July 29, 2011

Cleaning Aluminum Siding?This is a page about cleaning aluminum siding. Aluminum siding is a very durable and low maintenance siding solution. To keep your siding looking great, it does need periodic cleaning.

 

Wrinkle Free Clothes Without IroningThis is a page to wrinkle free clothes without ironing. Ironing is a time consuming chore that many of us avoid when given the opportunity. Keeping clothes wrinkle free without ironing is a great time saver.

 

Canning CherriesThis is a page about canning cherries. One of the most popular ways of preserving these tart and sweet fruit for later use in pies and other recipes is canning. Choosing the fruit when it is at its best for canning is the first step.

 

Caring for Newly Pierced EarsThis is a page to caring for newly pierced ears. It is very important to care for piercings properly after you get them. If they are not cleaned regularly they can get get infected and getting them to heal will become a painful process.

 

Cleaning a Computer KeyboardThis is a page to cleaning a computer keyboard. Whether it's from general use or a spilled drink, everyone needs to clean their computer keyboard from time to time.

 

Washing Dreadlocks?This is a page to washing dreadlocks. Dreadlocks need to be cared for differently than other hair styles. Proper washing will keep your dreads healthy and looking nice for years.

 

Keeping Squirrels Out of Your Bird FeederThis is a page about keeping the squirrels out of your bird feeder. Despite their delightful antics having the squirrels eating up all of your birdseed can be frustrating.

 

Storing Newspaper ClippingsThis is a page to storing newspaper clippings. Newspaper clippings are a great way to keep a record of current events and even family history. However, they begin to yellow and degrade quickly if not stored properly.

 

Cherry Chicken SaladPerfect for hot summer days.

 

Taco SeasoningThis is nice to have on hand when you don't have a packet of taco seasoning mix. I make it and put in a jar. I also keep the recipe in the jar. That way when I run out, I don't have to hunt up the recipe.

 

Lemonade SconesThis recipe is quick and easy to make with limited ingredients.

 

Turkey CrunchGreat way to use leftover turkey.

 

Clove Cake MuffinsI'm told this recipe is almost 100 years old. Very moist and yummy!

 

Yakitori TareYakitori is Japanese bite sized chicken pieces skewered, marinated and grilled with basting sauce. You can also use an assortment of other types of meats and/or veggies, but that will change the recipe title to "Kushiyaki".

 

Use Old Broken Instrument As PlanterI am very sentimental regarding getting rid of "special" items. My son's first acoustic guitar is missing strings, shows lots of wear, and has no monetary value to speak of. It is something I want to see daily so I have decided to use it as a planter in my garden.

 

Ripening an AvocadoPut the unripe avocado(s) in a small paper bag (like a paper lunch bag) with a moderately ripe banana. Put the bag in a warm location, such as the top of your fridge for a day or two.

 

Think About Where You Store ValuablesA few weeks ago while I was with my husband at the dentist, our back door was kicked in and cash and items were stolen. Like many, I am sure, I had jewelry in jewelry boxes and cash in my china closet.

 

Use a Job Jar for ChoresAs a working parent of 6 kids, the kids helping with chores was a given. Our system was the job jar. All household chores were written down and put into a job jar.

 

Plant Potatoes With Wet NewspaperWhen potato planting time came around, we always saved old newspapers to soak in water the night before to bed the drills before popping the seed potato in and covering with soil.

 

Wildlife: HummingbirdThere are many hummingbirds at my house. We go through 6 to 8 feeders a day. This one obliged for a close up.

 

"Nut Hut Cafe" for SquirrelsMy husband just built this squirrel feeder. We call it the "Nut Hut Cafe". We put peanuts in it about 9 am. By 11 am, it's empty. We only fill it once a day, but we get lots of entertainment from it.

 

Soak Mini Blinds In the BathtubI soak my blinds in Clorox Clean Up in the bathtub for an hour then rinse with the shower head and dry with a couple old beach towels. They look nice and clean when I hang them back up.

 

Cleaning Grill GratesI have found the best way to clean a grill grate is to place foil on the grates. First, cover the top of the grate with foil. Then turn the grill on. Wait for 10 - 15 minutes and remove the foil.

 

Fresh Smelling Sheet SetsI fold the top and bottom sheets in rectangles. Then I wrap them with the folded pillow cases, and a scented dryer sheet between the sheets. I put the complete bundle into a transparent recycled bag.

 

Keeping Your Dryer Duct ClearFirst off try and hang laundry outside to save electricity, and wear and tear on your dryer. You can always air fluff with a couple of tennis balls for a few minutes to soften up material.

 

Photo: Innovative Waste CompetitionIn Eastbourne, UK, these folks are adding an extra value to waste. All competitors make something useful out of waste materials, that can be juggled for the longest. The juggler wins the first choice of sponsored prizes.

 

Leslie Sansone's DVD for Losing WeightLast year, I was told I had to lose 20 or more pounds. I tried different ways, but it was taking very long to lose the weight. Since it was winter in Illinois and I didn't want to go to a health club, I looked for other options.

 

Use Bamboo Skewers To Keep Cats OutI keep cats out of my raised veggie beds by placing bamboo skewers about 8 to 12 inches apart in a grid pattern. You want them to be close enough, so that cats are uncomfortable digging or even walking through the garden.

 

Lemon and Orange Peels for Keeping Cats OutSave all your lemon and orange peel after use and place them around the garden where the cats get in. Also, if you can identify the areas where they defecate (they tend to use the same spots ), put some peels there too.

 

Add Sand To Your House PlantsFungus gnats live in soil. The gnats lay their eggs in the soil and their larva feed on the decomposing matter, they pupate and hatch into flying gnats which starts the cycle all over again.

 

Aluminum Foil Sharpens ScissorsA few snips thru a folded in 4ths piece of foil sharpens up dull scissor blades in a "snap".

 

Peeling an AvocadoPeeling avocados doesn't need to be hard or messy. This simple method has worked for us for years. After cutting your avocado in half, make a twist with the two halves, and it will pop apart.

 

Panther (Cat)Panther is an outside stray that found us. He is the most loving cat that just likes to be held and cuddled! While taking outside pictures of my granddaughter in her angel costume, Panther just had to get in on the action.

 

Remedy for Stinky FeetTo remedy stinky toes, soak your feet in a pail of warm black tea many times. Wear sandals and air your feet.

 

Dishwasher Detergent and Shout Color Catcher Sheets for Dye Transfer StainsFirst, soak the affected clothing item overnight or longer, in a solution of 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent and enough warm water to cover the item. This also works well on stains.

 

Scenery: Platte River (Eleven Mile Canyon,...This photo overlooking the Platte River was taken at Eleven Mile Canyon in Colorado. This is one of the many places that my husband and I visited for our anniversary this year.

 

Box It! (Gift Box)During Christmas time, it is always difficult to find ways to stretch the budget. I enjoy handing out small presents. To me, this is a way of sharing the joy of Christmas and spreading some cheer all around.

 

Buddy (Dog)Buddy is slowing down these days. Walks are shorter. Naps are longer. He has several favorite sleeping quarters. His real bed is by my computer chair and on the closet floor behind my long dresses.

 

Better Tasting IceWhen ice is used in a drink such as cola, rinse the ice under cold water before putting into glass. Rinsing the ice will remove frost from ice cubes for a better tasting drink. The frost instantly waters down the drink.

 

Caring For Newborn KittensIf you find yourself in the position of playing "mama" to newborn kittens, here are a couple of things we learned over the years. They need to be fed about every 2-3 hours to begin with.

 

Have Kids Work On Crafts With YouWhat better way than to get the kids involved in a craft as well? Doing paper projects, coloring or even winding yarn balls, they are able to say they are making something, too.

 

Cantaloupe Ready?My son works in the produce section of one of our local grocery stores and he says to look at the "squiggles" on the outside of a cantaloupe. If they are close together, it's not ready. If there is a good amount of space between the "squiggles", it's ripe! Enjoy!

 

Storing BlackberriesThe best way to store blackberries for use at a later date is to rinse them and then put them on a cookie sheet in your freezer until they are frozen solid. Then transfer them to a Tupperware type container and keep in the freezer until you want to use them.

 

Decorative Deterrents for CatsI would lay down stones, rocks, pebbles, or pine cones. Unlike sprays, they're decorative, safe, inexpensive, and durable. Cats won't bother moving these around when they can find exposed dirt elsewhere.

 

Proper Disposal of Unwanted ThingsSometimes it is hard to know how to dispose of broken household items. It is best to try and find an alternative to the landfill if at all possible, especially since some things such as electronics and batteries pollute if not properly recycled.

 

Pine Cones for Keeping Cats Out of the GardenMy solution would be to lay down stones or pine cones around plants. It's decorative, reusable and free, or a one-time purchase. I also believe it's safer, more effective, and cheaper than sprays. Cats won't bother pushing these around, when they can find exposed dirt elsewhere.

 

Dragonfly As Antenna DecorationWe watched this dragonfly land and leave 3 times in a few minutes. We figured he wanted his picture taken. My husband ran in and got the camera. The little guy waited for me to snap a pic and then flew away.

 

Wake Up Early To ExerciseI have found that the best time to exercise is first thing in the morning, that way, I don't have to find time throughout the day to try to get some exercise. I set my alarm to get up 30 minutes earlier each day.

 

Chicken Wire to Protect Your Garden from CatsLay down a layer of chicken wire, weigh it down very well, and cover it with a thin layer of dirt. Cats like to dig and they cannot dig through chicken wire but flowers and veggies can still come up through it.

 

Outdoor Movie NightWe have weekly movie night outside. We set up a DVD projector to show the movie on the garage door. Every week someone else picks the movie and the snacks. Everyone has a great time.

 

What is This Plant? (Giant Ragweed)This thing just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It is now almost 5 feet tall. It looks like it will bloom or something, but then just keeps sending out more leaves in the place where it seems a bud ought to be forming.

 

Growing Plumbago?I have several plumbagos that I planted several years ago. They are very large, but have spread out from a hole in the middle of the plant instead of standing upright. What can I do?

 

Canning Okinawa Spinach?I would like to know how to can Okinawa spinach. This is a veggie plant that's very good for keeping blood cholesterol low. I live in an area with sub zero weather, so I want to preserve some of the plant for winter eating. They don't freeze very well.

 

Getting Rid of Gnats on Houseplants?I have gnats on my indoor ivy and have been spraying it with insecticidal soap, but I found one on the top of my coffeemaker. Is there any homemade ways to get rid of the darn things?

 

Freezing Broad Beans?Can I freeze broad beans?

 

Kitchen Paint Color Advice?I have white cabinets and royal blueish countertops. I also have a black stove and refrigerator. I want to change my kitchen from white walls, but do not want anything too dark. I kind of was leaning to light gray, but am not sure. I have a peanut-goldish color with burgundy in my dining room, which is adjacent to the kitchen. I have an open floor plan, so I don't want it to look like one room, but also don't want it to look like a bunch of crazy colors either. Any ideas?

 

Choosing Appliance Colors?I live in an old farm house. I sanded down and painted my cupboards to a darker cream base with barn red cupboard doors top and bottom. The wall I painted a dark melon color. Right now, I have white appliances. I want to keep the house look to an old farmhouse look.

 

Removing Nail Polish from an End Table?I just found an end table at a yard sale. It has white nail polish on it. How can I get it off? The table is a dark cherry color and it has a shiny finish. I'm afraid I will make it worse if I mess with it. It is a really nice table; what to do?

 

Removing Smoke Odor After Mattress Fire?We had a mattress fire and some burn damage to the floor. There is no soot, but a smoke odor is there. What do I use to deodorize and get rid of the smoke odor permanently? I know I have to clean everything, but am not sure where to look for products or what to ask for.

 

Cleaning White Bathroom Tiles That Have Yellowed?The white tile around my bathtub has turned yellow. What can I use to clean the tile and make it white again?

 

Shopping for Discount Nasal Strips?Does anyone know where I can purchase discount nasal strips?

 

What is Killing Our Cats?Anyone have a clue as to why 3 cats have died in the last 2 summer around our spring? Two last year and one this year. It was very disturbing to discover our cats dead by our spring. Possible snake?

 

Spraying Garlic on Dogs for Flea Control?If I boil up some garlic cloves in water and spray the residue on my dog, do you think it would get rid of fleas?

 

Getting Rid of Gnats on Plants?My mom told me to mix water, dish soap and lemon juice into a spray bottle and spray my plant's leaves, top and bottom, and also water them with this mixture to get rid of gnats and/or fruit spiders.

 

Chihuahua With Black Skin on Belly?My Chihuahua's belly is black and irritated causing her to scratch until she bleeds. Does any one know about this skin problem?

 

Growing a Small Garden Indoors?I just read somewhere that small coolers (the throw away kind) are perfect for growing my own carrots, potatoes, radishes, and that I can grow bell peppers in a pot and grow strawberries and tomatoes from hanging pots.

 

Activities for a Person Who is Legally Blind and Living with Dementia?My mother is legally blind and has early dementia; do you have any ideas for activities she might be able to do. She use to enjoy crafts and some paint by numbers, but she never had patience to learn to knit. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

What to Do If You Find a Stray Dog?I have these stray dogs that keep coming to my house. I've put up found dog posters. It's been two weeks, what do I do with them?