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.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

144: "things that go bump in the night"

 "From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night, good Lord deliver us."  Most of us are at least familiar with the "things that go bump in the night" part, but perhaps you don't know all of the old Cornish prayer.  Tomorrow is All Hallow Eve or as we call it Halloween.

There are so many aspects of Halloween, but one of my favorites is the carving of pumpkins.  I have so many fond memories of the sticky, gooey, hideously messiness business of carving pumpkins when the kids were young.  We always ended up with pretty traditional carvings.  The modern stencil kits and all the fancy plastic knives were unheard of then. We used steak knives and hoped for
                                                the best.



Oh, I know that some mothers and fathers said "You can only eat two pieces of candy tonight."  Not at the Hunt's house.  No, Sir-ee!  It was a candy free for all!  By the next day, they were so sick of candy we were free to toss the whole left over mess, after Bob and I picked through and ate all the really good stuff like Baby Ruth, Snickers and of course, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!



The early "jack-o'-lantern" was actually carved from a turnip.  In the late 1800's British mischievous boys used them to frighten late night travelers.  Catholic children used them when they went door to door to represent the souls of the dead while begging for "soul cakes" on Hallowmas (All Saints Day, Nov.1)  Their prayers for the dead were exchanged for "soul cakes." 




According to legend though, the jack-o'-lantern took its name from a drunken Irishman known as "Stingy Jack" who tricked the Devil into promising he wouldn't have to go to hell for his sins.  When Jack died he found out he had been barred from heaven, so he journeyed to the gates of hell to demand his due.  The Devil kept his promise and doomed Jack to wander the earth for all eternity with only an ember of hellfire to light his way.  Thenceforth he was known as "jack-o'-lantern.


Who could deny this famous "Jack?" When he said "Here's Johnny!"
that movie scared the dickens out of me!  Pretty amazing for a punkin!


Living in the country has it's advantages, 
but boy do we miss the little "trick or treaters!"
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