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Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Help I've Lost My Mate

Not too long ago, one of my neighbor friends and I made liquid laundry soap. For different reasons, we are trying to stretch our dollars. It was easy to do and saved oodles compared to name brand products packaged and ready to go. (click here to see a blog and video about making your own soap and a cost analysis)

Simple old vinegar makes a great fabric softener. (click here to read what wikipedia has to say about fabric softeners) 


Homemade Fabric Softener
1 cup baking soda
6 cups distilled white vinegar
8 cups water
10 -15 drops orange essential oils (optional) or 10 -15 drops lemon essential oils (optional) or 10 -15 drops essential oils, of choice (optional)

(My ghost writer tells me that dryer sheets have animal tallow in them! She's vegan, so this recipe meets her interest to save animals.)

It seem like yesterday that I was doing laundry for a houseful of kids and a husband. It was in fact, many years ago. Jim was with me then and he was a southern gentleman, always putting a hand out to help, as any gentleman does.

Laundry was just a chore, but I loved keeping house and I loved taking care of my family.  

As usual, I would pull the laundry from the dryer and invariably a sock or two would go to wherever socks go to be missing. 

I never complained about it. I just put everyone's laundry on their beds and put the single socks with the pile. I would return later, when the mate was found to put the two together. 

One day I looked up and above the dryer was a cardboard box with writing on it. It said, "Help, I've lost my mate." Jim, on his own, with no cajoling, had taken it upon himself to help his damsel, a box for single socks.

He was a sweet soul and I am sure God is well pleased to have him in Heaven to keep people laughing and finding a place for mate-less socks! It would be a job he would do without complaint.

I have had the blessing of good mates. 

My washing machine stopped not long ago, and it wasn't long before Mr. Menze had all its internal parts out and stretched in a line on the floor to try for a diagnosis on his own before calling for paid help. He stopped everything to do that, because he knew I needed it to work. 

Yes, I've been richly blessed. And I am grateful. 

psalms 107:15
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Please take the time to watch this cute little video about where socks might be lurking....



And then again...
That'll do Pig.


Click here for Heather Bailey's Pig Pattern