Home made is my favourite way because the ingredients in anything should be recognisable or at the very least readable. And if I make something myself then I know for sure what I am eating or using. I just don’t trust store bought. Only some ingredients have to be on the label. Some origins and ingredients can be hidden or renamed or hidden in code. There is no logic to label reading anymore. 
So here is how I make home made laundry powder. In New Zealand we call this washing powder. In New Zealand we hang out the washing. In America we do a wash. Or put away the laundry. I love colloquialisms.
OK; home made washing powder.
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cake grated laundry soap
Use one tablespoon per wash. So simple. During the period that I lived with the nuns and worked in their enormous laundry ( a story I have yet to tell) we melted left-over soap, those little slithers from the showers, in jugs of hot water and used this to wash our own clothes, so this is a pretty fancy recipe compared to that.
If you are uncomfortable using borax or can’t find it – you can omit it from the recipe.
Of course this laundry powder, as well as getting clothes lovely and clean, is cheap to make.
Peanut butter is consumed in massive amounts in this household (though not by me) and is often heaving with artificial sweeteners and msg and salts. John from Chicago left his big bag of peanuts in with my groceries the other day so I made a batch of clean pure peanut butter.
How to make Home Made Peanut Butter. 
- One tablespoon peanut oil
- One cup of peanuts
- A little salt if you prefer
Blend until the blade in your foodprocessor breaks and the whole thing dies. Oops.
- I was working on one side of the barn the other day and heard John say Oh Come on Kupa give me a break. Kupa had opened his train right behind John so that he had to part the curtain of feathers to get back out the door.
Kupa was as unrepentent as his wives were interested. But he is a startling bird. Did I tell you that if I take too long to milk in the morning he tiptoes into the milking parlour looking for his breakfast. His train is long now. It drags in everything. He has no idea how long it is and so I am constantly getting swiped with exotic feathery while I am working. I have even stood on his tail by mistake, setting off an appalled honking.
Speaking of exotic feathery.
Mama was having a family hug with her girls yesterday. 
Her udder is so large now that I pop her in her own pen at night, so I can check her easily. 
She has never had lambs this early before but you will remember that Hairy refused to wear his harness. Every morning I found it draped around a fence. So once again we cannot pinpoint when she is due. His first date with her was September 19 last year. Almost exactly 5 months ago. 
The gestation period for a sheep is 145 -150 days. So if she had been bred the night the ram walked through the gate, then she is due round about very soon.
I have everything ready just in case. I even have little coats for little lambies. I bought them to have a look and they are very easy to make so I am collecting old jumpers to turn into lamb jackets using my limited sewing skills.
Good morning.
It is windy with rain forecast for today. So we will see what happens. I might leave Mama in her pen – wind, rain and lambs do not mix. But at 3am this morning she was all perky and interested. I am really waiting for her to start lying round all day groaning as she gets up and down. This pregnancy she has been noticeably energetic, I suspect she is not carrying as many lambs, usually she has four as you know, less would be nice.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
95 responses to “Home Made Peanut Butter, Home Made Laundry Powder, a Home Made Life”
How funny – I bought a box of borax today to scrub down my new front porch. So old fashioned but it does the trick! Will have to look out for some washing soda now and make my own washing powder (to do the washing and then hang it out of course!). Love the idea of that. Wish I was there to sew you some lamby jumpers…you’ll have to show us what they’re like and then I can do you some fro next year!
They are so simple, I will show you when there are little lambies in them, fingers crossed! I am longing for a warm enough day to hang clothes out in the sun, until then they freeze quietly on the verandah line! soon though.. soon soon.. c
It was very soon indeed!
I am riveted to your construction photos. Our de-construction began today. Dust, saws, hammering, laughter, naughty jokes, rock and roll music, jugs of coffee, hot soda bread muffins straight out of the oven … and the latter was my contribution, the rest being their contribution.
I love the idea of making homemade peanut butter (the kids eat loads), but am just a bit worried about whether the food processor would live to see another day! Looking forward to seeing photos of the lambs – in their jumpers of course, when they arrive.
I love the idea of homemade peanut butter, but I’m worry about my blender… 😉
Mama looks great… And Kupa and his girl are stunning, you are so lucky!
Hmm. Memo. Try the recipe, but use pre-blender technology. Works better, anyway.
Big smile on face: babywear for lambs – now I have heard everything 🙂 ! Shall definitely try the soap powder, but my mixer would go on strike if I as much as brought peanuts near it . . . Oh, and that coupe is beginning to have a very inviting look . . . lovely morning visiting!
You know I can’t but help love that Kupa.
I know store-bought peanut butter is loaded with salt and other things but had no idea it also contains MSG. Should read the label next time I visit the food market. Kupa is just so gorgeous, thanks for sharing the photos.
I suppose I could grind the pea nuts in my coffee grinder and then whisk them with the oil??????
Much better than squinting at labels in the supermarket and discarding them because they all come from you know where!!!!
Any word on our prodigal piggie?
Not yet, I will call later in the week, he will know more then .. poor charlotte.. c
Lovely post, C! Home made goodies are good for us.
Love the exotic feathery! (a new word for me), and anything homemade has me cheering heartily. The coupe is coming along nicely; I do like to watch its progress.
All your peafowl are elegant. Lambies and piggies, oh my! It’s fun seeing new faces around the farmy.
I make almond butter and peanut butter and this weekend I am planning on trying hazelnut butter but homemade laudry powder is new to me, I will try to find the ingredients to give this a try C
“Blend until the blade in your foodprocessor breaks and the whole thing dies”…lol. exactly