Precious Moments Lights on Friday.

The Precious Moments Christmas Lighting Ceremony will be held this Friday, November 1. Seating will began at 5 p.m. and the ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Fountain of Angels Theater. The lighting ceremony is a free event offered to the public to celebrate the Christmas season.

The program will include the numerous holiday songs performed by several groups. The Precious Moments Singers will entertain, along with the Christ Church of Oronogo Choirs. The church choirs include both a children and an adult choir, under the direction of Russell Ball.

At the conclusion of the performance, guests will participate in the candle lighting service. As guest leave the theater, they will be greeted by hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights throughout the Precious Moments grounds.

Starting on November 1, Chapel Center hours during the holidays will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. During this season, the singers at the Fountain of Angels Shows perform holiday favorites at the Fountain and the Visitors Center.

I’m prob’ly a little behind times. I just started noticin’ they’re puttin’ those pop-tops on soup cans now. Then I see they have ‘em on fruit and vegetable cans, dog food cans and ‘bout any kinda can out there.

‘Course for those of us not willin’ or able to take advantage of these improvements, the bottom of the can can still be opened the old fashioned way, with a can opener. ( I love it when two words spelled the same that mean different things fit into a sentence.)

I suppose what must surprise me the most is how long it took ‘em to get around to this. These pop tops were on small cans of fruit, pudding and potted meat years ago.

I’m guessin’ there will soon be a market for those obsolete can openers in the flea markets. Reminders of the good ol’ days.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Q: We moved into an older house this summer that we’re in the process of restoring. Many of the windows have cracked or broken glass and are in warped frames that let drafts in. Is there a cost-effective way to replace these before winter comes? — Denise S., Hartford, Conn.

A: Since you’re trying to increase the home’s value, replacing the older windows with cheap alternatives will cost more money in the long run. This winter, keep the drafty windows in place, but consider a couple of options to make the house more heat-efficient. Your first option is to replace the broken panes of glass, then add weatherstripping and silicone sealant to stop drafts.

A second option is to cover the windows, inside and out, through the winter and until you can afford to have them completely replaced. Heavy-duty, clear plastic is one material used to seal broken windows. An acquaintance of mine actually put up a wall in front of one row of windows that she couldn’t afford to replace immediately in her old house. Small glass panes can be replaced rather easily, and weatherstripping is a snap to install.

If the windows are double-hung, remove the upper and lower windows and lay them on a flat work surface. Now, collect your tools: a heat gun, a putty knife and caulking gun, a sanding block and a paintbrush. You’ll also need glazing, glazier’s points, and wood sealer for the finishing job.

If the frames are so warped that weatherstripping alone won’t stop the weather, apply a thicker sealant inside the frames of the window panes. It won’t look pretty, but you’ll stay warm until you can afford to have the windows replaced.