A bit about us

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Portland, Oregon, United States
Meg has an M.A. in English and a B.A. in History from California State University, Fresno. She is a five-year veteran of the US Navy and was stationed in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and London, England. Meeting people from around the world and helping them learn American English is one of her abiding passions. She does line editing (which means polishing words line-by-line) for writers, attorneys, professors, graduate students, and business owners. Find her not only on Blogger but Twitter, Facebook, and at www.getsmartediting.com. Phil has years of experience in the world of computer programming. With his engineering-trained mind, he thrives on solving convoluted problems with simple, sensible, and highly effective solutions. Follow him on Twitter and at www.getsmartcomputing.com.

March 8, 2011

Mrs. Hudson's Grimoire - Cleaning the Victorian Home






















Plain sorrel leaves and water will shine up your copper.


After making starch, cover it with a plate until required for use; otherwise it forms a useless skin on the top. To prevent starch sticking to the irons, the addition of a small piece of solid paraffin, as the end of a paraffin-candle, will be found more cleanly and efficacious than tallow.


Blacking the stove.



When water has once been made to boil, the fire in the copper or grate may be very much lessened, as but little heat is required to keep it at the boiling point. There is no advantage whatever in making water boil furiously, for it is not in the slightest degree hotter than when merely simmering, as all the extra heat given to boiling water goes off in the steam, without raising the heat in the slightest degree.




January 30, 2011

All-Year Cheer



If this isn't the happiest, most festive wreath you've ever seen, I don't know what is. It raised my morale the moment I saw it. I am familiar with the creator only through a single email asking her if I might share this photo on my blog but I can tell you that her artistic talent, gentle manner, and superlative customer feedback impressed me immediately. Think what a hit it would make on Valentine's day or to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, job promotion, the birth of a child.... The possibilities - and the thrill for givers and recipients - are endless! See Ivyndell's many other designs at her site.