It’s Friday…

and I didn’t have a good title for a post, but wanted to summarize a few things that have been going on around here.

1. The three middle kids – Angelina, Zeke & Graham – have slept out in the tent for the last two nights.  They set it up at the end of the tree rows, so are a distance away from the house.  They brought our old covered fire pit and have been cooking breakfast and dinner over the fire!  Yesterday I didn’t see any of them until shortly before lunch when Zeke came back to use the bathroom.

2. Dash is making progress (FINALLY!) in getting his subjects completed. 

3. A new, larger pool has been ordered and the kids can hardly wait.  They spent a lot of time swimming last year.  We’ll need to do a bit of work to level the ground before setting up the new pool, but it will be well worth the effort.

4. I’ve made more progress on clearing the flower bed of weeds, but we sure could use more rain to soften the ground.  It comes up in clumps which I then have to break up to level off the surface.  I’m tired in about 20 minutes!

5. Almost all the supplies for the next school year are on hand and I’m almost done creating the necessary lesson plans.  I’d like to have all that figured out before heading to the MN Homeschool conference next week.

6. We finally have a broody hen!  She’s set up with a clutch of eggs and we hope this experiment goes well.

7. Cloth diapering is going well.  There have been days where we’ve only used them at night…sending Louis out to the tractor with cloth diapers is just not practical!  However, we have days, like yesterday, where it’s only cloth.  In fact, I did make the decision to order diapers for the new little one coming.  However, because my ‘little’ ones tend to be pretty big, I opted to buy the regular sized instead of infant sized.  The way I see it, we’d only be using the infant for maybe 2-3 weeks and then the baby would be into regular sized cloth diapers.  2-3 weeks is not enough time to justify the expense.

8. The vegetable garden.  It hasn’t been planted, yet.  But, today is looking like a nice day.  Maybe I’ll sneak outside and get it done!

Mmmmm…

I’ve thought about doing this for years, but haven’t ever taken the plunge.  But, at the homeschool convention this past week, this speaker and vendor made it seem easy enough to try (ie. commit!).  I talked with the vendor in the morning and picked up her information.  Then, I proceeded to read and discern about ‘it’ for the rest of the convention.  By the end, I’d made a decision and came home with a two bags filled with the following items…

3 dozen cloth toddler diapers

4 bummi waterproof covers

12 doublers for night time use

1 pkg. (includes 2) snappies

 

I’ve always known the economic benefits and environmental benefits, but wasn’t sure I could handle it.  However, I’ve been thinking about this for at least 14 years!!  I’m committed to using 3 cloth diapers each day.  If I do more, that’s great.  If I use less, that’s ok, too.  I was going to try to avoid the ‘poo’ times, but that didn’t happen.  So, I’m now experienced with ‘that’, too.

My husband thinks I’m nuts (the look on his face was pretty much priceless!) and I haven’t shared my adventurous purchase news with anyone else, yet.  Eric was happy to hear that he wouldn’t be held to using them, nor would we be bringing them on trips.

So far, the HE front load washer has done a good job.  One wash left the diapers without smell, which surprised me.  I’d heard that front loads wouldn’t wash the diapers well with only one wash and you’d waste more water, thus cutting your savings.

Louis has ventured into potty training, so I hope that by August, when the new baby arrives, he will have mastered the skill and only need diapering at night.  Cloth diapers also help in training, or so I’ve read and heard.  Based on how this experience goes, I may commit to making a purchase for the new baby.  Only time will tell.