Mother's Bi-Monthly Almanac

An alcohol oilcan lamp; an ice-skimmer; candle cleaner; coat your paint; tender gloving care; tether technology; putty in your cans.

By the Mother Earth News editors

November/December 1979

AN ALCOHOL/OILCAN LAMP

When you need a little light or a small "work" flame, why not make this easy oilcan lamp? Simply cut off the spout an inch or so above the can ... drill a tiny vent hole close to the screw top ... insert a wick ... and make a cap-to extinguish the fire-out of a piece of tubing that's closed at one end. The "snuffer" may then be soldered to a piece of chain that is in turn-fastened to the lamp

AN ICE-SKIMMER

You can remove excess fat from hot soup with an ice cube that's wrapped in a clean cloth. As the grease congeals, it will cling to the cloth and can then be rinsed off in a bowl of hot water.

CANDLE CLEANER

Soiled candles will look like new if you rub 'em--up and downwith a soft cloth that's been dampened with kerosene. Next, reharden the wax with another cloth dipped in cold water. And, to finish off, polish the candles to a lustrous sheen by rubbing them briskly with a crumpled sheet of tissue paper.

"COAT" YOUR PAINT!

If you have to do some outdoor paintin' in cold weather, try place Ing your paint can In a pan I warm water. Of course, you'll ha to add more heated H20 fro time to time, but the warm liquid will keep your paint from getting too thick to spread.

TENDER GLOVING CARE?

When you need an icebag but find that there's none around, just grab a rubber glove, fill it with all pieces of ice, and wind a rub ber band tightly around Its wrist area. Such a makeshift "soother' works fine for emergencies!

TETHER TECHNOLOGY

Should your cow or goat have a tendency to Injure its legs on the stake to which you've tethered it (this often happens when repeated pounding has caused the peg to become " mushroomed "-and thus jagged-edged-on the top), merely invert a bucket over the offending "spike", and your animal will be safe.

PUTTY IN YOUR CANS

Don't discard those empty tin cans. Paint 'em with some enamel ... let 'em dry ... then add a layer of putty to their outsides; and work rough designs into the soft material with your hands. After the "sculpture" has dried, paint It ... and you'll end up with an attractive, unique flowerpot'