The Day Before July Fourth

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, a date when America celebrates it's independence. It's also the biggest hot dog day of the year when 155 million hot dogs will be consumed and when Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest will take place.

So to help you get ready for the big event, today I'm going to share a quick and easy craft project with you, in case you are looking for an inexpensive way to decorate your table.

First, you'll need some empty metal cans. I saved these tomato sauce ones a while back, but you could use bean cans, dog food cans or whatever else you have on hand. You will also need some white spray paint, which you can get at your local big box store for a buck. Oh, and some newspaper or a weekly flyer for applying the spray paint.

Go ahead and spray the cans you want to use. Be sure to follow all safety precautions listed on the spray paint can (you know, use in a well-ventilated area, not, say, inside your car; use protective gear and common sense). I'm not going to get into details here about how to spray paint, but when applying, you want to use nice even strokes to get a thin layer, and be sure to let the paint dry completely between coats. I usually find that 3-4 light coats is enough to get all the nooks and crannies sufficiently painted.

Other supplies that you will need:

• 1 hot glue gun.
• 1 colored ribbon.
• Raffia.
• Flowers.

Personally, I think everyone should have a glue gun and raffia in his or her craft arsenal.

First off, cut the ribbon slightly longer than the circumference of the can. Apply a few dabs of glue to the back of the can, and press the ribbon into the glue. Be careful to not touch the glue itself; it's very hot! Trust me on this one. If you have not used a glue gun before, please read the instructions before doing so. We don't want anyone to get hurt here.

If you get some wayward strands of glue, don't despair. You'll be able to wipe them off once the glue is dry.

Wrap the ribbon around the can, and then apply a few more dabs to tack the end of the ribbon at the starting point. Use the same method with the raffia. Clean up any wayward strands by just running your hand over the dried glue. You can also peel it off if need be.

Put your flowers in, and you're done! Oh yeah, don't forget to add water.

All told, I didn't spend any money on this project because I had all the supplies already, but if you had to go out and buy all of this, here's an approximate cost breakdown:

• Cans: $1/each. This cost is offset by the fact that you can eat the contents.


• White spray paint: $1/each. You won't need a whole can for the project, so you can save the rest for future projects.


• Ribbon: $1/roll. You will probably end up using less than a foot, so if you have any scraps from other holidays (Valentine's Day, Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays), you can use those. But if you buy a new roll you will be able to use it in the future for other crafts or wrapping presents.


• Raffia: $3/bag. Again, you will find that this stuff comes in handy for present-wrapping or even flower arranging (see how I used it in a previous post here).


• Flowers: $3/bouquet. If you don't have any flowers in your yard that you can use like I did, you can buy a cheap bouquet from your local Farmers' Market or grocery store. Red or white carnations are inexpensive and readily available in my neck of the woods, and they certainly fit the color scheme here.


• Total: $10/2 cans.

I'm going to give one of these to my neighbors, in the zeitgeist of today's events. If you are having guests over, you could also use these as party favors. What do you think? Do you like them?

Sometimes It's the Little Things that Make a Big Difference

This post could also be called "How the Kindness from Two Strangers Made My Day."

While running some errands this morning, a woman told me that she really liked my dress and that she thought it was pretty. That comment alone pretty much put me in a very pleasant state of mind, and I started thinking about how sometimes it's just little things that can make a big difference in people's lives.

You've probably heard about people practicing random acts of kindness, and you may have done this yourself. Paying for someone's toll fares and stopping to change the tire for someone on the way to the hospital to visit a dying relative are just two of the ones I've heard about over the years. But today I was reminded of how this manifests itself in my own life.

Later on, I stopped at Costco to pick up some pizza for lunch for my co-workers who have to work today. I wanted to order a soda while I was waiting, but I decided against it, rationalizing that I could save that money for something else.

And then, while I was waiting, a lady came up and offered me a new cup to fill up at the soda fountain, as she wasn't going to use it. I was thrilled. I know, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

So that is how two people with just two small, seemingly insignificant actions, made my day. So I'm going to try to return the favor by complimenting a stranger and doing something nice for someone else. Care to join me in practicing some random acts of kindness?

Mary Had a Little Lamb

I meant to post these pictures a while back, but somehow time got away from me and I didn't get these up during springtime. And so now it's summer, and undoubtedly these lambs are all growns-up, but I'm sure they enjoyed frolicking in the green grass under sunny skies at Stone Barns.

I wonder what this lamb is smelling. Horses curl their lip up like this in when they are aware of a scent in the air. I imagine this little girl is doing the same. I call her Shelia.

The lamb on the right, Rambo (short for Rambunctious), is looking for something to head butt. I know a few people he could practice on.

This one has watched way too much "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." His mom should really regulate her offspring's viewing habits a leeeeetle more diligently.

"One of these kids is not like the others...." Can you spot the interloper?

Curly just loves showing off his nubby fur.

Little Baby Bebop naps in the grass.

Just a couple of more pictures. Then I'll stop, I promise.

Braveheart here got a bit curious and started walking over towards where I stood taking pictures. But then, all of a sudden a big, white blur comes bounding over the hill. Was it a bird, a plane?

Well, the loud, deep barking sort of gave it away. That "interloper" I mentioned before? She is actually not one at all. In fact, Stella is the guardian of the lambs, a job she seems to take quite seriously. She will plant herself between you and whatever lambs happen to be around. She kind of looks like she's giving me the evil eye here.

In case you are curious, she is a Maremma Sheepdog, which is a breed named after a region in Tuscany, not too far from the Great Pyrenees. Maremmas do not have a good reputation as pets, but according to Stone Barns' livestock manager, Stella is very sweet towards all of the people that work with the animals.

You're a good girl, Stella. Thanks for watching over these little guys.

Tip of the Day: When The Ants Go Marching

It seems like every time I turn around there are ants in the house. It's quite frustrating as they are very tenacious in their search for water, which means that they are usually in the kitchen and bathrooms.

However, if you want to thwart their progress, put baking soda (or any kind of powdery substance like Ajax, Comet or even chalk dust) in their path and it will help keep their numbers down. The baking soda is non-toxic so you don't have to worry about it harming other animals or humans in the house.

This Pretty Much Sums It Up

Just change the date to July 1, 2009. (Get it, "site" being short for website? Ha!)

I'll be back tomorrow.