Grow!

 Its finally spring time! Here in WNY it seemed like it took a long time to get here! Finally this week we are having 70 and 80 degree weather! The Horner household is getting busy trying to take advantage of the beautiful weather and the fact its not raining. We bought our seeds for our garden this year, a big in ground garden versus our normal container gardening. I decided to use paper egg cartons for my seedlings to start in, they are biodegradable and will just break down in the soil, so its a win-win situation. I made a makeshift green house of sorts with 2x4s and plexi glass, and I must say its been working very well!

 Soon I will be working in my new green house and I cant wait!

I am not a very patient person, so waiting for those seedlings to grow has been killing me, but finally Results!!! My cucumber, basil, squash and corn is coming up! Few more weeks before they can handle WNY weather, we get frost rather late. Cant wait to enjoy the "Fruits of Our Labor"

We also have taken on 6 more chicks! Austrolorps, they are an Australian breed, black and white. Very cute! However 4 of them are Roosters...uuugh. So I think I am going to advertise breeders for sale, or we will have chicken in the freezer. They are growing fast too! Few more months and we should be getting more eggs! Its a fun season and a busy one! Updates when I can!

 

New Babies with heat light on.

                                                                                 Big Babies outside on the

                                                                                  porch now, heat at night.

 

                                                             

 

                                                     

 

 

 

 

Homemade Detergent Results

I thought I would post an update to my Homemade Laundry Soap Project. So far it has been working great, I dont see any negative side effects and it cleans as well if not better than normal store bought detergent. The freshness last a long ways. I just finished using up the first batch of soap and it lasted a total of 4 months for me, but I also gave quite a bit away, to my mom, my sister in law, my aunt, and a friend. If I had that back I think I could have easily gotten 6 months or more out of the first batch!! What a savings! Less than $20 for 6 month supply of soap! I made another batch today, but I changed up the recipe just a pinch, I am trying "Zote" Soap along with the Fels Naptha, Zote is also a natural cleaner and its great for whites. The Zote is a bigger bar than the Fels, so you can use just the Zote and get more bar soap for your money. The Zote is a little bit softer than the fels when you grate it. I also love that the Zote is pink! Gives it a fun color along with the yellow Fels. I also used a new Laundry Crystal this time as well. Its Purex for babies. Its safe for washing PJs, hypoallergenic and 87% natural, so its gentle on babies skin! It also has a great light scent!
I will repost again in a few months on how the new mix is working! Oh yeah I found another new trick: Add a tennis ball to your dryer, it will cut your dry time in half!

Homemade Bird Suet

 

I have been really enjoying my new bird watching hobby! I am getting so many varieties of birds at my feeders, its so neat to see the array of colors out there. I have been using store bought suet cakes and they have needless to say devoured them! Today is a particular cold day in Western NY, especially where I am in the Southern Tier, and I noticed all of there suet cakes were gone, and although there is a feeder out there they prefer the cakes, knowing that is so cold and my birds need there food, I stumbled on a recipe for homemade suet with most things already in

your cupboard! Less cost and less trips to buy more! After making the mix and putting

it out my birds are going crazy over it! Here is the recipe I used:

 

1 cup of vegetable shortening or lard

 1 cup of peanut butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 cups of dry ingredients such as cornmeal,

oatmeal, birdseed mix, dried fruit or sunflower seeds.

You can add more than one of those ingredients.

 

Mix the vegetable shortening and peanut butter into a large, microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave the mixture on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shortening is liquefied. Stir the all-purpose flour into the melted vegetable shortening and peanut butter. Continue stirring until the mixture is one uniform color. Stir in up to 4 cups of dry ingredients such as cornmeal, oatmeal, birdseed mix, dried fruit or sunflower seeds.
Knead the mixture together by hand until it forms a dough the approximate consistency of cookie dough. ( I didnt knead mine I just stirred it by hand.)

Press the homemade suet into an 8-inch square pan. You dont need to grease the pan because the vegetable shortening will prevent the suet from sticking.

Place the pan in a cool, dry spot and wait for the suet to cool completely. I put mine in the freezer.

Cut the cool homemade bird food suet into chunks and hang them from trees in mesh bags or place them in suet bird feeders.

My birds are going crazy for this! I hope you have as much success as I am! Leave me a comment!
I will post pics soon!
 

 

Vintage Button Rings

So my newest obsession are these awesome old vintage metal, brass, bronze, copper, etc. buttons - I just love the patina and the story behind some of them. And repurposing them into jewelry is my latest hobby and obsession! They are truly unique and if your looking for one of a kind, look no further! Stunning detail in each and every piece. An Example of some of my recent work.

Not Vintage, But Pretty Flower
Cabachon Rings.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/farmchicsophisticate?ref=si_shop&view_type=list

Detox

So I have decided to do an all natural detox. Its made with apples and cinnamon. It cleanses your system and is supposed to help you lose weight and gain energy! Who wouldnt love that? Today Is day number 1, I will post photos and the recipe soon, I wanna see how this goes before I reccomend it! If you have any ideas or suggestions for natural detoxes leave me a comment!
Thanks

HomeMade Laundry Detergent

So I finally got an opportunity to sit down and photo blog my attempt at making my own detergent. I was getting sick of buying expensive laundry soap and then being worried about my skin being sensitive to the dyes and perfumes used. After hearing of friends making there own varieties of detergent I went on the hunt looking for a recipe that would accomodate our needs: Cost, Allergen Sensitivity, and Cleaning ability. This stuff is great because it is way stronger then the store bought laundry soap. You only have to use 1-2 Tablespoons per load. I have been using it for a few weeks and so far my skin is fine! It was very easy and makes enough for my husband and I to use literally for months! Our initial cost was less than $20.00 !!  Best of all it smells Fantastic! The whole house smells amazing when I wash and dry laudry and the fresh scent last so much longer than ordinary store bought detergents with all of there additives. Below are my photos and the recipe!

 

1- 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz)
 

1- 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg)

1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz)

 3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap
 

All Items can be found in the detergent aisle.

 

*Optional Ingredients

2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total)
They do Sell an Oxy Clean at your Local Dollar tree!

I have a pretty messy husband so the cleaner the better with the Oxy Clean!

If you love a scent you can add laundry crystals to the mix. You can find laundry crystals in the detergent isle. I used Purex Lavendar Crystals. They are 87% Natural!

All Items can be found at WalMart or Wegmans.

                                     

  I forgot to add the Bars of Fels-Naptha to this photo!!

Start out by grating your Fels-Naptha soap like cheese. You can use a food processor or use your hand grater. I used a very fine grate for my HE Machine.

 

** Fels-Naptha will dissolve in your washer even if you only use cold water.

 

Toss all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket. This part makes your whole house smell amazing!
 

 

 

 

Final Product!

 

 

 So far I am keeping my detergent in My 5 Gallon Bucket, Still on the look

out for a cool container for it! Smells amazing every time I open the lid!

 

I also got a little scoop that is about 1 tablespoon to keep inside,

 it was the scoop from the Oxy Clean actually!

 

Safe for HE washers

Safe for Sensitive Skin

I have a friend who uses this recipe and she has 2 small children

 and it causes no problem for there skin.

 

Have Fun! Send me a comment on how its working out for you!

 

 

 

 

Bug Free Me!

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Ok, so I know that Winter is just starting to begin, but we CAN dream about summer and plan for summer now!! I just started this spring making an all natural chemical free bug repellant. I have named it Bug Free Me! Its all natural, chemical and Deet free formula. Its made with lemon grass, and Eucalyptus so it has a Lovely Fragrance. Best of all it WORKS!! I used it on myself and husband, my inlaws and small nieces. I am selling it on my Etsy Website: https://www.etsy.com/listing/98174797/bug-free-me-all-natural-non-toxic-deet

Bug Free Me And Chemical Free Me too!
All Natural, Non toxic, Deet Free Repellent.
4 oz.
The only thing worse than Annoying Pests is the chemical laden insect repellants. Enjoy a bug free summer everyday when you use “Bug Free Me”
Bug Free Me is a totally natural and chemical free bug repellent! Safe for young and old. Smells great, and is perfect for those of us who don't want harsh chemicals on our skin. Contains a wonderful blend of Pure Essential oils and ingredients. It has herbal extracts to keep those nagging pests off your skin, and stay away.

Spray on skin, hair and clothing, (you may want to spot check before you completely cover your fabrics to check colorfastness.) Always keep away from eyes and mouth. Apply every 2-3 hours for effectiveness.

Comes in 4 oz PET dark green plastic bottles ( PET does not leach into product) with a spray