Granny moved into a nursing home last fall. Saturday they auctioned all her household things. It gave me quite a jolt to see every Christmas/birthday/Mother's Day/Grandmother's Day present that we'd ever given her spread out on tables in the back yard with strangers looking through them. This was what she'd wanted back when she was in her right mind, though. Easier than trying to split up the sentimental things, she figured. Let the family members just buy what they want. Even though it was painful, there's a certain logic in that, I guess. One of the things I bid on and won was a box with recipes, some handwritten and some in books. A little red book caught my eye - A Modern Kitchen Guide - A complete book of up-to-date recipes and household hints. Published in 1946.

Here are a few of the helpful hints.

Lingerie must be tinted occasionally to preserve its dainty appearance. A faded blue garment will tint a delicate orchid with the aid of pink dye. A pale yellow will shade into a delicate green if dipped in blue dye, and a pink dye will change yellow to a melon or a shell pink.

A little mustard rubbed into the hands after peeling onions, will remove the disagreeable odor.

A pinch of salt added to hot starch will give a high gloss.

The mouthpiece of the telephone should be disinfected at least once a week. Wipe it with a weak solution of carbolic acid. This is a help in preventing the spreading of colds, grippes, and other diseases.

If you keep a nickel's worth of sulfur in the dog's drinking water and leave it there, it helps keep the dog healthy and is especially good for a dog subject to worms.

To remove match scratches on paint, rub with a cut lemon.

A worn whiskbroom makes a fine sink brush if you cut off the worn bristles clear up to the stiff part. Always rinse clean after using.

Other hints include Preserving Linoleum and Brightening Faded House Dresses. No wonder Granny was so smart. This little gem was her ace in the hole. :)

May your Easter be blessed and peaceful.

My sisters and I have rewritten our cozy mystery proposal in first person. In other words, instead of saying "She walked across the room," it says, "I walked across the room." This seemingly small change gives the story a much stronger sense of immediacy.

Earlier while I was pondering what a difference it made, a thought flitted through my mind. Am I living my life in first person? Do I consciously savor each minute and make it worthy of the 60 seconds God has graciously allowed me? Or am I slogging along in third person, letting my life push me around as if I were a "she" on the page? I confess, I've been guilty of slogging, watching to see what's going to happen to me instead of making things happen for me and for God. No immediacy. But no more. I'm tired of being a spectator. I'm going to live. No more putting things off or dreading tasks.

Tonight was ladies night and we met at a friend's Subway. During our conversation, the topic came up of how much better some people perform tasks when there's a timer going. I think I'm one of those. And I believe hearing those precious seconds I mentioned above actually tick off the timer will motivate me to use them more wisely. So for the next few days, I'm going to try it out. Time for Timer, for those of you who were children in the seventies like I was. (Are you hankering for a hunk of cheese?)

I have high hopes. I'll keep you posted on the results of my timely experiment. :)

What I'm about to read - Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis - Reason? I joined a local readers/writers group and our first meeting is in a month. We're supposed to read Perelandra by C.S. Lewis before that meeting, but guess what? Out of the Silent Planet is the first one in the Space Trilogy and Perelandra is the second. I can't stand to read series books out of order, SO I'm getting ready to start this one first. :) I'll let you know how it is. I'm a Chronicles of Narnia fan from way back, but I've never read his other stuff.

Movie I plan to see - Because of Winn Dixie - I've never read the book, so maybe I won't be disappointed.

Quote of the Day - To be loved for what one is, is the greatest exception. The great majority love in others only what they lend him, their own selves, their version of him. ~ Goethe

Be thankful for friends who love you for what you are, and not their version of you. I am. :)

I'm fragile tonight. Ever feel like that? I've had a lot of blows lately from unexpected places and now I'm teetering on the edge. Not on the edge in a mad way or even an "edge of insanity" way. But just like if you bump me, I'll fall off and shatter. So don't bump me, okay? (Just kidding.)

It hurts to be hurt. Whether it's intentional or totally accidental, it still hurts. But we all do it. Then we forgive. And God forgives us.

Funny how God works. Here I am smack dab in the middle of my blog pity party, wearing my little pity party hat, and eating. . .well, eating whatever is in sight, when up pops an email on the screen from one of my dearest friends. Subject line? "How are you?"

Now I'm teary with gratitude. God sure didn't let me wallow long, did He? :)

Send someone a note today just to let them know you realize they're hurting. Love for the sake of loving, serve for the sake of serving, and give for the sake of giving. God does.