Kaake Family Blog

Here you will see the second round of plant starting for the Kaake family this year :) I was watering my plants the other night when I realized that they were not holding in water as much anymore.  Every day they were drying out.  This was a huge clue that they needed to be repotted into something bigger.    The other clue was in the picture above; they were root bound.  If these plants do not get repotted, they will die from lack of water because they will lost it very quickly.  Here's a few steps in repotting your plants you've started for the garden. 1. Purchase a potting mix - not garden soil.  Potting mix has special components in it that will help your plants grow strong.  It was also keep the water in better. 2. Purchase or use either smaller pots or you can use something deep and large enough for your plants to all sit in and then cover them with the potting mix.  Make sure your plants roots have plenty of room to spread out...

My big helper! Using a seeder to make littles holes for the seeds. Some of our plants on the mini greenhouse shelves. Bottom of the "planter" labeled so I know what's in each one.  I write down what seeds they are and when they should germinate by.   I recently ordered seeds through Seed Savers Exchange.   They have been my favorite company to purchase seeds along side with Mountain Rose Herbs.  The quality is always great!  Today I planted my tomato and pepper seeds.  I have provided a list of what I used today, how many plants it will yield should they all survive and what I paid.   I still have to plant my bean seeds but they have not yet come in the mail.  However, the price below will reflect the beans. Supplies: 2 boxes Jiffy Refill Pellet's = $5.30 1 Jiffy Professional Greenhouse kit (w/36 pellets) = $4.24 1 package each of Ancho Peppers, Jalapeno Pepeprs, Tomato Plants and Bean Plants = $11.66 3 (3-pack) pack...

I wanted to do one of these for Jon when he was little but never got to it.  Now, several years later I've finally started AND completed one of these little books.  I'd love to add more pages in the future, but for now I call this good.   Knowing Joshie, he'll love this!  I can't wait to see him get it on Christmas Day!                                                        A Big Letter "J" for Joshua! A black fuzzy buckle to play with; fringed felt to run his sweet baby fingers through and a red wagon; every little boys dream. Cut out shapes with velcro for matching and a Kangaroo mama and with a baby roo that peeks in and out of her pouch.                       A dolphin leaping out of the waves (that make noise) and a cow with a jingling bell. Last bu...

Thanks again to Mandi from amomshideout.com I went to Aldi and purchased the laminator she recommended. We came home right away, printed out a couple word world pictures for Jon and let him color them. Next, I laminated them both. After they had cooled a bit, I used a hole punch to punch holes all around it. We then got the package of shoelaces we got nip from Goodwill at 19 cents and put a knot on one end of each one. Now we have fun and educational lacing activities for our kids :)

Thanks to my friend Mandi on amomshideout.com, I've started tons of felt board fun with my son. My church had this felt board they were getting rid of and I started making everything to put on it. So far his favorite thing to put on the board is the coconut tree tailored after Chicka, Chickan, Boom, Boom. As I'm typing he's saying, "mom, you have to come here and see my coconut tree". So off I go.

Matt and I had such a fun time with our own at home chocolate tasting. I encourage you to try this sometime. It's amazing how trying the chocolates next to each other changes things . Some tips I found online were: 1. Have a glass of water or plain green tea to clean your palate in between each taste. 2. Start with milk chocolate and move to dark chocolate. 3. Snap the chocolate first. Good chocolate should have a good snap (according to "them"). 4. Move each bit of chocolate around your mouth hitting all your taste buds. Our findings: 1. Symphony Not very snappy Creamy Quite sweet Not very ‘chocolaty’ 2. Dollar tree million dollar bar Clean snap Grainy Not chocolaty… almost fruity 3. Dove Slightly softer than previous 2 Very smooth rich creamy flavor More chocolate flavor than previous 2 4. Ghirardelli 83% cocoa Very snappy Not at all creamy Very bitter Slightly fruity at end of bite (spit out by matt) 5. Lindt Dark 70% cacao Clean s...

It's been so long since I've updated again that I thought I'd post a few fun things. First, my husband came home the other day with a huge bouquet of real (not hybrid) roses. Absolutely gorgeous! The picture above does not capture all their beauty. It was a much needed surprise that day as things had been hard. Talk about making my week:) With everything going on, the ER visits and other such issues, I had to start resting and putting up my feet more than I would have liked. So, because of that and the reminder of an amh friend that Christmas is only 6 months away, I started making up my Christmas list and doing a bit of shopping here and there as I saw things on clearance/sale. I'm totally done with my nieces, Lyshie and have something for my mom. I have figured out for everyone else except siblings what we'll be doing. For the nieces and nephews, with their gifts I'm giving them crayon cakes (all except 1 niece cause she's just too young)....

Here are the ones I've found lately that I like the most. They are easy for someone like me;) I have tried Rita's Rump, and the Sweater Pants and love them both. I also added a bib pattern. It works much better than other store bought bibs because it covers more. We even take extra long tea towels and just tie a loose knot around the back of their neck. It works great. Enjoy the links! Sweater pants/longies and soakers: http://www.borntolove.com/frugal -column2.html http://www.cafepress.com/thatski ndacool/864331 sewing all kinds of dipes: http://fernandfaerie.com/frugald iapering.html fleece soaker pattern: http://katrinassqs.blogspot.com/ 2007/10/free-soaker-pattern.ht ml http://www.geocities.com/Heartla nd/Oaks/1126/sewfleece.html Bib: here is a bib pattern - http://sewing.about.com/od/sewingf orbabychildren/ss/towelbib.htm Rita's Rump pocket pattern - http://handmadebyrita.blogspot.com /2007/10/classic-rrp-ritas-rum p-pocket-pattern.html ...

When you become a parent you walk down all the “child safety” aisles in the stores. What do most parents pickup? I did a study on a forum I’m on and here’s what the “numbers” show as of 5:12 p.m. today. 75% of mama’s use cabinet latches. This is the most popular used safety feature in these homes. Wouldn’t it be much more safe to make sure what you have in your home is safe to your child if they accidentally get into your cupboard? Our family chooses to use a training program coupled with safe household products. We’ll get into “training” another time. For now let’s focus on the safe household products and a few statistics. Each year, over 1 million children are accidentally poisoned in their homes. 250,000 of these victims are hospitalized. 3,000 of which end up in intensive care. Dozens more actually die. Thousands of children and adults permanent problems and injuries through contact with chemicals in the home, each year. Ok stay at home moms, this ones for you. Breast Canc...

I always used walmart type plastic bags from grocery shopping. However, I try to use reusable bags for the most part now which meant I had no waste basket liners. I finally got up the nerve to try to throw something together and am pleased with the results. I can't wait to get more fabric that will match the other bathrooms. Yeah! The coolest part is, this is washable and biodegrades!

Just last night, prince Jon found a very lovely and rare bottle of barn red craft paint. With wonder, excitement and maybe a little fear of the unknown, he opened up the bottle oh so carefully. 'What is that funny stuff inside?' thought the little prince. He started to slowly pour it over the lovely school desk his mother had just months previously repainted for him and his sister. It puddled very neatly onto the desk from the little bit he poured out. 'I'll try some more' he thought, and so he proceeded to dump the entire lovely bottle of red paint on the desk. To his joy and excitement it not only stayed put on the desk, it decided to creap it's way down onto the cream colored, already spotted (from stains) carpet. He was overjoyed - until.....his mother turned around. The Queen was not happy about the little prince's discovery. She quickly picked up the paint covered little prince and quickly proceeded to wash him off. While the prince was ...

These items are not only safe but cheap! Gotta love that. They also work incredibly well. These two items are baking soda and white distilled vinegar. Kitchen: 1. Plugged Drains - Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down drain followed by 1/2 cup vinegar. If the clog is very bad, skim off floaties that come to the surface and repeat. After it won't bubble anymore, give it one or two good plunges and it should be free. 2. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda in a sink full of water to wash fruits and veggies. 3. Put out a grease fire with baking soda. 4. Deodorize fridge and freezer by putting a box of baking soda in each one. 5. Add to presoaked beans to make them more digestible. 6. Dissolve 2T. baking soda in a bit of water placed in a microwave safe bowl. Put in microwave and heat till boiling. You should easily be able to clean out stuck on food on the microwave. 7. Place 1 cup vinegar on the bottom shelf of your dishwasher. Wash on the hottest, longest cycle. This will help clean your ...

My mother-in-law recently got married and said there were several things she wouldn't be able to take with her. We had already decided Matt was going to build a hutch just like hers for our kitchen - someday. Well, my mil asked us if we'd like to have it. We offered to pay but she thought the idea of that was ridiculous. I ended up getting the hutch of my dreams this past weekend and we were actually able to transport it in our van. Here are some pix. A gorgeous tuscan pix my mom gave me to use will go over the small table by the hutch. Talk about perfect! We desperately needed the room since we actually lost cupboard space when we moved into this house. This has helped tremendously. Thanks Shannon! Oh yes and by the way, the rest of my teapots/pitchers are sitting at the church waiting to find their new home;)