~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
March 12, 2013

★~ Today’s Quote: “The beginning is always today.”  ― Mary Shelley

★~ Plant a Flower Day:

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If you want to start native plants from seed this year and live north of the Mason-Dixon, you’ll definitely want to start your plants indoors about now to get blooms by summers’ end. It’s a fun project and you can use cardboard egg cartons, eggshells, recycled yogurt cartons, toilet paper tubes or newspaper starter pots: the National Wildlife Federation has instructions here.

★~ Alfred Hitchcock Day:

Hitchcock is the cinematic pioneer behind so many classic thrillers. Diehard fans, as well as the easily distractible, can spot Hitchcock making cameo appearances in nearly all of his films. He was, for instance, a pet shop customer in The Birds and a bus passenger in To Catch A Thief.  He never won a Best Director Oscar, yet sixteen of his films garnered fifty nominations, his 1940 classic Rebecca won Best Picture, and he was nominated as Best Director for Rebecca, Suspicion, Spellbound, Lifeboat, Rear Window and Psycho. “Always a bridesmaid,” he philosophized, “never a bride.” Celebrate Hitchcock by watching one of his movies or Smokey and the Bandit on of his favorite movies.

★~  National Baked Scallops Day:

Scallops are one of the most popular shellfish in the world. These meaty mollusks are low in fat and are delicious sautéed, deep fried, or baked!  Put scallops on the menu and in the oven for a delicious dinner!

★~ Today in History:

♥~ 1841 – Englishman Orlando Jones patented that fabulous miracle food known as corn starch. Where would our gravy’s be without it

♥~ 1912 – The Girl Guides, the forerunner of the Girl Scouts of America, was founded. Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled a group of eighteen girls from Savannah, Georgia for the first ever Girl Scout meeting. Low believed that all girls should have the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. She organized service projects, outdoor adventures, and enrichment programs to get girls out of house and into the community. Today, over 3.2 million girls and adults are active Girl Scout members, and over 50 million women are Girl Scout alumnae.

♥~ 1951 – “Mr. Wiiiiillllssssson!” The comic strip, Dennis the Menace, appeared for the first time in 16 newspapers across the U.S. The strip became an international favorite in thousands of newspapers

♥~ 1966 – Bobby Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks became the first player in the National Hockey League to score 51 points in a single season.

♥~ 2001 – An anonymous donor pledged a no-strings-attached $360 million gift to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) of Troy, NY. It was the largest donation to a university in U.S. history.

★~Born Today:

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♥~ 1832 – Charles Boycott real estate agent: refused to lower rents, served eviction notices instead [1880]; tenants refused to deal with him; in other words, they boycotted Boycott making his name a part of the English language from then on; died Jun 19, 1897

♥~ 1933 – Barbara Feldon (Hall) actress: Get Smart, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

♥~ 1946 – Liza Minnelli Academy Award-winning actress: Cabaret [1972]; The Sterile Cuckoo, Arthur, Liza with a ‘Z’!; daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli

♥~ 1948 – James Taylor singer: You’ve Got a Friend, Handy Man, Fire & Rain, How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

★~ Did You Know: Corn Starch Tips

♥~ Use as a FACE POWDER: dab small amounts on face to absorb excess oil. Remember to use sparingly as Corn Starch can make face look white

♥~Sooth SUNBURN: mix 1 cup  Corn Starch into a bathtub of warm water. Soak 20 to 30 minutes. Or apply a wet Corn Starch and baking soda dressing. Stir 1 tablespoon each Corn Starch and baking soda into 2 quarts warm water; dip gauze pads into the solution and let them rest on sunburn for 20 – 30 minutes.

♥~All natural relief from SKIN IRRITATIONS: for rashes, hives, insect bites, poison ivy etc… stir 1/4 cup Corn Starch with 3 Tbsp. water until a thick paste forms. Apply to irritated skin lightly.

♥~For a LIGHT FACIAL: mix 1/4 cup Corn Starch, 1 egg white and 2 Tbsp milk to a smooth consistency. Apply paste to clean and dry skin, let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with clear water and dry.

♥~FACIAL CLEANSER: Mix 2 Tbsp. Corn Starch, 2 Tbsp. glycerin and 1/2 cup water until smooth. Heat in a small pan placed in a water bath inside another pan. Heat until thick and clear (it will have the consistency of pudding). Do not boil. Cool completely. Use in place of soap to cleanse your skin. (If too thick, you can thin by adding a little water one tablespoon at a time)

♥~SCENTED BODY POWDER: Mix fragrant flower petals such as rose or lavender with  Corn Starch. Shake the mixture several times and let sit for one day. Sift the mixture to remove petals. Repeat process for 4-5 days or until powder is well scented.

♥~ATHLETE’S FOOT: sprinkle Corn Starch on feet and in shoes to absorb moisture, reduce friction and lesson itch.

♥~GREASE STAINS ON WALLPAPER sometime are easily removed by applying a paste made with Corn Starch and water. Rub on with a soft, clean cloth. Be sure to test in an inconspicuous area first.

♥~Corn Starch can also be used to REMOVE SOME GREASE STAINS on washable clothing or tablecloths. Sprinkle spots with Corn Starch. Rub into the stain, and then brush off. Repeat until grease is removed, then launder as usual.

♥~Absorb excess GREASE AND OIL STAINS ON DRIVEWAYS by sprinkling with Corn Starch.

♥~Remove MILDEW IN BOOKS by lightly sprinkling with Corn Starch. Let sit for a few hours and then wipe and shake clean.

♥~WASHING WINDOWS: take 1 quart of water and mix in 1/4 cup Corn Starch. Apply with a clean cloth to windows. Keep water and Corn Starch well mixed. Wipe windows dry with paper towels or a lint-free cloth.

♥~Clean RUGS AND CARPETS: mix 1 part baking soda to 2 parts Corn Starch. Sprinkle onto carpet or rug, wait 5 minutes, then vacuum.

♥~Clean a MUDDY SPOT ON CARPET by sprinkling Corn Starch on the damp spot. Let dry, then vacuum.

♥~To PREVENT EXCESS MOISTURE AND CHAFING in athletic shoes, dust the insides with Corn Starch.

♥~To PATCH PLASTER WALLS OR WALLBOARD: mix 2 Tablespoons of salt, 2 Tablespoons of Corn Starch and 4-5 Tablespoons water to make a thick but pliable paste. Fill in holes and sand as necessary.

♥~After POLISHING WOOD FURNITURE, sprinkle with Corn Starch and use a soft cloth to rub furniture until it is glossy.

♥~LAUNDRY STARCH SPRAY recipe: Fill a spray bottle with 2 pints cold water and mix in 2 Tablespoons of  Corn Starch. Shake before each use

♥~LAUNDRY STARCH: Stir 1/2 cup Corn Starch into 1 cup cold water. Add boiling water (2 quarts for heavy finish or stiffness, 4 quarts for medium finish, and 6 quarts for light finish). Dip clothes into starch and dry. Sprinkle lightly with warm water; iron as usual.

♥~REMOVING SCORCHES can be made easier by wetting the scorched area and cover with Corn Starch. Brush excess off when dry.

♥~If you use RUBBER GLOVES for dishes or gardening, sprinkle some Corn Starch inside before slipping them on.

♥~SHINE YOUR CAR! When buffing, sprinkle a Tablespoon of Corn Starch on the rag to remove excess polish easily.

♥~Sprinkle Corn Starch onto a STUBBORN KNOT to help detangle it.

♥~CLEAN YOUR SILVER with a paste of Corn Starch and water. Apply with a damp cloth, let dry, and then remove with cheesecloth.

♥~To THICKEN gravies, sauces, casseroles, soups and stews: Remember 1 Tbsp. of Corn Starch = 2 Tbsp. flour. When your recipe calls for flour, use 1/2 as much Corn Starch and your result will be much creamier.

♥~To THICKEN hot liquids: mix Corn Starch with a little cold liquid until smooth before adding to hot liquid

♥~ NO-FAIL CORNSTARCH GRAVY. Pour off drippings and return 2 Tbsp to roasting pan. Stir in 2 cups of liquid (water or broth). Cook over medium heat, stirring to loosen brown bits. Remove from heat. Mix 2 Tbsp  Corn Starch and 1/4 cup cold water until smooth. Stir into liquid in pan. Add seasoning. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat and boil 1 minute. Makes 2 cups.

♥~Make your own POWDERED SUGAR: Buzz 1 cup sugar and 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch on high in a blender until smooth. Makes about 1 cup powdered sugar.

♥~ Make your own BAKING POWDER: Stir and sift together 2 parts Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.

♥~Mix corn starch and shaving cream in a tub for a fun “gloop” experiment.

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Yesterday, I discover my car mirror was missing (the mirror part) on the passenger side of my car.

It just fell out. I know you want to say, ” They don’t just fall out, something must have happened.” Well, maybe, but the mirror wasn’t damaged, and the glass was gone. Gone. Poof. Fortunately the part can be ordered from Honda for less than a hundred dollars and they will “snap” it into place for me for free. It’s always something, isn’t it?

The rain came and melted all the snow, it has to be time for the sun to come out and dry up all the rain….Don’t you think?

Odd Loves Company!