You may recall that we attempted to start seedlings in a greenhouse last year.  Our homestead came with a small shed, with some clear ceiling panels near windows.  It seemed like a great way to get ahead on the garden.  Unfortunately, we struggled with a low germination rate, and the seedlings that did sprout, didn’t grow that big.  Our best theory is that it just didn’t get warm enough, early enough, in the year.  We live in Zone 5B, so our frost date is May 15th.  It’s dangerous to plant anything sensitive to frost before that date.

We tried a new method this year, utilizing a spare room in our basement (the “scary” room that wasn’t being used for anything).  There was already some large shelves, so we just added a big fold-out table.  Did you know that grow lights are unnecessary for seedlings?  Any lights with at least 4,000 lumens will work just fine.  We purchased a set of ten shop lights and hooked them up from the ceiling with staples (the height can be easily adjusted as the seedlings grow).  The set we found have also worked well, because they can be connected to each other, so we only needed a couple of outlets.

With surfaces and lighting complete, the next items needed were seeds and dirt.  I was able to preserve seeds from our garden last year, especially lots from tomatoes.  We did need to purchase a number of seeds, including ones for the flowers that are being added this growing season.  The bags of potting soil did become a bit expensive, but only because I underestimated the amount necessary for all that was being grown.  We purchased a few bags, a few more, and then a few more . . . For next year, I plan to research buying a bulk amount of potting soil and/or buying the individual components and mixing them together.

With all of the setup complete, I started planting, and that’s where I made my big mistake.  There were all of these beautiful packets of sunflower seeds and a huge packet of peas, and I got a little over excited about growing them.  They were planted way too early.  The sunflowers and peas grew quickly, but now they are looking sad.  These plants really need to go outside, but it’s still too cold.  I am not sure what we’re going to do with them.

Otherwise, the grow room is doing really well.  We’re growing: Roma and Cherry Tomatoes, Green Peppers, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Cucumber, Corn, Green and Yellow Beans, Brussel Sprouts, Cantaloupe, and Watermelon, as well as various herbs and lots of flowers.  We’ve been working on readying the garden for these seedlings and have already planted onions and potatoes outside.

My gardening has certainly evolved over the past five or so years.  We started with one small suburban garden, added a bunch of little suburban gardens, and then moved to planting a big garden on the homestead last year.  It is so exciting to be expanding again, to utilize more of the land on our wonderful homestead, and be able to share the harvest with others via a farmstand (currently under construction).  It’s also incredibly rewarding to see how these endeavors will support our family when I semi-retire in the near future.

Watch on YouTube for 2 Grow Room Bonus Tips!

The post My Big Mistake With The Grow Room appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

Customized Greeting Cards

Crafting personalized greeting cards is a canvas where young artists can display their creativity. From whimsical birthday cards to heartfelt thank-you notes, the possibilities are endless. Encourage your child to infuse their cards with a touch of uniqueness, perhaps through hand-drawn illustrations or playful pop-up elements. Each creation becomes a miniature masterpiece, appealing to a broad spectrum of customers.

Wooden Creations

Under thoughtful supervision, woodworking projects become a gateway to crafting sellable items. Wooden picture frames, keychains, small figurines, and even bookmarks allow kids to explore various artistic techniques, adding a touch of craftsmanship to their creations.

Beaded Jewelry

Jewelry making is a fun and enchanting venture for young crafters. Beaded bracelets, necklaces, and earrings take on a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns, each piece telling a unique story. Encourage experimentation with different bead shapes and materials, transforming these accessories into wearable works of art for a diverse audience.

DIY Planters

Crafting decorative planters introduces kids to the beauty of nature. Utilizing materials like painted tin cans, clay pots, or recycled containers, each planter becomes a unique creation. By offering a variety of sizes and styles, kids cater to the diverse tastes of customers seeking a touch of greenery in their homes.

Upcycled Clothing Items

Transforming old clothing into trendy accessories or fashion pieces is not just a craft; it’s a statement. Headbands, scarves, and tote bags crafted from repurposed fabrics highlight the eco-friendly ethos, attracting environmentally conscious buyers seeking both style and sustainability.

Hand-Painted Rocks

Joining the rock-painting trend, kids unleash their creativity on stones, turning them into vibrant works of art. Themed sets, from animals to inspirational quotes, make these hand-painted rocks versatile decorative pieces or unique gifts for any occasion.

Hand-Sewn Projects

Introducing kids to the art of sewing through simple hand-sewn projects is not just about stitches; it’s about weaving tales through textiles. Fabric bookmarks, small pouches, and stuffed animals showcase their sewing skills, capturing the charm of handmade treasures.

Recycled Material Jewelry

Encourage eco-conscious crafting by incorporating recycled materials into jewelry designs. From bottle caps and newspaper beads to old buttons, each piece becomes a unique creation with a sustainability story to tell. Emphasize the eco-friendly aspect to attract environmentally conscious buyers.

Personalized Magnets

Transforming mundane magnets into personalized pieces of art adds a functional touch to creative endeavors. Whether crafted from clay, fabric, or small wooden pieces, these magnets stand out with customization, adding a pop of color to any refrigerator.

Fabric Scrap Keychains

Utilize fabric scraps to craft vibrant and colorful keychains. Experiment with different patterns, sewing techniques, and embellishments like buttons or ribbons. These small, portable creations not only showcase creativity but also serve as affordable and appealing items for sale.

Seasonal Decorations

Crafting seasonal decorations is an invitation to capture the spirit of holidays and special occasions. From spooky Halloween ghosts to festive Christmas ornaments, offering seasonal items attracts customers looking to add a touch of celebration to their homes.

Storybook Character Crafts

Create crafts inspired by beloved storybook characters. Bookmarks, puppets, or small figurines based on cherished characters capture the imagination of young buyers and make for unique, memorable gifts.

Flower Crowns

My daughter received this set for a present.  She had fun making some crowns for herself, but also made some extra to sell at my summer craft fair.  She sold Every. Single. One.

In our journey out of debt, and towards the goal of financial independence, we have strived for a lot of transparence with our children.  My hope is that they will learn from our mistakes (and successes!) and end up being really good with money as adults. By involving my daughter in the process of crafting and selling, I hope to impart not just creative skills but also valuable lessons about value and making sound financial choices.

The post Crafting Success: Profitable Ideas For Kids To Sell At Craft Fairs appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

Our Homestead

The 2023 garden ended with harvesting lots of Brussel sprouts, which were enjoyed fresh, and some were frozen.  We’re now planning for next summer’s garden by figuring out what to plant where, now that we have the experience of our first year at this property.  We are also figuring out how to set up a grow room in our basement.  The seeds did not do well in our little greenhouse/shed last spring.  Our theory is that it just didn’t get warm enough for them to sprout, and when they did, it was too late in the season.

The chickens and ducks are spending less time outside due to the colder weather.  We set up a second stall in the barn for them to go into on really cold days, for more room and little something different.  They have continued to give us a lot of eggs, especially the ducks.  They each lay an egg, almost every day.  We have had so many duck eggs that we started a bartering arrangement with a local woman with a pie stand.  Every time we accumulate a few cartons of duck eggs, we trade them in for a delicious, homemade pie!

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas which included driving around to look at the lights, making graham cracker houses and cookies, holiday concerts at school, and lots of presents.  I did pretty well keeping the costs of all of those presents in check, with purchases from Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and some crochet presents.  Each of the kids picked out a stuffed animal that they wanted me to crochet for them (I’m almost finished with those).

Teacher gift bags included homemade vanilla extract, one of my planners, a crochet cup cozy, and a jar of Wild Violet jelly.

We also have a new member of the family.  My Christmas present was to adopt a orange tabby cat, similar to the one I had as a little girl.  Mr. Smith and I actually drove two hours away to a very overcrowded shelter, that also happened to have low adoption fees, to pick up our new kitty.

Frugal Family Mini-Vacation to Washington D.C.

We just returned from a short roadtrip to Washington, D.C.  My brother-in-law lives very close to this destination and recently purchased a new home with room for all of us.  On December 27th, we packed up the kids and drove the bus to visit their Uncle.  We were able to visit monuments, and The National Zoo, Natural History Museum, Air and Space Museum, and American History Museum.  Although it seemed a bit busy to us, we were assured that this time between Christmas and New Year’s is the best time to visit.

Just like the last time we went in 2018, we were able to keep costs very low – as in less than $500!  We had a place to stay and brought food with us, so the main expense was gas for the bus and tolls.  Did you know that all of the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. are free?  We did need to reserve tickets for The National Zoo and Air and Space Museum, but totally free and easy to do online (just try to get them a few days before your visit).  We love D.C. for these free, educational, and fun attractions.  Each location also allowed us to bring in packed lunches, with drinks.  You just have to eat in the designated areas.

The trickiest part of going on this trip was finding someone to take care of the chickens.  Thankfully, my brother offered to stay at our home and take care of everything.

We were gone for only five days, but enjoyed quite the adventure.

Work Negotiations

Why have I always been so afraid, to negotiate a better salary?  I should NOT have waited so long.

In the fourteen years that I have been practicing as an attorney, I never before asked for a specific amount when review time came around at the end of the year.  I decided that it was time to ask for a significant raise, in light of a number of factors, which made the request feel very justified.  So I wrote out an email to my boss, pleading my case and requesting a specific amount for my new salary (trust me, I read that email so many times, and was super nervous to hit send).

My boss replied by saying that he was impressed by my email, and that he couldn’t argue with it.  Moral of the story is, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for something that you believe is deserved.  This raise will be very helpful as we come closer to our goal of financial semi-independence.

Crochet

This was the year that I started branching out with crochet, from a hobby to a small business.  I only intended to do the one craft fair in our town, but ended up doing a total of four craft fairs.  They were so much fun and my profits grew with each subsequent event.  The last one in December was only four hours, and I made a profit of $178!!

I have been trying to start something new, which I’m calling “HookBookstagram.”  The goal is to combine crochet and reading on social media.  Make sure to follow me on Instagram if you want to see some crochet and book reviews together.

I also have some crochet patterns in the works!!

Podcasts

I was recently a guest on the following two podcasts:

Best of Both Worlds podcast: Harmony Smith on financial independence, lawyer life, and homesteading

Lean Out Podcast: Freedom with Harmony Smith

2024 Plans and Announcements

The My Kaleidoscope planner is still available for 2024.

In addition, as promised, I will be launching a totally free mini-course on balance.  It will be available in the next few weeks.  Stay tuned!

Our big financial goal for 2024 is to pay off the mortgage on our first home, currently being used as a rental property.  The balance is approximately $36,000.  If we can pay this off by the end of the year, then we will have one less bill every month, and will be much closer to our goal of financial semi-independence in 2025.  My raise will help with this, but we will also need to do some side hustling.  For now, I’m focusing on selling items on Poshmark and building up my crochet inventory for more craft fairs.

In 2024, we will be expanding the garden, by adding new types of vegetables.  Other plans for this year include the addition of bees, angora rabbits, and mushrooms.

And (because that’s not enough to put on our plates), we’re planning another family adventure to a brand new location for all of us.

Happy New Year from The Smith Family! 

May this be the year that you start to see the fruit of your labors, and find better balance in life.

The post Closing Out 2023 & Exciting Plans For The New Year appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

Greetings from our homestead! In the near decade since this blog was born, I’ve worked diligently to achieve better balance between work and so many other passions. Now, I have two ways to share some of my acquired skills and knowledge with everyone.

As a New Years’ gift, I will be releasing a totally free mini-course on balance and priorities.  Don’t worry, this is not a lure-you-in-and-then-upsell-you course.  My course is the full thing, consisting of two weeks of guidance, resources, and assignments.  There are fourteen sections, to be completed one per day, or at your own pace.  Make sure that you are subscribed for post notifications, to know when the course is officially released.  

The second announcement is that I have designed my own planner for 2024!  I am always asked about how our family keeps track of our five kids, my job, rental properties, etc.  Well, it starts with a written planner that contains: my work schedule; doctors, dentist, and orthodontist appointments; sports and clubs; parent-teacher conferences; concerts; birthday parties; and everything else that we need to remember for our family.  

Over the past few years, I found myself wishing for more from this little book that I was using multiple times every day.  The standard ones for sale have odd things included, like a map of the United States.  When am I going to need that during my average day?  Instead, I wanted something that could be used more like a bullet journal with a planner, to keep track of both my dates and priorities for the week.  There were also functional aspects missing from the ones that were available, like a place to keep track of my vacation and sick time from work.  

So, I designed my own planner!  As it took a lot longer than I expected to create, it made sense to publish the planner for others to enjoy.  The “My Kaleidoscope Planner” for 2024 is now available for purchase on Amazon for only $9.99 (I tried to make it as affordable as possible).  There is a section for identifying your priorities for the week, including personal, finance, and even entertainment.  I included inspirational quotes for every week, and quarterly review pages for reflections and memories, with a coloring section.  There are pages for seasonal bucket lists, tracking time off from work, and a progress tree to be used with a weekly goal for the year.  I also added “special” holidays to the planner, like Chocolate Cupcake Day and Take A Hike Day.  I know, we’re already busy enough, so these days are not intended to stress anyone out.  Instead, if you can fit them in, the suggestions are there to inspire some extra celebration on ordinary days.   

I’ve already ordered a bunch to give out as gifts, including for the kids’ teachers.  Make sure to follow me on social media, as I will be giving one away one copy on Facebook and one on Instagram as well! 

There is also a spiral bound version available via the Lulu Bookstore.  It is listed for $12.99 (but you will also have to pay shipping).  

Thank you for following along on our journey.  If this planner seems like something that would be helpful to you, please give it a try, and let me know what you think!

The post Announcing: Two New Resources For Better Work-Life Balance appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

I plan to sell each octopus for around $3 at an upcoming craft fair and am optimistic that they will be a popular way to buy something for kids, without breaking the bank.  The pattern was made to use Bernat Blanket Yarn and a size J hook.  However, this pattern is very flexible, and will work with different types of yarn or hooks (see below).

Materials:

• Yarn – thick or regular worsted weight
• Hook – G, H, I or J all work great
• Stitch marker
• Safety eyes – I used 8 mm eyes with the blanket yarn
• Poly-fil stuffing
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Stitches:

• Ch = Chain
• SC = Single crochet
• Sl St = Slip Stitch
• FLO = Front loop only
• BLO = Back loop only
• Dec = Decrease (invisible decrease recommended)

Other Notes:

• This pattern starts with single crochet stitches in the second chain from the hook.  You can definitely use a magic ring/circle, but my plush amigurumi seem to turn out better this way.
• This pattern is worked in a continuous spiral, working the first stitch of each round above the first stitch of the previous round (that’s the one that you need to mark).
• Rounds 6 and 7 are a little tricky, working with the front loops or the back loops.  I recommend feeling the stitches if your eyes aren’t working for this.
• The number in parentheses, at the end of each round, represents the total number of stitches that you should have in that round.

Squirt The Mini Octopus Pattern

Round 1:  Ch 2, then do 4 SC in the second chain from the hook (4).

Round 2:  Inc in all 4 stitches (8).

Round 3:  (SC, Inc) x 4 (12).

Round 4:  SC in all stitches (12).

Round 5:  SC in all stitches (12).

Round 6:  This is the tentacle round.  Mark the back loop of the first stitch for later reference.  FLO SC, *(Sl St FLO, Ch 3, Sl St 2nd Ch from hook, Sl St 3rd Ch from hook, Sl St FLO)*, Repeat * * 3 times, Sl St FLO, Sl St FLO, Repeat * * 4 times, FLO SC.

(2 St St, 2 SC, 8 tentacles) You should have two groups of four tentacles, separating by two stitches in the front and back.

If you have been working on this little octopus inside out, now is the time to flip it around

Add the safety eyes above each front tentacle, around the bottom of Round 3. Stuff body.

Round 7:  This is a little tricky (especially if using dark yarn) SC in the back loops of Round 5 (12).

Round 8:  (Dec) x 6 (4).

Round 9:  Tie off.  Use tapestry needle to sew into the middle through the front loop of the remaining stitches.  Knot and sew the end through your little octopus.  You’re Done!

Please share pictures of your creations with me on Instagram: cmk_harmony

Disclaimer: You may not reproduce this pattern for any reason without written consent.  You may share the link to this pattern and can sell anything you make with this pattern.

Finally, check this adorable little Squirt, made with regular worsted-weight yarn!

The post Squirt The Mini Plush Octopus: Free No-Sew Crochet Pattern appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

I recently started reading a few posts from the beginnings of this blog, for some perspective.  It’s getting close to a whole decade in which I have felt trapped in my occupation, craving more time for my family and hobbies, and struggling to side hustle, while living a frugal life.  Sometimes, motivation to persevere can only be found in progress of yesterday’s efforts.  This is an excerpt from: “Road Less Traveled Challenge: Reverse Engineering A New Lifestyle” published on June 21, 2016:

If there is one road for the traditional spending and saving patterns and another for early retirement, we’re traipsing through the forest, making our own path, somewhere between those two roads.

First of all, unlike many other personal finance bloggers, we do not rely on formulas and spreadsheets. We are not waiting for a magical number representing an amount that we can draw exactly 4% from and not have to worry about money ever again.  Our debt prevents us from just saving a high percentage of our income to amass significant investments.  Yet, we want to find a way to not spend the next few decades of our life working full-time employment.

Our solution?  We are reverse engineering our freedom.  We have set a (somewhat flexible) deadline for fixing our finances. The goal is to have all of our debt paid off by then, including student loans and mortgages for our house and the rental property.  Once the debt is gone, we will save as much money as possible.  This will allow us to only worry about earning enough money to cover low living expenses due to our adherence to a frugal lifestyle.  It doesn’t take very long to calculate how much you need to survive, with no mortgage, car loan, credit card interest, or student loan payments.  The total is really not all that much.  We have one rental property that will bring in some income.  Mr. Smith and I will do miscellaneous work here and there to bridge the gap.

And, I have a 401K that will grow until we need it in our old age.  Finally . . .  compound interest will be working for us instead of dragging us down!

The average individual allocates their earnings to make minimum-due payments and a small contribution towards retirement.  The rest is spent.  The person striving for early retirement puts as much as possible in savings, so they won’t have to bring in any income.

We’re forging our own path by creating a middle ground where we pay off debt while funding assets that will give us financial security.  I really like the phrase used by Slowly Sipping Coffee.  Their plan is “to begin a fully funded lifestyle change.”  Again, regardless of the specifics, everyone’s goal is more freedom.  When you are chained down by debt, whether it be credit cards or a mortgage, your job is essential.  If you were fired today, wouldn’t you first thought be, “how am I going to pay the bills?”

While the details may be different, many of us are on a mission rid ourselves of that uncertainty.  As opposed to those who have fully retired early, we will still have to do some part-time work, but it will be on our own terms.  There will be much more flexibility in our schedules, allowing us to experience life more fully in the near future, instead of decades from now.

Well, for better or worse, it was a vague roadmap for our journey.  The first thing that struck me, when reading this again, is that the old plan did not include a new home, as I discuss only ONE rental property.  Clearly, we did not account for our new, 16-acre homestead, in the original plan (with a big new mortgage).  I don’t remember exactly when we decided to look for a new home, but it was definitely at some point after the size of our family jumped from five to seven, with the addition of our twin boys.

The overall goal of flexibility is the same.  We understand that when we are able to retire early from traditional jobs, there will still be a need to earn some income, even with a frugal lifestyle.  The debt is now paid off, including student loans, but we still have three mortgages.  Another thing that is aligned with our prior roadmap, is building up a 401(k) for old age.  I have continued to invest in my 401(k) over the years, and received some profit sharing contributions.  Of course, we also had hoped to be semi-retired by the age of 40, but Mr. Smith and I both celebrated our 41st birthdays this year.

Another change from the previous plan is that my crochet is actually becoming a side hustle.  At the time of the previous post, I had just started dabbling with crochet, and expected it to be only a hobby.  But I’m actually signed up for two craft fairs this fall.  There is definitely a learning curve to making money at craft fairs, but I appear to be on the right track.  In addition, I foresee us adding more to our inventory at craft fairs in the future, with different products from our expanding homestead.

At this point, it seems like we need to focus on paying off mortgages, especially for our first home which is down to about $30,000.  In addition, we really should try to make the most of our new property, finding new sources of income, and to further decrease our spending.  We have been planning on selling some of the eggs (as we’re now getting a ton of duck and chicken eggs).  Mr. Smith has been cutting lots of wood to help keep heating costs down this winter, and has also talked about selling either bundles or cords.  I want to look into more things to grow on the land, from garlic and mushrooms, to raising bees for honey, with the goal of producing enough for us and some to sell.  These amounts may seem negligible, but our success in paying off debt has taught me, that little amounts can add up very quickly.

We do now have two rental properties to rely on for somewhat-passive income.  Our friend is still occupying our first home, for a rental rate less than our mortgage, because it needs to be fixed up.  He is planning on moving out in December, so Mr. Smith will be focusing on that property in the new year.  Once the work is done, we can rent it out for a good monthly profit (even more if we can pay off the small amount remaining on that mortgage).  Mr. Smith spent months sprucing up our last home, and it was rented out to a nice little family as of August 1st.  It is currently making us a profit of about $600 per month (after mortgage and insurance).  We have had some discussions about selling both properties, and using the funds to pay off the mortgage for our homestead.  However, then we would be without these sources of income – and once the mortgages are paid off, this is probably going to be at least $3,000 per month.

In conclusion, it looks like it will take more time and financial effort to attain financial semi-independence, in that we now have a third mortgage to pay off.  We need to find more ways to use our new property to generate income.  However, once the mortgages are gone, we will be in a much more stable position, with two rental properties to support our living expenses.

Life always seems to throw you off track, so it’s important to build flexibility into all roadmaps.

The post Reflections On “The Road-Less-Traveled” Challenge, Seven Years Later appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

Black Walnuts

On a fall morning, I noticed these large green fruits falling from the sky while walking the dog.  I almost got hit on the head!  I figured out that they were Black Walnuts, so we got to work harvesting them.

I used the stomp-with-boots method to remove the fruit around the walnut shell.  I used kitchen gloves to pull off as much as that fruit as possible and chucked it into the compost pile.  You have to be very careful because they have black juice that has been used as a dye, so it can definitely stain.

I hosed down buckets of shells to finish cleaning them all up.  Then, I waited about three weeks to let the shells dry out.

Those shells are tough to break open, so I ended up wrapping the shells in an old (clean) sock, and crushing them with a vice grip.  Everything went into a bowl and it took hours, over several days, to pick out all of the nut pieces from the shell pieces.

The nuts are stored in the freezer to stay fresh.  They are good, just a earthy version of the regular walnuts you would buy in the store.  We used them in Christmas cookies and banana bread.

Maple Syrup

I was so excited to try making our own maple syrup.  In the fall, I marked some Sugar Maple trees with bright orange yarn, because I figured that it would be easier to identify them while they still had leaves.

After patiently waiting the next few months, February arrived and it was time to tap our Maple trees.  I picked up some metal taps from eBay.  We used cleaned out plastic milk jugs and hung them from the taps with some bendable wire.

Our system worked really well.  The only issue was needing to regularly empty the jugs because they don’t hold that much.  It was a good excuse to get fresh air everyday.

We collected milk jugs in a cooler in the barn for about one week at a time.  Then, it was time for the fire.  We used some cinder blocks to build an little oven and then used a warming tray on top of that to cook the syrup (greater surface area than a pot).   I made the mistake on my first attempt, of only making a moderate-sized fire.  It took forever!  Later attempts worked better when I made a nice big fire under the warming tray.

It usually took all day to cook down the sap outside.  Did you know that the sap is approximately 90% water?  Later at night, I would pour the cooked-down sap from the warming tray, through a cheesecloth on a strainer, into a pot.  The pot would go inside to be finished.  I learned that you have to be very vigilant when watching the temperature of the syrup.  I had one batch that went just two degrees above the proper temperature and it turned into Maple Sugar!  We still ended up using the sugar, but it was definitely not what we were going for.

In already having jars to use for storage, it cost about $55 for our Maple syrup equipment, and now we’re ready for next year.  We ended up with about five 8 oz jars of syrup, and one 16 oz jar of sugar, and it was all delicious.

Wild Violets

In May, I started noticing these little purple flowers all over a section of our woods that I walk with the dog every morning.  I used my phone to find out that they were Wild Violets and there were a lot of recipes for using them.

We decided to try out some Wild Violet jelly.  It was fairly easy to make, after the kids helped me gather the flowers.  The recipe only required flowers, water, lemon juice, and some pectin.  Jelly making turned into a cool science experiment, because the liquid changes colors when you add the lemon juice.

We tasted some of it and were all in love!  I find it to be a light flavor which almost reminds me of strawberry lemonade.  And the next day we went out to pick more flowers.  I even was able to make some extra little jars to give out as gifts (assuming we don’t eat it all).  An added bonus is that the color of the jelly is just so pretty!

Black Raspberries

These little berries tricked me.  Last year, during the home inspection, I saw what looked to be raspberries all over the place.  After we closed on the house in August, we were all ready to go and collect tons of raspberries, but there were none to be found.  I did find lots of Pokeweed, and assumed that I had been mistaken about the raspberries.

In July, I was elated to find little red berries, and thought that these must be the raspberries.  Wrong again.  The berries turned black as they ripened, so we ended up having Wild Black Raspberries.  They were delicious to pick and eat, and we had enough to make two batches of jelly.

This was the easiest jelly I have ever made, and it does not even require pectin!  All you need to do is add lemon juice, cook and squish, and then jar it up (if you don’t mind the seeds).  While I still like the Wild Violet jelly better, the Black Raspberry jelly is also very good.

Final Thoughts

Not an advertisement, but Google Lens has been so helpful in my foraging efforts.  I am always outside taking pictures of plants and flowers to find out whether we can use them for anything.  One thing that has been disappointing is that I can’t find any edible mushrooms.  I did find one, but internet searches and my local foraging Facebook group left me uncertain, so I chose not to risk my life on eating a foraged mushroom.

Writing this reminds me of those social media messages with the reminder that, you’re living one of your dreams right now.  It’s true, as being able to forage food from our own property was a dream for years.  I’m so thankful for this new adventure.  We truly are surrounded by abundance, all we have to do is look around.

Now Also Available On YouTube!

I am trying something new and will be making videos to go along with my posts, as well as for other special content.  Please check out the video and give me some constructive feedback.  Subscribe to my channel for notifications of all new videos!  Thanks

The post Four Foraged Foods From Our Homestead appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

La Brea Tar Pits

Our family was more interested in natural wonders than shopping on Rodeo Drive or visiting the Hollywood (although we did see it in the distance while driving).  There was one place that we really wanted to see in the Los Angeles area, and that was the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.  Adult tickets normally cost $15 and kids tickets are $7, so we were looking at $65 in admission.  However, I found out about “First Tuesday Free.”  There are a number of museums in California that offer free admission on the first Tuesday of every month, and one of those places is La Brea (except for July and August, but every Tuesday in September).   Luckily, we were already in that area on the first Tuesday of the month, so it worked out perfectly.  Just note that you have to order these free tickets online AHEAD OF TIME and there is a limit on how many they give out, so make sure to pick those up as soon as you make your plans.  We did end up having to pay for parking, but it wasn’t that big of an expense with the free admission.

The museum was big, with lots of interactive exhibits for playing.  You can definitely do it all in one day.  The actual tar pits outside are free to visit and there is a nice little park outside, with some sites of active archaeological digging.  You can bring food and drink with you for a little picnic.  One thing that I found surprising, is that there are actually spots outside where tar is coming up out of the ground.  Goofball had fun pretending that he was stuck.

After a “see ya later” with my sister, we headed towards the La Mirada area.  Mr. Smith found a spot to park for the night, on a street near the beach (which I’m sure only worked because it was February).

In the morning, we woke up and went to look for Monarch Butterflies and Elephant Seals.

Monarch Butterfly Grove

As planned, we only had a two minute drive in the morning to the spot where there were supposed to be tons of butterflies.  We looked and looked, and only found one cluster of orange and black high up in the trees.  It was disappointing, but we accepted that the timing must not have been right.  There was a little beach right there, so we took an opportunity to walk around and play in the sand (hoping that the butterflies would magically appear on our way back to the RV).  We were quite fascinated by the very different vegetation – it looked nothing like what grows in New York.

Elephant Seal Vista Point

We moved on from butterflies to Elephant Seals, by visiting a Vista Point in San Simeon.  There was no disappointment here, as there were tons of seals on the beach, making their unique barking sounds.  We had to keep an eye on our littlest one though, as he kept asking to go down to the beach to play with the baby seals.  This was another free stop, and there were no issues parking the RV in the big lot.

Dennis The Menace Playground

Next, we traveled over to a huge playground in Monterrey.  It was awesome and the kids did not want to leave.  There were a bunch of typical playgrounds scattered in the sand; a really big roller slide that went under a bridge; a separate, super-long suspension bridge, tunnels, and a hedge maze.  And, there were bathrooms.

As you can tell from the last photograph, we stayed until the sun was setting.  After that, we made stops for gas and replenished our food supply, and it was time to hit the road again . . . headed North to San Francisco.

The post Our California RV Adventure: Los Angeles and Route 1 appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

Family

The kids have been out of school for a couple of weeks now, and they are already making summer memories.  Our new home is very close to a theme park with a water park, so we purchased season passes for everyone.  We have already made a bunch of trips, always bringing food with us, to keep expenses low.  I think the kids would be happy to go there every day.

We had our joint kids’ birthday party a little early this year.  It was a little expensive, but very fun day, and we celebrated all five kids’ birthdays.  The kindergarten and second grade friends were invited earlier in the day, and the fifth and seventh grade friends were invited later in the afternoon, and a few spent the night.  We rented a giant inflatable obstacle course with a slide and it kept all of the kids entertained all day.

Now, it’s time for the real test.  One of the big reasons why we purchased our property is for the space for our children to play outside in the summer, in the woods and in the creek.  I’m sure there will still be rainy days or times when they are “bored,” but hopefully they will keep busy making memories in their new giant backyard.  There are also a variety of community activities that we will be getting involved with this summer.

Garden

The seedlings from the greenhouse did not do very well, so we did purchase most of our plants.  We did our planting mid-May, just before a really chilly night.   There were a few losses that were replaced and now the garden is thriving.  We have: corn, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, brussel sprouts, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, green pepper, potatoes, cantaloupe, and watermelon.  I also grew a bunch of sunflowers from seed.

For the first few weeks, we were using old milk gallon jugs to haul water up to the garden from the creek.  Mr. Smith found an old container in the woods which he cleaned up and loaded on a trailer.   We purchased some hoses and a water pump (long term investment), and now we have an irrigation system for the garden.  And, it allows us to use nutrient rich water from the creek.

Our new home came with some fruit as well.  We have been enjoying blueberries and wild black raspberries.  There are also peach trees that seem to be growing a lot of adorable, fuzzy fruit.  My six apple trees (Christmas present) have been planted and look wonderful, although it should be a couple of years before they give us fruit.

The Flock

Tending to the chickens and ducks has become a part of our day-to-day life.  We lost one chicken, who mysteriously died with no signs of injury (possibly poisoned).  That leaves us with nine chickens and three ducks.  We are anxiously awaiting a return on our investments, as eggs should be coming by the end of the summer.  The ducks are probably girls, so we’re hoping to try some duck eggs for the first time too!

Rental Income

Our finances are about to be doing a bit better.  We moved out of our old home almost one year ago.  Mr. Smith has been hard at work fixing it all up, including new windows and flooring.  We have a few people who are interested in renting from us, so hopefully we can start collecting rent from that home.

We still also own our first “starter” home, which has been rented by a very close friend for the past eleven years.  He is getting ready to move on and Mr. Smith will be starting his work on fixing up that house next (after our busy summer here on the homestead).

Our Victorian Home

We had some big items on our To-Do List since purchasing our home from 1888.  It needed a new roof and the possibly-original chimney had to be repointed.  Both have been done.  The roof cost $13,120 and the chimney cost $4,800.  We were aware of these issues before purchasing the home, and negotiated the sale price down.

Now, we can move on to finishing the attic.  It will become a giant living space for the three youngest boys.  And, our room will get a big walk-in closet!

Mr. Smith removed the wood stove from our old home.  We didn’t want to worry about renters using it, and we could use some help on the heating bill for this big home.  The wood stove will be installed in the next few months and Mr. Smith has already chopped up a whole bunch of wood for it.

Side Hustles

My focus this last month or so, has been on a craft sale in our new town.  I made up a bunch of little crochet items to sell and Tornado joined me with some artwork and homemade cards.  We made a small profit – but it’s still a profit.

It was definitely a learning experience. I now have a much better idea of what items actually sell at a summer market like this one, which has given me plenty of ideas for the future. In a few years, we will hopefully be able to sell lots of other types of items from our homestead too.

I’m looking forward to our next craft fair in October – a mandatory appearance because it’s at our church.

Becoming An Influencer

It’s been quite surreal to finally be in the place that I dreamed about for so many years.  I have been a lot more active on social media, because there is just so much more good stuff to share.  It also feels something like a responsibility.  I should be motivating and inspiring others to chase their dreams, because we are proof that it can happen.

You can follow along for more frequent updates, and fun videos at:

https://www.facebook.com/creatingmykaleidoscope/

https://www.instagram.com/cmk_harmony/

https://www.tiktok.com/@cmk_harmony

There is even a new Intro video on our YouTube channel:

Thanks for reading!

The post Monday Medley: Summer Update From The Homestead appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.

If you’ve done any investigation into good side hustles or easy ways to earn money online, I’m sure you’ve heard about surveys.  I will do surveys on Swagbucks once in a while, but the earnings are usually 50 cents, so they’re not really worth my time.  Another option recently came to my attention, and it is the awesome website of User Interviews.  I actually earned a gift card for Amazon in the amount of $160, for what amounted to less than two hours of my time, just last week.

What is User Interviews?

User Interviews is a platform that facilitates researchers in gathering information from users about a product, service, or experience. They can be conducted in person, over the phone, or online, and typically involve a series of questionnaires designed to gather feedback and insights.

Why Participate in User Interviews as a Side Hustle?

Becoming a participant in User Interviews as a side hustle can be a great way to earn extra money.  Companies are willing to pay anywhere from $50 to $200 per study for the insights and feedback provided by users. The amount of the payment depends on the complexity of the project and the time commitment required.  You are usually given a choice between various gift cards as payment.

Participating in these studies can also be a fun and engaging way to learn about new products and services, and to provide feedback that can help shape the future of those products and services.

How to Get Started with User Interviews as a Side Hustle

Getting started with User Interviews as a side hustle is relatively simple.  You just need to create a profile and begin applying for opportunities that match your interests and availability.  It’s important to be honest and thorough when completing your profile, as this will help you get matched with relevant opportunities and increase your chances of being selected.

Tips for Success in User Interviews as a Side Hustle

Here are some tips for success in making User Interviews your next side hustle:

1. Be reliable and responsive: When you apply for user interview opportunities, make sure that you are available and willing to commit to the time and date requested.  Additionally, be responsive to any communication from the company or interviewer, and be sure to follow any instructions or guidelines provided.
2. Provide honest and detailed feedback: The purpose of user interviews is to gather feedback and insights from users, so be sure to provide honest and detailed feedback based on your experiences and preferences. This feedback can help shape the future of the product or service being tested, so take the opportunity seriously and provide thoughtful feedback.
3. Be professional and courteous: Treat this as you would any other professional opportunity, and approach the process with a positive and courteous attitude. This will help you build a reputation as a reliable and professional participant, which can lead to more opportunities in the future.
4. Earn a good rating: After a little digging, it looks like the study facilitators will rate you as “Poor, Good or Great.”  This information will be stored on your “internal profile.”
5. Apply, Apply, Apply: I probably applied for twenty or so studies before being chosen for the one that paid me, so don’t expect to apply for just one and get it.

BONUS

Earn an extra $10 on your first completed study by joining through this link:

User Interviews

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of money earned for the short amount of time invested.  This is definitely one of my new favorite ways to earn money from home as a side hustle. Follow these tips for success, and you too can turn this into a profitable and rewarding side hustle.  Feel free to reach out with any questions and good luck!

The post My New, Super-Easy Side Hustle, That Really Pays! appeared first on Creating My Kaleidoscope.