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.

Friday, November 19, 2010

79. Shooting Stars

The other morning, or night, if you will, we set the clock for 4 a.m. and traipsed to the hot tub to watch the Leonid Meteor showers. They were to be visible in the eastern skies after moon set and before dawn.  We lived at the beach for so many years and there was always a cloud cover and city lights so we couldn't see them.  But out here the sky is usually pretty clear and it can get REALLY dark, so some years they are spectacular.  One year comes to mind about 10 years ago when we had just moved out here we were having a little dinner party. We moved out to the front porch in hopes of seeing a few shooting stars.  That year the event was earlier in the evening, around 10 p.m., as I recall.  As we searched the heavens a few smaller ones  were visible and then all of a sudden a most spectacular meteor arched across the sky right in front of us.  You could see pieces falling from behind and it was ever so bright.  It's beauty made us gasp.  We went back inside because we knew we couldn't top that.

This year they must have been lower on the horizon and behind the ridge of the canyon because we saw only a handful of what I would class as shooting stars. The  kind we see on any given clear night.  Shooting stars always make Bob a little saddened because he feels that something very special has ended before his eyes.  I've always had a sense of excitement and pleasure being able to look up at just the perfect time to witness the event.  I sometimes wonder how many other people on earth were able to look up  at just  that moment  and share it  with me...a  hundred, a thousand...or  just me.  We were just a little disappointed, but warm and happy we tumbled back into bed.  It certainly wasn't a waste of time, besides sometimes it's fun to make your own shooting stars!




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1 comment:

  1. Jessica @ The Thought GardenNovember 20, 2010 at 10:24 AM

    I remember seeing a meteor shower one summer at camp. We all got up in the middle of the night and went out onto an open field, laid back in the grass and stared up at the sky as the stars started falling. I can still picture it in my mind and am filled with wonder all over again. What a great memory. Sounds like you have some great ones too. = ) Love you! Jessie

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