Our New to Us Van

Sunday our van kept overheating on the way home from church. Long story short it was a blown head gasket. When Drew took it in they hooked up the diagnostics machine to the transmission they found it was on its way out too. Drew checked Craigslist Tuesday, I think, and found a 1997 8 passenger Dodge Ram Wagon for $995. Drew did an internet search to see if he could find out any information about the guy selling it. When he did it brought up His picture on facebook and since I was logged in, it brought up my account. It showed we had one friend in common. So I called my friend and she told me of this man's godly character. How he raised three daughters that love the Lord. She worked with him at her church on a musical worship team. Anyway, Drew and Jacob went to have a mechanic check it out today. The mechanic said there was 950$ worth of immediate work to make it safe. Then another like 450$ of optional work. So when they got back to the man's house he said he was curious to look at the list. Drew said he was a super nice sincere guy. The man told Drew "you have a pained look on your face, you will not insult me, make an offer." Drew proceeded to offer him $600 and he said how about $500! Drew drove away less $500 with the gain of a title and bill of sale. So we hope to drop the van off in the morning at the mechanics and soon be driving around in style, well if you consider a 1997 with a bit of rust - style! hee hee. I sure am thanking the Lord!!

To see a picture of the vehicle go to the link below and scroll down to Tuesday.

http://thetribetalk.blogspot.com/2010/11/snapshot-summary-17.html

Making Bath Salts as Gifts

My friend Maribeth had a couple links of fb, one of which lead me to this great, inexpensive gift idea! (Thanks Maribeth!) The Frugal Family Fun Blog gives a great step by step illustrated instruction of what I am now posting on.

I used green food coloring and eucalyptus oil in some for variety.  

Mix 10 drops of food coloring with 3 drops of oil, add to 2 cups of epsom salts and stir.

Abram and Chloe were my big helpers on this project.  Abram really enjoyed filling up the jars and fastening the lids.  Chloe mostly hindered :-)

Here we used red food coloring and lavendar oil.  The red turned out sort of a pinkish orange.  It is kinda weird but will still make a great gift!

The third one from the left was suppose to be purple but I thought it turned out kind of grey looking.  I think the problem was that I didn't mix the 6 drops red and 4 drops blue together before I added the essential oil.  Or now that I think about it maybe I got the recipe mixed up and put in 6 drops blue and 4 drops red.  Whatever, I still liked the final outcome.

Simplifying Life

I ordered these tin cups from a camping supply on line 2 years ago.  

Each family member has their own cup, simplifying my life greatly!  

Drew's dad kindly engraved the kids names on their cups.

  The yarn helps all of us in quick identification as well.

Little Finds

My friend Laurie recently told me Aldi started carrying natural peanut butter! At 1.79 for 18 oz verses 2.19 for 16 oz. I am excited! Since I have my set list at Aldi I rarely scan the shelves for anything off the list. I guess they have been carrying it a while. I pray I would use the savings wisely for the glory of the Lord.

Drying Rack

Kari gave me this extremely uselful, lovely drying rack.

Thanks Kari!

Laundry Room Thumbs Up

I am absolutely, positively, hands down, thumbs up LOVING my new laundry room. My favorite feature is the location. You just can't beat a laundry room on the same level as the bedrooms. My second favorite feature of all the crazy things is the utility sink. Chloe and Abram take their baths (separately) in the oversized sink. I am saving TONS of water this way and I don't break my back bending over the tub. So while the little ones are little this is a great resource saver.   I also love having the HUGE folding shelf.  There is room for everyone to have their own pile.  Often the kids just get dressed right in the laundry room, eliminate put away.  So for those of you who have been asking how I am liking my new laundry room, wonder no more!

Unveiling the Veil

Andria came late yesterday afternoon and we had a great trip shopping for veil fabric.  Her dress has a hint of off white to it so the fabric she had been given by a friend was too bright white.  We were on our way to Good Will when I thought of hitting St. Vincent DePaul's first.  I thought we should try to match the lace on the top of her dress.  One rarely finds veils out junking.  I am not sure why, but that seems to be the case.  Low and behold there was a hat/veil beautifully perched atop a gown, And it matched the shade of Andria's dress (which she had brought along), And flowers already adorned the top layer, And although it went with the displayed gown they sold it separately for only $2.65!  The first two afore mentioned features hugely simplify my job as chief veil constructor.  We then headed to Jo Ann Fabrics where I found ribbon to edge the veil.  Then we skipped over to Wal Mart and purchased elastic bands as the girl doing Andria's hair preferred her veil attached to this (as opposed to the traditional comb).  Andria wants (so she shall be granted) her veil to hang down in the back, under her updo.  I told Andria I wanted to make and pay for the veil as a shower gift, but with the total veil costing only $4.70 I hope she doesn't expect another gift :-).

~~We began our journey with prayer and ended it with praise!~~

Improved Kitchen Scrubber

I was disappointed with the performance of the granny square scrubber.  It was too flimsy.  I made this circle type several years ago as Christmas gifts and prefer them.  To get the stiffer scrubber I used a smaller hook (J 10-6.00MM).

Ch 4.

Sl St that together into a circle.

Ch 3.

DC 9 around the circle.

Sl St that to the Ch 3.

DC 2 or 3 in each around the circle - that is when I ran our of tulle but you get the idea.  

DC-double crochet

CH - chain stitch

Sl St - slip stitch

Kitchen Scrubber

Tulle makes a great scrubby. Besides the satisfaction of crafting it myself it's frugal $0.20 each!  This one is a granny square pattern.