House Cleaning Tips

   There are many things in life that I really like doing. There are also some that I really dislike doing. One of those things is cleaning house. Sad to say since I occasionally clean house for other people. When I clean for other people though their homes are all picked up and in order. All that I have to do is go in and clean. Unfortunately, I don't have someone to come and clean my home. So that means that either my home doesn't get cleaned every week or it only gets picked up weekly.
    Don't get me wrong, I love the end result. I just hate moving tchotchkes and dusting under and around them. Dusting is my least favorite chore. I have far to much stuff in my home. I think that it is time to get rid of much stuff! Except my books. I love my books! And I love crafting. I'd much rather spend my time creating that cleaning. But herein lies another problem. I create best when my space is clean and organized. It's really a vicious cycle.
    Now having said all of that. I have learned a few things while cleaning other peoples homes for them. Some of those tips I have implemented in my home so that I only really have to do a deep clean every two to three weeks.

1. Keep wipes near your bathroom sink to wipe the counters with every couple of days.
2. Car detail rags from the dollar store can be dampened and used without cleaning products on mirrors for a lint free clean
3. A squeegee in the shower used after every shower will keep hard water build up off of the glass and shower walls, making it easier to clean once a week.
4. A duster, such as a feather duster is great for a once over, once a week.
5. At least once a month pull furniture away from the wall and dust behind it with the vacuum hose. (Dust holds odors and can make your home smell not clean even when it looks clean)
6. Throw a load of laundry in the washer at least every other day so that it doesn't get piled up.
7. Microfiber rags clean and dust everything really great and they are inexpensive at the dollar store.

These are just a few tips that come to my mind. If you have any to share, feel free to leave a comment.
Here are a few sites that I really like too.
Real Simple
Woman's Day
Molly Maid
and
How to Clean Anything
Or you can just Google House Cleaning Tips and there are a multitude of sites that give wonderful tips.
Pick and choose what works best for you.
Blessings to All ~S~

Chicken Spaghetti

   A friend just recently asked for this recipe and I've had so many ask for it that I decided it was finally time to post it here. The recipe came from my Mom and my family loves it. Hope that you enjoy it too.

Chicken Spaghetti

1 pkg. chicken thighs
1 green bell pepper
1 onion, cut into chunks
1 lb. spaghetti
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can rotel diced tomatoes (not drained)
salt and pepper
poultry seasoning, rubbed sage, garlic powder, and any other spices that you might like.  I use Suzy's  The Spice Connection seasoning)
Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or three cheese Mexican blend

Put chicken in large pot with enough water to cover it. Add green pepper, onion, and spices. Boil for 1 hour or until meat is pulling away from the bone. Take chicken out with a slotted spoon, set aside to cool enough to touch. Leave water in pot.  Bring water back to boil and put spaghetti in the water.  cook to tooth (al dente)  
 Bone the chicken and cut or tear into bite size pieces.
 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
 Mix in large bowl cooked and drained spaghetti, chicken pieces, soups and rotel tomatoes.
Put in a 13 x 9 baking pan. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper if needed. Top with cheese, you can mix a little cheese in the spaghetti before if you want.

Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Little Blessings

I love thread crochet! I love doily's and little baby clothes crocheted from  bedspread size thread. I often see patterns that I totally fall in love with but sometimes, just don't have the money for. Every now and then I will see a pattern for sale, and think I will set aside for it and get it when I see it in the store.
 Twice in my life I have wanted patterns that by the time I remembered to set aside the money for them they went out of print. But God knew that I would need encouraging down the road, and blessed me with those booklets when I least expected it.
   Several years ago I saw a pattern on line for a really pretty afghan with hearts in it. I told myself I was going to buy that pattern and shortly after that it just seemed like the money was never really there to buy it. Even though the pattern booklet only cost about $5. I tried looking at a picture of the afghan and drawing out the pattern by myself, but I just couldn't figure it out. Move down the road a year. My cousin was helping out at a shelter in another state and one of the other ladies picked up a pile of crochet magazines and books and said, "Don't you have a cousin who knits or crochets?" She said yes and put the magazines in a bag to save. A few months later she, my Grandma, and Mom all came for a visit. It was like Christmas for me with that bag of magazines. Each one that I looked at held a treasure. Then there it was buried in the middle of the stack of magazines that booklet with the afghan pattern that I had so wanted the year before! I'm not sure that the pattern was even still available by the time that I had seen it. But I've made a few of those for gifts now and still love that pattern.
 
Here's one that I made using red yarn. I've made it also in purple, tan, white and yellow. Like I said, I love this pattern.

   More recently I had seen a pattern for an heirloom Christening gown. It was download only since it was going out of print. I thought about it and then decided that since Christmas was really close I didn't need to get it just yet. I went back to the website a few weeks before Thanksgiving and it was no longer available. I almost cried, but thought that maybe I just didn't need it yet. Then Thanksgiving week my sweet Sister in Law brought me a box of yarns, and books from her Mom that had been given to her by a neighbor. Yep, you guessed it. There in the box was the pattern that I had wanted. God had blessed me again, when I least expected it. My heart was filled with joy, because I had more to keep my hands busy, and something that I could bless others with.
   In the midst of all of this winter weather that we've been having in the South, I decided to start working on one of the Christening gowns to sale or as a gift. I love it when I can just sit down and work on something without being in a rush.

This is how far I have gotten. There is still quite a bit more to go, but it will be done by spring. I can hardly wait. I will post another picture when it is finished.
 In the mean time. I hope that everyone has a blessed day. Stay safe and warm. Be Jesus for someone today.
Love and Blessings to All ~S~