Feels like Spring

I was sitting outside the other day and enjoying the lovely weather.  The birds were singing, bees buzzing, planes streaking across the sky, and I could hear hammering in the distance.  Warm sun was shining and a cool breeze was blowing. It doesn't get any better than that for me.  Sitting outside, letting my mind wander is so enjoyable.  

While I was enjoying myself, I heard a loud buzz and looked around expecting to see a large horse fly.  Instead, I saw a hummingbird flitting around the blossoms on my nectarine tree.  They're back! 

I went inside and dug out the hummingbird feeder and hung it on the balcony.  It holds 3 1/2 cups of water.  I add about 1 cup of sugar and stir until it's dissolved.  You don't need to add any food coloring.  I have to lean out over the rail to hang it on the hook that my husband put into the eaves.  To make it easier to attach it to the hook, he put a wire with a loop at the end, on the top of the feeder.  Now, I can watch the hummingbirds from my office window. 

Less Static

I have to update you on my no-shampoo experiment.  My daughter-in-law just had a new baby and I went down to stay with the other children while this baby was born.  I forgot to take some baking soda with me to use on my hair.  Not wanting to go out to the kitchen and rummage around looking for some, I just used the shampoo already in the guest shower.  I hadn't used shampoo on my hair for two weeks.  The first thing that I noticed was that my hair was full of tangles when I combed it after washing.  Baking soda wash leaves your hair soft and tangle free.  Secondly, after drying my hair with the blow dryer, my hair was full of static!  Yes, I live in a dry climate and we have static here, but I didn't realize how much less static my hair had while washing with baking soda until I washed it again with shampoo!  The difference was quite noticeable.  I have been converted.  I do not plan to use shampoo on my hair again, unless circumstances force me to.  I urge you to give it a try for a week. 

Second No Shampoo

I should have taken a picture yesterday to show how my hair looked the day after no-shampooing.  I wash my hair every other day regularly and I don't intend to alter that even using baking soda.  That's what this experiment is all about.  It seemed a little flat yesterday, as was expected.  Here is a picture of how it looked after washing this morning.  Today, I chose not to curl it.  I feels very soft and silky. 

Did I ever mention that I cut my own hair?  But, that's for another day of blogging.  :)

To Shampoo or Not to Shampoo

Good day to you!

I have read and heard about people that choose not to use shampoo on their hair.  My neighbor and friend tried it recently and gave her good report to me while out shopping garage sales one day.  She is a great neighbor and we have discovered that we have SO much in common.

The theory is that your body creates oils on your scalp that are stripped away when you shampoo.  Your body then has to create more oils to replace what was washed away.  When you use baking soda on your scalp instead of shampoo, it is much gentler and doesn't strip away the natural oils.  I have been warned that, at first, your hair may look terrible.  Your body is still creating the oils that shampooing usually removes.  Soon your head realizes that it doesn't need to produce all those oils everyday, any more.

This morning, I placed about a cup of baking soda inside a plastic bottle that I had sitting around.  It holds 20 ounces of water.  I then added water to fill it and shook it up.  In the shower, I poured about a cup of it all around the area of my scalp.  I rubbed my hair and scalp to make sure it was mixed in to my scalp.  Then I let it sit while I showered.  Lastly, I rinsed it out.  I dried it with a blow dryer and curled it with electric rollers, as usual.  It feels soft and silky.  I have shoulder length, fine, dry hair. 

I will keep you updated on my no-shampooing experiment.  If you have any questions, please post them in the comment section.  

Fail

Today I attempted to make potato chips by baking them in the oven.  I've seen chips that other friends have made, so I figured I'd give it a try.  Fail.  I couldn't get the centers to crisp without over-cooking the edges. I started at 425 degrees and ended up at 350, and maybe that was still too hot.  I suppose I could search the internet for a recipe, but that would be too easy.  They taste okay for me.  Next time, I'll try frying them in my electric skillet.

Although I may fail, my God will not.  He is everlasting for all generations.  The author of Hebrews by quoting the Psalms said this, "They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail."  I am thankful that I have a God Who will not fail.

Spencer the Tuxedo Cat

My cat and long time furry friend, Spencer died yesterday. I found him on the side steps lying as if he were taking a nap. No marks on his body, no signs of distress.

It was a rainy, dreary, sad day. Our kind neighbor let us bury him in his back yard which butts up against the vast countryside. Spencer used to enjoy going over there in the field searching for critters to catch.

He was the best mouser we've ever had. Along with mice he brought us lizards, shrew, quail, and other assorted small creatures.

He was a very affectionate cat and enjoyed sitting on my lap with his face in my face, purring away the hours. He would touch a persons face with his paws while being held. He loved everyone.

Pets. They sometimes bother us, but mostly they comfort us. They become part of the family with their own personalities molded by the varying interaction of it's members. Always entertaining, he will be missed.

I will miss his softness and unconditional love. 

 

White as Snow

How beautiful it was when I looked outside this morning. Snow everywhere! No, it's not a lot of snow as in the northern states or at higher elevations. But, just the right amount to enjoy without being inconvenienced. The wind has died down and there is a quiet calm outdoors with the white snow blanketing the earth. I think that must be why people enjoy snow, because it is quiet. Peaceful. Reflective. Though our sins be as scarlet, He has washed us white as snow.