Another Hint

There are lots of uses for used and unused dryer sheets, including removing nail polish. My favorite is tucking them in shoes when you first take them off. They will soak up moisture and help eliminate odor.

A Gift Wrapping Hint

If you end up with small pieces of ribbon, put them together and shred and/or curl all together to make a really unique package decoration.  I have mixed all kinds, but then I never throw anything away.

Leftover Nachos

If you have leftover nachos (and who doesn’t; you always get so much), save them for a great, easy breakfast.  Make one or more poached egg(s); heat up the nachos and put the egg(s) on top.  Top off with a little taco sauce and you have huevos rancheros…yum!

Indoor Plant Tip

Save your water from steaming vegetables and/or cooking pasta.  There are lots of nutrients in that water that plants love.  Also, cut back on watering in the winter; they don’t need as much.

Another Hint About Samples

When you get the paper perfume samples, open them up and put them in your underwear or sock drawer or linen closet.

Another Hint

When you get those little cosmetic and bath/spa product samples, throw them in your travel bag.  Then when you go on a trip, you have all these fun surprises that make the trip even more special.  And who knows, you might find a product you can’t live without!

Seasonal Hint of the Day

If you have a bow whose loops have been scrunched, just take a heated curling iron to the creases and it will fluff the loops out.  Don’t hold it too long on the loops or the ribbon will melt.

Hint of the Day

Rotary cutters are your friend if you craft at all.  But have at least 2 on hand (I have at least a dozen); one for paper and one for fabric; just like scissors.  You can find your paper one at garage sales or in clearance bins. Just make sure and label them with a P-touch, one of my other favorite tools.

I Am Sinatra and This is My Day

It’s time to get up and get going.  My job is to scratch the top of the blanket and see if anyone stirs.  Then hopefully someone will make me a cave.  Usually, RJ does it because he gets up earliest.  I like the 3 pillow caves the best.   You see if RJ stacks 3 pillows and puts the blankets over the top, I can craw in without being smothered.  But since RJ is up, the cave will have to wait.  First, I go in the bathroom with RJ because he pets me while he is sitting on the toilet.  I go in circles around the toilet until I get distracted by the cupboard.  I am close to opening it by myself but not quite.  Which shelf of towels should I sit on?  Wait, he’s getting up.  I need to make my mad dash for the shower.  I go into the shower and layer on the shower bench.  RJ pets me there for a good 5 minutes or until the bench is covered with fur.  I am talking and purring the whole time.  The purring echos very loudly.  Oh, oh, he’s reaching for the water.  Out I go.  Back to the bed and into my cave.  This only lasts for a while because Juanita starts stirring; couldn’t be I am tickling her with my fur.  Out I pop like a hotdog out of bun.  Next, I have to give my bear a massage, “in goes the good air, out goes the bad air.”  It’s alot easier to give resuscitation now that Juanita has moved the bear from the bed to the table.

In goes the good air; out goes the bad air.

Done with the bear, I move to my viewing location on top of the curtain valance.  Takes an act similar to the triple jump, from the floor, to the perch and then to the valance.  Not sure how Juanita knew to make a valance with a 3-inch wide trim for me to sit on, but it works and I thank her for it.  I sit here quite a while; is she ever getting up?  NO ONE can reach me including that big, white dog.

My favorite lookout spot.

It’s time for me to get down.  Question, do I take the casual, hip hop jump in reverse from how I got up there or do I take a dive and land on Juanita while she’s sleeping? Juanita, it is.

Phew, I’ve worked up an appetite.  Crunch, crunch, crunch.  Now for a little drink.  The cat water fountain is not good enough.  I want the fresh water from the tub.  I don’t care if it does cool off the bath water RJ ran for Juanita.  I want my water fresh.

What's Black Bart doing with my water?

What a staff meeting again?  What’s up with these human to cat discussions, something about peeing on the rug.  It wasn’t me, I swear.

Back to the bear for another massage.  Finally, Juanita is up.  On to the dresser so she can pet me, now to the laundry room so she can pet me.  Into the kitchen so she can pet me.  Another drink in the kitchen sink.  But wait, we’ve passed by the treat station.  Must get a treat; Temptations are the best and only treats as far as I’m concerned.  Even though Juanita gives me a pile at my usual station, I want some on the couch and a few more on the end table.  Don’t forget to pet me between stations.

Oh man, I almost missed the pipe cleaner on the floor.  It is my favorite toy.  I found a stash of them in Juanita’s craft room, all colors.  Juanita’s Mom, otherwise known as Grandma, brought me my own package.  She gives me treats, too.  I think I like her.  I didn’t mean to bite her while she was petting me, but she quit before I was ready.  She seems to favor the big white dog anyway; at least she brings him SPECIAL treats.  How about a little cat nip for me; I’m just saying.

I think it is time for my nap.  Look what I found in Juanita’s craft room.

Pole Dancing is Next

See you in a few hours.  When you look this cute, you need plenty of beauty sleep.

And I Digress

I am going to leave the history of our winery for a minute to catch you up on some of the changes that have been made to the winery.  The primary changes are the dog run (We think we will be the only winery in Willamette Valley with a dog run.) and a new concrete floor in the barrel room.  This leveled out 3/5ths of the flooring making easier to maneuver for processing and giving us much-needed covered event space.  The dog run is just in time for Canines and Uncorked on July 30.  Come and see our changes and bring your dog.

Dog Run in Progress

Barrel Room Floor