Yes, this should be Wednesday's Herb newsletter-- but we had a mini-vacation (with the kids at Grandma's) and then came home to celebrate my son's 13th birthday. May and June seem to be the busiest months for us! So, I'm starting the week with these tips and will continue on with the "usual" theme days. I hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend!

CAMPING TIPS
One of the best tools for preparing camp food is the Foodsaver. I seal all of the foods that are going in the cooler. I package each item with only the amount I think we will use per meal. No water is able to get into the packages when the ice starts melting. ~Pam

HERB TIP!
I put all my chives, mint, all other herbs in 3# margarine tubs, with the bottom cut out. I have found my plants DO NOT wander outside the container that way. ~Joyce, MN

BAKING SODA TIPS:
Stuffed Animals : Sprinkle Baking Soda on stuffed animals that need a little pick-me-up and allow it for 15 minutes, then brush off into the bathtub (rinses easily afterwards). A note on stuffed animals--I've found that if you throw them in the washer on cold or warm and then air dry most of them recover quite nicely. NEVER dry them in the dryer --an incident with a special fluffy bear that now has matted flat fur taught us that lesson.

Brushes&Combs: Fill a glass or bowl with hot water and a teaspoon or two of baking soda. Add the brushes and combs, and soak for a little while, then rinse.

Laminated Countertops: Squeeze a half of a lemon or so on stained areas and allow it to sit for about a half hour. Sprinkle with baking soda and gently scrub. Rinse and dry. You can also make a baking soda paste with a small amount of water and rub on scratches or cuts in the countertop.

To clean stainless steel thermos bottles. Put 1/3 cup of baking soda in followed by very hot, not boiling water. Let sit for a couple of hours. Empty and refill with hot water. Let sit for a couple of minutes. Then rinse thoroughly. If rinse water does not come out clear, refill with hot water and let sit. Repeat as necessary. No need to shake, scrub or add anything else. When clean, the inside will look shiny. Baking Soda is the same no matter the brand and I have found some very good deals on it at Sam's Club. Ten pounds seems like a lot but it is so useful. I just put it into a canister and scoop it out like flour. Saves on all the packaging also. ~Kathy

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I hope your day is joyful. ~Brenda

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