Homemade Therapy

[_Jersey Girl]

Hello Folks!

This has been a challenging year for the Jersey clan, but lots more settled down now, thank goodness! I would like you to use this thread to talk about cool stuff you do at home that you find therapeutic. For example, BFF and I were talking just last night about canning jelly and that sort of thing. You know, normal stuff to do when life hasn't been normal. Stuff that "centers" you and adds a bit of Zen to your soul.

Here's my list so far of good things to do and why it's good for me:

Buying a new Water Bath canner
(I so deserve this!)

Canning Jelly
(I love seeing the sunlight through the jars and hearing the lids "ping"!)

Setting up justme's homemade Vanilla Extract.
(I get to go to the liquor store!!!)

Candle holders filled with coffee beans
(Takes like 2 seconds to set up, great for gifts!)

Making Paper Garland with Cricut shapes and sewing machine
(Easy to do and fun!)

Decluttering the Rustic Mansion
(This is good for general peace of mind. I've been doing it in little bits for 2 months. Goodwill loves me!!)

So whatcha got goin' on over at your house?

Jersey Girl

[_just me]

Woot!

Well, cruising the board right now. I already excercised and took my walk and DANCED today.

I sort of mopped a section of my kitchen...it still feels sticky. dammit.

Doing laundry. Clean clothes are nice. I always stay on top of it.

Ummm, I dunno what else to do just now. I need to keep songs going on youtube.

Here is my anthem for today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsJHU5B0uGo&ob=av2e

OH, and I need to find a new avatar! I don't have my old one on this computer and I am searching for it. If someone can find me a sexy popsicle I would use that. Like a popsicle being licked. LOL Or a red melty one. HAHAHA!

[_Quasimodo]

I'm tearing up carpet right now and cutting it into four foot sections to drop in the dumpster. As part of our current remodel, we putting down tile in most of the house.

I'm looking very hard for some therapeutic value, but I haven't found it yet. I have a bad knee (old ski injury) and it's reminding me of how old I am.

[_Jersey Girl]

I'm tearing up carpet right now and cutting it into four foot sections to drop in the dumpster. As part of our current remodel, we putting down tile in most of the house.

I'm looking very hard for some therapeutic value, but I haven't found it yet. I have a bad knee (old ski injury) and it's reminding me of how old I am.

Quasi,

We did that in the main level of the house two years ago, but installed laminate flooring, not tile. Now, I need to rip up the carpet in the upper level and I have to do it myself. If you have any tips for me, I'd sure appreciate it.

What are you cutting it with, like a box cutter???
Do I need to jam like a screw driver in the edges to get it started ripping up?

Also, during Labor Day weekend I am refinishing two decks. I'm so not kidding!!!

I think the therapeutic value might be seeing the old carpeting go away! When we removed our w:w, we had NO idea how much dust was under it and how rotten the carpeting smelled (kids/pets) until it was OUT!

Your reward will come during the holiday season when you feel like your house is all together and lookin' great!!

Keep ripping!!

:-)

[_Quasimodo]

Quasi,

We did that in the main level of the house two years ago, but installed laminate flooring, not tile. Now, I need to rip up the carpet in the upper level and I have to do it myself. If you have any tips for me, I'd sure appreciate it.

At the moment (while I'm in the middle of all this) I would suggest hiring someone else to do it. :)

What are you cutting it with, like a box cutter???

I'm using a high end box cutter I bought for the job (heavy duty, folding sort of thing from Loews). I find I have to change the blades quite often.

Do I need to jam like a screw driver in the edges to get it started ripping up?

Yep. I found that if you get one corner of the carpet free from the little hooks, the rest can be just pulled up pretty easily.

Also, during Labor Day weekend I am refinishing two decks. I'm so not kidding!!!

My dad used to say that it's like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer... it feels so good when you stop.

I think the therapeutic value might be seeing the old carpeting go away! When we removed our w:w, we had NO idea how much dust was under it and how rotten the carpeting smelled (kids/pets) until it was OUT!

I'm with you on that! It's the padding under the carpet that is really repulsive. In CA, most of the homes are built on a cement pad. That's turned out to be a blessing. A quick vacuum and mopping tidies it all up.

Your reward will come during the holiday season when you feel like your house is all together and lookin' great!!

I'll try to keep that image in my head as I'm kneeling on my bad knee and cutting. :)

Keep ripping!!

I'm on it! You could drop by to help. :)

[_MCB]

Quasi-- You wearing a dust mask while you do that? Might be a good idea-- breathing in mold and chemicals and dirt and cat and dog dander and all sort of icky things.

I canned peaches two weeks ago. And a mix of tomatoes, peppers, onion, zucchini, and garlic.

Along with making my can of granola. It only lasts once a month, takes two of the big cardboard cans. I've started eating it with yogurt.

[_Jersey Girl]

Quasi-- You wearing a dust mask while you do that? Might be a good idea-- breathing in mold and chemicals and dirt and cat and dog dander and all sort of icky things.

I canned peaches two weeks ago. And a mix of tomatoes, peppers, onion, zucchini, and garlic.

Along with making my can of granola. It only lasts once a month, takes two of the big cardboard cans. I've started eating it with yogurt.

Excuse me....granola? Recipe or it didn't happen!!!

[_MCB]

alAgain? I thought I had done that before.

Big batch granola

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sticky stuff includes:
8 sticks margarine
1 1/2 package brown sugar
1/2 cup sorghum molasses
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup peanut butter
or nuts either chopped or ground
good dollop of vanilla
Be creative!!

The rest of it:
Two big cans quick oatmeal
Two quarts of dried fruit

Melt all the sticky stuff together in large kettle like a canning kettle. Once it is melted, mix in two big containers of oatmeal, until all the oatmeal is dark. Use cookie sheets and pizza pans to toast in 250 deg oven. May take three hours to get it all done.

Be creative for the goodies, too. Banana chips, raisins, dried cranberries, dried pineapple, prunes, dried apples, dates, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, whatever you can get cheap. (I dry most of my own fruit.) I layer it and mix as I am layering. Two cookie sheets toasted, then two generous handsful of dried fruit. Then mix, then add more toasted oatmeal and fruit, then mix, then add more toasted oatmeal and fruit....

I store it in a big old popcorn can.

Just pasted it from another forum where I had posted it.

[_Jersey Girl]

Almost forgot about this thread!

Here is a gorgeous addition to your Homemade Therapy list of good things to do for yourself.



Cranberry Woods scent by Bath & Body Works! My goodness, this is probably one of the most wonderful things your sad little snowed in winter nose could come in contact with!

There is the sweetish-fruity scent of cranberry with an underlying whiff of pine trees!

Try it!

[_MCB]

Here in cranberry country I see men leaving early in the mornings wearing tall waders. I don't have to buy expensive candles.

I can buy cranberries cheap from the bog-families.

As I continue searching Shakespeare.