Christensen Chronicles

Yep, four years since blogging was in my priorities. It's amazing how life is like a book. One chapter begins and before you know it, it ends.


Four years ago, we were on the chapter of going from middle school to high school. Now, here we are starting another chapter in our family.


With that new chapter comes an opportunity to make a few changes in my life. Especially during the Summer.


I grew up in Ohio, very near Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The area I grew up close to was where many different Air Force aircraft flew into and out of for practice and transport of various items. There were days where the big cargo transport planes would be so low you could see the landing gear come down. Then there were other days, where you would hear the sound of windows rattling before you ever saw the jet fly overhead. My family was not Air Force, even though my Dad was Navy. But that wasn't why my Mom and Dad ended up in Ohio from Tennessee. My Dad ended up being civilian at the base though. He worked for a while near the AF Museum.


Growing up near WPAFB. there was a little rural town called Medway. It is wedged between Fairborn and Springfield. I went to school and church with Air Force. Many families were transient and gone in 3 years. Talk about it being hard when you really found a best friend and then they had to move.


Medway had about 3500 people. It has a great history behind it. Old farm houses that I had the pleasure of growing up for bit in one that had been turned into a duplex. It has been turned back into the full house now. We only rented from people next door but it was fun roaming the barn and field. My Mom canned, grew a garden (which I hated doing when I was little), and learned early the value of sustainability. I find it ironic now that I want to get back into the sustainable homesteading life now. I guess sometimes one does go back to their rooted ways of growing up. If I were single, I would find a way to make a living at home, build a tiny house with no mortgage and live off the land. Not so much off the grid. Well water would be a must. I grew up on well water and there's just nothing like it. Well perhaps a cold stream is better. I don't want to live back in Medway. It has changed so much, had new neighborhoods placed where corn fields were, and there's just nothing there anymore. I guess leaving the old place where I grew up is better off being remembered the way it was. Medway was one of those towns where everyone cared, helped others in need, said good morning and no one ever thought of being mad at each other very long if there was a squabble. Which was rare. But one day in my teens, things started changing. People got older, new city folk moved in and the good ol' days disappeared. Then the older folk whom I grew up calling my adopted grandparents passed away.


So, that's where I'm wanting to relive some of that innocent old fashioned time where working in the garden, perhaps learning to can again (I guess I should have paid more attention to details when I was "forced" to do it), and try to feel that satisfaction of the accomplished task of knowing that hard work and saving a dollar has value. And perhaps helping our two boys find the same satisfaction. Who knows, perhaps they'll like the homesteading process and want to continue living the same way.


Where we live now is a small New England town in Massachusetts, called Dudley. In a few ways, Medway and Dudley could look alike. But the New England roads are very narrow, the cemetery tombstone are very old. Many of them are from the Revolutionary War. Dudley was known in the beginning of its' existence as a textile supplier. Clothing was made to cloth in the Civil War troops. Lots of history here in Dudley. The first house of the town still stands, is preserved and even lived in. I'm sure Medway has much history of the days around since it was founded in 1671. It was found mainly by French fur traders at the Mad River. I lived about 2 miles from one bit of the Mad River. Springfield, Ohio, was a largely settled Shawnee Indian reservation. The high school I went to is called Tecumseh (new buildings now). I must not forget to mention that General George Rogers Clark, Simon Kenton, and Daniel Boone lived about 5 miles up the road from where I grew up in Dudley, Massachusetts, "was first settled in 1714 and was officially incorporated in 1732. The town was named for landholders Paul and William Dudley. ... Union soldiers from Dudley, the 15th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, suffered heavy casualties inflicted by the Confederacy during the Battle of Gettysburg".


I can say that I love the fact that I really grew up in parts of the U.S. that really served in the various wars.


But back to the thoughts of wanting to go back to my roots of homesteading, except for raising animals. I have 3 cats and we raise honey bees. That's enough. If I didn't have to worry about the coyotes, fisher cats, raccoons and other creatures into the chickens, I might go for that. But I won't kill a chicken. I've almost become vegetarian because I can't stomach the smell of meat cooking. I just love animals too much. I grew up watching chickens, rabbits and even geese made into dinner that night. Sorry, no more.


There's nothing like feeling the soil between the fingers. Even manure (bagged), compost and various mediums are fine with me to run my fingers and toes through. If you have worms, you have pretty good soil. Lady Bugs are a good sign too. The excitement of finding that first sprout of the squash or tomato coming up. Then the first squash and tomato being picked from its vine. And oh, how do they smell! I took a break this year from gardening. The flowers are still growing. The perennials are bigger this year. The Milkweed that I planted last year is growing so big and blooming. I'm eagerly waiting to see the various butterflies and hoping to see the Monarchs fluttering from each bloom taking in their much needed food to prepare for the arduous travel to Mexico.


Another reason I garden is to give the bees and other helpful creatures thrive. Watching the bumble bees and various other bees flit and fly around their preferred source of nectar and pollen is delightful. Yes, we raise honey bees. We have 3 regular hives and 2 nucs that are going great. One is without a queen right now but the nuc is making a queen currently. We will be checking this next weekend to see the progress. We have had honey by now but this year we won't have honey until perhaps August. Sooner maybe. Beekeeping and watching is fascinating. Bees aren't out to hurt a person. The problem when someone gets stung is, you are either in their path of flight, you have stepped on one, or you are in their territory and they aren't happy you are there. The weather and being queenless is one of many ways to make a bee unhappy. OR if you have eaten a banana (the smell is the same as if its a warning there's an intruder). Or, if you are wearing black or brown. Those are the colors of bears, skunks, raccoons and other intruders. Things like perfume, deodorant, hairspray are sweet and will present a reason to stay close to you. Hence the reason for the bee suit and putting your socks tucked in your pants legs.


I mentioned I took a break from gardening. Well, I should clarify that. I didn't grow a vegetable garden this year. Between graduation and a needed to Ohio, there is painting, patching, and decluttering to do. Homeschooling for the first year also took necessary precedence over getting the seeds out in time. With feeling more confident in that situation and getting the other projects done, I think gardening next year will happen. Besides, teaching a child who has difficulties will benefit from hands-on activities and learn many valuable life lessons.


Homesteading isn't only about gardening and raising livestock. It's learning the art of making bread, grinding your wheat (which is what I want to learn to do...it's healthier), learning to live on less, saving a dollar everywhere one can save, finding something you already have to use when wanting to make something, scaling back on material items, and just plainly living. One doesn't have to live off the grid to homestead. Homesteading is hugely coming back due to the economy being so volatile. People are choosing to go solar (we would but we have college to pay for). Teaching your children the value of cooking from scratch, learning how to use cast iron, learning survival skills during a winter storm when the power is out (New England is a must for power generators) and teaching your children the value of 72 hour kits is crucial these days. One thing in our church is keeping a supply of extra food. Not just for power outages but I know many friends who had to use their food storage because of long term illnesses or unemployment. IT saved them when their savings was going for the bills and mortgage (unfortunately those things don't stop when you're unemployed). Homesteading can teach one to do without and help save extra money when a family is dealing with more expenses coming in the paycheck is bringing in. With our oldest starting college, needing a car, and having a new driver in the house, food storage is so helpful. We are grateful to have shelves of food, cleaners and such stashed away along with two freezers of frozen goods. With our oldest not able to find a job yet, pulling allowances from the food budget for both boys doing chores around the house this Summer is going to be a big saver. Or, if you're in our situation with a child a who is needing a special will and trust (for us, it's both boys), a special will and trust lawyer is about $3,000. And yes, it's a high priority. Without it, the trust money goes to the government, your child go to the state, and your wishes are not granted. Again, learning to homestead can make ones life so much easier.


Homesteading includes recycling, reusing resources, going off the grid, going solar, living off the land, raising your own food, living on less, saving every penny possible, paying off your debts so there is no more mortgage, living in a tiny house if necessary, trading, bartering, starting your own business and yes, even it's leaving the big city life and finding a commune of homesteaders. It's actually being done in the Cincinnati, in one of the suburbs called Price Hill. Portland and Eugene, OR have places as such. I just read where there is actually free land. But one can even be a homesteader in the middle of the big city in an apartment. Urban Homesteading is becoming more and more found due to folks being strapped for making ends meet. Schools in the cities and other places are growing gardens to help families learn how to feed themselves on almost to nothing. There are so many resources. CSA's are a popular resource. Farmer's Markets are a big help to us during the Summer.


So, what is Homesteading exactly? It's a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. And where does one start? By reading and reading then looking around at what you have and determining what could be used as helping oneself be self sufficient. There's even the art of Poor Homesteading. I'm not making fun of that title. There are people who barely scrape their paycheck by each month. Yet, they have found free ways to build their chicken coops free materials found just for the asking, walkways to their houses with free bricks, found free stuff on Craigslist or gone to the construction sites and come away with plenty of wood to lay a new kitchen floor and yet saved it from going to the dump. It cost money to get rid of materials at the dumping yard. So, many times, companies are happy for someone asking for the leftovers. If you have good neighbors or friends who know or have stuff they don't want, ask for it.


Many homesteaders have also found their families grow closer together because they get away from the modern world of stress, busy schedules, car pools, an hour traveling to work one way, and eventually finding they don't need the social media to keep themselves entertained (wishing), and finding that it takes everyone to do the chores if livestock and a good size garden is involved. I admire those who take off with their families in a school or city bus renovated and live on the road. Many find they don't know why they didn't start sooner. If a person has the ability to work from home, can make go of a business venture, and get away from the hustle and bustle of worldly demands, hey why not.


I love the movie, "Nim's Island". I often mention that would be a perfect world for me. But it's all a matter of learning to be self sufficient and not having to depend on other parts of the world or others to provide for yourself. No more companies to spray your lawns of deadly chemicals, no more dealing with crazy neighbors, or people who just aren't happy unless they are in your business, no more noise. Just sunsets, stars to be seen from miles because one is away from the light pollution, walks along the beach because you have the money from no mortgage to go on a vacation, fresh produce that smells so good and isn't saturated in poison, fresh honey just from the hive, canned goods, watching lightning bugs or fireflies as some might call them, going fishing for fresh fish and not wondering where or what it was grown in, feeling that warm egg from the hen and you know what you fed her that day, and fresh flowers from the garden. The list is endless of the possibilities of being self -sufficient. It's a matter of making a goal, planning out that goal and making a way to have that goal become a reality. Start small. Start now.

People are surprised to learn that we make our own laundry detergent. The next thing they ask is, "What is the recipe?"

I was low on soap and needed to make a new batch, so I thought I'd photograph the process and put it on the blog. There are many many recipes for homemade laundry soap on the web. It seems to be the "in" thing to do (along with keeping chickens). I found a recipe and modified it to my liking. There is no one recipe - people like to tweak things.

I've been making homemade laundry detergent for maybe a couple of years. There are dry power recipes and wet (liquid) recipes. I chose to make the wet kind, since we are used to using liquid soap we used to purchase.

It's amazing how inexpensive it is to make your own soap. A 5-gallon bucket of soap costs around $2.00 for the ingredients, if that much. I don't know how many loads that is, but a bunch.The only time we use store-bought laundry soap is when I am in the middle of making a new batch of soap, or we have some other specific reason. We still use store-bought fabric softener; although there are a few recipes for that, it isn't something I want to experiment with right now.

The basic ingredients for my laundry soap are:

• Borax
• Washing Soda
• A bar of some kind of soap
• Water

That's it.

You'll also need some kind of container to put it in - I use an orange Home Depot bucket:


It is important to note that Washing Soda is not the same as Baking Soda, even though both are made by Arm and Hammer(and the boxes look somewhat similar, thanks a bunch). Also the choice of the bar of soap is up to you. There are a couple of laundry-focused bars of soap: Fels Naptha and Zote. I just discovered Zote at the grocery store while I was getting some more Borax. It's a Mexican hand laundry soap, and had a really nice smell. Plus, for $0.98 for a double-size bar, the price was right. In the past I've used Lever 2000 - it has a nice smell also.Any bar of soap will work - you are mostly using the soap for a little bit of the sudsing and the fragrance.

The first step is grating the bar of soap. You use a regular cheese grater, and put the shavings into a pot on the stove. Don't be tempted to use an electric food processor to grate the soap; the consensus on the internet is that you'll just get a mess of globby soap, and not nice flakes you need.



Then you add water to the pot and heat it up a little, stirring it to dissolve the soap. Be careful not to over-heat it; you don't want to boil the soap. Boiling it changes the soap into something you can't use. Also after you are done, don't let the mixture sit on the stove and cool. You'll get a solid blob of soap that you can't really use either (learned from personal experience).

While the soap mixture is heating up, fill your 5-gallon bucket with about 4 gallons of hot tap water. Another note on the bucket: I have a dedicated plastic measuring cup (2/3 cup) that I use. I made a little hanger for it that sits in the bucket:


It's made it really convenient to keep the measuring cup where I can find it (and it keeps the mess in the bucket).

After the soap is dissolved on the stove, dump the contents into the bucket (with the 4 gallons of water). Then add about 3/4C Borax and 3/4C Washing Soda. I say "about" because it doesn't need to be measured exactly. Play around with the contents and see what works for you.

And... you're done! Mix it up with a plastic wooden spoon (not a wooden wooden spoon, as the soap can soak in to the wood).


It will look like just diluted runny soap, and not very exciting. But when you leave it overnight, something magical happens. The soap solidifies into a gel-like substance. You then mix it up (break it up, really) with the spoon so you can scoop it out with the cup. I usually give it a stir every few hours so it doesn't solidify too much.

I use about 2/3 cup of this detergent in each load (the dedicated measuring cup). One thing you will have to change in your thinking is about "suds." Homemade soap doesn't suds up like you expect with store-bought detergent. The sudsing is mostly for looks - people don't think it's working unless they see suds. This soap doesn't make bubbles, but it cleans just the same (or better).

So give it a try! It's so cheap to try that if it doesn't work out the first time, you aren't out a lot of dough.

I have heard many say they don't have time for coupons. I have heard many say coupons don't help them much. Now that the economy has soured, I have heard some say, "I used coupons and can't believe how much I saved". Yep.

Today, Steven went shopping. I wish I could say that all of the items that he were on his list were bought with coupons. But I can say that about a quarter of what was on the list was bought with sales, coupons, or a combo of each. Steven was able to even buy national brands because he had a coupon and it was cheaper. Yes!

Not only are the coupons from your newspaper helpful, the coupons from on-line, sales from drug stores along with their sales, and using the savings programs or the booklets at some of the drug stores will save you a bundle.

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to save over half on my acne medicine. It was on sale from $7.29 to $4.99. Wow! But in the drug stores monthly coupon booklet, I was able to use their $2.00 coupon which brought the acne medicine (national brand) to $2.99. Yes, I went back each day and had Steven tackle another of the drug store in another town. I got 3 for the price of 1. Awesome! Ya just gotta look and keep your eyes open.

I won't say I am a queen at savings. I have a friend who saves so much and gets credits and such. I know she could make a mint if she put her knowledge into a business. But her secret is sealed. I admire her!

With the use of the sales and coupons, Steven was able to save $18 today. My goal next week is to beat that.

Happy Couponing!

Steven with one of his loaded frames of honey

The last time I blogged
according to the date
was in April 2011.

I just saw the pictures
posted on the blog and
I am amazed at how much
Michael and Jacob have
grown.

So many of you are
already in our lives and
know what is going on.
Facebook makes it so
to me blogging really
is not something I keep

The light honey

up with since I have
nothing to new to say.

I have decided to instead
do a new sort of blogging
with keeping a sort of
"public"journal of blogging
about being frugal this year,
2013.

With this year, all of us are
probably seeing less money
showing up in our pay checks.
Like us, many of you are pro-
bably wondering what would

The dark honey

be the next thing that needs
to be cut from the budget
or where the next extra money
is going to come from to pay
for that sudden extra bill
least expected.

All of you know we keep honey bees
mainly for a hobby (Steven). But we 
have found that it has been so great
for us having the little extra money
that many of you have been so great
with buying our honey. We had a great
abundance last August, 62 pounds. This
was from our hives.

Unfortunately, the hives took a huge beating with a tree falling on them when we had the huge snow storm in December. The wind blew a tree that was not seemingly to be rotted but evidentally was and came down right across all of our hives. Today, 1/19/13, Steven fed the bees bee candy to help them through the winter. We will be adding more until the bees can start fending for themselves with pollen this spring, if they survived the crashing of their homes. The brown hives seems to be the one that is the strongest. The other two big hives seem to have some activity but it is very small. There is no doubt Steven will need to order more honey bees which will come in, in April.

So, this is one way I have to say we are being frugal as you can do many things with honey as well as the health benefits with local honey.

Another new area of living frugally is sustainable living. No, this is not new but with everyone in concern of foods with pesticides, our economy in chaos, and those feeling they need to be independent of government dole outs, sustainable living is coming back big time. I have many friends who raise chickens, their gardens, and other ways to help live off their land and homesteads. I really admire them and wish I had the ability to do the same. But I don't think my town would be too hip on having my chickens running all over the neighborhood. Or neither would my neighbors. They're tolerating our bees with no problem. I don't think we want to push our luck.

I must say though that when I see the lawn chemical trucks spraying the lawns, I just want to cry as they are taking away the dandelions and clover that the honey bees really need. That is one of the honey bees top pollen producers for the yummy honey you get from a local bee keeper. It's also not good for you, your children, and your pets. I am not trying to step on toes. I'm just trying to teach others to help our bee populations increase. Without our honey bees, 1/3 of your food would be gone. You know those almonds that you love? Bees can only produce those through pollination. Our fruits, nuts, berries, and other foods have to be pollinated through bees. If the chemicals and pesticides that are used on farms and such keep being used, the honey bees will continue to die off. And we humans shouldn't be consuming it either.

No, my new blogging articles won't be preaching articles. I just want to be able to say what I say without offending any one. Please know I want to just teach and share what I know or what I find. I'm always willing to learn from others too.

I also believe in Provident Living. www.providentliving.org This is something from my church. Food storage and emergency planning is something that we might be finding ourselves using a lot more. I have had so many people I have talked about food storage and they have really thought what I said was dumb or coming from a crazy woman. But emergency food storage or 72 hour kits aren't that. Think about the economy with so many having no jobs, falling on hard times, having to pay for an unexpected health crisis or untimely car repair. How many times recently Steven and I have had to find ourselves cutting our grocery budget to pay for car repairs or other expenses that we weren't expecting? Going into debt is not something that wise at this time. Using cash has become something we have used and thank goodness. Ask yourself of how recently your kids decided to take a growing spurt at the same time. Michael and Jacob did just that. Wow! How many times I wish I could still find a whole outfit for $4.00, even $40.00! We have been able to pull the ox out of the ditch a couple of times. And thank goodness for the dealer I go to who has been so kind in helping me avoid being told I had a blown engine through doing all the necessary test for free to help me know the van is fine. Or recently, saving me from the wrong spark plugs put in and costing me $100 less than the guys who did the wrong work. Or putting in an under warranty catalytic converter. Warranties are a great thing. Just be careful to not buy an unnecessary warranty. Raising your car payment when you can't afford it to buy that extra warranty isn't wise. But having that extra food storage, extra cash or using coupons is wise. Using coupons will be a topic on my next blog.

For the 5 years I have lived up here, I had heard of the Purgatory Chasm. I read about it. I have experienced it. What a fun night. That, a picnic dinner, and the boys playing on the playground. This looks like a family favorite of ours to do.



We were amazed at how one minute it was warm and humid and the next we would look down into a cavity of the chasm and see snow that had not melted yet. Or the fact that it would be cool and moist then suddenly you could feel the warmth and humidity of the normal air temperature. We loved the moss, lichen, trees that were hallowed out and holding water in them just like a little well and ferns.

I don't think I will get too many more Easter bunny pictures from Michael and Jacob, especially Michael. This was taken at the neighborhood Easter egg hunt. They had the egg hunt for the younger, which Jacob participated in. He was disappointed that he didn't find the golden egg that had the cool prize. Michael participated in the older kids games which was building a cushioned container to see if their egg would break. His broke. But it was a fun time.

No candy for the boys this year. It just makes them so hyper. So we did the baskets with their favorite toys and they got a big item. Jacob chose a scooter with a swivel wheel in the back. I tried to ride it but thought I was going to be flipping over the handlebars so I just stopped immediately. I am definitely not cut out any longer for swings, skates (maybe ice skates), roller coasters, or anything that moves faster than I do. Michael hasn't decided what he wants.

Today, Michael is at his 1/2 year mark. In 6 months exactly, he will be 14. And be able to start going to church dances. Even school dances. Michael is eager to finish 6th grade. He is doing well but it's been a rough year. He has grown another 1/2 inch and another shoe size. It won't be long until he towers over his parents and starts shaving. Michael is 1/2 way to Eagle rank for Scouts. He's working on his Star rank. Then it will be the Life rank, then Eagle. Summer camp in July will help him achieve a lot of the requirements that he needs to get his Star rank.









Jacob loves being 10. He is in Webelos. He has a lot this summer he is going to be doing with the requirements. Much of the requirements will have him going places and exploring or finding the results of experiments. He loves the science parts of the requirements. While Michael and Dad are gone to summer camp, Mom and Jacob will be going to the ocean and other close places or just hanging out at home. Perhaps the painting in the house might get done that week. Jacob loves to do that. And he's good at it too. Jacob will done with 3rd grade in June, and entering into his last year, 4th grade, of elementary school in August. Hard to believe!








This is what I love best about having family time together. The smiles of fun. Easter for our family is what the holiday is really about. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We allow for the non spiritual side of the holiday but not until after church and given time to reflect what the Savior has done for us. And time for a nap. Then out comes the tradition of egg coloring. We used the Paas Magic Stix. They were ok. Nothing to rave about. They were hard to use. But it was fun to try new things. Steven is the master egg colorer. The one in the upper right picture with the four colors is one of his creations. The one that looks like a watermelon is Michael's. I think the lime green colored egg (mine) is my favorite. There's just something about that color. Maybe I'll paint my kitchen that color. Hmmm...

Today I am just full of gratitude to, "My Guy". I have been married to him for what is now almost 22 1/2 years (will be on the 26th). And I still feel like I am married to the right guy.

Have you ever had your guy come to the grocery store in the morning on his way to work because he had to drop a redbox DVD and decided to come into the store and find you, just to tell you to have a nice day and that he loves you? My guy did today. What a treat!

Have you ever had your guy come home from work after a long day and very tired, but washed the dishes because you didn't get to them?

Yes, I'm bragging, but I am so thankful to be able to be a stay at home Mom and housewife. My guy finds it more important than any amount of money, fancy vacations, fancy cars, and feels we benefit with the boys having me at home. I am so thankful that I can come home and work around the house and do what needs to be done. My guy likes me to be home when he gets home knowing the house is in somewhat of an order even if only the fact that the boys aren't strangling each other.

My guy is a natural Mr. Fix-It. He can fix anything.

I'm so thankful that all I have to do is let him know what is needed fixed or just ask for help.

I'm so thankful for my guy being close to Heavenly Father and honoring his duties in the church.

I'm thankful for him caring about the Scouts he is in charge getting their requirements done, including our boys.

I'm so thankful my guy is so smart with math and the other subjects that our boys have in school as he just "gets it" and can help them do it right.

I'm so thankful my guy is so patient. He never gets mad at me. If he does, it has never shown. He is so patient with the boys. He is so patient with everyone.

I'm so thankful my guy is a flirt. Believe it or not. He is lovable, fun, and I know I don't have to ever worry about him leaving or going astray. My guy just knows better.

Well, I've bragged enough about my guy. Yes, I do get upset with him, frustrated with him, but my guy is the best in the world. And, he is romantic, a teddy bear, and my eternal sweetheart.

I love you Steven and always will! Thanks for being my guy!