I have never had a great fondness for shoes or purses...

like a lot of women do. Recently though, I have come across something that is my equivalent to other women's fondness for purses and shoes.

goatsmilkstuff

Soap, my new found little treasure; organic goats milk and olive oil soap to be exact. The only ingredients in this lovely bit of soap. It feels as though I am washing my skin with silk. I wash my face and shave my legs with it. Something that would never cross my mind; with that other bar of soap and all the dry skin that comes with it.

With every order, three sample of different soaps are sent. With each sample I find a new favorite. My next order; goats milk, oatmeal and honey scrub. Now I know I will never touch a bar of that other soap again. If only I could convince my daughter other wise. After this soap arrived I immediately banished, the opened bar of that other soap, that was in the shower. The next day a new bar of that other soap, "poof"..... reappeared. She won't even try it.

Oh well, she does not know what she is missing... and did I say, more for me.

Abundance of gratitude...

for Saturday

To keep me grounded, is to remind myself, of what is truly important; gratitude for the simple things.

Today I am so very grateful, for
...the blessing that health insurance brings

On a hook in my kitchen

For now it is at The Vintage Barn, waiting to be shipped.

Abundance of gratitude...

for Tuesday

To keep me grounded, is to remind myself, of what is truly important; gratitude for the simple things.

Today I am grateful for
...reconnecting with a long lost friend

A clean house always, without spending hours cleaning It

I found a cleaning routine that works for me; of course with help from my daughter. It has been 1o days since I had a day off and we kept it up for all 10 days.

Daily - me
Wash dishes by hand, unless a lot of dishes, then use dishwasher
Wipe up bathroom surfaces, right after I get ready for work
Clean mirrored closet doors, when needed

Every other day - me
Go room to room, wiping down surfaces. This takes around 15 minutes.

Daily - Shannan
Vacuums
Puts clean dishes away
Cleans litter box
Takes out trash, if needed

Every other day - Shannan
Dusts

Once a week
Laundry - both of us
Toilet - me
Window sills - Shannan

Every other week - Shannan
Clean tub

First weekend of the month - Shannan
Baseboards
Top of fridge and freezer
Tops of kitchen cabinets

You never know...

when this useful information from the past; might be needed information in the future.

I recently placed...

a few orders with Amazon. In my account, I can look at previously placed orders. I looked to see what I had ordered, in 2005. I purchased this book, priced at $14.79 then. When I order books, I always look first at the used-like new ones. Sometimes I can find books less expensive, that way. I can't remember if this book was purchased new or used.

Shipping estimate:January 2, 2006 Delivery estimate:January 6, 2006 - January 20, 2006
StatesShipping Speed: Standard Shipping
Items Ordered 1 of: Grandma's Wartime Kitchen : World War II and the Way We Cooked [Hardcover] by: Joanne Lamb Hayes (Foreword), Jean Anderson (Foreword)Sold by: ab-cd-book (seller profile)
$14.79

This book is now going for $49.97 and up, for used and $99.95 for new. Could the state of the economy and the subject of this book; be the ties that bind this enormous price increase?

(Edited to say, the $49.97 copy has been sold and the cheapest one is now $76.39. Did I get a good deal or what. Not to mention, one terrific book.)

Note to self, no calories

I work in a restaurant where there is a never ending supply of soda and club soda. I have discovered that club soda and lemon, lots of lemon; is a terrific, noncaloric alternative for soda. You still get that effect of the carbonation; with out the sugar.

Back in the 60s...

before there were electric coffeemakers; there were percolators. This glass Pyrex one, was the in my home when I was growing up.


For as long as I can remember, both my parents drank coffee; and still do. I started a little over a year ago, at the age of 50. I started drinking coffee, for the caffeine and now I really just enjoy the taste.

I have very limited counter space, in my kitchen; and all of it is being used. A percolator is my solution; for getting that cup of coffee, at home. This 8 cup stainless steel one, by Farberware; has that lovely 1940s look. The down side are the reviews, that I have read. The basket being very flimsy and bends quite easily. That is not a good thing. Unless Farberware has fixed the basket issue; I am going with this one.

A 14 cup enamelware one, by Coleman.

And this little pouch went wee, wee, wee all the way home...to my house

Hmm, spaghetti sauce in a pouch. That's a new one to me. When we went to the 99 Cents Only Store, they were on special, buy one, get one free. Of course they were, since the expiration date was the day before. I looked at the other variety and it expired on, February 9th.

Perfect size for those one person meals; as my daughter makes pasta, for herself, when I am work. Even better no bulky containers, taking up space in the freezer; with leftover pasta sauce.

And so, those eight little pouches went wee, wee, wee straight into my freezer.