I’M JUST CURIOUS: My latest favorites

by Debbie Walker

I do love these little tidbits of information (hacks) that show up online on the computer, things from my newsletters from The Farmer’s Almanac, advertisements for Joey Green’s latest books usually have a few tidbits. (If you check out Joey Green’s list of books you will find some easy to follow instructions and usually an entertaining read.)

Tonight, I got excited because I read the advertisement for Joey Green’s book The Wacky Uses for Elmer’s Glue. (I am on his emailing list). It listed 14 uses and my favorite was about sewing on Scout badges, but it has so many possibilities . So easy, you use a white glue-like Elmer’s, glue the patch or badge on the garment where you want it. Let it dry. Stitch it in place. When you wash it the glue will wash out. There must be other uses like this that we can come up with.

I was out with my daughter and granddaughter one night when they were looking for one of those exfoliating things for the face. I watched as they covered their face with it. They laughed and sent out funny pictures of themselves, but I got to see them as they were removing it from their face! I didn’t know at the time that they could have used a paintbrush to put the white glue in place of this special fancy stuff they bought. And I would have gotten even more laughs out of the experience. No, I didn’t feel like giving up any layers of my face at the time.

I read an article the other night about how to be a good guest in your adult child’s home. Some tips from experts being a gracious guest:

A. Before you visit have a discussion about what I refer to as “House Rules”. We laughed about it but we both knew it was a good idea.

B. Be a helper but respect how they want things done.

C. Bring a gift that reflects your host family’s interests, not yours.

I found a new years resolution I could probably live with. 1. Put on at least 30 pounds. 2. Stop exercising. 3. Procrastinate more!

I really only have one resolution: to discover the difference between wants and needs. May I have all I need and want all I have.

I have always had very thick hair. Guess what, to me it is feeling much thinner, and I am not happy. Tonight, I saw this idea and I may try it. When you cook pasta keep the water you cooked it in. Pour the cooled pasta water, from roots to ends of damp hair, let set for 10 minutes. Rinse. Wait till I tell my hairdresser I tried this one!

If you want to pack for a trip and you want to know an easy way to handle the jewelry: Use a thin carboard, lay jewelry on it and cover with Press and Seal. A thin gold chain you can just feed through a straw to keep from knotting.

I’m just curious which of these you will find interesting. Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org. with any of your questions or comments. Thanks for reading and have a great week!

I’M JUST CURIOUS: New Year thought

by Debbie Walker

I didn’t plan to do a New Year’s column this week but a conversation with my nephew, Josh, last week I decided I wanted to share with you. I learned that he has an excitement about the family history. He has been doing a great job of pulling it all together. He called me, I’m the oldest, wondering if I could fill in a few holes for him and I did, but he still has more questions.

Have you ever noticed there is usually at least one person in the family who is interested in past generations and their stories? Have you ever been the one digging around and learning new ways to research? It all can be very frustrating and there are times of great excitement.

My dad knew that I would sit and listen to him talk about the family history. I had an extra treat because I spent quite a few hours sitting by my great-grandmother’s feet listening to her talk about her days as a traveling nurse, travels were by horse and buggy. I could listen to her forever. So in our family it was dad and I. If dad were still alive, he would be so thrilled to know Josh has more than shown an interest.

I did a program years back called Journaling for the Generations. I was interested in the people I was talking with learning that they don’t have to put information in a chronological order. My thought was to make a “Memory Jar”. This was used in my family. You put out a big jar or basket with a pen and note pad next to it. When you have a memory of your family or about jobs you may have had, etc. Three ladies I sit with know their children don’t know and wouldn’t care.

You have to remember you are leaving this information for anyone in the future who might be interested and if you aren’t aware of anyone now I will guarantee someone will come forward with interest. When that person becomes aware of the info they will so enjoy it.

It couldn’t be an easier process. You don’t have to put any of your info in any order. It would be helpful if you could put the years or your age at the time of the activity taking place.

I don’t believe there is anyone in my family interested at this point in time but I also know they would not throw any of my writing away. Someone, someday will hear that I was a writer and they will be interested in reading some of it. They will probably have to shake of the dust!

I am changing gears now. I would like to thank you all for reading and for the wonderful comments you have given me. I am wishing you the Happiest and Healthiest New Year.

I am just curious how you feel about resolutions, share with me, please. You can always contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: 12 birds of Christmas

by Debbie Walker

Merry Christmas! What does that have to do with all those birds in the song The 12 Days of Christmas? What’s the story behind that? Well, I just read about all this in, yes, The Farmer’s Almanac newsletter.

I learned it was first published in England in 1780, most likely as a lyrical poem much earlier. It became a song in 1909. But I was more interested in the birds.

The first gift was a “partridge in a pear tree”. This bird would have been around in the holiday season. The pear tree is a gift of food. They perch and roost in the trees, but they won’t eat the fruit as they eat grains and seeds. The fruit is harvested in the fall but stored, can last into the winter. Two bountiful gifts.

Two turtle doves are the second day. The doves in a pair would have been a good gift because may breed and be meals in the future.

Three French Hens could lay as many as 900 eggs per year! They could be eaten, sold, or allowed to hatch and young chickens to be used for meal or even more egg production. Food and possible income again.

Four Calling Birds are believed to be the Eurasian blackbird. A thrush with a wonderful sound. It would just be for singing, I guess.

Five Gold Rings you might consider bird banding, also called bird ringing. Not much else to say.

Six Geese A-Laying would be another form of animal, food gift. This gift probably was for the meat but could also be the feathers of resulting flock as goose down for winter wear and insulation. It would be ideal for a holiday gift for the coldest season.

Seven Swans A-Swimming aren’t specially noted as laying, they were most likely a gift of luxury. Swans are a symbol or romance and elegance.

Oh yeah then there were 8 Maids a Milking, 9 Lord’s a Leaping, 11 Piper’s Piping takes us back to birds, and you would probably find them on the beach. They are actually Piping Plovers.

Obviously the birds represented a richness and symbolism of the carol.

Done with birds and on to Poinsettia, the seasonal plant associated with Christmas.

Poinsettia are the number one potted plant sold in the USA today.

They are not toxic to children or humans but if a child ate 500 leaves that would be unsafe (!!). They are mildly poisonous to cats and dogs.

They come in many colors and are now available in marbled, striped or spotted tones.

I have two Poinsettia plants growing in my flower garden right now. It started blossoming about a month ago. Well, not so much of blossoming as the green leaves beginning to turn red. It is almost as tall as me now. I have seen them locally growing as high as the eaves on a single story house.

I am just curious if you have any curiosity about traditions. Share them, please. Remember in the next week to get your sleep, eat good meals and breath! The “busyness” won’t last much longer so find some way to relax and enjoy! Do what you can do and don’t worry about the rest.

Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org with any questions or comments. Thanks for reading and enjoy your week.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: T-E-N-S-I-O-N

by Debbie Walker

Do you have a sewing machine? (If so, I know you deal with tension!) When did you start sewing? Who taught you? If I mention the word “tension”, does it cause you to grin? How about patterns? Do you know how to read a pattern?

I grew up thinking everyone knows how to sew. Hand sewing or with the use of a sewing machine, including sewing on buttons, all could bring about tension,

Problems with “tension” can cause you to have physical body “tension” (stress). I know I am being a bit confusing with the use of the word tension. The tension on a sewing machine is designed to control how smoothly the machine stitches and the length of those stitches. Just recently I got out my machine, hoping that I could just give it a few drops of oil and be on my way. Well, it was not agreeable, the stitches wouldn’t have even come close to holding anything together. Now I put the little job away until I had more time to mess with the tension.

A couple weeks later I got the machine out again. Now I had enough free time to take my time. Would you believe the test subject got just about perfect stitches? No problem with either my body or machine “tension”!

I learned quite a bit about sewing long before I took Home Economics in my freshman year of high school. Before that class I was self taught by watching my great-grandmother sewing her patchwork aprons (She had one on when she was making a new one and she sewed the old one to the new one!) And I watched mom doing mending with just needle and thread.

I had a pair of pants that I loved, the zipper died, and I was heartbroken. Mom added to that pain by refusing to replace the zipper. I was a bit stubborn and decided I would put in the zipper while mom was at work. It was the first time I ever used her sewing machine without supervision. Through trial and error that day I managed to get the zipper in before mom got home from work. Mom never put in another zipper; those were jobs for me.

My home economics teacher left a lot to be desired. If my only experience with sewing was with her, I probably never would have attempted sewing again. However, I had enough positive influences around me that I still enjoy sewing, even dealing with the machine tension!

Sewing is fast becoming another lost art, much like tatting (making lace by looping and knotting a single strand of thread), also canning (seat weaving, it’s a craft using the cane from the inner skin of a rattan palm. Its woven to make the seat of a chair).

I couldn’t believe it but it happened where ever I was working. Once word got out that I sewed I always had buttons to sew on, jackets needed zippers, and dresses needed hemmed. It has already happened here in the campground. I really don’t mind, it doesn’t take much of my time.

Sewing today brought up a lot of memories. As crazy as things have been this week in the world around us. I didn’t want to become depressed. So my sewing today put me on the right track. The only “tension” I was willing to deal with today was with my machine.

I am just curious if you have hobbies to relieve your “tensions”. How about contacting me at DebbieWalker@townline.org and sharing with me? Have a wonderful week and thank you for your time to read!

I’M JUST CURIOUS: A few ideas and uses

by Debbie Walker

Good afternoon. Any snow yet? I have to ask, you know. I am on a race tonight to get this done before Tabby (cat) comes in. When she comes in at night, or whenever she comes in, she expects to be the center of attention. Laying across my keyboard tends to assure her of the attention possibilities.

I have to ask. Have you ever heard of aluminum foil balls in the dryer? The instructions say to wad up some foil into two small balls and pop in the dryer instead of dryer sheets. I plan to try this one. I’ll let you know.

In the November FIRST magazine the question was asked, “What do you do if you can’t sleep?” The responses published were: 1. Turn your digital clock away from you to help stop the anxiety of calculating your wake-up time. 2. “Get out of bed and journal or doodle. Lying there creates negative association between bed and sleep, worsening insomnia.”

When I was in real estate I stumbled across this suggestion: As your days are busy start a list of things you want to remember for the next day. Cross off the items on your list as the day goes by. At the end of the day go over your list and make changes as appropriate. When you go to bed that night you don’t have to be worried about forgetting to do anything the next day. It’s all written down and you can relax. You won’t forget anything. This worked well for me, so much so I still do it.

Do you know how to tell if your mascara is old? It is important to know because of possible eye infections. Too much air in the chamber makes for breeding ground for bacteria. When you pull the wand out, listen for popping sound. If you don’t hear it, trash it.

Have you gotten out your winter coat yet? Any problem with the zipper? How well is it working? I found rubbing liquid soap back and forth over the zipper. Then work the zipper up and down. You should see a difference. It worked well for me.

What do you do about your cat and plants? Cats dislike citrus. Soak a cotton ball in lemon juice and rub around the rim of the planter. It should keep Kitty away.

Do you have trouble organizing your linens? Put the pieces together with a dryer sheet into a paper bag and label, then put in closet. You will know which ones they are, and all the pieces will be together. I put mine inside one of the pillowcases. It saves time and aggravation.

I have made wind chimes in the past and I use fishing line to hang the items. After reading a short hack today I will be using dental floss next. The wax will protect the cord and isn’t as stiff as fishing line. The dental floss isn’t as stiff as fishing line, but it is strong enough to hold the items I hang.

Ever have a leaky faucet and the noise is driving you crazy? Try this: Tie a long piece of dental floss around the end of the faucet and place the other end into the drain. The leaking water will travel down the cord and into the drain. Peace at last.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: My unusual plants

Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)

by Debbie Walker

I do not have a green thumb. My interest is mostly in the more unusual plants, at least I think they are unusual. This time I am trying to keep a Venus Fly Trap alive.

Did you ever try to grow one? My daughter, Deana, and I tried a hundred years ago (well, not quite). I read that they can grow to be 20 years old. I don’t believe ours died of old age; I think we would have realized all this if she had made it very long. Now, I might add that I have an idea why she wouldn’t have lasted very long

When I was researching the Venus Fly Trap last night, I wanted to know how to feed this poor little character. The first thing I saw was “Do not feed them hamburger meat.” I think that means I committed murder with the first one. That’s the only thing I remember feeding it. So far among all my friends it is believed you can feed them hamburger.

Also, any water you use should be distilled or rainwater. Oops. How many keep distilled water around or even rainwater? No one I have talked to so far, in fact no one else had ever had the want-to. Yesterday I went into the local pet store to purchase dehydrated blood worms. Yes, that was certainly a new kind of shopping for me!

What made me think of that was a few years ago Ken and I had an unusual request from our neighbor. He had young boys that wanted geckos for Christmas. Oh yes, we did, we said okay after hearing that they didn’t have any reason to come out of the box they lived in. Oh, and then he told us he was going to go get the crickets we would need to feed them. Feed them! Feed them, something alive and wiggly! Luckily, we were able to get through that time keeping the geckos alive and even a few crickets!

We moved after the Christmas the boys wanted two little yorkie pups. Two weeks we babyset them and I mean infant-set. Not much sleeping for those two weeks. They wanted to be fed or just held. We did learn our lesson though. We knew better than to ever be foolish enough to think we ever wanted a puppy of our own. Fortunately, we moved before the next Christmas. I was told the boys wanted a rooster and hens. They wanted to be able to sell eggs for spending money.

I believe a few weeks ago I might have told you about the crazy gift for my grandkids this year. Every year I have to do something “unusual” for them. This year with the help of my neighbor, Glen, I will be giving them a gift of loofa sponges that we grew. Odd plant? I think so. Most people think they are ocean grown sponges, but they aren’t. At one point in the growing process, you can eat them about like cucumbers, so they say. It didn’t appeal to me. I have been taking pictures along the way and will be giving them each a book of the growing and some information about the loofa. I even have one for them to uncover the real sponge.

I just wonder if you have some stories you’d like to share. I’ll be waiting. Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org with questions, comments, or stories. Have a wonderful week, Thank you for reading!

I’M JUST CURIOUS: A few hints

by Debbie Walker

Tonight, I am going to share some suggestions for the home mostly but there may just be some general information, too. Of course, I will have to tell you what my baby great-granddaughter has been up to recently as this morning.

At 18 months old, Addison Grace can now tell you, her name. She is building quite a vocabulary. Maybe it’s part of the aging process but I swear I think that child is growing faster and is very smart. Addi doesn’t have to go to daycare or a sitter and her mother and she do some amazing communicating. It is fascinating for me to watch the process.

Today I was thumbing through my First magazine, November issue, I found some things I found interesting. One page titled “life smarts” had some common sense help I decided to share with you. A lady suggested using vinegar for cleaning. Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar into a gallon of water for wiping down bathroom surfaces. They even suggested using a drop or two of essential oil to the inside of the toilet paper tube, each time used it will throw out a little bit of scent. (You can also stuff the toilet paper tube with a dryer sheet for scent.)

There was a paragraph about dryer sheets. They can be used to clean wood furniture and floors. You can also attach a dryer sheet to a broom with a rubber band.

Some time ago I read about birds’ needs for the winter and water is one of them. You cover the bottom of your bird bath with a black plastic bag, pour in some water, and then add 2 or3 tennis balls. The wind will blow the balls around to keep ice from forming.

Butter uses:

Calm a cat with butter. You put it on his/her feet. Licking it off will keep Kitty distracted when upset or nervous. Also, the butter will help out with hair balls.

Ring stuck on? Rub the butter on your finger around the ring. It will slide off easily.

Crafting, using white glue. The bottle of glue falls over and it leaks on table without notice and hardens. To remove pour a bit of vinegar on a cloth. Rub over the spot. It will dissolve.

Itchy scalp: Mix 1/2 cup of mashed pumpkin and 2 tablespoon of brown sugar together and rub onto damp scalp for 2 minutes, then rinse. (I kind of wonder what happens if you have white hair or very blonde. Do you wind up with orange hair?)

To pot new plants, use 1/2 non-clumping kitty litter and half potting soil. The kitty litter will hold some of the moisture and releases when needed.

If you don’t have static guard, you can use hair spray. Spray your clothing on the inside. I have done this one and it does work. I would check some where it won’t be visible. Better safe than sorry.

Got a sticky spot where a sales ticket was, hairspray to the rescue! Just spray the ticket, leave for 10 minutes and lift.

I am just curious if you know any new tricks you’d like to share with me. Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.com. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful week.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Sharing thoughts

by Debbie Walker

This week I came across something I am curious about. I read a page in a local advertising paper. It was written under something called “Gus’s Animal Gossips” and “Citrus Animal Services”. They were writing about something called “Community Cat”. We have several in this campground and they are well cared for. One of them adopted me upon my moving in.

According to this article a community cat is any cat that lives outdoors and who does not have a “home with an owner”. Some are a little leery of us. Tabby, my adopted cat, was one of those. However, I am happy to say she has become quite the love bug.

The “Community Cat Diversion” use humane methods of trapping, neuter, vaccinate, and return to where they were picked up originally. They are returned to the community cat population. It reduces community related nuisances and cuts way back on the number of litters each year. That’s no where near all the ways it helps.

The cats aren’t so likely to be involved in a cat fight, vocalizing and urinating behaviors. Community cats serve as an organic pest control solution.

All this talk about Community Cat and I just realized there is no mention of the practice in the winter months because here it isn’t quite the issue you would have up there.

Tabby splits up her nights between my neighbor, Glen and myself. Tonight it looks like I have been chosen. Cold winter nights she now knows she will be taken in by one of us.

I do want to mention one thing about your Maine winter. I am sure you are in the process of preparing for your cold winter. Please remember your pets will be experiencing it along with you. Pay special attention to our animals needs as well.

Just for fun I am sharing something I read on my computer:

Golden Rules for Living

1. If you open it, close it.
2. If you turn it on, turn it off.
3. If you unlock it, lock it up.
4. If you break it, admit it.
5. If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can.
6. If you borrow it, return it.
7. If you value it, take care of it.
8. If you make a mess, clean it up.
9. If you move it, put it back.
10. If it belongs to someone else, get permission to use it.
11. If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.
12. If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions. (Don’t ask questions, that’s like telling me not to breathe!

BONUS point.:

If you lift the toilet seat, put it down!

Holidays are upon us again. We are hoping you will be happy and healthy throughout. As you promise yourself every year, make your holidays as relaxed and stress proof as you can.

I’m just curious what plans you have made this year. Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org. Have a wonderful happy and healthy week. Thanks for reading!

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Do you ever wonder?

by Debbie Walker

Do you ever wonder? Tonight, I am wondering. I am wondering, is there ever going to be an end to these ridiculous phone calls or junk mail? I know I am not alone. So why are we bombarded with such junk?

The phone calls are so we can be entertained with their recorded chatter, must not be important enough to them to put a real person on the line. SO, its not important enough to me to listen to them. I also want to mention a tip that Eric gave us in one of his columns this year. Be wary, some of those calls that would make you think they are people are also recorded. Their responses are timed to make you think they are listening. You can pick those out by saying, ” Excuse me, are you a real person?” Guess what, they will keep talking over your question. I hang up.

It doesn’t stop the calls to just hang up and I am not a big believer in the “Do not call list”. I block numbers whenever possible. Since a lot of these calls are computer generated, they call from multiple numbers and I just keep on blocking. It’s all a big pain in the neck (or lower)!

There are so many companies doing this. On the list are health insurance companies, political surveys, extended warrantee companies, etc. Very often if it doesn’t show a name or name of company on my screen, I am not likely to answer the call.

My own insurance company calls me way too many times and I have now blocked them! Leave me alone. No, I don’t want to do your survey and you wouldn’t want me to at this point. No, I don’t need one of your nurses to come to my home for a checkup, check to see if my medications are right for me. It was my doctor who prescribed this medication and I feel like “too many cooks ….”. If I have any questions, I will contact my doctor or my pharmacist with my questions.

The extended warrantee companies have become a joke. I have even seen cartoons that included it. But they keep on keeping on. Give us a break! They are companies trying to sell you insurance. A lot of people are still not understanding. Some people would actually buy this if they didn’t understand. My theory is ‘when in doubt, don’t’, but for some having some woman on the line telling you ‘this is the last attempt to contact you before it will no longer be available to you’. I can see a few people intimidated enough to do as told.

Okay, enough of that mess. I am wondering what some of your family traditions are for the holidays. I would love it if you would let me know what some of them are.

In the mean time I am just curious what you do with those ridiculous calls. Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org. Have a wonderful week and thank you for reading. I’ll be waiting to hear from you!

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Books: don’t look for a clean copy

by Debbie Walker

Sometimes I never know where or when one curiosity just moves right into another one. A couple of weeks ago I was writing about people being encouraged to speak out about their interesting experiences in life. I commented that so many people were brought up to “not toot their own horn” or “brag”.

My hope is that those who read this one won’t feel embarrassed to “Toot their own horns.” Sharing is great.

Then I remembered this little quote that follows: Life is not a journey to the grave with the intentions of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used-up totally worn out and loudly proclaiming “Wow, what a ride!” Okay now granted it was meant to be about people (my kind of people) however, what good is a book that has been printed and 40 years later still looks like new? Ya, ya, I know first editions, $$$. Still a waste!

If I pick up a used book and its pages are dog-eared or there are high light marks here and there, I’m not going to put it back looking for a cleaner copy. See this is where that curiosity thing of mine shows up.

The highlighted sentences or paragraphs make me wonder what kind of questions of life that may have answered for someone or did what was written give them the question to ask and what was it.

Dog-eared pages make me wonder what was it about this page that the person thought they might want to go back to or possibly they wanted to share that page with a friend or maybe they just got called away from their reading and just marked their spot!

Now that I think about it I have books at home that I have collected about my gazillion interests that aren’t dog-eared or highlighted yet. I absolutely love being a person of many interests but sometimes I get behind.

Anyway, dog-ear those pages, highlight things of interest, and leave behind a sign of your enthusiasm for what you and the author shared. (Except for in library books, they get really touchy about that sort of thing).

Do you have children you adore who live away from you, and you want to have a close relationship with, start buying two of the same book. You mail one to the child (they love receiving mail) and you keep one. You have so many ways for you and the child to enjoy the book and each other.

Of course, you can just read to the child. Depending on their level the child can tell you a story from looking at the pictures. You both can draw a picture of your favorite part of the story and show each other on a video chat on the phone.

Okay, enough of that. I did read something the other day that I want to share with as many people as I can so, please feel free to share this also. Shyanne sent this out to her friends in Facebook. The gist of it was not to use towels, blankets, etc., with the idea of keeping your critters warm. Use straw for their outside bedding. It keeps them dryer.

As usual, I’m just curious if you can get lost in a book too? And here’s hoping all our kids learn to love to read!

Please contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org. I love to hear from you.