What to do – boredom busters

One of the main problems with “stay at home” orders is that people are not use to doing nothing. Many are finding  their  normal routines are  not allowed until this virus has ran it course and things calm down.  A  person can only   play so many video games and watch so much TV.  So how can you keep you and possible your kids from getting bored without costing a lot?

1.  Read your religious books, have at home church services
2. Learn a new language. There are many free lessons on the computer that teach almost any language’
3.  Learn to read music and play an instrument.  Now is the time to dust off the piano or dig  out the guitar that you got back when you thought it would be “cool” to learn to play. Again check the internet for lessons.
4. Start a garden. You don’t need a lot of land to make a garden. Most vegetables only need 6 inches of sol , water and sun to grow. They can grow in containers on the patio or in raised garden boxes in the back yard. A 4 x 4 foot area can grow a lot of food.
5. Deep clean  your house – one room at a time. This is a good time to remove clutter and get organized.
6.  Organize  that box of old photographs stashed away in the closet. Scan them into the computer and share with family and friends. Discard duplicate and blurry photos and safeguard the rest in photo boxes.
7. Clean out your closets. Donate all those clothes that are too small or that you have not worn for the last two years.
8. Check the gutters and roof and make arrangements to have them cleaned or replaced if needed.
9. This would be a good time to plan any changes that you would like to do in your landscape. You may not be able to go the store  every day but you can dig new flower beds so they are ready when you do go shopping next time.
10. Play with you kids. They need more attention now to help keep them from being scared. Try to keep them busy so they don’t hear all the “gloom and doom” that the news media loves to talk about.
11. Walk your dogs, play with you cats. Try to teach your bird to talk.
12. Read some books. I know the library is closed but ebooks and computers are great sources for books. I can’t remember the last time I actually brought a book since there are so many good books that you can get for free on your ebooks.
13.  Crochet or knit. Don’t know how ? Again there are great instructions as close as your computer.
14. Color. Grab a crayon, color pencils  or paints and color. You can print off pages from the internet or even covert photos into coloring pages using your computer. Kids love coloring pictures of there family and pets. Adults have found that coloring helps to reduce stress.
15.  Call , text or write a letter to  someone you care about.
16. Put together a puzzle.
17.  Always grabbing the wrong key?  Engrave or paint each key so you know which one to grab when you go to unlock a door.
18. Practice folding paper and learn origami. Again check out the internet.
19. Place a bird feeder by a window and learn to identify the different birds. Feeders can be made from used food containers or simple a pine cone smeared with peanut butter.
20. Exercise. You don’t need  to go to the gym to get some exercise.  Pull out those old VHS tapes or DVD’s and  appropriate machine to play them on and exercise!
21. Turn off the TV and listen to music
22. Bake cookies
23.  Learn some magic tricks. You never know when you  may have to entertain  someone.
24. Give yourself a manicure or pedicure.
25. Wash your dog
26. Brush your cat
27. Update your resume
28. Research your family tree.
29.  Go for a walk or hike
30. Start a blog.
31.  Clean out your old computer files and make room on your phone or tablet for more stuff.
32. Learn to juggle
33. Learn to make balloon animals
34. Sent out messages of encouragement and hope
35. Lie on the ground and watch the clouds
36. Play out in the rain
37. Turn the music up LOUD and DANCE
38.  Take a virtual museum tour
39. Put up your Christmas tree and decorate it with Easter eggs.
40. Bake bread
41. Get out the karaoke machine and sing.
42. Redecorate  a room in your house
43. Get crafty with old stuff
44. Clean and  paint patio furniture
45. Play with Play- Doh
46. Experiment with your hair.
47. Take a bubble bath
48.  Make a video  for social media
49. Teach your dog a new trick
50.  Cook and freeze some meals
51. Keep  a journal of thoughts, feelings, desires and circumstances
52. Complete any unfinished sewing or craft project
53.  Clean out the garage
54. Sit in your balcony and enjoy the breeze/sun
55. Go over all your pens, markers and throw away some that are not working
56. Clean all windows and mirrors in your house
57. Clear your compost bin into the garden and start it again
58. Make a vision board with your goals and desires for the next five years
59. Watch the stars at night
60. Watch live Webcams of animals online.
61. Watch You Tube videos
62. Learn to Meditate
63. Shop online – just because you have it in your cart you don’t have to actually buy it
64. Mix a drink either hot or cold and sit outside and watch and listen
65. Create a photo collage
66. Take photos of birds, plants and animals
67. Climb a tree
68. Go fly a kite
69. Research something that you are interested in
70. Write poems. short stories or even start that book.
71. Wash and detail your car
72. Clean the aquarium
73. Clean and organize your file cabinet
74. Clean the basement
75. Play cards and board games
76. Go out and clean up your yard
77. Clean all the ceiling fans in your house
78. Paint a picture
79. Make some yard art using things you find at home or on walks
80. Start seeds inside the house
81. Explore the attic –  really when was the last time you were up there?
82. Add whimsical  items to your yard to make people smile.  I have a bunch of scarecrows placed in my garden mainly because I like the “company” since they do not scare away any animals or birds.
83.  Have a special movie night at home with popcorn, candy, etc.
84.  Fix a romantic meal for two (after the kids are in bed if need be). Use the best china and candlelight.
85. Go for a drive. No need to stop anywhere just take a little drive to get away from the house.
86. Take a bike ride.
87. Make a list of things you want to do once the stay at home order is lifted.
88. Weed flower and garden beds
89. Check on older folks to see if they need anything.  Some only need to know that someone is thinking about them while others may need help in getting or even paying for food, medicine, etc.
90. Teach your children how to do basic things: cook simple foods, sew buttons and seams, change oil in machines, etc.
91. Take naps – short ones
92. Relax at little – stay up later and sleep in if you normally have to go to bed early and get up early.
93. Explore other places through the  internet
94. Make your own laundry detergent. You probably have what you need in the laundry room.
95. Use sidewalk chalk and draw on your driveway. Sent happy  messages to those driving by until the nest rain
96.  Watch old home movies
97. Write down your life story. No one lives forever and I know that there  were stories  that my parents  told  that I just can’t remember the details
98.  Play ball with the kids, your spouse or your dog.
99.  Have a picnic on the balcony , patio or the back yard
100. If you have kids experience the  e learning  method with them. Help them with the assignments and encourage them to learn.

Few people are enjoying this new “normal” most of us will be happy to see and touch our friends and love ones again, to go shopping at the places we want and not just the places that are open. In the mean time please stay safe and keep a safe distance from others when you have to go to the stores.

What a month!

I haven’t posted anything for the last month because  I was busy trying to keep things going while I had a miserable head cold.  I still have a cough in the evening but otherwise I am doing much better. I only missed two complete workouts at the gym but I did do very light workouts the week before and after  being sick.

Just a quick update of what I did get finished last month. I brought a wind spinner at the local Home Show and sprayed it with Rust oleum color shift paints.

I liked the way it shimmered in the sun but decided it was way too dark and plain.  My solution was to paint the butterflies. I got one side finished and was getting ready to do the back side when the back of the head headache hit hard. The project was put on hold for the next two weeks! I finally finished hand painting each butterfly with my original designs.

I waited until we had a nice warm windless day and sprayed the finished project with some clear iridescent color shift paint from Rust oleum.

I love the way it turned out!

The daffodils I planted on New Year’s Day and placed on the enclosed porch for forcing in February actually bloomed on schedule. It was a wonderful pick me up when I was feeling too sick to go outside. I am not kidding even my wonderful husband fed and took care of all my animals while I was sick. I don’t think he is a big fan of the chickens since they were not super friendly towards him.

I spent lots of time at the window taking pictures of our outside visitors.

Why I added some weight

Yes, I added weight this year. Okay I will admit I have added some unwanted weight to my body but that is another story. This story is about the weight I added to my bed in the form of a weighted blanket.  A weighted blanket is simply a blanket that weighs between  4 to 30 pounds. They are  filled with discs, poly pellets, glass, or polypropylene plastic beads. The weight of the blanket  mimics a deep pressure stimulation  which uses pressure to relax the nervous system.

The use of a weighted blanket can help to:

1. Reduce Stress
2. Help the Elderly
3. Reduce Anxiety
4. Help Balance Brain Chemistry
5. Help Manage OCD
6. Ease Restless Legs Syndrome
7. Improve Overall Sleep Quality
8. Sharpen Focus for ADHD
9. Help with Symptoms of PTSD
10. Promote Calmness with Autism Spectrum Disorder
11. Decrease Anxiety in Pets
12. May Help Alleviate Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia
13. Ease Symptoms of Depression

Weighted blankets may benefit people with anxiety, insomnia and other sleep disorders, those with osteoarthritis, people with chronic pain, people who suffer from PTSD, ADHD and autism.

Weighted blankets should NOT be used in children under the age of 2,  people with sleep apnea, asthma, or those that are claustrophobic.

Weighted blankets work best if you choose the right weight.  A weighted blanket should be 5 to 10 percent of your body weight. Most adults need a blanket between 12 to 30 pounds.  Use a 3 to 8 pound blanket for a child weighing between 20 to 70 pounds. A 30- to 130-pound child, a medium weighted blanket should weigh from 5 to 15 pounds. Older adults may want to use a lighter blanket of  5 to 8 pounds depending on now healthy they are.

I was having trouble sleeping and usually stayed up until 2 to 3 in the morning or until I felt sleepy enough to fall asleep. I would try going to bed earlier and I would end up staring at the clock until 3 or 4 in the morning. I just could not go to sleep.  The last time I was at the dentist I noticed that the lead “protection”  bib made me feel calmer and actually relaxed. I mentioned that I was thinking about getting a weighted blanket to  Doug.  He got me a 12 pound blanket during the Thanksgiving weekend and it has made a huge difference. I no longer dislike going to bed because I don’t fight sleep. In fact I actually look forward to getting in bed and  pulling that blanket  over me. I immediately  feel calm and no longer toss and turn as the weight of the blanket “holds” me in place. It feels like a huge hug all night long.

Test your Slow cooker

If you are like me you have a slow cooker setting around somewhere.  We used to use ours all the time but then I noticed we didn’t feel that good after eating a meal from it.  We got rid of that one  and the new one worked  great with no ill effects afterwards. So what happened?  Simple, the older crock pot go longer heated up to a high enough temperature to keep the food safe.

We do not use the crock pot much on the summer but come fall and winter I start looking for nice hot easy to fix meals. The crock pot has been setting on the shelf for months and it is getting older, so how do you know it is safe to use? You test it!

The test is super easy but will take a few hours.  It is well worth the time to know that the pot is working correctly  and can bring you peace of mind. Not to mention months of good safe tastily meals.

Let’s test those crock pots!!

1) Fill your slow cooker with 2 quarts of tepid water. Heat covered on low for 2 hours without peeking. Using a quick-read thermometer, check the temperature of the water quickly as the temperature can drop dramatically when the lid is removed. It should be above 165 degrees. If the temperature is below 160 degrees, this means that your slow cooker does not heat foods quickly enough to reach a safe temperature.

2) Replace the lid and continue heating on low for 6 more hours (total 8 hours). Check the temperature of the water again with a quick read thermometer. The temperature of the water should be 185 degrees F. If the temperature is higher than 185 degrees, this would indicate that a meal cooked for 8 hours without stirring would be overdone. If the temperature is below 185 degrees, this could mean that it  does not heat food to an adequate temperature in order to  avoid potential food safety problems.

The water temperature should be 185 degrees F.  It can be higher but not lower.   The low setting is designed to be 200 degrees, the high setting is designed to be 300 degrees with food temperatures maintained between 170 and 280 degrees. 

If the temperature is lower then 185 degree F you should toss that pot and buy a new one.

Temperatures between 40-140 degrees F is the “danger zone” in your slow cooker. Bacteria will grow quickly and easily in your food if it stays in that range too long.  Food in the pot will obviously spend time at these temperatures no matter what but if your cooker is heating the meal too slowly, you are creating a breeding ground for bacteria which can make you and your family very sick.

Other reasons to toss your old crock pot:

1. It has an electric cord surrounded by fabric.  Fabric cords do not meet today’s safety standards and are a fire hazard.
2. If the insert is firmly attached to the heating element, instead of a removable insert, then it’s time to toss the pot.
3. If the lid does not fit tightly on the pot then toss the pot. The lid must fit snugly to ensure complete cooking.
4. It is the wrong size for your family. These  cookers and their  recipes are designed for a pot that is filled 2/3 to 3/4 of capacity.
5. Do not use if the crock that has chips, cracks or breaks.

I tested my crock pot last night and it was 170  degrees after 2 hours and 210 degrees after 8 hours. That means it is working but I will need to watch the food during the final stages to make sure it does not get overcooked.

Whys to use chicken poop

One thing for sure is that chickens produce a lot of poop!  I use to place straw in my coop and  clean the coop twice a month in the summer and once a month in the winter. I stored the bedding in a large garbage can and used the compost on the bird garden. This year I added roast and nesting pads to the coop and  do not use any bedding.  I now simply clean off the dropping boards every morning which keeps the coops dry and clean but it also lets me collect bucket full of pure poop without any other material. That is a plus because it  means less trips to the compost bin. It takes about a month for my small flock  of 4 to fill a 5 gallon bucket . The rooster is my biggest poop producer. LOL  One regular hen can produce up to 90 pounds of poop in a year.

So how do I use all that poop? For a long time I simply tossed it into the woods. Yeah, stupid I know.  One year I decided to dump the collected bedding onto the bird garden and what a difference! All that time I was wasting  that free fertilizer!  Chicken manure must be used carefully, but is among the most desirable organic fertilizers and will give your garden soil a spectacular boost and it is free. Chicken manure is a “hot” manure meaning it is high in nitrogen and plants that come in contact with  fresh chicken manure will be “burned” by the nitrogen content and will quickly wither. So how do I mange this super food and make if safe for the garden?

There are a few different  ways to use the manure and it all depends on how fast you want to use it in the garden.

If I want to feed the garden in the next 3 to 4 weeks I can make “tea” just remember not to spray this directly onto plants. This can be a bit messy but it works if you are in a hurry and is  simple to make.  There are two methods to make “tea”.   Some people prefer to allow the manure to age for at least 60 days and others for 6 months.  I have always used aged manure for my tea.

Method one:  Fill a burlap sack  or old pillowcase with manure and weigh it down. You can use  a couple of bricks or a large rock. Place the sack in a large plastic trash can and fill the can with water at a ratio of 1/3 manure in sack to 2/3 water.  Let this seep for a day or two.  When you are ready to use the tea remove the sack and wring it out. Place the wet manure on the compost bun and toss the sack and leave the tea in the bucket  until you are ready to dilute it for garden use.

The second method is my favorite way to make this tea since I use five gallon buckets to store the manure before carrying it to the compost bin or garden. Simply fill a five-gallon plastic bucket two-thirds of the way full with water. Add enough manure to fill the bucket the rest of the way. Let this steep for a day or two, stirring once or twice a day. When you’re ready to use it, leave it alone for an hour so the solids settle to the bottom, then simply pour the liquid into another container. You could also just dip into the bucket to use what you need as you need it.

No matter which method you use  the tea must be diluted to the color of weak tea before applying it to the garden.  Do not use this tea for “root” crops, do not apply directly to the plants and do not store it have later use.

If you are applying the chicken manure to the garden in the fall and will not be planting until spring then you can use this simple direct method. When you are finished cleaning up the garden in the fall and getting it ready for winter  you can  spread the fresh manure over the soil at a ratio of approximately 20 pounds of pure poo with no bedding per 100 square feet. That is about .2  pound per square foot which is 3.2 ounces or about a 2/5 of a cup.  You could use 1/3 cup which is a little less than 2/5.  Turn the manure into the soil and allow it to rest over the winter.  After 3 to 4 months  the soil can be turned again  and be planted. Some people worry that fresh chicken manure is dangerous to add to the soil  and it is true that  fresh chicken manure can contain a number of human pathogens and parasites, including Salmonella spp. and E. coli. High-temperature composting or simple exposure to the elements over time will kill these harmful organisms, leaving the chicken manure safer for use on food crops. If you still worry about this method, wait 120 days between compost application and harvest of any produce where the edible part touches the soil, or 90 days for other crops. This is the method  I used it on the bird garden and the new flower gardens and nothing was left for the vegetable garden.  I have not collected enough this year to do all the beds but I will used this method with what I have collected.  I will not add fresh manure after the end of October.

If you can wait between  4 to 12 months then compose the manure.

I usually start planting outdoors in March so from November through March I will compost the manure. I  will start aging the poop for tea and fall placement in April. You  can be add the fresh manure  to an existing compost bin or just combined it with carbon-based matter such as fallen leaves or dry grass clipping and leave it in a pile or corralled in chicken wire bins. Left unattended, the compost will be ready for use as fertilizer in 6-12 months. Turned occasionally will reduced the waiting time  to just 4-6 months. Making it ready to add as a side dressing  in July or August.

A 5 gallon bucket holds about 25 lbs of fresh manure or compost, so you can estimate how much to use without actually weighing the materials.

Chicken manure                                                          pounds to apply  per 100 square feet

no litter——————————————————–  20

with bedding———————————————–    30

composted ————————————————    70

Rain = Mud=Dirty Eggs

All this rain has turned the chicken park into a muddy mess which results in muddy eggs.  I know that muddy eggs can be cleaned and used but I prefer not to put dirty eggs in my refrigerator. I do not want to clean the eggs until I am ready to use them because removing the natural bloom reduced the life of the egg.  Therefore , a lot of eggs are getting tossed or broken when the hens slip trying to get into the nesting boxes. I needed to come up with a solution.

I would love to cover the whole park with river sand and pine mulch with  a gravel path to the coop or pavers but that takes money, time and drier conditions. It is impossible to dig up a path when it is this wet! So I have not been able to continue with my planned gravel path put did place a few pavers down in the park to help me keep clean and not fall.

In the meantime I have added some straw to the enclosed run below the coop and a rubber mat in front of the area they use to enter the pen which helps dry their feet on the way to the nest.

I still needed to deal with the dirty nesting boxes. I have been using plain straw in the boxes but the hens were sleeping in boxes at night and I have found a lot of broken eggs. I had two problems to solve. 1. Keep the hens out of the boxes when not laying. 2. Keep them from breaking the eggs.

I needed  more than one solution. The straw below helped reduce the muddy eggs but I still needed an easier way to clean up from the broken eggs and the poop from them sleeping in the boxes.

First I had to give the area a good cleaning. I really had to scrub to get the nesting area clean!

I was going to order some nesting pads but the ones I wanted were out of stock and I needed something as soon as possible. I am one that likes to experiment and I found a rubber door mat with “fingers” that met my goal. I just had to cut it down to fit my boxes. You can use many things to line the boxes: plastic turf liners,  excelsior pads,  washed river sand, shredded newspapers, cardboard,  outdoor carpet, cut up yoga mats, etc.

I measured the boxes and cut the mat to size. They fit nicely.

But they smell horribly and the chicken refused to go into the coop. I ended up introducing them one at a time. I started with the box that they actually used. I have no ideal why but they all seem to use the same box every day. Since they were used to straw  I covered the mat with a thin layer of straw which I will eliminate as soon as they get used to the mats. Chicken hate change as much if not more than most people dislike it!  The other mats were placed on top of the coop to air out and by the third day they were all  inside the coop.   Cleaning the nesting box now is a matter of lifting the mat and taking it to the washing area to rinse off. The “fingers”  cushion the egg which helps reduce breakage.

Success! Well at least with the dirty egg problem I still have an egg eater that prefers the blue eggs.

The mats also took care of the cleaning problem but I still need to address the fact that the hens are using the boxes  to sleep in and that  egg eater. I did some research and a possible solution is to put up curtains. The curtains are suppose to discourage roosting in the box at night and  reduce egg eating by keeping the laid egg out of slight.  Looks like I will be making little curtains in the near future.

How to Combat Wintertime Dryness

Has the cold weather got you really all itchy and your head all dizzy? Do you lone for nice smooth silky skin and to be able to breathe normally again? According to Popular Science you should ” visit   internationally renowned museum, or investing in these home remedies:”

1. A humidifier:  A cool mist humidifier  uses ultrasonic frequency to create water droplets that a small fan then pushes out into the air. The cool mist is safer for children and pet plus they  reduce the likelihood of microbial growth common in hot steam models.  You could use one in every room that you spend a lot of time in and of course one for the bedroom that are being used nightly.
2. Cream moisturizer: This is the season to put the lightweight lotions away and bring out the nice thick creamy moisturizer. Apply as soon as you dry off from showering and again as needed to keep your skin moist. I like to keep a smaller travel size in the car to apply after hand washing when away from the house.
3. Lip balm.   Dry chapped lips can easily crack and bleed which not only looks bad but hurts. Lip balm applied as needed (morning, noon, and night) can have those lips feeling and looking better in a few days.
4. Saline spray. One shot per nostril will moisturize  your nose and help your sinus drain. Worst cases may require a shot of a  nasal decongestants to relive the symptoms of both wintertime colds and seasonal allergies – just be sure to follow instructions.
5. Eye drops. Dry air can cause dry eyes and a drop in each eye can help relieve wintertime dryness.

Why wear a kerchief to bed?

Last December I was thinking about  “The Night Before Christmas” story and I wondered about this line  – “And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,”  The definition of a kerchief is a piece of fabric used to cover the head, or worn tied around the neck. So why was it a common practice to wear kerchief and caps to bed and why  do we not do so now?

It was once a common practice to  wear a nightcap to keep warm since older houses were often drafty and heated with wood/ coal stoves that would die down during the night.  They keep bald or short hair heads warm and they keep long hair from getting all tangled.  Nightcaps also protected the hair from rodents that also “lived” in old drafty houses.

Most people no longer need the caps for night-time warmth or to keep rodents and lice from their hair. While babies, bald persons and elderly people still benefit from using night caps to help keep their heads warm at night. One of the best reasons to wear a night-cap is for healthy hair and to cut down on the amount of tangles and frizz.  People with braided hair might  choose night caps that are stretchy. These will keep hair in place and not pull strands out from the braid rows.  People with curly hair or those who have their hair styled regularly at a beauty parlor could benefit by using a gathered bonnet with a looser cap which  allows room for their curls.

Wearing a cap to bed has many benefits in today’s world.

• It  can help keep tangles away!  Brush your hair before bed to remove knots and gently twist your hair up on top of your head and wrap it with a silk scarf. No tangles in the morning and less breakage and split ends.
• It can help reduce breakouts and blemishes. Keeping hair covered and off of your face at night will help prevent the hair oils from getting into the pores on your face and potentially clogging them. It will also help keep your pillowcases cleaner.
• It can help keep your curls under control and frizz free. Natural curls can frizz overnight due to tossing and turning and covering your hair can help secure your curls in place and keep the spirals intact.
• It allows you to use an over-night hair treatment without making a big mess.
• It  can help keep your salon styled hair looking it’s best.
• It is almost a must for those recovering from chemo treatments since it not only keep the head warm but also protects the new hair growth.

Don’t have a night-cap than use a scarf.

I started wearing a crochet hat to bed last December when our furnace was acting up and found that I was warmer, my hair was easier to style in the morning and I actually slept better. We have a new furnace now but with the sub-zero weather I find that I still sleep better with the cap on at night.

Giving myself permission to take a day off!

I know  – I am retired so isn’t every day a day off?  Nope! I actually wondered how I managed to get things done  when I working –  then I realized I was working at a job and not “working” on things I loved.  This type of working is so much more rewarding but even so sometimes you just need to take a day off to relax and do nothing.  I can’t seem to actually do nothing – I still  had to go out and feed the animals and I have laundry  going but other than that I have decided to stay inside with my pup and watch TV,  play computer games,  read,  work on that felt wreath and start my “winter” puzzle.  No cleaning, no baking, no cooking and no working outside.  I tracked my seed order last night and they are due to be delivered  today  so tomorrow I will be starting seeds under the lights and  begin making seed mats but that’s tomorrow.

I have a good reason to take today off and relax.  First the weather outside is not inviting to cut brush or tend gardens – even the  greenhouse isn’t calling my name today!  Second is because I have been a bit worried about  the blood test and physical which I had scheduled. I don’t like going to see the doctor and have actually put it off for the last four years.  I prefer going to the  dentist over the doctor because the worst news I have ever gotten from the dentist is that a tooth needed to come out – but you never know what the doctor will be telling you. Don’t get me wrong I like both my doctor and dentist but prefer seeing them out in social activities  instead of in their offices.  I had that doctor’s appointment  Monday and now with that over I can relax. I was worried that I needed a bunch of test and it turns out I only need two and they are both easy ones to have done. No prep just go get it done. I guess one good thing about getting old is less of these “regular” test since I was told that if these two test come out looking normal I may never have to have them done again.  I was also worried about my cholesterol levels since at my last visit I was told to go on a Mediterranean diet to lower the numbers and lately I have not been eating correctly. The blood test showed that the level was still slightly elevated but I  scored a 4 on the scale  which is way below the 7  which is the number that they start giving pills  – so no need for any medicine!   We went to the gym after the appointment and worked out for an hour before getting a healthy lunch. I came home a very happy person and that is the reason I am taking a “me” day.

Well, the  seeds arrived as well as the book I ordered so I had another book to read this afternoon. I never even opened the seed package because it was “my day off”.

We went out to eat and stopped at Home Depot for starter soil and Walmart for cat food. Perfect ending to  great day!

 

The Story of a Mistreated Griddle

We have a gas grill that we use in the summer and a year ago I decided to buy a cast iron griddle to use  over the “dirty” wire grill. (Mainly it was because I disliked taking the grill apart to clean.) The cast iron griddle worked wonderfully! Bill could get the flame going and I could prepare the meat on the griddle for him to carry out and place on the grill. The griddle has a trough for grease so there were less flare ups to worry about and cleaning was so simple. All I needed to do was pour out the grease and  rinse the whole thing under super hot water, wipe dry and lightly oil.

That worked for a long time until one  rainy night I forgot to go back and get the cooled griddle.  We got busy with so many other things that we didn’t even have time to cook a real meal at home – so  I forgot over and over again until last month when I was putting out Halloween decorations. I noticed the grill was dusty and decide to clean it. I was applauded at the slight of the griddle when I opened the grill. It was full of grease and rust!  A bright reddish – brown lumpy bumpy  pitted mess over half the smooth side and a small spot on the flip side. I thought it was ruined but I decided to try to repair it.

First I scraped all the grease off and washed it with super hot water to really see the damage. The lump of grease was gone but my hands and sink were covered with a thick black grease that remained me of when I helped my dad repair the tractor. Soap and water refused to take it off my hands!

Next I used Dawn soap to wash the griddle and my hands hoping that the stuff would live up to it advisement. Nope the grease remained everywhere.

My next attempt proved to work much better. I soaked the whole thing in plain white vinegar for an hour, then two hours, and than three hours passed before the rust showed signs of giving up and the vinegar was a nice rusty color and had stopped bubbling. During those three hours I felt like a witch standing over her cauldron as I rub steel wool round in circles and the vinegar bubbled up.

I rinsed the griddle off to see the results. It looked better but I still refused to cook on it so I started scouring with an SOS pad (s) until all the old seasoning was almost gone. There were still a few spots on the smooth side that refuse to bluff out so I got my dremel tool  out with a wire brush bit and worked on those spots. That was slow going and I had to be very careful not to scratch to deep. It was very taxing and took forever so I had to stop since Doug was coming home for the weekend and I needed to clean the house.  But first I gave  the griddle another soap and water wash, dried and oiled it to prevent any more rusting,  I was happy with the ridged side but not the smooth side so when Bill suggested grilling steaks on the ridged side  last Saturday I said okay.

The steaks were wonderful but the big surprise came when I got ready to clean the griddle. The left over rust on the smooth side literally fell off as I ran hot water over the thing, I took a razor blade  over the entire smooth surface and finished with a perfect surface! I dried and oiled it to see what would happen. The next day there was no new rust spots but it did need more oil. I decided it was clean enough to use so I rinsed it off and tossed a few hamburgers on and Bill headed to the grill. The hamburgers  never stuck at all and the griddle cleaned up wonderfully and has that nice seasoned blackish finish once more.

Only problem I have now is that the grill needs a  paint job and some repair parts before next summer or we just need to buy a new grill!