Daily Thrifty Tips - July 26, 2006

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Tippy is our 5 year old Maine Coon. Tippy walked into the door of our house 5 years ago on a hot summer night and never left. She picked US I guess you could say. We ran an add in the newspaper trying to find her owner, posted signs around the neighborhood with her photo and no one answered it. She has truly been the joy of our family.

Tippy loves balls! Her favorite pastime is slapping her favorite toys around the house

My youngest son Garrett was only 2 years old the day Tippy came into our lives and she has adopted him as her baby. If he gets hurt and cries, she is the first by his side, she sleeps with him and follows him everywhere he goes. Tippy is also a mute cat. She never makes a peep, so we have taught her kitty sign language, that she understands. She is a very special little lady to us and we are sooo happy that she found us!

By Lavida from Medford, OR

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Sam is a 3 year old Jack Russell/poodle. I rescued Sam from the Humane Society in Yakima, WA. Sam brings me small stuffed animals and I toss them for him to retrieve or we play tug a war. Sam has become my best friend, he sleeps on my bed at night, is a good watch dog.

By Joy from Culbertson, MT

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We recently visited a local vineyard and found it to be a wonderful place to visit with friends and take in some beautiful scenery. So peaceful and relaxing. This is a photo of one of the many beautiful vines of grapes used to make their wines. I think I'll make a large reprint and hang it in my dining room!

By Julie from North Dakota

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Don't use blue food coloring in cake!

By Lynn Heckel from Dallas, TX

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When my husband and I married, we each brought children to the union. Within a year, we had added the two little boys from across the street. In an 800 square foot house with two bedrooms, this did not work. We found some land a few miles out of town, where we could all indulge our love for raising animals and gardening.

We had to do without electricity and running water because we put all our money into the land. We paid for it in three years, as well as having a 170 foot well dug and some irrigation ditches put in. With kerosene lamps, a generator to run the pump; and a wood stove, we were fine. We have never had to buy firewood, because people know to call us when they want to give away a tree or some scrap wood.

We bought a cow and watched her having her calf; the first one on our land. The little fellow's front hooves emerged, and then his face. He gave his head a big shake to get rid of the fluids, looked all around, nodded as if to say this looks okay, and then put his new front legs on Mama Judy's back legs and pushed. Out he flew! He was a big boy!

We put two old trailer houses on the land, about 12 feet apart. One was for the kitchen, living room, and our bedroom. The other had three bedrooms for the kids. A third one is for Jim's tools and the books we don't have room for in the house. In between trailers, I planted flowers. A lady was thinning her irises and gave me one of each color. The kids threw out fruit pits. We now have an apple, cherry, and apricot tree to shade the trailers and give us fruit. They cool us down by about 20 degrees in summer.

My husband, Jim, plowed up a quarter-acre garden. He and the kids planted fruit trees, elderberries and raspberries. We put in some tiny pine seedlings from the soil concervation district and they took hold almost like magic. We built a chicken coop from scrap wood that we salvaged from a proving up shack.

Later, when we had cleared away enough sagebrush and lava rock, we fenced in a pasture for the cow. There were a few adventures before that fence got finished -- it's a wonder no one was hurt! I say that because we had to picket our cow and calf before the fences. Sometimes they didn't want to let us lead them. When a 1200 pound animal wants to go left, she goes left.

There is no heat bill. Just gas and oil for the generator and chain saw. Jim was working full-time during this period, and I stayed home with the six teenagers. We no longer work for other people. Jim raises baby calves with the help of our cow, Maggie. She was named for Maggie Smith, one of my favorite actresses!

I write for a local newspaper and an in-house magazine for the local utility. We also operate a mobile food concession during the summer, as a team! We don't have a lot of money, but we don't need a lot. Because we grow so much food, I spend only $25.00 per month on our grocery bill. Most of that is non-foods. We eat very well. Today's lunch was T-bones and corn with salsa. Yum!

We began all of this 23 years ago, and the kids have grown up and started their own families. They have turned out fine, thank the Lord! They bring us such happiness! My brother has not visited us until this week. He lives in California in the middle of millions of people in a lovely home. I think he thought we were poor and primitive, so he put it off. We had a wonderful visit! He plays saxophone, and so does our granddaughter, Aime. He's a pro and she's a high school senior this fall. He taught her several techniques like growling, vibrato, and some other terms I had never heard before. She was so psyched up! We caught up on family stories and went through old albums, and I wish he could have stayed longer. But I think he'll be back. Like most people who come for a chat or dinner, he wound up telling us we live in Paradise. We never argue that one.

Coreenhart from Rupert, ID

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Ink stain on shirt? Use milk, pour the milk on the ink stain and wait for a minute or two then wash and hang up to dry (don't dry in dryer as it will set the stain. If ink stain is still there pour more milk on and wash again.

By Shirley Vinch from Fulton, NY

Editor's Note: We would love to hear some feedback about this tip. It seems funny that milk would get ink. Has anyone else tried this?

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I am presently working on a 100 other uses of cereal boxes but I will just give you the best one of them.

Make Your Own 3D Stage

Steps

1. You must make a clean straight cut so that the one side will open to decorate the entire stage area. You will only look through this part to see the stage.

2. Your box is open so now you want to think about what scene you want to set. Mine? It is a far off snow capped mountain coming towards the viewing area a far off flowering field, getting closer a part of a river with rocks ripples and everything. Nearest a rocky bank.

On the left side trees cover the entire panel with just a little area where the river flows on a snake like angle. The other side from the viewer point a rocky hill the snaking river and the continuation of that far off flowering field that runs into the mountain which I'm declining to leave a few inches of blue sky above it.

Oh the top is the has blue with clouds The forest side, the trees extent a tiny bit over into the sky.

Now comes the real fun part, adding the 3D stuff.

I cut out several deer pictures and glued them to poster board of the same size but folded at the bottom enough so they can be glued or stapled I have an eagle flying up in the blue and few clouds near suspended with the wire from a garbage bag tie.

By the woods, I have several people standing by the forest looking at the eagle or in that direction. I used real stones for river rocks.

When you're done and close it up, make sure no light comes in because it ruins the effect. Secure it with duct tape then decorate the entire outside of the box with whatever you think that is suitable. Me, I use old calendar pictures.

I guess you could call this a shoe box scene or a diorama but what did it cost me to make?

• Well, eating a box of corn flakes
• Mucho looking through old calendar pictures and magazines I have kept forever
• a little duct tape
• a few staples
• a little glue
• a few free outside stones.
• A touch of paint for the snaking river
• THE VERY GOOD EXERCISE OF MY IMAGINATION and a lot of satisfaction.

Oh, one last thing when you make these scenes View them with just the light coming from your background. To light up the inside of the box would expose the imperfections. You see, this picture is to stimulate your imagination again, making you part of it like a dream.

You want reality? It is always right outside that decorated CORN FLAKE BOX. So Eat Up Them Corn Flakes And Give Your Imagination a Workout

By Mr. Thrifty from ShermansDale, PA

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There are 2 snowmen standing in a field - one of them says "Hey, do you smell carrots?"

By J T Munro from Brighton, England

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Do not reuse plastic spring water bottles for a long time. A substance in the plastic breaks down into the water. This is not healthy. Teachers have sent a note to parents packing lunches not to reuse plastic bottles! I have reused bottles many times in the past. No more!

By Sharon L Martin from Canada

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My daughter was complaining that she did not know how she was going to teach my grandson how to save money. He likes to spend his alloted amount each week and then ask for more. His Grandpa's suggestion was to take a five gallon water jug and start putting his change in it at the end of every day.

Joshua has become very proud of his savings in the bottle, he can actually see the amount grow each week. Now, every time we go to visit, Joshua will ask if Grandpa has any change in his pocket to add to his savings bottle.

Once the jar is filled he will also have fun rolling the money to take to the bank. Do not use the machines at the grocery stores to roll your change, as they end up costing you about 7% of what you have rolled. That is, of course, unless you have an account at an institution like Commerce Bank, which offers the service gratis - a rare commodity these days in banking.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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I was online searching for wallpaper. Even though I didn't find what I was looking for, I found some beautiful patterns that fit my decor perfectly. I printed the wallpaper pattern, framed it, hung it on my wall and my friends think I paid high dollar for my pictures. When I want to change, I just trash the old ones and print out some new ones. No one knows that I paid zero for my beautiful wall art.

By Faye from Simpsonville,SC

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If you have a problem with slipping bedskirts on your box springs, put an old fitted sheet on the box springs and hand stitch the bedskirt to the sheet. Just use a simple running stitch OR you can use Stitch Witchery and just iron them together.

This really keeps the bed looking neat.

By Marilyn from Mansfield, TX

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I hadn't had a chance to make an appointment to get my hair colored yet and I ended up with last minute plans to go out, but did NOT want to be seen with my salt and pepper roots! So on a whim, I grabbed my eye brow pencil that I never use anyway and rubbed it over my roots and it covered the gray! I also sprayed on some hairspray just to make sure it stayed on. It even lasted until the next day when I washed it out.

By Kim from Howell, NJ

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Because I have pets, I hate using toxic pesticides anywhere where they might be. I also hate the smell. The hot weather has brought out the ants in my house! I discovered that the vinegar/water mix I use to clean windows kills ants instantly. Other than wiping away the dead ants, I don't even have to mop or clean the area. The vinegar odor evaporates as the vinegar does, usually just a few minutes.

By Linda from Vista, CA

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Here's a handy, fast way to toast chopped nuts for a recipe without turning on your oven on a sweltering hot summer day:

Craft a simple, 1-sheet thick mini-tray out of aluminum foil to fit on top of your toaster slots. Sprinkle your chopped nuts on the tray, and push down your toaster button. Makes great toasted nuts fast. Saves a) time, b) saves you from oven heat, and, for all you frugal thrifty types, c) saves electricity! I use a Medium setting, but experiment to fine tune the results on your toaster.

By Ingrid from New York

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Upon winterizing our camper, we put moth balls round to keep critters from setting up housekeeping. In the spring the moth balls were cleaned out but a strong moth ball odor still remains, even in the refrigerator. How do I get rid of the odor.

Maryann

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I am looking for recipes for sandwich wraps using tortillas. I want to cut down my lunch calories and bought some no fat tortillas. I don't like most dressings using mayo, but can tolerate small amounts. Any ideas?

Marcie from Prairie du Sac, WI

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Mickeylee from Kankakee, Illinois

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Does anyone have any ideas of what I can do with my cherry tomatoes? I have given some away, but wondering if they can be frozen. I don't want to can them or any of that, just freeze them after washing them off.

Dede from NW Arkansas

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What vacuum cleaner would you recommend for hard surface floors?

Diane from Amity, AR

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ears ago, at a huge department store called Lazarus, in Columbus, Ohio, the bakery sold Russian Black Bread. This bread was coal black inside and out, and tasted like a very light, slightly sweet, rye bread. Does anyone have a recipe like that? I've tried the traditional Russian Black Bread, and though dark, it is not black, and it is VERY heavy and coarse. This one is quite light tasting. I am sure someone out there knows what I'm talking about.

Thank you!
Margie from Mt. Vernon, Ohio

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This is nasty, but I need help! My dog got into the cat litter box and ate you know what! Well she in turn threw it up on my new microfiber couch! I got the stain out but how do I get this horrible awful smell out?!

Meggan from Edgewood, KY

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I have outdoor lounge chairs that are covered with fabric (store bought) that I want to clean. What will get the lightly soiled fabric/pads which are sewn/stuck on the frames clean? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Ran-D from Northern California

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Does anyone have a natural homemade recipe for worming cats and kittens?

Thank you,
Linda from MO

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How do I get burnt caked on food off of stove top burners? From what I understand it has been there a couple of months!

Shelly from Martinsburg, WV

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I once read that commissary stores would accept expired coupons from military families. And that these stores would accept donated expired coupons from the public so the families could select the ones they wanted. Does anyone know if that's true? If so, where can I send my expired coupons as I'm often left with a whole lot of them.

A Trevino from San Antonio

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Where do you put frozen bread at to rise? Last time, I cracked the oven door and sat the rising bread on the stove top with a big towel over it and it did its rising very well. The bad thing is when I moved it from the stove top to inside the oven, all of the bread fell, and cooked hard as a rock. So I was wondering where ya'll put your bread at to rise.

Thanks!
Suzi from Central TX

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How do I stop japanese beetles from raiding my young plants? The constant rain washes everything I use away!

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Tooti from Plainville, CT

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How do I remove SHARPIE marks from a pair of pants?

Missy from Statesville, NC

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How do I remove pen ink (biro) from my linoleum floor?

Tracey from Queensland, Australia

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Camping Tips and Recipes. I am looking for some good camping recipes; using the campfire or gas camp stove. Recipes for breakfast, lunch and supper would be great! Also, any camping tips?

Deborah from Tennessee

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Shristi from Paducah, KY

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There are 5 of us girls that all ran around together while in school years ago. We now try to get together each year for a few days just by ourselves. I would like to know if anyone has any ideas of places to go for a weekend. We now live in Kansas, Oklahoma an Texas. Any ideas would be great.

Jodi from Texas

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My husband loves homemade strawberry rhubarb pie and I was wondering is there anyone out there that might just have the greatest old fashion recipe for me to surprise him. Thank You for all your help.

Debbie from Berwick, ME

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I have just trained as a nail technician and I am finding things very hard. When I have applied the acrylic it looks great but after buffing I am getting lines in the acrylic and the tip seems a bit lumpy and bumpy. Please help, I am losing heart.

Thanks,
Dawn from Essex

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My son came home from school with his car covered with tree sap. It has dried on to a lacquer finish. I have tried lots of sap removers and car polishes but it still will not come off. I would appreciate some suggestion.

Lou from Spring, Texas

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I have Lichen on my apple tree branches. It's not removable with power spray. Can a copper spray be used? The lichen is a fine feathery type on slender growth.

Allan from New Zealand

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I am looking for recipes using canned creamed soups (cream of celery, mushroom, chicken). I have too many on hand right now, and want to use some up. It could be for any type of main dish, sauce or gravy.

Thanks much,
Debbie from IL

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