struggling, because I didn’t have the example of involved parents when I was growing up.  They did the best they could, or knew how, I guess. I’m trying to improve on it with my family, teaching them to be responsible, but I also tell my children, that if there is something they did not like that I did, or how I taught, “Improve on it with your own children.  Don’t waste your time whining about how you didn’t like what/how I did. Improve on it.”  ( I have noticed am improvement through the generations)

I have discovered web site about this, imagine that, so here we go…

How to Teach Your Children to Clean Up
Teach your Children to Enjoy Chores..

As I was digging through a stack of old papers, I came across a list, or a basic guideline, of responsibilities our children should be able to learn to do at certain ages.  I’m not sure where it came from, but I thought I would pass it on.

3 Year Olds can learn to

• dress self
• use potty by themselves
• start to brush their own teeth
• put toys away
• say prayers (personally, I think this depends on the individual child)

4 Year Olds can learn to

• brush teeth
• make bed, pick up in their room
• get a bowl of cereal
• make sandwiches
• memorize address and phone number
• start learning articles of faith

5 Year Olds can learn to

• straighten a room
• vacuum
• empty household trash  cans
• set  the table
• make own sandwich
• warm up canned food (with supervision, of course)
• help in the garden, plant vegetables and seeds

6 Year Olds can learn to

• take shower without help
• dust the furniture
• load dishwasher
• empty dishwasher
• run microwave
• water the plants
• make and answer phone calls

7 Year Olds can learn to

• wash dishes
• clean cupboard doors
• floss their own teeth
• clean the bathroom (including the toilet)
• pull weeds in the garden
• have a saving account (if they get an allowance or do jobs for money)
• read aloud

8 Year Olds can learn to

• grooming (nails,notice dirty face)
• get up by themselves
• participate in team sports or clubs (if not sooner)
• notice and develop personal talents
• clean mirrors
• sweep
• do own hair
• begin piano lessons, or other instrument
• get baptized
• read scriptures daily
• have their own library card
• choose books
• care for pet
• help with younger siblings
• be aware of their testimony

9 Year Olds can learn to

• mop the floor
• clean and dust pictures on walls
• bake cookies
• be aware of their 72 hour emergency kit
• learn basic first aid
• wash car  and vacuum interior
• basic carpentry--hammer nails, saw wood
• cook vegetables
• write letters , maybe have a pen pal, thank you notes
• basics of sex education
• email grandparents
• wrap gifts
• sew on buttons when they’ve come off

10 Year Olds can learn to

• Do own laundry
• play musical instrument
• write in journal on their own
• understand the benefits of exercise 
• clean stove
• help more in the kitchen, make salads
• understand basic nutrition
• iron their own clothes
• use leaf blower
• plan their own little garden space
• place a collect call
• know articles of faith
• write creatively

11 Year Olds can learn t

• clean refrigerator
• straighten drawers
• straighten closets
• sew hems
• start cooking---breads, pies, main dishes

12  Year Olds can learn to

• have basic fashion awareness and help shop for their wardrobe
• read  a newspaper article and report on it
• speak in public (4-H or church)
• consider weight management
• make and keep dentist appointment
• iron own clothes,, if needed
• plan family meals
• mow lawn
• use weed eater
• start mission preparation
• have good basic math skills
• use a camera (if you dare)
• learn to crochet or knit
• learn first aid
• take a babysitting class and babysit
• clean windows
• use internet (parental supervision, of course)
• keep personal calendar
• use common computer programs
• read the Book of Mormon through
• basic auto maintenance (check oil, fluids) 
• Mend clothing

13 Year Olds can learn to

• sew simple items
• shop for clothes and other items
• find bargains
• plan parties
• have own recipe files
• shop for groceries
• care for plants –teaches responsibility of keeping something alive
• keep a simple budget
• household bills (gain an understanding)
• Certify for CPR
• Type without looking
• Understand prescriptions
• Learn meat-handling rules

14 Year Olds can learn to

• understand basics of food storage
• memorize social security number
• understand about interest, debt and securities
• use makeup
• identify business skills to get some experience with sales
• understand basic civics and politics
• accompany parent to vote
• perform thorough car detailing
• change flat tire
• use proper etiquette 
• clean garage
• understand basics of car operation
• do simple household repairs
• memorize scripture mastery

16 year olds can learn to

• get driver’s license
• understand credit cards, debit cards
• Use ATM if they have their own account
• sell and by on eBay (only if you are comfortable with it)
• learn about retirement plans
• focus on mission prep
• understand interviewing
• understand advertising
• start career planning
• file insurance claim (if you do that in your household)
• car insurance
• perform household repairs
• assist in purchase of car-research and compare  vehicles before you buy
• open checking account
• file tax return
• interact with auto mechanics
• pay for and use a cell phone
• get a job

Of course, modify as you see fit in your family, but we must remember to be there, teaching, waiting for them to get it.  Perfection at first is not necessary.  If the little one’s clothes are on….great.  Matching clothes is secondary. 

Praise. 

Praise.

Praise for doing something, anything, right.

Would you consider writing a post/guest post on how you accomplished teaching any life skill?  We’ve had a few, but there is room for more.  How did it work for you?  What jobs do your children do around the house and at what ages?  How do you get chores done?

Be Wild Angle Broom found here
These animal print brooms are hard to find.  I am lucky to have mine.
Camo Print Broom by Alice Supply

I have wrapped Tie-Dye duct tape around the handles of my mop and um…plunger. Takes some of the pain out of cleaning.

Teresa is a widow, with 4 children at home, trying to manage this parenting thing on her own. She relies on the Lord for guidance, inspiration and everything else.  You can find her family goings on and a few homeschool activities at Wockenflock Daze.

Food Storage for November

WATER AND FILTER ACCESSORIES

 

 

Amount to store: minimum of 14 gallons/person

1 extra bottle sodium hypochlorite bleach solution

1 bottle tincture of iodine or iodine water tablets

Flavorings for water if desired

Okay, my friends on the baby step program,how is the food storage process going?  Do you see some items in the bottom of your closet starting to build up?  Is your closet running out of room?  I sure hope so.  What can you toss in this month that you didn’t use in October?  Be patient, now, because we will take inventory in December or maybe at the start of the new year.

Now, for November:

A family can subsist for quite a while without food, but for only a short time without water, therefore it is important not to minimize the importance of storing water. The amount to store varies greatly with age and levels of need. For instance, children under three consume more water than adults and also need more bathing than adults. In moderate weather, a fairly sedentary person consuming an average low-protein diet requires a minimum of ½ gallon of water per day for drinking and food preparation. As a minimum, store 14 gallons per person for a 2-week period. A two week period will cover most natural disasters and broken water pipes

Water can be stored in purchased, boxed shaped, 5 gallon storage containers available in stores and web sites selling emergency preparation items. Water can be stored in food grade plastic bottles with plastic lids (with the exception of bottled water jugs and milk jugs. They do disintegrate and leak after a couple years, leaving you with a mess to clean up.) Some to rotate their water bottles in the summer, giving an excuse for a good water fight.  I store water in empty cranberry juice jugs. (Ladies, we also need to store our cranberry juice or cranberry supplements)

Here is a site for water storage containers to give you an idea to ponder on.  I have seen water filtration systems in camping departments at local stores. 

There are 4 basic methods for obtaining drinkable water from polluted water: filtration, chemical treatment, freezing and distillation.(I have yet to find information on how the freezing method works.)   You will find the methods in a table below.  Filtration and chemical are usually used in combination. The water is filtered to remove large particles (like mud), then treated with bleach, iodine or water purification tablets. If desired, flavorings can be added. Lemonade covers bleach a little, but strong dark colors are better for iodine since they help cover the color change of the water.  I happen to have iodine liquid. I am not sure where I got it..maybe on the counter at a gas station…

In an emergency, you can get water from the toilet tank (from the reservoir in the back, not the bowl!!!) or from your home’s hot water heater, if it has been regularly cleaned.  Water can be stored in the bathtub.

Have you considered keeping a rain barrel or two? What do you use for a rain barrel?  Would a plastic trash can do? What are all the ways you use water? What are your needs?

An interesting read about water is National Geographic, April 201o.

WATER PURIFICATION METHODS:

• BOILING: the safest method for purifying water is to boil it vigorously for 2-3 minutes to destroy bacteria. To improve the taste, pour the boiled water from one clean container to another several times to aerate it. Cool, or even add clean, uncontaminated ice to improve palatability. As a last resort, mix up weak (1/2 strength) Kool-aid or lemonade with the purified water.

• DISTILLATION: Most distilling equipment is bulky and expensive, but if you own a juicer it can be used to distill small quantities of water for emergencies. The impurities would remain in the bottom part of the juicer, while the distilled water could come from the juicing hose. Fill the bottom reservoir with water, add the middle section, and skip the perforated basket t hat usually holds the fruit. Place the lid on the second section and boil until you have distilled 2/3 of the water you put in the reservoir. Empty and repeat of necessary. Be careful, because the juicer will become hot like any pan on the stove, and it is easy to get burned.
• BLEACH: Use any brand of 5.25%sodium hypochlorite. BE SURE HYPOCHLORITE IS THE ONLY ACTIVE INGREDIENT. SKIP THE FRAGRANT BLEACH. Using the following chart, add the chlorine solution to the water. Mix by stirring or shaking the container. Allow to stand 30 minutes. The water should have a distinct chlorine taste or smell. If this smell is not present, add a 2^nd dose of the solution to the water and let stand for at least 15 minutes more. The taste/smell of chlorine in treated water is a sign of safety.

Amount of water	Water condition	Amount of bleach
1 Quart	Clear cloudy	2 drops 4 drops
½ gallon	Clear cloudy	4 drops 8 drops
1 gallon	Clear cloudy	8 drops 16 drops
5 gallons	Clear cloudy	½ tsp 1 tsp

• IODINE : 2% tincture of iodine can be used to purify small quantities of water. Stir thoroughly. The taste is not exactly delightful, but the water is safe to use. Follow the chart below:

Amount of water	Water condition	Drops of Iodine
1 Quart	Clear cloudy	3 drops 6 drops
1/2 gallon	Clear cloudy	6 drops 12 drops
1 gallon	Clear cloudy	12 drops 24 drops

Iodine tabs (found in the camping section at your sporting good store, Wal Mart..etc.) will have directions on their bottles.

What works for you?   Do you have an information that needs to be added?  How do you store water and filtration?

Teresa is a widow, with 4 children, who has experience with storing water in the wrong kind of plastic jugs. It wasn’t pretty.  Her food storage is building, and is always on the lookout for a good deal.  You can find her at Wockenflock Daze.

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

One of my favorite FHE lessons comes from Ephesians 6:10-17

10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11   Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,
12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13  Therefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14  Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15  And your feed shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

• You can start out discussing this FHE with the conditions of the world, the subtle tools of Satan in these latter days,and that we are not left alone to fend for ourselves against these things. We have the pieces of the Armor of God to protect us, but we must be willing to wear them.

Discuss with your family the meaning of each piece of the armor:

• Loins girt with truth-  seeking truth of all things, being virtuous,chaste
• Breastplate of righteousness-this piece covers our heart and symbolizes keeping righteousness in our heart
• Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace-this piece covers feet and shins, which are on the floor as we pray.  Prayer is how we prepare ourselves for our daily lives, communicate with the Lord.
• Shield of Faith-when we maintain our faith or strengthen our faith the Lord, build our testimony, we can withstand anything Satan can send our way.
• Helmet of Salvation-this covers our head, helping us to remember what we allow into our minds
• Sword of the Spirit –which is the word of God and cuts through falsehoods, lies and untruths

If you wish, use the printouts of the dolls and armor pieces, found here for the body, and then here for the armor, for discussing each piece as a visual.  One for each child works well, coloring each piece as you discuss it, then gluing them in place.  We made a poster in our family that has been up for years (see the worn, well traveled poster at the top of this post)

Additionally, if you have it, you can dress a child up in pieces of costume armor, discussing each part as you go (improvise where you need to). And the best part is when the rest of the family gets to throw” fiery darts” (red paper airplanes or simply, crumpled red papers) while the child uses any piece of the armor to knock it away.  The people throwing the fiery darts call out some tool Satan might use to tempt them, such as, disobedience, poor choices, lying, bad TV shows, etc.  It’s great to watch our Latter-day warrior bat them away.

Another armor of God object lesson is to show what happens if we remove our armor, even piece by piece.  You’ll need:

• 2 oranges
• large clear glass bowl, or a  truffle bowl or 2 clear pitcher
• water

Fill your containers with enough water so that the oranges are floating well above the bottom of the container/s.  They float because they are protected by the peel, which can be likened unto the armor of God. 

Begin to remove the peel, one piece at a time, discussing which piece of armor might come off, what someone might do to remove it, then place the orange back in the bowl.

That first time, depending on how small a piece has been removed, it may float at the same level as the unpeeled orange, but you will find that as you continue to remove it piece by piece and place it back in the bowl each time, it sinks lower and lower…..
Until the peel is completely removed and the orange is resting on the bottom.

You’ve made your point, the impact is made and they remember this one.

Serve the oranges for FHE snack.

Teresa is a mom to 4 Latter-day Warriors, who wear their armor proudly.  You can find their family goings on and a few homeschool activities at Wockenflock Daze.

Pumpkin Vase

I forget where I came across this idea, but I loved it and make this eyery year now.

You scoop out the insides of a pumpkin, insert a foam semi circle, and arrange your favorite fall  flowers. 

A woman was asked what it was like to be baptized and she said something like, “It’s like being a pumpkin. Jesus opens you up,scoops out all the yucky stuff, puts a smile on your face and places  a wonderful, glowing light inside.”

Peter Pan and his Shadow

Patrick and his friend Troy had a Masquerade dance to attend, and Troy’s mom thought it would be fun for the two of them to go as Peter Pan and his Shadow. She did a great job putting their costumes together.  Just look at them!!

They took a prize, of course.  They went about, synchronized in all they did, asked girls to dance, speaking in unison as they asked, holding a hand out to them as they asked, they walked in unison, ate in unison, stood alike….But Patrick couldn’t scratch.  Troy couldn’t scratch because his makeup would rub off.

Katie Rocks On!

Katie’s latest creations…

The fish is going to be  my Christmas gift…….  *;-.)

Our Tin Can Pumpkins

 

I found these in a newspaper magazine insert and loved them!!

You need:  cans of varying sizes, Orange spray paint, Newspaper for work area protection, hammer, nail, wire for handle, candles and a sense of fun.

• We used one of really big cans that used to hold food storage amounts of rice, a large baked beans can, and two 16-oz cans. 
• We washed them out, dried them,
• then flattened any sharp edges.
• Patrick spray painted them Pumpkin Orange, then..
• poked holes in them using a hammer and a nail. He stuffed the cans with logs and sticks to hold their shape while he made the holes. 
• Two holes are make in the sides, near the rims, to…
• fasten a wire handle, twisted for fun design.  I used a lighter gauge wire, but you can use a heavier gauge.

Aren’t these great?!  I put a votive candle inside a glass votive cup for the two larger cans and used tea lights for the smaller sized.

Storage Item for October~~emergency supplies

the original of this article is being featured on Latter-day Homeschooling, 10-4-10

We are striving to be a wise, and prepared, virgin.

How is your food storage coming?  Have you checked your pantry yet to see what can be tossed in your closet for this month, anything left over?  What have you purchased?  Do you see your food storage building? 

This month we are talking about emergency supplies.  We are touching on a few aspects about acquiring emergency supplies, what we need, what stores will run out of in a national emergency, recipes for emergency baby formula, cleaners, wipes, link for my favorite storage and emergency recipe book, and links for Pinto Bean Pie recipes. Happy browsing!

Do you have a 72 hour emergency kit (a printable file) for each member of your family? People store different things in their kits.  I came across this one first. If you google “72 hour emergency kits”, several links will come up.  Store what works for your family.

When I was a new member, I was counseled to rotate items in my 72-hour emergency kit every General Conference weekend.  Rotate food items, i.e. crackers, oatmeal packets, etc.  Check expiration dates on medicines, first aid supplies.  Check what more you might need. Have you considered Dental supplies, such as Dentex for lost fillings and loose caps?  Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about having an extra bottle of prescription meds in your emergency kit in case of , well, emergencies where you won’t be able to get to the pharmacy.  Rotate monthly.

I found this to be an interesting site:

Top 100 Items to Disappear in a National Emergency

In the above link, you will find products stores may run out of immediately.  Best to have it on hand already.  One item that was not listed on the link was a Hand Crank Wheat Grinder.

I found an interesting article in “Mother Earth News” magazine, Feb/March 2010, about the Cam Mathers family that lives off the grid completely now, growing their own food, solar power, wind turbine, wood stove, etc.  Cam has written a book , “Thriving During Challenging Times: The Energy, Food and Financial Independence Handbook”, detailing how they’ve achieved their lifestyle.  I am interested in reading this.

I have listed recipes, below the storage item block, for Emergency Baby formula, home made baby wipes, anti-bacterial cleaning wipes, homemade laundry soap and newspaper logs.

Food Storage Item of the Month for October

Fuel and Light,

Alternate Energy, Cooking,

Candles, Flashlights,

Clothing and Warmth

72-hour emergency kit expiration date check and rotation

FUEL: What do you use to heat your home?

A wood pile is a good source of emergency energy for warmth, light and cooking, but only if you have a fireplace or a wood stove. 3-4 cord of wood will last a typical winter, if burned only during the day, and just enough to keep the house warm. More is needed for an open fireplace. Newspapers can also be turned into clean-burning logs. (Directions will follow)

Kerosene heaters are available at your hardware stores. (Sorry I do not have information on kerosene storage. Your dealer may know what you need. If I get the information, I will get it to you.)

When using dry heat, consider keeping a pan of water steaming to add moisture to the air.

COOKING: Meals can be prepared over an open fire, as our scouts have been practicing. Roasting hotdogs using the newspaper logs might be a fun FHE activity either with your woodstove, fireplace or outdoor campfire, and you can see what it takes to control the mess if done indoors.

An emergency tin can stove is simply a #10 can with a heating unit. (The #10 can is the really big one we get from the Cannery or from the institutional canned food aisle at the grocery store. Can you eat that much Fruit Cocktail?) Corrugated paper can be rolled tightly around a candle stub and put into a tuna can, then soaked with wax. Place it on a heatproof surface, light, and set the tin can stove over it. Cook on the stove “top” which was formerly the bottom of the # 10 can.

Of course, camp stoves work well also.  Store butane canisters.

LIGHT: A typical ½ inch taper candle will burn for 3-4 hours and if placed in front of a mirror or pie tin, gives off twice the light. Put a small plate under the candlestick to catch the wax if the candle holder doesn’t have a cup to catch the wax. (Do you know how to make candles?) Votive candles burn less brightly, but longer. Votive holders get very hot when the candle burns continuously, and can burn wood surfaces, so it might be a good idea to protect the surface with a hot plate or pot holder.

A two battery flashlight will provide light for 3-4 hours continuously with old batteries and 5-6 hours with new. An additional 1-2 hours of use can be gained by using the flashlights only intermittently.

Consider adding light bulbs to your storage.

Coleman lanterns are readily available along with butane canisters.

Oil lamps are readily available,  Store Lamp oil and wicks.

WARMTH: Do you keep a blanket in your vehicle? What about those silver thermal blankets you find in the camping section at the store? They take up very little room. What do you need that makes sense for your family? Do you need anything extra for warm clothing?

Solar Power is an alternative to electricity.

Wind Turbine Power is also becoming more popular.

NEWSPAPER LOGS

Divide the day’s paper into sections and fold them to one-half size (about 12”x15” and ½” thick or less.) Place them n a tub of water and either soak overnight or add 1 TBSP detergent to a large tub of water and soak an hour or two. Then, while wet, roll the sections individually on a 1” rod and squeeze out the excess water while smoothing the surface edges. Slide the rolls off the rod and stand them on end to dry, tipping the rolls slightly to allow air to circulate. The “logs” should be about 12” long and 2” to 4” in diameter. They are ready to use when completely dry. The average week-day newspaper will make 2-3 logs, and the Sunday edition will make up to seven logs. Newspaper logs provide, pound-for-pound, about the same heat as wood and is an efficient energy source. 4 logs last approximately one hour.

Emergency Baby Formula

(from Cookin’ with Home Storage by Peggy Layton.  I love this book!!)

1/3 cup plus 2 tsp. instant powdered milk
or
1/4 cup non-instant powdered milk
1/3 cup boiled water
Mix together and stir thoroughly.
Add:
1 Tbl oil
2 tsp sugar
If baby bottles are not available, milk can be spoon-fed to an infant.

Home made Laundry Soap
5.5 oz -ish bar Ivory Soap ( I used 2-3 oz bars)
1 1/2 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (or other available brand)
1 1/2 cups Borax
1 -5 gallon bucket with lid

With a vegetable peeler, shave soap into a 2-qt pot. Add 4 cups hot water and melt the soap at a medium heat, stirring frequently. When the soap flakes melt, pour soap and water mixture into the 5-gallon bucket and fill it 1/2 full with hot tap water. Add the 1 1/2 cups each of washing soda and borax. Stir until powders dissolve. Fill bucket with hot tap water, cover with the lid and let sit over night.

Next day, you will find a layer of glop at the top of the mixture. Stir until glop breaks up. This is now your laundry soap concentrate and ready to use (this mixture will continue to thicken to the consistency of hair conditioner).
Select a container with a lid for your working mixture--empty vinegar bottle, drink pitcher...whatever works for you-- and fill 1/2 full with hot water and 1/2 with concentrate, leaving enough room for shaking expansion.
Shake before each use. The original recipe calls for using 1/2 cup laundry soap for a large load of laundry. A friend of mine was able to get away with 1/4 cup per large load. (she washed very dirty nasty towels, smelly rags and they came out looking and smelling fresh and clean. ) See what works for you.

Make Your Own Cleaning Wipes 
Here's what you'll need:
(

1) roll Bounty paper towels (these seem to hold up the best; I've also heard that Viva towels do pretty well)
(1) Rubbermaid #6 square container & lid, or other similar size (10-cup) container with tight-fitting lid
(2) cups water
(1) ounce Lysol all-purpose cleaner (according to the bottle, this 1:16 dilution will give you hospital-grade disinfecting)
You'll also need a long serrated knife (like a bread knife), an electric knife, or a small hacksaw. (I use a long serrated bread knife.)

2) Begin by cutting the roll of paper towels in half, so that you end up with two shorter rolls. (It may help if you cut down through the paper all the way around until you hit the cardboard tube in the middle, and then cut through the cardboard tube.) Brush any loose "fuzzies" off the cut ends, and trim any large clumps with scissors if desired. You'll only need one half of the roll right now; save the other half.
Add the water and Lysol in your container, and swirl to mix (do not shake - you'll make suds).
Next, turn your half roll with the cut side down and gently fold in the sides of the cardboard tube in the middle of the paper towel roll until you can pull it out of the center. It will pull up the inside end of the towel roll with it, and that's just what you want.
Place your roll cut side down in the container with your cleaner and water mixture, and close the lid. Allow the paper towel roll to soak up all the liquid (about 30-60 minutes). Then turn your container upside down for 1-2 hours so that the cleaning mixture can saturate all of the roll. Once it's done, turn it right-side up and you're ready to go - just grab the towels from the inside of the roll, tear off as many as needed, and replace the lid.

3) Depending on how quickly you go through these, you may need to add just a little water periodically to keep the towels moist.
You can, of course, substitute other brands of cleaners if you'd like. Just be careful that you don't mix different cleaners together. Or if you would rather stay away from the chemicals in the Lysol, you can try this recipe for the cleaning mixture:
1 tsp baking soda
2-5 drops dish soap
3 Tbsp. white vinegar
2-3 cups water
Be sure to label all containers and keep out of reach of small children.

Make Your Own Baby Wipes

You can use the same method for making your own cleaning wipes (see previous post) in order to make your own baby wipes as well (with different ingredients, of course).
Here's what you'll need:

(1) roll Bounty* paper towels (or a half roll left over from making cleaning wipes)
(1) Rubbermaid #6 square container or similar
(2) cups water (distilled or tap, depending on your preference)
(2) Tbsp. baby wash or baby shampoo
Optional: (1) Tbsp. baby oil or baby lotion
Prepare the same way as you would the cleaning wipes.
I usually just used tap water, and I left out the baby oil/lotion. But you can use distilled water or boiled tap water (which has cooled to room temp before using the wipes) if you want. Adjust the amount of water based on how relatively wet or dry you prefer your wipes.
As before, you may need to add a few drops of water periodically if your wipes start to dry out.
If you also make your own cleaning wipes, make ABSOLUTE SURE to label each container so that you (or anyone else in your household) don't accidently mix them up!
*I've found that Bounty works really well. You'll want to use a paper towel that is quite thick and is not prone to giving off a lot of lint.

Happy prepping, my friends.  Do you have any ideas, recipes and favorite books to share?

Teresa watches the “Jericho” series often enough to keep considering the importance of food storage and emergency supplies.  She is not ready for everything that could happen, but is working toward it. She intends to try Pinto Bean Pie and Pinto Bean Fudge someday when she is brave enough.

 

Seein Things, by Eugene Field

he original of this post is featured at Latter-day Homeachooling blog on October 4 2010

Since I was an adult convert, I didn’t have the comforting truths of the Gospel as a child.  I believed in creepy ghosts, monsters, the basement creatures,  and, oh, the things that went “bump” in the night. (shudder)  I remember being afraid of the dark, and the things I saw in the shadows…(shiver)….just last night, in fact.  *;-.)

As a child, I found this poem and thought it was the funniest thing I’d ever read. Still do. While I don’t believe children “see things” because they’ve been bad, I think it is a result of a child’s imagination over their insecurities of reality or what they can’t see.  This poem changed my life, my perspective~ the dark can be funny.

SEEIN' THINGS

by: Eugene Field (1850-1895)

AIN'T afraid uv snakes or toads, or bugs or worms or mice,
An' things 'at girls are skeered uv I think are awful nice!
I'm pretty brave I guess; an' yet I hate to go to bed,
For, when I'm tucked up warm an snug an' when my prayers are said,
Mother tells me "Happy Dreams" an' takes away the light,
An' leaves me lyin' all alone an' seein' things at night!

Sometimes they're in the corner, sometimes they're by the door,
Sometimes they're all a-standin' in the middle uv the floor;
Sometimes they are a-sittin' down, sometimes they're walkin' round
So softly and so creepy-like they never make a sound!

Sometimes they are as black as ink, an' other times they're white--
But color ain't no difference when you see things at night!
Once, when I licked a feller 'at had just moved on our street,
An' father sent me up to bed without a bite to eat,
I woke up in the dark an saw things standin' in a row,
A-lookin' at me cross-eyed an' p'intin' at me -- so!
Oh, my! I wuz so skeered 'at time I never slep' a mite--
It's almost alluz when I'm bad I see things at night!

Lucky thing I ain't a girl or I'd be skeered to death!
Bein' I'm a boy, I duck my head an' hold my breath.
An' I am, oh so sorry I'm a naughty boy, an' then
I promise to be better an' I say my prayers again!
Gran'ma tells me that's the only way to make it right
When a feller has been wicked an' sees things at night!

An' so when other naughty boys would coax me into sin,
I try to skwush the Tempter's voice 'at urges me within;
An' when they's pie for supper, or cakes 'at's big an' nice,
I want to -- but I do not pass my plate f'r them things twice
No, ruther let Starvation wipe me slowly out o' sight
Than I should keep a-livin' on an' seein' things at night!

 

Have you considered having your child write about what he or she thinks of the dark? 

What will we find out?

Teresa is a ‘fraidy cat who learned from an old Bill Cosby monologue about the music that keeps monsters away at night.  It goes like this…. “neh, neh, neh, neh, neh, neh, neeeehhh” repeated over and over.  It works.  She has not been eaten.  These days she is afraid of the Faulk monster that travels through rural central Arkansas.  You can find her singing her monster repelling music when she is walking the property at night and at Wockenflock Daze.