DOWN HOME COUNTRY LORE

Image Gallery

Bill Ickes extends the life of his sandpaper by gluing inexpensive polyester fabric scraps to the backs of the abrasive sheets before he uses them. The Berlin, Pennsylvania reader says that his fabric-backed sandpaper lasts longer, wears more evenly, and is more flexible when used on small, rounded, or odd-shaped objects.

Cold weather is here, and outdoor enthusiasts would be well advised to remember a trick that'll insure warmth and safety as folks journey through the wilds this winter. Barry Atkins of Seattle, Washington wrote about his grandfather's practice of dipping the heads of a dozen matches in melted paraffin wax . . . and then rolling those matches up in a 10" X 10" piece of cloth. The resultant "package" was then dipped into the paraffin and allowed to dry. The waxy bundle can be carried in a pack or pocket. The matches will stay dry (through rain, snow, sleet, or worse), and the wax. coated cloth makes a fine fire starter.

"When our son, Joshua, was 18 months old, I would run myself ragged in a usually vain attempt to keep ahead of his curious fingers. Curtains, electrical cords, plants, swinging doors, speaker covers, kitchen cabinets . . . the list of potential trouble spots seemed endless some days!" writes contributor Gloria Robertson of Nixa, Missouri. "I finally hit upon a simple solution to the problem, though. Yarn! I tied colorful pieces of yarn over and through, up and under, around and on top . . . making pretty bows and secure knots to hold those items in the position I wanted. The safety factor (and my peace of mind) far outweighed my fear of raised eyebrows at the unusual decor . . . and when josh outgrew that roaming stage, I simply clipped the yarn bows and stored them away for our next busy one, Sarah!"

Phyllis Wolff of Franklinton, North Carolina recycles the greeting cards she receives at Christmastime by cutting the pictures on the front into gift tags to use the following holiday season. For each one, Phyllis cuts out a particular shape, punches a hole in the top, strings a piece of crochet cotton through, and then stores the labels until mistletoe-and-holly time rolls around again.

Toluca Lake, California resident Ellen Siegler offers fellow MOTHER readers these tips on shopping for nearly new toys and games at garage sales and thrift shops.

Although it's fairly easy to clean up an old dolly's face and clothing, restoring dull, matted hair can often present a problem. The solution? Ellen recom mends shampooing the doll's locks in liquid fabric softener, rinsing them well, and then brushing them with a small-toothed rubber brush until the hair dries naturally.

If the board games or action toys you locate have missing or broken parts, don't automatically reject them. Should such a toy still be available at retail outlets, Ellen takes the object home and then composes a friendly letter to the manufacturer of the product . . . giving pertinent information such as the name and serial number. (If you aren't sure of exactly what's missing, just list the parts you have.) Ellen says most companies are quite willing to send replacement parts for a nominal fee . . . and some even send the missing pieces at no cost!

"When holiday gift-shopping time rolls around each year, folks are often stumped about what to give Grandma and Grandpa," writes Rosalind Milliken of Indio, California. "Not only do these matriarchs and patriarchs usually have a lifetime's accumulation of tools and gadgets, but many times they also have well-stocked freezers. However, we manage to delight our older relatives by sending them packing boxes full of paper goods each year.

We supply them with everything imaginable . . . greeting cards, stationery, paper plates and napkins, gift wrap, waxed paper, toilet tissue, postage stamps, paper towels, and more. They're as pleased as can be with these gifts, and we're happy that we're able to pare down their everyday living expenses for the coming year." And here's a tip concerning those promises we always seem to make to ourselves every January, but have a difficult time keeping. Debbie O'Neal has a system that works well for her. The St. Paul, Minnesota reader learns (or at least tries) one new thing every single month of the year. For example, last year she taught herself candle wicking in January . . . read a book about famous artists in February . . . learned how to cook with herbs in March . . . and so forth. Debbie says that by focusing on one project each month, she helps make every year memorable and worthwhile.