May 12, 2011

Strawberries with Sour Cream and Brown SugarThese were a big hit with my boys. We had some strawberries left over from Mother's day and needed to use them up. So I put some sour cream and brown sugar in little bowls, and let them go to town.

 

Spaghetti Sauce with Angel Hair Wheat PastaThis is a recipe I learned from my mother, who is now 92 years old. It is one of the best spaghetti recipes I've ever tasted, and my family and friends agree.

 

Watermelon JuiceDuring the watermelon season have this yummy juice recipe on hand for a refreshing, tasty treat ;-)

 

Helping a Pack Rat Get OrganizedTips for helping a pack rat organize and get rid of their stuff.

 

Wildlife: Hungry SquirrelHe garbage picked and ran up the tree to eat peanut butter out of the jar in the tree.

 

Coffee for Brunette HairBrunettes, want to enhance the color of your hair? Try this: Steep 1/4 cup coffee grounds in 3 cups hot water and let cool completely. Strain out the grounds and pour over clean, damp hair.

 

Sunrise (Cocoa Beach, FL)We went to visit relatives in Florida in March. We woke up early to see the sunrise!

 

List for Garage SalesEvery year before garage sale season starts, I make a list of items I need for around the house or personal items I'm interested in finding. That way I have a "road map" for the season.

 

Scenery: Been a Long DayI caught my coon hound taking a nap on a round bale, after a day of romping in the yard.

 

Wear Earplugs When VacuumingInstead of spending the money for an expensive, silent vacuum cleaner, use earplugs or your earplug music device with the volume turned up to help get rid of the noisy, annoying vacuum sound. These items are much cheaper!

 

Mark Medication Times On CalendarIf you have to take medication every day or more, and don't always remember if you take it, get into the habit of writing on a calendar the time of day or night every time you take it.

 

Garden: Apple Blossom in SpringSpringtime in 2011, this Crab apple blossom was darn near perfect, taken on a perfect sping day in Ocean City, Maryland. The tree is located beside the "Breakfast Cafe", I work there. It was over 60 degrees and there was a nice breeze going.

 

Keep Emergency Supplies in TrunkI keep a small suitcase in my car's trunk with a change of clothing, personal hygiene products, and some spare money for emergencies.

 

"Spicing up" Boring SandwichesAs a way to keep food costs down, I make sandwiches at home to take to work daily. As we all know, there are only so many 'choices' of sandwiches, which, in my case, became too routine and boring.

 

Save Money on Books, CDs, and DVDsUnless you HAVE to have everything new and must see the latest and greatest, you can go to Amazon.com and purchase a used movie, CD, or book and enjoy it for much less than buying new or paying admission charges.

 

Nemo (Domestic Shorthair)Nemo is an 8 year old domestic shorthair. We got Nemo when he was a kitten in 2002. He sleeps a lot, but sometimes he gets playful. He likes to sleep with my sister and I (mostly with me) at night.

 

Robin in Azalea GardenMy passion is taking photos in our back yard of the birds, wildlife, the ducks we raised for our pond, flowers, and nature scenery. I had the opportunity to visit Tyler, TX, on April 1, 2011.

 

Benefits of Japanese Matcha TeaMatcha tea is a wonderful, powder form of green tea from Japan. Recently, I began drinking this tea simply because I loved the flavor. Over a period of time, however, I found this drink had two other incredible benefits.

 

Use Coupons to Buy Gift CardsCheck out your local grocery store ads for coupons on gift cards. Today, I saved $10 on a $50 gas card with a coupon in the ad.

 

Save Lids for Craft OrganizingLids of jars work well to hold beads, straight pins, sequins, etc. I especially like the lids from peanut butter jars.

 

Harvesting And Preparing HorseradishIf you like strong flavors, horseradish is one of the healthiest and most versatile perennial herbs to grow.

 

Saving a Wet LaptopI was on a plane that ran into a major air pocket and terrible turbulence that caused drinks, snacks, small electronics, and books to fly off the tray tables and out of hands as we bounced around for a few seconds.

 

Homemade ExfoliatorInstead of spending money on store bought exfoliators make your own quick, simple and fabulous. Wet your face with warm water. In your hand, mix baking soda and honey.

 

Screen Door SubstituteInstead of paying to have a screen door installed between an attached garage and the interior of the home, drape a shear lacelike material over an expansion rod. Place the rod at the top of the door inside the framework.

 

Replace Toothbrush After IllnessI decided that is good practice to throw out your toothbrush after a virus, the flu, or any bacterial infection, so that you are not re-infecting yourself.

 

Green Cleaners and Stain RemoversGood stain removers include hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and laundry soap bars, such as Zote, Lirio, and other brands available at Latino or Afro-Carribbean stores and on line.

 

Antique-Look Jewelry BoxBy using paint techniques and a heat gun, give an ordinary wooden jewelry box an antique look.

 

Looking for Hidden RebatesWhen purchasing a large appliance, there is often a store or manufacturer's rebate attached. What many don't realize, however, is that there are more rebates waiting to be taken.

 

Honey (Chow Chow)Honey is 3 years old and is a Chow Chow. We got Honey as a puppy a few years ago from the Northwest Chow rescue. Honey loves long morning walks, and she especially likes going to the beach.

 

Garden: Daffodil in Early Spring (Ohio)It has not been a very pleasant April in Northeastern Ohio, but at least the daffodils are blooming profusely and trying to brighten our days. I took this photo of one daffodil in my front bed.

 

Troubleshooting an Electrical Circuit?I plugged some wires into my home outlet and it sparked. Now some of the house outlets aren't getting any power. What should I do?

 

11th Birthday Party Ideas?Where are good birthday party places for a eleven year old?

 

Getting Rid of a Blister?How can I get rid of a blister caused, I believe, by a tight shoe? I tried antibiotic cream. I even tried a fungus ointment. I've had it for about 5 months. I would soak it with alcohol before the latter was applied.

 

Is Silver Item Plated or Solid?I have a silver creamer with no markings and it isn't magnetic. How do I figure out if it is plated or solid?

 

Lemon Tree is Not Blooming?I have a lemon tree that is over 5 years old. To date it has never bloomed. I have dug a shallow ditch where the branches end and I have put organic compost into this. I also water daily only in this ditch after the monsoons until the next monsoon. What am I doing wrong?

 

Where Can I Sell Loose Gem Stones?I have bought a lot of loose gem stones, all are real, (no cubic zirconium). I would like to sell some. I have tried many jewelry stores, but no luck! I have a people phobia, so going to a flea market or such is out of the question! Anyone have any ideas?

 

My Rose Bush is Not Blooming?My rose bush (yellow) is quite large, yet it only has one bud! The canes are continuing to grow. I water and feed the beautiful tall bush. My question: If I trim the tall canes from the top, will the rose bush begin to bud?

 

Inexpensive Storage Bins?Has anyone found an inexpensive solution to those neat little fabric or woven basket type storage bins that go so nicely on shelving? I need a bunch of them, but they are a minimum of $6.00 plus each.

 

How Do I Can Hot Peppers and Green Tomatoes?I'd like to know how to can hot peppers with green tomatoes in it? Do I use vinegar and water, or just plain vinegar? My grandma use to do it, but I cant remember how. Thank you.

 

Finding a First Job?Getting a job can be a great learning experience for a child. It's important to find the right job. Job ideas for kids that are safe and will teach them responsibility.

 

Home Remedy for Skin Tags?How can I remove skin tags at home?

 

Replacement Parts for George Foreman Rotisserie?I have a George Foreman (baby George rotisserie) and need a timer control knob. Salton Inc. is no longer in business. Any suggestions?

 

Can I Spray Dry Wall Type Texture on Plaster Walls?Can regular drywall texture be sprayed onto painted plaster walls? If so, is there any special preparation necessary prior to texturing? The walls were papered, but that has been removed and the paste washed off. Thanks in advance.

 

How Do I Graft a Citrus Tree?I am looking for information on grafting a citrus tree.

 

Donating Old Encyclopedias?We have several sets of old encyclopedias and we want to donate them. Who can we contact?

 

Four Year Old is Being Mean and Aggressive?My 4 yr old has become very verbally aggressive and mean mostly to my daughter who is 2. No matter what punishment I have used nothing phases him.

 

Repairing a Papasan Chair?The wood base of my Papasan chair broke. What is the best way to repair it?

 

Planning a Church Yard Sale?I need help planning a yard sale at my church. I have never planned a yard sale before and I like things to be well organized.

 

Do White Leather Purses Yellow?My experience with white purses has been that with age they start to get a yellow tinge to them. My question is, do white genuine leather purses turn yellow with time, if so, is there anything or any way to treat a white leather purse to help prevent yellowing?

 

Homemade Natural Cat Repellent?We are looking for an inexpensive homemade natural repellent to keep stray cats out of our garden.

 

Hiring a Clown for a Child's Birthday Party?Where can I find a clown in Johnson county Kansas for good price for a 4 year old's birthday party?

 

How Do I Remove a Chemical Odour in the Freezer?How can I remove chemical odour in the freezer? Please help