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<channel><title><![CDATA[Litchfield Farmers' Market - A Practical Cat\'s Book of Household Clues]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org/a-practical-cats-book-of-household-clues]]></link><description><![CDATA[A Practical Cat\'s Book of Household Clues]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 17:31:36 -0700</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[A Pinch of Salt, by Misia Gill*, Anna's Cat ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org/a-practical-cats-book-of-household-clues/a-pinch-of-salt]]></link><comments><![CDATA[http://www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org/a-practical-cats-book-of-household-clues/a-pinch-of-salt#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:19:32 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org/a-practical-cats-book-of-household-clues/a-pinch-of-salt</guid><description><![CDATA[       &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It is mystifying to me why humans will spend a small fortune for fancy single use products when every kitchen contains one or more items that will do the same job for a lot less.&nbsp;&nbsp;While humans are endlessly fascinating in many regards, I won&rsquo;t waste too much nap time trying to make sense of their peculiarities.&nbsp;&nbsp;What I can tell you is that sitting on most everyone&rsquo;s table and counter is a common commodity that is quite the little miracle s [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="http://www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org/uploads/5/2/4/9/52494671/7799063.gif?1460653500" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">It is mystifying to me why humans will spend a small fortune for fancy single use products when every kitchen contains one or more items that will do the same job for a lot less.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">While humans are endlessly fascinating in many regards, I won&rsquo;t waste too much nap time trying to make sense of their peculiarities.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">What I can tell you is that sitting on most everyone&rsquo;s table and counter is a common commodity that is quite the little miracle substance: salt.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">I do, however, beg to differ with some guy known as Simple Simon.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">He claimed that he couldn&rsquo;t fail to catch a dicky bird by sprinkling a pinch of salt on its tail.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Why on earth would hang around waiting to sprinkle salt on a bird&rsquo;s tail when you could just pounce on it and be done with it?</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Well, never mind.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Here are a few uses for salt that may be new to you.</font></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="http://www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org/uploads/5/2/4/9/52494671/3023606.jpg?1460643227" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">&middot; &nbsp;&nbsp;&#8203;&#8203;&#8203;&#8203;&#8203;<font size="3">Remove of the white rings left by perspiring glasses or hot plates from wooden surfaces with a paste composed of salt and cooking oil.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Gently rub the paste into the ring in a circular motion and then wipe away.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">In the early spring, when ants are looking for an indoor roost, sprinkle a little table salt on door and window sills.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Apparently, ants do not like to walk on salt.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">You can likewise sprinkle it around the edges of a picnic blanket.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">If you&rsquo;re out of fresh lemon juice, you can prevent the browning of peeled fruits such as apples and pears or peeled potatoes by rinsing them quickly in lightly salted water.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">Restore that brilliant shine to brass and copper items with the aid of salt.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Make a paste of a few tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and equal parts of salt and flour.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Rub it onto the metal item with a clean soft cloth, rinse and dry.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">Beautiful as they are, fresh flowers frequently leave a crusted residue in the bottoms of vases.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Rub the bottom with salt and rinse with fresh water.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">If you cannot reach the stain readily, soak it in a strong saltwater solution, shake it thoroughly, then rinse and dry.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; </span></span></span><font size="3">Relieve the sting of a bee by dampening the affected area and making a tiny salt crust over it.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">The same method works for mosquito bites.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">Remove tea and coffee stains from mugs and cups with by mixing a bit of salt with a few drops of dish soap and scrubbing the combination in the stained item.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Another method is to sprinkle a little salt onto a lemon peel and use the salted side to rub the interior of the cup.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;R</span></span></span><font size="3">emove rust from old treasures with by combining salt, cream of tartar and just enough water to make a paste.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Spread the paste on the rusted item, let it dry and brush it off.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Buff the item clean with a soft cloth.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">The sticky residue that builds up on an iron, making it sluggish can be removed quickly by sprinkling salt on a piece of paper and running the heated iron across it a few times.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">When red wine is spilled on a tablecloth or a cloth napkin, douse the spill immediately with salt.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">Once the salt has absorbed the liquid brush it off and apply club soda with a clean cloth.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">When weeds or grass take up residence between your patio stones or bricks, sprinkle salt into the crack and wet down with a hose.</font><font size="3"><span>&nbsp;</span></font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">When baking produces spills in your hot oven, cover the spill with salt.</font><span><font size="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><font size="3">It will not smoke or smell, but it will bake into an easily removable crust.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">Before washing tarnished silverware, rub the tarnished areas with salt.</font><font size="3"><span>&nbsp;</span></font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">Oozing egg spills are readily wiped up if covered with salt first and left to set for a few minutes.</font><font size="3"><span>&nbsp;</span></font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><span><span><font size="3">&middot;</font><span>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></span><font size="3">Experts claim that throwing a handful of salt on your fireplace fire will make a bright yellow flame and will help to lessen the soot from the interior of the chimney.</font><br /><font size="3">&nbsp;</font><br /><font size="3">* As told to Anna Gill</font><br />&nbsp;<br /><br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>