Better Times Living link and other links

Here is a very useful website I found years ago when I was living by myself and didn't have a penny to spare. I have come across it again and felt that it's worthwhile passing on to those who may find it useful also.
It will be added in the right column with the other websites that I visit.
http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/2004index.htm

Also added some other new links to the side bar.

Wrap Skirt Tutorial

Had a tutorial here. I just don't feel right having it here and not being able to give the appropriate person their due credit. Sorry if anyone wanted to copy it before I took it off!

Wrap Skirt

Finished making my wrap skirt! This is the first garment I have ever made for myself. I am very pleased with how it turned out. I would give a tutorial, but I cannot take credit for this design. I THINK I got the idea from craftster.org, only I can't find it on the site now! I will make a new post for the tutorial someone else wrote (I wish I could give credit to them, I copied and pasted it and there is no site addy). Here are pictures of my skirt that I made all by myself!




Picture of it laid out on the floor:



Fabric patterns up close (sorry about the shadow!):

Getting ready for spring gardening

Past several days have felt like winter is back. The few weeks preceding winters return, it was beautiful and we took advantage of it.
Got 2 tater tires started...



Moved the garden boxes and marked off an area for the corn, tomatoes and vining plants...



Started seeds indoors (sorry no pics yet), burned garden waste that couldn't be composted due to disease, pruning and just general cleaning up of the garden/herb/flower beds.
Here are some signs of spring around our farm...







Last 4 pictures from top to bottom: garlic, oregano, daffodils, hyacinth.

Making Fruit Leather

I've been making fruit leather again. This time its apple-strawberry. I puree a gallon bag of my home-grown strawberries (thawed from the freezer) and add a little (home canned)applesauce to help thicken it a bit. I then add about a 1/4 cup of sugar. Not absolutely neccesary, but it does help reduce the tartness. Pour onto the trays and dry!
I only have one fruit leather tray that came with the dehydrator. So what I did to be able to make more than one at a time is use wax paper cut to fit the trays. Works really well! I tried using plastic wrap, but didn't really like it. With the wax paper, it's easier to wash it and re-use. I'm all for reusing and eliminating waste and cutting costs! Plus, the wax paper I have is the wax bags from boxes of cereal. I always save those bags, they are so handy! I can't tell you the last time I bought wax paper! On that note, I also haven't bought foil, plastic wrap or plastic baggies in several years. I always wash and air dry what I use and reuse, reuse, reuse! Sounds like a good start to another installment of Disposing of Disposables!

Reality Report

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XzKLzzl6SA

A little Thomas Jefferson

In a letter to James Madison on January 30, 1787, Jefferson wrote, "A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical…It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."