Spring is trying to gain a foothold here in Pennsylvania. The piles of snow have melted away leaving grass trying to perk up and mud everywhere. We’ve had some 60-degree days, but the nights often dip to the teens. Still too early to even think about messing in the garden!
At least no lingering snow piles!Dogwood tree buds are ready to pop. Hopefully they’ll wait until the nights are warmer!
Garden preparations are still in a holding pattern, but it doesn’t mean we can’t plan! The tomato seeds have been started in the shop:
Nothing sprouted yet!
The seeds have been purchased and the garden diagram has been sketched out.
This was my original order of seeds from early January.At the last minute I decided we would try some shell beans…just for fun!The first sketch of where we’ll plant things.
The raised garden planter has been sealed (with a sealer that had a brown stain included by mistake!) and is ready for lettuce and radishes.
Bert added two patio planters for my spinach and radicchio.
I invested in a set of stacking pots for strawberries like this one:
I can dream that I’ll have strawberries like these on my patio!
Finally, I made a list of all the plants we anticipate growing so I can figure out what kind of garden markers I want to make.
Last year I used old wine corks and wood skewers, but they didn’t last very long and were hard to write on. The skewers were too skinny and would fall over when it rained. I needed them to identify the colors of the echinacea flowers when I was collecting seeds and the markers were on the ground and almost unreadable. Not helpful!
This year I’m thinking of making something out of polymer clay. We’ll see! Another project to keep me entertained until it’s time to plant! Enjoy!
A memory from Grandma Mary: Imagine the hottest summer day you can imagine with 95% humidity. I could hardly imagine it, with all of my 9 years of life spent in central Pennsylvania! We’ve had hot summer days but by evening it would start to cool off and 95% humidity meant it must be raining out there! Quite the climate shock for all of us, meaning my family…my parents, my big sister and my brother.
We had recently arrived in the Philippines in 1955 to spend the year while my dad worked at the nearby University of the Philippines on the island of Luzon.
Our house was very open and raised up off the ground to help circulate the air, but it didn’t feel like helped. Basically, I remember being quite grouchy about being so hot…and I even had to go to school in a uniform!
Mary (9), Jean (18) and Mark (15)I think the hat was just for fun…not part of the uniform!
My grouchy frustration included being unhappy that the only room in our house that was air conditioned was my parents’ bedroom.
My sister, brother and I had to sleep under mosquito netting, which was necessary, but made it feel even hotter at night.
Sort of like this, but picture a single bed. I have no idea at this time how the netting was held up, but I had trouble getting under it and then getting it tucked in without ending up all tangled.
One night early in our stay, when I felt like no one understood me (sort of like how all 9 year olds feel at some point), I decided to sneak into my parents’ bedroom and hide under the bed. They wouldn’t even know I was there and I could have one cool night (ha ha)!
Keep in mind, they had single beds too so I had to choose which one I could sneak under. I quickly decided the one where I could hide the best…happened to be my dad’s bed.
I’m sure the bed was not this close to the floor…but it was snug for me! Anyway, I settled in, feeling so smart! I would have a cool night!
I was sure I had fooled them, and they got ready for bed. They did not say anything about my presence. Of course, my dad is a big guy and he sort of flopped into bed, said goodnight and turned out the light. The whole bed sank down until I was left with little room to roll over. Oh my! Not sure this was a good idea. It was a very long night.
I will say, by morning I was convinced that the air conditioning wasn’t worth it. I tiptoed out of the room and got ready for school.
My parents never said a word about my sleep over (or under!), but I’m sure they realized I had learned a lesson. My frustrations seemed to dissipate as the year went on as I settled into the routine of a 9-year-old in 4th grade. That was enough of a challenge!
My school with some classmates outside.Can you pick me out of the class? With all of us sitting down, you can’t see how much taller I am than most of the girls!
The school year was a challenge for me. Instruction was in English but the students spoke to each in Tagalog so I was left out of their interactions most of the time. I was also painfully shy, so the first half of the year was tough. I will credit the teacher with helping me feel included in school activities. She ended up coming to Penn State in 1961 to get advanced degrees so I got to rekindle our friendship as I got older. She was a very dedicated teacher!
Anyway, nothing like trying to sneak into air conditioning to finally get acclimated to tropical weather. Quite a memory from the past! Enjoy!
Trying to find a sweet healthy snack food is hard when I have to avoid eggs and dairy, so when I found this recipe on Facebook I thought I’d give it a try. The author of this website (https://thevegan8.com/) is Brandi Doming, who also wrote a cookbook by the same name. Her recipes are simple and easy to follow.
Here is the recipe:
The hardest part of this recipe was getting the pan ready! Lining an 8×8″ pan with parchment paper was a real pain! I ended up first trimming the paper to fit the width of the pan, twice, and then trying to anchor it to stay put. I finally grabbed some clothespins to hold it until I could pour in the mixture.
Looks really professional, doesn’t it! Haha!
Here are the dry ingredients:
In the end, I did add the 1/2 cup of white sugar (on the recipe but not in the picture) because I remembered the cocoa powder tended to be a little bitter.
The brown rice crisp cereal is just whole grain “Rice Krispies.” At the store I kept looking for a flake cereal…wrong!
Dry ingredients.Dry ingredients mixed up.
I set this bowl aside and started on the wet ingredients. Here they are:
Wet ingredients.Maple syrup and almond butter…looked pretty disgusting, but eventually smoothed out!
The I added the flaxseed, vanilla and salt to the mixture and heated until bubbling.
Ready to mix into the dry ingredients.
When the wet and dry ingredients were well mixed, I spooned the mixture into the prepared pan. Pressing it down into the corners was important.
After filling the pan, I was able to trim the parchment so it didn’t drag on the shelf of the oven.
After baking for 27 minutes and cooling for 30 minutes I was able to cut it into 8 bars. It didn’t feel like it would stick together if I cut it too small. Then I slid the pan into the refrigerator to finish cooling.
When fully cool, I was able to lift the parchment out of the pan completely and remove the bars. They mostly stuck together and I put each bar in a small zip bag. I really think I’ll eat it like trail mix.
Next time I’ll work harder to pack it tighter in the pan. That might help it stick together better! However, it did taste good! That’s what counts! Enjoy!
Just one more experiment with soap before I put away all the equipment. I wondered if embedding a coin in soap would be different from a Lego toy? (see https://marykisner.com/making-soap-with-an-embedded-toy/) Actually, yes! The Lego toys are very light and often hollow plastic. They will float, thus the need to pour hot soap in only half-way, letting the toy float to the top and then letting it partially cool before adding the rest. That keeps the toy anchored in the center of the soap.
A coin, however, is solid and quite heavy compared to the toy. I will still need to fill the mold only half way and let it cool…at least enough so the coin will not sink to the bottom of the mold.
Bert had a bunch of beautiful shiny 50 cent pieces and was willing to share for my experiment.
I gathered the equipment…two 4-cup glass measuring cups, two saucepans, soap cutter, soap, molds and coins.
I chunked up 1 1/2 pound of soap base into each measuring cup and added a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to the sauce pan (keeps the hard water sediment from forming on the pan and the outside of the measuring cup.) I set the cup into the saucepan and carefully filled the pan up to about 3/4″ from the top. This essentially makes a double boiler.
I turned the front burner on high to get that pot of soap going faster. I left the back burner on low because it will not need to be ready until the half-filled molds are firm.
The front measuring cup is ready to pout. I filled each mold half way and waited 30 minutes.
When the soap was firm, I placed a coin face down on top of the firm soap. I sprayed the soap with alcohol, which helps the next pour of soap stick to the first layer. I filled each mold the rest of the way to the top.
After an hour or two, I was able to pop out the soaps from the silicon mold.
Not as pretty as the original coin, but might be more useful as a novelty gift for an older child or an adult. It did appear there was an air pocket left under the coin and then all the tiny bubbles of air in the soap left it kind of cloudy.
And not as colorful as the Lego toy! That’s OK. This was all an experiment!
I have seen other embedded objects, like rose petals or small flowers. Endless possibilities for special gifts! Enjoy!
Putting together a gift basket for a child or grandchild, or even a gift basket for a friend, isn’t too hard. Choosing an assortment of things the recipient would like is part of the fun. However, it seems the focus in the spring, like Easter baskets, is on chocolate candy and hard-boiled eggs. If not real eggs, then plastic eggs that can hold more candy! Here is a different kind of surprise for the basket…a clear bar of soap with an embedded toy inside. The toy is a reward for washing hands instead of eating candy!
I first made these at the beginning of 2020 when the Pandemic kept us all at home. I mailed these to my grandchildren since I could not visit. I was sure the soaps would keep them entertained for several weeks.
My dear granddaughter was so excited to get to her Lego toy, she took a VERY VERY long bath and managed to use up enough soap to release the toy in one evening! So much for making it last a long time. Made me laugh! Try it yourself! Enjoy!
Making Soap with an Embedded Toy
I collected a bunch of Lego people from the store and even snitched a few from my son’s pile of Legos he had as a kid. I eventually had my grandchildren go through their old Legos to find a few.
You can see, some would be too big…the character on a bicycle would not work in my mold.
Then I had to order the molds that would be large enough and deep enough to fully submerge the toy in soap. Measure your preferred toys and then check the measurements of the mold before ordering.
Supplies and Ingredients:
(Makes 16 individual soaps with an embedded Lego toy)
16 small toys
Silicon molds to make 16 small soaps
2 4-cup heat-safe glass measuring cups plus two pans of water
3 lbs. Clear glycerin Melt & Pour soap base
Instructions:
Step 1: Cut the soap base into small cubes, placing 1 1/2 lb. in each measuring cup.
Step 2: Place each cup into a pan of water. Bring water to a boil and simmer until all the soap melts.
Step 3: While the soap melts, arrange the toys face down in the mold.
Step 4: When the soap is all melted, fill each section about half way. Reserve the second measuring cup of melted soap by keeping it on simmer until needed, adding water to the pan to keep it simmering.
The Lego toys will usually float. Use a toothpick to gently push the toy to the center if necessary. The soap quickly makes a thin skin over the surface but poking through it isn’t harmful. Let the soap set up about 30 minutes before filling the molds the rest of the way. That will keep the toy centered in the soap.
Step 5: After 30 minutes, spray the half-filled molds with alcohol (this helps the next layer of soap to stick to the first pour). Using the second cup of melted soap fill each mold to the top. The toy should stay embedded in the center.
Step 6: Allow the soap to completely harden…about 2 hours. Once hardened, the soaps can be popped out of the silicon mold.
Soaps ready for a gift basket!
Note: Wrap each soap in plastic wrap to keep it from absorbing moisture from the surrounding air.
One of the first blog posts I wrote (February 12, 2021) was about my homemade oatmeal bread and sticky buns. It is still there in the archive, but for some reason even I can’t make the link work. That means if I want to reference it in another article it can’t be found! Very frustrating.
So, today I’m going to repost the story. This is my go-to recipe when I want a good sandwich bread and it freezes well. Of course, my big batch makes at least 6 loaves of bread, which is beyond the scope of my standard mixer. When I also want to make some sticky buns, a big batch is essential. So, it’s time to bring out the BIG mixer!
Many of you know that each Christmas Bert bakes hundreds of chocolate chip cookies for gifts (this year it was about 140 dozen!); and, if you stop by as they are coming out of the oven you might even get to try a few. Bert has been doing this marathon baking since before we got married…so over 50 years! For many of those years he did it all by hand with a giant wooden spoon, and lots of muscle!
I should probably frame the big spoon!
Several years ago he finally decided to invest in this huge commercial mixer that he moves into the kitchen when it’s time to bake those cookies. Luckily, I get to use the mixer when I’m making a big batch of bread. Most of the time I mix bread in my KitchenAid mixer (I think it’s a 7 qt. bowl). The big mixer has a 12 qt. bowl. It is so slick to mix up a big batch of bread.
The BIG mixer and the standard mixer.
I usually use my Oatmeal Bread recipe. We like it and it feels more nutritious with the oatmeal in it. Since I cannot have eggs or dairy, by baking my own bread I have control over the ingredients. You can use any bread recipe you like to make sticky buns…probably even frozen commercial dough!
Here is my recipe. Not a lot of detailed instructions about mixing up bread, but it’s what I use. If you don’t know how to bake bread at all, there are many cookbooks (like Joy of Cooking) and YouTube videos that will walk you through the process.
The 3-loaf recipe on the left works well in my 7 qt. standard mixer. If your mixer is smaller, just decrease the total water by 1/2 to 1 cup. You will use a little less flour in the end.
Here are the basic ingredients:
The yeast is in the small jar…I store it in the refrigerator.
I use a loose dry yeast and measure it out with measuring spoons. If you want to use packaged yeast, each package is a little less that a tablespoon of yeast. I keep my yeast in the refrigerator in a glass canning jar, while the extra is kept in the freezer. Here are two example packages of the yeast I buy:
Mixing up the Dough
Step 1:
First, I put the rolled oats, sugar and salt into the mixer bowl. Then I pour the boiling water on them, stir them around and let sit for about 10 minutes to cool.
Step 2:
After 10 minutes or so, I use a small bowl to start the yeast…yeast plus 1 cup of warm water and a tablespoon of sugar. Let it sit until dissolved and bubbly (about 5 minutes).
Step 3:
Add cool or room temperature water to the mixer bowl, depending on whether the oatmeal mixture is still pretty hot.
Add oil to the mixer bowl. Using the same measuring cup (now greased with oil) measure out the honey…no sticking!
Step 4:
Begin adding flour about 2 cups at a time until most of the flour is added. Let the mixer run for 8-10 minutes to knead the dough. Add a little flour at a time if the dough is still sticky.
Step 5:
Dump the dough onto a floured table/board and work into a nice smooth bowl.
Step 6:
Place the ball of dough into a large oiled bowl to rise. Cover with a cloth. Let rise until doubled.
Step 7:
When the dough has doubled in size (about an hour), punch the dough down, fold in the sides and turn the ball of dough over so it’s smooth side is up. Let rise another hour.
After 1 hour, ready to punch down.After punching down, ready to rise for another hour.Ready to shape the dough.
Step 8:
Shape the dough…into loaves of bread or rolls or sticky buns. This large batch of dough made 4 pans of sticky buns and 4 loaves of bread!
Shaping the Sticky Buns
First, I prepare the pans by greasing them with butter-flavored Crisco.
Then I sprinkle about 1/4-1/2 cup of brown sugar over the bottom of the pan.
I sprinkle that with ground cinnamon. (You can also add chopped walnuts over the bottom of the pan).
Then I take a chunk of dough and pat it out to a rectangle. This gets sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon also.
Then roll up the rectangle of dough into a log.
Slice the log into 1″ rounds and place cut side down into the prepared pans.
If you have a little roll leftover, just put it in a greased pan for a little loaf of cinnamon bread.
Let the pans rest for about 20 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake about 25 minutes.
Flip the pans of buns directly onto a foil covered board or table top. Use a table knife to lift the pan off the buns.
(Advice: Fill each pan with soapy water immediately and let them soak while you clean up…the “sticky” topping is a real pain to clean up if you let it harden and cool in the pan!)
Shape the Loaves of Bread
Take any extra dough not used for sticky buns and divide into loaf-shaped portions. Place into greased pans.
Let the loaves rise in the pan about 45 minutes. Bake about 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
This is a great recipe to stock the freezer. Of course, I always think if the sticky buns are frozen I won’t be so tempted to eat them..haha…a few seconds in the microwave and they are just fine! Enjoy!
Are you thinking about spring cleaning, or at least cleaning out your closet and dresser drawers? Do you wish you could just box up tired decorating items and pass them off to someone without having to set up a garage sale? It’s unacceptable for me to just toss things in the trash to be buried in a landfill. It would be nice if someone could benefit from my cast offs. I started exploring places in my area where I could donate these items. Of course, Goodwill stores seem to be in every community, but I had also heard about the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift store in State College. I decided to check it out yesterday.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international organization of lay Catholics, called to serve the poor in local communities. The most important activity they do is to work with folks in need by providing material assistance such as rent, utilities, food or clothing, job training and emotional support. In south central Pennsylvania (Centre, Blair and Cambria counties) there are eight thrift stores, five food pantries, two food distribution warehouses, a youth ministry program, and two Family Kitchens! Their major fundraising activity is their network of Thrift Stores around the world. Donations of money, clothing and small household items are accepted and sold to support their work. The money stays in the local community.
The local Thrift Store has 140 volunteers who collect, sort, price and sell tons of donated items. Even the managers are unpaid volunteers! You can read more about the beginnings of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at https://ssvpusa.org/ and about the State College store at https://stvincentstatecollege.org/.
The St. Vincent de Paul State College Thrift Store recently (2019) moved to a large building on the Benner Pike. It shares the building with Dick’s Homecare and is near the new Centre Crest facility. My specific goal was to see what they had so I had a better idea of what kinds of things I should donate.
Dick’s Homecare is on the right.A small display in the entrance area with more information about St. Vincent de Paul and local support.
Entering the store feels like entering a quality Boutique! It does not feel like a Thrift store or a flea market. Very nice!
I was able to talk with the manager on duty who was very clear what kinds of things they accepted…clothing and accessories and small household items. Larger appliances and furniture would be passed on to Centre Peace…another charitable organization nearby. I think I’ll check them out soon. Prices were very reasonable…I was able to get a silk scarf for $1.00.
Volunteer staff ready to help!Lots of jewelry.Framed photos and prints all around the room.Can you believe wedding dresses! I should have come here two weeks ago! Many dresses were priced at $50.Donations of vintage items are displayed together.Women’s tops and sweaters.Handbags.Men’s suits.Men’s clothing.Figurines, displayed well.GlasswareDishes.A few books.Volunteers in the back room sorting away!
What wonderful service in this community! Selling items like these keeps them out of landfills, offers bargains to one and all, and the profits benefit the local community! A win all around!
So, if you are wondering where to donate your gently used clothing and household items, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store will gladly help you out. If you’re looking for bargains to redecorate or add to your wardrobe, the Thrift Store may have just what you’re looking for! If you need assistance with anything, give them a call. If they can’t help you, they are well connected in the community to help you find what you need! Here is their contact information:
So, let’s get started on cleaning out all our “stuff” now that we know a place to pass them on! Enjoy!
With all the body care stuff I’ve made I had never thought about making my own sunscreen. Up until two summers ago I had never needed sunscreen. I can think of only one time in my life where I actually had a sunburn so I just didn’t worry about it. Then two years ago I spent several days with burns on my legs just from wearing shorts…and sitting on a shady porch! I was so surprised! Boy did that hurt! Then last summer I was even more sensitive so I tried an assortment of sunscreen lotions. They all felt sticky when they dried and I wanted to wash them off as soon as I came inside.
I really wanted to spend time in the garden cheering on my green beans!
I found it was just easier to not wear shorts and managed to find a few of those “sun shirts” for my arms. That was really ridiculous heading out to the garden all covered up. Needless to say, I didn’t stay outside for long! I really feel like I missed most of the summer weather because I stayed inside.
I hated not being able to enjoy the flowers on a beautiful summer day.
This year, I decided to see if I could come up with a natural sunscreen lotion that I could stand with the fewest chemicals. I use essential oils in everything else…why not sunscreen?
I started with research. I had questions about whether certain essential oils have natural sun protection. I wondered if zinc oxide had to be used in a product to be protective. What’s the difference between nano- and non-nano zinc oxide? What other chemicals are in sunscreens that could be bothering me?
Other people online have done extensive research into all the necessary and unnecessary chemicals found in commercial sunscreens. Here is one article that I’d like to refer you to that explores many of my questions:
Many homemade sunscreens start with a mixture of shea butter, oil, essential oils and non-nano zinc oxide powder. It appears that several essential oils are naturally high in SPF, including raspberry seed oil (SPF 28-50) and carrot seed oil (SPF 38-40). Several carrier oils, including coconut oil, olive oil and avocado oil have an SPF range from 4-1 5. Adding zinc oxide can boost the SPF to 20 or higher depending on how much you use.
About Zinc Oxide Nano-Particles
There has been some concern that nano-particles (very tiny ones) could be absorbed into the skin, although there is little research proving that is a problem. However, just case a non-nano zinc oxide is offered for sale too…meaning the particle size is larger and would not be absorbed by the skin…important for use on children. Since I’m trying to stay as simple as possible, I decided to go with the non-nano zinc oxide. If it leaves a white coating, I may have to get the other kind so it soaks in better.
This can be purchased on Amazon.Of course, disclaimers about it’s use is important, but the recommendation to use a mask sounded like a good precaution.
I’d like to share two recipes for sunscreen that I have made. First is a sunscreen spray that stays a liquid. It includes fractionated coconut oil, which means the fats have been reduced so it stays a liquid; essential oils; and non-nano zinc oxide. It’s pretty to quick mix up but the zinc oxide tends to separate out and settle on the bottom of the spray bottle. Giving it a good shake before spraying is necessary. I will have to research how to keep the particles in suspension for the next batch.
(Recipe #1) Sunscreen Spray
Ingredients:
The ingredients I used along with a mask ready for when I scoop out the zinc oxide.
Directions:
Step 1: Combine the oils in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Step 2: Whisk in Zinc Oxide powder. (Wear a mask so you don’t breathe in any dust)
Step 3: Pour into a 4 oz. spray bottle.
Step 4: Shake well before each use.
Sediment of zinc oxide left behind after pouring.Ready to test!
(Recipe #2) Sunscreen
This recipe is a firmer lotion and can be made more waterproof with the addition of a little beeswax. I did not add it for my first try. I will also choose some essential oils for a better fragrance…this did smell just like shea butter!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Step 1: Combine all ingredients except zinc oxide in a heat-safe glass container. Adding the optional beeswax will make it more waterproof.
Step 2: Heat over boiling water until melted.
Step 3: Wear a mask to measure and whisk in zinc oxide.
Step 4: Pour into containers, stir frequently while pouring and again after containers are filled.
Step 5: Set containers into the refrigerator to set up…the quicker it sets up the more the zinc oxide stays suspended.
This recipe filled 5 tins half way. I wanted to be able to share it for testing.This recipe made a soft lotion that I can scoop out with my finger and apply to my skin.
This sunscreen went on very smoothly. Hopefully by summer I’ll have a solution to my sun sensitivity with a less irritating sunscreen! We’ll see! Enjoy!
What is a belly band? A new fashion statement for our beloved greyhounds? Haha…no! Picture this…you have just adopted a 2 year old male greyhound from your nearby adoption kennel. You are ready to make him comfortable in your home and take him off his leash. He wanders around the living room…the kitchen…your bedroom. You show him his kennel or cozy bed in the corner. You let him explore on his own while you take off your coat and put things away. Very quickly you realize that he is lifting his leg and marking the corners of the furniture and table legs. This is a natural response to a new environment, especially if you had other dogs in the house previously. AHHHH…now what?
Luckily, the adoption group predicted this might happen and had sent you home with a belly band, just in case. You had wondered what it was for. This simple denim band wraps around their abdominal region and gently keeps his private parts from being used until you can get him outside. Over the next few days as he gets more comfortable in your home you can train him that if he’s in the house he should not have to mark his territory. When you take him outside and remove the band THEN is the time to explore and mark his territory. The hope is that he won’t need the belly band for very long, but that depends on the dog.
Making a Belly Band
I’d like to show you how I make these simple bands.
Materials:
One piece of 12 oz. denim, 12″ x 29″ (all cotton, non-stretch)
One piece of terry cloth, 5 1/2″ x 9″ (I cut up an old clean hand towel)
Note: Here is a picture of the end of the bolt of denim at JoAnn Fabrics. The retail price of this was $16.99/yard but was 30% off. Sometimes there is a coupon for 20% off Total, or $10 off $50. Look for the sales!This will be trimmed to size when placed on the denim.Hook and loop Velcro.
Instructions:
Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together and stitch, leaving 3″ space for turning.
2. Turn right side out. Top stitch around the whole band.
3. Find the center of the band and mark with a pin. Find the center of the terry cloth piece and mark with a pin.
4. Place the terry cloth piece on the center of the band, matching the center points.
5. Trim the terry cloth piece to fit exactly the width or a little smaller than the band.
6. Zig zag stitch around the outside of the terry cloth piece.
7. Place the 5″ piece of Velcro (hook) along one end of the band and stitch around it. A straight stitch works best.
8. Notice that the opposite end of the band will be folded over and overlap with the Velcro hook. Place the Velcro loop pieces on the other end from the hook and stitch as below:
The Belly Band looks like this when folded up.
This band can wrap quickly around the dog’s abdomen and is sturdy enough to stay put.
(Note: The belly band has also been used by the females after being spayed. It keeps them from bothering their incision and stitches.)
So, a greyhound belly band is not a fashion accessory but an important tool to make an adoption successful! Give it a try or share this tutorial with your adoption group! Enjoy!
The door quilts I’ve made over the last year have served me well. They are easy to store, add some color to the front door and are a quick fix when the seasons change. Read about why I started making these door quilts at https://marykisner.com/a-year-of-door-quilts/.
I now have six so I can change them about every two months. I suspect by the end of this year I will need to add some new ones…I think the colors tend to fade from being exposed to the sunlight on the door. However, for this year I’ll just switch them out when it’s time.
I noticed I put up the yellow spring one on this exact date last year! So, I guess every two months I’m ready for a change. We’ve had a few warmer days of 40 to 50 degrees, but the weather is to change dramatically in the next few days. That taste of spring must trigger my need for a touch of color in my life.
I learned with my first two door quilts that because my door is a dark red, the decoration needs to be light. Thus, on the Christmas stocking the only thing that showed up at a distance was the cuff. However, on the Valentine one (against the green background) the heart showed up beautifully from a distance. See the difference?
So, since I decided to decorate with small quilt blocks, I chose a yellow background. This quilt pattern is called Dutchman’s Puzzle, Dutchman’s Wheel or sometimes Wild Goose Chase.
When seen from a distance, the shape really stands out. Take notice, Mr. Snowstorm…your days are numbered! Enjoy!
Next time I’ll work harder to pack it tighter in the pan. That might help it stick together better! However, it did taste good! That’s what counts! Enjoy!
