I Hoard, I Am A Hoarder

I have some hoarding tendencies.  Not a hoarder in the sense you cannot walk through my house.  Having a big house helps with that issue.  There are a few obvious things I hold onto.  First, books.  I have stacks of books, shelves of books.  Too many books.  I hope that the Kindle will eventually help with this problem.  I have a room that is my book room.  It is also the room I keep most of my clothes in.  The room has been out of control for quite awhile.  I promised myself this week-end I would spend time cleaning up the room.  First on my list was to clean the closet.  I hold onto to clothes.  I think I will get back into them.  Or I just have good memories of the outfit.  The adorable dress I wore to Tru Stories wedding.  It is one of my all-time favorite dresses.  It was so me!  Will I ever be able to wear something that small again?  Probably not.  Yet, I did not get rid of it.  I did manage to purge two closets of clothes and shoes.  I had the trunk of my car stuffed with bags.  I was very pleased with myself.  I also took the time to organize the clothes I still have.  I have come to the realization that I buy too many clothes.  Seriously!  One would think that since I stuffed my trunk that my closets would seem empty.  They do not.  It is crazy.  I found clothes that I forgot I had.  I am going to try not to shop for a while.
The next step I am going to tackle is books.  There is no reason for me to hang onto all of these books.  I have somewhere around five shelves of Danielle Steele books.  I used to love her books so much.  She was my favorite author.  Now I do not think I even bought her last book.  There are a few of her books that I used to read over and over.  I really enjoyed them.  I do not think it is even worth saving those books for the book sale.  Not sure people enjoy her books as much as they used to.  I think I can get her books down to one shelf.  That will free up shelves for the stacks of books I have laying around.  I am going to go through my Danielle Steele books by the end of the week.  Anyone out there want some Danielle Steele books?
A couple of months ago I went through all the letters Hubby and I wrote to each other through high school.  So many cards and notes.  That was hard for me to toss.  I was finally able to do it because I knew that Tru Stories would not want to deal with going through it later in life.  She is not sentimental.  I did not get rid of my scrap books.  I think there will come a time my grandkids will appreciate those. 
I think my life will feel calmer with out so many things.  I need more organization in my book room.  It is not the serene room it should be.  I will get it there.  I am going to set some easy goals.  Clothes, shoes, books...what next purses and tote bags?  NO!!!  Not my tote bags.
Seriously, anyone needing Danielle Steele books let me know.

More Home Recipes

Brighten Clothes - add a mixture of Dawn & Hydrogen Peroxide
********************

Weed Spray -
1 gallon apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. table salt
1 tsp Dawn
********************

Ant Killer
1 c. sugar
3 T boric acid
3 c. warm water
Add warm water slowly.  Store in a jar. 
When ready to use put cottonball in a har lid, add some liquid on cottonball. 
The ants will drink and take back to the nest.
*******************

Bouncing Bubbles
1 c. distilled drinking water
1 T. dish soap
1 tsp glycerin

Mix and let sit for 24 hours.  Use sock on hand to catch bubbles.
*******************

Kill Weeds in Sidwalk
Vinegar, lemon, or boiling water
*******************

Mosquitos
1 tsp yeast
1/2 c. sugar
Mix with warm water
*******************

White & Black spots on Roses
Cream Mill - pour over roses
*******************

Bug Killer - (aphids, spiders & pests)

Use onion scraps.  Refrigerate until there is a full container.  Put it in a small bucket.  Cover with water.  Soak for a few days.  Works well in the sun.  Add garlic too.  Put in spray bottle.
*******************


I am sure it is very obvious that I put this on the blog so I can find the information when I need it.  If you benefit from it too.  Great!

What Being A Grandma Means

If you are a Mom, you will understand what I am going to talk about.  When your child is sad or someone hurts them, a Mom hurts all the way to her soul.  When people are cruel to our kids, even adult kids, it hurts so bad.  We always want to protect our children and know they are safe and happy.
As a Grammy, the feelings are not quite the same.  When people are cruel to my grandson, I really want to beat the snot out of them.  Unfortunately, Tru Stories will not let me.  I'm just saying, she is not always around. 

Hobby

A family friend has been making yard decorations.  I have seen the yard plates before.  I think Ruth's are unique.  I wanted to make some.  I have so much glassware.  I just cannot put it all together.  An artistic eye is needed.  I took some pictures and put them on facebook.  I have sold a few for Ruth.  She needs to sell more so she can make more.  She bought quite a bit of old glassware to make these decorations.  Her husband is trying to limit the number of plates she puts in her front yard.  Here are some of the plates that have not sold.  If you are interested in purchasing one, let me know.  If there are certain colors you like, let me know.  She makes at least one plate everyday.  They are $20 each.

The color are beautiful on the plate above.

I am going to have the above plate with me at work tomorrow.

It is so much more beautiful in person.

The butterfly looks 3D.
SOLD

The above plate will look nice next browns.

The clear class plates are great because they reflect light.

I am taking the above plate to work to show the Old Lady tomorrow.

It was beautiful in the sunlight.
SOLD

There is usually some item on the plates that make them unique.

I like the colors and odd shapes on the above plate.

I am taking it to work tomorrow too.
SOLD

The above plate is beautiful because of the simplicity of the design.

I love the way she put a rose on top of the rose plate.

Good Week-End

Coco celebrated her 3rd Birthday on Friday night.

She wanted a Pink Barbie Birthday Party.

That means she wanted everyone to wear pink.

Popop did not attend.  He said he did not have pink.

 Tink was a goof.  She had all her favorite little peeps there.

 There were many, many gifts.  Many helpers too.

 This was the big one!!

A BARBIE bike.

There is a helmet too.

Doc thought of pads.

Coco needed them.  She took a few falls.

 It was a Barbie cake for Coco.

It was from Janet's for Tru Stories.

Strawberry and Lemon.  Soooo good!!

She blew out all the candles.

I thinks she managed it without too much spit hitting the cake.

These girls are so adorable.

It is going to be a trip watching them grow up.

Who Loves The Earth?

I have made several Earth friendly recipes this Spring.  First, I decided rather than buy Hummingbird Nectar, I will make it myself.  Very easy.

Hummingbird Nectar

1cup sugar to 4 cups of water.  Bring to a slow boil.  This will take impurities out of the water.  Keep the nectar refrigerated.  This can last for two weeks refrigerated.

**Do not put red dye in the feeder.**  If you have a feeder, the Hummingbirds will find it without the water being red.  The dye is not good for the birds. 

Very important to change and clean your Hummingbird feeder every few days.  Today when I checked my feeder it had mildew growing.  It had only been three days since I cleaned it out.  If you are buying a feeder, get one that has a perch.  It is so much easier to see the birds when they are sitting still to drink the nectar.  They really are such an amazing little bird!!

*************************************************

Normally, I am able to talk Uncle (pay) into scrubbing my kitchen floor on his hands and knees.  My floors are laminate.  He uses plain water.  Does not put too much on the floor.  Water + Laminate = Warping

The other day I was looking at Earth Friendly cleaners and found a recipe for Laminate Floors.

1 Cup Water
1 Cup Vinegar
1 Cup Isopropyl Alcohol
2-3 drops of dish soap  (I use Dawn)
10-15 drops of a scent

Put it in a spray bottle.  Mist the floor.  Wipe with a Swiffer Cloth.  Go with the grain.  This did a so-so job.  I think I like having Uncle clean the floors better.

*************************************************

Shower Cleaner

Equal parts of Dawn & White Vinegar & Water in Spray Bottle.  Spray on shower, wipe off.  Awesome!!!

*************************************************

Anything that is made with Dawn is really not considered chemical free.  In my world it is!  Much better than using bleach and harsh chemicals.

I heard that straight vinegar is a great chemical free weed killer.  I have tried this several times.  Not really seeing it work. 

I made liquid detergent for clothes.  It worked fine.  Not sure it is worth the time. 

It is almost like I am Pioneer Woman with the ability to Google.  Instead of a cattle farm, I work at an insurance farm.  Do not wait for my cookbook or cooking show.  Watching me pull up to a drive through window is not good television on the Food Network.

Mother's Day

My favorite thing to do on Mother's Day is sit on my patio with a book (today a Kindle).   Along the side of my house is a row of peony bushes.  Every time I passed them, they smelled so wonderful.  It reminded me of my mother-in-law.  She had great peony bushes.  We have some of her bushes in our yard.  She got her bushes from her Mother.  They were brought from California.  The passion for flowers passed from one generation to the next. 
My Mom was not into flowers.  She did not have the gift of enjoying beauty.  I don't say that as a criticism.  Just a fact.  She had more of a black and white personality.  Did not take the time to smell the roses.  I think that is part of the reason I love flowers so much.  We did not have gardens when I was growing up.  I could not wait to have my own home and gardens.
I am not going to pretend my Mom and I had the greatest Mother/Daughter relationship.  That is not to say I did not love her.  I did and I still miss her.  My Mom was not good at affection.  Not as a Mom.  She was great at being a Grandma.  She loved the babies.  To hold them.  To rock them.  My Mom was tough.  She became a widow when she was 52.  My brother was a freshmen in high school.  I was in 6th grade.  My Mom had not worked.  My Dad took care of everything.  Except life insurance.  My Mom had to face some realities quickly.  She had a hard life.  It did not translate into her being a touchy feely person.  When I was little, she would "tuck me in at night."  That was pulling up the covers and maybe kissing my forehead.  She did not say, "I love you."  I knew she loved me.  She showed through her actions.  She did her best taking care of us.  She gave us all she was able to give.
I always wanted a daughter.  I wanted to have a great relationship with her.  I never wanted her to have a day when she wondered if I was proud of her, or loved her.  I wanted her to know, I would always be there for her.  I think I achieved that.  I enjoy spending time with her.  She makes me laugh.  She is not the toucher I would like her to be.....but can't have everything.  My grand children are huggers.  Little Tink can cuddle all day long.
I have known some wonderful Mothers.  I hope I learned some things from them.  They helped me be the Mother I am.  I took some positives.  I tried to make sure I changed the negatives.
Happy Mother's Day!  Hope you all enjoyed your day with family.  If you are a Mom, hope you took care of yourself.