Unclogging A Drain Naturally!

My bathroom sink has been draining off slowly. I hated to ask Hubby to come in again and open up the drain and clean it, so I Googled “How To Unclog A Drain Naturally”. I got out my old friends and cleaning champions – Baking Soda and Vinegar and got ready to rock and roll my bathroom sink.

I could hardly wait to give them a try.  This process works with a slow drain, but it would be interesting to see how it works with standing water in the sink.

Here’s what I did:

  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1 large pot of boiling water

(I removed my pop-up drain stopper first. Mine simply unscrewed.) Carefully pour the baking soda down the drain.  Follow with 1 cup of white vinegar.  Let it stand for about 15 minutes.  Then I poured a pot of boiling water down the drain.

It was moving a little faster, but still a bit slow.  So I repeated the process.

The second time worked like a charm, I heard a gurgling noise (which sounded encouraging) and when I poured the boiling water in, it really went down fast.  Now it drains as fast as when it was brand new.  Totally amazing.  And to think, I just used what was in my pantry, no $$$ out the door.

Hubby wasn’t sure this would work. He stood by watching me conduct this Scientific Experiment”! Even he was impressed when the drain ran clearly!

All I can say is, I wish my Science Teachers had been this interesting in school. I might have paid more attention, and become a Rocket Scientist, or something equally as glamorous!

So tuck this away, for the day you need to unclog that drain. Since my hair is longer now I will probably do it once a month to keep it running this well!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill Ins

And…here we go!

1. I don’t know what it’s like to fly a plane; I only know how it feels to be along for the ride.
2. “She Made It Through” would be a great title for my life.
3. A couple of weeks from now it will be my 54th birthday.
4. I’m planning my own Birthday party, complete with a delicious cake and any number of things.
5. I drove from my house to Mandy’s house last week and had a chance to visit and play with Savannah.
6. There have been wonderful moments in my life when I was happy.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finding something new and wonderful to do, tomorrow my plans include clearing my garden and getting it ready to go to bed for the winter and Sunday, I want to get the laundry done!

Another Movie

I know we have been watching a lot of movies lately, but this morning we watched one that we felt truly drawn too. It was called “The Snow Walker”. It really didn’t get much of a run back when it was released in 2003, but it tells a great story, I promise you!

When I was in 5th grade we studied Eskimos. I think that was my favorite part of Social Studies that year. We watched films that were taken in the middle of winter up where the Eskimos roamed and I fell in love with those happy people and their beautiful babies!

I never did hear that many Eskimos are Inuits. I simply knew that if offered, I would get on the next sled and head north to meet them!

This wonderful movie, takes a cocky pilot, and strands him in the middle of the frozen tundra of Canada with a young Inuit woman, that he is trying to fly to a hospital. For a man, who believes he knows everything, to find that he actually knows nothing, about survival, makes him face his own mortality.

The young girl, refuses to allow him to shake her resolve to survive, and she quietly goes about her way, showing him how to work with nature to survive.

If you have Amazon.com Prime, you can watch this movie for free. You can also rent it through NetFlix.

Find the movie, if you can and watch it. You will be glad that you did! Enjoy!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s the best and worst thing thing about growing older?

The best thing is knowing so much more than you did in your twenties. What is important, what’s not. Knowing yourself. The worst thing…that’s easy…”Hot Flashes”!

2. Autumn arrives this week in the Northern Hemisphere…what one thing do you love most about the fall season?

Soups and stews. I don’t make these in the summer, it’s just too hot, but in the winter, I love to make beef stew, chicken soup, or butternut squash soup, etc. You name it, I soup or stew it!

3. Speaking of fall…pumpkin seems to be flavoring everything these days-are you a fan? What’s your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?

This is funny. Although I love pumpkin pie, bread, and muffins, I do not care to drink pumpkin anything, with coffee being at the top of my list!

4. Since we’re on the subject of fall…what’s the worst fall you’ve ever taken?

I’ve had two bad falls in my life. Last year I fell down the cement steps on the side of our house. I was black and blue all over. Thankfully I did not break anything!

The other bad fall was six years ago when I was skiing and took a really bad tumble. I injured my Meniscus, and had a Medial Collateral Ligament injury. I was laid up for some time and worst of all…I had Greta’s 5 puppies that I needed to tend to each day! (That was the litter of pups with Arnie & Anneliese in it!)

5. If you could own a prop from any film what would you choose?

The “Ruby Slippers” from “The Wizard of Oz”.

6. What’s the most interesting word you’ve read or learned in the past week?

Okay the word is “chuffed”. Which means blissful, glad [British], delighted, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, thankful, tickled. Using it in a sentence “I was feeling rather chuffed with myself, having competed in a cricket tournament with some of England’s best.”

7. When was the last time you locked yourself out of your house, car, or office? Was it a big deal?

A few years back. Thankfully our neighbor and I exchanged keys a few years back and so we can each get into our houses should we need to.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I looked out across our lake yesterday, and it is starting to pop with orange colors on the trees. Yes, Autumn is upon us, and soon the trees will be turning yellow and red and the leaves will be falling. I love this time of year. I love fires in the hearth in the evening, to take the chill off the house. I love the smell of a fresh apple pie baking in the oven and beef stew simmering on the stove. Oh yes, and I love the fact that my birthday creeps in mid November! I never mind birthdays. They remind me that I am alive!

Snacks

Have I ever mentioned that I am a Hostess Snack Cake Addict? Well I am! I admit it here and now. I love Little Debbie too, but Hostess will always come first in my book!

hostess

It all started with the Twinkies, when I was in pre-school, and then went to the Ho-ho’s and cupcakes. I didn’t go on to the fruit pies until High School, and then when I was a young Mom drinking strong coffee due to sleep deprivation, I began hitting the donettes! Nothing could put a smile on my face faster, than a sugar filled treat!

There was a dalliance with Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls! Oh how I love those cream filled delights!

little debbie swiss

They were do wonderfully delicious, but “Little Debbie” didn’t make a little Maribeth!

In fact I have not had a Hostess treat or a Little Debbie since 2008! Yeah not since then!

Now I eat “other things”. Healthy things. At least, most of the time. Occasionally, I do splurge on something sweet or nice, but no longer do I eat junk food!

Consequently, this morning I heard that Hostess Foods is looking at Bankruptcy! See? I stop my patronage, and all their business is shot to heck!

What’s your favorite junk food? Chips. Sweets? Ice Cream? Okay gang, time to confess? What is your favorite snack?

What I Did This Weekend

Miss Marple 2

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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My weekend began on Friday with a trip down to see my girls, Mandy and Savannah! Mandy had two doctor’s appointments, and so Grandma got to play with Savannah and take pictures, and even work with her to vocalize.

Yes, I know babies cry, but this is different. I would make a noise like “Ahhhhhhh” and then tap my mouth like a little Indian. At first Savannah was curious about this, and then when I stopped, she would go “Ahhhhhh” and I tapped her lips so she made the noise too! This made her laugh! What fun!

After I left, I went grocery shopping and home, where my day ended nice and early.

Saturday I decided to really kick back and relax. I think some days you just have to say, “Okay, I need a break!” I watched movies, I watched the Carly Simon Concert I had ordered from Amazon.com,

and made Hubby a thick spaghetti sauce to top his pasta for dinner.

I really am enjoying the Carly Simon music. So much of it brings me back to when I was a teenager and it seemed I related my feelings of the moment to a song. Her songs always touched me.

Sunday we were lazy again, just watching TV and reading the newspapers. I changed the sheets and walked dogs, and did a little house work before we went out to a cook-out (barbecue) honoring a friend, who is running for State office.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Random

In the last few days I have been thinking about some things and I thought I would share them with you. One of those things just happened a minute ago. Hubby’s cell phone rang, and it was a wrong number. I said to the man, who was looking for Tony, “I’m sorry, but you have the wrong number.”

Then the man just hung up! Just like that…he hung up. No apologies, just hung up!

Where are people’s manners? Tell me, if you get a wrong number, don’t you say, “I’m sorry.” for bothering that person, or is it just me?

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Then there was yesterday. I’m still not sure if I should be speaking to Hubby. Here is what he did to me!

I’d been with Mandy and Savannah all day, and when I headed home I needed to stop at the grocery store.  I was just exhausted, and it took me an hour to do the shopping. I was just getting onto the highway when my cell phone rang and it was Jack.
He said, “Where are you?”
I said “Just getting on the highway, why?”
and he said, “Oh I am in Isle 6 in the grocery store!”
I said, “WHAT!”
and then he said, “Just teasing! I am at home!!!

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Although I think of myself as being a shy person, it sort of dawned on me that, given the right situation, I am an incredibly social person.

Take yesterday in the grocery store. The place was not mobbed at all. The summer crowds are gone, so as I wended my way through the store I kept seeing the same people, over and over. Of course the ones with babies drew me instantly and heard all about our Savannah. But there were other people, and each time we passed each other, we spoke.

I realized then, that I was actually enjoying the little conversations. Are you the type to rush in and out of the grocery store, or do you talk to strangers as well as the employees?

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I know this picture is small, but currently we have three Ground Hogs living at the top of our driveway! I took this picture with my cell phone.

ground hog

Rotten little rodents! In case you live in a country where you have escaped them, here is a little background on these beasts.

The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but the woodchuck is a lowland creature. It is widely distributed in North America and common in the northeastern and central United States. Groundhogs are found as far north as Alaska, with their habitat extending southeast to Georgia.
Mostly herbivorous, groundhogs primarily eat wild grasses and other vegetation, including berries and agricultural crops, when available.
The groundhog is the largest sciurid in its geographical range, typically measuring 40 to 65 cm (16 to 26 in) long (including a 15 cm (6 in) tail) and weighing 2 to 4 kg (4 to 9 lb).. (Read this as, my garden and our fruit trees are it’s favorite eating place! Our Ground Hogs are very large, as they eat very well!)

ground_hog-8220

I borrowed this, so you can see in detail, what they look like!

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I have several items in the fridge that need to be used up. Chicken, tomatoes, and some broccoli. I’m thinking if I chop up some onions, peppers, and saute it up, and serve it over noodles, that this might be a nice and easy meal!

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Happy Sunday!

Savannah Rose

On Friday I went down and babysat Savannah Rose while Mandy had two doctor’s appointments. She had grown so much and changed too! No longer a little baby, she is now more aware and alert!

Sept 14 030

We watched a little Sesame Street, rolled around on the floor and I played with her trying to get her to make vocalization noises. I would say “AHHHHHHH” and tap my mouth like and Indian. Then when she started to do it, I tapped lightly on her mouth so she made the sounds too! Oh she just loved that!

Sept 14 035

She is totally beautiful and very sweet! You should have seen me, on the floor crawling around and then this little gal must be going through a growth spurt because she is just chugging her bottles!

Sept 14 043

As you can see, her eyes are staying light blue and gorgeous! I am simply a sucker for blue eyes!

Well, this old Grandma needs to get a nighty on and go to bed.

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill Ins

And…here we go!

1. Sunshine, blue skies, and a life of good things.
2. “That is a great story in the newspaper”, is the last thing I overheard someone say.
3. I found a recipe for meatloaf and it really tasted good!
4. I’m looking forward going down to see Mandy and the lovely Savannah Rose! I haven’t been down in two weeks and I have really missed them.
5. Right now the dishes are done, the dogs have been walked and I am waiting for the “Big Bang Theory” to start.
6. Gurgling, laughing, smiling, babies make me smile makes me smile!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to putting my feet up and watching a movie or two, tomorrow my plans include going out to the movies and Sunday, I want to go to a party for my friend, Jeanie!

Thursday Thirteen

Aug 1 002

First the free vacation contest is still underway. Please remember to go HERE and look for my funny face under Mcewan and vote for me. That would be terrific. And have your friends vote too! I sure could use a vacation! You can vote once per day until September 20th.

Here we are…another Thursday! There are days I feel pressured to try to come up with something that makes sense, and this weeks Thursday Thirteen is no exception. I think I am a little burnt out from the last week and all the writing I have done. So today I am winging it. Here goes!

Thirteen things that have been going on in my little town, and my life.

  1. We had the local election primaries on Tuesday.
  2. My friend won her primary for State Senate.
  3. Now it is on to the election in November!
  4. I was down another half a pound at Weight Watchers!
  5. The local paper printed a story about Hubby’s Orchard on Tuesday!
  6. There was even a picture of my guy holding an apple, with Fritz in the background.
  7. That picture is how I will always think of my sweet Hubby!
  8. He is truly a man of the land!
  9. I’m trying to get caught up with my laundry, but I keep getting side tracked!
  10. Today I go to have my tooth measured for a crown.
  11. Then Friday I get to go and see my Sweet Savannah Rose!
  12. Oh, I can hardly wait for that!
  13. Being a Grandma, is the best thing in the world!