Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm232989.htm

Orval Kent Food Company, Inc Voluntarily Recalls Products Containing Cilantro Due to Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Orval Kent
800-544-1246 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Standard time
Bill Schwartz
william.schwartz@orvalkent.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 5, 2010 – Orval Kent announced today that it is voluntarily recalling 23 products as a precautionary measure because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The Orval Kent products are being recalled because they contain fresh cilantro produced and distributed by EpicVeg, Inc. of Lompoc, CA. Epic Veg, Inc. issued the notice to recall one lot of cilantro with the UPC code 033383801049 and lot 6127R on November 3, 2010. This lot of cilantro has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella EpicVeg, Inc. distributed the cilantro to Field Fresh Foods, a produce supplier to Orval Kent.

Consumers who have recently purchased the items listed below should not consume this product and should return it to the store of purchase for a full refund or replacement.

Salmonella is a common foodborne pathogen that can cause severe illnesses, including fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. While most individuals recover in three to five days without medical intervention, the infection can be life-threatening to young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Consumers with any of these symptoms should call their physician. For more information on Salmonella, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at http://www.cdc.gov9.

Orval Kent products affected total 43,814 lb. The recalled products were distributed at retail stores nationwide.

Consumer Contact Information:
Consumers with questions may contact Orval Kent at 800-544-1246 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Standard time. Recall Coordinator Bill Schwartz, email address william.schwartz@orvalkent.com.

There have been no reports of illness to date in connection with the items listed below.
UPC Item Use By
7945388187 Bistro 28 Cranberry Mango Pico de Gallo 12/12/2010 BJJIDJ
7978185105 CA Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad 11/24/2010 BJJGAG
7978191705 CA Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad 11/25/2010 BJJGAH
7978185105 CA Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad 11/27/2010 BJJGHG
7978185105 CA Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad 12/1/2010 BJJIGE
7978191705 CA Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad 12/2/2010 BJJIGD
7978191705 CA Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad 12/2/2010 BKKOGD
77509663208 Chef Solutions Mexican 5 Layer Dip 12 oz. 12/11/2010 BJJGFG
1345435529 Fish House Foods Ceviche 5 lb. 10/30/2010 BJJIAC
1345435529 Fish House Foods Ceviche 5 lb. 12/7/2010 BJJIAC
1345435800 Fish House Foods Fajita Chicken Salad Kit 1 lb. 1/28/2011 BJJFHD
1345435800 Fish House Foods Fajita Chicken Salad Kit 1 lb. 2/4/2011 BJJJEC
1345437117 Fish House Foods SW Fajita Bean Salad w Chk 11/21/2010 BJJGAI
1345435301 Fry’s Krab Ceviche Fry 12 oz. 12/9/2010 BJJHJC
1345435574 Orval Kent Chipotle Chicken Pasta Kit 1/2/2011 BJJFHH
7945330215 Orval Kent Cilantro Pecan Dip 8 oz. 12/1/2010 BJJHDD
36420 Trader Joe’s Cilantro Dressing 12 oz 2/9/2011 BJJFFA
76986 Trader Joe’s Cilantro Pecan Dip 7 oz 11/20/2010 BJJGHC
(West Coast Stores Only) 11/24/2010 BJJIH
80947 Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette 12 oz 1/9/2011 BJJFFD

BUMP!

[About 10 years ago, everyone was working with this combo and they loved them, many were made and sold on the internet.

You can buy cheap cinnamon at places like San Francisco Herbs in the bulk form.

Have fun.
granny]

Cinnamon Clay Ornaments

Cinnamon Clay is a simple clay made of cinnamon and white glue.

Some people like the recipe that uses applesauce and alum, etc..., but I find that recipe to be less attractive and more prone to mold.

Using the recipe I am giving you, we have ornaments in our family that are about 15 years old that are still in great shape, no sign of mold and still have fragrance when we take them out of their storage container.

Recipe:
* 1 Cup ground cinnamon
* 4 TBSP white glue

For those who prefer working in parts...
4 parts cinnamon (or any ground spice mix; ground clove and ginger work nicely with cinnamon)

1 part white glue (regular old “Elmer’s Glue” type white glue)
water/glue mixture (white glue) [I use a 50:50 hot water to white glue mixture and I mix my oil in this same mixture]

Cooking oil [in a recipe of 1 cup spices, I use about 1 tsp of oil, more or less]

Materials:
SPICES:
Cinnamon: Traditionally the clay is made from 100% ground cinnamon.
Cinnamon is fairly expensive here in Bolivia, whereas ground clove is less expensive, as is ground ginger. So I experimented with a mixture of 2 parts ground cinnamon to 1 part ground ginger and 1 part ground cloves. I really like that blend!

To extend the experiment further, I combined the spice mixture with flour in a 1:1 ratio... half flour and half spice mixture. It turned out wonderfully. The clay mixed up the same, rolled and cut the same and has dried the same. The scent, so far, seems to be just as intense as the 100% cinnamon clay.

*NOTE: when you extend your cinnamon/spices by mixing it half and half with flour, the clay is lighter when it’s wet but seems to dry just as dark as 100% cinnamon clay dries. A clay of 100% ground cloves is very dark but is very aromatic.

Glue: Use standard white glue like Elmer’s or Aleene’s Tacky glue. Bear in mind that if your white glue is really thick, you will have to use more hot water. Conversely if your glue is really fluid, you will use less water.

Additives:
OIL: As with Salt Clay, I like to use a bit of oil in my Cinnamon Clay recipe. The oil helps improve the elasticity of the clay and seems to help reduce the natural warping of the ornament as it dries. And kneading your clay with oiled hands helps keep the clay from sticking to your hands too badly.

FRAGRANCE: If you want to enhance the natural fragrance of the ground spices, you may add fragrance oils or essential oils to your clay. I have found that the clay is aromatic enough on its own. However, I have added a drop or two of fragrance on the backs of my older cinnamon clay ornaments from time to time.

Plastic bags and/or wrap: I prefer to mix my clay in a large freezer baggie. The added strength of the freezer bag holds up to the poking and prodding of the kneading/mixing process. Making clays is a messy process and mixing/kneading in a plastic bag reduces the mess to a minimum. When it comes time to remove the clay ball and knead freely, you can flatten the bag and use it as a protective surface on which to knead.

Colorant: You really don’t need colorants for your cinnamon clay. The clay is very dark and colorants seem to get in the way and detract from the natural beauty of the spices. However, if you like, you can use thick acrylic paint to embellish the ornament after it has fully dried. Just remember that the background color is going to be very dark and will overpower any paint that is not opaque.

Process:
Measure your spices and heat your water. While the water is heating, pour the measured spice mixture into your mixing bag or bowl. When the water is hot, measure 1/2 part and then add glue to bring the liquid mixture to 1 part, adding about a teaspoon or less of the oil and stirring it all together.

NOTE: Keep some cinnamon handy so that you can dust the clay with it while kneading, if the clay is too wet or loose.

Keep the mixing bag open and quirt a good amount of glue into the mixing bag. I don’t ever measure out the glue because I can’t get it all out of the measuring cup! I just gave the proportions so that you would have an idea of how much glue we’re using. Try not to get glue on the side of the bag, but don’t worry about it if you do get the glue on the bag.

At the beginning take care when beginning to knead. If you just SQUISH the bag, your cinnamon is going to fly up into your face. Gently squeeze the bag and push the cinnamon into the glue. Keep squishing and kneading all the cinnamon into the glue. Try to keep the clay ingredients near the bottom of the baggie and try to keep the top of the baggie clean and clear.

Continue to knead the bag, making sure that the dry ingredients from the corners of the bag are continually pushed back into the clay mass. When you are sure that all of the water is incorporated into the mass, look at the consistency of the mass.

It’s very likely that your mass will look like peas or pebbles in dirt (kind of like pie crust dough). If this is the case, you are probably in a very arid climate or your glue is thick! Just continue to add more water/glue in small amounts, kneading well after each addition. You don’t want to add too much water because then your clay will be too wet and you’ll have to add more of your dry mixture. ALWAYS add or adjust in small increments!

As your clay begins to achieve the right consistency, the pebbles will become larger and will hold together better. When the mass holds together in a ball, the clay is probably ready.

Mixing the clay in a baggie means that it can seem to be “glued” to the sides of the bag. To release the clay from the bag, whether to check the consistency or to remove the clay ball, blow the sides of the baggie away from the clay. Gather the top of the baggie into your hand and then gently blow into the bag as if blowing up a paper bag or balloon. Do NOT over-inflate your baggie! You don’t want to blow a hole in the bag.

If you have kept the top of your baggie clean, blowing up the baggie won’t be too uncomfortable. Otherwise, you will likely get some of the clay on your face. Don’t worry about it... the salt clay wipes off and washes off.

When you think your clay ball is ready, oil your hands and remove the ball from the baggie. Continue to squeeze the ball in your oiled hands, moving the ball from hand to hand as you squeeze, reforming the clay into a ball each time. If your clay is too soft or wet, sprinkle more dry ingredients onto your work surface and on top of the clay.

Knead/work the dry ingredients into the clay ball.
Cinnamon clay does thicken upon standing. The ground cinnamon bark continues to absorb water, expanding, which makes the clay thicker and stiffer.

When the clay extrudes through your fingers smoothly and doesn’t stick badly to your skin, your clay is probably ready.

When your clay is ready, roll the ball into a “sausage” roll approximately the width of your baggie. Return the clay roll to the baggie and fit the roll into the bottom of the bag.

Using a rolling pin, begin rolling the clay from one side to the other, which will spread the roll out into a rectangle. Now you can begin rolling the clay from the bottom of the baggie toward the top of the baggie.

If your clay gets stuck to the plastic bag, lift the side of the bag away from the clay, releasing at least one side of the clay rectangle.
Continue rolling the clay toward the top of the baggie, making sure that the thickness stays the same on all sides of the clay rectangle.
With Salt Clay, you don’t want your shape to be much thicker than 3/16” of an inch or much thinner than 1/8” of an inch.

However, with cinnamon clay you can roll a bit thinner. We won’t be baking the ornaments so we don’t have to worry about them puffing up and the higher percentage of vinyl in the glue allows the shape to have strength, even when thin.

I like my clay to be about 1/8” when I cut the ornaments and then it shrinks down to about 1/10” when dry.

Try to avoid anything thicker than 1/4” at the very most. Your shape needs to air dry and the drying time seems to increase exponentially the thicker the ornament.

When the clay is rolled out to the desired thickness, you can tear the bag away from the clay or cut the bag away. It’s easier to sacrifice the baggie than to try to get the clay sheet out without tearing the sheet. Leave the clay sheet on the bottom layer of plastic as a protection for your work surface as you cut out the shapes for the ornaments.

If you prefer to use plastic wrap for rolling out the clay, you may do so, using the same guidelines as listed above.

When using cookie cutters, push the cutter straight down into the clay as you would when cutting cookies. Lift the cutter straight up. If your ornament is stuck inside the cookie cutter, gently push the shape out of the cutter, pushing a bit at a time all around the ornament. You want to try to avoid stretching your clay out of shape.
Lift the uncut clay away from the ornaments and form it into a ball. Repeat the rolling/cutting process until the clay is used up. For the small bits left over, you can make beads.

An alternative for using the remainder of the clay is to form small wreaths. Roll the clay into a long “snake”, about 12” long. Roll the center of the snake until it is a bit thinner than the rest of the snake.

Fold the snake in half, forming a fold (”neck”) and two “legs”, and keeping the “neck” open. Twist the two “legs” until you have a nice, fairly tight, twist. Roll the twist into a circle, forming a join by fitting the two “feet” into the “neck”. Arrange the clay so that the join isn’t too thick in any place.

Set your Cinnamon Clay ornaments on a protected surface and allow to dry. Be sure to flip the ornaments every 10 - 15 minutes for the first hour and then frequently for the next few hours. Once they have dried for about an hour and do not bend easily, you can set them on a screen or grid to allow air to circulate around them, speeding the drying time.

[NOTE: If you set them on a grid right away, they can bend or warp, depending upon the surface of the grid. It’s best to let them firm up a bit on a solid surface.]

Once fully and completely dried, your ornaments will last for many years. They do NOT need to be sealed! If you seal them, then the scent is trapped. The polyvinyl white glue preserves them. If they get dirty, you can dust them. You can even wipe them down with a damp cloth. Just be sure to allow them to dry thoroughly before storage.

When Christmas is over, check for any cracks or breaks. You can mend them with white glue and touch them up before you put your ornaments away. Always make sure that your ornaments are completely dry before putting them in storage.

Check out our Vendor and Class Leader Links!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftClass/linksYahoo! Groups Links

Salt Clay Ornaments

Salt Clay is a simple clay made of salt, flour and water. It is also known as “bread dough”, “salt dough”, “bread dough ornaments”, etc... Objects made from salt clay MUST be baked. While they can seem to be “dry” when left alone for a few days, they are not hard enough or durable enough to last.

Recipe:
* 2 parts flour (white, wheat, mixture, all OK)
* 2 part salt (finer grains work better; if your salt is “rough”, whiz it in the blender)
* 1 part water or water/glue mixture (white glue) [I use a 50:50 hot water to white glue mixture and I mix my oil in this same mixture]
Cooking oil [in a recipe of 2 cups flour/salt and 1 cup water, I use about 1 TBSP of oil, more or less]

Materials:
* SALT: If your salt is the texture of beach sand, then you will want to grind it a bit. Pulse it in your blender, food processor or coffee mill to reduce the grains to that of a fine sand or fine sea salt texture. The purpose of the salt in the salt clay is two-fold. The salt adds texture to the clay, but also acts as a preservative. Flour is a food product and can spoil. The salt, as well as the baking of the finished object, help inhibit/prevent the growth of mold.

* Flour: the “color” of your flour will affect the color of your finished ornament. Wheat flours lend a nicely rustic look to your ornaments. You can still color the ornament with food dye, you’ll just need a little bit more dye and you’ll need to account for the “extra” yellow from the color of the wheat flour.

NOTE: if you over-bake your ornament, you will probably lose the color from the dye.

* Water: There are many theories about the temperature of the water used in Salt Clay. I have made salt clay in a wide range of climates and I find that the dryer the climate, the more gluten needs to be formed in the clay. So, for me, using very hot water and adding glue to the liquid phase works best.

* Additives: I add glue to my water mixture to increase the tensile strength of the clay. I also like to add some regular cooking oil to the liquid mixture, as well as oiling my hands when doing the final kneading of the dough. The oil helps ensure a smooth texture to the clay. Don’t add too much, though, or your dough will expand more when baked.

* Plastic bags and/or wrap: I prefer to mix my clay in a large freezer baggie. The added strength of the freezer bag holds up to the poking and prodding of the kneading/mixing process. Making clays is a messy process and mixing/kneading in a plastic bag reduces the mess to a minimum. When it comes time to remove the clay ball and knead freely, you can flatten the bag and use it as a protective surface on which to knead.

* Colorant: Salt Clay may be colored before baking and/or painted after baking. When the clay is nice and elastic, you can color the clay by kneading drops of food coloring into the clay ball. If you prefer, you may use acrylics to knead into the dough. Always start small and add more pigment in small increments. If your color seems too vivid, you can knead a bit of your uncolored clay into the clay ball.

Process:
Measure your flour and salt and heat your water. While the water is heating, mix the flour and salt together and then pour the mixture into your mixing bag or bowl. When the water is hot, measure 1/2 part and then add glue to bring the liquid mixture to 1 part.

NOTE: it’s a good idea to mix more of your dry ingredients than you plan to use. If your clay is too wet, you can add more of the flour/salt mixture, confident that the dry mixture is a good balance of flour to salt.

Slowly pour the liquid mixture into the mixing bag, kneading the dry ingredients as you pour. It isn’t critical to knead while pouring, so if the process seems awkward to you, just pour the water in all at once and then start squeezing/kneading the bag. Try to keep the clay ingredients near the bottom of the baggie and try to keep the top of the baggie clean and clear.

Continue to knead the bag, making sure that the dry ingredients from the corners of the bag are continually pushed back into the clay mass. When you are sure that all of the water is incorporated into the mass, look at the consistency of the mass.

It’s very likely that your mass will look like peas or pebbles in dirt (kind of like pie crust dough). If this is the case, you are probably in a very arid climate! Just continue to add more water/glue in small amounts, kneading well after each addition. You don’t want to add too much water because then your clay will be too wet and you’ll have to add more of your dry mixture. ALWAYS add or adjust in small increments!

As your clay begins to achieve the right consistency, the pebbles will become larger and will hold together better. When the mass holds together in a ball, the clay is probably ready.

Mixing the clay in a baggie means that it can seem to be “glued” to the sides of the bag. To release the clay from the bag, whether to check the consistency or to remove the clay ball, blow the sides of the baggie away from the clay. Gather the top of the baggie into your hand and then gently blow into the bag as if blowing up a paper bag or balloon. Do NOT over-inflate your baggie! You don’t want to blow a hole in the bag.

If you have kept the top of your baggie clean, blowing up the baggie won’t be too uncomfortable. Otherwise, you will likely get some of the clay on your face. Don’t worry about it... the salt clay wipes off and washes off.

When you think your clay ball is ready, oil your hands and remove the ball from the baggie. Continue to squeeze the ball in your oiled hands, moving the ball from hand to hand as you squeeze, reforming the clay into a ball each time.

When the clay extrudes through your fingers smoothly and you don’t feel many salt grains, your clay is probably ready. To check the consistency of your clay, tear the ball in half. The inner texture of your clay is a good indicator of the consistency of your clay. You want the inner texture to look like Play-Doh looks when pulled apart.
If you want your dough to be colored throughout, now is the time to knead in your colorant. One drop of food color will give a nice medium shade to a 2 cup clay ball (1 C. flour, 1C. salt + liquid). Most acrylic paints give a good amount of color as well.

If you prefer to paint your ornaments, bake them first and then allow them to cool completely prior to painting. When painted, allow the paint to dry thoroughly before finishing the ornament.

When your clay is ready, roll the ball into a “sausage” roll approximately the width of your baggie. Return the clay roll to the baggie and fit the roll into the bottom of the bag.

Using a rolling pin, begin rolling the clay from one side to the other, which will spread the roll out into a rectangle. Now you can begin rolling the clay from the bottom of the baggie toward the top of the baggie.

If your clay gets stuck to the plastic bag, lift the side of the bag away from the clay, releasing at least one side of the clay rectangle.
Continue rolling the clay toward the top of the baggie, making sure that the thickness stays the same on all sides of the clay rectangle. With Salt Clay, you don’t want your shape to be much thicker than 3/16” of an inch or much thinner than 1/8” of an inch.

Some people like really thick (1/4” to 1/2”) Salt Clay ornaments. If you choose to use a thicker weight, then you must turn your ornaments more frequently in the oven while baking and expect your shapes to puff up. The puffing makes it more difficult to use shapes with detail or sharp angles.

When the clay is rolled out to the desired thickness, you can tear the bag away from the clay or cut the bag away. It’s easier to sacrifice the baggie than to try to get the clay sheet out without tearing the sheet. Leave the clay sheet on the bottom layer of plastic as a protection for your work surface as you cut out the shapes for the ornaments.

If you prefer to use plastic wrap for rolling out the clay, you may do so, using the same guidelines as listed above.
When using cookie cutters, push the cutter straight down into the clay as you would when cutting cookies.

Lift the cutter straight up. If your ornament is stuck inside the cookie cutter, gently push the shape out of the cutter, pushing a bit at a time all around the ornament. You want to try to avoid stretching your clay out of shape.

Lift the uncut clay away from the ornaments and form it into a ball. Repeat the rolling/cutting process until the clay is used up. For the small bits left over, you can make beads.

An alternative for using the remainder of the clay is to form small wreaths. Roll the clay into a long “snake”, about 12” long. Roll the center of the snake until it is a bit thinner than the rest of the snake. Fold the snake in half, forming a fold (”neck”) and two “legs”, keeping the “neck” open. Twist the two “legs” until you have a nice, fairly tight, twist. Roll the twist into a circle, forming a join by fitting the two “feet” into the “neck”. Arrange the clay so that the join isn’t too thick in any place.

Pre-heat the oven to 300*F. Arrange all the ornaments on a foil-covered baking sheet and place in pre-heated oven. Bake at 300*F for 30 minutes, turning the ornaments over after the first 15 minutes and then again at 30 minutes. Then turn the heat down to 250*F and finish baking for about 2 hours or until hard, again, turning the ornaments over once or twice during the slow bake. [if your ornaments are puffing up, turn them more frequently while baking]

Remove the ornaments and set on a grid to cool. When completely cool, you may paint them, or seal them with varnish. Any kind of varnish/sealer may be used on plain ornaments. If you paint or stain the ornaments, then treat them as you would treat wood that has been painted or stained. Choose the correct varnish for the paint and/or stain that has been used.

Once fully-baked, varnished and completely dried, your ornaments will last for many years. When Christmas is over, check for any chips on the varnish and touch them up before you put your ornaments away. Always make sure that your ornaments are completely dry before putting them in storage.

SIDE-NOTE: I discovered this week that I was still able to bake the ornaments that had air-dried! They sat out from Thursday until Saturday afternoon. I didn’t think they would still bake up hard, but they did. Of course it’s best to bake your salt clay shapes right after forming them! But it’s nice to know that they can rest for a day or so, if you can’t get to them right away.

Check out our Vendor and Class Leader Links!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftClass/linksYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftClass/

We need to get back on topic with the theme of the group with recipes that would go in a jar, baggie or a gift container.

Here are some links to get you started.

You’ll find a mix of different types of gift in a jar on this page:
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/index.shtml

the easier ones include:
hot chocolate
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/hot-chocolate.shtml

spiced tea
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/spicedtea.shtml

two layered soups - chicken noodle and minestrone
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/soup-mixes.shtml

spiral soup
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/spiral-soup.shtml

no-sugar instant rice pudding (good for diabetics)
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/instant_rice_pudding_mix.shtml

herbal vinegars
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/vinegar.shtml

layered dog cookies
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/giftinajar/dog-cookies.shtml

Give a gift of joy...
Give a Gift in a Jar!Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gifts-In-A-Jar/

~ Welcome to Petwarmers ~
http://www.petwarmers.com

Do you sometimes feel that you are married to your pets? Richard
has Mimi — a four legged “wife” who doesn’t nag. Haha. Richard has to
remind himself when he has to take out the garbage. We’re sure you’ll
be able to relate to today’s story.

________________________________________________

MEET MY 4-LEGGED WIFE
by Richard Simpson

Her name is Mimi and she is just eleven years young — a sweet,
miniature Dachshund to be exact, who I jokingly refer to as my 4 legged
wife.
How come?
It all started five years ago when I visited the home of a friend.
As I sat in a comfortable wing back chair, my friend opened the door
and let in eight frisky, tail wagging, jumping Dachshunds. There were
males and females. Some all black, some red, some red and black, some
long haired, some short haired — all barking happily, hoping to meet
me as a possible adopter.
All except one.
Her name, I was told, was Mimi. She walked quietly into the room
and while the other dogs scampered around the room, Mimi settled down onto
a big cushy pillow in the living room. I called to her. She looked up at
me with big, deep dark eyes and then slowly got up and walked over to me.
I reached down, picked her up and placed her in my lap. Next thing I
knew, she stood and then lay down on my chest with her head over my heart.
That was it. I was completely smitten. Love at first sight.
Why do I call Mimi my 4-legged wife? As we have bonded over the
years, Mimi and I have now reached a point where we know each other’s
habits and needs. She sleeps with me at night, taking over half the
bed width, but always with a part of her in contact with me. I am an
early riser, so I carefully get out of bed, head for the front door to
get the daily newspaper, making sure to keep the lights low so as not
to disturb Mimi’s sleep.
I never need to check the wall clock for the time each morning
as I hear Mimi stirring and loudly flapping her ears. That’s when I
head for the bedroom. When I enter, she immediately rolls over on her
back for her morning tummy rub. Her tail wags happily thumping loudly
against the mattress. After a rubbing and thumping period of 2 or 3
minutes, I pick her up, give her another of several kisses and say,
“Time to go out to go potty, okay?”
I swear it seems as if she smiles at me. When I leave to go
to the gym for a morning workout, I tell Mimi to guard the house.
She perks up her ears and sits up in an attentive position.
At lunch time, as soon as she hears me open the refrigerator, she
trots into the kitchen to “help me eat lunch.” Yes, I admit I slip her
some apple pieces and a little bit of sliced turkey. In the afternoon,
Mimi and I are on a big, soft leather couch as I do some reading. Like a
silent alarm clock, at 1:45 (give or take a minute or two), Mimi sits
up, ears perked and stares at me. Well, that’s her sign that it is time
for us to get into the CAR and head for the park for her afternoon run.
Later in the day, closer to 5pm, again I get the big, dark
eyed, perked ears look as Mimi lets me know that it is time for me
to start preparing the evening meal and, of course, a little hand out
for her. Finally, while I am reading or usually watching television,
in the evening at 9:30, almost to the minute, Mimi gets up from her
cushion in the living room, perks her ears, gives me the big-eyed look.
It is her way of reminding me that it is coming close to bedtime.
Yes, I really feel that Mimi is my 4-legged wife. No, she does
not nag or tell me to take out the garbage or not to forget to get whole
wheat bread at the market, but she is always there, always loving and
my dear companion.

— Richard

Hi y’all... you probably thought I have fallen off the face of the earth! NOPE... not so! We’ve been teaching English classes and they are about to explode, which is a GOOD thing!

In our ministry, in addition to the English classes, we have started a church which is currently composed equally of our English students and English-speaking “extranjeros” here in Bolivia.

Just this week we have started a new English class: English Through Crafts! The core of the class time will be a craft, taught in English with explanations in Spanish when the students don’t understand.

Today’s class is a planning and presentation time where we talk about the projects we’ll be doing from now until the week before Christmas. Then we’ll break for Christmas and New Year’s.

I’m hoping that they love it so much that they will want to continue next year! If we continue in the coming year, we will be including “work along” projects that take more than an hour to do. These projects will include knitting, crocheting, painting, basket weaving, etc...

I hope you all will join us! Our classes here in Bolivia will be on Thursday morning and Saturday morning. That means that I will be able to post the class notes between Thursday (10am) and Saturday (11am). My daughter, Staton, will be helping me with the classes, so perhaps she can post the individual “crafting live” “step by step”s so that y’all can craft along with our class here in Bolivia on Saturday.

Here is a list of the types of projects we will be doing between now and Christmas. Some of these crafts are new to the group, others are repeats...

* Fabric: / tela
— Wreath (fabric strips) ... 125+/- strips, 4cm x 20cm /
240cm W: ½ mt.; 150cm W: ¾ mt
— Garland (fabric strips) ... strips, 4cm x 20cm (qty. depends on length of garland/
240cm W: @250/mt.; 150cm W: @150/mt
— Fabric Origami (fabric squares stiffened with natural rice glue) ... 8” (20cm) squares /
240cm W: ¼ mt (@12 squares); 150cm W: ¼ mt (@ 7 squares)
— Filled Fabric Rose (fabric squares) ...8” (20cm) squares /
240cm W: ¼ mt (@12 roses); 150cm W: ¼ mt (@ 7 roses)

* Clay Ornaments: / Adornos de arcilla:
— Cinnamon Dough ... 1 C. ground cinnamon; @ ¼ C. white glue
Makes enough ¼” thick dough for @ 5 cookie-sized ornaments
— Salt Dough ... 2 part flour; 2 part salt; 1 part water/glue / Makes enough ¼” thick dough for @ 5 cookie-sized ornaments
— Cold Porcelain ... recipe/direction will be given for making cold porcelain clay, but we will use commercial clay /

* Paper: Papeles
— Paper beads ... wrapping paper; color sales flyers, etc.; glue / sizes (lengths/shapes) vary... @3cm x 20cm - 30cm
— Greeting Card Box ... 1 greeting card; glue
— Origami Tree Ornaments ... paper; glue / Wrapping paper is great; sizes/qty of squares depends on project
— Origami Gifts ... paper; glue / Bookmark; box; candy dish; etc...

* Beads: / Cuentas:
— Potato beads ... potato; skewer... paint; varnish/ One potato makes many beads, depends on size/shape of bead
— Clay beads (see above) ... clay; skewer... paint; varnish / Number of beads: determined by amt of clay and shape of bead
— Crystal Bead Angel ... variety of crystals and beads (list given later) / Makes one Angel
— Pendant ... variety of crystals and beads (list given later) / Makes one pendant, suitable for keychain or cell phone

* Toiletries: Artículos de aseo
— Scrubs (salt/sugar) ... salt; sugar; oil / will make enough for yourself and small gifts
— Hand Cream ... oil, water, emulsifier, fragrancewill make enough for yourself and small gifts
— Perfume/Cologne ... fragrance oil, water, emulsifier, will make enough for yourself and small gifts

* Gift-giving: / el dando de regalos
— Plastic bottles ... cleaned soft-drink/juice bottles; ribbon, etc.
Various options will be given
— Furoshiki ... fabric square (size varies, depending on obj. to wrap)
80cm sq - 1mt. sq. (32” - 1 yd sq) - Wrapping Techniques provided

Of course, the projects may differ. I hope to be able to ADD projects rather than substitute. We are somewhat limited here in Bolivia, but my oldest son found a shop that sells a LOT of our toiletry chemicals! WOO-HOO!!!

I hope you will join us. It would be a GREAT encouragement to our English students to know that so many Americans (and Canadians and Aussies and Kiwis and Europeans and so many more from ALL over the world!!!!!) are joining them in their crafting experience.

I know we haven’t had classes in awhile. And that lack has been a burden and concern to me. In reality, these craft classes for our students here in Bolivia came to my mind as a way for me to give YOU ALL classes on a regular basis! The fact that our Bolivian friends are thrilled is just icing on the cake.

Hugs to all,
Cyn
p.s. The list above is the essence of the class that I will be giving today. For next week we will be making the Cinnamon Clay, Salt Dough/Clay and Potato Beads next week.

Check out our Vendor and Class Leader Links!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftClass/linksYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftClass/

[I joined this group when it formed, about 2000, it started to teach soap making, and it did LOL, then they wanted other crafts and it has many of them in the files and old messages at the group.

As I recall Cyn is the wife of a Missionary and they are on a mission at this time.

granny]

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/MLnYTDlVqsX_CRbMSXLmF9HziHLmSKm_dzaR27sld8am_qMM7Is-AGQfYBjqlWM5J-PX_TjiA3GtG_Vzl5S5dFYrHZfIDQlu3A/-FOODs/Candy-SoftMints

Class: CANDY: Soft Mints
Date: 11 Nov 2006
Leader: Cyn, with great help from the list
[Wilma, thanks for the help finding the recipe; Sandy, thanks for the great feedback and variations; Bast... thanks for suggesting Ginger for us “ging-o-philes”!]

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SOFTS MINTS

Recipe.....
1 C powdered sugar, plus 1/4 C. Powdered sugar
2 TBSP sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. extract (strawberry) made a BIG difference... VERY wet
* 1/2 tsp soft margarine (or softened butter) slimy at first, but
worked in very well
* 1 - 5 drops food coloring
* = optional
^^Recipe may be reduced or multiplied. For larger batches, a stand
mixer may be required. Use the dough hook.

INGREDIENTS:
Powdered Sugar (@ 1.5 C)
Sweetened Condensed Milk (MUCH less that one can!)
Flavoring: extract, flavoring, powdered flavor, etc...
Colorant: food coloring, cake paste color, cake liquid oil color, etc...

EQUIPMENT:
... For Measuring and Mixing
Measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Sifter
Bowl
Forks (1 or 2, depending on how “neat” we are... I needed TWO!)

... For construction
Wax Paper, or Parchment Paper
Cookie Sheet
Cup of water, or CLEAN spritzer
Cup of a bit of powdered sugar
Teaspoon of soft margarine or butter
Plastic baggie
CLEAN damp washcloth
CLEAN dry washcloth
Assorted platters or trays or plates as needed

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1. Assemble the “candy spot”...
Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper, or parchment paper. If you have
a “spot” that you use and is safe from kids, munchers, pests, etc...,
then you may not need the cookie sheet. We use waxed paper or
parchment paper because your candy needs to be able to “breath” and
you need to be able to bend and peel the paper frequently. [Foil does
not allow for breathing and it tends to tear too easily. Plastic
doesn’t allow any breathing and tends to cling to your project too
closely.]

2. Mix your mints...
In your mixing bowl, sift 1 C. of Powdered Sugar. Add 1 TBSP of
sweetened condensed milk and mix thoroughly with your fork, making
sure to scrape the sides and bottom frequently. The mixture won’t look
a too differently than before, until you try to squeeze the mixture.
Now add the other TBSP to your mixture. Using your fork, mix it well,
again making sure to scrape the sides and bottom. You’ll notice now
that the mixture looks a lot like pie crust dough.

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3. Flavor your mints...
Add your flavoring. Mix well! If you use extract and you use the full
1 tsp., you will see a BIG difference! The water in the extract makes
the mixture really goopy. If you are using a water-based colorant,
your mixture will be even more wet and loose. For this reason, we have
held out some of the powdered sugar! After mixing your flavor and/or
colorant, start kneading in more powdered sugar.

Put some of the powdered sugar in your mixing bowl and knead onto this
sugar. You will see your candy start to come together. Adjust the
balance of your sugar and sweetened condensed milk. If you prefer,
instead of adding milk, you can add the softend butter or margarine.
If your candy ball is too “wet”, knead in more powdered sugar.
Remember, you are adding really good things in the candy, so it’s fine
to knead in more powdered sugar.

Taste your candy. If you would like more flavor, then add it. If you
want more “richness”, try adding the softened butter. There is a
reason why these candies are often called “butter mints”! When you
have the taste you want, continue to condition the candy ball.

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4. Condition your candy ball...
Kneading your candy ball: your candy ball will start out feeling like
a soft bread dough. You want to knead in additional powdered sugar
until your ball is more like a warm, conditioned ball of clay.
Remember that as you make your mints, your candy ball will continue to
dry out, so you will frequently have to adjust the relative wetness
and dryness of the candy ball.

5. Construction issues....
* Too wet: the candy sticks to your hands every time you try to
squeeze or knead the ball
* Too dry: when you “squish” the ball in your fist, it breaks or
separates into dry chunks
* To adjust wetness: add more powdered sugar, roll the ball or dip the
ball into powdered sugar and knead well
* To adjust dryness: wipe your hands with the damp washrag, then
continue to knead the ball. This SMALL amount of dampness will be
enough to recondition your candy ball. If your hands are too wet, you
can dry them with your dry cloth.
* * * * * WARNING: do NOT use your damp cloth to clean your work
area!!! It’s for your candy, only.* * * * *

When you are satisfied with your candy ball, put it in the plastic
baggie to prevent premature drying. If the candy ball in the baggie
gets too dry, you can wash your hands with the damp cloth and then
knead that moisture back into the candy ball.

6. Constructing your mints...
You don’t have to follow anyone else’s preferences but your own! The
only guideline that is important is to be able to score your mints so
that they dry easily. If you live in an arid location, you might be
able to get by without scoring the mints. But most folks will have
trouble getting them to dry thoroughly. If your candies do not dry
completely, they can spoil. These candies are not cooked, so it’s
important that the excess moisture is allowed to escape.

For those of you who are very concerned about spoilage, remember that
the process of making “sweetened condensed milk” eliminates most of
the concerns about leaving dairy out in the open. As I understand it,
the stuff that can spoil has been altered by the heating process
during manufacture. Besides... I doubt that your candies are going to
last more than the day! Once you turn your back, your family is likely
to relieve you of all concern!

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7. Size of the mints...
These candies are handmade. As such, they will not be perfect, nor
will they be exactly uniform. Think of these differences as part of
their charm! For the other OCDs on the list... you’re going to have to
live with the lack of perfection. Just consider it “therapy”... that’s
what *I* do!

For an average sized hand (I wear a size 7 ring and can wear Medium
rubber gloves, although I prefer the Large) can pinch, with ...
Thumb + 1st three fingers (pointer, middle and ring) = @ 1” ball
Thumb + 1st two fingers = @ 3/4” ball
Thumb + Pointer finger only = @ 1/4” ball

When “mashed”, the...
1” ball makes a patty about 1.25” to 1.5”
3/4” ball.... @ 1”
1/2” ball... @ 3/4”

8. Forming your mints...
Pinch off a bit of the candy from the candy ball. Tuck the plastic
baggie around the candy ball when not in use. Roll the pinched off
portion between your palms. Set the ball on the waxed paper (or
parchment, if you prefer). You don’t have to be “perfect” with the
rolled ball because you are going to score it with a fork anyway.

When you have 4 to 6 balls formed, go ahead and score them. Flatten
each ball to about a 1/4” thickness, with the fork. If you wait too
long before scoring, the surface of the candy has dried too much and
tends to crumble when scored. If you want to score each one as you
form it, that will work too.

Remember to keep you candy ball covered when not “pinching” mint portions.

9. Drying your mints...
After all the candies have been formed and scored, allow them to dry,
uncovered, for at least one hour.

Turn the candies and allow to dry, uncovered for another hour. If your
patties are not “firm” enough, let them stand, uncovered, for several
hours, or overnight. [The candies are resting on their “scored” side,
so they are lifted a bit from the paper, which allows air to flow more
easily.] Unless you live in a fairly dust-free environment, don’t use
a fan to dry them.

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10. Enjoying your mints...
Store your mints in an airtight container. If you ship the mints, nest
them in soft excelsior. They tend to break easily. You could also nest
them in Sugar Smaks! The rice is soft enough and the coating is not so
stiff, that the mints should be protected AND your recipient has an
extra little goodie to munch.

After the mints are dried, they may be further embellished with
powdered colors. If you moisten the colors, make sure the the paint is
not too wet. Spraying/spritzing (ala “airbrushing”) with a colored
sugar water paint would be pretty too. You can spritz the tops with
water and then dip the candies in sugar crystals, turbinado, tiny
candies, etc... Allow to dry.

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11. Alternatives to the “patty”...
I’m experimenting with my candy molds. I like it! I just haven’t been
able to get them out of the mold without breaking. I’m going to let
the candies dry overnight and see if that helps. I dusted the mold AND
the candy before pressing into the mold. I should have removed the
formed candy right then, but instead I left it in the mold “to firm
up”. I have scored the back of the candy. But I cannot get them out
yet! But I’m not giving up!

Sandy suggested using her cookie press. This is an EXCELLENT idea! You
may have to cut off each candy as it is extruded, but that is worth it
for the wonderful shapes available to you.

Since the candy ball is like a “dough”, I want to add more butter (to
increase the elasticity) and make “snakes” and other traditional
“dough art” shapes. As with bread dough, we’d need to remove any
“bulk” where the dough is doubled for the design. Even just “snakes”
and then broken in smaller pieces makes “candy sticks”!

Now... Wilma and I have been looking for a way to make “soft mints on
a stick”. Wilma, I hope you try it! Y’all try it too. Get a popsicle
stick or a sucker stick and form a ball around it. Flatten and score
the candy and allow to dry. I think that the looped sucker “stick”
would work too... you know, the one that feels like rope and you can
put your fingers through it when you eat the sucker.

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12. Troubleshooting...
**TIP: Keep notes of your amounts and additions and changes! Everytime
you add a bit of this or that, measure it and keep track of it. Make
that change to your recipe.**
**TIP: How to do this? Measure extra portions of your primary
ingredients, make a note of the amounts of each of these ingredients
and keep them in small containers. As you add ingredients, add them
from these small containers. When you are finished with your batch,
re-measure each of the additional ingredients. The difference between
the first amount and the ending amount is the amount that you have
added to your recipe. Make changes to your recipe by adding the
difference between the two measurements for each ingredient affected.**
**Too soft, won’t mold: add more powdered sugar
**Too hard, won’t mold: add more sweetened condensed milk and/or
liquid flavorings or colorants [it’s best to adjust consistency with
primary ingredients, not flavorings or colorants]
**Flavor too intense: add more powdered sugar and/or sweetened
condensed milk, maintaining the consistency; make a note of additions
and amounts!
**Color too intense: add more powdered sugar and/or sweetened
condensed milk, maintaining the consistency; make a note of additions
and amounts!
**My mints won’t come out of the mold!: [remember to dust the mold
first with powdered sugar] try letting the mints dry a bit on the top
and try to ease them out with a fork, twisting the mold if possible.
If you still can’t get them out and you really, really want that mold
design, let them dry overnight. When the mint is totally dry, it
should pop out more easily. Detailed molds that cannot flex are not
the best choice for molded “sticky” candies.

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13. Other ideas.....
NOTES:
* Mint flavorings and extracts are traditional. Examples are:
spearmint or wintergreen extract.
* Use your imagination to create other flavor/color combinations. Any
extract or flavoring will work. The flavoring and coloring is not
critical to the construction of the treat, so you can use any candy
flavoring or candy dye that you prefer. Wilton (and other cake/candy
manufacturers) have a wealth of products to choose from.
* You can find these flavoring and colorants in cake decorating
stores, craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels’s and even Wal-Mart
carries a selection. Also look in the Soap/Toiletry crafting area.
Food Safe flavorings for lip balms will work too. If using a flavoring
oil, watch the consistency of the mixture and add more powdered sugar
if necessary.
* Try teaming your colors and flavors [AND molds!] with the Holiday:
HOLIDAY.................COLORS..................................................\
EXTRACTS
Christmas: .............Red, Green, Burgundy, Gold (dk yellow);
.......Cinnamon, mocha, “rum”, Butter, Maple, Chocolate, Pecan,
Butterscotch
Valentines Day: ......Red, Dk Pink, Med, Pink,
White....................Vanilla, Almond, Banana, Butter Rum
St. Patrick’s Day: ...Green, Orange,
White...................................Mints, Chocolate, Hazlenut,
Orange, Mint Chocolate, Pistachio, English Toffee
Spring time.............Pastel floral
colors........................................Vanilla, Banana, Peach,
Lemon, Strawberry, Bubble Gum, Cherry
Memorial Day..........Md. Green, White, Yellow, Etc...
..................Apple, “same as springtime”, Pistachio
Summer time..........Brighter floral
colors......................................Strawberry, Raspberry,
Blackberry, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Coconut
4th of July...............Dk. Red, Dk, Blue,
White..............................Raspberry, Blueberry/Blackberry,
Banana, Watermelon, Coconut
Labor Day...............Blue, Green, White,
Yellow............................Berries, “summer flavors”,
Thanksgiving...........Brown, Orange, Gold,
Burgundy.....................Peanut Butter, Praline, Pumkin Pie Spice
powder, English Toffee
NOTE: These are just suggestions to get you going. Have fun with this!

Online sources:
http://fantes.com/flavors.htm#other
http://www.naturesflavors.com/default.php?cPath=18&sort=1a&&showall=1
http://www.caneandreed.com/extractsandflavors.htm
http://www.prettypartyplace.com/candy-mold-and-chocolate-mold-supply-flavorings-\
lorann-oils.html

For more sites...
==do a search on..... “candy flavoring” extract flavors ..... ==
==do a search on..... LorAnn flavorings ==

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PLEASE NOTE: I have not tested this version of the recipe yet. I used
it as a guide for ingredients and have only worked with the smaller
batch. If you find that this recipe is not the consistency that you
need, use your troubleshooting techniques to adjust it.

14. Larger batch (original recipe found via internet and Wilma)

4 c Powdered sugar
2/3 c Sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp Peppermint extract

So... ENJOY!!

OOPS!!! I forgot to mention the Plastic drinking straw!

BEFORE your ornament dries, you need to punch out a hole for hanging. I use a plastic drinking straw cut into thirds or fourths.

* Leave a margin of about the same diameter as your straw between the edge of the ornament and your straw.

* With the plastic straw held vertically, punch straight down into the ornament, using the same motion you used when cutting the ornament with the cookie cutter. Twist the straw just a bit and then lift straight up.

Your piece of straw will fill up with punched out pieces of clay, but that’s OK. To remove them, gently rub the straw between your fingers. The pressure will reduce the diameter of the clay plugs enough for them to fall out. If they don’t fall out easily, you can blow them out.

For the Cinnamon Clay, keep those plugs. They will dry nicely and you’ll have a lovely addition to your Fall or Christmas potpourri.

Use narrow ribbon, thin strips of cloth or even string to hang your ornaments. Either type of clay lends itself nicely to the “rustic” or “sophisticated” style.

Hugs,
Cyn

Check out our Vendor and Class Leader Links!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftClass/linksYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftClass/

~ Welcome to Petwarmers ~
http://www.petwarmers.com

Bob believes Ricky, his best friend, is “a Godly dog.” That,
“He responds to my needs as if God told him to.”
We think you will understand completely what Bob is talking about
in today’s story. Does God guide our pets to help us in our hour of need?
We vote YES!

________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

MY BEST FRIEND, RICKY
by Bob Perks

There is much to be said about the love between a man and his dog.
I simply love my dogs. We have three.
Lucy is a Schipperke/Spaniel mix we adopted from the SPCA.
She was the first one just weeks after we had to put our Old English,
Daisy to sleep. We just couldn’t stand the emptiness in our house and
in our lives.
Ricky is a laid back, very settled, Jack Russell. I know that
description doesn’t normally go with that breed. But that is exactly
the way he is.
Phil, the newer member of our family is a Chihuahua mix. He is
vibrant, full of life and just what we all needed two years ago when he
arrived as a gift for me on Father’s Day.
Each of them brings something different into my life. Like a
buffet, I get a little of everything I need, just when I need it.
Lucy is truly the “alpha dog.” The others actually watch their
step around her. I have seen Ricky approach her slowly, head bowed and
not making eye contact with her. Sometimes for no reason at all she
jumps at him snarling and he turns his head until she struts away.
She is my little girl and late at night when I am still at the
computer, she’ll come scratching at me to pick her up. I hold her and
she looks around the room as if she is seeing it for the first time.
When she was a puppy, she was afraid of the sun. She just couldn’t
figure what that big light was.
Phil and Lucy are best friends. He follows her around and often
taunts her just to get her aggravated. She responds and he does it again.
Phil is not one to be held much. He’ll sit with you on a lawn chair in
the sun. But he doesn’t snuggle.
But it is Ricky I really want to share with you today. I said
earlier that he is laid back, and very settled. He is also the most
loving dog I have ever seen. If you hold him and kiss the side of his
face, he will rub it against yours as if to say, “more, please.” You
can snuggle and hold him and he will stay there as long as you let him.
I am not a foo-foo, poochy kind of guy. When I go to the vets
with them I try not to make conversation with the other owners in the
waiting room. They do “doggy talk.”
“Oh, look it Fluffy, there’s a big doggy. Do you want to go say hello?”
I respond when dragged into a conversation only.
Here’s where some of you will think I cross the line.
Ricky is a Godly dog. He responds to my needs as if God told him
to. Over the last few weeks I have been struggling with personal issues.
In those most dark and sometimes frightening times, I suddenly hear Ricky
sitting nearby moaning trying to get my attention. I turn, he jumps up
on my lap and crawls up my left side and rests his head on my shoulder.
I have learned to sit back and relax and let him do his job.
He comforts me and like when I hug someone I let him be the first to
let go.
He then gets down and walks away. Every time I have slumped to a
new level, I turn to find him there. Every time.
When days are good for me, he goes about his business. I love all
my dogs, but Ricky is my best friend.
Oh, yes. One other thing. Before my wife discovered she had
breast cancer, Ricky would jump up on her lap and before settling in he
would oddly sniff around, rub his nose under her left breast. At the
time we just found it odd.
It wasn’t until recently that we remembered that. She had a
double mastectomy which was first detected on the left side.
They have proven that ability in some dogs.
Ricky and Lucy are around 11 years old and Phil 2. If you know
me well enough you will know that I have thought about what lies ahead
all too many times. I just pray to God that I will be holding Ricky
when he needs me most.
I know there’s a place we humans created in our minds called
“Rainbow Bridge.” There is a great debate regarding pets in Heaven, too.
All I know is wherever dogs go when they die, I want to go there, too.
That would be Heaven to me.

— Bob Perks perksblog at hotmail.com

__________________________________________________
Bob lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania and says, “My latest book
‘I Wish You Enough’ is a collection of stories featuring the ‘Eight
Wishes.’ Other works include my book ‘The Flight of a Lifetime’
and featured pieces in a number of Chicken Soup for the Soul books.
One of my stories ‘In Her Eyes’ is included in the Pet Tales CD by
Petwarmers.com. You can a picture of his dogs — all smiling —here:
http://www.bobperks.com/images/mykids.jpg
__________________________________________________

RESCUES GALORE!
36 dogs get new “leash on life” in puppy mill rescue
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article237784.ece

~ Welcome to Petwarmers ~
http://www.petwarmers.com

We suspect most of you will NOT be adopting a pig into your
household. So, just in case you ever take the plunge, we present
you Shelley’s story today to give you an idea of what you can
expect.

________________________________________________

THE PIG IN MY KITCHEN
by Shelley Madden

I sat waiting in my barn, for the little fellow to arrive.
I had carefully prepared a stall for him, lined it with hay, and
a bowl full of treats waited nearby. I anxiously glanced up the hill
toward my driveway, waiting with anticipation for his delivery.
A former suburbanite, the last six years I’d lived on a farm
of my own. One at a time, the animals trickled in, including horses,
chickens, ducks, and even a goat. I’m one of many who cannot say no to
an animal who needs a home.
He soon arrived, in a large dog crate, carried in by a lovely
couple who could no longer care for him, due to city restrictions.
The lady opened the crate door, and once we were in the stall,
out trotted a bright pink potbelly pig.
He grunted and snorted at me, and promptly rooted my calf, nearly
knocking me forward. Regaining my composure, I commented on his rather
large physique, having thought he was a baby.
“He’s half grown,” she explained. “He weighs close to one hundred
pounds.”
“I have a lot to learn,” I admitted, promising to research
everything I could about this adorable swine.
She explained to me how to care for him, and mentioned he is really
a house pig, not a barn pig. She added he would need shelter from the
hot sun, and a nice mud hole to lay in if he were kept outdoors.
Too soon, they were off. I stood in the stall watching the
cute fellow snort and grunt at the new found food bowl. He was indeed
adorable. But looks can be deceiving. Little did I know what lay in
wait, under that tubby roll of sausage.
Soon, it was obvious he was not tolerating the heat well in the
stall, nor did I like the idea of leaving him outdoors all day. Plus,
he needed company.
In only two hours, I was finally able to get him into the hot-pink
potbelly pig harness I had ordered. He squealed and grunted at me,
charging into my legs with his snout, each time I tried to fasten the
buckles.
I eventually won, and off we trotted up the hill, him squealing
and pulling me at a dead run, to let him enjoy the cool air-conditioning
of my home.
The dogs eyed him with guarded curiosity as I found him a place to
sleep quietly. Pulling out my old dog crate, I half coaxed, half shoved
him in, hoping he would appreciate the nifty bed I made for him inside.
At this point, my lack of pig-knowledge was beginning to show. I
realized too late, he could not turn around in the crate. He was jammed
in tight, reminding me, well, of a pig in a blanket.
I reached in, hoping to ease him out backwards. He squealed and
wriggled, refusing to cooperate. Reaching over the crate, I gently
turned it up on one end, in hopes he would be forced to either back,
or slide out. No such luck. Things were going downhill quickly, and
not in the way I had hoped. He was wedged in like a Vienna sausage.
I spent the next thirty minutes taking the crate apart one screw
at a time. Finally, I lifted the lid off. Out he jumped, but before
I could react, his back legs caught on it, and it promptly flipped over
on top of him. I had the bottom of the crate dashing about madly in my
guest room, four pink legs sticking out from under it.
Left with no choice, I made him a bed on the carpet. Soon, he was
grunting and snoring happily, dreaming of, well, whatever pigs dream of.
I quietly slipped out of the room, and busied myself with house work.
Not more than a few minutes later, I heard the unmistakable sound
of grunting in the kitchen. Rushing to find the source of the noise,
I skidded to a stop in horror at what awaited me.
I had a one-hundred plus pound slab of bacon rooting up my kitchen
floor. He had wedged his snout under the tile, and was meticulously
prying up the floor, plywood and all, determined to root a hole straight
to China. And he was halfway there.
This summer, I learned two things. One, outdoor pigs require a
rather large amount of sunscreen. Two, pigs will do quite well in the
summer heat if you dig them a large enough mud hole.

— Shelley Madden

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Shelley is a short story author and a small farmer from Wise County, Texas.
__________________________________________________

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/giftstomake/tp/HomeMadeGiftIdeas.htm

[100 on several pages]

100 Home-Made Gift Ideas
Great Gifts to Make and Give

By Sherri Osborn, About.com Guide
See More About:

* gifts to make
* christmas
* frugal crafts

Check out these 100 easy home-made gift ideas for a holiday, birthday, or any occasion. Using these ideas, you can give everyone you know a home-made gift this year. You should also take a few moments to check out my article listing gifts for him, her, teachers, kids, and more. If you want to be one of the first to know when more gifts ideas and other craft projects are posted, take a few moments to sign up for the Family Crafts Newsletter.
1. Candy Kiss Rose Bud Craft
“Home-Made Gift Ideas”
You can make all your friends and family these fun candy Kiss rose buds for a special treat for any occasion.
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2. Hugs Box Gift Craft
“Hugs Box Gift Craft”
A visitor nicknamed Pathfinder gives instructions for making a fun gift, complete with a fun poem.
3. Re-Made Diffuser Bottle Craft
“Re-Made Diffuser Bottle Craft”
Stella explains how she transformed an empty diffuser bottle into a colorful and useful work of art.
4. Photo Apron Craft
“Photo Apron Craft”
Jennifer Determan submitted this apron craft. While she helped her kids make this apron as a gift for their grandmothers, this can be a great gift for anyone.
5. Heart Candy Bouquet
“Home-Made Gift Ideas”
Find out how you can make a stunning bouquet using candy.
6. My Favorite Thing Gift Craft
“Home-Made Gift Ideas”
Instructions to make a special boxed gift for someone using a mirror and a shoe box.
7. Craft Foam CD Holder
“Home-Made Gift Ideas”
Find out how to make custom CD holders for all of your tunes.
8. Ribbon Wreath Craft
“Ribbon Wreath Craft”
Find out how you can create a unique wreath using pieces of ribbon. By looking at this finished project, you will never believe how easy it is!

9. Hand Print Wall Hanging
“Home-Made Gift Idea”
Follow these instructions to make a unique handprint wall hanging gift for someone special.
10. Hand Print Poem Gift Craft
“Hand Print Poem Gift Craft”
Instructions to make a special gift for someone using a hand print and this poem. This is a great idea submitted by Lynette K.

Family Fun Guide

Create special memories with crafts, party ideas, recipes and activities.