Donna&#39;s Stuff &amp; More

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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Do You Believe in Play?

play - exercise or activity for amusement or recreation.

Play is necessary for our mental and physical health! Here are a few things from my Addoway store to help you in your pursuit of play:

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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Shop 24/7 - Gifts for Him or Her!

Some handpicked gifts for him or her! Shop 24/7 at Donna's Stuff & More on Addoway!
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Friday, November 2, 2012

Homemade Apple Pie - There's Nothing Better!

Over the years I've made a lot of apple pies, but my favorite is from my daughter. She got it from an Amish community cookbook. My family likes a tart pie, so we use Granny Smith for this one.

Apple Crumb Pie

6 tart apples                                  3/4 cup of flour
1 cup of sugar                               1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup butter                               Pastry for one 9 inch pie shell

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Pare apples and cut into eigths.
Mix 1/2 cup of sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over apples. Mix.
Put apple mixture into unbaked pie shell.

Combine remaining sugar and flour. Add butter and rub together until crumbs are formed. Sprinkle crumbs over apples.

Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes and then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 35 minutes longer.

Reheat just before serving if desired. Delicious served with a sharp cheese (I often do this for breakfast!) or with ice cream.

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I Love Fall Weather!

What a welcome relief from summer - clear blue skies, no humidity! And really cool nights - going down to the 50's here in Virginia. Coffee on the deck in the morning!

The squirrels are busy gathering nuts for the winter. Canadian Geese fly in their V formations to their winter havens. The leaves haven't turned yet, but will soon!

Lawn chores - fall fertilizing, overseeding. Making sure everything is ready for whatever winter may bring - checking gutters, enough wood for the fireplace? Do any of the shovels need replacing?

We still go to the beach in the Fall. No crowds and the ocean is still warm. Fall is like the calm before all the craziness of the holidays!

Enjoy this time of year - take a walk, play with your pets. Do something for you!

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Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Colors - Things I Love About Fall

I love the colors of Fall. The bright oranges, golds, muted reds, browns, olives - all abound in Nature this time of year. This is my season - not only was I born in the Fall, my personal color pallette is an Autumn.

Soon the leaves will be turning. I think they will be early this year because we have been so dry. But here in Virginia the leaves aren't as brilliant as in New England. I grew up in Northern NY - about an hour south of Montreal. Autumn was wonderful there! Indian Summer was common - and a good thing too because the winters were brutal back then.

Don't forget your wardrobe. It will soon be time to add layers: jackets & sweaters. Wear your favorite Fall colors!

Look for dried leaves, or silk ones, to change your decor to an Autumn theme. Small things like the votive set pictured above can make a beautiful fall statement on your table, especially surrounded by autumn leaves. You may want to display some plates in Fall colors on your counter or mantel if you have a fireplace.

Pumpkins and gourds can be found at your local farmer's markets and are great

items to add to your Autumn theme now through Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Have fun and enjoy the colors of Autumn!

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Dawn Isn't Just For Dishes!

Last Thanksgiving we had our children, their spouses and children for the holiday - 9 extra people! The first evening everyone was here, the toilet off the rec room clogged. David plunged and plunged, but it wouldn't unclog.

Now it wasn't a total disaster - I grew up with one toilet in the house - that would have been a real problem, but we had three other toilets here. But not wanting to wait until the holiday was over to call a plumber, I went online to see if there was a solution.

I came across this thread that discussed using Dawn dishwashing liquid. It sounded really bizarre. As I kept reading the thread, more and more people raved about how it worked for them. So I took the information to my husband and he said give it a try. We were both kind of doubtful, but what the heck! At least the bowl would be really clean!

It worked! I couldn't believe it!

Here's what I did -

Be sure most of the water is out of the bowl. If you have plunged to no avail, it should be pretty empty.
Pour in 1/2 to 1 cup of Dawn.
Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
Pour 1/2 gallon of really hot tap water into the bowl. You should see results immediately!
(the original directions said boiling water, but some people in the thread were concerned about cracking the porcelain).

You may have to repeat this - I didn't!

A few weeks ago, a friend on Facebook, posted the cartoon above and asked for help in unclogging her kitchen sink. I told her about the Dawn solution and she tried it (using boiling water) and it worked.
So save your money and try this before calling that plumber!

Do you have any unusual uses for Dawn? Please share them in the comments below.

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Thursday, August 23, 2012

McCoy's Grand Theater

A few weeks ago we drove to the small town of Moorefield, WV, to attend "Fiddler on the Roof" at McCoy's Grand Theatre in Moorefield, WV. What a joy to watch! "Fiddler" has always been one of my favorite musicals, evoking both joy and tears. And this performance was no difference.

I am writing this to urge you to visit Moorefield next weekend and spend an enjoyable evening or afternoon with this talented group of people. "Fiddler on the Roof" was directed by Keith Miller, Choreographed by Kirsten Barr, and the Music Director was Heather Thorne. It is a very powerful story of Tevye and his attempts to maintain his family and Jewish traditions, in spite of his oldest daughters' strong wills and the edict of the tsar to leave their village. I love how Tevye is constantly talking to God! The castmembers, lead by Heath Hershberger as Tevye,were a delight! Heath's voice and acting talent set the tone for the show! There are so many talented people in this show - I could go on and on. The scenes of Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava as they go against their father's wishes brought tears to my eyes.

McCoys is an easy 2 hour drive from the DC Metro area. There are three more performances of this timeless play: July 27th and 28th at 7pm and July 29th at 2pm. You will not be disappointed. If you plan on going to one of the evening shows and would like to stay overnight, we always stay at the Southbranch Inn in Moorefield.

By the way, you can find McCoy's on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/368602345067/.
And their website can be found at http://mccoysgrand.com/

I hope you'll visit me at the following links:

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Trends in T Shirts

T-shirts were originally worn as underwear but they now have evolved into a fashionable wardrobe staple,especially after Don Johnson wore it with an Armani suit in "Miami Vice".

T-shirts have become a great medium of self-expression and advertising, combining words, art and even photographs. Variations on the original T-shirt have developed - tank tops, crew necks, muscle shirts, scoop neck, and V-neck. Hip hop fashion calls for 'tall-T"s which may extend down to the knees. In the 1990's women wore tight fitting cropped T-shirts. Layering - wearing a short sleeved T-shirt over a long-sleeved is also popular.

In the early 1950's several companies based in Miami started to decorate T-shirts with different resort names and characters. The first was Tropix Togs, the original license for Walt Disney characters.

In the 1960's the ringer T-shirt with it's signature contrast neckline became a staple for teenagers and rock-n-rollers. Tie die and protest T's were popular.

The most common form of T-shirt printing is screen-printing. Relatively inexpensive, it uses plastisol inks that are applied through a mesh screen. Designs can also be applied with airbrush, applique, embroidery and embossing techniques. In the 1980's thermochromatic dyes were used to make shirts that changed colors when subjected to heat. Direct to Garment printing was introduced at the beginning of the 21st century allowing customers to design their own T-shirts online with no minimum orders.

The T-shirt pictured to the left is a great example of screenprinting that expresses a lifestyle - in this case skateboarding.

You will find an ever-changing assortment of T-shirts in my Addoway store. Most of the time I will only have one of a particular design and style, so order early to avoid disappointment.

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

From Pinerly ~ Pinterest Marketing Cheat Sheet

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Monday, July 16, 2012

How Did T-Shirts Evolve From Underwear to Statement Clothing?

A T-shirt is a buttonless and collarless pullover shirt usually with short sleeves. The best ones are a 100% cotton knit fabric fabric knitted in a jersey stitch to give it it's distinctive soft texture. Sometimes a blend of cotton & polyester is used, giving longer-lasting color that is less prone to fading, but can sometimes pill.

T-shirts originally became popular in the U.S. when they were issued by the US Navy around the time of the Spanish American War. These were a crew-necked, short-sleeved, white cotton undershirt to be worn under a uniform. It became common for sailors and Marines in work parties, the early submarines, and tropical climates to remove their uniform "jacket", wearing (and soiling) only the undershirt.

It was named a T-shirt due to it's shape when laid flat. It soon became popular as a bottom layer for workers in various professions, including agriculture. Boy's shirts were made in various colors and patterns.

Following World War II, it became common to see vets wearing their uniform trousers with their T-shirts as casual clothing. They became popular for young men in 1951 after Marlon Brando wore one in "A Streetcar Named Desire". And then James Dean a white T-shirt in "Rebel Without a Cause" in 1955. And the white T-shirt had a resergence in popularity when Don Johnson wore one with an Armani suit in the 1980's hit TV show "Miami Vice".

Visit my addoway store for T-shirts with various themes.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

To Parents Everywhere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OqwKfgLaeA

Cat's in the Cradle sung by Harry Chapin

I always liked this song, but it wasn't until after my Dad died that I truly listened to the words. And as I was driving & listening, the tears started to flow. My Dad always made a lot of time for my two brothers and me, but I know too many Dads that don't. And sometimes it's just impossible, especially for those in the military who are gone for months at a time.

So my tears were for all the Moms & Dads who for whatever reason can't be there on a daily basis for their children, and for all of their children who don't really know their parents. Time is such a precious thing and we can never regain what has passed.

To all the Dads and the Moms who work outside the home, I hope you will listen to this video, read and heed the words. Comments welcome.

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Monday, June 18, 2012

Selling and Blogging Online With Addoway!

A blog (a portmanteau of the term web log) is a personal journal published on the World Wide Web consisting of entries ("posts") typically displayed in reverse chronological order so the most recent post appears first.

Addoway gives every seller - whether a regular or pro member - a portal to publish a blog. In turn two blogs are featured on the Addoway home page each day. These are picked randomly on a rotating basis. So if you write a blog, you might be one of the bloggers featured on the Addoway home page! This is a very good thing.

As people get to know you through your blogs, they will become more comfortable buying from you - and I know you want sales!

What to write about? It could be about what you sell, where you get your items, your pets, etc. Your blog doesn't have to be long, I actually think short is better. We all get writers block, and sometimes I just share a favorite recipe. Browse through my and other seller's blogs to get ideas.

Oh, and be sure to post them on our Addoway facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/AddowaySellers/. They will be read and shared on Twitter and Facebook by other sellers, further increasing your exposure! And be sure you read and share theirs. Happy blogging!

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

What is a Deltiologist? Part 4

Are You a Deltiologist? Part 4

This is the final section on Deltiology:

Know what to check for when buying postcards. It's easier to check the condition of a postcard in a store than online and yet it's likely that many of your cards will be internet purchases. In this case, be sure to seek as thorough a photo as possible of the card's condition before buying. If you can't see all of the condition or the description is very poor, either don't purchase it or only purchase it if it's exceptionally cheap.

Some of the things to be aware of when purchasing cards include:
Cleanliness of the card: This is not about whether or not it has been written on. It's about the splotches, marks, grime and grease that builds up on old paper items over time. Look for postcards that are clean and free of age or grime marks where possible. It won't always be possible but it's worth aiming high where you can.Edges: Try to find postcards that have even and unbent edges and haven't been torn or dog eared.

Content: It's always preferable if you can actually read what has been written on the postcard if it has writing. That makes it a lot more enjoyable and gives a sense of history behind the postcard.

Markings: Mostly this is about the postmark. The more legible, the better and if it has a date and location that can be read, a lot can be learned about the postcard.

Avoid: Things to avoid include moldy postcards (they will never become un-moldy), really badly battered about unless there is a sentimental or content reason for getting the postcard, foxing (spots and age marks) and grease marks (these detract from the overall look), stains such as blood, grime or water, too many folds or creases, tears, etc. If it looks tattered, the only reason to get it is because it's rare, what is written on it is worth keeping or you've fallen in love with it (but not if it's moldy).

Display and store the postcards. The manner in which you keep the postcards is important for safeguarding their quality over the coming years. For the really old and the valuable postcards, store in archival, acid-free covers available from hobby stores, stamp and postcard retailers and online. These will keep dust, grime and stains off the postcards and the paper will be safe from acidity. Keep the cards stored flat and in a place where they cannot be crushed, bent or warped. Ensure that the environment is dry and cool and not humid and that there is no possibility of insect damage.
If you have children (and/or pets), store the postcards out of reach, at least until the children are old enough to know how to handle them properly. Most of all, try to find a way that makes it easy to see and enjoy your postcard collection as often as you like.

Some ideas include:
Scrapbooks are ideal for creating themed collections and can be the perfect vehicle for protecting, displaying and explaining your postcard collection. Indeed, people have kept postcards in albums since Victorian times, so this will be carrying on a fine old tradition.Another great way to keep a record of your postcard collection is to take digital images and post them into an online collection for all to see. It will help you to keep track of the postcards and many other people can enjoy your collection too!
Keep learning more about collecting postcards. This article has been intended to aid the beginning hobbyist or sentimental collector to get started on honing choices, organizing the collection and learning the basics. More in-depth knowledge should be pursued through talking to other collectors and reading widely in the field of deltiology and about collecting in general.

Taken from an article at http://www.wikihow.com/Collect-Postcards.

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Monday, June 4, 2012

What Is A Deltiologist? Part 3

Learn the collector's terminology and focus:
Spend some time researching the values of postcards. It's a good use of time to browse through postcards for sale on auction sites such as eBay. Doing this will give you an idea of what's available as well as giving you an idea of the prices the postcards are worth and what you can expect to pay for them. However, at this stage don't get hung up on high values or you won't develop your own style and taste. Instead, focus on buying what you like for now and developing your own theme. Once you feel more confident that this is the hobby of choice for you and that you want to spend more money on it, then you can get serious about spending more money on particular types of postcards. Until then, just enjoy the thrill of adding to your collection for very low prices!

Find postcards:
The places for finding postcards are many and varied but the sources will be determined by how you have narrowed down your collection criteria. For example, if you're not fussed about the age, quality or provenance of the postcard, you'll find postcards literally everywhere you go from newspaper stands on the street to your grandma's attic. It gets more complicated the more you narrow down your interests and the more you seek older, antique postcards but there are still many avenues for finding them even then. In particular, the places you're likely to find postcards include:

>Stores that sell magazines, newspapers, stationery, candies, etc. will often carry modern, current postcards. These will usually be souvenir postcards aimed at tourists but you never know what you mind find, so be sure to look wherever you are.

>Check out truck stops, gas stations, department stores, souvenir stores, motel lobbies, anywhere that is heavily touristed. Any place associated with tourists, travelers, traveling etc. will probably have current, modern postcards.Many museums, art galleries, zoos, national parks, theme parks, science centers, aquariums, space observatories, and other display, learning and entertainment areas often carry modern, current postcards.

>Look online for a very wide variety of postcards both new and old to antique. Auction sites, antique sites and postcard seller sites will provide you with a wide array of choices.

>Visit a postcard trade show. Here you'll find nothing but postcards!

>Visit antique stores, flea markets, garage and yard sales, secondhand bookstores and other similar stores for older postcards. Auction houses may also sell postcards, and if you're after someone's existing collection, an auction house or an art or vintage collectibles auction are good places to start.

>Ask family members for old, unwanted postcards and go through boxes of stored papers in the attic to see if anyone has stored any over the years that have been sent to them or that they've collected on trips away.Ask anyone you know who travels or is going on vacation to send you home at least one postcard. This can be a lovely way to treasure their words as well as the postcard.

>For a beginner collector, bulk lot purchases of postcards can be a lot of fun. You never know what you might get in such a mix but it'll be fun rummaging through it and it might spark more creative ideas for how to put together your postcard collection.

Taken from an article at http://www.wikihow.com/Collect-Postcards.

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Here is an interesting story about a postcard that arrived at the wrong house a half century late: http://tinyurl.com/89ff8hu

Sunday, June 3, 2012

What is a Deltiologist? Part 2

Today I want to focus on the general postcard eras, terms and focus of collecting postcards:

While it's incredibly hard to date many postcards because anyone can print them anywhere and that's precisely how it's always been, there are some factors that can help you determine the era of postcards:

>1898-1919 is known as the "Golden Age of Postcards", when picture postcards were popular
>1901-1906 – undivided backs on picture postcards
>1907-1915 – divided backs on picture postcards1915-1930 – white border postcards were common
>1930-1950 – linen collectible postcards
>Post 1940 postcards were produced as modern chromes, namely color photographs instead of the photochromes generated from black and white photos in earlier postcards – early chromes date from the 1940s to the 1960s.Given that postcards are usually sent within a few years of production, the postmark can be an indicator. Then again, everyone has seen very dusty old postcards that haven't sold for years in some stores, and there is nothing to stop anyone from posting a very old postcard 50 to 100 years later if they feel like it, so the postmark isn't always a good indicator!
>If the postcard presents a city, street or other view that can be matched to photos of a certain time, that can help to date the postcard.

Once you start getting quite serious about collecting postcards, you'll learn that there are quite a few things to take into account when collecting them. As a beginner aiming to have fun with your hobby, simply be aware of these initially and over time, you may want to direct your attention more to the collectible indicators to ensure that you have a postcard collection of the highest quality should you wish to show it at a special event or sell it for good value.

Things of importance when collecting any paper collectible such as postcards include condition, age, anything interesting about the postcard such as its age, the artist/photographer, the image, sometimes the printer, and the postcard's rarity. Other things that might be notable include the author of the writing on it, the content of the writing, the address, the stamp/postmark, and any other elements such as the post office marking the postcard as "prohibited/censored" due to censorship or war, etc.

Any one of these elements alone could cause a particular postcard to be very special and any of these elements could also form the basis of your collection. For example, you might want to collect postcards by famous people or by women from a certain era or that have never been posted and are in perfect condition. In terms of condition, postcards are rated as follows (the first three ratings being for serious vintage postcard collectors:

>Mint: This means that the vintage postcard appears as it would have fresh off the printing press. There cannot be any writing, postage marks, creases, bends, etc. on the postcard for it to be in mint condition. They should be stored in acid-free, archival covers and kept safe from being bent.
>Near mint: This is almost like mint except for a very minor flaw such as a little yellowing at the edge. There cannot be much of a flaw though or it starts to fall down the list. Again, this should be stored in acid-free, archival covers to protect it for the long term.
>Excellent: This is a vintage postcard that is in excellent condition, so no tears or wear. It can be postmarked or written on, provided the postcard itself is still in perfect shape. As above, keep this in acid-free, archival covers.
>Very good: This postcard is often mailed, postmarked and written upon but it has very few signs of wear and is definitely one to be proud of in a collection.
>Good: By this stage, the postcard has lived a little and shows signs of its journey. There may be bent corners, a fold, creases, faded colors, etc. This one is unlikely to be worth much unless it's particularly unusual, rare or was written by something famous.
>Fair to poor: The rest of the postcards in their grimy, beaten up, bent, crushed, creased and other states. The reason you keep them? Mostly because they're sentimental, because they complete a set, because you like them anyway, and so forth. Just don't expect to make a fortune from them any day soon!

Taken from an article at http://www.wikihow.com/Collect-Postcards.

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Sunday, May 6, 2012

What is a Deltiologist?

Deltiology is the official term for collecting (and studying) postcards. The third largest hobby after collecting stamps and money, collecting postcards can be a very rewarding pastimethat can be as broad or as

narrow as you'd like, and can be undertaken absolutely anywhere in the world. Even Queen Victoria is thought to have had her own postcard collection, so it's certainly a hobby that has both pedigree and time behind it.

If you're keen to do something with the postcards you've got stashed at home or you're wondering whether or not to indulge in buying them every time you're traveling or sightseeing, perhaps deltiology will open up a new world of collecting for you.

Decide how you will approach collecting postcards. The breadth of postcards is so wide that it's probably a good idea to develop your focus early on to avoid having box loads of unsorted postcards and not knowing what to do with them all. Postcards can be collected in many ways but some of the most common approaches are as follows:

Postcards by a particular artist.

Postcards from a particular location or country.
Postcards dating from a particular time.
Postcards with a particular theme such as a specific animal like a cat or wildlife, structures such as tall buildings or bridges, natural wonders such as waterfalls or canyons, household items such as teapots, artwork from museum collections, transport such as trains, trams or planes, beach scenes, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Star Trek, etc. (the possibilities are endless).
Postcards that are humorous, cheeky (risque) or have cartoons on them.

If you have a particular interest, consider collecting postcards related to that interest. For example, if you love horses, then postcards of horses will always appeal to you. All sorts of interests like ballet, rugby, board games, aircraft spotting, museums, dinosaurs, weapons, food, alcohol, etc., are likely to be found on postcards in one way of another. This can add a very interesting dimension to postcard collecting that will bolster your love of your other interest in a unique way.

Some people only collect postcards when they travel. Given the great photos that professional photographers can take of a place you're visiting, it can be a good way to ensure that you have at least one really good photo of the place you've visited! It's also helpful to get postcards that depict different seasons or weather than what you're experiencing on your visit.

The above was taken from an article at http://www.wikihow.com/Collect-Postcards.

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Monday, April 30, 2012

The Meaning and History of the Constitution

Some of you know I am taking the FREE online course presented by Hillsdale College: Constitution 101. This course is required for all undergraduate students at Hillsdale College and is a great way for you to refresh or learn about the Constitution that governs this country.
I really like the format of this course - each lecture is about 40 minutes and you take them at your convenience. You can register to take the course at http://www.hillsdale.edu/constitution/. I strongly urge you to take advantage of this free course and take advantage of this in-depth look at our founding.
About Constitution 101:
“Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution” is a 10-week online course presented by Hillsdale College.
Featuring an expanded format from the “Introduction to the Constitution” lecture series with Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry Arnn, Constitution 101 follows closely the one-semester course required of all Hillsdale College undergraduate students.
In this course, you can:
•watch lectures from the same Hillsdale faculty who teach on campus;
•study the same readings taught in the College course;
•submit questions for weekly Q&A sessions with the faculty;
•access a course study guide;
•test your knowledge through weekly quizzes; and
•upon completion of the course, receive a certificate from Hillsdale College.

Constitution 101 Schedule:
1.The American Mind
Larry P. Arnn
2.The Declaration of Independence
Thomas G. West
3.The Problem of Majority Tyranny
David Bobb
4.Separation of Powers: Preventing Tyranny
Kevin Portteus
5.Separation of Powers: Ensuring Good Government
Will Morrisey
6.Religion, Morality, and Property
David Bobb
7.Crisis of Constitutional Government
Will Morrisey
8.Abraham Lincoln and the Constitution
Kevin Portteus
9.The Progressive Rejection of the Founding
Ronald J. Pestritto
10.The Recovery of the Constitution
Larry P. ArnnAll lessons archived–start anytime! Register at

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Here's How I Resource, Recycle and Reuse

Today's blog is a continuation of my blog from March 21. Today I'm focusing on how I try to be a good steward of our beautiful planet in my Addoway business.

From Webster's New World Dictionary - Resource: something that lies ready for use. And do I have alot of "stuff" that is ready for someone to use! At our age, my husband and I are trying to downsize and eliminate some of the "stuff" in our home. I have a fabulous career wardrobe, but I've been retired for a few years now, and David is approaching retirement.

I found this statistic shocking - according to the ecomii website, @http://www.ecomii.com/tips/used-clothing, Americans throw away 2 quadrillion pounds of clothing each year! If you are an environmentally-conscious consumer that believes in recycling rather than wasting resources, know that you can find good quality, gently worn, clean clothing in my Addoway store. Most is from our own closets, the rest is from store clearance or thrift shops. ALL is thoroughly inspected for holes, tears, missing buttons, etc. Any defects will be thoroughly described.

I also have many gift items in the store - collectibles, sports memorbelia, housewares, books, music, etc.

I also sell alot of magazines. Most are specialty titles you won't find on the newstand - The Hook (the Journal of Navy Carrier Aviation), Preservation (Historical Architecture), Hallowed Ground (Civil War), and more. What do people do with them? Read them of course, and magazines are a great resource for school projects, as well as art and craft projects.

I also reuse sturdy, clean cardboard boxes and packing materials when I can. Normally the only boxes I purchase are the specialty boxes used for shipping records.

What are you doing to Resource, Recycle & Reuse? Hopefully you will find my Addoway store a great Resource for your shopping needs! Comments are appreciated!

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

How to Make a Light Box & Take Better Pictures

I have read alot about how a lightbox can help you take more professional pictures. You can buy them online for about $30 and up, but being a thrifty person I hated to spend the money! I also found blogs describing how to make your own out of a cardboard box. But they had one drawback - you also had to cover the brown cardboard that was left with white paper, taking more time & effort than I wanted to expend.

But then I remembered I had several sheets of white coreboard - why not make my own box with them? So that's what I did.

I had 3 pieces of coreboard that were 20 inches X 15 inches (coreboard is also known as foamcore or foamboard.) You can find it at Walmart, office supply & art stores. that were 20 inches X 15 inches. So I used an X-acto knife to cut out the center of each piece leaving about 2-3 inches around the edges. Then I taped parchment paper (the kind you line cookie sheets with) over each large opening. The three panels were then taped together with clear packing tape forming a top and two sides. I then taped a fourth panel to the back, and set the whole thing on top of another piece of coreboard. Viola - about 15 minutes for a very practical lightbox. When I am photographing light colored items, I slip a piece of black posterboard into the lightbox.

Below you can see a picture of a necklace set I took without the lightbox and the same set with the lightbox. The stein is another item with the picture taken inside the lightbox. No flash was used - the only lighting is from the overheard
flourescent light in my office!

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Friday, March 23, 2012

Why I'm A Conservationist, Not An Enviromentalist!

I have been a conservationist all my life. What is a conservationist? A conservationist advocates the planned management of natural resources. I believe in good stewardship of the natural resources God gave this great country. And they were given to us to be USED. I believe in re-using and re-purposing instead of throwing things away.I believe in recycling where practical. I have often wondered how much the recycling in my community is really helping. Instead of one garbage truck picking up our trash, we now have two - one for regular garbage and one for recyclables. Twice as much gas used, twice as much exhaust out of those trucks.

Good conservation of our forests means that new trees are planted when old trees are cut. Environmentalists want everything left to nature. That is part of the reason there are so many devasting fires in California. If the trees were properly managed and dead underbrush allowed to be removed, whether by man or nature, the catastrophic fires would be lessened.

'The fire problem in the West has resulted from an unnaturally large buildup of dry, highly-flammable excess wood in the forests. Before the government began to suppress forest fires in the early 20th century, frequent small fires cleaned out the underbrush. Large ponderosa pines, for example, often grew in open stands with densities between 20 and 50 trees per acre. Now, as a result of preventing forest fires, smaller, crowded, less healthy trees often grow in the same places with densities of 300 to 700 trees per acre.' http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2011/06/10/massive_forest_fires_due_to_forest_service_incompetence. Our government has not been a good steward of our forests.

I also hate those new CFL's. Those of us with older eyes find them hard to read with. And they have mercury in them - a potentially hazardous material. Have you ever read how you are to proceed if you break one? Check out these directions from our government: http://epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html. And they really shouldn't be put with your regular trash. Eventually that mercury will seep into groundwater. Just another example of unintended consequences of government rules.

Many enviromentalists believe wind and solar are the answer to our energy problems. I don't agree. Petrolium is a product of Nature - did you ever think of that? And there is nothing (except nuclear) that can produce the energy we need as a society the way petrolium can. A side effect of windmills is birdkill. 'Windmills kill nearly half a million birds a year, according to a Fish and Wildlife estimate. The American Bird Conservancy projected that the number could more than double in 20 years if the administration realizes its goal for wind power." http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/wind-farms-under-fire-for-bird-kills/2011/08/25/gIQAP0bVlJ_story.html
I could continue to give examples of environmental and government policies that are not really helping our world, but I want to keep this short and start you thinking.

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Monday, March 19, 2012

Will Love For Food - I Rescued A Human Today

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.
I would promise to keep her safe.
I would promise to always be by her side.
I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
http://rescuemedog.org/dog-blog/i-rescued-a-human-today-by-janine-allen/
Written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog's professional dog trainer. Janine's passion is working with people and their dogs. She provides demonstrations for those who have adopted shelter dogs, lends email support to adopted dog owners that need information beyond our Training Support Pages, and aids shelter staff and volunteers in understanding dog behavior to increase their adoptability. Copyright 2012 Rescue Me Dog; http://www.rescuemedog.org/

We currently have 3 chihuahuas, 2 of which are rescues. We found both of the rescues through Petfinders.com. If you are interested in adding a pet to your family, I urge you to visit your local sheler or Petfinders. There are a huge number of animals waiting for a good home. And they might save you too!

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Monday, March 5, 2012

Should You Have A QR Code?

Quick Response Codes are the next generation of barcodes - they can hold lots more information than the traditional barcode. A barcode can only be scanned across where the QR code can be scanned across and up and down, thereby holding much more information.

Anyone with a smart phone can scan my QR Code above and be taken directly to my Addoway store! How cool is that? QR Codes are becoming more and more popular, and more people are shopping from their smart phones all the time. And predictions are that it is going to increase. You may have seen QR Codes at stores when you shop, and on major product brands. And people will scan them because they are curious.

So how do I use mine? I have it on my business card, put it on packing slips, and any other correspondence I have with a customer.
How can you get one? I got mine at http://qrcode.kaywa.com/. And it was FREE. Enter in your URL, and select the size you want. Then click Generate! Now that was easy.
How do you think you can use a QR Code? Have fun, be creative. And share your ideas in the comment section below.

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