Laundry Soap

Hi all!

I have been taking a break from the blogging world for a while.  We have some exciting changes going on and I have been kind of "consumed" with those.  I have to tell you that I have bloggers jamb!  SO SO SO been blog ideas in my head, I just  have to sit down and get them out.  So be prepared.  Ha!   My blog is like my "out there journal". I truly think it is what keeps me from going insane with all of the ideas and thoughts I want or need to share.

A couple months ago I saw a recipe on Pinterest on how to make your own laundry soap.  A friend of mine over at Everyday Atchley's tried it and loved it so I thought I would give it a spin (a little laundry humor)   I   L. O. V. E.  IT!  It smells wonderful and is very gentle on my clothes and skin, rinses clean and works in my HE front load washer with little or no sudsing.  We have some sensitive skin in this house and this has been a great change for us. 

   

Here is the recipe.  It makes quite a bit, smells awesome and costs about  1/3 less than the laundry detergent you get at the store. 

3 bars Fels Naptha Bar Soap

4 lbs. Borax

4 lbs. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

4 lbs. Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

All of these items can be found in the laundry section of the store, usually on the bottom shelf since they are what our grandmothers used and aren't highly advertised anymore. Instead of Fels Naptha you can also use Ivory or Zote soap. It will cost you about $20 for all of the ingredients.  NOTE ~ you shouldn't use this on cloth diapers.  It has baking soda in it and will cause an issue with the absorbing properties of the diaper.  Wouldn't want that now would we?

First thing is to start with a box lined with a trash sack or a clean 5 gallon bucket to mix this in, it makes A LOT. First, grate the Fels Naptha bar.  You can either use a cheese grater (tons of work), food processor, or I used my Kitchenaid mixer's grating attachment.  MUCH faster, and a lot easier on the elbows. (Grate finer for HE machines)  This step makes your house and your hands smell amazing!

Mix all of the ingredients well and store in an airtight
container.  I found a really cute jar at Hobby Lobby that seals nice and tight, then slapped a few vinyl letters on it to cutsie it up. Hey, if your going to be domestic you might as well go all the way right?   However, if you aren't into cutsie, any container will do as long as it is airtight. At Walmart they had a very neat 2 Tbsp measuring spoon, drop it in the jar and Viola! Ready to use.

If you try it, let me know what you think.  I don't plan on ever buying the other stuff again. 

If you have slivers of the Fels Naptha bar that are to small and painful to grate, save them. They make great preteater.  Just wet & rub the soap piece on the greasy stain.  It's what our Grandmothers did.

From the Fels-naptha website
"Fels-Naptha® is a time-tested stain remover and pre-treater working especially well on oil-based stains. Just rub the stain with a wet bar of Fels-Naptha® soap. Let it sit for a few minutes and wash as usual. Fels-Naptha® especially works great on stains made by: Make up, chocolate, perspiration and baby formula stains"  
If you would have told me 3 years ago while I was running the lumber yard that I would be making my own laundry soap, I would have looked at you like you were crazy and probably laughed out loud!   SO happy my life has changed.......and that it smells better to! NOW if I can just find someone to do the ironing.

Love and miss all of you
Jeanne

Route 66

My photo of the day was taken some time in the early 1940's. It is one of my favorite photos of my Grandfather, (my dads dad). I found this photo about 5 years ago when we were moving. I'm not sure where I got it or how it ended up in that box I was unpacking, but it was there. Maybe a little "gift" from my Grandmother. *wink*

The caption under the photo, in my Grandmothers handwriting, said "Our Filling Station" Stroud, Okla Marshall E Johnson (my grandfathers name). What a treasure.

This is their "filling station" in Stroud Oklahoma


That is my Grandfather dressed in white, complete with bow tie and cap, ready to fill'er up with Ethyl for .15. Ethyl...I love that. I remember my dad pulling into a station saying "fill'er up with Ethyl" I also remember him grumbling because it was up to .49 a gallon, that was in the early 70's What would he think now?

The large sign says "You Can Pay More but You Can't Buy Better". In the lower left of the picture is a triangle sign that says "spuds .29 a pack". At first I thought this was advertising potatoes, but potatoes were a lot less than .29 in the 1940's. After a little research I discovered it was advertising cigarettes. I found the label and this advertising page on line.


Fastidious People....My how times have changed


It wasn't until I started researching Stroud and the cigarette label that I found out this filling station was on Historic Route 66! I LOVE the nostalgia that goes with Route 66. Imagine my excitement to find out that my family was actually a part of that!!!

Shaun and I took a trip down Route 66 to Stroud, Oklahoma. The building is not there anymore. However, one of the older townsmen recognized it, and treated us to some wonderful reminiscing. We left a copy of this picture with the Stroud Historical Society. I am happy to say it hangs in the Chamber of Commerce office in Stroud.
I urge you to take a trip down memory lane soon, and remember to never forget where you came from....ever.

AND If you ever get a chance, be sure to....
Get your kicks on Route 66
Jeanne

- Posted using BlogPress from Jeanne's iPad

Determination

I love baseball! I have ever since my Grandpa Johnson took us to a Houston Astros game one summer when I was 12. I used to love to go to the Dodgers games in LA and do love the Texas Rangers, BUT little league is still my favorite to watch.

Shaun and I were both involved in little league for 4 years. It made for some great memories. We ate, drank and slept baseball when we lived in California. The boys started playing in February and usually didn't finish until October. It was exhausting but incredible.
Last week we were invited to a t-ball game. You know I can't pass that up, and of course the camera had to go with us. I really need more experience with sports photos and what a great place to practice.

I thought I would share with you what determination looks like.


Good job J! Way to keep your eyes on the ball!


Run J run! Yay he scored!


J is very good at sliding

In case you aren't familiar with 5 year olds and baseball, there is an unwritten rule (that only they know) that they all HAVE to slide at any and all opportunities. *wink*
They are all so cute and SO very serious.

J is a very determined, very sweet, very well mannered boy. He always greets us when we get there and then thanks us for coming, what a nice boy. He has great parents and role models in his life. Refreshing
We loved getting to be a part of his baseball games. Thanks Sam for thinking of us.

Summer and baseball....what could be better!

Love and miss y'all
Jeanne
Posted using BlogPress from Jeanne's iPad