Do Not Let Anyone Dissuade You From Reaching Your Goals!
July 31, 2006
Years back when I was formulating my plans for life, I heard the statement, “Reach for nothing and you will be certain to get it.” Admittedly, my goals during my youth were rather vague and uncertain. However, several years of experimenting with different goals has helped me to refine them into something workable and realistic. Now, nothing can dissuade me in my quests, even the comments of the naysayers. Here are four tips that are helping me to reach my goals:
1. Be realistic. I have heard the statment said, “If you want to be President of the United States, just put your mind to it and you will be.” Well, that sounds nice. However, it is an unrealistic goal for most people. Sure, someone will become president, but not everyone has the capacity, fortitude, desire, or willpower to see to it. Plus, presidents are elected and this particular goal depends on the will [read votes] of the people. Instead, if you want to be president, have a fall back plan that includes a lifetime of public service. Once in public service, you may end up refining those plans to something more manageable but just as an important. An example of this would be your managing a charitable organization. No, you wouldn’t be the president of the U.S., but you would still have the opportunity to impact people for the greater good. A laudable goal at that!
2. Be ready to refine. Life is not a straight line from Point A to Point B to Point C and beyond. There are so many curves, twists, turns, roadblocks, and other obstacles out there. The key is to size each change up to see how it measures against your goals. Whether you are religious or not, it could be that a “still small voice” is attempting to guide you in your pursuits. You may not need to abandon a goal, rather you may need to slow down or come to a temporary stop. Time will test the strength and reasonableness of a goal and — if it is to be — time will win out.
3. Be prepared for opposition. Great people of the ages have pressed on with their goals by having a relentless, unending desire to see the goal reached. Abe Lincoln became president after losing several political battles earlier in his life. Martin Luther King, Jr. spearheaded the civil rights movement which overturned a culture of separation of the races. Sally Ride broke through barriers by becoming the first American woman in space. Each person had something in common: they persevered, often over the strong objections of naysayers. While naysayers can seem to be your enemy, look at them as your friend: use their objections as a catalyst to press forward.
4. Be ready to claim victory. Yes, at some point you will have met your goals. Once achieved, acknowledge the long, difficult road you took, take a look back, and be prepared to start on your next goal!
Matt Keegan is a web designer and marketer who is in the process of working toward several goals including managing a successful business. Matt manages a popular business niche community for flight attendants at http://www.corporateflyer.net.
Using Your Dogs Hair
July 31, 2006
Dog hair (called chiengora)can be spun into yarn, much like sheeps’s wool, alpaca, or any other animal fiber. The process is the same. Dust and oils can be washed out of the spun hair, so there is no “doggie odor.” Amazingly, the spun yarn is warmer than wool, easy to care for, and has an angora-like fluffy texture. Until recent times, most dog owners didn’t realize the beauty of the colors and texture of their dog’s hair could be used in the manner of sheep’s wool.
It’s really as easy as brushing your dog. There are some guidelines to getting the best and softest yarn possible. When brushing your dog, be sure to collect from the parts where the hair is the longest and softest. This is undercoat. Hair must be 2 inches or longer for best results. Hair should be clean and dry, with no grass or debris in it. Brush the hair from the longest, softest parts of the dog, saving only this hair. It is the undercoat you want, not the coarse top coat. Clippings will not work well for spinning with dogs that have double coats. There is too much guard hair, and the yarn quality will not be as nice as the pure undercoat.
Remove dog hair from the brush and save it in a paper bag. Save hair that is completely dry, and as clean as possible. (Do not attempt to clean it once it is brushed off the dog!) Bathe your dog first, and brush when the hair is dry. Paper allows the fiber to "breathe" and not be trapped with oils in a plastic bag. The best way to store the hair from brushings, is in a paper sack, or cloth bag, such as a pillowcase. Despite what your mother or grandmother used to do, NEVER USE MOTH BALLS! Moth balls contain a toxic chemical that is dangerous to breathe, and it is impossible to remove the mothball smell from the hair. How much do you save? It depends on what will be made with the finished yarn. Most small projects use about 6 ounces of hair.
Transforming dog hair into yarn takes much time and care. First, the yarn is evaluated for spinning. Depending on length, and how the yarn will be used, I determine if the hair needs blending with a soft merino wool. Blending minimizes shedding out, and produces a more durable yarn. Although most people want 100% of their dog’s hair to be used in a product, this isn’t always possible. The dog’s color can still be seen and the fluffy texture is still present in the finished yarn.
From this point, the process is the same as spinning sheep’s woolI use a drum carder for the blending process. This carder has metal teeth on it, that comb the wool, so the fibers are lined up and ready for spinning. The fiber is lifted off the drum carder, loosely rolled up, and set aside by the spinning wheel.
The yarn is spun into single strands on a spinning wheel, and then plied for strength. The yarn is then cleaned by hand, using a mild conditioning detergent or dog shampoo, and air dried. It is then wound into balls or skeins and is then ready to be knitted or crocheted into a scarf, hat, ornament, and many other things.
Because it is handcrafted, and personal, a chiengora gift makes a sentimental remembrance. It is better to begin collecting hair while your pet is healthy and younger. People have often told me that it is comforting to have a soft, “pettable” scarf, hat, teddy bear, or other item made from their dog’s hair, and it brings back happy memories.
Fran Pike spins and knits with luxury fibers, including angora, alpaca and "chiengora." She founded Rover’s Comb to enable people to have beautiful keepsakes made from their dog’s long, brushed hair. Her work is showcased at http://www.roverscomb.com
About Baking: Eight Tips for Perfect Pancakes
July 31, 2006
Pancakes are easy and almost foolproof. But there are some tricks to making them perfect. We’d like to share those tips:
1. Use a low gluten flour. We like to use unbleached pastry flour in our recipes-that’s what our mixes are made with-but all purpose flour will do. Bread flour makes for a pancake that it too tough and chewy.
2. Don’t over mix. Mixing develops the gluten in the batter. Mix the dry ingredients together to dispense the leavening throughout the flour. Mix the recipe’s wet ingredients together in another bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened. There will still be lumps. That’s okay-they’ll cook out.
3. Get the batter the right consistency. The batter should be runny enough that it will spread on the griddle. If it is too runny, the pancakes will be crepe-like. As you progress through the batch, the batter will tend to become thicker as the leavenings work. Add a little more water or milk as needed but remember to stir minimally.
4. Prepare the griddle. Very lightly grease the griddle with a little shortening or with an aerosol can of vegetable oil.
5. Get the griddle hot enough. Set the griddle on high or medium-high heat. When the griddle is hot enough, water droplets will dance on the surface. After putting batter on the griddle, turn the heat to medium.
6. Cook uniform-sized pancakes. Use a 1/3-cup measure for medium-sized pancakes and a 1/2-cup measure for larger pancakes.
7. Cook it right. You can tell when it’s time to turn the pancake by watching the bubbles form and watching the edges of the pancakes. The bubbles tend to cook into little craters and the edges will be dry-looking when the pancake is ready to turn. A little practice makes perfect.
8. Keep your pancakes hot. Pancakes are best if steaming hot. As you take the pancakes off the grill, cover them lightly with aluminum foil. If it’s going to be more than a few minutes before they are eaten, stick the loosely covered plate in an oven heated to 275 degrees. For a special touch, heat the empty plates in the oven before serving.
For more articles like this visit The Bakers’ Library.
© 2004 The Prepared Pantry
10 Reasons Santas Broke This Year
July 31, 2006
1. Santa Spends More Than He Makes
Santa’s paychecks are nothing to sneeze at, but he stays focused on his next raise. (Yes, of course Santa gets a raise each year!) He has no idea what it costs him to live the Santa life. He doesn’t track his earnings nor his spending. Santa’s got to provide for his reindeer, his horse and his North Pole home - just like the rest of us.
2. Santa Has No Emergency Account
Santa’s transportation tends to break down right in the middle of major blizzards. Only last week, he had to whip out his credit card to pay for sleigh-towing. When Santa finally made it to the repair shop, he again had pay for the sleigh repair with credit. Just last year, he nearly had frost bite after his brand new sleigh had broken down.
3. Santa Lives Paycheck to Paycheck
Santa cashes his paycheck at the North Pole Bank, but most of the money gets spent before it makes its way to his checkbook. If it makes it there, most of the money is already owed to the credit card company. Santa has no other money set aside.
4. Santa Doesn’t Enjoy Balancing His Checkbook
Santa forgets to balance the checkbook. He spends money, but is never sure what he has available to spend. Santa doesn’t know how to build in some fun to help him enjoy working in his checkbook.
5. Santa Spends His Raises and Bonuses
Santa got a nice raise back in January, following his Bonus check in December (bonus based on number of chimneys completed for the year). He thought he’d have plenty of money this year. But Santa likes nice, updated equipment at all times. He bought brand new gear for all his reindeer, even though last year’s would have done the job.
6. Santa Eats Most of His Meals Out
Since Santa’s job requires that he spend a large amount of time traveling, Santa tends to eat out way too much. He also has to feed his reindeer each time he sits down to eat. The tips alone are enough to keep him in the poorhouse.
7. Santa Lives on the Edge
Santa keeps himself so busy that he can’t sit down and plan his life. He hasn’t set up a plan to build extra money into his checkbook, nor has he made a decision to actually save any of his money. Even setting up automatic deposit would be helpful. Another emergency could wipe him out. (No more Santa?)
8. Santa is Not Preparing for the Future
Santa, jolly fellow that he is, has no money set aside to work for him. He may end up working until his hair is much whiter (or gone). It’s pretty much a given that Santa will need to replace that sleigh and maybe even some of the reindeer over the years. Because most of his money now goes to pay off credit cards, Santa just can’t picture tucking away any money.
9. Santa Spends Too Much on R & R
Even Santa needs a little rest and relaxation after all that hard work. If he runs out of cash, he charges it. (No, I promised not to tell what Santa does for R & R. He does know who’s been naughty or nice …)
10. Santa Can’t Stay Motivated
Santa gives himself a good lecture from time to time. He knows he should be doing better, but he just can’t get any traction. Saving his money seems like an overwhelming obstacle. Santa hasn’t discovered there are tricks out there to make saving money a fun thing, something he can look forward to doing.
About The Author
Darlene Arechederra offers simple, unique strategies to help you become a saver. She believes the trick is to discover which ideas work best for you — because your money is not one-size-fits-all. Discover your *own* unique strategy today! Free weekly newsletter. http://www.RatRaceRemedies.com
They Call it Puppy Love
July 31, 2006
My son is 6 yrs old. He came home the other day from school and stated that he had two girlfriends. I asked him who they were. And he said one was in his class and the other was in the other Kindergarten class. He said one of them asked him to be her boyfriend, and the other he just liked, so she was his girlfriend too. He liked her so he assumed she was his girlfriend too.
That is pretty cute now that he is young, but I am not looking forward to him dating when he gets older, at all. I had the boyfriends in grade school too. Boyfriends meaning, we would just look at each other and smile at each other in class.
As I got older we would hold hands and write love letters to each other. You know, the check yes or no. Sometimes I would go to school dances and we would dance, and you would have to dance an arms length apart back then, and it was fine.
I got my first kiss when I was 14 yrs old. I didn’t start dating until I was 15 yrs old. Things sure have changed. My best friend’s son has never went on a date, except the junior prom. He hasn’t been aloud to go out on a date. He will mope around the house saying no girls like him, and the ones that do, well, how shall I say this, are a little brazen. I guess that is a nice way to put it. He is such a good guy too. He has a big heart, and she has done a wonderful job with those boys. Now his friends date, and they are out messing around with these young ladies. Nothing seems the same anymore.
I was no angel, but I did think about my actions. A kiss meant something back then, it means absolutely nothing now. My son told me he kissed a girl on the lips, I about had a condition. He was at his dads’ at the time, and I was pretty firm in my opinion with him also. Kids need to enjoy their school years. They need to hang out with their friends, dating is fine, if it is just dating. There is no hurry to get serious.
Being buddies can be more fun then being in a serious relationship, that most teens just aren’t ready for. You are given a gift, girls and boys.
Once that is gone, you cannot get it back, there is no more first times . Shouldn’t it be with someone you really love, that you’re planning a life with, that you know, for a fact, you will share a life with. That comes with age. Enjoy your school years, the longer you wait to be serious, the better it will be. Be careful, and respect each other.
Vaughn Pascal
For God and Country
To God and Jesus; Thank you. To Bub and Doc; I love you.
Trends in Furniture
July 31, 2006
Trends in Furniture
by: Bob Benson
Remember when everyone was buying contemporary furniture or early American furniture? Or French provincial? These days there really isn’t a furniture trend. Instead, it’s all about buying the furniture YOU like that most suitably fits your lifestyle.
Today’s trend about furniture color is a simple one. If you like it, buy it. If you don’t, don’t buy it. The color scheme for furniture encompasses all tastes. You can find the softest pastels, the brightest blues, the most vibrant reds, and any other color you like in just about all kinds of furniture.
So, how do you make your home feel “trendy” in a day and age where there is no trend? It is simple: be yourself. If you have a brown leather sofa that you’ve had for a while but it’s still in good shape, buy a new orange corduroy recliner to throw into the mix. The color will give your old furniture a breath of fresh air.
Maybe you can dress up your current furniture with some trendy throw pillows. Make your furniture look extra special by purchasing (or making, if you happen to be creative with a needle and thread) throw pillows accented with beads, ribbon, or appliqués to fit the theme of your room.
Do you have a room full of shabby chic furniture that you bought a few years ago but now you feel like it is outdated? Give it an update. Give it a light sanding and repaint with a brighter color or a darker one, depending on the rest of the décor in your room.
Another way to make your room seem trendy is to leave your furniture alone all together. Instead of trying to create a trendy room based on your furniture, choose to paint your room. What color is your room now? If the walls are white or beige, any color will be a welcome change. If you have had vivid walls for a while, maybe now is the time to go neutral. Any change will make your room - and its furniture - feel fresh and trendy!
If you don’t want to update your room by painting - or if you live in a rental that prohibits painting — make your furniture seem trendier by hanging new pictures and putting new accessories on your old tables. If you’re tired of the “country” feel your furniture and room provokes, take down the country inspired art and replace it with something modern that uses the same colors already part of your furniture. Add a big colored glass vase to a table and drop a bouquet of silk flowers in it. Or, if that has been your look, replace it with a bud vase and a single, long stemmed poppy, rose or daisy. Sometimes you can make your furniture look new just by what you place near it!
Decide what look you like and create it. Don’t worry about what’s “in.” As long as it fits in your lifestyle and budget, these days it is considered “in.”
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