beeswax shoe polish

For about a year I've been trying to convince myself I don't want another pair of my beloved Duckfeet boots. When I finally put in my 2010/11 tax return I caved and treated myself to some green ones.

In comparison, my old ones looked sadly neglected. One suggestion from the friendly Duckfeet folk was beeswax, and I found a recipe here, that used things I actually had on hand. And haven't they come up well?

The polish has a lovely soft texture, gorgeous golden colour and a mild, natural smell.

And it's so simple to make:

1/2 cup food-grade linseed (flaxseed) oil
1 tablespoon beeswax

Melt together in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Once combined, pour into a glass jar (Vegemite jar works a treat!) and label.

Rub onto leather with a soft cloth. (Totally non-toxic and relatively mess-free for kids.) After a few minutes, buff with a clean cloth.

Before:

After (the darkness lightens up and evens out after an hour or so):

I tried it on wood, too. Why not? It smooths on beautifully and the finish is not sticky or oily.

I think our whole kitchen bench is crying out for a coat of this now.

On a completely unrelated note, check this out, poor chooky:

But lucky Clem.

(He managed all of the white and about half the gimungous yolk.)

- Jane x

I'm bringing hanky back

Finances are tight around here at the moment, but in the scheme of things it's in a very first-world way. So I'm finding joy and satisfaction in working more frugal ways into our life.
A lot of things I've been doing for quite a while, like using bicarb soda and apple cider vinegar to 'wash' and 'condition' my hair. There hasn't been a bottle of shampoo in our house for over a year, and then there's my homemade deodorant which I'm still happy with. I've used soapnuts for the laundry for a year or so too. And recently I have been using Amanda's recipe for dishwasher powder extender, which is working pretty well. I've also switched to alternative 'ladies' things' which has been such a liberation from having to peruse that part of the supermarket for overpriced solutions.

So, given all that freakiness I already do, wasn't it time for the humble hanky to come back into our lives?
I grew up with hankies and honestly can't remember when and how we all seemed to make the transition to (bleached virgin wood pulp) tissues. With five noses in the house the cost adds up and it's hardly environmentally friendly.
So I've made some hankies, and dug some out of my cupboard, and been given a bunch of sweet old ones by my Mum. And everyone seems quite happy to use them.

inexpert use of narrow hemming foot, but then double gauze was probably not the easiest way to learn

There are still tissues in the house, but they're being used more slowly and thoughtfully. If I amass a large enough hanky collection, perhaps we can do without them altogether.
And there's something rather charming about pulling 'Waltzing Matilda' out of your pocket to sneeze into.

Do you use hankies?
Does the idea of snotty hankies being washed in with your clothes creep you out?

- Jane x