Problem: Article: Horses need good quality hay or alfalfa-mix hay, as well as a mineral block. Don't purchase low-quality food just to save money, as it will cost you in the long run when your horse develops health problems. Plus, your horse will be much happier eating its quality hay. Ask your vet what extras your horse needs. For example, your horse may eat a grain mix or molasses. Your vet can tell you if this is necessary. Bulk food is cheaper, but it can also go bad quickly. Cut down on the costs and the risks by sharing your bulk orders with your friends who own horses. If you have the proper storage space, you can buy bulk hay by yourself. However, the hay needs to remain dry and protected from the elements, or it will spoil. Rotate the area where your horses are grazing to let areas rest. Additionally, reseed your pasture to encourage more plant growth, and work manure into the soil to keep it nutrient-dense. Don't let your horse run in the field while it's wet, if possible. Otherwise, it will damage the soil and vegetation. When you do your morning feeding, prepare all of the day's feedings. Store the prepared feedings in a clean, dry place until you're ready to use them. That way you just need to grab the bag or bucket and put it in the stall. If you have several bags and buckets, you could prepare several days' worth of feedings at one time. Hang the buckets in your horse's stall so that fresh water is always available. This prevents you from having to check on the water often, plus you don't have to refill the water as often. When it's time to empty and refill the water buckets, make sure your horse didn't run out of water. If it did, you need to provide an additional bucket or refill the buckets more often. Make the watering process easier by getting a hose that expands when filled and compresses when shut off. These hoses are lighter and easier to carry than regular hoses and will reduce the time and effort it takes to water your horse. If time is very important to you, install an automatic waterer so you don't have to refill it yourself. This also provides your horse with fresh water. However, it is more costly than watering your horse yourself. You can find an automatic waterer at a local livestock store or online.
Summary: Stick to the best food for your horse rather than skimping on quality. Buy in bulk with fellow horse owners, then split it. Treat your pasture as a crop field if you have one. Fill several feed bags or buckets at one time to cut down on feeding time. Provide an extra bucket of water to reduce refilling. Invest in an automatic waterer to save a lot of time.

Problem: Article: Let the cooker preheat before you transfer your food into the pot so your food doesn't cool down. The "Keep Warm" setting keeps the food near 170F (77C) for however long you leave it on. Slow cookers work best with wetter foods, like soups, stews, sauces, or mashed potatoes. Your food may continue cooking slightly or it may change in texture the longer you leave it in the pot. Once you turn the power off, you can safely keep the food warm in the pot for up to 2 hours. Preheat your oven to the lowest setting and transfer your hot food into an oven-safe pan. Set the pan on the middle rack and keep it in the oven for up to 2 hours. Check the temperature of your food with a thermometer after 20 minutes to make sure it is above 140F (60C). If not, turn up the temperature slightly. Fill a large pan halfway full of water and set it on a medium-low setting on the stove. Check the temperature of the water with a thermometer to make sure it is around 160F (71C). Place another pot or pan with your food in it in the middle of the water bath. You can use this method as long as you keep the stove at low heat and replace any evaporated water with warm water. Stir your food occasionally to prevent it from burning on the bottom. Remove the cap on the fuel with a blunt object, such as a spoon. Place the chafing fuel container underneath the catering dish before you light it with a multipurpose butane lighter. The fuel will burn for up to 2 hours before it runs out. Extinguish the fuel with the cap or a snuffer when you're finished using it. Always use caution when you work with an open flame. Chafing fuel can be purchased in a gel or wick form. Both will work the same way.
Summary: Set a slow cooker to the "Keep Warm" setting for soups and stews. Keep meats and large dishes warm in the oven at 200F (93C). Make a hot water bath on the stove for foods in pots or pans. Use chafing fuels under aluminum catering dishes.

Problem: Article: Use a 2-inch (5.1-cm) craft hole punch to cut 5 to 6 circles from the front of a Christmas card. Fold the circles in half, with the design facing in. Glue the front of each folded circle to the back of the next circle to make a ball. Poke a hole in the top of the ornament, then thread a piece of string through it. Tie the ends together to make a loop. Use the step above to make several 3D ornament balls. Use a tapestry needle to thread them onto a long piece of string. Tie a knot to either side of each ball to keep it in place. Tie a loop at each end of the string, then hang the garland up. You can use this method to create garlands for other occasions, such as Halloween or Easter. Simply use cards from that occasion or holiday. Use a pen to trace a cookie cutter onto the front of a Christmas card, then cut the shape out. Poke a hole in the top of the shape, then thread a short piece of string or ribbon through the hole. Tie the ends of the string or ribbon together to make a hanging loop. Reindeer and gingerbread men make great, festive shapes, but you can use others too, such as hearts, stars, or Christmas trees. Cut a 2-inch (5.1-cm) circle from colored cardstock, and a 1 34-inch (4.4-cm) circle from white, gold, or silver cardstock. Finally, cut a 1 12-inch (3.8-cm) circle from the front of a Christmas card. Stack and glue the circles together, then poke a hole in the top. Thread thin ribbon through the hole, then tie the ends together to make a hanging loop. Use circle-shaped craft hole punches to make your circles nice and neat. For a fancier touch, use a scalloped circle punch for the 1 34-inch (4.4-cm) circle. Embellish your ornament with glitter glue or tiny rhinestones. Choose a set of cards that come from the same holiday or occasion. Cut the front of the cards into 4 12-inch (1.3-cm) triangles. Glue the bottom edge of each triangle to a 1-inch (2.5-cm) wide ribbon; for a more durable finish, sew across the top with a zigzag stitch. How long the ribbon is depends on how many triangles you cut and how long you want the garland to be. Leave about 1 inch (2.5cm) of space between each triangle. Glue a flat, 2-hole or 4-hole button between each card for a rustic touch. For a nicer finish, glue the triangle cards to slightly larger triangles cut from colored cardstock. Alternatively, punch a hole in the 2 bottom corners of each triangle, then weave the ribbon up and down through the holes.
Summary:
Turn cards into 3D ornaments. Make several 3D ornament balls, then string them together for a garland. Use cookie cutters to make Christmas card ornaments. Layer cut Christmas cards with cardstock to make fancier ornaments. Cut cards into triangles, then glue them to a ribbon to make a garland.