11 posts tagged “diy”

MT cut the asparagus."

When I wasn't trying to fit in a week's worth of home-cleaning -failing into one day along with the charity H4H stool thing and writers workshop, I decided to cook a pot of beans. My father came to me and said the asparagus needed cut so, I ran out and did that, too. -I'm a good doobie...and he's Pa Kettle

•For city-folk, here's how asparagus grows (in spring, later it grows up over my head and gets all feathery-looking).

Cut it with a bit left sticking out of the ground.

Then, take your "mess of asparagus"don't know if that term is used outside of the Ozarks or not but it basically means enough food for a meal; ie: "She brought a mess of fish to her mother." inside and proceed to look for anything untoward.

Particularly in our area (perhaps everywhere), there are these

wee black things on some stalks of asparagus; they're bug eggs or something and they're really stuck on well. It's better to cut them off or toss the whole thing, as shown.

Cleaned and ready to cook: I like to cut mine down farther but it ruins the "prettiness" of the whole stalks so, I stopped taking shots there.

•And here's the state of the herbs (and lettuce):

1. the paint

I'm really hoping that link works because it's to all the "Habitat for Humanity" project I'm posting updates about at my creative tinkering joint at lj -not to be confused with a separate project of creativity that's only iPhone photography

2.  cooking beans

Take dried beans (or peas, home-dried or store-bought) and put them on the counter to pick through. You'll find bits of broken beans, dried up seed pods and even stones. Remove them or anything that isn't somewhat consistent with the majority of your beans to the side.

Cover with cold water and bring to a quick boil for 5-10 minutes. You want to soften the outside of the beans but not split them. -ahem, like I did because I was doing other things instead of minding them

Drain and cover with fresh hot water and place back on your stove-top.

 

Add salt to your taste and seasoning. I like to put in 1/2 strip of bacon but since beggars can't be choosers, I was gifted this big-arsed hunk of smoked ham. I gladly received it and dunked it in the batch.

Cover, bring to boil and back off the heat -- cook covered for an hour or so and then take off the top to let the water reduce. Cook for about another 30 minutes or hour -- you can take out a bean or two and taste. If they're al dente, that's bad. Cook longer. You're not going for mushy, either. It's a hit and miss. Some days take longer than others. It's not you, it's the beans you started with. By the way, this is about pinto beans and certain other types take longer or shorter.

Butter beans, for example, take shorter and will cook up into porridge, if you're not careful! The finished product was very steamy! Serve as desired and remember to let cool before putting in the fridge.

Growing up, we always kept Borax. -"Twenty mule-team strong" or something was their motto  We used it as an additive to our laundry and for general cleaning, particularly on outside stuff like concrete, barbecue pit and utensils and the occasional picnic tabletop. We also made wee Hadrian's Walls to keep out bugs. -you leave a line almost like levees; bugs rarely cross it and many die trying... I'm not sure why and I don't really want to know

I think it's boric acid but I don't know what that is because my learning disability rendered

that part of my brain retarded and I couldn't get the maths scores to get into chemistry -- even in high school. Hence, "unscientific science-y Tuesdays."

What I have wondered about is how I alternately use baking soda in household cleaning but never for bug-warding. They're both white dry stuff, Borax being grainer and baking soda being more powdery. They can both dissolve in hot water, too.

Some web-site had a link with summary of making your own cleanser and I clicked it just to see if it was like what I grew up using, not because we're Hippies but because we're from the Ozarks. Sure enough, many "eco-friendly"/ "green"/ environmentally-safe type DIY articles let loose these long-guarded (in plain sight) family recipes.

What threw me off was the term washing soda. Was that the same as Borax or baking soda and we just never called it the right thing? -you mean like "Grandma ____ peas" are crowders to everyone else in the world?

This morning I tried to look at some more recipes and compare when they use one versus the others. It looks to me like Borax is totally its own thing and washing soda is the more caustic cousin of baking soda. I read one "chemistry for dummies-style" article that told how sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is derived from sodium carbonate. All-in-all, washing soda is going to be a bigger-bang for cleaning but you must wear rubber gloves if you're going to expose your skin to it. Contrarily, baking soda is more refined and won't flay you alive. -my terms, which are exaggerated but please don't go playing in washing soda

Now, if you're adding washing soda to your laundry, it's purported to boost efficacy as much as 40%. That's super but just adding the safer-to-your-skin baking soda helps, too. Don't forget the Borax boosts efficacy, too.

The thing for me to remember, as in how I'd use these things as I always have but maybe even more is Borax still works great as a mini-Hadrian's Wall, it still cleans outside stuff and boosts your laundry detergent. Baking soda is still great for many household cleaning uses including the toilet; I was taught that after cleaning it, dump some extra and force-flush the commode because the baking soda is also good for our natural waste management. We don't have an aerator or connect with the outside world; it's all usn's on the farm, baby.

Since I didn't grow up using washing soda, I don't know if I'll like it or not. On one hand, it seems scary-strong so, it might be really good at those outdoor cleaning tasks for which I grew up using Borax. On the other hand, it seems scary-strong.

I'd love anyone's contributions or reviews of using one over another!

You can google "DIY household cleaners" and spend all day reading recipes so, I won't post any here. I will add that white vinegar and lemon rinds are hugely popular in my family for cleaning. White vinegar is perhaps the best friend you've got!

Val's vox is a recurring shiny, happy moment.  I read all of her "controversial" post (comments and links), but I still don't see where any liberals put me down.  Maybe that's because I'm so poor and uneducated.  Maybe that's because I'm a rube.

I’m still poor, still live on the family farm and still come from generations of poverty.  We raise and kill animals or vegetation for nourishment, not fun.  I eat squirrel (including the brains) and I can walk through the woods and cut weeds or “wild edibles” to cook up.

We raised sugar cane & my dad got sorghum by selling blackstrap to the miller in turn (pun!) for his work.   We can/ ned (cold packed) everything or store/ d root vegetables and green tomatoes (packed in newspaper, they turn red in about two months) for winter.  We used mules to operate farm equipment (people today buy the same old implements as yard decorations), pull sulkies or for skidding logs.  Now we have a tractor.

-photo note:  the crap hanging above my head are drying herbs; the tchatchke above mum's head reads "Happiness is Homemade"

I’m pretty handy on fixing things because we didn’t have money to pay others to do it.  My clothes were made until I was in middle school and then clothing was hand-me-downs from second cousins or my grandmother (we wore the same size).  This wasn't the case with everyone at school (I'm 36).  Whether it’s skinning catfish, killing bunnies, castrating bulls or any of the above stuff, we did almost everything right on the farm (buying flour and cloth). 

I’m proud and as a self-sufficient person, I encourage others to learn how to take care of their own business whether it’s food or something wonderful and new that they dream up.  I don’t feel put down when others encourage people to buy local, car-pool, make their own jewellry or shoes.  I never considered that these social movements could be construed as putting down those who "had to do" all of our lives.  Who put me down?    

Okay, maybe an assumed put-down was a link to  "Poor people want cheap things." 

That's true.  People who don't have a lot of money want whatever they have to get for cheap.  A lot of people suffer from retail addiction; they get high from "retail therapy" (a lawyer acquaintance says that and I wouldn't call the several hundreds of thousands of dollars she makes a year "poor").  The poor have to buy cheap things to get their brief "high."

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” - Mark Twain

It seems to me every positive choice made by a human or commercial entity is a positive choice.  Can we make up for others?  My guess is no.  Does that mean we’re off the hook?  Hell, no.  It’s like what my grandmother taught me, “Pretty is as pretty does.”

So, maybe I'm simple believing people attempting to lessen their "mark" on the world are doing it for good reasons.  It never occurred to me that they were trying to make anyone feel low so that they could feel better about themselves.   Maybe it really is a dichotomy where there's two kinds of people:  -I wish I could quote properly and attribute, I always end up saying it was probably Mark Twain or Jesus   those who see a universe full of love and those who see it as threatening.

"The earth can be any shape you want it
Any shape at all
Dark and cold or bright and warm...
But it's home and all I ever had"
-Dolby

I’m no expert and I'm not accountable for loss of life, limb or property.  That said we do this every year.

• Shut off your water main.  It’s probably within 2 feet of your cold water intake tank.  

• Shut off the power to your hot water heater at the switch box.  

You MUST do these two things before thinking about anything else.  When I think "water and electric" I think turn it off.  

• Go to the kitchen sink and open the hot water tap -- this will create a vacuum that will suck out water when you’re ready.  You can use a closer sink tap.  Mine is the kitchen.

• Get enough length of garden hose to attach to your hot water heater and run well-outside.  Make certain that you place the exiting end in a good place to do that.  Don’t dump tens of gallons of water to run right back inside.  Also, it'll be hot coming out (unless you take steps to prevent that and you don’t want to bother) so make sure you’re not going to kill anything by dumping hot water on it.

• Additionally/ optionally:  if you don't wish to wait for over an hour for it to drain or if your exit area would dump the

water “uphill,” buy a pump to push the water out quicker and with more force to pour out in an acceptable area.  We don’t use a pump but I think I'd prefer it just for brevity since we do this every year.

• Attach the garden hose to your hot water heater securely at the coupler at the bottom.  When you’re ready to go (remember no electric and no water on), grab the part of the coupling closest to the hot water heater and open it.  Have a friend make sure the water is coming out (and making sure it’s not drowning anything or coming back into the house).

• If something isn’t working the way you like, shut it off at the coupler -- don’t unhook the hose until you do so.   I know you know that but you’d be surprised what steps you forget when thinking, “Ach, my prize roses!”

• Allow to drain completely.

• Remove the pressure-hatch to get into the bottom of your tank.  It will have an outside cover, some insulation and then the real deal.  It’s going to be held (probably) with a nut and bolt.  You may prefer to use a ratcheting wrench over a normal one (it's hard enough).  When it’s loosened, don’t be surprised when it drops backward into the tank.  It should be an oval and you can remove completely by angling it out.

• Now you’re in the bottom of the tank.  You’ll want a friend holding a light source and running for tools.

• Assess:  see what nonsense is in there.  For us, it’s several inches of lime scale that can be wet-vacuumed out.  For those with rust, you may be able to sludge it out.  Try to get out all that you can there.  Use old towels for any splashes or drops.  The wet vac does an amazing job for us.  You may want to flush it in some other way but this is our way.

• After you’ve removed the bulk of whatever you can, an additional step we occasionally do is using an entire bottle of "lime-away" ("CLR" is another brand) to further clean the bottom of the tank.  Squirt it in there and of COURSE be careful of your eyes, breathing and skin.   Let it work for a bit and if you like, use a wire brush to scrub anything you can loosen further and wet vac out.

• Finished cleaning?  Make sure the coupler next to the tank is OFF -- you don’t want the water to come out yet.  

• Close up the pressure “access” hatch you used to reach inside the tank.  Make sure it is WELL-SEALED.  If not, you’ll have water spewing out it in a moment and there'll be gallons of water all over before you can say, "Turn off the water, Schmitty!"

• Shut off the kitchen sink tap.

• When you’re sure it’s all closed up and tight, have a friend turn on the water main.  Water should come very quickly into the hot water tank (still no electric since you’re working right there on it -- be safe).  

• If water starts spewing out, have them shut down the main and start cleaning up.  It happens.

• Water didn't spew out?  Good on you!  Have them shut off the water main when you feel there's enough water in there to rinse out the bottom of any chemicals you used or sludge you loosened and couldn't get out with the wet vac.

• Open the kitchen sink tap.

• Open the coupler so the water that just filled it rinses out through your trusty garden hose as you did earlier (if you used a pump, use it again).

Again, keep in mind that you don’t want to poison yourself with any chemical product.    Flush well.  One option would be to let the whole tank fill -- that would definitely give it a good flush but you may prefer to let it only fill half a tank to conserve on water.  Use your own discretion.

• When you feel it is flushed, shut down the coupler at the hot water tank and remove the garden hose.  I suggest doing this with an empty tank although it shouldn't matter.

• Turn on the water main.

• Close the kitchen sink tap when it starts gurgling.

• Turn back on the power at the switch box.

• Let the hot water heater warm.  If you used chemicals, you may be paranoid and draw some of the heated water up into the tub and sniff it to make sure you smell no more chemicals.  Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you didn't almost poison yourself.

Now, if you were changing the elements, you'd have to drain the tank first.  That's another story but basically it all drains and fills the same with the extra steps of removing old elements and installing new ones.  My only tip on them is keeping the board the new one came on so you never pick out the wrong one.  Our heater uses two elements and we always keep two on hand "just in case."  We live far away from shops so that may not be necessary for you.  It's a thought.

Any corrections or additional info you'd like to make?  Leave a comment, please. : )

seen at crom's vox
The List: How to...

1. Patch a radiator hose-  Many years ago, at least.  You cut out the leak and use the clamp to pressure-lock the 2 pieces together.  I'm not sure if it's still that easy as most things are harder with manufacturers ensuring normal people can't easily reach parts of the engine.  Like I don't even know how to get into the engine of my Mazda sport-wagon.  You open the hood and can check fluid levels but you don't see "parts;" it's covered.
2. Protect your computer- Heh.  You mean like when I fell down concrete steps but the computer was fine?  Boy, howdy.  I was banged up.  And since I have a mac, I don't really need to do extra steps. 
3. Rescue a boater who has capsized-  I can't swim, even after taking 2 seasons of lessons.  Please, if you see me in water, save me.
4. Frame a wall- I'm excellent at demolision.  Seriously:  if you need 'struction, have me come in first to wreck it all and start fresh.  Tools required:  one wrecking bar and one sledge-hammer.  I'm a hard-arse.
5. Retouch digital photos- Graphic artist, baby.
6. Back up a trailer- Farm-girl, baby.
7. Build a campfire- We heat with wood.  Outside would be harder, I think, with too much open/ wind.  I imagine it's similar to using a wood stove.
8. Fix a dead outlet- No and it irritates me because I know it's easy.  I just never watched anyone do it.
9. Navigate with a map and compass- Oh, Christ.  I'm directionally-challenged.  No.  I can tell time by the sun.  Beat that.
10. Use a torque wrench-  Sha.
11. Sharpen a knife-  You mean like the knife I got for my 8th bday?
12. Perform CPR- I can try.  I had 2 years of certification but that was in my teens.
13. Fillet a fish- Please.  See "farm-girl."
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid- You'd better know when you grew up on gravel roads.
15. Get a car unstuck- I've done it but I've also given in.  I used to carry 2 gallon can of sand with me.  Might still have it...
16. Back up data- Yes.
17. Paint a room-  Please. And I can lay your laminate floor to finish the room.
18. Mix concrete- See "farm-girl."
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle- No.  But I've shot one since I was 3 by propping up the barrel on a fence rail.
20. Change oil and filter- Yes.
21. Hook up an HDTV- No but I reckon I'll learn in a couple of years.  How hard could it be?
22. Bleed brakes- No but wouldn't you just have to unhook the brake-line?
23. Paddle a canoe-  See boating/ swimming.  Please, save me.
24. Fix a bike flat- No.  I didn't have bikes growing up.  We had mules.
25. Extend your wireless network- I suppose that doesn't mean simply buying a wireless router and using the pre-installed airport extreme card in a computer so that you can move about the house without ethernet/ phone cords.  I'm assuming that's too simple so. the question must involve more that I don't comprehend. 

It's done and I'm too f'ing cool for skool.  As it's creative tinkering, destructions are over there.

As prep continues for our Christmas/ Whatever Winter Holiday/ Merry Ho-Ho Party, I've decorated (not exactly Laura Ashley; does saying that date me?) and cooked what everyone asks when invited to my party, "Are you making chili?"

Yup.

I'm a-gonna make me an elf hat.  I tried last year and got all upset cos it didn't work : (

This year (I blogged about this in the Creative Tinkering Joint because it's "creative tinkering"), I started with a flipping paper mock-up.  It's not what I wanted (there's a "brim") but that's close enough.  At least it sat on my big-fat head.

Now I just have to make it from felt!  I raided the felt collection (don't you have one?) and found I had loads of every color but only one small sheet of green.  The sheets are smaller than an 8.5x11" sheet of paper but almost as big.  Maybe 8x10???

Anyhoozles, I need (don't LAUGH) a piece that's like 2 feet long (it's going to be big and needs to be big because of the previously-admitted big-fat head, leave me and my BFH alone!).  Granted, I totally can doofus-sew (I'm so not good at stitchery) sheets together but I'd love to find one long piece.

Can I buy 2 foot long (or longer, I'm open) felt at a fabric store?  ::shifting eyes::

Originally (as stated) I was going to doofus-sew but I'm so poor at it that I'm almost talking myself down to using stitch-witch.*   Erm...  I'm afraid this project is getting ready to crash and burn.  Help!

*  Fusible web in tape form can be used for hemming garments, pillow cases, blankets, table cloths, and curtains. Tape widths include ¼ inch, 5/8 inch, ¾ inch and 1¼ inches (~6.4 mm, ~15.9 mm, ~19 mm, and ~32 mm). To hem with fusible web, place it between the hem allowance and the garment or other item, setting it down a bit from the edge of the hem allowance. Pin it and iron according to directions. For heavy material, a wider strip up to the depth of the hem allowance is used to give the hem more strength. This kind of tape can also be used in no-sew projects, including quilts.

Why buy a kit?  Make your own! 

I linked this in a neighbour's comments one time and forgot to post about it.  I haven't made them since I was about... 20 something.  I made some mandalas and fired up the oven with the intention of them being kick-ass window ornament things.  They were kinda lumpy  : (