Runamuck Ranch

My Favorite Carpet Powder

My very favorite carpet powder is baking soda with a few drops of essential oil mixed in an old extra large Lawry's seasoned salt bottle from Costco.  It deodorizes, has no harmful chemicals, and does not set off my asthma.  

I usually fill the jar a 1/3 with baking soda and add a few drops of oil, repeating the layers until full and then give it a good shake to mix.  My favorite mixture of oils is rosemary and lavender.  Sometimes with a bit of pine oil as well. 

I sprinkle it on the carpets about 15 minutes before vacuuming.  This mixture can also be used as a scouring powder.  Especially fun and foamy when rinsed with vinegar and water.

Runamuck Ranch Decorating Rules

A dear friend of mine is changing her style and asked me if I had any books on a rustic look.  After looking through the bookshelves I realized I have pretty much cleaned out all my decor books.  What does this mean?  I think I have finally found my own style.  Does this mean I am now really a grown up? 

Here is what works for me.

• I love the colors of the outdoors in the desert.  Browns from dirt and trees, red's from dirt and sunset, greens from mesquites and crops, sky blue from the sky, yellows from the weeds and wheat.  These natural muted colors are soothing to me and have the added benefit of not showing what is tracked in from the outdoors.
• I love the utilitarian look of pioneer cabins and homes from the 1800's.  I really have very little decorative objects that are not also useful and used.  In that same vein I try to choose things that are handmade and USA made and not mass produced.  Baskets, canning jars,  and repainted (by me) tin containers hold knitting, medical supplies, cookie cutters, garden seeds, craft supplies and shoes by the doors. I see things I really like in stores and other people's homes but I have learned to not bring them home because they are not me and also because I do not want to care for them. 
• I am ruthless in getting rid of things that are not useful.  I do not want to have things take my time away from my priorities.  I will not dust something that is not useful or extremely meaningful - out it goes.  Purging is a process as our ever changing lives change what we need at the moment.  Sometimes we want to hold onto something because we are living too much in the past or the future and not really living in the moment.
• I save nothing for good.  Everything is fair game to be used if it doesn't bless us or survive - out it goes.
• Furniture must be sturdy, easily cleaned, functional, and cowboy boot resistant.  My favorite pieces are old and already well used.  I know these pieces are survivors and our use only adds to their charm. 
• I like seasonal decorative items that can be composted or thrown out in the yard.  ie., pinecones, shells, pumpkins, flowers.  Not the plastic kind that have to be stored or dusted. 
• Some useful things I love are quilts, pie safes, baskets, home sewn and easily washable curtains, meaningful art, chalkboards to write sayings or words we are learning on, cloth mismatched napkins, books, mismatched china, old trunks, 1930's feed sack fabric,  and big pillows which double as furniture or trampolines.
• I also like things that reflect who we are as a family.  Old branding irons and spurs, livestock show banners, aprons,  and shooting plaques and antelope heads.  
• Function over Form.  If something bugs me - out it goes.  This scares my children sometimes.  Simplicity, peace, ease of use, and a cozy home feeling are what I continually strive for.
• Be Honest.  I honestly prefer formica to granite and linoleum to tile.  I care very little what people think about my taste as long as it suits me and my family and supports our values.  I do care if the place is a mess and really try hard to keep things tidy.  I have never been overwhelmed by having too little but by having too much.
• I really like to keep space open so that their is room to work on a project or play without having to move a bunch of stuff first.

My home does tend toward the rustic and western because that is who we are.  It would be frustrating to try to make our home into an urban industrial space or a floral cottage because it would be an uncomfortable fit for our family.  As I have aged I realize less is more and housework and life is a lot simpler if my home is planned to support our life instead of our life supporting our home.

Let Her Be Called an Artist

I love this quote I found on the Little Jenny Wren blog.  I find this artist's process and her way of being very soothing, peaceful, gentle, and delightful. 

Here is a quote from her blog...

"I am always hopeful that the pendulum will swing back and that women will see again not only the necessity of a mother's being at home, but also the infinite and rich choice in that occupation for women of all ages. Some will complain of monotony, but how few going out to a paid job have the opportunity to make their own schedules, to choose the routine of their week's labor, to follow up creative interests that women have within the home. Our ever-present disciplines, the pattern of creaturely necessities- cooking, laundry, decently clean houses- are a blessing. Beyond the physical care of the family, for better or worse we are shaping souls and characters. Women learn slowly the magnitude of their influence. Perhaps we would be more contented if we could realize that one of the few remaining free professions is that of a housewife. If a woman resents being just a housewife, let her be called an artist..."

~Josephine Moffett Benton, in The Pace of a Hen

Pretty Up the Pantry

I have always had a very well stocked pantry as does my Mother, Mother in Love, and did all my Grandmothers.  I have been teased about preparing for Y2K when really that is just our normal stock level.  I really do not know any other way to shop or cook.  Between the garden, deep freeze, and pantry we can literally go months without going to the store.  It is interesting with the rising cost of food prices how my strange compulsion has become cool. 

My pantry while extremely practical, was very plain.  So I decided to paint it Chickity Chick and it is now as cheerful as can be.  The girls have taken to sitting in there just because it is pretty.

The Farmer came home while I was painting and shaking his head asked why I was painting the pantry when no one sees it.  After pondering his logic, I came to the conclusion that it is because the people who do see it are those who are the most important to me in this world.  It is a reminder for me to not fall into the trap of giving my best to the world and my scraps to my home and family.   It is also a metaphorical reminder  to make sure I  spruce up my heart because  while the world may not see it, I see it and so does God. 

Grateful for Little Messes

As a Mom, homeschool teacher and Farmer's wife I really struggle sometimes with keeping the house picked up.   Lately, I have been irritated with my children for not picking up after themselves.  While I think everyone on the planet should do their best to clean up after themselves and should be lovingly trained to do so, I have been wrong to be so irritable about the little messes.

I woke up this morning reminded of how thankful I was to come home to a messy house in November of 2006, after spending days living and praying in the ICU at Phoenix Children's Hospital.   Boo's Polly Pockets and shoes were left out here and there as evidence that a child lived in our home.  At that moment I realized that the Lord had blessed me with  a child that would be coming home to make more little messes.  With a 5% chance of living it could have easily been the last time I would ever be blessed to clean up the little messes. The thought that I could have just as easily been putting her things away for the last time rocked me to the core.

I need to always remember how blessed I am to pick up the little messes, cook meals for my family, and take care of their needs because it means the Lord has granted me one more day with those I love.

Perhaps the saying "progress not perfection" would be better phrased progress with gratitude - not perfection.