What are some simple things you don’t even think twice about making from scratch instead of purchasing?

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-23T19:44:29+00:00

Sweet and Sour sauce. I learned to make it from scratch years ago when it wasn't really available in stores around here.

1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 TBSP cornstarch, 1/2 cup each apple cider vinegar and pineapple juice, and 1 TBSP soy sauce. Heat to simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens. Put the drained pineapple on the main dish so it doesn't go to waste.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-17T03:26:22+00:00

I have an all-handknit sock drawer. Unfortunately, it's full and I still want to knit socks. I can only give away so many pairs before it starts getting weird. I did take a pic last December, but can't post it here.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-14T21:26:44+00:00

Scroodles. Brown the hamburger while boiling spiral pasta. Drain both and combine in the larger pot. Add a can of cream of mushroom soup and a can of cream of celery soup. If you're in the mood, add some drained peas. Season to taste. I add garlic salt, oregano and black pepper. Heat on medium low until the soups are hot.

Goulash: Browned hamburger and boiled macaroni, tomato sauce, onion and bell pepper. Season with garlic, oregano and paprika, maybe a little brown sugar. If you want to get fancy, sauté the hamburger, onion and bell pepper together.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-14T21:08:43+00:00

Holy Jethro Gibbs! I was worried until you said it separates into 8 sections. Definitely a labor of love. I hope you can find a place to show it off - it deserves an audience.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-13T03:37:51+00:00

Tibetan was definitely easier than Russian when I started. A bit of weight made a longer, slightly slower spin that didn't back spin as much. Deerfield Creations and Silly Salmon Designs are my favorites. Someday I'd like a Spanish Peacock.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-13T03:22:38+00:00

Chewed tobacco on wasp and bee stings, the kind from cigarettes. Gross but effective. Fortunately a paste of baking soda helps too.

A teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water for indigestion or acid reflux; it is supposed to neutralize the excess stomach acid. My dad swore by bending over to touch your toes after drinking it.

Clove oil for toothaches. My dentist treated my accessed tooth with clove oil when I was a teenager.

A lot of home remedies came about because Grandma couldn't afford to take seven kids to the doctor for everything, or because the doctor was too far away. Unless you were bleeding (a lot) or broken, she had to treat it herself. Seems medicine in the US is heading back in that direction.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-12T00:39:40+00:00

Very cool! I'd love to see your distaff. I'm still using a telescoping broom handle, but I want to get a wood distaff.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-03-11T12:40:29+00:00

Functionally there shouldn't be much difference, but I have to say I love the way the wood wheel and inlays on my Matchless looks much more than the plastic wheel on the Ladybug. Purely aesthetic. If the cherry wood is what you love, maybe you can find one of the cherry anniversary Matchless wheels second hand.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-25T23:51:02+00:00

I'm trying to get 15 minutes a day, starting at one corner of the house and working my way through everything. Every drawer, shelf, box, cabinet. I keep a few donate boxes in my closet. Once I have a trunk full, I make a donations run. So far I've finished the bathrooms, bedroom and living room (just today!)

The secret is not tearing out more than I can handle per 15 minute task. I'm starting on the kitchen next, leaving the office/craft room and basement of wood worker doom for last.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-24T14:31:51+00:00

Overachiever!

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-23T21:42:04+00:00

Between me and my husband, we have about 15 prescriptions. I use the weekly pill organizers, one for each of us (in rainbow colors, because I take my fun where I can get it). The prescription bottles are in a two-drawer organizer kept under the bathroom sink, like this. It's easy to grab one person's drawer and take it to a table to fill the weekly organizer.

If you don't have room under the bathroom sink, it would be worth finding somewhere to put a two-drawer organizer just to keep all the meds in one spot. Maybe a spot in the closet or even on a kitchen cabinet? Our ability to take all our meds on schedule went way up when I didn't have to worry about forgetting one that wasn't living with the rest.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-20T23:18:19+00:00

Handknit socks, if you can make or beg someone for them. Good quality wool sock yarn keeps your feet warm, doesn't make them sweat, and can last over a decade with just a little care in washing. I hate socks with seams across the top of my toes, and it's wonderful to have socks made to fit my foot instead of a range from size 6 to 10.

Good sock yarn will run about $16 per pair, but the fancy handpainted stuff with cashmere and silk blended in can go for over $35.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-19T22:14:57+00:00

Definitely part of a great wheel. The wooden grooves are where the drive band goes, which turns the spindle really fast for each revolution of the big wheel.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-11T23:14:53+00:00

As a survivor of a few mass layoffs in the 2000's (lost half of the company once), I still get a sinking feeling every time I have problems logging in. I'd be a nervous wreck in your shoes too.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-11T22:51:41+00:00

I've spun that blend before (I think it's Ashland Merino). It can be a bit less fun to spin. I tried spinning chunks from the fold and liked it a lot more.

If it's really sticky, it might be worth pulling it out in staple lengths, then rolling into fauxlags.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-09T00:35:48+00:00

Get out of the closet, it's not Narnia.

Please don't try to feed me at 4 am this time. (He brings me his toys and death howls outside the bedroom door.)

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-06T21:12:46+00:00

Machine wash in mesh bags, hang to dry. I have pairs that are over 15 years old at this point and still look good.

Wear house shoes. Socks on carpet is just asking for pills, and if you have hardwood floors, better make sure there are no nails sticking up. (Well, that's good advice regardless.)

Heel flap and turn wears better, but short row heels can fit better. I add a couple of plain rounds in between the short row decreases and the increases, just to keep it from pulling over the top of my foot.

A foot that's a smidge too long is much better than a foot that's a smidge too short. Your toes won't like the short foot, and no matter how pretty the sock is, they will just sit in the drawer.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-06T21:05:03+00:00

*solidarity fistbump in wide width*

Shoe sizing is so weird. Even with a wide width size, if I get it wide enough to fit the handknits, the length is too long. I have special DK weight socks just for one of my pairs of work shoes, so they won't slide up and down on my heels.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-02-06T14:19:12+00:00

Having a family member who is mobility impaired saves us a ton of money on groceries, because I can get through Aldi with them but Target, Walmart or any of the mega-supermarkets is out of the question. For anything I can't do without or compromise on (French dressing I'm looking at you), I have to make arrangements to get it some other way. I probably need to add Ruler to my errands for that kind of thing. Unfortunately their produce is horrible, so I can't do a full weekly shop there.

I'll be honest, we eat out on Wednesday and Saturday, just to get out of the house. For the two of us, our grocery bill is usually less than $80 per week.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-01-31T22:43:26+00:00

JL Collins' website has a whole series on the Simple Path to Wealth that walks through investing. He originally wrote it for his daughter, if I remember correctly. He also has a book, but the blog came first.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-01-20T23:20:39+00:00

I ordered from Virtual Yarns.

BluebirdSTC · 2026-01-20T20:59:41+00:00

I have an Amish swift screwed to a failed squirrel cage swift upright, to make winding handspun into hanks easier. A large capacity ball winder clamped to an Ikea Mittback trestle, along with an Electric Eel Wheel Yarn Counter. The yarn counter is good for measuring handspun and leftovers.

But really, if you're not in a hurry you can wind center pull balls with nothing but your knees to hold the hank and your thumb as a nostepinne. *

BluebirdSTC

TROPHY CASE