Cleaning Tips

I thought it would be fun to write a post on the cleaning tips I've learned over the years. 

Recently I had lunch with a friend who said, "I think of you every time I wash a pot that I cooked rice or potatoes in."  I'm going to take that as a compliment since I told her how to get the crusted potato out of her pot.

• To get any starchy food out of a pot such as rice or potatoes, use cold water.  Soak the pot in cold water then as the starch loosens just rub it right out.
• Use dawn (or any other dish liquid that's good on grease) to remove grease spots from clothing.  Add a squirt to the spot and let soak for an hour or two before throwing it into the wash with warm water. (As long as warm water won't damage material)
• If clothing gets blood on it rinse article in cold water immediately.  Keep rinsing until all blood is out.  If any discoloration remains, try the dawn.
• Cold water will also remove stuck on egg from a pan.  Just soak in cold water and then scrape excess egg out with a spatula.
• Lemon oil will make dried discolored wood shine like new.
• To get rid of gnats or fruit flies make a solution of vinegar and sugar in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  Make a few slits in the wrap.  The gnats go in after the mixture and can't get out.
• I saw this on Pinterest but it really does work.  A mixture of dawn and vinegar in a spray bottle will get rid of soap scum and grime in showers and tubs.  Spray on and let sit for several hours and wipe off.  This does make the shower quite soapy so I always do it right before I plan to shower.  I spray, let soak, wipe off as much as I can, then I get in to shower letting the water rinse away the remaining soap. BE CAREFUL as the shower will be slippery.  But, this method is so worth it as it makes cleaning the shower so easy.
• Rubbing alcohol will shine faucets like brand new.
• When frying bacon, burgers, sausage, or anything that may leave browned/burned bits in the pan.  Once you're finished cooking drain all grease then return the pan to the heat and heat until smoking hot.  Once hot pour enough water in pan to cover the bottom.  It will violently bubble up.  Immediately use a spatula to start loosening and scraping burned bits.  The pan will come clean.

This is all I have for now.  Maybe I'll do another tips post as some point.  I hope you find these helpful!

Disclaimer:  These are methods that I have personally tried and they have worked for me.  I am not responsible for any damage that may occur from using these methods.

Little Birdies

Every spring we have birds that build nests all over our property.  I like to think we're a haven for them.  They can peacefully fly and build and nest and never be bothered by us.  My husband will actually laugh at me because I will become protective of the mother birds and their nests.  Making sure to not bother them, or allow anyone or anything else to bother them.  I'll watch and hover and enjoy their singing and working.

We've had birds build nests in hanging flower pots, in various bird houses we have scattered around and, of course, in trees.  I love watching them flutter around finding twigs and leaves and pine needles to build their homes.  We have a Collie and I've even seen bird nests with some of the dogs hair woven throughout. 

I'll throw out stale bread and then sit at the kitchen table and watch as they all fly to the bread, each one vying for a nibble.

This year I've been watching as they have been using the big flower pot in corner of the porch beside the front door as their dwelling place.  They've been fluttering around and happily singing as they built their nest down into the dirt and behind the leftover flowers from last year.  I knew from the beginning that may not be the best spot for them to build a nest.  It's by a fairly busy door and the flower pot is about hip high on me, and I'm short.  I didn't know how peaceful I'd be able to keep their little dwelling.  With little people and big people running noisily in and out I could only hope that they would get used to it and just stay where they were when the noise happened.

Yesterday I had my two daughter and my two grandchildren here for Sunday lunch.  It was such a beautiful day and as everyone was leaving we all eventually paused right outside the front door to soak up some sun and have one final chat before calling it a day.  As the front door opened and everyone descended out onto the porch I noticed the little birdie flew away in a huff.  I didn't think much of it, assuming it would come back once everyone was gone.  We continued on with our chatting and laughing and enjoying the afternoon.

This morning I went out to water flowers and pull some weeds and noticed the nest was still quiet.  I dared to sneak over and take a peak.  I looked down into the almost cave-like structure and saw some tan little eggs with little flecks on them, but no mother bird.  I haven't seen her all day and I'm beginning to worry that we may have inadvertently scared her off yesterday.  I hope not.  I hope she comes back to her nest to finish hatching her eggs. 

Pet Mice

My daughter was watching The Pioneer Woman this morning and one of the children on the show found a mouse and was playing with it.  Immediately her three year old son informed her that he needed a pet mouse because, "they're so tute."

I guess he takes that trait after his Nana.

Once when I was a little girl I found a baby mouse and I played with it all evening.  (What was I thinking?)  I carried it around and petted it and it would try to scurry away.  I'm sure the poor thing was scared to death!  It was much better than playing with a baby doll, or even my cat or dog who would get away from me.  The little mouse couldn't get away. 

We lived in a brick house that had a brick ledge along the outside of the windows.  When nightfall came I put that baby mouse on the ledge, thinking it couldn't get down, and that I would come back to retrieve it in the morning and continue playing with it.  Imagine my surprise and sadness when I went back outside the next morning to find my beloved friend gone.

I wonder what my mother would've done had she known I was playing with a mouse and possibly let it inside!  Gasp!

Saturday Work

My husband and I own two pieces of property.  One is the house we live in and one and a half acres of land.  The other is about 5 miles away and it's a 33 acre piece of rolling field/pasture.  That's where my husband's shop for work is, and also where we hope to put a few cows as soon as it's fenced.  Needless to say, we stay busy.

Following the lead at A Joyful Chaos I decided to name my family members, for this Blogs purposes, with names that speak of who they are.  So right away the name for my husband should be Mr. Repairman.  Seriously, and literally, the man can fix anything.  He owns his own business doing locomotive engine repair.  He travels all over to different places who have locomotive inside their businesses.  He has contracts with grain mills, steel mills, and even an Army Ammunition's Plant.

All that to say, Mr. Repairman is busy today.  He's at our land moving around equipment getting ready for some work on Monday as well as some work around here.  He's bringing a backhoe over today from the land so he can move stacks of insulation from out of our garage and put it in our barn.  It'll be nice to be able to actually park in the garage.  It's been quite a few years since I've been able to do that.

I have my own work to do today, as well.  I like to have my family over for Sunday lunch.  It doesn't always happen, but I'm happy when it does.  Today I'll be cooking for tomorrow.  On the menu:

• Sally's roast beef and gravy(lovingly named after the sweet lady who gave me the recipe)
• Rice (We love mashed potatoes or rice with Sally's roast and tomorrow I'm making rice)
• Some sort of vegetable I'll determine later (corn, peas, green beans, broccoli, etc.)
• Homemade rolls
• Homemade chocolate cream pie

I also have some planting to do.  I bought some tomato plants that I'll be putting in pots.  We have a garden but I like to have a few tomatoes on the deck next to the house where I can easily get to them.  The varieties I have are both heirloom tomatoes.  One is called "Black Prince", which I've never tried, and the other "Purple Cherokee", which we love!

I started some herbs a few weeks ago, but I don't know how they'll do.  I've never started them from seed before.  I figured I'd give it a try and if it worked out it would save me some money and if not, I would buy them later.  The varieties are basil, thyme, dill, lavender (which we don't eat but smells amazing), cilantro, chives, and rosemary.  We love herbs, can you tell?

So Saturdays around here are usually pretty busy.  What do you do on Saturday?  Work?  Rest?  Play?

Introduction

I have wanted to blog for a long time.  I read so many blogs and have gleaned so much through the years from those blogs, but I thought, "What do I have to offer?"

I don't have any real "gifts".  I'm not particularly crafty.  Not musical.  I can't even say that I've been given the gift of writing.  So what would make me a blogger?  What do I have to offer?

The answer?  A lot.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.  Titus 2: 3-5

 

While, at 45, I wouldn't necessarily call myself "aged" I have lived and learned.  I had my first child at 18 which makes me the mother of a 27 year old daughter, who is married and has two children of her own.  My daughter has a three year old son and a one year old daughter, otherwise known as the loves of my life.

 

I have another daughter who is 24 years old.  She bought a house a year ago and isn't married yet, but is loving being a career woman as well as a homemaker. 

 

Of course, I'm married to a wonderful man.  Is everyday a day of roses?  No.  But, we have had a lot of years together and love each other and are committed to one another.  Something that I feel is lacking today.  It seems that today's idea of marriage is "as long as we both think it's a good idea." 

 

So, to wrap this first little bit of rambling up, I'm a wife, mother, mother in law, and nana.  I've cooked meals, cleaned house, nurtured children, and a husband for over half my life so I suppose that qualifies me to have a blog!

Oh, and the title of my blog, "When did I become a Nana?"  That comes from the fact that yesterday I had babies and today I'm a Nana.  Blink and life has flown by.