Heritage album class

Despite the frigid temperature outside, we were able to gather at my home and make the family heratige albums. We first talked about proper care and storage of old family pictures and documents and how to preserve them. It is very important to realize that htese images are being lost forever while they are stored in basements and attics and subject to the harsh conditions therein.

After that lecture, we promptly started making our albums...we did paper bag albums, which oddly enough are not acid or lignin free. So basically, everything we talked about was just tossed away and we had some fun. The ladies brought photocopies of old pictures. Some ladies brought picures of their grandkids. One sister made an adoption book instead of the family heratige album. It was just a fun night. As usual, when ever I do an album or a paper art project night, the evening draws to a close close to midnight or even later. This night was no exception. So, I offer a big THANKS to all the daddies and husbands out there who so willingly kept the home fires burning as we scrapped. Here are some photos: Enjoy!

Frugality at its finest! Homemade Laundry Soap!

How would you like to seriously save some cash, be eco-groovy, and have amazingly great smelling clean laundry with NO soap residue??? Well, this is the post for you! Here is an experiment that I tried earlier this weekend. I have been considering it for a while and did quite a bit of research about it. What spurred it on was the fact that Tide and Cheer prices were inching up close to 10.00 per jug. Even with a coupon you only save .50 or 1.00 after you buy 2 jugs of goo.

I realize that convenience has absolutely taken over our world. Everything has to be in single serving packages, redi-made, instant, microwaveable, or obtained in a 3 minute drive thru transaction. It seems like we have lost touch with the way things used to be done. About 2 years ago I posted my favorite wheat bread recipe so, now, 2 years later, let me share with you my favorite recipe for homemade laundry soap. I even have pictures of the mess and the ingredients for your viewing pleasure. I made two batches that provide enough soap for 50 or so loads depending on how stinky the clothes are. Store it in a nice air tight container. My calculations so far the laundry soap is coming in at about .10 per scoop. I have 3/4 of a box of Borax and Washing Soda left. I probably have a year supply of ingredients OR MORE!

So with no further adieu, here is the recipe:

Powdered Laundry Detergent

2 Cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated)

NOTE: 1 Bar=1Cup

1 cup Washing Soda

1 cup Borax

· Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.

Use 1-2 tablespoons per full load. The mess... I used a cutting board to cut the Fels-Naptha into chunks. I put it through our "SALAD SHOOTER" twice. The first grate, it looked like old lady toe nail clippings, but then it fell apart into wonderful little granules.