From Garden to Tree - Frugal Okra Ornaments

From:

Treasures for the Christmas Tree

101 Festive Ornaments to Make and Enjoy

by Carol Taylor

I had to share this.  We grew okra one year, and no one really liked the slime it produced when sliced.  It's great fried, but if you have any you have dried up, and are looking for frugal ornament options, this is a fun one.
  

Homemade Grout/Tile Cleaner

I have to say thanks to a blogger friend over at farmgirlsam.blogspot for this recipe.  She posted about a book Do It Gorgeously, How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive and More Beautiful Products, by Sophie Uliano.

I tested this recipe out, and I have to say it gets two thumbs up.  It worked immediately on my tile bathroom shower.  I will never again have to buy those nasty smelling sprays that choke me while cleaning.  

Toilet Tank Tim ~ Farm and Family Updates

I had to laugh when I saw Tim.  He was sleeping in the toilet tank outside.  We called him "Toilet Tank Tim" as he slept here most of the day.

Honoring Our Veterans

My father - served in the Navy

My Uncle (on right in above photo) - served in the Marines

(My Uncle's Graduation)

My Grandfather, Uncle and Grandmother

              Grandpa  - served in the Ohio National Guard.

         (If I locate a photo of Grandpa in uniform I will post it) 

One Dog's Anxiety Cure ~ No Pills

We had thunderstorms last night.  My daughter donned her pup with his thundershirt.  At first he did shake, but calmed down and even went to sleep during the worst of the storm.

It worked!  This is Jesse in the morning.  When we bought it, they offered to embroider his name for free.  His thundershirt is personalized.

By no means is this meant to advertise this product.  We are simply sharing our dog's experience.  

Prior to the thundershirt, he would shake, pant heavily, his veins would stick out from stress, and he'd hide in places like the bathroom.   He would experience this during any storm, loud noises, fireworks, guns firing, orwhen the stone company blasted stone down the road.

Thank goodness he doesn't have to take pills, and we found a healthy alternative. 

Playing with Soot and Other Family Funnies

Hubby had just cleaned out the corn/pellet burner.  

"Honey, you better go wash that off before you get it on something," I said.

He stands up, swipes both his cheeks with his soot covered hands underneath both eyes, and says, "Now do I look like a real football player?"

(Giggles)  

School was out for conferences and my 10 year-old daughter was frustrated.  She wanted to write very badly, but she needed a computer.  The other kids were pretty much taking over it.

"Mom! I want to write, but they are hogging the computer!" she squealed.

I was writing in my room, at my desk.  A few minutes later, she comes in, plops on my bed, puts on her reading glasses and begins to read "How to Write Fiction."

"Mom! This stuff is great!" she said fifteen minutes later.  "You gotta listen to this..." and she read to me out loud from the book. 

(Giggles and head shaking)

And one more,

"Mom!? What's the bus gonna think think when they pull in and see a toilet out there by the door?"

"Why do you think I put it there?," laughed hubby snickering

"Can we cover it up with something?" our 16 year-old begged.

"Uh....no," I said, "It's going to frost tonight and the blanket will just get wet."

The next morning, after the bus had left, I looked outside to see if the barn cats had been fed.  Next the the cat feed box, sat the toilet - covered with an old moving blanket.  Ha ha ha! 

The Dentist Office. . .

Be careful what you say and do in public.  You may be creating good writing material for someone's upcoming, best selling novel.

The dentist office is a great place to collect writing material.  Most days anyway.

During my visit to the dentist, where my youngest had an appointment, writing material was in overflow.

One woman was sitting in the back corner, with her head leaned back, sleeping and snoring.  Could you imagine yourself snoring at the dentist?

One woman, a young mother, sat quietly, with her head lowered.  I wonder what she was thinking?

One woman, who sat two seats from me, gave me enough material to last a chapter or two.  She sat with a laptop open, papers in one hand, and a cell phone in the other.  However, halfway through her very long phone conversation (and loud I might add), she ended up putting the laptop away.  This woman talked the entire time she sat there, until the office staff called her back for her child.  Literally, this woman talked about people, talked about work, and more.  She crossed her legs, leaned back, and acted like she had the room to herself.  She was annoying too.  

After "Annoying Talks A Lot" left the waiting room, another woman entered.  She sat on the other side of me, with a table in between us.  She too, was fidgeting with her phone, texting possibly or playing games.  That was after she made a phone call.  But this woman crossed her legs and bounced her foot constantly, as if she had jumping beans in her shoe.

Then I was called to collect my daughter.  The fun was over.

 (My lovely ladies paying me a visit where my desk is inside)

 
This morning I was up very early.  The only bathroom is in my bedroom, so it's "Grand Central Station" for the week.

I best get my chores done early, so I can get back to writing.  No waiting rooms today, but I have more writing material - conversations while standing in line to vote yesterday.