MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!

HE FINALLY DID IT!

Checkers & Lady in the Snow

The first snow of the season! The dogs love it, even if it's too cold for us to get out....

COOKIE BAKING HINTS

Preheat your oven—so your first batch will look as good as your last!

Be sure to use what the recipe calls for, whether it is butter, shortening or margarine and never use margarine that is whipped, soft spread or reduced fat. Your cookies will spread everywhere if you do.

It is best to bake only one sheet of cookies at a time but if you must do more, leave a couple of inches around the sheets for air circulation.

Let the baking sheet cool between batches because placing dough on a hot sheet can make the cookies spread too much.

If your recipe calls for oatmeal or nuts, toast them before using them.

Fill a container that has large holes (like a sugar shaker) with flour to sprinkle your board before rolling out cookies.

Make sure when you roll out cookies to cut that they are all the same thickness. Each individual cookie must not have thin or thick spots either or they will bake unevenly.

If you don't have cookie cutters or enough time to use them, just roll out your cookies and cut in squares or diamond shapes with a pastry cutter or pizza cutter. Sprinkle with colored sugar and bake. Use a wire cheese cutter to slice chilled refrigerator cookie dough.

If you are making huge batches of cookies and do a lot of baking, you might try using old oven racks to cool them on. Just place something under each corner to make sure it is raised up slightly off of the table.

Always completely cool cookies before storing and never store crisp cookies and soft cookies together. Store soft cookies in an air tight container and crisp cookies in a container with a loose lid. You can freeze cookies up to 3 months.

Cookie ingredients can be very expensive, especially for Christmas cookies. If you need to save money, choose your family's favorites that have the least expensive ingredients.

Another way to save on ingredients is to use less of things like nuts and baking chips. You really can get by with putting half a bag of chips instead of a whole one into chocolate chip cookies. The same goes for nuts. If that same recipe calls for 1 cup of nuts, use just 1/2 cup.

When giving cookies as a gift, make them look more attractive by putting them in cellophane bags and tying with a ribbon.

Instead of just putting cookies out on a platter for your Christmas dinner or party, add a couple of votives or one large candle in the center of the platter for a more festive look.

Save those dried out cookies or that handful of leftover cookies. Freeze them and use them in place of any recipe or dessert that calls for a graham cracker crust.

QUICK B-B-Q DIP FOR CHIPS

This is a great dip for when unexpected company drops in or you need
something quick.

1 cup sour cream
1/2 to 3/4 cup barbecue sauce

Mix ingredients. I usually don't measure anything in this recipe. I just start adding the barbecue sauce to the sour cream until it tastes good. It's very good with plain potato chips.


For more easy & economical household tips go to www.granny-green.com

Letter from Mr. Turkey

How to do a quick housecleaning

Company coming? And you don't have time for cleaning? here are some ideas for quick housecleaning.

•take a basket through the house picking up clutter

•put the basket out of site, but schedule time to put away later

•clean up any trash and throw it out

•wipe down obvious smears in bathroom

•close the doors to rooms your guests won't see

•wipe the floor down with a damp towel

•pour some cleaner in the toilet and do a quick run with the brush

•vacuum only the high-traffic areas guests will see

•don't worry about moving furniture

•use a dust mop to dust any wooden floors quickly

•wipe up any obvious smudges on furniture, counters, and mirrors

•straighten stacks of magazines and knick knacks on shelves

•straighten couch pillows and slipcovers

•burn some scented candles for an air of cleanliness

There--all done. Now, go enjoy your guests!

For more easy & economical household tips go to www.granny-green.com

Veteran's Day 2008

Grandfather Roberts

This is my grandfather Wesley Samuel Roberts, Sr. He was my mother’s father.

When I first looked at the picture in the frame, I found his funeral program tucked behind it. When I discovered it, your Uncle Lee was glad to finally know where he was buried. I guess the rest of the family had no records of it. It tells that he was born in Missouri, Sept 4 1899 and died in Portland, Oregon May 2, 1948. They told my mother she couldn’t attend since she was pregnant (with me) and it would not be good for her. She always regretted that she didn’t go.

This picture shows Grandfather in his World War I uniform in 1918 or 1919. Being an infantryman, he fought against the Germans in the trenches in France during the war. This was trench warfare, where one side would slowly overtake the other side, trench by trench. These trenches were approximately 200 yards apart (sometimes less) and the troops would shoot at each other from them. Other times they would “rush” the other side and it became hand-to-hand combat.

Grandfather brought home a souvenir of the war: a German Bayonet. I still have it. Family tradition says it was thrown at Grandfather when he was fighting in the trenches.

Grandfather suffered all his life from being gassed there, also. Both sides used gas warfare: they would release a cloud of poisonous gas that would be carried by the wind toward the enemy lines. The gas warfare led to the development of a “new” technology: gas masks. The gas masks worked only part of the time, mostly depending on the type of gas the other side was using.

Other veterans in the family: My Dad is not a veteran, but he inspected airplanes in WWII at the Boeing Plant in Seattle. And, your Dad served in Vietnam in 1968.

It's a good day to be proud of those who served our country!

love, Mom

Other Uses for WD-40

WD-40’s original name was Water Displacement #40. This product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.

WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. The name comes from the project to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you. (The basic ingredient is fish oil.)

Here are some other uses you might find useful:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes lipstick stains.

3. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

4. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

5. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

6. Removes all traces of duct tape.

7. The favorite use in the state of New York: WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

HOT MULLED APPLE CIDER

Now that it's November and the wind is whipping around the corners, here's a great recipe for warming you up!

Hot Mulled Apple Cider

2 qt. (8 c.) apple juice
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
6 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks, broken into 1" pieces

In large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer covered, for 20 minutes. Strain to remove spices. Serve warm with a cinnamon stick. 16 (1/2 cup) servings.

I VOTED!

Local Girl Scouts made "I Voted" stickers for when the polls ran out of their regular stickers yesterday. Samantha (who voted for the first time this year) was jealous of my sticker. She voted earlier and got a "regular" one.

VOTE FOR NEBRASKA'S MEMORIAL STADIUM

This is a link to a USA Today article on the 10 Best Places to Stand and Cheer College Football. ESPN/ABC's Ed Cunningham contributed to the article and the home of the Big Red made the list.

Of the stadium, Cunningham said, The all-red-clad patrons of Memorial Stadium make this a memorable place regardless of the outcome. Lincoln is one of those college towns that give the term 'college town' such special meaning."

Right now our Memorial Stadium is leading with about 30% of the vote.

But Penn State isn't too far behind us! So go cast your vote here.

The poll is on the left side of the page and down a little bit.

Go Big Red! Love, Mom

Emergency Cooking Substitutions

For 1 Tbsp fresh herb use: 1/3 to 1/2 tsp dried herb (of the same kind)
For 1 clove garlic use: 1/8 tsp garlic powder
For 1 egg in baking use: 1 tsp cornstarch plus 1/4 cup water
For 1 whole egg use: 2 egg yolks plus 1 Tbsp water
For 1 cup whole fresh milk use: 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water, or 1/3 cup dry milk plus 1 cup water
For 1 cup buttermilk use: 1 cup plain yogurt, or 1 cup sour milk (4 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice plus milk to make 1 cup -- let sit for five minutes before using)
For 1 cup sour cream (in baking) use: 7/8 cup buttermilk or sour milk plus 3 Tbsp butter
For 1 cup sour cream (in salad dressings, casseroles) use: 1 cup plain yogurt or 3/4 cup sour milk plus 1/3 cup butter
For 1 cup cream use: 1/3 cup butter plus 3/4 cup milk
For 1 cup corn syrup use: 2/3 cup granulated sugar plus 1/3 cup water
For 1 cup brown sugar use: 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp molasses
For 1 3/4 cup confectioners sugar use: 1 cup granulated sugar, packed
For 1 cup margarine or butter (in baking or cooking) use: 1 cup hard shortening or 7/8 cup vegetable oil
For 1 square unsweetened chocolate use: 3 Tbsp cocoa plus 1 Tbsp oil
For 3/4 cup cracker crumbs use: 1 cup bread crumbs
For 1 cup cake flour, sifted use: 7/8 cup all purpose flour, sifted (1 cup minus 2 Tbsp)
For 1 tsp baking powder use: 1/3 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tarter, or 1/4 tsp baking soda plus 1/3 cup sour milk
For 1 Tbsp cornstarch for thickening use: 2 Tbsp flour
For 1 Tbsp flour for thickening use: 1 1/2 tsp corn flour, arrowroot, potato flour, or rice flour; or 2 tsp tapioca

As always, for lots of hints, tips, and of course recipes, check out Granny Green!

Have a Headache?

Did you know a headache is often the first sign of dehydration? Hydrating your body may relieve your headache. You’ll need to be adequately hydrated in order to feel good and perform well, especially when you work out. The best way to take care of this is to drink fluids all day long. And, remember to replace fluids after any exercising!

What I Learned at the Grocery Store This Week

I’ve recently been out doing some heavy-duty grocery shopping (2 ½ hours at one store!) and discovered something new. See, after all these years, I’m still discovering something new at the grocery store….
These shopping trips are really “information gathering” trips, in preparation for my classes to be presented this spring—there will be one class on buying groceries.

Anyway, I discovered two of our local stores (haven’t researched the other two yet) have two grades of store-brand items! One is inexpensive, and the other is cheap. I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed it before, but it just didn’t connect until I started writing it down in a notebook. I’m putting together a Price Book to demonstrate at my classes. I’ve always kept my price book in my head, especially now that there’s not so many people to feed at home….so to do it right, I have to work on it a little at a time and I didn’t want to be doing it at the last moment.

An example: At SuperSaver, Kraft Miracle Whip was on sale for $2, but the Best Choice brand was $1.98 and the Always Save Brand was $1.58.

Check your own favorite stores and get back to me—it will help with my research! Do your stores have two grades of store brand items?

Love, Mom

TOO BUSY TO WRITE!

Wow! I have been too busy lately to add to this blog—sorry ‘bout that!

But, I did get Granny Green off and running…well, Granny doesn’t exactly run, but she does get things done. I’ve talked to Steve White downtown at the NTV office, I’ve talked to Tricia at the Convention/Visitor’s bureau, and of course I did the short 5-minute piece on laundry detergent on TV Monday morning! Did you all get to see it? It’s probably still available: http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=9205141

I’m gearing up for Granny’s classes to be presented this spring. One for sure will be on grocery shopping. I spent over 2 hours at HyVee yesterday taking notes (while picking up a few bargains) and setting up a price book. I’ll do that with the other grocery stores in the area, too.

I’ve also been adding to Granny’s website:

http://www.granny-green.com All suggestions welcomed!

Love, Mom

Got Bugs?

Good-bye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it ½’ with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it ‘home,’ can’t digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don’t have the worry about pets or small children being harmed! (Also try dry Grits, when the ants eat the dry grits, the fluid in their stomachs will cause the grits to expand blowing up the ants and the colony.)

If We Could Shrink the World--Just 100 People

If we could shrink the earth to a village with a population of precisely 100 people with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, there would be...

57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Western Hemisphere, both North and South, 8 Africans
52 would be female, 48 would be male

70 would be non-Christian, 30 would be Christian

70 would be non-white, 30 would be white

89 would be heterosexual, 11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and would be from the United States

80 would live in sub-standard housing 70 would be unable to read 50 would suffer from malnutrition

1 would be near death1 would be near birth

1 (yes only 1) would have a college education and 1 would own a computer

When we consider our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent.

It you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation - you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear, harassment, arrest, torture or death you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep - you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace - you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.

(Found at the Eden Project)

Money

Canadian Road Sign

Another odd picture I found on the Internet: I get confused easy enough without something like this. It's a good thing we don't live in Canada!

How to Avoid an Attack

I found this article—it’s a good reminder for us all….

A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:
1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.
2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women whose clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.
3) They also look for women talking or texting on their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.
4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00am and 8:30am.
5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots/garages. Number three is public restrooms.
6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.
7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.
8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.
9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.
10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out here", "we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.
11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.
12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.
13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches.Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it hurts.
14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he's out of there.
15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.
16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!!You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

Interesting, isn't it?

WHAT IS A BILLION?

A Billion seconds ago it was 1976.

A Billion minutes ago it was 106 A.D.

A Billion hours ago it was the Old Stone Age.

A Billion Dollars ago in Washington is 4 hours ago.

Makes you stop and think, doesn't it?

FATHER GOOSE IN SATURDAY'S PARADE

This guy was leading his geese as part of the parade on Saturday. I was amazed at how they followed him right down the street, even though it was lined with noisy people. Each goose had its own neck scarf. It was one of my favorite parts of the parade.

These pictures were taken by Steve White, local NTV news personality….he gave me permission to use the pictures. (Isn’t it nice to know a “celebrity?”)

RANDOM HOUSEHOLD TIPS

Clogged drains: Denture cleaning tablets work great to remove that icky grease build-up from kitchen drains. Just drop a couple denture cleaning tablets down the kitchen drain, along with a cup of hot water. Another idea: if your drain is clogged with grease, pour one cup of salt and one cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. This should do the trick!

Dusting the TV: Here is a great tip about dusting! Don't you ever get tired of dusting your TV 3 or 4 times a week? Well, here is what you do! It's simple and easy too! All you need to do is take a fabric softener sheet that has been used in your laundry and after cleaning your TV, rub it all around the area that you don't want to dust anymore! It's a guaranteed success! Instead of attracting dust, your TV repels it!

Homemade Cleaner: Instead of buying all different and expensive cleaning products, take a spray bottle, and mix one third pine cleaner, one third ammonia, and one third warm water. It will clean everything from kitchen counters, to the bathroom floor, and everything in between. For tough grease stains, let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.

Sharpen scissors: Take your dull scissors and cut through three layers of tin foil ten times. Cut some paper to test. Repeat if not sharp enough for you. Or... cut a sheet of medium-grade sand paper into small pieces! Another tip for sharper scissors is to cut a SOS pad or Brillo pad in half with the scissors. This sharpens the scissors and also gives you two pads instead of one. Just try it but be careful not to cut yourself!

Quick air freshener: Add one quart of water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and some orange rinds into a pot and boil on low heat. When the water is gone, your house will be home sweet smelling home!

Chelsea Marched in the Parade Today

Here's a picture of Chelsea in the Harvest of Harmony Parade this morning. There were 87 bands marching down 3rd street. Many had their Cheer Squads leading the way...our's included.

This parade was once in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most bands in one parade. It was in 1996 and was featured for having 126 High School Bands in one parade...

Today's weather was just perfect: not too chilly and not rainy!

Talk to you later! love, Mom

HOME-MADE DANDRUFF RINSE

I just wrote another eHow article: How to Make Home-Made Dandruff Rinse. Check it out!

WHERE TO BUY THE CHEAPEST GAS ?

MSN has an interesting resource for finding gas prices. You put in your zip code and it tells you where the cheapest gas is. They update every night so it should be reasonably accurate.

I was actually surprised when I entered my own zip code. I thought I knew where the cheapest gas was found here in town, but I was a little bit taken aback!

Check it out: gas prices

Love, Mom

What Goes Around, Comes Around

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.

At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St.Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known. Throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

OCTOBER LISTS

It’s October already! What happened? I thought it was June just a couple of days ago…..

OK, time to make notes to self:

Whose birthdays come this month? Noah (the 17th) and Grandma O (the 19th)—buy cards!

Big Parade is this week-end. Chelsea will be marching with the Cheer Squad. She says they are close to the last part of the parade, though, so that’s good for me (I won’t have to go downtown so early….).

Still have to get organized for Thanksgiving….

Clean the basement—too much stuff!

Keep writing—I’m trying to contribute to the eHow site once a day.

What do you have to do this month?

Love, Mom

Are You Bringing Cookies to Thanksgiving?

I put an easy/basic Slice & Bake cookie recipe on eHow this morning. We could have fresh cookies all day if some of you bring a pre-made roll of cookies to slice up and bake. Don't forget chocolate ones for Dad! And, may-be the children could decorate a few for us.

love, Mom

TOMATO ASPIC - YUK!

You know how I tell you about Tomato Aspic and how much I disliked it as a kid? I put the recipe on eHow...I think I'll start contributing to that site. Here's my article: Tomato Aspic

And no, I won't be serving any at Thanksgiving!

love, Mom

Like Math?

Math Trick

Here is a math trick so unbelievable that it will stump you. Personally Iwould like to know who came up with this and why that person is not running the country.

1. Grab a calculator. (you won't be able to do this one in yourhead)
2. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the areacode)
3. Multiply by 804.
4. Add 15.
5. Multiply by 2506.
6. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number.
7. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again.
8. Subtract 250
9. Divide number by 2

Do you recognize the answer ??????

NEW USES FOR COFFEE FILTERS

I am going to be teaching a class this coming Spring on Living Green—what you as an individual can do to eliminate waste, recycle and reuse what you already have, and of course save money at the same time. I’ve been researching on the Internet and found lots of great ideas.

Here’s a few about coffee filters. These are useful to me because dad recently changed coffee pots and I have a package of larger filters that we didn’t use.

An even better “green” suggestion is to buy a re-useable (washable) coffee filter (we have one!), so you don’t even have to buy the paper kind at all.

• Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee Filters are lint-free so they'll leave your windows sparkling.
• Protect china. Separate your good dishes by putting a Coffee Filter between each dish.
• Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee Filters make excellent covers.
• Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a Coffee Filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
• Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free Coffee Filter.
• Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a Coffee Filter.
• Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a Coffee Filter on a kitchen scale.
• Hold tacos. Coffee Filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
• Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a Coffee Filter to prevent the soil from leaking through the drainage holes.

I'll be posting more fun and useful "Green" things you can do every day, so keep this spot bookmarked!

love, Mom

Today's Hint: Free Samples from Walmart

I was reading an online friend's blog where she talks about Walmart giving free samples. In fact they have a page on their website that offers them: Free Samples from Walmart. Also, check her blog out for other fun stuff: Moomette's.


I sent a private email out to daughters: we need to start thinking about Thanksgiving! With everyone spread far and wide (distance not girth) it won't hurt to start planning early!

love, Mom

Homemade Baby Wipes

Baby Wipes are good to keep in more than just the baby's room....keep some in your bedroom, the kitchen, tucked into a corner in the family room--anywhere the baby might be! Here's a great way to make your own, for just pennies!

Homemade Baby Wipes
Ingredients:
1/2 roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls)
1/8-1/4 c. baby shampoo
1/8-1/4 c. baby oil
2 cups lukewarm water

1 plastic container that the rolls fit in
Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In Baby Wipe Container, mix liquid ingredients and place half of roll in container. Place on lid and tip upside down. To use, pull out from center.

PIE CHART

I just couldn't resist it! love, Mom

DESSERT HINTS

Oops! I didn't write anything yesterday....I was just too busy I guess. I taught at the college in the afternoon. Dad went with me which was very helpful--it's difficult to do one-on-one teaching when there are 15 students! Yesterday was my Basic Internet class. It's hard to cover everything I wanted in just two hours!

OK, well, here's today's hints:

Mint Brownies: Make brownies as directed.Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies.Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.

Quick Dessert: Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert.Simply chop them up with a food chopper.Peel, core and slice a few apples.Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples.Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.

Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

NO CHEESE YESTERDAY--DID YOU NOTICE?

So, did you notice I forgot to include the "Cheese" hint yesterday? OOPS.... So here is Cheese at the top of the list today:

Cheese: Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.It will stay fresh much longer and not mold.

Beef: Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

Eggs: To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a coupleof spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream inand then beat them up.

Garlic: Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a lighttaste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want astronger taste of garlic.

Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done for an easy clean up.

BANANAS, PEPPERS & CHEESE

Peel a banana from the bottom and you won’t have to pick the little ’stringy things’ off of it. (That’s how the primates do it.)

Banana Ripening: Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating raw.

Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Reheat Pizza: Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.

More hints tomorrow! love, Mom

Easy Bathroom Cleaning

1. Wipe a little glycerin (available in drug stores) on windows and bathroom mirrors and buff with a soft cloth to keep them from steaming up.
2. For a fast shine to your glass shower doors, wipe them with a sponge containing white vinegar. It cuts soap film quickly.
3. Use baking soda mixed with liquid dish detergent and water to scour the tub and walls and doors of the shower.
4. Clean bathroom tiles with vinegar which has been poured into a spray bottle.
5. One of the easiest ways to clean bathroom walls is to run hot water in the bathtub and shut the door for five minutes. Steam will form on the walls and ceilings and loosen the dirt, which can then be wiped with a dry, clean cloth.
6. The same enzyme presoak that takes stains out of fabric will clean unsightly spots from porcelain sinks. Soak sink and garments at the same time.
7. The rough, grainy texture which forms in bathtubs can be removed by soaking with vinegar.
8. To remove stains from old bathtubs, use a “fine” automotive polishing compound.
9. Use undiluted ammonia to remove bath oil rings from the bathtub.
10. To get rid of mildew stains on sinks, tubs and tiles, pour on bleach, let sit for a few minutes, then rinse.
11. Shine chrome in the bathroom with a cloth dampened with vinegar. Let dry, then polish with a soft cloth.
12. Use hydrogen peroxide in shower door tracks to loosen the hardened scum. When it bubbles up, run a cotton swab along the track and flush with glass of water.
13. To get soap film and grime off vinyl shower curtains, spray them down with a vinegar/water solution and then wash them in the washing machine with another cup of vinegar and regular detergent.
14. Use wintergreen oil as a bathroom deodorant. Soak a cotton ball with the oil and place in a glass container. It will last for months.
15. Place a denture-cleaning tablet in the toilet bowl and let it dissolve. This is an easy, inexpensive way to help keep the bowl clean.
16. Put a scoop of Tang in the toilet bowl and let sit for a couple of hours. It eliminates toilet bowl stains, leaving the toilet clean and fresh smelling.
17. Pour left over cola drinks into your toilet bowl. Let soak, then flush and the bowl will sparkle.
18. Save old toothbrushes for cleaning around difficult areas in the bathroom.
19. A sponge makes a great soap dish.

TODAY'S CHUCKLE

I found this on another blog today...Dad and I got a chuckle out of it and I wanted to share it with you:


Who says today’s kids aren’t smart? Well, some of them are!

At a high school in Montana a group of students played a prank on the school.

They let three goats loose in the school.

Before they let them go they painted numbers on the sides of the goats: 1, 2 and 4.

Local school administrators spent most of the day looking for #3.

(Can't you just imagine how they felt after looking all day for the "other" goat?)

still laughing, Mom

APPLES ARE IN SEASON

When I was young, a favorite treat was fried apples. They aren’t fixed much anymore….but here’s a recipe for you to try.

Fried Apples
4 large apples, cored and sliced
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Cut apples into 1/4 inch slices. Heat butter in a large skillet. Put the apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the skillet and cover. Over medium-low heat, cook apple slices 7-10 minutes or until they begin to soften and the syrup thickens. Serve coated with excess syrup on top. Serves 4.

For more apple recipes check out the newest page of our Family Cookbook.

Pay Toilets

Nowadays, all public restrooms are free of charge. I can remember downtown San Luis Obispo having public restrooms in a small area between a couple of businesses. This was before businesses started providing their own restrooms, and there was only one set so you had to walk a block or two to get to it. Also, many times you had to pay to use a public toilet. Though it was only a nickel or a dime (by today’s standards, that might be a quarter or two), it was still a nuisance.

Paying was especially more of a problem for women than for men. Since women had to use a stall every time while men hardly ever did, they usually spent more money. Pay toilets referred to using a stall. One could put money in and stay for as long as they wanted. But everything else in the bathroom was free. This wasn't much of an expense for men except on a date.

If a group went together they could always not let the door shut in-between each person and share a dime. But what did a person do when they didn't have any spare change? Hope that a stall door would be left open? Probably not. One just had to remember to take along some nickels and dimes.

Soon, though, it became more than just a nuisance. The Secretary of State for California, March Fong, must have forgotten her dimes one time when she was out shopping. Soon, she started fighting for free toilets to be put in public places. The change was quickly made that all public places had to have at least one or two free stalls.

This meant that less places had public restrooms for people to use. But it was much more fair than having to pay to use a restroom all of the time. Now, you never see this sort of thing.

How to Write a Thank You Note

It is always pleasant to receive Thank You notes...Receiving a note of thanks brings back all the good feelings of the giving moment--and makes me smile. Here are the elements of a well-written thank-you note:

GREETING. Keep it simple. “Dear Aunt Josephine…” works well.

EXPRESS GRATITUDE. State your thanks and identify the specific gift: “Thank you so much for the video game. It’s a perfect addition to my Wii collection, and I appreciate it so much.” Or “Thank you for the sweater, which is the exact color I would have chosen.”
The only exception to the specific reference is if the gift was money. In that case do not say, “Thank you for the $100.” Say simply, “Thank you for the generous gift which is greatly appreciated.” However, in the event Aunt Josephine actually took the time to create a clever presentation, it would be perfectly acceptable to say, “Your generosity is exceeded only by your clever ability to fold money into a cute ring.”

DISCUSS USE. A simple sentence that indicates how you will use the gift comes next. “I know I will get plenty of use from this sweater during my upcoming trip to Alaska.” Or, “It is my all-time favorite game so you can be sure that I will think of you often.” Or, “It will be spent well to help furnish the baby’s room.”

MENTION THE PAST, REFER TO THE FUTURE. Possibly the most important part of your message is reference to how this person fits into your life. Something like, “I remember fondly snow tubing with you on the hill behind the farm and I look forward to seeing you soon.” Or “You are in my thoughts and I hope to see you soon.”

REVISIT GRATITUDE. As you close your note, state again your gratitude. “Thanks again for your gift” is an appropriate way to close your note.

REGARDS. Finish your note with a proper closing and your name. “Fondly, Joe” or “Love, Laura” are excellent choices.

There. Seal it up and get it into the mail. Even if you are the only person you know sending thank-you notes, don’t let that deter you. You’ve demonstrated gracious living at a time when most are too busy to be bothered.

(As an added bonus—but certainly not offered as an incentive to do the right thing—thank-you notes have been known to encourage repeat performances, as well as improve the frequency and quality of future gifts.)

And, speaking of notes, I have a couple I need to get written....
love, Mom

Natural Household Cleaning Products

A few days ago I talked about light bulbs and saving energy. Here’s some information on how to go green while doing your basic house cleaning.
One benefit of going green with your cleaning products: You'll free up a lot of shelf space. Instead of having a single cleaner for each purpose (how different is cleaning a tub vs. a sink, anyway?), you’ll only need these four essentials:

Baking soda: Buy it in bulk, because this wonder powder has over a thousand household uses. Use it to cut odors in the fridge, mix it with castile soap for a gentle surface scrubber, or pour it down the drain with some vinegar to clear clogs.

Lemon juice: Mix with olive oil for a wood and furniture polish, use it to clean glass and stainless steel or sprinkle it in baking soda to make carpet-cleaning powder. After you've squeezed out the juice, toss the rinds down the garbage disposal to cleanse and deodorize.

White distilled vinegar: Because of its acidic properties, vinegar can dissolve grease, soap residue and mildew, making it the perfect bathroom cleaner. It works great in the kitchen, too. Use it to polish chrome, shine glass and mop tile or linoleum floors.

Salt: Say goodbye to your harsh oven cleaner. Instead, pour salt on spills as they happen, allow the surface to cool and scrape up the mess. "If you do that every time you have a spill, you don't need to do anything else," says Linda Hunter, co-author of Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home (Melcher Media, 2005).

Keep it Simple! love, Mom

ROAST BEEF FOR DINNER

Here is a fool-proof recipe for roast beef. If you need to impress someone with your cooking … this is it! It never turns out wrong. It is mouth watering every time! You can even substitute a different cut of beef and it will still be fantastic. Your family and friends will be asking for the recipe. You are welcome to share it…or you might want to label it as a centuries old recipe that was given to you by a famous chef as she took her last breath! You are only allowed to pass it on to one person in your lifetime and you haven’t decided who that will be yet! Believe me, after tasting your dish, they will all want to be “the special one.”
Enough of that, here is the recipe:

Roast Beef
1 large beef roast
1 bottle Liquid Smoke

Mix together:
2 tablespoons black pepper
3 tablespoons garlic powder NOT SALT
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon curry powder

Rub the dry mixture all over the roast, patting it in well. Place it in a foil lined pan, fatty side down. Next, take a sharp knife and poke holes all over the top side of the meat and pour on the bottle of liquid smoke. Cover it with heavy duty aluminum foil and seal the edges so that no steam can escape. Place it in oven and set at 225 for 6-8 hours (depends on size of brisket). Check it after about 6 hours for tenderness. If you can’t cut it with a fork yet, let it cook longer!

Serve hot with potatoes, green veggies, and garlic bread. This is great right out of the oven, but the cold sandwiches you can enjoy the next day are good, too!

Whatever story you tell to go along with this, it’s sure to become a family favorite.

Try it! love, Mom

The Mayonnaise Jar

(Aunt Sharon sent me this. I've seen it before, but still want to share it with you.)

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal Take care of the golf ball first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend.'

Are You Using Those New Light Bulbs?

Going Green is the latest big thing to do….but it’s not a bad thing.

When those funny curly light bulbs first came out I was a bit slow to start changing over. My first purchase was yellow-toned ones and I was not impressed—they were too big and not bright enough. I found some white ones that I put in the bathroom…those were better.

And they are still improving the basic design and size. A little research showed me that traditional incandescent light bulbs use about 70% more electricity than compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s), so it seems like a no-brainer to switch them over. And, not to worry, fluorescent bulbs have come a long way since their inception, and now produce a similar light to incandescent bulbs. (As a bonus – CFL’s last about 10 times longer, and they don’t generate heat either (unlike an incandescent bulb), so you aren’t wasting any of your air conditioning power trying to cool down your light bulbs.)

So, I think I'll run out and get some more of those funny-looking bulbs!

love, Mom

MAKING ICE CUBES

I just solved a 35-year old mystery (well, at least it was a mystery to me)! Back in my college days a friend told me that ice cubes freeze faster if they are made with hot water. I believed him, but it just didn’t make sense to me—the freezing process involves cooling the water down, so why would you start with hot water? Well, I found a paragraph in a book (Mysteries of Liquids by Dr. Myles Bader) about that very subject.

It said:

Even though cold water is closer to the freezing point, the hot water evaporates faster, leaving less water to freeze. The evaporation also creates an air current over the ice cube tray, which tends to actually blow on the water, similar to the cooling effect when you blow on a spoonful of hot soup before tasting it.

So, there you have it: make your ice cubes with hot water!

Now I have another thing checked off my list of problems to solve! -Mom

What My Mother Taught Me

This list isn't original by me, but it is so cute I wanted to put it here for you to read...

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE."If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION."You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL."If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC."Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT."Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY."Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS."Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM."Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA."You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER."This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY."If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE."I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION."Stop acting like your father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY."There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION."Just wait until we get home."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING."You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE."If you don't stop crossing your eyes, They are going to freeze that way."
19. My mother taught me ESP."Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOUR."When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT."If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS."You're just like your father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS."Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM."When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
25. And my favorite: my mother taught me about JUSTICE."One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

Have a great day! love, Mom

Printer Ink--Quick Hint

I was just looking through the Walgreen's ad this morning....I have previously found that the cheapest place to get my printer ink cartridge refilled is at Walgreen's. They charge $10 for black and $15 for color. I haven't found it any better than that locally. I have even sent for ink from online stores, but it still is not that good of a price.

Anyway, today's ad (8-31) has a coupon for 1/2 off of your refill--that's $5.00 and 7.50!

Wouldn't you know it: I just two days ago had them refill my black ink! And, my color cartridge doesn't need it yet. Still, keep an eye on their ads--they have specials sometimes. In fact, that's how I discovered their services--they had a freebie coupon (watch for those, too!).

later, Mom

GO BIG RED!

Today is the first game of the 2008 football season for Nebraska. Dad is quite interested (more-so than usual, which says a lot!) in the game because it’s Bo Pelini’s first game as head coach.

The stadium seats over 85,000 & every game has sold out since 1962: 289 consecutive times and counting. Everyone in the stadium is wearing Husker Red. Our friend Greg Trook sent me this picture that was taken during a Military Fly-Over at Half-Time (I think last year).

Go Big Red! -Mom

Postcard from England

I got a postcard from England today—no, I don’t know anyone on vacation, nor do I know anyone over there….I belong to the free webside PostCrossing. When you join this site (free!) you will be receiving postcards from all over the world. The main idea is that: if you send a postcard, you'll receive one back, from a random PostCrosser from somewhere in the world.

There are lots of people who like to receive real mail. The element of surprise of receiving postcards from different places in the world (many of which you'd probably never have heard of) can turn your mailbox into a box of surprises - The first step is to request an address of another user to who, you must mail a postcard. You will receive the recipient's address and a postcard ID (e.g.: US-78) via email. The postcard ID uniquely identifies your postcard in the system.

You must then mail the postcard with the provided ID clearly written on it. This will allow the recipient to register your postcard on Postcrossing, thereby making you the next person whose address will be issued to the next postcrosser who requests an address to mail a postcard to.
You can have up to 5 postcards traveling at any single time. Every time one of the postcards you sent is registered, you can request another address.

Postage for postcards sent around the world is 94¢, so it's not too expensive!

Register on PostCrossing:

http://www.postcrossing.com

-Mom

This brought a chuckle to your Dad.....

Just a Few Uses for WD-40

Here's something I learned today--

WD-40 (Water Displacement #40). This product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you. (The basic ingredient is fish oil.)

Here are just some of the uses: 1. Protects silver from tarnishing. 2. Removes road tar and grime from cars. 3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings. 4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery. 5. Keeps flies off cows. 6. Restores and cleans chalkboards. 7. Removes lipstick stains. 8. Loosens stubborn zippers. 9. Untangles jewelry chains. 10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks. 11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill. 12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing. 13. Removes tomato stains from clothing. 14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots. 15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors. 16. Keeps scissors working smoothly. 17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes. 18. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open. 19. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers. 20. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles. 21. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fas. 22. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling. 23. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly. 24. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools. 25. Removes splattered grease on stove. 26. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging. 27. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell). 28. Removes all traces of duct tape. 29. The favorite use in the state of New York: WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements. 30. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states. 31. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch. 32. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag. 33. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

Now, I bet you learned something new today! -Mom