Secrets of the Sacred Order of the Make-Do's

You may not be aware there is a group of very impressive innovators 

SACRED ORDER OF THE MAKE-DO'S

ELITE GROUP OF MASTER IMPROVISERS WHO USE EVERYDAY ITEMS IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS TO INITIATE ENGINEERING PROJECTS, PERFORM REPAIRS AND FEATS OF AMAZING MAINTENANCE!

 THESE ITEMS INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ♦WD-40 ♦ DUCT-TAPE ♦ CARDBOARD, ♦BAILING WIRE ♦ PLASTIC LIDS♦ STYROFOAM ♦ PACKING MATERIALS ♦SCRAP LUMBER ♦ AND ON OCCASION, CHEWING GUM

Membership has been bestowed on a very select few. They find new and inventive ways to use common objects. The kind of uses that makes you want to slap your forehead and exclaim, "Why didn't I think of that?"

The S.O.M.D.'s Credos include the following:

YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE -WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. 

IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE ♦IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM♦IF IT AIN’T BROKE, JUST KEEP MESSIN’ WITH IT♦SAVE EVERYTHING – YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL COME IN HANDY♦INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR ROOKIES♦THE FEASIBILITY STAGE OF ANY PROJECT IS BEST PERFORMED WITH COLD LIQUID REFRESHMENT♦ A TRIP TO ANY HARDWARE STORE MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO RETURNS♦ HIDE OR LOSE ANY RECEIPTS FOR UNUSED ITEMS PURCHASED♦MEASURE ONCE, CUT TWICE♦POSTPONE ANY “TO-DO” PROJECTS UNTIL THE REQUESTING INDIVIDUAL EITHER CRYS OR THREATENS TO CALL THE SO-CALLED PROFESSIONALS♦

While not at liberty to divulge Divine Secrets, affiliations or current submissions under consideration for Merit Badge Awards, I can share some past accomplishments with you. These may help you in your own quest to solve common household problems.

 NEED TO HOLD A NAIL IN PLACE AND AVOID SMASHING YOUR FINGERS?
MAKE DO
BY STABILIZING THE NAIL WITH A COMB!

   NEED TO FILL A BUCKET BUT IT WON'T FIT UNDER THE TAP

MAKE DO 

BY PLACING A CLEAN DUST PAN UNDER THE FAUCET AND DIRECTING THE STREAM INTO YOUR BUCKET!

HAS THE TOE STABILIZER IN YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF FLIP-FLOPS TORN THROUGH THE BOTTOM?
MAKE DO
WITH A BREAD SACK FASTENER!

WANT TO AVOID SCRAPING YOUR WINDSHIELD ON FROSTY MORNINGS?

MAKE DO

BY PLACING A MICRO-FIBER CLOTH ON THE WINDSHIELD THE NIGHT BEFORE!

HATE IT WHEN CO-WORKERS STARTLE YOU FROM BEHIND WHILE YOU'RE BUSY AT YOUR COMPUTER?

MAKE DO

BY PLACING A SMALL MIRROR OR A PAIR OF SHADES TO REFLECT THE VIEW!

 HATE THE MESS MADE WHEN DRILLING HOLES IN THE SHEET ROCK?
MAKE DO
WITH A FOLDED STICKY NOTE PLACED UNDER YOUR WORK AREA!

HATE THE MESSY PAINT DRIPS THAT RUN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAN OR FLOW INTO THE LID GROOVE?

MAKE DO

BY PLACING A LARGE RUBBER BAND TO WIPE YOUR BRUSH OFF!

NEED TO DRY A PAIR OF SHOES YOU JUST WASHED BUT THE THUMP-BUMP-THUMP DRIVES YOU CRAZY?
MAKE DO
BY SHUTTING THE SHOE LACES IN THE DOOR!

HATE WHEN YOUR STRAW KEEPS FLOATING UP OUT OF THE SODA CAN?

MAKE DO

BY INSERTING THE STRAW THROUGH THE PULL TAB!

TIRED OF BREAKING YOUR NAILS OR PINCHING YOUR FINGERS WHEN REMOVING OR ADDING A KEY TO A JUMP RING?
MAKE DO
BY USING A STAPLE PULLER!
(WHERE WAS THIS HINT WHEN I NEEDED IT LAST WEEK?)

DON'T WANT A POT OF BOILING PASTA OR POTATOES TO BOIL ALL OVER THE STOVE TOP?
MAKE DO
BY PLACING A WOODEN SPOON OVER THE TOP OF THE POT!

DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TOWEL BAR SPACE IN YOUR RV OR CAMPER? HAVE TOO MANY WET BATHING SUITS?

MAKE DO

BY PLACING A GOOD SIZE TENSION ROD ACROSS THE SHOWER SPACE AND HANG AWAY!

Okay, now you slap your forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of this!"

lol

Thanks to friend Maureen Lynn for sending these to me!

♪♫ A Sweet Appalachian Lullaby ♪♫

Not long ago my daughter Tammy's FaceBook page showed that she had listened to "Appalachian Lullaby" and it brought back so many sweet memories!

Those memories start with how that gentle, peaceful song came into our family...

 In the summer of 1992 I took my Sister Dear on a trip to Asheville, NC to tour the Biltmore Estate.
We had been visiting with my sister-in-law in Macon, GA, and then left for our drive east through the Blue Ridge Mountains. We had such a wonderful time and saw so many beautiful sights along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was nice to just gossip and giggle and have some "sister" time!

 We had reservations at a historic 1890 Victorian place called The Applewood Inn Bed and Breakfast. From the moment we checked in we felt like it was a special experience!

Our hostess was very gracious in the true Southern hospitality tradition.
You could see that the beautiful carved woodwork had been lovingly restored and maintained. The Inn was filled with period appropriate furniture and fixtures that would have been right at home in a museum - and yet you were invited to set down and have a cup of tea!

We were shown upstairs to our room complete with a 4-post bed, draped ceiling and a corner fireplace. It seemed like a room from a fairy book story. It all felt so warm and welcoming.
After settling in and freshening up a bit, we went out to get a bite eat and then came back for an early evening. In the the parlor that evening we met a couple who were also guests; young honeymooners who were planning to hike some of the Blue Ridge trails nearby. Our hostess gave us our information for our tour of the Biltmore the next day and told us what time breakfast would be served. She said there was another couple who were arriving later that evening and they would be joining us a the breakfast table. She then bid us good night and we all turned in.

We came down for breakfast the next morning and were shown into the dining room which was all set with a lace tablecloth, antique china and silver. There was a young lady who greeted us by name and invited us to sit anywhere at the table.

Now just as an aside I wondered how this young lady we

were just meeting for the first time could address us by

name...later that morning I accidentally wandered through

the service pantry looking for the side door to the drive.

There, posted on a message board, were notes about

each of us! Our names and a brief description ~

how clever was that to make you feel at home?

 As breakfast was served we were invited to introduce ourselves to one another and share who we were, where we were from and what we were planning to do in Asheville.  The guests who had arrived late last evening were a young married couple, Tanya Goodman and Michael Sykes, who were southern gospel musicians from the Fayetteville area. They were so excited telling us they had just received the Grammy Award the past year for Best Music Album for Children! It was for this collection of original songs "A Child's Gift of Lullabyes."

They presented each of us a signed cassette of the album. Neither Sister Dear or I had grandchildren yet, but as we listened to it in our rental car, we talked about how wonderful it would be to share with the next generation. We enjoyed the trip, the tour of the Biltmore, our stay at the Applewood Inn and the gift from new friends!

Our beautiful granddaughter, Amanda was born in 1994 and this cassette was passed on to her mama and daddy along with a little cassette player. I bought another one for our house and this song was played every night and every afternoon as she drifted off to sleep.  We all knew the words and melody to every song!

The original was played so much it actually wore out and had to be replaced. It was renewed again when our sweet Emily was born.  I have purchased this album for many a new mom-to-be...truly a well-loved piece of work! Of course today it is on a CD...

Today there is still a little player with this cassette in the guest bedroom,

and I have peeked in to see both of my girls listening with a dreamy 

smile on their faces!  

Each and every song is a treasure ~ but this is our favorite!

You can listen to the "Appalachian Lullaby" on this link!

We all love it so and all the sweet memories it brings back!