My grandmother used salt in another way. She was the dutiful wife of a sweet minister who, without consulting her, purchased and planted many various fruit trees in their back yard. Two were in the way of the wash line, or maybe the story was they were berry trees and the birds would stain the wash. Anyhow, she wanted them gone but did not have the heart to point out to her sweet husband the bad planning. So every time she went into the back yard, she put several handfuls of salt into her apron pocket and liberally sprinkeled the root zone of these two trees with salt. Before long, they died of some unexplainable blight, and grandma had her wash line to her liking.

It appears my 'fun investment on 4 wheels' is going to be a tankful of gasoline in my DD van's. We just found out there was some kind of mix-up and we were to be invited to grandson's graduation in Kalamazoo! You can't imagine how much this means to me to know he wanted me there! He left Florida before school was out last year to go to MI to live with his dad.....no explainations to me or his mother, and he wouldn't talk to me. Anyway, hopefully he is coming out of whatever he was thinking. The investment is my grandson! We'll be leaving in a couple hours as it takes 2 hours to get there. Fortunately, we have most of the shower food made that we're responsible for and I have some of my packing done to go back to Michigan with my niece after the shower tomorrow. Whew! What I need from you girls is for someone to start the June thread cause I don't know when I'll be back on. And, of course, good thoughts and prayers for meeting up with the ex-SIL and his family tonight. I have always been nothing but nice to these people and have never, ever said anything derogatory to the grandkids about him and what he did to their mother. I figure, when they're old enough, they'll learn. Granddaughter (she's 14) has already cut most ties with him. She's learned things just by visiting a week in the summertime and she doesn't want to go back. Sorry for this looooong vent/gripe, but I hope tonight will also be a happy time for my family. I know you girls will KOKO and enjoy the sunshine... SharonG/FL-IN

Thanks, Jennifer. Susan

b-soda doesn't dry your skin out. This is from Brambleberry's site: Phenonip - A liquid preservative to inhibit a full range of microbial growth in your cremes, lotions, salt scrubs, dusting powders and liquid soap bases. This preservative is more suitable than Germaben II for products that are manufactured at higher temperature ranges. Phenonip is not a formaldehyde donor. Use at a rate of .5 -1.0% of the total weight of your product.While volume vs. weight measurements vary, these measurements may help you if you don't have a scale handy: 0.1 oz. = 3 ml 3.0 ml = 2 grams Phenonip is composed of: Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben and Propylparaben. Here is a link that might be useful: bath fizzys