Self Sufficient Underwear

Just like making as much food from scratch ourselves, I've begun attempting the mundane clothing items like underwear and t-shirts (undershirts) for hubby for work. I've sewn for about 24 years now but even if I was a newbie - these are really easy to make. They are similar to swimwear to sew. The fabric and construction is so forgiving that it'd be really difficult to mess them up.

With my new to me, updated sewing machine these things can be made for a fraction of ready made. At least for a fraction of the price of quality ones that will last. Yeah, maybe I could find them cheaper at Wally World but they're short (and hubby is tall) they wear out quickly and often times are so cheaply made that they don't fit comfortably. And I KNOW these are made in America :-)

It helps even more when made from fabric that was given to me. But even if I have to buy the cotton lycra for the underwear and the interlock for the t-shirts from our local Mill End store I'll be saving us a bundle. These fabrics can also be bought and put away for when harder times come and our family of 6 still needs new underwear.

I ordered the elastics here for $38 including shipping that will make approximately 40 pairs of underwear. For the underwear I used Jalie's pattern 2568 that includes 27 sizes - that's more than enough to cover the females here. I plan to use 2327 for the guys in the family. I used cotton lycra fabric that has 4 way stretch.

For the t-shirts I used Stretch & Sew 1745 that is no longer in print. I like it because the shoulders fit like a regular t-shirt. So many of the patterns out today have drop shoulders that don't work so well for undershirts. Maybe a person could find it on ebay or on-line somewhere? I used regular cotton interlock fabric for the t-shirts with a coordinating/contrasting ribbing for the neck band.

Sorry about the wrinkles in the picture. He needed these badly and likes them so much that I had a hard time grabbing a picture so I had to pull them out of the hamper to snap a picture LOL

©2010-2012 Freedom Acres farm All rights reserved. http://freedomacresfarm.blogspot.com

Redneck Refrigerator

Some might consider it redneck. But... some might consider it clever or thinking outside the box!

When you live in the north land, why not take advantage of nature? We harness the sun with our solar power. Now we harness the cold with our "cold shelf".

It works great for chilling things like warm cow milk, chicken stock that needs to chill for the fat to rise, and many other very useful things. It's amazing how many recipes call for an ingredient to be chilled before you proceed.

It's up off the ground so no animals can get to it. It's convenient right outside our sliding glass door. I LOVE that my hubby can SO think outside the box. You can call me redneck if you want to but I'll have the last laugh when I save that bit of electricity and don't have to rely on stupid propane!

Does your refrigerator run constantly? Is it taxed when it has to chill those really hot things? Do you live in a cold climate? Try a new and improved idea - a Cold Shelf! Mmmm... maybe I could market them.....

As long as I can't afford a real deck, I'll use my mini deck to it's full potential!

©2010-2012 Freedom Acres farm All rights reserved. http://freedomacresfarm.blogspot.com

Slowly going non electric

Eight years ago when we made the huge decision to go off-grid when we built our house, we thought it was a wonderful idea. We still do. However, we have come to believe that while we've had major lifestyle changes to accommodate being off grid, we've really just switched our "allegiance" from the power company to the propane company. This does not make us or our wallet happy.

Mark Noodles off the list

Noodles are SO easy to make! WHY have I not crossed them off the grocery list before this?? I'm so excited to continue to cross item after item OFF the grocery list!!! Each thing is one more exciting step toward self sufficiency.

Wood Cook Stove

One of my dreams has been to purchase, learn the art of, and successfully cook on a wood cook stove! I'm going to get my chance!!

On Sunday we bought a darling little used number. It's a Eureka!! Well, not so little. It measures 3 1/2 feet wide and about 2 feed deep. We've spent the last two days taking it apart, cleaning it up, sanding a bit of rust, rubbing oil into other bits of rust and she's getting even purtier!!!!

Corn Dogs More Healthy than Store Bought

Yes, I'm a softy as a mother and I give in to their desire for Corn Dogs. However, the store bought ones give me the willies not knowing what's in them things! So I've sought to learn to make all those convenience foods at home instead. You know things like chicken nuggets and corn dogs.

Family in the Old Days

Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish

A dear friend mailed me this book for my birthday! I got through chapter 6 last night after receiving it in the mail yesterday and it was hard to put down! I'm going to try to refrain myself today and save it to savor each evening before bed to make it last longer. You might say, a "Charlotte Mason" approach!!

Cream Cheese marks another thing off my shopping list!

Slowly but surely I'm perfecting (for my family at least) each dairy product that we use. So I thought I'd share how easy it is once you quit being afraid of that big stock pot full of milk.

Cream cheese is SO easy and it's so much richer in flavor than the blah store bought kind. THEN there is always the option of adding strawberry jam to make strawberry cream cheese that Philadelphia would swoon over or any herb or combination of herbs to make your own unique flavor! We often add just plain dried basil from our garden for a little garden freshness in the middle of winter! We use so much more cream cheese than we ever did when we had to buy it. I use it in recipes now, we spread it on anything and everything!

Here's how!

Weaner rings aren't a guarantee....

We've had, let's see.... 4 calves here on our farm. And so far 50% of those have figured out a way around their weaner rings. Smart cows! So if anyone tells you that a weaner ring is a guarantee - don't believe them!

Living for a Blessing!

Our home made improvised Hannaukia

I've heard tell that some are concerned for us as we search out and learn about our Hebrew roots. When we've shared what we're doing and learning with others we've been met with well, an attitude that we've gone off the deep end, joined a cult or are in dire need of someone to save us.