For the love of Turquoise

This summer, we took a little trip to O.C. MD. 

When we got there, we quickly discovered there was a car show called,
Cruisin' OC
going on that weekend.  

The cars had completely taken over town! 

 I must confess though, 

I'm a bit of a car enthusiast!

If you knew me, you would know that I'm crazy for 

MUSTANGS!

Soo while our weekend was motor revvin' LOUD-

I totally enjoyed it! (at least for the first day)

Well, I fell in love with this beautiful 

California Mustang....and the color was luscious!

After seeing several old turquoise cars,

I looked at hubs and said,"I have to paint something turquoise!"

SO I decided on the laundry room.  Most our home is earthy, with the exception of the grandchildren's playroom.  

I didn't get a "before" picture.  

Forgive me, please!

But suffice it to say, my laundry room was very boring. It was antique white with a cutesy border like this..

... And it had endured several years 

of grown children using it.....

need I say more?!

So Here It Is......

my new

Vintage Laundry Room

These pictures make the paint look a bit periwinkle.  But trust me, it's not.  It's very turquoise-ee and cheery.

No makeover in this house is ever complete before a trip downtown for some junkin'!  I found some sa-weet junk to go with some of the stuff I already had.

 Check out those dresses on the wall...

They were my doll dresses when I was a child.

An elderly neighbor lady made me many of my dresses, and would also made a matching dress for my dolls with leftover fabric.  Cool huh?

Gotta love blue jars and blue insulators!

Do you iron?  Some people say they NEVER iron.  I don't iron anything that I deem unnecessary.  But I do iron..as needed.

 Love this old chair!

Brooms and mops discretely tucked behind the door.

I keep this handy tray beside the washer and dryer.  

I created it several years ago after seeing something similar on Martha Stewart.

I also keep a cheat sheet for stain removers,

and one for stain removing supplies.  

Do you make your own laundry detergent?  I have been making my own for years.  I have tried several recipes.  But I have settled on a recipe from MaryJane's Magazine.

I luv rag rugs!

And speaking of cleaning....

While I had the room cleared out for painting, I did some major cleaning, and cleaning out!

I used these tips for cleaning the inside of the washing machine.
It worked beautifully. (btw, I love this blog)

And  I purged all the stuff I didn't need in an attempt to keep things
simple....

Living Simply and Deliberately...
Enjoying a new clean and cheery
Turquoise
Vintage Laundry Room...

For more Martha Laundry room tips, click here.  But I'll warn you, it may make your head spin!!

A Household Tip

Some time ago, Aunt Ruthie from Sugar Pie Farmhouse, had a post on Facebook where she asked her followers to share their favorite little household tip. 

Her tip was to keep a stash of extra garbage bags in the bottom of the trash can.   I've been a homemaker for 30+ years and I thought I knew it all, and had seen it all! On those few occasions when one the men at my house empties the trash, I always have to remind them to replace the trash bag.  I always kid them that any man can take out the trash but only "real men" replace the bag!! 

What a handy little tip! 

So I have a handy little tip for you today! 


At our house,  you will find 2 towels hanging on the oven door.  One is a pretty t-towel for drying dishes (the one with the rooster), and one for drying hands.  


But for some reason, the men in my house can't seem to get that straight.  Without fail, they will wash their (filthy) dirty hands in the kitchen sink and wipe whatever dirt that is left on their hands onto the pretty t-towel.  

Sooooo......

I took some old towels and cut them in half and ran the frayed edges through the sewing machine. 

 

Now this sits on the counter near the sink....

These towels come in handy for drying dirty hands...


wiping up spills.....


even cleaning messy (but adorable) faces!!!

Oh how I love to re purpose stuff, 
giving new life to something old!


Enjoy your day!

Spring Cleaning- the homemade way

It's time for SPRING CLEANING!  So it's a great time to share my favorite CLEANING RECIPES with you all.  We've all seen them before....I've probably tried them all.  But here are the 3 recipes I call my favorites.  All three come from MaryJanes Farm magazine, which also happens to be one of my favorites! 

 

Powdered Laundry Soap

1 bar (4-6 oz) Castile Soap, grated (Fels Naptha can be substituted)

2 cups Borax

2 cups washing soda

1 cup baking soda

Combine and use 1/4-1/2 per load.  This is low sudsing.

I often double or triple this recipe just for convenience.  Also, with this batch, I used Fels Naptha Soap because it's easier to find in my area. 

***********************

All Purpose Cleaner

1 T white vinegar

1 T lemon juice

1 T liquid Castile soap

1 T Borax

1 cup distilled water

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle

(I usually triple this recipe)

*******************

Window Cleaner

1/4-1/2 t liquid Castile soap

3 T white vinegar

2 cups distilled water

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle.  Shake gently before using.

Castile soap and other interesting items can be purchased online at Lehmans.

And Remember............Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Col 3:23

Happy Cleaning.............

RENEWAL-SAYING SO LONG TO WINTER

As you can probably tell my fresh new layout....

I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF WINTER!

Regardless of that nasty Phil's forecast of 6 more weeks of winter.....I'm done with it. Winter is officially over at my house! I'm turning the corner and bringing out the spring- time feel at my house! All remnants of winter decor are going to be banished from sight! First on the hit list is the front porch.

But before I completely close the book on winter, I want to share a few last pictures from these last days of winter at my house. I've been behind on my blogging because I have been cleaning out closets and getting the house reorganized. At our house, we have two seasons- holiday season and garden/canning season. So this is the in-between-time of year to roll up the sleeves and dig in. (more on that another day)

About 2 weeks ago, a flock of ROBINS made their debut to our back yard. Well actually they took up residence on the "hunting camper".

BIG mistake! What are they going to eat?

(Oh that reminds me...season number 3 at our house-HUNTING SEASON!)

Here's a great Reminder

We had a lot of snow this year!! Mother Nature dumped 2 feet on one occasion and a few days later another foot. You can imagine the grumbling going on around here with all the shoveling, and plowing. As I walked up the sidewalk one day from getting the mail, my little flag just set off a little giggle on the inside of me. It reads:

REJOICE IN EVERY GOOD THING!

Even snow!??!!

Valentines Day gave us a nice break from the weather. We enjoyed some card making, baking, and a family picnic together (indoors of course). Our menu:

Hamburgers and Hot dogs

Harvest Potatoes

Baked beans

Cookies

Punch in our festive lighted punch bowl

Cherry Pie

And one more thought .............hold on to your bloomers!

As I am closing the door on winter and looking toward spring.....

I'm dreaming of my gardens laden with seeds (already ordered)

that will produce abundantly,

a yard that is a gorgeous lush color of green, instead of a filthy dirty white,

oooh and can't forget the smell of fresh cut grass,

floral decorations and splashes of spring forsythia-like yellow about the house.....everywhere.

pantries and closets, cleared of the clutter and

windows clean and sparkly that allow the spring sun to shine through brightly,

a new batch of fuzzy little chicks,

and the RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD!

And as a water aerobics instructor

I'm dreaming of shedding a few winter pounds!

This little cartoon has given me the inspiration I needed to

KICK IT UP A NOTCH!

With that I'll close!!

I hope you'll take time to dream about spring Today!

Living Simply and Deliberately,

Tammy

TOILET PAPER AND TRASH CANS

I am trying to get my house in order, spring clean if you would. I’m restoring order and reorganizing a few things…..catching up on some projects that were put on the back burner while I was busy planting garden and playing in the flower gardens-not to mention pulling weeds and mowing all that grass from all of our spring rains here in Pennsylvania. Exhausting! And while I still have some things to keep me busy in the yard, I have it under control and decided to move inside.

Do you ever wonder how many rolls of toilet paper you’ve changed in your lifetime, or how many trash cans you’ve emptied? My brain can’t calculate that high! As I was cleaning today, that thought crossed my mind. No one else in this house is able to do those two mundane jobs. I’m irreplaceable! Its a good thing they have me- their “homemaker”.

Finding my Title

I really don’t like the word homemaker even though it’s a job I love. It’s the job that I truly believe God has called me to do. It seems to be a condescending title in the world we live in. Not much value can be placed on a “homemaker-right?” But it still doesn’t describe who I am or what I do. I’m no longer a stay at home mom. So I can no longer claim that name. My babies are 22 and 23. I’m no longer a homeschool mom. I can’t claim that name. My students have graduated. One has even graduated with honors from college. The other is "building a career" in the construction industry. (get it, building a career:) I guess I can claim the “proud mom” title!

In October, I’ll be a grandmother for the first time. Okay now we’re talking…grandmas are valuable. Oh, and I’ve been the wife of a great guy for nearly 30 years. Now that’s an accomplishment-especially in today’s world. Perhaps our marriage has lasted because there is someone at home to take care of the nest….someone to present him with a homemade meal and a peaceful place to land at the end of the day.

Hubby and I work hard to keep this place going, and make it a pleasant and peaceful place to hang. But we work together; we have developed a clear division of labor. He brings home the bacon and I cook it up. We work hard as unto the Lord. The Bible says to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands (1 Thes 4:11). I love that scripture. It has become my own personal mission statement. And I honestly believe tending home and family is the highest calling on a woman’s life. We are the care givers. Not only do we care for our homes and those who live in our homes, but we are flexible enough to find time to care for others in their time of need.

So call me a housewife, or a homemaker or whatever. It doesn’t matter what our job title is. Really, all that matters is that we are living out God’s plan for our lives. I am a wife, a mom, a grandma to be, and a homemaker (just to name a few). But I know my true worth and value comes from being a blood bought child of God- and Living my life for Him!

May all my homemaker friends be blessed today!

Tammy