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Thought of the Day - 6/20/09

Sometimes you just cannot go it alone.
The challenge is too much to bear,
So you turn to that rare and precious friend…
Someone who has never let you down.
He listens, consoles, and supports.
He knows you well enough
To say what needs to be said,
Yet he’s smart enough to know what not to say.
He’s always there for you,
Arms extended… heart open…
Ready to support you ‘til you can stand on your own again.
Thank you God for giving me someone to lean on.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 6/19/09


Where there is great love, there are always miracles.
~~ Willa Cather ~~

Disappointed -- Where Did My Commenters Go?

I'm very disappointed with how some of my stuff on my blog just quit working:
Comments from the past 4-5 posts have disappeared.
The comments box quit working.
The Cherished Commenters/Top Commenters quit working.

I have spend hours trying to fix both of these things and have no idea what is going on. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Thought of the Day - 6/18/09

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
~~ Mother Teresa ~~

Thursday Thirteen #13


The last thirteen books I have read:

  1. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
  2. What Pets Do While You're at Work by Jason Bergund and Bev West
  3. Murder List by Julie Garwood
  4. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
  5. Killer Knots by Nancy Cohen
  6. Burn Notice: The Fix by Tod Goldberg
  7. Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark
  8. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
  9. Foul Play by Janet Evanovich
  10. Learning about Dogs: The Chihuahua by Charlotte Wilcox
  11. Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark
  12. Lockout by Lillian O'Donnell
  13. The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon

I use Shelfari to share what books I have read and what books I recommend so if you feel inclined to join look for me.

I also do book reviews here at All Things Cherished, so do a search for books and you will see my reviews.


To see other lists, go to Thursday 13.

Thought of the Day - 6/17/09

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
~~ Mahatma Gandhi ~~

Wordless Wednesday #28

Niagra Falls

To see other photographs from people to places to animals to things, go to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Works for Me Wednesday #20


Sixty Uses of Salt

Although you may not realize it, simple table salt has a great number of uses other than simply seasoning your food. The following list will give you sixty uses of salt, many of which you probably didn't realize:

1. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.
2. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
3. Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.
4. Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier pouring.
5. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.
6. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.
7. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.
8. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.
9. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.
10. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.
11. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.
12. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.
13. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.
14. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.
15. Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.
16. Clean brass, copper, and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, and thickened with flour.
17. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.
18. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.
19. Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.
20. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.
21. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
22. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.
23. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
24. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.
25. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.
26. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.
27. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.
28. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.
29. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for awhile.
30. A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.
31. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.
32. Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.
33. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing. 34. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
35. Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.
36. Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.
37. Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.
38. Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.
39. Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.
40. Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.
41. Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.
42. Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.
43. Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
44. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains.
45. Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
46. Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.
47. Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.
48. Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor.
49. A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee.
50. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.
51. Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.
52. Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.
53. Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.
54. A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.
55. To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.
56. Salt and lemon juice removes mildew.
57. Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.
58. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a better look.
59. Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water. 60. If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.

For more vacation, household, and other tips go to We Are THAT Family.

Thought of the Day - 6/16/09

Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value.
~~ Albert Einstein ~~

Tuesday Toot #12


I got all my pertinent messages moved from my old blog to here at All Things Cherished. I had 427 posts to wade through. I didn't want to lose some of the articles, jokes, meditations, and other things I wrote. Sadly, Yahoo 360 is closing as of July 13, 2009.

Thanks to my readers and followers who put up with many posts showing up all at a time without deserting me.

Top Ten Tuesday - Health Appointments

I was going to write a more personal post about some events that have occurred recently but I am not ready to do that apparently, so here is a boring post about all the various doctors my family has seen in the past 12 months.

  1. My PCP for fibromyalgia, IBS, polyneuropathy, and transient global amnesia.
  2. Pediatrician for infections, potty training (foster daughter doesn't use bathroom properly), annual physicals, immunizations, etc.
  3. Pediatric Dentist for regular dental care and check-ups.
  4. Cardiologist for baseline checkup but found out Renee has ASD due to her mother drinking -- cough syrup -- during the pregnancy.
  5. Neurologist for baseline check up because Renee has some strange behaviors -- starring, tremors, petting, purpling of feet, brushing off things that aren't thee. We found out that Renee has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (which I already knew).
  6. Orthopedic Doctor since Cassandra had broken her wrist after falling off her bike last summer. Cassandra has a crush on the P.A. Jason. Its so cute how she gets all "tongue-tied" when he enters the room. : )
  7. Mobile Therapist for Cameron and Renee. The nice thing is they both come to the house to provide their therapeutic services for the kids.
  8. Otolaryngologist due to Renee having chronic strep throat -- 5 infections in eight months. Her tonsils and adenoids were remove in December 2008.
  9. Psychiatrist for Cameron and Renee so they can get the medications they need to live a "normal" and happy life as best they can.
  10. Psychiatrist for me so I can get medication for my bipolar, depression, and anxiety so that I can "be available" as a parent for my children.

To see better Top Ten lists about various subjects go to Oh Amanda.

Essential Oil Air Freshening Sprays

Make your own essential oil air freshening sprays with these fun and easy recipes. You can bottle this and give it as gifts, or just enjoy using it in your own house every day.

Ingredients:
1 cup distilled water
8-10 drops essential oil of your choice spray bottle, with a fine mist setting
label

Pour the cup of distilled water into the spray bottle. Add the drops of essential oils and shake very well. Cap the bottle, and allow to sit for a few hours before using. Shake the bottle before each use to evenly distribute the scented oil throughout the water. Use the label to describe what sort of air freshener each bottle is. And be sure to use the fine mist setting on your bottle, so the spray will be distributed nicely in the air.

Here are some ideas for wonderful air freshener sprays, but you can go ahead and create your own favorite blends using scents that you love the most. To use the following recipe, just add the recommended amounts of essential oil to the spray bottle with the distilled water, and follow the instructions as above.

Please note that essential oils can vary in potency - for this reason, you can add or reduce the amounts of essential oil recommended in each recipe, if you find that the essential oil you've bought is either stronger or weaker than expected.

DEODORIZING ROOM SPRAY
6 drops bergamot essential oil
1 drop eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops lemon essential oil
Add to the distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well, and spray as a fine mist. This one is great for the bathroom!

PET DEODORIZING ROOM SPRAY
6 drops cedarwood
3 drops tea tree oil
Add to the distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well, and spray as a fine mist. If you have pets like I do, this spray is great for freshening up the entire house.

APPLE PIE SPICE ROOM AIR FRESHENER
6 drops Cinnamon essential oil
3 drops clove essential oil
Add to distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well, and spray as a fine mist. I love this one sprayed in the kitchen.

ORANGE SPICE ROOM AIR FRESHENER
5 drops orange essential oil
2 drops cinnamon essential oil
Add to distilled water in the spray bottle, shake well, and spray as a fine mist.

Listed below are three blends made to change your mood for the better. It's been proven that with the effects of aromatherapy, just the way things smell can alter your mood.

MOOD LIFTER AIR FRESHENER SPRAY
4 drops chamomile essential oil
3 drops orange essential oil
2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
Follow directions as with other recipes above. This recipe will make you feel more light hearted and less depressed.

STRESS RELIEVER AIR FRESHENER SPRAY
4 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops rose essential oil
2 drops clary sage essential oil, optional
Follow directions as with other recipes above. This air freshener will help relieve stress, and it smells really wonderful.

SLEEPY-TIME RELAXATION AIR FRESHENER SPRAY
4 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops chamomile essential oil
Follow directions as with other recipes above. Both of these essential oils have wonderful, sedative effects. Spray a little in your bedroom a half hour before going to bed to enjoy the soothing effects of these natural sedatives. Or spray a little on your pillow or bedclothes to enjoy a whole night of wonderful, restorative sleep.

Thought of the Day - 6/15/09

You must be the change you wish you see in the world.
~~ Mahatma Gandhi ~~

Make Me Laugh Monday - 5 Minute Management Lesson

Lesson 1:

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.

Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $800 to drop that towel."

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob After a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves. The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, "Who was that?"

"It was Bob the next door neighbor," she replies. "Great!" the husband says, "did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?"

Moral of the story : If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk in time with your shareholders, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.


Lesson 2:

A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.

The nun said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"

The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.

The nun once again said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"

The priest apologized, "Sorry sister but the flesh is weak."

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way. On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. The verse in the Bible states, "Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory."

Moral of the story: If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.


Lesson 3:

A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out.

The Genie says, "I'll give each of you just one wish."

"Me first! Me first!" says the admin clerk. "I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world." Puff! She's gone.

"Me next! Me next!" says the sales rep. "I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas, and the love of my life." Puff! He's gone.

"OK, you're up," the Genie says to the manager.

The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."

Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say.


Lesson 4:

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.

A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"

The eagle answered: "Sure , why not."

So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit, and ate it.

Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.


Lesson 5:

A turkey was chatting with a bull.

"I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy."

"Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients."

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story: Bull crap might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.


Lesson 6:

A little bird was flying south for the Winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story: (1) Not everyone who craps on you is your enemy. (2) Not everyone who gets you out of crap is your friend. (3) When you're in deep crap, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

This ends the 5 Minute Management Course.


Join me in the fun and giggles of making Mondays a better day by sharing some laughs. Add your link to your Make Me Laugh Monday post to Mr. Linky below. (All links not leading directly to your post will be deleted.) All posts should be funny in some way. Yes, this is up to interpretation. Ideas include riddles, funny family stories, comic strips, jokes, silly graphics, funny lyrics, hilarious photos, etc. Please don't leave me to snicker all alone. I'm sure YOU have something funny to share.


Thought of the Day - 6/14/09

A community that excludes even one of its members is no community at all.

What's Your Gift?




Your Gift is Sensitivity



You are easily moved, and you have a strong emotional reaction to almost everything.

Your sensitivity helps you get a lot out of life. You appreciate every moment more.



It's hard for you to divorce yourself from your feelings. You notice every little thing around you.

You're the type of person who finds empathy and compassion easy.

 
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