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In This Issue of Heart & Home - August 2002
Letters to The Editor
The Old Ice Box
Delicious Cucumber Salad For Pennies
Get Rid of Those Pesky Fruit Flies!
Red Raspberry Jam With a Touch of Lemon
The World's Largest Resort Powered by Windmills & Solar
Panels is Coming to my Neck of the Woods!
HomeMade Hamburger Helper
What a Cute Little Stinker - Well they are cute, but
they sure do stink! We're Talking Skunks
Dinner in Less Than 20 Minutes - Summer Garden Pasta!
Heart & Home Classifieds
(Homesteads & Land - For Sale/Wanted)
August Links - Great Sites That You've Got to See!
Various & Sundry Other Gleanings
Reader
Tip:
Ease and heal chigger bites apply GERM-X or other waterless hand sanitizers
to bites. They go away in a few days and stop itching right away!
Letters to The
Editor
* Thank you all for taking the time to write! I love to hear from you &
so do the other readers! You'll find
lots of helpful information in this section each month. If you have some
helpful information, please take a second to send it in!
frugally4u@aol.com
....................
What an excellent website. I must commend you on the presentation and
variety of wholesome topics. It's like picking up a favorite old fashioned
magazine and becoming totally absorbed in it on a hot summer's day. Nothing
could be better. Please continue to work hard as so many of us do appreciate
the value of hard work. What a joy it was to read this last issue.
Sincerely, Gail M., Canada
....................
Hi - I am trying to find information on how to crochet ladies bags or purses
using used plastic shopping bags. Does any one have any kind of information
on this craft? I can't find any websites for it. Hope you could be of some
help to me. Thank you, Barbara B.
* Here's What I found:
LOTS of patterns for handcrafted purses:
http://www.io.com/~amh/crochet/bag.html
http://home.inreach.com/marthac/totes.html
http://members.aol.com/mdeborah/groupedlinks.html
Plastic Bag Purses:
http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/plabag.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6910/cplbag.htm
....................
Hi Pearl,
First let me say thank you for featuring our log cabin/property in your
newsletter. We were
overwhelmed almost from the first minute it appeared. Unfortunately
(fortunately for us) the property is now no longer available. Gee,
that happened fast! My head is still spinning. You surely do have quite
an active audience. I am thrilled to be part of this. Again, I
thank you so much for all your assistance. It was also very gratifying
to meet so many "like-minded" folks along the way. Sometimes you wonder if
you are the only one out there afloat in this topsy-turvy world. We
will continue to enjoy your newsletter and all the other information it
contains. Thank you again, Joyce
* Thank you readers! This wonderful homestead listing sold in the first few
days of being sent out!
We are thankful that so many have the chance to look at properties like this
one - and that sellers
have the blessing of having an audience like ours!!
....................
I have a lot of branches and twigs and would love to make a waddle fence
(those beautiful woven twig
fences, not the zig zag split rail kind) for my future herb garden, but I
have not seen one up close and
can't find anything on the web to tell me how. Can you help me? Thanks,
Kim
*Kim, I'm with you!
I can't wait to start my wattle fences!
Here are a few places to look:
http://users.breathemail.net/partridge/
http://www.micksticks.co.uk/
http://www.psu.edu/dept/medieval/garden.html
http://www.rainforestjukebox.org/good_wood/livng_fs.htm
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/wildones/wo27fence.htm
....................
I want to set up a squab business in Scotland but I do not know where to
get my initial pigeon stock. I have a market and am going to build a dovecot.
Can you help me? Also, ideally I would like to release the adult pigeons
outside the pen - is this alright? Please help, Regards Archie
* Here are some places that you may want to start:
http://www.bokhari.com/
http://www.squab.com/
http://www.thepigeonloft.com/squabsnestdesign/
http://www.gamefarm.com.au/squab.htm
Happy Raising!
....................
Hello Pearl, I am so glad you are still here, I didn't receive any more issues
after I had some trouble with my computer, so I am so glad to see you are
still on the net! I searched and searched for you and now I am so happy that
you are here once again! I love your newsletter! It is one of the best!!
Is there a place I can get the back issues? Thanks a million, Debbie
* Debbie - at this time, we offer the last 3 issues, as well as the current
issue at the website:
http://www.LittleCountryVillage.com
....................
Dear Heart, I thoroughly enjoyed this month's issue of Heart Home. Please
keep up the inspirational and thoughtful work. Much love, light, and blessings,
Mama T of Gathered Blessings, Theresa
....................
I thought you might want to use the information below for your newsletter.
Perhaps your readers will find this of interest. My name is Fran Pike, and
I am a Master Gardener in Missouri. I enjoy teaching others about home gardening.
As part of my volunteer time, I began a website several years ago, that includes
everything from how to grow a plant to recipes for your garden vegetables
and more.
Check out The Best of Home Gardening
http://www.geocities.com/homegardener
Another hobby of mine is spinning wool into yarn. I have angora rabbits that
get regular haircuts, and I use their soft wool for mittens, hats and other
things. I was also amazed at how beautiful dog hair (called chiengora) is!
It's very warm and much like angora in appearance. There has been so much
interest, that this year I have turned it into a business called "Rover's
Comb." The website has pictures of things that I've made using hair from
different breeds. Check it out at
http://www.roverscomb.com
Thank you, Fran
....................
Hi. My name is William Lupone and I run a small Garden Business here in
Connecticut, I plant herb gardens for restaurants and people without time
to do it for themselves. A few of my Clients (restaurants) have asked for
Bay trees and I have no clue which ones to grow or where to find them I am
looking more for seeds then trees. Could you help please? Thanks for Your
time, William L.
New Hope Gardens
* Let me see..
I would definitely start with trees! Of course, I'm the kind of gal who doesn't
like to wait several years to have something that someone else has already
done for me. Especially when I can get it at a cheap price *Big Huge Smile*
Here is some info about the Bay Tree:
http://park.org/Pavilions/FoodAndMarkets/Herbs/qr_035.htm
http://www.footlooseforays.iohome.net/cgi-bin/Topic.pl?topic=44&public
http://www.bhg.com.au/gardening.nsf/Content/Plant+encyclopedia+-+Laurus+nobilis2?openDocument&print=yes
http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/bay.htm
Where to buy:
http://www.paradisenursery.com/baytree.html
http://www.gunningriverherbs.com/
http://www.gardennursery.com/
Don't forget - when you do get some trees in, take cuttings for yourself,
so you can replenish your own
supply!
....................
Hi, I subscribe to Heart & Home e-newsletter and love it! Thanks
for all you do to make it so interesting and informative. I think my son
would love to sell the Red Eyed Tree Frogs. Can you tell me where you purchased
them? I will look for them on the Net but if you know and trust someone,
that's even better for me! Thanks again and God be with you and yours. In
Him, Cappi
* The way I got to know some folks was looking through the back of "reptile"
magazine. I found phone
numbers - websites - emails - etc. I started looking things up & calling
folks.
I would suggest that you go to some reptile websites, newsgroups, etc. to
see who might be a reputable breeder.
Here are a few sites:
http://www.helixpro.net/anuran/redeye.htm
http://www.helixpro.net/anuran/breed.htm
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Reader Tip:
Spray your yard with equal parts citrus & water - it will keep dogs from
using the potty! They seem to hate citrus smells!
The Old
Icebox
And I thought this big beautiful oak cabinet was just another storage
possibility...
Several years ago while taking a drive through the country, a large wooden
cabinet with a "for sale" sign on it caught my attention. Although the little
cape cod home was beautifully decorated, it was the garage area that caught
my eye. The garage door was open, and there stood a beautiful cabinet that
was so large it almost filled the entire doorway!
My husband knew I wanted to stop when he saw how quickly my head turned.
We pulled over to find out more information, although I knew something this
beautiful would most definitely cost a fortune!
The owners told us the story of how they came to own this piece, and how
they had purchased it from a local museum for $3000. Then, they had to pay
to have the years of built up paint removed, and restore the beautiful oak
outer case.
Measuring approx. 5' wide and 6' tall, it had 4 large doors with huge hinges.
There was also one tiny door in the middle of the cabinet at the very bottom.
When I opened the doors to look inside, I immediately noticed how thick each
door was! They told us that the 5 inch doors were actually filled with
insulation, and very necessary not only to keep the contents cold, but to
also keep the ice from melting.
As they proceeded to tell us about the cabinet's history, I realized that
this cabinet wasn't just another "country style" storage unit, but it was
actually an antique icebox! I had seen other antique iceboxes at the country
auctions that I love to frequent, but never one this large!
I would have already added an icebox to my antique cabinet collection, but
I've never been willing to pay the enormous prices that they bring at auction!
I held my breath when we asked them how much they wanted for the piece, so
you can imagine my surprise when they told us that they would like to get
$300 for it! "We'll take it!" came out of my mouth almost instantly, but
of course my husband, being more practical than I, was thinking about how
we might pick up this monster to carry it home! After much reassurance from
me, we agreed that the icebox had found a new home (I'm so thankful for
friends & family who help out in times like these ;).
I'm a firm believer that things around the home should be used as much as
possible, even if they are older than you :) I don't have much use for an
item who's sole purpose is to sit around & gather dust, so we've found
many new uses for our "new" icebox. We use it for housing such things as
our TV, videos, sewing supplies, craft items, books, games, pictures, etc.
Although the new cabinet serves as a much needed storage unit for our family,
it used to serve a far more practical purpose in years gone by.
Before the icebox was invented, folks used to store their food in root cellars,
or in window boxes made by building an insulated box around a north facing
window during the winter. Then, during the warmer months, food would be kept
in the spring house, or in a nearby stream.
Although the "new" icebox gave folks a way to keep their food inside, they
had to prepare many months in advance if they were going to be able to keep
it cold.
Without electricity, ice had to be used to cool the inside of the icebox.
Throughout the winter months the villagers would gather to saw large blocks
of ice from the frozen lakes and ponds. Then, they would stack them on large
sleighs for the horses to pull back to town. There, they were stored in the
ice house packed in straw which would help keep it from melting.
Throughout the year, the delivery man would make his rounds to deliver the
large frozen blocks of ice. These ice blocks would then be placed in the
bottom sections of the icebox. As the ice melted, the water would drain out
through the tiny door in the front, and had to be emptied every day (I bet
that was a fun chore in those hot summer months!)
Not until the 1920s did folks have the opportunity to have the first electric
refrigerators, then, mass production of the modern refrigerator didn't start
until after World War II.
Gone were the days of sawing ice blocks in the cold winter freeze - for
some...
Did you know?
Come February, about an hour drive from my village, there is a little town
called "Tully, NY." There the tradition of ice gathering still goes on! Every
year, folks from the area gather for the annual Ice Harvest Festival. Today
the festival happens out of fun rather than necessity, but early on, the
town supplied ice to cities throughout New York - even as far away as New
York City!
The Tully Valley is the ideal place to harvest ice, because of the cold winters
and the “glacial potholes” (or lakes formed when chunks of a glacier
break off and melt) found in the region.
Not only do the town folks gather in the winter around the ice festival,
but they also gather again during the hot summer! They put all that ice to
GREAT use! They use it to make homemade ice cream & have a huge ice cream
social!
This February, if you feel cabin fever comin' on, come on over to Tully to
help gather up some ice - but then you'll also have to come back in the summer
to EAT the rewards of your labor ;)
I'm so thankful for our modern technology, but I'm also blessed to have this
beautiful part of history in our home.
Now I'm off to the freezer to enjoy a few scoops!
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Make a "LEGO" birthday cake:
Bake a regular sheet cake, then add 6 small cupcakes to the top (glued down
by some icing). Decorate with a bright primary color!
* Little cupcake papers filled with LEGOs would be a great party gift for
each child!
Delicious Cucumber
Salad For
Pennies!
There's nothing quite like the taste of a fresh picked garden cucumber! This
time of year, gardeners
everywhere are trying to find recipes to preserve their year long efforts
of producing an abundance of these green beauties!
Here's a quick easy dish that my sister-in-law brought to a recent family
reunion. Not only will your family love it, but you will enjoy the savings
on your grocery list!
Depending on how large your family is - slice up the number of cucumbers
you think it will take to give
each member a nice sized portion.
Cover sliced cucumbers with this sauce:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup vinegar
Cook on low heat until sugar is dissolved - then chill.
* You can multiply the above recipe to make the amount of sauce needed to.
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Get Rid of Those Pesky
Fruit
Flies!
There's nothing more annoying, than moving apiece of fruit & having a
flying circus buzzing around your face!
If you've ever had fruit flies in your home, you know how QUICKLY they multiply
- almost out of nowhere!
Here's a quick way to rid your life of these little flying pests! * Of course
if you know someone who raises frogs or other small reptiles, you could collect
them and sell them for a profit ;)
You will need a mason jar.
- Use a nail to poke some holes in the top of the mason jar lid.
- Add a few inches of apple cider vinegar to the jar.
- Put the lid back on & set the jar in the place you were having problems
with.
The fruit flies seem to love this stuff - and therefore, we do too *Big
Smile*
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Red Raspberry Jam With a Touch of Lemon
It's berry season & we want to do everything we can to preserve the luscious
flavor of these vine ripened morsels!
Take a bit of time from your busy day to whip up a batch of this delicious
treat. When those blistery winter days roll around, you'll agree that it
was time well spent!
You'll Need:
6 or 7 1/2 pint jars
8 cups of raspberries
6 cups of sugar
And the juice of two lemons
In a heavy stock pot, place raspberries, sugar, & lemon juice. Slowly
bring to a boil over low heat. Slightly shift the pot around to keep the
berries from sticking - but don't stir. Continue to boil over medium heat
& remove any foam that forms on top. Boil gently until the jam tests
done (approx. 12 min.). Ladle into sterilized jars and process.
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Store your extra quilts and blankets by folding them so they will fit inside
of your decorator pillow shams! This makes it easy to keep your bed decorated
& your bed pillows easily tucked behind the decorator shams. Not only
does this save time in making the bed in the morning, but it also solves
the storage issue of finding a place for these bulky items.
The World's Largest Resort
Powered by Windmills & Solar Panels is Coming to my Neck of the
Woods!
Have you heard about DestiNY USA?
Opening in Syracuse, NY in 2004, DestiNY USA will not only be the largest
resort/hospitality center in the world, but it will also be powered with
alternative types of energy including solar panels, fuel cells,
windmills and other alternative energy systems.
Robert Congel, the developer and manager of the Pyramid Companies (the largest
shopping center
developer in the Northeast), has promised that DestiNY USA will be the largest
green building in the
world by using no fossil fuel energy!
Many alternative energy experts, including the Rocky Mountain Institute (listed
in our links directory at the site) have helped with the design of this mammoth
project!
Because of the sheer size of the new facility, a 300 acre energy center will
need to be built, which not only means new jobs, but it also means the focus
on these types of energy will now be in the spotlight! This is great news
for those of us who have dreamed about the possibilities of making our own
electricity, but have not be financially able to get started. With more &
more folks wanting alternative energy, the prices will become much more
competitive for us as consumers!
We so enjoy our 4 seasons here in Upstate, NY, but the thought of having
such a facility to enjoy during the cold winter months is something we are
excited about!
Have a look at some of the things that will be housed under one roof!
15 million total square feet of space
4,000 hotel rooms
65 acre indoor park
Golf Course
World's Largest Marine Life Aquarium
6 Story Rock & Ice Climbing Wall
Broadway Shows
15,000 Seat Amphitheater
Winter Garden
30 Restaurants & Cafes
Over 400 Retailers and Activities
International Fashion
Replicas of the NY attractions - including a
1,200 ft. Erie Canal & Niagara Falls
We are looking forward to the new center & encourage you to come visit
us in 2004!
Take a peek at the project yourself!
http://www.destinyusa.com/
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© Copyright of Pearl Sanborn. No reproduction
of any kind without written permission.
Add fragrance to every room of your home by adding a few drops of your favorite
scent to the light bulbs. Lemon, or vanilla are great choices.
* Make sure you do this while the bulbs are cool!
HomeMade Hamburger
Helper
First make the HomeMade Hamburger Helper Seasoning Mix and store it in a
re-sealable container:
Hamburger Helper Seasoning Mix
1 1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1/3 cup instant onion
3 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. salt
1 2/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
3 1/2 Tbsp. beef bouillon granules
Yield: 5 1/2 cup servings
Then pick the meal you want to make:
Cheeseburger Casserole
Brown one pound hamburger, drain fat. Add 1 cup water, 1 cup uncooked macaroni,
one 16-oz. can chopped tomatoes, and 1/2 cup seasoning mix. Simmer covered
20 minutes or until macaroni is tender. Remove from heat, add 1/2 cup grated
cheese.
Chili Tomato Macaroni
Brown one pound hamburger; drain off fat. Add one cup water, one cup uncooked
macaroni, one 16-ounce can chopped tomatoes, one Tbsp. chili powder and 1/2
cup seasoning mix. Simmer covered 20 minutes or until macaroni is tender.
Potato Casserole
Brown one pound hamburger, drain off fat. Add 3/4 cup water, 6 peeled and
thinly sliced potatoes, 2/3 cup seasoning mix. Simmer covered 20-30 minutes
or until potatoes are tender. Stir. Uncover and cook until excess water is
evaporated.
©2001 Brandie Valenzuela
About The Author:
Brandie is a freelance writing mother of three children. She is also the
editor of the Family First Newsletter, the HomeMade Living ezine, and other
services for parents. To find out more about Brandie's creations, visit:
http://www.bmvcreations.com
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What a Cute Little Stinker! Well, they are cute, but they
sure do stink - We're Talking
Skunks
For some reason, our area is over run with skunks this year! Maybe it has
to do with the unusually
warm winter we had? In any case, folks everywhere are dealing with the issue
of "skunkie pooh"!
Here are some helpful tips in riding you or your pets from this unmistakable
odor. Definitely no gray areas here - pure black & white *Big Smile*
1.
Use equal amounts of vinegar and water to wash with. Rinse with clear water.
Repeat
2.
Wash down with tomato juice, then follow up with a good shampoo. Rinse with
a gallon of water plus 2
tablespoons of ammonia. Rinse with clear water.
Caution: If you have an animal with white fur, using tomato juice just might
give them a brand new look - hope you like the colors pink or orange ;)
3.
Mix 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, and enough dishwashing
liquid to make a substance which resembles a thick gravy. Shampoo as
normal.
* Be careful not to get any of these ingredients in the eyes!
Of course - we would rather not have to use these methods at all, so we can
do our best to keep skunks away in the first place.
Because skunks come to our yard looking for something good to eat, keep trash
and pet food in tight
containers - out of reach of "little paws"!
But then again...
Skunks aren't all bad! Did you know...
Skunks rarely attack unless they feel cornered, or they are defending their
young. If a skunk feels
unable to flee, they will usually warn before spraying by fluffing its fur,
shaking its tail, stamping the ground with its front feet, growling, stand
up on its hind legs, or spit. Of course, if all else fails - they let it
fly!
Skunks are omnivorous and often go 5-10 miles each night looking for field
mice and other small rodents, lizards, frogs, acorns, fallen fruit, beetles,
larvae, earthworms, black widow spiders, and scorpions!
Because they are "carrion" eaters, they help to keep our roadways and
neighborhoods clean! It's estimated that 70 percent of a skunk's diet consists
of insects considered harmful to humans!
Here little skunkie ;)
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Tip:
The next time you change your vacuum cleaner bag, sprinkle a bit of cinnamon,
or nutmeg in the new bag. When you vacuum, it will release the wonderful
fragrance into your room!
Dinner in Less Than
20 Minutes - Summer Garden
Pasta!
Here's a meal that you can serve in less than 20 minutes!
- Use a box of your family's favorite type of pasta
- Add garden veggies such as; chopped tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers
- Add chopped pieces of chicken
- Mix all together with 1 small bottle of Italian dressing
You can serve this dish hot or cold! This dish is great to have on hand for
picnics, lunches, or a light meal during the week.
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Secret!!
Did you know that Preparation H has been a secret beauty treatment since
the 1940's? I hear it's great for tightening up those fine lines and wrinkles
under the eyes! Sure beats the price of those designer brands!
Homestead
Classifieds
(Homesteads & Land - For Sale/Wanted)
Place your ads here - they get HUGE results!
frugally4u@aol.com
Missouri Ozark Plateau Region
Homestead with 40 secluded acres
Built in 1997 1200 sq. ft.
Passive solar design provides a unique living experience and utilizes a back
up wood stove with on site source of fuel.
Features: Ceiling fan(s), Disposal, Laundry room, Major appliances, Recessed
lighting, Satellite dish, Solar energy heating, Wood burning stove, two bedrooms,
one bath and a laundry/utility room. The Great Room is twenty-one by thirty
feet and includes the living, dining and kitchen area, and air conditioner.
Asking Price: $125,000
http://fuliginouspalaver.tripod.com/homestead
....................
Southeast Kansas
Homestead with 86 secluded acres!
1860 historic stone house bordered by a river.
Stone walls beautifully exposed on the inside.
Acreage includes rich bottomland crops (20), field (20), pasture with stocked
(bass) pond (15), and timber (30).
Huge old stone cistern/well near house to collect sweetwater. Rural water
and natural gas. Woodstove.
A variety of fruit trees and large garden area. Pole barn, chicken coop and
other outbuilding. New hot tub outside. Appliances furnished. New riding
mower. Completely isolated on a dead end road just off of black top - nearest
house a mile away and out of view. Yet still only 5 minutes from nearest
town (Fort Scott) An hour from Kansas City or Joplin.
Asking Price: $140,000
jane@cpol.net
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Tip from reader:
To keep dogs and other animals out of flower beds, sprinkle "tobacco juice"
in the beds (that is water that has been "marinated" with ashes and cigarette
butts.. yucky, but works!!)
August Links - Great Sites That
You've Got to
See!
Hill Gardens
http://www.hillgardens.com/
A wonderful gardeners resource! A huge list of gardening articles are listed
as well!
....................
Carting With Your Dog
http://www.cartingwithyourdog.com/index.html
A great new way to have fun with your pet! I had no idea how many folks were
getting into this unique
sport! Lots of great pictures, clubs, and events for you to participate in.
....................
Growing for Market
http://www.growingformarket.com/gfm.html
A national monthly newsletter for direct market farmers.
This link takes you to their huge list of virtual farm tours:
http://www.growingformarket.com/farmtours.html
See what other small farmers are doing!
....................
Rose Magazine
http://www.rosemagazine.com/
A wonderful resource for those of us who love roses! All the information
you could want is covered in this publication - and it's free online!
....................
Old Louisville Recipe Book
http://www.oldlouisville.com/Recipes/
A collection of traditional genuine Kentucky and Southern recipes, most over
100 years old.
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