Handy Hints for Wednesday ~ 23
Eggs were on the menu on Monday and I start off with some eggie hints today.
Boiled eggs for breakfast? The water you boil your eggs in will acquire some calcium and other helpful minerals from the shells, when cooled it can be used as a liquid feed for your houseplants.
After cooking scrambled eggs, soaking your pan with hot water and a half cup of vinegar will clean up the pan easily while neutralizing that egg smell.
Need an emergency piping bag in a hurry? Use a re-sealable freezer bag with a corner cut off.
To remove ink spots from clothing, while the ink is wet, apply lemon juice liberally to the spot, and then wash the garment in a normal cycle with regular detergent using cold water
Wicker furniture should be cleaned by scrubbing with a stiff brush dipped in warm salt water/salt will help keep your wicker from turning yellow.
And finally….. if you need a lift…..
I found this while surfing the net the other day!
The Cheese Sandwich for when you don’t have any clean plates or cutlery by ellyjelly
Before you ask -.-.-.- It is NOT my Elly
Stan said,
April 15, 2009 at 7:58 am
My plants will get a treat today! Thank you Grannymar.
steph said,
April 15, 2009 at 7:59 am
Grannymar
You would, wouldn’t you!
I’ve just tidied away after my brekkie (boiled egg) and now you tell me I should have kept the water for my plants
It’s a good idea though
Next time!
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 8:17 am
@Stan - Welcome on board. I hope your plants enjoy their grannymar special!
@Steph - What did you do with the shell?
Stan said,
April 15, 2009 at 8:52 am
Thanks Grannymar, it’s about time I de-lurked. The plants also convey their gratitude.
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 9:01 am
Stan,
‘de-lurking’ appreciated and welcomed!
Conortje said,
April 15, 2009 at 12:01 pm
eggcellent hints all round
Nancy said,
April 15, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Grannymar,
Did you take my hint the other day and make your kitchen curtains out of old dishtowels?
If so, right after eating that cheese and margarine sandwich it will be just the ticket to wash your hands and dry them on the curtains…..
Baino said,
April 15, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Now it’s clear none of you live in a drought ridden area. EVERY drop of water is poured on the garden. From bucket’s to catch shower water through to left over cooking juice. And I’m definitely trying the vinegar solution for scrambled eggy bowls. Oh and the freezer bag thing works. It’s even pretty if you use pinking shears.
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 12:24 pm
@Conor -
@Nancy - I am typing with my tongue right now ’cause my hands are all cheese & margarine. When I was using the curtains to dry my hands the other day they fell in the sink… the sellotape is not holding them up any more!
@Baino - In Ireland the water table is so high we squelch every time we walk on the grass! I like the idea of using a pinking shears to get a pretty effect.
Magpie11 said,
April 15, 2009 at 1:27 pm
No egg water for azaleas…they are ericaceous and abhor lime in their water.
I wonder if ellyjelly knew my father? that was his trick, right down to the Stork maggy. His other trick was cold stew sandwiches for supper!!!! His grandson has inherited similar tastes…loves cold Lasagne.
kenju said,
April 15, 2009 at 2:07 pm
From now on, I’ll save the egg water!! Thanks, Grannymar.
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 3:05 pm
@Magpie - Your question ‘I wonder if ellyjelly knew my father?’ reminded me of my own father. Each time the boys brought home a new girlfriend, he would ask “Did I know your mother?”. The girls who gave him strange looks or had no answer seldom lasted long!
I am ignoring ‘cold stew & Lasagne sangers!’ That is as bad as finishing off baby food!
@Judy - I thought you would know that one.
steph said,
April 15, 2009 at 3:36 pm
What did I do with the egg shells?
I glued the broken pieces together into the shape of spoon and used it to eat my porridge
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Steph,
You keep that shell and you will be a step ahead of everyone else next week!
wisewebwoman said,
April 15, 2009 at 3:50 pm
GM: household hint: I heartily recommend you NOT use sellotape to hang the curtains, thumb tacks are much preferred.
Also crushed eggshells around tomato plants in garden provide much needed calcium.
I also use them instead of pebbles at the bottom of flowerpots for drainage and nutrition.
XO
WWW
Nancy said,
April 15, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Steph.
What a great idea; gluing the broken egg shells together and making a spoon. Clever girl!
Could you please make me 4 spoons, 4 knives and 4 forks? The I will be all set for company….
steph said,
April 15, 2009 at 4:59 pm
@ Nancy
At your service!
But I’ll have to eat an awful lot of eggs to make all that cutlery
It was you who gave me the clever idea of wiping the porridge off my face with your tea towel curtains
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 5:02 pm
@Steph - You won’t be first in the class next week because…
@WWW - Was I not supposed to use sellotape? It was that or chewing gum, but it was stuck to the bedhead
You stole my thunder with the shells. I will add this to my ideas for next week.
@Nancy - I have just wet myself
I hope you won’t serve steak with that cutlery 
@Steph - Stop egging her on!
Nancy said,
April 15, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Grannymar,
This conversation has reminded me of something my son, Jerry said. He came in from school ,age 8, and said to me,”we had steak for lunch at school today and it was really hard to eat.”
“Oh, said I,”Was it that tough?”
“No, They don’t allow us to have knives.”
steph said,
April 15, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Grannymar,
Nancy’s humour is enough to crack-up any eggshell!
Nathalie said,
April 15, 2009 at 7:05 pm
These are great, I particularly like the boiled egg water one - genius. Your tips always bring on a “Now, why didn’t I think of that?” moment. Thanks a mill
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Nancy & Steph You two should be tied together!
@Nathalie - I am glad you find the tips and hints helpful.
Magpie11 said,
April 15, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Clean broken eggshells to clean out a wine decanter…swirl around with a bit of warm water…better than taking the shot out of a 12 bore cartridge as it reduces the possibility of lead poisoning.
Some say that crushed eggshells around plants deter slugs and snails.
www Have you tried crushed oyster shells around plants? Or cockle shells in plant pots?
I once had a spoon made from half an egg shell….. more a ladle really as it was an ostrich egg shell. I think my mother sold it along with my father’s US cavalry sabre…. have never seen one since. Hav eseen coconut shell spoons tho’.
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Magpie,
Did you see the egg shells here
Annb said,
April 15, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Wow, and here am I gleefully cracking my morning boiled egg and wantonly throwing it on the compost heap! I could have had a whole canteen of cutlery by now! As for those curtains - have you tried velco with a sticky side? It’s amazing stick one strip to the window and the other to the curtain and voila; happy days. The only problem is you have to use curtain ties to open them, as obviously the velco lacks a certain” slideablilty”! I’m filing all these tips away Grannymar thanks!
Grannymar said,
April 15, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Annb,
The sellotape mentioned above was for pure fun. I am very familiar with the Velcro you mentioned. Nowadays they sell each side separately -double the cost. I used 22 yards of it to make eight floor length blinds for Elly’s house.
chrisb said,
April 15, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Some more good hints for me to remember. I needed a piping bag the other day so now I know what I should have done.