Wilke Family Homestead

Wonder Wash - So Easy a Kid Can Do It!

2016-12-19T21:24:00.002-08:00

I have wanted a Wonder Wash for years!!!

In our previous home, we had a front loader washer and dryer (eeek!). To stay green, I barely used the dryer and used my drying rack for most of our clothes. No way did I want to pay that Hydro Man once more red cent!

So, as mentioned in my last post, we downsized to an apartment. For all of you apartment dwellers out there, how do you feel about washing your clothes in a machine that has been used by many tenants in your building? We live in a building that is predominantly of a senior population and I got tired of pulling my dark clothes out of the washing machine only to find them covered in remnants of facial tissue. After that, my mind went into a whirlwind thinking about bacteria, bedbugs, dead skin flakes....you can imagine. I am a nurse by trade of of course I am going to imagine the worst case scenario.

Oh, and I neglected to mention that it costs $2.00 for a load in the washer and another $2.00 in the dryer. Most of our clothes are hung to dry anyway, so I would lug a wet load up the stairs to the third floor where we live...(and then deal with the "facial tissue lint" when I got upstairs). Too much work and not enough in return.

So, I went on Amazon.ca and bought this amazing Wonder Wash machine by Laundry Alternative Inc. (www.laundry-alternative.com). It cost me $69.00 (give or take) and free shipping. It came the very next day.

I have literally not done any laundry in our "apartment laundry facilities" since I received this great addition to our family two weeks ago. I no longer have to try and find the right change for the machines,no lugging or hauling clothes or dealing with laundry lint.

This machine is super easy. My 9 year-old daughter can now easily assist with our laundry chores simply with the turn of a handle. I help out with the rinsing and wringing out the clothing (Mommy duty).

This Wonder Wash baby holds 5 pounds of clothing (basically half a load in a regular machine) and does it all in one shot. If you don't want to wring out your clothes, you can purchase the Mini Countertop Spin Dryer (requires an electrical source). I actually enjoy the physical exercise from wringing out the clothes - but maybe because I am rebellious against using Hydro!

I now do our laundry every two days. It takes about 10 minutes maximum of my time which includes the beginning of the wash-to-wringing-to-hanging. It takes me longer to consume a cup of coffee these days.

I highly recommend Wonder Wash to those who do not have access to laundry facilities within their home - those who want to limit their imprint on the earth and those (of us) who want to feel independent and empowered without having to rely on external resources.

When the power goes out, everyone is coming to our home to wash their laundry in our Wonder Wash! You can bet on it!

Beat the Hydro Man!

2016-12-19T20:46:00.001-08:00

Three years since my last post and hopefully I am three times more educated/smarter/better off in life..and so the saying goes...

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!

First of all, we live next to this great city of Toronto, Ontario. Housing prices have jumped to sky high levels and professionals are now moving to our suburban area offering way more than the asking price of homes that are initially listed for on the market in our area. We are in the throes of a bidding war. Many homeowners are putting their homes up for sale at a certain asking price. They then wait for a week to see all offers "up and above" the asking price and settle on the highest bidder. Great sellers market - sell your home at a premium, rent for a year, then buy a house next year when the market settles. Easy peasy right?

For ourselves, we knew we had to make a change with respect to our own home. Our hydro (yep had a "smart meter"), gas, water and food bills were increasing steadily, yet our incomes were staying the same. Our 9 year-old daughter seemingly developed a strong passion for dance and gymnastics which was also very important to us.

I actually pondered the possibility of downsizing for probably two to three years before it finally became a reality and a necessity. I say necessity because we gradually seemed to stop living over time and just kept on working. It's funny (in a peculiar way) how long that an individual will let themselves run on the same "hamster wheel" in order to keep up with the status quo.

Well, thank heavens for that wonderful term called "fatigue". I got "tired" of paying the Hydro Man, the Gas Man and the Water Man (usage = sewage)....Oh and shall I mention all that snow shovelling the snow in the winter? We do live in Canada and our weather can be unpredictable for sure.
Regardless, after a lot of fretting and worrying, we decided to make a huge leap!

We officially downsized from a three-bedroom and three-bathroom home and leaped right into a two-bedroom and one bathroom apartment that includes heat, water and hydro. What a shock to the old system in so many ways. First of all, we have nowhere near the amount of floor space as we did before, but let me tell you we no longer have to worry about all of those other bills! Everything is included in one price! Heat, hydro and water all in one nifty bill due by the first of the month. Incredible if you ask us!

Now we are able to budget more accurately and plan for the future. We beat the Hydro Man! (For Now)

Biolite Survival Camp Stove

2013-10-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

This is the greatest Survival Camp Stove I have seen to date!
Firstly, Kudos goes to my brother Don who found this online and showed me about a month ago.
As soon as I saw the stove and watched the video, I was sold. I ordered it immediately.

This amazing stove can boil a liter of water in less than 5 minutes - using dried twigs and sticks.
And to go even further, the energy created by this stove can power up your cell phone or tablet! Genious!

This stove is going to go viral. I bought mine online from Mountain Equipment Coop in Canada (www.mec.ca).
Free shipping to boot! Now that's my kind of deal.

Since I live in the city, we are not allowed to have open fires. Since purchasing my Biolite, I have had "campfires" almost every night!

This little stove is self contained. I recommend placing it on a concrete patio block and keeping a bucket of water close by - just in case the fire department wants to come and check it out (they will likely want to buy one of these amazing units btw)

Think about something- if the power goes out, you cannot refill the propane tank on your bbq, you cannot use your stove or any other electrical appliance. What are you going to do? Well if you have a Biolite Campstove, you will take a walk and gather twigs and branches from dead trees; its all you need. That will be your fuel. Best part? Its free fuel! I am all about free stuff!
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This little stove is so efficient, I can't believe the height of the flames from burning just twigs!
There is also a grill attachment that you can buy - we will be buying ours within the month. The grill can easily cook 4 hamburger patties and 2 hot dogs in a cinch.

If you really want off the grid, this stove is a great beginning. I would love to hear about others who have this same stove and how they have self sustained themselves and their families. Recipes would be so welcome too!

I will be writing more blogs about my experiences with my Biolite Campstove along with a new type of homemade firestarters that I have found to be very effective.

My Brother and I

2013-10-06T22:13:00.001-07:00

My brother is 12 months older than I am... To be exact, 12 months and 12 days, but who's counting?
I barely remember that my mother required a double stroller for the two of us and we were very active toddlers.

He is a dedicated sportsman who loves to hike, trek, kayak, camp and snowboard - he is also the most amazing self taught computer technician I have ever seen.
Myself, I am a nurse, scavenger, crafter, sewer and designer. Together, he and I make a great team - best of friends. It has always been that way and we can't imagine a life otherwise. Whatever he can't do, I can do and vice versa. A Dream Team!

As we have become adults and still the best of friends, we endure the cold Canadian Winters together. Rather than become hold up in the house, we want to get outdoors and go for a picnic. Crazy Canucks? We wouldn't have it any other way - besides, we have a name to live up to!

During the cold months of January and February, our family will trek for miles in the snow, ice and cold. We pull my 5 year old daughter Ava in a sled along with our food and survival tools, then hike into the forest to look for a sheltered place to cook our lunch over an open fire..
If our gloves or mittens get wet, we dry them on twigs over an open fire. Need to wash our hands? No problem, I fill a metal pot with snow and place it alongside our fire and within an hour, we have good hot water to wash our hands. Does this sound appealing to many of you?

Ladies and gentleman...this is our reprieve from society. This is our way to run away from society norms, expectations and rules. We find our own way which is most certainly governed by the laws of Mother Nature. This is our little escape in order to find balance in our lives.

As we near the beginning of a Canadian Winter (and I have heard that the forecast is calling for a lot of snow this year), my brother and I are already getting excited about planning our weekend excursions.

Ava and Uncle Don

Welcome June Rain!

2012-06-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

We also welcome the first day of June today! June is one of my favourite months, coming second to September (Harvest Time!). We enjoy the balmy mornings and warm afternoons without the intense heat that comes during the middle of July.

Today is dark and rainy, but we do not mind at all. I actually had to use the flash on my camera to take today's pictures...
After many months of waiting for a good rainfall, we are pleased to see that the day has finally come. The rain is pouring down and quenching the thirst of all the newly planted seedlings in our gardens.

Because the soil is completely parched, our main concern is that the majority of the precipitation that we receive today will end up running off as opposed to being absorbed into the soil.
***I am praying for a thunderstorm this afternoon which will provide nitrogen (from the lightning) to "green" everything up!

Strawberry Plants

2012-06-01T06:30:00.001-07:00

Wilke Reflection of the Week

***Each week, our family takes time to pause, reflect and appreciate a special moment in our lives. We would like to share this reflection with you.

"Beating the Heat"

Brown Tap Water Today

2012-05-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Brown tap water has always been a turn off for me, as I am certain that it is for most other people.

We had a slight rainfall this morning which seemed to have resulted in brown tap water in our home around lunch time. It has been such an usually dry Spring season with our area having received less than 1/3 of our usual rainfall amounts. Everything is dry in Ontario. Forest Fires have been raging, lawns have a burnt look and the dust has been flying with even the slightest gust of wind.

Growing up, we lived in a small town located in a valley. Every Spring, we would have brown tap water, some days worse than others - we called it "Farm Run-Off". I remember how my Mother used to panic because she couldn't use the household water. This always amazed me because we encountered the same situation every year yet she was never prepared - even though we all knew that it was inevitable.

Today, I immediately called some of my neighbours and advised them that they may potentially experience brown tap water. We weren't sure if it was due to "run-off" from the rain or perhaps a broken pipe. I then ran downstairs to my cold room and grabbed a bottle of water from our storage supply.

Interestingly enough, we were prepared and didn't panic. Most families do not have a back up water supply and would be rendered helpless in a situation like we experienced today. Likely, they would run to the local grocery store and spend their hard earned dollars on bottled water to get them through this "mini crisis". Well, what happened if our entire neighbourhood was unable to use tap water? The local grocery store would run out of stock very quickly and then what? Something to think about for sure...

Here is a simple guideline that we follow regarding Nature's Most Valuable Resource:

Firstly, as a family, we have learned that it is important to keep a backup supply of water for unexpected situations. Our general rule is 1 litre (1000 ml) per person for 30 days = 30 litres. If you have a family of 4, then you would require 120 litres. This is the absolute minimum amount that we use as we need to ensure that we have the storage space. If you have more space, then store as much water as you can. For us, this water is designated for drinking and cooking.

Secondly, we always save our bath and laundry water so we always have grey water readily available for flushing toilets.

Thirdly, we stop using our 45 gallon rain barrels once they get down to 1/3 full. This provides us with a security net of water that we can use for washing/bathing should our tap water fail.

If you are "saving water" it is important to ensure that you are using food grade plastic, stainless steel or glass containers. Your water storage supply should be replaced every 90 days to ensure proper hygienic and sanitary conditions.
***In the case of disaster, you need to be prepared for the fact that it can take up to 2 weeks before you and your family might have access to clean drinking water!

Curbside Find - Terracotta Trio

2012-05-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

I was excited about this find and just in time for our Spring Planting. I found a set of 3 Terracotta Pots with a peeling paint job right in our own neighbourhood. It didn't matter because the pots themselves were free of any cracks or chips. I haven't even repainted them as I found them to be rustic looking. They have found a new home on our back deck and I planted my favourite Lavender seeds in them. Perfect just the way they are!

Foraging Garlic Mustard

2012-05-07T17:37:00.000-07:00

One of my wonderful neighbours brought me a salad last week. It contained Garlic Mustard, Dandelion Greens, Cherry Tomatoes and Apple Slices. It was a beautiful salad complimented with an outstanding dressing of Rice Vinegar and Udo Oil (http://udoerasmus.com/products/oil_blend_en.htm). Gorgeous, Healthy and Reviving are words that come to mind when describing this salad and wonderful act of kindness from my neighbour.

I was interested in hearing further about the Garlic Mustard Plant. This plant was first used as a culinary herb dating back to the year 1868. It has a wonderfully pleasant garlic taste which becomes apparent approximately 5 - 10 seconds after first munching on the leaves. It is a very invasive plant and has been outlawed in some states in the U.S. It's supposed to have a slightly bitter taste, but we love it so much we don't even notice!

Just 2 weeks ago, I was weeding and did not realize that I was removing copious amounts of Garlic Mustard from a corner of our backyard. I could not believe that what I thought was a weed was actually beneficial food for us! This plant spreads quickly each year, however we have it on the opposite side of our garden in order to keep it under control. Because of the underlying hint of garlic, it naturally repels insects and fungus. It is very easy to recognize. If you are not sure, just rub the leaves between your fingers and wait for that great garlic scent.

Garlic Mustard is high in Vitamin A and C. It can be used on cuts and minor abrasions, the same way you would use regular garlic.

You can also use it to make a fantastic Garlic Pesto, or add to salads, stir fry's, soups, casseroles, omelets or wherever your heart desires! We have started adding this to dishes where we would normally use garlic or onion for extra flavour and vitamins.

If you are a person who retains fluid easily (like myself!), Garlic Mustard contains diuretic properties which should minimize fluid retention naturally - without paying the cost of a prescription or having any undesirable side effects.

In my search, I have found a wonderful and easy recipe for Garlic Mustard Pesto:

Ingredients

3 packed cups of garlic mustard

½ to 1 cup walnuts (or other nut of your choice)

1 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1 cup Parmesan cheese or Romano cheese, grated

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Combine garlic mustard, garlic, and walnuts in a food processor.
Slowly add olive oil until desired consistency is reached.
Add cheese and process briefly.
Taste and add salt or pepper if desired.
Serve over pasta or spread on crackers or sandwiches.

Plastic Bags? No Way!

2012-04-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Whether you want to preserve all of the goodness from your garden or save those leftovers, what is the first thing you reach for? Is it the Plastic Wrap or the Ziplock type bags?

Always remember that "when you buy plastic, you are buying future garbage". Plastic does not break down easily. It will break and wear out, but the pieces will continue to exist. It will develop an unusual "sticky" feeling when it starts to break down and makes a terrific black smoke if melted or burned.

Why pay hard earned dollars for anything that is destined to end up in the trash? Whether is it a day, a week or months from now - this is money down the drain. Might as well throw it out the window.

The prices for Oil and Energy are rising and you might find yourself wondering where your paycheck is going lately. Now is the time to sit down and start to evaluate where you would like to spend those dollars. The biggest savings begins at home. All of the little things will amount to a bigger dollar amount if you take a closer look. Why pay for what you don't have to?
Our family does not like to spend additional money on special packaging in order to preserve our foods for the refridgerator or freezer. We save our plastic containers from yogurt, margerine and cream cheese, etc. Sure you can't see what's in them, but a nice label made out of masking tape and a pen works well for us.

Plastic Grocery Bags? A thing of the past. We use reusable cloth grocery bags. They cost about $1.00 which can be a slight investment if you need several of these. You do have options: Your local thrift store will sell them for $0.25, or you can fashion an old t-shirt by cutting off the sleeves for handles and sewing up the bottom - easy peasy!

We save on not having to spend money on fancy bags or labels and have extra money to spend on more food! Completely Fool Proof!

Reducing Paper Products in Your Home

2012-04-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me as to how much people are willing to pay for things like Paper Towel, Toilet Paper, Tissues, Napkins, Plates and Cups...

Interestingly enough, Kleenex and Papertowels didn't even exist before the year 1925. How did people cope with those runny noses and messy kitchen spills? The answer is simple: Cloth.

It's easy to lose track of the fact that many major Companies are offering products that are almost impossible to resist - especially if "convenience" is going to make life easier. These Companies claim to have a "hold" on civilization, trying to lure us into thinking that we would not be able to live without their products - they make a lot of money from this marketing concept.

It is interesting to note that upscale restaurants have linen tablecloths, linen napkins and warm towels in the restrooms. Why does this feel luxurious to so many individuals when it should be a part of our daily routine at home?

In our home, we try to minimize the use of all paper products. To us, paying for paper products is like throwing money into our trash bins. We use cloth whenever we can - and feel like we never have to do without. The best part? We never feel that sense of "panic" because we have run out of paper products because cloth is easily washed, dried and ready to use!

Here are some examples:
Papertowels - We use 100% Cotton Terry Cloths
Paper Napkins - We use Linen Napkins
Tissues/Kleenex - We use 100% cotton hankies/bandanas
Toilet Paper - Cloth Wipes
Paper Plates/Cups - We use Stoneware and Mason Jars

Curbside Find - Flying Machine

2012-04-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is a fantastic find! In the package, never opened and ready to fly! It doesn't get much better than this.
Our family doesn't have any use for this, however I am certain that a child would love to spend a windy afternoon flying this colourful and wondrous kite around their local park.
Left at the curbside for us to salvage, we have posted this on our local classified ads and have already had a couple of inquiries!

Today's Appreciation: Fresh Baked Bread

2012-04-19T18:27:00.002-07:00

I bake all our family's Bread and Buns from scratch. I have been doing this for over a year and a half and would likely choke on a piece of "store bought bread" because of the change in taste.

We have adjusted to our homemade baked food to the point that it is now difficult to even look at the bread aisle in our local grocery store. This goes for cakes, muffins and pastries as well. Interestingly enough, while at a neighbour's home, I opened up a package of store bought bread and it took my breath away. It smelled like a cross between vinegar and formaldehyde.

I was prompted to write this post after meeting with a neighbour this morning who wanted to make her own homemade bread, however, had difficulties kneading dough for any period of time. While speaking with her, I remembered an older Bread Machine that I had in my garage. Today, I gifted the machine to her and walked her through how to use the machine on the dough cycle - this would do the kneading quite nicely.

I look forward to hearing of her breadmaking adventures as her skills evolve - I get excited about this kind of stuff. Plus, it makes me feel good to help someone else learn new sustainable skills.

I do have to admit that breadmaking is somewhat of a skill. In the beginning, I remember baking loaves that could have been used only by a brick layer, however I was determined and it has paid off. I have also mastered the art of making Sourdough Bread which I will be describing shortly in one of my posts. There are a lot of tricks with making sourdough that you won't always find online - it's all trial and error.

Here's a super easy recipe that we use for our Daily Bread. You can make it either by hand or by using a Bread Maker. We like to bake our bread at a lower temperature if baking in the oven as it helps to ensure that our bread is cooked all the way through and is golden - without burning the outer crust.

White Bread Recipe (1 lb loaf)

1 cup of lukewarm water
1 tbsp. oil (butter or margerine will also do)
2 cups of white flour
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. traditional yeast
1 tsp. salt

For Bread Machines:
Put all of the ingredients in breadmaker in the order given. Set machine for "light" and 1 or 1 1/2 pound loaf.

By Hand:
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in water. Add remaining ingredients and knead for 10 minutes. Place dough into a large and lightly oiled bowl. Turn the dough to ensure that it is lightly coated in oil. Place a teatowel over the bowl and let rise for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Punch down, then form into a loaf and place into a lightly greased loaf pan. Cover again with a tea towel and let rise for another hour.
Bake for 20 - 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Voila! Don't forget the butter!

Sock Monkey Wine Bottle Cover

2012-03-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

I have made so many stuffed Sock Monkeys for the children in our lives that I feel I have "Mastered the Art".

One of my girlfriends who is one of the most creative, innovative and endearing of all has asked me to design a couple of Sock Monkey Wine Bottle Covers for her upcoming Wine Tasting Event.
The main reason for the wine bottle covers would be to "hide" the types of wines that the tasters would be sampling. Plus, who can resist anything that is "Sock Monkey!"

I went online and found that a typical Sock Monkey Wine Bottle Cover is sold for approximately $10.00 US and it looks like someone sewed 2 buttons on a sock and slipped it over a wine bottle. Our Family is all about quality and I felt that adding "ears" would kick things up a notch!

I then took it upon myself to design my own version and have to admit that I am very pleased with the results. I can't wait to hear what the Party Guests think of my latest creation!
My daughter kept me company in my design room this evening. She counted and sorted buttons for the "eyes". When she wakes up in the morning, my lucky girl gets to give each cover its own personal name!

Curbside Find - Garden Hose

2012-03-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

This is the first of many new posts celebrating useful items found on the curbside that are destined for the trash.
Today I found a wonderful Yardworks garden hose in excellent working condition and it was right around the corner from our home!
I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself knowing that these retail for over $30.00 (CAN).

Our previous one was so full of kinks and knots that I eventually cut it to make a siphon for our rain barrel. I have since purchased a manual pump siphon to extract the water from our rainbarrel - but hadn't replaced the garden hose.

Here's the proud pic of my curbside find!

Nickleback - "When We Stand Together"

2012-02-29T18:17:00.001-08:00

Nickleback: "When We Stand Together"
I have heard this song playing on our local radio station over the last couple of weeks and finally stopped to listen to the words yesterday.

I was so moved by this song that I just had to see what the Video was all about. You can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RbWuFll0Y&ob=av2e (copy and paste this link into your browser).

Just listen to the words, "We Must Stand Together...hand in hand forever...that's when we all win." The video pictures everything from war, to poverty and even the war on hunger. There is a picture of people carrying sacks and gathering items in a Waste Management Site...this is survival for many living in Third World Countries. I have read previously, that in one location, there are as many as 700 people living in this type of environment - they do not have jobs or income and are desperate.

Did you know that there are countries so stricken with poverty that many residents live at the "Dump?" They all run to the coming garbage trucks so that they can be the first to eat the best discarded food or salvage aluminum cans to sell for money?

"I have always said that there is strength in numbers. If we stand together, we will survive and achieve. "

Both the Beat and the Words of this song are so incredibly powerful and the pictures in the video are moving...if you find yourself going through difficult times, this song is an eye opener!

Time to Start Planning the Seedlings

2012-02-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

This coming weekend, we are planning a trip to our local Hardware Store. They have an abundance of heirloom and organic seed varieties for planting.

We are planning to do something different this year for our gardens. I am planning on digging out the Perennial Plants from the front flower garden and filling it with herbs. We have been looking at planting the flowering herbs such as Calendula, Echinacea and Lavender for the front beds - maybe add some varieties of Basil. Our Oregano and Mint are well established in the beds at the back of the house so I am happy to leave them where they are. The front of the house has that gorgeous sun from the South and everything seems to thrive with little maintenance.

I purchased balcony planters last Fall when they went on sale and am planning to see actually how many vegetables that I can grow on my back deck this year - aka Container Planting. This is a first for us, but we have many hours of sun hitting on the deck which should provide an abundance of produce that we can preserve through the winter months of 2012/2013.

Homemade Cloth Baby Wipes

2012-02-27T18:01:00.001-08:00

These wipes are so easy to make and super easy to use!
Last year I found an Ad in our local Newspaper and found a woman who was selling $1000.00 worth of fabric for just $50.00! I so scored!
I ended up with an abundance of fabric types. Flannel, wool, rayon, cotton, broadcloth, nylon and fleece. It's going to take me a long time to get through this fabric, but I am trying very hard to put it to good use.

One of the uses I found with the Flannel fabric was to make Homemade Cloth Baby Wipes. Not only does this save on the cost of buying baby wipes for those small backsides, it also saves on toilet paper!

I cut fabric into 5 inch x 7 inch rectangles (lots of them!) then set out to make my concoction and put these wipes into action.

Recipe for Homemade Cloth Baby Wipes:

1. Place clean cloth wipes into a good sized plastic container with a lid (I used the regular baby wipe containers, these suited us perfectly).

2. Boil 1 1/2 cups of water - remove from heat

3. Add 1 tablespoon of Baby's body wash or baby shampoo

4. Add 1 tablespoon of Baby Lotion
Mix together well and pour over wipes in container and let cool. Cover with lid and voila!

"My daughter prefers these wipes over toilet paper and has become accustomed to this method, it doesn't even phase her."

***We keep a big pail with a lid in our bathrooms that contains water, baking soda and bleach. Once you use the wipes, place in this bucket to soak and when it gets full, you just rinse out the wipes, wash them and start over again. I can't even begin to think about how much money we save on paper products using this method.

Children Learn What They Live

2012-02-21T23:50:00.001-08:00

As a child growing up, I remember my Mother hung this verse on the wall in our Home. I didn't understand it then, but fully appreciate it now.

As Parents, we get caught up with the Schooling, Sports and Dance Lessons, but forget about this Poem that originated many years ago...by Dorothy Law Nolte and Rachel Harris:

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

When You Raise a Child, You Are Raising a Future Parent!

2012-02-21T21:39:00.000-08:00

I love the title of this Blog...and it's because we all know that it is true. When you raise a child, you are raising a future parent. More likely, you are raising a parent for your very own grandchildren!

I am introducing a Parenting Series in my Blog because I am first and foremost, a Mother. Secondly, I have such wonderful readers that I hope that many of you will be able to take some of this with you and apply it in your own life when you feel like pulling your hair out! (hey, get those grey ones first!).

"I remember my life before children, but the funny thing is, I can't believe that my daughter wasn't in my life until just a mere 4 years ago - funny how it works that way, isn't it?"

As far as our family is concerned, children are the most beautiful and amazing beings that Mother Nature has ever created. They will try your nerves, yet touch your heart in the same passing minute. They have the ability to leave us speechless at times, put Picasso to shame and entertain the elderly all within a day's work!

Sometimes, when I am speaking to my own daughter, I feel like I sound like my own Mother who was an Elementary School Teacher and loved Children. She was an amazing crafter and could sew or crochet like nobody's business! My mother has long since passed away, but I know that her values and traditions have been impressed upon me since my own birth.

As Parents we have to be mindful that we always approach our children in a gentle and loving manner. It is very difficult to do this when your child is "acting out" or having a "temper tantrum". Remember that these are stages that are necessary for normal child development.

It's hard to remember in the "heat of the meltdown" that this is a temporary situation, but you need to get those earplugs and go with the flow!
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Surviving Tough Economical Times - Get to Work!

2012-02-15T21:34:00.000-08:00

We've all endured tough times and are certain to endure more within our lifetimes.
When we encounter a painful life encounter such as a job loss, our first instinct is to go into hiding - like under a rock!

You may ask yourself; "How am I going to survive? How can I meet my financial obligations?" As painful as it may sound, going back to the basics is a good place to start. You are now presented with the perfect opportunity to make lifestyle changes - for the rest of your life!

One of the first places that we can start to recover from difficult financial circumstances is within our own homes (even if you have had to move to a new place of residence!). You own the power to survive within your own hands!

First things first;
I left my career a couple of years ago to be with my family. Oh, I certainly wasn't a Superhero about it, my decision came after many months of tears and bargaining. I loved the money, but so missed my family time. I can say now, while looking back that it was the best decision I have ever made...I knew that we would have to change the way we lived, but find that we have more quality as opposed to quantity. A decision that I do not or ever will regret.

Here are some things that we do in order to make our own continuous journey possible:

Yearly Garage Sales - Outgrown clothing items, belongings we haven't used for a period of 1 year, home accessories, seedlings and baked goods - this nets enough money for my daughter's summer wardrobe.
Cut the Cable - Oh, this was a toughy, but it wasn't a necessity. We cancelled our cable television. Our local library has so many movies for children and adults - free rental!
Cancel Your Home Phone Provider - this was so easy! We have Magic Jack, http://www.magicjack.com/ and pay only $19.95/year for unlimited North American calling, call waiting and voicemail. We pay an extra $10.00 for a Canadian phone number within our own area code. We never get a phone bill!
Sell Your Car - This was the hardest of all! Just think, you don't have to pay for gas, insurance, maintenance or car payments. Want to commute? Remember, this article is about changing the way you live - find a job closer to home & on the bus route. The bonus? More Family Time!
Grow Your Own: Vegetables and Fruits or whatever you can. Don't have a lot of space? Well, neither do we, so we maximize the space that we have. Go online and invest some time researching about square foot or small space planting. You won't be disappointed or hungry come Summer's end.
Preserving: This is the time to preserve all that hard work! Remember, the weekends that you spend canning, dehydrating and freezing will get you through a hard Winter. I learned everything Online simply by Researching information and it has paid off.
Learn to Sew: Unfortunately some say that sewing is becoming a bit of a lost tradition. I can honestly say that I know several men who sew and make things like Yoga Bags and repair their own clothing. If you know how to sew, you can offer your services to your neighbours and do their alterations, make items to sell (for cash!), and gifts for everyone...Hello! Make Extra Money! Okay, I want to type so much that this subject is the highlight of my next blog - make sure you don't miss out!
Bake Bread: Bake your own bread! I have a fabulous recipe for sourdough bread that has all of my neighbours drooling! I make extra money by selling my bread to my neighbours. I will even trade my bread for farm fresh eggs - there you go, trading = survival!
Thrift Shopping: Years ago, I felt ashamed to be caught in a Thrift Store. I feel shame that I have to admit I felt ashamed. Say that 3 times fast!
My daughter and I have a favourite Thrift Store that we frequent every Saturday and always find some sort of treasure. I am always excited to find toys, clothing, craft supplies, kitchen or household goods in supreme condition for barely the price of a song. This helps me deal with my former "shopaholic tendencies" because we get great deals.
Make Due or Do Without!: Socks have a hole? Mend them! Also stock up on Duct Tape from your local Dollar Store. A little duct tape really goes a long way. You can do easy and quick home repairs with this good stuff. Fix cracked flower pots, toys, etc. with this. Latest fashions are Duct Tape Dresses! A little creativity goes a long way.
Remember That When You Buy Plastic, You are buying future garbage: This is the best one ever! I read this in one of my Self Sustaining Books from our library. Unless it is Tupperware that is guaranteed for life, you are setting yourself up. You can't burn plastic for warmth when you need it, nor is it even good for you...our family always focuses on selecting items made of wood, steel or glass because they will last. Plastic is destined to crack over time - Oh, and makes a terrible black smoke if you burn it!
Flush with Grey Water: We always have water saved in our bathtub. We flush our toilets with this water and it saves us about $70.00 a month which we put towards our grocery bill. Simple and so easy you can start this tomorrow morning -try it, you will be surprised at the savings!
Conserve Hydro: We invested money in energy saving light bulbs. They pay for themselves within the first month and then some.
Dry Clothes on a Rack: Did you know that your dryer is the biggest energy hog in the house? You can hang your clothes on a homemade line made of rope or put them on hangers if you don't have a clothes drying rack. We used our Air Miles and got a terrific Stainless Steel version for Free! Our energy savings very month? Unbelievable!

***We also try to make and sell whatever we can. Our Local Community has a "Market Place" where you can sell homemade wares in exchange for bartering tokens. Offer yourself to your neighbours who may need help moving, shovelling snow, gardening, shopping, etc. You will be able to barter for goods in exchange for your services. ***If you want to survive during Tough Economical Times, you need to put your first foot forward and offer what you can in order to receive!

Super Bowl - Our Way

2012-02-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Sunday was yesterday...
It's the day that so many Canadians look forward to - even though this is a U.S. Event, many "Canucks" are excited about a party - any kind of party, really.

We couldn't watch the game because we don't have Cable Television and only rent movies from our local library because they are free of charge. We have a dry loop Internet connection that is slower than "molasses in January" - but it really doesn't matter on the month, it is still super slow if I want to download or stream anything.

We are really trying to take a step back and focus on our family and simplify our life as much as possible.
This year I wanted to see if I could ignore all of the excitement and focus on our family for the day. I felt a compulsion to check the score during the game (okay, I admit to checking once or twice).

So how did our family spend Super Bowl Sunday?

Well, we enjoyed a walk in all the glorious sunshine over to our local Community Centre during the afternoon hours. We watched a movie for a minimal fee of $3.00 (which our neighbour generously paid for) amongst our many neighbours and friends.

Afterwards, we came home and made a tremendous dish of nachos with all the trimmings and watched some children's movies together as a family unit.
I had a big "Super Bowl" of nachos and sour cream and a wonderful day filled with memories.
Our family scored a point towards having another special day to together!

As each day passes, I can more easily decipher between quantity and quality. I mean, we all know that the Super Bowl Game is going to happen every year. However, we can never guarantee the future of our own lives.

It was truly a glorious day for all of us - except the Patriots.

Coyotes Walking Our Streets

2012-02-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

They're here.....

They are a cousin to the Wolf, really don't have any natural predators except Man, prey on small animals and are roaming our streets. Coyotes.

We live in a wonderful neighbourhood in our City. We are surrounded by green space which provides us with great parks for our children and pets to play.

Unfortunately, there's a pack of Coyotes that have also settled into this area as well.

Since November 2011, there have been sightings of an injured Coyote seen in our area. Most concerning is that this particular Coyote was seen in our local school yard which edges along a forest.
In the past week, our neighbours have counted as many as 8 animals in the pack and have heard the Coyotes howling and yelping every evening during a "take down" of a small animal.

Several days ago, my close neighbour spotted a Coyote running down our street and cutting through a nearby park and walkway around 8:00 p.m.
While I was out walking yesterday (which is also Garbage Pick-Up Day), I had to navigate past the remnants of a small animal laying on the sidewalk a few doors down from where we live. This isn't the first time I have had to do this over the past week.

Males can weigh in around 40 lbs, females slightly less. Our Golden Retriever is 85 pounds - but hardly a match for a hungry Coyote, so we keep a close eye on him when he goes outdoors.

Although they are mostly nocturnal, they are becoming more brazen and have been seen during the daytime hours. Litters are born in Spring and Fall and can be anywhere from 1 to 19 pups. Average litter is about 6 pups. There will obviously be quite a few more in our neighbourhood over the coming months unless they are removed.

I have read that increases in the Coyote Population run in 10 year cycles. Looks like this year is destined to be the "Year of the Coyote". Great...

Exposed To Over 300 Chemicals Before Breakfast?

2012-01-29T18:24:00.000-08:00

I am still on a bit of a rant after yesterday's post. I read, talk and write a lot but I also remember a lot.
I remember reading an unbelievable fact many years ago and have never forgotten it.

Picture this:
The alarm clock goes off in the morning. A woman gets out of bed, has a shower, brushes her teeth and gets dressed for her workday. Nothing unusual right?

Let me paint a different picture using the same scenario:
The same alarm clock goes off in the morning. A woman gets out of bed and has a shower using soap, shampoo, conditioner and shaving gel. She then brushes her teeth with toothpaste and rinses with mouthwash. She gets dressed for her workday (clothes washed in regular detergent and fabric softener). She applies her deodorant, make up, hair products and perfume. A daily routine like this one is laced with an abundance of toxic chemicals.

"Before a woman even gets a chance to eat her breakfast, she has already exposed herself to a minimum of over 300 chemicals just getting ready in the morning."

***Many women are hooked on the fact that if something smells great and works well, then they aren't necessarily interested in reading the "ingredient list".

There are so many "creepy" chemicals out there that many of us don't even think about it anymore. We have become desensitized as the consumer market is flooded with new products; each one claiming to be better than the others.

We try and make our own toothpaste, deodorant and soap. I have yet to find a homemade toothpaste that is kind to my tastebuds - I am determined to keep experimenting!
If we can't make it, we have to buy it. We look for those products containing natural ingredients only as we are exposed to plenty of invisible chemicals in our outdoor environment.

After reading this post, I am certain that many of you just may find yourself thinking in the shower tomorrow morning...

Food Under Fire - The Dangers of the Foods We Consume

2012-01-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

Oh my word! I could not wait to dive into this post!

Our local newspaper, http://www.therecord.com/ ran an article yesterday about a recall of Neilson Trutaste 2% Milk (4L bags) because they may contain "cleaning fluid". The article stated that the milk would not smell or taste spoiled, but whoever consumed this tainted milk may feel nausea, upset stomach or vomiting. Okay....so we all know that our foods are tested by each Company's Quality Assurance Department, but why were test results not back before this batch of product was put into distribution for the safety of the general public?

If that wasn't enough of a scare, I found a new article this evening about the infamous Hamburger-Making Giant, McDonald's who is discontinuing the use of their "Pink Slime", aka ammonium hydroxide. This "crazy" chemical was being used to convert fatty cutoffs into beef fillers for their hamburgers..Nice... cow parts that are not fit for human consumption were being altered in order to fit into our hamburgers..How appetizing. Doesn't it make you want to go and stand in line for a juicy burger this evening?

Oh yes, and need I mention that Johnson & Johnson is going to phase out cancer causing chemicals in their baby lotions and shampoos over the coming months? Let's give our heads a shake!!!! Phasing out? How did that ever get approved in the first place?

I had mentioned in a previous post that the Media and our Society have instilled a fear that prevents us from wanting to talk to strangers because they may be "dangerous".
Well, why are we so trusting of products from Major Corporations? Oh I know, I know (waving my hand wildy), because "our Government" is looking out for us! Right! What about our Children? The future of our Generation? My neighbour down the street would have an absolute "hay day" with this one!

I don't mean to sound cynical, however I am amazed at the consumers who will buy just about any type of food on the shelf because it is for sale - so it must be good for them. I only ever see a minimum of 1 in about 100 people ever stopping to read the ingredients on a shelf label.

I can understand why so many of us are heading towards a Self-Sustaining, Home Grown Life-Style. It has taken a lot of us too many years to wake up and realize what is actually happening within our own food system.

Hey, I've got a good one for you. If our Canadian Government asked you to jump off McDonald's Golden Arches because it was safe, would you do it?