Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Made in America

 I am so on this, this was a real eye opener... Don't let 1/2 of this country steal our rights to hold strong to what America really stands for! Take back what is being taken, if we don't we will loose it forever!!! SRN

 

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION FOLKS...
THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS!!!!!!

Costco sells Goodyear wiper blades for almost half the price that you will
pay on the outside and they are made in the U.S.A.

Unfortunately our politicians and top CEO's have pushed for trade to China
and Mexico for years so Americans are now out of work. Did you know that
there is no electric coffee maker made in the US and that the only kitchen
appliances made in the US is Viking?

This information came from a report made by Diane Sawyer. Hopefully this
has changed or will soon!!

I DIDN'T KNOW HALLMARK CARDS WERE MADE IN CHINA !


That is also why I don't buy cards at Hallmark anymore,
They are made in China and are more expensive! I buy them at Dollar Tree -
50 cents each and made in USA...

I have been looking at the blenders available on the Internet. Kitchen Aid
is MADE IN the US. Top of my list already...

Yesterday I was in WalMart looking for a wastebasket. I found some made
in China for $6.99. I didn't want to pay that much so I asked the lady if
they had any others. She took me to another department and they had some
at $2.50 made in USA . They are just as good. Same as a kitchen rug I
needed. I had to look, but I found some made in the USA - what a concept!
and they were $3.00 cheaper.

We are being brainwashed to believe that everything that comes from China
and Mexico is cheaper. Not so...

I was in Lowe's the other day and just out of curiosity, I looked at the
hose attachments. They were all made in China . The next day I was in Ace
Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there.
They were made in USA .

Start looking, people . . ...In our current economic situation, every
little thing we buy or do affects someone else - most often, their job.

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is now
marked "made in Mexico ." I don't buy it anymore.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico ...now I have switched to
Crest.

You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger . . . I needed 60W light bulbs and
Bounce dryer sheets
 

I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally
buy -- was an off-brand labeled, "Everyday Value." I picked up both types
of bulbs and compared them: they were the same except for the price . . .the
GE bulbs cost more than the Everyday Value brand, but the thing that
surprised me the most was that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday
Value brand was made in - you guessed it - the USA at a company in
Cleveland , Ohio .


One Light Bulb at a Time...................
 

It's Way past time to start finding and buying products you use every day
that are made right here.


So, on to the next aisle: Bounce Dryer Sheets... yep, you guessed it,
Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada . The Everyday Value brand
cost less, and was MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer
sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years, at
almost half the price.

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for
everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the
job you save may be your own or your neighbor's!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others so we
can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time!

Stop buying from overseas companies - you're sending the jobs there. (We
should have awakened a decade ago....)

Let's get with the program and help our fellow Americans keep their jobs
and create more jobs here in the USA .

 

Support the products that are " Made in the USA "


It's up to us to make change happen, don't wait for the government to do it, or you may never see it happen...

Support our manufacturers and the Jobs of the American people!!!!


Pass this on far a wide!

 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Brown Paper Bag Counter Top

I love this! 
 Great share by a FB friend.
I did this on walls a few years back and just loved it! 
It really is easy to do and well worth it.
 I never thought about using it as a counter top but, apparently it works well with the proper seal....

Can't wait to try this on a counter...

Follow the link below for full instructions and more pictures!

http://compulsiveintexas.blogspot.com/2011/11/brown-paper-bag-counter-top.html

The Double Run Chicken System by: Victory Garden

This is a great way to get two jobs done for the price of one!
Love it!

http://www.ecofilms.com.au/victory-garden-chicken-system/

Straw bales provide foundation for sustainable building

I found this fascinating and just about doable for anyone... SRN




About a dozen people gathered last week in Oskaloosa to learn how to build straw bale buildings. Straw and clay are a renewable building material that more people are turning to in Kansas.
http://sunflowerhorizons.com/groups/research-and-development/2011/aug/7/straw-bales-provide-foundation-for-susta/

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Electric Space heaters and how to use them cost efficiently


Moving up to Northern Idaho this past year was very exciting. The beauty of this great state is beyond words. As winter has made its way to our cozy little home, I thought I might do us a favor by doing a little research on what would be the most economical way to keep warm and cozy through our long winter...

I am a firm believer in only heating the rooms you are using, heating or cooling unused rooms just seems a waste of hard earned money in my book.

We have a great wood burning insert in our living room and use that during the day and evenings. At night as we are ready to turn in we need another source to keep the chill off the long night, so I decided on a 1,500 watt thermostat space heater for our room. Liking to sleep at a cool 60 to 65 degrees It does a fantastic job. I also put one in our bathroom for morning showers, again great job!

In the morning upon rising our thermostat in the living-room reads anywhere between 50 and 55, we start our fire and in about 30 minutes or so we are sitting at about 60ish. With a well tended fire we can stay heated comfortably at 68 to 70, and when it's 20 to 30 outside that feels very warm and cozy.

After hearing a few horror stories about high electric bills using space heaters I thought I might want to see how things were going to ad up.

I am pleasantly surprised at what I found, like anything else proper use is key.

Below are a few charts and some valuable information on using heaters and a few other electric appliances. Hope this will help you as it has helped me. :)

Hope you all have a warm and cozy winter! SRN



Saving energy at home:
Electric space heaters
Beware of inflated claims and prices

Advertisements promise that certain models of electric space heaters will save 50 percent on heating costs. Many may wonder if this and other claims are true.
In fact, depending on how portable heaters are used, consumers actually can see their total energy costs go up. And promises of whole-house comfort from portable electric space heaters are exaggerated.
Let's look into the real capability of portable heaters and review how they should be used to obtain maximum payback.

A watt is a watt
Some dealers are selling what is basically a 1,500-watt electric space heater for $250, $300, $400, and even more. Packaged in furniture-like wooden boxes, or wood-looking plastic, what's inside is still a 1,500-watt heater—capable of putting out the same amount of heat at the same cost as a 1,500-watt milk house heater that costs $25.

The only feature of an electric heater that affects the amount of heat the unit can generate is wattage. No matter how elaborate the cabinet that holds it, electric heating is the same. And buyers need to understand how the electric heater works or risk succumbing to a pretty package.

If you're going to heat with electricity, a better investment is a heat pump or an off-peak electric system.
Both are far more economical to operate than electric space heaters.
Electricity is efficient
All electric heating is 100 percent efficient. That means the energy that goes into an electric heater will come out as heat. No energy is wasted.
The only electric heating that is more efficient are heat pumps (air-source or geothermal). Because they use electric energy to capture heat and move it rather than to make heat, they operate at higher efficiencies.
(Air-source heat pumps are 200 percent efficient at certain temperatures, and geothermal heat pumps operate at more than 300 percent efficiency.)
These options aside, whether it is a radiant, convection, or fan-forced electric heater—and whether it cost $25 or $500—it is going to operate at 100 percent efficiency.

The best heater also may be the least expensive to buy
Consumers looking for an electric space heater and tempted by advertising claims are advised to do some research. Consumer Reports published a review of space heaters in October 2007 that showed these higher-priced models disappointed—with one model providing “only fair temperature control and ease of use,” and another, equipped with an air purifier, providing “lackluster temperature control, cleaned the air poorly, and lacks an overheat-protection feature.” This same article shows superior performance and recommended safety features in a model that sells for about $60.

Know operating costs
So, how much will an electric space heater cost to operate? You can use the following formula to calculate how much it will cost to operate a 1,500-watt space heater (or any other electric equipment):
Watts x hours of use ÷ 1,000 x cost per kilowatt-hour = cost of operation
This means that if a 1,500-watt heater ran 24-hours at a rate of 7.57 cents a kilowatt-hour, the cost would be $2.73 a day (1,500 x 24 ÷ 1,000 x $0.0757). For a month that would amount to $81.76 added to the electric bill of the average customer.

Portable heaters are intended for spot heating
Spot, or zone, heating is what portable electric heaters were designed to do. If a portable heater is used in one area and the thermostat for the main heating system is lowered, energy savings are possible. However, if a portable heater is used in one room and the main heating system also is running, savings are not likely to be achieved.
Additionally, to achieve savings a portable heater must operate with a thermostat so it doesn't run continually. Heaters with multiple output settings let you choose the lowest setting that keeps a room comfortable. Temperature control is key to saving energy.

Select for safety
When buying and using an electric space heater, follow these safety guidelines.
  • Look for a product that carries an Underwriters Lab (UL) label.
  • Select one that automatically shuts off if tipped and that has protective casing over the heating element to avoid the potential for burns.
  • Avoid using an extension cord but, if one is needed, be sure it has at least 12-gauge wire.
  • Select the proper wattage so your portable electric space heater doesn't overload your electrical wiring and create a fire safety issue.
  • Select a model that has a thermostat so it doesn't run all the time.
  • Never allow an electric space heater to run when you are out of the house or asleep.
If you're going to heat with electricity and want to make a better long-term investment, other options, such as a heat pump system or an off-peak electric system, are far more economical to operate than electric space


ApplianceTemperatureTimeEnergyCost
Electric Oven 350 1 hour 2.0 kWh $.16
Electric Convection Oven 325 45 minutes 1.39 kWh $.11
Gas Oven 350 1 hour .112 therm $.07
Electric Frying Pan 420 1 hour .9 kWh $.07
Toaster Oven 425 50 minutes .95 kWh $.08
Electric Crockpot 200 7 hour .7 kWh $.06
Microwave Oven "High" 15 minutes .36 kWh $.03

How Much Does It Cost to Run My Appliances?

     Here's a table showing what it costs to run common household appliances. Costs are based on 17.2 cents per kilowatt-hour electric rate. To see my blog on electricity costs for appliances, click here. Let me know by entering a comment below if you'd like to see what it costs to operate other items.
Device
Watts
Day
Week
Month
Appliances




Refrigerator: 16 Cubic Feet 
138
43 cts
$3.06
$13.12
Air Conditioner: 6500 Btu 
390
44 cts
$3.09
$13.24
Coffee Maker 1
835
1 ct
7 cts
31 cts
Slow Cooker: 8 hours
300
20 cts
$1.40
$6.00
Washing Machine: Agitation2
450
2 cts
14 cts
62 cts
Washing Machine: Front load HE2
225
1 ct
7 cts
32 cts
Gas Clothes Dryer: 40 min. load

25 cts
$1.76
$7.55
Electric Dryer: 40 min. load
5000
57 cts
$3.96
$16.98
Vacuum Cleaner: 4 rooms9
1260
7 cts

28 cts
Hair dryer: 6 min. a day
1320
2 cts
14 cts
56 cts
Oil filled radiator: 8 hours
1500
44 cts
$3.09
$13.24
Lighting




60-Watt Light Bulb
55
22 cts
$1.56
$6.81
60-Watt Light Bulb3
57
19 cts
$1.41
$6.19
Fluorescent Bulb4
14
5 cts
37cts
$1.60
High-Intensity Light
26
10 cts
72 cts
$3.21
Christmas Lights




LED Mini-140 lights7
7.2
1 ct
7 cts
28 cts
Mini-150 per string8
57
7.6 cts
54 cts
$2.15
Medium-25 per string8
112
14 cts
$1
$4
Window candles-each8
5
0.7 cts
4.6 cts
18 cts
Television




25-Inch Tube TV5
80
28 cts
$2.02
$8.60
Home Theater/DVD
48
19 cts
$1.38
$5.94
Computers




Modem & router always on.
14
5 cts
40 cts
$1.73
Laptop Workstation: MacBook, light and printer turned on.
70
27 cts
$1.93
$8.42
Laptop Workstation: MacBook turned off, charger plugged in.
1
--
2 cts
12 cts
Full Desktop Computer6
75
31 cts
$2.22
$9.53
2 One load per day. HE refers to front loading high efficiency
3 Different bulbs have different ratings.
4 Equivalent to 60-watt incandescent bulb.
5 Twenty-four hours a day of operation
6 iMac computer, printer, external hard drive,
   modem, router.
7 2 strings of 70 lights each for 8 hours.
8 Burning 8 hours a day.
9 Based on usage once a week.


 

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Glutien free diet help and a sourdough starter recipe

Image: Sourdough starter: CC--andersbknudsen
Follow the link below for this recipe


Thanks Barb for the information,
I am going to start with the sourdough recipe and hope for the best! SRN







http://www.celiac.com/articles/22861/1/Can-Sourdough-Fermentation-Speed-Intestinal-Recovery-in-Celiac-Patients-at-Start-of-Gluten-free-Diet/Page1.html


 Very informational read on Gluten's


Santa berries, to cute!!!

These are just to cute to pass up sharing and passing around..SRN


 


A friend just posted this on FB and I just had to share it with you. These are just too cute and look yummy :)

1 l
  large strawberries
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3-4 Tablespoons powdered sugar (or sugar substitute - to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:
1. Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry. Remove the top, (enough for a hat). Clean out the whole strawberry with a paring knife, if necessary (some of them are hollow already. Prep all of the strawberries and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cream cheese mix to a piping bag or Ziploc with the corner snipped off. Fill the strawberries with cheesecake mixture.
3. Once strawberries are filled, top with the 'hats.' Decorate according to photo.
4. If not serving immediately, refrigerate until serving.
 
 Note: the eyes appear to be sesame seeds, but I'm sure choc. sprinkles (aka jimmies) could also be used
 
                                 ENJOY :)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Turn off your electricity, Eye opening...

This is my advice to people who ask me, what do I really need? but I usually just suggest a weekend. Turn off your breakers, no car, no buying anything, only use what you have on hand. This is sure educational and a real eye opener!!!

If you haven't tried it, I dare you to try.... Let us know what you discovered that you really didn't expect. :)

 Photo: http://is.gd/z9BvKa