Joy

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

Nehemiah 8:10b says, “for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Take joy in the Lord. 

There is a difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is based on what is happening in this moment of time.  Joy on the other hand is that abiding sense that God is in control and all is well or will in the end be well. I take great joy in the fact that my joy is based on God and Who He is and not on my personal circumstances or happenstance. 

Rejoicing is a commandment for the Christian not a choice.  Today I am choosing to obey God’s commandment and rejoice and take joy in the Lord.  

Special Granddaughter with Even More Special Parents

 

This picture is of our precious granddaughter, Ava Dorothy.  Unlike myself our daughter Michelle did not choose to be the mother of a special needs child but she and our special son-in-love, Dallas have handled the challenge with amazing love and grace.  Please go here and read the beautiful post Michelle wrote concerning being the mother of a special needs child.  I am so proud of her! 

Love His Smile!

Yesterday I took Anthony to the dentist.  He needed a couple small fillings and was in the chair more than an hour.  Poor guy, I kept thinking - having to hold your mouth open like that for such long periods of time is hard.  But when I went in to help him from the dentist chair back into his wheelchair he was all smiles and cutting up with the dentist.

The kid amazes me!  Everywhere he goes he wins friends and influences people and mainly it is with that smile and very happy outgoing personality.  Lots of people having a winning smile and lots of people have an outgoing happy personality but you see Anthony has cerebral palsy and what would appear in the natural as a lot of strikes against him.  He is non-ambulatory and non-verbal but that doesn't stop him making an impact on all those around him. 

When Anthony was in preschool I would come into class and meet a new therapist or someone and the first thing they would say to me was, "Oh, you are Anthony's mother!  He has the most beautiful smile in the world!"

Yes, I am Anthony's mother and he makes my heart smile!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Joining Lisa today at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday 
http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com/ 

The following recipe I found when Jason was a toddler (we are talking 1972 here) and loved to watch Sesame Street on TV.  The recipe was called Sesame Seed Cookies but we renamed them Sesame Street Balls.  If you like peanut butter you should try these and they are fairly healthy too.

Sesame Street Balls

2/3 cup honey

2/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup powdered milk (dry)

1 cup raisins

1/3 cup sesame seed

1 cup chopped peanuts

3 cups bran flakes cereal

Blend honey, peanut butter, and milk together and then add other ingredients.  Form into balls and store in airtight container.

Monday Is A New Day

I know Sunday is the first day of the week but it always seems to me that Monday should be. Monday I start the routine again in my homekeeping and that is exacttly what I am doing today.

Nothing new really to share except maybe that we felt the earthquake yesterday. Precious Husband said he felt dizzy like and wonder what in the world? My clue was that our big grandfather clock began making strange noises (3:44 PM) and when I went over to see the pendulum was swinging front to back instead of side to side! It was clanging against the weights. Wow, weird.

Since I have nothing of value to write about I won't go further except to leave a link to a wonderful Easter blog at http://messythrillinglife.blogspot.com/2010/04/good-friday.html

The picture above is of my Double Delight Roses - the first for the season.  They are just gorgeous and smell even better.  Look closely and you can see the precious little Easter eggs that I got on clearance at Michael's the other day.  When I showed them to Precious Husband with such delight he just laughed but it doesn't take much to make this kid happy!!

Have a blessed week.

Routines

I love having weekly consistent routines.  Friday when I get up I automatically know it’s Friday and I pull the sheets off the bed and remind Precious Husband he can throw the towel on the floor cause they are going in the laundry.  No thinking about what needs to be done.  It’s Friday I do the sheets and towels.  Just makes homekeeping easier somehow.

Grandkids will be here for Easter dinner so I have lists to make and things to do.  Looking forward to fun in the back yard looking for eggs and eating what else? Carrot cake : )

This special Friday the sheets and towels are in the laundry but more importantly the knowledge that this day is special and most important.  God gave His ultimate gift of love to me with the crucifixion of His son Jesus this day.  This focal point has been on our calendars a long time but for the Child of God it becomes more important every year as we grow in our love and knowledge of Who He is that gave His life that day.

I am off to continue my Friday routine and because I can do it without thought now it in turn frees this Child of God to put her thoughts on the One who died for me today.

Good Morning!

Good Morning!  It is a gorgeous day here in Arizona.  Went for a walk early this morning and the birds are singing and spring is definitely in full bloom everywhere you look.

As I walked the words to Nicole C. Mullen's song Redeemer kept playing in my mind.  She sings,
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?

And then further into the song,
Well, I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
This life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives . . .

If you aren't familiar with her song look it up in Google and listen to the words.  Such an appropriate song for Easter and everyday!

Since I failed to send Easter cards out please go here for my Easter greeting to you and yours.

Have a blessed day.  And think about it - Who but the Lord God Almighty!

From To-Do to Ta-Da!

Ta-da!  Just rolls off your tongue doesn't it.  But in reality when you use ta-da in the context I am here it actually takes a little effort put out before you can say it.  Have I lost you?  Hang in here with me . . .

Yesterday (Monday) I was sick and actually stayed in bed for most of the day.  Monday you see is my major cleaning day after the weekend with hanging out with Precious Husband and church and all.  So Mondays I get in and hussle.

This morning that dog hair you hear about so often (in my short time of blogging) was really bad after 3 days of neglect!  So doing the floors was first on my to-do list. 

Glad to report that the floors are clean and the laundry is done.  Dinner is planned and some extra cleaning was done in my kitchen.  Yes, extra effort was put out but now I can say:

TA-DA

Oh, I just love saying that!

Monday Humor

When Aunt Jo lived with us we had hospice workers coming in during the week to help me with her shower and other needs.  All the hospice people were delightful and we came to view them practically as family.  

Leona was the chaplain that would come and sing for Aunt Jo and read the Word.  Leona was one of the workers that won my heart.  She was just always so chipper and we usually shared a good laugh before she left along with spiritual encouragement.

On one particular day she came and as we passed my bedroom door on our way to the loft where Aunt Jo was waiting Leona stopped.  She looked in my bedroom and asked me, "Do you make that bed?!"  Well, the question caught my funny bone and I started to laugh.  Well, of course I make the bed everyday I told her.  Then she laughed too and said, "Oh, no that's not what I really meant.  It's just all those pillows - do you make it and have to put all the pillows back on every day?"

Yes, our bed has 8 sleeping pillows covered with 10 bed pillows.  18 pillows is a bit much - but my Precious Husband likes his pillows.  Most mornings when I am making the bed now and putting on the 18 pillows I think of dear Leona and smile.

Best Friends

 

In less than a month I lost my two very best friends.  Friends that I fear will be irreplaceable.  Precious Husband of course is my true best friend but women tend to need that special bond that only comes from sharing with another woman.

I shared earlier about “Aunt Jo” the precious saint that shared our home for the last 8 months of her life.  She was a second mother to me for over 36 years and I miss her dearly.  In better times when she was still living at Sunshine Acres I knew that I could call her up when I had a need and she would always have a quick word of encouragement along with the promise that she would be praying for me. 

Aunt Jo and I shared a love for butterflies.  We agreed that butterflies reminded both of us of the verse in Corinthians that says old things have passed away and behold all things are new for the born again child of God.  When the hospital bed was removed from her room and I once again made the guest room very fru-fru in design I could not resist using lots of butterflies in the mix.  Many of the butterflies are mine but many of hers have been added and I smile when I go in and look around.

Aunt Jo passed away October 25 just days before her 98^th birthday on Halloween.  Two days later I received a call from MaryKay telling me her mother – my dear dear best friend Dolores was full of cancer and not expected to live.  With my Precious Husband’s blessing I boarded the next plane to Lubbock, Texas that afternoon and had the awesome blessing of sitting with Dolores at her bedside all through the night.  I flew back home in the morning because arrangements had to be made for Aunt Jo.

Dolores was 15 years my senior but we had the relationship of sisters.  Because she was older she shared so much wisdom with me concerning being a wife and mother.  Her godly example will forever be etched in my mind.  We laughed together like little girls and we cried together like old ladies with lots of shared burdens.  No one will ever know my heart like Dolores did.

When I arrived at her hospital bed the first thing she said was, “I knew you would come on the first plane when you got the call!”  How glad I am that I could go and sit those precious few hours with my friend.  Our visit was definitely more of a blessing to me that probably to her because that is just the way Dolores was.  She ministered to my heart that night and shared of her great joy in the knowledge that she would soon be with her Lord and Savior and with that knowledge how could she not be at peace she said.  She passed away about 3 weeks later. 

Many years ago when Dolores moved to Texas she asked me if I would like some of her teacups.  She didn’t know how I had just started into my Emilie Barnes teacup obsession and the timing of such a question was just special.  Her cups were the beginning of a wonderful collection for me that graces the walls and shelves in my home.  When she got to Texas she mailed me two metal blue speckled spoons that hang in my kitchen even now.  She said she had 2 more and she wanted us to both have them and when she saw hers she would think of me.  All these years since when I stand at my stove and see the blue spoons hanging on the wall there I think of my friend Dolores and now I miss her terribly.  Beyond a doubt Dolores was a woman that loved the Lord and maybe more importantly was a woman that knew the Lord loved her.

There no doubt will be many more posts about Dolores because there is so much more I want to tell about her.  Much more that needs to be told because by my telling you -- you too will be blessed I know! 

Truly some people leave footprints on our heart and we are never the same.

Out and About Town

Guess this is the week of accompanying others.  Tuesday I didn’t have time to blog because I had to go with Precious Husband for a medical procedure.  Today bright and early I left the house to accompany my friend Monica and her three delightful children to the Phoenix Zoo.  Tomorrow I head to the other side of town and accompany Anthony to the dentist.  For somebody that likes to be at home – this is a lot of going.  How could anyone think that because a woman doesn’t work outside the home she just sits around and eats bon-bons? 

While I am here for this quick post let me share a special verse of encouragement from Psalm 84:11-12: For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Yellow Bowls

What is up with all the yellow bowls you ask? Memories, sentiment and fun! First the fun. Saturday I got to go antiquing - my most favorite fun thing to do alone. For about three hours I lost myself amidst what some may consider clutter but my heart calls memories and sentiment. I love to see things and wonder what their history is and who it was that loved and cared for them. I love to get ideas to bring home and repurpose something I may already have in my cupboard. Precious Husband does not know how I can go out and come home so excited even when I have not purchased a thing.  Poor guy  just doesn't get it.

Back to the yellow bowls. When I was growing up in the (yikes) 50's and 60's my mother had the four nesting bowls made by Pyrex and she used the large yellow one to make chocolate chip cookies - my dad's favorite. I can still see that bowl heaped to the top with dough that was quite hard to mix by the time the chips and nuts were added. So that is where the memory comes in - remembering my own childhood and the yellow bowl. Now I have a set of those same Pyrex bowls and I too make chocolate chip cookies in the big yellow bowl for my kids and more recently for my grandkids. With Tristan my first grandson I would stand him on the little oak (child's) chair up to the counter and while we made cookies I would tell him about my mom making cookies in a bowl just like this one. When Tristan would come for a visit I would ask him if he wanted to get the yellow bowl out and make cookies. His answer was always the same, "Yes!  I'll go get my cookin' chair Mémère!"

For sentimental reasons and to add to the memories I decided to seek out more yellow Pyrex bowls so I could give each grandchild one of his or her own. Tristan, being the first born grandchild already has his bowl and we get it down and make chocolate chip cookies every time I go to Kentucky to visit.

A year or so ago I found one more bowl and then this weekend I found two more. So I am well on my way to having a bowl for each grandchild.

I have a tract published by the Tract League of Grand Rapids MI and I am showing you a couple of pictures here because it has the yellow bowl pictured on it. Looks just like the 50's doesn't it?  Let me share the recipe here with you too that is in the tract:

Recipe for Thanksgiving:
Two Teaspoons of Trust  (Matthew 11:28-30)
One Cup of Contentment (Philippians 4:11,12)
Three Tablespoons of Gratitude (Colossians 1:12-14)
One Teaspoon of Faith (John 3:16,17)

Good recipe to keep in the family cookbook for sure!

So yes, I had a wonderful time antiquing and adding to the memories, sentiment and fun!  Hope you had a good weekend too.

Fill My Cup, Lord

 

One of my all time favorite authors has to be Emilie Barnes.  (Side note is that she is the only author I have ever attempted to communicate with and I was so impressed when she responded with a hand written note.  How neat is that?)

I totally attribute to Emilie my special fondness for teacups and in a later post I want to share about my dearest friend Dolores who started my teacup collection.  Dolores is the epitome of what Emilie Barnes writes about in her books.

Today I want to share a portion of one of Emilie Barnes' books,  Fill My Cup, Lord. . . with the Peace of Your Presence.  This portion comes from chapter one entitled A Word For Thirsty Souls and is based on Psalm 23:1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Whatever your circumstances, you, too, can hold up your cup and it will be filled.

If your cup is polished and dry hold it out for the Lord's plentiful pouring.

If your cup is full of the old and the unsatisfying, hold it up for the Lord's cleansing.

If your cup is cracked and broken, hold it up anyway, for the Lord's resources are plentiful and can keep even leaky cups replenished.

Come to him as you are, cup in hand, and hold it up to receive his blessings.

And then you will say, as I have said over and over again in wonder and amazement—

"Surely . . . my cup runneth over."

I need my cup filled everyday, some days certainly more than others.  May we lift our cups to the Lord today and join Emilie in saying, "Surely . . . my cup runneth over."

Later Today . . .

Wow, let there be light!  What a difference a little chasing of the dust bunnies makes.  Can't tell you how long I have looked at this chandelier and thought how badly it needed to have those glass chimneys taken down and washed.  And my beloved teacups make me smile even bigger now.

"To Do" to "Ta Da" feels very good : )

Dust Bunnies

My very very very least favorite homekeeping practice is dusting. Not sure why, maybe cause that dust will be right back by evening. But then the sink will have dirty dishes again tonight and the hamper will continue to fill with laundry - those things don't make me dislike doing dishes or laundry. Truth be told, I think I dislike dusting because I have so many little objects that make me smile in my home and it takes patience dusting them. Well, those objects are quite covered with dust and I told Precious Husband this morning that I just have to face it and "get 'er done".

So I have had some quiet time in my office reading the Word and enjoying another cup of coffee and now after writing this blog I must go face the dust bunnies : )

Before I quit I want to share a quote with you for the day:

"Remember we live life one day at a time...
yet we are living for eternity in that one day."

-- Elizabeth George

My Famous Muffins

When the Lord gave me my first son, Jason more than anything I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.  Being a single woman I had to make a living for us though and the Lord made that possible by taking me to Sunshine Arcres Children's Home.  While there I adopted my second son, Anthony and two years later I met the man who would become my Precious Husband.

During my years at "The Acres" I would often invite some of the other single ladies and grandmas on the place over for coffee and muffins.  Today I am sharing a recipe that has been around for years but worth repeating here.  Grandma Merle was the grandmother of Judy Dingman who was the founders of "The Acres" daughter-in-law.  Are you still with me : )  Anyway, Grandma Merle would always say, "Oh boy, we get to go to Dorothy's for her famous muffins!"   Such special memories I have of all the people and especially the children of Sunshine Acres.

Dorothy's Famous Muffins

(Better known as 6 Week Muffins)

5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups boiling water
2 cups All Bran Cereal
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
4 eggs, beaten well
1 quart buttermilk
4 cups All Bran Cereal
2 cups raisins

Mix 2 cups All Bran with boiling water and set aside.  In large bowl with lid mix margarine and sugar and add eggs, beating well.  Combine dry ingredients and mix in.  Add buttermilk and the other 4 cups All Bran along with wet All Bran.  Mix well and stir in raisins.  Bake 20 minutes in greased muffin tins at 400’.  This mix keeps in the fridge for up to 6 weeks.  Make as many or as few at a time as you want to.

Try this recipe out and invite a neighbor that needs a lift.  In no time people will be talking about your "famous muffins" too.

Channels of His Grace

We crawl into bed each night and inevitably the same question passes between us. "Whatcha' doin' tomorrow -- what part of the valley will you be in?" I ask Precious Husband. His answer is always the same, "Service calls" and I always come back with, "Where?" I pretty much know what he will do each day but I do like to know where he will be.

Then he asks the same question of me, "How about you, what are your plans?" I like to think I am doing service too but Precious Husband doesn't have to ask where. He knows I will be happily at home.

Often he asks if I don't get tired of the same old jobs everyday. I really don't because they represent my love and service to my family. I like what Anne Orlund has to say about what may appear as the mundane here in this quote:
"In all the little daily patterns of the home -- the laundry going into the same hamper, the sweaters going into the same drawer, the hair getting washed and the shoes polished on Saturday nights -- God is at work. He delights to glorify Himself in the commonplace . . . He made our little chores channels of His grace." -- Anne Ortlund

She watches over the affairs of her household and
does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27

Follow this link for some great encouragement along this same line

http://www.incourage.me/2010/01/setting-the-stage.html

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have read online several places about making my own laundry soap so I gave it a try several months ago and have not gone back to Tide since.  Because I am doing this blog with my daughters in mind thought I would post my recipe and how I go about making it.




I grate 3 bars of Kirk's Castile Soap with a cheese grater  then whirl it in the food processor till it becomes the size of rock salt (small as possible).  To this I add 1 1/2 cups of Borax and 3 cups of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda).  All these products can be found at Fry's or Walmart.  Mix all together and store in container of choice.  You know me, I had to put mine in a cute little chippy vintage enamel pot with a lid.  I use 2 tablespoons per load of laundry.  When I do my whites I usually add some Oxyclean too.  My clothes are clean, fresh smelling and soft.  This recipe makes enough for about 51 loads.  Making my own laundry detergent is one of the things I enjoy doing as I watch over the affairs of my household 

What Says Home To Me?

Emily at http://www.chattingatthesky.com/ is asking the question, "What says home?"  l I thought I would link up and share because it is one of my very favorite subjects : )

When you come in our front door the first thing most people notice is the wall pictured here:

This says "home".  Home is where memories are made and love is shared -- somedays in amazing ways and somedays just in everyday ways but shared none the less.

More than anything else I want my home to say, "there is a welcome here, there is love to be shared with you here". 

If you are visiting from Emily's link you can read more about our family at this post http://notesfrommemere.blogspot.com/2010/02/all-because.html

Thanks for sharing in what my home means to me.

Humorous Housekeeping Tips For Friday

Friend just calls and says she is in the neighborhood and wants to stop in for coffee.  The house is a mess - what to do?  Prop some get-well cards on the mantle, she will think you have been ill.

Have two dust mops.  One new and clean to shake out the front door in view of the nosy neighbor and the everyday one to shake outside the back door in privacy.

Made me smile -- hope they did you too.  Are you smiling MaryAnn?
My house needs more than humor today so I better go get that dust mop and start chasing the dog hair.  Have a blessed day.

Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes

My one reader (hi Frani) asked about my cookin' day yesterday so thought I would reply via my blog.  By the way, I love writing this blog even if no one reads it.  Fun to put pictures and thoughts together and down on paper.

So about yesterday.  Here is what we accomplished with our time and effort.

With nearly 7 lbs. of ground beef we came up with:
1 meatloaf
2 packages of stuffed pepper filling
2 packages of meat sauce for Grandma's Goulash
1 big bag of chili

With beef done we proceeded to chicken.
Danielle now has in her freezer:
2 pans of chicken enchiladas
1 big bag of chicken and noodle soup
1 big bag of chicken and rice soup

First thing I did when I arrived was to start the crock-pot with scalloped potatoes and ham.  By the time I finished cooking we had just enough time to put a loaf of beer bread in the oven and with the addition of a vegetable Danielle had supper ready when Robert arrived home at 6 PM.

Think we accomplished a lot.  Not all that I had planned of course so next week I will return to make:
Quick Mix (homemade Bisquick)
Brownie Mix
chocolate chip cookies to freeze

Today's title is in reference to the fact that I had purchased big cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes at Sam's Club for our cooking venture thinking we would use a lot and that big cans are so much cheaper.  Well, we had lots left so guess who is cooking at her house today?  Yep, I am ready to tie on my apron and put freezer meals in my freezer too.  Today's cooking will be much quieter though with just Precious Husband making noise in the backround.

Cookin' Day

 Chicken and Biscuits ready for the oven. . .

I am off today to do that mega-cooking venture with my daughter that I mentioned in a earlier post.  The shopping is done and now the real work is to be done : )  Think it will be fun.  Hope there is something cooking at your house today that will bring smiles to your household.

"There's No Place Like Home"

 I love to collect quotes and wanted to share some of my favorites

on the subject of home with you today.  

 

Home is where the heart is.   -Pliny the Elder

He is the happiest, 

be he king or peasant,

who finds peace in his home. 

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Houses are made of walls and beams;

Homes are made of love and dreams.   -Author Unknown

 

Your success as family, our success as a society, 

depends not on what happens in the White House, 

but on what happens inside your house.  

-Barbara Bush

I would be willing to go around the world

if I came back in time to light the candles

and set the table for supper.

Gladys Taber

"When home is ruled according to God's Word, 

angels might be asked to stay with us, 

and they would not find themselves out of their element."

-Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The bauty of the house is order,

The blessing of the house is contentment,

The glory of the house is hospitality,

The crown of the house is godliness.

-Author Unknown

Rock Collecting

 

 I have always been drawn to picking up rocks along the way.  Several of these smooth round creations have taken residence in the back of drawers or nestled in a potted plant.  Well, I have decided to make my rocks a little more useful.  With my new gold-leaf pen in hand yesterday I turned these three rocks into "Commandment Rocks".  Needed reminders and a collection which can needless to say use many additions.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  

Philippians 4:4

Spring In Arizona

Doesn't get any better than this in Arizona!
Gorgeous yellow African Daisies smiling up at their inspiration on this sunny morning.

Alysum that is coming up all over the yard from seed blowing in the wind.  Just love these tiny puffs because they remind me of my grandmother's yard when I was a child.  Longtime friend, Barbara brought me some from her yard many years ago and when we moved into our new home I brought them here to continue on . . .

 More daisies planted in an old red handle pail that Precious Husband and I bought from an elderly couple in Kentucky selling their wares on the side of a country road.

         Yellow and purple sharing a pot and reminding me of Easter.

 Yes, living in Arizona in the spring is definitely delightful!

COFFEE FILTERS

Talked to my sister MaryAnn yesterday and when I asked her if she was reading my blog she said, "Yes, I like the tips, do more of those."  So when I got the following info from favorite cousin, Frani,  I thought I would share.  Making points with favorite sister is a good thing you know.  

Coffee  filters .... Who knew!   

You can buy 1000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing...even the large ones. 

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the  microwave.

Coffee filters make excellent covers.  

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome...  

Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3.  Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee

filter between each dish.

4.  Filter broken cork from wine.  If you break the cork when

opening a wine  bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5.  Protect a cast-iron skillet.  Place a coffee filter in the  

skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6.  Apply shoe polish.  Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.  

7.  Recycle frying oil.  After frying, strain oil through a sieve  

lined with a coffee filter.

8.  Weigh chopped foods.  Place chopped ingredients in a

coffee filter on a  kitchen scale.

9.  Hold tacos..  Coffee filters make convenient wrappers

for messy foods.

10.  Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot.  Line a plant  pot

with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through  the

drainage holes.

11.  Prevent a Popsicle from dripping.  Poke one or two holes

as  needed in a coffee filter.

12.  Do you think we use expensive strips to wax eyebrows?  

Use  strips of coffee filters.

13.  Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries,

chicken  fingers, etc on them.  It soaks out all the grease.  

14.  Keep in the bathroom.  They make great "razor nick  fixers."

15.   As a sewing backing.  Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing

for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16.  Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a

closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17.  Use them to strain soup stock and to tie up fresh herbs

to put in soups and stews.

18.  Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19.  Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter

spills.

20.  Use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a

piece of fruit or veggies...Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21.  Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22.  Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23.  Use them to sprout seeds..  Simply dampen the coffee filter,

place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie

until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers...

Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee

filters in  phone book..

25.  Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

Thanks Frani for sharing with me.  I'm headed to the Dollar Store today : )

Cookbooks - Cookbooks - More Cookbooks

What goes hand in hand with collecting dishes -- cookbooks of course.  Makes sense to me at least.  When we moved into our new home a couple of years ago I was thrilled to find cupboards on one side of the large kitchen island that made the perfect place for my cookbooks.  More are stashed in a basket on top of the fridge and usually you can find several by my chair on the floor of my office.  But guess where I get most of my recipes lately?  Using Google on my computer.  Last night it was baked fish using Panko, one of my latest favorite culinary finds. 

Recently I promised my youngest daughter that I would come over and we would take a couple of days and cook  cook  cook.  Hope to fill her freezer with handy meals to help her out on busy mommy days.   So I am browsing my cookbooks and reading lots of once-a-month type cooking websites gathering ideas to make our cooking venture a real success.  As Martha says, "It's a good thing."

It Works For Me Tip

When ever you get together and study the Proverbs 31 woman someone inevitably  brings up the fact "yes, but she had servants".  Today's Christian woman has servants too.   Have you ever counted yours?  I have a fridge that keeps my food fresh and handy right in my kitchen.  I have a vacuum cleaner that works so hard chasing the endless hair from our dog.  I especially appreciate my washer and dryer that provide me with fresh clean clothes without having to trudge them out to the laundry in town.  I won't even begin to list my servants in the kitchen.  I am spoiled for sure but Precious Husband says I am not spoiled, just loved.

With the many servants come various instruction booklets and that brings me to my tip.  Normally these booklets were piled together in my pantry and it was a pain going through all of them to find what I needed if I had a question about my microwave or something.  So last week I gathered all these bundles of information together in a three ring binder with sheet protectors.  Now it is so simple just to leaf through and find what I want.  It sits neatly on the shelf too instead of a messy pile.  It works for me.

Yes, like the Proverbs 31 woman I too have servants and I sure appreciate all of them.  Now to get that washer going and the vacuum busy chasing the dog hair.  It's Monday.