Vinegar Tips

I think I have bored you enough with vinegar tips. Now I have just bought a book about Bicarbonate of Soda so you never know what might come next!!!!

de Young fine arts museum

When I was in San Francisco Sam and Fred took me to visit this wonderful fine arts museum. There were so many wonderful collections, and exhibitions that include beautiful paintings, sculpture, ethnic art and craft, furniture.
When we visited The Diane and Sandy Besser Collection really caught my eye. The teapot collection was amazing, as was all the African bead work. I couldn't take any teapot photos as there was too reflection from the glass and the lights which was quite disappointing.
The top of the building gave some lovely views, the day we were there the distance was a bit hazy. Can you spot the eye sore that spoiled the view in this photo!!
This is a pretty area you see as you move between the ground and first floor.
I would definitely recommend a visit.
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Hint # 5

Just one this week especially for the dog owners amongst us!!

Lawns with no brown patches
Put a tablespoon of vinegar in your dogs drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog's urine. (But will the dog drink the water!!)

Archives:
2007: Shop til we dropped

Electronic Arts~ Redwood City

Last week I gave you glimpse into Lucas Films and today you get a glimpse of the Electronic Arts building where Sam now works. I was also lucky enough to be shown around her work environment and have a quick lunch with her on my last day in San Francisco. I can't tell you anything about Sam's current project (that's in anticipation of anyone asking!). The two photos below are just the back of the buildings as viewed from the lovely sunny spot outside one of the canteen. I was not at all impressed with the sandwich I ordered and in fact as I recall I did not eat it all and it was so unmemorable I can't even tell you what was in it! I should have tried to get more photos because there are very good facilities for staff~ the tennis courts caught my eye as you can imagine!

I couldn't resist going into the shop to buy a little gift for the grandchildren! (I meant to take a photo but forgot~ cute little figure clocks).

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HINT # 4 These are White Vinegar tips.
Label Remover
Soak the label or sticker with vinegar, leave until it is saturated, then peel off. (now this is something I always have problems with so I need to try it out)

Collars and cuffs
Collars and cuffs can be cleaned by rubbing a thick paste of baking soda and vinegar onto the stains before washing in the usual way.

Fabric Softener and static cling reducer
Use as you would a liquid fabric softener.

Stain Remover
For stains caused by grass,coffee, tea, fruits and berries, soak clothing in full strength vinegar.

Getting rid of underarm marks
Perspiration marks can be eliminated by soaking them with vinegar before laundering in the usual way, To remove the solid residue on the underarm of a shirt left by deodorants, soak the area in white vinegar until saturated then wash as usual. This also removes any odour as well.

Cutting down lint on clothing
Another reason to use vinegar in the rinse cycle is that it cuts down on the lint. Put 150-275ml (1/4-1/2 pt) in the rinse cycle. You will notice the reduction in lint in the family's clothes. ( I have a few things that might benefit from this !!)

Terry Nappies (oh I remember them well!!)
1.Use 275ml (1/2pt) of vinegar to 9 litres (2 gallons) water in nappy pail to neutralise urine and it also helps to keep them from staining. ( wish I'd known this 40 years ago)

2. Adding 275ml (1/2pt) vinegar during rinse cycle equalises the pH balance and has been reported to prevent nappy rash.

3. Using vinegar in the wash cycle cuts the cost. Use half the recommended detergent during the wash and skip the fabric conditioner. Instead, put the nappies through an additional rinse at the end.

Unfortunately although I think it would be much better for the environment I somehow don't think Terry Nappies will make a big comeback~ although having said that I did notice in some of the nurseries I used to inspect some parents were beginning to use them.
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Now to a different sort of vinegar!
Anyone who likes English Fish 'n' Chips will also know there is nothing quite like the taste of the salt and vinegar they provide in the shop. Embee noticed the other day that they were actually selling it. So, naturally, we had to try it.... and yes it does taste authentic!

Archives:
2007: Don't you just love Garfield

Meme

Steffi who makes beautiful children's clothes tagged me for this meme:

1. Jobs ... where I worked...

Now do I give you my whole employment history (it's like doing a CV):

While I was still at school I worked first in my parents confectioners shop and delivered the newspapers. When they sold the shop I went to work for a local farmer on his milk round and when I had finished that job I went and worked in a local greengrocery shop (that was 5am -6pm lunch provided).
At the age of 18 I went to train as a nurse and qualified 3yrs later. I was a staff nurse for a year before leaving to start my most important job~ giving birth and looking after my two girls (back then there was no maternity leave). During this time I ran a home based pre-school for a couple of years.
Unfortunately (I was ditched for a new model!) so about 7 yrs later I found myself back working as a private nurse.
After 6 yrs I joined social Services, did some management training and managed a team of Home Care assistants and then a team of Home Aides. I then moved on to inspection of day care services (nurseries, pre-schools, childminders etc.) After a year I then went to university(in my 40's) to qualify as a Social Worker. I did some adoption assessments around this time. This was followed by a temporary one year position of Inspecting care homes for the elderly after which I returned to Day Care.
Back in 2001 OFSTED took over the role of inspecting all these children's services and I became an Ofsted Inspector. In the last year before I retired I managed a small team of inspectors. That takes care of my working life for 50 years~ and yes I did start working at a very young age!!

2.Movies...
This is difficult because I don't have a favourite but there are memorable films that I really like~ here are a few:

Gone with the Wind
African Queen
Casablanca
I love all the musicals (old and new)
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
All the films where Sam has her name in credits (proud mum) won't name them!

3. Places where I lived ...
This is easy as I have not lived in very many places. I was born in Oxfordshire, moved to Gloucestershire when I was three lived in a village (small town) in 3 different houses. Moved to Bristol at the age of 18 and been here ever since living first in the nurses accommodation and then in, two flats (apartments) and three houses.

4. Series...
I do watch a few soaps, such as Home and Away, The Bill, Eastenders (but not regularly). I am currently watching 'Sense and Sensibility' 3 part drama. I like documentaries. Some cooking programmes I dip in and out of, I like consumer programmes and holiday and home location/makeovers (I like to dream).

5. My favourite food ...
Anything I haven't cooked or anything cooked by my girls, they are both good cooks in their own way. I suppose I'm pretty traditional because roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes with plenty of vegetables would be something I always enjoy.

6. My favourite websites ...
Blogger because it has given me so many friends.
Google because I can find out most information that I need, it's usually my first port of call!
Amazon because I can often find a bargain.

7. My favourite places ...
I would love to live near a beach that would be my idea of heaven, sun, sea, salt in the air. However I also love the country ( funny but I couldn't wait to leave when I was growing up~the grass is not always greener!) I love to be anywhere that my family are so I would also have to say Dublin and San Fransisco.

8. My favourite colour ...
There was a time when I would have said blue only. However, I now like all the ranges from deep pink through the purple range as well as blue. Currently I'm also into brown and beige colours.

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Hint # 3

Removing coffee and tea stains
An equal mixture of salt and white vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains from china cups. ( I will be trying this on my mother cups~ green tea really does stain!!)

Cleaning Kettles
If you get lime deposits in your kettle, gently boil 150ml (1/4pt) of white vinegar in the water and rinse well. (I'm definitely going to try this as I spend a fortune on buying scale removers~ we have very hard water so deposits build up very quickly).

There are so many cleaning tips but I'm going to leave it there for today. In future think I might do these hints on one day a week~ I don't want you to get bored and not return.

Archives:
2006: No Archive

Snow was here..........

Yesterday afternoon we had a snow storm. It only lasted about three hours and then turned to sleet and rain but for a brief period the garden looked white and as it might be the only snow we see this winter out came the camera. I know this will seem as no big deal for many of you but for us snow is something of a rarity! I know Beccy is always envious of those who have snow!

Today dawned clear with just the hint of sun and no trace of snow to be seen!
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The next thing I need to tell you is I'm in BIG trouble again with my other daughter. Sam is rather cross with me but how could anyone be cross with a sweet old lady like moi! Well it might have something do with this. Yes I won her 'Menu for Hope' prize after she specifically told me not to bid on it. Well what could I do, but disobey my daughter and incur her wrath as I know she was trying to make a lot of money for a good cause. I didn't think it would matter as I was not expecting to win and as she says ~ I don't even like tea! Of course the other prize that I really really wanted eluded me~ still never mind there's always next year!
Forgive me Sam I love you x
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Hint # 2

Abrasions
Vinegar is a natural antiseptic, so use diluted to clean minor cuts or abrasions, and to reduce itch from poison ivy or mosquito bites. (not sure I would want to smell of vinegar!)

Aftershave
Relief for skin sensitive to shaving may be at hand. Elderly men who use this method regularly are said to have soft, smooth faces, just like a baby's. This is also good for rashes or pimples. Drink apple cider vinegar,honey and hot water every morning. The vinegar smell goes away very quickly when used as an aftershave (it would need to as not many men would get a goodbye kiss in the morning!!)

Allergy to Dust Mites
Add 4 fl oz (8 tablespoons) vinegar to a gallon of water to keep vinyl floors clean and shiny but kills the dust mites! (I guess this would work on laminates and tiles as well).

Athletes Foot
Try soaking your feet in vinegar and water. It changes skin pH so that fungus cannot grow. Soak three evenings in a row.

Bones
The manganese, magnesium, silicon and calcium found in apple cider vinegar have been linked in sustaining bone mass, which is important in the fight against osteoporosis. A supplement of cider apple vinegar could, for this reason, be valuable should you suffer from calcium shortage, or if you are entering your post menopausal stage, where a risk of bone density loss could cause a problem.

So to the winner(s) of my little quiz...
Enidd named 9 varieties
Kaytabug named 7 (beer? not in my book!) but also guessed there might be 15.
There are actually 26 main types mentioned in this book. If you both email me your address I will send a small prize.
Sam if verjus is a vinegar you named 10 so I did note that~ and I do believe you haven't looked at the book!!

Archives:
2007: Why does excercise...

Mama Mia.............

You know you're getting old when you completely forget you have booked tickets for this show!!!! Let me explain back in 2006 around the time I retired a friend at work was organising a block booking. I booked tickets as Embee and I both enjoy ABBA music; what's more I even put it on the computer calendar ~ now I know you are impressed!
So far so good.....however, since then my brain has gone to mush and I completely forgot all about this little treat we had in store....even when I saw the show advertised it still did not jog my memory....when my friend Debbie rang on Sunday evening and said 'about tickets for Mama Mia' I was still blank.... she must have sensed my hesitation...'you have tickets' she said.... suddenly the lights went on!!!!!! and that's where we went yesterday evening.
It was an excellent show, this production was slightly different from the original that we saw in London not long after it opened. Sam took us that time as my birthday treat and she had organised champagne and canapés~ she knows how to please her mother!!

When we got home and I checked my emails there was a reminder from my calendar about the show!!!
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I had hoped for a little more response to my post yesterday. Enidd did well she named ten different vinegars. I will close this at the end of today so if you want to join in go back and comment on yesterday's post.

Hint # 1
Home:
Wood cleaning Solution (you probably know this one):
3 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
3 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoonful liquid soap or detergent
Few drops of olive oil

Combine ingredients in a bowl, saturate a sponge, squeeze out excess and wash surfaces. The smell of vinegar will disappear in a few hours. (Store safely)

Miscellaneous:
Getting rid of fruit flies:
Put a bowl of cider vinegar out to attract fruit flies. The same can be achieved by washing windows in cider vinegar,, but that's probably not the effect you want.
If this attracts the flies but doesn't kill them, put one teaspoon of sugar, two teaspoons of cider vinegar and several drops of washing up liquid in a small container. Fill up with water. Flies are attracted to the vinegar, but the soap kills them.(this is one I will be using once the flies return!)

Perking up cut flowers:
Keep flowers fresh for longer by adding two tablespoons of vinegar and one tablespoon of sugar to each litre (2 pints) of water.

Archives:
2007: Flowering cactus

Doy Bags are great!

I have been wanting to write about Doy Bags ever since I discovered them on Bread,Water,Salt and Oil back at the end of October. I was impressed with the efforts of the women who have built up a business and are the main bread winners for their family so I immediately ordered three of the large tote bags. However, because I was giving two of them to my girls for Christmas, I didn't want to spoil the surprise so I've waited until now to tell you about them. It was quite funny because as soon as Beccy saw my bag, when she came shopping with me on Christmas Eve, she immediately said "did you get me one of those"!!
I don't know what you think but to me this is a brilliant way to recycle some of our packaging and provide a living for a women's cooperative in the Philippines. Take a look at the link and let me know what you think.
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The other thing I bought for all of us was this little book on vinegar. What's so special about vinegar I hear you say~ but actually it is an interesting little book. Not only does it give the history of vinegar, (did you know it has been around for 10,000 years), it also tells you about it's many practical uses.


I thought it might be interesting to share these uses with you on the bottom of my posts~ is this a good idea or not? let me know.
Here's a little quiz to see how much you know about.........
How many types of vinegar are described in this book and can you name some of them? If I get a good response I might even give a small prize for the person who gets closest~no getting the answers from Sam or Beccy!!!

Archives:
2007: What's New from Apple