Hey Grandpa, How Do I...?: Helpful Hints, Tips, and Insights

By Harold Jennings

This book is filled with hints and tips on ways to resolve some situations that the average person will encounter in their everyday life. I have tried to suggest results that use everyday household items, or easily obtained materials. Hopefully, everyone will be able to use most of these ideas, either for themselves or for someone they know. I have used most of the suggestions and the rest come highly recommended. I have collected these hints since 1960 from many sources.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 21, 2009
• ISBN: 9781450002882

Harold Jennings

Born in Washington state. Raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Joined the military after High School graduation. Retired after 30 years. Has worked as a draftsman, surveyor, flight simulator technician, supply clerk, CADD draftsman, childrens home manager, over-the-road truck driver, and blackjack dealer on a riverboat casino. Has 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Has lived all over the United States, and has visited all 50 states. Now lives in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Has been happily married for 50 years.

Book preview

Hey Grandpa,

How Do I … ??

Helpful Hints, Tips, and Insights For Your Everyday Living

Compiled by Harold Jennings

Copyright © 2009 by Harold Jennings.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any

form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,

or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Xlibris Corporation 1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

66299

Contents

Section A FAMILY

Section B FOODS

Section C GARDENING

Section J PETS

Section D HOUSEHOLD

Section E HYGIENE

Section F KITCHEN

Section G MAINTENANCE

Section H MEDICINE

Section I PESTS

HEY GRANDPA …

Q: How do I get my children to get up out of bed in the morning? They don’t want to leave that nice warm bed.

A: One of the ladies at our church had this problem, and solved it with the perfect solution. She went to the Dollar Store and bought a bag of marbles. She then put the marbles in the freezer. The next morning she called the kids twice, then put a handful of frozen marbles in the bed, under the covers, with the kids. After doing this a couple of times, the kids are up after no more than two calls!

HOW DO I … ??

Q: My kids are young and scatter their shoes all over the house. We sometimes take more time to find matching pairs than the trip to the store takes. How can I make the kids put their shoes where they belong?

A: With your kids helping, from colorful adhesive-backed paper cut ‘footprints’ for every piece of footwear they own. Arrange the cutouts neatly on the closet floor, and your children will actually enjoy putting each shoe in its place. You can color-code the cutouts for each child.

HEY GRANDPA …

Q: How do I keep the kids occupied in the house when the weather is too bad to let them outside?

A: How about Play-Doh? Not the store-bought stuff, but the homemade stuff. If the kids are old enough, they can help make it (and take up some of that time).

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of white flour, ½ cup of salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (food coloring and special scents are optional). Cook the mixture for three minutes over medium heat. Then turn it out on a table and knead 10 times. Store in a covered container.

We did this last summer and had a group of teen-agers that couldn’t leave the stuff alone. They enjoyed it as much or more than the younger ones.

HOW DO I … ??

Q: I have a couple of small children and I sometimes worry about them getting up in the night and roaming around the house. What can I do in this situation?

A: You can tie a string of bells or a small wind chime around the outside doorknob of your child’s room and you will be alerted when the door opens.

HEY GRANDPA …

Q: I go outside in the cold weather and usually find my hands get cold while I’m messing around out there. I don’t need the expense of the commercial hand warmers that hunters use. Do you have any suggestions?

A: When you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time, simply hard boil an egg (or two) just before you leave. Keep it in your pocket in a pint size zip-lock bag (with the shell still on, of course) and, when your hands get cold, hold the egg. It’ll stay warm for a surprisingly long period of time. And, when it stops warming your hands, you can have a handy snack!

HOW DO I … ??

Q: How do I make a low-cost but effective burglar alarm for my home and when I travel out of town?

A: Use a quart glass jar and marbles. Place marbles two inches deep in the jar … and set the glass container on a pedestal just inside your front door (or motel door) before going to bed. The sound of falling marbles (and breaking glass) will certainly wake everybody and scare any intruder away.

You can also hang a small metal wind chime on your doorknob. This noise will surely waken you.

HEY GRANDPA …

Q: I don’t go shopping too often, so do you have any good advice to make my trip better?

A: There are a few things you can do to make a better, easier trip for you.

1. Definitely make a shopping list. Don’t try to remember it all, or you will be turning around and going back to the store.

2. Eat beforehand! You will not impulse-buy as much that way.

3. Protect frozen foods. If you have an insulated bag or freezer packs, take these with you. If you don’t, take some old newspapers with you. Wrap frozen foods in several sheets of newspaper before packing them. The wrapping will help keep the foods cool during the trip home.

4. Take boxes with you. Load your groceries in them, so that they do not roll around in the trunk.

5. If you take a small child with you, bring a stuffed toy which will be easy to carry.

HEY GRANDPA …

Q: What can I use for an impromptu cold drink container at an outdoor party when I don’t entertain enough to justify one of those expensive coolers?

A: If you have a wheelbarrow, it will work just fine. It will hold the ice and water without leaking, it will hold most of the drinks you want to cool, and you can move it very easily all over the place. And, when you are done, just tip it over to dry.

HOW DO I … ??

Q: I am getting really tired of all this junk mail cluttering up my mailbox. There must be a way to stop this nuisance for good. Do you know