Duelin’ Deals Blog by Marlaine

I’ve been so busy cleaning the basement and writing for Marlaine’s Musings, other various blogs, and eHow that I hardly finish an article and I have to go somewhere else. So I am taking the time to tell everyone who reads this blog to go to my link at MarlaineMarie@eHow for some really good money saving recipes. I have been adding a whole lot of tips that I learned during my “food” days in restaurants - or should I say salad bar days?

One thing though…… it is murder when you work in a kitchen during the summer! I was a chef’s assistant during one of the hottest summers on record - I never want to me that hot again. ….and my husband is from Australia! I say to Brad again —— No - we will never go visit your parents during Australia’s summer time! He came to Wisconsin during a very very hot summer in Australia - I think it was even record breaking. February 2006… People’s pcs were popping all over the place in Australia, I heard. Not only did Brad come during his country’s record breaking heat wave, I had won a trip to New York in a writing contest and we ended up in a hotel across from the Central Park Carriage Ride start point about an hour before New York’s Storm Of The Century hit!

(I won 5th place in a world wide romance writing contest - all expenses paid! One of the winners was from Scotland! One was from England!) We had three days of snow and nowhere to go but watch the drifts grow from our 46th floor room! We were supposed to have a beautiful Valentine’s Day carriage ride through Central Park but our plane back to Wisconsin ……. sigh….. talk about another whole convoluted story! I’ll have to save that for another time because I have to get going soon!

Here’s a pic from our room in New York……. That’s about 6 or 7 stories of snow down there! Dang good thing I had a good LLBean winter coat that fit him! (MUM - he can still wear it, too, so my cooking hasn’t changed him that much! Hehehehe!)

Brad and I play Runescape and that’s actually how we met. We “Tell Juna Stories of Our Adventures” in the Tears Of Guthix repeating mini-game. Our real adventures might actually entertain her more than our game adventures! Smiling………. read Marlaine’s Musings for more amusing tales of our Runescape Adventures!

There has been a lot of torrential rain throughout the Midwest. Many people are going through major clean up right now - including Brad and I, and my brother, who lives farther up north in Wisconsin.

We have been drying up our basement and I find myself sniveling over stupid things sometimes. Most of our precious things are upstairs where they are safe and dry but not everything fit up there. I put lots of stuff in the basement because the inspector told us that the house was sound when we bought it. It still is - the problem was the sump pump getting burnt out from over work! So as I clean and sort down there, I see bits and pieces of my past that can not be saved. I suppose the argument is - maybe it’s for the best.

No matter - the point is that there are a lot of things to do to avoid getting hurt or sick. One thing I have to add at the moment is that I slipped in a wet area and broke my little toe - just dang thankful that I didn’t get hurt worst! But today is a sit down and recover day and I would like to post the article I put on eHow here to possibly help others clean up safely and quickly! Below is a photo of my brother’s area - the house with the white roof is my brother’s place and that ice blue car is his Corvette. A little bit of his garage is showing through the trees behind his house - where is Harley was when the flood rose. Even if he could have gotten it out of the garage, there was no where to push is quickly to save it from the water! Read his eHow article - Cyclecyco - about how to get a motorcycle running after being submerged.

How To Clean Up After A Flood!

Cautions!
When most of the area is effected, it’s likely you will have to work alone or with a family member or two because everyone is busy cleaning up. The following are cautions that could save your life!
* Never step into water unless you are sure it is not live with electricity!
* Wear rubber soled shoes even while walking around in damp areas.
* Wait until the water recedes if possible before starting your clean up.
* Avoid riding, driving or walking through a flooded area because you can’t be sure what is under the surface.
* Call in a professional electrician or power company representative to remove fallen lines in your yard or fix suspect circuits in your home.
* Work with the assumption that the water is contaminated and any food that’s been touched by it should be thrown out.
* Wash any clothes that have gotten wet.
* Realize that rodents, snakes, and other small creatures may be dead or trapped in your basement or other areas like your garage. Make noise to scare off the live ones and wear protective gloves to pick up any dead ones.
* Do not run any electrical appliances that might be wet or damp - unplug anything that might have been in water and let dry thoroughly before using it or even testing it. Thoroughly means days! If you aren’t sure, really deep six it!
* Don’t use any lighters or sparking devices if there is any possibility of a natural gas leak.
* Take any rugs or carpeting outside ASAP to either hose down and dry, or dispose of.
* To avoid further damage to wooden furniture - let it dry in the shade outside or in a dry room in the house because the sun’s fast drying could warp the wood.
* Once the water has receded, and the flooring is relatively dry, turn wet furniture upside down if possible.
* Once the flooring is relatively dry, set up a fan - off the ground - and let it help dry out the area. Set it up on top of a high-impact plastic crate or wire basket and drape all cords up high.
* Use a light bulb adapter to convert the overhead bulbs into electrical sockets so you can plug things in up high where it’s dry.
* Use plant hooks in the ceiling beams of your basement or high on the walls so you can drape extension cords up high out of any possible dampness or future water seepage.
Step2
Cleaning up:
* As soon as the flood waters recede start cleaning up and drying out.
* When cleaning up moldy areas, make sure the area is well ventilated and get moldy items outside as soon as you can.
* Remove any sediment. Hose down whatever you can outside.
* Wash dirty or moldy materials with non-phosphate
all-purpose cleaners.
* If you have a HEPA filtered vacuum, use it in moldy areas. Do not use a regular vacuum cleaner because it will spread the mold spores throughout the area.
* Disinfect areas and materials after cleaning as much as you can first to help the effectiveness of the disinfectant.
* Make a disinfectant using 1/2 - 1 cup household chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Put in a spray bottle to treat walls and floors.
* Use a disinfectant cleaner, such as Pine Sol, mixed about 1 part disinfectant to 3 parts water and use in a spray bottle.
* Do not use the air conditioning system because it can spread mold and dust contaminants.
* Wear a dust mask, goggles and protective clothing on legs, arms, feet and hands while cleaning up debris. Rubber gloves are best for picking up things that might be contaminated. Be sure to wash your hands and face frequently!
* Be aware that houses built in the ’70s and earlier may have lead-based paint.
Step3
Drying up:
* The quicker you can get things dried up the better! It will prevent rot and mold.
* Speeding up the drying process will save a great deal of your wood and prevent structural damage.
* Remove wet insulation and discard, but do not replace insulation or any other coverings until wood frames are dried out as much as possible.
* Move things around out of damp spots if possible and keep moving things around to insure everything gets dried out.
* Set up a couple of fans to keep the air moving and drying!
Tips & Warnings

* Since I am in the process of cleaning up our basement, I will be adding things as I find out about them myself.
* Please be careful and work safe!
* A friend of mine on eHow, named Grouch, suggests using baking soda to help control the odors.
* I have noticed that when I make the stronger solution of disinfectant and water in a spray bottle, if I spritz it in front of the fan in the direction of the air flow, it’s like spraying air freshener without all the whatevers in it! It also gets the disinfectant around the room fast!
* Most of this article is basically warnings. Do watch children - they think it’s a great time to play in water and have fun but it can be very dangerous. Under water things like planks or unseen obstacles can knock a child down and push them under. Please keep an eye on any child out there - even if they aren’t yours!
* Keep in constant contact with anyone who is disabled or older. Check in with them every few hours.
* Please be careful if you are going through flood damaged rooms, especially in older homes. The structural integrity of the walls could be weakened, so listen for any unusual creaking.
* Be prepared to get out ASAP! Not all danger is obvious or apparent!

One of my friends at eHow - The Don - suggests renting an industrial dehumidifier and that does sound like a great idea! They might be expensive to run on a regular basis but what you would save in goods and foundation stability would be well worth it!

To everyone - be safe and dry. Work with care no matter what you may be doing.

Gypsy’s philosophy:
When the Purple Porkie attacks…..

Don’t let it out of your sight, even when it pretends to be sleeping!

As you must have noticed, I write a lot about recipes, especially on MarlaineMarie on eHow. What you don’t know is that when I worked in restaurants and supper clubs, I lost weight. Working constantly with food really takes the craving out of it! That same attitude really works when you try to diet but the opposite undermines every diet. The more you deny yourself certain foods, the more you want them. When on a diet, letting yourself have a favorite food now and then helps keep you on course!

Just an added note - I have quit worrying about my weight but want to lose some - it’s dropping nice and slow. My husband doesn’t care about his weight either but he isn’t trying to lose any weight. He is not exactly used to my cooking yet, poor dear, because even after two years he still loves every meal I make.

Here is the article I wrote for eHow:
How to Kick Your Appetite To The Curb

Don’t think of it as dieting or losing weight - just park your appetite and rev your attitude. Just like many things in life, you have to want to do this - no one can make you lose weight! Studies show that kids who are allowed to eat what and when they want, level out naturally in body weight - so don’t stomp on that brake! Put your weight on cruise control and enjoy the journey.

You need to make up your mind to just be reasonable about what you eat! That’s all!

First of all, stop worrying so much! Many of us eat because we are fidgety, bored or unhappy. Be aware of when and what you are eating but don’t obsess. Focus on things you like about yourself and forgive the stuff you don’t like. Don’t worry about the Food Police pulling your over to give you a ticket either!

Eating protein will slow down your hunger! Start your day with some protein or snack on protein and you’ll be less hungry! Hard boiled eggs or cottage cheese does work! Sugary cereal, donuts, or even English muffins, only revs up your energy and drives up your appetite!

Work on brain projects when you’re hungry! Give yourself something else to think about other than food. Play a computer game that you can’t drag yourself away from or get into a really good crafting or woodworking project - something that keeps your hands and brain busy!

Avoid the smells of yummy foods! Your brain reacts to the smells of your favorite foods just as it does to the taste in your mouth when you are eating! While at work, if someone is using the microwave and it smells too good, use air freshener or go outside if there isn’t a fast food place you can smell nearby.

Don’t have things close at hand that you can’t resist! If people around you insist on having things on your off limit list of foods, either get them to buy only what they will eat in a day or only buy enough for them if you have to buy the groceries. Make what tempts you hard to get by putting the most tempting foods or drinks way out of reach like in another room or another floor.

You heal while you sleep and that includes allowing your body to produce the optimal chemicals that you need for everything. Studies show that if you don’t get enough sleep, hormonal fluctuations occur that increase your appetite.

Every time you eat, make it a real meal - not a snack. Sit down, use a plate, look at the food as you eat it, and notice every bite you take. Don’t eat while you drive, while you read, or while you talk on the phone - pay attention to what you are eating!

Eat whatever you want to eat but don’t heap up your plate. Don’t get a second helping.

Eat when your stomach rumbles - not when your brain mumbles.

Tips & Warnings
* Tell yourself that every time you feel really hungry in between meals, you are probably losing weight!
* Imagine yourself 10 or 20 pounds lighter - even if you need to lose a lot more.
* Eat the things you love - denial leads to the need to make it up to yourself and probably a whole lot more of whatever it was you were denying yourself!
* Don’t beat yourself up when you overeat. That eating binge will run out of gas, especially if you allow yourself to have one once in a while! Just restart that engine and drive on until you get to where you want to go!

Good Luck and Great Life to All!

I am reading about ways to build traffic and one way is to sign up for BlogPulse and Technorati search engines. Technorati wants me to post a link to them so here is it……….. Technorati Profile Activate the claim using Post Claim Technorati! For some odd reason they said my Marlaine’s Musings URL is not a usable URL? Shaking head - I don’t really understand that but………… shrugs!

Brad and I are trying to make money with our web work. As we learn more about what works and what doesn’t work, I’ll post here about those things. Our Rune Registry and Marlaine’s Musings get great traffic and they are growing month by month. This blog has also been gaining in popularity and we would like to capitalize on that. We will be adding a blog on Rune Registry soon so any legitimate comments or queries pertaining to Runescape or great games will be posted and responded to on that blog.

If any one has tips about how to make legitimate money on the web without using spam technology or any other irritating invasive methods, please let me know! I have been checking out doing online surveys, writing articles - of course - MarlaineMarie@eHow, and using different kind of ads. Check out my brother’s articles - Cyclecyco@eHow for a biker’s perspective on the world. One tip about adding links to your blog post or web site pages is to use the type of wording I used on those links. Click here does not help the search engines direct traffic but specifying my account at eHow does or whatever the link is you may be adding. I am now starting to make money but you have to be patient!

I enjoy working on articles on eHow because I can do whatever non-fiction subject I feel like that day. I’ve got lots of articles started and choose whatever interests me when I decide to finish one or start one. My Mom used to say I was moody and I guess I am - hopefully in good ways! But like anyone else, there are days those moods can shut me down like the bars of a maximum security jail cell. That’s when I take Gypsy out and have some fun!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh spring is here.
The birds are singing….
The grass is growing….
The air is fresher….
And Gypsy is dropping fur like a buffalo!
Sigh………… time to brush her out.

But here’s a tip. I try to brush her outside. Not only does it save me house work in the long run, the creatures outside use at least some of it, too! Rabbits and birds use it for nests. The rest of it ends up breaking down into the ground, fertilizing the grass.

When I used to live out in the country and we raised German Shepherds for show, the comb out jobs were a regular event and with quite a few dogs. We usually had two dogs in the house at a time, so those dogs were always the flag dogs that let us know when all the rest of the dogs would be shedding. Most of the top show dogs usually dropped the extra fur from the regular grooming they got. Giving a dog a bath triggers the shed response and regular baths keep them from building up so much at once. Unfortunately, Gypsy is a coated German Shepherd - meaning she has longer and thicker fur that the normal fur type of Shepherd. Even though my arms get exhausted from brushing her, I have gotten to like that fluffy fur and I wouldn’t give up my fur ball dog for anything!

We had 10 acres out there so it was no big deal to leave a mound of fur on the lawn. It is amazing how fast that mound of fur disappears though, even when there is no wind! More proof that nature is taking advantage of what it finds. After all - one person’s trash is another person’s …. what? (Talk about the times changing, I just though Identity Theft instead of Treasure!) I will admit to slinking out of sight now when I see our neighbors (who even sweep their glass clippings off their driveway to make things look perfect) outside, and I know it looks like a dead thing is laying out there - snicker!

But……
Why bag the hair up in a plastic bag so it can not decompose, can not be used by anything else and will be preserved for 50 years in a land fill? It will quickly blow away and be spread naturally. Yes, even if the mound of hair actually looks big enough to be a deer laying there. If you spread it around a little yourself, it will disappear even faster. If you cut the grass and run the lawn mover over it, it will get into the ground even faster and help improve the grass.

I have to add a warning here though, do not leave long hair out there for nests. I used to think that brushing my hair outside and then pulling the hair from the brush for the yard creatures was great for nest building. Noooooooooo! One of my indoor baby finches almost choke to death on one of my hair…… The mama bird used some of the comb out I put in the bottom of their cage. The poor baby was trying to fly but had that long hair around it’s neck. Good thing I watch my creatures all the time! The mama raised the alarm and I went to see what was wrong immediately and untangled the baby.

Even though I have a vacuum cleaner, I often sweep the house - and sweep the dirt and hair right out the side door. That’s another thing that can be better used outside rather than in a plastic garbage bag in a land fill for eternity! Yes, I pick out the pieces of whatevers that are not organic and put them in a garbage bag - but geezzzzzzz………. I also have cats that are shedding and the birds drop feathers… why not sweep that all outside? AND, of course, they say most of the dirt in our houses are sloughed off skin cells. What could be more organic?

So sweep it out into the open and let it blow away!
I wish you a breezy day!

Well here we go……….. care for your hair! I do have long, naturally blond hair. My mother kept telling me that by the time I was twenty, I would have to dye my hair because it would be so plain, like hers had been. She was a bit off on that prediction - I must say! Some kids called me albino in school but it wasn’t really that light! Never the less, I had a lovely shade of auburn all picked out and I really couldn’t wait ’til I needed it! I just love dark red hair!

I’ve devised a lot of tricks for my hair to make it as absolutely easy as possible to care for because I just am not the kind to fiddle with hair! I usually do something with it in the morning when I get up and that is about it. If it’s hot, I put it in a bun or a clip and if it’s cold, I use it like an extra scarf or tuck it around my neck in a hooded sweatshirt. When I don’t have the enthusiasm to brush it, I still use that hooded sweatshirt to get Gypsy out - and hide the mess! The rest of the time, I just let it hang.

I’ve done an article for eHow about this………..

How to Have Long, Healthy Hair!

I can’t help but think of Thing in the Adams family when I see my hair sometimes. I used to brush it all the time. It was always wavy but on the dry side. I stopped using a hair dryer for a few reasons.

First… I was with relatives for a month and forgot it. When I saw how much better my hair was, I decided not to use it unless it was an emergency.
Second…. I was in a car accident that chopped a lot of my hair off and left me with about 20 stitches in my head. My mom cut my hair short and I couldn’t even wash my hair for a while with those stitches in there.
Third…. I just don’t like fiddling with my hair.
Fourth… my best friend and I spent a lot of time going swimming one summer. I noticed that my hair went into ringlets when I didn’t brush it after it was wet!
Fifth…. It’s just so much easier!

But the main reason is that I don’t like fiddling with my hair.

Here are a few tips that I didn’t mention in the article:

While washing your hair, never use your fingernails on your scalp. The scratches cause wounds on your scalp, which leads to itching which leads to damaged follicles. Massage your scalp with your fingertips instead to promote growth.

Use a towel to blot out excess moisture from your hair rather than rubbing with the towel. The friction from rubbing can make your hair brittle. Or squeeze out the moisture with your hands without wringing it or pulling it.

When you wash long hair, don’t suds it up by piling it on top of your head and swirling it around. That only causes more tangles. Apply shampoo to your hands and then to your scalp. Lather by massaging small areas. You don’t need to suds up the entire length of hair - it’s mostly the scalp that needs the dirt and oils removed. The rest will rinse away with the soap.

Those anti frizz potions never worked in my hair and in fact, always made the problems worse. I have a specific spray bottle that I kept after using a coupon to get the hair care product for nearly free. It was good stuff - but not worth buying again for my hair. I pour in about three or four tablespoons of whatever conditioner I am using and fill it up the rest of the way with water.

Then I shake it up. I spritz my hair with it when it seems really dry or straight and use my hand to smooth it into my hair.

During the summer, I add about a tablespoon of baby oil to the bottle with conditioner and water. This formula is based on a show sheen product a horse breeder told me about. It makes your hair really shine without getting really greasy. It also makes my hair curl even more. The oil protects my hair from the drying sun a little bit, too.

Use hand lotion to tame those static days! Just use lotion as usual, except add a bit more. Run your hands over your hair to smooth it where you want it to go. It will add shine and keep your hair where it belongs. You can use your regular conditioner the same way.

Don’t wear those baseball caps! It wears your hair down like a dog collar that’s too tight. Have you ever seen a dog’s neck that’s been wearing one? The hair is rubbed very thin. A cap or bandanna does the same thing! Your hair needs air, too, to let the sweat evaporate.

To help encourage hair growth, here’s something that feels great especially when someone else does it for you. Combine an egg and about a quarter cup olive oil, whipping together with a fork. Warm the oil in the microwave first if you like but not too warm. Massage this into the scalp with your fingertips - never use the nails. Do this treatment once a week. The scalp massage facilitates healthy hair growth by stimulating the blood supply to your scalp. The egg adds protein and the olive oil adds moisture. An inch of an aloe leaf can be scraped off the skin, mashed, and added to the mixture. Wash hair about an hour later.

Here’s for fun…. dye your hair with Koolaide. Add a non-sugar packet to a cup and a half of water. Leave it in for 15 minutes. Rinse and then let it dry. Great for Halloween!

Ok - I have resisted this subject because I was raised in a dog kennel. Yes……… sigh. One of the actual dog runs had my name printed over the door. My mom had an AKC German Shepherd kennel and I was raised with them — litter - allie …… I knew what woof meant before I knew “Mama”. I am very attuned to dogs, even though I love all creatures. So house training a pup is pretty easy to me and I decided to try to put it into words for eHow. I wrote the following article…

How to House Train Your Puppy Quick and Easy!

The very best way to house train your pup is to set aside the first few days to be with your pup. If you have a three day weekend or just take a couple of days vacation before or after a weekend, plan to pick up your pup ASAP on the way home when your time off starts!

Things You’ll Need:

* Patience
* A sharp eye
* Paper towels and disinfectant to clean up at first - if necessary!

Step 1:
Before taking your pup into the house for the very first time, take him or her for a walk in the area that they can use to do what they must! Play with them a bit until they go. Praise and pet them, saying, “Good *name*” or “Good boy/girl” after they are done. Think happy, too. They can read your body language and facial gestures well!

Step 2:
Understand that your pup will need to go at least every two hours. Even if they don’t have to, they need the chance to go! Whether they seem to need to or not, take them OUTSIDE - or wherever you want them to go. No matter when they nap, take them out immediately when they wake up! This is a major step in understanding when a pup needs to go. Cuddle them and carry them outside. Talk to them encouragingly until they relieve themselves. Praise them every time they finish going.

Step 3:
One of the keys to house training success is to watch your pup to know when they start looking around for a place to go. Don’t let their playing with a friend interfere with your “radar”. Know your pup and watch what they do before they go because it is THE signal that they need to go. Usually they will sniff and circle a little.

Step 4:
Take them outside before they eat! Give them about half an hour after they eat and take them out again. Watch when they drink water and know that water will have to come out relatively soon. You will soon know how long it takes for your specific pet in a day or two. If you just throw them into a kennel for a few hours or lay newspapers, they will take much longer to understand the difference between inside and outside relief areas.

Step 5:
Set an alarm to take the pup out at least once over night or keep the pup on the bed with you so you can feel him or her moving. (This might only be necessary the first couple of nights!) I have house trained all my dogs without using newspapers on the floor or on their butt. When I have a pup in the house, I am a very light sleeper.

Step 6:
The day I got Boo Boo, I sustained a severe leg injury and had to sleep on the couch. Even while on crutches, he was house trained within two weeks! He slept on my chest the first few days on my beautiful velvet couch - without incident! The house training usually takes about 2 weeks if you are “in tune” with your pup.

Step 7:
Just an added tip, if you have other pets, rub something of theirs on your pup and rub something with your pup’s scent on your other pets, in their areas, and on their things to let both sides “get to know each other” from a distance - at least in the beginning.

Step 8:
Don’t let your pup gnaw on your other pets until it is understood between all that it’s just play.

Tips & Warnings

* You don’t have to swat you pup when they have an accident. Put their nose close to the offense (if there is one) and say sharply, NO! Then take them outside - immediately. Either have someone else clean up the mess or put paper towels over the mess, quickly, stepping on the towels to soak up more but get the pup out ASAP. Do not let much time go between the no and the go outside.
* Even if you have to leave the mess longer than you like, if you get the pup out faster, there will be less incidents to clean up in the long run.
* Be consistent with your training - any training! Don’t let them chew one of your shoes one day and not let them chew another shoe a different day!
* If the pup is taking a long time to house train, remember it is up to you to notice or realize that the pup has cycles like you do. Most pups want to please you but if you don’t let them know what you want, they probably won’t be able to guess, even if they are more intuitive than we are.
* Puppies can not hold it very long - just like babies!

Some of the pics in the article are of dogs and times long gone and it saddened me, yet warmed my heart, to think of them and the wonderful times I had with them. My Mom bred German Shepherds for show and our highest count of dogs living with us at one time was 48. I was never impressed with the shows but understand that it is because of those devoted breeders that we have such beautiful creatures, no matter what breed is our favored type of dog. I and my brother both have German Shepherds ingrained into our psyche so strongly that neither of us want to own anything but German Shepherds. That’s what happens to the kennel kids of breeders - I guess. My day started out getting out to the kennels to give them a good clean and as soon as I got home from school, it was the same chore. In spite of allllllllllllllllllll that hard, heavy work, I loved the dogs with all my heart. Each and every one still has a special place in my memories, and each is able to pull a sad longing for their company.

I’ve also personally experienced how holding a cat can sooth a jittery mind and ease pain. I went through a tooth infection and the cat in the pic with Gypsy, Spank, somehow worked up a ritual or habit of getting me to let him sleep under my jaw at night. I call him my pillow pal. Even though that tooth ache hurt like the dickens, Spank’s quiet but constant purr under my jaw was like a gentle rub and I’d ease into sleep. I don’t know how many times that dear cat has sensed my sadness over a loved one or pains from my injuries - but he’s let me soak him with tears probably 100 times or more. (Not only that, I’ve spilled water on him from trying to get a drink of water over night and he patiently lets me wipe it up using one of the paper towels I keep nearby.) They say cat purring can heal bones - and I believe it. I broke my wedding ring finger and he pretty much slept on it every night since I hold him with that hand while he sleeps under my chin……….. smiling……….. the knuckle is only a bit bigger than it used to be now, three years later, but at first it was hugggggggge! Wish he could have slept on my big toe after I dropped a very old and very heavy fan on it - squashed my toe and cracked bones in my foot. That was 8 years ago and the toe is still weird!

Birds are also a wonder to own - if you get over the cleaning you have to do. When they give you their trust and love, you have truly earned something amazing!

All creatures can be great friends.
Returning love and loving is never a waste!

Below is my most missed old Moose, Lew.
Lowaka Of Rathman.
My protector.

My brother called a few days ago asking for my oatmeal recipe. I remember him scrunching up his nose at oatmeal when we were kids. I said as much to him. Evidently, I had made some oatmeal for myself and made extra for him, and he’d loved it! I devised this method because I like it this way - and it is probably not healthy - shrugging. We’ve had family members who lived to 90 who smoked. One overweight relative made it to 100! I am not a could-care-less type but I am not a health nut either.

I wrote this for MarlaineMarie’s Articles on eHow….

How to Make Incredible Oatmeal!

Oatmeal - Blahhhh - you say? Try this and try not to want it again and again!

Things You’ll Need:

* Regular Oatmeal - not instant
* Milk of your choice - whole makes it creamiest!
* Sugar - 2 tablespoons per serving
* Butter - 1 tablespoon per serving
* Vanilla - 1/2 teaspoon per serving
* Salt - optional

Step 1:
Use the directions on the oatmeal box to decide on the amount of regular oatmeal you are going to make. If you make extra, it can be reheated in the microwave, tasting even more mellow the next day. Each brand may have slightly different proportions. Sugar can be replaced with Splenda (it really does taste good for a substitute!) or other artificial sweeteners for those with diabetes. Salt IS optional - in fact, I don’t use it in oatmeal.

Step 2:
Use milk instead of water, adding about 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra. Put the milk and oatmeal together in a pot and mix together. Let it sit a while - 10 minutes or so.

Step 3:
Add the sugar and salt, stirring gently. Add the butter. Turn on the heat underneath.

Step 4:
Bring the mixture to a gentle bubble, stirring constantly. Let it bubble for about two minutes. Add vanilla and stir in. Put a cover on the pot. Turn off heat. Move the pot off the burner. Leave covered and alone for about 10 minutes.

Step 5:
This oatmeal is made to be enjoyed without putting more milk, butter, or sugar into it. Add a bit of butter if you really have to but this is soooooooooooooo good as it is right out of the pot, and so creamy!
Tips & Warnings

* If you are a sugar craver, try pouring some maple syrup or any of the flavored syrups out there over the finished oatmeal.
* If you like it sweeter, just add more sugar before cooking.
* This oatmeal is all about enjoying it so if you want more milk and sugar or butter on the finished oatmeal, add it. Do try it plain first. You might be amazed!
* Add a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter per serving with the mixture in the pot before boiling for another really different taste!
* If you are a chocolate maniac, try adding about a quarter cup of chocolate chips before the cooking process. You can skip butter completely when you use chocolate. (or add peanut butter - yummmmmmm - smiling!)
* Combine everything, except for the vanilla, and let sit in the fridge overnight to be ready to make for breakfast!
* If you add vanilla after any cooking process in any recipe, it retains more flavor and aroma!
* As always, when making my recipes, do not invite the food police to breakfast when you make this! This recipe is to make you love oatmeal - not necessarily to be healthy!
* If you think margarine is better than butter - Tisk! Use good, wholesome butter, or peanut butter, or skip it completely! It will taste a whole lot better!

There are also other great uses for oatmeal.
Try this facial:
* 1/4 cup of dry oatmeal
* 1/8 real mayonnaise
* The juice and pulp of a real aloe plant leaf, mashed.
Mix all together, heat to just warm in the microwave, and let stand about 10 minutes.
Prewash your face with the hottest water you can stand to open all the pours.
Use the oatmeal paste all over your face and leave on for 10 minutes.

This is really great just before a shower. If you use a washcloth and wipe it off your face, use it on your body as a quick scrub. Oatmeal is great as a body scrub, too. Then use your normal bath soap as usual and rinse.

NEVER use regular soap on your face! Using the plain wet wash cloth as a scrub and the shower to rinse your face is far better for your facial skin than using a regular bar of bath soap!

Earth Day On March 29th!

Twenty six major cites and a growing number of towns and villages all around the world are committed to turning off their lights for one hour to bring global warming to the attention of the multitudes. The dark hour is set for 0900 GMT on March 29th. “Earth Hour” was founded by Andy Ridley one year ago. Cities in Australia, United States, Europe, and Canada, among others in 35 countries, have officially signed up to participate in this 2008 event.

Use the GMT clock link to synchronize your time with Greenwich Mean Time. I am posting this at about 1pm Central Standard Time in the United States on the 28th of March so there isn’t much time until the event! It’s about 6pm on the GMT clock.

Be sure nothing will be damaged or hurt by turning off your power. Refrigerators and freezers can withstand being off an hour if you leave the doors shut.

Help the environment by becoming more energy efficient in your daily activities. If you can avoid driving or riding in a fossil fuel using vehicle, do so, and reschedule any trips for before or after that hour. Or walk, use a bicycle, roller skate, errrmmmm - be creative, smiling!

Tell everyone you know about this event and possibly get some big businesses to participate as well. Every extinguished light bulb counts!

• This won’t save you much money on your energy bill and may not do a great deal of good this year but “Earth Hour” is destined to become an annual event because the global emissions that are damaging the ozone layer are getting increasingly worse every year.
• Approximately 2.2 million people participated in Sydney, Australia, last year and during that hour, cut their central business district’s energy usage by more than 10 percent.
• If you turn off your power for an hour, remember to reset your clocks!

We try to save energy every day. Even simple things like drying shirts on hangers adds up to a few dryer loads less a year and that adds savings to your pocket as well as keeping those shirts looking newer longer! (Clothes are literally beaten against the walls of the dryer, weakening threads every time they are mechanically dried!) I used to hang laundry outside but being in the same block with two gas stations, we get so much soot and gas smells clinging to it that I’ve stopped now.

We always combine our driving trips to get the most out of our outings… Library, Aldi’s, Pick & Save, and the post office are all a part of our usual circle and we usually hold off going anywhere until we have books in at the library!

To read other articles I’ve written, go to MarlaineMarie@eHow!

Though late for Easter, here is a way to make perfect hard boiled eggs every time! You can find this recipe and other articles on various topics on eHow by MarlaineMarie.

Sometimes those thick green yolks can be kind of unpleasant because it usually means the yolk is over cooked and dry. Avoid them with this easy method of cooking! While I can’t guarantee that there will be no green around the yolk, if you use this method, they will probably be lemon yellow and fully cooked! With the price of eggs being so high, don’t buy eggs on impulse - try to wait for a sale.

Refrigerated raw shell eggs will keep for about 4 to 5 weeks beyond the pack date. They really are best kept in the carton they came in but, yes, I put some in the egg tray I saved from two refrigerators ago because it takes less space and more convenient to grab an egg or two when I need them. When you know your eggs are getting on the old side time-wise, consider hard boiling them - they will keep at least another week.

How to Make A Perfect Hard Boiled Egg and Then Peel It

Step 1:
First of all, make sure the eggs weren’t bought the day before. Eggs that are too fresh are nearly impossible to peel and usually don’t leave much of the whites intact when pealed! Buy eggs at least a week ahead of time for easiest peeling.

Step 2:
No matter how many eggs you want to boil, put them into a pot that has enough room to completely cover them with cold water, plus an extra inch of water and three inches of boiling space. Do a maximum of 2 dozen at a time to insure even cooking.

Step 3:
Put the pot of water and eggs on the stove and turn the burner to high.

Step 4:
Watch the pot. Yes - it will boil even if you are watching! (Don’t look for the first two minutes -hehehe- will cut down your watching time!) When you see it in a full rolling boil - when the bubbles are nice and vigorous - turn off the burner. Leave the pot right where it is and do other things for half an hour or until the water is cool.

Step 5:
To peel… If you have older eggs, they will peel in one sheet most of the time. If they are new…… tisk…… don’t use them to boil unless you want spooned out eggs, like three minute breakfast eggs. Roll each egg gently on a counter top after a starting tap until most of the shell is cracked all over. Run cold water over the cracked egg after breaking through the membrane at the big end.

* New eggs sink to the bottom. Older eggs have more of an air pocket and will float. If they rise out of the water, they are probably too old to use.
* If you want to save a dozen or so eggs for hard boiling, keep them in the carton, mark with a sharpie pen and place low in the fridge, away from regular use eggs.
* Putting a tablespoon of salt in the water will keep those surprise cracked eggs from losing so much of the whites into the water.
* If you see that you have a “hard peeler”, use a teaspoon to scoop off the shell instead of massacring it in hopes of finding an easy peal spot.
* When using the timed boiling method for “breakfast” eggs, if you aren’t sure the eggs are done, lift an egg out of the boiling water with a spoon. The shell dries in five seconds or less if it’s hard boiled. If it takes longer than five seconds, your egg will be softer boiled.
* If the eggs boil too long, the green yolk will develop - so keep an eye on the pot near the point of boiling.
* Store raw and boiled eggs lower in the fridge. Sometimes they freeze when they are too close to the cooling element.