Blog for Untrained Housewife

Untrained Housewife offers the writing and editorial skills of Angela England.
She and other writers provide tons of information related to our homes.
There are plenty of articles about topics such as family, gardens, animals, and health.
Her focus on country living in urban and suburban areas covers many ways of living as if we are in the county.
http://www.untrainedhousewife.com/embrace-the-journey

Christmas and Fortune Telling : A Holiday Tradition

During Christmas time in the past, people found books, activities, and games to pass the long winter evenings. One Christmas tradition is fortune-telling. Here are some fine art works that illustrate the arts of fortune telling during the holiday season.
Wishing You a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The Merry Rose.

The Christmas Divination Painting by Simon Kozhin.
Oil on Canvas. Foundation "Cultural Heritage." St. Petersburg.

Fortune Telling at Twelve Days of Christmas .
Painting by Mykola Pymonenko-Vorozhinnia (1862 to 1912).

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/