Use nine: Try softening brushes that are hardened with old, dried-in paint by boiling them in vinegar and let them stand for one hour. Then heat the vinegar and brushes come to a gentle boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Rinse well, working the softened paint out of the bristles. For extremely heavy paint encrustations, you may need to repeat the process...or head to the hardware store.

Use ten: A little vinegar and salt added to the water you wash leafy green vegetables will float out bugs and kill germs.

Use eleven: Soak or simmer stuck-on food in 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar. The food will soften and lift off in a few minutes.

Use twelve: Clean and freshen the garbage disposal by running a tray of ice cubes, with 1/2 cup of vinegar poured over them, through it once a week.

Use thirteen: In a pinch, you can use equal parts of lemon juice and vinegar to clean brass and copper. On difficult areas add a little salt to the mix for some abrasive action.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

9. Faith and B'Gora, 'tis Ireland!

Our canyon is absolutely gorgeous today.  The rain has made all of the hills a glorious, iridescent green.  The tree"s leaves positively glisten they are so clean from the rain.  I've been told that our area of the coast this time of year is very reminiscent of Ireland.  We've been to England and Scotland but never to Ireland, so we'll have to take their word for it.  All I know is that the cow's are in the meadow and if there is a God, She is in her heaven and certainly in this moment and in this place, "All's right with the world."

The little creek across our road is flowing again and the air is filled with it's gurgling  sounds.  Soon, at night when we are in the hot tub, the frogs will be serenading us as we relax and try to imagine just where they've been hiding and how they got back so quick.  It makes us wonder if the creek is full enough to activate the little waterfalls further up the canyon.  We won't walk that far this morning, but will save that for another day.  As we reach the Targer's driveway, Bob notices there is watercress in this section of the creek.  I've never tasted watercress but it's beauty makes me want to jump the fence and give it a taste. Yesterday we noticed Miner's lettuce popping up.  Can you even imagine having to wait for spring to have a salad?  It is tender and sweet and must have been a wonderful treat in such a hard life.

Lupine aka Texas Bluebonnets
There are the beginnings of Lupine along side the road.  In a few weeks they will be everywhere.  One year after they had stopped blooming, we gathered their seed pods and the next spring we planted them.  It escapes me how they can spring up unbidden and uncared for all over these hills and absolutely refuse to bloom in our meadow.  In Texas they call the same plant Bluebonnets.  Bob and
I have had some lively discussions about whether or not they are the same plant.  He, of course, thinks it would be a sacrilege to even think they were the same.  What with Texas being the beginnings of all things wonderful and all.  However, Wikipedia has ended the discussion. At least as far as I'm concerned.  They say
that :  Due to the flower shape, several species are known as bluebonnets or quaker bonnets.   Ahem, I'm not one to gloat though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupin

So, whether we ever make it to Ireland or not, I can rest comfortable knowing I have probably seen what it looks like from my living room window.  Faith and B'gora, life is good!
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