by Debbie Walker

I saw this quote on an inspirational calendar: “The greatest waste of natural resources are unused talents and untried ideas.”

In my opinion, the cause of such was/is usually one or a combination of the two – lack of confidence and/or money.

All of this reminds me of a friend who used to play the piano for her own enjoyment. I happened to wake up one night and heard her. I laid there and quietly listened for a while. When I got up she realized I had been listening, she stopped. I asked her why she only played when she was home alone or when the household was asleep.

The wonderful woman was in her 70s at this time. She bought the piano when she was 18. After all those years she still wasn’t comfortable playing for others. Confidence issue.

Imagine if you found out in high school that you have a talent with pottery. In fact, the sale of your high school pottery kept you in pocket change while still in school. When you graduate you lose your access to the supplies and equipment needed to continue to grow your talent. Equipment and supplies are not cheap, and you have to work now to pay for your college expenses. Money issue here.

Have you ever heard anyone break out in song and a fun-loving friend pipes up with, “Don’t quit your day job”, it was just a joke, something stupid to say. Unfortunately, the singer took it to heart and now can’t sing in any situation that would be heard by others. What a shame. Confidence undermined.

Another person uses their writing skills to write newsletters to promote their client base. Despite the positive reactions of the majority, all it takes is one person to pull the rug out from under the writer with his words of “Your writing is too hokey for our clientele”. Remember now, these newsletters have proven quite beneficial to the business, however, the writer now hears those words with every piece they write. What might they have written had it not been for that comment hanging over their head? Confidence is a real issue.

We just don’t know for sure why some are able to proceed with their passion and others fall into the cracks of what might have been.

Sometimes people have a problem supporting a friend, a child, etc., because they are intimidated by the unknown that you represent. Sometimes parents haven’t been to college and just don’t understand the process.

An intelligent child deserves to have a spot with an academic camp for the summer. Money is definitely an issue.

The writer wants to write but it is seen as being a waste of time. Who do they think will read this?

If we could put our fears behind us and just support the unknown. Sometimes an honest conversation might get the program or class, or camp needed. Talk, with teachers, guidance counselor, anyone who may know of a chance that we’re not aware of. Just please encourage, not discourage those natural resources.

I’m just curious what talents or skills you may have hidden. Have a wonderful week and contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org with any questions or comments. I’ll be waitin’.

A lonely sock, looking for its missing pair.

by Debbie Walker

Is your washing machine like mine? Well, it’s either the washer or the dryer. One or both of them eat socks. I even remember my mother had the same problem, so I know it’s not just mine. Well anyway, I am including some uses for the sock that’s left. I found these in my First magazine. I love this stuff!

One use for the lonely sock is to put rice in it, sew it shut. You can put these in the freezer for what my great-granddaughter calls a “cooly” for boo-boos that need the cold treatment. You could use it as a heated treatment by popping it in the microwave for about a minute. They are handy to have around. I made some for all my family.

Another use for an orphan sock is one I will have to use soon. You take kitchen tongs and put an orphan sock on each end. You spray each sock with your favorite cleaner. You use this to clean dusty window blinds.

Do you throw away those slivers of bar soap usually ignored by all. Put them in an orphan sock, tie it up and use it like a loofah. I am going to take some of those little motel bars of soaps and put in a sock. Nice and soapy.

You can also use an orphan sock, even one with a hole in the heel, for packing breakable decorations. The little extra cushion it will provide might mean a positive outcome when you decorate again.

This has nothing to do with orphan socks, but I thought it could be helpful this spring. If you have screens in your windows that look like someone cut it, you can put a couple coats of clear nail polish on the tear. Keep those Maine big winged mosquitoes outside!

Did you know that ants have a “smeller”(I like my new word)? Evidently, because I just read they don’t like lemon juice. Save your money, buy some cotton balls instead of those expensive cleaners. Soak them with lemon juice and leave them where you see their activity. It works!

If you water your plants and you see the water rolling out from the bottom of the pot, do a little fixing. You can take the plant and dirt out and replace with an old nylon, and then put all together again. It will save some of the water and won’t let any of the dirt escape from the pot.

Mud season must be coming up soon, if it’s not already there. If you want to clean mud from your clothes, let the stain dry and brush the remainder of mud off. Got any baby shampoo? Use a few drops on the stain and toss in the wash.

Baby shampoo. Have you ever made a homemade slip-slide for the children in your life. Putting baby shampoo on the running water from the hose to the tarp (that was what we used) and the kids will have a ball and no burning the eyes from any soap, no tears!

I’m just curious what ideas you might have. Share? Send any questions or comments to DebbieWalker@townline.org. I’ll be waiting. Have a great week.

by Debbie Walker

I don’t know how many columns I have written, and I just recently realized I have never written anything about our pets. So… here goes:

I came across the most recent Reader’s Digest, and it has a great article about dogs and cats titled “What Pets Want You to Know”.

A professor from British Columbia stated that our average dogs have the mind equivalent to our 2 – 2 ½ years old child. The average dog can understand about 165 words. They are better with words about things (ex: a favorite toy) as opposed to ’emotion’ words (good dog).

Before your pup is six months old, they should have met 150 people and they suggest 50 different places (I don’t go to that many!) They should try out different environments, be familiar with different sounds and sights. Dogs that don’t, can grow up fearful and aggressive.

We all know our dogs have different barks. Our dog, in the middle of the night, alerts us to her concerns with the bark. There is no question that she is alerting us. There are also barks that tell you the dog is lonely. The barks may be a single string of barks with pauses.

Dogs also have their own version of body language; they provide you with clues as to what they want. (Ex: pawing at bottom of sofa to alert you there is something under the sofa they want.)

Dogs are very aware of your stress or tension. Many dogs will feel that tension and can in fact react with aggression. Our energies affect the people around us, don’t think for a minute it doesn’t affect your pet.

Have you ever wondered why dogs chase their own tails? It can be itchy; they can be reverting to their predatory nature, or they are just bored. It can also be a compulsive disorder.

When you come home and find your dog has made a mess and she tucks her tail and looks ashamed. She’s just afraid of your anger, guilt is not part of her makeup.

Dogs don’t feel guilt, but they do get jealous. If you have a dog, you know this.

If your dog has light colored or white hair, they have a higher chance of being deaf in at least one ear. The gene that causes the white coat is associated with deafness, just as is blue eyes.

Little dogs have shorter, more frequent dreams than the bigger breeds. This is proven by brain scanning just like with us.

There are studies that have shown some dogs can detect cancer just as there are some who know when a diabetic is going to have a problem.

For those who don’t know there are some wonderful websites of dogs and their antics as well as other animals. They can be very entertaining on these cold snow and ice filled days and evenings.

We have a dog in our house. She is a Walker Hound and Boxer mix. She has been a wonderful friend. She talks. If she wants something, she will carry on quite the conversation. I love it.

I’m just curious about your pal. I would love to hear your stories. Contact me at DebbieWalker@yahoo.com with your questions or comments. Thank you for reading. Have a great, healthy, and happy week.

by Debbie Walker

You know I hate to do this to you, but I think it best I pass this information to you before you need it. Yes, winter is fast approaching for you. In Florida, about the only thing coming are more days the temperature is just about perfect. Our worst day here would be like one of your nice fall days.

Over the past year I have been picking up ideas to make your traveling mornings a bit easier to cope with. I wish I had known all these the past Maine winters I was part of. I pulled most of this information from my computer when I typed in winter car hacks, just in case you want to look.

Winter car hacks:

Raise your wipers at night and cover them with socks. Prevents them from freezing to windshield.

Frozen lock (house or car). Use a straw, blow on the lock to melt ice. Or use hand sanitizer. Or use a lighter to heat the key and slide into lock.

A new one to me is using shaving cream to fog proof windows (even bathroom mirror). Spray a layer on the inside of window, wipe clean. Don’t leave open containers of liquid in your vehicle overnight. They will evaporate and turn into fog or frost.

You could also use a stocking filled with cat litter to prevent frost. Just leave in car all night.

Use cooking spray on rubber edges of your car doors, keeps them from freezing. This also will work on your shovel to prevent build up.

I don’t want to insult anyone but please do not use HOT water to melt the ice on your windshield. Think ‘shattered’.

Of course, you know the value of an ice scraper, you can also use a credit card to scrape a windshield. Here’s a new one: use a plastic spatula.

Put gallon-sized freezer bag over your outside mirrors, use rubber band to secure.

Clean your headlights with toothpaste for extra brightness. (I have seen car wax make a difference, too.)

Keep a 20-pound. bag of kitty litter in trunk. This can be used for added weight to the rear of vehicle and use it to help you get unstuck. You could use car mats or even cardboard as well.

The last year I was there I used alcohol in a spray bottle. I would spray the windshield and then I would move around doing the other windows. By the time I got back to the windshield I was ready to go! I also saw in an article that three parts vinegar and one-part water works for a de-icer.

I have room here for a myth I thought you might be interested in:

Myth About Cold Weather

Is a cup of coffee or a sip of brandy a good way to warm up?

NO. Caffeine and alcohol hinder the body’s ability to produce heat. They can also cause your core temperature to drop.

Drink warm, sugared water to give your body fuel to make its own energy.

I am just curious what winter tips you might like to share. I’ll be waiting for any questions or comments at DebbieWalker@townline.org. Thanks for reading and have a great week.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, June 9th, 2008, Our house in Brandon, Canon 20D, 400 5.6L

by Debbie Walker

It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the idea of fall. To me, since I am back in Florida, I am still in summer weather. When I got my e-mailed newsletter from Farmer’s Almanac last week, it was about birds. It told about what we could do to help them in the cooler months.

I have wondered about the little hummingbirds and how long to leave their feeder out. From what I read about the little beauties and their feeders; it doesn’t hurt to leave the feeder up until into November. If you are seeing an occasional bird at the feeder, leave the feeder up. When you have not seen any activity, leave it up for a couple more weeks, just in case. I am looking forward to the couple that seem to keep coming back, even the couple at the cottage in Maine.

I also have wondered, do birds become dependent on feeders and lose their foraging skills? The answer is, “no, plus feeders may help birds migrate better.”

Completely off that subject now I have to repeat this little laugh to you. Recently my sister and her daughter were in a store in Waterville. Some nut case came in the store she was in, yelling “Everyone on the floor”. Nothing happened, in fact, they saw him running down the street. My sister said she was definitely scared. She was afraid if she got down on the floor, she wouldn’t be able to get back up!!

Okay, changing the subject again. I don’t have any cast iron pans, so I can’t try this one idea. Maybe you could? In First magazine I read you could use tea bags to rust proof the pans. Wash and dry the pot/pan, then wipe it down with a damp tea bag. It has to do with the tannins in the tea. Good luck.

Those nasty paper cuts are real ouch material. A used tea bag will stop the bleeding, leave on for 30 seconds. The tannic acid promotes clotting and relieves some pain.

I don’t have any real house plants. I have a problem remembering to water them so silk plants are the way for me! They say tuck two or three tea bags in the base of the real plant. When you water the plant, the bags will absorb the water and release when needed.

The First magazine is passing on a beauty tip with the tea bags. I will try this one! If you have puffy eyes. You may rescue them with two tea bags. Steep two tea bags in hot water for five minutes. Squeeze out liquid. Let cool until bags are just warm, apply to the eyes for 15 minutes. Wish me luck.

From our eyes to our feet tea bags look to be helpful. Yes, even our feet. Get rid of smelly feet. If you have the occasion of walking a distance and your feet are sweaty and smelly, you might try the tea bags. Let five tea bags steep in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Next, pour the liquid into a basin of tepid water, soak your feet for 30 minutes and then air dry. The tannic acid kills odor causing bacteria.

As I explained earlier, some of this info came from First magazine this month. I enjoy sharing information I get with you. I am just curious how much of it you get to try out. I do some of it but “all” of it just isn’t a fit.

Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org with any comments or questions. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. Thanks for reading and have a great week!