Homemade Liquid Hand Soap

Have you ever looked on back of those bottles in your bathroom?  It has been said that the most dangerous chemicals in your household could be sitting on your bathroom shelves.  Even the stuff that says "natural" and "organic" may be fooling you.  And being a parent, the last thing I want to do is soak my boy in chemically laden soaps!  So, I am on a mission to bathe and wash without chemicals.  Here is my recipe for liquid hand soap - works just as good as the store bought stuff - smells great - NO chemicals!  

1 part Dr. Bronner's Pure Castille Soap

1 part Vegetable Glycerin

Several drops of lavender essential oil

Several drops of lemongrass essential oil

Lessons and Rewards

My son and I have started a new tradition.  Each week, he chooses "lessons" from a chart which hangs on his bulletin board.  The list of lessons is as follows:

ART

VOCAL MUSIC

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

SCIENCE

MATH 

READING

WRITING

SPANISH

GARDENING

HOUSEHOLD PROJECTS

COOKING

He can do as many or as little lessons as he wishes.  And, there is really no set lesson time.  Just when he feels like doing a lesson.  So, we're are pretty loose!  One day he may say, "Let's do a cooking lesson."  And out come the pots and pans, and I create a learning experience for him.  

We tally our lessons for the week, and at the end of the week we add up our total.  Based on how many lessons we did, we determine how many points he has earned.  He earns a point per lesson.  At this point, we pull out an old top hat with little papers folded inside.  The papers are like coupons.  One may say, "Redeem for 4 quarters."  One may say, "Trip to the park with mom."  Or, "Ice cream!"  

3 lessons = 1 "draw" from the hat

5 lessons = 2 "draws" from the hat

7 lessons = 3 "draws" from the hat

10 lessons = 4 "draws" from the hat 

We love doing this.  Learning is fun, because he gets to pick what he wants to do.  And, the rewards are sweet!

Worm Composting - BLACK GOLD!!!

Okay, it looks a little gross!  But earthworms are amazing little creatures.  They help to break down the organic matter in your compost bin and produce the most AMAZING fertilizer for your garden...worm castings!  (Yes, worm poop.)  But did you ever look to see what is in some store bought fertilizers?  Everything from sewage sludge (BAD) to bat guano (poop) (GOOD.)  

Here is how to make your own compost heap - which you can harvest into this fantastic fertilizer.  The cheapest method (while still keeping tidy) is to create a wooden box.  You don't really need a lid.  But, you should drill some holes in the bottom for air circulation.  The box should be at least 3' x 3'.  On the bottom, place wet, shredded newspaper.  The worms like that.  Then add some garden soil.  Next, add some green matter which will provide nitrogen.  Green matter can be anything from kitchen scraps (veggies, fruits) to grass clippings.  Do not put anything in there that has had non-organic herbicide, insecticide, or fertilizer on it.  Also, no cat or dog poop.  And, no meat products.  Then, cover with brown matter (dried brown leaves, small sticks, straw).  This provides carbon to the compost bin. You can also throw in crushed egg shells, paper towel tubes, fireplace ashes, paper towels, tissue, and dryer lint.   I like to cover the whole pile with brown paper bags, or palm tree "paper" that has fallen off my palms.  You could also use a small tarp.  This keeps the rodents away.  

You can buy red earth worms from your local nursery.  Sometimes they may need to order them, so call ahead.  Place the worms in the bin, but be sure not to put them right in the center of the pile, due to the heat of the compost.  They will find their way to the good stuff.  (PS - They don't like citrus rinds.)

Keep the bin slightly moist (like a wringed-out sponge.)  You will also get faster breakdown if you "turn" the pile every few days.  After some time, you will have rich, dark brown "humus"- the BLACK GOLD fertilizer - which you can sprinkle around the base of your plants before watering.  

There is really no way to screw up the compost bin - the organic matter will break down no matter what.  With a bit of extra care - it will break down faster.  The worms help this a lot.  Plus, the big bonus for me is that a compost bin with worms has virtually no flies and pests.  Bugs hate worm poop.  "So, bring it on, worms!  Poop away!"

Thoughts....

"Children are one third of our population and all of our future."  ~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981

Laundry Time!

The sun is out.  No need to run that dryer!  Have you ever smelled line-dried clothes?  No perfume or fragrance can duplicate how crisp and fresh clothes are after drying on the laundry line.  And, what a great way to bring Montessori's "practical life" outdoors?  Here's what you need:

A laundry line.

Wooden clothes pins.

A basket or bag to store clothespins in.

A laundry basket.

A shoe box or small container for socks

After you have washed your clothes, place the wet clothes in the laundry basket.  They are heavy, so do this task on your own.  Although, you can certainly explain to your child what you are doing.  Then, take the basket outside.  Your child can bring the basket/bag of clothespins.  Either use a step stool, or a low-enough laundry line, so that your child can help you pin the clothes onto the line.  Mother nature will take over from here!  When the clothes are dry, reverse the process.  You may bring the basket of clothes inside, while your child brings in the basket/bag of clothespins.  Together you can fold the clothes.  It is best to leave the napkins, washcloths, and socks to your child.  They can certainly handle it!  

For washcloths and napkins, have your child lay the napkin out in front of him.  Smooth out all of the wrinkles.  Bring the bottom to the top (folding the napkin in half).  Then, fold one side to the other (folding the napkin in quarters).  

For socks, the child can place one sock on top of the other.  Both will match directions.  He can smooth out the wrinkles.  Then he can roll the socks up.  When he finishes rolling each pair of socks, he can place them neatly in a shoe box or other small container, so they won't come unrolled.  That box can be taken to the child's room, and the rolled socks can be transferred to their drawer.

Your child will certainly enjoy spending time with you in this way.  Your dryer AND your electricity bill will get a break.  And your clothes will smell GREAT!

LEGO HEAVEN!!!

We just signed our son up for Play-Well TEKnologies Lego camp again this summer.  He had a blast last summer, and this time he is taking the class with a friend - added bonus!!  If your child likes building things - this is the camp for them!  You get to "design and build motorized machines, catapults, pyramids, demolition derby cards, buildings and other constructions out of LEGO® bricks. While exploring engineering, architecture and physics, students will develop problem solving and critical thinking skills." The instructors bring in 1000s of LEGO® bricks, wheels, motors, you name it (all immaculately organized, I might add), and the kids learn all sorts of engineering and physics concepts.   

I had originally found out about this class from a friend of mine who home schools her son.  One day she said, "Oh, gotta get going!  We have our Lego class!"  "Lego class?!?!?"  I thought.  "That sounds like to coolest thing ever!"  So, I checked it out - and sure enough, Play-Well TEKnologies is all over the place - so I bet there is a class or camp near you.  Here's their website:

http://www.play-well.org

Thoughts....

"What is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have not been discovered."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Or as I like to say...

"A plant whose virtues have YET TO BE DISCOVERED."