Tuesday, November 27, 2018

42 degrees when woke this morning -- have shut the house windows!

52º here in La Feria at 8:53 am Tuesday.  9º with  feel-like of -1º in Clarinda.
Picture of our place in Clarinda taken by our neighbor to the west, who
reported they had 8" of snow Sunday.


Finally got wheels under the work bench so can move it easily.  When the vertical 4" x 4" boards are swung back the 4"x 4" boards with the wheels come up and the bench sits on its legs for stability when being used.
Got the small Christmas tree down from storage (it has little lights already on it and is set up easily) as well as the folding bicycle that we will put on the Yard Sale this Friday/Saturday.  Getting other things, including my Shopsmith, ready for the sale - will set out Friday afternoon for the park residents and then the gates are open Saturday morning for outsiders.  Have mixed feelings on the Shopsmith - I bought it in 1983 and used it a lot for many years.  However, haven't used it much for last 10 years.  If it doesn't sell I will play with it here, especially doing some wood turning, once I get the Texas Room walls all finished.  I brought something over 100 LP Records from Clarinda to sell.  It is less than half of what I have collected over the years.  Will put them on the Yard Sale and see if they move.  If anyone reading this wants them and sends me some money I will hold them off the yard sale.

I found this interesting article on Dawn Liquid Soap that may interest some of you:

Wow Who Knew????

You will want to pass this one on to your friends and doing so will save it on your timeline for later use! You're welcome 😊

ORIGINAL BLUE DAWN . . . IT’S NOT JUST FOR DISHES ANYMORE

Wild Life
Ever wonder why Dawn Dishwashing Liquid is the wildlife cleaner of choice after an oil spill? According to the International Bird Rescue Research Center, Dawn effectively removes grease but does not cause harm to the skin of the birds. It’s also biodegradable and contains no phosphates.

BUBBLES
According to Bubbles.org, Dawn dishwashing liquid makes great homemade bubbles. Here is the Giant Bubble Recipe used in bubble makers at many children’s museums: 1/2 cup Ultra Dawn 1/2 gallon warm water 1 tablespoon glycerin (available at any drug store) OR White Karo syrup works too! Stir gently. Skim the foam off the top of the solution (too much foam breaks down the bubbles). Dip bubble wand and get ready for some good, clean fun!

GREASY HAIR PROBLEMS
Kids get into the darnedest things! Like Vaseline and baby oil rubbed into their hair! Dawn is mild enough to use on their hair and strong enough to remove the most stubborn grease.

HAIR PRODUCT BUILDUP
Once a month use original Dawn as you would shampoo. It will remove excess oil from your hair and scalp and strip away any build-up of styling products without any damage. Perform this once a month and you won’t have to buy expensive salon products that do the same thing.

MANICURE SECRET
Soak fingers in full-strength blue Dawn. It makes the cuticles soft and easy to work with. And it removes the natural oil from the fingernails, which allows the polish to adhere very well.

REPEL HOUSEPLANT INSECTS
A safe, effective way to repel insects from your houseplants, including aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs. Put a drop of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid in a spray bottle, fill the rest of the bottle with water, shake well, and mist your household plants with the soapy water.

CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS
Try this recipe from Merry Maids: mix 3 drops Dawn in 1 gallon water and fill a spray bottle with the solution. Spritz and wipe as you would with any window cleaner.

PETS AND PESTS
Use it to bathe the dogs. It kills fleas on contact and is much cheaper than expensive dogshampoos.

CLEAN AUTOMOTIVE TOOLS
After you have finished your automotive repair project, soak your dirty tools in Dawn before you put them away to remove all the oil and grime. Dawn also helps prevent rust from forming on the tools.

ICE PACK
Partially fill a strong zip-type sandwich bag with Dawn dishwashing liquid, close and freeze. The liquid soap stays cold much longer and it can be re-frozen many times. It will conform to the place you need an ice pack.

TUB AND SHOWER CLEANER
Take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with white vinegar. Heat in the microwave. Fill the rest of the way with blue Dawn. Put lid on and shake to mix well. Spray on your tub and shower walls. Allow to sit for a few minutes and rinse away. It will totally melt all the gunk, slime, sludge and other stuff that builds up including a bathtub ring.

REPEL ANTS
Spray counter-tops, cupboards and any other area where you see ants with a solution of Dawn and water. Wipe dry. The slight residue of Dawn that remains will not be a problem at all for kids or pets, but ants hate it. Should you see a trail of ants, go ahead and hit them with the Dawn spray.

STRIPPING CLOTH DIAPERS
Add a squirt or two of original Dawn dish soap to your washer and run a hot wash, then rinse until there are no more bubbles. Dawn is a degreasing agent and helps stripping by removing oily residue. Be sure to rinse, rinse, rinse until the water runs clear.

UNCLOGGING TOILETS
A cup of Dawn detergent poured into a clogged toilet allowed to sit for 15 minutes and then followed with a bucket of hot water poured from waist height will clear out the toilet.

POISON IVY
Poison ivy spreads through the spread of the oil within the blisters. Washing the affected area with Dawn, especially on children who keep scratching the blister’s open, helps dry up the fluid, AND keep it from spreading.

DRIVEWAY CLEANER
If you have gasoline or motor oil stains on your driveway, you can use the kitty litter method to clean up the excess oil and then use a scrub broom and a solution of biodegradable Dawn dishwashing detergent and warm water to safely and effectively remove excess motor oil from the pavement.

OILY SKIN
Dawn makes a great facial cleanser for oily skin. A drop or two combined with warm water will do the trick.

PAINT OR GREASE REMOVER FOR HANDS
Dawn combined with corn oil makes for the perfect paint or grease remover. Simply combine a little bit of both in your hands then rub it over affected areas. The corn oil and the dishwashing liquid both help to dissolve the grease and paint – yet leave skin soft, unlike harsher paint removers.

CLEANING THE KIDDIE POOL
Plastic wading pools can get very gunky, very fast. Dump the water, then scrub the pool with Dawn and a sponge. More potent cleaners like bleach will weaken and dry out the plastic in the sun.

MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER
Merry Maids recommends using a drop of Dawn in water to clean ceramic tile and no-wax/linoleum floors. You can also use the spray on:
• Bathroom and kitchen counters and sinks.
• Woodwork, e.g., baseboards, shelves, and wainscoting. (Dry as you go–wood doesn’t like prolonged contact with water.)
• Tubs and toilet seats.

LAUNDRY PRE-TREATER FOR OILY STAINS
For oil-based stains such as lipstick, grease, butter, motor oil, cooking oil, and some pen inks, simply apply some Dawn dishwashing liquid directly to the stain and scrub with a small brush or toothbrush until the oil is removed, and then launder as usual.

NON-TOXIC LUBRICANT
Sliding glass doors, door knobs, hinges etc. It lasts much longer than any aerosol type spray that I have tried. And Its non-toxic! It does a great job of cleaning the parts that its lubricating as well!

SIDEWALK DE-ICER
For icy steps and sidewalks in freezing temperatures, mix 1 teaspoon of Dawn dishwashing liquid, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 1/2 gallon hot/warm water and pour over walkways. They won’t refreeze. No more salt eating at the concrete in your sidewalks

POOL CLEANING
Squirt Dawn down the middle of the pool and all of the dirt, suntan lotion, etc. will move to the edges of the pool for easy clean up! AND it makes the pools sparkle.

EYEGLASS DEFOGGER
Simply rub a small drop of Dawn on eyeglass lenses, and wipe clean. It will leave a very thin film that will prevent them from fogging up.

SHOWER FLOORS
Cover greasy footprints on shower floors with a coating of Dawn; let sit overnight. Scrub away the gunk in the morning with a stiff brush.

APHID CONTROL ON FRUIT TREES
Mix two tablespoons Dawn to a gallon of water and put in your sprayer. Try to get spray both sides of the leaves, branches and the tree trunks. Let sit for about 15 minutes and then rinse the trees THOROUGHLY!
AND FINALLY……..
Here’s a brilliant idea! Need a hostess gift when visiting friends and family this summer? Print off this post and include it with a bottle of Blue Dawn! Talk about USEFUL!

Later, Lynn

Monday, November 26, 2018

"Cooler" weather in the Valley

Is 52º with cold north wind blowing at 8:06 Monday as I start this.  High is to be 62º.  For you people up north ---- not complaining, just telling like it is. (15º in Clarinda, IA right now) Clarinda had 10.5" of snow with high winds yesterday and schools are closed today.  Imagine a lot of drifting.  Here is something to look at: Spring is coming -- CLICK HERE

Snowfall amounts in SW Iowa and eastern Nebraska

Snow in Southwest Iowa this weekend.

Click on this video to see the birds we saw when came out of Baptist Hospital in Harlingen a few weeks ago.
Something we will try to attend before coming south next Fall.
GROANER’S CORNER:((  The following announcements actually appeared in various church bulletins::

Don't let worry kill you -- let the church help.

Thursday night - Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

The rosebud on the alter this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin 
of Rev. and Mrs. Julius Belzer.

This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

Tuesday at 4:00 PM there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.

Wednesday the ladies liturgy will meet. Mrs. Johnson will sing "Put me in my little bed" accompanied by the pastor.

Thursday at 5:00 PM there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All ladies wishing to be "Little Mothers" will meet with the Pastor in his study.

This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the alter.

The service will close with "Little Drops of Water." One of the ladies will start quietly and the rest of the congregation will join in.

Next Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and do so.

The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They can be seen in the church basement Saturday.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
========================
Till sometime later, Lynn

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Well, Iowa won football game in last second

71º here in La Feria, TX at 6:48 pm Sunday as I start this.  Hi today of 81º.  Though there was a blizzard at home in Clarinda, IA, we slept last night with the windows open.


Though photos never do justice to the color that is often in sunsets, I snapped a few photos while driving Saturday evening when coming back from Harlingen.

Proceeding with wall in Texas room.  Still have to paint the
shelves and the black panel that I put on the top here.  That
panel is recycled from panels we used to display our signs at
the various shows in the 1980's and 1990's.

The Methodist Church in La Feria has done stone work to front of their chapel.
Photo taken from Facebook of Phyllis' sister near Grand Lake,
CO with some family on Thanksgiving Day.


Always get lots of fresh vegetables from the "Veggie man" when
he stops in the park about 4:00 pm each Friday. 

Though it finally quit raining a few days ago, the humidity remains high.










Our great granddaughter with her Grandma Patty on Thanksgiving weekend.
Till 'nuther time, Lynn

Friday, November 23, 2018

Watching Iowa vs. Nebraska football on TV

Heavy overcast
64º with heavy overcast in La Feria, TX at 12:34 pm Friday as I start this
.
Though we have not seen the sun since
last Monday, we only have .3" rain.

Phyllis last night

Phyllis this morning.
 Phyllis went to the hall kitchen at 9:00 yesterday, making the gravy and potatoes as well as putting the dressing in the ovens.  Phyllis did her welcome and started serving at 12:30 pm, right on advertised time.  Some 65 people ate, visited and enjoyed their time.





Peg, Ardel, Toni & Dave serving gravy, potatoes, dressing and turkey





Maxine to left with Sharlene and Lynn - Judy on the right.
GROANER’S CORNER:((  By the time the sailor pulled into a little town every hotel room was taken. "You've got to have a room somewhere," he pleaded. "Or just a bed, I don't care where." "Well, I do have a double room with one occupant - an Air Force guy," admitted the manager, "and he might be glad to split the cost. But to tell you the truth, he snores so loudly that people in adjoining rooms have complained in the past. I'm not sure it'd be worth it to you." "No problem," the tired Navy man assured him. "I'll take it." The next morning, the sailor came down to breakfast bright-eyed and bushy tailed. "How'd you sleep?" asked the manager. "Never better." The manager was impressed. "No problem with the other guy snoring?" "Nope. I shut him up in no time," said the Navy guy. "How'd you manage that?" asked the manager. "He was already in bed, snoring away, when I came in the room," the sailor explained. "I went over, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and said, 'Goodnight gorgeous'…… and he sat up all night watching me." ------------------------------------
The angry wife met her husband at the door. There was alcohol on his breath and lipstick on his cheek. "I assume," she snarled, "that there is a very good reason for you to come waltzing in at six o'clock in the morning?""There is." he replied, "Breakfast."
====================
1:29 pm - lunch of left overs done, Iowa leading Nebraska 28 to 13 at end of 3rd quarter.

Later, Lynn

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Thanksgiving Day 2018

55º and lite rain here in La Feria, TX at 9:12 am Thursday.  Has "rained" for 2 days, but only accumulated about .15" in the rain gauge.  Just a continuous mist with occasional spurts of rain.

 Phyllis spent most of yesterday working in the kitchen preparing the turkeys and dressing that the Park owners provided - she is making the provided mashed potatoes this morning.  I helped yesterday until we had the four 22# turkeys out of their plastic, cleaned, covered with seasoning and butter and put in the roasters.








Ready for seasoning and into the roasters.
There are around 65 people signed up to be at the dinner at 12:30 pm today in the Rec Hall.  Phyllis has servers and helpers lined up to help


Pam and Carol starting to work on the dressing.

















Took our life in our own hands yesterday afternoon by going
to Sam's Club for extra food stuffs.  Million people out!







Tuesday I went to our second, of the season, practice for Magic Valley Men of A-Chord barbershop chorus.  There were only 12 there, plus the "just re-elected" leader.  I call Bob Lemkuil that because this last spring he retired and turned it over to Herb Edwards after leading the group for five or more years.  However, Herb has not come from Illinois and not contacted the group.  One member went to the park where Herb has a unit and was told by a neighbor that Herb had suffered two strokes and a heart attack this summer.  No one has been able to reach Herb or his family.


With small numbers, we moved to a circle out on the floor around the leader, rather than being scattered through the riser seating.

We were given the schedule of performances for January - February and March.




Tentative program for this year














Got first coat of paint on this section of
wall in the Texas Room



Army Encampment at Donna, Texas    Click on links for stories and video.  Video at Camp Donna

View of the Army Encampment at Donna, TX from
Interstate 2.  This is only 16 miles west of us.

I assume they are utilizing the empty furniture store
building beside their site.  There was a story on either CBS
or NBC this morning on the Thanksgiving meals being
prepared at this site.









1






















Till next time -  Lynn

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