It's Monday - But it's too blue

I don't feel like writing today. *sigh*

When we moved into our log home the boys were going to be in their own rooms for the first time and we decided to give them room pets. The boys chose guinea pigs. After Christmas 2005 we went to a pet store and they carefully selected their pets. Devin picked Fluffy and Trevor picked litter mate Cooki.

The piggies brought much joy to our home and grew with love. We even adopted another pig, Speedy, from a rummage sale! The piggies went to school, to church, to grandma's and adventures in the neighborhood. Fluffy even was lost in the woods for two hours this summer!

Cookie passed away in March 2008 due to kidney disease. I was concerned for Fluffy's health since they were litter mates. But all seemed well until a month ago when Fluffy came down with a cold. His symptoms were rather odd but he was treated with meds from the vet. He seemed to get better and was very frisky last week. Then he stopped eating on Saturday.

Devin cuddled with his buddy for a time last night and this morning. After giving his piggie some lovin' and a kiss, bade him goodbye before boarding on his school buss. Fluffy passed quietly away in my arms a couple hours later.

Devin has an after school program and won't be home until 5pm. My heart hurts for him. I don't think he understood how sick his piggie was. I did mention my concern regarding the fact of the piggies being litter mates & the posiblility of Fluffy having the same problem. Dev loved his little buddy.


We loved you, Fluffy!

Humpday Help - Sing in the Rain

So it's Wednesday... the middle of the week and you need a little help getting over that hump. To top it off, you woke to a gloomy day with dark clouds. Your mood may match your day. So let's change your mood and change the day!

Turn on some fun music before you turn on the shower. Light the fire within and choose something that makes you laugh or giggle or even feel a little sexy. You don't have to be a great singer to enjoy the benefits of music, simply let it into your soul and let your entire body resonate with the sound. Whether you are singing in the shower or in the car or dancing while doing chores or on the way to the copy machine... you will feel your spirit rise.

When you are letting the music in, you take deeper breaths and more oxygen into your system. You are healing your body and giving your spirit a lift. Express yourself, put a melody in your heart. Get a little silly, laugh when you think nobody is looking, hum a tune, put a dance step in your gait and you will quickly feel the sunshine enter your soul and the day will become much brighter.

Cleaning Day - The Many Uses of Oil

When we were cleaning Mom's house when she moved we found many bottle of oil... mineral oil, olive oil, vegetable oil... It turns out Mom was "green" before it was chic and thrifty to top it off. Here's Mom's advice:

*To perk up potted plants combine one part mineral oil and two parts water in a spray bottle. Once a month, use to mist the plants then wipe off the leaves with a soft cloth.

*Combine 1 cup of mineral or olive oil and 1 Tbs.of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Shake well, then spritz the mixture on a soft dry cloth and use to wipe wooden surfaces. The citric acid in the lemon juice cuts through grime while the oil lubricates wood and brings out its natural shine. This also woks on removing fingerprints from stainless -steel appliances.

*A dollop of olive oil on a soft cloth will quickly removes fingerprints and give a polish to stainless appliances when you're in a hurry.

*Pour a few drops of mineral oil on a lint-free cloth and rub into the leather of dingy-looking boots or shoes for a quick and easy restoration. It also acts as a waterproof barrier, protecting footwear from the damaging effects of rain and snow.

*Pour a small amount of vegetable, olive or mineral oil onto a clean cloth and rub your wood cutting boards. Let sit for at least two hours then wipe off any excess oil. I have a large butcher block; I use olive oil or vegetable oil and leave it on the wood overnight. The oil barrier will keep odors from getting absorbed into the wood's pores and acts as a lubricating shield against water-induced damage, drying and cracking.

*Keep some oil and cotton balls handy to remove adhesive bandages and temporary tattoos. Apply oil with cotton ball and wait one minute. Then voila, no tears and no red marks!

*Need to perform an emergency shave on those legs and don't have time for water? Use mineral or olive oil (for dry skin) to ensure a smooth, effortless shave for silky, soft legs.


I'm sure we could all come up with some more ideas on what to do with oil. Hmmmm....What's yours?