June 2, 2005

Fresh Strawberries with Cream DipCombine cream cheese and sour cream in a small bowl; beat at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar, mixing well. Chill 1 hours. Serve with fresh strawberries.

 

Chocolate Pudding FudgeMicrowave 4 chocolate squares, 6 Tbsp. of the butter and water in large bowl on high about 2 minutes or until butter is melted, stir. Add dry pudding mix, stir until well blended.

 

French Vanilla MoussePour milk into medium bowl, add dry pudding mix and flavored instant coffee. Beat with wire whisk about 2 minutes. Gently stir in whipped topping. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.

 

Oven Braised Country HamPlace ham slices in a lightly greased 9x13 pan; sprinkle with brown sugar. POur water around ham. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

 

Daisy BiscuitsCut cream cheese and butter into flour with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

 

Chocolate Almond CoffeePlace coffee filter in brew basket of coffee maker. Place sugar and almond extract in empty pot of coffee maker. Add cold water to coffee maker, brew.

 

Turkey Rice SoupThis delicious soup is a perfect way to warm up on a chilly day. It is also a good way to use any leftover turkey after the holidays.

 

Mini Bulletin BoardI added a "mini" bulletin board above my computer screen. To make the small bulletin board, I covered a long strip of scrap foam with fabric using my glue gun.

 

Refilling Mopping SystemsIf you are using one of those mopping systems where the cleaning solution is sprayed onto your floor and it has the pop in kind of bottle on it, when the solution is all used up, do what I did, cut a small hole in the top of the bottle and I refill it with my own solution.

 

Bird PiePut it out in your birdfeeder and see what kind of birds eat it all.

 

Salt Blocks for BirdsMany birds love salt blocks. Just make sure it's off the ground and something is under it so you don't kill plants underneath.

 

Removing Deodorant MarksTake a pair of old panty hose and rub back and forth across the fabric where the deodorant stain is. It will help remove it.

 

Shredded Paper for Gift BasketsWhen I make a gift basket, I use the shredded paper from my shredder for filler. Sometimes I shred some colored paper, a comic strip, or some left over gift wrap and use it on top of the plain shredded paper for a fancier basket.

 

Make Your Own ChalkboardYou can make a chalkboard to fit any size of frame. Just take a thin, smooth board (smooth plywood works well for this), cut to the desired size and paint it with dark primer. Let that dry and spray paint it with chalkboard paint, which you can buy at your local hardware store.

 

Binky (Poodle/Terrier) in his Halloween CostumeBinky is my 3 year old, poodle/terrier mix that I saved from Animal Control when he was just 8 months old. He loves to go for rides in the car, long walks, loves to run and play with toys, and loves for people to make over him. He has been neutered, is healthy except for seasonal allergies, and loves his rawhide bones.

 

The Value of a Bird FeederA simple bird feeder outside my office window is within my line of vision while I work. I can see and hear birds while I work. It's nice and relaxing background music and a way to bring the outdoors in.

 

Homemade Rubber MalletDon't own a rubber mallet? Just cut a slit in a tennis ball and place it on the head of your hammer. Keep the tennis ball in your tool box and you will always have it handy.

 

Applying Stain To WoodFirst sand the wood and remove any dust before staining. A clean, used pair of nylons or panty hose works well for applying stain to wood. The nylon provides an even coat and doesn't leave behind any lint.

 

Borrowing Money for Vacation JokeA young blonde walks into a bank to borrow $10,000 for a European vacation.

 

Return Defective Food ProductsThis brings up one tip that many don't think about. If you get bad food, call the phone number for the company listed on the box and tell them exactly what you found and what you determined to be true. Almost always, you will get an apology and a coupon for replacement.

 

Junk Mail Therapy - Use Your ShredderKeep a shredder right next to the place you sort the daily mail - what a joy to watch all that junk mail go through the shredder! By CA Thomas

 

Copper Jello Mold PlanterOld copper jello molds cost next to nothing at yard sales. Drill a few holes in the bottom and they make great planters. I always have a few plants on hand started from cuttings for a quick gift when I need one.

 

Bird Nesting in the Water - Building TrustThis is the picture of a bird trying to find twigs and build a nest in the water. She manages to find the twig and is struggling to get it... and all this is happening with about hundreds of people looking around the bird and she does not care as she is sure of not being hurt by anyone.

 

My Baby Hibiscus Is Dying?I did recently transplant it. But Ive never had a problem with that before. Usually my Hibiscus are ten feet tall by now. It could be snails. What can I try, if anything? And does anyone have any other advice on transplanting?

 

Pit Marks on Stainless Steel Stovetop?Does anyone know how to get rid of pit marks on a stainless steel oven (stove) top?

 

Uses for Plastic Deli Platters?Ideas for reusing the large plastic platters you get from Delis. Post your ideas.

 

Copperhead Snake Information?We've been building a cabin in WV and I'm planning on going out in July to start painting the inside. What I'm concerned about are snakes, Copperheads to be exact. We were out to the cabin a few weeks ago to do some work and my Hubby was weed whacking.

 

Travel Preparation Tips?Tips for preparing for a trip. Post your ideas.

 

Make Your Own Panties?Does anyone know where I can get patterns for womens panties? I would like styles with no elastic in the legs. I have made panties with elastic in the legs but would like the ones that look more like shorts. Other styles would be accepted.