Power Dome Comes in Handy

Yesterday my "tires are low" light was on during our ride to church (and the car felt like the tire was too low). I pulled over and Scott pulled out the Power Dome, inflated the tire, and we were on our way in about 3 minutes (we weren't even late for church!!). Very handy little item to have (see earlier post).

Another great gift idea - gilded votive cups

The Internet is a wonderful thing....I just ran across an idea that is so cool (and seems so easy) that I wish I had found it a few weeks ago.  I haven't tried it yet, but it looks fun!!

Basically you need a glass cup/jar/whatever, doily, glue stick, and Sharpie metallic paint pens.

Check out her blog - she has lots of great ideas with tutorials!

Personalized Ornaments

I just bought some beautiful shatterproof ornaments in vivid colors (from Target), and decorated them to give to the kids that I babysit each week.  I wrote on them with acrylic paint pens, and drew a few quick Christmas designs.

They turned out great, and best of all, the kids don't need to worry about breaking them!!  (Also, my dogs can't eat them!).

Great Auto Safety Idea

A few months ago we got a portable jumpstarter for both of our cars....it allows you to jumpstart your car from this battery, PLUS it has a compressor (for inflating tires), power invertor, AM/FM radio with IPOD input, and 2 AC and 1 DC outlet (which will allow you to run/charge a laptop or other device).  It's just nice insurance for when things go wrong and AAA is far away.
If you have a teenager or youngster driving, this gives peace of mind as well.

There are several different kinds, with different features and levels of wattage.  We got the Wagan 400-Watt Power Dome EX via Amazon (currently $110 with free shipping).  There is a 200 watt one that is $80 and includes free shipping.  Check it out if you are interested!

A Way to Live

I have always loved this prayer from St. Francis of Assisi, and it is a great way to live.  Of course none of us can do these things perfectly, but to the extent that we try, the world will be a better place and we will each be happier.  Enjoy!

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Self-Watering Container Gardens

I know it's freezing outside (at least here in Chicago) but I am already thinking about next year's garden.  I want to do more container gardening because I don't want to add more garden beds (we will be moving in a couple of years).

Here is a good article about how to do successful container gardening, especially in a more urban setting - I plan to follow this advice in the spring!

One thing I always hate about potted plants is their need for water - if we are out of town for more than a day or two, they have a hard time surviving.  Here is an interesting idea for using soda bottles as planters and watering stations.  If you want something bigger, there is something called an EarthBox that has a watering system built in (it looks like it runs about $30 each for a 29"L x 14"W x 11"H container - it holds 3 gallons of water which sounds great to me!).  Or you can make your own for about $15.

Actually, there are many ways to make your own - you can check them out yourself by going to this page.

Skills that our Grandparents Had....

We have lost many of the skills that our grandparents and great-grandparents had - while some people still know how to preserve food, garden, etc., many of us have rudimentary skills at best.

I just found a really neat website called Save Our Skills which covers a wide variety of topics, from food preservation to home brewing to DIY projects to bushcraft - really interesting stuff.  Check it out!