HEARTH AND HOME - NOVEMBER 14, 2009

Greetings Dear Friends!

I pray that this issue of HEARTH AND HOME finds you and yours healthy, happy, and ready to celebrate another BEAUTIFUL holiday season!

I tell you…this year we have so much to be thankful for! SO much! There have been so many things this year that could have turned out so differently, but God in His infinite grace and mercy saw fit to work all things for our good and His glory, and we can’t thank Him enough! He is so good to us! So faithful! Praise the name of the Lord!

So…what do you have to be thankful for this year? How do you and your family plan to celebrate all the wondrous things that God has done for you?

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Okay… why don’t you grab a cup of hot tea…or coffee…or cocoa, settle back, and join me for a fresh issue of HEARTH AND HOME. Here we go…


FAMILY NEWS…

* On the 10th of October my daughter, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, and I enjoyed a tea hosted by a local historical site (the Harry S. Truman Birth Home in Lamar, MO). We had such a good time! If you’d like to see pictures, here’s the link to my Blogspot…

http://rebeccashearthandhome.blogspot.com/2009/10/nursery-rhyme-theme-tea-101009.html

* I think the biggest news that’s happened in our family over the past few weeks is that two of our children and their families have been able to stop renting and move into homes of their own. We’d like to congratulate both households and wish them all the best!

HOUSEHOLD TIPS…

* Discarding boxes from new electronics you just bought could bring trouble (you’re announcing what goodies are inside your house). Turn computer and entertainment system boxes inside out before you recycle them.

* Stop flu from spreading with frankincense. The oil has antibacterial properties that destroy airborne viruses on contact. Don’t like the scent? Thyme works, too! Just add 10-15 drops of essential oil to a spray bottle filled with 1 tablespoon witch hazel and 2 cups water.

* If keeping up with the dust on curtains and drapes seems overwhelming, try this: Remove hooks or rings and throw them in the dryer on a no-heat setting with a damp towel and a fabric dryer sheet for 20 minutes. The towel will attract the dust, and the dryer sheet will make the curtains dust-repellent.

* To lift dried candle wax off a tablecloth cut two pieces from a brown paper bag. Slip one beneath the waxy area of the fabric, the other on top. Iron the area using medium heat until the wax melts and is absorbed into the paper.

* When snow and ice are in the forecast, keep your windshield clean with this trick: After parking your car, lift the wipers, cover the windshield with two cut-open paper bags, then put the wipers back down. When you want to go, just remove the bags and the windshield will be clear!

* No need to buy fancy drawer liners. Instead, cut paper bags to fit inside your drawers, allowing a little extra to fold up the sides a bit. Your homemade liners will work just as well as the pricey products.

* To make inexpensive luminaries decorate paper bags using a craft punch in any shape. Fill each with 2 inches of sand (to keep luminaria upright), and place a tea light in a votive holder inside each bag. Light to set a path or tabletop aglow.

* I keep getting a lot of requests for this item, so I am reprinting here…


HOMEMADE CARPET FRESHENER

1/2 cup of borax
1/2 cup of baking soda
1 teaspoon of cloves and/or cinnamon (cloves help keep moths out of the closet too)
Or, if you've got pets, instead of the spices, use about 20-25 drops of sweet orange oil (I use the spices AND the orange oil), which is a natural flea repellent; be sure to mix in the oil into powder mixture thoroughly and never use directly onto your pets.
DOLLARS AND SENSE…

* Host holiday parties without spending an arm and a leg…just have appetizers and dessert, do brunch, make it potluck, or BYO (cheese and crackers, desserts, etc.).

* Coupons are still the single best way to save on groceries. Check out online coupons by going to coupons.com and smartsource.com. (Make sure your grocer accepts printable online coupons. Some don’t.)

* For more money-saving advice on grocery shopping…especially during this holiday season, here’s Teri Gault…

GROCERIES FOR NEXT TO NOTHING
by Teri Gault - TheGroceryGame.com
(article from the November 17, 2009 Woman’s Day magazine)

* Stick to staples – “Go with traditional foods – that’s where the best sales will be, “ says Teri Gault. “The supermarkets think of Thanksgiving week as their annual open house to attract new shoppers, and they do it by selling traditional foods at the lowest prices of the year.” Once you stack manufacturer’s coupons and store coupons, many baking supplies, cranberries, and broths are actually sold at a loss, as manufacturers try to hook new customers.

* Get coupons – Grab the weekly circulars and inserts during the three weeks running up to the holidays. “Often, coupons don’t run in the Sunday paper the weekends before Thanksgiving and Christmas because manufacturers know readers don’t have time to clip them, “ Gault says.

* Stock up – “There are going to be incredible sales, so buy extra,” says Gault. The baking aisles reach their lowest prices of the year, and so do margarine and butter. “That’s a terrific opportunity to buy extra and freeze it for later.”

* Shop local – Don’t forget your town’s weekly farmers’ market – veggies are often a steal.


LET’S TALK TURKEY…

This link was shared with me by my friend, Beth in Oregon and I thought I’d pass it along to you. Thanks, Beth! J

http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/Thanksgiving-Recipes?contentURL=http%3A%2F%2Fturkey2009.skyworld.com%2Frecipe.cfm%3Frid%3D1%26catid%3D2#iframetop


* For everything you need to know about turkey check out Butterball’s site. They’ve got EVERYTHING!

Just click here: http://www.butterball.com/


RECIPES…


* Make your own…

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE

1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ginger
1/8. tsp cloves

Mix ingredients well. Makes 1 teaspoon. Use in any recipe calling for Pumpkin Pie Spice.


* Here’s a wonderful recipe that my daughter-in-law, Angie, came across. She’s made it a couple of times for family get-togethers and it’s a huge hit! Thanks for letting me share, Ange! This is one of my all-time favorites!


CAULIFLOWER SALAD

1 head lettuce chopped
1 sm. chopped onion
1 lb. cooked bacon crumbled
1 head fresh cauliflower chopped
half a jar of parmesan cheese
Real mayo ( must be real)

Layer lettuce, then onion, then bacon, then cauliflower, sprinkle cheese on top, then spread mayo on very top. Put in fridge to chill do not mix together till right before serving.

Well, Ladies, it’s not much, but that’s all I’ve got to share for now. Please be praying for me. There’s been a lot going on, but it’s time to get back into the swing of things.

Until next time…

All My Love,
~Rebecca