Home Maker's Pallete

Sisters and Best Friends

2008-06-18T07:24:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I picked up my sister from the airport. She was using a buddy pass which means she only had to pay the taxes on the ticket. In exchange she could only get on the plane if there were empty seats. Her day started at 4:27 am to try for the 6 am flight. It was full. Bummer! So this changed the days plans. We were going to try fitting in the zoo. That didn't happen.

I recieved a call from a friend in the mean time. I was so glad to have a good friend to visit with while waiting. If any of you have a sister and love her you'll know how hard it is to be away from each other let alone waiting to see each other. My friend needed help shelling peas and had another friends kids over (which she didn't need help with :) ) It was a lot more fun shelling peas with other people. I have done it alone myself, yelling at the kids to help...then letting them run off because it is too hard to keep them busy.

My sister called at 3 pm to let me know she was getting on the plane. Hurray! Off we went. At 4:30 pm I picked up my sister and her daughter at the air port. What excitement. Oops, I forgot my hubby's supper. Thankfully the friends whom I spent the day with were able to get some food to him and let him know I was safe...as I did not leave him a message about the change in plans. Oops.

Now my sister and I are together making plans. See this post to see why my husband has reason to be afraid. :) I think we will begin with recovering our couch or tearing off the back porch.

Shopping Day

2008-06-13T06:07:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I started writing and never got to the reason I started. I've been asked where I shop. I like to go to the nearest super wal-mart 15 miles away, but this is becoming less practical with the rise in gas.

I realized the economy of small towns will get better with the rise of gas prices. People often run off the the nearest large town/city to buy in bulk, but those savings are becoming a thing of the past. Local merchants are still able to bring things to our homes and tables for cheaper than we can go get it (@$4/gal).

Thankfully we have two of each kind of store. The competition with sale prices helps the budget a lot. It just takes a different kind of mind set and work that we are not accustomed to.

On to the point. I have made my grocery list from my menu. I try to buy one of each every week to stock up: flour, corn meal, oil, sugar, salt and any other storeable basics. You can freeze you flours for two weeks then store in a cool dry place. No, it doesn't get 'wet' or rancid after thawing. I've yet to have a problem. It kills any bug larvae that naturally comes in the flours. At this point it will last on the shelf for years.

By the way, my menu is only of supper. My husband gets leftovers for his lunches and we eat oatmeal/grits with eggs and home made bread for breakfast. Tired of oatmeal? Try this recipe.

Grocery Shopping

2008-06-12T13:56:00.008-04:00

Why do we dislike it? I think it is due to the multitude of decisions that have to be made. Which brand? Is it healthiest? Can we afford it? I'm getting the cookies any way, because the kids are driving me nuts! Which cut of meat? Good ol' bacon or Canadian bacon? What is that any way? Canned is easier, but fresh (though better) will be no good to us after it has rotted in my fridge. How do I keep my kids and husband happy with food and still save money?!!!! Ahhhhh...!

We all know the drill. Run in, grab the favorites, some thing for a special dinner and order pizza out for supper that night.

For the past year I have been "playing" with our menu. I don't like things complicated, but I do like structure. How about calling it structured chaos or flexible structure. Whatever!

Here is what is working for us for the time being. View my menu.
Here is another one.

1. I've planned to have every ones favorites once a week. Some husbands don't like this, ask hubby what he thinks about every other week. I just wanted to make my grocery shopping experience easier on myself and the budget. And if he says he doesn't care...he really doesn't. Lucky you!

2. I have a soup and bread night and a bean and rice night every week regardless of complaints. If the children in India or Africa are starving and would be happy with rice or bread, I think my kids and husband can deal with it. (Go through the photo essay in the link above).

3. One meal a week is based on sale prices. Maybe I should do this more often, I just don't think I can get cheaper than rice and beans.

I don't know it all. These are just things that have helped me stay in a budget and keep every one happy for the most part. What is working for you all?

I have liked every thing from Kraft foods. They have great time saving recipes that the whole family likes.

What is the Point?

2008-06-11T06:18:00.006-04:00

That was my question as I rolled out of bed this morning. Ugh, why is life so hard? Why, why, why? The funny thing is that I have always known the answer to these questions, I've just never experienced the question.

So, here we are. Crawling out of bed every morning to start the day. I know some of my friends are going to get upset with me for this next confession, but I will explain myself. Nearly every morning I get up with my husband to make his breakfast, prepare his lunch and send him off with a kiss and a hug. Real "susie home maker", right? Oh, I can feel the heat of anger. Why do I do this? Three reasons are obvious.

1. My mother, bless her!!! @#$%^&! Don't worry, she is truly blessed and she would say the same thing about her own mother. Ugh, if my mother wasn't such a nice person, I wouldn't have to be. I am doing what I have seen my mother do for the past 30 years. With out fail she has served my father by rising in the morning with him and being home in the evening to receive him.

2. My husbands own words. "You have no idea how much it means to me that you get up every morning." "My day goes so much better when I've seen you first thing." As we as wives have the need to be loved, our husbands have the need to be respected. Remember, God never said anything about the husbands earning our respect, just as God told our husbands to love us even when we are unlovable. The point is obedience.

I have seen so many blessings God provided when I obeyed HIS instruction book (the Bible) for HIS Creation (us).

And so, I drag out of bed, telling myself, "I don't have to wake up, I only have to move my feet." With a sleepy smile I pour his coffee and pack his lunch. He has asked me to read the Proverbs to him/us as he eats. Wow, a devotional! I didn't know where to fit time with God into the busy schedule HE has given me. But, here it is in loving my husband. And, it is pretty funny when I mumble the text wrong saying, "blessed are the wrong doers." I get a raised brow from my husband and he asks me, with a wry smile, to read it again. Oops! :)

No, I haven't always or will always honour my husband this way or with the right attitude. It's really hard when I am mad at him. When the babies were little, he would tell me to go back to bed. PRAISE GOD!!! But the time of new babies made us cherish the morning time with each other all the more. I have found that we both miss each other when we don't get that time in the morning.

OK. How long is this post....blah, blah, blah.

In obedience to your Creator (who knows best), find a way in which you can convey honor to your husband and do it. Don't even talk it over with any one to get approval or "no, you don't have to do that." Just trust God to lay some thing on your heart to do for your husband and do it. WARNING: Expect it to be some thing you really don't want to do. AND it has to be done with joy. Remember the point is joyful obedience.

3. In the name of Jesus, our Redeemer and friend, Love HIM by following HIS commands. John 14:15

My First Motorcycle Ride

2008-06-10T06:45:00.003-04:00

I am terrified of motorcycles. Not so much of their speed, but more of the pain when we crash. Not that we ever have, did or will. But, I've got it in my head. My husband thanks me for my vote of confidence in his riding abilities.

We have been looking forward to using the motorcycle on a date. I told him I would when he was official with his license. Well, he's official and I am scared. I'll not go back on my word. Last night I asked him for a ride. He had just finished working on the bike and it was all set to go. The baby was down for the night, the kids were watching a movie. Just a quick spin up and down our dirt road. What a perfect night for riding. There was still sun light, the air was warm and slightly humid. Yet, it was refreshing over the hard heat of the day. Could I enjoy the speed (very slow) of the motorcycle whipping up my hair? Only for a short time. My husband decided we would extend this little jaunt to the hard road and one street over that was paved. Yikes! What about the kids? I squealed. "We'll call social services on ourselves when we get back." he replied. (Disclaimer for all who are worried -Our oldest child is quite capable of managing for 10 min.)
As we accelerated on the hard road, I could only hold on tighter, hoping the brakes would work. These are silly fears, and only because I have never experienced a motorcycle in the past. I don't know what it feels like to go fast on one, to know that the brakes work, that the gas can wont blow up just because I am riding. etc. How about arriving at a destination safely? We did get back home safe. That counts.

We had discussed the day before where we would go on our first date. I said "Johnny's", the local bbq 5 miles away. He said some place up in Georgia! We compromised with Starke, 13 miles away, after trying to get me to go to Palatka, 27 miles away. After last nights ride he agreed with "Johnny's."

Over Burdened

2008-06-10T06:12:00.003-04:00

How many of you have felt the pressure to earn an income to supplement your husbands? As the eldest in my family or the nature of my personality, I have felt the burden to make ends meet...above and beyond all the things I do to save money.

This past weekend God showed me I was sinning in my anxiety. There is nothing wrong in wanting to earn more or work more. But, there was a whole lot wrong with my worrying about it. My husband also reminded me (renewed to me) his promise to take care of me no matter what. Boy, did that make me feel better. God gave a curse to the man and the woman. How is it as women, we feel the need to take on the man's curse along with our own?

I certainly was trying to bear the burden that was not mine to bear. What a relief to let it go. Praise God for His loving kindness. God forgive me for sinning against you in being anxious. One it should be enough for me to obey you when you said, "Be anxious for nothing." Two, as I read you word, I realize the reason you tell me not to be anxious. You are our Creator and you've got every thing under control. May I always remember, "All things work together for good, to them who love God, the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 AMEN

Aproval of Angel Food Ministries

2008-06-09T17:14:00.003-04:00

Recently I previewed Angel Food Ministries. We purchased a basic package for $30. After carefully calculating the cost it was time to sample the food. YUM!!! We were pleasantly surprised at the quality, quantity and name brands.
If you are interested e-mail me wardtravel4@msn.com and I will pass your message along. My friend Katie goes to Orange Heights Baptist Church cooperating with Angel Food Ministries. She is my contact. If you are interested the money is due this Sunday, June 15, 2008.

Seventy Cents for Home Made Laundry Detergent

2008-05-30T05:20:00.003-04:00

Hey Friends! We have made our own laundry detergent for the past 2 months. It is a liquid detergent, so it is better for your washing machine and septic system. If you want to make it yourself click on the link above or see the side bar. This also makes a great science experiment. The kids and I had fun making it. The three main ingredients

Washing soda, borax and a bar of soap you like (I used dial the first time)

react to make a stiff gelatin substance. This you stir after 24 hours, it is then ready to use. We use 1/2 cup at a time. My husband and I have been pleased with the results. The only down side is no fragrance unless you use a smell good soap. It is possible to add essential oils for fragrance. I think I could boil some rose petals in the water before adding the soap. If I do and it works, or doesn't, I'll let you all know.

All this hassle cost $0.70 to make. It yields 2 gal of finished product. Using 1/2 cup at a time I can wash 128 loads. If you don't want to make it yourself, I'd be happy to let you try some of mine. If you like the results and still don't want to make it, I'd be happy to sell you mine. Again, the kids and I had fun making goop.

Take Care, Rachael

Sweet Potatoes Easy Gift

2008-05-28T06:51:00.003-04:00

There are 6 pots left of 10 sitting in my front yard. As friends and family leave I have been sending them with a sweet potato plant. The plant may never produce any thing but beauty, but they make a perfect free gift to those who are patient.

All those planted in my garden are doing well. They are beginning to run. Staying true to their nature, they are drought resistant now that they are established. I won't bother with them till the end of summer. We are looking forward to casseroles and chips. YUM!

Starting Sweet Potatoes

2008-05-09T05:38:00.005-04:00

Lately, George Washington Carver has become one of my heroes. He is a person worth getting to know. I stumbled across one of his writings and found it most informative on sweet potatoes. Here in the South a plant that has few pests and is drought resistant is a big deal.

1. I purchased 4 sweet potatoes (only one is necessary). I cut them in half. We put some cut side up and some cut side down. The cut side down worked better (Thank you daughter).

2. We pushed 4 toothpicks into the sides of the potato to keep it suspended in a cup of water. After 2 weeks of maintaining the water level, little sprouts came from the potatoes called slips.

3. Pull the slips off the potato when they are at least 6 inches long and plant and put in dirt.

4. Water daily for the first 2 weeks.

After they are established they are virtually drought resistant. It takes 120-140 days till harvest and they must be cured before eating. This can be a deterrent for gardeners. I have successfully cured one potato in my own kitchen. It was not difficult. I only had to let it sit on my counter for 14 days before eating it. Amazingly, the starches are transferred to sugars giving the sweet potato it's name.

Gardening is fast becoming more than a hobby. With the cost of every thing on the rise the necessity for home gardens is catapulted to font page news. The problem is that most Americans have lost the knowledge. The natural transfer of 'how tos' was lost in the generation gap. Do not despair however. Despite popular trend, a few have taken the time to learn from their parents and grandparents.

Thankfully, I still have both sets of grandparents and I knew all but one of my great grands. Here in this 'crisis' I can call any one of them and hear practical money saving ways to live. From growing vine crops on the fence to using wood ashes to prohibit bad organisms from gaining a foot hold. (Wood ashes also force a bloom.) Seek out the practical hands on advice of the elderly in you community. Yes, we can learn so much by reading on the Internet, but hands on learning is the best.

Cost of Angel Food Ministries

2008-05-08T06:51:00.001-04:00

I did the pricing on angel food ministries. Here is my break down of the $30/month:

First I took off the average cost of the non meat items. This left $12.67. I totaled up the weight of meat by pounds which is 11.6 lb. This makes the meat $1.09/lb for this month. I am sure each month would be different. I consider this a great deal for meat. Even though I can make the other items cheaper, the savings on meat alone is worth it. I will still use the other things. The actual cost in groceries is $6.92/week.

Sharing the Herb Garden

2008-04-30T07:28:00.003-04:00

My girl friends wanted some of my rosemary. Today I began the rooting process. I am hoping to give them this gift in 2 weeks.

You will need: potting soil, some small pots, any woody plant you want to root and rooting hormone.

1st cut 6 inch lengths of rosemary sprigs and place in a cup of water.
2nd prepare moist potting soil in small potters. Use a thin stick to poke a hole into the soil.
3rd pinch off the leaves from the base to 4 inches. Dip in rooting hormone and stick into hole. Water a little and Voila!

Keep in a cool place under some lighting. Water when the soil looks dry, but not dried out.

This system works well for any woody plant.

Is Home Grown Milk Cheaper?

2008-04-25T06:35:00.005-04:00

I would love to get a goat, but my husband gave the official 'NO" yesterday. I asked him to leave a part of the yard un-mowed so we could make hay. He wanted to know what I needed hay for since we don't have any animals. I said, "For any animals we might have, I am preparing ahead." With a smile he replied, "No goat!" That made it final. No goat for me. My consolation is CVS selling TG Lee milk (no hormones) @ $3.99/gal. With milk prices rising as fast as gas, this is still cheaper than having our own animal.

Here is the break down:

one time-A good milking goat average cost- $250

one time-A female companion for her- $ 80

one time-Cost of dwelling if none exists- $ 50-100

monthly-Cost in feed for the two- $ 30

$$$ Alfalfa, hay and mineral brick vary according to your area. There are many one time supplies to purchase for milking.$$$ More information on goats. Goats do better with a companion. The milking goat has to be bred every year to continue milk supply. During pregnancy she must be allowed to dry up, about 13 weeks.

One goat can produce 7 gallons per week. Can you use that much in a week? I can buy 2 gallons of the expensive/good milk and still be in the black.

The Movie

2008-04-24T06:56:00.003-04:00

We saw Expelled: No intelligence allowed last week. Wow! I was excited to see some one standing up to the academic world for thier abuses. Bring it on!!! These abuses happen, I have seen it personally in high school. I have been afraid to voice my opinion due the animosity toward anything other than Darwinism. However the past year or two my boldness has increased with personal experementation and the acumulation of facts. I encourage any one to do their own research on the topic. Don't rely on current academic thinking, they have an agenda to sell. All I ask for from them is honesty...go ahead and say, 'you really don't know how every thing began.' But, to make up lies and destroy any one in thier path for the sake of pride is wrong.

Lemony Sugar Cookies

2008-04-24T06:41:00.003-04:00

My husband loves sugar cookies. I prefer a cookie with "splash." After many trials this is the concoction we like best.

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp lemon extract
2 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Beat margarine and sugar till creamy, blend in the egg then add the milk and lemon extract. In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add the two mixes together and blend well. Drop 1 Tablespoon size of the mix onto your baking sheet. Bake at 375* for 10-12 min.

Peroxide: A Cure All?

2008-04-09T07:13:00.001-04:00

I was forwarded a message about common peroxide a couple of weeks ago. You can read more about it here. Personally I have started using it as a mouth wash. I have been impressed with it’s results. Maybe I am not a very good tooth brusher. After brushing I wash my mouth out with a cap full of 3% hydrogen peroxide for about 1 min. I noticed extra chunks of food that my tooth brush didn’t get. My husband also stated that my breath has not been as stinky…that is proof enough for me.

I have also been using it to wash my under arms. I thought of this one day as I was applying preassure to a wound with a peroxide soaked towel. I noticed my fingers were bleached. Well, if peroxide will bleach my fingers why not my under arms?
Have you ever noticed that after swimming in a chlorinated pool you B.O. is not so bad? It is because the chlorine kills all the bacteria that create the bad smell. Peroxide is another, maybe not as harsh, bleach. We all know it kills bad stuff.

I have been using 3% peroxide under my arms for a week now and have noticed they are lighter in color and not as smelly. We all know that is a good thing. There is a WARNING with peroxide however. My husband used to be in the medical field. He instructed me not to use peroxide on open wounds. The agent that kills bad guy germs also kills healthy cells. For wounds we wash with anti bacterial soap and apply anti biotic ointment.

Filtering the Mail

2008-04-01T07:31:00.004-04:00

I recently picked up a hand out at the post office. It was all about mail fraud. I know we all get junk mail...every day, but some times the con artists say just the right thing or have just the right colors or font to look authentic. In our age of computers any thing is possible.

So how do you identify the junk and place it in 'file 13'? Visit United States Post Office reading room. It's free and there is more info than the booklet I picked up.

The info that made the best impression on me was, "by law any unsolicited material (ie magazine, stickers, books, watch...) is mine to keep, throw away or return to sender." I don't have to give the con artist any money no matter how much pressure s/he puts on. Certainly, never give out your personal information.

Some tools of a con artist are talking fast, fear of running out of time or missing some thing great, requiring money for information. If you become confused or stressed during a phone conversation, it is probably on purpose.

A genuine business person will never make you feel frazzled. So, take your time in making decisions. You can defuse the confusion by making the person on the other end of the line repeat slowly what they have said, you can ask them to repeat it many times. Remember, your time is valuable too. If they don't want to take the time to explain some thing, it can't be worth the time to listen. If it doesn't make sense, it was probably designed not to.

Art at Work

2008-04-01T06:36:00.007-04:00

What does art have to do with Home Making? For all you artists out there it is simple. Art is being able to do some thing well naturally. For people like me, we try to make it a science. So many times we try to simplify life into sciences. It just can not be done. Life is art. It is a compilation of all things and can not be simplified. So, live life, enjoy it.

So many times we hear, "simplify." I would love to simplify my life. How can you simplify any of the great works of art?

If you simplify the home you end up with an antiseptic, scientific and ugly home.

But neither can it be disarray. That is ugly too. And many have had a hard time making sense of it.

Home making is an art that if done well is a master piece.

Wisdom From Older Home Makers

2008-03-03T06:57:00.001-05:00

One question I have asked older women, whom I respect and see persevering in God’s Word is: What one thing do you think has helped to save money over the years? So far, the answer has been unanimous…cooking from scratch as much as possible.

Very Small Hobby Farm

2008-01-14T08:08:00.000-05:00

As a Home Maker one of the things I feel is important is having a few animals. Having animals can be a pain, but I believe the benefit out weighs the difficulties.

The benefits to having the animals is the closeness to creation we are able to experience. The children learn confidence. Not to mention the joy and much laughter. We get eggs and bug control from the chickens, protection from the dog and pest control from the cats. The first time I observed the children playing outside with the dog, a sense of relief came over me. What was this? Why relief? Ah-ha, I knew then I no longer had to worry about snake bites.

I say a few animals is good. We were able to go away this weekend, but we had to make sure the animals were cared for. The dog and chickens had self refilling feeders. The cats were fed by a friend. If we had any more than these it would be harder to get away. However, I am still trying to figure out how we can have a goat.

RATS!!!

2008-01-11T06:07:00.001-05:00

Scritch, scratch, scramble awakened me in the night. NOT AGAIN! Mice, squirrels, birds and this time rats love our attic. There is poison up there, but when will they find it?

It probably began after we got the chickens. Rats often like chicken food. We put the feed in a large trash can with lid to deter these pests. Two of our three chickens have been laying eggs for a while, but the third didn't seem to be productive. I became suspicious when she was very talkative near our raised porch. Ah ha! Having sealed off her entry I thought, "maybe the rats are eating the eggs." They would have no need of the poison.

My Basil! Sweet, innocent, tender seedling got it's top chewed off! They were practically my babies. Do you know how much time and care it takes to grow something? "This means war!" I declared slamming my fist on the work bench. We have rats, so I got cats.

I have now happily and proudly buried 3 rats in the past two days! No food source and a predator. I win!

Why I Wanted to Nurse

2008-01-10T07:10:00.000-05:00

I guess I had this ideal in mind. Mother and child all snuggled up together sharing a special moment. My body, the sole provision for this new little one. It was something as a woman I was suppose to be able to do. Sort of a badge of honor idea.

Then my precious new born...is ripping my titty off!!!!! OUUUUUUCH!!!! Only the love of a mother can let her body be so terribly used with out retaliation. Being a mother is one of the ways in which we can experience and share the love of God.

To my utter disappointment I was not able to nurse my children the way I thought it is supposed to be done.

So, I am pitching my fit about not "being able" to nurse. God shows me HIS love in spite of my pride and selfishness.

How long was I planning to nurse any way?

My badge of honor? Humility. That I am not proud of. There is no glory for myself...There is only ONE who is worthy of glory, Jesus, who took on flesh and humility, the very thing I didn't want.

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples,"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (NKJV)

I Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps: (NKJV)

It is better to have a happy baby than a crazy mom. Sacrifice yourself and see what God does with you.

"Behold, I (Yahweh) lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in HIM will not be disappointed." Romans 9:33 (NAS)

Infant Potty Training

2008-01-07T06:38:00.002-05:00

In my post I listed a bunch of things my sister and I have done, tried or are doing. What makes it crazy is that you have 2 country women trying to do 'country' things in the city. IPT can be done any where. The reason IPT is crazy is because not many people in our culture do it.

Infant Potty Training (IPT). It is not what you think. It is not trying to potty train a baby like you would a toddler.

My sister calls me one day and says, "My baby just went potty on the toilet!" "What?!" I couldn't believe my ears. Her baby was using the toilet before her toddler. How could this be? She explained about a web site she visited.

Gives all the instructions and premises. I didn't start from birth as many have done. I tried to give myself flexibility. I remember being so frustrated with my toddlers when they were learning how to use the toilet. I would even get angry with them. One day I heard that a toddler doesn't even know what a toilet is for when all they have been taught is diaper. It was an "ah-ha" moment.

My sister and I agreed that we would not be sold out to this method, only use it when we wanted or when it was convenient. It is after all counter cultural. And I WAS NOT going to have this method getting me frazzled with my baby! That was a BIG NO, NO.

To my surprise, having this easy going attitude has allowed me to succeed. I still do not hold to this method as a 'end all', 'cure all'. It is just some thing different, for "fun" - see if I can do it - idea.

There are perks, but I do not hold to them as "have to happens": cleaner bottoms, fewer diapers, ease of "potty training" in toddler hood. I think of it more like "potty introduction 101."

Jewelry

2008-01-04T05:23:00.000-05:00

My adult little sister bought me some pearls in East Asia. I was a bit worried. I do enjoy jewelry, I just can't wear it often and not for long. I guess it irritates my skin, I am always figitting with it. Gold, silver, chains, threads. It didn't seem to matter what the meterial. My husband and daughter bought me a few things last Christmas a simple gold chain and dolphin earings. Very cute. I was hoping the simplicity would allow me to wear them.

Having recieved the pearls I realized why I don't wear jewelry. It's just plain irritating! Except...for these pearls! At the end of the first day, I realized I had forgotten they were on. I believe this was due to them taking on my body temperature. Wow! I was amazed. I was able to enjoy having jewelry on and not even know it was there. My skin loved it.

I can enjoy a bit of dressyness all day long. Thanks Sis!

All the Crazy Things My Sister and I do to Save Money

2008-01-03T17:28:00.001-05:00

It comes as no surprise that our husbands would laugh at this new blogging venture. We are well known for the many crazy things we have attempted over the years in effort to save or make money.

gardening, composting, growing wheat, plant nursery, seeds, baby sitting, pyramid schemes (we never went past the part where we had to "invest" money), making things from scratch like various crafts and home made "napkins" from unused towels, clothesline, making our own yeast, chickens, IPT (Infant Potty Training)

You name, it we may have tried it or would be willing to. These things may not be crazy in and of themselves, but in how we go about doing them...in our urban houses.

I'm still trying to convince my husband that a goat would be a good thing...