I’m Just Curious: Maybe you can use some of these

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by Debbie Walker

I’ve been cruising magazines and websites looking for interesting pieces of information.

So……

Did you know that pencil erasers can come in handy?

Use it as a back for pierced earring (done that!)

Spruce up suede by gently running an eraser over suede to remove minor stains and marks.

Use it to remove sticker gunk. It will get residue off glass and metal surfaces.

We will move onto the use of dryer sheets:

Easily remove glitter nail polish. Dab nail polish remover on dryer sheet and scrub glitter off.

Dust proof electronic screens. The anti-static will cut down on static electricity causing dust to cling to screen.

Love this one…..

Shoes a bit loose? Cut a circular make up sponge and place it between heal and shoe.

Bobby pin:

Stash a bobby pin in your purse. You can use it to hold up a hem that lost its stitching.

Credit cards can be useful even when maxed out!

Use a credit card to remove a splinter. Drag the card over a splinter to lift and then remove the splinter. (I think duct tape might work too.)

Dollar bills are not just for spending.

Use a bill to measure. It is 6.1 inches long!

Penny:

Use a penny to tighten a loose screw.

Dental floss :

It will never be considered high fashion but in a pinch you can use dental floss to tie your sneaker, etc. It’s strong.

Crafters, painters, etc. I love this one! Haliegh and I will use this one! Rinse paint brushes in water? Slip a baggie into a mug and fill with water. No stain in mug, seal bag and throw away.

Streak-free mirrors:

Two cups club soda and one cup of water in a spray bottle. Clean mirror.

Vinegar and baking soda:

Put 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup white vinegar in the toilet, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. It works so you don’t have to.

Lemon juice:

Put a cup of lemon juice in a baggie, put up to shower head, seal it and leave it for 20 minutes. Remove the baggy and turn the shower on, clean and easy.

Alka-Seltzer:

Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets down a slow moving drain, pour one cup distilled vinegar. After 10 minutes pour in one cup of just boiled water. OK, I haven’t tried that one yet, I used baking soda and white vinegar, it worked.

Okay, I read one the other day about a lady who had a dry skin problem, she had a hard time putting on her make-up because her face was flaky. Another lady wrote the answer might be using scotch tape, roll around the hand with the sticky side out and pat her face and off go the flakes.

Well, that reminded me of how badly my legs are flaking with this winter weather! Wrapping tape around my hand enough to do any good would just not happen. So I figured I could use my roller sticky lint remover, run it up and down my legs, done in a jiffy!

So that’s that. Thanks for reading. Contact me with questions or comments at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. I’m just curious how you might add to this.

I’m Just Curious: It’s that time again

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by Debbie Walker

Happy New Year! Oh yeah, it is that time again. The time of year when we once again are reminded we are not perfect! The magazines developed for women are going to give us the answers to improve us, yet again!

The magazines I am looking at now do not have very much information geared towards men; in all fairness I don’t remember seeing any magazines for men. I’ll have to pay closer attention next week and really look over the magazine rack.

I have three magazines in front of me now. The covers are always a hoot to read as long as you have the right attitude; the one where you don’t take any of it seriously.

One magazine cover has you “Drop 10 pounds in seven days,” and that is shown just below the picture of “Cranberry mmmm.” Another magazine: “Food Lovers Secret to Suddenly Slim! Hint: You can find it at Dunkin’ Donuts!” (Something slimming at Dunkin’ Donuts, not the first place I would look). There are also several pictures of food, goodies, and calories galore! Then, of course, there is “Forever Young!”, and “Stress Enders!” Stress, why would any woman feel stress?

While yet another magazine we can lose 10 pounds in 48 hours, that magazine cover is promoting champagne cupcakes. On the same cover they tell you a tea that will reduce worrying, placed just above a Happy New Year and a bottle of champagne! Maybe that champagne might reduce the worrying better! And each magazine is full of recipes.

Although I dislike the magazine covers and the message of “you need to improve ….” There is usually some information I find useful.

For the time being none of us are ever going to be perfect, sorry, but true. If I actually got my weight where it “should” be I still have big feet with problems and I’d just have more flopping skin! We don’t all do well with champagne and wine. I think the magazines I have been looking at are sort of like “… in a perfect world….”

Truthfully, I think we look at certain magazines for information we need, such as the ones that give me useful tips. I pick up the magazines, go through them for the ideas I like and then I pass the magazines on to Mom or Patsy. Patsy says she is always curious about what I pulled out before she got it.

Well, we will have to put up with the information we don’t care about to get the info we do care about. As for improving me, I pick and choose.

I’m just curious what you will find useful from my rambling or some of the magazines this month. Let me know. I am at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading and don’t forget, we are online! Bye!

I’m Just Curious: The way we learn

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by Debbie Walker

Yes, I have been into my books again. Okay, now give me a chance, quit rolling your eyes. It might be interesting. (I can hope!) Make a cup of coffee or tea and sit for a spell.

This morning I found a book that I hadn’t seen for a while. The title is The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. It has to do with how we all learn in different ways. I wish our schools were able to teach to the individual style needed for each person. How incredible that would be.

The portion I really liked was in the chapter, “How Do We Understand.” The man ‘speaking’ was a police officer who helped investigate auto accidents. One thing he discovered was that three people could be looking at the same scene yet they will see different pieces of the same scene.

One witness gives an accurate description of the cars involved, the year, make, and models (Ken). Another witness could tell nothing about the vehicles yet could give an accurate description of each driver (me, of course, I am going to talk about the emotions involved, too!). The third witness would tell all about the accident and how it appeared to happen (also Ken, but he wouldn’t talk about how it “appeared,” it would be a “fact”).

Okay look at it this way: we are all looking through different windows (our mental view). My window is a mess; I even have “clings” on it. Ken’s windows are crystal clear because he needs to be able to “see” clearly. I can see past the “clings” easily.

Ken would look through my window and be extremely frustrated. Ken is a retired truck driver and mechanic. The mechanic part is amazing. He’d take those motors all apart and put them together again. I might be able to get the thing apart but I believe in trying to put it together again I would have parts left over.

It becomes obvious we would need different styles of teaching to learn the same information. Think about all the frustrations you may have felt in teaching your child, a sibling or a co-worker, or sharing with your partner, does it make more sense to you now? I don’t think many of us are thinking about “the different window theory” when we are feeling frustrated and can’t get a point across or can’t understand something being explained. Try to remember there are different windows.

The person you thought of as “impossible” to teach or the person you want to understand you or… Remember about the windows.

I’m just curious if you will understand ‘the way they learn’ and be able to use the information in this New Year. Contact me with questions or comments at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Check us out on line. Thanks for reading!

I’m Just Curious: Christmas memory

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by Debbie Walker

I had it all figured out, what I would do for my column this week. In fact it is about half typed and waiting its turn, but it won’t be this week.

I don’t even remember what was said that sent me back in time for a blast of the past, but I’m happy it did.

Great Grammie Smith lived across the road from us in a little bitty trailer, probably 30 feet of snug. I loved that tiny little home.

I absolutely adored that woman. I sat by her poor arthritic feet with her running her crippled hands through my hair. She had the softest touch. I know how lucky I was to have her in my life, in fact until I was 18 and I know how unusual that is.

All of that to tell you about a Christmas we had one year. I had found a teal colored (unusual color for back then) pants suit in the Sears catalog. I was in love and immediately started my campaign for it. I tormented Mom and she finally told me it wasn’t happening that year. Well, look out Gram, here I come.

And I did torment Grammie. Well, I knew Mom didn’t order that suit but there was a chance Gram might. Every day when I went over to Gram’s I’d go wake her up and I would start searching that little trailer until she came out of the bedroom. I would be sitting in her rocking chair that she always used. I hunted every nook and corner and NOTHING!

Christmas came and Dad went over and brought Grammie back to see us kids open our presents. We did, we opened our gifts and of course I was getting worried that my begging had not worked. Well, Dad pulled out a package from under the tree and it was a gift from Grammie to me. I opened it and oh my goodness, my SUIT!! As soon as I realized what it was, Grammie laughed right out loud. She had put one over on me and she was still chuckling when she told me she knew I searched that trailer. She was so proud as she told me I had sat on my wonderful suit for weeks, it was under Grams cushion.

She was never to let me forget my ordeal. She always chuckled when she thought of it.

I’m just curious if any of this reminded you of any of your family’s experiences. I would love to hear the stories. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading and please check out the changes to the website.

I’m Just Curious: Words

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by Debbie Walker

This afternoon has been just wonderful with our first and second graders. I’m not exaggerating. When you introduce words to a child (18 of them) and they get excited about what they can do with these words, their teacher and I couldn’t help but get excited. You see we are word lovers as well.

The activity started out as a project to write Christmas cards (yes, I did say Christmas). Their first task was to come up with words they might want to use for their cards.

I pointed out that sometimes when I write, if I have trouble coming up with the subject for a column, I will start thumbing through magazines and books for ideas. So….

I dug out all of our Christmas story books for them to go through on their word hunt. Their teacher took them through a process where they all had a chance to look over the books for “their” words. The process I believe was called a “Book Pass.”

I was pleased to see them with their answer, for each of them to have used all the books, not just the one given to them. We also have special dictionaries for the class. Sometimes in a free time the kids will choose a dictionary to look at. Word, word, words!

I’m Just Curious: “Nana Daffy”

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by Debbie Walker

Recently, I referred to myself as “Nana Daffy.” I commented that I would tell that story at another time. TIME is here.

Have you ever been in a conversation about names with a little one?

It goes something like this: “Momma’s name is ….?., Daddy’s name is ….?” It was one of those discussions when I added “Nana’s name is …?”

Tristin reached that age first. When asked “what’s my name?” She answered “Nana Deffy.” I looked at my daughter and we both giggled. I remember quietly telling Deana that I thought I liked Deffy better than Debbie anyway. However, Tristin, it seems, heard us and that little rug rat called me Nana Deffy after that.

Then along comes Blake and when he hit “the” age he had other ideas about my name. I then became Nana Daffy and it has stuck for 23 years!

When my grandkids were in Day Care I would often pick them up. It wasn’t long before every little one there noticed when I came in. Just picture about 30 of these little cookie crunchers charging towards the door yelling, “Nana Daffy!!!”. It was a great way to start or end a day.

Christmas at School

This is my second school year as a foster grandparent. I just love it! I am working with a classroom of first and second graders. Last year we only had two weeks of Christmas. (I only volunteer two days a week) My teacher, Kathy, had me wait until mid-December to get into anything Christmas. Well, that’s not happening this year! I have warned/told her that Christmas starts Dec. 1! That’s the Friday before you get/got The Town Line paper.

I am wearing one of my wild Christmas sweaters, headband of antlers with flickering lights, Christmas jewelry and my story time that morning will be a Christmas story! Humpfree will have lights on his antlers until Christmas is over. And… my craft/art class time will certainly be another bit of annoyance to Kathy because it is bound to be more Christmas!

I have been rather chatty tonight; hope you don’t mind all this information.

Important Studies?

Just when you have pretty much heard about all you want to about wasting of money, along comes a humdinger! The only saving grace for this one is it has been done in another country. But wait – if it is being done in another country, you don’t suppose this country would waste money like that, too, do you?

Dogs sleeping skills are being recorded. It seems they (whoever that country was) are studying sleeping dogs. Isn’t there some kind of saying about “let sleeping dogs lie”? I only remember them saying dogs could learn in their sleep!!! Maybe I’ll try that myself, hopefully I will learn something interesting.

Okay, I know, enough of that stuff! As usual you can find me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. I’m just curious if you have nights like this when several things jump you in one day and you just have to have an opinion? I hope I helped you smile.

I’m Just Curious: The story of Humpfree

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by Debbie Walker

I apologize, I goofed last week. I thought I had sent in my column. OOOppps, in checking my computer for “last sent to Townline,” a big OOPS, I had not sent one after the “Mother’s Sayings”.

It’s not something I really want to think much about. Today is the day after Thanksgiving and I believe in years past it has been the biggest shopping day of the year. All I really want to say about the whole subject is: CHRISTMAS IS COMING! No, I am NOT ready!

I have to tell you a little story about my pocketbook. His name is Humpfree and he is a Maine moose. Patsy found my moose at our favorite thrift store, the little one in Unity village. In our classroom we have a theme of Maine animals so I was thrilled with what I thought was a stuffed moose. Guess what! The moose was a bag; it was possibly just a kid’s overnight bag. It is now my pocketbook. He is rather large (so am I!), and he is quite noticeable. The kids at school just love Humpfree and so does my niece, Haliegh. Well, you know we have a hunting season here in Maine, we had to protect Humpfree from the hunters. He had to wear some orange, so we put a pair of orange gloves on his antlers! He was safe. I say “was” because today we removed the “orange” and put little LED blue lights on his antlers. The lights are beautiful! So if we wind up in Waterville shopping and you see us be sure to stop us and say “Hi”.

I have to tell you the neatest thing about carrying Humpfree, it’s people’s reaction to him. Some people will smile, some will laugh out loud and others will stop to laugh and chat. Carrying Humpfree has been a wonderful experience.

Coming soon will be a Santa pocketbook and after that I think it will be the pig, for a pocketbook! Santa and the pig both had to be adapted. I told you before that I have just too much fun. Oh, I have to tell you what Mom said. I think she was embarrassed about some of my actions, but then said that her saving grace was she was able to tell people that I work with first and second grade kids (like that makes it ok).

As usual I am just curious what makes you smile. Please, any questions, comments, or thoughts, send to dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Don’t forget to check us out online!! Thanks for reading!

I’m Just Curious: Mother’s sayings

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by Debbie Walker

As usual I am just curious. I am going to share these “Hilarious Things My Mother Taught Me…”. I am sure it was e-mailed to me quite some time ago and I printed it off for a future reference. And, yes Mom, I did recognize a couple of these and I think I have used a few myself!

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. “If you are going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
2. My mother taught me RELIGION. “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”
4. My mother taught me LOGIC. “Because I said so, that’s why.” Yes Mom, I remember hearing that and I remember using it myself!
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.” (I love that one!)
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.” I would love to know if anyone was left out on that one!
7. My mother taught me about IRONY. “Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.” Oh yes Mom, I remember that one. Ranks right up there with “I want to change my name, even just a day!”
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. “Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?”
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

I’m not giving this one a number but poor Mom. If she did it once she did it a hundred times. It seems that all tops for anyone big busted have always been very low cut. Mom found more safety pins to fix any tops I had!

Since our weather has really been the pits for a few days I want to share a poem I saw in the Kids version of The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

“When pigs carry sticks, The clouds will play tricks; When they lie in the mud, No fears of a flood.”

“If bees stay at home, rain will soon come; If they fly away, Fine will be the day.”

I had to add this: When having to paint trim (mirror, around windows, etc.) you can keep paint off the glass. You can dip a Q-tip in petroleum jelly and apply to the glass where it meets the frame. When paint is dry just wash the glass.

As usual I am just curious what your memories are. It’s time to share! Thank you for reading. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with questions or comments. Check out our web page!

I’m Just Curious: Really?

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by Debbie Walker

I’m not sure how this “New Tiny Houses” thing came about; it has become the newest in home ownership. Newest? That’s my “really?” question.

Well, I don’t believe “new” should be included in the term. When I was driving home the other day I saw at least three “tiny houses.” These homes probably were not as fancy as the ones on that Sunday night TV show. However, it is a way for people to have a “home” and not pay rent. It has been going on for a long time.

We have a friend who built what he calls a “camp.” It is small and he works on it as he can afford it. The difference is some of the “tiny houses” are meant to travel, the ones on the way home were not, nor is our friend’s.

I know I am probably not seeing the whole picture but I am seeing some serious problems with moving some of these little “Tiny Houses” down the road. If they want to move around what is wrong with some of the travel trailers?

There are some beautiful “homes” (a home is whatever size and structure you are fond of). The trailers are built for going down the road, wherever your heart desires and to live in with comfort. Some are luxury and some are suited to a rugged camping experience. Storage is everywhere, inside and outside under the trailer. I believe with most companies you can do some customizing, my in-laws used to design their fifth wheel according to their (her!) needs.

I am kind of wondering if this “Tiny House” thing will last a long time. The TV show certainly will not have the run time of “Captain Kangaroo.” I lived in a travel trailer some years back, for a year, and I enjoyed it. We were in Florida and spent a lot of time outside. But even in “weather” we were comfortable. Ken and I spent at least three summers up here in our motor home. We did enjoy those summers even though Ken wasn’t quite as happy as I was contented.

Well anyway, that’s my rant about the “Tiny Houses.” Please don’t hesitate in letting me know your thoughts.

WEATHER

(Copied from The Old Farmers Almanac for Kids)

Little Girl’s Poem About Snow

Charley looked at the snowflakes fair,
Falling so swiftly through the air.
With wonder in her big blue eyes
She looked at the fairies from far-off skies.
Soon she called, “Momma, come look at these things,
Floating as softly as if they had wings
I guess, Momma, the angels up there
Are combing the dandruff out of their hair.

by Cora E Talbot (1865-1938)

With that cute little poem I am trying to build myself up for what is sure to come soon, after all this is Maine. Please contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with questions or comments. Don’t forget to check out our website. Thanks for reading!

I’m Just Curious: Would you be interested?

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by Debbie Walker

You already know I buy strange books and magazines to read and sometimes share info with you. Today is one of those days. The information that follows is from a 2002 Almanac that I found. The info I am sharing should be useful, even now in 2017!

$$Ways to Save Money

Put a freeze on impulse purchases:

They mean business; literally put your credit card in an empty ice cream carton. First put in some ice cubes, then the card/cards, then put in more cubes. Doing this puts the cards a little deeper than just an ice cube tray! Makes you have to wait longer to thaw to get your hands on the card.

Organize your receipts for taxes:

Don’t buy a file cabinet. Get a 12-bottle (or two six-bottle) wine box from a liquor store (you can always decorate!). Label each of the 12 holes, for its month. Ta Da!

To keep furniture looking good:

You can protect the finish of your furniture with tiles you may have used in your house or a friend’s home. You can also find tiles at The Home Depot, in Waterville, (and I hope you meet Chris, the best customer service I have had in years!) Pick out your tiles and glue felt on bottom to protect furniture.

Drape to distraction:

If you want to paint your room, change the color, but one wall may need some repairs you can’t afford right now. It might be an idea to make a long curtain from ceiling height to floor. You could make the curtain from marked down fabric (at Wal-Mart, in Waterville!). If you need a long curtain rod you can try a long dowel (from Chris at The Home Depot!! We got one as wide as our bedroom).

Express your appreciation:

If you really like a product write to the manufacturer. Explain why you like their product. You may receive a reply and a bunch of coupons. It might save you money on something you like to buy.

Find pencils and pens in a flash!:

Can’t find something to write with in a hurry? This article’s idea is to get a cheap flashlight that has a magnet on it. Take the top, the bulb housing and the batteries; put them away in a drawer where you will find them another day. Then hang the body of the empty flashlight on the ‘fridge and add your pencils and pens.

This all came from an article printed in Yankee magazine and shortened for the Almanac and then I saw it, it has traveled well!

So was the information of use to you? I hope at least one note was. I’m just curious what tips you have to share. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com . Thanks for reading and don’t forget our website!