The randomness of Writing

I know this post is going to seem random to those of you who still follow this blog after all of these years.  It has nothing to do with bees or …

The randomness of Writing

How to talk to your daughter about her body

What a beautiful post on talking to your daughter–or to yourself!

Telling the Bees

“Marriage, birth, or burying,
News across the seas,
All your sad or marrying,
You must tell the bees.”
– Celtic Wisdom

Wordless Wednesday: Moses and his girls

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big cats, moses, photos, wordless wednesday

Moses and two of the sweetest girls I know. 🙂

A Mighty Consolation

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Chronicles of Narnia

English: Map of Narnian world as described in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For a long time, this has been one of my most favorite passages from the Chronicles of Narnia.

From The Last Battle—

Seven Kings and Queens stood before (Tirian), all with crowns on their heads and all in glittering clothes, but the Kings wore fine mail as well and had their swords drawn in their hands.  Tirian bowed courteously and was about th speak when the youngest of the Queens laughed.  He stared hard at her face, and then gasped with amazement, for he knew her.  It was Jill: but not Jill as he had last seen her with her face all dirt and tears and an old drill dress half slipping off one shoulder.  Now she looked cool and fresh, as fresh as if she had just come from bathing.

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Beautifully written! Thanks for sharing these thoughts on this momentous day.

Poor Richard's Almanac

Does this sound like any form of government you know?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer…

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Moses the Cat

giant stray cat, a photo by Becca(at BrightHaven) on Flickr.

Becca and the Hat

Awww, Soap Nuts

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Detergent, economical laundry, green cleaning, Laundry, Sapindus, soapnuts

Sapindus saponaria (Photo credit: João de Deus Medeiros)

Who out there uses them?  Tell me about them!  Tell me what you like or don’t like.  Where you buy them.  Do you use something else?  I really don’t think I’m ever going to make my own laundry detergent!  I love that you can compost the nuts/berries after they’re spent!

Here’s what one ebay seller has to say about their product:

So, what’s a Soapnut?

Soapnuts are the seed pod of a macadamia-sized berry which is cracked open and dried in the sun, producing a sticky, dark golden shell. These shells (known as ‘soapnuts’) can be placed into your washing machine instead of detergent and fabric softener, and will leave your clothes clean, soft and without scent. The pods contain a very high percentage of saponins (Mother Nature’s soap), a surfactant which removes dirt and oils from clothing when contacted with water. Soapnuts can also be boiled into a liquid concentrate and used as a general purpose cleaner, shampoo, hand soap… the list is long and growing.

What can I use them for?

Well, just about everything. As a detergent, a personal cleanser and shampoo, a general purpose cleaner, car wash, pet wash, vegetable wash, carpet and upholstery cleaner…

Soapnuts are most commonly used as a laundry detergent. They are used instead of chemical detergents and fabric softeners. Soapnut shells are used simply on their own in a cotton bag or lone sock tied at the top and put into the machine with your clothes. They do not need to be removed during the rinse cycle as there is no harmful or irritating residue as is left over from normal detergents. The surfactants in the nuts cleans and softens your laundry in one economic and environmentally friendly swoop!

I’m waiting to hear your thoughts!

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• What is a Soap Nut? (arealfoodlover.wordpress.com)

Too short

Source: wisuella.tumblr.com via Susy on Pinterest

I suppose, in the end, we will find that life was too short as well. I hope to make the most of this beautiful, marvelous, epic time that I’ve been given.