I don’t know about you, but as the years progress and technology advances ever farther I find myself enthralled by the many gadgets they keep coming up with! There just seems to be a never-ending, fascinating selection of little tools and techie helpers that make life a little more interesting.
I was browsing a little today…and here are some of my top picks. What do you think? You like? Are there any on your wish-list that you’d like to try in the new year?
Just look at this little pocket camcorder! The Aiptek A-HD 720P camcorder is very portable and pocketable. It takes 5 MP pictures or 720P high definition video and it retails for under $150.
Sticking this in my purse would be really nice for all of those occasions when the kids do something totally cool and you want to remember it!
Here’s something for everyone who multi-tasks regularly in the kitchen. It’s called a Stir Chef’s Sauce Pan Stirrer and it is a circular device that clamps down onto the rim of a pot…and yes…it stirs your pots for you!
At first I thought this seemed a little over-the-top, but once I really thought about it, I decided that this may actually be a pretty cool thing to try. It adjusts to fit 1.5- and 4.5-quart sauce pans and stirs for up to five hours for continuous stirring or ten hours for intermittent stirring.
For those with a little quiet time, the Sony Reader lets you bring along your latest read wherever you go…in the carpool line or waiting at dance class. The reader can hold about 160 eBooks or loads more if you use an optional removable memory card. It has a six-inch display, weighs 9 ounces, and is 1/3-inches thick.
Here’s a great option for on-the-go entertainment, downloading music and movies or just surfing the ‘net on the go. Play your favorite music, watch a video or surf on the 3.5 inch widescreen display. It has built-in Wi-Fi so you can buy your songs or movies or check email on the go. I have a birthday coming up in a few months, and I may be putting this on my wish-list!
If you go through batteries like we do it can be expensive. We are trying to switch over to rechargeables now, but this little gizmo intrigued me because rechargeables are expensive. With the Battery Xtender you can recharge regular old alkaline batteries. It won’t charge a completely dead battery but you can extend the life of nearly dead batteries by quite a lot. I read that batteries can be recharged multiple times with this. It retails for $39.99.
Try some of these for unusual and useful ways to use a variety of nuts easily purchased from the grocery store.
- Grind shelled almonds into a fine powder in a blender. Wet face, rub the almond powder in, rinse.
- Grind two tablespoons of almond slivers in a blender and mix the powder with 2 teaspoons of milk, 1/2 teaspoon of flour, and honey to make a thick paste. Rub into skin and rinse.
- Mix 1/2 cup dry oatmeal, 1 tablespoon honey and cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon ground almonds. Wet face and smooth mixture onto face. Allow masque to dry completely and remove with a warm washcloth. Rinse face with warm water and dry gently.
- Shell brazil nuts, pecans, or black walnuts and rub the nutmeat directly onto scratches in dark wood, floors, or woodwork. Be careful not to rub nuts into surrounding areas.
- To avoid the odors associated with cooking cabbage, throw a whole, unshelled walnut into the water.
- Make a fabric eye, wood stain, or ink from the hulls of black walnuts. Put a couple of cups of walnuts (in the shell) into a slow cooker and add just enough water to cover. Cook overnight on low. In the morning, the water will be a very rich brown color. Strain out the nuts and use.
Lastly, but not least…if you want a healthy heart, research is now showing that eating about a 1/2 cup of nuts five or more times per week will cut your heart attack risk in half (compared with those who don’t eat nuts). Walnuts, pecans, and almonds are the most beneficial nuts.
Nuts to you! 
There is a huge variety of bird food available. It can be hard to decide which to choose. This should help you select the right type of food for the birds you want to attract. Keep in mind your feeder style too.
Black-oil sunflower seed attracts the greatest variety of birds. It is small and thin-shelled and this makes it easy for small birds to handle and crack. Striped sunflower seeds are bigger with thicker seed coats.
Although sunflower seeds are the all-round favorite some birds prefer different foods.
Blackbirds like corn and doves like white millet or red milo. Doves are ground-feeders, though…so keep in mind that they need their food on the ground.
Watch the commercial seed mixes you may be tempted to buy, though. They are usually a blend of sunflower seeds and other less appealing “filler” such as millet, oats, wheat, flax, buckwheat seeds, and red milo.
These mixes may seem to be a bargain, but a lot may end up being wasted because the birds pick out the sunflower seeds and leave the rest. You may try making your own birdseed mix instead. Put about 25 pounds of black-oil sunflower seed, 10-pounds of white millet, and 10 pounds of cracked corn into a clean trash can. Stir with a broom handle and you’re good to go!
Remember to store your bird food carefully. If you buy a lot of seed it needs to be kept in a dry, cool place…safe from rodents. Check often for mold and throw out any seed that is questionable.
Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches: Sunflower, Safflower, Suet
Finches: Sunflower, Safflower, Millet, Niger
Cardinals, Grosbeaks: Sunflower, Safflower
Sparrows, Blackbirds: Sunflower, Corn, Millet
Jays: Sunflower, Corn, Milo, Suet
Woodpeckers: Sunflower, Suet
Orioles, Tanagers: Suet
Pigeons, Doves: Corn, Millet, Milo
Indigo Buntings: Sunflower, Millet, Niger
Do you have a bird feeder in your backyard? Bird watching is becoming more and more popular among Americans. Recent surveys show almost half the households in the US feed wild birds with birdfeeders in their yards.
It’s not hard to see why…feeding birds allows us to bring them close so we can see them better. They can bring entertainment and something interesting to focus on during a long, cold winter.
It’s not only good for us, though. By setting up a backyard bird feeder we can make birds’ lives easier, too. Winter can be especially hard for birds and finding food can be difficult during periods of extreme cold.
So…just what should you serve your birdie friends for dinner? And how would it be best served? There is a lot to choose from as far as food types and feeder types. It can be hard to choose what kind of food to serve and exactly how.
Today I have some basic info about feeder types that may help you decide what will best for you and your little feathered friends.
Tray or Platform Feeder:
This is any flat surface for spreading bird seed. Trays attract most species of wild birds, but the disadvantage is that they offer no protection against squirrels, chipmunks, or precipitation. Also the seed can become soiled by droppings from the birds. A roof will provide some protection from the weather. Be sure your tray feeder has drainage holes.
Hopper or House Feeder:
This is a platform feeder with walls and a roof. This feeder protects seeds against the weather, but not against squirrels. It keeps seed cleaner also. Hopper feeders attract most feeder birds. Hopper feeders can be mounted on a pole or hung from a hook or a branch.
Window Feeder:
This is usually made from clear plastic and suction-cupped to a window. This type of feeder attracts finches, sparrows, chickadees, and titmice and is nice because it allows close-up views of the birds as they feed.
Tube Feeder:
This is a hollow cylinder made of plastic with multiple feeding perches. Tube feeders keep seed clean and dry and they are somewhat more squirrel resistant. The birds attracted depend on the size of the perches under the feeding ports.
Thistle Feeder:
This is a special tube feeder with extra-small openings to dispense tiny thistle seeds. Thistle is also known as niger. These feeders attract finches mostly. Thistle “socks” (fine-mesh bags) can be hung for birds to cling to extract the seeds.
Suet Feeder:
This is a wire-mesh cage or plastic-mesh bag that holds suet. This type of feeder can be nailed or tied to a tree trunk or suspended.
Next: Choosing the best bird food
Happy Monday to you! We here in the midwest are bracing for our first significant winter storm that is predicted to begin this afternoon some time and last until tomorrow afternoon. It is supposed to begin with sleet and freezing rain and then change into all snow and end up dumping up to a foot of snow on us!
I actually love being snowed in! There is nothing more cozy than being warm inside with hot cup of something and watching the beauty of a snow storm.
This got me to thinking about another list! You know me…gotta love those lists. So with no further delay…here is a list of things to do during a snowstorm!
- Bake cookies
- Make a pot of soup
- Knit or crochet
- Start a big puzzle
- Blog
- Read a good book
- Surf the ‘net
- Catch up on letter writing
- Do some scrapbooking
- Quilt
- Make hot cocoa
- Catch up on my magazine reading
- Reorganize a closet
- Go for a walk in the snow
- Take a nap
- Make a snowman
- Take pictures of the snow
- Make paper snowflakes and hang them inside
- Watch old classic movies
- Call an old friend
- Catch up on paperwork
- Cook ahead and put some meals in the freezer
- Plan a week’s worth of menus using new recipes
- Listen to CDs you haven’t heard for a while
- Listen to a book on tape
Got any other ideas? We may need them!
Big thanks go out to my November Top Ten Droppers. This blog wouldn’t be the same without you and I sure appreciate your regular drops.
Here they are – pay them a visit if you have time. They are all great blogs!
Mrs. G: 31
“Cents”able Momma: 31
Symphony of Love: 31
Is 8 Enough?: 31
livelife365: 30
What a bald guy told me about technology!: 29
Grandmother Wren: 29
Grow Your Own Vegetables: 27
Kitchen Retro: 27
New York Renovator: 25
What would you say if I told you that there is an item that can help you work miracles in every room of your home? What’s more, it can even help you appear to be an outstanding housekeeper (even if you’re not). This item comes in lots of different shapes, sizes, colors and materials and you can buy one or many in local retail stores, craft stores, discount retailers, flea markets, and craft shows. You can even make these yourself if you are so inclined! Curious now? I’m talking about baskets! Not only will baskets give you the space you need to control clutter, but they do it beautifully and uniquely.
Kitchen:
- Try a series of a hanging wall pocket baskets (flat backs to lie flat against the wall) in the kitchen to store dry sponges, cleaning items, scrubbers, pot holders, hand towels, and clean dish rags.
- Give yourself more drawer space by putting silverware into a basket caddy on the counter.
- A lazy susan with a basket can be a great way to store condiments on the counter or table for easy access.
- Cloth napkins kept in a covered basket will be used frequently and this is a great way to get away from using so many paper products.
Family Room/Living Room:
- A great idea is a a round or cylindrical shaped wicker basket on the coffee table to hold assorted electronic remotes.
- Medium sized baskets make great storage for magazines and books that are on your reading list.
- An oversized basket is a good place for pillows and quilts to keep nearby for cozy snuggling
- Family games that are used often can be kept neatly in baskets.
Bedroom:
- A wicker hamper with a lid in the closet is a great option for storing extra pillows and keeping them dust-free. Consider lining the hamper with a sheet or large gallon trash bag to keep free of dust.
- Keep a basket near your bed with your current reading material tucked neatly away inside.
Bathroom:
- Guest towels can be neatly and attractively stored for easy access.
- Pretty soaps and other toiletries look nice in a pretty basket.
- A large covered basket makes a great looking laundry hamper.
Office/Desk:
- Keep correspondence supplies all together in a nice basket that can be taken with you wherever you are writing.
- Keep your printer ink tucked away in a basket for easy access and management.
- Keep a low, flat basket on your desk to catch the items that need to be managed each day and go through it every evening before bed.
Kids Clutter:
- School supplies, math manipluatives, stickers, art supplies, crayons, markers…these items all work great in baskets!
- Puzzles and games with small pieces can be managed neatly in baskets.
- Sort toys into similar groups and store them in large baskets.
- Off season clothing can be stored away in baskets also.
Baskets are great for saving space and storing your items attractively. I don’t know of any other storage option that is so practical and useful or beautiful. A fun idea is to add creative decor to existing baskets to make them even more attractive and personal. You can add buttons, ribbon, flowers, or even miniature figures to create exactly the look you desire.
There are so many neat places to find neat baskets! You can find them in online stores that solely specialize in baskets, from flea markets, from yard sales, from home decor stores, from home decor online retailers, even from friends who are discarding empty gift baskets!
Baskets are a great way to not only save space but organize your space as well and they allow you to do it in exactly the way that suits your taste and decor.
