a "been-there" mom of six offers encouragement
to wives, young mothers, and those not so young,
and simple common-sense approaches to
the "ings" of life:
child-rearing (hints and helps), homemaking (all areas),
cooking (simple, cheap, and do-it-yourself)
making (toys and gifts), preparing (for the unexpected),
maintaining (sanity and peace in this increasingly crazy world) and more---
all aspects of making the most of making do on little---
and having fun in the process.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Quick Do-it-Yourself Dog T-Shirt for Cooler Weather



Our neighbor Linda  has a very small dog, Lucky Lady, who has very short hair and gets cold easily.  The little Lady is lucky to have a big wardrobe.   One day last week she was wearing one of her coats and what appeared to be leggings on her front legs.  When we questioned  Linda she told us that she bought "onesies" at our local Wal-Mart for $3 or $4 and they made perfect dog t-shirts.

Our dog Puppy is a Lhasa Apso mix --- 
rescued from the dog pound about 
11 years ago, when he 
was three or four years old.

And, as you can see, clothes were not needed! (and this picture was taken when he had his summer haircut!)

That was then----




Now Puppy is, with what we consider quiet dignity, 
living with the hair-loss consequences of profound hypo-thyroidism  and he gets cold. 

And his previously long and bushy tail is just a few scrawny strands.

The Light Bulb Went On!
I'm not called the creative cheapskate for nothing

I measured him from neck to tail and around his somewhat ample belly (the medication has helped eliminate some of the weight) and headed to the local thrift store with the tape measure and a handful of change.

He is a perfect Toddler 4-5!

He was amazingly patient as we dressed him, even lifting his paws for the sleeves, and didn't try to get it off. He appears to be quite comfortable in it, even in the relatively warm house.
                                                                                                                                                                                         A little later, after a trip outside,  we discovered one problem that Lucky Lady didn't have because . . 
she squats and Puppy doesn't.

It only took a moment to shorten the belly-side of the shirt.
This starter piece for his wardrobe cost 50 cents!  He can have an entire wardrobe for the price of one onesie.



The forecast is 28 degrees for tomorrow.  My next post will show him simply decked out and ready.











Tuesday, December 11, 2012

At this Beautiful Christmas Season I am . . .


                                                                              “There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ. 



It is the time to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart – and our neighbors as ourselves.       
It is well to remember that he who gives money gives much; he who gives time gives more; but he who gives of himself gives all.

Christmas isn’t just tinsel and ribbon, unless we have made it so in our lives.  

Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. 

It is happiness because we see joy in people. 

It is forgetting self and finding time for others. 

It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. 

It is peace because we have found peace in the Savior’s teachings. 

It is the time we realize most deeply that the more love is expended, the more there is of it for others.”
May we, as did the Wise Men, seek a bright, particular star to guide us to our Christmas opportunity in service to our fellow man. 

May we all make the journey to Bethlehem in spirit, taking with us a tender, caring heart as our gift to the Savior, and may one and all have a joy-filled Christmas.”

The above is part of the 2012 message given at the annual LDS Christmas Devotional, as a gift to the world, by President Thomas S. Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Go here if you would like to watch the entire devotional and hear the beautiful Christmas music provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/archive/christmas-devotional/2012/12?lang=eng