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.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

122. Barn Owls Where Are You?

Supposedly, if you build a Barn Owl box they will come.  We are banking on that.  I know we have owls in the area because we see them fly over occasionally when we are in the hot tub at night.  You can hear them, as well.  Bob is placing the beauty he just finished yesterday on a post high above the work shop.


 I'm so happy with it.  What well heeled Barn Owl wouldn't be happy to raise babies in that deluxe model?  It has a back door that opens so we can clean it out, which we are hoping we have to do.  Gophers beware there's a new danger a comin'!




I think we are gaining ground on the gopher that has been ravaging my gazenia bed.  My friend, Buffy, said they didn't like human hair.  Well, I'm hoping they feel the same way about dog hair, which I have an abundance of.  I groom Maggie every month and the shop vac is full...well, it was full.  Every time I find a hole anywhere in the area around the house I fill it with a handful of her clippings.  They don't seem to come back to that hole.  The jury is still out, but the wire lined planter is still filled with flowers and I have enough wire to do the other half.  You do have to extend the wire about 4 inches above the ground though.  It may not be quite as aesthetically pleasing, but rocks help hide it and we have an abundance of rocks, much to Bob's chagrin.  

So if you hear of any Barn Owls that are in the market for a deluxe apartment in the sky, send them our way and we will make it worth their time.  All the fat gophers they can eat with maid service no less!










I seem to be gaining ground on keeping the gophers at bay in the front
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