THE VILLAGE LAMP POST

JANUARY 2017
Dear VLP readers,
The Toy Land Christmas Dinner was a
huge success, leaving me with fond memories
that will be shared for some time to come.
The whole evening was full of fun, good food,
fellowship, laughs, music, and
getting to know those we didn't know before. A
great evening was shared by all.
I want to thank all
of those who helped
decorate, set up and
clean up afterwords. I couldn't have done it
without you.
Thank you all for joining us and sharing a part, in
giving Christmas to children, who would not have had,
without your generous gifts of love.
The toys were divided between the Foster Children
of our community and Open Arms which helps new
mothers with small children 1 to 3 years old. The gifts
being divided up with ageappropriate recipients in
mind.
These gifts will be very welcome and bring
great joy to needy children in our very blessed
community. Linda S

It really is January 2017, and

time to reflect on what has been and
look forward to what is yet to come.
Now as I look back, I ponder
on the things I may have wanted to
changed but could not.
I will begin to listen to the wise word someone once wrote;
I REFECT ON MY PAST_WHAT I HAVE LEARNED,
AND WHAT I HAVE CREATED
As this year ends and a new one begins, I reflect on the events of my
past, the lessons learned and the wisdom gained. I see life from a different
perspective today than I did a decade, a year or even a month ago.
My circumstances have changed, and so have I.
I am continually honing my skills at living a life of purpose and
meaning. I think before I speak, knowing my words have power. My actions
are deliberate, hopeful and positive.
I reflect on my past and what I have created. As I move forward, I
bring with me the best of what was, and create the best from what is.
Thoughtfully, prayerfully and purposefully, I am ready for a
NEW BEGINING. See, the former things have come to past, and new
things I now declare.
May you all be blessed with Strength, Wisdom and the Courage to
change what is not working for you now, and help brighten your own corner
of this world.
I too am working on a better tomorrow.
Linda S

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In the Kitchen:
Soup Is On! Otherwise known as "Refrigerator Soup"
Today it is a wintry day of cold, white snow and a
promise of more of the same.
If you haven't made homemade soup lately, this is a
great time to think about it making "Refrigerator Soup".
Thanksgiving was turkey, stuffing and pie. Now a lot
of food doesn't sound too very exciting. So I cleaned out the
refrigerate and I made enough soup for myself and some to
share, with just a small amount of individual leftovers and the last of the
previous vegetables I bought earlier.
All you really need is a little time, leftover meat, veggies and/or pasta.
Before cooking vegetables, add any seasoning you
desire: Italian, or other whatever you like. I just season,
taste, and smell until I get what seems good to me.
Start out with your choice of veggies and cut to size,
enough for your taste. Add either chicken, beef Stock or
cubes of bullion in water.
Precook your meat and cut to size. Then you can toss it in after you
cook the veggies until near tender. Now add canned tomatoes , if that suites
your taste at that time.
Sometimes I will make a creamy white
sauce:
In a sauce pan over medium heat melt 2 of
tablespoons butter. Remove the pan from heat as
you stir in 1 teaspoon salt and teaspoon pepper
with one tablespoon of corn starch. Stir until smooth.
Then add to that, 1/2 cup of canned milk to cup water to make one

cup of milk. Stir and heat until the mixture thickens. Any milk will do, I just
think it is a bit creamier.
At this point if desired, I will add to cup of
whatever cheese I have on hand. This truly adds to
the favor.
Now that the veggies are tender you have the
choice to put them into the cream sauce, or stock.
Sometimes I will use a little of both. Making the Stock a bit creamy.
This is good too.
Beans and or pasta can be use at any point of
soup making as well. Yummmm! That was good soup.
I hope this will help you make good soup, when
nothing else will do.
Enjoy and have fun. Don't be afraid to experiment. It can be fun to see
how many different soups you can come up with and are so healthy.
Have fun! LS
"The Best Ever Tuna Salad"
Ingredients:
3 ( five- ounce) cans of solid white
albacore tuna, packed in water.
1/4 cup minced onion
2 table spoons olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon sugar
cup + 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
1 celery rib, finely chopped
Alternative ingredients: a dash of paprika, garlic powder and/or Italian
seasoning.

Directions:
DRY: Place tuna in fine-meshed strainer and press dry with paper towels to
prevent a watery tuna salad . Transfer to medium bowl and mash with fork
until finely flaked. Pat the tuna dry.
ZAP: Microwave onions and olive oil in a small bowl until onion begins to
soften, about 1 to 2 minutes.
STIR: Let cool for about 5 minutes. Combine onion/oil mixture, lemon juice,
approximately 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, and sugar with tuna and let stand
10 minutes.
FINNISH: Stir mayonnaise and celery into tuna mixture. Press out onto your
favorite sliced bread or French roll and top with cheese, lettuce, tomato etc.
Serve with a smile.
NOTE: Makes two cups. White Albacore Tuna is best. Also, you can pare
this recipe down to 1 can of tuna fish and 1/3 less of the other ingredients.
(Salad can be refrigerated in airtight container for 1 day)
Just For Fun:
3 DIY Winter Life Hacks To Keep You Safe
No: 1 DIY Winter Ice Cleat Boots
The winters here in the Coeur d'Alene area are
notorious for their snow, thaw, freeze cycles. Turning
beautiful fluffy snow into dangerous sheets of ice.
One sure way to negotiate these hazardous, bruising and possibly bone
breaking fall producing patches of ice is to wear Ice Cleats.
They come in a range from rudimentary in design and as cheap as $10,
all the way up to heavy-duty, complex and in the $70 to $150 range.

Here's a super easy and inexpensive DIY way to make your own ice
cleats, using a new or old pair of boots or shoes.
I bought these boots at Walmart for $20 and a
package of 100 count Metal hex washer slotted, #8
x 1/2" screws for about $5.50 at the hardware store,
that will serve as my winter ice cleat boots.
Start by simply screwing in
the short screws into the thick
tread of your boot or shoe,
starting at the toe and working
to the heel. Making sure not to
strip the threads and cover the tip, ball, instep and heal of your footwear.
Now you have a professional
looking set of winter ice cleat boots that
may save you a great deal of physical
harm, if not just a bruised ego.
If you do lose a screw or if they
become worn from uses, you can always
replace it with the new screw.

No: 2 Easily Keep Your Vehicle Door

from Freezing Shut
Ever been locked out of your vehicle
in the winter time because the doors were
frozen shut?
When ice and snow melts off of the
top of your vehicle, the resulting water runs
down into the seam between the door and
door frame, soaking into the spongy, rubberized seals that keeps the wind,

rain and cold out.

Once that cold water seeps into the seals and re-freezes, your doors are
frozen shut until the weather warms up a bit. Or run an extension cord and a
hairdryer out to your vehicle
And if you try to pry the doors open, you risk damaging the rubberized
foam seals, which can be costly to replace.
Yes, here's another use for vegetable shortening.
A simple DIY fix, coat the foam
seals, door and door jam with a light
coating of Crisco vegetable shortening.
What takes place is that the
vegetable shortening creates a moisture
barrier that blocks the cold water from
seeping into the foam seal and
therefore, does not allow the 2 pieces of
foam to freeze together.

One application of the vegetable

shortening should last an entire winter and
barely cost pennies, if that.

No: 3 The Easiest Way to Put on Tire Chains

If you have the older, traditional style tire chains, read this!
I don't know of anyone that hasn't struggled with putting on their tire
chains, when the weather turns cold, icy and snowy.

Here's a simple DIY trick that will help you get your tire chains on
quickly and easily.
If you don't already have some short bungee
cords, go out and buy a couple13 or shorter
automotive bungee
cords.
Then shorten them by
tying a knot in one end,
so that when they are stretched, they are no longer
than 13,
end-to-end.
Put your tire chains on like you
normally would, fastening the inside
clip and on the outside, attach one
end of your bungee cord several links
back from one end of the loose tire
chain and then stretching your
bungee cord, attaching the other end
of your bungee cord to the opposite
side of your tire chain, also several links back from the end of the chain.
Jump back in your vehicle and slowly drive back and forth about 5 to 6
feet, 2 to 3 times.
As you drive back and forth, the chain will become dislodged from the
tire treads and simultaneously, the bungee cord will pull the ends of the
chains closer together, allow you to easily fasten the retaining clip.
You may need to re-stretch your bungee cord a 2nd time to achieve a
tight enough fit. Then simply latch your chains together like normal!
Drive safe and take a bit of extra time to get where you're going.

Tidbits:
In Honor of National Trivia Day January 4, 2017
For national trivia day I would like
to say Happy Birthday to Elvis Presley,
the King of Rock 'n Roll!!!
Here are some fun facts about the
king. May he rest in peace.
Elvis Presley's 82nd birthday!
January 8, 1935 August 16, 1977
1) Elvis had a twin. His twin brother was Jesse Garon Presley and died at
birth.
2) Elvis' controversial manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was a former carnival
barker.
3) On his 11th birthday, Elvis received a guitar. This was a massive
disappointment. He'd been hoping for a bike!!
4) Elvis's favorite sandwich was peanut butter, bacon, banana, and honey!
(Umm...is it just me, or does that sound DELICIOUS!?)
5) Elvis was burned in effigy after an appearance on The Ed Sullivan
Show.
6) After Presleys first TV appearance in 1956, Jackie Gleason said, The kid
has no right behaving like a sex maniac on a national show.
7) Elvis was really good friends with Johnny Cash, and the two used to
impersonate each other. Can you imagine??!
8) Elvis served in the Army after he was already famous. ...
9) Elvis wore a cross, the Hebrew letter chai, and a star of David around his
neck. I dont want to miss out on heaven due to a technicality, he said.
10) Elvis was his mother's greatest and most loving fan

Upcoming Local and regional Events

Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science

Jan 1 - Jan 6

Nationally touring exhibit using hands-on interactive activities, authentic

artifacts and guidance from archaeologists, showing how modern science and
technology can reveal the mysteries of ancient Egypt, its culture and its
people.
Visitors will see a 2,300-year-old female mummy in the exhibit, and well as a
variety of animal mummies.
Hours: are Tuesdays-Sundays, 10am -5pm, and Wednesdays, 10am-8pm
Where: Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture,
2316 W. 1st Ave., Spokane, WA
Cost: $10/adults, $7.50/seniors, $5/ages 6-18 and college students, free/age
five and younger. Tuesdays is half off admission.
Phone: (509) 456-3931 Email:ahighberger@ma.com
Website: northwestmuseum.org/More like this:Art
Muddy Monday's
Monday, 02 January, 2017 06:30 PM 08:30 PM
Muddy Mondays are an open clay studio night. Buy a Tinker
membership and hang out with the people who have mud on
their face for a month. Peer to Peer, no instructor. Monday
from 6:30-8:30 PM. Ongoing.....
Cost: $25-$40 Clay extra.
Location: Gizmo-CdA, 806 N. 4th St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Event Contact Info: Barbara Mueller, Email: barb@gizmo-cda.org
Phone: 208-651-6200

18th Annual Small Artworks Invitational

Over 200 new works smaller than
12 inches by 32 regional artists will
be featured, Hours are daily, 11 a.m.
- 6 p.m.
Where: Art Spirit Gallery, 415
Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene
Phone: (208) 765-6006
Website: TheArtSpiritGallery.com/

January 1 - 7, 2017

Priest Lake: Vintage Snowmobile Races

Starts: January 15, 2017 - 12:00pm
Enjoy seeing races in vintage snowmobiles!!!
Several different classes of machines
FOR MORE RACE INFO PLEASE CONTACT
Race Director: Mike Courteau 509-599-5539
Race Site: Highway 57 Forest Service Airstrip
Starts at noon
Email: courteaumike@yahoo.com
Priest Lake Chamber of Commerce website: www.priestlake.org/
Comedy Night at the Inn! January 20th & 21st
Get your tickets now...they sell out early every time!
Location: Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn
Phone: 208-765-3200
Time: Doors Open at 7 pm, Show starts at 8 pm.
Tickets $15 each, buy a table of 8 and get priority seating!
Friday Night:
Headliner - Auggie Smith
Featured on Comedy Central and The Bob & Tom Radio Show
Also featuring Travis Nelson

Saturday Night:
Headliner - Patrick Maliha
Featured on Sirius XM & Guiness Book World Record Holder
Also featuring Mallory Wallace
** Comedy show is for ages 21 and over. ** Special room rates available.
Price: $15

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know if you have something to share.
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THE VILLAGE LAMP POST.
Send all inquires, information, or suggestions to:
Linda Sabrowski
Email: villagelamppost@yahoo.com
(208) 667-0910