Come Warm Up and Join Simple Saturdays 2/25/17

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /></div> <h2 style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>    <img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ4I_BhFOj8/WK5AaZaEoNI/AAAAAAAAIoM/WZMj1bB6J-I8HA_NjQ7GNvzUV49Wj-P8wCLcB/s400/Worst%2Bseed%2Bstarting%2Bmistakes.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /> </h2> <h1 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Welcome back to another week of the Simple Saturdays Blog Hop! We can not wait to see what you have been up to!</span> </span></h1> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This blog hop is brought to you by a group of co-hosts committed to the simple ways of life and learning to be more self reliant.  Simple Saturdays Blog Hop is a way for each of us to share the various ways we are learning to do more for ourselves in our homes and on our land. This is all about building community, learning new skills and growing more self-sufficient!</span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">This Blog Hop is being hosted by:</span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y2UgwZtUbxk/WEBw31-9BwI/AAAAAAAAIHI/V7MjkXFqp7Ahr-25QfsDBXuvswjsH8RjwCEw/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y2UgwZtUbxk/WEBw31-9BwI/AAAAAAAAIHI/V7MjkXFqp7Ahr-25QfsDBXuvswjsH8RjwCEw/s640/group.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://bornagainfarmgirl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mindie @ Born Again Farm Girl</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.betterhensandgardens.com/" target="_blank" title="Better Hens and Gardens"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lesa @ Better Hens and Gardens</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.pasturedeficitdisorder.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheryl @ Pasture Deficit Disorder</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Valerie @ Cottage Making Mommy</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.sunnysimplelife.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life</span></a><br /> <a href="http://www.therusticelk.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle @ The Rustic Elk</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><strong><br /></strong></span></h2> <h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><strong>What Can I Post?</strong></span></h2> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Anything and everything related to a more simple way of life or self reliance....</span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Homesteading, prepping, gardening, cooking/recipes/food, livestock of all varieties, off-grid, natural living, wellness/wholeness and healthcare, herbal, DIY and MYO.</span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <em><span style="font-family: inherit;">**Please note: By linking to this Blog Hop you are giving us permission to link back to your post if you are featured. We will also include 1 photo from your post in the interest of sending visitors your way. **</span></em></div> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h2> <div> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Congratulations to our Featured Bloggers!</span></h2> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> </h2> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></h2> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Most Viewed</span></h2> <div> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Feathers in the Woods</b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ4I_BhFOj8/WK5AaZaEoNI/AAAAAAAAIoM/WZMj1bB6J-I8HA_NjQ7GNvzUV49Wj-P8wCLcB/s1600/Worst%2Bseed%2Bstarting%2Bmistakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ4I_BhFOj8/WK5AaZaEoNI/AAAAAAAAIoM/WZMj1bB6J-I8HA_NjQ7GNvzUV49Wj-P8wCLcB/s400/Worst%2Bseed%2Bstarting%2Bmistakes.jpg" width="251" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline"> <a href="http://www.feathersinthewoods.com/2017/02/the-worst-mistakes-ive-made-starting.html">My Worst Seed Starting Mistakes</a></h1> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Hosts' Choice</span></span></h2> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-7HOWyOZco/WK5CHVDjtuI/AAAAAAAAIoY/WNShJS6jQBU3LqFNEx0d44Ufwcd_mh9sACLcB/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-7HOWyOZco/WK5CHVDjtuI/AAAAAAAAIoY/WNShJS6jQBU3LqFNEx0d44Ufwcd_mh9sACLcB/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> Gluesticks - <a href="http://gluesticksblog.com/2015/02/st-patricks-day-rainbow-craft.html">St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Craf</a>t<br /> Simply Stacie - <a href="http://www.simplystacie.net/2012/07/zesty-shrimp-flatbread-recipe/">Zesty Shrimp Flatbread</a><br /> Oak Hill Homestead - <a href="http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2016/08/grow-vegetables-in-shady-garden.html">How to Grow Vegetables in a Shady Garden</a><br /> <br /></div> <h3 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #993300; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h3> <div> <span style="color: #993300; font-family: inherit;">Ready to get to the hop? </span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: inherit;">Add your link below:</span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <h3 style="text-align: center;"> </h3> </div> </div> </div> <!-- start InLinkz script --> <br /> <div class="InLinkzContainer" id="699066"> <a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=699066" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div> <script src="https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <!-- end InLinkz script --> </div>

Come Warm Up and Join Simple Saturdays 2/25/17

      Welcome back to another week of the Simple Saturdays Blog Hop! We can not wait to see what you have been up to!   This blog ...

Come Learn How to Do New Things/ Simple Saturdays 2/18/17

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 style="text-align: center;"> <img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-kYSj6Zd40/WKUQEn7qB5I/AAAAAAAAIkY/tNx_0k-nVfsHpmqNMDJ8pb445cLamAd_QCLcB/s400/dollar-store-meal-planner-for-your-home.jpg" style="text-align: left;" />   </h2> <h1 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Welcome back to another week of the Simple Saturdays Blog Hop! We can not wait to see what you have been up to!</span> </span></h1> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This blog hop is brought to you by a group of co-hosts committed to the simple ways of life and learning to be more self reliant.  Simple Saturdays Blog Hop is a way for each of us to share the various ways we are learning to do more for ourselves in our homes and on our land. This is all about building community, learning new skills and growing more self-sufficient!</span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">This Blog Hop is being hosted by:</span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y2UgwZtUbxk/WEBw31-9BwI/AAAAAAAAIHI/V7MjkXFqp7Ahr-25QfsDBXuvswjsH8RjwCEw/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y2UgwZtUbxk/WEBw31-9BwI/AAAAAAAAIHI/V7MjkXFqp7Ahr-25QfsDBXuvswjsH8RjwCEw/s640/group.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://bornagainfarmgirl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mindie @ Born Again Farm Girl</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.betterhensandgardens.com/" target="_blank" title="Better Hens and Gardens"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lesa @ Better Hens and Gardens</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.pasturedeficitdisorder.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheryl @ Pasture Deficit Disorder</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Valerie @ Cottage Making Mommy</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.sunnysimplelife.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life</span></a><br /> <a href="http://www.therusticelk.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle @ The Rustic Elk</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <h2 style="text-align: center;"> <strong style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-large;">What Can I Post?</strong></h2> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Anything and everything related to a more simple way of life or self reliance....</span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Homesteading, prepping, gardening, cooking/recipes/food, livestock of all varieties, off-grid, natural living, wellness/wholeness and healthcare, herbal, DIY and MYO.</span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <em><span style="font-family: inherit;">**Please note: By linking to this Blog Hop you are giving us permission to link back to your post if you are featured. We will also include 1 photo from your post in the interest of sending visitors your way. **</span></em></div> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> Congratulations to our Featured Bloggers!</h2> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> </h2> <h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;"> Most Viewed</h2> <div> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Country Chic Cottage</b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-kYSj6Zd40/WKUQEn7qB5I/AAAAAAAAIkY/tNx_0k-nVfsHpmqNMDJ8pb445cLamAd_QCLcB/s1600/dollar-store-meal-planner-for-your-home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u-kYSj6Zd40/WKUQEn7qB5I/AAAAAAAAIkY/tNx_0k-nVfsHpmqNMDJ8pb445cLamAd_QCLcB/s400/dollar-store-meal-planner-for-your-home.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/dollar-store-meal-planner-for-your-home/">Dollar Store Meal Planner for Your Home</a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Hosts' Choice</span></div> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bu17GZBd1QA/WKUUCIBp9gI/AAAAAAAAIkk/NxucH3B0Z-Ycvb3m4anvkfPyBXu5htsUQCLcB/s1600/PicMonkey%2BCollage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bu17GZBd1QA/WKUUCIBp9gI/AAAAAAAAIkk/NxucH3B0Z-Ycvb3m4anvkfPyBXu5htsUQCLcB/s640/PicMonkey%2BCollage.png" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> Oak Hill Homestead - <a href="http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2013/10/using-lemon-balm.html">Five Ways to Use Lemon Balm</a><br /> Simply Stacie - <a href="http://www.simplystacie.net/2012/06/ham-eggs-in-a-muffin-tin-recipe/">Ham & Eggs in a Muffin Tin</a><br /> just Measuring Up - <a href="http://www.justmeasuringup.com/blog/making-over-old-chairs">Easy Thrift Store Chair Makeover</a><br /> <br /></div> <h3 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #993300; font-family: inherit;">Ready to get to the hop? </span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: inherit;">Add your link below:</span></h3> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <h3 style="text-align: center;"> </h3> </div> </div> </div> <!-- start InLinkz script --> <br /> <div class="InLinkzContainer" id="697713"> <a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=697713" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div> <script src="https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <!-- end InLinkz script --> </div>

Come Learn How to Do New Things/ Simple Saturdays 2/18/17

    Welcome back to another week of the Simple Saturdays Blog Hop! We can not wait to see what you have been up to!   This blog hop is...

How to Save a Fortune on Your Electric Bill in Winter

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <br />                                       <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> Baby It's Cold Outside.</b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>                                        <img alt="Image result for free dollar sign clip art" height="320" src="https://img.clipartfest.com/dd3867d0e052a4f429915b1dc938e89c_dollar-sign-clip-art-free-dollar-sign-images-clip-art_624-624.svg" width="320" /><br /> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;">It's Winter and it's cold and chances are your electric bill has already spiked and will for another 6 weeks unless you live in Australia and if you do .....we all want to come and visit you. Soon.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">If you are like most of the rest of the world you are trying to not take out a 2nd mortgage when you write the check for your electric bill.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">I visited with several friends and  we came up with some simple tips to help you cut your electric bill this Winter and still stay warm.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Put on more clothing and wear socks.</b>  Now I know some of you want to crank it to 85 degrees and wear shorts but be practical here...it's going to cost you a fortune so leave the thermostat at below 72 degrees and put on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt and most importantly .....put on your socks.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Open your curtains on sunny days and let the sunshine in.</b> I stay amazed at how many people think if you leave the heavy curtains on the windows in Winter it will keep it warm inside during the day.  You need to let the sunshine in during the day and close the heavy curtains when the sun goes down. It will keep your room warmer.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Zoned heating.</b> No you don't need a fancy heat and air system you just need to close off rooms you don't use often enough during Winter. Yes you want to separate your kids into different areas but it's much more affordable to move everyone to one room during the day and let them cover up with blankets and make them hot cocoa and let them pile up together at night. Think of it as one on-going slumber party. It works with older kids and adults too. The more bodies in the room the warmer it gets.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Put plastic on window.</b> Now some of you live in fancy neighborhoods and I get that it's not possible but some of you can at the very least buy some heavy duty plastic and duct tape in the hardware section of your local discount store and tape the plastic over the windows. This works very well for those of you with older windows.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">                                          <img src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/2/8/b/f/1217861578574806660motudo_Think_Again_Heater.svg.med.png" /></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Don't let people turn up your thermostat. </b>That's right- buy a programmable one or put one of those lock boxes over it. I can't tell you how many times I've walked by and someone has jacked the thermostat up 8-10 degrees. That's a lot of money.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Get out the caulk gun and caulk.</b> For $5.00 you can fix a lot of drafts around your windows and doors. If you see a crack, seal it. </span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>If it is too big of a crack fill it with that Great Stuff-foam.</i></b></span><br /> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span> </b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>7. Put on warm sheets. If you don't own a pair of flannel sheets you need some. You can find a King Size set for as low as $20 at a store like Ross or at JCPenney's during the Jan. White Sale.</i></b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Sleeping in warm sheets vs cold make a big difference.</i></b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i style="font-weight: bold;">8.</i> Move.</b> Don't just sit around and watch television and play on your phone or computer. Get up and clean and put the kids and other adults to work. Time to clean out those closets, scrub the bathroom, organize the linen closet, sort the toys......you name it get them moving doing it. It will keep their body temp. up and you get a clean house.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>9. Buy an electric mattress pad or electric blanket.</b> Now yes I realize the cancer risk but turn it on to warm it up and then jump in the bed and turn it off. It may do the trick.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Doing these or a even a few of these things should help you to lower your electric bill.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Last but not least call your electric company and have your meter checked. There have been cases where the meter was wrong.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">If your company allows it see if you can go on an averaging plan so you aren't hit so hard at once.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Here's to saving money,</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Valerie</b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />If you have more ideas please share them in the comments below.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>

How to Save a Fortune on Your Electric Bill in Winter

                                       Baby It's Cold Outside.                                         It's Winter and it...