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We've been enjoying these early days of spring (see the beautiful bouquet of daffodils my little Gracie picked for me?!). Just like at your house, grass is greening, spring flowers are poking up through the soil as it warms in the spring sunshine, bugs are hatching, and life seems to be renewing itself! We've been enjoying taking advantage of these spring days to work in some science to our preschool time here at the Goff house. We decided we needed to grow something.
Now, we grow LOTS of somethings around this place... chickens, gardens, blueberries, 
blackberries, I could go on & on... but those things, in particular the plants, don't come until later in May. SO, we decided to grow 3 pinto beans. And the best part is that she got to see the whole cycle of the bean sprouting! We placed a damp paper towel in a zip lock bag & set it in a sunny window. In just a few days, the initial bud was starting. In a few more days, we had a full sprout. In a few more days, we had a root runner and the green separating from the bean shell. This has been a lot of fun for Grace. She's always been around the garden, but to see it all happen up close and personal was a real hoot for her!
Who would have thought a group like 33 Miles would show up just 10 miles from my house! They are out doing their One Life to Love tour and they stopped at a local church for a youth DNOW weekend rally. What an incredible opportunity! Watch my video for some 33 Miles highlights.
After searching for different product recipes, I discovered there are a few ingredients that are used over and over again in these cleaning products. Vinegar (the #1 ingredient and your new best friend), Baking soda (for refreshing and scrubbing), Ammonia, Washing Soda & Borox (frequently used in laundry).
Homemade Laundry Stain Removers
Homemade Laundry Detergent
I found this website with an excellent description of how to make your own laundry detergent.
Basically the indgredients are grated bar soap, Borax, and Washing soda.
This author says that the recipe makes a 64 load batch for only $.71! That's incredible savings!
*If you have very hard water like us, you may want to add baking soda (1/2 C), Oxyclean, or vinegar to your washing machine loads. If you experience issues with residues, try a vinegar rinse - vinegar in one of those Downy balls works great.
**Vinegar and bleach do NOT mix well. Chemical reactions between the two can be ugly.
Homemade Fabric Softener
2 Cup Vinegar
2 Cup Baking Soda
4 Cups Hot Water
Slowly mix water, vinegar, and baking soda. They tend to foam. Gently rock in a capped botttle and then release built up air. If you want scented softener, add about 20 drops of essential oils. Some clean smells would be cedarwood, lavendar, eucalyptus, or rose.
a baby, so what kind of mother would I be if I didn't allow Garrett the same experience?
picklewart.blogspot.com
We're all watching our calories around this place... when the jeans get a little more snug, so does the calorie counting! So, what is a girl to do when there's a SERIOUS chocolate craving in the house? Make the recipe a little lighter! Or A LOT lighter!! 
Who wants to completely sabotage their Cardio Blast workout right?
Many of you have probably already performed this substitution before, but I thought I'd post today's creation anyway. We lightened up our chocolate cupcakes by 1. not using frosting (you'd be surprised just how good a cupcake can still be w/o the lard on top!) and 2. substituting no sugar added applesauce for cooking oil. This dropped a cupcake from 130 cal down to 92 cal, from 6 g fat to 1.3 g fat, and 1.25g saturated fat to .5g!
Mocha Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes
1 Box Cake Mix (we used Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge)
1 1/3 C Coffee (we went for a mocha theme and swapped out coffee instead of water but use water here instead if you like)
1/2 C No sugar added applesauce
3 eggs (you could further lighten this recipe by exchanging 3 whole eggs for 6 egg whites - but I love my chickens and their egg yolks... I'm a little bias here)
Mix it all. Pour in cupcake liners about 2/3 full and bake at 325 Fahrenheit for about 18 minutes. EAT! You could top these w/ a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle to help control any additional calories and fat... I'm craving chocolate today so it ALL sounds good to me!
Enjoy!
That's right. Dave's philanthropy is surfacing! They're offering a free lesson to those that register at this link. They'll email you a list of locations they plan to visit & then you can choose we're you would like to attend their event. FREE. It's a gift to the communities! I've signed up but haven't received the location list yet. I hope they come somewhere close to SW MO!!
Read more...
That's right. My peeps are here. And they are the cutest little strawberry blonde fuzz balls you've ever seen. We now have 40
chickens on this here hobby farm. And I love my peeps... and the big "ladies" too. It's the best part of spring around this place!picklewart.blogspot.com
I've been searching for a good coconut chicken recipe and just couldn't find one... so we combined a few last night to come up with our own concoction. We made chicken strips & nuggets from chicken breasts first (we pounded the breasts down first) and then went from there.
salt, sugar, coconut extract, and enough water to make a thick batter. Dredge chicken pieces in batter and place into frying pan with a thin layer of oil already hot and ready to cook. Cook on each side about 4 or 5 min or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels on plate. Serve hot with a sweet dipping side.Well, it was actually Goldilocks and the three Goffs I suppose. Grace (i.e. Goldilocks) and Mommy, Daddy, and Garrett all went for a walk in the woods. It was so pretty yesterday, so we decided to take off for a hike around our land and the surrounding land by our place. It was a much needed break from the go go go of the weekend. We had a great time, and I wanted to share a few pictures of our journey.
Garrett had the best spot... a free ride!
Like Father, like daughter...
We piled up on this rock for a picture, and Gizmo decided to join in. 
More rock resting. 
This is a GIANT Burr Oak down the hill from us. It's truly an incredible tree!
God bless this dog. Zelda just couldn't resist jumping in the scummy pond.
What can I say? She's a Lab!
Cool barn at the bottom of the hill.
I've always like this structure with it's old field stone foundation. 
Just having fun in Photoshop.
But hey, who says happy cows come from California?
I say these Missouri hefers look pretty tranquil to me!! 
Our ultra fluffy white manx cat, Gizmo.
He and Zelda are buddies, so he had to come along too.
Hope you all had a great weekend too!
We took advantage of our beautiful Saturday 60+ degree weather and got a little done around the farm. Grace and Daddy had fun raking the leaves off the blueberry 
bushes and making GIGANTO piles for jumping. Now that was some serious fun! Grace even helped add old coffee grinds to the blueberry pits to help acidify the soil 
for the coming growing season (great GREEN cheap way to do this!). She's such a good little gardener. I can't wait for spring. I know she'll be my big helper in the big garden.
We also cracked open a few of our white chicken's eggs for breakfast. I was so impressed 
with the height of the yolks, I had to take a picture. My "ladies" must be eating good to be laying such high quality eggs this early in the season. Yeah for bugs!
"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." 1 Corinthians 12:18-20
I received this verse in my Proverbs 31 newsletter today. The author was commenting on her struggles with fitting the mold of how many Christians believe Christian women should be.
We all know there are a MILLION books out there on how to be a better Christian woman... many of which promote wonderful characteristics emphasizing the fruits of the spirit. But sometimes, we get caught up in what good Christian women wear, look, what their hobbies are... feminine things like looking delicate and always put together, sewing, cooking, flower gardening, decorating, hostessing tea parties, crafting, and the craze of scrapbooking.
Let's face it. These are all very womanly things... none of which are bad whatsoever...
and almost none of which I partake in.
I can't even begin to recount the many times I've guilted myself into trying one of these hobbies... because they're what good Christian women do, right? It's taken me a very long time to get past these things that surround me in other Christian women - many of whom are my own friends and family. I've finally stopped allowing myself to feel pressured to do these things just because others are doing them. It's been a long journey, but I sure do feel a lot less stressed now that I know I don't have to sew aprons and skirts or scrapbook every vacation just to "fit in". I am who I am... and God made me this way to serve His purpose and to give Him glory.
Who am I?
I am a Mom.
I am a computer programmer.
I am a chicken farmer.
I am a vegetable gardener.
I am a housekeeper.
I am a cook - although I'd like to think I am a chef. ;-)
I am a camper, floater, and hiker.
I enjoy offroading in our Jeep.
I love shooting rifles.
I consider myself the resident weed eating expert. :-)
And I want to go hunting.
I am not many, many, many things... but I am who I am. And I think I like it. After all, God made me in His image and knew me long before I knew myself. I guess we can give credit where credit is due.
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of workings, but the same God works all of them in all men." 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
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Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.
Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.
Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
Deodorize and clean the garbage disposal with white distilled vinegar ice cubes. Make them by freezing full-strength white distilled vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.
Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.
Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.
Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar.
Avoid the bad smell when you heat up a newly cleaned oven by using a sponge soaked in diluted white distilled vinegar for the final rinse.
To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.
Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.
To prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals, wash then spray with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Give the glasses a hot water rinse before letting them dry or drying them with a towel.
For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit awhile before rinsing clean.
Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the water and letting it sit overnight. If more drastic action is needed, boil full-strength white distilled vinegar in the kettle a few minutes, let cool and rinse with plain water.
Remove mineral deposits from coffee makers with white distilled vinegar. Fill the water reservoir with 1 cup or more of white distilled vinegar and run it through a whole cycle. Run it once or twice more with plain water to rinse clean. (Check the owners' manual first. I know our BUNN does NOT recommed doing this!)
Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and white distilled vinegar. Rinse clean.
For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with white distilled vinegar.
Remove odors from a lunch box by placing inside a slice of bread that has been soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave overnight.
Remove ugly film in narrow-necked glass jars, flower vases, and bottles by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar sit in them for a few hours. Add a little rice or sand and shake vigorously to loosen stubborn stains. Repeat if necessary.
To clean tarnished brass, copper, and pewter, use a paste with equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and table salt.
Make a metal cleanser by adding enough white distilled vinegar to 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar to make a paste. Rub it on and let it dry on the surface. Wash it off and dry with a soft cloth.
Polish brass and copper with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of ketchup and 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar. Rub it on with a clean cloth until dry and shiny.
Remove dark stains on an aluminum pot by boiling a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar and 1 cup hot water.
Discourage ants by spraying undiluted white distilled vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in.
Get rid of fruit flies by setting out a small dish of undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Clean the wheel of a can opener using white distilled vinegar and an old toothbrush.
Remove the smell of spoiled food from a refrigerator by first rinsing the area with soap and water. Spray surfaces with full-strength white distilled vinegar and wipe them down with a damp cloth or sponge. Fill some containers with baking soda and place inside. Close the door and leave for a few days.
Wipe grease off exhaust fan grids, the inside of your oven, or anywhere grease gathers with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar.
To make cleaning the grill easier, spray a solution of half water and half white distilled vinegar on the cooking surface.
To remove a label, decal, or price tag, cover with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.
Renew sponges and dishrags by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Let them soak overnight.
Get rid of calcium deposits on faucets by soaking a cloth or paper towel in white distilled vinegar and wrapping the area tightly. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight.
Remove soap buildup from faucets by scrubbing them with a solution of 1 part salt to 4 parts white distilled vinegar.
Rid a faucet of lime deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar around it and leaving it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don't wipe off, scrubbing with an old toothbrush should complete the job.
Shine colored porcelain sinks by scouring them with undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Rinse away soapy film on countertops with a solution of white distilled vinegar and water.
Clean grout by letting full-strength white distilled vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.
Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
To remove grime, mildew, and scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse with water.
Spray shower doors with full-strength white distilled vinegar after you've squeegeed the glass, or before you step in and turn on the water. It will help release the hard water deposits so they don't remain on the glass.
Mix up an inexpensive tile cleaner by adding 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup ammonia to a gallon of warm water.
Get rid of stubborn bathtub film by wiping it with white distilled vinegar and then scouring with baking soda.
Soak a sponge or loofah overnight in a strong white distilled vinegar and water solution to remove dirt and slime. Rinse several times with cold water and let air dry (in the sun if possible).
Clean shower door tracks by filling them with white distilled vinegar and letting it sit for a few hours. Pour hot water into the tracks and wash and scrub away the scum with a toothbrush.
To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled vinegar into a sandwich bag and tie it around the showerhead. Let this set for an hour after the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and then turn on the water.
Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups white distilled vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing.
To make the toilet bowl sparkle, pour in a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar and let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.
Freshen air in the bathroom by spraying into the air a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup water.
Get a shining finish on a no-wax vinyl or linoleum floor by cleaning it with a solution of one cup white distilled vinegar for every gallon of water.
Apply full-strength white distilled vinegar directly to tough linoleum stains. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping it up. If that doesn't work, apply white distilled vinegar again and then sprinkle some baking soda over the white distilled vinegar. Scrub the area with a brush or sponge. Rinse clean with water.
For an economical and environmentally friendly floor cleaner, mix a solution of 3 drops dishwashing liquid to 1/3 part white distilled vinegar, 1/3 part alcohol, and 1/3 part water. Spray sparingly and mop for a fast clean-up.
Some carpet stains can be removed with a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1/4 cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the carpet stain and let dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet first).
Bring out the color in carpet by brushing it with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar for every gallon of water. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet beforehand).
To reduce soap bubbles in a steam cleaner add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar. Use the same amount in the rinse water to remove detergent residue and make carpets stay fresh longer.
Wash indoor/outdoor carpet with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar in 1 bucket of warm water. Scrub using a brush or a broom and then hose off.
Clean up pet accidents by first blotting up the area and then adding a white distilled vinegar-and-water solution. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day.
Create your own window cleaning solution by combining 1/2 cup non-sudsy ammonia, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a gallon of water.
Remove the wax residue left by commercial window cleaners with a solution of 2 cups water, 1 cup white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap or detergent.
To remove paint from windows try using undiluted, hot white distilled vinegar. Give the solution time to soften the paint before removing with a razor edge tool.
To remove paint splatters from windows apply full-strength white distilled vinegar with a clean paintbrush.
Get rid of mildew, dust, and stale odors by wiping down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.
Clean woodwork and walls with a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar, 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup ammonia and 1 gallon warm water. Wipe on with a sponge or damp—not wet—towel.
Clean wood paneling with a solution of 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar, and 2 cups warm water. Wipe on with a soft cloth.
Remove wallpaper easily by using a paint roller to wet the surface very thoroughly with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and hot water. Or spray on until saturated.
Get decals off walls or doors by letting undiluted white distilled vinegar soak into them for several minutes before trying to peel them off. Repeat if necessary.
Remove white water rings from wood with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and vegetable oil. Rub with the grain.
Remove fireplace soot and grime with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Use a brush to scrub and a towel to blot up the wetness and dirt.
Clean fireplace glass doors with a solution of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 2 parts water. Spray or wipe on, then wipe clean with a dry cloth.
To kill germs, spray full-strength white distilled vinegar on doorknobs and then wipe them dry.
Remove the smell of a dead mouse or other rodent (after removing all animal remnants) by wiping down the area with either white distilled vinegar or bleach. Then place a fabric softener sheet in the area to remove any lingering odors.
Never use white distilled vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.
Before painting old concrete, clean with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Let it air dry.
Clean hardened paint brushes by simmering them in a pot with white distilled vinegar. Soak them first for an hour before bringing the white distilled vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.
Remove mud and stains from plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum sports equipment by applying a paste of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 3 parts baking soda. Wipe off with soapy water and rinse with clear water.
Clean your grill by spritzing white distilled vinegar over wadded up aluminum foil and scrubbing the grill vigorously with it.
To remove film in glass baby bottles, fill with equal parts hot water and white distilled vinegar. Let sit for at least an hour. Scrub with a bottle brush.
To clean and disinfect baby toys add a good-sized splash of white distilled vinegar to soapy water.
Clean vinyl baby books or board books by wiping with white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp sponge or cloth.
Clean scissors that have become sticky (after cutting tape, for instance) with a cloth dipped in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
Clean and deodorize urine on a mattress with a white distilled vinegar and water solution. Then sprinkle the area with baking soda and let dry. Brush or vacuum the residue after it is dry to the touch.
Shine pennies by soaking them for a couple of hours or overnight in a glass or bowl of undiluted white distilled vinegar.