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Switch over to compact florecent bulbs! Yes, these are more expensive than regular bulbs, but they last forever and if replace all your bulbs with them, your electric bill goes down noticeably! We’ve lived here nearly 7 years and we have no regular light bulbs in the house. We have to replace one occasionally now, but so far, we’ve only had to replace 2 this year and they were 2 of our oldest ones (nearly 7 years old!).
Also, get rid of your “ghost” loads. Any appliance or electronics with a “wall wart” (as my DH calls them!), plug into a power strip with an on/off switch. This also goes for ANYTHING with a remote contol, clock, etc. These items use electricity even when you’re not using them (You’d be surprised by how much!). We’ve plugged our computers, tv, vcr, dvd player, etc into power strips and then turn the switch on the power strip off at night and when we’re gone.
Just by replacing all our bulbs and using power strips, we save a lot of money every year. It lowered our electric bill by nearly $20 every month, for a savings of about $240 per year!
I got this originally from an email, but it did not include the author’s name. If you know the author, please email me and I’ll be more than happy to give credit!
Most herbs for culinary use are ready to harvest just before flowers appear on the plant. If you harvest them after the flowers appear there will be a reduction in flavor. Do not cut the herbs too close to the ground, if you leave some lower foliage you may be able to get several cuttings during the growing season. The best time of day to harvest herbs is in the early morning, just as the sun dries the dew from the leaves. The oils are the strongest in the plants at this time. As soon as the herbs have been cut, waste no time in getting them ready for drying. If the foliage is dirty, wash the leaves, then shake off the excess water. The tops and leaves can be picked off heavy-stemmed herbs like basil. This practice shortens the drying time and gives better flavor and color.
For herbs like parsley, leave most of the stems on until after drying. The most common method of drying herbs is also the most picturesque. The mention of herb drying inevitably conjures up images of colorful bunches of herbs hanging from a nail in someone’s kitchen.
To dry herbs this way, simply gather the herbs and tie them in small bunches. These should be hung in a warm, dark and airy place for about two weeks until they are dry.
A variation of this would be to put each bunch in a perforated paper bag, then hang it up to dry. This method helps prevent the herbs from getting dusty, but will increase drying time by several days. This is a good way to dry the seed heads of coriander, dill and parsley.
Gather seed heads in the early stages of ripening, just as seeds turn from green to gray or brown. Harvest them as soon as the dew dries in the morning for maximum flavor.
Another variation of air-drying is to take the herb plants apart and spread those parts on screens to dry. A clean old window screen works well. Prop it up to permit the air to freely circulate through the screen. Place it out of direct sun, but avoid damp locations.
The fastest drying method is oven drying. Heat oven to 150 degrees F or less.
Place herbs on sheets of brown paper. Cut some slits in the paper to
maximize airflow through the herbs. Leave the oven door ajar to allow moisture to escape. In three to six hours the herbs should be crispy-crumbly.
Store your dried herbs in an airtight container, such as a glass jar. Herbs must be thoroughly dry before sealing in jars. Check after a few hours and again after a few days to make sure there is no evidence of moisture in the container.
If condensation develops, remove the herbs and dry them further to prevent molding in storage. Leave the herb foliage whole for storage. The flavor is retained longer when whole leaves are stored. Crumble the leaves when you are ready to use them. Keep dried herbs in a dark place. This preserves the natural color.
Remember to label all containers before storage, especially if you’re a novice herb user. It’s hard to tell all those grey-green leaves apart, and you’ll have to rely upon knowing the different fragrances of herbs to identify them.
The flavoring strength of a dried herb declines with time and exposure to air and light. Properly stored dried herbs should retain their flavor about a year_just in time for replacement with your new harvest!
32 ounces of white distilled vinegar
1 clean, sanitized glass 32 ounce bottle
Lavender essential oil (make sure you get essential oil, not the one sold for fragrance)
Peppermint essential oil (optional)
Rubbing alcohol, or vodka, or grain alcohol
Vegetable glycerin
Oil (can be any light oil such as coconut or jojoba) (optional)
You need the alcohol to dissolve the essential oils/glycerin. To your clean and sanitized glass bottle, add about two ounces of alcohol (I just eyeball the amount and pour).
Add 1-2 tsp of vegetable glycerin
Add 1-2 tsp of oil
Note: You do not have to add either or both, but I find a tiny bit of oil and at least glycerin helps to hold the lavender scent on the laundry after it has dried. If you are concerned about reducing the absorbancy of your laundry, skip these ingredients.
Add 100 or more drops of lavender essential oil, and 25 or less drops of peppermint essential oil (peppermint is optional but helps bring out the lavender scent). Put cap on bottle and shake well until all the oils are dissloved in the alcohol. Open bottle and slowly begin to pour in your white vinegar. Stop adding vinegar when you get near the top of the bottle to leave some room for air/shaking. Shake well and again before each use. Use about 1-2 Tbsp. for each rinse. Instead of lavender you can subsitute a wide variety of oils, long as you understand the properties of each. For instance Rosemary is invigorating and has some germ killing properties (as does lavender by the way).
I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for all their prayers, support, and kind comments. They have meant so much to us. I know that we would never have been able to make it through this without the prayers. We have been so touched by the love everyone has showed us during this sad time. I have been truly amazed at how all of you surrounded us with love and prayers without even knowing us. We have been profoundly touched by the outpouring of support! Thank you so much! You have been true examples of what “Christian” means! God is alive and well on the internet!!
Today, I need to finish up on some laundry. Colt has been sick the last 2 days. I’m pretty sure it’s just allergies/sinus. He’s got a sore throat, but isn’t running any fever. I’ve been giving him a decongestant, and it seems to help. Hopefully it will start to break up the stuff in his throat. Our weather is finally starting to change into more fall like temperatures and that change is wrecking havoc on all of our allergies/sinuses. I’m not going to complain! LOL!! This cooler weather is nice and the lower electric bill will be nice! Now that we’re not having to run the a/c on high all day everyday, maybe our electric bill will be under $200 this month. This summer has been a hot one, so that means lots of $$$ going to the electric company!
Last night I made up a new recipe that looks like it’s a keeper. It was one of those recipes where I used what I had on hand. I took 1-1/2 lb. hamburger and browned it in a skillet. I tossed it in the crockpot along with 1 diced onion, about 6 small potatoes diced (I used the smallest potatoes in the bag), 4 hand fulls of brown rice, 4 hand fulls of whole wheat elbo macaroni, 4 packages brown gravy mix, garlic salt and a squirt of mustard. I then covered everything in water. I cooked it in the crockpot for 3 hours on high. It was a little runnier than I wanted…I was trying for a stew like consistancy, but it was more like soup. It made for a good, hot meal that was really filling.
Tonight, I’m going to do crockpot beef & beans. This is a really easy recipe to make and it’s a family favorite. I brown 1-1/2 lb. ground beef in a skillet with onion and garlic. Then drain off the grease and transfer the meat to the crockpot. I then add dry beans and cover with water and allow to cook all day on high, adding water as needed. About 1 hour before serving, I add 1 can tomato sauce and taco seasoning. We serve this on tortillas like tacos or I make cornbread to go with it. Eveyone likes this recipe!
Well, I need to get busy! I hope y’all have a great day!!
This is from the booklet “How to Give Luncheouns, Teas, and Showers” by Florence Brobeck. This was a booklet published by The Amy Vanderbilt Success Program For Women, originally published in the late 1950′s to early 1960′s.
The tea you offer guests must be good, a blend neither too “green” nor too “black” and not one of the perfumed varieties such as a jasmine tea which is too “special” for most tastes. The average tea drinker likes good tea flavor, enjoys the beverage if well made, and will not drink exotic blends although the spicy “Constant Comment” is liked by many and especially men. Buy the best tea you can afford; keep it in an air-tight container. Do not use tea bags for a party. Usually a small silver tea strainer (complete with its own holder to catch drips) is used as you pour each cup.
To make tea use freshly drawn water brought to rapid boiling. scald the tea pot which should be glass, earthenware, or china. If you serve in a silver pot, scald the silver pot, then strain the freshly brewed ready-to-serve tea into the hot silver pot. Use 1 teaspoon tea leaves to each cup of boiling water; add one teaspoon extra of tea leaves to the pot. Let stand–steep–3 to 5 minutes. If weaker tea is preferred by some guests do not shorten the steeping period; instead add hot water to the cup when serving. Too long steeping makes bitter tea.
Place the pot of freshly made tea on the tray with, if possible, a second pot holding hot water. If you have a decorative tea kettle under which is a spirit lamp or “canned heat” or an electric unity, have this kettle filled with fresh water just coming to boiling when you are ready to serve. The kettle may stand on the tray if the tray is very large, or aside on it’s own tray.
During the party the tea pot must be replenished often with an addition from tme to time of a spoonful of tea leaves as well as boiling water. Some hostesses prefer to take their almost empty tea pot back to the kitchen and empty it completely, then refill with freshly brewed tea, that is with measured tea leaves and boiling water. If you have guests coming at different times, and must leave the table to receive them, ask a friend to take your place at the tray. Arrange for this before the party so she is prepared to help you.
These are from the booklet “How to be a More Interesting Woman” by Barbara Wedgewood. The booklet was published by The Amy Vanderbilt Success Program for Women in the late 50′s to early 60′s.
- Do one special thing wvery month for your appearance; it may be concentrating on your posture, changing your hair style or trying a new make-up, but try something that will give you a psychological boost and something others will notice.
- Keep a conversation rolling, don’t monopolize it. Have a point of view, but listen to others with an open mind and with your full attention. Ask intelligent questions and listen to the answers.
- Sharpen your sense of humor by reading humorous novels, plays, and essays–having such books within handy reach is a cherry home remedy for pulling you out of the doldrums, too.
- Concentrate on at least one special thing each week to make your home a more enjoyable place to be. It may be placing fresh flowers in all the rooms or buying new throw pillows for the couch or planning a formal dinner with candlelight and all the family heirlooms as a surprise for the family.
- Practice forgetting yourself. Self-respect is being conscious of yourself without being self-conscious.
I saw this card today and it just made me smile! Thought I’d share it!
Front Verse: Jesus loves us, this I’m told, even though we’re really old…
Inside Verse: In spite of wrinkles and false teeth, He sees the young soul underneath! Happy Birthday
Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. Psalm 90:17
Here’s the link to purchase: http://www.leanintree.com/shopping/ImagePopup.asp?id=16200&c=GTC&p=BDY&page=5
This is a question I had in my inbox this morning. I’ve had similar questions asked here on this blog, so I thought I’d post my answer.
QUESTION:
Susan,
Why are you only wearing skirts/dresses/jumpers this winter? I’m sorry if this seems like a criticism but it’s not meant that way (I know that some questions seem like criticism). I’m really just curious. I couldn’t handle the drafts, you know? Though, your blog here does say that you live in Texas and that’s a lot warmer than northern NY state. Anyway, I’m just curious if it’s a personal preference or if there is something else behind it.
ANSWER:
I’ll be happy to answer your question…I didn’t take it as a criticism. :0)
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array ~ 1Timothy 2:9.
My husband LOVES me wearing dresses and really feminine clothing. Last spring I really felt the Lord call me to dress in a more modest way. I”ve always loved dressing long feminine dresses, so I chose to do dresses/skirts only. I do wear pants occasionally, generally when I’m doing extreme farm work like wrangling the chickens or doing heavy duty work on the gardens or yard. I do not think it’s wrong for women to wear pants, I’ve just chosen not to for the most part. I do believe that when a woman dresses, she should do so in a way that makes it clear that she’s a woman. And as a Christian, we should not lead other people to sin because of our actions. I do feel when a woman wears tight, revealing clothing that she is tempting men to sin, by allowing them to commit the sin of lust. I’m not saying that it’s all the woman’s fault, but she does have a part in the sin. I know that there are some men out there who would lust after a woman even if she were totally covered from head to toe. But I do believe that as a Christian we should set ourselves apart from the world. As Christian women, we should dress in a way that sets us apart from the world. I don’t believe that you have to wear a certain style of dress, but that we should dress in a way that is feminine and respectful to the Lord. This is a personal matter and something that we each have to make a decision about. For me that decision was to wear dresses/skirts only. For someone else it might mean wearing jean and/or pants that are not too revealing. It’s really a decision that’s between you and the Lord.
Granted we have pretty mild winters in the area of Texas where I live. Last winter I was actually warmer in dresses and skirts than I was in pants the year before when I was wearing pants. I wear either tights or leggings under my dresses/skirts and add sock and ankle boots or over the calf boots. On the coldest days, I wear flannel pj bottoms that I”ve shortened the legs on so they won’t show under the skirt over the tights or leggings. Layering works great, especially since our temperatures can change here from cold to warm quickly.
If you have another question, I’ll be happy to answer them!
QUESTION: It sounds like you’re thinking thru you wardrobe w… It sounds like you’re thinking thru you wardrobe well. This winter I am into dresses/jumpers/skirts as well. I am finding yards sales and thrift shops good place to dress from inexpensively. The biggest challenge I have to date is keeping the dress from sticking to my undergarmets, (knee socks and/or leggings) . Any ideas? ~ Jan
ANSWER: If the clothing is sticking to your undergarments because of static cling, here are a few things that have worked for me.
Static cling can be quite a problem in dry winter months because there is less humidity in the air, which promotes static electricity and thus static cling. Clinging clothes on the body, stuff sticking to each other when just washed etc, are some of the troublesome effects of static cling. Here are some ways in which you can control static electricity and thus reduce static cling.
1) Static electricity is produced more in dry conditions. Thus, if it is causing too much static cling in your home, you can try and increase the humidity levels in your home with a humidifier. This will reduce the instances of static electricity and thus static cling too.
2) If your clothes tend to cling to your body, you can try using a moisturizer to make your skin less dry. This can help to reduce static cling. Another method would be to wear clothes made from natural fibers and not synthetic ones. Natural materials such as cotton tend to produce less static cling than artificial materials.
3) To prevent static cling with clothes in the dryer, you can use a dryer sheet. When the dryer sheet is put into the dryer with the other clothes, it gives out positive charged particles which can be picked up by negatively charged atoms in your clothes. This helps to make the clothes more positively charged, because of which there is less exchange of electrons, less static electricity, and thus less static cling.
Using a fabric softener on your clothes also works well to minimize static cling. The fabric softener coats all your clothes with the same chemicals. When they come in contact with each other in the dryer, the clothes are actually coming in contact with the fabric softener. As the softener is the same on all the clothes, the material all becomes the same. As static cling does not happen between same materials, your problem is solved.
4) Putting one half cup of borax or one half cup of vinegar, in the machine during the wash and rinse cycle, is a tried and tested home remedy to get rid of static cling in your clothes.
Thus, with the above solutions, you can eliminate static cling.
From: http://www.whatisstaticcling.com/reduce_static_cling.html
I’ve also pinned safety pins into the seams of my skirts and pants to help eleminate static cling…it works pretty well for me! I’ve also been told to run the long side of a wire hanger over your skirt, and between your skirt and panty hose or slip.
