Rag Rugs, Paper Towels, and Noodles

Really got soaked at the Farmers' Market yesterday.  Wind and rain.  Some of the vendors' awnings were ruined or at least are now in need of repair.  We left around 10:00 since we were soaked.  As we left town, we noticed that the entire town of Attica was without power.  Luckily, when we got home our power hadn't gone off.  Of course, we didn't get quite as much rain and storm as Attica did.  We could have used more rain on the gardens.  We have orders for 1 large frame rug loom (27 inches x 39 inches) and 1 square frame rug loom (15 inches x 15 inches).  I intend to put a list of websites and instructions on this blog soon so that anyone who buys one of our looms can get started on their first project.  Our first customer, though, will get a hands-on demo right at the farmers market when she picks up her looms (hopefully it doesn't rain like it did yesterday).  I love to see people take up a craft that is beneficial to them and to the environment.  What can be better than using old rags from worn out clothing, linens, etc. to make a long-lasting, rustic rug or placemat or chair pad or mug rug or handbag or whatever the mind can conceive.  It’s time we realized that talking about saving the planet and recycling doesn’t do the job.  Doing it does the job.  I plan to sell my rag rugs at various venues, including a web site, within the next year or so.  Until then, I will have them at the Attica Farmers' Market and at home to sell. 

    Speaking of that, I have given up paper towels. Yes, I know paper is recyclable, but I also know that the recycling does come at a price—the energy to re-make paper from paper, the bleaches that are added in the process, the eco-miles to bring the paper towels to us so that we can indiscriminately reach for them for tiny spills, etc. and throw them away.  So, since I subscribe to a million DYI sites who help me re-think my wasteful habits, I finally took the plunge and made my own.  Now, I will always have a roll of 'real' paper towels at the ready for things like cat’s hairballs (disgusting) and wandering insects that do not need to be in my home, but for everyday stuff, no point in using them.  Years ago, I purchased colored washcloths to use for napkins so we don’t use paper towels for napkins anyway.  Well, here goes (read with great concentration since this is REALLY hard – sarcasm intended).  Take an old flannel sheet and, using pinking shears to cut down on unraveling, cut into about 8 x 12 squares or something close.  Regular cotton fabric is not appropriate since it has no absorbency, but flannel certainly does.  Anyway, make up 30 or so of these (I do laundry once a week and that number is adequate for us), fold and put in a basket near your kitchen sink area. Voila!!  Amazingly simple and you will not notice an increase in your laundry since they take up only tiny amounts of space.  One more thing you don’t have to buy.  If you don’t have any of your own, you can pick up an old flannel sheet at Goodwill or the Salvation Army or your local church rummage room for very little.  
     New baby chicks arrived last Wednesday.  Have had predator problem with red-tailed hawks this past few months and thought it would be wise to start some new chicks as replacements to our flock.  We generally get new chicks in spring or fall alternate years, but with our chicken loss to the hawks, thought we had better supplement.  Want to make sure that everyone has a chance to eat those great eggs and noodles.  Speaking of noodles, please be sure that when you buy noodles from the farmer's markets or from any venue that they are dry noodles.  Noodles are only allowed to be sold at farmers' market venues if they are below 5% moisture (can break a strand in half at this percentage).  Never buy fresh 'raw' noodles.  Even if frozen, by the time you get them home, you have prepared the way for bad bacteria to begin breeding.  You can make them yourself and use them quickly or dry them.  Raw eggs are a breeding ground for e-coli and salmonella and all kinds of bacteria  (that is why they use raw eggs to develop and manufacture vaccines).  Only buying a dry noodle will give you the assurance that you are not purchasing real problems.  Yes, I know our great-grandparents did not dry theirs to that point and used them as raw noodles, but they made the noodles to be used immediately and, if they did store them, they dried them completely.   My noodles are made with eggs, flour and a tiny bit of salt, dried quickly on open screens, and, as soon as they are dry, the noodles are weighed, packaged and put in the freezer until time to take them to the market.  Another tip--the freezer is also the best place to keep your handmade dried noodles. Jars let in light which will deteriorate the product and humidity may be a factor in maintaining quality.     

Wet garden, clotheslines, appliance propaganda

Another day too wet to get into the garden which is very frustrating because I have a wonderful crop of pig weed that thinks it is supposed to be in my gardens and I can’t get in to weed them out.  The chickens will be more than glad to eat those weeds for me, but the weeds are getting large enough I will either have to get more chickens (more chicks coming this month) or just leave them where I pull them and use them for mulch (yes, you can).  For those of you who do not garden, working in a garden with wet soil is the worst thing you can do to your soil.  The repercussions last for years.  The ground seizes into clods that take years to come apart and your ground also compresses under your footsteps to create a tough top layer.  Thanks, Dad, for impressing that upon me all of my life.  We miss you every day.    

   Clothes on the line and watching for rain drops.  I do my laundry on Sundays during farmers market season since we are at the market on Saturday mornings.  When I retire from my $$ job, I will do all of my laundry on another day during the week (probably the old traditional Monday).  Anyway, laundry is on the line which is a tremendous time and energy saver over using the dryer.  Your clothes last longer and the fresh smell is incredible.  Whenever possible (March through December when we are lucky, put them on the line as low as 40 degrees), I use my clothesline.  Not much ironing at all if you have a nice breeze.  About the time savings--- the running back and forth to switch loads in the laundry plus the same thing for taking clothes out of the dryer, putting clothes into the dryer—I can’t get anything else done.  Ah, but when I do the laundry early in the a.m., get it all on the clothesline and let it dry in the sun and fresh air, I don’t have to run back and forth at all.  When it is dry or when I am ready to take the clothes down from the line, I put them in baskets, take them in the house, fold and put away.  Done and the time in between is mine!!  That is why I am incredulous when women tell me that the dryer is so much more convenient.  Not for me and probably not for you if you get yourself a clothesline.  Another way to save precious, expensive energy (and your own!!).    What we have to remember is that the appliance companies need to sell appliances and, especially in this country, making a buck is the name of the game.  So, the propaganda (some call it advertising) is to make us all think that we must have this time-saving (read ‘energy, $$ sucking) appliance.  Right………………….        

Rags to Rugs

  

So this is how it began.  I was researching old styles of weaving, saw the rugs and the rug looms online.  Decided I wanted to do something like this—that repurposes and recycles and realized that this was exactly what I wanted to do.  Now I have 2 large rugs done and numerous other articles.  My first rug is on the floor in front of my kitchen sink and my feet (generally in socks or barefoot in the house) love me for it.  Nice and thick and non-slip.  Using old clothes, sheets, flannel sheets, curtains, the possibilities are endless.  Also, Mike took one look at the simple, primitive floor looms and duplicated various sizes right away.  Wish I could do that, but glad that he can.  We will sell both the rugs and the floor looms at the farmer’s market and at another venue I have my eye on for the winter months.  Along with that will be my handmade socks and other unique knitted wearables.  See Mike and I at the Attica Indiana Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from May to September.  I will have a lot of my wares (including my soap) there for display and for sale.  If you are too far away and you are interested in what I have for sale, my e-mail is fentersj@gmail.com.  Web site coming soon.