Katie Frances
A freelance writer and photographer from Southcentral Pennsylvania, Katie Frances writes about her passions...the great outdoors, local flora and fauna, frugal living, cooking from scratch, life long learning, and enjoying life to the fullest. An avid gardener for over 20 years, Katie Frances embraces living green and lessening her carbon footprint.
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Displaying Results 1 - 110 (of 110) for All Content
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Halloween Parade Cancelled Due to SnowWith 6.5 inches already on the ground in some areas and forecasts of up to 12 inches total for the Tri-State areas of Futon County, PA; Washington County, MD; and Morgan County, MD, mother nature has tricked instead of treating this halloween. -
Pink HoneysucklePink honeysuckle grows as a flowering tree in the forests of southcentral Pennsylvania. Honeysuckle colors the woods pink in early May. -
Yellow Buttercups in MaySpring is a great time to take a walk to search for blooming wildflowers. These yellow buttercups were found along the banks of the Potomac River in the Hancock, Maryland area. -
Pink PeonyPale pink peonies grace the late Spring garden with fragrance and charm. Raindrops drip from this peony after a midday storm. -
The Forest Dressed in GreenIn spring the forest dresses in varying shades of green. -
The Forest Dressed in WhiteIn winter the forest dresses in white layers of snow. -
By the Church on a Snowy EveA late winter landscape of a country church after a recent snow. Cedar trees stand off to the side. -
The Evergreen Tree in the Winter GardenAn evergreen tree in the garden provides color to the winter landscape. -
Walnut Tree in WinterA walnut tree in late winter makes a beautiful bare outline against a pale blue sky. -
Cat Tiptoes Through Yellow TulipsThe beauty of Spring unfolds as brilliant yellow tulips burst into bloom! After a winter filled with snow days, do you feel like you can hardly wait to tiptoe through the tulips? This cat celebrates Spring as he tiptoes through the tulips! -
Snow Plow AngelsAfter a snowstorm, not everyone is able to dig out from under the snow! Without the compassion of snow plow angels, life after a snowstorm can be very challenging for the elderly, the financially challenged, and/or those with health problems. -
In Search of a Mailbox Buried in SnowWhen snow accumulates heavily, it's go without mail delivery until the mailbox area is cleared of snow. This can takes days to accomplish. -
Out in the Country in WinterWhile living out in the country has many rewards, life in the country isn't always cool! Or is it? -
Snake in a TreeDuring the warmer months of the year, snakes can be found sunbathing on rocks, in trees, or on the hot asphalt of the road. -
The Forest in SpringIn Spring, the forest awakens! Tiny leaves unfold from branches. Animals return from their winter vacation or hibernation. Do you prefer the forest in Spring? -
The Forest in WinterA forest in winter seems cold and lonely! The ground is often coated in snow. The trees stand bare and dark. Do you prefer the forest in Winter?
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Snowy Woods at SunsetThe setting sun shines through these woods on a snowy winter's eve. Have you ever paused beside the snowy woods at sunset? Or taken a walk through the wintry wood as the setting sun shines through? Exhilarating!
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Black and White Cat in the SnowAs he watches his people shovel snow, this cat seems to be asking, "And we don't go to Florida in the winter because?"
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St. Patrick's Day LimerickSt. Patrick's Day is celebrated by wearing green, eating traditional Irish foods, and singing Irish songs. We celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, just before the arrival of Spring.
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Use Common Household Items for Traction on Snow or IceWhen snow or ice arrives suddenly and you are all out of de-icer, look around your home to see what you have on hand that can be used to give traction. This article reveals four commmon household items that can used for traction on snow or ice.
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Skip a RockMemories of lazy summer days fight off the blues on chilling winter days. With 30 inches of snow on the ground and a forecast of more snow on the way in a day or two, remembering summer days keeps the blues away.
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Cat in the SnowThe glare from the snow makes this cat's eyes look like she has heat vision! It seems like she could be saying, "I will melt this snow with my heat vision."
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We Got Snow!During Saturday morning when the Blizzard of February 2010 was still going strong, this dog amused himself by leaping through the snow!
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A Girl and Her DogSaturday morning while the blizzard continues to rage, a girl and her dog play in the snow.
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The Woods in WinterThe stillness of the woods in winter is intensified by thousands of snowflakes falling softly all around.
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Sunset Over Distant MountainsThe slow setting of the sun on a cold winter's day fills the sky with shades of pinks and golds. Moments of beauty that take our breathe away.
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The Woods at TwilightHave you ever walked through the wintry woods just at twilight trying to make your way home? Over the distant hill you can see the sun sinking lower...
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Pictures of My Daughter's Doll Collection of Kostume Kids by Sugar Loaf ToysThis slideshow presents pictures of a collection of vinyl faced plush dolls won from a claw machine at the arcade.
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Old Timey Pink RosesThis pink rose is the queen of my garden. A fragrant beauty, it has been my favorite rose since childhood. I dug the starting from my mother's garden years ago. A fragrant hardy old timey pink rose.
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Pink RoseThis old rose,a gift from my neighbor, grows freely in my garden requiring little to no care. It grows in numerous places around my neighbor's 100 year old homestead.
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Sunset Over a Hay FieldA beautiful sunset intensifies the beauty of a snowy field dotted with large bales of hay.
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Blue Moon at DaybreakAt daybreak, the Blue Moon sinks low in the western sky. Scrub pines stand tall in the moonlight.
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The Moon on December 29, 2009A rare event is about to take place. A blue moon will take place on New Year's Eve, 2009. This is the first blue moon to appear on New Year's Eve since 1990. There will not be another New Year's Eve Blue Moon until 2028.
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How to Make Applesauce, Easy Step by Step PictorialIf you have even wanted to make your applesauce, let me show you how easy making your own applesauce can be. This slideshow will share the easy step by step directions.
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Purple Asters in the GardenPurple asters make a great addition to the garden. They beautify while attracting beneficial insects to your garden. Purple asters are easy to grow, too.
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Blizzard of 2009The blizzard of 2009 started on Friday night, December 18. Snow fell rapidly through late Saturday night, December 19. My area of Pennsylvania received over 16 inches of snow.
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Christmas Tree from DadFrom a small live Christmas tree in our living room to towering giant at the edge of the yard, this spruce tree has live through several decades of Christmas holidays.
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Holiday HaikuJust as the snowflakes that fall in winter are too many to count, holiday joy is uncountable, too.
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Old Datsun Truck Beneath a Wild Cherry Tree in Winter and SpringWhether covered in an ice storm or flanked with Spring's awakening beauty, this old datsun truck sets old and neglected beneath a wild cherry tree.
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Pennsylvania RoadsidesWhether the season is Winter or Spring, Pennsylvania roadsides abound in beauty. In Winter, the trees and bushes along the roadsides are often covered in snow. In Spring, the redbud trees along the roadsides make a beautiful display of pink blooms.
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Hay Bales in the SnowA snowstorm in early December in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, covers the hayfield in white. The falling snow covers the ground and lays on the huge hay bales that still dot the field.
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Winter in PennsylvaniaWinter sends a warning 16 days before its official arrival. This light snow gives the warning that winter is on its way. Prepare for snowstorms, ice, and bitter cold. Winter will soon be here. This is just winter's first warning!
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A Hay Field Through the Seasons of One YearThroughout the year, the looks of a hay field change to match the season. This slideshow documents the changing seasons in a hay field.
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Autumn in PennsylvaniaThe beauty of the Pennsylvania woods is intensified as the leaves turn color in autumn.
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Turkey Haiku for Thanksgiving DayAs we gather to enjoy Thanksgiving, family traditions are similar for everyone.
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How to Make Ants on a Log, A Kid Friendly Healthy SnackHow to make ants on a log, with step by step instructions.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Pilgrim Hats for the Thanksgiving TableKids enjoy making easy chocolate peanut butter pilgrim hats to place beside each place setting on Thanksgiving. Kids love this recipe for making fun Thanksgiving pilgrim hat treats.
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Bee on Purple Obedient Plant FlowersA beautiful plant to add to your garden is the purple obedient plant. Purple obedient plants make beautiful flowers for the bees to visit.
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Pennsylvania Black Bear CountryThe elusive black bear roams freely through the mountains of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania black bear has made his home in these Sideling Hill Mountains for ages.
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Bee on a Milkweed FlowerThe milkweed flower is not only fragrant but attracts helpful insects to the garden. A bumblebee enjoys sipping from the milkweed flower.
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Colorful Cakes of Fall for ThanksgivingIf you enjoy matching your desserts to the season, here are three easy colorful cakes you can make for Thanksgiving. They will add beautiful Fall colors to your lunch box, Fall parties, and Thanksgiving dinner.
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Cat in Halloween Costume Attends Trick or Treat NightYou've heard of people in cat costumes at Halloween going to trick or treat night. But, have you ever heard of a cat in a halloween costume going trick or treating? This article tells about one cat's Halloween adventures on trick or treat night.
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Make a Halloween Spooky Spider CakeI have found from personal experience, I save money when my kids and I make and decorate our own Halloween cakes. Making a spooky spider Halloween cake is easy, quick, and makes a lot of fun Halloween memories. It's yummy, too!
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Spooky Spider CakeSpooky and creepy but always delicious, this chocolate cake is a hit at any Halloween party. Read the article here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2249233/make_a_halloween_spooky_spider_cake.html?cat=22
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Milkweed Bugs on Milkweed PodsMilkweed bugs arrive in the garden around Halloween. All decked out in orange and black, these tricksters refuse to leave the party. Milkweed bugs look like Halloween Trick or Treat Tricksters All Decked Out in Black and Orange.
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Pink Cosmos in the GardenCosmos is a great annual to plant in your flower garden.
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Black Hornet Bees Build a Nest in an Overgrown Forsythia BushBe sure to check a neglected forsythia bush well before you start trimming. There just may be occupants inside. Don't wait for the stings that will make you aware. Check the bush first.
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Tips on How to Use the Free Computers at the Public LibraryTips on making your use of the free computers at the local public library a pleasant adventure for yourself and the other library patrons.
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Old Shoes Become Garden ArtA great way to recycle old shoes that you can't even give away is to use them as planters in your garden. I especially liked making planters from a couple of my children's cast-off sneakers. Old boots work just as well for garden art
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TwilightThe sky is especially beautiful at twilight.
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Bees in the GardenBees perform so many vital functions for our planet!
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Why Plant Sedum in the Garden?Sedum comes in all sizes, shapes, and colors. In the Fall the sedum blooming in my garden attracts monarch butterflies, bumblesbees, and more. An assortment of butterflies and bees feast on the pretty pink blooms.
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Spooky Spider WebDaybreak reveals the workings of the spider.
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Hanging Out in the CornfieldHanging out in the cornfield is great way to spend the day.
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Preying Mantis, Bare Naked in the GrassAlthough originally concealed in the tall grasses, posing for camera is something this preying mantis seems to enjoy.
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Wild Party in the Field! Wild Life Party Hardy!If you allow a section of your landscape to grow wild, you will have many visitors passing through. Watching the wildlife party hardy gives you a lot of personal enjoyment. You never know what they'll do next!
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Picture of an Old Man's PassionThe Old Man's Passion is worth noticing if you're in the market for excitement and bold dynamics.
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Easy Cole Slaw RecipeThis coleslaw recipe makes enough for a crowd and is better than any colonel's cole slaw.
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Foraging for Free Food From the WildNature provides free food from the wild many times during the year. Foraging for free food in the wild is fun and economical. First rule for gathering free food from the wild, always have the landowner's permission before you pick!
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SunflowersIf you take a closer look, sunflowers in a simple vase may become more than a bouquet of summer flowers.
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Bulbs to Plant This Fall for Flowers Next YearFall is the time to plant bulbs in the garden for next year's flowers. From August through late September, I plant bulbs, rhizomes, and tubers. Planting Fall bulbs is easy and very rewarding when Spring comes around.
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Pictures of Naked LadiesA walk in late August may be filled with lots of surprises if you find naked ladies blushing pink in the warm summer sunshine.
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How to Clean Green PenniesThis is a pictorial to show how I clean green pennies before taking them to the bank to cash them in.
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Baked Macaroni and Cheese, A Crowd Pleasing Easy RecipeThis recipe for baked macaroni and cheese is easy to make. This recipe makes enough to serve at a reunion, picnic, or large family dinner.
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Circus Elephants, Widmeyer Park in Hancock, Maryland.On Friday, May 29, 2009, we were treated to the fantastic sight of the three circus elephants bathing in Little Tonoloway Creek, Widmeyer Park in Hancock, Maryland.
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Tall Bearded Iris in the Spring GardenTall bearded iris add beauty to the home garden. After a spring rain, raindrops linger on the many different colors in the iris garden.
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Backyard Science: Baby Mockingbirds in the NestClose-up view of baby mockingbirds in the nest.
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Moths and CoccoonsOur backyard buzzes, croaks, sings, and hums with science. My kids love learning real life science because backyard science is never boring. There really is a lot of really cool scientific stuff happening in the backyard.
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Hatching a Moth CocoonThis slideshow shows how a coccoon hatched into a moth. First, we found the cocoon. Next, we placed the coccoon in a big glass jar. As we watched the cocoon, we took pictures. Find out what this plain cocoon turned into.
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How to Make Homemade Pasta Egg Noodles the Easy Way!We make homemade pasta egg noodles for family reunions, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, and Easter dinner. Homemade pasta egg noodles are great to make anytime a big batch of noodles is needed.
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Spring Wildflowers Along the Mason Dixon Line Washington County, MarylandBeauty abounds in the Spring wildflowers blooming along the Mason Dixon Line in Washington County, Maryland.
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Thrift Shopping in Hancock, MarylandLoaves and Fishes Thrift Store, The Hancock Antique Mall, Weekly Yard Sales, and Weekly Flea Markets are all places to thrift shop in Hancock, Maryland.
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How to Use Leftover Holiday Candy!Recycle your leftover holiday candy using these simple ideas to make unique home-baked creations.
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7 Tips for Shopping at a Salvage Grocery StoreHere are 7 tips I have learned from personal experience on how to shop salvage grocery stores.
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How to Find Morels, Wild Mushrooms, Growing on Sideling Hill In the Appalachian Mountains.Wild Mushrooms, Morels, Growing on Sideling Hill in the Appalachian Mountains are harder to find than you think.
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Family Camping for the Great American Campout!Each June, National Wildlife Federation hosts The Great American Campout! A fun time of outdoor camping for the entire family!
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How to Prepare Morels, Wild Mushrooms!Step-by-step pictorial on preparing morels the easy way.
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Make Money Hosting a Perennial Plant Sale! Sell Extra Plants from Your Garden!If your flower garden is overflowing with perennials, make money selling your extras.
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How to Fix Morels (Wild Mushrooms) the Easy WayKnowing about the wild edible things that grow locally gives a supper table that little bit of lift that brings smiles even on the coldest and dreariest days.
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How to Prepare to Hunt Morels, Wild MushroomsCommon easy-to-do preparation for hunting morels along with a few reasons to go morel hunting in the first place.
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Hunting Morels: Wild Mushrooms Along Sideling Hill in the Appalachian MountainsThe best times and the best places for hunting morels from the author's personal experiences.
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Learn Spanish, German, French, and Other Foreign Languages for FREEHelping your kids and yourself learn a foreign language is easier today than ever before.
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Selling Scrap Metal, Junk Vehicles for Extra Money, Part 2Recycling unwanted metal products can be profitable but avoid doing business with the BAD junk dealer.
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Recycling Junk for Profit Using a Junkman or Junk Dealer, Part 1Recycling scrap metal and your old junk vehicles can be profitable and fun if you find the right junkman.
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Saving the Family Budget by Making Your Groceries Stretch FartherStretching your family grocery budget while serving healthy, low-cost meals.
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Cooking with the Kids Using Family TeamworkTeaching life skills to the kids while preparing a pot of home-made vegetable soup.
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Tricks to Beat the Cleaning BluesSometimes all you need are a few tricks to get your cleaning finished.
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How to Make Snow Ice CreamThis is a homemade treat the entire family enjoys. It attains a special place in our hearts because it can only be made in the winter when it snows. Plus, it has to snow a fairly decent amount.
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Major Items I Like to Have When a Snowstorm HitsThere are some items I need that makes being snowbound at home a happier event.
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Nature Walks Are Great for FamiliesTaking a nature walk is a fun family activity that creates lasting memories, teaches about the world around us, and is a great form of exercise for kids and adults, too.
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Quick Drinks to Make for Comfort This Holiday SeasonSome quick-to-fix holiday drinks that my kids love to make and I do, too.
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How to Make Potato Candy: A Favorite Holiday TreatA simple recipe using easy to follow directions for homemade potato candy.
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Fun Things You Can Do to Help Your Kids Learn GeographyHelping our kids learn about the world we live in can be fun and challenging.
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Using Turkey Left-Overs to Boost the Budget and Relieve Holiday StressUsing turkey leftovers reduces the grocery bill and helps relieve holiday stress.
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How to Make Math Easier for Your KidsMath is so much easier to learn when it's spilling all over my kids' daily lives.
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Recipes Kids Can Use to Add to the Family Banquettwo safe and easy recipes kids love to make for Thanksgiving.
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How I Helped My Reluctant Reader Enjoy ReadingSome easy games and things I did to help my reluctant reader love to read.
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How I Cut Back on Impulse BuyingCutting back on retail therapy has opened my life to all kinds of possibilities.
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I Survived Being Dumped and You Can, Too!Being dumped is hard, but there are ways to make it easier.
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How to Get Educated and Face Up to Your DebtIt is easier facing debt than trying to hide from it. Learning how to handle finances is the key to becoming debt-free.