tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post5424397335949885509..comments2024-03-28T21:42:22.620-08:00Comments on The "Make Do" Homemaker: When Life Gives You Lemons...: Monthly Goals Update and This Week's GoalsErika, "The Make Do Homemaker"http://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-87342238063874279772016-06-13T19:38:25.074-08:002016-06-13T19:38:25.074-08:00I've kept it for 6 months with no problem. The...I've kept it for 6 months with no problem. Then we usually eat the freezer down and start over. lol. When I make the logs or the drop or rolled cookies I freeze them good then put them into a zip top bag with the air squeezed out. Logs I sometimes roll up in plastic wrap or wax paper before putting them in bags. Pretty easy and tastes as good as if you just mixed them up. If you give them just write the baking directions on the bag - I always say to sprinkle a little sugar on the cookies before baking. Makes them taste so good.<br />Crystal Hankeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17914175004653234554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-39424463163613537322016-06-09T10:20:54.652-08:002016-06-09T10:20:54.652-08:00Your pantry looks amazing! I totally understand h...Your pantry looks amazing! I totally understand how your daughter wouldn't want to eat store-bought applesauce when she could have yours. I was like that as a kid, but it was about pickles, LOL. The store ones never tasted good to me; the home-canned dill pickles were all I would eat!<br /><br />I have 15 nieces & nephews too, so I hear you on Christmas. I've noticed that for the kids, it's the fact that they got something from their aunt (an extended relative), not the "thing" at all. Sometimes I'll do the same gift for everyone (even though a baby not be able to play with it). One year I got/made everyone an ornament (takes very little fabric). Another idea is to embroider the name of each child (or just initials) on a fabric bookmark. Takes hardly any materials, but kids love things with their names. Teenagers can appreciate the work that goes into it. The parents of babies can save it for later. I also think they'd each like a gigantic cookie, just one, but made special and wrapped just for them.<br /><br />As for sewing materials, I'd suggest "spreading the word" and accepting ALL materials offered, even if you have to donate some that you don't want later. Once people know I sew, often I'll be asked if I want a friend-of-a-friend's (usually an older lady) fabric/notions/buttons/whatever who is scaling back. I think I get offered more because I let it be known I'll accept anything.<br /><br />Brandy also has many ideas (like printed bookmarks) and other gift ideas that you might have the materials on hand for on The Prudent Homemaker, just in case you haven't checked it out.L.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18445361193041608284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-90812920644646492372016-06-08T04:11:46.342-08:002016-06-08T04:11:46.342-08:00Oh, I had one more idea that you might be able to ...Oh, I had one more idea that you might be able to do for some of the children. If your husband can cut you some square pieces of wood, you could use them to make tic tac toe or checker boards. Just find some rocks to paint for the board pieces! Here is a link to samples on pinterest:<br /><br />https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=painted%20tic%20tac%20toe&etslf=7534&eq=painted%20tic%20t&0=painted|autocomplete|0&1=tic|autocomplete|0&2=tac|autocomplete|0&3=toe|autocomplete|0Rhonda A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00448188064878559345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-37922556895984728992016-06-07T22:39:01.226-08:002016-06-07T22:39:01.226-08:00Thanks for the ideas. I'll have to see what I...Thanks for the ideas. I'll have to see what I can dig up :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-28676099911570942542016-06-07T12:57:25.369-08:002016-06-07T12:57:25.369-08:00Another place to look for fabric is in your own li...Another place to look for fabric is in your own linen closet. Do you have any old sheets or blankets that could be repurposed for fabric? Old cloths, like dress shirts, t-shirts or jeans, could also be repurposed. Even those stained fabrics can be cut into fabric strips, sewn together to make fabric "yarn" and used to crochet something like a cute "rag rug" purse for your daughter and/or young niece.Rhonda A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00448188064878559345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-6263512264547113342016-06-07T10:12:50.318-08:002016-06-07T10:12:50.318-08:00I know exactly how you feel and I've been know...I know exactly how you feel and I've been known to do the same thing, but I just end up leaving the jars on the counter for a few days to appreciate them before I stick them into the dark pantry :). There is definitely a feeling of security every time you hear the lid ping or know that the seal is solid on those jars, knowing that is one more thing your family can eat no matter how hard the times get.<br /><br />I tried stacking boxes on the shelves and it was terrible. The light in my pantry is really really bad (night light LED bad) as the only light bulb is right by the door so when I'd go into the boxes and try to read the top of the lids I half the time would grab the wrong jars and things. Jars got put into the wrong boxes because I couldn't read my writing in the dim light and then I'd get really confused. That's why I just decided to put them out in the open so I can just my portable push button LED disk and set it on top of the jars to read them better when I go in to get the jars. It works a lot better than trying to read them in a box :). <br /><br />I've gotten plenty of push back about Christmas over the years as have a couple of my sister-in-laws. Some of us would just like to do a Chinese type of auction where we draw lots on who gets who what gift and that way everyone would be responsible for a lot less people, but other members of the family threw a fit, so it got nixed fast. Other family members have just plain given up getting anyone anything for Christmas, which I really don't want to do, but at the same time Christmas for my family comes second, feeding them comes first. So, yeah, worse comes to worse the other family members will have to be dropped. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up on baking supplies in the pantry, though, so I can at least bake some treats for the other kids. We'll see how it goes :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-26585867484035001832016-06-07T10:02:21.618-08:002016-06-07T10:02:21.618-08:00Aw thanks :). I always aspire to be like the ladi...Aw thanks :). I always aspire to be like the ladies who submitted their canned goods to the county fair back in PA. Man those jars were so beautiful they were literally works of art. And edible works of art at that! Can't beat consumable art ;).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-81762077066202325932016-06-07T09:58:19.463-08:002016-06-07T09:58:19.463-08:00I have been warning the family every year for the ...I have been warning the family every year for the past three or so not to expect anything from us due to money and just being busy *laugh*. I just never have the heart to deny the kids in the family gifts. I finally gave up on doing the adults too a few years ago because I was just burned out. My husband is one of seven kids, all are married at this point and we're up to *counts on fingers* 15 kids on top of mine in the family (my brother-in-law ended up adopting a child after a family tragedy recently and my sister-in-law is about to give birth, so we'll be up to 15 at that point). And they all live nearby. So, yeah, gift giving becomes problematic sometimes.<br /><br />Do you have any idea how long sugar cookie dough is good for in the freezer? I have read three months, a year, six months...I'm confused *laugh*. I'd like to mix up a bunch and stick into the freezer for gift giving at a later date and also just to have to make some slice and bake cookies for desserts, but I don't want to make it up and put it in the freezer only for it to not last on me.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-68465419631420259922016-06-07T07:33:35.184-08:002016-06-07T07:33:35.184-08:00Your canning is wonderful! I know people who don&...Your canning is wonderful! I know people who don't can really don't understand the feeling you get when you look at your jars. For me it is like looking at a flower arrangement. I like the beauty. I have even been known to sit jars in my kitchen window to enjoy the sun coming through. A big “no no” I know but it is only for a few days. It gives me a feeling of security. No matter what happens, my family will be fed.<br />I have shelves just like you do. I get boxes from the grocery that have tops. I then cut them so that they will be the height of the jars. Then I stack the boxes on the shelves. I do that because my husband works in the basement and the light is on all the time. This helps to keep them in dark. <br />I support your decision to perhaps not give token gifts to all the extended family. If they care about you, they would prefer you take care of your children. Realize you may get push back from people who are all wrapped up in the partying. You will recognize them by the frantic exhaustion in their eyes. Ignore them.<br />Love your children first.<br />Jeannie<br />Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333123227073032453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-25128020812644644532016-06-06T19:19:53.992-08:002016-06-06T19:19:53.992-08:00Hi Erika! Your canning looks gorgeous, what beaut...Hi Erika! Your canning looks gorgeous, what beautiful colors, kind of like having little jewels lined neatly on your shelves for the winter. heatherruarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09670710943029748754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-2429045584859483542016-06-06T15:57:52.489-08:002016-06-06T15:57:52.489-08:00I was going to suggest homemade goodies too. And y...I was going to suggest homemade goodies too. And yes, you can cut down your list. If you feel the need to let people know ahead of time I'd do it asap and then if they choose to give you something just accept it and know they don't expect a return gift. Feeding your family is #1. I make logs of sugar cookie dough or chocolate chip cookies and freeze them. Some in logs to slice and bake and some in individual cookies freeze on a cookie sheet and then put in a zip top bag in the freezer. Heck, you don't even have to give them the cookies baked - just include directions. I know a lot of people who would like to have some cookies on hand after the holidays. Nice to just pull out a few and bake too. I've made peanut butter ones, double chocolate ones. Most freeze well to be baked later. Crystal Hankeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17914175004653234554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-11438351135945714062016-06-06T15:26:31.069-08:002016-06-06T15:26:31.069-08:00Yeah, I might end up doing that. I can pick up fl...Yeah, I might end up doing that. I can pick up flour and other items to make things like cookies cheap and then I can just freeze the batches to make some gift boxes right before Christmas. I always try to make a home made long staying gift vs. a consumable one for the kids, but I think this year consumable is going to be the way of things. I'm pretty low on fabric right now and haven't picked up anything cool at the used stores much at all, so I'm probably going to need the fabric and things to make my kids gifts for Christmas. I still have a few places to look and see if I stored fabric and things, but so far it's not looking good.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-15218286101005545282016-06-06T13:15:05.556-08:002016-06-06T13:15:05.556-08:00Your pantry is looking good, Erika. Look at all th...Your pantry is looking good, Erika. Look at all those wonderful home canned products! Should be a good winter if you keep this up.<br /><br />As for Christmas gifts, do you think you could give food gifts to the extended family? Even young children would enjoy a box of yummy homemade treats. I give my teenage nephews and niece a mixed bag of homemade goodies every year and they love it! Remember, if they don't have food allergies, you could pick up some of the ingredients (like chocolate chips) when they are on sale for super cheap prices around the holidays and use those for the gift items you make. Most treats freeze well, so you can make them ahead of time (starting around September). A batch a week and you'd have lots by Christmas.Rhonda A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00448188064878559345noreply@blogger.com