Helpful Household Hints For The Summer - Bees, Mice and Men

To get rid of a hive of bees, very carefully (or professionally), place moth balls around and in their dwelling. Bees hate the smell of mothballs and they will leave. Also, any hive of "Robber Bees" will not come around afterwards to steel the remaining honey because the mothball smell lasts for many weeks.
To rid your house of mice, sprinkle peppermint oil or essence of peppermint around their dwellings. Mice dislike the smell of peppermint and will go away. Or you could get a cat!
For your Man's morning shave, fill a thermos with boiling water each night. The next morning the water will be surprisingly still quite hot for shaving.
Have a cool day!

A List one Dozen of Life's Lessons to Live By

Last week, I read a list of 45 life lessons a 90 year old woman from Ohio posted. I liked her list so much, I came up with my own list:

1. Forgive everyone and everything always. Then forget it and move on. In 100 years, no one will remember or care!
2. If others place judgement on you personally, simply say: "Only my God may judge me personally." Bullies who judge others usually are telling on themselves anyway and putting their fears and unhappiness onto you.
3. No time for regret if you try your heartfelt best. Accept your life as it comes, get through the day, and move on.
4. No time in life for hating anyone for any reason. Hating is a big waste of your valuable time.Their unhappiness is their own problem. Chances are, it is probably worse to be them than to talk about them. Don't waste anger and time talking about them either. It will exhaust you and your spirit.
5. Do Not compare your life to others' lives. There will always be someone seemingly richer and seemingly happier. Your life is your own truth. If you don't like your own life, take little steps ahead daily and work hard to change it.
6. Make peace with your past and move on. Talking and re-living the past every day will screw up your present life and future life.
7. You do not have to win every argument each and every time. Agree to disagree. Agreeing to disagree shows respect for the other person.
8. Save 10% of all and any money you receive. Save 10% of allowance as a child, Save 10% of all cash gifts given to you, Save 10% of every paycheck. Find and open up a "Free Checking" account at a young age and keep this account open forever. No need to tell anyone about it, ever. This money will be for you and you only. Money is independence, and having independence is having freedom.
9. Use your fine wedding china, fancy linens, crystal stemware and flat silver. You cannot take it with you or send it ahead. Enjoy it and your memories of good times using it!
10. Your job is not who you are. Your job is what you do. You can get another job next month. You can make more money next month. Your family is more important than your job. You cannot get another family next month, and the elder members of your family may not be there next month.
11. Go through your closet twice a year and donate to a thrift shop, give away to a charity, or sell to a vintage shop all the clothing you have not worn at all, touched, or even thought about in the last 5 years. My entire closet, save evening gowns, is one pole no longer than the length of both my arms stretched out from my sides. Purchase only 2 complete outfits twice a year. Purchase the best you can afford and try to buy on Sale at 50% off, or more. July and January sales are the best! Pay cash for as much as you can. Do not invest in separates. The colors will never match up, especially Navy and Black. Purchase the entire outfit. If you cannot fit into your clothes, eat smaller portions and skip desserts and bread until you can fit back into your clothes again.
12. Doing one nice thing by yourself, for yourself every day matters. One small piece of dark, organic chocolate; one decaf coffee after dinner, one chapter in a book; soaking in a 15 minute bath; reading a magazine; a 30 minute workout or walk, a 20 minute cat nap, 30 minutes of yard work or watching 30 minutes of sports. Take care of your emotional and physical health because no one else will.

Remember, you teach others how to treat you. Be good to yourself and others always. Enjoy your life because no one else will enjoy your life for you.

A Memorial Day Remembrance

A Photo From my Forget-Me-Not Book. The Soldiers & Sailors Monument, New York City 1907. In remembrance of those fallen for our freedom.

A Poem for Mother's Day

From my Forget-Me-Not Book:

Here's to the happiest
Days of your life,
Spent in the arms
of another man's wife...your Mother.

Elizabeth Thompson
Lake Mohonk, 1905

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Household Tips regarding Handkerchiefs, Candles and Grease

To prevent Grease from popping when frying, place a little piece of bread or potato in the frying pan and fry it along with whatever else is in the pan. This act will also save one from having to clean up the stove top so much after frying.

No need to iron Handkerchiefs after washing if they are spread out on a mirror when they are still wet after washing. It will only take them a few minutes to dry.

Place a bit of salt around the tip of a candle before lighting it to prevent it from dripping. It will not drip at all. Amazing!

High Context Messages and Polychronic Time

High Context, is a form of communication that relies on nonverbal, implicit messages and the relationship for information. Outsiders find this type of communication nearly impossible to understand.
Important to High Context: Nonverbal communication, indirect verbal assertion, implicit meaning, role identity interaction, rituals.
Countries that use High Context: China, Japan, Korea, Eastern Asia, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Arab countries, Latin America, Southern and Eastern Mediterranean.

Polychronic Time: Doing several things at once.
Countries that use Polychronic Time: Asia, Latin America, Arab countries, Southern & Eastern Mediterranean.

Low Context Messages and Monochronic Time

Low Context, is a formal communication and requires clear, descriptive, unambiguous language and a high degree of specificity. Courts of Law, mathematics and computer languages require Low Context message systems.
Important to Low Context: Specifics, details, direct, precise jargon, facts, schedules, appointments.
Countries that use Low Context: USA, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavian countries.

Monochronic Time: Doing one thing at a time.
Countries that use Monochronic Time: USA, Canada, Western Europe.