Christa Dovel

I love teaching, writing and crafts.

Writing is something that has really taken hold of me in the last year. While I have always enjoyed writing, I never seriously thought about pursuing it until I discovered blogging. Since then, I have been published in Stressfree Living and sold another article. At Keeping the Home Fire... I write about family, crafting, home schooling (I home school my children, and was home schooled for most of my elementary education, 3-8th grade) and social issues. My mom loved English and history, so devoted much of our home schooling years to these rich topics.

Crafts were my first joy, as I learned to crochet when I was four years old. I have always enjoyed drawing and painting. My scrapbooks are elaborate. Quilts are something I have too many of begun, too few finished. Knitting is my latest joy, as I find it very useful--everyone of my six 'boys' wants socks and sweaters. My dad was constantly pursuing a new craft, and perfecting it. He manufactured many of his tools for wood and metal working, as well as designing equipment for the field.

By the time I was six, I had taught my younger brother to crochet. In grade school, even though I was never the top student, my classmates often relied on me to tutor them. Both of my parents are natural teachers, so I came by this fault naturally.

I am married to the love of my life and have been for ten years. We have five excellent boys, ages 3, 5, 7, 9,and 11. My time is spent cooking, teaching my children, knitting, cleaning, baking and sewing. I have run several businesses, but retired from my last one, daycare, this past fall.

I grew up on a farm in Colorado and loved that way of life. I currently live in a small town in the Rocky Mountains. We would love to relocate to some acreage with a long growing season, raise milk cows, chickens and pigs, and rear our children naturally.

My favorite things to read are how-to guides--of almost any sort, but my favorite books are novels.

"You are a living magnet.
What you attract into your life
is in harmony with
your dominant thoughts.”

- Brian Tracy

In the Spotlight

Dilly Beans: How to Pickle Green Beans

 Dilly beans are delightfully tangy, with a pleasant crunch.  My family enjoys them with all sorts of  meals, such as roast, baked chicken, turkey -- served in any manner, and hamburgers.  When I serve dilly beans, I never have to worry about...

• 
  19
  wehavekids.com

  How to Sew Prefold Cloth Diapers

  16 months ago

  Make prefold cloth diapers that can be used multiple times. You can use a variety of fabrics, new or old. Follow my step-by-step instructions to sew diapers yourself.

• 
  40
  dengarden.com

  Growing and Using Egyptian Onions

  18 months ago

  Egyptian onions, also known as top onions, grow sets instead of flowers at the top of the stem. Planted in the fall, the onions are ready for use before most of the garden can be planted.

• 
  109
  First Aid

  How to Remove Objects From the Nose

  7 years ago

  Raisins, rocks, seeds, beads, bells, and buttons: all of these objects will fit in a small child's nose.

• 
  15
  Women's Fashion & Clothing Styles

  How to Redesign Your Wardrobe for the New Season

  5 years ago

  Learn some tips on how to build a wardrobe that helps you look your best.

• 
  41
  Home Remedies

  Breathe Easy with Boiled Flax-seed Oil

  13 years ago

  Boiled flax-seed oil, which has the consistency of egg whites, will clear the lungs of mucus, making it possible for you to breath easy. It is simple to make, easy to use and has no known side affects.

• 
  20
  How to Knit

  Hand-knit Wool Diaper Cover Pattern

  13 years ago

  Are you searching for a soaker pattern that will keep your baby covered without overwhelming him? Something that is full and flexible, that will move with his every movement? A cover pattern, designed for use with 100% wool? Then I would like to...

• 
  6
  Income & Making Money

  Plumbing and Money: What is your bathroom telling you?

  4 years ago

  Money is like energy and ideas. It flows from one place to another, from one person to another. Sometimes my husband and I are very deliberate about where the money goes, but other times, it seems to leak out of our account without our notice. ...

• 
  31
  delishably.com

  How to Make Soft Hop Yeast (Plus Hop Yeast Bread Recipe)

  2 years ago

  Learn how to make your own hop yeast and use it to make delicious bread. I discovered hop yeast in a quest to relieve my son's ADHD symptoms.