Homemade Recipe

Okay so this is not an edible recipe but a rather a calorie free one :) I am all about trying to save some money.  I love the results of fabric softener, especially when laundering towels.  I do NOT like the high price of store bought brands and the cheaper kinds smell awful.  Thanks to the hillbilly housewife for this recipe http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/homemade-fabric-softener.htm .

I made mine with an apple scented cheap conditioner.  Those of you that know me know that math is not a strong subject for me.  I will guesstimate that this homemade version costs under a dollar for the same size traditional bottle bought at a store.

polk dot pumpkins

mmm toasty

 

 

 

Disney, PennState... got nothing on these babies! ;)

Crock-Pot Apple-Pear Sauce

 

8 Medium apples, peeled, cored & quatered

2 pears, peeled, cored & quatered

1lemon, juiced

2 Tablespoons butter, diced

3/4cup water

cinnamon to taste (i used pumpkin pie spice)

1/8 Cup of brown sugar ( you could use more or less depending on how sweet you want it)

In Crock-pot, mix together apples, pears, lemon juice, & butter.  Add water.

sprinkle brown sugar over fruit.

 

Close the lid & cook on high for 1.5-2 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

 

Stir to break up apples & pears.

 

Add spices to taste

 

A says Yummm

Family Time

 

 

Spot the cows

First Day of School!

Everyone (except A)was up super early.  I don't know if that was due to the anticipation of the first day of school or the heavy rain pelting the windows.  Either way the Martin kids are back in school today.  One was very excited, the other has been there & done that.  Can you guess which was which?

Dan iii!

We got a "surprise" visit from our dear friend today!  He is practically travelling the world & stopped in for a visit with The Martins.  We were quite honored.   He is just chilling and relaxing with God before he goes to the Caribbean to serve ywam for a year or two.

We Love Rock Run!

A's first summer job.  She really likes it.  This week will be her last for the summer.

a sweltering smashing sunday

A with a serve

A Smashing Saturday

J and his partner @ The Susquahanna Smash

They were undefeated through pool play & (ehem) ousted in single elimination , 1st round of playoffs

A Plays Sunday...

Tonight's Target

Tomatoes!

M nails one

Getting Around

Moo

SummerSurge

Check out the apply now link!

http://konasummersurge.com/c/

What go's up, must come down

One big happy family portrait

That was until....

They all came crashing down.

all the above are cousins.

location- Assateague Island

disclaimer no cousins were actually/seriously hurt in the taking of this photo

Only In Lancaster County

Sunday Slip-n-Slide

Get your self some plastic, a hose, a hill and some peeps who are ready for some fun!

Turn on the water

slip

 

-n-

 

 slide!

Mantaray

Manta-Cakes

pancake batter and choco chips

Smashing Pennies

a law of boyhood

If you give (er if a boy finds) a hammer he will smash stuff!

 

My first ever furniture redo project.  

An old dresser donated from Mom & Dad. 

BEFORE

We removed the old hardware.

It was nice having an electric sander. 

Painted everything paperwhite except the front of the drawer panels

fun times

Found a pretty pale green craft paint that we liked and painted the drawer fronts, added some new hardware.

After

The finished dresser nestled in our hallway, between the kids rooms.

Flower Sack

 You will need;

 a coco plant liner (I used a 14" dia.)

 a square yard of burlap

 potting soil

flowers

white sturdy fabric

Fill your coco liner with potting soil

add the plants of your choice

add more soil to bring the soil level with the tippy top of the liner

gather the four corners of burlap around the planter & secure tightly with a wide strip of the white fabric. 

trim excess burlap to your liking, maintaining the square shape of the burlap.

I think you could play around with this alot more,

Possibly using a larger dia. planter, more or different flowers. I am planning on trying another one!  There is a  link below to where I got the idea.

I wanted to try it & post my own pics of what I did myself. 

It is not as shapely as the one on the link below but I plan on trying again.  The one I made I gave to a friend as a hostess gift. The next one will be for me :)

Inspired by~

http://www.themotherhuddle.com/diy-burlap-fabric-planter/