Kombucha Experiments

Well I have put together:

1.) Water, sugar and a SCOBY

2.) Water Sugar, Lemon Juice and a SCOBY

I have no clue if this will work, but I'm having fun playing with it. The third is just plain Kombucha mother tea with new tea... The longer it brews the more acidic it gets, so I have to start harvesting in about 4 or 5 days. I'm using a straw to test it's flavor for my personal taste. New SCOBY's grow so fast I can play/experiment to my hearts content.

Kombucha Progress

Week one, two and three... It's ALIVE!

Dogwood Tree Fruited This Year!

O.k. I had no clue these trees do this. I bought this place about three summers back and this tree (I was told it was a Dogwood) has been full of white flowers each summer...

But look at it now... I'm like "What's going on?", it's morphed or something. I did a little Googling, and found that they do indeed fruit. Not only that, but this gal has recipes for the fruit.

I thought wow, I can eat these things, cool! (I love to eat) They are super sweet, but then I got a burst of pretty strong sour, so not sure how the recipes would actually taste , but I'm up for anything.

The Lattice Project

Putting up lattice by yourself is no easy task, above is my pitiful attempt. Today a new neighbor has offered to help... Yep I'm a lucky pup!

Do It Yourself Detergent

Liquid Laundry Detergents

Recipe #1
3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated*
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Cold Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with cold water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture is gelled. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Recipe #2
1 Cup Soap Flakes
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Tablespoons Glycerin
2 Cups Water

Mix all three ingredients together. Add glycerin and water. Use 1/2 - 3/4 cup per load. Best when used with cold or warm water.

Recipe #3
Water
1 Bar Soap - Any Brand, Grated (Fels or Zote works best)
5 Gallon Bucket
1 Cup Washing Soda
4 1/2 Gallons Water

Place grated soap in a small saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water, and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and mix well. As it cools it will thicken. May be used immediately. Use 1-2 cups per load.

Powdered Laundry Soap

1 Cup Soap Flakes*
1/2 Cup Washing Soda

1/2 Cup Borax

For light load, use 1 Tbsp. For large or heavily-soiled loads, use 2 Tbsp.

* Zote soap is wonderful in these recipes. I found it in Wal-Mart's laundry products aisle in a section devoted to Hispanic products. It cleans as well as the Fels, better on some odors, I think...And the fragrance is nice.

* The liquid detergent can also be used as a pretreater for stains. I caution you that the Fels mixture if made with too much Fels can lighten the fabric if spot-treated. Been there, done that!

* Deodorant Soaps can be substituted for the bar soap. Some may work better than others. You can also use Zote soap -- works great and smells nice.

FINDING INGREDIENTS

• Fels Naptha is in the bar soap aisle or possibly the laundry products aisle at your regular supermarket. I have found it in my area at Meijer.

• Arm & Hammer Washing Soda is in the laundry products aisle. It comes in a 55 ounce yellow box. This is not the same as baking soda. If you have trouble locating this product, you may want to ask your local store manager to order it for you. It may be helpful to provide the UPC number: 33200-03020.
• Borax is usually sold under these brand names: 20 MULE TEAM or BORATEEM. It is also found in the laundry products aisle.
• Ivory Snow used to make soap flakes, but I think that they have stopped making them. To make your own soap flakes just grate a bar of Ivory soap.

Pears Pears Pears

My pear tree has three varieties on it, THREE! I'm thinking up recipes for them, to be continued...In trying to I.D. these pears, I found this site.