Allison Bruning's Blog, page 69

Geocatching: A Modern Day Treasure Hunt

Geocatching: A Modern Day Treasure Hunt Technology plus hide and seek equals geocaching. With over 1,092,192 geaocaches worldwide, geocaching entices adults to relieve their childhood in the wilderness. Adults from over 100 countries on all continents participate in the game. The game requires skills in benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure-hunting, letterboxing, and waymarking. Equipment includes a GPS, waterproof container, logbook and a few small trinkets.
Invented on May 6, 2000 by Dace Ulmer of Beavercreek, Oregon the game continues to grow in popularity. A person who plays the game is known as a geocacher. The geocacher gathers a waterproof container, a log book, pencil and a tradable trinket. Tradable trinkets ideas include books, unusual coinage, small toys, ornamental buttons, and CD's. Most trade objects do not hold high monetary values but are sentimental to the finder. Sometimes a cache may also contain a geocoin or travelbug. These two objects, known to geocachers as hitchhikers, travel from one cache to another. Their exploits are available online. Never place food or something that smells inside the container. Stolen or vandalized geocaches are termed "muggled" or "plundered." "Muggles" are considered those who are unfamiliar with geocaching. Owners of the catch are responsible for maintaining the containers and objects. Waterproof containers may be as small as a finger to as large as five gallon buckets.
Once the geocacher has their treasures he or she chooses a location to bury their treasures. Locations may vary. Some geocache hiding places involve complex searches such as underwater, located 50 feet in a tree, staged multi caches, long off-road drives, high mountain peaks or in challenging environments. Urban environments also contain geocaches. Terms such as "drive-bys", "park 'n grab" and "cache and dash" refer to simpler geocaches.
Once placed in the ground the geocacher uploads the coordinates to the geocatching website. There are many geocaching websites worldwide. The largest geocaching website, Geocaching.com lists over 100,000,000 caches worldwide. Their free membership allows anyone access to geocaching locations. A paid, premium membership grants the geocacher extra search tools and member only geocache locations.
Finding a geocache can be as fun as burying one. On the website of their choice the geocacher locates a caches coordinates. They place the coordinators inside their GPS and begin their search. The search may leave lead to places they've never been before. Once the geocacher arrives to the cache's location reveal the container. They open the container, take out the logbook and sign it. Logbooks entries document who and where the geocacher came from and when the treasure was found. The geocacher then takes the trinket from the container only to replace it with a new one then reburies the cache. If a geocoin or travel bug accompanies the trinket they log into the site, placed the coordinates where it was found then bury it with their next geocache discovery.
A fun game with wonderful variations, the game creates controversy. Governmental and public opponents claim geocaching is only a collective effort to place more litter in the environment. In attempt to show otherwise, geochacers often travel with trash bags and pick up litter while searching. In 2005 South Carolina House of Representatives, in attempt to hinder geocaching, passed Bill 3777 stated, "It is unlawful for a person to engage in the activity of geocaching or letterboxing in a cemetery or in an historic or archeological site or property publicly identified by an historical marker without the express written consent of the owner or entity which oversees that cemetery site or property." The bill was sent to the Senate. The bill never left the Senate. Geocaching is legal in the United States.

The Basics of Raising Rabbits

The Basics of Raising Rabbits
Adopting a rabbit can be exciting for anyone, especially a child. As a previous Holland Lop breeder I am often asked questions concerning the basic care of these wonderful animals. I hope this blog will answer those questions any new rabbit owner may have. A female rabbit is called a doe and a male rabbit is called a buck. A buck generally reaches sexual maturity at three months whereas a doe reaches maturity at six months. It is generally a good idea to separate bucks from any other rabbit, regardless of sex at this time.
Ten day old Holland Lop babiesOnce the mother is pregant she will carry her kits (the baby rabbits) for up to 33days. The kits are born deaf, blind and without fur. Generally, the litter will not survive for a first time mother. A doe has two uterus'. Each uterus can hold up to 7 kits. This means if she has been double isiminated by the buck she can have a maximum of 14 kits at once. Ten days after the kits have been born they will begin to open their eyes and their fur will begin to grow. Between two and three weeks of age they will begin to crawl out of the nest on their own. It generally takes the doe anywhere between four to six weeks to wean her babies completely. Once this had been accomplished the babies are removed from the mother's cage. We remove our Holland Lops at 4 weeks but do not adopt them out until they are 6 1/2 weeks old. This is to ensure they are healthy enough for adoption and to see if there are any we would want to keep as show rabbits. It is best for anyone who wants to adopt a rabbit not to do so before 5 weeks. Never let a breeder convince you to take a rabbit younger than this. Also be certain to ask the breeder if they are supplementing the rabbits diet with hormones. Unfortunately, there are some who do this to make a profit. This is dangerous to the animal.
Once you have your rabbit at home what do you do next? There are two areas a rabbit can live in. The first is a cage or hutch. The size of the cage or hutch depends on the size of your rabbit. There are many different types of hutches and cages out there. I use wire cages that have the litter pan on the bottom below the wire floor. I would highly suggest a cage with a litter pan. Rabbits are very sensitive and highly susceptible to infections if they walk in their waste. The rabbit must have enough room in the cage to stand up and run around. Reaching into the cage you may experience different reactions from the buck and the doe. Does are very territoritorial. Once inside their cage that is there home. Bucks will be more accepting of you reachign inside their cage. As I tell my customers, "They are the ADHD bunnies." Bucks are very curious and will want to explore everything, everywhere. After you have the cage, water bottle and food bowl place the rabbit inside. Rabbits cannot withstand heat 80degrees or above. So you will want to ensure they have access to an air conditioner or placed inside. They can die from heat stroke or dehydration.
Now what do you feed it? Rabbits have very sensitive stomachs. NEVER feed them cabbage or lettuce. These foods will get stuck in their digestive system and may lead to medical complications. Another thing to keep away from rabbits is Alfalfa. Alfalfa causes diarrhea in rabbits. A good hay treat is to use Timothy Hay. I feed our rabbits a handful every other day unless I have a pregnant doe. She gets more. Timothy Hay provides additional proteins that may be lacking in their diets. You will also want to supplement their diet with a salt wheel. As for main diet I would highly suggest Purina Show Rabbit Pellets.
Rabbits are very clean animals. Like a cat, they can be litter trained. I have had some customers who buy rabbits from us that allow their rabbits free roam around the house and train them to use a litter box. This is very simple to do. Rabbits, like rodents, have teeth that are constantly growing throughout their lives. It is highly recommended the new owner place a chew toy inside their cage. The best chew toys I have discovered is called K-Bob. You can buy these in the bird aisle at Petsmart or any other Pet Store. They are wooden blocks that hand down a metal cylinder. Sometimes you can place a salt wheel on these. Hang it inside the cage and the rabbit will play with it. Another item I highly recommend is a plastic cat ball. Rabbits love the sound it makes as they roll it across the cage.
Like any animal, rabbits are susceptible to a wide variety of diseases. There are resources on the web that will help you if you have concerns. The best advice I can give is to find a Vet that has expertise in rabbits. Unfortunatly that is harder than it sounds. Rabbits are known as exotic pets. I would suggest, when trying to find a vet, call the ARBA. They have a list of vets across the country that have expertise in rabbits. You can find their number on their website at www.arba.net
Whether for show or as a pet, rabbits can be fun to raise. Enjoy your new friend.

My Eagle

My Eagle By: Shad Bolt Smith
of the Delaware Nation I met an eagleWho flew strightAnd trueAcross my heartHe left me blue!He would not lieHe could not stayShit happensBut why this way?He took me soaringWith a single kissNo matter what happensHe'll forever be missedA president electedRunning teh showSending our loved onesBut afraid to goI asked the mighty spiritWhy this must beHe said eagles flightTo keep America Free

Inside The Man Who Started It All.......George Washington

Inside the man who started it all......George Washington President's Day. In our fast paced society the meaning of this important holiday is often overlooked. To many people in our American society it means nothing more than shopping sales, and a day off from work or school, sometimes both. For me, President's Day means more than the bank and post office closures. You see, I am a member of the Daughters of American Revolution. My ancestor, Private Reuben Messenger of Connecticut, fought for freedom from the British in the American Revolution. Like so many men and woman of his time, he wasn't fighting for himself but for the future generations. Without those brave men and women, we wouldn't be the country we are today. And during the hardest times of the war, when all hopes seemed lost, one man stood out to unify our troops and boast their moral. His name was General George Washington, the first president of the United States.
 
Augustine Washington
George Washington was born February 22, 1732 on Pope Creek's Estate near Westmoreland, Virginia Colony. His parents were Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. George was the third generation to be born in the colonies. Before immigrating to the colonies, the Washington family had held prominence in England. During the Puritan Revolt (aka The English Civil War) of the 1640's, the family lost a majority of their wealth. In 1657, King Henry VIII granted Lawrence Washington 5,000 acres in the Virgina Colony. George's great grandfather immigrated to Virginia. Not much is known about George's father's side of the family in the colonies until Augustine's birth.

 Augustine Washington's father had died when Augustine was only four years old. After his father's death, he and his sister split the inheritance. Augustine gained 1,000 acres and slaves on Bridges Creek in Westmoreland County. Soon after he gained his inheritance he married his first wife, Jane Butler. Jane was an orphan and through threir marriage he gained approxmiatley 640 more acres that she had inherited through her father.  Augstine and Jane had four children together. A year after they were married Jane gave birth to son Butler, who died before the age of one. Augustine not only built a family but also increased his land holdings.  Augustine was an ambitious man. He built mills, grew tobacco, aquired land and owned slaves. At one time he had even tried his hand in opening up iron mines. In 1726, Augustine had a new home for his wife and children built Wakefield. That same year, he also bought his sister's land and slaves. When he wasn't working on his land he was very active in the Anglican church.  He also served as a Justice of the Peace and a sherriff. On November 24, 1729 Jane died unexpectatly leaving Augustine to raise their children Lawernace (age 11), Augustine (age 9) and Jane (age 7) by himself. Two years later, he would remarry. This time to 23 year old, Mary Ball of Lancaster County. Mary gave birth to their first child, George Washington. The couple would have five more children: Elizabeth Washington (1733-1797), Samuel Washington (1734-1781), John Augustine Washington (1736- 1787), Charles Washington (1738 -1799) and Mildred Washington (1739-1740). Tragedy hit Augustine during times of joy. Four years into his marriage, as Mary continued to give him children, Jane died. After the death of Jane, Augustine moved his family up the Potomic River to the Little Hunting Creek Plantation (aka: Mount Vernon). The family would remain there until 1738, whereupon Augustine moved his family to Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River, close to Fredricksburg. Here George Washington spent much of his youth.

Although a member of gentile population, George's family was never considered upper class. His family was considered to be a member of the middling class, since they were only moderatly wealthy. As a boy, George was homeschooled from ages 7 to 15 by the local church sexton and later with schoolmaster. George excelled in mathematics. He was taught all moral, manners and educations that were expected by a man of his station. His educations included geography, mathematics. Latin and Classical English. Although he had a wonderful education, it would be the knowledge he gained from the planation foreman and backwoodsmen that would utilize for most of his life. By the time he had finished his educations, George had become a master tobacco farmer, surveryor and stock raiser.

Not much is known about George Washington's childhood except for the fables such as how he chopped down his father's favorite cherry tree. George's father died of stomach gout on April 12, 1743. At the time of Augustine's death he had a various of planations with a total of 64 slaves assigned through. In his will, Lawerance had been given guardinship of George. Lawerance made certain George has an excellent upbring.  Lawerance had also been given the estate at Little Hunting Creek Planation along with the slaves. Lawerance soon renamed the planation as Mount Vernon in honor of  Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Navy. George stayed with his mother and helped her run the plantation until he was 16 when he decided to travel with a surverying group. A year later, Lawerance's father - in - law, Lord Fairfax, appointed George as the offical surveyor of Culpeper County. Two years later, as Lawerance suffered from Tuberculosis, George traveled to Barbados with his brother in hopes the tropical weather would cure his brother. At the same time, George was suffering from smallpox. George's survival of the smallpox was vital for his future, in that it innoculate him from the terribel disease that would later kill most of his troops in the Revolutionary War. The disease had left his face slightly scarred. The trip to Barbados had proved futile for his brother. Lawerance died at Mount Vernon in July of 1752. Lawerance and his wife had four children, only one of whom had  survived; a two year old daughter named Sarah. Two months after her father's death Sarah died, leaving George to inherit Mount Vernon at 20 years of age.  

For more about this amazing man visit:
http://www.biography.com/people/george-washington-9524786?page=2

Six Lines on Sunday 2-19-12

Six Lines on Sunday 2-19-12
From page 23 of Calico by Allison Bruning The tribe told stories of her mother walking the gauntlet, nine months pregnant. Chief Big Deer had never wanted her to walk the gauntlet, but their mother had insisted that her husband's people, were her people. With compassion, the peace chief had asked War Chief Kicking Horse to order the people not to hit her stomach. He had agreed. Step by step, Anna endured the gauntlet. She had almost made it to the end when an older woman hit her hard on her stomach. Anna fell while Calico pushed out of her. Her screams lifted in the air while the other women ran to her side. François paced with regret that he had allowed Anna to walk the gauntlet and agonized over her screams. Then, just as he couldn't take her screams any longer, Calico's cries replaced the sound of her mother's torment. Anna returned to the gauntlet with Calico in her arms, finished the walk, and then collapsed with labor pains into François' arms. Rose came into the world soon after.

Need A Job? Check This Out!

Need A Job? Check This Out!
How To Find A Job: When There Are No Jobs, 2012 Edition: A Necessary Job Search Book & Career Planning Guide For Surviving And Prospering In Today's Hyper Competitive Job Market http://www.amazon.com/How-Find-Job-Competitive-ebook/dp/B0056PFONW

Paul Rega is president of a retained executive search firm and a professional recruiter with over twenty-seven years of job hunting and career planning experience. His provocative new book, "How To Find A Job: When There Are No Jobs" strikes a nerve with millions of displaced workers and goes well beyond the principles of job hunting. Paul introduces a revolutionary concept in career management and personal development called "Intuitive Personal Assessment." He takes his readers on a powerful journey as he tells a gripping story about his own career and the challenges faced as an executive recruiter, often fraught with personal tragedy. This is a must read for anyone who is looking for a new job or wants to change careers in the worst economy since the Great Depression.

The author shares his vast knowledge of career planning and the inner workings of the job search process, citing hundreds of proven and effective job search techniques. He explains how to market your background to a targeted audience, interviewing skills and techniques, network building strategies, how to utilize personal and business contacts, effective use of social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, insider tips on working with headhunters, salary and benefits negotiation, how to write a resume, cover and follow-up letters, how to start and succeed in your own business and much more.

In a message to his readers, Paul believes that despite the many challenges faced by those suffering as a result of the weak job market, change in one's life can be positive. He explains that, "Change throughout your life is inevitable, and as your life changes so often does your career." His book is an effective guide that will provide you with the necessary tools, skills and inside knowledge from a professional recruiter to help you navigate through difficult economic times and find a new job or change careers.

Adoption: It's nothing new......

Adoption. It's nothing new...
Recently my husband and I began the process of trying to adopt a child from Haiti. International adoption can be daunting as it means alot of paperwork and waiting. As I begin this wonderful journey towards added a child to our family I thought about the all times in history when a child or an adult was adopted from one culture into another. Cultures worldwide have instituted adoption in one form or another. It's nothing new at all.
Adoption has been around probably since the dawn of mankind. It is an ancient process that is spoken of in the bible. Ancient Greek, Ancient Rome, Mesopotamia and Egypt all had adoption procedures. The first written code for adoption had been during the riegn of King Hammurabi of Babylonia of 18th century BC. Paragaraphs 185 through 193 of the Code Law of Hammurabi clearly explicitly deal with adoption. Here is the law:
The clay tablet with the Code of Hammurabi upon it.185. If a man adopt a child and to his name as son, and rear him, this grown son can not be demanded back again.186. If a man adopt a son, and if after he has taken him he injure his foster father and mother, then this adopted son shall return to his father's house.
187. The son of a paramour in the palace service, or of a prostitute, can not be demanded back.
188. If an artizan has undertaken to rear a child and teaches him his craft, he can not be demanded back.
189. If he has not taught him his craft, this adopted son may return to his father's house.
190. If a man does not maintain a child that he has adopted as a son and reared with his other children, then his adopted son may return to his father's house.
191. If a man, who had adopted a son and reared him, founded a household, and had children, wish to put this adopted son out, then this son shall not simply go his way. His adoptive father shall give him of his wealth one-third of a child's portion, and then he may go. He shall not give him of the field, garden, and house.
192. If a son of a paramour or a prostitute say to his adoptive father or mother: "You are not my father, or my mother," his tongue shall be cut off.
193. If the son of a paramour or a prostitute desire his father's house, and desert his adoptive father and adoptive mother, and goes to his father's house, then shall his eye be put out.

According to Greek legend, Alexander the Great's father was Zeus. Zeus had impregnated Olympias before her marriage to King Philip II of Macedon. After Alexander's birth in 356 B.C., King Philip II claimed Alexander as his son. The 1st emperor of the Roman Empire, Augustus, had been adopted by his great uncle via last will and testament in 44B.C. Augustus is better known by his birth name Octavius, the young man who went to war against Cleopatra and Mark Anthony before he became emperor. Later in his life, Augustus adopted four children. Unlike modern adoptions, the main reason to adopt a child was for the benefit of the person who was adopting and not the child. In ancient Rome, it was so vital for the upperclass to have a male heir that couples without sons would adopt boys or men. Adoption, although it happened, was rare in the ancient world. The majority of orphans and abandoned children became slaves. 
After the fall of Rome, the fate of orphans and abandoned children became more dismal. More concerned about bloodlines and legitimacy, the monarchs of medieval age Europe either outlawed adoption entirely or made the requirements so hard to fulfill it was hopeless. Despite the aversions, some adoptions did continue through personal contracts. These contracts, focused on the responsibilities the adopted child would have instead of the child's welfare. It was not uncommon for the contracts to state the child had to care for the parents in their old age. While some children found new homes under private adoptions, Europe still faced a problem with orphaned and abandoned children. The majority of these children often found themselves upon the doorstep of the Catholic Church. If a child was fortunate to have found themselves there, they would immediately be immediately adopted by the church. Under the church's guidance, the children were raised in a monastery. Within the confides of the monastary, the children were given an education and trained in a trade. As the population of abandoned and orphand grew, the church began to systematically devise an instuition to care for these children. Hospitals and orpanges were created by the church throughout Europe. It was the first time in history where abandoned children were without social, moral or physical disadvantage.

Mysteries of Ohio's Serpent Mound

 Mysteries of Ohio's Serpent Mound
Long before Europeans ever knew of the Western Hemisphere, Prehistoric Native American groups known as the Moundbuilders roamed the Ohio wilderness. These groups were named Moundbuilders after the earthen mounds they created. These mounds were created in a wide variety of shapes including conical, circular and animal effigies. When Europeans first explored this area they were shocked to see the numerous mounds dotting the wilderness. Today most of these mounds are no longer among us. Most of them have been destroyed by farming. Archeaologists struggle in a race to save what little mounds still dot the Ohio Valley. The largest animal effigy known to man is the Serpent Mound (aka: Alligator Mound) located near Peebles in Adams County, Ohio.
Serpent Mound measures 1330 feet in length with its height measuring three feet. It lays ontop of a 100 foot bluff overlooking Brush Creek. Several caves lie underneath the bluff. It was known to many historical Native American tribes and early settlers. In 1846, it was first surveryed by explorers Ephraim Squire and Edwin Davis who documented the mound extensively. Forty - one years later Professor Fredrick Putnum aquired the land from the farmer who owned with the goal of preserving it. The farmer had already sold most of the land in the area allowing for the destruction of many other mounds that had surrounded the Serpent Mound. Fredrick Putnum conducted archeaological excavations upon the Serpent Mound and surrounding area between the years 1887-1889. Putnum discovered several mounds and graves within the area. He acredited the Serpent Mounds' construction to the Adena people. He based his belief on the findings of three Adena mounds and village near the Serpent Mound. Yet he never recovered artifacts from the Serpent Mound to coorelate the Adena mounds to the Serpent Mound. In 1990 and 1992 Archeaologist Brad Lepper conducted his own excavations into the Adena village Putnum has discovered. Upon examing features with ceramics and flint tools, Leper determined the village was not an Adena village but a Fort Ancient one. He took charcoal samples from inside the Serpent Mound. Radiocarbon dating revealed the mound was built around 1070AD. That would mean the Serpent Mound was constructed after the Adena people and during the time the Fort Ancient occupied the lands.
Serpent Mound is Ohio Historical Society park maintained by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. The park contains a museum, hiking trails, native american village, and picnic areas. They are closed during the winter season. Hours vary by season. Admission is $7 per car. More travel information can be viewed at http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw16/index.shtml
The Friends of Serpent Mound organization organize several events throughout the year at the park. More information about events can be found at: http://www.highlandssanctuary.org/Serpent_Mound_Visitors_Guide.htm#Friends

Smart Couponing Saves Money and Helps Others

Smart Couponing Saves Money and Helps Others
Recently my husband and I have been trying to find ways to cut back on our expenses. We were intrigued by the show the "Extreme Couponers" how some families are able to walk out of a store with hundreds sometimes thousands of dollars of products and only pay less than $200 for each transaction. My husband and I are not alone. In our current economical times middle class families are hurting to put food on their tables while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. So what is the average American family to do? Coupon.
My husband and I are by no means extreme couponers but we have found a way to lower our grocery bills, save on gas and help our soldiers overseas. Here are a few of our frugal tips.

How do I find enough coupons?
My husband and I do not live in a major city so it is useless for me to buy the local paper. Instead every Sunday I buy a copy of the Courier-Journal which is the local paper for Louisville Kentucky. Sometimes, if available I will also buy the Cincinnati paper. The only time I do not buy the paper is on holidays. Most newspapers will not place coupon inserts in their paper on the holidays. Sometimes though you can find the P&G insert which has valuable coupons for their brands. Buying a paper may give you only one copy of the coupon. I gain extra copies of the coupons I want by asking my friends to donate their inserts to me. A lot of people will buy the Sunday paper only to throw these inserts in the trash. I have known some people to dumpster dive for the thrown out inserts. I have never done this.
Three other valuable resources I utilize are coupon trains, a coupon groups and online couponing databases. A coupon train is like a nationwide coupon swap. The conductor (the person begins the train) places 50 coupons into an envelope and sends it off the first passenger on his or her list. The recipient (the passenger) can be anywhere in the United States. Once the train has been received, the passenger then sorts through the coupons. He or she takes out the expired ones. The passenger then decides which of the coupons left he or she wants and swaps out the old ones for ones they do not need. The train is sent on its way with still a total of 50 coupons to the next passenger. This process is called refueling. It continues along its route with each passenger conducting the same refueling process until it is sent home to the conductor. This is a wonderful resource because not all coupon inserts are the same from coast to coast.
Coupon groups are local groups where several couponers gather together once a week to swap out coupons. The leader of the group places his or her old coupons in a basket then passes it to the next member. Like the coupon train, that member goes through the stack, removes the ones he or she desire then replaces the missing ones with ones he or she doesn't want from his or her own personal stack. The member then passes the basket to the next person and the same process is repeated. This is also great because it allows members to share their own personal savings tips on a local level. Every store whether nationwide or not has localized sales.
Online coupon databases such as KouponKaren.com offer coupons that are not available in Sunday inserts. You can find almost anything in the databases for a variety of products and reductions. Coupons are updated daily and come from a wide variety of sources. These services are free for anyone to use.
Once I have my coupons it's time to sort them out. I have a large binder with plastic slips that are used to hold trading cards in. I keep all my coupons organized in that binder in alphabetical order. After I have placed my coupons in the binder I'm ready to start planning my shopping trip. The week of my trip I gather the advertisements for the stores I am going to use. I try to match my coupons with the items that are on sale. If I don't have that item I will utilize the online coupon database to see if I can get a coupon for that item. Most of my shopping trips are not for a single week. I have a pantry of items I try to keep stocked so if things are tight I can eat out of our pantry. Our pantry has also allowed us to donate food and items to local charities. You will want to build up your pantry as well. At first you may feel that this is insane but as you get use to it, it does pay off in the end. My husband and I have saved over $300 so far on our food bill. Most food items can last anywhere from three months to a year. I have found using a food storage guide helps me to keep track of how long an item can last. You can find these online.

Know Every Store You Shop At Like It Was The Back Of Your Hand.
Ah store policies. They have been in the news a lot lately. Some of the major chains are starting to change their coupon policies. What does this mean to the couponer? A lot. The coupon policy affects how the shopper will be able to use their coupons. Every store, whether a national chain or not, is different. Some stores allow you to use a store coupon and a manufactures coupon on the same item others do not allow this. Some stores will double your coupons automatically and some you have to go on certain days. In order to save the most of your money it is best to stock up on your coupons until a sale hits. Then use all your coupons for that item at once with the sale price. But stores are starting to take notice of the tricks couponers use so you need to know up front what the stores expect from you. Make a list of the stores you use the most then call them to ask about their coupon policy. Some stores will direct you to an online policy while others may ask you come into the store so they can give it to you. Always read the policies carefully before you shop. Once you know what to expect you can plan your visit and become a more effective couponer. For example : Our local Krogers doubles any coupon 50 cents or lower everyday so I try to use that as much as possible. But they do not honor prices from other stores. Our local Walmart doesn't double coupons but will honor other store prices. Also for every $100 you spend at Krogers you can get 10cents off your next gasoline purchase. The $100 is the before coupon price. For example yesterday I went to Krogers and bought $48 worth of items for $12. Forty –eight points were credited to my gasoline points.

I Have Expired Coupons. What Do I Do?
Expired coupons are great! Never through them out. Just because they are expired doesn't mean they can't be used elsewhere. Our soldiers overseas are able to use expired coupons six months after they have expired in the states. Every week I go through my coupons, pull out my expired ones and place them in an envelope. I then go online to my yahoo group, pick a station overseas and mail them the family center of that base. Our soldiers appreciate these coupons more than you can know. It allows their families to save more money in a country where items may cost more than they do in the states.
Couponing is fun. You can be frugal and help another in need.

Six Lines on Sunday 2-12-12

Taken from Chapter 12 of my book, Calico.
Chief Kicking Horse grabbed one of the men. He forced him to stand and held his tomahawk to the man's neck. The man with the prominent nose arched his head back. Pierre stood beside Chief Kicking Horse and studied the man. "Name!" Chief Kicking Horse demanded. The captive man glared at Pierre. "Your name!"


"Daniel Boone of Pennsylvania."

Chief Kicking Horse pushed him back. "And your friend?"

 "John Steward."

Chief Kicking Horse spoke to Pierre. "Three days ago my sons, nephews, grandsons and I hunted near the Kentucky River. We came upon these white men. They told us they did not travel alone. We made them lead us to their camp. We attacked. We took their horses and other belongings, and then brought them back to our village."

"Why not kill them?"

"Their story intrigues us."