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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ringing out the old, embracing the new

As 2009 comes to a close, there is much to be thankful for. For me, it’s been a year of discovery. But it’s also been a year of regrets, illness, sorrow and loss. I imagine it’s been like that for you, too. Every year seems to be filled with a kaleidoscope of both the good and the bad. Sometimes really wonderful things are thrown in there, as well as horribly devastating things. All events adding color to our lives.

As I write this, the noon news is broadcasting a collage of famous personalities we lost this year – authors, musicians, politicians, actors, directors, etc. While I didn’t personally know any of them, I feel heavy with grief over all the losses. And I am reminded of people I know who said goodbye to those closest to them. Times when you want to shake the kaleidoscope and create a new collection of colors.

Unfortunately, a new year does not wipe out all the bad of the previous year. But it can lend perspective to pain and offer new beginnings.

I want to challenge you to be open to new ideas in 2010. Don’t hide behind the comfort of phrases like, “That’s the way we’ve always done it,” because, many times, the way you’ve always done it isn’t the healthiest way – emotionally, spiritually, mentally, physically or environmentally. Face facts folks, our parents’ generation often wasn’t aware of dangers to the environment as they embraced progress without thinking about consequences. Even health issues weren’t thought through as they smoked and drank while pregnant, opted for formula over breastfeeding, rejoiced in the convenience of disposable diapers, fed their children diets of soda pop and French fries, etc. The way we’ve always done it is often the wrong way! It’s our responsibility to embrace knowledge and choose a better way.

This year, I intend to supply you with information to help you on your path to a better way. Sometimes my advice is solid and should be adhered to. Other times, it’s just my opinion and needs to be weighed accordingly.

My daughters are all grown now. Did I make mistakes along the way? You bet. Are there regrets? More than I can count. Through God’s grace, they survived and are thriving as adults. They are also making greener and healthier choices in their lives and inspire me daily.

So, here’s to the year behind us. It is just that – behind us. And here’s to moving forward into a year overflowing with possibilities. May God richly bless you with His grace, mercy and kindness and may you extend the same to those around you.

Grateful for you, my readers,

Hana

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Red Glass Pine Cone

Well, Christmas is over and it's time to relax a bit. I promised I would post a piece of Christmas fiction and failed to do so (it was on an old computer and I had to locate it). So, here it is. A Christmas story to read while waiting for the New Year, brimming full of possibilities, arrives.

I hope you enjoy it!


The Red Glass Pine Cone

by Hana Haatainen Caye

My father loved Christmas. Perhaps that is why the weekend following the Greek Orthodox celebration on January seventh was always a stressful one in our home. My mother, brother, sister and I would brace ourselves for the quiet, and sometimes, not so quiet depression that would descend upon this man, who just weeks earlier was jovial and jolly.

We were not Greek Orthodox, by the way. The fact that they recognized Christmas in January instead of on the twenty-fifth of December was just the excuse my father needed to keep the Christmas lights on a bit longer than suited my mother’s preference.

“Why weren’t the lights on yet?” My father would bark as he returned home to a dark house after work.

“Because Christmas was ten days ago,” my mother answered through clenched teeth.

“Not to the Greeks,” Dad would respond, with my brother, sister and I mouthing the words in perfect synchronization

“We’re not Greek,” Mom would remind him, but it didn’t matter. Every year the conversation was the same, with my mother refusing to back down and my dad simply not acknowledging her unhappiness.

Mom liked change. She thrived on it. If she could recruit one of us to help her rearrange furniture, she was happy. Dad, on the other hand, hated change. He only tolerated the new placement of his recliner or the removal of his great-aunt’s end table because the 'newness' of the room tended to make Mom a bit amorous. Once, when they didn’t realize I was playing behind the sofa, I saw her snuggle up to Dad and whisper in a sing-songy way, “Gina helped me move the couch … wanna christen it after we get the kids to bed?”

“If we must,” Dad playfully responded.

Then I watched them kiss and remember feeling a little sick to my stomach. The next time Mom asked me to help move furniture I told her I felt like I was going to throw up, so she put her energy into feeding me Saltines and ginger ale. There wasn’t any cuddling when my father came home.

Taking down the Christmas decorations – and there were plenty of them – seriously depressed my father. He grew sullen and quiet. The darkness out front, where for one month’s time there was red, green, gold and blue light, seemed to swallow up the joy that was evident in him in the weeks leading up to the holiday. I never understood it.

After Mom died, Dad was only able to stay in the house for one more Christmas. My brother, Joel, helped him to put up a few lights outside, but the display had lessened over the years, as lights burned out, cords frayed and Dad’s arthritis got the best of him. The house was too much for him to handle as well, and in March, eleven months after we buried Mom, Dad reluctantly agreed to move into Wellspring, the assisted living community on the corner of the town square.

His room was fair-sized, not too small. He had enough room for a single bed, the tall chest of drawers from the set he and Mom bought on their honeymoon in North Carolina, a TV stand, small refrigerator and, of course, his favorite leather recliner, duct tape patches and all. Joel, Jennifer and I divvied up the furniture and furnishings of the house before we sold it, including the boxes of Christmas decorations. An attic full of memories.

“Not to the Greeks,” Joel mimicked as we separated the outside lights, and the three of us laughed until we cried.

“Why was Mom so stubborn,” I asked. “Why couldn’t she just let him be?”

“Why wasn’t Dad willing to take her feelings into account?” Jennifer snapped.

“This is just great,” Joel interrupted. “Now we’re fighting about it. Good lord.”

“Can’t you see Mom looking down at us and shaking her head?” I started to laugh again. Christmas always brought a mixed bag of emotions for all of us.

“What about the tree and all the ornaments?” Jennifer asked.

Joel knew the answer to this one. “We’re to hang on to them and take them to Dad’s next Thanksgiving.”

Whattt?” Jennifer and I were a bit thrown by this one.

“That’s what he wants,” Joel shrugged, “I’m certainly not going to argue with him about Christmas. He had enough of that with all those years with Mom.”

“But what are we supposed to do with them?” I asked.

“I’m going to keep them at my place.” Joel explained. “I told Dad I’d take care of them for him.”

***

So, the day after Thanksgiving that year, and every year that followed, Joel took the artificial tree, the strings of lights and the hodgepodge of ornaments to Wellspring. We all helped Dad assemble the tree, all the while enduring his endless complaints about it.

“You know, kids, I always hated this fake tree. Christmas just didn’t seem like Christmas without a real tree.”

“But Dad,” I interjected each time, “Mom was allergic to pine …”

“So she said,” he grumbled.

“But Dad …”

“Leave it alone, Gina,” Joel cautioned me. I just rolled my eyes and proceeded to put branch into base, branch into base.

“Don’t forget to fluff ‘em.” Dad was never without his instructions to us.

***

It wasn’t until the third Christmas that the stories started to unravel. I had just finished putting the lights on the tree and we were unwrapping the first of the ornaments.

“Look at this one,” Dad said, holding it out in the light and turning it, as if admiring it for the first time. It was lovely; a small red glass pine cone, beautiful in its simplicity.

“I remember where we were when we got this one.”

“You and Mom?” I asked. “Where were you, Daddy?”

“We had taken a trip down to Kentucky and on the way we did some antiquing – you remember how Mom loved to stop at those little antique stores. Well, we were in one and we were talking to the guy who owned the place – told him about you three kids and that we were about to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. Well, wouldn’t you know, he pulled out this here ornament and handed it to me. He told me to hang it on my tree every year in honor of our marriage. It was a gift.” Dad smiled in remembrance. “Isn’t that somethin'?”

“Dad, I don’t ever remember you and Mom going to Kentucky.” I was a little confused, but he ignored me as his bent and swollen fingers carefully hung the ornament in the middle of the tree. I noticed a tear in the corner of his eye.

“Darndest thing,” was all he said.

The next ornament was a bit flashier. Bright green and magenta swirls around a pointed sphere.

“Ahh,” he brightened up, seeming to absorb the mere festivity of the ornament. “That was one of my favorite trips.”

“What trips, Daddy?” From what I knew about my parents, the last time they actually left the state was on their honeymoon when they drove to North Carolina. They didn’t go on trips.

“We were in New Orleans during Mardi Gras,” he continued. “You should have seen your momma. Whooey!” Dad shivered at the memory. “She was decked out!”

“Wha…” I started to question him, but he just kept going.

“She had on the most beautiful red dress. Your momma was quite a looker, even at forty-five.”

“Forty-five? Dad, you weren’t in New Orleans when Mom was forty-five.”

He didn’t seem to hear me … or care.

“We were dancing, right along with everyone else. She looked so young and fresh. That red dress swirled and swirled as she danced and her laughter was like music. That was some time we had ... Go ahead, hang that pretty memory right beside the pinecone … no, to the other side … that’s it. Perfect.”

The next ornament, a glass bird of silver, pink and turquoise with a plume of stiff feathers, simply clipped to one of the branches. I snapped it on quickly, hoping to avoid another story.

“Ahhh,” he started. “Ahhh … that one. The bird. The bird of paradise we called it. We always wanted it to remind us of that week in Hawaii. Paradise. That was my nickname for your mom for awhile there, did you know that?”

“Nnnnooo,” I hesitantly answered, and then, against my better judgment, pursued the question. “When did you call Mom Paradise?” I wanted to add, I bet it wasn’t the week of January seventh, but I refrained.

“Oh, I had a lot of nicknames for your mom. Lily was one; Gypsy was another … I’ll tell you why when we come to the ornaments. Most of them have a story. Like this one here.” He was unwrapping a round gold ornament with holly painted on it. “This one brings back a lot of memories …”

***

The decorating went on like this for the rest of the afternoon. At one point, I excused myself and went outside to call Jennifer on my cell phone. I repeated the stories to her as I stood under the gray clouds of winter, shivering. A flock of Canadian geese flew overhead and I watched as they reshaped their V, honking as the reconfiguration occurred.

“What is that sound?” Jennifer asked.

“Which sound?” I replied. “My clanking teeth from my shivering, the geese flying by, or the sound of my brain spinning in circles as I try to process all of this. What the heck is going on, Jennifer? Of all years for you and Joel not to be able to be here! Is Dad finally losing it?”

“I don’t know what to say,” Jennifer answered and I could tell she was as perplexed as I was.

***

Dad died on January eighth, a little over two years after that day. He made it past the Greek Orthodox Christmas and managed to get out of the dreaded task of taking down the decorations for one last time. As we cleaned out his room to make way for the next resident who was leaving his life behind, we discovered a small diary that belonged to my mother. It was twenty years old and when I opened it I started to cry. Here in my hands was a gift, a rare glimpse into a woman I lost nearly six years ago.

I sat down on my father’s bed and started to read.

January 8th

I got up early and made Cal’s favorite breakfast. We had a fun day ahead of us and I wanted it to be special from the start. He got up to the smell of bacon and yelled down to me, “Gypsy, I’m coming down there. You’d better be decent.” I laughed, remembering how much I’d dreaded this day in the past. Funny how things can change.

We fed each other morsels from our plates, acting like newlyweds. I wish the kids could see us like this. I feel so badly that their post-Christmas memories are filled with such ugliness. Cal’s depressions were so dark that even I started to hate Christmas. What an awful thought! Thank God I figured out a way to see him through this. And it’s worked. At least the last couple years. January 8th is now our secret day…a day that only we know about. A special day. My favorite day of the year.

I stopped reading to try to process what she was saying. Why didn’t I know anything about January eighth? I wondered. What changed? As I looked back, I realized things were different, but I never acknowledged that. Isn’t it funny how we tend to look at something the way it always was, long after it changes? If we grew up in a pink bedroom, we’ll still refer to the room as pink, even if the walls were painted green ten years ago? Our minds are funny that way…as are our memories.

Cal brought all the boxes down out of the attic around 11 and set them in the family room. We turned on the Christmas music and started our new ritual. As we took each ornament off the tree, we told each other a story about it. We pretended to be world travelers…well, U.S. travelers! Each ornament came from a different place we visited. We had the grandest vacations ever and with each one an ornament was born. The un-decorating of the tree was such fun today. Why hadn’t I thought of this years ago? Half way through the afternoon of stories and laughter, Cal grabbed me and kissed me and, well, it was awhile before we resumed the undecorating!

 I wonder what the kids would think if they knew how their parents acted in their absence?

 It’s been a good day. I was Gypsy. I was Lily. I was all things in my husband’s world. And he is everything in mine.

We buried Dad with a few of the ornaments – a couple of his favorite handmade decorations we gave to him as kids and a red glass pinecone that reminded him of a love he held so dear.

©2007

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Release -- A Christmas poem

The sound of merriment draws me to the railing.
Peering below
I feel the pierce of Christmas past.
The sound of me collapsing to my knees
goes undetected as Joy to the World swells
and the clink of cups of eggnog signals the midnight hour.
“Merry Christmas” rings out as hugs are exchanged.
I am chilled in my nakedness,
but my trembling comes from deep within…
a place where this magical eve once lit up my soul.

My soul.
My soul.
Where did I leave it?
Was it lost in a bottle?
A needle?
Did I leave it behind in a stranger’s bed?
Does my mother coddle it like a newborn babe?

Newborn babe…
Savior…
Christ the Lord.

Oh Lord,
restore my soul.
I give you my despair this eve.
I surrender my pain,
release my bitter tears.
Receive my despair as gold,
my pain as frankincense,
my tears as myrrh.
These are the humble gifts I have to offer.
Receive them, infant King.
Let me once again hear that first Noel
the angels proclaimed.

Retreating to the bedroom,
I drag a comb through my tangled hair,
and dress quickly.

The sound of merriment draws me to the railing.
Triumphant strains of The Hallelujah Chorus
guide me down the stairs
as my voice begins to swell.

                                          By Hana Haatainen Caye
                                          ©2008

Friday, December 18, 2009

A season of busyness

Lately I've been busy. Most likely, anyone reading this can ditto that statement. By profession, I am a writer, editor and a voiceover talent. This month has been fraught with lots of technical difficulties with my recording equipment and computers. Not fun. As a result, I've spent countless hours trying to be a tech person, when quite honestly, I'm pretty much illiterate when it comes to the technical side of what I do. Just plop me behind a mic and I can do my thing. It's dealing with the tech issues that causes me to consider a change in career from time to time...and lately, more so than ever.

That said, I must apologize for not being as consistent as I like to be with my daily posts. As I sit here yawning, I realize that once again, I won't be posting anything of any value to you tonight. However, if you've never had the opportunity to read all my posts, or if somehow you just stumbled upon my blog and this is your first visit, scan the titles of my prior posts and pick a couple to read.

I'll be posting more consistently after the holidays...I promise. And sometime within the week I'm even going to post a piece of fiction for you. It may not have anything to do with living a greener or healthier life, but it is a Christmas story I'm hoping you'll enjoy. And I might even throw in a poem or two as the days go by.

So please stay tuned....and if you have any suggestions for future blogs or future guests, please let me know.

Enjoy your busyness.

Hana

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

How to stop thumb sucking in its tracks...well, maybe

So, you've decided you need to get your toddler to stop sucking his thumb. Whatever you do, don't tell him to stop! By telling him to stop, you've set yourself up for a long battle. And never yell! Yelling at a child for an activity that just a month or two ago you found perfectly acceptable will only confuse him. It could also produce anxiety over other behaviors, wondering if you'll decide he's not allowed to do them either.

Since thumb sucking is often a way a child comforts himself, scolding him will only make him want to do it more. In the same way, pressuring him to stop can produce opposite effects.

Focus your efforts on helping your little one to give up the thumb and be consistent in whatever approach you use. Don't get lazy and let things slide one day and then refocus the next day. Consistency is key.

Have you ever tried to break a habit or change a behavior? What motivated you? What kept you focused? Draw on your own experiences. Often we need a support system of some kind. Be that support system for your little one as he struggles to give up his "addiction." Don't underestimate how strong a pull that thumb can have. When you see your child kicking the habit, lavish praise on him. Positive reinforcement goes so much further than negative comments and ramifications.

Charting his progress can be helpful. And let him work toward a reward. A day at the park or an evening at Chuck E. Cheese's. Recognize that he will probably slip up from time to time, particularly when he's hurt or tired. Don't make a big deal about it.

As your child grows, his thumb sucking can cause real problems in his developing mouth, as I mentioned in yesterday's post. You may want to talk to your pediatrician or pediatric dentist for advice. They may offer a device that will aid in your child kicking the habit by making it uncomfortable to suck his thumb.

You can also use other deterrents, such as Band-Aids. There are mixed reviews about using an unpleasant tasting deterrent on children's thumbs. Some people swear by it, saying their child stopped sucking their thumb because they poured pickle juice, vinegar, bitters, or lemon juice directly on the thumb. Others say this is an ineffective solution. All I can say is, if you want to try it, try it. If it works, wonderful! If not, you might need to seek professional help.

When you see you little one sucking his thumb out of boredom, give his hands something else to do to keep them busy. Did you ever notice it's easier to not succumb to eating snacks while knitting or doing a crossword puzzle? It's the same principle.

There's a wonderful little book out there called The Bear who Sucked his Thumb, written and illustrated by Dr. Dragan Antolos. Reading, and re-reading, this book to your child can have a positive impact when it's time to break the habit. You can learn more about the book at http://www.thumbsuckinghelp.com/.

Recent findings don't look good for the oral health of thumb suckers past the age of two or three. However, earlier research pointed to the psychological benefits of thumb sucking, so I suggest you do your research, stay positive and never, never punish your child for doing something that comes naturally to him

I welcome any comments and suggestions from parents who have faced this dragon and won. I'll be happy to pass along any of your tried and true tips.

Keeping it healthy,

Hana

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Green Tip of the Day

Here's another tip from a reader:

IKEA has recycling bins in the front of their store for collecting batteries, lightbulbs and plastic bags. And, of course, there's no charge! So if you have an IKEA close to where you live, collect your batteries and light bulbs and drop the off on your next visit.

IKEA gets a Greeny Award!

Thanks Heather!

The downside of thumb sucking

Pediatric dentists are issuing new warnings about long-term thumb sucking. While the thoughts on this used to be that damage from thumb sucking only occurred if the activity continued after a child got his/her permanent teeth, that is no longer the opinion of experts.

A child who sucks his/her thumb beyond the age of 2 or 3 can be setting the stage for lifelong problems.
Let’s look at what’s actually happening when the thumb sucking is going on. Pressure is being applied to both sides of the upper jaw. Additionally, the soft tissue on the roof of the mouth is affected.

If the upper jaw narrows as a result of this, the upper and lower teeth will not be properly aligned. This can cause a variety of speech issues which can lead to costly corrective measures, such as braces and/or speech therapy. The structure of the jaw and mouth can be affected as the child matures and problems with chewing can ensue.

Unfortunately, the solution isn't popping a pacifier in your little one's mouth, as similar problems can arise from the prolonged use of pacifiers as well. The advantage with a pacifier, however, is that it is easier to break a child of his/her need for a binky by simply removing it. Cutting off thumbs is generally not a good practice!

So what’s a parent to do? Tomorrow I’ll give you some tips on stopping the sucking.

Monday, December 14, 2009

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas

It's that time of year when kitchens smell especially inviting as the cold weather entices us to make homemade soups and roasted chickens and the holidays dictate baking at least a few dozen Christmas cookies. So I thought I'd pass on some energy saving oven and stove tips.
  • Opt for glass or ceramic pans for baking. They transfer heat so efficiently you can even turn down your oven temp by 25 degrees!
  • Skip the lengthy preheats. Five minutes or so is sufficient.
  • Make sure you turn off the oven after you're done. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled something out of the oven and completely forgot to turn it off. An hour or so later, I discover it's still on. What a waste of energy!
  • After you turn off your oven, crack the door open and let the heat escape to warm up the kitchen. But don't open the door during cooking time. Twenty percent of the oven's heat escapes every time you open the oven door. Use a timer ad the oven light.
  • Make sure your oven seals are in good condition. As soon as you notice the gaskets wearing down, replace them to avoid losing heat while the oven's on.
  • Did you know a clean microwave is a more efficient one? You do now.
  • When it's time to replace your stovetop, consider an eco-friendly option. Induction stovetops heat and cool faster than over stovetops and cook quite efficiently. Before you run out to buy one, however, check to see if you'll need new cookware, as not all cookware is compatible.
  • Warped pots do not cook efficently on electric elements or ceramic top stoves, requiring nearly two-thirds more energy than pots with flat bottoms.
  • Try to stick to using burners that are about an inch smaller than the pan you're using.
  • Keep your burner bowls clean. Burnt on food absorbs heat that's meant for the pan on top of stove.
  • Obviously, toaster ovens require less electricity. Use yours whenever possible.
  • Cook as much of your meal in one pot as possible. Less energy will be used in cooking and in cleaning up.
  • Keep a lid on it! Make sure you cover your pots and pans -- it'll pay off by increasing your cooking efficiency by up to fourteen percent!
  • Take the time to safely thaw your food before cooking. Don't use the oven to thaw and don't thaw at room temperature. The refrigerator is the only safe and efficient place to thaw your food.
That's it for today. I hope you found a hint or two here to help you reduce your energy costs and usage. Feel free to ship me some cookies out of appreciation : )

Keeping it green,

Hana

Sunday, December 13, 2009

A Barry Goldwater quote

"While I am a great believer in the free enterprise system and all that it entails, I am an even stronger believer in the right of our people to live in a clean, pollution-free environment."

-- Barry Goldwater           

Saturday, December 12, 2009

When optimism becomes foolishness

"Optimism is a good characteristic, but if carried to an excess, it becomes foolishness. We are prone to speak of the resources of this country as inexhaustible; this is not so."

-- Theodore Roosevelt      

Friday, December 11, 2009

Priorities

After spending a long day and evening with my 13 month grandbaby, I'm too tired to blog tonight.

And, content with that, I offer no apology. It was a good day.

Enjoy the time you have with your loved ones. Life is short.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Let's get physical

My niece commented today that perhaps her scale is trying to tell her that she's taking the "eating for two" thing a bit too literally. Ahh. What to do? Pregnancy seems to be a license for eating what, and as much as, you want and breaking away from your exercise routine. But how much wisdom is there in that particular action plan?

After years of watching your weight, it's sometimes hard to let go of the obsession and let your body adjust in a healthy way to carrying a new life inside it. But sometimes we swing the pendulum a bit too far the other way. So where's the healthy medium when it comes to exercise. Should a fitness routine be part of your antepartum months? Absolutely! Unless your OB advises against it, you'll find there are countless benefits to exercising during pregnancy, even when you can no longer see, much less touch, your toes!

Let's look at what exercise can do for you:
  • No lullabies needed; moderate exercise helps you get a good night's sleep. While in the past you may have reached for a glass of wine to help you unwind at the end of a long day, the simple truth is that exercise might have been a better option. Why? Because exercise unleashes endorphins, which makes you feel naturally more relaxed and less stressed. Plus, since endorphins are a natural pain killer, your little aches and pains will fade away.
  • Strengthening your back through exercise will help relieve some of the extra strain on your back that results from carrying the extra weight.
  • Exercising makes your heart happy. By toning up your heart muscle, it'll be better equipped to deal with the increased volume of blood that's flowing these days.
  • Constipation can be a major discomfort during pregnancy. Well, the good news is that exercise can keep you regular. That should be motivation enough!
Now that I've provided you with some of the reasons why you should exercise, I'll give you a couple of suggestions as to what you can do.

First of all, avoid all strenuous workouts and stay away from any sports requiring a sense of balance and dexterity. No horseback riding or skiing. Extra pregnancy pounds = less coordination. Also, skip long-distance running, weight training and serious aerobics. This isn't the time to check out all the exercise videos you bought through the years and never got around to watching/doing.

If you've been seriously into exercise before your pregnancy, speak with your OB about what kind of activity would be right for you.

Since the goal is to get the heart pumping into the uterus, try one or more of the following moderate exercises:
  • Low-impact aerobics. A beginner's program at your local community center or YWCA would be an ideal start.
  • Swimming is another good option. Of course, you want to avoid showing off on the diving board...and no bellyflops!
  • A stationary bike can help make even reality tv worth your time. It sure beats vegging out on the sofa with a bag of potato chips!
  • Walking is the most obvious choice when it comes to healthy exercise for pregnant women. The fact that it's an activity you can do for free adds another aspect of desirability to it. Make sure you're properly fitted for a good pair of supportive walking shoes, however. Grab your .mp3 player and download Jodi Picoult's newest book or some upbeat music. You'll find 20 minutes of walking a few times a week not nearly enough to feed your new addiction!
Once your little bambino arrives, you can just slip back into your walking habit with a stroller up front instead of a growing girth. Watching the baby-weight melt off will give you the added motivation you may need, along with your husband's approving glances at the new hot momma in his life!

So c'mon. Turn off the computer and get your blood pumping. You'll thank me for it someday.

Keeping it healthy,

Hana

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The gift of recycling

Back on September 14th, I blogged about recycling batteries. Well, today I found out you can give the gift of recycling...including battery recycling. Thanks, Sue Hartman, for sending me this info!

Waste Management offers Green from Home eco-friendly gift ideas for the holidays. For example, for only $16.95, you can purchase a dry cell battery recycling kit and gift someone with the convenience of recycling. The box holds up to 4 lbs. of batteries and includes a postage paid address label so the recipient can ship their used batteries without any inconvenience or expense. How cool is that?

There are also kits for compact fluorescent bulbs, electronics and more. Visit the following link for more information: https://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/HolidayGifts.cfm?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_term=ver5&utm_content=wmlogo&utm_campaign=nov09

This is the greenest gift suggestion I've provided you with this season. So go to the website, order your kits (or gift cards) and bless you loved ones with the gift of green!

Happy shopping!

Hana

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Baby, it's cold outside

I don't know how the weather is in your end of the world, but here in Western Pennsylvania, it's downright frigid. The furnace is cranked up higher than it should be because, despite the layers of clothing, I'm still really cold.

So I decided to share some energy-saving tips.
  • Switch to a programmable thermostat. If there's no one at home during the day, there's no reason to keep your heat cranked up. But wouldn't it be nice to come home to a warm house or to get up in the morning to a comfortable temperature after having turned the heat down for the night? If you turn your thermostat back by just 10 degrees for eight hours each day and eight hours each night, you can save approximately 20% on your heating costs! You don't even need an electrician to install the new thermostat. It's actually a relatively simple process and the manufacturer's instructions on how to do it will accompany whichever brand you buy. Just don't forget to turn off the power before you start! You can even pick up a programmable thermostat that will alert you when your furnace filter needs to be replaced.
  • A question for all of you who have forced-air heat: When's the last time you cleaned the air intake and exhaust on the outside of your house? Your system will operate much more efficiently if you clear the area monthly while your furnace is in use.
  • While many of us are conscious of keeping things away from our heating vents, we also need to pay attention to the cold-air returns. Because there has to be a consistent movement of air, cold-air returns are an important part of the package. Clear any furniture or drapes away from them and keep them clean.
  • While you're cleaning the cold-air returns, don't forget to clean the heat vents as well. Remove the vent covers and vacuum out the vents at least twice a year and more often than that if you have pets in your home. You might even want to hire a company to come out every few years to clean them professionally.
  • Electronic air filters should be cleaned monthly to keep them performing at their peak. Check with the manufacturer, but in most cases you can simply slip it into your dishwasher (don't use the heat dry cycle, however) or just use a soft scrub brush and some water. While the furnace air filters are a good idea, the filters you can slip into your heating vents are not. Sure, they may limit the amount of dust and dander floating around, but they also limit the airflow, thus causing your heating system to work less efficiently and, in the end, cost you more money!
  • Tune-up. Tune-up. Tune-up. You want your furnace to operate at its best? Tune it up. Newer furnaces need a tune-up every three years or so, while older ones need attention every year or two. Check with your utility company about this. They may offer the service at a discounted rate for customers. Expect the tune-up to take about two to three hours and run close to $150.
  • Grab your caulking gun and attend to your heating ducts. Seams can start to split and leak valuable air if the seal is broken. You can either use caulking or a special tape made for this purpose. Check with your local hardware store associate for his or her recommendations. Also pay attention to the joints between the heat ducts and heat registers. Duct-sealing tape (not duct tape) will work best here.
  • If you have radiators, clean them once a month. Make sure your radiator is cool before cleaning it. Clean = efficient. Enough said. Also, if you have multiple layers of paint on your radiators, they're bound to be clogged. Strip them and start over with a single coat of paint. Oddly enough, dark colors will increase the heat output when accompanied by a piece of aluminum or sheet metal placed behind the radiator.
  • Baseboard heaters work best when clean as well. Make sure the power is off before removing the front panel of your baseboard heaters and then use the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner to rid them of the dirt.
  • As you can recall from the summer months, humid air simply seems to be warmer air. Either install a humidifier on your furnace or run a humidifier. Filling your home with live plants will help keep the air moister as well. You'll feel most comfortable when the humidity in your home falls between 20-60%.
  • Check to see if there is air leakage in the spaces between where your baseboards meet your hard floors. Again, you can grab the caulking gun, or use an expandable foam under the trim.
  • Another source of energy leaks is exterior wall outlets and switches. You can easily solve the problem with some insulating gaskets. A simple solution that will save you money in the long run.
  • Close the vents and the doors of rooms you don't use. Heating your stuff is just plain wasteful! Magnetic vent covers work well to save energy in unused rooms.
  • Limit the heat loss that naturally occurs from an open flue in your fireplace by installing glass doors. The initial cost will be recovered in energy savings in no time!
  • It's been said that keeping a fireplace damper open on your fireplace equals having a four-foot gaping hole in your house when it comes to energy loss.
  • Consider zone-heating. If you basically spend most of your time in one or two rooms, turn your thermostat back to 55 degrees and use energy-efficient space heaters. Try to keep them set on a low setting and don't forget to unplug them when they're not in use! Radiant heaters are, by far, the most efficient type of space heaters. Regardless of the kind you use, just make sure to keep all combustible materials, fabrics, paper and other potential fire starters at a safe distance. Also, no amount of savings is worth the risk of your child being burned, so if there's no way to keep your toddler away from the heaters, turn them off and crank up the thermostat.
  • Don't ignore your ceiling fans. Switch the setting to a clockwise twirl and let them work on keeping the heat away from the ceiling. Portable fans will do the trick here as well, and circulate the warm air to where it's most appreciated. This is especially helpful when the fan is placed on the hearth of the fireplace.
  • If you use window air conditioning units, make sure you cover them up. Place the cover over the back of the AC units and then tape plastic over the front. It may not be the most attractive solution, but if you don't want to remove the unit for the winter, it's essential for energy savings.
  • If it's practical, switch out one of your standard bathroom lights with a red moisture-resistant heat bulb. Make sure the wattage matches your fixture. Toasty warm bathrooms are my favorite!
  • For those of you with heat pumps, make sure the condenser unit is cleaned regularly. Again, it's important to turn the power off before cleaning. Check with your manual for instructions on cleaning.
Whew. This turned out to be a bit longer than I anticipated when I sat down to write it. I hope something pops out at you and saves you a nickel or two this winter season. Now I'm off to check my exterior outlets and switches...I think a trip to the hardware store is in order.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Monday, December 7, 2009

Keeping it Green at Christmas Part Six: Wrapping it up

For those of you who follow my blog, you'll know I've been doing a series on creating a more sustainable Christmas. Well, today we're wrapping it up with some suggestions on minimizing the waste created by wrapping paper and packaging.

Here are my suggestions:
  • Reuse. Remove paper carefully from gifts and neatly fold for next year. There are a few benefits to be gleaned from this practice. The first two are the obvious environmental and cost benefits. The other one is a simple concept of slowing down. Christmas morning so often involves a group of people tearing into a pile of presents without so much as a pause to say 'thank you.' When the chaos subsides, all that's left is a huge pile of paper, bows, tags and questions as to who gave whom what. Sound familiar? Taking time to fold paper eliminates a bit of this hectic pace from your Christmas morning celebration.
  • Wrap gifts in something practical, such as dish towels, pillowcases, drawstring bags, fabric, leftover foil, coloring book pages, magazine ads, baskets, metal cans/canisters and reusable decorative boxes.
  • Instead of packing boxes for shipping with styrofoam peanuts, use recycled PaperNuts (http://www.papernuts.com/) or protect your packaged gifts with shredded catalogs. Bird lovers can use unbuttered popcorn as an eco-friendly alternative to Styrofoam. Include a note to the recipient asking them to toss the popcorn outside as a Christmas treat for their feathered friends.
  • Use, and reuse, gift bags.
  • Ask for paper instead of plastic when shopping and wrap gifts in the bags decorated with markers, rubber stamps and/or stickers.
  • Tie gifts with old shoelaces, ribbon or yarn. If you are using wrapping paper, avoid using stick-on bows, as they can rip the paper and ruin it for reuse.
  • Buy recycled wrapping paper and tissue.
  • Give gifts that don't require wrapping, such as plants, gift cards, tickets to shows, etc.
Where's the fun in a green Christmas? It's where it's always been...in the family gatherings, the home-cooked meals, the exchange of gifts, the holiday greetings, the worship services, the cookie exchanges, the charitable giving...it's still there; although this year, it's not buried under a mountain of trash.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Friday, December 4, 2009

Keeping it green at Christmas Part 5: O Christmas tree


There's a lot of debate over which way to go when it comes to Christmas trees. Do you cut down a fresh tree, in the prime of its life, for your own decorative pleasures? Do you purchase an artificial tree, made up of chemicals and plastics that are harmful to the environment during the manufacturing process? Let's face it -- there are pluses and minuses whichever way you go. The greenest solution is to buy a balled tree which can be replanted at the end of the season.

If you opt for a freshly cut tree, find a local farm that raises pesticide-free trees and make sure you arrange for recycling your tree. Some communities use the trees for sand and soil erosion barriers, fish feeders, bird feeders, mulch and more. Contact your local recycling company for more information.

If you already have an artificial tree and decide you no longer want it, donate it to a local thrift store or check with area community theater groups or schools to see if they have a need for one.

Whichever choice you make, let me make one suggestion. Don't buy into the 'politically correct' hype. It's a CHRISTMAS tree. Period. And you don't have to apologize to anyone for calling it what it is.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Natural Tip of the Day

For as long as I can remember, I've suffered from painful foot and leg cramps...mostly at night. It's not unusual for me to wake three or four times in one night with a cramp, or series of them. When I discovered a homeopathic treatment for this problem, I was thrilled.

Last night was another one of those nights and as I reached for my Hyland's Leg Cramp Quinine quick dissolving tablets, I realized this info was too important not to share. Their leg cramp formulas include caplets that you swallow, cream that you rub in and, my personal favorite, quick dissolving tablets you simply place under your tongue. They work quickly to relieve the pain and I don't even have to get up for water.

Hyland's is an awesome company devoted to natural solutions to common health problems. They have arnica cream for pain, cough and cold remedies for children, natural sleep aids, etc. and their products can be found in retail stores and online. I buy mine at our local Giant Eagle grocery store or at Whole Foods. Check them out: http://www.hylands.com/.

One other quick mention. Their website features a link to Healthy Beginnings: Helping mothers raise healthy kids naturally. If you have little ones, or you're planning on having some, this site needs to be bookmarked! You can download a lot of different stuff here -- a Pregnancy Development Calendar, for instance, and a Baby's First Year Development Calendar. They feature articles on natural home remedies and homeopathy, free activity sheets for the kids and even a photo gallery where you can post your photos. Go to the Hyland's website and visit Healthy Beginnings. My guess is you'll be hooked.

Well, that was a rather long "Tip of the Day" but my hope is you found it helpful.

Keeping it natural,

Hana

Keeping it Green at Christmas Part 4: Eat, drink and be merry

I love to entertain! From the decorating to preparing the food, I just love to do it. Unfortunately, my schedule does not allow as much of this as I'd like, but I plan to have at least one party over the Christmas holiday.
But the issue of trash surrounds every holiday gathering and contributes to the massive amount of waste going into the post holiday landfills! The solution revolves around eliminating disposable dinnerware as much as possible.

"What? No paper plates? No paper napkins? Are you kidding me?"

No, I'm not. Now I'm not saying you should never use disposable products. I, myself, use them sometimes. But if you can limit the amount you use, you're doing a small part in reducing the overall amount of waste that accompanies the holidays.

Here are some practical suggestions:

Napkins

Have you been in a fabric store lately? There are literally hundreds of different designs in Christmas fabrics that can be transformed into beautiful cocktail napkins with a few simple stitches. Set aside a couple of hours to make a few dozen napkins and you won't have to buy paper Christmas napkins again. Cost efficient and green. Don't you love it?

Dishes

Who says all the plates have to match? Pick up a variety of Christmas dishes at places like Goodwill or your local dollar store. I was able to purchase 2 complete sets of beautiful Christmas dishes, brand new in box, at Goodwill a couple of years ago for less than $10 each. If one gets dropped and broken at a party, it's no huge loss. Fortunately, that's never happened yet.

Another option is to buy solid colored or clear inexpensive plates that can used during the Christmas holidays as well as throughout the year. Red dishes will work well now and will be perfect for Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations. Green ones will lend themselves nicely to a St. Paddy's Day party. Metal splatterware plates are perfect for outdoor parties, by the way.

Flatware

Choices here include high quality plastic flatware that can maintain wash after wash and be reused again and again or the purchase of mismatched flatware at thrift stores or discount stores. The initial investment may be a bit more than buying disposable flatware, but you'll appreciate it down the road when the purchases no longer have to be made. Of course, if you have the money, matching flatware sets can be bought as well. Either way, the need for throwaway plastic is eliminated.

Drinkware

Ditto the above suggestions. Buy cheap glasses, wine glasses and mugs. Store them until your next gathering. Or, if you're serving coffee, tea and hot chocolate, host a BYOM party (bring your own mug) and start a tradition!


If you do choose to go with disposable goods for your next party, please skip the Styrofoam at least, as the dangers to our health and environment are countless. If you'd like to learn more about this toxic substance, please visit the following website: http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html

So this holiday season, eat, drink and be merry with your family and friends. And if you can, keep it green!

Hana

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Keeping it green at Christmas Part 3: Through rain or snow or sleet or hail


Just consider for a moment, how much more mail you receive starting in November. Mailboxes are packed beyond their capacity with greeting cards, holiday sales flyers and catalogs...lots and lots of catalogs. What can you do to curb this onslaught of mail?
  • Contact companies directly to be removed from their mailing lists. There is usually a phone number or address of the distribution company located near your mailing address.
  • For catalogs, simply call their 800 number or visit their website and inform them you no longer want to receive their catalogs.
  • Sign up for electronic billing and email advertisements.
  • Go to http://www.privacyrights.org/ to learn more about getting off junk mail lists.
You can also reduce the amount of waste generated with your own greetings. I blogged about this on October 14th, but feel many of these things are worthy of repeating. I do go into more detail in my previous blog, so please check it out if you haven't read it.

Sending out postcards or eCards rather than traditional Christmas cards is not only kinder to the environment, but it's gentler on your budget as well. Postcards don't require envelopes and eCards don't even need stamps. With the rising cost of postage they're more attractive than ever!

At the end of the season, as decorations are being put away, don't just toss your basket of cards into the trash. Christmas cards can be reused and recycled in a variety of ways:
  • Use them to make tags for next year's gifts. Simply cut out a design from the front of the card, punch a hole through it and tie with a ribbon.
  • Make a decorative collage with the prettiest or most meaningful ones.
  • Frame a few for a seasonal wall display that can be enjoyed year after year.
  • Donate them to a local school, church or nursing home for crafts.
  • Donate them to St. Jude Ranch for Children, headquartered in Boulder City, NV, where they recycle them and make new cards. The money earned is donated to help children who were victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment. Visit their website for more information: http://www.stjudesranch.org/.
When it comes to sending out cards, sit down with your family and discuss how to pare down your list. Is it really necessary to send cards to co-workers you see every day? What about those names on your list that you can no longer put a face to? Just because you've been sending cards to them for decades, doesn't mean you need to continue to do so. Just think, if you cross them off the list this year, they'll most likely cross you off their list next year and fewer cards will bog down your mail carrier.

Rather than mailing cards to neighbors, why not create a greener tradition of hand-delivering a greeting made up of a sprig of holly or a piece of pine with a pretty ribbon and tag tied on? These green greetings can be hung on your neighbors' doors and will be appreciated more than a store-bought card.

I'm challenging you to cut your mailing down by 1/3 this Christmas season. That means sending out only 40 cards if you normally send 60. Will that make a huge dent in the one million tons of holiday-generated trash? Not really. But if you do it, and I do it, and both of us influence someone else to do it, eventually the impact will be felt. Because, like I said yesterday...it only takes a spark.

Tomorrow, I'll address the problem surrounding holiday parties and offer some suggestions on environmentally-friendly alternatives to disposable dinnerware.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Green Tip of the Day

When going somewhere where coffee or tea will be served, take your own mug with you and skip the styrofoam! It may only save one cup that day....but who knows who will pick up on the idea. And we all know it only takes a spark to get a fire going.

Thanks for the tip, Kelly.

If you have a tip to share, please email me at greengrandma@comcast.net. I'll be happy to post it!

Keeping it green at Christmas Part 2: Let's talk trash

From the end of November through the beginning of the New Year, the holidays gain the distinctive mark of being king of the hill -- at least, king of the trash heap. According to the EPA, the holidays garner a staggering 25% increase in the amount of household waste generated. That's an additional one million tons of trash padding our already voluptuous landfills. Minimizing your contribution to this hefty load is the first step toward a sustainable holiday season and, in many cases, can help you save a few bucks in the process.

Tomorrow, I'll give you some tips on how to cut down on the trash that travels from mailbox to mailbox this holiday season.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Monday, November 30, 2009

Food allergies on the rise in children



I heard some disturbing news this past weekend. Apparently 4% of children now suffer from food allergies. This may sound like a relatively insignificant number, but when you consider that over 10,000 hospitalizations occur yearly because of food allergies in children, and that approximately 100 deaths occur because of food-related anaphylaxis (mostly children), the significance factor rises up a few notches.

The big question, however, is why this is happening.

While there are many different ideas being tossed about, one of the proven theories has to do with feeding infants solid food when they are too young to properly digest it. Let's look at some of the reasons why you should not feed your baby solid food, even cereal, before he/she is four to six months old:

First of all, young infants have not physically developed enough to properly swallow solid food. In order to swallow, you must move the food in your mouth to the back. Young babies simply can't do this without gagging.

Secondly, they're not able to break down the solid foods properly which often results in GI distress.

The third reason why experts advise against feeding babies solid foods before they are four to six months old is because doing so can lead to food allergies.

Once it's time to introduce solid foods to your baby's diet, start off slow. One small spoonful of cereal (usually rice cereal fortified with iron, but check with your pediatrician) is enough for that first feeding. Within a few days you can start to increase the amount of cereal you give your child. Mix the cereal with breast milk, which is preferable, or formula.

Gradually introduce other foods to your baby, starting with pureed vegetables and fruits. Do not introduce new foods more frequently than every three or four days, so you can see if your little one has any allergies to the new foods. Generally, it's best to start him/her on new foods early in the day so if there is a bad reaction, you won't be comforting him/her at three a.m.

Hold off on introducing meats to your baby's diet until he/she is eight months old or so, due to the high protein content.


Food allergies can be a serious, lifelong problem and your children are counting on you to do what's best for them. So, the next time you get advice from someone to start giving your one- or two-month old cereal to help him/her sleep through the night, politely ignore their suggestion. A few months of sleepless nights now more than compensates for a lifetime of grieving the loss of a child who died from food-related anaphylaxis that may have been prevented had you only held off on feeding him/her solid foods too soon.


Keeping it healthy,

Hana
 
Photo courtesy of Bethany Schad

Friday, November 27, 2009

Black Friday...a blessing or a curse


I'm not one to rush out on Black Friday and battle the crowds for a deal. As a matter of fact, I purposefully hole up in my home on that day and avoid the malls. But I certainly don't bemoan the brave (or crazy) souls who choose to embrace the challenge of getting a good deal.

Then there are those who will complain that Christmas is too commercialized and either forsake Americanized traditions or will partake, but moan and groan about it continually. The emergence of sayings such as, "Jesus is the reason for the season," did little more than create more products to buy to advertise that very fact in your home. However, regardless of your spiritual leaning, Jesus IS the reason for the season, and no amount of commercialization can change that.

Yes, I know the day started off as a pagan holiday, but it's been transformed, shall we say, "reborn," and is, without a doubt, a day where Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Emmanuel...the day when God Himself chose to come and dwell with us.

But what about the commercialism? Hasn't that tainted a "holy" holiday?

Not in my opinion. I celebrate the commercialization. Why? For a variety of reasons.

As a Christian, I find it refreshing to hear carols wherever I go, whether I'm in the mall, a doctor's office, a workplace, a flower shop...at what other time of year do you hear the name of Christ proclaimed so unashamedly? I rejoice to hear The First Noel or O Holy Night when I'm grocery shopping or getting my hair cut. I see it as creative evangelism.

Another reason I'm all for the commercialization of Christmas is because, despite the fact that it may bring out the worst in people (particularly on Black Friday), it also brings out the best in them. There is no other time of year when people reach as deeply into their pockets and give. Whether it's giving of a present to a family member or friend, taking cookies to a neighbor, leaving a generous tip for a waiter, slipping a twenty dollar bill into a red kettle or writing a check to a charity, December's giving far exceeds any other month of the year.

Think for a moment what would happen if we eliminated Christmas as a national holiday...if we stopped the commercialization in its tracks. Within the next few years, how many of your favorite retail stores would close their doors? How many non-profits would cease to exist. How many homeless people would die without organizations like the Salvation Army offering shelter and a warm meal? It's rather scary when you think about it.

And what will happen to the Christmas story two or three generations from now? Would it cease to exist as well in the minds of the majority of Americans?

Would Christmas become a quiet holiday shared only by the faithful few who still believed the God who created the Universe would come to earth as a newborn babe? That seems like a far cry from the glory that surrounded that first Christmas as angels sang and announced the birth of a Savior and shepherds rushed to worship Emmanuel. And let's not forget the journey of the Magi -- seeking out their King and bearing gifts.

Singing. Rushing. Giving gifts. Christmas. I celebrate the birth of my Savior. And I celebrate the commercialization of His birthday. When you hear someone saying "Merry Christmas" as they leave a store or restaurant, it just might be me. It may not be politically correct, but let's face it folks...it's what it's all about.

Keeping it real,

Hana

Thursday, November 26, 2009

A Psalm for Thanksgiving


Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us,
and not we ourselves;
We are His people
and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His loving kindness everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations.

                                       -- Psalm 100

From my family to yours...
wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Getting ready for Thanksgiving


I love Thanksgiving, even though I'm not a huge fan of turkey and I pretty much hate football. What I love is gathering around the table with family and talking. I love the smells. I love not having to rush around buying and wrapping gifts (not that I don't like giving gifts...I do, but it's nice to have a holiday that doesn't involve it).

We do something special as we sit around the table on Thanksgiving...and other holidays as well. It's become a tradition that used to evoke groans from the kids, but now has become an expected part of our gatherings. As a matter of fact, the first time I skipped it (because I was tired of their complaining) they groaned even louder! I guess they liked it after all.

What generated such a fuss through the years? Questions. I spend some time prior to each holiday dinner composing questions for my guests. Sometimes it's just the family gathered around the table, and sometimes we are fortunate enough to include friends or extended family.

Everyone at the table takes a question, without looking at it. As dinner or dessert is wrapping up, we go around the table, read our questions and share our answers. This allows everyone an opportunity to speak and be heard and it gives us all a chance to learn something we often didn't know about each other.

The questions are related to the particular holiday we're celebrating. For instance, my husband's brothers and their wives joined us for Labor Day one year and the work-related questions revealed so much about them that we didn't know; like how one of the brothers would have liked to have been a professional singer if he had worked his ideal job (I didn't even know he could sing!) and how his wife always wanted to work in the neonatal nursery rocking the premies.

Thanksgiving questions naturally revolve around thankfulness and sharing the feast. Here are some of the questions from past years:

If you could have anyone else here at the table with us, who would it be? Of course, this question often brings tears.

If you could have someone you've never met at the table with us, who would that be? Oddly enough, my mother said, 'Bob Newhart.' We found that amusing!

What happened during the past year that you are most thankful for? This question got my son-in-law in trouble when he neglected to mention marrying my daughter that year! He chooses his answers more carefully now!

If you couldn't be here with us for Thanksgiving dinner, where would you like to be?

You get the idea. Christmas questions include: What's your favorite Christmas movie? and What's the favorite Christmas present you ever received?

Why am I including this in the Green Grandma blog? Quite simply because building stronger relationships with our kids is part of having a healthy family. And this does help build stronger relationships. Giving every child a chance to have "center stage" at a dining room table full of chatty adults can do wonders for his self esteem. Of course, there can't be any criticism or mocking of what he has to say and that guideline should be established before the questions are even passed out.

The challenge of having grown children is having to share them with their in-laws. Holidays tend to be little more than stressful days of running here and there and eating way too much. That's why we're celebrating Thanksgiving today, on Wednesday, so they're free to enjoy their Thursday with their other families. I'll find it a bit lonely to prepare the meal alone as my husband, who usually prepares the turkey, spends his day at work. But the pay off will be a relaxed group of people gathering around the table, enjoying the bounty which God has richly provided, laughing at the lovely little Lady Laura's antics, and sharing our answers once more.

It should be a wonderful evening. And this year, that's what I'm thankful for.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by the people you love and filled to overflowing with gratitude.

Hana

A poem about my daughter, Jess

Charity

I found her sitting in front of the Christmas tree,
colored lights sparkling in her tears.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Have you finished shopping for me yet?"

I hadn't
so she asked me not to buy her anything else.

Was this guilt talking?
Had she done something wrong?

A second question came in a quivering voice.

"Can we give the money
you were going to spend on me
to the homeless?"

Immediately her tears made sense.

Here we were,
with all of this
while some people,
right here in our city,
didn't even own a coat.

Letting my own tears reflect those of my little girl's
I reached for my checkbook.


True joy was not found in the wrapped presents that year.
Rather it was nestled in the bare spots
underneath the tree.

-- Hana Haatainen Caye
    copyright 2007

Monday, November 23, 2009

Keeping it green with gift giving

As the holidays approach, I've been focusing on how to have a greener Christmas. From what to buy to how to wrap, I'll be sharing some of my ideas, and those of others, with you over the next couple of weeks.

On Sunday I taught an adult Sunday School class on this very subject. The discussions were enlightening and some of the ideas are worth noting. My lesson started off with some wonderful quotes from Christian leaders about the environment (including the one I posted yesterday by Billy Graham) and then we moved on to discussing how we can all have a more sustainable Christmas. Our first topic was Green Shopping. Below are some of the ideas shared in the class:
  • Give gifts of service
Examples included giving handmade gift certificates for babysitting, making a meal, doing someone's grocery shopping or laundry, washing someone's car, etc.

I told the story of one of my favorite Mother's Days. I was away for the day and when I returned, two of my daughters (Bethany and Jess) and one of my sons-in-law (Tom) bought the groceries and prepared a wonderful meal, served it on the patio and then cleaned everything up. Marvelous. A day I will always remember. If they decided to do that for me yearly rather than buying me presents, I'd be thrilled.
  • Give gifts of shared experiences
Spending time with someone can be the greatest gift of all. Why not buy theater or concert tickets as presents and make sure you're the one accompanying the recipient to the event.

Plan a weekend getaway and surprise a friend or family member with a mini-vacation. I've been best friends with Dawn since we started kindergarten and in a couple of years we'll be celebrating our Golden Anniversary. I feel especially blessed to have stayed close throughout nearly five decades, despite the fact we live nearly 250 miles away from each other. Last week we decided we would go on a trip together to celebrate in 2012. This gift we're giving each other is something we're both looking forward to.
  • Give gifts with a history and/or sentimental value
Put together a photo album. Give away an heirloom. Make sure you share a memory or the value of the item to you personally. While you may not be able to put a price tag on it, when you give a way something that is close to your heart, the gift is, well....priceless.
  • Give consumable gifts
So many of us have too many things already. Not that it's not nice to occasionally add a piece to a collection we have, or to be given a new item of clothing or an accessory, but don't you appreciate it when you get a delicious plate of cookies or a bottle of your favorite wine? A pound or two of fair trade coffee is a perfect gift for the java lover on your gift list.

I consider gifts that will be used up to fit in this category as well, such as flowers, candles, bath products, body lotions, etc. If these are the types of gifts you like to give, look for green options, which can be found in stores like Aveda.

One of the women in my class said she used to cut branches of evergreens and make wreaths and centerpieces to give away. What an excellent idea which I'm sure was well-received!

Another woman in the group told of how one year she took decorative boxes, filled them with birdseed and then buried money in the seed. What fun the kids had trying to find their 'buried treasure!' Of course, the birds benefited from the gifts as well.
  • Give live gifts 
Now I'm certainly not advocating running out and adopting a puppy for your grandson. This is generally not a good idea. Never give a pet as a gift to an unsuspecting recipient!

However, a live plant can be a good choice. Ask your local nursery expert which plants are easy to care for and find out the benefits of the plant you choose. For example, is it a plant that absorbs formaldehyde? That would be perfect for a new office building setting, where the air quality can actually be hazardous. Give the gift of a healthier workday with toxin-eating plants.
  • Give used gifts
This used to be taboo, but with the higher quality of goods in many resale shops now, you can find some fantastic deals on items you could normally not afford to buy new. Of course, there are things you want to steer clear of, such as upholstered furniture, throw pillows, certain clothing items, etc., but occasionally you'll stumble upon an item that is part of a collection your sister has, or a plate or bowl from your mother-in-law's China pattern. You just never know what you'll find that will actually thrill the recipient more than anything you would buy from a regular retail store. Plus, many times you'll find brand new gifts at places like Goodwill, which, if you've been following my blog, you already know I'm a huge fan of. If you know something is valued at $25 and you pick it up for $4.99, who's going to know the difference? Besides, these gifts come at no cost to the environment, which should make your eco-minded friends and family members especially happy!
  • Give gifts that are battery-free
You can read all about my thoughts on batteries on my blog post from September 14, 2009.
  • Give homemade gifts
Back in the days when being a stay-at-home mom was the norm rather than the exception, giving homemade gifts was a common occurrence. Sadly, those days seem to be fading rather quickly. But for those of you who have the time, hand-sewn, knit or embroidered gifts carry a lot of meaning with them. Hand painted furniture or knick knacks, homemade jewelry, etc. are especially appreciated when its obvious much love and thought went into the making of the gift.
  • Give charitable gifts in the recipient's name, or buy gifts from charities
Check out the gift catalogs at http://www.worldvision.org/ or http://www.samaritanspurse.org/. There are many more organizations that sell merchandise, often made by people in third world countries, or allow you to buy something, such as a goat for milk, for an underprivileged family. Giving a life-sustaining gift in someone else's name is a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas and its meaning will carry on far beyond a collection of DVDs or a new set of potholders.

These are just some ideas for greener giving this year. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment section of this posting. I'll have more ideas for celebrating a sustainable Christmas in the days to come. Thanks for reading!

Keeping it green,

Hana

Sunday, November 22, 2009

An evangelical take on the environment

The growing possibility of our destroying ourselves and the world with our own neglect and excess is tragic and very real.

-- Billy Graham, Approaching Hoofbeats, 1983

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Practice random kindness


Take just a minute out of this busy day
to practice random kindness...
Call someone "out of the blue"
to let them know you care.
Pay the toll for the car behind you.
Donate time or money to a charity.
Pass it on...it will spread.

                                                                                              -- Unknown                 

Friday, November 20, 2009

A tree hugger I'm not...redux

Since I've had so many new visitors lately, I've decided to repost the first blog entry I wrote, back in August. I just like to remind people of what the Green Grandma blog is all about.

Of course, the site has evolved somewhat since its inception, and the focus is not always on environmental issues, but also includes health-related posts, particularly in the realm of children's health. Sometimes I even deal with mental health issues.

But it can all be wrapped up in my mission statement of "combining old-fashioned ways with 21st century common sense..." Whether I write about the environment or health, it all comes down to common sense solutions to the problems.

With that said, here is a repost of my very first blog entry from August 20, 2009, with an update:

A while back, my cousin suggested I start blogging on environmental issues and call my site, Green Grandma. It took a few months of contemplating my purpose in this.

First of all, don't let the name fool you...I'm by no means a liberal tree-hugger. Politically, I lean more toward a moderate to conservative point of view. However, I get quite frustrated with the whole concept of one party over the other caring about the environment. I, for one, do care. As a matter of fact, I seem to care much more than many of the people I know who lean a different way.

That said, let me expound on why I'm starting this blog and why my cousin, Kelly, suggested the name "Green Grandma" for me.

In October of 2008, my precious first grandbaby was born to my youngest daughter. The lovely little Lady Laura has motivated me to be even more environmentally conscious than I'd been in the past. After all, this is the world we're leaving behind for her. I have to care.
Fortunately, my concern for the environment has spilled over to my daughters as well. As a result, Laura wears only cloth diapers. We will never add a disposable diaper to a landfill because it goes against everything in us.

Ewww. Many of you are cringing right now. Why? Because a parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle/babysitter might get their hands a little dirty? Oh please. Rinsing out a cloth diaper in the toilet is not all that difficult. Messy? Sometimes. But doable. And well worth it. Every time I hang diapers on the line to dry, I remind myself that I am investing in Laura's future. Maybe I don't have much money to put aside for her. But I can invest in this planet she'll inherit.

There are a lot of naysayers when it comes to using cloth diapers. People will protest and even try to use environmental excuses.

"Washing diapers uses too much water."

Well, I hate to burst that bubble, but in actuality, it takes far more water to manufacture disposables than it does to wash cloth diapers throughout the two years or so a child wears them. Plus, according to the law, it is illegal to put human waste in the landfills. Guess what that means, folks? That means disposables should technically be washed out before being thrown away! You may as well just use cloth...especially if you consider yourself a law-abiding citizen.

Let me say that I'm proud of my daughter, Jessica. She could take the easy way out. Despite her desire to be a fulltime SAHM (Stay at Home Mom), her need for benefits makes that impossible for her right now. So every morning she's up early nursing and caring for her baby and getting herself ready for work. Some mornings she drives Laura to my home so I can watch her and other mornings she hands over her parenting duties to her husband. Work is stressful and the days are long. Jess spends lunch hours standing in the Ladies' Room pumping bottles. Evenings are spent doing normal mommy things, plus washing, drying and folding diapers. It would be much more convenient to pop open some formula and slap on some disposable diapers. But who ever said life as a parent was supposed to be convenient? Like I said, I'm proud of my daughter, Jessica. In today's world of celebrities, bigger-than-life politicians and super heroes, she is my hero.  UPDATE:  Jess was able to leave her job earlier this month and, for now, fulfill her heart's desire, and be a SAHM.

Yeah, you can call me Green Grandma....it's a title I'm honored to wear.

Keeping it green,

Hana

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Lead-free under the tree



What do a Barbie accessory and some Disney toys have in common this holiday season? Well, according to the Center for Environmental Health (an advocacy group out of California), high levels of lead.

Whatever Lola wants...

"A little bit of lead never hurt anybody," you may be thinking. "Besides, Lola really wants a Tinkerbell Water Lily necklace for Christmas and I hate to disappoint her."

Alrighty then. Let's just ignore the potential for brain damage that can accompany exposure to lead. Irreversible brain damage, I might add.

Several retailers received letters from Jerry Brown, the Attorney General of California, informing them they were selling products containing illegal levels of lead and instructing them to pull these items immediately. The stores involved include: Target, WalMart, Walgreens, Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx, and Sears. The products involved include:

Disney Tinkerbell Water Lily necklace

Dora the Explorer Activity Tote

Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit

some children's shoes

a boy's belt

a child's poncho

History repeats itself

Remember the 2007 recalls of toys containing lead? There were over 2 million Mattel toys recalled alone. As a result, a law was passed in 2008 that limited the amounts of lead and other toxic chemicals that were permitted in toys and other goods for children under the age of 13. Obviously, some companies are gambling with not being caught breaking this law.

Apparently Mattel is not claiming responsibility for this "slip up." After all, they licensed the Barbie name to Bell Sports for the Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit, an older product which passed the lead safety tests prior to the passing of the law. Bell Sports claims they didn't know it was still on store shelves. Does the term 'inventory control' mean anything here?

Playmates Toys, the licensee for the Disney necklace, claims it was tested and complied with all consumer safety regulations prior to making its way to the store shelves.

So, naturally, no one is accepting blame here. But believe me, lawyers will find out who to point fingers at as soon as the first child suffers the effects of lead exposure. Just make sure it isn't one of your own little ones.

­Play it safe

Opt for non-toxic toys this Christmas. A great website for non-toxic and environmentally-friendly products for kids is http://www.planethappytoys.com/ where they carry a wide variety of brands from Germany, Thailand, China, the Netherlands, Canada, Egypt, Slovakia, Viet Nam, Peru, Guyana, Sri Lanka, UK, France, Turkey, India, Romania, and ... gasp ... the good ol' USA. Here is a list of American made brands (although some companies manufacture products in more than one country):

Barefoot Books

Camden Rose

Green Toys

Mountaineers

Pixel Organics

Sarah's Silks

The Herbalist

Xeko

You can shop for their products by category: Natural, Organic, Fairly Traded, Green, Recycled, Responsible, Multi-Use, and Phthalate-free.

This is a website worth checking out as you do your holiday shopping. And that's the Green Grandma's recommendation of the day.

Keeping it green and healthy,


Hana