December 3, 2010

Brady (Labrador)Brady is a 6 year old purebred Lab. I got him when he was two from our vet, after he failed out of guide dog school. He loves to fetch and swim, and is extremely smart.

 

Use Vodka As Shower CleanserUse cheap vodka to clean fiberglass shower stall. Spray on, and wipe clean. It cleans soap scum and shampoo residue. Take precautions to keep the vodka away from the material that seals the drain.

 

Scenery: Colosseum (Rome, Italy)I took this photo while I was on a weekend trip to Rome. After spending the day inside the Colosseum, I turned around and snapped one last shot of the building that has been standing since 80 AD.

 

Ladder Safety For GardenersA recent accident in my community (and the resulting fatality) caused me to think about how something as common as an extension ladder could be both useful and dangerous at the same time.

 

Run Iron Over Waxed PaperBefore you begin to iron, run the iron over a sheet of waxed paper. It will help the iron glide more easily. Also, always keep the plate of the iron clean.

 

Write Directions in Large PrintI have a hard time reading the small print on the directions I get off the internet map sites while I am driving. So I am now making a point of copying the relevant directions on the reverse of the map printout in block letters using a large heavy marker.

 

Scenery: Horse Drawn Hayrake (Central Oregon)This hayrake was on the ranch I grew up on. We lived there in the 1950's, and remembered this rake as always being there. It is a horse drawn rake, of course, so was never used.

 

Neo (Cat)Neo is a one year old short hair cat that we adopted a year ago, on "Make a Difference Day" from our local animal shelter. We went to the shelter to adopt a cat to replace my beloved Spike of 17 years, who had passed away 2 months earlier.

 

Making an Adult BibIf an adult needs a bib, here is the easy way to handle the problem. Get a chain with alligator clips on both ends, like the ones a dentist uses. Use this chain to fasten the dinner napkin around the person's neck. You could use cloth dinner napkins or paper. Works great.

 

Zipper Hair ClippiesPulled-apart zippers transform into funky hair clippies, sure to delight a girl or woman of ANY age!

 

Call 211 for Referrals To Local AssistanceIf you are looking for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more (including holiday help), call 211.

 

Sunset Flight (Singapore)I took this picture during a flight to Singapore. I needed a few minutes to get the right angle and took the shot.

 

Peeling Pearl OnionsHate to peel little pearl onions? Try this: Boil a pot of water. While waiting for it to boil, cut a bit off the top and bottom (root end) of each onion. Drop onions in the boiling water and blanch for just 2 minutes.

 

Copper (Chihuahua)Copper is a 6 year old Chihuahua. I got him from my son in 2005. He chases his stuffed toys when I throw them. I love him.

 

Add Pieces of Soap to Exfoliating GloveWhen your bar soap gets too small, place it in a dollar store exfoliating glove. The glove can be hung in your shower, and can be used without worrying about "soaping" it up first. I have been doing it for years; I am cheap.

 

Garden: Wintered Wild Rose BerryWell, winter is upon us now. I took this photo last week during the (early for the Tri-Cities Washington area) first snowfall. It's of a lone wild rose berry that remains on the snow dusted rose bush. Also, did you know these berries are edible?

 

Using Cooking Oil SprayWhen using non-stick aerosol spray on cookware, spray the pan in your dishwasher. This prevents over-spray on counters and floors, so there's less kitchen clean-up.

 

Reuse Old Suitcases for StorageThe chances are very good that you or a family member have an old suitcases in the attic, basement, or closet. The old hard-shell case has become the dinosaur of trave. Newer ones may be a little shabby, thus not usable for flight trips.

 

Covering The Top of a Gas Stove?I am trying to cover the entire top of my range and leave the burners exposed so I can use them. I was told that using aluminum foil on my gas range was dangerous because the gas can get under the aluminum and possibly catch fire.

 

Bleach Stain on Carpet?My new avocado colored carpet has a large bleach stain. Now I have a large lavender colored area. Help!

 

How Can I Dress Up a Laminated Book Cover?I need some help! I had a cookbook made and there was a misunderstanding and I did not get the picture on the cover of the book. I had the cover laminated so it would stay clean. Is there any way I could put something on the laminate to make it look a little nicer?

 

Troy Bilt Push Mower Won't Start?I have a Troy Bilt push mower with a 6.75 engine. It has no spark from the plug wire. Any ideas?

 

Veggie Burger Recipe?I need a recipe for veggie burgers like the kind I usually buy in the frozen section of the market. The last time I tried to make my own they fell apart.

 

Painting a Bathroom Pink and Brown?I painted my bathroom pink and it's a bright pink. I want to do pink and brown. It has a stand up shower so I can't do a shower curtain. I love the idea of using a lid from a butter bowl and doing brown dots, but how far apart do I space them?

 

Paint Color Advice for Brown and Stainless Kitchen and Adjoining Dining Room?I am remolding my kitchen and my counter top are different colors of brown, beige, gray, and black. The kitchen floor tile is medium brown. My appliances are stainless steel. My kitchen and dinning room are connected.

 

Cleaning Bird Droppings Off Painted Walls?How do I get bird poo off painted walls?

 

Too Many Rooms on One Circuit?I plugged a space heater in my livingroom and 20 minutes later all of the plugs on that one wall stopped working. Two days later, I decorated my outside with Christmas lights.

 

Looking for Online Social Groups?Does anyone know of any good social networking sites other than darn Facebook or Twitter? I joined a good one called Eons.com about 7 months ago following the suggestion of someone here on ThriftyFun and really like it, but there are rumors going around that Eons is about to fold up.

 

What is the Average Yield in Kilograms from a Pea Plant?How many kg does the average pea plant produce?

 

Tips for Organizing and Cleaning Basement?I'm spending the weekend tackling the basement of a low level hoarder. I really need to get everything out and it looking like a real place by Sunday evening.

 

Looking for Zachary Creme Drops?Where or where can I find Zachary chocolate drops? Every Christmas I have gotten them at Wal-Mart and Walgreens, but this year they are no where to be found. Help!

 

Resident Dog Pooping in the House Since Arrival of New Puppy?I have a 7.5 year old Beagle that has never pooped in the house. He is very well behaved and independent. A week back we brought a new Bloodhound puppy (7 weeks old) into the house. Now my Beagle has started pooping in the house. What can I do to stop this behavior?

 

Identifying a Small Lesion Behind Ear with Clear Foul Smelling Discharge?My aunt has a thing on her hair line behind her ear. She thought it was a blackhead, but a bad smelling clear liquid came out. What could it be?

 

Paint Color Advice for Kitchen with Chestnut Cabinets and Black Counter Tops?My kitchen units are chestnut with black counter tops. What colour paint would you recommend for the walls?

 

Calculating Individual Pieces of Produce Per Kilogram?Where can I find information for determining the average number of pieces/units of the following produce per kilogram?

 

How Do I Clean a Serape?How do you clean/wash a Mexican serape/blanket without making the dyes run or ruin the blanket? I am not sure of the fabric. I think it is either wool or acrylic.