Educational Sites

Finally, the educational sites I promised you.  I hope these will be as beneficial for you as they were for me.  I have some sites listed that have resources for special needs children (I will add more as I find them) and even threw in School House Rock (remember that one).  Happy Learning!


TLS Books.com
Worksheet Universe
Homeschool.com
Library of Congress
The Internet Public Library
ABC for Kids
Biology for Kids
Fun Science Resources for Kids
The Magic School Bus
Natural History Museum
Kids Click
The Online Books Page
Starfall.com Learn to Read
Positive Support for Special Challenges
Community Learning Network
The Idea Box.com
School House Rock Video & Lyrics

Here We Go Again

I had an appointment with my Gynecologist because of a suspected Enterocele (prolapse of the small bowel).  After having the examination, she ordered a defectography (don't ask) and found that there is an enterocele and also a cystocele (prolapse of the bladder).  I am going to have surgery again on October 31st to correct these problems.  Unfortunately, they are going to have to do a laparotomy (making an incision and opening my up) because of the organs involved; it would be dangerous to do it through a scope as it would risk perforating the bladder, a ureter or other things.  This should hopefully help some of the abdominal and pelvic pain that is so excruciating.  It will take about 6-8 weeks to heal, so my mother will be helping out with some things for a while.  I will not be posting for a few weeks following surgery, so I will try and do as much as I can beforehand.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated.  God Bless you and yours.


Sherri

Heartfelt Thanks

For all of you who have sent me e-mails or left comments as to how much you like the site, I want to thank you  and let you know that you have really touched my heart.  I appreciate each and every one of you more than you will ever know and you give me affirmation that all I have done and will continue to do on this site has been for a reason.  I won't be posting every day, but I will do what I can to find interesting things for you.  I am homeschooling my daughter and that takes a lot of time and planning; it's all worth it, though, because she is in first grade and doing second grade work.I have come across many different educational sites lately that are good to help with math, spelling, reading and so much more.  I will get all these organized and have them ready for you in the next few days.  Take care and bless you all.


Sherri

Sherri's Helpful Hints

               


Plastic Container Odors - We all know what happens when we store something that has a strong smell in a 
plastic container.  The smell is really hard to get out and if it is somewhat greasy, it's even worse.  I have found a solution that helps.  Put plastic wrap or foil in the plastic container and put your food inside that.  There is no stain (like from spaghetti sauce) or greasy feel, or strong odor; problem solved.


Hiccups - This is one that people always ask me about and I try to post it more often than the others; a cure for hiccups.  Hiccups are caused by gas being trapped in the diaphragm.  The best cure for them, is to drink something carbonated.  Once you burp, your hiccups are gone.  It's so easy, you wonder why more people don't know how to really get rid of them.


Trash Odors - There are some things that you just can't do too much about; but, you can help minimize them.  Before you throw away food cans, run water inside them and swish around a little to get the last remaining bit out.  This is something that I have done for a long time now and it really helps keep the smell to a minimum.


Extra Freezer Space - Sometimes we get refrigerator/freezers that have great shelving and you have more space than you know what to do with.  For those units that are lacking, here is a little hint that I use myself.  Buy one or two of the wire shelves that are coated and have the little rubber feet.  You can use a smaller shelf or a larger one depending on your needs.  They have worked out really well and make the most of my freezer space.


Flower Arrangements - Instead of using the styrofoam cones for flower vases, you can use small gravel that is designed for fish tanks.  The gravel holds the arrangement in place perfectly and there are many different colors to choose from.  I have a rose colored vase that has white gravel in it and it looks really beautiful.


Peppermint Tea - If you like peppermint tea like I do, here is a simple way to make it without paying a fortune.  Make whatever type of tea you like (have it really hot) and put in 1-2 small round peppermint candies in a large mug of hot tea.  You will need to add a little sugar if you like it sweet and give it a good stir to melt the peppermint.  I made this so often one year that I had bronchitis, and it was very soothing.  The peppermint oil in the candy just seems to open up the sinuses and soothe the throat as well.

Super Surveys

I have come across several survey companies that are just fantastic.  You can get checks, debit cards (Visa, etc.), and a lot more.  If you want to make a little extra money or get free products to try, then check these out.


American Consumer Opinion Panel:  They don't send surveys every day like some, but their surveys pay between $4.00 and $8.00 each.  On occasion, you might get a focus group survey or product trial that pays much more.  You can get a check or get paid through Pay Pal. 


Clear Voice Surveys:  They send surveys several times a week and when your earnings reach $10.00, you can cash out.  You can request a check, amazon.com gift codes, magazine subscriptions from e-magazine and dining dough restaurant gift certificates.  Their surveys generally pay about $2.00 to $20.00 (rare).  If you don't qualify for the survey, they will give you a small reward of $.10.


Global Test Market:  I have done so many surveys from them, and they send surveys daily, so you have many opportunities there. They have a point system and surveys range from 15 points to 100 points.  When you reach 1000 points($50.00), you can cash out.  They will send you a check, but it takes a very long time (usually about 2 months or so).


Harris Poll Online:  They don't send a lot of surveys, but they have good surveys.  Once again, they use a point system.  Most of the surveys range from 40 to 100 points.  When you reach 1000 points, you can redeem for gift cards, merchandise, etc.

Ipsos I-Say:  They average sending you surveys every 2-3 days.  They are on a points system and their surveys average 40 to 90 points per survey.  You can redeem your points when you reach 1000 points.  Their rewards are American Express gift cards, amazon.com gift codes, and also a check.  They have a poll predictor also where you answer their polling question by guessing the percentage and the closer you are to the right percentage, the higher the points that you can use toward a drawing for numerous rewards.

Mindfield Online:  You get surveys several times a week and they range from $1.00 to $20.00 (rare but there).  You can cash out at $5.00 and you have several ways to get your money.  you can request a check, get an amazon.com gift code, have the money put into your Pay Pal, etc.


My Survey.com:  They merged with Lightspeed panel and are a great survey company.  You can redeem your points for cash, e-certificates, debit cards and so much more.You can even donate to charity.  When you reach 1100 points, you can get $10.00 added to your Pay Pal account.


Opinion Outpost:  This is my very favorite survey company and more than likely, you will love them too.  They go by points and each point is $0.10; their surveys usually range between 20 points and 100 points.  You can cash out with as little as $5.00.  There are many ways that you can get compensated; you can request a check, get an amazon gift code, they have gift cards from Restaurants.com, you can get a game ID code from Alawar Games or get a Citi Visa.  Your Visa can remain a virtual card (You have no fees with this one),or you can request plastic (with these, you might have a fee upon paying and you have a fee if you use an ATM).

I really hope this helps some of you.  They have really helped me.

Happy hunting,

Sherri

It's Been a While

After many tests, surgeries, etc. they have found that I have fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis (IC) and chronic fatigue syndrome.  It has been really hard the last few years with all that has been going on.  I have pain everywhere (not an exaggeration).  I am on two different pain medications and also Lyrica, which is made specifically for fibromyalgia.  On occasion, getting more and more frequent, I have had to walk with a cane because of the pain and I do get a little unsteady at times.  


I am so thankful that the Lord has brought me through this and helped me have the strength I need to get through this.  So many people ask "why me?", but I say "why not me".  I would not wish this off on my worst enemy (if I had one), it is a terrible thing.  Sometimes things happen that we don't understand; I have sometimes seen several years later why a certain series of events happened.  The Lord always has a purpose, even though we don't often know why.


I will continue to post and keep up on Faithfully.  It has been a long time and I know some of you have wondered what happened; so, I decided to get up to date.  I will continue to post recipes, helpful hints, etc.  Be patient with me, as I won't be able to post everyday.  I will keep up as much as I can and even add a few new things.  Thank you so much for being faithful.


In His Love,


Sherri

I am still having problems with the bladder and will be having numerous tests done to determine what is wrong. I have, however, in my recovery time, been able to sew, write, and numerous other enjoyable hobbies that I never had time for.

I will not be posting anything new from here on. I have enjoyed it, but it has become too time consuming with all the content. The site will stay posted as is so that you may go through the archives and browse around.

Thanks to all of you who sent in comments, recipes, prayer requests, etc. I appreciated the feedback and concern for those who needed prayer.

May The Lord richly bless you and yours in all that you do.

In His Love,

Sherri

I had a very lengthy surgery (3 hours) and they had a lot of work to do. The bowel had become looped around the thin fat layer in the abdomen and was basically herniated. There were a lot of adhesions that they were able to remove and they were able to do the surgery through a scope, rather than open me up.

They did find some white spots in the abdominal region that they took a biopsy of (they called in a gynecologist and they appear to be endometriosis), we will have the results of the biopsy early in the week on the 24th at least.

I had to stay in the hospital longer than I expected due to my bladder not wanting to function correctly (there is urine retention and a lot of pain). I had to come home with a catheter and will have a fill and void test on the 26th to hopefully find out what is going on. This is the initial diagnostic test, if it isn't conclusive, I will have to undergo more tests to determine what is wrong.

I still have quite a bit of pain from the surgery, but my worst problem right now, is the bladder. I hope everything will be back to normal very soon. The Lord is faithful and true and has brought me through a lot. There is nothing that He cannot do and I have faith that everything will be fine. We go through periods of difficulty in our lives and although they are sometimes challenging, they make us stronger. I could spend hours telling you how the Lord has blessed us, watched over us, healed us and strengthened us.

I will give you updates as I am able (it is very difficult to sit down to post even this much) and hopefully within three weeks or so, I will be able to resume posting the site in its entirety.

God bless you and yours,

Sherri

Well, today is the day. I have my surgery at 2:30 this afternoon, so hopefully, the doctor can take care of all these nasty adhesions (scar tissue) that are tying things together.

I don't really know how long the recovery will be. The doctor wants to try a less invasive procedure first and if things are too bad, then he will have to "open me up". I'm hoping for the less invasive procedure, there is less pain and less recovery time. If I end up having to have the other surgery, I will not only be in the hospital for a few days, but will have a few weeks recovery time at home.

I have tried to put a little extra content in today, as I don't know when I will be able to resume my daily postings. Please check back often and peruse the archives; there is a lot of content that you might enjoy reading.

Thank you all for your prayers and continued support through this, I really appreciate it. Take care and God bless you.

Sherri

Computer Virus Humor

AIRLINE LUGGAGE VIRUS - You're in Dallas, but your data is in Singapore.

AL GORE VIRUS - Claims that it is the Internet. Causes your computer to just keep counting and re-counting.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER VIRUS v 1.0 - It terminates and stays resident. It'll be back!

COUCH POTATO VIRUS - Just sits there, eating chips all day.

DISNEY VIRUS - Everything in the computer goes Goofy.

ELLEN DEGENERES VIRUS v 1.0 - Your IBM suddenly claims it's a MAC.

HEALTH CARE VIRUS - Tests your system for a day, finds nothing wrong, and sends you a bill for $4,500.

MARTHA STEWART VIRUS - Takes all your files, sorts them by category and folds them into cute little doilies to be displayed on your desktop.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN (NOW) VIRUS - Forces your PC to recognize its female connections as male connections.

NIKE VIRUS - Just does it.

POLITICALLY CORRECT VIRUS v 1.0 - Never calls itself a "virus," but instead refers to itself as an "electronic microorganism."

QUANTUM LIAP VIRUS - One day your PC is a laptop, the next day it is a Macintosh, then a Nintendo.

SHARON STONE VIRUS - Makes a huge initial impact, then you forget it's there.

STAR TREK VIRUS - Invades your system in places where no virus has gone before.

TIM ALLEN VIRUS - Appears helpful, only to destroy your hard drive upon contact.

TOBACCO INDUSTRY VIRUS - It contends that there is no reliable scientific evidence that viruses can harm you computer or that it targets adolescent computer users.

X-FILES VIRUS - All your icons start shape-shifting.

Listed below are some older, lessor known viruses that still pose a threat:

DAN QUAYLE VIRUS v 1.0 - Thers sumthin rong wit yur kompueter, butt ewe jsut cant figyour out watt.

LEONA HELMSLEY VIRUS - Deletes files smaller than it is.

ROSS PEROT VIRUS v 1.0 - Runs for awhile, leaves the system, then re-appears, but with less effect.

ROSS PEROT VIRUS v 2.0 - Activates every component in your system, just before the whole thing quits.

ROSS PEROT VIRUS v 3.0 - After several years, the damage caused by this little virus is still unclear. It often displays impressive graphics which have little relevance to the users interests or needs.

WATERGATE VIRUS - Erases 18 minutes off your tape backup.

WILLIAM KENNEDY SMITH VIRUS - It strips your files, manipulates your data
and denies anything ever happened; and gets away with it

Courtesy of Bored.com Humor Site

Sherri's Poetry

The Lord is there for us at every moment. He is there to rejoice with us in our good times and He is there to comfort us during our stressful times. He is always faithful and true; just trust Him.





Trust Him

There are many people who have no future;
They put their faith in what money can buy.
Success is measured by their many possessions;
The life they live is a tragic lie.

Christian parents were not there to influence them.
No one taught them of Your love.
When everything goes wrong, they have nowhere to turn;
Their problems they cannot rise above.

If only someone could teach them to pray;
To ask for Your forgiveness and love,
They would call upon Your name in their time of crisis,
Praying to their Father above.

Your love is the most precious gift that we have;
We could never ask for anything more.
It is unconditional and will be forever true.
There will be many rich blessings in store.

Interesting Signs Found

On a Scientist's door: Gone Fission

On a Tennessee highway: Take notice: when this sign is under water, this road is impassable.

On an established New Mexico dry cleaning store: Thirty-eight years on the same spot.

On an United Airlines emergency exit row instruction card: If you cannot read this card...

On another Butcher's window: Pleased to meat you.

On the door of a Computer Store: Out for a quick byte.

On the door of a Music Library: Bach in a min-u-et.

On the grounds of a private school in Connecticut: No trespassing without permission.

On the menu of a New Orleans restaurant: Blackened bluefish

On the wall of a Baltimore estate: Trespassers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. - Sisters of Mercy

Outside a country shop in West Virginia: We buy junk and sell antiques.

Outside a disco: Smarts is the most exclusive disco in town. Everyone welcome.

Outside a farm: Horse manure, pre-packed bags, $10. Or, do-it-yourself, $1.

Outside a Hotel: Help! We need inn-experienced people.

Outside a muffler shop: No appointment necessary. We heard you coming.

Outside a photographer’s studio: Out to lunch; if not back by five, out for dinner.

Outside a second-hand store: We exchange anything - bicycles, washing machines etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain.

Quicksand warning: Quicksand. Any person passing this point will be drowned. By order of the District Council.

Seen during a conference: For anyone who has children and doesn't know it, there is a day care on the first floor.

Sign at the psychic's Hotline: Don't call us, we'll call you.

This was seen on a car being towed by a large motor home: I go where I'm towed to.

On a roller coaster: Watch your head.

Sherri's Helpful Hints

Gardening Tips

Making Compost

A compost pile can be started in sun or shade at any time of the year. Good ingredients include leaves, hay, grass clippings, tree trimmings, food scraps, bark, sawdust, rice hulls, weeds, nut hulls and animal manure. Mix the ingredients together in a container of wood, hay bales, hog wire, concrete blocks or simply pile the material on the ground. The best mixture is 75-80% vegetative matter and 20-25% animal waste, although any mix will compost. The ingredients should be a mix of coarse and fine-textured material. Avoid having all the pieces of material the same size since the variety of sizes will help air to move through the pile. Oxygen is a critical ingredient. Turn the pile at least once a month; more often speeds up the process. Keep the pile moist, roughly the moisture of a squeezed-out sponge, to help the living microorganisms thrive and work their magic. Compost is ready to use when the ingredients are no longer identifiable. The color will be dark brown, the texture soft and crumbly and the aroma that of a forest floor. Use compost in all bed preparation and as a high quality mulch around annuals and perennials.

Mulch

The best mulch for any site anywhere is recycles plant material (leaves, twigs, spent plants, buds, bark, flowers and other plant debris) that grew on your property. That's the natural way it is done in the forest and on the prairie. The second best choice is purchased shredded native cedar. Third in line is shredded hardwood bark. Then there is a group in the middle that includes cypress which is not high on my list because it does break down well. We want the mulch to break down. That's what creates the true natural food for feeding microbes and plant roots. Pine needles make a good mulch but look a little out of place when use on property where no pines are growing. Lava gravel makes a good mulch and has the extra benefit of keeping squirrels and cats out. Looking more harsh than organic mulches and not breaking down into humus are the negative points. I'm not at all a fan of shredded rubber products, dyed wood or pine bark. It's interesting that the most popular mulch material, pine bark, is not very
good. First, it won't stay in place - washes and blows away. What does stay breaks down into a mucky material that does help plant growth.

Nature doesn't allow bare soil and neither should we. For shrubs, trees and ground covers use at least 1" of compost and 3" of shredded native tree trimmings or shredded hardwood bark. Mulch vegetable gardens with 8" of partially completed compost or alfalfa hay. Mulch preserves moisture, eliminates weeds and keeps the soil surface cooler which benefits earthworms, microorganisms and plant roots.

Mosquito Control Recommendations

Mosquitoes can be controlled and it doesn't have to be dangerous. The effective and non-toxic site management program for mosquito control that I recommend is as follows:

1. Empty standing water where possible. Even small containers such as pot saucers, old tires, soda bottles and cans hold enough water for mosquito breeding.

2. Treat water that cannot be emptied with gambusia fish or (Bti - Bacillus thuringiensis ‘Israelensis’) products such as Bactimos Briquettes or Mosquito Dunks.

3. Homeowners can spray to kill adult mosquitoes with plant oil pesticides such as Bioganics and Eco-EXEMPT. Garlic sprays work well to repel the insects for up to 30 days. Even better, broadcast dry minced garlic to the site at 2 - 5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. Dr. T’s Mosquito Repellent is another good dry product.

4. Use organic landscape management to encourage birds, bats, fish, dragonflies and other beneficial insects.

5. Use skin repellents that contain natural repellent herbs such as aloe vera, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, lavender, vanilla, citronella and other helpful herbs. The Center for Disease Control now recommends lemon eucalyptus. DEET products should not be used, especially on children – as is stated on the label.

Nature's Weed Controls

A tip for gardeners especially in the orchard is to grow fescue and rye. Grow one crop only and kill it back with the vinegar herbicide mix. These cool season grasses give off their own allelopathic “herbicides” without hurting the crops. Michigan State has worked with rotations of ryegrass and sorghum for weed control in the vegetable g garden. Vinegar herbicide again is used to kill it down before the vegetable planting. Rye helps greatly with early season ragweed and common lambsquarters.

Courtesy of The Dirt Doctor

Christian Quote of the Day

What is said in the passage [James 2:14 ff.] is like a two coupon train or bus ticket. One coupon says, "Not good if detached" and the other says, "Not good for passage". Works are not good for passage; but faith detached from works is not saving faith.

...Charles C. Ryrie

RECIPE of the Day - 7/17/2007

This is definitely the time of year to grill and this is a great recipe to use. It has the most wonderful pineapple flavor that is complemented by the brown sugar, soy sauce and Worcestershire. This is sure to be a hit at your next barbeque.

Grilled Hawaiian Chicken

6 chicken breasts, boneless
2 cups pineapple juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 ounces soy sauce (regular or low sodium)
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Combine all ingredients except chicken and stir. Poke about 5-8 sets of holes in each chicken breast. Put chicken in marinade, making sure it is covered in the mixture. Add more pineapple juice if necessary. Cover tightly, and refrigerate for 24-36 hours. Grill when desired

FREEBIES of the Day - 7/17/07

Adora Chocolate Calcium Supplement sample. Adora provides an opportunity to receive the much needed calcium that most women lack in their typical diet, as well as vitamins D and K. Vitamins D and K play an important role in the body's ability to absorb and utilize calcium. Adora has a unique formulation of these vitamins, along with 400 mg of elemental calcium and gourmet chocolate (that makes you forget you're taking a supplement). To get your free sample of this important and delicious supplement, click here!

Opti-Free Replenish sample. If you wear contacts, you use a lot of the disinfecting solutions (and they aren't exactly inexpensive). This is a multi-purpose disinfecting solution that is specially designed to recondition your silicone hydrogel and other soft contact lenses so that your eyes feel fresh and moist throughout the day. To get your free contact lens solution, click here!

Colbie Caillat 3-song CD. I'll admit that I wasn't familiar with her music, but when you click on the link, you can see one of her music videos. She has a country/folksy sound and isn't half bad actually. To get a free 3-song CD, click here!

Clarins One-To-One Facial. This is a printable gift certificate that entitles you to a complimentary One-To-One Facial Treatment at Clarins Skin Care Center. A free facial is definitely worth the trip. To get your gift certificate for a free facial, click here!

Folger's Gourmet Selections Coffee sample. They have 3 to choose from: Morning Cafe, Lively Colombian and Vanilla Biscotti. To get a free sample of gourmet coffee from Folger's, click here!

Backpack, Ruler/Calculator or Insulated Lunch Bag from Singulair. When you sign up for more information, they will send your choice of free gifts. Singulair is a great product for those with asthma; I know a couple of people who use it and it works quite well for them. If you or someone you know has asthma, click here!

Gold's Gym 2 week free VIP Membership. This is a printable coupon/pass. You will have access to their Pilates and Spin classes, group exercise, and the latest cardio and strength training machines. This is a great deal, they have so much to offer and 2 weeks gives you time to start getting back in shape or just maintaining. To get your free pass, click here!

24 Hour Fitness free 7 day pass. They have over 370 locations, lots of amenities and free exercise classes. You can test drive the equipment, classes, etc. to see if it's for you. This isn't a bad deal at any rate to get 7 free days of fitness. To register for your free 7-day guest pass, click here!

Wendy's Hamburger for free in select cities. You can get a list of the cities and dates that you will need to be able to take advantage of this offer. The free burger times go from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To find out where you can get a free Wendy's burger, click here!

Stopain Spray sample. This is without a doubt the best pain spray my husband or I have ever tried. It works in 30 seconds and keeps the pain at bay for hours. I will keep this posted until the sample is no longer available; everyone who has pain needs to have the opportunity to try this. To get your free sample of Stopain, click here!

Carolee's Creations Scrapbooking Ideas book. This is a very popular pasttime now and there are so many innovative and creative things you can do with your pictures and memorabilia. To get your free idea book, click here!

Kids Against Global Warming bumper sticker and pencils. Help to raise awareness of the global warming issue with these freebies when you become a member. To get your freebies and raise awareness for an important cause, click here!

AOL free personalized e-mail address. They are the first free e-mail provider to let you create your entire personalized e-mail address from scratch - not just the part before the @. You can set it up for you, your friends, family or business. To get your free personalized e-mail and get the address you really want, click here!

Free 411 calls. This is a link to a few different companies, including Google; some are ad-based and some are ad-free. The price of 411 calls is outrageous, this helps so much when you need to get a phone # quickly and easily (plus, they connect you for free). To get your free 411 service, click here!

Sam's Club 1-Day Pass. This is an opportunity to go shopping at Sam's and get some great deals. The pass is good for 1 day only and there is a 10% fee on your purchases for non-members (you still save quite a bit, even with the charge). They have just about everything you could want in 1 store. To get your free pass to Sam's, click here!

3-D Papercraft projects to download for free. They have some very detailed beautiful papercrafts to make with your children - these are so cool. To get your free downloads and make some magnificent masterpieces, click here!

TGI Friday's free appetizer coupon. They have some really great appetizers, so while you're there, you might as well take advantage of the coupon and get something extra. To get your printable coupon for a free appetizer, click here!

Target and Super Target printable coupons. They have a lot of useful coupons for your next trip to Target. To get your coupons, click here!

Factory Tours USA. They have different factories and points of interest for every state and most of them are free. You just click on your state or any place that you will be visiting to get all the available tours. To visit some really interesting places for free, click here!

AMC Theaters free movies. This is their Summer Movie Camp and it runs from 6-27 to 8-15. The free movies start at 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday and you even have a special price for a KidsPack refreshment which includes: one small drink, one small popcorn and a kid's size snack. To get more info on the free movies, click here!

Free concerts in Detroit. These free concerts are every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. starting 6-29 and ending 8-10. They have some great artists: Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Asia, 38 Special and more. To get a listing of the artists and dates, click here!

Birthday freebies. This has dozens of birthday freebie sites; everything from Baskin Robbins to Hollywood Video to Shoneys and much more. To get some cool birthday freebies for you and your whole family, click here!

Free prescription savings card from TogetherRx. Prescription drugs are so costly anymore, that we could all use a little extra help to keep the cost down. They have 4 requirements: legal resident of the US, not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, income less than $30,000 for a single person and no other prescription drug coverage of any kind. To get this great deal, click here!

Software giveaway of the day - Features a different title every day. These are about $20.00 regular price, so what a deal!. For your free software, click here!

Game giveaway of the day - Features a different game every day. They have arcade, puzzle and action games. For your free game, click here!

Free 10 minute calling card from Callingcards.com. This is a global calling card - you can call anywhere - and there are no strings attached. They will e-mail you with the pin # and info and you're ready to start making calls. To get your free 10 minute calling card, click here!

Free phone number and voice mail from Private Phone. This is through Net Zero and is the greatest thing. You can have a phone number to give out for freebies, sweepstakes entries and to people that you don't want to have your actual phone number. They will get your voice mail (you record your own greeting) and you can check messages online or by calling the number. I have this and it is a real lifesaver. They send you e-mail or mobile phone notifications of messages that you get, so you know right away. To get this great deal, click here!

Free Online Language Courses from the BBC. This is a great opportunity to learn another language (or two or three...) and do it at your own pace. They give you correct pronunciation, helpful phrases, etc. I don't know of anyone who couldn't use this - I want to teach our daughter French, so this may be just the way to do it. To get your free online language courses, click here!

Interesting Signs Found

These signs were really posted at different businesses or other locations.

At a car dealership: The best way to get back on your feet? Miss a car payment.

At A Laundry Shop: How about we refund your money, send you a new one at no charge, close the store and have the manager shot. Would that be satisfactory?

At a pizza shop: 7 days without pizza makes one weak.

At an optometrist's office: If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

At the electric company: We would be delighted if you send in your bill. However, if you don't, you will be.

Billboard on the side of the road: Keep your eyes on the road and stop reading these signs.

In a farmer’s field: The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but be aware that the bull charges.

In a health food shop window: Closed due to illness.

In a Maine restaurant: Open seven days a week and weekends.

In a New York restaurant: Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager.

In a non-smoking area: If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.

In a Pennsylvania cemetery: Persons are prohibited from picking flowers from any but their own graves.

In the front yard of a funeral home: Drive carefully. We’ll wait.

Maternity Clothes Shop: We are open on Labor Day.

On a desk in a reception room: We shoot every 3rd salesman, and the 2nd one just left.

On a fence: Salesmen welcome. Dog food is expensive.

On a maternity room door: Push. Push. Push.

On a plumber's truck: We repair what your husband fixed.

On a repair shop door: We can repair anything. (Please knock hard — bell out of order.)

On a restaurant: Try our fish just for the halibut.

Sherri's Helpful Hints

Outdoor Safety for your Children

Sun

Keep a baby under a year old out of the hot summer sun altogether, if you can. Dress him or her in lightweight, light-colored clothing and, always, a hat. If you're pushing your baby in a stroller, check often to be sure sun isn't shining directly on his or her face.

Don't use a sunscreen with an SPF of 4 or more on a baby under 6 months old. Tender skin may absorb the chemical involved and be unable to eliminate it.

Do use a sunscreen with a higher SPF on a child, but be aware that anything over 15 may simply be overkill. You may find the ones that come in stick form convenient to use. If in a spray container, spray it on your hands and then apply it to children's exposed skin. Avoid putting it on children's hands as they often end up in the mouth.

Use zinc oxide if you wish. It offers complete protection for delicate areas such as nose, cheeks and shoulders. And kids love it! It even comes in bright colors today.

Use protection on overcast days too. As much as 80 percent of the sun's radiation reaches the ground, even through clouds.

Be aware that while a T-shirt will afford some protection (usually SPF 5) for back and shoulders when dry, once wet, it will only intensify the sun's rays.

Watch your child for signs of heatstroke, if you're out for a long time in hot weather. Most common symptoms are irritability, drowsiness and headache. Get the child into the shade immediately and give cool liquids - water or fruit juice, but nothing with caffeine, because it can lead to dehydration.

Plants in the Wild

Stress the importance of never tasting anything growing in the woods, not leaves, not twigs, not berries, not mushrooms.

Learn what poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac look like and show your child samples or pictures of all three. Teach the old adage, "Leaflets three, let it be", regarding poison ivy and oak and show our child the familiar sumac shrub or tree, especially recognizable in late summer and fall because of its red leaves. Explain that just touching these plants can make the skin itch and the mouth burn.

Should your child develop a rash after contact with a poisonous plant, wash the area with soap and water, apply ice or a cool, wet towel and use calamine or a similar lotion to stop the itch.

Bites and Stings

Watch your child for signs of allergic reactions, especially to bee stings. These may include severe itching, nausea, and, more rarely, breathing difficulties and swelling of the throat and tongue. Cover the sting area with a cold, wet cloth to relieve pain, and get your child to an emergency room as quickly as possible. If you know your child is allergic to the stings of bees or other insects, get a medical ID tag for him or her and carry a sting kit.

Choose any commercial insect repellent you use carefully and follow instructions. Avoid the ingredient DEET (diethyltoluamide) or at least avoid repellents with more than 15% DEET because it sometimes causes toxic reactions in children when it is absorbed through the skin. Consider applying such a repellent to your child's clothing. Should your child have a reaction to a repellent, wash the skin with soap and water and call your poison control center or your doctor. Save the container so you'll know the ingredients.

Protect your child with light-colored clothing,long sleeves, long pants and a hat, when he or she will be exposed to mosquitoes or other stinging insects. Discourage the use of perfumes or sweet-smelling lotions by all who will be in your party, and be aware that human beings who are consuming apple juice and other such sweet foods are attractive to insects.

Ease the itch and pain of bites by applying plain white vinegar, alcohol, calamine or another appropriate lotion or cream. Or rub bites with a bar of wet soap or a bit of the liquid from an aloe plant leaf. Amazingly, a paste of meat tenderizer seems to work on some children as does a paste of baking soda.

From "A Parent's Guide to Child Safety"

Christian Quote of the Day

It is only by forgetting yourself that you can draw near to God.

...Henry Davi

RECIPE of the Day - 7/16/2007

This is one serious chocolate cookie. My husband and daughter love chocolate, so they really love these. Be sure to make a couple of batches because they disappear very quickly.


Death by Chocolate Cookies
Recipe by Daisy King

2 (12 ounce) packages semisweet baking chocolate, divided
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Coarsely chop 8 squares of the chocolate; set aside.

Microwave remaining 8 squares of chocolate in large glass bowl on HIGH for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla extract. Stir in flour and baking powder. Mix in reserved chopped chocolate and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoonsful onto ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are puffed and feel set to the touch. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen cookies