Smelly Washer Syndrome

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Deborah

What is that awful smell eminating from my washing machine??? It’s kinda sour, kinda musty and making my clothes smell the same way. EEEWWWW. GROSS.

I have never encountered this before at home in all my 35+ yrs of owning a washing machine. Even when I washed the kids diapers it never smelled this bad…and you know what kind of nasties happen in diapers…. p-u, glad those days are over. Back to the present though… we have no basement here at the Homestead, so the washer and dryer are located in the bathroom, which has to be about the most … Read more...

How To Make A Feather Pillow…

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Deborah

Spending time up here on the Homestead has a lot of advantages. Like watching beautiful sunsets, reading a good book, killing ants by the millions before they invade your house and enjoying the local flora and fauna.

Not to sit around too much (idle hands makes for idle brains), I got to thinking….and I have discovered that there is a fantastic by-product to feeding the local Mallard duck population.

I have even prepared a Video Tutorial for you too. Please make sure you turn your sound up….

This project may take me several summers of feather collecting before I actually … Read more...

How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies….

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Deborah

Is there anything more annoying than a cloud of fruit flies swarming your kitchen? Unless you consider your husband and his buddies swarming your kitchen searching for Super Bowl noshes just as annoying, but I can’t help you there.

I hate Fruit Flies. Yes, they have a purpose in this world and that is to feed upon rotting fruit and be Mother Nature’s garbage disposal (along with ants…but that’s another column for later).

So how do you get rid of these teeny, fast-flying, prolific little buggers?

2 ingredients and a shot glass is all you need. HA! I am sure … Read more...

How to care for your Trees…

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Deborah

I bet you are wondering what the heck is she doing now? She does so much on so many different things, she can’t possibly be into the tree business too!

Relax. I am not ‘into’ the tree business other than to keep my own trees barely pruned and alive. But sometimes I get myself into a situation where I need professional help (yeah, you can stop laughing now) with large, overgrown trees and/or limbs hanging precariously over a house, car, swimming pool or heaven forbid the beach cabana manned my Manuel the bartender.

If this happens, I call Andy. I … Read more...

I went on Vacation! A Technology Vacation!

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Deborah

I hate technology. Yes, a lot of good things have come from the technological era that has blossomed the past 20+ years. But with that technology comes unexpected, without warning ISSUES that are of course, a major PITA that you have ZERO control over. And for a control freak, that is NOT good news.

Last Friday, I was minding my own business, creating a new blog post and my son (who is my web master) was busy creating and building an email interface for the site when all of sudden….poof….we were no longer able to access the site (on his … Read more...

Organizing a Home Office

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Deborah

Is organizing your home office space high on your Resolutions List for this year? Yes, I know that we are well into July, but it is even more imperative that you stop procrastinating (or lounging pool-side) and get the job done now before it’s time to make next Year’s Resolutions.

Organizing a home office isn’t as daunting when you have the tools and know-how to overcome your clutter.

Did you know that 50% of all households have at least one member of the family that works from home or has a home office space? and that being productive is a

How to Make an Umbrella Holder that is Stylin’

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Deborah

This post is a long time in the ‘Want-To-Make-List’. Mainly because I could not find a suitable bucket/container to make into an umbrella holder. I am still not 100% thrilled with the one I found. I am about 75% thrilled, but will keep my eyes open for the PERFECT container that I hope to find…someday.

I basically had this put together in under 2 hours. I would have been done sooner but I had to stop and watch a passing thunderstorm here at the lake. Nothing like a good thunder-boomer in cottage country to make you stop and admire Mother … Read more...

And the winner is….

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Deborah

Happy Tuesday folks! First, I want to thank all you great and kind people who entered for a chance to win either an Apron or a Clothespin Bag in my Site Launch/Giveaway Contest.

I have had some really positive feedback from so many people and I look forward to writing and updating this blog pretty much daily…and henceforth, that you all still appreciate my ramblings!

So without further delay, shall we get on with the draw for a winner?!

tap…tap…tap…..(those are your fingers on the desk right?)

And the WINNER IS:

Betty Bartusevicius!

Betty, you shall be receiving an … Read more...

The History of Aprons…

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Deborah

I don’t think our kids know what an apron is…

The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children’s tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in

Mother’s Day Gift ~ Lavender Sachet Pillow

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Deborah

What Mom wouldn’t want one of these gorgeous little pillows in her lingerie drawer? Filled with dried lavender flowers, it is the perfect scent that is neither too strong nor too subtle.

All you need is some leftover fabric and dried lavender flowers (found at Craft Shops or grow and dry your own).

Take a 7″ x 13″ piece of fabric, fold in half (lengthwise, wrong sides together), stitch 2 of the 3 seams with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Turn right side out, stuff with dried flowers and then fold in the seam allowance of the last opening and slip-stitch … Read more...