SIMMERING POTPOURRI

STOVETOP POTPOURRI
one whole orange or just the orange peel1/2 cup cranberries1 Tbsp. whole cloves3 sticks of cinnamon or a small handful of small pieces of cinnamona bit of grated nutmeg if desiredQuarter the orange. Put all the ingredients into a saucepan. Fill pan with water. Place on the stove on the smallest burner, on the lowest setting. Refill water as needed.
Winter Citrus PotpourriThings you need:

• Oranges and Lemons (thinner skins are best)
• Sharp kitchen knife
• Baking sheet and silicone cooking mat
• Cinnamon sticks
• Pine cones
• Orris Root
• Whole cloves and nutmegs
• Vanilla beans (you can use one you have removed the seeds from!)

. A better and safer alternative is to do what your grandmother did: simmer a pot of spices on your stove! Ingredients like cinnamon sticks, apple peels, orange rinds, cloves, apple juice, vanilla, anise, and nutmeg will soon make your home smell like you've been baking all day.
Be Prepared: Get into the habit of saving (rather than composting) your orange peels, lemon and lime peels, and apple and pear skins skins.
Instructions: Fill a small saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe, continue to boil for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to simmer. Add water as needed, usually every 30 minutes or so.
Recipe #1
Cinnamon sticks
Apple peels
Orange rinds
Whole cloves
Recipe #2
Peel from 1 lemon
Peel from 1 orange
2 bay leaves
3 cinnamon sticks
2 Tablespoons whole cloves
Recipe #3
A few drops vanilla
Orange peels
Recipe #4
1 cup dried lavender
1 tsp anise
1 Tablespoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon whole cloves
1 Cinnamon stick
Recipe #5
5 bay leave
s1 Tablespoon whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon

Ingredients:1 Fresh Orange {sliced}1 Fresh Lemon {sliced}4 Cinnamon Sticks {broken up}3 Tablespoons of Whole Cloves2 Tablespoon of Whole All Spice1 Tablespoon of Ground Nutmeg1 Tablespoon of Ground Cinnamon4 Cups of Water
Simmering potpourri is a lovely way to make your home smell warm and inviting, especially during the holiday season when you use fragrant spices like cinnamon and cloves.
Cinnamon Sticks, Orange Slices & Spices
How It Works: Just fill a pot with water, add your favorite ingredients and simmer all day. This also helps humidify the home a bit.
The recipes below are just guidelines, you can use different amounts and mix up ingredients as you like. Save: Orange, lemon and lime peels, apple skins (dry them out first before storing in a container) and add assorted spices. Experiment to find your favorite aromas!
Directions:

• Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe, boil for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to simmer all day. Top up water as needed.

Caution: Set your timer for 30 minutes so you remember to top up with water. You don’t want the pot burning dry. Do not leave the house with this left heating on the stove.
Recipe #1
Cinnamon sticks Apple peels Orange rinds Whole cloves
#2
Apple juice Cinnamon sticks Whole cloves
#3
Vanilla (a few drops) Orange peels
#4 – Christmas Potpourri Simmering Pot
3 sprigs evergreen or handful pine needles 2 cinnamon sticks 2 TBS whole cloves 2 bay leaves 2 pieces orange rind 2 pieces lemon rind
#5
2 TBS whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks 5 star anise 1 orange peel
#6
Whole cloves 1 tsp nutmeg
#7
Peel from a whole orange Whole cloves 2 Cinnamon sticks
#8
5 bay leaves 1 TBS whole cloves 2 sticks cinnamon
#9
Peel from 1 lemon Peel from 1 orange 2 bay leaves 3 cinnamon sticks 2 TBS whole cloves
#10
1/8 cup cloves 1/8 cup allspice 2 cinnamon sticks
#11
6 whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick 1 tsp vanilla
#12
1 cup dried lavender 1 tsp anise 1 TBS nutmeg 1 TBS whole cloves 1 Cinnamon stick
#13
2 sticks cinnamon Peel from one lemon Fresh rosemary Whole cloves
Winter Freshener:
2 cups dried rosemary 2 cups dried lavender 1 cup dried eucalyptus leaves 1/2 cup dried peppermint or spearmint 1/2 cup dried bay leaves

• Directions: Keep stored in an airtight container then add 1 cup of mix per 3 cups boiling water.

Fragrant Slowcooker Version:
1 cup dried lavender leaves 4 cups dried rose petals 1 tsp. anise seed 1 TBS ground nutmeg 1 TBS whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick (broken and crushed into pieces) 1 TBS crushed benzoin fixative 5 drops jasmine oil 5 drops patchouli oil 5 drops rose geranium oil 5 drops rosemary oil

• Directions: Mix all ingredients and store in a glass container for 1 month before using (store in dark location). Fill crockpot halfway with water, add 1 to 2 cups potpourri then turn the heat on low (lid off). Source: Company’s Coming Slow Cooker Recipes (by Jean Pare).

To make Christmas Potpourri

Add 1-2 clementine peels, 4-5 star anise, a small palm full of cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks and a 1/4 inch of vanilla bean snipped into several pieces to a small pot. Fill the pot 2/3 full of fresh water.

Put on the stove and SIMMER. I set a timer on the stove so I don't forget to turn off the flame.

As the water evaporates and the better-than-baking smell wafts through the house refill with fresh water. DO NOT LET ALL THE WATER EVAPORATE.
Spicy Simmering Potpourri

• 1 oz. can cinnamon sticks, broken into small pieces
• 1 (1.12 oz.) can whole cloves
• 1 (1.25 oz.) can whole allspice

Mix all ingredients in Ziploc bag or airtight container. Place 1 heaping teaspoon to 1/2 cup of water in simmer pot and heat.
Fruity-Fresh Simmering Potpourri

• 1 lemon
• 1 orange
• 3-3 inch cinnamon sticks
• 6 bay leaves
• ½ cup whole cloves

Cut lemon and orange into slices or place in pot or slow cooker or saucepan. Cover with water and then top with a few bay leaves, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks. Cook on low heat. You can refrigerate and reuse any leftovers.
Christmas-y Simmering Potpourri

• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons dried lemon peel
• 2 tablespoons dried orange peel
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• YULE MIX

Mix all ingredients and store in Ziploc or airtight container. I’d use 1/3 mixture at a time (making sure I get one cinnamon stick and one bay leaf). Place your potpourri–along with about a quart of water–in a medium saucepan or slow cooker. Simmer on low heat, adding water as needed.
You can bring the scents of the Yule season into your home by blending up your own batch of potpourri. Keep it in a Mason jar so it will stay fresh. To use, simply scoop ½ of mix into a small pot, and cover with a few inches of water. Allow to simmer on low heat on your stovetop, adding water as the potpourri reduces down. You can also use a small potpourri-sized crock pot. If you're feeling really crafty, make a big batch, divide into several jars, and then tie with a decorative ribbon or piece of raffia. Add a note card, and give as gifts for your friends at Yule!
Blend together:

• 3 Cups dried orange peel
• 1 Cup dried lemon zest
• 4 Cinnamon sticks, snapped into thirds
• 1/4 Cup whole cloves
• 1/4 Cup pine needles
• A pinch of allspice
• 10 juniper berries

Mix in a bowl and then keep in a Mason jar until you're ready to use.
Potpourri2 cinnamon sticks5-8 whole cloves1 apple cut upa few shakes of cinnamonwater (or apple juice)Throw everything in a small pot and fill it up with water (or juice). Bring to boil then turn your stove down as low as it goes to a simmer. Watch to make sure your water doesn't all evaporate (it isn't fun cleaning your pan and the burned smell defeats the purpose of the potpourri). This works the great if you have one of those little crock pots that is used for sauces. My mom just bought an old little sauce pan from a thrift store that she doesn't care about. Just keep adding more water throughout the day. You can do lots of variations of this. This is my fall version. At Christmas time, I use orange peel and/cranberries instead of the apple and I always throw in fresh pine. Honestly, this is so much better than any candle I have ever used.
Simmering Citrus Potpourri1 c waterfew slices of citrus (orange, grapefruit, lemon)cinnamon sticksplash of vanillaFill a small saucepan or skillet with above ingredients. Bring to a low boil and then turn heat down to low and let simmer for as long as you wish. You can add water as needed. Be careful not to let the water evaporate and your pan dry out.

fresh Christmas potpourri recipe creativeholidaygi...Simmering Scent Jar Cost: $2 or $3 (depending on what supplies you already have at home) To be written on tag and attached to jar: Pour contents into saucepan on stovetop and simmer on low heat, add water as needed. Refrigerate to keep fresh. Items needed: 1 pint jar, 2 lemon wedges, 1 lime slice, 2 orange slices, 3 cinnamon sticks, 2-3 Tbsp. whole cloves, 3 bay leaves, small fabric scrap, small piece of twine/jute/ribbon. Directions: Place ingredients in pint jar and fill with water. Top with small piece of fabric secured by tying ribbon or twine around lid. Attach tag.

THERE'S A CROOK AROUND EVERY CORNER

Thank you very much for your swift response and for telling me the

(item) is still available.I want to inform you that i am a deaf

man and i am satisfied with the conditions has you have stated 

in the CL.I want to let you know that i have a schedule already,

for i need to attend an important seminar in Germany so i won't 

be able to come and check it at your House, Since i am okay with

the condition, I will like to make an outright purchase in 

issuing a certified check to you and the check will be cover money

 for the (item) and mover funds, the payment will be sent to you

 via Ups / Fed-ex and will be deliver to you within 2-3 working

 days and Upon the confirmation and clearance of the payment,

 My private mover will come for the pick-up at your place. I'll

 need the below information to make out payment.   Full Name to

 be on the check.... Home address..... City...... State...... 

Zip Code..... Cell phone Number..... Total Amount for the...

(item)   Please i want you to consider my offer & i will like 

to be the last user for this.. As for the shipment. When you 

confirm that you received the check and it cleared, We will make

 arrange for the pickup at your location..   GOD BLESS YOu.

All this for a used $200 laptop??????????

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE ANYONE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. THEY USE IT

TO ACCESS YOUR ACCOUNTS AND YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING LEFT.

This is my latest response from an ad I had on Craigslist.

Here is another one:

Hello, Thanks for the quick response.... I hope it is in good 

condition as stated and I believe you must have buyer's 

interested in the purchase and I thought the best way to outbid

them is by offering additional sum $30 to the asking price 

because I'll like to buy it a.s.a.p.. Being a respectful buyer,

I would like to make an outright purchase and I would have love

to have a look before buying but, I'm out of Town on a business 

trip. I am from Hawaii, I really need to buy this and send to my 

son schooling outside the state, but you can send his picture to 

me. I will be paying through PAYPAL because i have a verified 

account with pay pal.So, kindly get back to me with your pay pal

email address so i can make payment into your pay pal account.

Once payment clears, shipment will be handled by me through my

personal shipping account. Please kindly get back to me with

your pay pal email address if my offer is granted.

He never stated which item he wanted. I had a couple of laptops on

there. Again, used $200 laptops. 

This is not all that is going on in our lives as far as people 

preying on us to take our money from us with fraud. I receive 

letters a couple of times a week for refinancing my home. The 

letters have FHA on the letterhead, but they are not. A friend 

of mine received a similar offer, went to the companies office 

(good sign, right?) refinanced, laid down $1000 but was told she

 did not have to make 2 house payments. Two months later, her

 bank called her asking where the house payment was? Seems they

 were never contacted by the new company. She called the new 

company who told her to read her contract....if she was not

 approved by their company, she forfeited her $1000. This is a 

girl who brought lunch and coffee to work to save money....now 

she's out her money and is two house payments behind.

The law did nothing to help this girl. 

I saw a man on 20/20 that stated he worked for Bank of America, 

discovered mortgage fraud and reported it as high as he could in 

the company, to no avail. He said Citigroup and Countrywide are

fraudulent with mortgages, also. Nothing has been done. The workforce

has been reduced to none and we it is simply too bad for us that 

we are being cheated. 

What gives a person, or company the right to take what is ours? How

do they sleep at night? The sad part is, they sleep better than we do. 

Someone has to be falling for this theft, or these people would

not spend so much time on it. Someone has been severly cheated

and will spend their days trying to survive because nothing is

being done to stop them. They will continue. We depend on our creditors 

to be honest with us and we get settled in, thinking they are. 

Check your statements, keep an eye on your finances. Don't fall for

lines from so called reputable companies until you check them out. 

Above all, don't throw receipts with your account numbers

in the trash. People look for these to enter your accounts. 

Our lives have become harder to live, because of the financial ruin

of our country. Now, it is standing by while we are being cheated

and no one is doing a thing to help. I know a man that took a 

counterfeit check to a bank that he received. Yes, it is couterfeit

That was it. If he had cashed it instead of asking the bank to check

it, he would have been responsible, but nothing was done about

someone trying to pass a bad check!

Did you notice the one offer said "God Bless You?" I say back to him...

"God Help You."

SHE WILL MEET ME AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN. I WILL NOT BE AFRAID AGAIN

I was fortunate to have two wonderful, loving grandmothers. This grandmother, Lizzie, was my father's mother. My father was her oldest son, and my grandmother could not walk past him without patting him on the back, or touching his hair. She loved my father. She loved us too and her way of loving was to hug us until we couldn't breath.
My grandparents lived on the second floor in a house in Cleveland Ohio. Every Saturday, "Mommy Owens" went to the A&P for groceries. My father and I went to visit after they came back from the store. I was 10 or 11 and remember walking up the stairs and smelling coffee being perked in a stove top perculator. I didn't drink coffee, but I enjoyed the aroma. Mommy Owens always bought my father cake of some kind, and the coffee was for him.
She lived a hard life with my grandfather. My father was always putting him in his place. The only solace my grandmother had was going to church. She would pick me up and she'd find a few hours of peace in her short life.
My grandmother got cancer when she was 52. It was hard and quick and then she died.
I was 12 years old. Years ago, you could have a body put into a casket and drive it to where it was going. My grandmother was laid out and then my father used his stationwagon to carry it to Kentucky for her burial. I asked to go. My mother was staying home with my 5 younger sisters.
The same night she died, my father was asleep, the little ones were upstairs and I was on the sofa in the family room, at the foot of the steps to the upstairs. The house was quiet and dark. The bathroom light was on, a room away from me. The light was also on at the top of the stairs. I laid on the couch, in thoughts of my grandmother and heard one of my sisters come downstairs.
I turned my head toward the stairs and saw something tall and very white. It wasn't one of my sisters.
The Bible says angels are men....cherubim and seraphims. My angel was a young woman. She was tall, had long blonde curly hair, a white robe with a gold sash type of belt and sandals on her feel. She was wrapped in a glow and the feathers on her tall, enormous wings were not over 1 ",and there were thousands of them. The thing I couldn't wrap my mind around, was how was she going to get those tall, sculptured wings through the doorway. To this day, 49 years later, I can still see her in my mind.
At that point, I heard her foot slide over the step and realized it was not my imagination. She was real, as real as I was. What did I do? I got up and ran, to bed with my father.
I didn't tell my father, or anyone else, about the angel. I was 12 and I knew they would laugh at me.
My father passed away 14 years later. My five sisters and I were at my house planning his funeral. For some reason, maybe to comfort them, I started to tell them about my angel. When I did , one of my sisters looked at me in amazement, like I had lost my mind...I wasn't sure what the look was. She asked me to stop, took 2 sisters with her to the other room, and asked me to tell the remaining 2 the story.
We came together a few minutes later with the story and pieced it together. The sister that stopped me from telling my story, said she was in bed, heard someone come out of one of the upstairs bedrooms, looked in the hall from her bed and saw my ....now, our granmothers...angel start to walk down the stairs, where I saw her.
She was 7 and afraid. I was 12 and afraid. We never told anyone.
I regret running away from her. I wish I would have stayed to see what her journey to us was about. I think she wanted us to know our grandmother was in Heaven.
I regret not telling my father. It may have eased his grief.
I regret that in all my years on earth, I've never seen her, again. She is my grandmothers angel. I know she's around somewhere.
And I bet that when I do go to Heaven, she'll be the first one I see.

EASY UPDATES FOR YOUR KITCHEN OR BATH

My kitchen has fruit tile. It's just not my style, so rather than rip it out, I covered it with wallpaper border. You can do this, just to change your kitchen.

It was easy. Wet it and simply put it up like you would on a wall. It comes off easily, so you can change the kitchen or bath without a lot of money.
While we're on kitchens:
I installed under cabinet florescent lights that plug into outlets. Mine look harsh, but are not. Now, I have to go finish my border!

FOR THE LOVE OF ONE GOOD MAN

I married Bobby when I was 58 years old and he was 62. By that time, most people have lived their married life, had their children and moved on to retirement, together. We didn't have that chance. He was a widower and I had just lived through a divorce from a 24 year old marriage.
I was living just fine. I had a good job, owned my own nice home, had a car and truck that were paid for. I owed no one. No one told me what to do. I shoveled my own snow, cut my grass and went where I wanted.
Except I didn't.
I saved a lot of money, because I went no where and did nothing. It was the perfect time of my life but I had no joy from it. Except for the comfort of a picture of Jesus Christ on the wall, I was always alone. I wanted to be alone. My daily prayer was....Father, if there is someone out there for me, you'll have to send him. I'm not going out to look.
I suffered from a horrible depression after my divorce, and was still at the end of it. When work was done, I went straight home, and was in my p.j.'s by 5 p.m. I had my quilt on my chair, watched t.v. or listened to my books on tape. I went to bed at 8 o'clock and got up at 5 a.m....for 4 years. I saw my children on weekends and holidays and cherished the time with them. I even put forth an effort to cook dinner, not realizing it was the only time I cooked.
I had a friend who asked me to meet "this nice guy." Too much effort for me. No thanks. My friend said he's perfect for me. I asked how so and she said she didn't know, couldn't explain it. No thanks...and if you don't know, I'll stay like I am...my life is fine. The sad part? I thought it was. I was on top of the world!
During the course of 8 months, this friend asked me to meet "nice guy" 3 times. I turned her down. Why would I want to mess up my routine? I liked living alone.
One day my friend called to ask me to a girls night out. It was like pulling teeth for her. I gave every excuse I had, but she won, and I went. It was fun, dinner and a band, with just girls.
Of course, the conversation got on "nice guy" and I felt trapped. The other girls knew him and went on and on about him. My friend said we were perfect for each other. I told her that statement bugged me, without the whys. She didn't know why.
"Nice guy" had a boat and the girls went out with him in the summer. I was asked to go, and agreed. After all, it was January and I could always bow out.
My so called friend gave "nice guy" my email address. Thanks kid...that's all I needed. After ignoring the emails, she gave him my phone number. It was time for a killing!
"Nice guy" seemed to misunderstand every thing I said and I'd have to explain my comments, which irritated the garbage out of me....but he would not stop calling. I was fed up with him and the intrusion into my life and when he asked to meet me for coffee, I went in full force. Now, I could tell him what I thought of him, and our mutual friend! Bring it on, Bud, you're going to get it!
We lived 83 miles apart, so one Wednesday evening, we drove halfway to meet. I remember being angry that I had to go out of my way, and wanted to be home in my p.j.'s.
I got to the restaurant first. He called stating he'd be a little late. I worked all day and he did not. He was retired, and was going to be late? The more that went on, the worse it got. My anger was white hot.
I ordered 2 coffee's, and waited. And waited. I had my head turned, looking out the window and heard someone clear their throat. I turned around to stare at a belt buckle. Ok, I'll look up to the lowest button on his shirt. I could hear him chuckling, a little. My eyes moved up two more buttons. As I lingered there, he asked "why is my coffee across the table? I didn't drive this far to sit over there." Damn! Now, I had to look up because he spoke. I slowly went up one more button, and then I was at his throat. He made not a sound. I took a deep breath, looked at his face. All of the anger was gone. He sat down and stared at me. He stared so close at me, I could feel my deodorant failing.
We talked for quite awhile. We continued talking on the phone for 10 more days when he asked me to visit him for the weekend. If we had not know mututal people, I would have refused, but I figured if he was a serial killer, someone would find me.
At the start of all of this, I went to his house. I didn't want him involved in my life, so soon. After awhile, I invited him to my home. Here's the scary part...he started coming over in March. My Christmas decorations were not completely down! (Don't forget....I was busy watching t.v.) When I went to work, he took them down, packed them away without saying a word. He cleaned my garage. He changed the oil in my vehicles. He carried out trash....made dinner. What was he thinking? What was he doing?
After a few more months, he proposed. I expect my reaction would have scared off the strongest of men. I laughed. I laughed because I truly thought he was kidding. He expected me to give up on this life I was living?
He proposed to me 5 times and I stopped laughing, but explained why my answer was no.
On the 6th proposal, I turned the tables and asked him why. He gave me the right answers. I said yes.
After we were married, our mutual friend came to our home for a visit. We were on the deck, eating, and all of a sudden, she yelled "I know what it is!"...and was met with complete silence for a few seconds. Then she said "Remember when I told you that you guys were perfect for each other and I couldn't explain it? It was the hurt....you both had the same look of hurt and pain in your eyes, but it's gone. I can't see it anymore."
So, we bought a home 83 miles away from where I worked. His parents are still here and need him, and it was to be our retirement home. Big mistake. I traveled, he traveled....anything for time with each other. I came home Friday nights at 6 p.m. and left Sunday at 4 p.m. for 3 years.
I have since then retired, I am home all of the time and at first, I enjoyed being home so much, he did the grocery shopping. I did not want to go anywhere. It is calming down, now.
So, I gave up my p.j.s and t.v. routine for a life with love, companionship, to be with someone so alike me, it's odd. We were both born in Kentucky and when he uses his country slang around my children, I tell them what he means. We love the same programs, working in the yard, growing gardens and flowers, freezing and canning, traveling to see our families, pick up trucks, computers, country decorating, country music, playing guitars, we refurbish furniture and love to work with our tools, we like the same food and we have the same belief in God. My Mother was ill and spent seven months with us. He never complained. He's interested in my crafts and tells everyone he meets about the book I wrote.
Remember when he was late for our coffee meeting? I found out later, he changed clothes several times, stopped at his Mothers home and paced until she told him to sit down!
When I said my daily prayer to Jesus? Jesus was my companion, my room mate during that time of my life, but He answered my prayer when the time was right. I was asked to meet this man several times over a course of eight months. The Lord let me meet him when His time was right..and my Bobby is, indeed, the answer to my prayers.

CANCER CANNOT HAVE MY SISTER

Recently,our little sister Kathy was diagnosed with cancer. I pray that you never get a phone call like that, and if you have, then you understand the helplessness you feel when it comes. There are no words and you feel like you aren't doing what you should be doing...saying the right words, but you simply are incappable of speech. Your mind is screaming....but you can't scream out loud. I am thankful that it was my sister Sharon that called. She totally understands me and let the silence go for as long as I needed. I'm glad she knew that when my breathing started again that the tears were coming. I'm glad she stiffled her tears until my shock was over and I'm glad she just let me cry with her, without having to talk. I am grateful for this sister that knows me so well.
It seemed with every message the news was worse. Kathy had 3 areas in her body with cancer. She was going to receive chemo. She lost her hair. She was tired and sick all of the time, and you could see it in her face. You could hear it in her voice.
Kathy lives in another state, so we didn't see her daily. She wore pretty scarves and hats and was constantly being asked where she got them. . On one visit, she asked if I minded if she took the scarf off of her head. I'm glad she walked away after I answered her, because that was a rough moment for me. I wanted to say yes, take the damned thing off. I'm your sister. Let me kiss your bald head! All I said was of course, I don't mind.
She fought that cancer like you'd fight an intruder in your home. Right from the start, Kathy was the strong one. She told us not to cry! She cried one time through it all. The rest of the time was spent fighting.
We believe in God and in his grace and mercy. We relied on Him to keep our little sister safe, and Kathy never had a doubt that He would. Never.
The fact that she is cancer free, absolutely no signs of cancer, is not surprising to us. She refused to let it have her. She laid the cancer at the foot of the cross, walked away, did what she had to do with medical tests and came out of it. I have never seen such strength in my life.
Of course, the sister, Sharon, that knows me was the one to call and tell me. I was in Hobby Lobby and she asked if I had talked to Kathy. I waited for the bad news, and Sharon said, go outside. I said please tell me. When she said all cancer is gone, I blindly walked, stumbled out of that store. I walked all the way to my car, not trusting myself to speak, and when I reached the car, she listened to me cry, again, crying with me.
Where do you find a pact like that? Where do you find someone that knows how you will react and walks you through it? Our sister was so sick, but more worried about us. Where do you find strength like that?
Only in a sister.

MY COUNTRY BATHROOM....USE WHAT YOU HAVE

I am a firm believer in use what you have. It's cheaper, imaginitive and fun...not to mention good for the environment. I had towel racks, but the french didn't do it for me. I had a partial roll of country wallpaper border and created new racks.
I wanted to change my bathroom. This is what I did. I started to paint it lavender. I didn't like it, and realized I had nothing lavender for the room and would have had to make or buy all new, so I did this. I painted everything beige.....paneling and all. This is what I ended up with...I even had the red checked fabric for the curtains and I am braiding a throw rug from flannel, so all the room cost me was the lavender paint. In the spring, my husband will make a door to cover the in the wall shelves by the window. My curtain rods were kitchen ones....I painted them red in the center, the part you can see.

A QUILT MADE IN SMALL PIECES

Start the quilt by making a bunch....according to the size....of 9 patch quilt squares. I used 4" squares, so 3 squares minus 2 seams of 1/4" makes the square 11 1/2". I cut across the folded piece of muslin, safely about 13". I opened the material, laid in a 12" square of batting, closed it and traved on a quilt stencil that was approximately 10". I put the stencil right at the edge of the open side because when you trim the muslin, the folded end, opened, is big enough for the back of the 9 patch. I can't just sit and watch t.v. and all of the solid squares were quilted while I sat and suffered through basketball and football!
Put a piece of batting between the 9 patch and muslin and stich the squares on your machine, to quilt.
When you join the 2 pieces together, the quilting is done. This is a better picture of the quilting. When assembled, all you have to do is add a border. This is two large pieces I have joined . When I get the quilt done, I will add the picture. I hope I explained this ok. If you need help, please leave a comment.

MY $8 COUNTRY SECRETARY DESK/CUPBOARD

When I bought this "secretary desk" at a thrift store...I wish I had taken before and after pictures.....the bottom had cheap, paneling sliding doors in it. We took those off and built country chicken wire doors. I love this piece. Best of all, it cost $8.00!

YOU ARE MY BLOOD

This is a post I wrote on one of our family webpages.
One of our "little" cousins and a "big" cousin wrote a post that has plaqued me since I read it. I had the blessed opportunity to have 6 uninterrupted hours with Maw before she took ill. In the 52 years that she was my grandmother, on that day is when I knew what kind of woman she really was. First of all, for all you who didn't have the time with her...I never....ever heard her speak badly about anyone, repeat rumors or judge anyone. Never. She loved each member of her family, totally and unconditionally. Maw worked hard, but I never knew how hard, until that day. Pap went to look for work during the depression and Maw was left at home with many small children. The food ran out and Maw said she was standing at her kitchen window, praying for food. A few minutes later, a wild boar was in the yard. She said to me, "you can believe it, or not." Anyone that knew Maw, believed it. After Maw sent up a prayer of thanks, she went outside, killed the boar, cut it up, salted it down and hung it in the smokehouse. She said she felt like a millionaire that day. When she told me the story, she cried when she said " I knew I could feed my children." Most of us know that Maw didn't spend too much time crying. If there was a problem, she got up and took care of it. Mom told me that Maw and Pap bought their seeds in feedsacks and they were a pretty, printed material. When the bag was empty, Maw would make clothes for the kids. Mom said she'd make them a new dress with a "cap" to match. Maw planted a garden to feed them all, harvested and canned everything she could. Like Ocie has told you, she washed clothes in a huge pot of hot water, outside. When we were small, there would be a bucket of water on the sink with a dipper in it. That was the best water I've ever tasted. I remember her treadle sewing machine. Maw would make that thing hum, as she worked. She had her daytime chores and her night time chores. Maw did not sit her days away. I used to wonder if she really slept when she went to bed. It was hard to imagine her being still for so long. Some of us have been close to this family all of our lives, some couldn't because of distance and others are "coming home." I have sent up thanks for Ocie starting this page. When I read, I realize so many of us were looking for "identity", a belonging, as Cousin David said. We can walk this life, assured of an identity. I find myself being drawn to the things that Maw did, more and more. I like the homemade, the things you do that your heart leads you to. If Maw needed something, she made it if that was the only way. She quilted, sewed her children's clothes, planted and grew their food, carried water, canned and made biscuits and gravy every morning of her life. She worked so hard, but when she touched you on the face, her hands felt like an angel's hands. I planted white morning glories because my mother told me they were Maw's favorite flower, and no matter where they lived, she'd plant those flowers. If Maw saw a snake in the yard she'd kill it with a hoe. If it crawled into a pile of rocks, she'd move the pile to get to the snake so her children would not be hurt. The world we are in, now, is wrought with financial hardships, high prices, maybe losing a home, a loved one, a job. I think we have to realize that it is simply the way it is and just do the best we can. God will provide. But, now we all have another bit of strength to add to the mix... We came from strength. Their children passed that strength to us. We came from good hearts. We came from people who worshipped and lived for God. We came from people who surrvived and held together. We came from people who loved you unconditionally. We came from a legacy that is rightfully ours. Marisa reminded us of that. She reminded and brought to us the message our grandmother left to us, all of us. YOU ARE MY BLOOD.This is a post I wrote on one of our family webpages.
One of our "little" cousins and a "big" cousin wrote a post that has plaqued me since I read it. I had the blessed opportunity to have 6 uninterrupted hours with Maw before she took ill. In the 52 years that she was my grandmother, on that day is when I knew what kind of woman she really was. First of all, for all you who didn't have the time with her...I never....ever heard her speak badly about anyone, repeat rumors or judge anyone. Never. She loved each member of her family, totally and unconditionally. Maw worked hard, but I never knew how hard, until that day. Pap went to look for work during the depression and Maw was left at home with many small children. The food ran out and Maw said she was standing at her kitchen window, praying for food. A few minutes later, a wild boar was in the yard. She said to me, "you can believe it, or not." Anyone that knew Maw, believed it. After Maw sent up a prayer of thanks, she went outside, killed the boar, cut it up, salted it down and hung it in the smokehouse. She said she felt like a millionaire that day. When she told me the story, she cried when she said " I knew I could feed my children." Most of us know that Maw didn't spend too much time crying. If there was a problem, she got up and took care of it. Mom told me that Maw and Pap bought their seeds in feedsacks and they were a pretty, printed material. When the bag was empty, Maw would make clothes for the kids. Mom said she'd make them a new dress with a "cap" to match. Maw planted a garden to feed them all, harvested and canned everything she could. Like Ocie has told you, she washed clothes in a huge pot of hot water, outside. When we were small, there would be a bucket of water on the sink with a dipper in it. That was the best water I've ever tasted. I remember her treadle sewing machine. Maw would make that thing hum, as she worked. She had her daytime chores and her night time chores. Maw did not sit her days away. I used to wonder if she really slept when she went to bed. It was hard to imagine her being still for so long. Some of us have been close to this family all of our lives, some couldn't because of distance and others are "coming home." I have sent up thanks for Ocie starting this page. When I read, I realize so many of us were looking for "identity", a belonging, as Cousin David said. We can walk this life, assured of an identity. I find myself being drawn to the things that Maw did, more and more. I like the homemade, the things you do that your heart leads you to. If Maw needed something, she made it if that was the only way. She quilted, sewed her children's clothes, planted and grew their food, carried water, canned and made biscuits and gravy every morning of her life. She worked so hard, but when she touched you on the face, her hands felt like an angel's hands. I planted white morning glories because my mother told me they were Maw's favorite flower, and no matter where they lived, she'd plant those flowers. If Maw saw a snake in the yard she'd kill it with a hoe. If it crawled into a pile of rocks, she'd move the pile to get to the snake so her children would not be hurt. The world we are in, now, is wrought with financial hardships, high prices, maybe losing a home, a loved one, a job. I think we have to realize that it is simply the way it is and just do the best we can. God will provide. But, now we all have another bit of strength to add to the mix... We came from strength. Their children passed that strength to us. We came from good hearts. We came from people who worshipped and lived for God. We came from people who surrvived and held together. We came from people who loved you unconditionally. We came from a legacy that is rightfully ours. Marisa reminded us of that. She reminded and brought to us the message our grandmother left to us, all of us. YOU ARE MY BLOOD.

MAKE COUNTRY/PRIMITIVE QUOTES FOR YOUR WALL

Embroider a quote. Use a larger pice of fabric for embroidering, and cut the quote out, about 2 x 3. Sew strips, approximately 1-2" around your words. Keep stripping until it fits a 5 x 7 frame.

HERBAL BATH BAG

Sew a facecoth into a bathbag. Fold it in half, sew along the short end. Cut a piece of ribbon 18", fold in half and sew the folded end of the ribbon in the long side, two thirds of the way up as you sew. Use the ribbon to tie the bag closed. You can add oatmeal, baking soda or powdered milk to your mix. Mix: 2 T dried lavender 2 T dried rose petals 2 T dried rosemary 2 T dried lemon verbena 1 cup dried cormeal Tie the ends of the bag, hang over the running faucet to fill a bath. Can be used for a few baths. Write the recipe on a card and tie it to the bag for gifts. Another Mix: 1 cup powdered milk 10 drops essential oil

I PROMISE TO NEVER, EVER COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE OUR SMOKE ALARM MAKES AGAIN.....NEVER, EVER!

We have a smoke alarm right off of my kitchen that goes off if I boil water! The noise is horrible and it takes a lot of fanning and opening doors to the outside to get it to shut up. We keep a feather duster close, to fan away the smoke and steam so the alarm will stop screaming at us. When using the stove (which is clean, by the way) I have to run the exaust fan to prevent the alarm from reacting.
Today, we were two rooms away in our office, with the door shut to keep the room warm, and we heard BEEP....BEEP....BEEP. We looked at each other for a second, got up and RAN to the dining room.....when there was a fire.
I had made a grunge candle last night. (You take a candle, roll it in melted wax and then in spices and crushed potpourri. Then, you roll it in wax again, to seal the spices in.)
My husband lit the candle this morning. He lights candles every morning, but it's usually a jar candle.
We had issues with our printer and went into the office to chat with Kodak, when we heard the warning.
When we arrived in the dining room, there was a circle of fire on the tabletop....about 12" round. I had a cotton quilted tablecloth on it and it was burning, as was the edges of two $20.00 bills. The candle had melted a lot, taking with the wax, a layer of spices and potpourri. The candleholder was like a cup with a small indention for the candle. The cup had filled up and when it spilled over the sides, it was so hot that the wax was burning and caught the tablecloth on fire. . The candle was still 6" tall. I don't know if it was the wax, or the mixture I made, but I will never burn anything but a jar candle again.
We grabbed things off of the table, removed the burned cloth and our oak table was burned.
I am still shaking. I don't mean to sound dramatic....but it's the what if's that are going through my head. The straps of my purse...a cotton, quilted Vera Bradley type, was one inch from the circle of flames. A kerosene lamp was on the table. What if the fire had been out of control by the time we heard the beep?
The statement IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE is definitely in the front of our minds and we have repeated it to each other several times. I hope God isn't getting tired of me saying "Thank You God", because it is my mantra, at the moment.
I PROMISE BEFORE GOD AND ALL MANKIND....TO NEVER, EVER COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE THAT COMES FROM OUR FIRE ALARM....EVER.

XLIBRIS PUBLISHING COMPANY IS A SCAM....NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I finally finished my heart's work. I wrote a book. I had worked the projects for many years and put them all on paper. It was a good book that I was proud of. The name of the book was MINE.
The dumbest thing I have ever done in my life was to have the book published with XLIBRIS.
Yes, it cost me to have it published....but the economy is so bad that regular publishing companies won't even accept a first time author.
The book is in 9 countries, printed in different languages. The book has been referenced to on Ehow.com. Friends have bought the book, but there is no record of it. I cannot prove it is being sold.
They told me they were based in Indiana...and they must have a P.O. Box there, because the REAL company of crooks is in the Phillipines.
I worked hard. I researched, gathered my info, wrote and rewrote for over a year. It was MINE.
I hold the copyright. Big deal. I wrote a revision, bigger and better. I kept the name because it was MINE. I went with a different company and was told I could have XLIBRIS take my book offline and stop printing it. I found a different publishing company, added my 200 pages of additions and had MY book reprinted.
XLIBRIS will not take it offline. I wrote a letter, signed it and went ahead with my new publisher. I have yet to hear from them, no answer, no taking the book offline. When you pull it up, you see both books, many times. The only difference is the cover and 250 more pages.  For a "loser" book, they are sure holding onto it.
My new book cannot be put out there like I would like. The old one is there....it's everywhere. So, I am losing money, the new publisher is losing money, but I bet XLIBRIS is not.
DO NOT SEND XLIBRIS YOUR HARD WORK. THEY WILL CHEAT YOU AND IT DOES NOT BOTHER THEM A BIT TO DO SO. THEY ARE CROOKS. CHECK ONLINE AND FIND REMARKS OTHER PEOPLE ARE MAKING. THERE ARE ALOT OF US OUT THERE.
1/14/12
I was promised they would STOP publishing and get my book off of the market. I love the name of my book, rewrote and published with Create Space. My 2nd book is not going well because the book from Xlibris is STLL all over the web, 6 months after they told me they would stop. If it isn't selling, like they claim, why won't they take it off?????????
I WILL NOT STOP THIS POST FROM GOING EVERYWHERE IT CAN, UNTIL THEY KEEP THEIR PROMISE.

THE DANGERS OF ALUMINUM AND BPA IN OUR BODIES

Please read this and follow up with research of your own, online.
BPA....Bisphenol A...is an epoxy resin chemical. It is added to plastic.....baby bottles, water bottles, water supply lines, the linings of cans of food,  dentures and some dental sealants and composites. There has been so much controversary that companies are begining to comply with safer practices. Be aware of the number on the bottom of a plastic container. You'll see a triangle and inside the triangle will be a number. If you see the number 3 or 7, the plastic is unsafe. BPA has been added. The chemical reacts to temperatures. When microwaved, the BPA contaminates your food, or drink.
There is much about it online.
Aluminum is now being linked to breast cancer. Aluminum is in it's highest content in antiperspirents. Check your labels. Studies have shown that in a larger number of breast cancer, the cancer is close to the underarm, where you apply the product.
It's also found in tin foil and aluminum cookware. Throw out any cookware with aluminum.
There is a lot of information online.

SLEEP IN A WELL MADE, SCENTED, CLEAN BED

Have you ever gone to bed at night, found that "sweet spot" and sighed with pure contentment? We get tired, weary and sometimes sad, we don't feel well and/or feel melancholy and the first place we think of is our bed. Hopefully, we spend one third of our lives there.
Let's make it worthwhile. This bed is from Rachell Ashwells' photos. Type her name in search. She has great products and her ideas are beautiful.
Is your bed soft enough or firm enough? If you can't buy a new mattress right now, buy a good mattress pad. Buy the best you can afford. They come with electric heaters in them, now, so you can turn your heat down, at night. The queen size has a control on each side. I turn them on about 1/2 hour before bedtime, in the winter.
Buy a good set of sheets. Buy a 300 thread count (the numbers of threads per square inch) or higher. Egyptian cotton is very good. You only need one set, for now. A good set of sheets will last for years and will get softer with each washing. You can find good prices on sheets if you are lucky enough to live near a T.J.Maxx. If you can't afford good sheets now, buy a high thread count set of pillowcases.
Invest in good pillows. Nothing is worse than fighting with a pillow all night. If you can't afford all of it at once, ask for good pillows for your birthday. They are worth the investment and the good night's sleep. A buckwheat pillow can be put into the micrwave for 2 minutes and will stay warm for quite awhile. You can open a few stitches of any pillow and add lavender buds for scent.
A goose down comforter will pay for itself, many times over. It is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The comforter can be washed, regardless of what the label says. The trick is to make sure the comforter is COMPLETELY dried in your dryer.Take it out of the dryer a few times and shake it before you put it back. If it is damp, the feathers will dry in hard lumps. I knew a girl that owned a dry cleaner and this came from her. The people from the dry cleaner go to a laundromat, do what I'm telling you and charge you plenty for it.
If your bed is low, buy a set of bed risers for around $10 at Walmart. They will pick your bed up about 6". It makes a difference to how the bed looks to you. I have to climb in my bed....and I love it.
Mix 1 cup of unscented baby powder with 10 drops of essential, or fragrance oil. ( $2 a bottle at Walmart in the crafts.) Before you put on the pad, liberally sprinkle the mixture on the mattress. Put on the pad, sprinkle more powder. Put on the sheets and sprinkle again. You can use the powder or buy or make linen spray. You can spray the sheets and pillows on your bed everyday when you make it. The spray will be dry when you go to bed, at night.
Once a month put your mattress pad and pillows in the dryer on air only to fluff them up and help with body odor. Add dryer sheets.
Don't stop until your bed is the way you want it to be. We are building a retreat, a haven, a place of peace and serenity. This is your safe, resting place. Your contented sigh will be worth all of the trouble.
Make your bed everyday. If you are indifferent about it, buy a comforter or quilt that you can at least throw up to the pillows. When you walk into your bedroom, at night, you will know why. Nothing feels as good as getting into a clean, scented, made bed.
Vanilla Linen Spray
Into a 32 oz. bottle add:
2 T 100% proof vodka
1 teaspoon vanilla fragrance oil
3 drops ginger fragrance oil
Fill bottle with distilled water and shake well.

THE NAME OF MY BOOK IS FROM YOUR HEART TO YOUR HOME BY REDA JOHNSON

The name of my book is From Your Heart to Your Home. The subtitle is Embrace simple pleasures, sweet comforts, awaken your creativity and satisfy your longing for home. It was published in July 2011 by Create Space Publishers. It can be ordered on their website or Amazon.com. The book has 368 pages. It has an orange cover. Type my name in and the book will be found.
I have been a crafter for over 10 years. I saved all my patterns and notes in boxes, not knowing one day I would write a book. I had people asking me how to make this or do that and one day a girl at work said I should write a book. Then, my mother said I had been talking about writing a book for years....so I did.
Here are the contents:
Decorating
Cleaning Help
Holidays
Gratitude Journal
Flowers, Herbs and Gardening
Language of Flowers and Herbs
Herbs of the Bible
Crafts
Comforts
Miscellaneous Beauty
Herbal Crafts
Varieties of Mints
Dry Potpourri
All about Essential OIls
Effects of Essential Oils
For the Guys
Feeding Birds
Just for Kids
Tried and True Recipes
Vinegar Bottles and Herbal Butters
Apples
Hodge Podge
Paint
Financial Awareness
Thank You God
Take Time For...
Learning Tools
When you look up the book, you will see the more extensive content list. Please take a look.
Reda

IT'S THE RIGHT TIME OF THE YEAR

Our weather has been so odd, this year, but thank God for the gift of seasons. We need the changes.
Summer is bright, neon lime green, orange and hot pink colors, excited children, cooking outside, visiting places or people. Walking barefoot, longer days and warm nights. It's catching fireflies, eating popsicles and juicy watermelon. It's running through the fire hydrant or the water hose. It's watching the flowers and vegetables grow and the smell of new-mown grass. Summer is sandals and sundresses. Summer is lemonade and salad. Summer is family.
Fall is the beginning of settling down. With fall comes peaceful colors, rust, orange, browns and greens. It's watching autumn leaves drift slowly to the ground, and it's walking through a pile of them, listening to the crunch. It's seeing mounds of mums in fall colors, scarecrows and the smell of burning leaves. Fall is shorter, darker days and skies full of stars with an ebony background. It's the smell of candles, pumpkin spice cappuchino, bread baking and good soup. Fall is the smell of new school supplies and the sound of the school bus. It's the time and the excitement of high school football games. Fall is flannel shirts and blue jeans.
Winter is a blanket of quiet, a hush on the earth. The snow seems to muffle noise and the world seems calm. It's gray skies, purple clouds and softly falling snow. Winter is rushing home to our retreat, our safe place. It evokes images of a stable with warmth from animals and the birth of the Christ Child. Wise men carrying gifts a long, long way and following the light of a solitary star...finally to find the child and the presence of an angel. Winter is being with family, loving "snow days", sled rides, building snowmen, watching movies together and quiet reading. Winter is soft, subtle lights on the tree and happiness and surprise in your children's eyes. Winter is the smell of wood burning, wet mittens and cookies baking in the oven. With winter comes a bonding to the family that only peace can bring. Winter brings a solitude that sooths our souls, calms us down and stops our frantic running. It's a time to go to bed early, wrapped in warm quilts and the love of someone's arms.
Spring is a season of new birth. It brings us out of the cold, quiet days of winter. We open our doors and windows to fill our homes with fresh air. Spring is hope. Our hope is Easter Sunday and is still cemented in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's a time for planning a garden and planting seeds in the soft earth. We watch for the first green tip of daffodils or tulips. Spring brings house bound children outside to feel the warmth of the sun. It brings out the tricycles, bicycles and baseball gloves.
I love all of the seasons and love to watch the changes. God knew what He was doing when He created them for us.

WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE WARMER THIS WINTER

We were talking about the rise in utility bills and I thought I'd let you know about the few things we did to ease the pain of heating our house in the winter. We have propane. We have a gas fireplace and my husband left the pilot on, not knowing how much fuel it used. Soon, way too soon, we were down to half a tank. The fill-up was $800.00. That hurt.
Let me tell you about propane companies...at least our experience. When we bought the home, propane was $3 something a gallon. The next summer I got a card from a different company offering $2 something a gallon. I called the original company to cancel. They matched the price. Great...right? Didn't have to mess up the yard moving the tank and still getting the best rate. Yes....untill the next summer when I got a bill for $108.00. I call and ask what is this? It's the fee we charge to hold the best price for you. Nope. I haven't paid it...will not pay it. That was never said to me before. In the meantime, I tell them I will use the remaining fuel...do not fill it up and don't touch the tank. I get a card from another company offering $1.79 a gallon. We signed, they filled my tank and I call the high price, add money on me people to tell them to come and get their tank. Oh, no. I haven't paid the bill yet. I informed them they can leave said tank to sit and rot. I'm not trying to come off like I'm tough or the B bad word...I'm saying you can't let yourself be cheated.
Ok....so we got smarter. We only light the pilot to run the fireplace, then off it goes.
We needed a couple of windows, but due to cash flow, couldn't get them. My husband made storm windows from plexiglass. Before he installed them, he put a sheet of plastic between, for added help. There was no cold air coming in.
Make draft dodgers for your doors. They truly help. Measure the width of the door, plus 3 inches. A 36" door will use 39". Cut a piece of heavy fabric 39" x 6 or 7". Fold in half, right sides of fabric facing...longways...and sew, leaving one end open for filling. Turn. Fill with raw rice, kitty litter or even unpopped popcorn. You can put in dry herbs and essential oil, if you wish. Sew closed and lay in front of door. You will soon notice how much they help.
If you have an upstairs where the bedrooms are, hang a quilt at the foot of the stairs. It keeps the heat downstairs. If you need upstairs warm, at night, tie the quilt to the side and untie in the morning.
We don't have small children, so we can fill and use kerosene heaters for the rooms we are in the most.
We have electric heaters in the bathrooms that we turn on to get ready for work, or to shower. We turn them off when we leave the room.
We have extra socks and sweaters around and instead of turning up the heat, we try to warm up dressed properly. If that doesn't work, we bump the thermostat a little.
We have a mattress pad that has heaters in it. It's a queen, so each side has a control. We go upstairs a half hour before bed and turn the pad on low. We are then, able to turn the thermostat down a little, and if we get warm or cold, we each have a control. If you are afraid to buy one of these for a child's bed, start now, buying super warm pajamas and extra blankets and quilts. They may even like sleeping bags.
If everyone is out of the house for the day, turn the thermostat down before you leave...but don't turn it off. 65 to 67 should be good. If you turn it off, the furnace has to heat the entire house when you get home....colder longer and more cost. Turn it back to your temperature when you get home. It saves a lot of money. Put a note on the front door to remind you.
My basement is cold. I have a door that leads to the garage that stays closed in the winter, but leaks air. I cut an old, stiff blanket into long pieces about 4-5" wide. I rolled them, longways, into flat tubes and nailed them all around the door, where it closes. It stopped the drafts.
If I can make something for dinner in the oven, it helps with heating. We eat a lot of roasts and cake!
Does anyone have any ideas to help? We're in this together.

THINGS WOMEN SHOULD KNOW IN AN EMERGENCY

I know women’s lib and all…but…our guys are not always at home or in the vehicle with us, when an emergency arises.
Have your husband, brother or Dad teach you how to:
Handle an electrical fire...a stove fire..a chemical fire.
Turn off the water in your house in case a pipe breaks
Shut off breakers to the electric box
Shut off the gas or propane
What to do if you have a wood burner and a chimney fire starts
Change a tire, in case you can’t reach anyone (there are some tricks to know taking a tire off and putting one on) You can't just take the nuts off...you loosen them before you jack up the car, and it is the safe way....to avoid the car from falling off of the jack.
How to change a battery
How to clean a battery.
How to add anti freeze...and never while the vehicle is hot.
What to do if the vehicle doors are frozen shut.
Ask him what you need for an emergency kit in your vehicle. Make an emergency phone list in case you are stranded. Put a copy in his car, too.
How to add oil to your vehicle
How to replace a wiper blade
How to check steering and transmission fluid
Find out how to wire a lamp…..just because it’s fun to do
Better safe than sorry.

WE HAVE TOO MUCH CANCER IN OUR FAMILY

We have CANCER in our family. Too, too much cancer.
1. My 55 year old sister had Lymphoma Cancer, but is now in remission.
2. My 83 year old mother has had Myelodysplastic Syndrome for 3 years. If not cured, it will turn into Leukemia.
3. My 30 year old niece had Thyroid cancer, had surgery and is in remission.
4. My son in law has Lymphoma Cancer and is facing a stem cell transplant in the spring.
5. My husband's 35 year old niece has Breast Cancer and has had a double mastectomy, but it has spread to other organs.
6. Her 29 year old sister has Skin Cancer.
7. Her 15 year old son has Cancer in his spine and has had many surgeries since the age of 5.
8. My husband's late wife passed away from Breast Cancer.
The word Cancer can stop you in your tracks and make your blood run cold. When you cry and sob, it comes from your stomach and lungs, because you are trying to breathe....and you can't. You try to think, and you can't. You cry "Oh, God," and you don't know what else to say.
I remember when the news reached us that our younger sister had cancer. I was talking to another sister on the phone, but we had no words. We just cried together. No words could describe our pain. It's even hard to write, now.
I remember two things about that time. During a visit, my sister wore a scarf because she had lost her hair. She asked if it would offend anyone if she took it off. Offend?
No,it won't offend me, because I can kiss you on your head.
I remember when the same sister I cried with on the phone called me to tell me Kat was in remission and no cancer could be found. I was in a store. I left the cart, fumbled my way to my car through my tears and called her back. We cried, we prayed, we could talk. Our sister was going to live! This time, our prayers made sense.
Our Mother has been going through a horrible time. Your normal platelets are 150,000 to 200,000. Our Mothers went down to 6,000. Her red and white blood cells were so low she received transfusions on one, if not two of the cells at least once a week. She was taken for treatments three times a week for two years. She stayed at our homes, away from her own for seven months.One of our brother in laws went above and beyond to get Mom to her treatments. When she went back home, she continued the treatments and was getting no better. She has been receiving chemotherapy eight days in a row, every three weeks. On top of that, she has to go to the hospital twice, sometimes three times a week for blood tests. Kathy had to take her. Sick with chemo and cancer running through her body, she drove our Mother to the hospital and Mom never missed a treatment. She has finally received all of the chemo she can and we are waiting.
Please God, don't let it turn into Leukemia.

This is my Mother and my Sister receiving chemo. Together.
My son in law will be hospitalized for 2 months, after his transplant. He will be isolated. He has been in remission twice. The word CURE was mentioned. He's going for it, and I pray with all of my heart that this works.
Our 15 year old nephew is a typical kid, although he can't move his arms very well. He loves girls and driving tractors. If you put his hands up on the wheel, he can steer it. He tries to work harder than most kids. He hunts....with help. He's funny, kind and sweet.
My husband was the sole caretaker for his wife. He had a 3 subject notebook filled with the names of meds, times and dates to administer it. She had many, many surgeries and suffered great pain. She was bedridden for two years. He retired early, because she could not be left alone.
We have too much CANCER in our family and we are so grateful for those that are in remission.

CREATE YOUR LAUNDRY AREA

Do your laundry one day a week, instead of 7 and create a laundry room that makes it easy to do just that.
Wherever your washer and dryer are, add a corner for yourself.
Add:
A comfortable chair.
A table next to it with a lamp on it.
Books, your Bible, a journal, a sewing or crocheting project and a c.d. player.
Take a cup of coffee, or tea and bring your cell phone.
Put pictures on the wall and spruce up the ironing area. Decorate your area. Make it bright and pretty. Add a pretty area rug and turn on the lights. If you have washboards, old irons or an old ironing board, add them for decoration. Look around the thrift stores for laundry room signs.
If you are in a basement, keep an eye open for bamboo shades and staple them on the ceiling in your area (careful of the wires overhead). Have a good place to hang clothes on hangers.
Go there, one day a week and do all of your laundry. You are already there, so when the dryer stops, you can hang a lot of clothes that you would otherwise have to iron. Make sure each family member has their own laundry basket, that they can collect and put their clothes away. Ask the older children to carry the baskets and help the little ones.

A FUN GAME FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS

Fun game to do at a family gathering.
Gift wrap a present in a box. Gift wrap the box in a larger box. Do it a total of three times. You are the only one who will know this. Use any gift you wish for the prize. (There were instant lottery tickets in this box.)
Be sure to securely tape all loose paper, corners and seams. (Don't make it easy)
Whoever is next to you rolls a die until they roll a number 1. The person playing can try to unwrap the box until the 1 is rolled and they must stop.
Box is passed person to person and the person on the left of the unwrapper is the one to roll the die. The one to open the last box is the winner of the prize.
This is a fast paced, fun game.
This can be played at any gathering. Christmas, birthday party, shower....etc.
By the way... the person doing the unwrapping must wear oven mitts on each hand.
Have fun!
The winner!

WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE YOUR JOURNAL

When you journal you are releasing hurt, anger, pain, sadness and guilt. You can get it all off your chest without hurting anyone…and it’s time you did. I know it’s easier said than done. I’ve faced my own stubborn issues and I did what I’m asking you to do. I could hold a grudge with the best of them…until I started journaling….and adding that to prayer.
I found out something in the process. The worse thing you can do to someone who wants to keep drama going is….do not give them any ammo. Ignore them and walk away. Smile, if you can, but DON’T SAY A WORD! The more you try to explain, the more it goes on. I have a very intelligent Aunt that made me promise to NEVER explain my life, again. I do not owe anyone an explanation about MY life. Eventually, they will move on to their next victim when they can’t get a rise out of you. When you are done with it, you will feel free and a weight will be lifted off of you.
Holding onto a painful past, anger, pain, hurt, grudges and sadness will turn to depression, raise your stress levels and can weaken your immune system. It threatens you with heart disease, depression, high blood pressure and cancer. Is there ANYONE in the world worth all that? Your answer should be no.
Forgiveness. When you do not forgive, you are dragging that person with you everywhere you go and you will until you are free of it. You are taking that person to work, the grocery store, the movies, dinner, to bed at night. The person you won’t forgive is controlling your life, your thoughts, your emotions. Enough! You do not have to have a relationship or reconciliation with them. Just forgive….and walk away. Forgive for yourself so you can continue on with the good, abundant life that God wants you to have. If you are the one that caused the pain, or hurt, forgive yourself ….because God did the second you asked.
That was bad news first! Now the good part.
When you journal you realize how many good things you have in your life.
You begin to be grateful for things you had over looked.
You see the little things.
You find out who you are and what matters most.
You will realize you already have everything inside of you to be happy.
Keep your journal by your bed. Buy the prettiest blank book and pen you can find.
Some ideas to write about:
Everyday write 5 things you are grateful for.
Bless and wish well 5 people.
Do you have changes to make in your life? Ask God for help.
.Have you ever stood up for what you believed in, even though it was very hard?
Write about your family….husband/wife and children.
Where, and how, did you grow up?
Did you have a happy childhood?
What is the best gift you ever gave? Received?
What’s your favorite book, movie and song?