Comments for The Zeiger Family Homestead Blog

Comment on St. Lucia Day, December 13th: A Swedish Christmas Tradition Featuring Breakfast in Bed! by LAUREL JOHNSON

LAUREL JOHNSON — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 21:22:25 +0000

We’ve celebrated Luciadagen for 50 years serving Lucia buns, coffee, hot chocolate with many marshmallows, and orange juice. We’ve had around 85-120 for breakfast in our home at 6:00am or 6:30am, depending on weekend schedules. We’ve enjoyed the devices of many ‘brides’ having star attendant’s hats, gowns and sashes, and crowns with real candles. December 13 has begun my Christmas seasons with my husband’s version of the story as well as a Swedish fiddler entertaining us all.

Comment on Trimming Oil Lamp Wicks for More Efficient Burn by AV

AV — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 22:32:04 +0000

Oil lamps forever!!

Comment on Trimming Oil Lamp Wicks for More Efficient Burn by Mark Zeiger

Mark Zeiger — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:11:43 +0000

In reply to Oinc.

I have heard of this trim, but I have not used it lately, because it’s so hard to do! I don’t seem to have the wicking with a red thread down the middle, although I do trim my wicks with the tool I mention in the post, that is only used for that purpose, and seems to work pretty well.

I think the book I mention in the post has the cut you mention, but it’s a little too persnickety for me.

You’re right, the Aladdin seems to be our best lamp. It puts out so much heat at the top, though, I rarely use it, except for a couple of places around the living room.

Comment on Trimming Oil Lamp Wicks for More Efficient Burn by Oinc

Oinc — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:47:26 +0000

Once posted this got my head handed to me. Person never heard of it so couldn’t possibly be, on an old Model T forum on lighting headlights.

I recall an old retired railroad guy doing this circa late 1950s. I imagine with wool homemade cut wicks.

Wool is very burn proof.

But I digress.

Try cutting straight across, then cut a small V in the center where the red stitching is, it produces two pointed flames, connected in the middle.

I can get these up pretty high, two symmetrical pointed flames.

I have a photo of this of one of my hurricane lanterns.

I think it throws more like then a straight across the top, corners slightly cut off at a 45 degree angle, to keep devil ears from flaring up. That is a good solid trim. It’s easy to do.

You need sharp scissors, preferably short, use them only for wick trimming. Any single outlier thread will mess up the flame.

I have tried curved, just too much trouble, to get symmetrical.

For the best lighting we have a dual wick table lamp, with a frosted round globe. It has that Aladdin oil lamp type chimney, tall thin.

It’s bright enough to need the frosted globe.

Comment on Felted Boot Liners by Mark Zeiger

Mark Zeiger — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 20:19:22 +0000

In reply to Anna. Sounds perfect, Anna! Good luck.

Comment on Felted Boot Liners by Anna

Anna — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:58:54 +0000

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for to line my Wellies.

Comment on 2001 and Done by Mark Zeiger

Mark Zeiger — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:21:19 +0000

In reply to Sherry.

Thanks, Sherry. I do update it now and then, but over on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/Zeiger_Family_Homestead) instead of here. I have no plans to start it up again at present, but who knows?

Comment on 2001 and Done by Sherry

Sherry — Thu, 04 May 2023 00:06:30 +0000

So glad to see that going on three years later, the blog is still up. I keep hoping you’ll maybe come back to it and post every now and then. Hope all is well with you and your family!

Comment on Sifter Plans: Tried and True(r) by Patrick R Butts

Patrick R Butts — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:40:49 +0000

My Dad built one of these when I was about 9 years old and I’m 69 now, so…
I am looking forward to receiving your plans and using the sifter around the house. Thank you in advance.

Comment on Making Russian Tea: The Rest of the Story by Mark Zeiger

Mark Zeiger — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:17:46 +0000

In reply to Emma. Emma, Ew. You may be right, I forget now how old that recipe was. Probably the red dye # whatever that has since been banned. A friend recently brought us a Kobuk Samovar Tea Blend (available from Amazon.com, apparently!) that tastes a lot like Russian tea to me. That's our new go-to, although there's no rum in the house at present. Need to remedy that....