Announcing my NEW Website!

This is an announcement for my new website, So Dutch.  I have been wanting to do this for a while now and it finally is coming together.  Julia did the header for me.  Isn't it neat? 

I am 100% Dutch and am proud of the good qualities in my heritage.  Why don't you hop over there and check it out? 

It is still very new and I have lots more to add.  Click HERE to see the new site.  So check back again.  Thanks for looking!!  (Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!)

Blessings,

Children and Clean Homes

Check this out!  This is a quote from "The House That Cleans Itself".  According to a study done by the University of Michigan in 2001, "kids who are raised in clean homes are more likely to complete more school and have higher earning potential than those raised in dirty homes." 

Wow!  Does that motivate you?  It stands to reason that if things are orderly, more will get done and the family will be less distracted.  Very interesting....

Let's see...I've copied my floor plans and marked my zones.  I have the game plan.  Now the book says to take a "prayer walk" through my house.  Oh, how neat!  That's a new concept!  I like it!  It's on my list for tomorrow.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Stay tuned,

The House That Cleans Itself Part 2

OK, so over lunch I start reading the book.  It's very good so far.  She begins by drawing a floor plan to determine the flow of the house and in which order you want to organize your house.  Bob drew out a plan last night so I am all set there. 

Now I need to copy it and start planning out the zones. 

The book was so easy to read I ended up reading the first 3 chapters over my salad lunch. The second chapter encourages you to find the Home Base Zone, the area that, if clean, gives you a sense that you can handle the rest of the job.  I will have to think on that one.  It doesn't jump out to me right now. 

The third chapter discusses how to get the whole family on board.  Yay!  A family oriented approach appeals to me!    I have to finish the book and then have a family meeting.  My children already are great cleaners so hopefully they will be inspired to be more organized, too.  Julia is very excited so no problem there.  Bob is generally neat so that shouldn't be any trouble, except maybe those dirty socks that somehow seem to miss the hamper.....

Well anyway, so good so far.  I'll keep you posted.

The House That Cleans Itself

I am starting to read the book "The House That Cleans Itself" by Mindy Starns Clark.  My house is usually in good order but there are times it gets out of hand.  Julia has already read the book and is very motivated to put it into practice.  We have a good cleaning chart but we are not consistent in implementing it, usually because I am not up to it. 

I hope to learn a lot.  I'll let you know how it goes! 

Have a great day!

Quick, Easy and Frugal Mittens

The weather has been very cold here lately.  It seems to have been cold EVERYWHERE!  The gloves and mittens have mysteriously disappeared, too!  We had some in the fall.  Enough for everyone.  Since my gloves got passed down to a child, I decided to make some more. 

I had this cashmere sweater that I had found at a thrift store in Michigan last winter.  I had already made some leggings from the sleeves so I cut out some mittens from the body of the sweater.   Using my sewing machine, I stitched these up in no time. 

You could use an old sweater.  If it is wool, it could be felted first.  Just make a pattern from your own hand.  Remember to add enough for a seam allowance and room for that seam allowance in the thumb, especially.  Otherwise it will be too tight.  Have fun!  Let me know if you make some.  It would be fun to see your creations, too!!

Have a great day!

The Father's Love Letter

Do you ever feel that no one loves you?  God the Father loves you very much.  Jesus came to show us the Father.  (John 16:25)   Here is an awesome letter written to explain how much God loves us.   It is all Scripture verses set in the style of a letter.  Soak up the truths of God's love.  Be encouraged and comforted.  Click HERE for the letter.

May you be richly blessed,