The Life of Mrs. Miles

FLOWER TAPES ELEMENT

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If you RIGHT CLICK on the download link, and choose the option "Open in New Window" you won't be taken away from my blog entry, rather you will be able to download the element and still read today's entry.

Wow! You folks sure filled my comment box yesterday - and I appreciate that you took time out of your busy day to do that! This tapes idea I cooked up is turning out to be a lot of fun, and I can see a lot of possibilities with it - but I'm also open to suggestions? Any theme you would like to see me make? Leave a comment and I will try my best to make it happen for you!

HMMM....

I'm adding a new link to my blog today. I've been following the blog of Cicero Sings over the past six months or so. I'm finding this is a blog I'm attracted to completely other than for scrapbooking or because I know the writer for a specific reason - I merely stumbled across her blog one day while surfing. Something about her down-to-earth entries, scratching out a new yard in her home "out there" - sort of what most of us would think of in the sticks, but with all the modern amenities. But there are always interesting photos and her recipes - well, all I can say is it's good home cooking, with a flair. Somehow, a visit here feels like coming home. Thanks for allowing me to add your link to my blog on a permanent basis.

Yesterday I spent learning what the weeds look like in the garden area (late bloomer, hey?) and I landscaped with my friend until mid morning. Then, we played around with a digital camera for a bit - she taking her first shots with one. What a delight to be the one to expose her to what will hopefully prove to be a fun hobby we can share. I spent the remainder of the morning trimming up the paths and later on had a good visit with my Becky.

Yesterday proved to be QUITE hot - had to be in the upper 80's... that lake sure looked tempting, but I want my first swim to be with Miles. Becks and I just sticked our toes in the water... and it no longer burns your ankles - it actually feels luciously cool. We were thirsty after our walk so I made home-made iced coffees which would rival any restaurant's. I simply mixed milk, some irish cream international delights coffee creamer, two teaspoons of instant coffee and two teaspoons of ghiridelli chocolate powder... zapped it all in the blender with loads of ice and voila! Very nice, not too sweet!

Today is a relax and create day for me - I'm waiting to be home when the security system is installed. Yep, this is the day and age we live in, folks.

OKANAGAN CHERRIES ARE ALMOST RIPE!

My friend Marie forwarded me an email which features some good hints. I don't know where they originated from, so I can't credit any specific person, or I would. Hope you find some handy:

1. Reheat Pizza Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

6 Broken Glass Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away! To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- staticis gone.

11. Measuring Cups Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. 11. Measuring Cups Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

12. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily

14. Conditioner Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies To get rid of pesky fruit flies , take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid , mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it” home", can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

There was also a last hint included in Marie's email, but the text is cut off on one side and doesn't lend itself to be pasted here, so I will give you the gist of it. It's a hint about dryers and the lint traps. I know from watching a safety bulliten on the news one time, that dryers can be potentially dangerous - catching of fire, actually. What Marie's email said was that a repairman explained why. When you use dryer sheets, the waxy substance in them builds up on the surface of the dryer lint catcher, and after an extended period creates a coating which won't allow air thru, overheating the dryer - creating a fire hazard. The solution is that at least every six months, remove your lint trap, wash it under hot, sudsy water with a toothbrush and let it dry thoroughly before replacing in your dryer. I know from the tv, that you should also have the hose which vents your air out checked, to make sure it's clear, as well. Thanks for sharing, Marie! Do you have good hints to share? I would love to hear them.

AWWW... LIL BIRDIE BABIES

In the past few days, God's word which has been laid on my heart has quietly spoken the word "modesty" - which has led me to do some research. I could only find one bit of scripture dealing with that exact word, so I pondered on what angle of it I was searching for. I was inspired by yesterday's celebration of my friend Helen - she has a quality which I find so warm and inviting. When Helen listens and speaks, her words are quiet, genuine and helpful. If I could emulate one thing about her, it would be her modesty. I believe that the word humility is related, covering the same areas. Here are some scriptures and sayings which touched me as I was searching.

PROVERBS 15:33

The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

PHILLIPIANS 2:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

COLOSSIANS 3:12

Therefore, as God's chosen people,

holy and dearly loved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

PROVERBS 31:26

She opens her mouth with skillful and godly wisdom,

and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]

WHAT'S EATING YOU?

Today in History:

1433 - Joan of Arc has a hot time at stake

1678 - Lady Godiva takes a ride through Coventry

1809 - Composer Franz Josef Hayden died in Vienna Austria

1868 - 1st recorded bicycle race - 2 kilometers in Paris

1879 - 1st electric railway opens at Berlin Trades Exposition

1879 - Madison Square Garden opens its doors

1910 - Union of South Africa formed

BARB'S HANDY TIP #270

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(OH - and how I do apologize for yesterday's link... thanks for letting me know it was feeding back inappropriate responses! I count on you to keep me ... hhhmmmm modest?)

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