My Favorite GENIUS Ideas of This Week

Have you ever noticed how some people don't see things as trash but something to be re-purposed?  My Dad was that way, he would reuse discards and make the most clever things. I haven't come up with the dozens of ideas that he did, but I can definitely do it with clothing and jewelry.  Here are some ideas that I saw this week that are my favorites.

1. Now isn't this smart?  How many times have you needed a chip clip?  How many times have you tossed one of these hangers in the trash?  Here is the perfect solution!  Cut the clips off of the plastic pant or skirt hanger, and you have chip clips!

2.  This looks like your average four poster bed, doesn't it?  Oh no, it is a DINING TABLE turned upside down, put onto short wooden legs, with finials added to the bottoms of the table legs, and repainted.  Et voila --a four poster bed. This table was of a smallish size and fits a toddler or a large dog.  Find a larger table (maybe one with a leaf) and it could  be a larger bed.  If I were going to use the leaf idea, I think that I would first glue the leaf into place with wood glue.  Then I would purchase 2  1"x4" boards, at least 3" shorter on each end than the length of each side of the former table top. Then glue and screw the boards onto the length of the table.   This should stabilize the leaf section to the table, making a stronger bed base.   Then I would attach the new feet.  Can you imagine it painted white with a frilly canopy for a young girl?  My younger daughter would have been in heaven!  CLEVER!

3.Hose Holder!  It is a former tree branch nailed onto a fence and used as a hose holder!  SMARTY PANTS.

4.Punch holes into cupcake holders, insert straws and use to keep bugs out of drinks at a back yard picnic or BBQ.  I didn't think of it, but I know a good idea when I see it.  This would be especially good in those areas where there are yellow jackets and those other pesky flying varmints.

5.  Last, but definitely not least of this weeks favorite ideas.  Have you ever needed to fill a bucket, and only had a shallow sink?  Here is an excellent solution -- faucet, dustpan = bucket filled!

I will never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity of the human brain, and people's abilities to problem solve.  I will try to do this every Friday, maybe I'll call them Clever Friday Fixes. I would love to hear your comments and/or questions too, so leave them in the "comment" section and I will get back to you.

Glenbrook Farm's Herbs and Such

 Glenbrook Farm's Herbs and Such:

Today I learned about Glenbrook Farm's Herbs and Such, located in Campbellsville, Ky.

They are purveyors of spices, herbs, teas, salts, seeds and tinctures (I love that word).  If you go to their site, they have a section called "Herb Facts" where it states:

"Using herbs to promote health and well-being is not new. Every culture since time has used herbs and flowers for healing. For thousands of years plants have healed and continue to do so today.We have gathered together information on the medicinal properties and the various use of herbs. This encyclopedia is intended to inform and not suggested treatment.We will be adding more content every week, so please check back"  

 Our paprika with a 160 color rating , the highest you can get.

I noticed that they also sell the seeds from the Charentais Melon, the one that Cindy Crawford uses in her Ageless Beauty line.  Hmmm...maybe I will turn my front yard into a melon patch, grow the Charentais melons, eat them, and rub them all over my body to reverse the damage done!!!

I will order product today from them and keep you posted!!

'via Blog this'

Fun for the whole family!!

Look at this giant family flotation device!  It easily seats 7 people.  I was thinking that it would either be completely fun or completely NOT depending on the age/mood/sobriety of the people on it!  There certainly was a LOT of chatter about it on the internet and apparently the place to get it is at Costco.  One person posted that they have had some really good heart to heart family chats on it.  I guess there are some that have ice chests in them too.  Anyway.......pretty cool, don't you think?

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Welcome to LESLIEpedia! Chickens 101

This is exciting!  I have a friend who calls me whenever she needs information about a variety of subjects from animals to cooking to gardening. I asked her one day why she didn't use the internet and she said, "Who needs it?  I have LesliePedia!"  So that is how the name of this blog came about.  You see, my brain is awash with thousands of bits of information.
  
I suppose that I have always been this way, interested and curious.  Not just in one or two subjects either. I find so many things fascinating. I can't imagine being bored, as there is always so much to do, or learn.  I am an idea person.  I was in business management and marketing for many years.  Now I have  a design studio, LA General Store Design Studio.  I get to let my creative brain roam free!  I love it when a customer comes in with a new challenge, whether it be for an elaborate costume or a wedding dress. My creative juices start flowing, and I never even wonder IF I will be able to create it.  I just start thinking about HOW I am going to do it. 


One day, after a customer placed a very intricate order at my studio, my assistant said, "How are you going to make that?"  I looked at him and smiled and said -- "I don't have the FAINTEST idea, and that is half of the fun right there!"  With the huge amount of information on the internet these days, you can find out nearly anything.  I will admit, however, that it can get overwhelming.  Trying to find out where information is can be quite daunting!


That is why I am starting this blog.  I find SO MANY things so very interesting that I have plenty to share with you in a manner that won't (hopefully) overwhelm you.   I will post a couple of things a day, or every couple of days, and sooner or later you will find a subject or two that might interest you too.  I also welcome questions.  What good is a Lesliepedia, if you can't ask questions?
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So today, let's talk about chickens!!  Have you ever owned a chicken?  I have owned many and LOVED it!  At one time I had a bit of a farm-let where I live in the unincorporated County of Los Angeles.  I was doing the whole "backyard chicken" thing long before it was trendy.  I only raised my hens for eggs, and couldn't have raised them for food!  They were my pets and I kept every one of 'em until they passed.  "Frenchie" was my favorite and the last to go at 12 years+. 

Hen Fact for Today: A hen lives an average of 5-7 years, but can live up to 20 years. She'll lay eggs her entire life, with production decreasing every year from year one. This hen is a Buff Orpington. Once my hens got to be 7 years old, they would only lay eggs in the spring....once they were over 10, they pretty much stopped......kinda like ME!! HA HA. My oldest was a Araucana, who lived to 14. I only raised them for eggs.....the idea of eating one of my lovely ladies -- horrors!

The chickens above are Rhode Island Reds. Did you know In their natural environment chickens are fastidiously clean and preen their feathers everyday?  These Reds are a solid size, beautiful with beautiful plumage. They don't compete with the Silky Chickens that are featured below however!  These chickens are showstoppers and bred more for their looks than anything else, but they are chickens and do lay eggs.  

I could go on and on about chickens and chicken trivia, but I hope not to overwhelm with too much information at one time.  Next time -- I'll blog about Roosters and the latest in modern chicken coops.  The day after that? Maybe gourmet cooking, or couture clothing design, or socializing puppies!!