INHALER ADVISE

Here's some advise that I saw in Prevention magazine. A study says that 33% of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients don't use their inhalers correctly. The best way to be sure that you do is to ask your doctor to demonstrate the proper use. This can cut the error rate by more than half.

I was feeling better today than I have felt in awhile. I went to get my hair done and then Marcy and I went to see our mother who is now bedridden. My coughing has not gone away so we didn't stay very long. Mom is too weak to get a cold. After we left there we went to visit with Chris for awhile. Now I am home and resting again. Boy, when we get old it sure takes quite a bit longer to recuperate, doesn't it???? Whewww!!

Those soda recipes that Chris gave sure would make someone feel better!!!! Yummmm!!!

MAKE OLD FASHION SODA

Chocolate cream soda
2 T of chocolate syrup
2 T of real cream or whole milk
3 T of chocolate or vanilla ice cream
Carbonated water to fill glass
This may be mixed in a blender. Of course you can use reduced fat items.

Vanilla cream soda
1 T of corn syrup
2 Drops of vanilla extract
2 T of real cream or whole milk
3 T of vanilla ice cream
Carbonated water to fill glass
Place the corn syrup in a glass and add the vanilla extract and cream or milk, then blend well. Add the ice cream and fill the glass with the carbonated water and mix well or use a blender.

Strawberry cream soda
1 T of strawberry jam
2 T of real cream or whole milk
3 T of strawberry ice cream
Carbonated water to fill glass
Place the strawberry jam, cream, or milk, and the ice cream in a glass. Fill glass with carbonated water. Mix well or blend.
The measurements are the glass with all the ingredients in it. I would say a 8-12 ounce glass, then pour it all in the blender. I think the blender will do a better job of mixing the ingredients. Of course, I would double the recipe. Hope your day is going well!

Strawberry Smoothies

Secret is flaxseed. This will keep you regular, if you know what I mean.
1 Cup refrigerated strawberry breeze juice
2 Cups ice
1 1/2 Cups frozen unsweetened strawberries
1/2 medium banana
2 T ground flaxseed
In a blender, combine all ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Serve immediately. I have been reading about the good properties of flaxseed. The National Cancer Institute has been studying flaxseed, it is an important source of "lignans," which are plant compounds that provide a specific fiber that may contain anticancer properties. It helps me with a daily tablet I take. Ask your doctor before you take ANYTHING NEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can add different fruits and juices to the recipe, use the fruits you enjoy the most. SMILE.........

MARCY'S HOT TODDY

Yes, this old cold is still lingering. I haven't had the awful body aches and fever, though, so I don't believe it's the flu. The other day Marcy convinced me to take the hot toddy concoction that sounds so gross. The way I was feeling I was willing to try anything at that point. The trick is to drink and get bundled up in the bed to sweat the cold out. Since I couldn't fall right to sleep I was too hot to stay under the covers completely and took the covers off for a few seconds. I put them back on and finally fell asleep. I was amazed at how much better I felt in the morning. I could still feel the effects of the cold, but, not as bad. I did it again the next night and it definitely works. Like I said, I still feel the cold and some congestion left and my voice isn't completely back yet, but, I would be worse off if I hadn't taken the toddy. So since this dreadful flu and cold is getting so many people down here goes a little something that might help.

MARCY'S HOT TODDY

1 cup of any brown liquor

1 1/2 cups of water

2 tea bags

1 whole onion. sliced

1 whole lemon, sliced

honey, to taste

Put all in a pot and bring to a boil. Pour the liquid in a cup and drink as soon as you can. Get in bed and wrap yourself in a blanket. I even slept in a sweatshirt.

My hair was a mess when I got up, but, I was feeling a little better. Give it a try. One of our nephews tried it (he's in his 30's) and he said it worked on him, too. My brother, Ricky, reminded me that our great-grandma Johnson used to talk about this without the onion. So it is an old remedy that works. The taste really wasn't bad, either. I hope this gives someone out there a little relief. Now I am going to wrestle on the Wii with Bill for awhile. Have a great day!!

CHEF'S SPICES

Five Spice Powder
1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Teaspoon ground cloves
1 Teaspoon fennel seed
1 Teaspoon star anise
1 Teaspoon peppercorns, ground

Italian Herb
1 Teaspoon oregano
1 Teaspoon marjoram
1 Teaspoon thyme
1 Teaspoon basil
1 Teaspoon rosemary
1 Teaspoon sage

Seafood Seasoning
1 1/2 Teaspoon celery salt
3/4 Teaspoon paprika
3/4 Teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 Teaspoon cayenne pepper

Chili Powder
3 Tablespoons paprika
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
2 Tablespoons oregano
1 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder

Cinnamon Sugar--I love this sprinkled on buttered toast
7/8 Cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Not a pretty day today. Cold on the way for the next couple of days. Not great weather but glad to be alive and well. Food for thought!

SWEET-SOUR GREEN BEANS

2 cups fresh green beans, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 bacon strips, diced
1/4 cup chopped onion
4 teaspoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons cider vinegar
Cook your green beans until crisp-tender. In a small skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Move to paper towel to drain. In the bacon drippings, saute onions. Stir in brown sugar and vinegar; heat through. Take drained green beans and place in serving bowl, stir in onion mixture and top with bacon. They say this makes 2 servings. Easy to double recipe. Great as a side dish to any meat.
Weather great and I am done with Monday's wash. Mom's phone service is back on since Saturday. My sister is there now because older sister and husband are on vacation for 3 weeks. I will take the next shift on the 7th. The Oscars were boring to me, who are these people? Have a good afternoon....

SKILLET CORN BREAD

4 T vegetable oil, divided
1 C self-rising white cornmeal
1 T sugar
1 egg
3/4 C buttermilk
Coat the bottom and sides of a small ovenproof skillet with 2 teaspoons oil. Heat skillet in 450 oven for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine cornmeal and sugar. In another bowl combine the egg, buttermilk, and remaining oil; stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened.
Remove skillet from the oven; carefully pour batter into skillet. Bake for 12-16 minutes or until golden brown and the toothpick comes out clean. Cut into wedges; serve warm.
This recipe is from a magazine my sister gave me called Reminisce. This magazine states that it brings back more good times and it does. If you want to remember the years gone by, read one for the great articles and fun. It made me smile and have good thoughts. Jackie still is not well and this has been going on for weeks. She must go to a doctor now, as many of us have suggested.
Sending good thoughts her way! Have a good evening.

HINTS

A. After you move your furniture, there will be places that are matted down. Place an ice cube on the matted down area overnight.
B. To deodorize carpet mix 2 parts cornmeal--1 part borax and sprinkle over carpet. Let sit a least 1 hour before vacuuming.
C. Sharpen up carpet colors by sprinkling small amounts of table salt around. The salt provides a mild cleaning action. That is a new one for me, I will have to try this one out during the week.
I think I will go back to giving recipes I have collected over the years. I must say I am kind of disappointed with the books I purchased. I thought it would give us all new and better hints for our everyday lives. Mom finally got her phone service back this morning. She was so happy. Have a good day!

DANDRUFF SOLUTION

Here's an easy, simple dandruff cure that I saw in a home hints book. Pour a tablespoon of salt onto your head, rub it into your scalp and shampoo as usual. Those white flakes will vanish like snow falling on a warm ground per the book. I haven't tried it because I have a skin condition that I am afraid the salt might irritate. I am going to try it, though, when my scalp is at rest and not being it's pesky little self and having a flare-up.

That darn bacteria or whatever seems to not want to leave me alone. I am still down and feeling tired and lousy. My rock, Chris, is always there if I need something though and is just a phone call away. I had to make a drive to the next town this morning, though, that I really wasn't planning on making. Bill volunteers with some of the Knights at one of the V.A. hospitals and he missed his ride this morning. He was going to drive himself in, but, in his condition and the awful rain we were having today was not a good mix. So I took him and by the time I got home my voice was about gone. Since I want to make a big pot of gumbo for my nephew coming tomorrow, Marcy and I had to go shopping this afternoon for the ingredients and other groceries for their visit. My sister, Roxy, and her kids and grandkids are going to visit with our mother tomorrow and they will come here for gumbo. So I have taken some medicine and I am resting now and trying to get some strength built back up so I can get ready for my company tomorrow.
Have a safe, great weekend!!

COFFEE STAIN HINT

Place 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice in the glass container and add warm water. Use a bottle brush and swish around for a minute or so. The stain should come clean, then rinse. You can use this hint for steel bottles that hold coffee or those vacuum bottles.
After going through this solutions book I purchased, I see good old baking soda is used for many problems.
My mind is on other things tonight. My 92 year old mother's phone service has been out since this passed Sunday. All they can say is, "they are working on it".
They also wanted to know, if she had a cell phone. I asked why a 92 year old person would need one if the had home telephone service that should be working. It's not like she goes many places or drives. I am curious to see if the phone company will credit her the time she had absolutely NO SERVICE. Have a good night!

HOUSEHOLD HINTS from the PHILIPPINES

I was cleaning out some cabinets and found a cookbook put together by the women who lived at Clark Air Base. This United States Air Force Base was in the Philippines were Jackie and I met. I found some hints in the book and thought I would share them with you.
#1. Put a large pail of water with a tablespoon of ammonia in a freshly painted room, the odor will disappear sooner. Most paints don't have a strong odor anymore. I think this book was written in 1982.
#2. If honey goes to sugar, stand the jar in a pot of hot water until honey liquifies again.
#3. When you iron, try standing on a thick bath mat. It keeps you from getting so tried.
#4. Slip an electric iron cord through a large safety pin, pinned to the corner at the square end of the board. The cord will not drag across the board.
#5. Don't mix those nylon garments in your wash with colored garments. The static electricity in the nylon draws colors.
There is a lot more, but as time has gone by and new things have been invented, not much applies anymore. I know that Jackie and I had a lot of free time but these women on the base really did a lot of work to keep their homes going. We don't appreciate the family of our soldiers enough. God Bless Them All!

CLEAN SHOWER DOOR TRACKS

Here's a little recipe for cleaning that build up for those of you that have shower doors. Quick and simple.

Juice from 1/2 lemon

1 tbsp. of bleach

1 cup of water

Mix all of the ingredients in a spray bottle and spritz the tracks well. Let sit for 3 or 4 minutes. Rinse well with warm water.

That chicken recipe from Chris sounds delicious and is now on my list of chicken recipes. Bill says it is not so bad eating chicken all the time because I find such different ways to fix or season it. This recipe will really help. I still haven't been outside yet, but, I am getting better. I have to get ready for our nephew's visit. Plus Marcy and I have to finish getting our inventory ready for our flea market venture. Now I am going to go do a little bit of chores and then rest a little more.

Have a great day!!

CRUNCHY ONION CHICKEN

1 1/3 Cups of French's fried onions in a can
4 boneless-skinless chicken breast halves
1 egg, beaten
Place french's onions in a bag. Lightly crush with hands or rolling pin.
Dip chicken in the beaten egg; then coat with the onion crumbs, pressing firmly to adhere. Place chicken on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with additional crumbs, if desired.
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until it is no longer pink in center.
(Squirrel hints)
I was going to give you more tips for those little squirrels but after reading my book, it seems repetitiuos. The same thing only worded differently. There is one about sprinkling blood meal around your garden, which will deter the squirrels and other pests. Thats why I thought I better go over all the hints in this book, before passing them on to you. Have a good day!

BATHROOM DRAIN CLEANER

Here's a great tip that I got from one of my home hints books. You make this safe solution and you don't have to worry about smelly or unsafe chemicals. This is one of my favorites.

1 cup of salt

1 cup of baking soda

1/2 cup of white vinegar

2 qts. of boiling water

Hot tap water

Mix the soda , salt and vinegar together, and pour the mixture down the drain. Wait 15 minutes, then follow with the boiling water. Turn on the hot water tap and let it run into the drain for 1 minute. For really stubborn clogs repeat as necessary.

I still haven't been able to go visit my mother yet because this cold bacteria seems to have found a home in my body. Marcy bought me some Mucinex today so hopefully I'll have a little more relief. Our nephew, Stevie, is coming to visit us from Pittsburgh with his little girl on Saturday and I surely want to be better for that. Plus, Marcy and I are trying to get ready for our flea market venture and have to get things together for that. Plus, Jackee and Irwin want to take Bill and I to Florida with them on Thursday for the weekend. Well, we'll see how this old body handles all of this. Anyhow, now I am going to bed and rest. I have cooked dinner, cleaned the kitchen and finished my loads of wash. Marcy is cataloging and getting our inventory ready for our venture. We are really looking forward to it. Goodnight all!!!

Hints on Squirrels

#1. Keeping them from destroying your tulips--boil 1 qt water and remove from heat as soon as it starts to boil. Add 2T of cayenne pepper and 1/4t of tabasco sauce. Allow to cool for 2-4 hours. You don't want to spray your tulips with a warm mixture. When thoughly cooled, pour into a spray bottle. Spray the stems as soon as the buds appear.
#2. My friends had this problem. To stop them from chewing on you wooden garden furniture, paint the legs with a watery solutiuon of hot sauce and water. This should discourage them.
#3. Use a small amout of used cat litter around the base of your budding plants. This should keep squirrels, chipmunks, and rodents from digging up you plants and bulbs. They think a cat is ready to get them. I know I had less of a squirrel problem when my cat was younger and on the move.
I will have more on the squirrels. We just got rid of a nest from a family of squirrels. Mom and the kids left a big mess in our outdoor kitchen roof. They can be very damaging , so their not so cute. Have a great day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUE!!!

Today is our oldest daughter's, Sue, birthday. She came by yesterday with Tamisha, Misty and little Quentin. They had come to visit my mom who is now bedridden. I told them not to come close to me because of my cold. Especially Misty because she is about to give birth to our 2nd great-grandchild at any time. She really doesn't need to have a cold now. Anyhow, they stayed awhile and then went to see my mom before going back home.

I made cornbread from a recipe that I got from, yep, the diabetic cookbook. It was really easy and quick to make. I preheated the oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl I mixed well a box of corn muffin mix, 8 oz. of creamed corn and an egg. I put it in a greased pan and baked it for 20 - 25 minutes. It came out moist and very good. I think that's how I will make my cornbread from now on. It was so easy. Bill and Marcy liked it, too.

I still haven't ventured outside but hope to soon. I am hoping this cold lets up soon. It's staying longer than I thought it would. Plus I am getting tired of this bed. I have been getting up and doing little chores, though, like washing and cooking a little. Now I am going to get settled and get ready to watch Big Brother 9. I don't know why????

HINTS Bumper Stickers

#1. Place a hair dryer on high setting and it should loosen the glue making it easy to remove.
#2. Spread mayo on the sticker and let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it off.
#3. Bumper stickers can be removed with a coating of cold cream. Let it sit for awhile and the cream and sticker should come off.
These are hints from a book I purchased. I thought I could share with you these hints and it would help us all in our daily lifes. Pass them along to others and please let us know if one tip is better than another.
Jackie still is fighting her cold. When I talked to her, she sounds congested. Please lets all send good thoughts her way. Hope your weekend brought a smile to your face or a good laugh.

ANOTHER GREAT WEBSITE

I heard about this site awhile ago, checked it out, thought it was a great idea and signed up. It's free and a great idea. So that I convey the meaning of the group correctly I am going to cut and paste an exerpt from their web page. CNN did a piece on them today and it gave me the idea to put this on the blog. It really is a great idea. The thought behind the group, I mean. Here goes --

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,251 groups with 4,498,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the search box above or by clicking on “Browse Groups” above the search box. Have fun!!

The website is http://www.freecycle.org/ so check it out. You might like it. Cnn thinks it is a great idea, also. Well, I am still under the weather and not doing too much. In fact, I won't be going to church services tomorrow. I think the congregation will appreciate not having me there spreading my germs anyhow. Have a good night and restful sleep.

Hints on Ants

A. Window spray kills ants. Next time you think you need expensive sprays, use window cleaner.
B. In German homes they plants lavender plants near the doors and windows to repel ants.
C. Ants hate the herb turmeric and if your powder the entrance to their home, they won't come back.
D. I put a dry bay leaf in all my cabinets and any insects stays away. This is a clean and safe way to keep those pest away from your dry goods. I also put a leaf in the container the dry dog food is stored in.
It was a beautiful day today--75. It doesn't get better than that when you need to do yard work. I had to put on a short sleeve shirt. Beats the snow, cold, and wind up north I just experienced. Hope your day went well!

QUICK COMPUTER TIP

For computer questions or problems I have I like to go to www.komando.com to seek help. The site is very informative and helpful. Some of the "cool sites" listed on the site are really cool. There are computer tips and more. Click on over there and see for yourself.

I am still recuperating and it is taking longer than I thought. I feel better but the problem seems to be in my chest and nose now. So I will rest a bit longer. It's cold outside anyhow so I don't mind not going out. Chris called to check on me this morning to see if I needed her to get me anything, but, I didn't. I do have to get out there, though, before the snakes pop there ugly little heads out because I have a plant that I want to put in the ground. Everything else will be planted in pots. My sister-in-law, Annie, said that planting lemongrass keeps snakes away so (come to think of it) I need to get that planted, too, before the monsters come out. Too much to think about now though. Have a good evening!!

Mouse Allergy Tip

I plan on trying this right away. I hate rodents in any form. I don't have a problem and hopefully never will. This book I am reading claims that mice hate oil of peppermint and will not frequent a property where they can smell it. They say a few drops on a piece of cotton and placed anywhere you feel you might have a problem, you will never see them again.
I have poison all over my attic under the insulation, just in case one thinks he is coming to live here. I also have those ultrasonic sound devices. I cannot swear it works, I do know I don't have any problems. In the 19 years I have lived here, I was only invaded by one. He forgot to pack his bags and leave with the previous owner. At that time I called in the big guns, a pest control company. Jake got ride of the 1 ounce mouse and he has been with us as our pest control man ever since. Down south you have to spray your house for roaches every 3 months. Better safe and clean than sorry, plus problem free.
Jackie hates snakes and I hate rodents. I don't think many people like these animals either. Have a safe day always!

KEEP CAR WINDOWS CLEAR FROM THE SNOW

Happy Valentine's Day to all! Here's a tip for those of you who are tired of scraping snow and ice from your car windows. Fill an old cotton sock or a soft cotton bag with salt, dampen the pouch with water, and rub it over the glass. The windows will stay crystal clear.

That old cold still has a hold on my body, but, I felt good enough to go down to the kitchen and make me some good, old homemade chicken soup. I've hardly eaten the last few days and the soup tasted really good. Bill said I should have gotten the flu shot, but, I don't have the flu. It's just an awful old cold that wants to linger. Rest and a lot of liquids should do the trick to get rid of it. I have to get better soon because Marcy and I are getting ready to start selling things at the flea market. We received four boxes of items from Andy and his wife, Gennelle, today to help get us started. We can't wait. Besides making a little money we will be meeting people and that is always fun.

Well, I better go get some more rest and hopefully will feel better tomorrow. Have a great Valentine's night!

PEA POD CAKE

I will call this cake Marci's, because she is the one that gave it to me and I have passed it along over the years.
1 Box Super moist yellow cake mix
1 Cup mandarin oranges and juice
4 Eggs
1 Cup wesson oil
Beat all ingredients together, bake at 350 in a 9 by 13 pan for 25 minutes or until done. ( toothpick clean )
Topping
1 Large container of cool whip
1 small can crushed pineapple and juice
1 small package of instant vanilla pudding
Fold pudding into cool whip, than fold in pineapple. Top your cooled cake and refrigerate. This one you will share with a friend.

HAPPY HEART DAY TO ALL !

Chili Sour Cream Dip

1- 16oz. carton sour cream
2- 7oz. cans diced green chilies, drained
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup jarred salsa
2 cloves minced garlic
1 t mild or hot chili powder
2 t lime juice
1/2 t salt
Bottled hot pepper sauce to taste.
Assorted fresh vegetables for dipping.
Very easy, in large bowl combine sour cream, chilies, cilantro, salsa, garlic, chili powder, lime juice,, salt, and hot peepr to taste. Serve cold, infact it is a lot better if you chill it over night for the flavors to incorporate.
I am not a big fan of cilantro, so I leave it out. It was a overcast day but in the high 60's. I talked to Marci ( she is the one with the great tips ) and she is having a hard time, getting the person who hit her car to follow up with paying for damages. After calling the police and getting a accident report and insurance information from the person that hit her that day, this person will not respond to her own insurance company. This is holding up repairs because the person responsible has to contact her insurance, which she has not. This ladies insurance company has called her and now has sent a letter with no luck. My friend does all thr right things, so I told her to call this lady and ask her what the problem is. Lets hope this women wakes up and that Marci doesn't have to get a lawyer. Who needs more problems or expense.
Hope your day is going better!

FEVERFEW AND HEADACHES

Years ago I heard about how feverfew helps to prevent headaches. I never tried it out until recently. For the last month I have been taking feverfew capsules and am surprised at the results I am getting. It usually takes least little event to happen for me to have a headache spring up. Sometimes they would turn into painful migraines. Every time I would get sick with a cold or any little thing I would get a headache which would, invariably, turn into a migraine. This did not happen this time and I credit that to the feverfew that I have been taking. In fact, I have had no stress headaches or anything similar in the last few weeks. Feverfew is an herb and the capsules can be purchased at a health food store or in the health section of the grocery store.

Today I feel a bit better, but, my cold is still hanging on. I will continue resting up and hopefully will be out of bed completely by tomorrow. Have a good evening.

Tips for cleaning CRYSTAL

I read yet another magazine and thought I would pass this on to you.
#1. Line your sink with a plastic dish pan or thick towel before washing crystal. This is a good tip when washing any cherished item that is breakable.
#2. Both heat and cold can crack crystal, use lukewarm water for washing and rinsing.
#3. Add a capful of ammonia to sudsy water to ensure glass rinses clean.
#4. Air-drying is the safest; less handling means less chance of breakage.
#5. Use a feather duster for everyday cleaning, this won't scratch your crystal.
I have a few pieces but I sometimes think it is not worth all the hassle. I know there are very beautiful things out there for very little cost. If it breaks, it doesn't break your heart or budget.
March 21st. we will have outside and gardening tips. I plan on doing research on all regions. Take it slow today!

COLD OR FLU GOT ME DOWN

I woke up Monday morning feeling lousy because my cold had become worse. I stayed in bed all day and didn't even turn my laptop on. I told Bill I had to be sick to not want to get on the computer. I am still in bed today, but, feeling a bit better. This is the first time that I am turning the computer on, though. Hopefully, I'll be out of the bed by tomorrow. One reason I am on the computer, too, is to publish a novena or prayer that I have been saying for 3 days. The stipulations of the prayer are to say it for 3 consecutive days and then you must publish it and what you are requesting help with will be granted. We all know the power of prayer. The prayer follows:

PRAYER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

(Never known to fail)

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me here your are my mother, oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request now). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)

Now I am going back to resting and getting myself together.

RANCH SMASHED POTATOES

2 HOURS 20 MINUTES FLYING TIME---9 HOURS 40 MINUTES AIRPORT TIME. I don't think I need to say more other than it was completely the airlines BAD SERVICE and not weather related. Thank goodness Jackie reminded me that I could fly into another airport, alittle farther away but saved me another 3 hours of airport sitting. Last but not least, I hated the second try the pilot preformed when landing in Atlanta. Yes, we were feet from the runway and than up again for another try. That was nerve racking. I hope all our readers had a great weekend.
Ranch potatoes---
1 1/2lbs. small red potatoes, halved
1/3 cup of milk
1/3 cup bottle ranch dressing
1/4t pepper
2T chopped chives
In a large pot, combine potatoes with enough salt water to cover. Bring to boil; cook until tender. Drain. Heat milk in same pot. Return potatoes to pot; add dressing and pepper. Mash, keeping some potatoes chunky. Stir in chives.
Great tasting and quick!

A TRAVEL NIGHTMARE

And poor Chris is trapped in it. She has had the misfortune of having flights delayed, delayed, delayed on her. Then because of the delay she misses her connection in Atlanta. Then the Delta agent tells her that she is standby on the next flight that is overbooked. There is no other airline that has open seats on it and they are all overbooked. When I talked to her I told her to tell them that she will take a flight into an alternate airport which is about an hour from where we live. Much confusion and uncustomer servicelike service has been going on, to say the least. I just talked to her and finally she has a confirmed flight to the alternate airport and she has a seat ASSIGNED which is very important. Especially in a situation like that. You can never be sure you are on a flight unless you have a confirmed seat assigned. And then sometimes that doesn't work if they change equipment on you. Dennis is picking her up, but, I told her to ask for ground transportation to our town. She did and they said they don't have it. I told her that I used to work at that airport and in situations like that we gave taxi vouchers to inconvenienced passengers. I know those taxi drivers sitting out front would be more than happy to take her on a one hour ride. Plus her luggage is going to one airport and she is going to another. They told her that she can check on it. It is their responsibility to see that her luggage is delivered to her home. Now if this was all due to weather we would be a little more lenient on what we expect. But, the continuing problem was maintenance. Poor thing, she should have been home hours ago.

Now after my little ranting here are a few more tips:

1. Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
2. Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve 2 tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of symptoms. It begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly - even though it was never advertised for this use.
3. Listerinetherapy for toenail fungus. Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toe in Listerine mouthwash.The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

I have not tried either one of these 3, but, I have heard that the Listerine one really works well.

Well, Bill, is at a meeting with his Knights of Columbus group. I feel like a cold is coming on so I am going to take some medicine and go to bed with my laptop in a little while. My friend, Alba, called me from New Jersey today. She is there with her husband for a few months while he is working on a job there. She said she has seen some of our other friends from the Philippines that are there. It's nice seeing and hearing about old friends and acquaintances that have been out of your life for awhile. Now I am going to clean my kitchen and go take some medicine and watch the Grammy Awards in bed with my laptop. Goodnight.

GRANDMA'S CURES

As I was doing some cleaning of drawers and things today I came across a sheet of paper with the above title that had some tips on it. It is an email that I received from someone awhile ago. I'll just put a few down here.

1. Before you head to the store for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals for your stuffy nose, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong peppermint Altoids. They'll clear up your stuffed nose. Chris and I both love altoids and always have a tin of them in our purses. Since the licorice flavor came out, though, we fell in love with that taste. But if you want to clear your stuffiness, chew the peppermint.
2. Coca Cola cure for rust. Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coke and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done. And I loooove Coke!! That is the only pop that I drink. There is nothing like a nice COLD coke on a hot day. I should say any day because that is my drink! Chris loves it, too.
3. Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tbsp. six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
4. Easy eyeglass protection. To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

For the last few hours I have been cleaning drawers and closets so this is a good break for me. I will have to get back to it, though. There is always something to do since I am the only one doing it. I could be working 24/7. But, I'm not. I'm going to start doing the flea market scene in a few weeks and I have to get ready for that. Marcy and I will be selling things there and it should be fun. It will be new items and our brother, Andy, has sent us boxes of items to sell. Well, I better go get back to cleaning and then get ready for church in the morning. I'll have more tips tomorrow. Have a restful sleep tonight. Ciao, baby!!

CHINESE NOODLES

Yep, you guessed it. This is from one of my diabetic cookbooks. I love noodles and pasta so this is a great recipe for me.

CHINESE NOODLES

4 oz. uncooked lo mein noodles

cooking spray

2 tsp. lite soy sauce

1. Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain and cool for 5 minutes in the refrigerator.
2. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Over medium-high heat, add cooled noodles and saute for 5 minutes.
3. Drizzle soy sauce over noodles and continue to saute for 3 more minutes.

Tip: You can stir-fry any type of noodle for a little extra flavor and bite. Just be sure to cool the noodles completely before stir-frying or you'll end up with a sticky mess.

Today has become a little cooler than it was a couple of days ago. I don't mind because it means the snakes are still not in sight or around. It's supposed to get almost to freezing tonight, but, still it won't be as bad as it is up north. My niece, Tamika, came to pick up her mom, Marcy, to take her to spend some time with her and her kids, Darionna and Will. I will miss her. We have a lot of laughs together. Bill is playing his wrestling game on his Wii and working to get his points up. After I get finished here I will go to play some online games and try to win some money. Just a lazy laid back night. Have a great weekend.

Tummy Troubles---HORSERADISH

Prevent tummy troubles with horseradish. The isothiocyanates that gives this root its spicy flavor are proven to kill e. coli and listeria, two causes of food borne illness.
This was written in a women's magazine and I thought I would try this one. Let us know if it works for you.
I will be off until I return home. I cannot take it anymore. No wonder this family doesn't use the computer. I want to snap and for me, well it doesn't take much. Hope your lives are moving along and things are going well. Will be back on high speed on Monday. Have a safe and great weekend! One last thing, please excuse any spelling mistakes. There is a spell check but it takes to0 long to register. NO KIDDING...............

STUCK ON CAKE TIP

I just got this tip from a magazine this morning. It sounds good.
For extra nonstick insurance, butter the baking dish, then chill it in the refrigerator while preparing the batter. This gives the butter time to resolidify, so when the mixture is poured in, the grease will stay adhered to the pan instead of melding with the batter. They say the once the cake is cooled, it slips right out.

We got 15 inches of snow the other day and with the wind blowing, drifts were up to 8 feet. All schools were closed and even the shopping malls. We can all handle the snow but those tornados are so powerful, no one can handle them. All those lifes lost. When I was young and still lived in Wisconsin, a tornado hit our house and the sound and damage was unbelievable. Our children were very small and scared, my husband Dennis shoved us all down into the basement. Now we like in the South with no basement. Sometimes I wonder where we would go now. Please be safe!

SMASHED POTATOES

I loooooooove mashed potatoes. This is a recipe that I got from my good, old diabetic cookbook and is yummy.

SMASHED POTATOES

1 lb. red new potatoes, washed and quartered

4 garlic cloves, peeled

1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half, heated

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1. Put potatoes and garlic in a large pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Drain and return to pot.
2. Add remaining ingredients, and using a potato masher or a sturdy whisk, smash potatoes and garlic until blended but still lumpy. Leaving the skins on increases the fiber content of this dish.

I talked to Chris today and she said that she will try to get online later to put something on here. She really misses doing it everyday. They are snowed in and I am glad I am not there. Sixteen inches of snow fell and even the malls were closed. I am so glad to be living down South!! We get cold weather sometimes in the winter, but, it never is like that.

Last night I took part in a Focus Group in our town. The group consisted of women ages 40 - 64 with health insurance. The discussion was about healh care in our area and was very interesting. It was only for 2 hours and we got paid $75 each. Can't beat that. I've joined the database of the company that is doing the research and hope to be doing more. They don't all pay the same, but, I think even if there was no pay I would still do it. Like I said it was interesting and you find out what others think about things. Now I am going to try (again) to set up my Windows Mail account. I have Vista now and am still trying to figure how things work. Have a great day!!

SAD DAY

I won't be writing too long today. My heart is broken because we had to put one of our dogs, Shadow, to sleep this afternoon. He was a beautiful German Shepherd and so gentle and loving. We got him several years ago after we had to put our first German Shepherd, Wolf, to sleep because he had cancer and there was no more that could be done for him. I won't go into what all was wrong with our Shadow, but, will tell you he will be greatly missed. We got Shadow after Wolf died when our good friend, Janellen, called to tell us about a dog that had been abandoned at a farm where her daughter's horse was boarded in North Carolina. Janellen and her family are great rescuers of animals that need homes. There are several rescued beings scattered throughout their family. They even had a squirrel once that after it was better and released used to come knock on their door to come in. A guy that was doing some work at their home came and told her, very puzzled, that she had a squirrel knocking at her door. They have even taken in pets that we couldn't keep - a rabbit from us and a cat from our daughter, Jackee. Oh, one instance that is so funny is about their Chow that they rescued. In the summer his hair is cut low because it is so very hot and humid here. The cut, though, makes him look just like a lion! Once when my granddaughter, Dominique, and I pulled into their driveway the dog came walking out of the garage. And he looked just like a lion! Dominique hollered "Grandma, it's a lion!" But, I digress. When Janellen's daughter told her about Shadow she called us because she knew we are dog lovers and we had just lost Shadow. The loss was so hard that I first said that I did not want another dog. But, I knew Bill really wanted one and, to tell the truth, I did, too. We got Shadow and immediately fell in love with him. Shadow never gave us any problems except when he found a gate or door open and flew. He roamed around for a bit and came back later. Chris watched him one time for us and he did that and that was the last time she watched him. And I don't blame her. It's unnerving to be watching a beloved pet for someone and that pet runs away. That happened once, also, when we were watching, her dog, George. They just wanted to see what the outside world was like, I guess. Anyhow, our baby, Shadow, will be a hole in our heart.

Arugula Orzo

1C orzo
1/2 C chicken broth
1 small red bell pepper finely chopped, about 1/2 cup.
1 pkg. ( 4 oz ) baby arugula about 2 cups
1 clove garlic chopped
2 t grated Parmesan cheese
2 T chopped kalamata olives
#1. Cook orzo according to package directions. In 12" skillet, bring broth and red pepper to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 2 minutes more.
#2. Stir in arugula and garlic. Cook 1 minute, or until just wilted.
#3. Stir in orzo, cheese, and olives. Add 1/4 t black pepper if desired.

It is supposed to snow 6-12 inches with high winds. There is nothing like a winter storm watch in Wisconsin. People will prepare for the worst and others will hope for the best. I cleaned Mother's house today, giving my daughter a break. Took my Mother to the beauty shop for a perm. Took my sister who had the brain surgery twice to the store and bank. Ran to fill the gas tank on my daughter's jeep and Mc Donalds for Lukas' for a lunch treat. It is good to be home, when you can help out. Help someone today, I know my dear friend Jackie helps others everyday. Everyone needs a Jackie in their life, as long as you are willing to be a Jackie too!

SPICY FOCACCIA

2T olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1T chopped fresh parsley
1t chopped fresh oregano
1/2t crushed red-pepper flakes
1 pkg. (13.8oz ) refrigerated pizza dough
1t coarse salt
#1. Heat oven to 400. In a skillet over medium heat, warm oil. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes or until just golden.
#2. Remove from heat; Stir in parsley, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Unroll dough; press into jelly-roll pan. Bake 8 minutes.
#3. Brush with olive oil mixture, sprikle with salt. Bake for 3 minutes and cut into triangles.

Hope your Monday was good. If it is your states turn to vote on Tuesday, please vote. I talked to Jackie and we always have a good laugh about something. The weekend was filled with Lukas' birthday, football gathering, and my aunt's passing. I do know my aunt suffered and is at peace and no more pain. I have many good memories and that makes me smile. I hope all of you have a smile on your face today. I don't think it cause wrinkles, but happiness!

CONDOLENCES TO CHRIS

I would like to send condolences to Chris and her family on the loss of her aunt. It is always so hard to lose a loved one even if you know the loss is coming. My prayers and love are with you at this time, Chris, as you know. I have already talked to Chris, but, wanted to let you all share in sending love and prayers her way.

COUPONS - MY TIP FOR THE DAY

I used to shop with coupons all of the time. It was like an obsession with me so much that my family hated going grocery shopping with me. Bill flat out refused to go. I carried my little coupon holder with me and checked every item that I wanted to buy to see if I had a coupon for it. I never bought something that I didn't use, though, just because I did have a coupon for it. When we moved overseas, naturally, I wasn't using my coupons there. However, when we were about ready to move back to the States I started clipping coupons from the stateside magazines that I had. After we moved in I had to go grocery shopping to stock our kitchen. Well, I had a large stack of coupons in hand when I went to checkout. I apologized to the cashier and handed them to her. You could tell by the look on her face she was sorry I ended up in her line. What is funny is that particular store was offering double coupons with no limit. The next day it was changed and there was a definite limit up to $50. I had continured to shop with coupons until the stores started giving out the store discount cards. Stupidly, I thought I wouldn't make that extra effort anymore to save money. That was more than stupid. With the coupons you get even more of a discount. In fact, coupons are as good as money at the store. I have recently started back with my coupons and am loving it. It is fun to see how much additional money I can save on each purchase. Besides the coupons I clip from the magazines and paper I go to coupons.com and my favorite stores website and get even more coupons. Coupon.com even asks for your zipcode to give you coupons geared towards your area. Do yourself a favor and save some money when you shop. Clip those coupons and take them with you. Sometimes I forget my coupon holder so I try to keep it in my car.



Yesterday Bill, Marcy and I had our own little Super Bowl party. We had caesar salad, buffalo chicken breasts, hot & spicy wings, veggies and dip, hot pickled okra and little toothpicks with cherry tomatoes, cheese and habanero stuffed olives. Bill can't eat wings, but, he loved the buffalo breasts. The dip was made with non-fat yogurt, light Miracle Whip and non-fat sour cream. We had good eats and fun.



I'm feeling like a cold is about to take over my body so I wanted to get my little two cents in now since I don't know how I will feel later. Have a fantastic day!!

SOY MILK SHAKES---PLUS CLEAN SINUS

Festive Fruit
Combine 1 cup light soy milk, 1 scoop vanilla flavored whey protein powder and 1 cup frozen berries.
Mucho Mocha
Combine 1 cup chocalate soy milk, 1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder, 2 t instant coffee crystals, 1/2 fronzen banana and a dask of cinnamon.
PINA COLADA
Combine 1 cup vanilla soy milk, 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder, 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks, 1/8 t coconut extract and 1 t orange extract.
These shakes can also be make with frozen yogurt. I don't know how many people have whey on hand. I think you could experiment.

My daughter has been fighting with sinus problems since Christmas. She saw a doctor but what really helped her was Sinu Cleanse ( NETI POT ). I am sure you can find it where any cold and sinus items are sold. So if you are having problem, give it a try.
My aunt passed away and I went to the funeral home this afternoon. I know she is at peace now and I hope all those relatives who were after her money, get what they deserve.
I'll be back when I can stand waiting 30 minutes to get to the blog. Have a good day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUKAS!!!!

Lukas, have a fantastic birthday and enjoy having your grandmother, Chris, with you!! Time has gone by so fast that I cannot believe that you are already 5 years old!

Today is Chris' grandson's birthday and the reason she is in the cold, cold North. I know she will miss Lukas when she leaves, but, will be glad to get back to the warmer weather.

I just wanted to get on here to give Lukas a big shout-out for his birthday and now I am going to get ready for church. Have a blessed great day!!

Oh, before I sign out, just a request for a little prayer. I know we all pray for our troops overseas. Yesterday I found out that one of my sister Roxy's sons is back in Iraq again. He has served several tours over there and was sent back a couple of weeks ago. Please pray that, once again, he returns home safely to us. I just received an email from him and he said he is okay.

KEEP WATER PIPES FROM FREEZING

Here's a little tip for those living in the cold, freezing North. Put a handful of salt down each drain just before you go to bed at night. This will keep your water pipe's from freezing and possibly bursting. Simple and easy. I talked to Chris this morning and it is freezing there so this is definitely something that they can use there.

This morning I talked to my aunt Irene and my uncle Herbie. Two fantastic people who have been blessed to have been married 50 years and still going strong. They are definitely a great role model for us to follow. Besides loving each other, they love everyone that comes into their circle. I, also, talked to my sister/friend, P.J., who lives in Vegas. We can not talk for weeks and when we get on the phone it is just like we just talked an hour ago. It hardly seems like it was almost a year since Chris, Debbie, Michelle and I were in Vegas for a week with P.J. Then Bill and I went there a couple of months later for her son's beautiful wedding. The only trouble with talking to her is that I miss her all over again.

Bill, Marcy and I went over to visit our mother, Ricky and Annie this afternoon. Naturally, we had to play wrestling on the Wii after mom was put to bed. That game is soooooo addicting. Right now Bill is in our livingroom playing to get his skills up. I must say I've beat him a few games. My female wrestler is tough!!

Now I am going to get my things ready to go to church in the morning and go to bed. Have a great night and if you are in the frozen Tundra, keep warm!!

PIPING HOT TORTILLAS TO FILL

I just got on this computer and it only took 22 minutes---HELP. I spoke to Jackie and she is busy as always. I got this tip from a magazine that I purchased at the airport.
Soft tortillas are a nice alternative to hard shells on taco night. Wrap the stack of tortillas in an aluminum-foil square lined with a moist paper towel and heat in a 350 oven for 10 minutes. The damp towel lends moisture and the foil locks in the heat, so they come out steamy and easy to fill and wrap.
I am here in Wisconsin, which got 10 inches of snow over night. I hope I can have the patience to add to our blog daily. My daughter needs to step out of the dial-up phase........................... Have a good night!