Comments on: The brush-off

By: marilynbaker

marilynbaker — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:48:42 +0000

Making toothpaste brings back fond memories of my friend and ex-neighbor Marge. See “thrift” in the dictionary for a definition of Marge. She was convinced that WE (she always included me in her projects) could do anything more cheaply. We tried upolstery and decided it would only be successful with an electric staple gun and a strong, willing husband. We tried our own scrubbing powder — a major mistake. Marge wanted to try soap but I drew the line at lye and ashes.

My daughter has never let me forget the time I covered some nicks in our wood furniture with shoe polish. It was quite successful.

As for the toothpaste, my son assures me that it is a very good spackle. None of his many landlords ever discovered that he had filled the holes in the walls with toothpaste.

By: Tamar

Tamar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:16:30 +0000

Beth — I like the mouthwash idea, and I even see the appeal of making things by hand. It’s just that, sometimes, those hand-made products are inferior, satisfaction from having made them aside.

CCR — I think most people who do these kinds of things are in your mind-body-soul camp. I’m in the stomach camp, next door.

By: Kevin F. (the spouse for those who did not realize it)

Kevin F. (the spouse for those who did not realize it) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:27:16 +0000

Aaron,
she did not say taught, she said showed. What is meant by the slight is that the Irish used it against them not that they taught them grammar!

By: Cape Cod Rose

Cape Cod Rose — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:52:19 +0000

I’m with Jen. Knitting, crafting, and creating of any kind can have many positive benefits.
Remember, it’s a package deal…. mind body and soul!
Just like the Rhodies in your yard, just cause you can eat them, doesn’t mean you should till them under.

By: Aaron Haspel

Aaron Haspel — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:57:27 +0000

If anyone tells me that the Irish taught the English how to use their language, I will start stocking up on deodorant and anchovies.

By: Ronnie P

Ronnie P — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:10:00 +0000

Just use baking soda for your teeth and make medicinal wintergreen tea like the Mohawks and Ojibwas used to do.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:28:30 +0000

aN egg, that is

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:26:53 +0000

When I was a wee little lass there was a curly-haired man who took a room next door, and it was to the great delight of the neighborhood children to learn that he washed his hair with and egg and vinegar. It was easy to learn because he showered outside with a hose. His hair shone.
We’ve all enjoyed brushing teeth with just baking soda and warm water – some do a mild peroxide rinse. Maybe you should use the wintergreen to make a mouthwash. We made one with cloves that took forever to get strong enough, but it was a huge hit. I am of the opinion that many things are better made by hand.

By: Tamar

Tamar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:15:09 +0000

Kate — I harbor an intractable fear that you’re right about self-sufficiency creep. I had a moment of panic when I found out that friends of ours have sheep, and the wool is going begging. I almost volunteered to take it, but stopped myself just in time. It is indeed a slippery slope.

BNP — That’s pretty much it. It’s all about emulsifying, or not.

Husband mine — Does this mean I have to hide the wintergreen?

Monica — I’m glad someone can learn from my example!

Jen — Maybe nothing YOU do is a failure. There’s just no other name for some of the things I do. But there’s something in the spackling compound idea …
As for knitting, I’ve got some friends with sheep, if you’re interested.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:05:20 +0000

Nothing is a failure, it’s just finding its real purpose. Is it a toothpaste? No. Is it a spackling compound that also makes the room smell fresh and clean? Possibly…

Knitting isn’t about producing sock, blankets or ill fitting sweaters that chafe. It’s purely processual, a cheap form of therapy based on the soothing effects of repetetive motion. It’s “Mental self-sufficiency” with the added benefits that the lanolin softens calloused skin better than Bag Balm. That’s my 2 cents anyway.