I know it may be too early for some of us to think about Christmas while others have already finished up their shopping but some of us are kind of piddling with ideas and while working on my own list I found this article which I thought I’d share with you all:
Category: Keeper of the Home
Baking Soda Drain Cleaner And Freshener
In my post about the wonky smell, I mentioned that I cleaned my kitchen drains with a baking soda and vinegar mixture. However, I have come to realize that some people don’t know how to do this. It’s really quite simple and I’ll explain it here. (I’ll try to take pics or maybe a video to post along with this the next time I do it.)
Not only is this easy it’s also a cheap way to clean and maintain your drains and garbage disposal. These ingredients are environmentally friendly as well. I have also used this method to clear drain clogs as well as toilet clogs.
We have also found that this helps a lot when we have gnats and/or fruit flies hanging around the kitchen! Continue reading “Baking Soda Drain Cleaner And Freshener”
Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
So yesterday morning something was smelling really funky in my kitchen. I had a bowl of really ripe bananas that I thought may have been the reason for the smell. I decided to make some muffins with them but DS4 wanted chocolate chips in them too. He loves chocolate just about as much as I do so I thought it sounded like a pretty good idea.
If you want to find out what the funky smell was then click here. Continue reading “Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins”
Weekly Challenge
I know a lot of us are busy making our holiday plans but my heart is heavy. As I was surveying my pantry for items I need for our Thanksgiving dinner I was hit with just how blessed we are. There are many families, here in our own country, states, and cities, that don’t have food for tonight much less food for Thanksgiving.
So I am going to pick out some items from my pantry and maybe pick up a couple of things at the grocery store to donate to a food pantry or church who is giving out Thanksgiving baskets.
I have been the recipient of these gifts before and I know how much I appreciated it. I know there have been times, as a single momma, that I wasn’t sure if we would have a special dinner for Thanksgiving or not. I am so thankful for all those that did give when it was needed.
So my challenge, for those that can, is to participate in a food drive this holiday season. It doesn’t take much, you don’t need to buy a whole meal (unless you feel led to), nor do you need to buy the most expensive things. Each item would be greatly appreciated. Maybe you have an elderly neighbor or coworker that you could invite for dinner. Your reward will be so much greater than what you give.
If you are having trouble this time of year and you are in need there are many local resources available. Many churches, schools, and other organizations are there to help.
God Bless!
What Is That Wonky Smell?
Oh my goodness! My kitchen smelled so funky yesterday…. ughhhh! I couldn’t locate where the smell was coming from as my smeller still isn’t working very well. But every so often I caught a whiff of something… and it was STINKY!Ever had that happen?
I tried to narrow down the area as the house is pretty small and definitely decided it was coming from the kitchen. Maybe it’s the bag of trash DD18 left inside? Out with the trash. Still there.
Maybe it’s the ripened bananas? None of them looked too terribly bad so I got rid of them by making Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins (I will link to the recipe soon) and washed out the bowl. Nope, the smell was still there.
I cleaned out the dish drainer and wiped the counters. Still stinky.
Sighhhh…. next came the drain. I poured some baking soda, vinegar, and hot water down it. Still smelled stinky up in here. (Read about how I do this here.)
Then I noticed water in the floor. Uh oh! It was coming from the fridge. (I plan on doing a YouTube video soon on fixing that problem.) I cleaned that up but it wasn’t where the smell was coming from either.
By that time though my nose was definitely not working and I didn’t notice the smell anymore. No one else was saying anything so I thought maybe I had gotten to the source.
Nope. I had to rearrange some things under the kitchen sink this morning and the smell hit me again! It was a bit stronger, or maybe my nose was working better, this time. I checked under the sink for leaks or anything that could be the source with no luck!
Ok, I hate smelly things and this was driving me bonkers. I started in one corner of the kitchen and sniffed until I worked my way around to my ‘workstation’. Aha! The smell was way stronger but what oh what could it be?
That question in itself can be a scary thought with so many youngsters running around here. I tried to stay optimistic about finding it quickly.
After searching the bins behind the chair I found the culprit.

Yep, it was a rotten potato. 🤢 Normally I take them out of the plastic bag when I put them in the bin as that seems to help prevent this kind of smelly situation but no one is perfect and I forgot. Lesson learned…. until the next time.
Well, my kitchen has gotten a good cleaning through the process of elimination and I’ve gotten rid of the problem. Now to fire up the griddle and make some breakfast! 🥞 🥞
Hope you have a less stinky day!



