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Who’s Your Neighbor?
June 29, 2006
We have several huge weeping willow trees in our yard, one being about twenty feet from our bedroom window. This spring 3 owls are roosting there. Did you know a group of owls is called a parliament? Me neither.
Several nights ago all three were lined up on our pump-house roof about twenty feet from the kitchen window. With the bright moon shining, they looked Hedwiggish—waiting for messages to deliver. Our owl parliament isn’t to the wise old who-who stage, but are still in the adolescent eek-eek phase.
I like to think the owls like us and want our mosquitoes. I like to think the owls believe we are a bird paradise and will be loyal to our tree for life. But the truth is owls are carnivores and right next to the willow tree is Calvin’s little pen of quail. They’re simply waiting for us to leave the door open.
Parliament predators are whoooo we have for our neighbors, but I’m going to pretend that they’re ready-to-lend-a-hand Hedwigs. It’s so much easier to enjoy them when I use my imagination. ________________________________________________________________________
Comments jp@neighborjanepayne.com
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June 28, 2006
Does it take two drying rounds to get your towels or Levis dry? Is your washing machine’s out-put twice what your dryer’s is? My sympathies to you, mine was like that for a long time. Then, I read that a metal dryer duct was much more efficient than a plastic dryer duct and we switched. It made a HUGE difference and cut the drying time in half. Yes, you read that right, it cut the drying time in half. Our two year old dryer can now keep up with our 23 year old washer. It’s not too hard to make the switch; in fact, it was a great project for our son. Keeping kids productive and busy and dry clothes in a normal amount of time—it works for me!
Our laundry room is now a glorified closet, but this scene has been familiar in every home we’ve lived in—someone sitting on the washer to hold it down. When our 23 year old washer starts thumping you can hear, “SOMEONE GO SIT ON THE WASHER!” from any corner of the house. The kids have always been willing to get a cheap ride. Here, it is Cali’s turn.
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Please send your comments to jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Washer sitting - what a fun and funny family tradition! We have metal ductwork, but it still takes two times to get stuff dry because the ductwork has to be so long to reach outside. There's another WFMW idea- when planning a new house, be sure to locate the laundry area on an outside accessing wall!
Nettie http://singingaverseofmysong.blogspot.com/2006/06/works-for-me-helping-install.html
I had to write and thank you for this tip! I have been secretly praying for it just to quit, because dh doesn't agree in upgrading just to upgrade, but for some reason, the thing takes forever to dry. So, I'm going to try this, I think, although neither of us is Bob Vila.
Jennifer http://www.jennifersnapshot.blogspot.com/
Now I'm going to check and see what kind we have. We wear a lot of cotton, and it never seems to really get dry. Especially those heavy jeans and 'hoodies' the kids wear. If I have plastic...I think I'll mention to my husband about getting metal. And then I'll give the plastic duct to the ferrets for a play tunnel!
Clare (Mom2fur) http://sortafrugal.blogspot.com/2006/06/wfmw-bug-bites.html
I can't wait to run this one by my husband because it DOES take forever to
dry a load of towels around here. Thanks, Jane!!
Michelle http://www.rayzorbackfamily.blogspot.com/
HI, just popping in from Rocks in my Dryer...I had a good suggestion too to increase your drying time. Make sure the filter, vent and outlet are clear of fluff. I cleaned mine with one of those long bendy brush things and my clothes got dryer faster...not sure how much faster. But enough to just about keep up with my washer. I think I will be joining the WFMW next week.
Pam
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Quotable Quote
June 27, 2006
“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.”
—Richard Bach
Amen. A couple of times I thought my world was caving in and yet each time the events ultimately worked for my good and made me stronger and better. Trusting the Creator who knows all about cocoons and calamities and challenges is so much more uncomplicated than being afraid.
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Random Thoughts
June 26, 2006
Today it is sweltering. Nearly 100 degrees and wouldn’t you know, we were out of bread. No worries. 100 degrees without the oven, 105 degrees with the oven. Not that big of a difference, so I made some loaves and cut a few buns out for grilled chicken sandwiches for supper at the same time—killed two birds with one batch of dough.
Our scrapbooking retreat this last weekend was great. My stomach muscles almost feel like a trim six pack after laughing so much. I got a good start on Cali’s book besides making a couple of fun projects—a paper bag book and an envelope card. What a fun group of creative and comical women.
retreat projects
Today I tried to get everything back in order—make a dent in the garden weeds, bake bread, deposit deposits, get a few fresh groceries, laundry, etc.
Ande’s summer job began today—babysitting. She made up a schedule and asked for my thoughts. I suggested they have “Quiet Time” every afternoon. Today when she began to institute it, the little girl fussed and didn’t want to do it. Ande convinced her that it would be fun. She got them settled in their rooms and told them they could read, do puzzles, or play quietly. Twenty minutes into Quiet Time the little girl asked Ande, “Would it be ok if I take a nap?” Mission accomplished.
Yesterday afternoon Cali and Ande and I were talking about homemade popsicles. I was telling the kids that we used to make them in ice cube trays out of kool-aid and that we usually had to use toothpicks for the sticks. They laughed at me (obviously not remembering that I had made them with toothpicks for them when I was desperate). This morning Ande was grabbing a kool-aid packet to take babysitting so the kids could make popsicles. She’d mentioned they were going to make them last night, so I asked her if she wanted us to save our sticks from the fruit bars we were eating. Her tone let me know she thought it was disgusting (obviously not remembering that I used used sticks for her when I wasn't so desperate). Today when she got home from work she said, “Guess what we used for our popsicle sticks? Toothpicks.” And there you have it, another family growing up on cheap popsicles.
Gardening tip for the week: Keep up with the weeds. We got behind on a few rows and now I'm paying for it.
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Yo, ho, ho, ho . . .
June 22, 23, 24, 2006
I’ll be “out of the office” . . . er, computer chair for the next three days—I’m swapping it for a scrapbooking chair. Yo, ho, ho, ho…it’s a scrappers life for me and though I know I’m rubbing it in, I’m so excited to go. Deb and I started these retreats a couple of years ago and we have a great and productive time at them. This retreat I’m working on Cali’s scrapbook. While the kids were growing up I didn’t take many pictures or organize the few pictures we did take very well. Their photograph histories have been sorry and sad—until we started the retreats. Thanks to Deb and her ideas and the suggestions from other wonderful scrappers and neighbors at the retreats I took what few pictures we had and made a great album for Ty. You’d never know he was picture-cheated when you see the layout of his book. It fits him perfect and says it all from A-Z.
Cali’s and Abe’s books are on the docket for this year and I’ll do Ande’s next year. We’d love to have you join us at one of our retreats.
This week’s newsletter is a classic. My sister’s ceiling caved in on part of her house while she was hosting bookclub. NJP readers love Rachel’s funny sense of humor and this newsletter tells it like only Rachel can.
The Neighbor’s Blog will be fresh again on Monday.
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June 21, 2006
Newsprint works for me! Ask and see if newsprint roll ends are available at your local newspaper office. The town we last lived in gave them to us for free or a couple of dollars—depending on who was minding the cash register. Here they’re available for 25 cents a pound (making the 25 pound roll above $7.50). They’re a bargain and useful for all kinds of projects—banners, gift wrapping paper, table coverings, paper mache projects, roller-box stories, school art projects, lay-down-and-trace-your-body-outline then label the pieces science projects, etc. Think of it as long, inexpensive poster board.
For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head over to Shannon’s blog for a list of participants.
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Comments jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Love that roller box idea (and the newsprint). I live in a big city - I wonder if I could plead with some higher-up to give me the newsprint cast-offs! My kids would be in heaven (and would wish they could be in your class, I'm sure!).
Thanks,
Katherine
I’ll bet you can. They have to do something with them! It’s not cost effective for them to use them, so they set them aside and sell/donate them to different causes. Just call and ask…or stop in, that’s what I have done. So far three newspaper offices have given them to me…and they all act like “Yup..that’s what we do with these things!” JP
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Quotable Quotes
June 20, 2006
“I will live my life in such a way that when I wake up in the morning Satan will say, ‘Oh, no! She’s awake.’”
A picture of our rooster who faithfully
crows early each morning
(and sometimes, when he’s mixed up,
in the middle of the night and all day long).
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I Learned it in the Garden
June 19, 2006
Now I remember why I don’t like to get attached to animals. They die too easily. I grew up among hundreds/thousands of animals and didn’t have to worry about attaching to them—there were too many and they were expected to die. But now that we have less than a dozen animals it’s not so easy to stay disassociated from them.
Otis is gone. He was too timid to wander far. I suppose he got shot, as we haven’t seen hide nor hair for two weeks.
The littlest baby quail piled and smothered Saturday night. I forgot to plug the heat lamp back in after I had finished mowing the lawn.
Ark! I hate when these things happen. I know why I wasn’t Mrs. Noah.
Plants? They’re good and safe. I never get attached to my squash or rhubarb or strawberries. By the time they die I am only too happy to say farewell. And lavender? I don’t think it’s possible to kill it.
Here’s an “I Learned it in the Garden” tip for lavender from by good friend, Becky Earl. Recently Becky returned a pan with a bunch of lavender tied in a pretty purple ribbon with a thank-you note. It was elegant and simple. When I thanked her for it and told her I’d hung it from the drying rack in the kitchen she said that lavender bundles thrown in the fireplace in a roaring fire make the whole house smell good. She also said to put them down the disposal in the sink to make the kitchen smell fresh and earthy. Lastly, she said to crumble some of the lavender blossoms on the floor and vacuum them up to give the house a fresh makeover.
My lavender is in full bloom this week. I’m going to bundle several bunches for just these purposes . . . and to give away as little mementos like Becky did. It’ll help to take the sting out of Otis being gone and the baby quail dying.
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Comments jp@neighborjanepayne.com
Doesn't lavender like sandy or slate-y soil? I would love to grow some but we have nothing here but thick, slimy clay. The picture is beautiful. So sorry to hear about the animals.
Katherine http://raisingfive.blogspot.com/
Thanks Katherine...I think you're right about lavender, it is in our flowerbed with the poorest soil...
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Seymour
June 16, 2006
Today is NJP newsletter day and the topic is none other than the power of a father. I’d love to have you join our newsletter neighbors.
I’m married to a great father and our kids and I both know it. He loves to make us laugh, take care of us and do things with us. Calvin also loves the outdoors and hunting and everything associated with either of them. Whenever we’re in a vehicle he is on the lookout for game. Coyotes, deer, elk, eagles, antelope, rabbits . . . it doesn’t matter, if it moves or is roadkill, he will see it.
One day we were hauling canoes to a large lake and after seeing some game Calvin said, “Just call me ‘Seymour.’” No one responded. After a long pause, he asked, “Do you want to know why people call me Seymour? Because I see-more of this and I see-more of that, and I see-more game than anyone else. Just call me Seymour.”
Before we knew it we had a car full of Seymour Jr.’s, then Know-mores and finally Strong-mores.
A year or two later, while driving over a nearby mountain pass, I just happened to spot some deer before Seymour. I said, “Just call me ‘Mrs. Seymour.’” No comment. “Do you want to know why? Cause I see everything Seymour misses.”
Happy Father’s Day, Seymour!
Love, your little misses
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Jist ‘Cuz
June 15, 2006
It used to drive my schoolmarm grandma nuts when she’d ask us something and we’d say, “Jist ‘cuz.” She always corrected us. You should be glad she did, jist ‘cuz it’s made my blog so much easier to read and understand.
Today I’m driving down to spend the day with Cali, just because. Just because she is close enough and I can. Just because I enjoy her. Just because I want to go see where she jogs and walks and eats her lunch in the park and some of the cool things she likes to do. The next several months will go far too fast and then she will move and I will be wishing that I could do things with her just because.
I picked the big Tupperware bowl of strawberries yesterday. I hurried and made a batch of strawberry fruit leather to take to Cali, just because she loves it. Ande’s job today (she doesn’t want to go anywhere on her first day of school vacation) is to pick another bowl and make strawberry jam or pick two bowls. Hmmm. Can’t wait to see which she decides to do.
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June 14, 2006
Yellow —daffodil, sunshine, butter, egg, custard, sunflower, lemon, baby chick, corn on the cob, candle flame—yellow brightens, gladdens and gives hope. Scientists say babies like yellow best. Try revitalizing meals by adding a touch of yellow: a lemon slice in a glass of water, lemonade, a yellow vegetable or fruit, a burning candle, or a simple yellow flower for a centerpiece. Splash a little yellow in a room for a cheery greeting: add a yellow pillow, a yellow frame or picture, a yellow flowering plant, a yellow pot, a yellow book on the table, or a bright lamp. Just a dab can make a difference.
After reading about the power of yellow, I put a yellow quilt on top of a cedar chest. Cali, our daughter, came into the kitchen where I was fixing breakfast and said, “You know, I woke up mad this morning and was going to let _______ (someone who shall forever remain nameless) have it, but when I saw the quilt you put on the cedar chest I thought, ‘It’s not that big of a deal, let it go.’ That quilt looks nice, mom.” Hmmmm...was it the yellow? Just a dab seemed to make a difference and that works for me!
Go to Shannon's blog for more Works for Me tips.
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comments jp@neighborjanepayne.com
So true! I mean...how can you stay grumpy when you look at a vase of yellow flowers? It's like looking at sunshine. Mom2fur (Clare)
Hey Jane-
I never can figure out how to leave comments at your blog, but I wanted you to know that I absolutely love your blog and read it everyday. J
Today's "yellow tip" was right up my alley. I love the fresh air you breathe into homemaking. Michelle
Great story about your daughter. Yellow is my favorite color (if I must choose a favorite). J
Carmen www.mywordwrites.blogspot.com
Hey Jayne, great tip about yellow - it's my daughter's favorite color! It went from pink one day to yellow. I can see why. I think her new room we're going to paint this color. --Theresa M. Locastro theresalocastro.blogspot.com
Jane! I'm back! I love yellow too, as you can see in my whole house. Every room that I have painted, or done something to has some form of yellow in it. I love the color! So cheerful! Can't wait for
retreat! Only six more days..... Susan Pyle http://unclutteringapyle.typepad.com/
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Quotable Quotes
June 13, 2006
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” --Christopher Robin
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I Learned it in the Garden
June 12, 2006
In an earlier post, I talked about edible borders. A few years ago we planted strawberries in the large flowerbed next to our front door and I love them because the plants thrive, stay green and keep the weeds down all summer. They also produce in the spring.
It’s time to pick strawberries again this evening. I served the last batch on an old-fashioned pound cake. I think I like pound cake for strawberry short cake better than angel food cake or a regular white cake. Pound cake isn’t as sweet as the other two cakes and yet it isn’t as dry and tasteless as the little biscuits my mom used to have me make for strawberry shortcake!
Loaf Pound Cake
¾ cup margarine or butter
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 ¼ cups flour
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs. Beat well. Add dry ingredients. Stir until well mixed. Grease 9” x 5” x 3” loaf pan and pour in batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until done. Cool in pan. Serve with whipped cream and sliced, slightly sweetened strawberries on top.
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“Frankly, My Dear . . .”
June 10, 2006
The satellite to the TV is turned off, our DVD player is broken, and our VCR is over seventeen years old. But no matter, we have Ande. Ande and I sat down to watch a couple of old videos we rented last night. The movies cost 49 cents to rent—meaning we got what we paid for—and were often fuzzy. Each time the picture went blurry Ande gave the monologue until the scene reappeared. She was invaluable! Her inflection and tone fit the characters perfectly.
TV has never been a focal point in our home, and as long as Ande is around to remind us of the good stuff we’ve seen before, I doubt it will be. Especially, because she giggles afresh at the lines she’s heard a hundred times before.
