Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

My Cast Iron Skillet

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When I got married, we received non-stick pans as wedding presents. So those were the pans I used. When those died, I just replaced them with more non-stick pans.

I vaguely remember my Grandmother & a couple of aunts using cast iron skillets, but my mother never did.

I finally bought a couple about 3 years ago. I wish I had bought them much, much sooner!

I love the way cast iron cooks! It retains the heat, and it cooks evenly. No more half brown half white pancakes.

Since we like to cook outside over the fire a lot, cast iron skillets are the perfect pans for us. We can use them outside over the fire. You can’t do that with other kitchen pans!

We’ve even done breakfast outside over the fire!

I have a large 12 inch skillet, and a smaller one, both made by Lodge. I love them both. Next on my list to get is a cast iron griddle. That sure would make it easier to cook enough pancakes for this crew!

My OpenSky shop opened this week, and I have a Lodge cast iron skillet there. So if your in the market for a new cast iron skillet, check it out! Until August 16, you can get free shipping on any purchase when you use code FREESHIPPING  Since cast iron skillets are heavy, free shipping is a great deal!

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Saltwater System for the Swimming Pool

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We’ve had an above ground pool for a number of years. The kind that you take down every winter. We have always enjoyed having a pool, but adding chlorine is such a hassle. Plus you have to worry about the kids getting into the chlorine while its floating around the pool in the dispenser. So when I saw this last year, we bought one:

Intex Deluxe Saltwater System

A saltwater system that creates chlorine without adding chlorine to the pool. You put the prescribed amount of salt in the pool. Not table salt, the kind of salt you use in water softeners. The machine makes chlorine from the salt.

We really love this system, it is so much easier. You set the machine for the number of hours need , and it goes on every 24 hours. You can also change the time if needed. You still have to check the chlorine level and ph level regularly. Using this system, has cut down on the amount of time I have to spend on pool maintenance.

I bought our saltwater system online from Walmart last year, and I see that they have it in stores now. You can find them other places also.

This year, the kids were so excited to have the pool set up, they couldn’t wait for it to fill to go swimming.

You can see the pool filter pump and the saltwater system in this picture.
For more ideas, visit Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family

My New Faucet

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I got a new faucet this week! I just love it. Isn’t it pretty?

I used to have a high neck faucet, but when it started dripping, we just put the old one back on. When the old one started leaking, we had to go buy a new one. So I picked out another high neck faucet.

I use very large pans to cook for the family, and it was hard to get them under a regular faucet. Filling wasn’t to bad, but I couldn’t rinse them very easily.

I love my new faucet!

To see more Things I Love Thursday posts, visit The Diaper Diaries.

Layering Shirts

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My daughters and I often have to layer shirts. It’s hard to find a pretty shirt that isn’t too low cut.

In the winter this isn’t a problem. In the summer, it’s just way to hot to be layering shirts.

I was so happy when I found this tutorial for an anti-layer tube top

My teenage daughter loved it, too. So I thought I would try and make one.

So I had A bring me an old t-shirt of hers. I cut the bottom off. I didn’t measure, lol, cut you might want to at least hold it up to the person who’s going to wear it and check the length.

Then off to the sewing machine I went. Abby, 11, could have done this part.

The next step was to cut off the side part.

Then it was time for Abby to try it on. She said it was comfortable and she liked it. 

It was so easy, that the girls will be making their own from now on. What a great way to re-use a t-shirt that was stained.

I find it sad that even clothing for young girls requires a shirt under it to be modest. But this is an easy way to fix that.

For more Things I love Thursday, visit The Diaper Diaries.

For more Frugal Friday ideas, visit Life As Mom.

I Love Crocheting

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I love to crochet. I’ve been crocheting since 6th or 7th grade. Yeah, that was a long time ago. 🙂

I love to make all kinds of things. I even crocheted my husband a tie! I’ve made tons of afghans, baby blankets, pot holders, doilies, dish clothes and towels. Someday, I would love to crochet a bedspread. I think that would make a good winter project.

I find crocheting very relaxing. I crochet just for fun, I don’t even have to make anything for myself. I enjoy crocheting things to give away very much.

I like to make useful things, not just pretty things. Right now, I’m working on a Crocheted Dust Mitt. It’s working up very easy, and I just know I’m going to love it. I plan on making a smaller one for smaller hands. So the kids can have one to use, also.

To see more Things I Love Thursday, visit The Diaper Diaries

House Party

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House Party is a website that I love.

You apply to host parties at your house. When you get selected to host a party, they send you a party pack full of supplies for that specific party.

Last year, I hosted a Juicy Juice party. They sent me plenty of juice, coupons, reusable juice bottles, coloring books, and cards for the kid. Oh yes, a tablecloth, napkins and little Juicy Juice cups. We had a blast at this party with all the kids.

Earlier this year, I hosted a DiGiorno Pizza and Breadsticks party. I received coupons for free pizzas and breadsticks, coupons to pass out to the guests, an apron for me to wear, a really cool pizza cutter, a fridge magnet, bead necklaces for everyone to wear, tabletop “basketball” games, and trivia game table signs. The pizza and breadsticks were awesome, and we had a great time.

I was just selected to host a Schwans Home Service party. They will be sending coupons for food to serve at the party, as well as coupons to pass out to the guests. The party pack will include recipe cards, and insulated lunch bags and a few other items.

This party is already closed to new applicants, but there are many other upcoming parties to apply for.

So if you have never heard of House Party, you should check it out.

I am NOT an affliate, they don’t even have anything like that.

House Party is something that I love.

For more Things I Love Thursday visit The Diaper Diaries

Here Burns My Candle – Book Review & Giveaway

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*This contest is now over.

I used Random.org to select a winner, and they picked comment #7.
Congratulations to the winner: bkittie@ I have sent you an email.


A mother who cannot face her future.
A daughter who cannot escape her past.

In Here Burns My Candle, Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. She honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

I have read other books by Liz Curtis Higgs. I really like her style of writing, and was looking forward to reading this book. Here Burns My Candle is the story of Naomi & Ruth told in 1700’s Scotland.

There is a map in the front of the book, showing Edinburgh in 1745, making it easy to follow the characters as they travel around the city. I love it when historical fiction books include a map.

The author also includes a section in the back of the book entitled “Authors Notes”. They are her notes as she traveled in Edinburgh and did research for the book. Something else I love in historical fiction books.

There were a few parts that I didn’t exactly like. Adultery and worship of other gods, to be specific. But you know what? You can’t see the full effect of the redemptive power of Jesus, without knowing the backgrounds of the characters.

Overall, I really liked Here Burns My Candle, and would highly recommend it to everyone.

The sequel Mine is the Night comes out in the spring of 2011. However shall I wait that long for it?

They gave me a copy to giveaway!

Just leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs“

Contest ends Saturday, March 27,2010, at 6 p.m. when I will use random.org to choose a winner

**EDITED TO ADD: I want to thank Liz Curtis Higgs for taking the time to comment on my blog (see below). I was so excited to see that you visited and left me a comment. You are so kind. I truly do read all of the authors notes! And study the maps! As an avid reader, I am raising readers, also. My teenage daughter has now “stolen” Here Burns My Candle from me and is reading it. Thanks you again, for visiting me and leaving a comment.


*DISCLAIMER – This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I also received a copy to giveaway. I received no other compensation for reviewing this book. This review is my own opinion.

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