How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

Fitted sheets are like the rubik's cube of folding.

Many struggle with figuring out how to fold it.

They get wadded into a messy bundle and shoved into the linen closet.

It's easier to give up than tackle this conundrum.

But I have a solution!

I've discovered the simple truth of how to fold a fitted sheet.

In fact this solution works so well 

I often have a hard time telling my folded fitted sheets

apart from my folded flat sheets.

This is a problem I'm happy to have.

*grin*

My solution also needs only one person to fold a fitted sheet

(even a queen sized fitted sheet!)

Here is a pictorial tutorial.

(Ha ha! It rhymes!)

You'll notice I had a "helper".

If I lay a blanket out on the floor,

you can be sure Maude will find it and snuggle in.

She's my little snuggle bunny.

How To Fold a Fitted Sheet:

1. After washing your sheet, turn it right side out.  

2.  Find a large folding surface.  You can use a bed, couch or table.  I rarely use the floor since it just attracts pets and children.  For some reason a sheet or blanket laid out of the floor just calls to them.  It begs them to come and sit on top of it.  This makes folding impossible a challenge.  *wink*

Fitted sheet: right side out and placed on couch.

3.  Find the corners of the sheet.  I often will put my hand inside the corner, placing my finger right to the end of the corner seam.  Pinch the end of the corner seam.  You have now "created a corner". Once two corners have been created, fold the edge between them back onto the sheet.  Place this end of the sheet on the large surface.

4.  Slowly move down the sheet, to the opposite end, folding in the edges as you go.  Find and create the remaining two corners at the end of the sheet.  Fold in the remaining sheet edges.  This will create a simple rectangle which is much easier for folding.  

I've created two sheet corners at one end and have placed them on the couch.  I proceed down the sheet turning in the edges.

The fitted sheet now looks like a large rectangle.  I've placed it on the floor to try and photograph the whole sheet.  Clearly I do not believe in ironing sheets before folding them.

5.  Now fold the fitted sheet as you would a flat sheet.  I simply fold it in half, fold it in half and fold it in half.  Over and over until the sheet is the desired size to fit on the shelf in my linen closet.

Fold sheet in half (tricky to do with a toddler sitting on it!)

Fold sheet in half again (even trickier with a toddler laying on it!)

And finally done!  A beautifully folded square.  No longer a rubik's cube.  *wink* 

I hope this helps solve the perpetual puzzling problem

of folding a fitted sheet.

I love alliteration!

Have a great day!

Happy thoughts,

Andrea

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and leave a comment or two! *smile*

Quick Laundry Tip

This is a super simple trick that can be done with a clean shirt

or even the one you're wearing!

If the armpits of your shirts are yellowing,

or still smell even after washing (man I hate that!),

simply rub the shirt armpit with a pinch of baking soda!

I like to keep a small jar of baking soda in

our main floor bathroom for just such emergencies.

You will be amazed at just how quickly the body odor is eliminated from the shirt.

 It's like magic!  Seriously!  I do this all the time and am still shocked by how

quickly it works.

The armpit yellowing will take a few more washes,

and reapplying the baking soda rub in between,

to remove but it still works.

I wish you a happy clean-armpit day!

Happy thoughts,

Andrea

Please leave any questions/comments below 

or here on my Facebook page.

God bless! 

Becoming a 50's Housewife - Phase 1

The 50's.

When I think of the 1950's (which occurred 30 years before I was born) I think

of strong family values, traditional family roles and the beginning of our modern lifestyle.

I think of modern conveniences beginning to become popular and available to all households.

Things like refrigerators, televisions and great big fancy cars.

I think of the perfect Wife.

A devoted Mother to her children with a spotlessly clean house. 

Who spends her days baking, organizing and smiling.

It's a really beautiful picture I have in my head really.

And that picture mostly comes from all the advertising that still exists from the era.

Then I read an article that was posted in my Facebook feed.

Sadly I can no longer locate the article and so cannot share it here for you to read for yourself.

My summary: The article was about a Wife and Mother who worked from home.  She decided to spend the day as she thought a 50's wife would.  She wrote that the average 50's woman spent 2 hours a day cleaning and noted that it would be impossible to have a full time job and fulfill that many hours of daily cleaning.  The 50's wife would vacuum, mop and sweep all floors everyday.  She would dust and do laundry every day.  She would clean the bathrooms, make the beds and cook from scratch every day.  Not to mention the fact that the 50's wife walked most everywhere (as families had only one vehicle).  A 50's wife would walk the children to school then walk to the store everyday for the few groceries she needed for the day.  Refrigerators were just becoming popular so many families did not have the ability to store food long term.

What I took away from the article was that cleanliness was of vital importance.  Also that a housewife of that era had a very small carbon footprint.  She wasted very little (time or money) and was very focused in her duties.  When I read this article I saw a woman who had great value and great purpose.  It really struck a chord with me.

It really got me thinking about how I spend my time as a 2010's Wife and Mother.  And it made me feel very lazy.  I have let cleaning slip to a very low priority now that I have three children.  I felt justified in my house looking less than perfect.  As I look around my house and am dismayed by the mess (the thin layer dust, the unwashed floor under the kitchen table and the hand prints on the walls and windows to be specific) I think that it would take a huge effort to keep it 50's housewife clean.  After all I need to be able to sit and read my Facebook feed every afternoon.  Right?

So.  

I decided.  

After being inspired by this article to work harder and get my house in order.  And get myself in order (to have a modern take on a 50's housewife style).  And become focused and feel I am adding value to my family.  

Yes.  

I liked these thoughts and ideas.  

I liked this experiment!  

First. I asked Jon.  What did he think about my idea to experiment and become more like a 50's housewife?  He said, "Yes.  I want you to meet me at the door wearing a dress and bright red lipstick."  Obviously he had his own ideas of a typical 50's housewife.  I had thought mainly about the cleaning up until this point.  I answered, "And high heels?"  He said, "Yes."  Which is hilarious if you know me!  I wear fake crocs at home most of the time.  Slippers are too hot but fake crocs are soft underfoot.  I'm sure real crocs are nice too, I just own fake ones.  I told Jon I could see if I could find some flats to wear around the house.  He seemed okay with that.

My husband was on board!

Second.  I needed a plan.  I found this website that had posted a 50's housewife cleaning schedule.  I was very excited to get started!  My plan was to start Monday morning and get cleaning.  I gleaned from these articles that the first few days were going to be difficult as I was not already cleaning every day.  I had some catching up to do.  And that was going to take time.  I was ready!

The Rules  (made up my me)

1. Clean the house every day (max. 2 hours).  To include dusting, sweeping, vacuuming and mopping along with my regular daily chores of making beds, doing laundry and the dishes.  Tough.

2. Make all food at home.  Have balanced meals with homemade desserts.  This is easier as I mostly do this already. 

3.  Adopt a 50's housewife style.  Start wearing more skirts and dresses along with doing my hair and makeup everyday.  I try to do my hair and makeup everyday already, though not always.  Wearing dresses and skirts may be difficult given that it is almost winter.

4. Walk.  Lots of walking! Complete most errands by walking.  I try to walk many places during the day to save on the cost of gas.  I want to walk more places during this experiment.

Monday

Yes most folks despise Monday but I was enthusiastic.  I tackled all my jobs with gusto!  But first, what to do with Maude?  I was going to be trying to clean the whole house in one day (not a task I normally do unless Jon is home to watch the kids.  Read: take them outside).  So I set her up with a video she likes and got to work!

In the morning I got the vacuuming and sweeping done.  I was also able to clean our two bathrooms and give the tub a good scrub.  It was definitely going to take me a bit of time to catch up.  I was also to complete all the mopping and dusting and laundry in that time.  I had also almost maxed out my two hours of daily cleaning in just one morning!  I was also able to clean out the fridge, empty the garbage cans, and clean the kid's toy room.

Monday: Still not dusted.  Must do tomorrow!

I was pleased that I was able to bake bread, two pizzas from scratch for supper and a pumpkin pie for dessert.

I also walked to a neighbor's house to deliver some items.

I was proud of what I had accomplished and LOVED that my house was much cleaner.  But in order to accomplish all these things I had had my children watch alot of tv.  Too much tv.  I had to figure out how to get everything done without my work affecting the children so much.  They need me to spend time with them too.

Tuesday

I was still excited and gung-ho!  Though I'd had a bad sleep as Maverick had been sick through the night.  He stayed home from school today which added more to-dos to my list.  Thankfully he was able to play with his sister which meant she wasn't watching tv all morning again.

I was much faster at vacuuming and sweeping so I was able to empty the dishwasher and get the dusting done.  I realized I need to wake up earlier in order to get all the vacuuming done I wish to do as it is much easier to vacuum when the kids are still in bed and their toys are still put away.

A long-time friend whom I hadn't talked to in months called.  It was lovely to talk again but it did take away from the time I had to get all my cleaning done.

I walked to the post office with Maude and Maverick in our double stroller.  The round trip took an hour to complete!  I didn't realize the post office was so far away!!  I will need to find a closer post office (they often have them in the corner of a pharmacy).  I will add that to a future to-do list.

I washed the walls, cleaned the windows, cleaned the bathrooms, and did a load of laundry.

I made homemade soup for supper, walnut squares for dessert and baked two banana loaves (in order to use up some bananas that were getting old)

I was happy for all that I had accomplished.  I worked hard through the day to make time for the kids.  But that meant that many chores were left to the end of the day.  I worked right through until bedtime.  That left no time to be spent with my husband.  A 50's housewife did not neglect her husband!  I phoned my Gram (who was herself a housewife in the 50's) and asked her how she did it all.  She told me that she only cleaned when necessary (mopping maybe 3 times a week) and she wore pants all day.  She didn't put on a skirt until my Grampa came home.  Ha!

Wednesday

I woke up early (after a poor sleep.  Maverick is still sick.  How did 50's wives handle things when their children were up several times through the night?) and got the vacuuming done.  I swept and dusted.  

I walked to the bulk food store and the dollar store.  The trip took over an hour round trip.  My back was starting to ache from pushing two kids in the stroller up and down hills for such a long time.

I did laundry, completed several unfinished jobs, and put items away that had been sitting out for weeks.

I made meatless spaghetti for supper and didn't get a dessert made.  Thankfully we had pie and squares still left over from the nights before.  I started to fall asleep in my spaghetti at the supper table.  Jon sent me upstairs to bed where I napped for 30 minutes.

I realized that I was becoming obsessed with a clean house.  I was starting to get angry with the kids for any little crumb they left behind.  I realized this was the wrong mentality.  This was not the 50's housewife I had imagined.  I decided to give grace to my kids and to myself.  If I didn't get it all done, that was going to be okay.  If my kids spilled, that was going to be okay.

Thursday & Friday

Not only was Maverick still sick Thursday and Friday but I had all the kids Friday as it was a snow day and buses were cancelled.

I continued waking early to get my vacuuming done.  I emptied the dish washer, swept and mopped the floors.  I was doing so well with laundry that I was able to take Friday off.  I had no laundry to do!  I cleaned the bathrooms on Thursday but was unable to do so on Friday.

I drove to where I needed to go as I was exhausted and my back needed a break.  I did not walk.  

I made homemade meals, and granola bars.

I spent more time with my kids making Christmas ornaments, reading with them and teaching them songs.  On Friday night we went downtown to our city's tree lighting festival.  I suggested we walk but Jon decided it was too cold to take the kids that far outside.  He was right.

I am so pleased to have a beautiful home!

Results

As with any experiment you need to record the results.  

I found that I sometimes push myself too hard.  That sometimes I created unrealistic expectations of myself and that I need to give myself some grace.  

I discovered that I LOVE having my house clean.  I am going to work very hard next week to streamline my cleaning routine.  I want to be able to have a clean home (what I deem to be clean) everyday.  I want to be able to invite anyone to my house, on any day, and be happy and proud with what they'll see on the inside. 

 I also found that I NEED to walk every day.  Although I was exhausted on the days when I walked over an hour, I was so happy those days.  I need to get outside and have fresh air fill my lungs.  Doing an errand and getting a walk in at the same time is a great way to multi-task.  I save on gas, I get my to-do list done and I'm exercising all at the same time!

Phase 2

Next week:

1. Continue following the rules outlined above.  Focus more on rule number 3 (which I mostly ignored this week).

2. Look up fashions and hairstyles for the 50's.  Find what I like and what will work for me and my budget.  Raid my own closet.  

3.  Add sewing, mending and ironing to my list of things to do.

4.  Add spiritual goals to my list of things to do (such as Bible reading, prayer and verse memorization).

So this is how I'm trying to become a 50's housewife!

What is your vision of a wife from this era?

Do you know anyone who was a housewife in the 50's?

What stories have been passed down to you?

Please let me know your thoughts and ideas by leaving a comment below

or here on my Facebook page.

Happy thoughts,

Maeven

How to Make your own Pumpkin Puree

 or  "How To Cook a Pumpkin"

This is delightfully easy!

I do this every year with our pumpkins.

You can use any variety pumpkin you'd like.

Not JUST the "Pie Pumpkins" they advertise in the store.

You can cook up and eat the carving pumpkins too.

This is what we do.

They're much less expensive.

(Shhhh.... Don't tell the grocery stores I said so.)

The only difference is the taste.

And honestly they taste so similar

we don't notice the difference.

At Halloween I allow the kids to carve one pumpkin

then I let them paint the rest.

The paint is washable.

The only kind of paint to have when you have small kids!

Sadly pumpkins begin to rot once carved.

Even if your area is relatively cool through October

(as ours is in Northern Ontario)

the pumpkin needs to be kept intact until it is cooked.

Pumpkins are wonderful things!

They can store outside for months before you bake them.

It really is wonderful because my to-do list is so long in the fall,

it helps that I can ignore the pumpkins until I have a bit more time.

    

Under a blanket of snow?  Yep. Still good!

Under a duvet of snow??  Still good!!  

 Pumpkin Puree

Need

1. A pumpkin (any variety, any size)

2. Roasting pan with lid.

3. Blender, food processor, or hand blender.

4. Freezable container or freezer bags.

5. Spatula

6. Permanent marker

How To

1.  Cut the pumpkin in half.  Scoop out and remove the seeds.  The seeds can be saved, cleaned, roasted and eaten!

Pumpkin seed cluster

Scooping out the pumpkin with a spoon.

2. Place the pumpkin cut side down (skin side up) and add 1/4 cup of water.  Cover with lid.

3.  Bake in the oven at 400F for 45 minutes.

4.  Check pumpkin doneness with a fork.  It should easily pierce the flesh of the pumpkin.  If the pumpkin is still firm, bake for an additional 10 minutes.  Once cooked, remove from oven and let cool in the pan.

Before cooking.

After cooking.

5.  Carefully turn over the pumpkin.  Scoop out the cooked pumpkin (leaving the skin behind).

6. Place the cooked pumpkin into the blender or food processor or upright container if using a hand blender.  Blend cooked pumpkin until a puree consistency is reached.  I use a food processor which purees two cups of pumpkin at a time.

Before blending.

After blending.

7.  Scoop puree into freezer bags or freezable containers.  Label bags/containers with a permanent marker.  Lay flat to freeze.  I freeze my pumpkin puree into two cup portions as that is the approximate size of a can of pumpkin puree (and the amount needed for the recipes I use). 

And that's it!

That wasn't so hard.

Was it?

To thaw simply take the amount of pumpkin needed out of the freezer and leave on the counter (or in the fridge) to thaw.  You can also defrost it in the microwave.  Be sure to squeeze out any water before you use it in your baking.  I often use a sieve and a fork to squeeze out excess water.  But sometimes I create a small opening at the top of the bag and squeeze it out by hand.  I don't squeeze out any water before freezing as the extra water is needed to help create a smooth puree.

Option: If you'd like to have spiced pumpkin puree, add 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves and a dash of ground nutmeg for every two cups of puree you make.  I add the spices to my puree just before I add to my baking.

Happy pumpkin puree making!

Happy thoughts,
Andrea

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How to Make Bacon Ham Hash

What?

What's a "hash"?

Basically it's what you call taking items from your pantry,

some meat and cooking them all together.

If this were an Asian version you'd likely call it stir fry.

So I suppose you could call it "potato stir fry".

But we just call it "hash".

And boy is it good!!

It's wonderfully simple and easy to adapt to whatever you have in the fridge or pantry.

This version uses ham, potatoes and leftover bacon fat!

(Oh ya! Bacon fat! Click here for how I save grease from our cooked bacon.)

This recipe is also fantastic for leftover chicken or turkey.

In future I'd like to experiment using leftover spaghetti noodles in place of the potatoes.

I heart experiments.

*swoon*

And I love the flavor that bacon fat adds to this dish.

Of course you can use butter or other healthier oil in place of the bacon.

But....... BACON!

Right?

I also love using bacon  fat as it is from a "free" source.

It is the leftover.  The discard.

It is usually thrown away but instead I've chose to use it!

I'm saving the planet!  Not really.

But I am saving some money.  Man, butter is expensive!

And every little bit helps!

Bacon Ham Hash

Salt, pepper and dried parsley.

Ingredients

4 medium Potatoes, cubed

1 Carrot, chopped

2 tbsp Bacon fat 

1 small Onion, chopped

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Pepper

2 tbsp dried Parsley

1 cup Ham, diced

How To

1. Boil the potatoes and carrots in a medium pot of water until softened (20-25 minutes).

2. Heat bacon fat over medium heat in a large frying pan.  Saute the onion.  Add the softened potatoes and carrots, and remaining ingredients. 

Diced ham.

3. Continue cooking, flipping hash now and again, until potatoes begin to brown (Approximately 10 minutes).

Oh the smell in here!

So delicious!

And I love pairing this with some fantastic bell pepper squash.

It makes it feel fancy I think.

Of course it's a meal unto itself.  No need to add more.

This would also makes a lovely hot potluck dish.

Why am I using such beautiful words to describe a dish called "hash"?

Maybe I will start calling it "Potato stir fry".

Kinda sounds exotic. 

 Can a potato be exotic?

Happy thoughts,

Andrea

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How to Simply Cook Eggs Over Easy

Breakfast!

Can we really ever get enough?

Never!

Not this lady.

So here is a wonderfully easy egg recipe.

Over easy in fact.  Ha ha!

Eggs over easy are my favourite!

The delicious firm egg white surrounded by the warm liquid yolk.

I'm drooling!

I love mopping up the yolk with hot buttered toast.

Mmmmm....

And it took me a very long time to figure out the secret

to cooking a perfect over-easy egg

(hint: it involves a pan lid and a timer).

Ready for more breakfast!?

Or lunch, or dinner or midnight snack? *wink*

Eggs Over Easy

Need

Stove top

Frying pan with lid

Timer

Flipper

1-2 tsp Oil (I use canola)

1 Egg

Salt, Pepper or Other preferred seasoning

Instructions

1. Heat the frying pan to medium on the stove top for 4 minutes.  All of my ranges have had cooking dials with numbers 1-9.  On my glass top range I could set the dial to #5, but on my hotter coil burner range I set the dial to #4.  The real secret of this recipe is finding that sweet heat spot on your range.

2. Add 1-2 tsp (a good squirt!) of oil to the pan.  Rotate the pan to coat in oil or simply move the oil around using your flipper.

3. Set timer to 2 minutes.  Carefully crack egg (so as not to break the yolk) into the pan.  Add seasonings as desired. I eat my eggs without seasoning.  Just toast and butter! Cover with lid and start timer.

4. Optional - Toast and butter your delicious homemade bread!

5.  After 2 minutes the egg should be set and edges browning if correct egg cooking temperature was achieved.  If the egg browns too quickly or slowly adjust the range dial as needed.  Flip egg (carefully so as not to break the yolk) and cook another 20 seconds.

First side done.  Now flip!

Only 20 seconds on this side so as not to cook the yolk in the middle.

6. Enjoy your egg hot with toast and butter! Or whatever else you enjoy eating your over-easy egg with.  Is there another way?

You would think cooking an egg would be simple

but I have found, over time, that it is quite complex

to cook the perfect egg.

Can you believe that I have a recipe card written

just for cooking an over-easy egg?

True fact!

I hope you find these instructions helpful.

Until next time...

Happy thoughts,

Andrea

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