Monday, March 29, 2010

TWO CANDLES FROM ONE



You know when your candle gets down toward the bottom, and it’s looking less than what you would like to display?

Well…There is a frugal AND fun way to save on candles…

I always save my wax and then when I’m ready, I will melt a couple of candles and make one whole new one…

Put your mostly-used candle jars in a pot of water and turn on medium or medium-low…Do not let it boil…

You may want to use old pots, as wax invariably gets in them...

It may take a couple of hours depending on how much wax you have to melt…



You will probably have to add a new wick to the new candle…Wicks and wick holders can be purchased inexpensively at a craft store such as Michaels…

Once the wax is melted in both jars, pour one into the other…Making a complete candle…

Or…

You may use a clean third jar, adding both jars of melted wax to it…

The fun of combinging candles is not only the good feeling it gives you in saving rather than throwing but also the new scent that you have created!

Most recently, I combined a mango and peach for a lovely aroma. You can also do layers, but wait for each one to set before pouring the next layer.



When I was finished, I ended up with a brand new large-sized candle (not pictured) and had enough wax left over to make a small one to set in the kitchen…

It is a light peach color and smells yummy!

One note to watch for is that they tend to settle and funnel…Sometimes I am able to overcome this by pouring in layers and allowing to fully cool before adding the next layer. I haven’t gotten it fool-proof yet, however, so if anyone has any tips, I would be glad to hear them.

I love Salt City candles…This where the wax and jars were from…

As they can be rather spendy, the money savings is wonderful!

As you can see, this candle still needs a bit of cleaning up and the wick trimmed...



The full-sized candle that I made would sell for about $21.95, and the small one would go for around $12.00…So, that is a savings of $34…

Creativity melded with thrift makes for a few hours of satisfaction and fun!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

YOU HAVEN'T FAILED UNTIL YOU QUIT TRYING



A step back in life gives a fresh look at what’s really important…

Being away for a couple of days helping my brother move, allowed me to revisit some very valuable things…

Being away gives a fresh look at what’s really important…

That I don’t need to stress over the insignificant…

That we all have idiosyncrasies…

That we all have talents and abilities to learn from…

That old has strength…

Old buildings…



Old people…



The only thing old is her age number...She was thatching the lawn when we surprised her today...The garage floor is scrubbed and the walls washed for the big Easter feast next weekend...The house walls were washed last week getting ready for the painters...



Old cars…



That having a brother means so much…



That little people are God’s greatest creations…



That being multifaceted is fun…

Wearing high heels and lipstick one day and jeans and a Harley bandana the next…





That you can review your chemistry from the side of a U-Haul…



That new is not always better…

Like high-tech cameras that have a setting that takes blurry pictures, and if you don't know how to turn that setting off...It can lead to frustration...



That grampas are wonderful…



That Chevy is better than Ford, but that Ford makes some nice emblems ;)…



That mamas are sturdy and ever-strong…And they sing and joke while they work…



That frustration can end in success…









































Friday, March 26, 2010

KEEPER



I received a beautiful ode the other day and wish to share part of it with anyone who may read...

Keeper

Their
marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best
friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now,
Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house
dress; lawn mower in his hand, and dish-towel in hers.
It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod, the
kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a
dress. Things we keep.

It
was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All
that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to
be wasteful.. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things
away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But
then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night,
in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with
the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any
more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used
up and goes away......never to return. So... While we
have it.... It’s best we love it... And care for it....
And fix it when it's broken...... And heal it when it's
sick.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

FAMILY IS REALLY ALL THE MATTERS



Thankfully, I got from my Dad the trait AND desire to always make time for family fun…

So…Here are some things that I’ve recently done with members of my family…

And also just random pictures…

A BABY SHOWER…

DD and I attended a baby shower for a friend of ours...







LOTS OF GOODIES...









MAMA-TO-BE AND HER TWIN...



A MOST BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL...



PICTURES THAT HANG IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY ROOM AT CHURCH...



This is my favorite picture of Christ...The artist is Del Parsons...



MY FAVORITE BOOK STORE...

We purused through the store to see all of their new arrivals...



After the baby shower and book store...

A STOP AT A&W...



They have different cute little bird houses in each corner and along the windows...

And the most yummy grilled onion burger...To die for...

Most of them turned out blurry, but here are a couple of pictures of the bird houses...







A DAY OF WORK...



A DAY OF PLEASURE...





CARD MAKING...



Pressed roses to use on homemade cards...





TARGET PRACTICING WITH HUBBY...

This gun is a .44 magnum...



It is pretty powerful to shoot...



VINTAGE TREASURES...

What a blessing I received last weekend! Oh, I was so excited!

While at Mom’s, I generally always look in the candy closet…Once a kid…Always a kid…;)

What did I see there but Gramma’s sugar and creamer set…I pulled them out, and Mom said, “Do you want them?”…Do I want them?! Of course I WANT them!

She told me that she hadn’t asked my sister to which I quickly replied, “Oh well, ya snooze; ya loose!”



Actually, my sister has never really been too sentimental that way…

I can just picture Grandpa spooning sugar into his “Tossee”…

Ahhh…Those were the days…



A FAMILY RIDE...

All we were missing on our family ride was Dear Daughter #2…

Pictured here is Dear Daughter #1 and Son...



Getting their bikes ready...



Me waiting for Dear Hubby...



Boy...



Papa and kids...



Dear Hubby and I...



Headin' down the road...





The gnats were so bad...

We had to stop at the truck stop to clean off our visors...





Of course, we had to stop by Gramma and Grampa's...



Mom is at the stove cooking her WONDERFUL dinner...

Mmmm...Mmmm...Mmmm...



Dad...



I LOVE rice pudding...



Baby Christian sitting in the highchair that was mine as a baby...



If you look in the background...

In the china hutch is the juice jar that was Grandma's...

More precious memories there...





Adrien telling Gramma a secret...



Christian on the counter...

Of course...What little child doesn't love high places...



Grampa putting his helmet on Christian while Great Grampa looks on...



Christian...On the first really warm day of the year...Waiting for Mama to take them on a ride...



Mama and boys...



Daddy and boys flying a kite...





Julian and Adrien...











And so ends a perfect day...

For family is REALLY all that matters...