Some Practical Christmas Gifts For Older People

Here is another terrific article from wikiHow.com.  I ran across this while trying to get some ideas for Christmas gifts and thought I would share it with you.

How to Choose Practical Christmas Gifts That the Elderly Will Appreciate

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Choosing the best gift to give grandma and grandpa is a dilemma that faces all families at the holidays. They have everything, need nothing, have limited space, but love to feel that someone cares enough to take time to find the perfect gift for them. We have some suggestions for practical gifts for the elderly that will not be forgotten after the holidays. Although gift cards are a great gift for some people, quite honestly the older folks don't know how to use them or forget to use them, so we do not recommend gift cards for this generation.

 Steps

1.  PikStiks are one of the handiest tools ever invented, for both old and young. These reachers and grabbers come in a range of lengths and enable someone to retrieve items from the top shelf of a cupboard or closet, without standing on a chair or to pick up items that are on the floor, without having to get up from the sofa, and can even reach and grab objects that have fallen behind the washing machine. They are easy to use, even for people with arthritis or limited arm and hand movement.
   
2.  Sliding cabinet organizers are such a great addition to any kitchen, that we feel compelled to mention them as a holiday gift idea.  We know this may seem like a weird idea, but think about it for a while. These cabinet organizers come in a variety of sizes for a variety of uses and would help all older people with storing and retrieving cooking pots and cleaning supplies, without having to get on their hands and knees to try to find something in the back of the cabinet.  Of course, someone would have to help with the installation of these, but think how easy it would be for them to find and reach everything.
   
3.  Gardening items, such as a gardening stool with garden utensils, are always a perfect gift for those seniors who still have access to a yard or patio.  Whether your recipient has a vegetable or flower garden these are perfect gift ideas that will allow them to cultivate their garden with little or no concern for the needed tools and with a comfy place to sit while they work.
   
4.  Colorful, theme based, garden stakes are an easy and beautiful addition to any yard or garden. With low maintenance and easy set-up anyone can decorate their outdoor and indoor living areas with these cute and whimsical decorations. No tools or ladders are required to display these, making them senior-citizen friendly. Some nursing homes may allow these to be placed outside a resident's window.
   
5.  Shopping cart trolleys were originally designed for people who walk to the corner grocery store or frequent farmer's markets - like city folks and many Europeans. But they are not just for hauling groceries, they are perfect for transporting laundry to the laundry room or outdoors to the clothesline, for hauling groceries from the car to the house, and for moving a pile of stuff from one room to another.
   
6.  Sheepskin seat belt covers are usually not something you think of as a gift, but the comfort level of senior citizens is so improved that they will thank you over and over for these covers. Even if they do not drive, one of these on the passenger seat belt will make their travels more comfortable by keeping the belt from digging into their neck. While on sheepskin ideas, a sheepskin wheelchair pad is perfect for someone who is wheelchair bound, but these can also be used on a living room chair for extra comfort and warmth. Be forewarned that if they have small pets, the cats and dogs will probably claim the sheepskin pad as their official napping mat!
   
7.  Wall mounted ironing boards are not only a space saver, but a labor saver for the older generation, especially if they have had to downsize their living space. Plus, as we get older and wiser there is less and less items that we feel we have to iron. Putting up and taking down those large clumsy ironing boards, just to iron a collar on a shirt, is not easy.
   
8.  Fleece blanket throws are always an appreciated gift, especially when paired with a book or movie. A fleece blanket is lightweight, easy to fold, easy to wash, and will keep them warm and comfy on those long, lonely winter nights.
   
9.  Tag Tamers, which are soft attachable covers for clothing tags, are a wonderful gift for senior citizens as they will stop the itchiness and scratching caused by sewn-in garment tags  Yes, you could cut out the tags, but there is always a little left at the seam and that can be more irritating than the whole tag itself.
   
10.  A retractable clothes drying line is another idea that many people never think about. Again, these are great for those who have had to downsize their homes or who can't easily get outside to hang up items on the outdoor clothesline. These lines range from 8 to 40 feet of drying surface and the units mount in any small space, such as the laundry area, a mudroom,  even in the bathtub/shower.
    

Even though these suggestions are for gifts that will surely be appreciated by senior citizens, they could also be considered as practical gift ideas for anyone on your holiday list. Make this holiday gift giving season one that your family and friends will thank you for throughout the year.


Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose Practical Christmas Gifts That the Elderly Will Appreciate.  All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Here's How To Winterize A Vacant Home

I'm borrowing a nice article from wikiHOW on how to winterize a vacant home.  Just in case you ever need to know.....It's the best article on the subject that I have found.

How to Winterize a Vacant Home

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
                 
Whether you're closing up a summer vacation home or leaving your very own home during winter for an extended period, it's important to close up for the season. So what should you do to ensure that when your family returns months (or even a year) later, you won’t find a nightmare waiting? The following suggestions will help you to plan and execute a winterization down to the last nut and bolt.

 Steps

1. Look carefully around the exterior and interior of your home and decide what needs to be done. Write it all down to create a checklist. This essential “plan of action” will come in handy when it’s time to open up the place again, because without it, you probably won’t be able to remember all the things that have to be “un-done.” To help you develop your own checklist, the following suggestions, though not applicable in every case, identify potential problem areas that warrant consideration.
   

 Prepare the outdoor areas

1. Water, outdoor items, plants, and external fittings all need some attention when winterizing. Here are some things to consider.
   
2.   Turn off the water at the main supply point. If you don't know how to do this, find out where the main (inside) shut off valve is. Turn off the supply line to the washing machine hose. These hoses are a bit flimsy and can burst while you're away.  If nobody is using the home during the entire period of winter, make sure that the water supply is turned off completely at the mains.
   
3. Drain all water that can be drained. Drain spas, swimming pools and ponds of water.
   
4.  Protect the garden and outdoor plants. Cover any plants that are frost intolerant and would benefit from covering.
   
   
   • Trim shrubbery so doors and windows are not blocked from view (better security). Arrange to have the lawn mowed and shrubbery trimmed.
     
   • If possible, cut tree limbs and branches that overhang the house—they offer rodents easy access to the home’s roof and eaves from which they have easier access to a home.
     
   
   
5. Bring in outdoor furniture, hammocks, seats, delicate garden ornamentation, hose pipes etc. - anything that you consider will not winter well under snow or prolonged cold should be stored indoors.
   
   
   • Keep ladders inside or otherwise secured.
     
   
   
6.  Block up any holes in the eaves or walls. Block anywhere that may provide an entry point to little furry creatures seeking warmth and home for winter; otherwise, you may have a surprise next spring that includes babies.
   
   
   • Check that all holes and cracks in exterior walls and foundations and around pipes that penetrate the exterior walls are sealed; otherwise they are entry points for rodents and insects.
     
   • Rodents and birds can also gain entry via stovepipes and chimneys so these must be secured as well. Shut your fireplace dampers and cap the chimneys. A #10 can (large coffee can) may be used to cap an open stovepipe (the kind that on top takes the shape of a T or an H), but a chimney should be capped with a permanent, stainless steel cap with wire mesh venting. Close flues and dampers.
     
   
   
7. Lock away all pleasure craft such as boats, ATVs, bicycles, canoes. kayaks, cars etc. in the garage or shed and ensure that the lock is strong.  Block window views into this storage space.
   
8. Take all the trash out of your home before you leave, especially any food waste.  Cover compost bins thoroughly.  Move dead plant material away from the sides of the house to prevent moisture build-up (mildew problems) and possible fire fodder for the late spring in case you can't get back any earlier.
   
   
   • Leave nothing outdoors that can be blown about by a strong wind or washed away by a lake or river overflowing its banks.
     
   
   

 Fix the heating and plumbing

1.  Turn off the main water-supply valve or stop the pump. If the furnace should fail on a very cold day, water in a pipe could freeze and burst the pipe. Open all faucets and drain all waterlines—empty or mainly empty pipes cannot burst from freezing water.
   
   
   • Pipes can be drained at their low-point drain valves or, if there is insufficient slope to the lines, by opening a pipe junction. If unsure if all water has drained from pipes, use an air compressor to blow out all water pipes.
     
   
   
2.  Turn down the heat, but don't turn it off. Keep it at about 58ºF/14ºC or so, in order to avoid problems with freezing plaster (which will crack in unsightly ways) and pipes.
   
   
   • Unless you're using your summer vacation home for winter sports, you may want to consider not heating it at all if freezing problems are not an issue.
     
   
   
3.  Drain. If you live in an area where freezing pipes can be a problem, drain toilets, water heater (turn off gas or electric supply first) and if on a well and pump system, the expansion tank. You'll also need to completely eliminate or dilute the water in drain traps by pouring an "RV" type antifreeze solution in them as directed by the instructions.
   
   
   • RV antifreeze is commonly used to protect pipes from freezing in RVs and mobile homes; this antifreeze is a type that is safe for use in and around drinking water systems when used as directed. Never pour "regular" automotive antifreeze in the locations listed here.
     
   • Close the sink and tub drains.
     
   • If a house is to be vacant for a long time, you may prevent water in a toilet’s trap from evaporating (and thereby permitting sewer gases to enter the home) by raising the toilet’s lid and seat and covering the bowl with saran wrap.
     
   • Read How to turn off the water supply to a toilet for more information.
     
   
   
4. Deal with septic systems. Drain the water storage tank and consult a neighbor or local plumber to learn if the septic system should also be drained. Turn off the water heater before you drain it. Drain water from a pump by using its drain plug. For dishwashers, refrigerators (with a water dispenser or an ice maker) and clothes washers, follow the manufacturer’s directions. Remove and empty any "whole house" or "in line" type filter canister.  Remove any water filter inside refrigerator.  If you find the task daunting, get a local plumber to do it for you.
   
5. Read How to winterize your evaporative cooler for instructions regarding your evaporative cooler.
   

 Prepare the kitchen

1.  Clean out the fridge and don't leave anything in there which is likely to go bad during the time you are away.  If you have things in the freezer, empty it; don't leave anything in it in case the electricity is off for an extended period of time; you won't necessarily be aware and the food will have thawed and refrozen, which is very dangerous.  If you must leave frozen food, here is one method for determining if your freezer has warmed during the winter:  freeze a container of water solid, then place a coin on the surface of the ice; if the coin has sunk into the ice when you return, then the freezer warmed, letting the ice melt and then refreeze.
   
2. Remove all food. All foods should be removed so they don’t lure rodents and insects. Dry foods that remain should be locked in tin- or aluminum-lined cupboards or cabinets, and seeds and grains should be stored in metal containers with screw-on lids.
   
3. Clean the refrigerator and freezer thoroughly. Prop open their doors, the better to forestall mold and mildew (which like to grow in the dark) and their odors, which may transfer to the refrigerator’s plastic parts.
   
   
   • You may have to turn off the icemaker and loosen refrigerator bulbs.
     
   • To further thwart odors, place an open bag of charcoal on the inside of the open refrigerator.
     
   
   
4. Guard against insects and rodents. Wash kitchen trash containers and put away soap, sponges, candles and other possible sources of food for vermin. Spray a long-lasting insecticide along baseboards and under the sink. Place insect traps under the sink and on kitchen counters and use chemical rodent deterrents under the sink and in the garage, too.
   
5. Remove items that could freeze. In areas subject to freezing, remove all bottled liquids, such as mineral water, soda, beer and paint, because their containers may burst when their contents freeze. Empty water from jars, vases and even decorative indoor mini-fountains.
   

 General

1.  Clean everything. If linens, bedding, towels and the like remain, they should be washed or cleaned and then stored in boxes, preferably rodent-proof ones. Strip beds to allow the mattresses to air out. Open empty drawers and closets; use mothballs in the others. Remove all trash.
   
   
   • Vacuum carpets and floors to ensure that no crumbs or other sources of food remain for vermin.
     
   • In humid regions, use desiccants (water-absorbing material) in closets; most hardware stores sell them.
     
   
   
2. Cover furniture with sheets or cloths. If you are closing up a vacation home, cover the furniture to protect it from dust and light discoloration.
   
3.  Remove all fire hazards. Dispose of or move potentially flammable items such as oily rags and stacked papers, before you leave.
   
4. Unplug all electronic and electrical appliances such as the TV, VCR, toasters, dryer, washer,  etc. Any charging devices should also be unplugged. This is a good idea if there is an electrical storm so that no surges get to your computers, etc., and blow them out.
   
5. Ask a neighbor to be on the lookout for packages which may come to you by UPS, Fedex or any another service. Give the neighbor your phone number and ask them to call you if you get anything. Alternatively, they can keep packages for you in their home until you return.
   
   
   • Arrange for indoor plants to be watered if necessary.
     
   
   
6.  Pay all your bills before you go, or make arrangements to pay remotely by internet, through relatives or some other convenient and reliable means. If it's a vacation home, make sure that the municipality has the correct billing address for you to send rates bills etc. to during the time that you are away; you don't want a nasty summons because you forgot to inform them of your winter absence.
   
7.  Make sure that your insurance coverage is adequate for being absent during winter. Due to the increased potential for something to go wrong (for example, burst water pipes, leaking gas heating systems, etc.), insurance companies can be  tough on requirements. Ask about special requirements for vacation homes and for homes vacant due to traveling or snowbirding elsewhere.
   

 Utilities

1. Consider turning off the electric power. Some experts suggest turning off electric power completely but this depends solely on local conditions. For example, in a region subject to freezing you may elect to leave the heating system on but at a lower temperature to avoid frost damage to the home’s interior and its contents. If you use an electronic alarm system, then continuous electric power is required (apart from back-up batteries).
   
2. Unplug. If you leave the electric power on, unplug electric appliances, including microwave ovens and TVs, to avoid the risk of fire in the event of a faulty switch or a rodent gnawing the wires.
   
3. Set your thermostat to a level adequate to keep the inside temperature above freezing and to keep things dry. If the home is located in a warm, damp climate, you should have a humidistat installed and set to maintain a reasonably dry interior.
   
4. Don't forget the gas. If there are gas appliances in the home that have been approved by the American Gas Association, they would have automatic shutdowns that will close the gas valves if their pilot lights go out. Such appliances may be left on if properly vented, but if in doubt, check the owner’s manuals. For long absences, some experts recommend shutting off gas hot-water heaters completely.
   

 Security measures

1. Lock it up. High quality locks for your doors and windows are a must! Check that all your windows and doors are shut and locked. This includes checking the small attic, bathroom, and basement windows. Close skylights and ventilation shafts.
   
   
   • If in a damp, humid climate, periodically lubricate pin tumbler locks with white lithium grease; using anything else will cause the mechanisms to gum up over time.
     
   • Secure the doors. Strike plates and door hinges should be secured with wood screws at least three inches long.
     
   • Close window shutters. Aside from enhancing security, shutters will, along with drapes, blinds and curtains, keep carpeting and fabrics from fading.
     
   • Unplug garage door openers.
     
   
   
2.  Make it look like someone is home. Buy a couple of light timers and set them up to turn on automatically in the evenings. If it's a summer vacation home, this may be less viable. Instead, have neighbors keep an eye on your home occasionally.
   
3. Do not leave valuables in a vacation home that may attract thieves.  At the very least, move them out of the line of sight from windows.
   
   
   • Take all small valuables with you.
     
   
   
4. Stop your mail. Do this online at USPS, Canada Post etc., using their hold mail sites; or, go into your local post office and ask them for a form. A small fee may apply.
   
   
   • Stop any other routine deliveries as well.
     
   
   
5. Check back-up systems. If an electronic alarm system is used, make certain that back-up batteries (if any) are in good condition and able to provide coverage in the event of power interruption; you may want to consider other standby power options as well. If the alarm system is monitored, don’t forget to inform the security company of your date of departure and tell them where you can be reached in an emergency. Give the same information to the local police and fire departments.
   
6. Have someone make regular check-ins. If there is a neighbor who’ll remain in the area while you’re gone, try to work out an arrangement by which someone will come over every now and then to look the place over.
   
   
   • If you can trust your neighbors completely, you may wish to leave them with a key for emergency entry if something should go wrong. Also leave them with your cellphone number, home phone number, e-mail address or any other alternative ways to reach you while you are living elsewhere or traveling.
     
   
   

 Opening the home on your return

1.   Use the checklist provided here to open up the home. For starters, open all windows and turn on the furnace fan to air out the home. Readjust the thermostat and humidistat. Close all drain valves and plugs; open the main water valve or turn on the pump. Flush waterlines.
   
2.  Uncap stovepipes and open flues and dampers. Check the interior and exterior of your home carefully for signs of rodent and/or insect infestation, mildew and fungi.
   
3.  Turn on gas and electric power.
   
4.  Go down the checklist to put your home back to the way it was before you left it. And don’t forget to announce your return to everyone you had informed of your departure.
   

 Video

Learn how to winterize your pond, stream or water garden.

 Tips

• Keep in mind that any water leaks which develop while you are away could run up your water bill significantly, and could also cause massive damage. This is especially true of a popped washing machine supply hose. Once these things burst, there is nothing to hold back the large stream of water which will start to flow. Turning off the water at the main is the best way to guard against such leaks.
  
• If anything is certain about a log home—or about any home, for that matter—it’s the fact that you can’t just walk out the door and leave the place empty for months without having first taken some precautions. So be prepared to spend a few hours getting it ready before you and the family leave; your efforts will maintain the home’s value and ensure its continued enjoyment.
  
• A log home company in Maine notes that in the event of an unexpected, heavy snowstorm in the state’s remote areas, hikers, hunters and snowmobilers can often be stranded for days. The company thinks it might be a good idea for a vacation home owner to leave some food and a supply of dry wood to help those people survive until help arrives. Of course, this means leaving the home unlocked unless there is another shelter nearby.
  

 Warnings

• Check your insurance policy carefully! There are often clauses to shock, such as a requirement to have someone checking your home regularly if you are more than 72 hours away from your home. This unfriendly little clause could void your insurance coverage if you haven't arranged for someone to check.  Also, check the age of your heating system; if it is over a certain age, you may not be covered by insurance. Give yourself plenty of time to have it replaced, if necessary.
  

 Related wikiHows

• How to Winterize a Boat
  
• How to Paint Galvanized Gutters and Downspouts
  
• How to Prepare Your Spa for Winter
  
• How to Survive a Winter Storm
  
• How to Keep Warm After Showering in Winter
  
• How to Hang a Door
  
• How to Unstick a Door
  
• How to Winterize Your Motorcycle
  

 Sources and Citations

• Original source of article, http://www.loghomesnetwork.com. Shared with permission.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Winterize a Vacant Home.  All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Blizzard Bites in a Jar

Last week I posted instructions for Dreamsicle Cookies in a Jar.  These recipes in a jar make great, economical holiday gifts and this week I am posting another one from the really interesting website organizedhome.com.  This is one for people who aren't that crazy about cooking - all you have to do is melt some chocolate chips in the microwave and you're good to go!

Blizzard Bites in a Jar:

Ingredients:
1 c. RiceChex cereal
1 c. small pretzel twists
1/2 c. dry roasted peanuts
1/3 c. Craisins-type dried cranberries
1/3 c. coarsely-chopped dried pineapple
1 c. white chocolate chips
1 quart wide-mouth canning jar with lid and ring
1 small food storage bag

Layer the ingredients in the jar in the following manner:  Rice Chex, pretzels, peanuts, dried cranberries and dried pineapple.
Put the white chocolate chips in the storage bag and place on top on the ingredients.
Put the lid and ring on the jar and attach the instruction tag.

Instruction Tag:
Remove the white chocolate chips from jar.  Pour the other ingredients into a large bowl and mix.
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then stir till melted.  If more time is needed, check at 15 second intervals.  Pour the chocolate over the other ingredients and mix very thoroughly.  Spread in a single layer on wax paper and let cool.  Break into smaller pieces and store in air-tight container or food storage bags.

Dreamsicle Cookies in a Jar

With our economy still trying to bounce back, many of us are cutting back a little this holiday season.  One nice gift that just about everyone loves is the Recipe in a Jar.  This is where most of the ingredients for a nice soup or dessert is layered in a quart jar and topped with a pretty lid.  The instructions on how to prepare the recipe is attached.  There are numerous recipes out there, and just about all of them sound really good.  Today I am posting the instructions for Dreamsicle Cookies in a Jar, with thanks to the website organizedhome.com.

 Dreamsicle Cookies in a Jar: 

Ingredients:

1/2 c. Tang powdered orange drink

3/4 c. sugar

1 3/4 c. flour, sifted before measuring

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

1 quart wide-mouth canning jar with lid and ring

1 1/2 c. vanilla baking chips

Stir together the flour, baking soda and baking powder.  Then layer the ingredients into the jar: Sugar, Tang, flour mixture then the vanilla chips. Tamp the first 3 layers firmly before adding the chips.

Here are the instructions to attach to the jar:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Empty jar into large bowl and add 1/2 c. softened butter, 1 slightly-beaten egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Mix until well-blended.

Form dough into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on slightly-greased baking sheet.  Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are slightly browned.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

Do You Have A Job Interview?

Hello....In this economy, many of us are seeking employment, and it's a tough row to hoe out there.  The competition is fierce, and companies can pick and choose.  So, how do you get them to pick and choose YOU?  I ran across some tips from a government website recently, and they actually look pretty good.  If you are out of work, or afraid that you will be at some point, it would be worth perusing this little article.

Here is the website from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov

In my job, I hire about 10-15 people every year.  Although I agree with most of the tips to follow, I will put some comments in parentheses and you are welcome to ignore them!


Job Interview Tips
An interview gives you the opportunity to showcase your qualifications to an employer, so it pays to be well prepared. The following information provides some helpful hints.
Preparation:

• Learn about the organization.
• Have a specific job or jobs in mind.
• Review your qualifications for the job.
• Be ready to briefly describe your experience, showing how it relates it the job.
• Be ready to answer broad questions, such as "Why should I hire you?" "Why do you want this job?" "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
• Practice an interview with a friend or relative.

Personal appearance:

• Be well groomed.
• Dress appropriately.
• Do not chew gum or smoke.

The interview:

• Be early.
• Learn the name of your interviewer and greet him or her with a firm handshake.
• Use good manners with everyone you meet.
• Relax and answer each question concisely.
• Use proper English—avoid slang.
• Be cooperative and enthusiastic.
• Use body language to show interest—use eye contact and don’t slouch.
• Ask questions about the position and the organization, but avoid questions whose answers can easily be found on the company Web site.
• Also avoid asking questions about salary and benefits unless a job offer is made.
• Thank the interviewer when you leave and shake hands.
• Send a short thank you note following the interview.
• (Use some humor, but not too much.  Smile a lot)
• (No matter how nervous you are, do not talk too much - answer the questions but don't ramble on)
• (And if you ARE nervous, let the interviewers know (with a smile).

Information to bring to an interview:

• Social Security card.
• Government-issued identification (driver’s license).
• Resume or application. Although not all employers require a resume, you should be able to furnish the interviewer information about your education, training, and previous employment.
• References. Employers typically require three references. Get permission before using anyone as a reference. Make sure that they will give you a good reference. Try to avoid using relatives as references. (The best references are work-related, especially former supervisors).
• Transcripts. Employers may require an official copy of transcripts to verify grades, coursework, dates of attendance, and highest grade completed or degree awarded.

A Few More Home Remedies

Over the past few weeks I have posted some alternative home remedies to try when you don't have the right item in your house for what you need.   Here are a few more....

16.  Wet Dog Odor - Nothing smells worse than a wet dog, and a wet dog in the house is really yuckky.  The next time the smelly wet dog comes in the house, quickly wipe him down with dryer sheets.  He will smell soooo good.

17.  Urinary Tract Infection - Alka-Seltzer comes to the rescue here.  This is the plain old Alka-Seltzer, NOT Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine, which contains aspirin and other things you don't need.  Simply dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink as soon as your symptoms begin.  The Alka-Seltzer starts working immediately to knock out the infection. 

18.  Rust Stain - Coca Cola gets the job done here.  Soak an abrasive sponge with Coke and scrub the stain.  The acid in the Coke dissolves the rust stain.

19.  Stuffy nose - Ever had a "Curiously Strong" Altoids peppermint?  Try a couple with a stuffy nose and your nose will be clear before you know it.

Hopefully some of these solutions will come in handy when you need them!

Try These Home Remedies

Over the past couple of weeks I have posted ten alternative remedies to use when you don't have the "right" solution at home.  Here are five more....

11.  Dog Fleas - Dawn Dishwasher Detergent comes to the rescue here.  Just add a few drops to Fido's bath and wash him thoroughly.  Rinse well and say goodbye to the fleas.

12.  Headache - Drink two glasses of Gatorade or similar sports drink - I'll bet your pain goes away in an instant.

13.  Toenail Fungus - Soak your toes in Listerine every night until the fungus is completely gone.  It's that simple!

14.  Wasps - If you have a wasp, yellow jacket, bee or hornet in your house, reach for the 409 cleaning solution.  Spray it right on the bug and he'll meet his demise very quickly.

15.  Sore Throat - Mix up this solution and take a tablespoon about six times a day:  1/4 c. honey and 1/4 c. vinegar.  The honey soothes and the vinegar kills the bacteria.  They are a potent team!

I'll be back with more home remedies in a week or so.

More Home Remedies For What Ails You

Hello, and I'm back with some more alternatives to the usual solutions....Please see my post last week for the first five remedies.

6.  Kitty ear mites - Reach for the corn oil in your kitchen cupboard.  Put a few drops in the cat's ear, massage it in and then clean with a cotton ball.  Do this daily for about 3 days.  The oil smothers the ear mites.  It also soothes the skin inside the ear and promotes healing.

7.  Boil - Tomato paste makes a great compress.  Cover the boil with the paste.  The tomato acid brings the boil to a head.

8.  Glasses - Protect your glasses with clear nail polish.  If you put a drop of clear polish on the earpiece screw threads, then tighten them up, the screws will stay put and not loosen.

9.  Burn - White mint toothpaste is a terrific salve to apply on a minor burn.

10. Bruise - A cotton ball soaked in white vinegar and applied to the bruise for about an hour speeds healing and reduces the color in the bruise.

I'll be back before long with some more remedies....

Have You Had Your Identification Stolen?

Hello....As we approach the holidays, identity theft becomes more prevalant.  There are a few precautions that we can take to ward off these attacks on our privacy....

1.  Use your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone number.  The less information that you can hand to people, the less chance you have of getting your identity stolen.  If you feel comfortable using your work address on your checks, do that as well.

2.  Don't sign the back of your credit cards.  Instead, put "Photo ID required".  If your cards do get stolen, and the cashier is alert, this may stop the bad guy in his tracks.

3.  Keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place - a safety deposit box or a very safe place in your home.

4.  Empty your wallet contents, spread the cards across the photocopy machine and make a photocopy of every card in the wallet, including your drivers license.  Then turn them all over and photocopy the backs.  Keep the photocopies in a safe place in your home or in a safety deposit box.  If your wallet is stolen, you will know immediately what cards must be replaced, and each card should have a phone number that you can call immediately to cancel.  Time is of the essence if your cards are stolen - Before you even realize they are gone the bad guy will be using them in gas pumps at convenience stores.  They know to use these cards immediately, and they know where to use them.

5.  File a police report quickly, and do it in the jurisdiction where the theft occurred.  You probably won't get your property recovered and there may not even be an investigation, but filing the report shows your credit card providers that you are serious and diligent and that you are doing all you can to minimize the damage.

6.  Place a fraud alert on your name immediately.  You have to call three national credit reporting companies to do this, but it is essential.  After you file this alert, any company issuing new credit in your name has to call you for your permission first.  I believe the free fraud alert lasts for 90 days, but I'm not sure about this.  Here are the three numbers to call:
Trans Union - 1-800-680-7289
Equifax -  1-800-525-6285
Experian  -  1-888-397-3742

7.  Finally, call the Social Security Administration fraud line and report that your number may be used by a thief.  1-800-269-0271.

Be prepared, and hopefully you will never have to go through an identity theft.

Some Cast Iron Rules

Hello - How about some more on cast iron cookware?

Even though cast iron is tough, like with all types of cookware, there are some hard and fast rules that should always be followed when caring for your prized possessions.  There are only a few, and I will list them here.  They aren't hard, and you will find that cast iron is so wonderful that this little bit of care won't bother you a bit. 

Here's a cast iron rule: Once the pan is seasoned (or if it comes pre-seasoned), never use soap when cleaning the pan. Hot water and maybe a plastic (not metal), scrubby should do the trick, and with some things such as biscuits or cornbread, you shouldn't need to wash the pan at all. Just wipe with a paper towel.


Here's another cast iron rule: Never, ever wash cast iron in the dishwater. Along with removing the seasoning, it can ruin the finish and cause you a lot more work. If you have to wash it, hand wash with no soap.

Another cast iron rule: After using the pan, always coat the inside of the pan lightly with vegetable oil or mineral oil before storing.  You don't want rust to develop, do you?

Yet another cast iron rule: Always, always dry your piece immediately after washing.  Never let it air dry. (This is another reason it can't go in a dishwasher).  Dry it with a dry towel, not a damp one.  Ensure that your pan is absolutely dry, then rub a little oil on it, then store.

And one more cast iron rule:  Make sure you have a lot of good, heavy trivets and potholders.  Cast iron is very heavy, especially with food in it, and is unforgiving when it sits on a cabinet or when you pull it out of the oven with a thin potholder.  You can purchase a super-potholder just for cast iron, or double up if you need to.

See, these are pretty easy rules to follow!  If I think of more, I'll post them later.

How To Season Cast Iron Cookware

Hello everybody!  Some more about healthy cast iron cooking today....

While it's true that cast iron is practically indestructible and, like cockroaches, would probably survive an atomic bomb, there are some special things that you must do to keep your pan black and shiny with a non-stick surface.

The first thing after restoring an old piece that you must do is to re-season the pan.  This will fill in the microscopic holes that are in all cast-iron and make your pan smooth as glass (hopefully).  If you buy new cast iron, you can pay a few more bucks and purchase a pre-seasoned piece.  These pans are ready for the oven immediately, after washing the pan with water, no soap.  But you will still need to re-season now and then.

Ok, so you have your pan that needs seasoning or re-seasoning.  Here's how I do it:

1.  Make sure the cast iron is free of rust and gunk (see earlier post).
2.  Rub the entire pan, including handle and bottom, with a thin coat of Crisco or vegetable oil.  I have found that Crisco does better and oil can leave splotches, but I don't generally have Crisco in my cabinet, so I  use Canola oil, which does fine, although there may be a splotch or two.  Don't overdo it with the oil/Crisco, just a thin coat.  If you use Crisco, put a cookie sheet on a lower rung in case the Crisco drips.
3. Put your oven rack on the top-most rung that will still accomodate your pan and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
4. Place your pan, upside down on the top rung and bake at 400 degrees for one hour.
5. Then turn off your oven and let it cool down with the pan still in it.
6. When the pan in completely cool, remove it from the oven.
7. You may have to repeat this process several times before the pan achieves the sheen that you want.  If it isn't nonstick when you cook most things, then put it through the seasoning process again.  Remember, though, no one is going to cook a hamburger patty or something similar without some sticking.

How To Restore Old Cast-Iron Cookware

So, your grandmother said you could have all of her old cast-iron.  Great!  But she hasn't used her cast-iron in years.  This could pose a problem.  Unless cast-iron is stored properly, it will develop rust and worse, pits.  There also may be burnt-on particles of food from sixty or seventy years ago that need to come off.

How can old, abused cast-iron cookware be restored?  There are several ways....

First, determine whether the pan has serious cracks or pits on its surface, or is warped.  If so, it may be time for the junkpile.  A crack means it has to go now.  Deep pitting will ensure that your food will not cook evenly and defeats the purpose of using cast-iron in the first place.  And you don't want a warped pan, do you?

So, the pan doesn't have cracks, warps or serious pits, but it has a ton of rust, several dead spiders and looks like it has been in the barn for fifty years.  Well, it may have been.  Rust isn't a deal-breaker.  Almost all old, unused cast-iron pieces have rust - no big deal.

Some techniques for removing rust:
Sandpaper, fine to medium grit, may do the trick. 
Scouring the rust with dish detergent and steel wool.
Scouring powder and a potato cut in half.  The potato acts as your scrubber.
Drill and wire brush sander.  Be very careful - you don't want to sand too much off of your pan.
Sandblasting (by a professional).  This also removes any markings on your pan - and if your marking says something like "Griswold" or "Wagner" this is a very bad thing.  I wouldn't use this option.

Once the rust is gone, you will need to remove the gunk that has built up on your pan.

Some techniques for removing gunk:
Put the piece in your self-cleaning oven and turn on the cleaner.  This burns off the gunk at a very high temperature and should remove all it.
Using plastic gloves, spray oven cleaner on the pan and put it in a plastic bag for a couple of days.  Then wash off the cleaner and wash the pan in hot water and soap.  Rinse twice to make sure all the oven cleaner is off the pan.

So, there you have it.  Restoring old cast-iron isn't rocket science, and it doesn't require any special equipment.  Once you have restored your piece, you will need to re-season it.  That's a subject for a later blog....

Have You Been To A Green-Cleaning Party?

Hello, and happy Wednesday!

There is a new twist on the old Tupperware parties of the 1950's and 1960's.  Green-Cleaning parties are the latest party hit, and they are great ways to educate people about the harmful effects of chemicals on the earth.  The organization Woman's Voices For The Earth came up with the idea a couple of years ago, and the parties have caught on like wildfire.  More than 1,500 parties have been held.

At Green-Cleaning parties, women, usually about 10, get together at someone's house.  They use the kitchen to mix non-toxic household cleansers, furniture polish and other things.  The home-made versions of the all-purpose vinegar-based spray cleaner costs about 38 cents to make, as compared to $4.00 to $8.00 for store-bought chemical versions.  The soft scrub made with baking soda costs 78 cents to make, compared to the store price of $3.75.

Lavender or lemon is used to mask the vinegar smells, and vegetable glycerin helps the products to last when stored in an airtight container.

Each guest contributes to the cost of buying the ingredients, then takes home his/her share of the finished products.

Recipes are taken from the internet, particularly http://www.womenandenvironment.org/

So, next time you have an urge to get together with your friends, consider a Green-Cleaning party.  The earth will thank you for it!

Do You Have An Ugly Object In Your Backyard?

The best way to get rid of a terrible looking eyesore in your backyard is to pick it up and haul it away. However, we can’t always do this, for one reason or another.

To keep this thing, whatever it is, from ruining the looks of your backyard, you will need some inventiveness and ingenuity. Here is one way to hide that ugly beast….

Our backyard eyesore was a big, hollow pipe that sat upright in the very middle of the yard. It was about 6 feet tall, and the metal pipe was very thick and heavy, and cemented into the group several feet deep. It was about as wide as a hand.

Why would we have such a thing in the middle of our back yard, you ask? Well, it didn’t start out as just a big pipe in the yard. It actually held one of those gigantic satellite dishes from years past – the ones that turned on poles to capture satellite signals in the olden days.

We managed to dismantle and cart off the actual dish, and were left with a big, ugly hollow pole in the yard. Twice we convinced people to come over and take their turns at trying to get this thing out of the ground, or at least saw it off, and twice they failed.

When we realized that we were stuck forever with this post, we decided that the only other option was to hide it. But how do you hide a 6 foot tall, BIG metal pole smack in the middle of your backyard?

You make it into a backyard bird’s wonderland, that’s what! Using nothing but boards, nails, a saw and some wood stain, we fashioned a pretty wooden post around the eyesore that complete covered it.

For this post, we used 1x6 cedar boards purchased at the local lumber yard, cut them to the appropriate size, and nailed them into a very long rectangle around the pole, hiding it completely.

From this wooden post, we hung bird houses, feeders, and other bird amenities. We also formed a square flower bed area around it, trying to make it look as if we had planned it that way all along.

Almost everyone that visits the backyard comments on that beautiful post with the birdhouses. If they only knew…..

Save Money By Using An Old-Fashioned Clothesline!

The old-fashioned clothesline is back in style for drying clothes. Electric clothes dryers have their place, but many people are going back to the outdoor clothesline for cleaner, fresher-smelling clothes.

Each time you can use a clothesline rather than drying a load of clothes, you save money and help the environment. What could be better??

The following are a few tips to make your old-fashioned clothesline drying a success:

If you don’t have a backyard, you can still dry clothes without a dryer. Use a tension curtain rod in your laundry room to hang clothes to dry. You obviously won’t be able to dry as many pieces this way, but it will come in handy for clothing that cannot be put into the dryer, for example, a piece of clothing that says “hang to dry”.

If you have an outdoor clothesline, wipe it down now and then with a wet rag to keep it clean. A dirty line will soil your clean clothes.

Don’t spin all of the water out of the clothes that you are going to dry on the line, since wrinkles set into clothes that are completely spun. Instead, stop the washer about halfway through the spin cycle, then take your clothes out to the line.

The best clothes to hang on the line are white clothes, since the sun will make them even whiter. It’s better than the best bleach! For your darker clothing, hang them out of the bright sunlight, since they will eventually fade in the sun.

Hang pants by the cuffs. The weight will pull out the wrinkles and eliminate the need for ironing. If you are hanging a heavy dress or coat, use two hangers since the item will be very heavy. Hook the hangers on the clothesline in opposite directions and this will keep the item from blowing off the line.

Don’t leave your clothes on the line longer than necessary, since sunlight is not easy on fabric and will eventually weaken it.

Large, thick comforters should be dried in a clothes dryer because they take forever to line-dry and you might run into a mold or mildew situation. Other bedding such as sheets, however, are great for line-drying and smell wonderful when finished.

Warning!!
When removing the clothes from your clothesline, make sure there are no uninvited guests. I was once stung by a wasp that was on a dish towel that I removed from the line and threw over my shoulder!

How To Make A Kid’s Easter Bunny Ear Headband

With Easter fast approaching, many parents and grand-parents are searching for Easter crafts to do with their children or grandchildren.

Easter Bunny or Easter Basket crafts are always popular, and the following instructions are for a super-easy set of Easter Bunny ears for your child to make and wear.

Baking Easter treats or making Easter crafts with your children will form great memories for many years to come. Easter is a wonderful Spring holiday and signifies new birth and a fresh beginning. What a perfect time to make great memories with your child.

You will need:

• White poster board

• Pink paper – the thick construction-type

• Tacky glue or school glue

• Tape or stapler

• Scissors

• Pencil

1. Cut a strip of poster board 2" wide by 24" long. This will be the headband portion of the bunny ears.

2. Cut the 2 ears from the poster board. Each one should be around 8 1/2" long x 3 1/2" wide.

3. Glue the pink ears inside the white ears. Let dry.

4. Glue the ears inside the band.

5. Fit the band to the child. When you have the correct fit, tape or staple the band and cut off any excess.


Photo by Anna Cervova

Need An Office Fundraiser? Try Penny Wars!

Those of us working in offices know how difficult it can be to come up with new and fun ways to raise money. Whether you need money for monthly birthday celebrations, flowers for sick employees, charities or holiday lunches, it becomes a real chore to go from person to person asking for money.

Penny Wars is a competitive and fun way for an office to raise funds. It gets everyone involved and interested, and people almost forget that bunches of money is being raised while the office is having all this fun!

For Penny Wars to be a success, you must have a rather large office. Something bigger than a 5 or 6 person office. If your office is large and is divided into teams already, that’s even better.

Look at the office division. You will need 3 or more teams of people. There is no limit as to how many teams you can have, the more the merrier! If your office is not already divided (most are), then have each person pick his/her team out of a hat.

Each team will obtain and decorate a large, clear, gallon jug, jar or receptacle. It can be glass or plastic, and should not be decorated so much that the money inside cannot be seen. The team name should be clearly on the jug, and it should have a lid that is, for now, closed with tape all around it to prevent tampering. There should be a money slot in the jug or in the lid.

Line up all of the jars in a prominent area that gets a lot of traffic (but not in an area where customers are). Determine and post the beginning and ending time of the contest. It’s usually about 3-5 days. Declare the contest ON!

The object of the game is simple. Whoever has the most money at the end of the contest wins. But, of course, there is a catch to this game. All coins count for the team, but all paper money in the jar is SUBTRACTED from that team’s total. So what you have is sabotage, and lots of it.


Team members will load up their own jar with coins, and everyone else’s jars with dollars, fives, tens and twenties. It’s not uncommon for all teams to be in negative numbers at the end, and the least negative number will win.

Expect things to get fast and furious as the final minutes wind down, and teams try to count each other’s money through the jars to decide where to put their final paper contributions.

Generally, the winning team will be awarded something (A cake? Rented movie and popcorn over the lunch hour?) for winning, but the true winner is the office or whoever is receiving the funds that were raised.


This is a really fun way to raise LOTS of money in just a few days, and get the entire office involved in a rousing competition as well.

Windshield Time? How About A Book?

Most of us spend time behind the wheel every week. Many commute every day to work and back. What are you doing while you're behind the wheel? Hopefully not talking on the cell phone, shaving or putting on make-up!

There is something you can do during your windshield time that will improve your life and won't turn your daily drive into Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for you and your fellow commuters...

Learn while you drive. For this you will need either a cassette tape player or CD player in your car, or an MP3 player, preferably an I-Pod. It will also help if you have a library card to a large public library.

There is a huge variety of books on tape, books on CD and e-books for MP-3 players. You can purchase the books on CD and tape at chain bookstores, for a price. Even better, you can check them out at your local library for nothing. You have 2-3 weeks, depending on your library, to listen and return the tapes or CD's.

Recently libraries have begun offering a large number of e-books for its customers. These are wonderful, and I now download the e-books for my I-Pod more than I check out the CD's. If your library does not offer e-books, it probably will very shortly, as this is the hot thing for libraries and library customers.Here is how to download a book from the library....

Go to your library website and look for e-books. (If the library doesn't offer them, e-mail the head librarian and request them.) You will download a free program from the library website that will allow you to place the downloaded books on your computer and your MP-3 player.

Once that is done, all you have to do is browse through the books and choose one to download. I wouldn't download more than one, because the library will ask you to listen to the book within a couple of weeks or transfer it to CD's, then delete it from your computer. Now, if you transfer the book to your MP-3 player, technically you will have it for as long as you need it, but it's always better to stick to the rules and, anyway, who can listen to more than one book at a time?

That's all there is to downloading books from the library. You will not have to return them to the library and there are no late fees. It's a great idea, and extremely time-saving for customers.

You will be shocked at the number and variety of e-books available at the library.

You can also check out books on cassette tapes and books on CD's from your library. If you don't have a CD player, it might be time to get one, because libraries are phasing out their books on tape.

You can go to the library website and browse with keywords or authors until you find what you want, then reserve it, designating the library branch where you want to pick it up and return it. When it gets to the library, you will be called or e-mailed, and you have several days to get there and pick it up.

Choose a book that appeals to you. If you generally read novels, then choose a novel by your favorite author that you haven't read. If you read history, pick a history. If you are interested in self-improvement, there are tons of choices. I once chose a book on CD that was on 24 discs! I had to renew the book to get another 3 weeks to listen, but it was one of the best books ever.

Ok, now you have your book on tape/CD or MP3 player. Every time you get into your car, you can now look forward to "reading" a great book.

There are some self-help books on CD and e-books that are actually formulated for commuters. You can learn a foreign language, bone up for national exams, learn to do various tasks and crafts, learn to be a better businessperson or manager, the sky is the limit.

When you are into a good book that you really enjoy, you will actually look forward to your drivetime! Try it out, you will never drive without a book again.

Warning: Get your cassettes, CD's or I-Pod ready before you leave home. If you have a CD in your player that is almost finished, get the next one out of the box while your car is still in the garage. You don't want to run off the road while fiddling with your I-Pod or CD player.

How do you spend your windshield time? Comment and let us know!

Need A Project? How About Building A Patio?

Wouldn't it be great to build a beautiful little area in your backyard where you can retreat for a little peace and quiet? It's pretty easy with the patio pavers and other blocks that are available at your big home improvement stores.

First you will need to figure out where your patio is going to be, and what shape it will take. For our's, the space was already there and determined by other landscaping. We considered putting a garden there, planting shrubs in the area, or planting grass. We finally decided to put in a little patio, with a large firepit and benches as the focal point.

Measure out the space for the patio, then go to the store and look at their patio stones. Choose the one you want, then calculate how many you will need to fit your space.

Patio bricks range widely in size (the style we chose was 16" x 16" - this size is very large), so you will need to choose your style before you decide how many you will need.

If you have large pavers like our's, it is easier to cut a template that is the same thickness from a piece of wood. It's lighter than the stone when you are placing it to determine if it's level, and moving it to add more sand, etc.

Cut out the area for your patio, and put down a thick layer of sand in the area that you are working. Then start laying the stones. Use a level to ensure that your patio comes out even. If your stones do not have built-in spacers, leave a consistent amount of space between each brick.

After you have laid all of your pavers, you will need to put something in the spaces between them. Some people use sand that you buy at the hardware store that hardens somewhat. We used Concrete Patch, which is similar to concrete, but more like flour consistency - without the stones that you find in concrete. We carefully poured the dry patch into the spaces, then wet it down gently with a hose. It hardened nicely and looks great.



That's all there is to building your patio. Now you have somewhere for your patio furniture, flower pots, firepits or dogs. Invite the neighbors to admire it, and have a great time on your new patio!

Oh, and if you don't have a truck, the super-big do it yourself home improvement stores will be happy to deliver what you need, for a price.

What project have you completed recently? Please feel free to comment and let us know!