Kids Activities: Making Salt Dough

For kids who want some easy and inexpensive activities, consider making salt dough.

Materials:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Greased cookie sheets.
Cookie cooling racks.
Food coloring.
Cookie cutters, clean tin cans, cookie presses, other presses or cut out tools.
Flour: 4 cups
Salt: 1 cup
Hot Water: 1.5 cups
Vegetable Oil: 1 tsp.
Rolling pin (optional)
Wooden cutting board (optional)
Ribbon or decorative string.


Mix the flour and salt, then water.
When dough is elastic, add oil.
If you want, add food coloring to the dough.
Press the dough flat on the counter or cutting board.
Or, Roll out the dough with a rolling pin.
Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, spoons, clean tin cans, or other decorating tools.
To hang the finished product on a Christmas tree or other holiday decoration, make a small hole near the top of the cut-out dough.
Bake the cut-out dough at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Remove and place on cookie cooling racks.
You can paint these. You can also cover with varnish when finished.
Thread ribbon or decorative string through the hole to tie onto Christmas trees or other holiday decorations.

References

For the recipe on this webpage:
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulecrafts/r/Salt_Dough_Orna.htm

For other salt dough recipes and great ideas for decorating:
http://www.theimaginationtree.com/p/play-dough-salt-dough.html

Christmas Windows

 

 

Christmas windows help spread Christmas spirit and cheer.
Simple designs grow from a strand of white lights and an old window kept for its beauty.

Wolf Fundraising : Adopt a Wolf from Defenders of Wildlife

For a wildlife lover, or for people who like wolves, consider the "Adopt a Wolf" gift.
The normal price is $25, with a special of $15 until Tuesday night, 9:00 Pacific Standard Time.

https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_graywolf&s_src=3WEE1303XGWXX&s_subsrc=121012_ADOPTFF_WolfPromo_email&JServSessionIdr004=7s9up2e2b3.app223a

Jef Murray Studios Has Nice Images for Middle Earth and Other Places

Jef Murray Studios
Jef's an expert in conveying images from Middle Earth and other scenes and stories.
Check out his art and 2013 calender here:
http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~jmurra2/jefmurraystudios/

Kitty Care Sites: House of Dreams, Portland, Oregon

The Merry Rose List of Kitty Care Sites: House of Dreams, Portland, Oregon

During some web-researching, we found the House of Dreams in Portland, Oregon.
This organization takes kitties who are without homes. There's also a section for Feline Leukemia positive kitties in a separate area of the shelter. This is a nice site to visit if you want information about kitties, or if you are looking for a kitty to adopt. Their inspiring site provides a nice model for anyone who would like learn about how to set up a shelter for kitties.
House of Dreams.
http://kittydreams.typepad.com/house-of-dreams/

Herbs for Kitties

Flame Point Photo by Tricia Shears

Herbs for Kitties                                                                

Many cat owners wonder if they can share their herbs with their cats. This is a good question to ponder, as some substances, such as garlic, that are beneficial to humans are harmful to cats. Herbs can never substitute for a visit to the vet. Here are some websites that mention herbs that are reported to be beneficial to kitties with careful use.

 

Herbs For Dogs and Cats Natural Pet care Herbal Remedies

www.anniesremedy.com/chart_remedy.php?tag=petCached - Similar

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90+ items – While we consider them members of the family, cats and dogs ...

Alfalfa tea is mild and good tasting, and blends well with many other tonic ...

Anise Doggie breath toothpaste

http://www.anniesremedy.com/chart_remedy.php?tag=pet

Herbs and Natural Healing for Pets

www.mountainroseherbs.com/animal/animal.htmlCached - Similar

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Holistic veterinarian Dr. Randy Kidd explains how herbs can be used for the safe and natural care of cats.

 

Herbs for Cats

holisticat.com/herbs.htmlCached

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Feb 25, 2012 – (Some herbs for cats, excerpted from the article "Top Ten Herbs For Cats", by Gregory L. Tilford and Mary Wulff-Tilford.

http://holisticat.com/herbs.html

 

Welcome to The Herbs Place for Pets! - The Herbs Place

www.theherbsplace.com/Welcome_To_The_Herbs_Place_For_Pets_s...Cached - Similar

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We have personally used natural foods for our pets since 1978 and learned about using herbs for pet health problems in 1982.

http://www.theherbsplace.com/Welcome_To_The_Herbs_Place_For_Pets_sp_63.html

 

Photo by Tricia Shears

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FlamePoint.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ltshears

Happy Thanksgiving Thursday, November 22, 2012

Cider Pressing. Painting by George Henry Durrie 1855
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Henry_Durrie_-_Cider_Pressing.JPG

Happy Thanksgiving to Your and Yours!