Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

I have a lot of people hopping over here from Pinterest.  If you are visiting via Pinterest welcome to The Farmer's Wife.  I would love for you to follow me here and/or on Facebook.   I have another mason jar project that is super simple you can check out here.

Mason jars are the greatest thing!!!  They have been around since 1858 and will continue to be around for many more years as long as people still raise gardens and can their produce.  Mason jars are a timeless piece I'm telling ya!!!

Around my house I use them for all sorts of things such as canning...duh, piggy banks, storage for crafts supplies, storage for q-tips and cotton balls, drinking glasses, and the occasional bug house complete with holes punched in the lid!!  I now have one that serves yet another purpose in the bathroom and that is a soap dispenser.

It was really easy to turn my regular mason jar into a soap dispenser.  My hubs used the drill press and cut the appropriate size hole through the lid.  The lids are flimsy so this can be a little tricky.  You may want to use a file on the sharp edges so nobody cuts their finger when they refill the dispenser.  Mine wasn't too bad so I let it be as it is {it's a risk I am willing to take}. Then I sprayed painted my lid and ring with the same stuff I used here.

To give it a little more character I added large river rocks to the bottom of the jar.

Then I took a pump from one of my old soap dispensers and cut it off at an angle to the appropriate length for the mason jar.

I used super glue to attach the pump to lid.  I held it tightly in place for about a minute.

Fill the jar with clear hand soap and place you pump in the jar.  You may have to move your rocks around to get the pump all the way down.  There you have it, a mason jar soap dispenser.

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You could fill your jar with items other than rocks to go with your decor.  I could envision lots of cute things for kids such as those little plastic dinosaurs, horses, cows, fish, etc.  Just make sure they are large enough that they won't fit up the tube of the soap dispenser.

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{{{HUGS}}}

Happy Monday

It is Monday, probably the most dreaded day of the week as everybody heads back to work in hopes that the week will fly by so they can enjoy the weekend again.  Why do weekends go by so fast?????

I thought I would start your Monday with a little humor.

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Have a fabulous day!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Cooking Pumpkin In the Oven

With Thanksgiving right around the corner I am preparing for pumpkin pie.  I was given some sugar pumpkins from a friend who is one of my fabulous readers. I spent a morning putting up pumpkin and freezing it to use at a later time.  It is quite easy, but also messy.

First take your pumpkin and wash off any dirt.  Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Then cut your pumpkin in half.

Scoop out all of the seeds with a spoon.  I think a metal spoon works best, but use whatever works for you.  Be sure to save your seeds roast them for a delicious snack.

Fill a pan with about 1 inch of water and place your pumpkin cut side down after you cut off the stem.  Bake for 1 hour or until you can easily poke the skin with a fork.

Let the pumpkin cool until you are able to handle it without burning yourself.  Then scoop out the pumpkin and put it into a food processor and puree.

Then take the pureed pumpkin and place into freezer bags and freeze.  Viola, you know have fresh pumpkin to make your Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie!!!!  I placed 2 cups of pumpkin in each freezer bag because that is what my recipe calls for.  That way I am ready to thaw the pumpkin and do not have to measure.

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There ya have it....FRESH PUMPKIN!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Randomness About Me

At some point I think every blogger gets to a point of writer's block.  I am not sure if that is the stage I am at right now, but I am going to go ahead and say it must be.  I also have to say I don't call myself a writer.  I am a girl who likes to babble about what is going on in my life.  I try to make it funny and entertaining for my readers.  I like to blog on what is happening on the farm, recipes, and projects.

 Lately, I haven't had time to finish any projects because it has been so terribly busy around here.  We are in the middle of corn harvest {which I need to get some pictures of and blog about...lol} and I don't know if I am coming or going.  I cook everyday, but I haven't taken the time to photograph any food.  Why?...because I am running behind!!!  Then there are the projects I am working on that I can't seem to finish.  I get started and the phone will ring and I have to leave to help move equipment or someone gets stuck in the mud from the almost 8 inches of rain we recently received and I have to go help get a tractor and another vehicle to take care of that situation.  Lately, it just seems like my day is full of interruptions so I don't take the time to work on my long list of projects knowing I will probably be "called out" any minute.

With all that being said I thought I would share some random things about myself.

I wanted to be an architect when I was young.

I have one brother and no sisters, but I have the best sister in laws in the entire world!!!!

I wanted to be a nurse when I was a little older.

I have natural curly hair that I have a love hate relationship with.

I can't sew very well.  Straight lines are about it.  My mom is an excellent sewer as is my mother in law.

I love a clean and organized house, but mine never seems to get ALL the way there.

I hate brussels sprouts, but love cabbage.

FAMILY IS EVERYTHING!!!

Sometimes I am a night person and sometimes I am a morning person.

I got married before I graduated High School.

Photography is my hobby.

My husband and I always wanted 6 kids, but stopped at 4.

I love reading comments from by blog readers.  It makes my day brighter!!!!

I am a Diet Dr. Pepper fanatic.

I believe in God!!!

I have never seen the ocean.

It is completely silent in my house right now.  The kids are at school and the TV is off!!!  Awww!!!

I love my husband and my kids more than anything.

My Grandpa always called me Toad.

My Dad is an Electrician and so was my Grandpa and my Great Grandpa.

When my oldest daughter was born she had 14 living grandparents.  Now she only has 5 :(

My youngest daughter was born on my Great Grandpa's birthday.  They are 103 years apart...he is in heaven.

I do not collect anything.

I love Mexican food.

I used to love shopping, but now I can't stand it.

I am a simple person.

I hate when people read too much into things and make a deal out of something that wasn't suppose to be a "deal".

I can't stand a dirty bathroom especially in a restaurant!!!  I think it is a sign of what their kitchen must look like.

I have a large mole on my foot.  My youngest daughter has one to match.

I have a sense of humor and sometimes do not realize other people don't....

I do not like to wear dresses that require pantyhose be worn with it.  So I guess I don't like pantyhose.

I love to eat cookie dough.

I have had the same cell phone number since I was 16.

I really really want 2 washing machines and 2 dryers.

I love to watch Husker football and volleyball.

I do not own an electric can opener.

I love Fall, Spring, Summer, and Winter...in that order.

I love that we have so many friends that we never have to travel a paved road to go visit.

I live an hour away from a Wal-Mart which I am going to go to when the kids get home.  I better make a list.  I don't go very often, but my daughter lost her glasses so we are going to the vision center to get her new ones.

I haven't at lunch yet, but I did deliver lunch to the field.

I wear sweaterpants {that is what my youngest daughter calls sweatpants} and t-shirts whenever I am home because they are so comfy.

I love newborns....yes, I am a baby hog.

My husband just called me and I have to go get parts.

See, that's what happens lately....interruptions, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

{{{HUGS}}}

Homemade Laundry Soap with Oxygen Booster

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I have always been one to make things homemade.  Whether it be a version of food from a favorite chain restaurant , air freshners, chapstick {I'm an addict of moist lips}, baby wipes, or laundry soap......I am game to try it.  I simply get a thrill from making it myself and often times it's a cheaper option than buying it at a store.  Who doesn't like to save money!!!!!!  The first thing I made homemade {other than food...LOL} was baby wipes.  When you live miles from town where stores are not open 24/7 and everything is closed on Sunday sometimes you have to figure out a second option for the products you need.

My latest homemade product is laundry soap.  If you have followed my blog you know that laundry is a huge obstacle in my life.  If you care to read about all my laundry sagas you can read about them here,  here,  here, or here.  With four kids and a farmer husband laundry is constantly a huge chore in this household.  I spend a lot of time in my laundry room and I also spend a lot of money on laundry supplies every month.  With that being said, I decided to save some money and make my own.

It is soooo simple.  Here is what you need.... Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda {this is different from baking soda}, Borax, Oxi Magic or any oxygen booster, and Fels-Naptha laundry bar which you should be able to find in the laundry isle.

Grate the Fels-Naptha bar with a cheese grater and then put it into a food processor and grate it up until it is a thick powder consistency.  Then add 1 cup of Borax, 1 cup of Super Washing Soda, and 1/2 cup Oxi Magic.  Mix all together and store in a container.  Use 2 tablespoons per load.  This recipe is HE friendly.  You can probably use 1 tablespoon for each load, but in my household we have dirt, cow poop, and grease all over most of our clothes so I have stuck with 2 tablespoons for every load.

I have been impressed with it so far.  I think my whites seem whiter than they did with my Tide.  My husband is always dirty and his greasy jeans are clean too.  The smell is very subtle, but clean.  I figured this homemade laundry soap cost just a couple pennies a load compared to my Tide that cost $0.24 a load.  Twenty-two cents difference doesn't sound like much but it will add up fast in this household.


{{{HUGS}}}

Nutella Coffee

I have a special place in my heart for Nutella.  I have a special place in my heart for coffee.  I also have a special place in my heart for whip cream and chocolate syrup.  This morning all these wonderful loves united in my coffee cup.  It was quite beautiful and delicious.  And it was simple and did I mention delicious?

If you would like to have a love like this and a possible new Nutella addiction you need to try this.  Take a big scoop of Nutella and add it to your cup of hot coffee.  Stir until blended.  Top with whip cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup.  I AM IN LOVE........again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Mother Nature....

We are well into corn harvest.  Each day has went very well with minimal breakdowns.  We have had dry weather which is usually a great thing for harvest.  However, Mother Nature is having a terrible mood swing.  We are too dry and have had extremely windy conditions for several days.  The wind is causing the power to flicker on and off.  Worst of all with the extreme dry conditions and farmers in the harvest fields with combines, tractors, and trucks that can get hot in a split second can will cause fires left and right.  The local volunteer fire departments are putting in overtime trying to stay ahead of the sporadic fires that are popping up all over the place.  I even saw an irrigation pivot running on a cornfield today in hopes it would prevent the field from engulfing flames.

Here it our local forecast.

We are in an alert for VERY STRONG WINDS that may cause power outages.  

My hubs got a phone call from the grain elevator earlier today and they ask that he not bring any grain to town because of the power outages.  I guess we have a "wind delay"!!!!!!

So I hope our chance of scattered t-storms happens tonight.  Not only does this strange weather stall our harvest, the constant wind really starts to wear on the individuals that work out in it all day.

So with that being said.....

Dear God, PLEASE send rain.  Thank you!!!!!....The Farmer's Wife

{{{HUGS}}}

4-Wheeler Diaper Cake

I hosted a baby shower at my home and for the centerpiece on the gift table I made this adorable 4-wheeler diaper cake.  Diaper cakes are as cute as can be and the best part is they are loaded with practical baby items.  I don't know about you, but I am allllllll about practical.    

The baby items I used for this diaper cake:

44 diapers
3 receiving blankets
3 pairs of socks
1 baby bottle dishwasher basket
1 bottle
3 bibs
1 stuffed animal

Non baby items you will need.

2 empty paper towel tubes
ribbon

I wish I would have taken pictures of each step, but I didn't.  Also, I apologize for the bad pictures.  I do these projects at night and I didn't have any natural light when I took the photos.

Start by placing a sock over each end of the paper towel tubes.  This will be the hub caps.  Then start wrapping diapers around the paper towel tube for the tire.  You may want to use tape to help hold your tire together, but I did not....I'm and overachiever {or lazy...take your pick}.  Then use your ribbon and tie around the middle of the diaper tire.  Repeat this process for each tire.

Now lay out one receiving blanket and roll up for the handle bars.  Then lay out another blanket and fold up until it is about 5 inches wide.  Then roll it up like a sleeping bag and tie it to the back of the bottle basket.  This helps make the seat.  Drape one bib over the front of the bottle basket.  Place the bottle on top of the bib.  Take another bib and fold it up in thirds and place over the bottle {this helps keep the bottle/headlight snug} Take the handle bar blanket and wrap around the bottle basket, bibs, and bottle and secure with ribbon.  Place another pair of socks on the end of the blanket for the handle bars.  Drape the last bib over the "seat".  Set the tray on the paper towel tubes.

Then placed the stuffed animal in the drivers seat and you are done.

This was super easy to make and didn't take long....maybe 20 minutes.

Be sure to "like" The Farmer's Wife on Facebook!!!

{{{HUGS}}}


Linked to: Someday Crafts

Simple Way To Clean Windows

I have been looking through a dirty window for several weeks and I couldn't take it any longer.  The ladder I was needing to clean the window was over at our shop and I didn't want to drive 5 miles to get it for a 2 minute job. Call me lazy I guess, but I just wanted the window cleaned RIGHT NOW!!!!  So I did what any farm girl does and "farmer rigged" some concoction up to get my windows clean.

I used my mop, paper towels, and 2 rubber bands to attach the paper towels to the mop.  I sprayed the paper towels and the window with Windex and cleaned away all the dirt and grime.  The mop handle was plenty long to reach the top of the window from the ground.

Viola....a clean window to look out!!!!!!!  I love handy tricks.  Here is another one of my favorites.

{{{HUGS}}}