Yarn Dyein'

I bought two skeins of locally produced wool yarn at the State Fair this summer and I am finally getting around to working with it. I dyed it a rich golden yellow using tumeric (from the spice cabinet). I love how it turned out and can't wait to knit myself up something.

Kraut In A Crock

 The cabbage is finally ready to be picked and made into sauerkraut.  Sauerkraut great for the digestive system and is also boosts the immune system.  This was also one of the easiest things to make.  This was our first time making kraut and honestly, my first time tasting it! 

We used 3 table spoons or per five pounds as a starting point.  As we mashed the cabbage we then added more salt to taste.

 

When the crock was full, we covered the soon to be kraut with some of the larger left over leaves and then put a lid with weight on it to keep the cabbage submerged below the juices to keep bacteria from getting in.  After 24 hours we had to add more brine to get the kraut submerged like we wanted.  After 5 days we tasted it (it needed a couple more days) and when it got to the sourness we wanted, it was canned it. 

 

This was just four head of cabbage and really only took around a half hour of prep and another half hour to can over the course of a week.  Easy peasy!  And for my first time tasting it, I can say that I should not have waited so long.

Making Our Own Deodorant Bars

I don't think we will ever have to buy deodorant again! Not to say we are never using deodorant again (that would be gross). Thanks to Wellness Mama, we are now making our own deodorant and saving our health and money doing so.

Today, most deodorants contain aluminum, which helps control odor and wetness but also contributes to a number of health issues such as Alzheimer's Disease. We tried a few non-aluminum brands and some worked but not as well as our traditional deodorants. So with some research, I found an amazing recipe that I can make at home on the cheap and it really works. I actually think I sweat less now that I use this stuff so I am claiming it works even better than the deodorants that contain aluminum. Who knew arrowroot powder and baking soda were the answers to our sweaty problems?

Don't dis it till ya try it, son! The best part is I can let the "bars" set in the cupcake tin and store them in the pantry until I need more. Then I can use the bar as is or pack it into my empty deodorant tube. Packing it into an empty tube allows for better application. It works, it's cheap and it is better for our health. Man, I love making things I can use!