Out Of Grandma's Kitchen: Butcher Knife

My grandparents on my mom's side of the family had very little in the way of material things.  They had 9 children, an elderly mother and, for a while, a grandson to care for.  My grandma raised all of their vegetables and fruit, canning all summer long with the help of her daughters.  Any meat that they ate either came from my great-grandma's farm or from hunting and fishing.

Grandpa had many mouths to provide for and he did it by working three jobs.  He worked full time, days on the railroad.  In the evening he bagged groceries at a local store, then he would come home to get a few hours of sleep.  At three in the morning he would wake up and work for the highway department putting up barriers on roads.  Then it all started over again.

When my mom and dad got married they were not given many gifts like people get today.  Instead they were given household items, many of them already used.  My grandparents couldn't afford much, but Grandpa did give my mom something that she kept close all of her life and that I value today.

The day before her wedding Grandpa handed Mom a well used butcher knife and said "every home needs a good butcher knife".  That was it and nothing more was said.  They weren't people that talked much about emotions and feelings.

I don't know much about this knife, but it was used by several generations of my family.  It's worn out, but still functional and will stay in my kitchen, close to the heart of my family for the rest of my life.

God bless,
Pam

Hemorrhaging Money Or Everything Happens In Threes

Last week was one of those weeks when everything breaks down at once.  First, DH goes out to mow the lawn and our lawnmower (which worked perfectly the week before) refuses to run.  Our lawnmower repair man, who is a very busy guy (might be a good career choice), declared it terminal.  So, the search for a new lawnmower began.

My husband, a diligent researcher, spoke with lawnmower repair guy and did some online research, which included Consumer Reports.  The interesting fact about lawnmowers is that there can be great differences between mowers of the same brand.  A Toro mower can have a not so good engine or a really good engine, plus the materials used in the body can vary.  We ended up with a Toro with an Briggs & Stratton engine and an aluminum body.  We did not get the electric start because it added a great deal to the price and we are still able to yank on a starter cord.

With the new lawnmower in the garage we decided to eat some ice cream.  Hmmm, the ice cream was very soft and so were the popsicles.  After we both accused the other of leaving the freezer door open (duh) we realized that the freezer was not working properly.  This wasn't a big surprise as our refrigerator was old, as in it was hard to find a repairman to work on it old, but we had kept it running as long as we could.  Our plan has been to remodel the kitchen and buy new appliances to fit into the new floor plan.

As the refrigerator began it's decline the rush to research and buy a new one commenced.  Once again we went to Consumer Reports to look for reliable brands.  I had my heart set on a bottom freezer, which is more energy efficient, but also, more expensive.  Speed was of the essence, so we needed to find a model that a store had in stock for immediate delivery.  DH and I split up and began to hit the stores.  Texting back and forth we finally found a make and model that worked for our space.

We ended up buying a Whirlpool side by side, with an ice maker and a water dispenser.  This was pure luxury for us as we had done without an ice maker for many years.  The installation was simple, but we had to mourn the loss of DH's banana sticker collection.  Fifteen years in the making, but it had to go with the old refrigerator.  I did take a picture of it though:

Since trouble seems to come in threes, we are waiting to see what the next money eating break down is going to be.  I am eyeing my husband's car suspiciously.  It doesn't sound so good and has had a slow oil leak for awhile now.  Sigh, we'll see.

God bless,
Pam

Summer Damage Control

This has been a very strange Spring for me, with my accomplishing little in the garden or around the outside of the house.  I have a good excuse though; I developed a chronic conjunctivitis, which has now been diagnosed as rosacea affecting the eyes.  I haven't been able to tolerate the sun or pollen at all.

So, here it is, almost June, and my gardens are empty and the yard overgrown.  My eyes are getting back to normal and it is time for Operation Summer Damage Control.  My plan is to plant the gardens in flowers and herbs.  I hate not having anything to can, but I can always hit the Farmers Market if the canning withdrawal gets too bad.

Living in Florida makes it difficult to garden during the summer, but with good micro-irrigation (see previous posts) I should be able to keep some heat tolerant flowers going.

The forced inactivity has not been without some humorous moments.  We like to spend time together as a family on the weekends and a big part of our family is our parakeet, Cooki.  Cooki has decided that his new favorite activity is sitting on one of our heads checking out the world.

Cooki Reading Over My Shoulder

Cooki Likes To Mess Up Our Hair

Not everyone in the family is fond of Cooki's new habit, so there have been some creative ways developing to discourage him from settling in.

Anti Bird On Head Device

I look forward to showing you my progress in the gardens and sharing some ideas for beating the heat.  Take care.

God bless,
Pam

Frugal Skincare: Pigmentation

When I was young sunscreen was unheard of and having spent many years in Florida, let's just say I have had more sun exposure than normal.  As a result, I now find discolored areas (red and brown spots) on my skin.

The best treatment product for pigmentation is glycolic acid, a mild sugar-derived acid.  Glycolic acid works well on fine lines, wrinkles, minor sun damage, discoloration, acne and oily skin.  Using products with glycolic acid should result in smoother texture and fewer sunspots.

Glycolic acid also has a small enough molecular structure that it penetrates the skin better than other products.  It is a good, go to product, when you are unsure which products will work for you.  Please be sure to test the glycolic acid product on a small area of skin to make sure you can tolerate it.

I wish I had taken skincare seriously when I was younger.  It would have saved me many a trip to the dermatologist.  If you have children start using sunscreen when your pediatrician suggests.  Encourage them to wear hats and sun blocking clothing.  When they are my age they won't have to worry about treating their skin for sun damage.

God bless,
Pam

Frugal Skincare: Anti-aging

For every day maintenance to keep your skin looking refreshed a low dosage retinol product is best.  Retinal is one of the animal forms of vitamin A.  It can unclog pores, boost collagen production to reduce fine lines and encourage the sloughing off of dead skin cells.   Retinol is readily available in low doses at the drugstore in over the counter skincare products.

If you have sensitive skin you may want to consider using lactic acid as your anti-aging product.  Lactic acid is derived from sour milk.  It is very gentle and results in softer, smoother skin that is less dry.  It is a natural moisturizer and nourishes the skin.

Retinol can't be tolerated by everyone, so please test it in an unobtrusive area.  If it is too strong for your skin it's nice to know that lactic acid products are available.

God bless,

Pam

Frugal Skincare: Anti-Acne

This is the first post in a short series on choosing the correct skin care products for your skin.  Each skin problem needs a specific ingredient to get the best results.

With a preteen in the house, finding an effective acne treatment has become a priority.  The best products for acne, oily skin, blackheads, melasma and enlarged pores contain salicylic acid.  Salicylic acid is derived from willow tree bark; the same as aspirin, which is why the aspirin facial is effective (see previous post).

Using salicylic acid products should result in smaller pores, more even texture, and fewer breakouts.  I suggest using the mildest products you can find, then work your way up in strength until you find the product that works the best.  There may be some mild stinging with salicylic acid, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable.

If you have acne please stay away from physical exfoliation (brushes, scrubs, washcloths) and allow the salicylic acid to do the work.  You should be washing your face twice or three times a day with a mild soap.  Rinse with at least twenty splashes of clear water.  Use a clean hand towel to dry your face; change the towel every day.  Apply your acne treatment according to the package directions.

Wash your hands frequently and keep them away from your face.  The idea is to keep bacteria away from your skin.  This is why you should always use a clean towel to dry your face.

If you have very oily skin, I would recommend a gel based product.  It won't give you an oily feeling and you will be more comfortable.

Use the right product for the problem and don't hesitate to use store brand products.  Good skin care doesn't have to cost a fortune.

God bless,
Pam

Take Sunscreen Seriously

I would like to say that I have always been dedicated to using sunscreen, especially since I live in Florida with it's intense sub-tropical sun.  However, I am from the "seek a tan at all costs" generation.  We used to slather ourselves with oils with no SPF (sun protection factor) and lay out on the beach for hours.  Add on sailing, swimming and bike riding, and I now have plenty of sun damage on my fifty plus aged skin.

As I hit my late twenties the scary data on UVA rays started coming out and I became pretty consistent with using sunscreen on my face, but pretty much ignored the rest.  I also wasn't aware of how much sun damage I could get just doing everyday activities like driving the car or working around the house.

I now have severe sun damage showing up in two areas, the left side of my face (the side the sun hits when I drive) and my neckline.  Definitely going to give the dermatologist a big payment at my next appointment.  I have already had several basal cell carcinomas removed and I know I have more.

We now know that UVA rays cause sunburn, but it is the UVB rays that cause the skin damage.  Sunscreen packages must now state whether they block UVA or UVB rays or both.  Obviously, you want to look for sunscreen that blocks both types.

Above is a photo of my favorite sunscreen.  It is not oily and doesn't make my face break out.  I use it on my face, neck, neckline, arms and hands every day.  If you wear cosmetics it will not affect how they apply and last.  Neutrogena makes several good sunscreens, all of them non oily.

A couple of other places to put sunscreen you may not think about:  If you aren't wearing a hat put sunscreen on your ears and the part in your hair.  My mother developed a carcinoma on her scalp in her later years because of sun exposure.  Consider a lip balm with sunscreen and reapply regularly.

Last, but not least, there is nothing good to say about tanning beds.  They are just plain bad for you.

Enjoy the outdoors, but do it safely while wearing sunscreen.

God bless,
Pam