Saturday, March 10, 2007

Spring Forsythia............

I know we will have more cold weather, perhaps even freezing weather, but after a day like today with warm temperatures, beautiful sunshine, I just have to have some dashes of spring color.

The basket on the front door holds Forsythia, fern and Ivy and says 'Welcome, please come in."
A big red bird is in the nest on the column.


A pitcher of Forsythia graces a chest in the music-garden-reading room. This room has containers of seed, gardening books and catalogs, magazines, keyboard(piano-organ), a comfortable toile chair, a rockingchair and a faux brick floor. I've written the instructions for painting the floor in a later posting.
I like bunnies inside and out and I have all kinds and sizes. I just don't think you can have too many!

Thursday, March 8, 2007

The Funeral...............

I was just reading Blessed Beyond Measure's posting about planning your funeral and that you should be able to have it like you want it.

This reminds me of a true story that happened at a Funeral Home where a friend of ours worked.

A lady passed away (well, naturally she would have or the family wouldn't have been there in the first place) and her family came in to make the arrangements. They were a redneck family from the word go. The husband wanted to have a square dance the night of the visitation "cause that's what Mama would have wanted," but the funeral director said, "no." He did agree to play soft country music. She was to be dressed in a certain manner, "cause that's what Mama would have wanted."

The day of the funeral Mama was carried in to the tune of "Hello Darling" and she was carried out to "He Stopped Loving Her Today"..............................

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Hints to make your day easier............

These are hints I received in an email today and they sound really helpful.......

Reheat Pizza

Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works

No More Gnats

To get rid of gnats, put a glass of red wine on your counter top. The gnats will be attracted to the wine and drown.

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, and cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

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/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.

Newspaper Weeds Away

Start putting in your plants; work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

Broken Glass

Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of glass-the fibers catch ones you can't see!

No More Mosquitoes

Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Squirrel Away!

To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

Easier Thank You's

When you throw a bridal/baby shower, buy a pack of thank you cards for the guest of honor. During the party, pass out the envelopes and have everyone put their address on one. When the bride/new mom sends the thank you's, they're all addressed!

MINE!!!!!

If you purchase a new bike for your child, place their picture inside the handle bar before placing the grips on. if the bike is stolen and later recovered, remove the grip and there is your proof who owns the bike.

Flexible Vacuum

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Reducing Static Cling

Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and - voila - static is gone.

Measuring Cups

Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield?

Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening Envelope

If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two It unseals easily.

Conditioner

Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Goodbye Fruit Flies

To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing 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, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Take Baby Powder To The Beach

Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you're ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Meme

RoseMary tagged me to give five reasons why I enjoy blogging.

I . I am better able to commit words to paper than to verbalize.

2. I have never flown in a plane (or any other way either). In my husband's secular job, he flew occasionally but I always chickened out at the last minute. Blogland allows me to travel all over the world and visit places I've always wanted to visit. I would love to see Wales and my friends Marion, John and George, Scotland (my husband's relatives came from there) and Horizon and other places. Perhaps one day I'll hop on "the big bird" and fly off into the wild blue yonder).

3. I've made so many new friends since January 19th. To many people, this would seem perhaps a little weird, but I do consider them friends. We may never meet face to face, but I think we've met heart to heart and I appreciate what I've found there.

4 I've learned about new customs and holidays that I didn't know about. Pea enlightened me about holidays in Canada that I wasn't aware of. Weirdbunny and Marion educated me about St. David's Day and the daffodil being Wales' national flower and the leek the country's national emblem.

5. I've been exposed to beautiful handiwork made by Anita, Carol, Marion, and so many other ladies. Sigrun's garden, Maria J.'s garden and many other gardens that I am so looking forward to this spring that will burst forth in beautiful bloom. So much of God's beautiful creation waiting to be admired.....

6, This one is thrown in extra at no cost! Maybe it should have been first. I've learned that when one of us is in trouble and heavy hearted that all of you are so willing and eager to remember us in your prayers, as was the case with our grandson Drew. Your faith strengthens my faith so we each benefit.

Now, there are my answers to the "Blogging Meme." I tag my daughter, Amy (Picket Fence Mom) and Marion at Reflection of the Seasons to tell 5 reasons they like to blog!

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Home Again...........

Hi Everyone,

We just arrived home late this afternoon. I am so glad to be home, I'm glad I went!

Since it is Saturday night, I have things to do so in a day or so I'll post on the past week.

I have missed you all so much and can hardly wait to read your blogs and hear what's been going on in your lives. I carried my laptop but was unable to log on the internet.

Please remember the families in Alabama and Georgia in your prayers who have had their lives torn assunder the past few days. I know their hearts are broken.......There, but for the grace of God, it could be our family........

Friday, March 2, 2007

Another Message From Mam!

Hi everyone...it's the proxy poster (Amy) again! LOL Mama asked me to let everyone know how much she appreciated your messages and emails (that I told her about) after the terrible weather swept through Alabama and Georgia yesterday and last night. Frightening storms were ahead of them, behind them, and all around them...but they are safe and well. They were doing some more traveling yesterday, and they did in fact see devastation caused by the tornadoes, but they reached their destination safely! So, once again on her behalf...thanks for your prayers and concern!

Also, here's a message from Mam and Pops to Ellie the Birthday Girl! Happy 7th Birthday, Ellie! We love you!

Thursday, March 1, 2007

While The Cat's Away...

While the cat's away, her kitten must pop in and give you all a message! LOL Mama and Daddy have been on a short vacation since Monday, and she wanted me to do a quick post to tell everyone hello and that she is still alive and kicking. She'll be back with lots to tell and probably some great photos as well. I'll leave it to her to tell you where she's been and what she's been doing! She should be back to posting by Saturday night or Sunday!

So, on her behalf...thanks for dropping by and do come again soon!
Blessings,
Amy~picketfencemom at Ponderings From Picket Fence Cottage