How to Buy Quality Crutch Tips

If you have used crutches for any length of time during your life then you recognize the great importance of quality made durable long-lasting crutch tips. I have used crutches for over 20 years. Crutch tips act as your "feet" and a certain trust must be developed if you ever expect to walk with assurance that your "feet" aren't going to slip right out from under you. Its like walking on egg-shells and taking baby steps until you find that crutch tip that make you actually feel comfortable walking on your crutches. But once you find them you will know they are for you. You will be able to take your mind off of your footing and focus on the world around you. I hope this article helps.

Things You'll Need:

• Phone book or the internet
• Search engine such as anywho.com or yahoo.com/yellowpages or one of your choosing.

Step 1

When searching for quality crutch tips I have learned one thing. Quality crutch tips are not so easy to find. It is a game of trial and error. You probably don't have a lot of crutch using friends to bounce questions about crutch tip selection off of. And not to be mean, but most Health-care Professionals, Physical Therapists, and Occupational Therapists haven't the slightest clue as to what crutch tips will last more than a week or so.

Step 2

When shopping for crutch tips you can already check most places off of your list. Places like Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Walgreen, and your other major pharmacy stores all carry one product that in my opinion is a complete waste of your money. This product is Futuro crutch tips. I only buy them in an extreme emergency because the last about 2 weeks at most. A quality crutch tip should last at least a 4 weeks and some 2 to 3 months or more. You can get a quality pair of crutch tips for around 4 or 5 dollars that will last at minimum 4 weeks and this is how.


Step 3
You want a large thick rubber crutch tip with a large base and a metal plate in the bottom on the inside. The large base gives you more traction, maneuverability and stability. The plate helps keep the cylinder at the base of the crutch from wearing through the rubber and digging a hole right through your crutch tip.

Step 4

Now you know what you are looking for. Get out your phone book or go to your favorite yellow pages search engine and search for Apothecaries (they are your best bet) in your area. Call each one and Ask if they carry any crutch tips matching the description in step 3 above. Once you have located a few or even one brand, pick one or 2 and try them out. keep the boxes until you have discovered which pair is most durable, last the longest, and feels comfortable to you.

Tips & Warnings

• One brand that I have come to trust is Neva-slip. I found them at my local Apothecary for about 5 dollars a pair.
• Always get large crutch tips for your crutches for stability and traction.
• Check out the link below to see an example of a Nev-a-slip large crutch tip example. I in no way endorse this site nor have I used it. I strongly suggest going to your local Apothecary because they are cheaper and you can see exactly what you are buying be for you give up your hard earned cash.
• If you start feeling like you are walking on a metal peg and you hear a thumping sound when your crutch tip hits the ground then check the bottom. The crutch is probably cutting through your crutch tip and it is time to replace the tip. If this happens after only 2 or three weeks of using the crutch tips then you better change brands and tips soon because you have a bad set. Your shoulders will thank you!

How to Lure Fire Ants From Your Garden

Fire ants built their hill right in my sweet potatoes last year. I found out that ants are attracted to electricity. So I came up with a solution with some things just lying around the house.

Things You'll Need:

* One or more Solar powered lawn lamps.
* Thick Work Gloves (optional).

Step 1
First of all,you can get Solar lamps for your walkways just about anywhere like Wal-mart, Lowe's, K-mart, any hardware store. They come in packs. I use the plastic ones.

Step 2

Assemble one of the lamps (They are pretty strait forward) and stake it down outside of your garden area but as near as you can get it to the ant hill in your garden. The ants will be attracted to the lamp and in a week or so they will have their nest built around the lamp.

Step 3

Slowly repeat this process to get the fire ants out of the way so you can tend to your garden. You've got enough weeds to worry about without fooling with fire ants.

Tips & Warnings

• This worked for me so I suggest you give it a shot.
• You can use multiple lamps if there are multiple fire ant hills in your garden.
• The lamp will most likely be full of dirt and fire ants when you remove it from the fire ant hill.
• Be careful when removing the lamp from the fire ant hill once they build around it.
• Good Idea To Wear Thick Work Gloves.
• You have to grab onto the lamp,yank it up, and toss it away from the ant hill preferably onto some grass so not to damage the lamp. Let it sit for a moment and let some of the ants crawl off. Determine another spot a few feet further from the ant hill and further from your garden that is out of your way. Then quickly and lightly grab the lamp and stake it in the new location. A week or so later they will have moved and built a new hill around the new lamp location.

How to Make the Perfect Cucumber Sandwich

This article will change the way you think of a cucumber sandwich forever. It is in no way traditional but don't knock it till you've tried it. You may never eat a regular cucumber sandwich ever again.

Things You'll Need:

• 2 Sour Dough bread slices
• Cucumber
• Slice of American Cheese
• Powdered Cayenne Pepper(to taste)
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 piece of bacon
• Microwave
• Microwave safe plate
• 2 Paper Towel Sheets
• Oven and Shallow Baking Sheet or Pan.

Step 1

Preheat your oven to Bake at 450 degrees.
Cut 2 slices of store bought or homemade sourdough bread. Then wash a cucumber and slice it so the pieces are thin and circular. Slice enough pieces to cover one slice of your sour dough bread.

Step 2

Cover a microwave safe plate with one paper towel. Stretch a slice of raw bacon flat on the paper towel and then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the raw bacon. Place the other paper towel on top of the bacon and then cook in the microwave for 1 to 1.5 minutes or until the bacon is crisp.


Step 3

Place your sourdough slices beside each other on a shallow baking pan. place the cucumber slices on one piece of the bread( not too thick, just one layer, flat or domino form like the picture). Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cayenne pepper to taste. Place a slice of American cheese on top of the cucumber slices and slide the pan in the oven. The goal is to get the bread slightly toasted on the bottom and golden brown and you have to melt the cheese of course. This should take 15 to 20 minutes depending on your oven so keep a close eye on it. Take the pan out of the oven and lift the empty bread slice to check the underside of the toast with a spatula. Don't forget your pot holders when handling hot pans.

Step 4


Once your cheese is melted and your bread is golden brown it is time to plate the sandwich. Lift the cucumber filled sandwich side with a spatula and put it on your plate. check to see if your bacon is done. if it is, remove it from between the grease filled paper towel sheets and break it in two pieces. Place the bacon on top of the melted cheese and cucumbers and cover with the remaining piece of sourdough bread(golden brown side on the outside).

Step 5

Enjoy the fruits of your labor. I survived on this very sandwich through 4 years of college. It's filling, delicious, and perfect for a tight budget. Cheers!

Tips & Warnings

• Enjoy!
• Careful when handling raw meat. Wash your hands before and after with soap and water.
• Make sure to use pot holders to keep from burning yourself on the oven or hot pans.
• Don't forget to turn your oven off.
• Use a cutting board to protect your counter top.

How to Make Easy Garden Fresh Tomato Soup

My sister gave me a basic version of her tomato soup. I made a few changes and put my own spin on it. This was my first attempt at tomato soup. Enjoy! I definitely did. I can't get enough of the stuff now.

Things You'll Need:

* 8 large tomatoes(4 cups skinned and chopped fine)
* 4 cups of milk or equal to tomatoes after chopped.
* 1 large yellow or white onion(not sweet)chopped fine
* 3 green bell peppers chopped fine.
* 1 garlic clove chopped fine.
* 1 tbsp baking soda
* 1 tbsp Olive Oil
* 10 medium sizes basil leaves.
* sea salt and pepper to taste
* 1 large cucumber peeled and chopped fine.
* 1 serrated knife
* 1 potato masher(optional)
* 1 large pot
* 1 blender(optional)
* 2 tbsp butter

Step 1

Peel the skin off of the tomatoes with a serrated knife and cut off the top leafy core. If you want you can blanch the tomatoes for a few minutes and the skin comes off more easily but I was too lazy for this so I just peeled them and chopped them fine with a knife and discarding the peelings into the trash.

Step 2

Combine 1 chopped onion, 3 chopped green peppers, 1 chopped garlic clove and 2 tbsp of butter to large pot. Heat on medium to medium high,stirring occasionally, until ingredients are soft and they start to caramelize.

Step 3

Next add your fresh skinned and chopped tomatoes into the pot with carmelized onion,green peppers, and garlic. Add 1 tbsp of baking soda. Allow tomatoes to cook down and get a little softer. Use potato masher to help breakup the tomato pieces and mix all of the flavors together.

Step 4

Reduce heat and add 4 cups of milk or equivalent to volume of tomatoes. Then add 10 medium basil leaves. Let simmer on medium low for about an hour to an hour and a half, but do not let it boil. Stir occasionally.

Step 5

Once the simmering is done and ingredients have started to meld together, it is time to mix in the large skinned and finely chopped cucumber. Add sea salt and pepper to taste and 1 tbsp of olive oil. Makes about 8 servings. You can serve it fresh or let it cool down and chill it over night in the fridge. Ladle the soup into a blender(be careful if it is still hot) and puree if you want a creamier soup. I prefer the soup puree. I hope you'll try this out for yourself. It goes perfect with a grilled or toasted cheese sandwich. Enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

* After chilling over night, the soup can be ladled into bowls or tea cups and microwave for about 2 minutes depending on your microwave.

*If you blanch tomatoes to remove skins easier, be careful to rinse them with cold water to cool them down before removing the skins.

* Be careful when pouring hot liquids.

* Be sure to cover the soup while microwaving to avoid splattering.

* Soup and container will be hot after microwaving. Use a pot holder or similar item to remove soup from microwave.