Tips, tips, tips, and more tips. (cont'd)

Here is the continuation of the series of tips.
1. If you drop an egg or dump oil, just dump a bunch of salt on it, wait a few minutes, and sweep. No stain.
2. Next time a plastic bread wrapper melts onto the toaster or coffeepot, try this. Rub some petroleum jelly on the spot, reheat the appliance and use a paper towel to rub off the plastic and the printing.
3. When silk flower arrangements look old and dusty, dip them gently and quickly in warm water with detergent in it. Then place them on a towel to dry. They come out looking new!
4. Patent leather handbags and shoes can be quickly brightened with a polish of milk, Apply with a soft cloth and rub into a shiny new-like finish.
5. I haven't tried this one yet so I don't know if I want to believe it. To help someone stop hiccoughing, just say, "I'll give you every bit of change in my pocket (or a quarter) if you can hiccough three more times." it interrupts the body rhythm that causes hiccoughs, and for some reason, when they want to hiccough, they can't.
Give it a try, you'll see. Just offer someone a quarter or a dime, but always say it's for the next three hiccoughs. Because if you say "for the next one", the person may quickly hiccough before they've had time to think about wanting to.
6. Your bathroom mirror won't fog up if you clean it with canned shaving cream. It works on eyeglasses to. (That means no more sudden "blindness" when you're unloading the dryer or dishwasher and checking the cookies)
7. A handful of salt added to the last rinse water will keep the clothes from freezing on or onto the clothesline.
8. To keep lint from clinging to dark garments, add 1/2 cup vinegar to the last rinse.
9. To remove soap and hard water film that accumulates on plastic shower curtains (and doors), take the curtain down, place it on a flat surface, and wash it with a solution of 1/2 cup ammonia to 1 quart warm water. The film just vanishes.
10. When you buy socks, pin them together with a little safety pin, when a child changes socks, he removes the pin from the clean pair and puts it on the soiled pair. From there they go from the washer and dryer, and back into the drawers with no sorting or searching for missing socks.
11. When cleaning plastic wastebaskets, try using some rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol cleans with a minimum of scrubbing. At the same time the baskets are being sanitised.
12. Before washing walls or windows, wrap an absorbent cotton around your wrist. Hold it in place with a rubber band. The cotton catches the uncomfortable trickles that run down your arm.
13. To keep shower doors shiny and clear use a soft rag moistened with baby oil. It prevents scum build-up from dirt and soap and hard water spots won't appear for months.
14. If you wash windows when the sun is shining on them the glass will streak.
15. Yellowed lace can be whitened by soaking it in sour milk.
16. Defrosting a freezer is not much fun, but here's a way to make the job easier. After you defrost the next time, dry the interior and then spray it with cooking spray. The next defrosting job will go lots faster.
17. When washing windows, wipe the inside from top to bottom and the outside from side to side. This way you'll know whether the streak is inside or outside.
18. After washing a cast iron skillet, wipe around the inside with a wad of wax paper while it is still warm. This will prevent rusting.
19. Baking soda mixed with ground cinnamon or cloves makes a great before-vacuum carpet freshener.
20. Want to give limp curtains a crisp new look after laundry? Wash and rinse as usual, then, in a sink or large tub, dissolve 1 cup of Epsom salt in water. Dip curtains into this solution and hang to dry. No iron needed. Your curtains will be crisp as when new.
                                                                           Waiting for next time?
                                                                                                        -Yesenia-

Snow!!

I know, it's not Thursday yet and we probably don't have 2-4 inches of it, but we have snow! It's really blowing so we can't tell how much snow we have. The roads are quite bad so Tante Gloria is here instead of on her way to a doctor's appointment. We have piano lessons after lunch but she is staying for lunch.  For now I will leave you with a few pictures,
                                                                                            Yesenia

                                   

Tips, tips, tips, and more tips.

I borrowed a book from the library called 1,628 Country Shortcuts From 1,628 Country People. I know we don't live in the country but I still love reading tips and shortcuts. We can't keep the book forever though and I wanted to keep some of the tips (I can't remember them all) so I thought that I would write them on the blog.
These tips are actually from the Country Women and Country Magazines.
1. To avoid clogged kitchen drains, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a pot of boiling water.
2. Next time you need to move a big heavy box, chest, or other piece of furniture, just lift the front edge of the item and slip the straw part of a flat broom underneath. Then get a helper to push from the back while you pull on the broom handle and guide the heavy item.
3. Before you try to slide a refrigerator, washer dry, etc. on a smooth hard surface, put a small dab of shortening on the floor in front of the forward feet. It will them slide easily. But don't get your shoes in the shortening , or you'll be spinning all day.
4. To separate two glasses that are stuck together, put the bottom glass in warm water and pour cold water in the top glass. The two will pull apart easily without breaking.
5. You can sharpen a dull pair of scissors, easily, by cutting through several thicknesses of aluminum foil. "Mama didn't believe this but we decided to try it and it really does work, it's actually fun." -Yesenia-
6. You can make your own sweet smelling humidifier. Fill an old coffee can two-thirds full of water... add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel... and place on the stove. When the water gets hot, it gives off a pleasant scent- and gives the house extra moisture.
7. As soon as camping season ends, tuck a fabric softener sheet into each sleeping bag before rolling it up. The bag will smell fresh once you take it out for next years camping trip.
8. Remove sticky price tags from glass by spraying with WD-40.
9. To remove hard water buildup on your shower head, pour some vinegar into a plastic bag and place it around the shower head so the head is completely submerged. Tie the bag around the pipe and leave it on overnight. The shower head will spray like new in the morning.
10. To color in necks or scratches in wood-stained furniture etc. rub with a pecan nut. The oil from the nut will restain the wood.
11. When glue thickens in the bottle or you must remove a spot of it, use a little vinegar. It's a good glue thinner or remover.
12. Rubbing alcohol easily removes ink from clothing and crayon marks from woodwork and wallpaper.
13. To remove candle wax from carpeting, place a brown paper bag over the wax and gently run a warm iron over it.
14. To sharpen scissors, simply cut through a sheet of sandpaper a few times.
15. To add traction to an icy wooden deck, sprinkle on some cornmeal.
16. Use baby food jars to hold nails, nuts, bolts, etc. First nail the lids of the jars underneath the tool cabinets and then screw the jars into the lids.
17. Lay a barbecue grill rack on the lawn overnight-the dew will combine with enzymes in the grass to loosen any burned on grease. Try it with your oven racks too.
18. For those of us who live in areas where there is snow and ice, keep a few rough shingles in the back of your vehicle. If the car gets stuck, place the shingles behind or in front of your tires to gain traction.
19. Simplify snow shoveling by pouring a little cooking oil on your snow shovel before you start-- snow will slide right off while you work!
20. A great homemade bug killer can be made in a plastic milk jug by mixing 1 cup sugar, 1 cup vinegar and a banana peel. Hang the open jug in a tree or place it in the garden to attract the bugs that are eating your prized fruits and vegetables.
I will publish 20 tips at once for you. If you have something that you need a shortcut for, please let me know.
          -Yesenia-

A Post of Random Photos

Here's a post of Random Photos. Our neighbour lady (Linda: I know you like Linda better) likes taking pictures and she took these for us. Thank you so much, Linda. I hope you enjoy them.

This is the triplets when they were 6 years old
From top to bottom: Bianca, Edgar, and Imelda.

Mama and Elfrieda at the cute stage of one.
(She wasn't in a picture taking mood that day)

Bianca. She's always been pretty photo friendly.

Samuel. He must be 4. I think this must be
just before he got his glasses.

Both of our "men"

Edgar in the 'y' of the tree.

Finally she's happy. If you can't see it,
she's clapping her hands.

I always like this picture because it looks like I'm getting a kiss,
but guess what, she's actually aggravated and trying to bite me.

Me and my little sister. I was and always have been proud of my little sister.

Imelda.

This is one of my favorite pictures. (The pink in the
background is because Linda's camera fell.)

"What's going on over there?"

Edgar and his bike. He actually got this bike
from Caleb, our cousin who drowned.

Two little friends. And they still are.

Isn't she cute

Our first family pictures after Leandro was born.

Mama and the girls. Notice the matching dresses?
We girl cousins all got either a pink, orange, or yellow
dress of the same material and pattern.

"Can you be happy again?"

Daddy and the boys.

Mama and our 'princess'

????

They pretended they were on the way to Mexico.
Samuel (5) Edgar (7)

"Look over at Linda"

Me I was 11 at the time.

Imelda and that cute ''Mithing tooth thmile"

Isn't she ladylike?

 Post created by Yesenia

Grandma and Grandpa's Move

Yes, our dear Grandma and Grandpa are moving to Two Hills which is about 5 hours north of us. For those of you who don't know where it is you'll have to go on Google maps and check it out. It's a town (or city I don't know) an hour from Edmonton. They are going there to help with the new church that's started there. We will miss them very much as it's almost a custom for somebody to be at their house during the day for a bit or to come in the evening. A lot of our birthday parties are held at their house and all of our gatherings. We have spent a lot of time with them this last week. On Thursday we had them over for cake and ice cream for the triplet's birthday. Adolf and Annie, Willy and Marcie, and Gloria and Dave came. We visited for a while, had the cake and ice cream, and then the triplet's opened their gifts that they got. Willy and Marcie gave the girls each a notebook and a decorative paper punch. For Edgar they had bought a sweater. When he tried it on, everyone was a little touched, he looked so much like Caleb. Then we sang some songs. I was playing the piano on the song I am Looking for the City built of God while the rest were singing. When I turned around once we were done, everyone was wiping tears. I instantly knew why because the chorus goes like this:
                                               Oh, the glory gates are open wide
                                                   inviting the world to come.
                                               Oh, the glory gates are open wide,
                                                   to welcome the weary home.
We all had to think of Caleb. That evening was bitter-sweet.
  On Sunday, we went to Grandma and Grandpa for supper or faspa as we call it. We enjoyed our last Sunday in a long time at their house.
  On Monday we went to their house for Eric's 20th Birthday party. Anna had made a cake for him with a hammer, chisel, and a measuring tape on the top and black icing on the edge with DeWalt written in Yellow along the edge. She did a very good job! We had enchiladas, rice and salad for supper.
  On Tuesday, Mama took us children to help Grandma pack. Annie came too. We packed the groceries, kitchen items, some books, some toys, etc. They are only planning to come back for Christmas and we hope they will not stay too much longer than the 6 months they are planning on now.
   Yesterday we went to Grandma and Grandpa to say "Bye" yet. They left early this morning. A lot of us are planning to visit them on a weekend some time. They have a very small house there so yesterday the children were trying to figure out where we would sleep when we went to visit them. No, we haven't quite figured it out yet. Of course we don't miss them yet but once the lonely winter evenings come, when our van hasn't gone anywhere since Sunday, then we will longingly wish that they were home. Winter hasn't come yet this year for us. Today it actually looked like an April day with no snow in sight. We will enjoy this weather while we have it because some people say that if you don't like the weather in Alberta just wait 5 minutes. That's not always true of course but I might write about 2-4 inches of snow before next Thursday,
                                                                                                               -Yesenia-

Songs and Tears

Here is a story that I have been working on for quite a while so now that it's finished I thought I would publish it. I hope that you will enjoy this little piece of Biblical fiction.
                                           
                                                     Songs and Tears
"I'm so hot, Mama," 14-year-old Sarah complained, brushing a strand of jet-black hair under her covering.
"Me too." Her 12-year-old brother Samuel sighed.
"I know dears, their mother answered. "Nevertheless, are not you  glad that we can go home again."
"Yes, and I can hardly wait to see Jerusalem again." Their Grandmother said. Now 78 years old, she had been only 8 years old when she and her family had been taken to Babylon.
  Now Sarah and here family were coming home from Babylon. The land of their captivity for 70 years. Sarah, her parents, and her nine siblings, Abraham (17), Isaac (15), Samuel (12), Hannah (10), Elijah (8), David (5),  Rachel (2), and baby Esther had lived in Babylon for all of their lives.
  Her father had held a high position in the king's court and they had lived just outside of the big city. They had had a very comfortable lifestyle there but their had always been a desire in all of their hearts to return to where they belonged, Jerusalem. Sarah would always remember the many evenings they had spent on their knees, facing Jerusalem, praying for the return of their people to their beloved Jerusalem.
  Then one day the long-awaited news arrived.
"Thus saith Cyrus, the king of Persia, The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has commanded me to build him  a house in Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. Therefore, let those of the people of God who are among you go up to Jerusalem and help to build the house of the Lord. And those who do not go to Jerusalem, but stay in the places where they are living, let them give to those who go back to their own land gifts of gold and silver and beasts to carry them, and the goods, and also a free gift toward the building of the house of  the Lord in Jerusalem."
  When the people heard this news, many of them burst into tears of joy and there was much singing to be heard in the houses of the Jews. One of Sarah's uncles wrote a song in this time, which we have in Psalm 126.
  Many of the rich families stayed in Babylon for they loved this land and did not want to leave it to rebuild a broken city. But, although Sarah's family was among the richer class, they decided to return to their homeland. Their friends and relatives that did not come, loaded them with gifts of gold and silver to rebuild the temple just as the king had told them. Even the king himself gave them the vessels of the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away when he destroyed Jerusalem. There were over four thousand gold and silver cups, bowls, plates, and dishes.
  With all of these treasures, it was a gook thing that the king had commanded that they should be given animals and servants to help them carry everything.
  It was a very big group of people that left Babylon on that great day, singing and rejoicing as they went. Without their servants they totalled forty-two thousand people. It was very noisy with all the  people talking and singing, the sheep baaing, the cattle lowing, the donkeys and camels calling, and all the other noises that come with people and animals. Sarah imagined that it was a little like the time when Moses and their ancestors had left  Egypt to go to the same land that they were headed for. They had sheep and many other animals with them just like the Israelites had had. In addition, they set up camp for the night as  the children of Israel had done. They were also in the desert and it was hot just like it was now. That made for slower travel. "One difference is,"Sarah mused half aloud, "That we can travel along the Euphrates river but our forefathers back then had to get their water out of rocks and stuff."
  "What? Did I hear you say something about the river," Samuel asked.
  Jolted out of her revery, it took Sarah awhile to respond. But finally she said, "Yes, I guess you must have. And why don't we ask Mother if we can wade awhile?"
  "Yes! Let's!" Many voices called out for it didn't take any of the children to catch on to the word 'wading'.
  Mother's reply was exactly what they wanted to hear so they all scattered to find their friends. Sarah soon found her favorite friends, Mary and Elizabeth. They hitched up their skirts and splashed into the river. They didn't have to be very careful about the little children because the river was not very deep where they were.
  "Isn't it fun to wade in this river?" Mary asked the other girls.
  "Yes it certainly is," Sarah agreed. "Did you hear the men talk about our leaving this river to go along the Lebanon Mountains?"
  "Yes, we did," her friends answered. "Aren't you looking forward to seeing the huge cedars there?"
  "I sure am," Elizabeth answered in her soft voice.
  "And then we'll soon be home!" Sarah exclaimed afterwhich her friends and she burst into a psalm of praise to Jehovah for letting them return Home.
                                                           -To be continued-
P.S. If anybody has any ideas, corrections, comment, etc. please let me know.
                                                                                                                     Yesenia

The Triplet's 11th Birthday

Samuel's Birthday Gift for the girls was a Happy Birthday Sign
made out of legos. (He's our Lego builder)

Leandro whole-heartedly singing "A Happy Birthday to you."

Dear Waiting Blog Readers,
Did I get you excited? I hope I did.
We got up on the birthday morning (not late of course) with

Everybody waiting for the 'birthday gifts'...

excitement in the air. We were almost ready for breakfast when our Groszmama (Grandma) called to wish the triplets a happy birthday. She doesn't call very often and so Mama spent some time on the phone with her. Being it was almost breakfast and not knowing how long the phone call was going to last, we children walked around and tried to get time to go faster. Of course that didn't happen but finally breakfast time came. We usually do the birthday gifts at the breakfast table so after we were done eating, Daddy got up to get their birthday gifts. He came back with his hands behind his back and he sure had our attention. Then he started handing a Hershey chocolate to each of the children. "This birthday gift wasn't hard to buy," he said. American Hershey chocolates are special but of course we 'knew' that this couldn't be it. It wasn't. Soon Daddy and Mama came into the room and Daddy had something behind his back.

And 'happily' accepting a  Hershey chocolate

  "Hopefully this isn't another prank," I'm sure a lot of us were thinking.

She looks pretty happy about a Hershey doesn't she?

Happily displaying what he had been saving up for for a long
time, but now he got it free of charge.

Daddy soon started to hand out a watch to each of the children. We have this trend in our house that everyone has to have a Timex watch and the triplet's each got one for their 8th birthday but Imelda and Edgar's had both given out. Now they each got a new one. All of a sudden, Daddy asks us, "When do you figure I bought them?" Well, we had some ideas but then Daddy said, "Remember when I went to check the price of yogurt in Wal-Mart in Great Falls, well, I came back with these watches in my pocket. I put them on the flour of the van and they were there the whole time." Mystery solved.

Edgar and his Hershey

Finally. The real thing. 

  Then Edgar opened his gifts. A pack of balloons from Leandro, a calender and stickers from Elfrieda, a car from Samuel, a miniature bail of hay and some decorations for it from the girls, and a Zebra pen and lead pen from me. He had long wanted one of those "heavy-duty" lead pens so when I saw them in Wal-Mart I knew what I wanted to get for him.
  The girls opened their gifts together. They each got a candle from Edgar, each a Reed diffuser from me, and each a bath set from our Tante Mariche. Our house and their rooms are sure smelling good.
  For a treat, we only had to do 3/4 to 1 hour of schoolwork and then Mama took us to the library. I found a neat household tips booklet so I might do a post of tips here soon. We've been doing quite a bit of reading yesterday and today.
  Our piano teacher always comes on Wednesday so when she came yesterday and heard that the triplets didn't have to do much school, she said, "Maybe they shouldn't have to have piano lessons today either."
  "No," I told her, "Piano lessons are to much fun to skip."

The gift Edgar found the most confusing.

Leandro's gift to Edgar. He told Edgar, "Once you open it,
you'll see balloons."  Of course, he was right.

  Most of us had good piano lessons. We are preparing for a recital in December so that gives something different to the piano lessons.

This was in the top package.

And this was in the bottom one.

Samuel's gift.

  We had a good day but since there was a program that evening, we postponed the celebration to today's evening. We are looking forward to it. Willie and Marcie, Adolf and Annie, Grandma and Grandpa, and  Gloria and Dave are planning are planning to come.
   Some of the children went to get ice cream and I will have to decorate the cake that I baked yesterday today yet. That's the gift part of it. Hopefully I can get a post in of our celebration,
                                                     Yesenia

It was a car.

The stickers from Elfie.

And the calendar from Elfrieda.

The pen and lead pen from me.

Here the girls are opening the gift that Tante Mariche gave to me to give to them.

"We like this."

Even Daddy had to smell.

What's going to be in here?

"Reed Diffuser!"

Her smile of thanks.

They had to open this one together because this gift was for both of them.

"I can see that this isn't just Emergen-C drink."

"Mmmm, this smells good."

Here Edgar had set up his decorations already.

Edgar decided that since we now have so many Timex watches
he wanted to wear them all at the same time. I think he had 7 of
but I don't know if they're all on the picture.