Ice Cubes, how to prepare enough for a Party

Extra Ice Cubes
Make your own

1. Need extra ice cubes for a party?
Freeze water in clean egg cartons, transfer to sandwich bgs, store in freezer

2. You won't get bubbles in your ic cubes IF you use bottled spring water ,
non-carbonated or if you boils tap water, cool and freeze.

3. A full freezer works best, fill up the empty places Giant ice cubes made by filling
loaf pans, or plastic bags with water do the job. Great for coolers for picnics.

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Caring for Bamboo Furniture

Getting the Dust OUT

To clean dust from the crevices of bamboo furniture, use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner

Sponge dirty bamboo with a solution of warm water and mild detergent or ammonia, rinse and wipe dry.
Apply liquid wax occasionally.

To prevent drying out and splitting,
take bamboo furniture outside once a year and wet it down with a light spray from the garden hose. OR give it a quick shower in the bathroom.

Let it dry slowly out in the sun.

If any bindings come loose, rewrap and tack back in place.

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Dealing With Power Outages

A power outage need not be a disaster;
Be Prepared

1. Stock up on flashlights and batteries, at least one high powered lantern
Have a transistor radio on hand.
2. Keep a good supply of candles with hurricane type holders, for safety
An oil lamp and a camp stove are handy. Keep them free of fuel, BUT know where
to find it.
3. Keep 2 1/2-gallon milk cartons filled with water in your freezer.
4. Check if your furnace can be operated manually, Get the instructions from a
service person
If you don't have a wood stove or fireplace, and you depend on electric heat, invest
in a small non electric heater and be sure it can be properly vented.
5. Maintain an emergency supply of canned goods and dry goods and a few bottle of
mineral water.
6. Have a substitute stove, a charcoal grill, a wok, a camp stove OR canned heat.
Always have adequate ventilation.

When an outage occurs and IF you receive advanced warnings;

go grocery shopping gas up your car Clean your bathtub and fill with water
Fuel your oil lamps and lanterns and make sure they work properly, place around
the house.
Place one of the frozen water cartons in the refrigerator to help keep it cool.
Shut off all microwave ovens, computers, TV sets, stereos etc. These is a safety
measure for when the power is restored.

Learn about where your circuit breaker panels are and have them properly labeled.

If you have any other good helpful ideas, e-mail me so I can share.
Joan

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Saving New PLants from Cutworms

The usual method of foiling cutworms;

place a bottomless tin can OR plastic cup around young plants
(this guards only against worms outside the barrier)

A better control method;

Wrap the stem of the seedling with aluminum foil; before planting.
Plant with 2 inches of foil below the soil surface and 2 inches above.
Be sure the foil is loose so the plant is allowed to grow.

Good Gardening
Any questions or hints; e-mail me anytime.
Joan


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Solutions for New Pets

3 Rules for new pets

1. Don't take home a puppy OR kitten less than 8 weeks old.
You mayencounter behavior problems later in the pets life.

2. Always take a piece of soft fabric when picking up a new puppy.
Rub it on the fur of the mother and siblings to catch the scent
OR takeit a few days before you pick up the new puppy.
Put the fabric in the new puppies bed.

3. If your new puppy \cries at night, missing its mother;
wrap a tickingclock in a towel and place in its bed;
OR wrap a hot water bottle for it tocuddle against.

Sign up for 49+ free "Helpful Hints" by return e-mail.
Joan

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