I think we’re past the danger zone incubation period for the viral illness that nearly killed me laid us low last week.

Only three of us were severely afflicted and two more were mildly inconvenienced while some kids are still wondering why I got behind on the laundry and was a little grumpy and had the tv on for 12 hours a day last week. (Don’t be alarmed!  It wasn’t really tv, it was carefully selected DVDs, like The Bee Movie, My Blue Heaven and What About Bob?)

Anyroad, we all seem to be well now, unless you count Slim trying to use the “My tummy feels funny” dodge on his math today, and I don’t ‘cuz he was totally puttin’ me on.

We’re all well, and I’ve caught up on the laundry, but I am still so tired.  Every day at about 2 or 3 in the afternoon I hit a wall.  I just wanna sit down and do nothin’.  Not even crochet, and we all know how not strenuous crocheting is.  (Grammar skills are the first to go when the fatigue hits.)

So this afternoon I was out back taking down the laundry from the line and Hank and Rowdy were helping me.  I mentioned that the only good thing about the heat is that it makes the solar dryer work really fast and so it’s free and reasonably fast to dry our laundry.

I don’t remember how that convo wrapped around to Hank offerring to make me an iced mocha frappuccino, but I found myself saying, “yes, YES, YES!!!”

He’s a good kid, that Hank.  This is delicious!  I think I’ll have another!

Last Summer I gave you the recipe for making a whole pitcher of these.  This year we are making them by the glass.  Want the recipe?  It’s so easy.

Iced Mocha Frapuccino

• 10 oz milk (or so)
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 1 tablesppon  instant coffee granules
• 1 tablespoon sugar, honey or agave nectar

You could do this in the blender if ya wanna get all fancy but we just pour it all into a tall glass, stir it up, add ice and a straw!  Use a bendy straw if you have one, after all, it is Summer!

Some other random stuff that’s going on here at the ranch.

• An ipod nano can make even the frowniest Cowboy smile pretty hard!

(Our rule for the mp3 players is that when they are in the presence of adults they are only allowed one ear-phone.  The other ear is for listening to adults. And the ear-phone comes out immediately if they are spoken to.)

• Clementine got out of her cage today. She didn’t get far and was an easy catch.  Apparently she knocked the feed hopper out of it’s slot and squoze her giant body through that little gap.

• If you use a baby blanket pattern that calls for sport weight or baby weight yarn and substitute worsted weight yarn and use a larger hook you’ll end up with a blanket just the right size for a smiling 6 year old!  (The pattern is called “Snowflake.”  It’s a Texas blanket.  See all the holes?)

On the way to church I was thinking to myself, “Self, you are overburdening the teens and the littles have been living the sweet life!  Do something, give this some thought!

In a conversation during Fellowship lunch my friend, KimC (Life in a Shoe) reminded me of some wisdom I had shared with her some time back.

Ready?

Here ya go!

Before you assign a task, ask yourself who is the youngest child who is capable of doing this task?

This can make a huge difference in everyone’s attitude!

The teens see that you are spreading the jobs around better.

The littles are so proud of their ability to assist the family!

The mama is happy to not hear the sighing of the olders and the whining of the youngers.

And you never know just how much help the little pokes can be until you let ‘em try.

I didn’t even ask her to help, she begged!

She can only reach the lowest row, and not easily.  She worked it out!

Talk about taking pride in your work!

I am so glad I made room at my clothesline for Sally Mae  today!  She turned a dull task into a joy!

Here’s your shortcut back to Works for me Wednesday.

And maybe laundry, too.

That’s all I have done today.  Cookin’ and laundry.  And, boy am I a fluffy-baby!  I am wiped out which ain’t good bein’ as it’s only 11:30 A.M.

I ain’t got nuthin’ on Ma Ingalls.  Pioneer stock I ain’t.

• Cowboy coffee cake, baked and et.
• 6 loads of laundry through the washer and onto the line.
• Chile Rellenos into the solar cooker (yay sunshine!).
• Carrot-Squash-Chocolate Cake into the solar cooker.
• Creamy Veggie Soup on the stove.
• Granola bars in the oven.
• 2 loaves of bread in the machines.
• Dishes washed and put away.

And the truly embarrassing part is that I had help from children and modern appliances.  But I am exhausted none the less.

Maybe drinkin’ coffee and napping are my true super-powers.

And check this out.  The pic of Tex taking a pic?  He is taking a photo of a shoe print.  Yup, 8 ft up on my den wall.  Who?  How?  Why?  When?  What in the world?

I’ll let ya know later or tomorrow how the solar cookers perform today.  The sky is clear as a bell and it’s very sunny today and supposed to be the same tomorrow.  I’m thinking Lentil Stew de Sol tomorrow.

Ok, I told you I was gonna do it.  Yesterday I made the homemade laundry detergent.

I followed this recipe using the Ivory bar soap instead of the Fels or the Zote because I didn’t find either of them in Target, WalMart or HEB.

I may have cooked/melted/dissolved the soap, washing soda and Borax in water in my sauce pan for longer than was strictly necessary.  I dunno how long, maybe 3 minutes after I realized everything was dissolved.  Stirring the whole time.

This was a super easy project.  Super easy.  The hard part was leaving it alone and  letting it set up for 24 hours after I set the lid on the bucket.

I made it yesterday and today when I checked on it I thought the whole bucketful was as set as jello-jigglers,  until… I started stirring it up.

Sure enough, ALL the 326 blogs I read about making laundry detergent were right.  It has a watery-gel consistency.  Gel layer on top, watery stuff underneath.  So, I just mixed it all together with a big spoon.

I defy you to make this recipe and resist the temptation to do the same thing.  It just wants doing.  You can’t leave it separate.  Ya just can’t!  I mean, what if you left it separate and used all of the gelled part first, after all, it is on the top.  Then, after you used up all of the gel part, would you have any confidence in the cleaning power of the watery part that is left behind?  Or maybe it goes the other way.  Maybe all the cleaning strength is in the watery part and if you just use the gel part, maybe it leaves irretrievable greasy streaks on your clothes. (not likely, but, who knows?)  The point of this little rabbit trail is this:  You will stir.  Because… #1  It is a satisfying, tactile experience.  And #2 We have never done such a thing as making homemade laundry detergent and it is so ridiculously easy that we feel compelled, nay, obligated to make more of an effort than is laid out in the directions. (did I spell nay correctly?)

Anywhooooo… I finally got to take my gloppity, new goo for a test drive this afternoon.  I washed my hubby’s work jeans, and some other clothes.  He gets fairly dirty at work.  Not greasy, usually, but lots of grime.  I don’t really know why.  He’s indoors.  But the warehouse is so dusty.  And I think the fact that they drive a fork-lift around in there adds something.  But the jeans are always pretty dirty.  So, I thought it would be a good test load.

I am happy to announce that they came out nice and clean.  Certainly cleaner than they did when I used the expensive stuff.

And that brings up another point.  I’ve been using Charlie’s laundry detergent.  That stuff don’t come cheap, and it hasn’t gotten our laundry as clean as I would like.  I’ve taken to adding OxyClean for a little boost.  I don’t mind using the OxyClean, but it adds some cost to the whole operation.

For the record, those jeans today?  No OxyClean.

Also, I would rather use homemade soap for this in place of the Ivory bar, but, Ivory is what I have right now.  Making soap?  Yes, that is an upcoming project.

So, here’s the wrap up, this homemade laundry detergent is:

• Inexpensive
• Effective
• Wholesome
• Easy to make

Works for me, and I bet it would work for you, too!

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.  ~Author Unknown

I am so sick and tired of my scalp itching.  I’m takin’ the homemade shampoo leap.

I’m hoping to get some healing when I discontinue using industrial solvents on my head.

Protect me from knowing what I don’t need to know.  Protect me from even knowing that there are things to know that I don’t know.  Protect me from knowing that I decided not to know about the things that I decided not to know about.  Amen.  ~Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

Lord, lord, lord.  Protect me from the consequences of the above prayer.  ~Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

And that is kinda how I feel when I am learning about all the creepy ingredients in our skin care products and our hair care products and our laundry detergents.

Yes, I am also gonna be making some laundry detergent tomorrow or next week.  (I am always so ambitious with my schedule.  I’m like a pediatrician, I double book.  So, I’m thinking I won’t get to it tomorrow, but certainly early next week.)

I’m just sick and tired of all the itching.  So, I am starting with the external stuff.  I think the only things I haven’t mentioned, that I actually use, are moisturizer and toothpaste.  I keep it really simple, no make up, no “product” on my hair.  Just the basics.  So it shouldn’t be a huge thing to cross over, to the natural side.

I understand that the shampoo switch has a detox period where my hair is gonna be a little gross.  Not looking forward to that.  But, I think I might wear a bandana when I go out.  So, if you run into me in Walgreen’s any time in the coming weeks, don’t look too closely at my hair.

It would be great if changing to natural personal care products would do the whole job, but I have my suspicions about my diet.  Particularly sugar.  I really don’t wanna think about that one right now.  (Breathe in, breathe out.)

So, if you have any experience with any of these things, please leave a word of encouragement in the comments.

• Homemade shampoo
  
• Homemade laundry detergent
• Homemade moisturizer
• Homemade toothpaste
• Sugar (GASP!)

While I am a little apprehensive about the no poo and the sugar (which, for the record, I have not committed to quitting or even cutting down right yet)(Nope, not even researching yet.) I know this is gonna impact our budget for the better.

Isn’t it funny that we pay for the convenience of having products in our lives that are just so bad for us?  Hazardous to put on our bodies.  Hazardous to our environment to produce and dispose of.  And hard on our wallets.

Well, I’ll let you know how it all goes.

I’m trying to maintain my calm, cool demeanor.  I know we all have gotten behind on the laundry job this week.

Many of you have gone out of town for a few days.  That’ll mess up your routine, huh?

Me?  No, I didn’t go out of town, but I took an impromptu laundry break.  I didn’t even do towels for a few days.  Don’t look in my garage.  Just don’t!  It’s ugly.  And stinky.  And the weather is a little nippy to be hangin’ stuff out on the line.

So, I am trying to talk nice to my old dryer and get it to dry more than 4 loads in a day.  I’m tryin’!

A while back, Jeanie left a comment that I never responded to about laundry.  I’m sorry Jeannie.  I knew it would take a whole post to address all of your questions and today is the day.  I’m drowning in laundry, so it’s really on my mind.

Your first question had to do with wearing things a few times before washing them.

For my own clothes, I will wear a skirt or a jumper 2 times if it still looks good at the end of day one.  And that is the key for most clothes.  Since I stay home a great deal it’s not imperative that I am dressed “to the nines” on a daily basis.  I am happy with the Mom equivalent of play clothes on most days.

For the Pirates, I insist that they get at least 2 wears out of a pair of jeans or shorts before tossing them into the laundry pile.

The Princess is allowed to wear her camisole (under-shirt) twice and her knickers (capri pants or bloomers worn under her dress) twice.

All t-shirts, undies and socks get changed daily weather or not there is a shower taken.

Jammies are worn for 3 or 4 nights before getting tossed into the pile, but, we don’t eat in our jammies, so they stay fairly clean.

Heavy coats get an annual wash unless they get food on them.  Sweaters, vests, hoodies and other light jackets that see a lot of wear will get a more frequent washing.

I try to wash the sheets every week, but I am content if they get a monthly wash.

Not every one is comfortable doing things that way, and some things will be different depending on your climate.

Your second question had to do with where the dirties are kept until it’s their turn in the washer.

I leave the dirties in the bedrooms, each bedroom has a woefully inadequate laundry basket, and is used as a foundation for the eventual laundry mountain in each room before I get to that room’s turn for the washer.  (Like I said, I am drowning right now.)

Here’s my normal schedule:

• Monday – Mine and Hubby’s and The Princess’ clothes & a load of towels
• Tuesday – the 3 younger Pirates clothes & a load of towels
• Wednesday – the 2 older Pirates clothes & a load of towels
• Thursday – bed linens & a load of towels
• Friday – the shower curtain & a load of towels
• Saturday – a load of jeans & a load of towels
• Sunday -  just rest!

That’s the plan for the time being.  It usually works great.  I’m trying to not let the current situation get to my blood pressure.

Your last question was about sorting. I have never owned a sorting hamper with separate bins.  I love the concept but I have never seen a sturdy one  that didn’t cost a fortune.

While we are on the topic of sorting I have to mention that I no longer sort clothing.  We don’t wear fancy clothes.  It’s almost exclusively 100% cotton.  Lots of jeans and t-shirts.  LOTS of towels.  I do separate the towels from the clothing.  I did ‘em together for a while and didn’t like the “towel fuzz on the Sunday pants” effect.  But, the clothing goes in together.  Whites, reds, darks, whatever.  New stuff gets handled differently since it’s the fresh dye that is gonna bleed.  But the rest of it just gets jammed in together.  I’ve been doing it this way for several months and have had no tragic laundry mishaps.  And, in the process, have saved myself tons if time and heart-ache by forgoing the whole sorting fiasco.  I always hated the sorting, and am happy to do without it.

I will admit that we are not a white wearing family.  My hubby does not wear white shirts to work, or even to church.  White polo shirts are frowned upon by Mother Hen because even if I got ‘em sparkling white in the laundry, somebody is gonna get ketchup on it sooner or later, and you know it’s gonna be sooner.  So, that just leaves the undies and socks, and I care not one iota if those get through the wash with a sparkle or if they look like they belong to a Pirate.  At least they have BEEN through the wash.

I hope that helps, Jeannie.   Where there are lots of children, there is gonna be lots of laundry.  The main thing is to just keep those machines running.

Now it’s your turn.  Share your helpful hints and practical tips for raising a large family.  Write your Help for Growing Families post and link here with my Mister Linky.  For more details click here.

Feel free to link more than one post if you have plenty of relevant posts.

And don’t forget to leave a comment!

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Thanks for joining me for this weeks edition of Help for Growing Families.  As a seasoned mom of my 5 Pirates and my little Princess, I have learned a few tricks along the way.  But, I haven’t forgotten the frustration of not knowing any older ladies who were willing to share their hard earned wisdom and practical tips.

If you have written a post with wonderful hints or helpful practical tips for younger (or not) moms please link up here in my Mr. Linky (below).

I love reading all of your great tips on how to handle a large family.  I am always happy to learn a more efficient way to do ….um, anything concerning family life.

Here’s my 2 cents worth.

My Laundry Methods

I do laundry every day M – Sat.

• Monday- mine, hubby’s and The Princess’s clothing, plus one load of towels.
• Tuesday- 3 younger Pirates’ clothing, plus one load of towels.
• Wednesday- 2 older Pirates’ clothing, plus one load of towels.
• Thursday- bed linens, plus one… wanna guess?  Yup, a load of towels.
• Friday- Shower curtain, plus, um, some towels.
• Saturday- One or two loads of jeans, plus, all together now, a partridge in a load of towels!

Now, when I say a load of towels, I am including all kitchen and bathroom wash cloths and towels.

We live in Texas where the sun shines 437 days a year, seems like.  So, it’s a lot faster for me to hang my laundry on the line than to let it waste money in the electric dinosaur in my garage.

I don’t assign any part of the job to anyone, because they are all expected to help with every aspect of the job.  I am the supervisor, they are the flunkys.  I have them collect it and carry it to the washer for me.

When the washer is done, I snag the nearest Pirate to come carry the wet, and therefore heavy, clothes out to the back yard for me.  I hang it up because I’m picky about how that part is done, and I really should get some form of exercise in my day.

Once it’s dry I fold it and bring it in.  I sort it on my bed.  Nice neat stacks of folded clothing, sorted by owner and clothing type.  That makes it easy for them to put away their own items in the right drawers.

If you need help telling whose clothes are whose, go read my post titled Real Pirates Don’t Wear Polka Dots.

I also have the olders help with the youngers, so my involvement in the putting away is a lot less than it used to be.  Someone has to inspect though.  Because you don’t always get what you expect, but you usually do get what you inspect.

I realize I don’t have any earth-shaking, whiz bang methods.  But ya never know.  Someone may need info on this very method.  And I want to impart to you, that if you are doing laundry all the time and you are wondering if that is normal, um, yeah, there’s lots of people in my house, and they insist on wearing clothes.  Every day!  And using a towel!  And a wash cloth!  So, yeah, there’s lots of laundry.  You’re gonna need a plan.

Now it’s your turn to give us your helpful advice for this week.

Enter your name and then, in parentheses, a 3-4 word description of your post in the first box.  In the second box enter your link to your post, don’t put the link to your home-page, just the link to the post, you know, the permalink.  Feel free to use the cool banner I made, and be sure to mention Help for Growing Families in your post and link back here.

Help for Growing Families Participants

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Laundry isn’t supposed to clunk or jingle as you transfer it from the basket to the washer, is it?

You’d think I’d be all done with “firsts” in my laundry basket, but I believe this is a first in all my many and varied laundry experiences.  But when you think about it, it makes more sense than some of the stuff I have found in there.  Like bed pillows or the AA battery (in the very next load).

Trixie-the-Wonder-Dog is certain that spurs and leash are the same thing.  Crazy critter.  Did you grab that way cool Trixie-for-President button yet.  It would look great in your side-bar, and it’s a novel conversation starter, not to mention a really neat way for your readers to find my blog.

Oh, don’t forget to enter the giveaway.