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Hello,
I hope everyone in the US had a nice holiday weekend. We have had over 20 requests posted over the weekend. Please look them over and see if you have any advice to offer.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Photos
Turn Trash Into Fully Functional Furniture For Your Home
You know all the furniture that you see people have left out at the curb for trash pickup, that on the surface looks ready for demolition? With a little fix up, these pieces can be saved and used in your own home.
Before:
I found this bookcase (everyone needs a good bookcase), and it was unsturdy and unattractive. But, I went to the lumber yard and bought new wood and used screws to add support backing to the back and now it is sturdy. Then I removed the black handles and repainted this in a more appealing white color. Then I re-attached the handles and look at the amazing results! With a little new wood and a coat of paint, this now is a functional and attractive bookcase!
After:
By Vanessa Vargo
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Timothy and His Dog Bruiser (American Bulldog/Beagle)
This picture is of my 9 yr old son timothy on the day he got his very first pet. His puppy is half American Bulldog and half Beagle. Because of his black spot over his right eye, Timothy decided to name him brusier. Timothy is already showing his father and myself how dedicated he is to being a great pet owner.
By Lin
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Not really a pet but I do feed this little guy and 3 others a bit bigger than him every night. They show up starting at dusk to get "their" dog food!
By mamaboo
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Elevated Dog Dishes
By Shauna Smith Duty
There's nothing worse than a spoiled puppy, but it sure is fun to cater to our faithful friends. Though a raised dog dish seems silly, it actually provides an eating area for dogs that is easy to clean. Removable food and water dishes pop out of their holder for easy washing and refilling.
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Today's Tips
Uses for popsicle sticks. Post your ideas.
Saving Popsicle Sticks
As the summer time is here everyone eats frozen pops. Save the sticks and wash them. The children can use them for crafts or painting! Good for party games, too.
By Anthony D Giarrusso
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You can save a lot of money if you recently paid off a vehicle. Put the money you would have paid for the car payment in a savings account every month. If you've spent a couple years making the payment anyway, a couple more can't hurt. And you'd be surprised at how quickly it adds up!
By Sarah
Editor's Note: You also can reduce your car insurance coverage and save quite a bit of money.
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Save the Diaper Money for College
When your child finally gets potty trained, put the $50 or so you have been spending monthly on diapers into a college fund!
By Linda
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Cleaning Rust From Small Tools
By Seagrape
Most handy men will already know about this but many women may not. Rust can easily be removed from small tools by electrolysis. You will need:
Pour distilled water into bucket. Add washing soda and stir until dissolved.
Securely attach each wire to a terminal on the battery. Wrap the end of the wire that is attached to the NEGATIVE pole on the battery around the rusty tool.
Wrap the end of the wire that is attached to the POSITIVE pole to the piece of steel.
Use clothespins to attach wires to opposite sides of the bucket rim. THIS IS IMPORTANT. WIRES MUST NOT TOUCH EACH OTHER AT ANY TIME!!
Drop both rusty tool and steel washer into the sodium carbonate/water in the bucker.
Let sit several hours or overnight. Rust will be gone shortly.
WIRES WILL SPARK VIOLENTLY IF THEY TOUCH EACH OTHER. Touching both wires at the same time will not give you a shock UNLESS YOU LET THE WIRES TOUCH EACH OTHER. It will not hurt your tool to remain in the solution for an extended period of time. Once the rust is gone remove from the solution and dry it. Protect your tool from rusting again by spraying it with WD-40 before storing it. The sodium carbonate/water solution should last a long time. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is not available in my small town but pH Plus is so this is what I use in my laundry.
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love to use tart burners. I now buy votive candles and cut them in half, pull out wick and metal wick holder and use instead of buying the tarts.
By JP
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Don't throw away stale cat food, use it to feed the birds! Mix leftover wet cat food with birdseed and place in suet feeders or, on a log or flat rock if you live in a rural area. Nothing edible goes to waste in the great outdoors.
By Cindy Merrill
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Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is nowhere to be found in my small town, at least not in the soap and detergent sections. However, my local Wal-Mart has a pool supply section and they carry pH Plus which is sodium carbonate so this is what I use in my laundry in place of "washing soda".
Seagrape
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My boyfriend likes his food hot and spicy. I do too, to a point. I like to add hot peppers into the food, but can't always have those peppers on hand.
Last year, I planted many pepper plants. After picking the peppers, I sliced them lengthwise and put them in the dehydrator.
Once dried, I used the coffee grinder to make my own hot pepper powder. Works great in just about any recipe for a little bit of hot!!
By Judy
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To keep salt and pepper (or other spices) from spilling when traveling, camping, or picnicking re-use the smaller spice containers with lids. They're usually plastic, they have the shaker tops plus lids to keep the salt/pepper/spices from falling out all over everything. By Meari Editor's Note: Small spice containers are also great for putting your bulk spices in. For example, if you buy a large quanity of Cumin, just transfer it to your small Cumin spice container. It's easier to handle and already has the proper label on it.
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No chocolate sprinkles and you need them for your cupcakes? Run a chocolate kiss through your clean garlic press to make homemade sprinkles!
By Jessica Wipfler
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Take a empty coffee can and cut a slit in the plastic cover and place near the bathroom door. Tell every house member that there is a 25 cent cover to enter. Watch the cash build up over the year and then use it for vacation fun!
By Anthony D Giarrusso
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Dog Bathing Tips For You And Your Dog
Tips for bathing your dog. Post your ideas.
Vinegar Bath
After bathing your pets. Towel dry and spray white vinegar on them. It will not hurt them. It will help prevent bug bites and also give their coat a healthy shine.
By Sandi
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Can't get the garlic bits out of your press? Run a chocolate kiss through it, then run under hot water. The chocolate pushes the garlic out, then the water melts the chocolate out. Clean press every time!
By Jessica Wipfler
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Always check the day old baked goods at the store for a quick and cheap dessert. They are often just as fresh for half the price!
By Meredith Purintun
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Tips and ideas for treating sunburns. Post your ideas.
Sunburn Remedy
I had a bad sunburn, so I talked to the pharmacist about the best product to use. She recommended CORN HUSKERS LOTION. I tried it and will never go back to plain old aloe. The Corn Husker's Lotion doesn't sting, and works just as well (if not better) than aloe. Try it for yourself! I found my at Osco Drug, but you should be able to find it at any drug store.
By Judy
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An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig pen when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary.
"Let's have a party, Homer," she suggested. "Let's kill a pig."
The farmer scratched his grizzled head. "Gee, Ethel," he finally answered, "I don't see why the pig should take the blame for something that happened 50 years ago!"
By Terri
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We are giving away 16 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
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Contest ends July 15, 2005
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New Requests
There are some rust spots around the edge of the overflow drain in my porcelain sink. Does anyone have a way to clean off this rust?
Karen
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I purchased a silver shark last week and it still seems to be a little uneasy. It hits the sides of the tank most of the time and is very scared of the other fish, wich is kind of funny as the other fish are small portion of its size. Also, it doesn't seem to be eating at all. It stays away when I feed it and I've never seen it eat once. I've tried flake foods, worms insects, lettuce and still no interest.
Any ideas would be a help.
Bec, Australia.
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We were given a fresh water turtle a few weeks ago. The day after I set up his tank it began getting cloudy. Then it turned nasty and green. I cleaned out the tank, bought new rock, a stronger filter and it has started to get cloudy again.
I have gone to the pet shop and asked them what I can do and have gone to the library to read up on how to care for these turtles, but have had no luck in keeping the the tank clean. I am spending more money then I want on this pet. Please, any suggesting would be great.
Becky
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I saw an article a month or so ago about making belts with pop tops. My daughter has been saving pop tops (we don't drink many!) and is now ready to make the belt, and wouldn't you know it, I can't find the directions. I thought that the info was on here, but I did a search and did not find the info. Can anyone help?
dse77
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Using Vinyl Record Bowls For Food
I was looking at the page on how to make bowls out of old vinyl records. I also saw something on TV about a guy doing this for a living. Anyway, was wondering what you should do to make it water proof. I'm sure you couldn't put it in the dishwasher. But is there a way you could eat out of it?
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I have a 7 month old pit bull that is over friendly! I'll be on my porch with him and the next minute he's running to someone and licking him/her to death. I really want to break him of this, the last thing I want is for a full grown male pit running after some kid trying to play (of course the kid wouldnt know he trying to play). He knows stay, come etc. The problem is getting him to listen without blowing me of!
Mikey
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Our dog Ginger, a yellow Lab, has developed somthing that looks like mange at the base of her tail and small spots in the surrounding area. She itches like crazy at times and bites at it. Her hair in that area has fallen out just this week exposing spots of skin. Fred, a black Lab and her partner in life does not seem to be affected at all by what she has deveploped even though they share the same dog house and play together. What home remedies can I try before having to go to the vet as my income is very limited?
Mr. Bill
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I have several very expensive handbags and the leather is dull and dirty. How can I clean these leather purses and restore the shine. They were too expensive to throw away. I am ashamed to carry these purses because of the condition they are in.
Please help!
Thank you,
Coni
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I am looking for advice on paint colors in a nursery. Three of the walls are a burnt orange color (Ralph Lauren Tapestry), and I am trying to decide if it will be too dark to paint the fourth wall that same color. The room is small & rectangular (6' x 14'), with one french door as a window. I have read that painting a lighter color will make the room appear smaller, as opposed to painting the whole room dark. Any advice on stripes or patterns so the room appears more square would be appreciated.
Dar in California
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I'm new to soapmaking. In fact, I haven't made my first batch yet but I've researched the topic well on the Internet, gathered supplies and recipes and am all set to go. I understand saponification and the lye to fat ratios but I'm still confused about two things:
1) How does one determine the amount of water to use for dissolving the lye?
2) How does one determine the proper fat and lye/water temperatures for mixing the two together?
I've figured out that the water to lye ratio is somewhere around 2 or 3 to 1, maybe a little more, but the temperatures given in the different recipes for the fat and the lye/water can vary widely. How does one determine the best temperature for each?
Another question: Many soapmakers recommend using a "stick blender" to stir. Is a Bamix the same thing as a "stick blender".
Seagrape
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I would like a pattern for making a "Puff Quilt". If anyone has the pattern or knows a link to the pattern.
Thanks,
Seamstress
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Boyds Bear Beary Goodnight Set
I'm doing my nursey in the Boyds Bear Beary Goodnight Set, and they've recently discontinued the wall border. Does anyone know where I can find the boyds beary goodnight border?
Pamela
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Can't Remember The Name of an Old Horror Movie
I hope someone out there can help me. Since forever I've been trying to remember the name of a movie I saw when I was a young girl. One of the key actors in this movie I think was "Vincent Price" and all I remember is that he was in a coffin and the coffin had a glass case in the front so you can see his face. The only other part of the movie I remember is a women also in a coffin and she was being carried down to a basement or a tomb and there were rats on the cement steps and when the women woke (she was buried alive) she was screaming a scraping her fingers against the side of the coffin.
I have bought and watched every Vincent Price movie that is in this universe and haven't found the movie. Which leads me to believe it wasn't Vincent Price in the movie. This movie is over 30 years old so this is why I am having such a tough time remembering more of the movie. I know this is a strange request but this was a movie my dad and I saw together, we both loved horror films. He passed away many years ago but I have benn thinking about him a lot lately. If anyone out there is a movie buff and can help me with the name of the movie I would so greatly appreaciate it.
Thank you to anyone who took the time to read my request and god bless you!!
Adele, SI, NY
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Potato Salad - Tips and Recipes
How long do I boil potatoes for potato salad? don't want it to come out like mashed potatoes.
Angelique
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My dog has diahrrea. He's had it before and responded to antibiotics and everything was "coming out" fine, but it started out again, I got antibiotics again from the vet and it's been four days and he still has loose stools.
Sorry to talk about somthing so non-pleasant, but I'm resorting to taking him off solid foods as that is what my dog book suggested. Anybody out there have any good ideas? My vet said he has colitis and it's awfully hard to stop the cycle. And don't suggest cottage cheese as I'm a non-dairy eater and I come from the school of thought that dairy encourages diahrrea, so I wouldn't want to give that to my dog.
Margie
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Plastic Wrap Cooked on Corningware Casserole
Ooops. I put a corningware casserole into my hot oven with a Saran Wrap cover. The Saran Wrap melted and stuck to the corningware bowl. How can I remove this? Is the casserole bowl ruined? Any help would be appreciated.
Julia
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Getting Rid of Morning Glories
Morning Glories are taking over all of my flowers! I've tried pulling them, but they come back fast, and they're choking my roses. Is there anything that will get rid of them without killing my flowers?
Thanks.
Aeromama in IN
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Baking Soda for Weeds?
By daroyal
I have read that baking soda can be used to kill weeds. Is this safe to use in an area where you will be planting later in the future? Is there a wait period? I want to use it along a fence.
Thank you,
Daroyal
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My kids took a ballpoint pen and wrote on the latex apartment wall. Magic Eraser & Goo Gone didn't get it of. I'd like to know if anyone has a suggestion or if I should just prime and paint the spots?
Thanks,
Aileen
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I am on the PTA board and we are trying to figure out a new birthday gift to give staff members this year. Since we have a limited budget and must buy for many, we are trying to keep it inexpensive. Last year we had a poem that came with a bunch of small items. Does anyone have any ideas? (This is not just for teachers but all staff members.) Thank you for any suggestions that you may have.
Tracy
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I am holding a Wild West themed party in my garden for myself and my daughter's 16th birthday party. We have already thought of hiring a bucking bronco, but would like some suggestions for other entertaining ideas. Please help with some ideas!
Thank you,
Charlotte
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Today's Sponsors
The Best Art Supplies ... at the best discounts! Since 1911, artists have turned to D. Blick Art Materials for dependable savings, a huge selection, and fine customer service on art supplies.
Click the link below to visit D. Blick!
http://www.thriftyfun.com/lk/dblick.lasso
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Eco-Friendly Irrigation - How to Water Wisely
By Ellen Brown
Few of us are aware of how much water we waste. Most of us merely turn on the sprinkler and walk away. In many places, water is not only scarce, it's expensive. How you deliver water to your lawn and garden can have a major effect on your water bill and ultimately, on the environment.
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