Curtain Color Advice?
Dont be afraid of color in your curtains. Youll get tired of whatever color long before they fade. Im 78 and have always had curtains and sheers in the many houses we have lived in. The blue would be a lovely accent with Sea Foam and certainly compliment your...
Sheer Scarf Valance Color Advice?
Use the color you are going to cover the chair in. Or a lighter color in the burgundy palette. You might consider pillows that would be in the same shade as the swag. Stay away from the neutral colors unless you dont want the swag to be a statement. If its...
Dental Work Without Insurance in Northern California?
First try goggling low cost dental (in your town/nearest city) also try CA.gov and your county.gov to see if they have anything. Sometimes it depends on your age - in the 60s we were on welfare in CA and only our children could get dental care, not adults. Good...
Living Room Paint Color Advice?
Your chocolate couch will go with any color, so pick your favorite color. As a sample, mine is orchid, so we started with that color and cut the shade in half (at the store) and it turned out to be very pale orchid, not a shock to the system. In another room...
Painting Ceiling in Mobile Home?
If your mobile is fairly new, it can be painted, my daughter painted all 7 rooms & 2 bathrooms with stark white ceilings.. If it is an old one with what looks like acoustics with holes in it, it can be painted, we used various colors in all 5 rooms and its...
What is This Rare Plant?
It is a plumeria. The flowers should be quite fragrant. We brought 2 from Hawaii and it took about 5 or 6 years before on bloomed, the other died. Years ago I had one that I managed to grow into a 3 foot tree with multiple branches, then one day the main stem...
Use Coke Tab to Hang a Picture
One of the most clever ideas for picture hanging that has been posted in the last 5+ years. Thank you.
Making a Ruffled Dress?
Having learned on a treadle machine we ruffled by hand. Sew 2 parallel lines on the material you want to ruffle, leaving a couple of inches on both ends. Tie one end of threads together, then take the other 4 threads on the other end and start gathering - gently...
Bequest Craft Supplies In Your Will
If you have a large family (5 children & 8 grandchildren)make sure to decide who will get the supplies. I have a daughter who crafts occasionally and can afford it. However I have an ex-daughter-in-law who is a great crafter and has very little money to buy...
Using Leftover Candle Wax?
Save up a couple of candle scraps, then put them in a glass measuring cup and put that in a container with water and put in microwave until it softens. Remove wick & metal holder (if you couldnt get it out prior to microwaving). Then melt wax and pour into...
Natural Hair Dyes
I used henna from age 13 (Mother put it on) until I was too grey about 50+ and had 5 normal healthy chldren. I went from really red to finally a beautiful auburn. What I really liked was that the hairs dye to each particular shade; meaning the light ones are...
Wax Paper For Stubborn Paper Punches
Had my small really old punches for 20+ years and always wondered how to make them work a little better. Thanks, Liz
Silicone Hot Pad as a Curling Iron Holder
Great idea. I bought one about 10 years ago and still works great. Everyone with a curling iron should have one. Elizabeth in Salinas, CA
Putting Decals On Wood?
My favorite glue is Modpodge. You can get it at all craft stores. The main use is to cover an item with it, but Ive used it to stick cloth, paper & soft plastic to almost anything. Our main project was trays. We bought cheap trays painted them for each person...
Buying Daffodil Bulbs?
If you want quality and specialized variety, go to John Scheepers - see below. I have been buying daffies & iris bulbs from them for over 20 years. I have bought from many other places and this is the best. Beware of the box of Walmart bulbs. My daughter bought...
Drying Flowers in a Book
Ive been drying flowers for years, but never thought about putting them in plastic sleeves, let alone using a dryer sheet to do it. Thanks a lot, now I wont have broken flowers. Liz, Salinas, CA
How Long Can You Store Seeds?
Thanks, I didnt even know where to begin to find this out. I use my pea seeds from one year to the next, but didnt know how long they would last. Also thanks for the paper tip, great. Liz, California
Cleaning Clothes That Have Yellowed?
Oxyclean is great for whites. You can leave things soak for days if necessary. I soaked a 50 year old tablecloth for 3 days and the stains finally came out. Unlike bleach, it does not dissolve the material. For colors soak (follow directions) in Clorox 2, Stain...
Tie Plastic Refuse in Knots
Thanks for this tip. Most of California recycles store type plastic bags, but this is great for bread wrappers and other bags that store food. Liz Kent, Salinas, CA
Use A Marble For The Very Last Of A Spray Bottle
Youre really smart & I feel really dumb. I have had this frustration for 56 years of housekeeping and this never occured to me. Most of the tips Ive been doing for many years (like turning remotes over), but this is really the best. Thanks you, Liz
TV Keeps Shutting Off?
Ours was a Quasar (Panasonic?) about 9-10 years old, did the same thing for a year or so then quit completely. Wouldnt turn on again. Had nothing to do with the remote because it happened when we pushed the off button on the set. We would often have to turn...
"Rescue Remedy" for Traveling With Pets
Thank you ever so much for this wonderful tip. We take a 100 mile trip at least once a month (visit grandchildren) in our RV & one of our cats just cries & wimpers the entire time. We have to keep her in a carrier to keep her from climbing the curtains. This...
Septic Tank Care and Feeding
Thanks for the reference to Erma Bombeck. I dont have a septic tank, but maybe some younger people will pick up one of her books. She would give me a good morning laugh after getting my 5 kids off to school. Liz
Make Your Own Decorative Paper
What a great and creative idea. I once and only once did similar with paint, but never considered all the options. Im a very non-creative person and this is extremely helpful. Thank you ever so much. Your site is terrific also. Liz Kent
Decoupaged Paperweights
Question - do you have to sand down the rocks? This is a great idea and I have loads of collected river rocks, but theyre still rough. Thank you from one who is not creative and needs ideas. Liz Kent
Security Software Compatible with Windows Vista?
Norton/Symantec update cost me about $35. It is the best you can get and is worth it. Liz
Traveling to Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore?
Near Mt. Rushmore is Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument. Both are beautiful caves and our 12 year old grandson loved them. There is also Rushmore cave which is also lovely. Also in the area is Hill City and the Black Hills Institute which...
Traveling to Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore?
Fogot to tell you check out your local library for videos and books with photos on Yellowstone. We did that on our first trip there in 1992. Elizabeth
Storing Pet Info and Supplies
Thanks for info. We carry all that for our well travelled cats except for photos. Never occured to me, really good idea seeing one is siamese and the other calico. Liz
Primer Vs. Kilz?
We were novices (never painted anything) when we moved into a 20 year old mobile home. EVERY room was dark paneled. Remember, if you paint over it, it will still look like paneling. Our office is that way and Kilz is the ONLY way to go. When we first painted...
Recycled Wind Clackers
Have many items to make wind chimes, but never occured to me to use jar top to hang them from. Now I can get my projects done. Thanks for great tip. Liz
Wrap and Stack Children's Gifts Together
Six of the 7 grandchildren are now either adults or almost adults, but this still works on the youngest one. Now when he sees a stack of gifts with a single large bow, hes knows its from us and really likes knowing who it comes from by just looking.
Tips for Growing Palms Indoors
Thank you for mentioning palms. I think I have an Arica palm, which I repotted after 3 or 4 years (about 3 or 4 years ago). I keep it on my front porch where it gets no direct sunlight and in the winter I keep it in a spare shower, also diffused light. Question...
