Tips

Ice Cubes, how to prepare enough for a Party

2009-08-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Caring for Bamboo Furniture

2009-08-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

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.

Dealing With Power Outages

2009-08-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

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

Saving New PLants from Cutworms

2009-07-31T05:48:00.001-07:00

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

Solutions for New Pets

2009-07-30T07:27:00.001-07:00

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

Substitute, for making Life easier

2009-07-29T06:32:00.001-07:00

July 29th 2009

When you run out of Maple syrup and have to wait for a new season, Try this easy and inexpensive substitute.

Go easy on the food budget by substituting this mock maple syrup for the real thinh.

In a glass OR enamel saucepan bring 2cups water to a fast boil.
Add 4cups dark brown sugar, stir until dissolved into a smooth syrup.

Remove from heat, chill, stir in 2 teaspoons maple extract.

Pout into a clean glass jar, let stand at room temperature for 24 hours before using.

It will keep 6 months in the refrigerator.

Any new ideas for me.
Email OR call Joan

Substitues, Shortcuts, Solutions,

2009-07-28T06:26:00.001-07:00

July 28th 2009;

For all who fight with sticky or broken zippers here are a few ideas to help, everyone;

1. To make a zipper work smoothly,run a candle up and down the teeth. If it is really sticky,
use wax paper or a lead pencil.
2. Lost or broken pull up tab; use a safety pin or paper clip.
3. If a zipper pulls apart at the bottom. Carefully undo the stitching, remove the stop and
separate the zipper completely. Put the sides back into the pull and zip it up.
Then, run a zigzag stitch across the bottom of the zipper to create a new stop.

More about replacing zippers another day.

Looking for your creative ideas too . Joan

Substitutes, Shortcuts, Solutions,making Life Easier

2009-07-27T06:40:00.001-07:00

Joan will add a new Helpful Hint each Day for everyone, including Single parents and Grandparents

If you want to start with" 29+ Helpful Hints"; Email me with your information & I will send by return e-mail.. It's FREE

OR; of you have a really good Substitute, Shortcut or ingenious Solution, pass it on and I will add to this Blog
July 27 /2009

Scrapes and cuts happen anytime, a bit more often in the summer;
here are some long tome favourites of mine;

Soap and warm water are your first line of defense against germs anytime.
Wash minor scrapes burns, cute and blisters thoroughly.

An alternate to a store bough antiseptic. the juice from the pulpy centre of a fresh aloe
leaf applied directly to the skin.

Did you know that crushed raw fresh garlic or the freshly extract juice of garlic, APPLIED TO
GAUZE, (not directly to the skin); garlic contains allicin, a powerful germ killer.

Hydrogen peroxide is inexpensive and can be used full strength. Rubbing alcohol may be too
strong and irritate the skin.

Over the counter antibacterial ointments are good for cuts and have the advantage of
preventing a bandage from sticking

NOTE: If the wound is Not healing after a couple of days, see a Doctor.