There is none.  Oh, today I tried my hand at trimming goat hoofs and found it harder than I thought.  I am online reading about how to do it and why.  My brain is in overload.  Did you know that if you don't keep their hoofs trimmed they can get rot?  It is a nasty job, but they are worth it. 

As for babies, I am about decided we may never have them. :)

I will send a blog as soon as there is news.

In other news...

I received my electric bill today.  We saved $50 last month using cold water to do laundry and hanging our clothes to dry.  I figure on about $90-$100 a month in savings.  This is a lot and makes hanging laundry SO worthwhile.  Next job is to find a washboard and wringer.  I can get them new from Lehman's for $15 (washboard) and $160 (wringer).  Not too bad!  For now I will keep using the washer, but I know it will cut washing time to about 2 hours a week if I were to switch.

I am busy planning my garden, getting ready to build fence and the chicken house.  We also want to finish the basement bedroom/bathroom by the first of June.  It is going to be a busy spring.

Joyfully,

Cheryl

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Posted by Tia

how do you figure it will be less time to use a washboard and ringer than the machine? We have so much wash; I can't imagine doing it by hand, mostly because the machine frees my hands to be doing other stuff at the same time!

Power bills are getting me down though. This rental is drafty and there is little insulation, plus the rectangular design actually increases draft any time one of the end doors is opened. I already wash in cold and we conserve lights but I need to find something to effectively make a dent in the bill.

I'm planning my garden too! I entertained the idea of skipping it this year since we don't know how long we'll live in this house or what the sunny spots are like in summer, but David pointed out that even in years when my gardens weren't very productive they still brought me too much joy to not pursue. So, it's planning I am and there are so many things I couldn't grow in FL that I get to try here!

And, we're getting bantam chickens too. I'm hoping for Bantam Red Rocks if I can find a source for just 4-5 of them.

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Posted by SDBookMom

When I lived in Uruguay, we often lost electricity. The mother of the family I was there to help with school came down with hepititus and I pitched in to do all the family shopping, cleaning and laundry. I did laundry whenever it was dry enough, usually once a week. I could do a weeks worth for 4 children and 4 adults and have it on the line in just under an hour. It was wonderful!

They had this great washtub with a built in washboard. I didn't know you could get clothes that clean. I did perfer the wringer on the washing machine, and days we had electricity (about 1/2 the time) I would use the wringer washer. Laundry still only took about an hour to complete.

I know with a washer you don't have to be there, but it takes me 2 hours to get 4 loads on the line and we usually have 6-8 in a week. In the summer this isn't such a big deal, but in the winter I need to have everything out by 9:00 to get it dry. Getting up at 5:30 or 6 to do laundry is NO FUN. I have been trying to do it 2 times a week, weather is NOT cooperating.

Today I am going to move the kitchen around and hang lines in half the dining area so I can finish laundry.

Cheryl

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Posted by Tia

I do about 14 loads a week. I'm trying to get my head around this! You use a big tub and hand scrub each article of clothing, then put it through the wringer and hang it up? Do you do this inside or out? What about bedding like thick blankets? Do you use a different detergent, like fels naptha bars instead of regular stuff?

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Posted by

If you go to Columbus Washboard Company, http://www.columbuswashboard.com/ you will find a tutorial on how to wash clothes with a washboard.

14 loads a week is a LOT! I think my biggest week ever was 10 and we did all the bedding. Remember now, I have not DONE this recently. I was 20 in UR. And for me it would be a cheap expieriement, I have the washtubs and all I need is a washboard, at 12.95 - $14.95 at Lehmans or $20 for the BIG one at Columbus. I am leaning towards the big one (or maybe 2, one smaller for little stuff.)

Once I get mine and try it again, I will let you know. This time around I won't have a wringer (I could get one at Lehman's for $169, hand crank model). So if the washing is ok, I might just see about getting the wringer too.

Joyfully,
Cheryl

Edited by SDBookMom on Feb. 14, 2006 at 10:08 AM

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