On_my_own_info

XYZ......Hmmmmm!

Here you will soon find everyday activities (ideas) that you and your loved ones can do together without breaking the bank and your budget.....so please come back now and then for up dates!!!

We also decided to move most of our "How To" stuff that's Fun and Pretty close to Free, here to this page. This page, where everything that should have a spot but doesn't quite fit anywhere else will reside.

Air Fresheners

What to do when you need to clear the air or freshen the smell your carpets!

There are many items such as various foods, spices or herbs you can use to create instant fragrances in your home. You may already have them in your kitchen. It's as simple as an empty pot, your stove, and your kitchen cabinets.

All it takes is your personal preference in scents and how you want your home to smell.

We are sharing a few recipes that work well and last as long as you keep the pot filled with water and allow it to simmer gently on your stove. Just don’t allow the pot to burn dry and this is very easy to do when busy with something else.

Vinegar is a natural deodorizer. If guests are coming tomorrow place small bowls of vinegar in each room of your living quarters and let them remain over night. The vinegar will help get rid of odors.

Citric Fragrance (The scents of lemons, oranges, etcetera)

Two lemons

1/2 c sugar

5 c water

2 quart pan

Mix the ingredients in the pan at the counter and not on the stove.

Holding one lemon at a time in your hand, roll the lemon as hard as you can across the counter. This 'softens' the fruit, bruising the pulp and frees the 'juice' of the lemon.

With a small, sharp knife, cut off one end of each lemon while on a cutting board (a good dinner plate will work just as well). Save these pieces. Cut the lemons enough to be able to insert a fork.

Holding each lemon over your pot, insert the fork into the lemon and twist, squeezing the juice into the pot. Be careful not to pierce through the rind to keep from stabbing yourself with the tines of the fork. Once you have gotten as much juice as you can from the fruit you're ready for the next step.

Using your safe cutting surface, slice each lemon into small 'wheels' or if too mushy you can simply cut into bits and pieces. It doesn't have to look pretty....just be boilable.

Place your pieces into the pot including the ends and pour any remaining juice along with it. Use all the fruit; juice, pulp, peel (rind).

Add sugar.

Add water to the mix until the pot is half full. This may be a little more than 5 cups.

Stir well.

Place the pot on the stove...using the burner (heating element) closest in size to the bottom of your pot. Turn on the heat. You want to turn it on medium heat till it starts to bubble. Stir occasionally. You don't want your mix to settle to the bottom of the pot and burn!

When it begins to bubble, lower the heat to simmer or low whichever is the lowest temperature on your stove … And you've got your air freshener!

Add water to the pot occasionally as it evaporates. DO NOT allow the pot to cook dry.

Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove when going to bed or leaving the house. This can be a fire hazard if you leave it on the stove unattended. You can always reheat.

For variety you can substitute the lemons for oranges, tangerines and limes or mix them and use at the same time. Instead of two lemons you would use one of each fruit or you can use more of one than the other depending the strength and fragrance you want.

Apple Spice Simmering Potpourri

1 apple sliced with peel

Peeling from 1 orange

Cinnamon (powder or sticks)

All spice

3 cups water

Put the apple slices (or save up your apple cores and store in the refrigerator/freezer in a sealable plastic bag until ready to use) and orange peel in a medium sized sauce pan with the water. Bring to a boil ( the water will be bubbly) and then turn down the heat to simmer on an electric stove or if you are using a gas stove lower the flame as much as possible without it going out. (Place on a back burner but do watch so the liquid doesn’t completely evaporate and the ingredients burn or the pot melts!)

Let the mixture simmer and the air will be filled with a pleasant scent. Just don’t let the pan “cook” dry. If needed add more water from time to time.

As long as all the ingredients that you have used are actually edible by humans then you can use a pan that you also use to prepare food in. Cinnamon sticks are considered edible as they are used for flavoring teas, coffees etcetera even though most people do not actually eat them. That would be very hard on teeth and digestive systems!

Other ingredients also work well and don’t require chopping and cutting.

These can be used with citric fruits and apples as well.

Prepare a pot, filling it half full with water and add one of the following selections of ingredients or create your own recipe.

Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Vanilla extract (if you can't find or afford the whole bean!)

Cinnamon and Cloves

Sliced Apples and Cinnamon with sugar added

Pumpkin Spice, Nutmeg and Cloves with a bit of Cinnamon added

Vanilla Extract, and some Sugar smells like 'Cookies'! :)

The addition of sugar will release a 'sweet' smell to what ever you are mixing and is great during the holiday seasons!

HOWEVER, if you add anything to your simmering potpourri that is not edible … such commercial (store bought) simmering potpourri either dry or liquid then always use a pan that you will not be using to prepare food in.

A good substitute is a large, (one gallon) metal can that vegetables or coffee is packaged in. Before using, peel the paper off and wash to be sure it is clean before adding the commercial potpourri.

For Your Carpets:

To freshen carpets sprinkle baking soda over the carpet and let stand for 15 to twenty minutes. Then vacuum. This should freshen the carpet and get rid of orders.

This can be done weekly as well to keep the carpet smelling fresh.

If all this is too much trouble and if affordable there are some nice sprays or simmering potpourris available on the market. If you do use commercially prepared simmering potpourris, dry or liquid, do not use a pan that you also cook food to eat.

And.....should have pets or there were pets before you moved in who made mistakes....

You can mix 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water into a spray bottle and spray the spots or areas well with this. It will neutralize all odors left behind leaving the carpet fresh smelling. It may take more than one application depending on whether the pet in question used this area on a continual basis. For currents pets, this also poses a deterrent toward future use!

Candles

There are many manufactured candles of all shapes, sizes and scents available on the market. While most of the time candles are used to add ambiance to a room, it is always practical to keep them on hand in case of a power outage. They also make thoughtful gifts for most occasions.

If you are interested in making them, there are candle making kits of many varieties that can be found in craft stores or department stores that have craft sections. Books are available at your local library or book store. Below are easy directions you can try too.

You’ll need:

String

1/2 cup salt

2 cups warm water

Pan or large can

Crayons

Scented oils (optional)

Molds or glasses

Old newspapers

Tongs or old forks

Pencils ( Clean Popsicle sticks or bamboo skewers)

For the wick use sturdy two-ply twine (two strands of string twisted together.)

The twine can be found in hardware stores or in the craft or hardware section of a discount department store. Do not use jute and judge the size by the size of wicks you have seen in manufactured candles.

Combine the salt and water and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Put the twine in the salt water and soak for an hour and let dry …. over night is good so that it is completely dry. Cut into 12” lengths.

Depending on how many candles you plan to make will determine how much twine to soak at one time.

If you plan to make six and each will be eight inches tall then cut five yards of string to soak. (see measurements) This is actually more than will probably be needed but its better to have enough and the overage can be saved for future use.

Wax can be purchased in one pound packages at most grocery stores or variety stores. It can be found in the section that sells canning supplies. Canning supplies are used for preserving fruits, vegetables, jams and jellies.

To make six candles probably three or four pounds of wax will be needed.

Place one pound …just one… in a pan that you will not be using to cook food in.

A good substitute is a large, (one gallon), metal can that vegetables or coffee are packed in. Before using, peel the paper off and wash to be sure it is clean before adding the wax.

If you plan to make the candles in glasses (not plastic ones) you can find various shapes and sizes at discount stores or thrift stores and yard sales. Clean the glasses and remove any stickers so they are ready to pour the wax in when it is prepared.

Put the can on a front stove burner so it is easy to reach and watch.

Take the wax out of the package and place in the can or pan on the lowest heat setting.

It will take a few minutes to melt. Be sure to watch carefully to avoid a possible fire.

When the wax is melted turn off the heat and put the string you have prepared for wicks in the wax until it is fully coated. About a minute.

Spread several sheets of old newspaper out on your counter or work area so that spilled wax will not get on the counters or work space area.

Carefully remove the wick from the wax allowing as much of excess wax as possible to drip into the pan before completely lifting out. Separate each string from the other and stretch them out in rows on the paper so they can dry. You don’t want them to stick together and they will dry quickly. Preparing them in this manner will help them to burn better.

Wrap one end of the strings around the pencils and drop the string into the glasses or other molds you have chosen. Rest the pencil on the top rim of the mold and this way the wick won’t fall to the bottom. The string should be straight and just touch the bottom of the mold. You can get small fishing weights or little thin washers (…available at the hardware department…) and tie them to the end of the string that will be at the bottom of the mold.

This will help keep the strings straight and keep them from floating up in the wax.

Next warm the wax in the pot again and add the crayon color of your choice. When melted and mixed well pour the wax into the molds and let cool for several hours until solid. Overnight would be best. Repeat the steps of melting and adding color to the wax until the molds are filled.

For safety sake, never leave a lit candle unattended because it can easily start a fire.

and filezilla