An En"Tire" Day

Saturday was a tire day.  We built a tire bike rack and got a good start on Ellie's birthday present.  It felt good to get some items off the "to-do" list. 

We also got a post in the ground for the pig pen.  Well, Bryan got the post in the ground.  I handed him the shovel and bar and post hole diggers.  But the other side of the area still had large ice crystals, so that project has been delayed another week. 

The Bike Rack

I had planned on digging a hole for each tire individuality.  Bryan looked at the picture of what I wanted, and decided that digging a big trench was the easiest solution. Good thing we have a lot of shovels--the kids were eager to help.

Digging the hole with Daddy's supervision and direction

Once the hole was dug, Bryan checked for levelness. (Another step I would have missed).  Then we needed to select tires.

A trip to the junk pile yielded enough tires of around the same size (15 in). 

We worked together to set the tires in place.  Then we had to put the dirt back.  It took some time to really pound it all together.

But it was worth the work!

Ellie's birthday present is also turning out nicely.  We were able to use scrap lumber for one of them, so we'll only need to buy a board for the other.  We decided to just make two, since two children can use them at the same time. 

It needs a coat of spray paint, but is otherwise complete.  I think she'll love it! 

Next on my tire list is another planter.  I'm hoping to get flowers in in a few weeks. I've never planted flowers before.  Any tips for a newbie?  Easy to grow flowers?  I know I want perennials so I don't have to plant them each year. 

Photo Round Up Update

No pictures to share again this week.  They were really hard to take on my phone, and so I didn't take many.  The ones I did take weren't good quality and are hard to transfer to the computer. In other words, it's not worth the effort for the result. :) 

So I'm not sharing. 

But, Bryan got the iPod Touch up and running again for me, so I'll be taking more pictures again.  While the quality won't be as good as it was on my phone, I'm looking forward to sharing next Saturday.  I enjoy capturing life's little moments.

Until next week...

Why Running Isn't For Me

After February's frigid cold and icy days came to an end, I resumed the C25K Program I started in January.  I recently completed this program.  Yup--I can run for 30 minutes now.  That's pretty neat, considering I couldn't run for more than 5 minutes before starting.

Yup--that's me braving the snow to get in a run.  Thankfully there's no more snow now!!!

The problem?

I still really don't like running. 

I like exercising. I like moving.  Being active is awesome. 

But I don't like running.  For thirty minutes straight. 

And so I've decided that running isn't the best exercise for me.  Yes--some people love to run.  Some people even learn to love running after doing it for a while.  Running works really well for many people.

But I'm not one of them. 

My knees and ankles hurt when I finish. 

I can't take the kids with me. Which limits the time of day I can do it.  A

And I just prefer other forms of exercise. 

I completed my goal--I can run three miles now.  I actually finished the C25K program.  I've started that so many times, it felt really good to finally finish it.  I'm in much better shape.

But despite all of the positives, I really don't enjoy it.  So I'm going to stop.

I'll be walking.  I'll be hiking.  I'll be pushing Owen's wheelchair off-road.  I'll probably even do some running--in intervals.  I really preferred the beginning weeks of C25K...


I will still be active and make it a point to get in 30 minutes of exercise at least three days a week. 

But no more running!  I'm excited to feel excited about exercise again.

What are your thoughts on running?  Do you love it or hate it, or feel indifferent?

My Tire Planter!

Today I felt like being crafty during quiet time.  I had my eyes on these tire planters for a while, and decided to finally try making one. 

The tutorial I linked to above gave the best directions on how to actually flip the tire inside out.  More on that step in a bit...

First I had to pick a tire.  If you remember, we have 100s of tires sitting in our junk pile out back, and I really wanted to start putting them to good use. I wanted a tire on a rim, because I think the planters on a pedestal looked amazingly cool!

Thankfully one of the first tires I came to (read, closer to the barn where I was going to be working) was fairly soft, and on a rim.  I declared it a winner, and rolled it over to the barn.

Next began my trial and error process of cutting the tire.  Cordless saw thing?  Nope--just got smoke.  Hand saw?  Nope--couldn't fit in the space between the treads and the rim like I needed.  Razor blade?  Nope--too short to penetrate all of the rubber.  Boning knife? Yup--that did the trick.  Good thing I had an extra!

I probably should have used chalk and drawn a pattern.  But I didn't.  I just did some freehand stabbing and cutting.  There's always next time!

Once I had the tire all cut, it was time to try flipping it.  Yeah...that was a problem.  I picked a tire that was too big.  I couldn't get my knee up in it like the tutorial suggested. I was too short and the tire too tall.

I tried standing on a bale of hay (not recommended!), on a pallet, and squatting over the tire.  Nothing worked.

So I rolled it over the porch and waited until my dad came by after work.  He got it started for me.  And then I could fit my knee in and we eventually got it flipped.

It was hard work.  We were both sweating and wondering if we'd ever actually get it done.  But then little by little, one bit at a time, it started to flip.  We were so excited! 

The results?  I love it!  I still need to pressure wash it to clean it up, and then I'll paint it.  Once it's painted, I'll add some dirt and some flowers. 

I want to make more.

But I will be using smaller tires next time.  I think it'd be much easier to flip without the rim as well.  But I like the base. 

What do you think?

The "petals" definitely aren't symmetrical.  I'll draw a pattern next time!

I have been working on a bike rack out of tires as well, and Ellie's birthday present--seesaws from tire halves.  I'll share those when I finish. 

Life Without My iPhone

A couple of weeks ago, I dropped my iPhone.  It was a sad, sad day!  The screen cracked and my husband and I ordered a new part.  It finally arrived today. But despite my husband's valiant efforts, the repair was not meant to be.

So my iPhone has been disconnected.  And I'm back to using my old Samsung Convoy--a standard flip phone. 

Guess what?

I'm okay with that.

What you might not know is that I was really struggling with an iPhone addiction of sorts.  I always had it on me.  And was always on it. 

Kids have a question...just let me Google it.  On my phone.  Immediately.

Need a new recipe? Or just think I do?  Google it immediately. 

Oh, was that an email, better read it.  Immediately.

Text message?  Must be important.  Let's read it immediately.

You get the picture. 

My smart phone provided constant access to the Internet.  It was too easy.  I reached for it constantly.  I put aside other tasks to do something on the phone. 

The contract on my phone expired back in October of 2013.  We really considered shutting it off at that point.  But we didn't. 

Instead I tried to change.  I tried setting limits for myself.  But I kept breaking them. 

It didn't work. 

And now?  The Lord answered my prayers in a way I didn't expect.  With a broken iPhone and a repair that didn't work out. 

We talked about ordering another phone for me.  But you know what?  I don't need it. 

I need a phone.  I have a phone.  My Samsung works great!

I need a way to check my email.  My laptop works perfect!

I need a way to have alarms throughout the day.  Yup--the iPod we have will tackle that task. 

All of the things I NEED my phone for have been covered.  It's a blessing! 

And that extra $40 a month we'll save on our Verizon bill?  I did the math (with an online amortization calculator)...and if we throw that amount towards Sallie Mae (our final remaining debt!!!), we'll be out of debt a little sooner.  We're hoping for six years now.

So out of debt sooner...less temptation to be on technology all the time?  Yup.  A broken iPhone can be a blessing! 

Planning Our Friday Adventures

The snow is gone! The mud is almost dried up!  That means we're able to get outside again as a family.  Last fall, I started doing a Friday adventure with the kids.  Winter's cold and snow halted those expeditions.  But now?

Time to start again!

My rules for our Friday fun...

1.  Must take place on the property.  I don't want to drive all over when the Lord has blessed us with all of this amazing land.
2. Must allow for all of us to participate.  That means Owen's wheelchair needs to be able to get there since he doesn't walk well outside yet.  It means it has to be close enough for the little ones to walk.  Or have logging road access that isn't too scary for me to drive with the Suburban. 
3. Must be suitable for all ages--engage my 12 year old and my littles (and me!!!)
4. Must be simple.  Simple is good.  Learning to be content with simple can be hard!
4.  Must be fun!  Nough said.

Last fall, we did a Pirate adventure and a Cowboy adventure. We also swam at the creek, fished and built a fort. 

Grouse Creek provides hours of summer fun!  We are so blessed to have it running through our land.

Here are some of my ideas for this year.  Some are simple and will be repeated.  Some require more planning.

1. Walk to the waterfall and have a picnic
2. Walk to the cedar grove and play house in the young trees
3. Picnic at the creek & splash play
4. Beaver Adventure (walk to beaver pond & examine the abandoned dam; look for chewed trees & shavings, beaver poo...)
5. Bird Adventure (checklist with different birds to find, listen for bird calls, look for nests, look for Canadian geese tracks in field)
6.  Swimming Fun in the Creek (we'll go to a shallow spot where Owen is fairly safe).
7. Hide and Seek in the back woods (away from roads and the creek for safety)
8. Inventor Game at the junk pile--lots of building material to use! We'll bring a simple tool box and some nails and screws and see what happens.  Owen and Sydney will love climbing on the simple tire structure we'll make for them first. 
9. Go on a knight adventure (look for sword sticks & bark shields, and have a great battle)
10.  Play orphans at the mountain fort when the service berries are ripe so we have food to gather
11. Go wild berry picking and race to fill the containers; look for wild strawberries to go with the service berries.  We have wild raspberries at the creek too--maybe we'll find them. 
12. Gather different wild plants & make a salad at the creek--plantain, dandelion,lambs quarter, etc.
13. Scavenger Quest--Each person goes to a different spot and makes a list (or picture list) of 5 things they see.  Bring all lists to the base, and put lists on the ground.  Go grab a list that isn't yours and get hunting. First one/team back wins.
14. Wild Wolf Adventure--go to the waterfall cave & turn it into our den, play wolf
15. BBQ Fish Adventure--bring the BBQ down to the creek and cook what we catch.  Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout swim through Grouse Creek. 
16. Lunch & Quiet Time Camp-out-- put up tent in the yard, roast hot-dogs in the firepit,eat some s'mores, 'rest' in tent, & sing campfire songs.  

I've never actually camped before.  This will be a true adventure!  I'm too much of a chicken to actually sleep outside at nighttime right now.  Too many bears, cougars and bobcats...oh my! But, I know that people survive camping all the time.  So...maybe someday....

Do you have any adventures planned for the warmer season?

Homemade Lotion Bars

About a month ago, I tried making my own deodorant.  I'd never really made any personal care products before that.  But the deoderant I was using (a spray on that someone gave me) was making my family gag when I applied.  I knew that wasn't good.  So I started looking into homemade options. 

I've now been a bit obsessed with what I learned.  I can't believe how much junk is in the things I use everyday.  Like toothpaste.  And lotion.   Yikes! 

But, I also learned how incredibly simple it is to make these products at home using natural ingredients.  I've slowly been replacing what we use. 

A few weeks ago, I made my first lotion bars.  I'd heard that they were good for cracked hands and feet.  And I sure have those!

After doing some research, I found an easy looking recipe here.  I ordered Shea butter and beeswax from Amazon, and waited.  When the ingredients arrived at my doorstep, excitement reigned in our house. 

I gathered my helpers, and we started measuring.  We dumped the coconut oil, Shea butter and beeswax into a quart jar.  This jar was placed in a pan of water on the stove.  We waited.

It was neat to watch everything melt.  The coconut oil was the first to turn into liquid.  Followed fairly quickly by the Shea butter.  The beeswax was stubborn and stayed solid for a while. 

But eventually everything was liquid.  I took it off the stove and had Ellie add a few drops of lavender essential oil.  A quick stir was needed to mix everything one final time.  And then we poured it into some silicone molds. 

I was amazed at how quickly they hardened.  During this process, the mixture went from clear and translucent to white. 

When they were completely cooled, we popped them out of the molds. I made 12 bars out of the recipe.  And REALLY like using this lotion.

It truly has healed up the cracks on my fingers and feet.  I'm so happy! And I'm really excited not to have to rely on the chemicals in traditional lotion any more.  These work better and are natural!  After all, our skin soaks in what we put on it.  I'm trying to learn all that I can. 

I've now made toothpaste, deodorant, chap-stick and lotion bars.  I think it's amazing that the ingredients are really similar from one item to the next.  It really helps to save money in the long run!

Soap is my next goal.  I'm waiting on my lye to get here...We'll see how it goes!  What's really neat is that we're getting piglets soon.  When we butcher this fall, I can render the fat into lard and use that in soap. I like knowing where my ingredients come from!

Have you made any personal care products before?  Any recipes you'd recommend?