Fugitive Beach, Rolla, MO

this opened in May. just learned about it the other day. liked the facebook page....a young boy drowned here so they have changed the rules....under 8 must wear life jacket....can't bring alcohol onto premises. Katie is excited about checking it out....and I want to take pictures there!

The old Knorpp Plantation. DeSoto, MO

Located off of Vineland And Knorpp Roads, near the railroad tracks. You must walk about a quarter mile down the driveway, past two old barns and an old silo to reach the house.

http://kurukodark.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/knoorp-house-desoto-mo/

iron and lace pottery

a facebook friend commented on one of my (many!) queen annes lace pictures.....that there was a place that made pottery with actual queen annes lace. googled it and I want to go!

Queen Anne's Lace is a wild flower that grows naturally around Bentonsport in fields and along roadways. Bill and Betty have a large field of these flowers in their garden area. Every year they pick the flowers and dry them. Betty uses a different flower on each piece of pottery, creating a unique pattern on every one. As a potter for over 30 years, Betty Printy created this copyrighted style of pottery using the Queen Anne's Lace wild flower. Each piece has its own flower pressed into the clay. In firing, the flower burns away, leaving the unique impression of that blossom. Production is limited to the availability of the flowers. These stoneware pottery pieces are original works of art to collect and enjoy. Intended for daily use, they are safe for ovens, microwaves, and dishwashers. Stoneware and glazes are food safe and non-toxic.

IRON & LACE

Bentonsport, Van Buren County, Iowa (319) 592-3222

Open April to November from 10AM to 5PM, 6 Days a week

CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS

Open on Weekends only in November and December until Christmas

Open by appointment from December to April

google says its about 2 hours away.

there is now a talking bear in the Chillicothe Park....

a facebook friend says some dead trees were removed, and the stumps are being carved. this bear was the first, added in June. several more to follow. have to check this out up close and personal.....(already saw it from the car on the way to the movies a while back....)

homemade laminate floor cleaner!

Homemade Natural Floor Cleaner

A natural, non-toxic homemade floor cleaner that cleans more than just floors! Just 4 simple ingredients is all it takes to clean almost any surface in your home.

Ingredients

1 cup water

1 cup vinegar

1 cup rubbing alcohol

2-3 drops dish soap (Castile, Dawn, etc.)

5 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops orange essential oil

3 drops tea tree essential oil

Fine-mist spray bottle - 24oz

Instructions

Add all ingredients to spray bottle and shake to combine.

Sweep/vacuum the floor.

Spray cleaner on the floor (or other surface).

Wipe up with a microfiber cloth.

Notes

As with all cleaners, please do a spot test to make sure this will work on your floors!

For a mop and bucket version, try this: For a gallon of water, you could try 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/3 cup of alcohol, plus a few drops of dish soap.

do I have Southern Fried Bigfoot?

if not.....get it....AND WATCH IT!

I need to get back to the 70s, to disco, to being able to roller skate.

and, coincidentally, I have a basement that could double as a roller rink! all I need is a few minutes on amazon.com.....

just ordered roller skates, a disco cd, a greatest hits of the 70s cd.....stay tuned!

When you're freezing your ground meat - throw it in a Ziplock bag then gently score it with a chopstick or another flat utensil. You'll be able to break off pieces without defrosting the whole thing. This also works well with thick sauces

homemade spray cleaner

as much cleaner as I go through.....will have to try this!

Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup water

In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.

In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.

For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot.

Spray shower walls with the warmed generously, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.

aunt mary had written that she was going to make glittery snowflakes from queen annes lace and a garland from sweet gum balls.....

so did a google search for directions....saved to favorites.....these are things I can do! would make an awesome wreath with a glittery xmas bow!

spray paint, glitter, spray glue adhesive, embroidery thread, needle, gold cord, queen annes lace heads, and sweet gum balls.....I am excited!

if I ever have a granddaughter.....

if I ever make it back to NOLA....

I have to walk past the corner of Bourbon and St Peters to get on the earthcam. don't know if we walked thru that area before, because we got pretty grossed out by daytime Bourbon Street and felt immensely guilty parading our teenage daughter thru there.....

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/louisiana/neworleans/bourbonstreet/?cam=bourbonstreet

more uses for pallet wood! (would look nice painted as well).