COUNTRY LORE

(Page 3 of 3)

November/December 1990
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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Ashes to Dust

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It used to be that every time I removed the ashes from our fireplace, some of the fine particles became airborne and a cloud of dust later settled in the room. I've remedied this by lighting a crumpled sheet or two of newspaper in a rear corner of the fireplace just as I start to shovel out the ashes. The small, vigorous flame produces enough draft to draw the dust up the flue.

—Jerome Knapp
Menooka, Illinois

Workshop Duo

When I belt-sand a piece of wood—flat trim or shelving, for example—I often find hairline cracks and shallow imperfections. To eliminate these, I force white glue into the cracks and resand the surface. The sawdust fills the flaws and they disappear. Deeper ones may require several applications of glue, with a short drying period in between each treatment.

And did you know that the plastic lid from a one-pound coffee can fits a quart can of motor oil perfectly? The lid is a good way to keep dirt and dust out of the lubricant once the can has been opened—although several companies now sell oil in screw-top bottles.

—Fred A. Race
Euclid, Ohio

Gotcha!

The best way I know to bait a mousetrap is to glue a kernel of field corn onto it. I once caught two mice at the same time in a single trap.

—Sharon Fritchley
Gentryville, Indiana

Fly Catchers

In our old farmhouse, the flies seem to swarm right out of the walls on sunny days. They collect on the warm windowpanes—to all appearances, half asleep. In fact, they're so sluggish I can suck them up with my rechargeable, hand-held vacuum. Then I empty it outdoors and let them fly away. It's great: No killing, no chasing around with a flyswatter like a maniac and no messy splats to clean up.

—Lakshmi Tacbe
St. Louis de Richelieu, Quebec

On those hot summer days when deerflies swarm around your head, take an old hardhat and smear dark grease on top. As the flies invade, they will land on the hat and get caught in the grease.

—Allen Mader
Medford, Wisconsin

If you're faced with a lot of flies outside your doors, put some chicken liver in the bottom of ajar with holes punched in the lid. Flies can get in, but they can't get out.

—Earl and Barbara Hodel
 Little Falls, Minnesota

Send tips to: Country Lore,Mother Earth News, 8o Fifth Ave., New York, NY toots. Each published contributor will receive $20.

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