Brighten up your winter
Did you move some furniture to accommodate the Christmas tree? After taking the tree down, you might like to try rearranging the furniture rather than putting things back as they were before. After all, the New Year is a time for starting anew, of new beginnings and for making changes.
A new placement of furniture can perk up our spirits in the middle of winter. As a bonus, the end result may be more functional or more pleasing to the eye than the previous arrangement.
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A useful tool is graph paper. Moving pieces of paper is easier than moving heavy pieces of furniture. Draw the length and width of the room. Cut out pieces of graph paper in scale to the size of the pieces of furniture. Move around to obtain a satisfactory arrangement.
There are several factors to consider when arranging furniture:
- Grouping furniture gives a less scattered and a more organized look. Group according to use. For conversation, group a sofa and chairs in one area. Experiment by bringing some pieces of furniture out and away from walls. It offers more arrangement possibilities and eases grouping. Every piece of furniture does not need to be lined up against a wall.
- Traffic paths should not go through work or conversation areas.
- Large furniture such as a piano or sofa will take less space and be more pleasing to the eye if not placed on an angle, across a corner.
- The shape of a room can appear to be altered by furniture placement. For example, the tunnel look of a long, narrow room can be cleverly broken up by placing a sofa or love seat at right angles to the wall, dividing the room into two areas. A conversation area at one end of the room will then be a cozier area where everyone can hear and see one another.
- A stereo, TV or musical instrument such as a piano is best placed on a hard surfaced wall, such as a painted wall, and facing a soft surfaced wall, such as curtains or textured wallpaper. The sound will be projected but not allowed to bounce all about the room.
Removing odors
Thanks H.N. of Killam, Alta. for the following information on removing odors, as requested by L.R. of Smeaton, Sask. and A.F. of Wolesley, Sask. in the Dec. 5 column.
- To remove mothball odor from a wooden trunk: In winter, suspend open trunk upside down on some supports, outside. After a month, bring inside to check for smell. If result fails, repeat the procedure.
Another way is to get some cedar shavings from a pet shop. Make a bag from cheesecloth, or use a mesh onion bag, and fill with shavings. Leave inside the trunk for about a month with the lid closed. The wood will absorb the cedar scent. Six to 10 strips of Bounce will also work.
- To remove odor from magazines: Use the same procedure as with the trunk. Place the magazines in a mesh onion bag and hang outside. Putting them in a box with cedar shavings or a bar of nice smelling soap or Bounce and closing the lid for three to four weeks may be better than exposing them to outside elements.
- Smelly jars: Place the jars in a sink. Fill the sink with hot water and add about 1Ú3 cup (75 mL) of vinegar or Javex. Leave overnight. Another way is to run the jars through the dishwasher cycle with the detergent and add 1/3 cup (75 mL) of vinegar to the last rinse cycle. Do not store jars with old rubber rings on the lid.
Babies and air bags
As a grandma to two little boys and a new baby girl, I need to be reminded of the dangers of children and air bags. It is not OK to put children in the front seat for a short drive across town, even at slow speeds. The news has reported terrible incidents and car manufacturers give us warnings.
If your car has a passenger-side air bag and you have a baby under 20 pounds, watch out. That is the advice given by the Saskatchewan Safety Council.
When a baby is in the front seat, the back of their rear-facing safety seat (car seat) will be located close to the dashboard, where the air bag is housed. In any head-on collision over 20 kilometres per hour, the air bag will open with tremendous force, hitting the back of the safety seat hard. This impact could seriously injure the baby’s head and brain.
Unbuckled or unrestrained children or adults who are sitting too close to the air bag or who are thrown toward the dash during emergency braking, can also be seriously injured or killed by the force of the air bag.
The rear seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride. Babies should still face the rear until they are old enough and large enough to face forward (20 pounds or age one). Secure a young child in a safety seat.
When the child outgrows the forward facing convertible seat, use a booster seat until the child fits correctly in adult safety belts.
When used with a lap/shoulder belt, air bags work well to protect older children and adults who ride facing the front of the car. They do save lives and prevent serious injuries. Have everyone in the car buckled up properly and, if seated in the front, move as far back from the air bags as is reasonably possible.
Read your vehicle owner’s manual for instructions about children and air bags. For additional information, contact the safety council in your area.
Nuts and bolts
Dear TEAM: Some years ago your column published recipes for snacks made with Shreddies, Pretzels, Bugles, Crispix and different seasonings. They were very tasty. My copies have been misplaced and I’m wondering if you have them? – M.S., Lacombe, Alta.
Dear M.S.: Sorry, we were unable to locate a past column with cereal snack recipes. A tasty snack that could contain the cereals you mentioned is Nuts and Bolts. Perhaps that is what you recall.
When my husband’s sister Irene comes for Christmas, she brings a big batch of her homemade Nuts and Bolts. They soon disappear. This is her recipe, using the snacks you mentioned.
Cheerios, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex, Cheezies, corn chips or other cereals could be substituted.
Nuts and bolts
8 cups Crispix cereal 2 L
8 cups Shreddies 2 L
8 cups Bugles 2 L
4 cups pretzel twists 1 L
or sticks
4 cups nuts (mixed 1 L
or peanuts)
1 cup pecan halves 250 mL
In a large baking pan carefully mix cereals, pretzels and nuts. Combine the following ingredients:
1 tablespoon 15 mL
seasoning salt
1 teaspoon marjoram 5 mL
1 teaspoon savory 5 mL
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 mL
1/2 teaspoon onion 2 mL
powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne 0.5 mL
1/2 cup oil, melted 125 mL
butter or margarine
Toss over the cereal mixture. Bake at 250 F (120 C) for one hour. Stir every 15 minutes, being careful to keep cereals whole. Turn off the heat and leave in the oven another hour, stirring occasionally.
Yield: 21/2 ice cream pails (10 L).
