HennyPenny's random thoughts. New set of goals!

[hennypenny9]

I may have ruined my banana bread today... It has a yummy crumb topping made with flour, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Guess what I forgot? The brown sugar!! I had just popped it in the oven, when I looked up and saw the container of brown sugar sitting on the counter... OH. Anyway, I sprinkled a bit of sugar over the top. I'm hoping it'll be okay.

It's my "weekend" since I usually have Tuesday and Wednesday off. I have to will myself to clean, but I'm lacking motivation right now.

Punkin- We are wondering if the Sheriff was on our street because of the census worker. In particular the couple down the street from us have reason to be cautious, because some years ago their house was broken into. They were tied up while the robbers took stuff. So they may have called the cops, wouldn't blame them!

 

[hennypenny9]

My progress report! These were my original goals.

-make my own
laundry detergent -check
dishwasher soap -yes and no
feminine products -check
shampoo (or no-poo, I haven't decided) -castille soap check!
conditioner -check
household cleaners -made but not used yet
deodorant (sounds fun!) -no
lip balm -no
bread -CHECK
all meals -check
some clothes, including skirts -just skirts

-saving on utilities
compulsively turning off lights -check
keeping the thermostat at 60 degrees -62-64
hanging out clothes (can't right now, they never dry it's so cold!) -no
unplugging some things like the toaster -some
washing clothes in cold water -check

-growing things (can't much now, because I'm moving sometime)
lavender (lots of applications around the house) -check
peas -no
chives -check

Well, I suppose I'm doing okay. I'm adding some things!

-stop using paper towels
-bake whole grain bread
-make soap
-make cat food
-cancel cable tv
-learn to can
-use Tupperware instead of plastic baggies

 

[Beekissed]

Henny, it sounds like you are off to a great start! Are you moving far from where you live now? I had to go without growing my garden one year for the same reason and it was simply awful! Then I moved somewhere where I couldn't even have a garden for two years! More awful!

I hope you are moving somewhere you can have a giant garden and continue with your SS...you are farther along than I in some areas, I haven't tried making my own shampoo yet but am working towards all that slowly but surely.

 

[hennypenny9]

BK- Aw, thanks. But you have a cow and so you win. I'm moving about 2 and a half hours away, to my hometown. I guess I'm one of those people who likes the familiar. Anyway, I don't know if I will be able to have a garden. I may be in an apartment, at least for a while. But at least then I can have lots more in pots. Right now, the only place that gets good sun is the front of the house. If I cover it with pots it will take away from the curb appeal.

There are several housing possibilities that would work if they timing is right. One is ideal, but nothing is for sure. The ideal one even has existing chicken coops. *siiiiigh* But I can't change anything at this point. I just know that things will work out, they always do!

Oh, and the castille soap is really cool, but you have to do the vinegar rinse or else it will leave residue. I learned this the hard way! But the vinegar is so cool! It makes my hair more shiny!

 

[Farmfresh]

Great job - you are well on your way!

 

[TanksHill]

I love the fact that you set defined goals and have actually reached them. I am usually allover the place. Dreaming about this and that and doing other stuff. Hummm... shampoo huh?? Maybe I'll give it a try. Great job on everything else.

 

[hennypenny9]

I can't wait to finish my list! Especially the homemade stuff, like lip balm.

Oh, I made my super cheap I have-no-money-till-payday dinner. It's just Cornbread Pudding. Cost about two dollars. Yes, I'm aware that it's supposed to be a side dish, but oh well. I hopefully made up for the lack of nutrition earlier in the day. Banana bread, and tangerines, yum.

 

[Farmfresh]

My grandma used to make "Corn Meal Mush" - that is what hillbillies like us call Polenta.

It was Super cheap and a great meal with a couple of fried eggs!

Grandma's Mush

1 cup corn meal
1 cup cold water
1 t salt

-Stir together until smooth

3 cups boiling water

---
Slowly add cornmeal mixture to boiling water stirring until smooth.
Cover and turn stove to low for 10 min until thickened.

This can be eaten as a hot cereal with honey, syrup, jam or dare I say it ... sugar!

OR

Pour the mixture into a lightly oiled clean coffee can and chill.

This can be then sliced and lightly pan fried like a pancake served with syrup, jam or sugar.

Red beans and Rice is another cheapo dish that is GOOD!

 

[Blackbird]

Henny, can you tell me about castille soap?

I've never really used shampoo at all, I did the whole baking soda ACV thing a couple of times but idk if I like the baking soda part of it that much. I'm a guy so maybe it doesn't matter, but my hair is longer and I get alot of compliments about it.. I'd like to keep it that way.

I did the deodorant! So far I like it, I added too much coconut oil though..

I'd reccomend you try some, took me a whole 5 minutes.
Here is what I did:

Mix together:
3 Tablespoons shea butter
3 Tablespoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder
2 Tablespoons cocoa butter
4 tablespoons coconut oil (I'd only use one next time!)
1 teaspoon winter gracefruit fragrence (I added this last.. I didn't want to put it in the micro just in case)

Pop it in the micro until its pretty soft.. might need to mix some more with a fork.
Then I put it in the fridge for a couple hours.
The coconut oil seperated from the rest (I probably don't even need to use it?), so the top was a little runny, but the bottom was a good contistancy..

Just sharing =]

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Yeah, the census has become very invasive. To feed your conspiracy-oriented viewpoint, google American Community Survey, and don't just look at the official documents. We had to fill out one of those nasty forms a few years ago. They want to know what time you leave your house in the morning and where you go to work. They want to know how much money you make, etc., etc. I don't know why they don't just ask you where you store your valuables and get it over with already! Jeesh.

WTF about taking a GPS of your front entry. That is waaaaay overboard. Well, all I can say is that we moved into the "country" and we have a locked gate for a reason. At our last house I woke up to drug dealers on our front stoop one night. Not cool.

The census really pisses me off. All they legally need to know is how many people occupy the residence, everything else you tell them goes into a data base that is NOT completely secure from hacking. I don't care what they tell you, read the news for yourself.

OK, sorry for the interruption. I'll be quiet now.