Niffty little helps

Thinking about painting; but, just are not looking forward to all the mess? Try this and see if it helps....
Take a rubber band and place around the can....from the bottom to the top; then just run your roller past it or the brush and it works just like the professional paint drippers do.
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How about standing on a ladder with nails in your mouth so that you don't have to crawl up and down for more? Try this....attach a magnet to the top of the ladder and the nails will stay there until they are needed.
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I love my candles; but I do get a little uptight when they drip all over what ever they have in reach; so try this.....place the candles in the freezer, that ought to remind you where they are when the lights go out too; but, best of all....they do not drip.
Another nifty little trick.....soak the candles over night in salt water and when you need them....they won't drip.
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Hate that old plunger or snake? Try this....1/2 c. of baking soda
1/2 c. of vinegar
after 1/2 an hour, dump a pan of boiling water down the sink, tub.
Not all clogs can end with a happy slurp...you might have to plunge or call the plumber.
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Tired of all the plastic grocery bags? Bottle them.
Cut the bottom off from the 2 liter
cram all the plastic bags in and just pull one out of the neck when you need it.
Attach the bottle to an area where you want to keep it; or use a string through the top like a bucket and hang it some where.
You can also make a nice cover to go over it.
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Smelly and dull garbage disposal?
Throw a tray of ice cubes in it and a citris fruit. It gets all the built up grime and smell off from it.
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Dull scissors?
Take a piece of tin foil, fold it in about 5 times....length wise and cut into the tin foil about 20 times. It works!

new coffees

Pumpkin spice
Irish cream

My little cabin in the woods smells so good. I love the smell of coffee and these are fresh ground so their aroma just fills the house. Adam got the irish cream and I got the pumpkin spice.

OH I AM HEADING TOWARDS A SUPER DIET!!!

WOW!!!! That is about all I can say!
I had my husband go get my nurse uniforms, scrubs and other clothes that I wore to work 5 years ago before i got hurt so that I could mail them to one of our girls that is a CNA now.
I totally got depressed when I pulled the clothes out of the box to wash them. It probably didn't help that while I was staring at them in disbelief that my husband pops out with..."where did that skinny girl go!"
I held them up to myself and then with still disbelief...I said, "that is it! If you want goodies and all kinds of junk, then eat it in your truck!"
I am still trying to get it into my head that those clothes I wore 5 years ago are mine.
Size 14-16 and now I wear a sz. 24.
So, I will enjoy the remainder of this year, I will eat the Christmas cookies, drink a hot buttered rum and share the candies and hot cocoas and then on the 1st of January...it is on!!!

I have been on diets and some work...some do not.
The one that I am going to go on and stay with it for the 1st 50 pounds will be the Atkins diet. That one is a good one and I lose fat and lose it fast.
Then I will switch to Ally and mostly fruits and vegs.
By that time my stomach and mind will find themselves again and I will stay on a well-balanced diet.
Hoping and praying that by the following December 2010; I will be back into at least a 16.

Goodness!!! Surprizing how fast and easy it is to gain weight and as many pictures that we tear up, how many cakes we throw out to the chickens and dogs, how many times we scream and throw a pair of pants across a room, or open the door...screaming that the scale is a rotten liar...it doesn't change the fact that we are just FAT!!!!

My excuses are running out.
1st I was hurt and not mobile for 2 years.
2nd I deserved to pamper my self.
There are no 3rds and so ons......
what is on is a major diet starting January 1st.

What do you think about these? I will have mine fnished by the middle of January.

I will make the curtains for the 2 windows near the fire place and the blanket for the rocking chair.

Both are made with denim material and mine will have more blue and gray than these do.

I do mine all hand stiched for a couple reasons~~It exercises my hand that I have problems with and it helps by being comforting; plus they just look nicer when they are hand done.

This will be the first curtains that I have had in our little cabin in the 4 years we have lived here. Not that we didn't have any; but, because it kept me from seeing what was happening all around us; and at night it is eautiful with the moon and the stars.

Just when I was ready to start crying.....she came home

This is what she looks like when she starts Winter fur

I know that a lot of people might think this silly; but, I am so relieved right now and so thankful that even our prayers for our missing prodigal furry family members are answered.
I let our 12 year old black chow out yesterday around noon and still until 11PM tonight she was no where around. She loves to travel all over the property; but, she is always back around meal time; and has always come when she is called. I fed all the other dogs, Adam played ball with the shepherds, Kellie the rat terrier had to act jealous over it and give Adam a hard time when he was trying to console her, I changed the blankets while Adam hosed the poop and rearranged the igloos and heat lamps, I called for Coalette some more and finally stopped when I realized that I was becoming almost desperate ~~ my voice getting jerky while I fought back the tears that were starting to burn my eyes. Bless Adam's heart; he put the shepherd's up and drove the entire distance both ways to see if she had been hit and laying in a ditch some where. NO where!
He turned the mill light on and the security light that goes on if anything or anyone comes close to the mill. When he bounced to his feet at 11 PM tonight and said, "the light went on at the mill" ~~ I flew out that door and started calling her. In the shadow of the mill light I could see something and then pretty soon ~~ there she was standing right in front of me. I could have and probably should have scolded her; but, she just got a huge hug and kiss. Adam made her a big plate of left over biscuits and gravy.
All is well and snug at our home again tonight.
The dogs are all sleeping and Adam is snoring. I am on here blabbing; but, doing so with a happy heart.

My husband bought me a whole bunch of coffee packets

One way for us to stop wasting coffee now that we both have our pots brewing, (Adam has his coffee so strong that I have to put half boiling water in mine. Plus all that he really likes is Yuban; and me?...anything that says coffee and smells like coffee is for me) is to do the individual packets; and I have already put some in my purse, sent some to my friend, and have placed some in the glove compartment of the PU. How is that for never leaving home without it? We already have the sugar and creamer containers in the rig and a thermous for long trips to the city and appointments. Our cups are always wiped clean and placed in our little basket of on the road needs. Now instead of buying expensive coffee from the little markets along the way ~~~ we can just get some hot water and make our own.
They are pretty neat little packets. They come fully ready for the cup. Creamer and sugar added and there are some Mocha, Irish cream and regular. I have already sampled them all......imagine that!

The coffee is Jewish. It is called Cafe Mazel Tov; and very good!
I had to call my sister to know what the words meant exactally.
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Mazal tov
Generally defined as good fortune or good luck. the term has become a popular synonym for "congratulations!" Some people pronounce it "mazl tof."
Actually, "mazal" in Biblical and Talmudic times meant a planet or constellation of the zodiac. Ancient belief held that the positions of stars and planets had special powers over us. This is a feeling still maintained by those who practice astrology. The term "mazal," therefore, acquired the connotation of fate or fortune. "Mazal tov" thus literally meant, "may you stand under a good constellation."
In the course of time, the rabbis, as well as Jewish scholars, cautioned our people not to place confidence in signs and omens derived from the stars. Still, the term "mazal" has been retained to signify a happy or fortunate occurrence.
Joyful occasions calling for the use of "mazal tov" are birthdays, a bar or bat mitzvah, a wedding, an anniversary, moving to a new home, beginning a new job, among others.

Is it harder to make friends after you turn 40?

Is it harder for us to make and keep friends after we turn 40? Friendship may or may not be harder after 35; however, the world we live in doesn’t make it happen as organically as it did when we were younger or even 20 years ago. We change and our outlook on life changes right along with us. Young and carefree and now some what settled and set in our ways. So it may take some work to make and maintain friendships. Once being the social butterfly and having people around me all the time and now since getting hurt ~~ I may have 5 friends. Real friends. Friends that "get it" if I just want to be left alone for a spell. They don't get all offended if I say, "I just really need some me time."

I think that it is really important to know what you want from a friend. I want my friend young in the friendship; or older friend to treat me with the same care and respect that I give them. That is the role I expect them to fill.

We all have and need different kinds of friends; like:
mentor
nurturer
activity buddy
confidant
work buddy
old friend; etc.

There are many many types of friends; so don’t let yourself be locked into these examples. However, try to find 5 different types of friends for your inner circle. They really help make your life more complete. The circle is whole and healthy.

No matter how old we get or how much we have changed ~~ Don’t wait for an invitation. Get looking and make friends. Don't settle on friendships that aren’t functioning well. Lonely people deserve good fellowship too. If you love yourself and enjoy your life even when alone; then you can build friendships that are working. Why stress? Others are looking for the same thing ~~ peace and a relaxing communication.

Manage your friendships ~~ Friendships change. Manage them effectively and they will be wonderful for your health, support and wellbeing. People may move in an out of your inner circle because of many different reasons. However, if you deal with them in an effective way the relationship will become win – win. Then everyone is happy. Again 5 good friends is better than having a whole tribe of them and never talking because you are over extended.
Don’t forget; give friendships a chance to bloom. Sometimes it takes more than one contact for a relationship to develop.

Also, communication is very import; most women have exceptional verbal skills; but, listening skills are the hardest to master. Hard to remember that God in all His wisdom gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth. LOL ~~ ask me! I forget that sometimes. Imagine that!!