On the search for Fair Trade

Have you ever made the effort to find Fair Trade products in your local stores? Sometimes it's a hit and sometimes it's a miss, right? But what can you do about it?

According to Green America's Guide to Fair Trade, "If you don't see the Fair Trade label in local stores, approach the manager or write the company requesting that they carry Fair Trade."

And if you find they are already carrying Fair Trade products, make sure you thank them for making the products available. They need to know that customers like you care about the origins of the products you buy. 

Fair Trade at The Shepherd's Door

Here in Pittsburgh, there are numerous stores that make carrying Fair Trade products a priority. Stores like Whole Foods, Ten Thousand Villages, etc. are obvious choices. But many small, independently-owned stores do as well. If you're ever in the North Boros, stop by The Shepherd's Door, located at 563 Lincoln Avenue in Bellevue, PA. They have a lovely array of Fair Trade jewelry, gifts, decor items, coffee, jellies, olive oils, toys, greeting cards, and more! And if you drop in, make sure you ask for my husband, Bill, and tell him I sent you. 

Oh, and if you haven't already picked up a copy of my book, VINEGAR FRIDAYS, you can get your copy right there. 

Shop Fair Trade. Shop local. It matters. It always matters.

If you would like more information about organizing a campaign to get your local supermarket to stock Fair Trade, contact Green America at fairtrade@greenamericatoday.org for an organizing toolkit.

Keeping it green and fair,

A bright idea! Lighting options for the new year... PLUS a giveaway!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received products and/or compensation in exchange for this post. 

Happy Monday! Here we are, already heading into the third full week of 2015. Time is speeding by. And, as always, as time goes by, innovative products hit the market, intending on making our lives better in one way or another. Of course, that's not always the case (take GMOs, for example).

One of the areas that keeps evolving is in the realm of lighting options. From torches to gas lanterns to the incandescent light bulb, society is ever reaching for the best possible lighting solution. 

When CFLs hit the market, we thought we finally had it. But, in my opinion at least, we were wrong. There were so many issues with CFLs, from the danger of releasing toxins when they broke to the problem of safe disposal to the rather crappy lighting they provided.

That's why I was happy with the GE bulbs. I really like the energy savings that accompany LED bulbs, and I'm happy with the way they light a room. I tried some out a year ago and have continued to enjoy them.

Recently, GE contacted me to check out some more of their light bulbs and I happily complied. They sent me quite a few of their energy-efficient soft white 60w incandescent modified spectrum replacement bulbs (43w), which use 28% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. No, they're not as energy-efficient as CFLs, but like I said, I'm not a fan of CFLs and all their baggage. The estimated yearly energy cost for one of these GE bulbs is only $5.18 per year (based on 3 hrs/day and they'll last nearly a year. So they're cost effective and cast a warm light using less energy than the other bulbs. 

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised when I received the incandescent bulbs, as I thought they were no longer allowed to make them. 

In addition, I received a couple of GE LED soft white 60w replacement (10.5w) bulbs that are dimmable and are estimated to cost just $1.26/year and last 13.7 years. Of course, the duration is based on 3 hrs/day and barring any active ball-throwing children, mischievous cats, or klutzy adults in the home!

These bulbs also have a warm glow to them, so they're a perfect light choice for any room. 

But choosing light bulbs is not always easy, is it? As a matter of fact, as time passes, this is becoming quite the difficult task. I hope these infographics can help you sort through the "clutter" of the lighting aisle. After looking them over, don't miss your chance to win one of three great GE Lighting Home Makeover packages:

• Beautify House Makeover Package -- $200 worth of GE bulbs
• Beautify Room Makeover Package -- $100 worth of GE bulbs
• Bathroom Makeover Package -- $30 worth of GE bulbs

GE Lighting is providing the product for this giveaway to help you learn about the different light bulbs available as, like I said, the plethora of options can seem daunting at time.

For each lighting purchase you make, be sure to choose the right fit, the right brightness, and the right color and effect. And don't forget to consider the energy savings and lifetime of the bulbs. For more information, please visit the GE website.  

Enter below on the Rafflecopter through 12pm PST on January 30, 2015. Sorry, this contest is open to U.S. residents only. GE Lighting is not running this giveaway, but they are providing the products.

Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weekend quote -- Where is "away"?

Image by Gabor Szakacs

 There is no such thing as "away."

When we throw anything away

it must go somewhere.

~ Annie Leonard  

A spill, a generous heart, and a bat in the basement

A few things happened this week that are worthy of mention. I shared these things on Facebook, but since many of you miss my FB posts, I thought they were worthy of a blog post.


First, my 4 YO grandson, Lincoln, got two green thumbs up from me on Wednesday. He was in the kitchen and made a mess. Rather than calling for his mommy to clean it up, he opened a drawer and pulled out every kitchen towel and rag. Every one of them. And he gave cleaning up his best effort. Of course, his mommy had to help him out in the end, but Linc tried, which is important. That's not the main point of my green thumbs up, however. 

Can you figure out why I'm so proud of him?

He used cloth towels! While many children and adults alike reach for the roll of paper towels when there is a spill, my grandson opted for cloth. Go Linc!

Second, my 6 YO granddaughter, Laura, made me cry yesterday after her teacher pulled her daddy aside to talk to him about Laura. Uh oh. Well, it turns out that the lovely little Lady Laura has been taking money to school each day and distributing it into other kindergarteners' cubbies. When asked, she explained that she's been taking money out of her piggy bank and giving it, anonymously (or so she thought) to other children she perceived needed it more than she did. Oh.my.goodness. 

Third, I have to brag a bit about myself. Yesterday morning greeted me with a bat in the basement. Not a baseball bat. Nope. It was the flying kind. After phone calls and much consideration, I went down to the basement, followed by my husband, and I caught the bat! I cupped a plastic container (good to know there is something useful about them) over the bat and held it tightly against the wall. Then, and only then, did my husband get close enough to slip a cookie sheet between the bat and the wall, and we carried it outside and let it go. 

It didn't fly away as expected, however. It just remained splayed on the lawn, with its 10" wingspan spread, hissing and showing off its tiny fangs. It was not a happy camper. My husband was concerned that we'd hurt its wings and it couldn't fly, but I think it just didn't like being out on the cold ground with the sun shining brightly in its face. Finally, Bill took a long stick and poked at the little guy. That was all it took for him to take flight. We cringed when it headed for our neighbors' open garage, but then it boomeranged and headed back toward us. Of course, our garage door was open, too, and we feared for a repeat occurrence. Again, it turned before entering the garage and we watched as it flew out of sight. I hope the little guy found a nice dark corner somewhere, other than in someone else's house!

While some people may have opted for killing the bat, we just wanted to make sure we gave it a chance to live. Will it survive in the cold? I don't know. I thought they hibernated at this time of the year. But at least we did the most humane thing we could think of to do. 

And those are my stories to wrap up this week. Do you have any proud moments of your own to share? I'd love to hear them. 

TBT -- Thoughts on the death of my mom

This week's Throwback Thursday takes us back to this date two years ago -- January 15, 2013. The day my mother died. These were some of my thoughts one week after she died. 

 

Saying goodbye

For those of you who haven't heard, my mother died last week. Bill and I traveled across the state on January 5th to spend her 86th birthday with her on the 7th. Our plan was to return home on the 8th, but we extended our visit through the 10th. Two days later, my mom suffered 3 massive strokes and went into a coma. She never regained consciousness. At 8:53 a.m. Tuesday, January 15th, her heart slowed down until it just stopped beating. She died peacefully.

While she was in a coma, I talked to her, rubbed her feet and arms, kissed her face and sang to her. She loved the song, "If He Walked into My Life Today" from Mame. I think it reminded her of my dad. While I couldn't possibly match Eydie Gorme's voice, I sang it anyway. Then I sang a song that always made her cry. Growing up as part of the congregation of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manheim, PA (the Red Rose Church), my sisters and I sang in the Children's Choir. Every year, we sang "Let There Be Peace on Earth." It wasn't just the song that Mom loved; it was also the memory of her sweet little girls singing their hearts out in the choir loft behind the majestic pipe organ. I fought back my own tears as I leaned over her bed singing the words to her... funny how I'd never picked up on one of the last lines of the song before -- "To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally..." The word pierced my heart. I wasn't ready to let her go. I wasn't ready for her to transition into eternity. I just wasn't ready.

On Saturday, my husband closed out her memorial service by singing "Let There Be Peace On Earth." It wasn't quite the same as if my sisters and I had sang it, but it was probably just as difficult for him to do. Bill loved my mom. And she loved him.

Of the past 17 days, I spent 15 of them in my hometown. In addition to saying goodbye to my mom, I also have to say goodbye to my childhood home. It's not easy. Our house in Manheim was a gathering place for all of us. My niece, who lives in NYC, and my nephew, from Vegas, consider it home. My own children have years worth of memories there. Even my mom's great-grandchildren love going there. 

As we sorted through Mom's things, we each took special items... items that will remind us, not only of her, but of our history in that house. It was the house where I wrote my first poem. The house where I discovered my love of writing. And of birds. It was where I learned about family and forgiveness and resilience. I nursed my own broken heart there time and time again. And it was the place where I launched dreams in that same heart. Let me tell you... it's not easy to let go.

As much as I'm not unfamiliar with grief, I am not familiar with what is ahead. I suspect the pain will knock me down at unexpected moments. That is why I'm asking for your grace. Postings may be sporadic for awhile. But I'll be back to my daily postings eventually. I just need a bit of time to reflect, to mourn and to get my bearings. My mother and my home were constants in my life. I think I'm about to lose my footing.

Hana

Are you living off the grid? New TV show is looking for people just like you!

Cutting through the jargon. Today's word: sustainable

Do you ever get confused by all the jargon being tossed around by green-minded folks like me? I know I do. There's organic, fairly traded, non-GMO, environmental, eco-friendly, sustainable... Sometimes it sounds like a foreign language! 


The most confusing to me is the term "sustainable," so I thought I'd flesh it out a bit for any of you who experience the same confusion. Some may say sustainable living is just a catch phrase created by a bunch of tree huggers. But they'd be wrong.

However, sustainability cannot be easily defined. It's like an onion with many layers and involves people choosing healthy lifestyles, supporting their communities (you know, shopping local and all of that), and even doing our part to contribute to the economy. Of course, it also is about green living and it involves local and global actions.

Here are some more defined definitions (thank you Google):

• To keep in existence, nourish, maintain, or prolong
• Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Long-term preservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystems
• Providing for the needs of the current population without compromising the needs of future generations

Sustainable practices are those that can be repeated without any negative consequences to the environment or to people's pocketbooks or bank accounts. 

See, it's not just about being green (which involves simply caring for the environment). It's a body of conscious choices that sustain a good life for us and for our grandchildren. Does that make sense? 

If people continue to think only of their current needs without regard to the future of this planet, the consequences will be immense. While you may not be able to make huge changes in your life or home, we can all make a difference if we choose a sustainable mindset. 

That means

• Stop mindlessly tossing things into the trash. Ask yourself: Can this be recycled, reused, or composted? The lazy way is to toss it. The sustainable way is to care enough to at least contemplate the answer.
• Turn off the water when it doesn't have a direct purpose. Does it really need to run while you're brushing your teeth or washing your hair?
• Turn off the lights when no one is in the room. Teach your children to do the same.
• Opt for local shopping, even if it does cost a wee bit more. Support your small mom and pop stores before they become a thing of the past. Walmart's not going to mind if you spend your dollars at the local market. But you can't say the opposite is true.
• Don't pollute your yard and garden with harmful chemicals that kill the pollinators, like the bees and butterflies. Seriously... think about what you're doing!
• Start using more reusable products rather than depending on disposables. In our home, we use rags instead of paper towels, cloth napkins instead of paper ones, and reusable dishes, cups, and flatware instead of throwaways (even for picnics and parties). And our grandbabies don cloth diapers, not Huggies or Pampers.

Are you starting to get the picture? I hope so. 

I'd love to hear your suggestions for sustainable living, so why not post a comment? The best part of community is learning from each other, don't you think?

 

Weekend Quote -- The family canvas

I've come to know that our families are a canvas on which we paint our greatest hopes -- imperfect and sloppy, for we are all amateurs at life, but if we do not focus too much on our mistakes, a miraculous picture emerges. And we learn that it's not the beauty of the image that warrants our gratitude -- it's the chance to paint.

~ Richard Paul Evans

FINDING NOEL

Show your pride Western PA!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received products and/or compensation in exchange for this post.

Aboard Amtrak heading east

I love living in Western Pennsylvania. What's not to love? We have it all from the best of city life in downtown Pittsburgh, to the beaches of Lake Erie, to the mountains from north to south. There is culture, diversity, great food, top notch universities, world class hospitals, beautiful parks, bike and walking trails, gardens, and so.much.more. And there is plenty of opportunity to stay active and healthy through both indoor and outdoor activities.



One thing I love about living in Pittsburgh is the accessibility to other places. We have an international airport, bus services, and, my personal favorite, Amtrak. 

Last Friday, I boarded the train in Pittsburgh and headed east to Lancaster. There's nothing quite like a hot cup of coffee while seated in the dining car on Amtrak. Of course, it could be better if they didn't do their inventory by the cup -- then I could have used my reusable coffee mug rather than throwing away the cup after each fresh brew. Ah well, you can't have everything.

Like I said, Amtrak is my favorite way to travel and I feel so blessed to be able to board the train a mere six or seven miles from my home. It's easy to stay active on Amtrak because you're not bound to your seat, like you are in a car, bus, or airplane. You just get up and walk around. You can walk from one end of the train to the other, clocking your daily steps while en route to your destination.

If you're from Western PA, I'd love to know what you like most about living here. I'm not alone in wanting to know. Western PA Pride, sponsored by United Healthcare, is looking for photos of people like you and me who want to show the world what we love about our corner of the world and how we're staying active. United Healthcare is hosting a contest and is giving out a $25 gift card each week to people who enter the photo contest and are chosen as winners. Plus, there is a grand prize of $400. 

The contest runs from now until January 30, 2015. Hop (skip, dance, jog, run, ride... whatever gets the blood pumped) over to their website and upload a picture. It literally only takes a couple of minutes and you just might win the grand prize of $400! 

Let's do it!

TBT -- Caring too much

Today's Throwback Thursday goes back a few years to January 2011. Recently, this topic came up again and I was chided by someone else. Yes, I could have a more carefree life. No doubt. If only I cared less about people and about causes, then I could relax each night and not stress about anything. But that would benefit no one but me. 

I see this happening more and more -- people caring only about their own happiness. That's what life is all about for them -- the pursuit of happiness. But it's just not what I'm about. And I hope it never will be. 

 

"Helping Hands" by Irene Marie Dorey

 

Caring too much

A family member recently criticized me for “caring too much.” That was a slap in the face I did not expect. She said, “Well, you do. You always know people who have traumatic things happening to them and you get too involved. I mean, you and Bill are always off visiting people in the hospital. That’s ridiculous. They probably don’t even want you there. A card would be enough.” Wow.

So, herein lies the question: is it possible to care too much? When a friend, family member or simply an acquaintance is in need, should we put their needs on the care-o-meter and measure just how involved we should get? Or should we go with our instincts to reach out and do just that? What are your thoughts?

Maybe we do care too much. When I see my husband praying for someone he does not even know and I reach out to wipe away a tear from his eye, perhaps I should just slap him silly and tell him to knock it off! I tend to think I would be the one in need of prayer then!

I know people whose main goal in life is to be happy. That’s fine for them. But I just cannot wrap my mind around that concept. Do I think we shouldn’t seek happiness? Not at all. I am happy much of the time. But I simply refuse to sacrifice my compassion for others who are hurting so that I can live in La La land, singing happy little ditties and laughing my life away. That might suit my purposes, but I live under the guise that life is not just about me. And I recognize that it is all about balance. After all, I would not be a good wife, mother, friend or grandmother if I were completely wrapped up in the cares of the world. It is good to sing little ditties and engage in some hearty belly laughs. And there is certainly loads of room for that in my life.

But my challenge to you in this new year is to live lives worthy of the same kind of criticism – that you care too much. Let’s make this Green Grandma community a community of extreme caring, of compassion, of grace. We can care about the environment all we want, but if we are not caring about the finest of God’s creation – his people – what good is it? We can do both, because, after all, we are amazing.

Caring for you deeply,
 

Inspiring others... what a great way to start off the new year!

Disclosure: I am a Hyland's Homeopathy Ambassador and receive various products from Hyland's and promotional partners at no cost to me. All views and opinions expressed on this blog post and corresponding social network mentions are my own and are not to be interpreted as medical advice.

I love inspiring others, don't you? Just scroll through people's posts on Facebook and you'll see lots of inspirational quotes. We just like to build each other up. At least the inspirational/motivational quotes offset the negative political posts, right? 

Hyland's is hoping to inspire 100,000 people by posting quotes by people just like you now through the end of the month. Each day, they will choose a winner who will receive a prize package of some of Hyland's Homeopathy goodies. PLUS one person will will the GRAND PRIZE of a $200 VISA gift card! This is win-win contest because even if you don't win a prize, you'll still have the chance to be inspired and motivated each and every day. How cool is that?

Hyland's is looking for quotes based on the following three prompts:

"Inspiration comes when..."

"I am most motivated by..."

"In 2015, I will uplift others by..."

I thought about each one and had a hard time choosing one. So I decided to create a quote for all three. Maybe you'll do the same. Here goes:

A

B

C

Here comes the fun part... and this is apart from the contest being held by Hyland's. Vote for your favorite quote (A, B, or C) in the comments below and I will choose a winner via Random.org to receive a variety of Hyland's Homeopathy products from me.

And don't forget to enter the Help Hyland's Inspire 100,000 People contest by clicking here. Of course, you don't have to create a meme. Just finish one of the sentences and enter to win. Let's start off the new year by inspiring each other! Sounds like a fantastic idea, don't you think?

Hoping I inspire you,

The regret of not being there

I reached across the bed and turned off the light. It was my mother's lamp. Big, round, brass. Its former life was spent in the living room of my childhood home. Now it was illuminating "my" room in my best friend's (since kindergarten) home. 

Tomorrow would have been my mother's 88th birthday had she not died two years ago. For several years, I traveled across the state in early January to spend a few days with her for her birthday. This year, even though she's no longer there, I hopped on a train and went "home" again. 

Last night, as I reached for the light, I thought about my mom. About the seemingly endless nights when she would sit in her living room alone watching television or reading by the glow of this lamp. I thought of her loneliness. And I ached inside for the want of going back in time and doing things a bit differently. I would have spent more time in Manheim with her. I would have filled more of those lonely hours with my presence.

But there is no going back and lessons learned are often lessons forgotten. I can only hope I do not neglect others who need me as time goes by. I hope that my presence will ease someone else's loneliness and I never again face the regret I've felt since Mom died. 

And I hope you, my friend, will learn from my mistake. Mom and I did not always get along. We did not always see eye-to-eye. Sometimes she drove me crazy. Sometimes I grew tired of hearing the same old stories. Sometimes I simply did not want to play another hand of cards or be beaten in another round of Boggle. But I loved her and I miss her with my entire being. 

Don't do it, folks. Don't neglect the ones you love. Don't subject them to endless hours of solitude, if it's within your control to make a difference. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Do you love to read? Why not share a book with someone? Go to them, or call them, and read to them. You'll still get your reading time in. It's just that now you'll be enriching someone else's life while you do it.
• Do you have an hour free for lunch? Is an aging parent or grandparent close by? Why not take lunch to them and lessen their loneliness for 45 minutes or so each week? Would it really be that much of a sacrifice?
• Do you have paperwork to do or papers to grade? Do you do it while sitting in front of the TV? Why not do just that in the nursing home or your parents' living room? Sometimes, all they need is another warm body filling a place in the chair for awhile. 
• Do you take meals to someone from time to time? Wonderful! Maybe you could offer to actually cook a meal or two in their kitchen. There's something delightful about the aromas of chicken roasting in the oven or stew simmering on the stove. And while it's cooking, ask them to tell you about their romances, or dreams, or career.

I'm sure you can come up with plenty of ideas of your own to bless someone's life and deliver them from a life of consistent loneliness. It takes so little... really. And the rewards are great. They include not suffering the kind of regret I have for not spending more time in my childhood home where my mom experienced the painful reality of growing old in an empty house.

Keeping it real,

 

The Dragonfly Cafe -- a must-visit restaurant in Lancaster County

Loved the servers' attire!

Every once in awhile, I come across a business worth mentioning. Like a couple of weeks ago when I touted the virtue of the Home2 Suites by Hilton. It was not a sponsored post; I just felt it was worthy of mention. Same with today's post. No one paid me or gave me anything free to write it.

I'm in Lancaster County visiting a friend for a few days. On Saturday morning, she and her husband introduced me to a restaurant they thought I'd like. They were right. The Dragonfly Cafe, located at 245 Bloomfield Dr. in Lititz, PA is a refreshing change of pace. Serving all natural, organic, gluten-free, and vegetarian cuisine, the food was delicious and the prices were quite reasonable. Open seven days a week, they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a coffee shop type of atmosphere with a touch of dragonflies throughout. From crepes to wraps to salads to a lovely selection of mac & cheese, the menu offerings are plentiful and sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Even their beverage menu boasts classic smoothies, organic juices, teas, coffees, espressos, and more. How about some organic chai latte, hot or iced? Or a flavored cappuccino? And, of course, there is organic whole, skimmed, or soy milk. 

I spent some time chatting with one of the managers and one of the owners, who went to culinary school in Pittsburgh. We had a nice talk about my city. But we talked more about the restaurant, the significance of the dragonfly, and her own journey with personal loss. The next day, I ate lunch at Dragonfly Cafe with my cousin and had the opportunity to chat with another of the three owners.

My breakfast on Saturday included fresh over-easy free range eggs, rosemary red-skinned potatoes (with onions, upon my request), nine grain toast, and bacon for a mere $5.75. Fantastic. On Sunday, I ordered an appetizer of whole wheat Margarita flatbread which was more than enough for lunch. The food did not disappoint!

Quite honestly, the only time I was disappointed was when I went into the bathroom and found Febreze air freshener (seriously toxic, folks!) and anti-bacterial soap. Neither fit the overall theme of wellness in the cafe.


One other thing I did like was their support of local artists. Some nights feature local musicians and there was artwork on the walls with small write-ups about the young artists. It's obvious the folks at  The Dragonfly Cafe care about their community. 

Sweeping the bathroom issues under the proverbial rug, The Dragonfly Cafe gets two green thumbs up from Green Grandma. I look forward to my next trip east so I can experience their goodness once again.

Weekend Quote -- Unconditional Love

What it's like to be a parent:

It's one of the hardest things

you'll ever do

but in exchange

it teaches you the meaning

of unconditional love.

~ Nicholas Sparks 

Four Thieves Vinegar -- to chase away the nasties

It was a scary time. The bubonic plague was spreading and people fell on desperate times as they watched their loved ones dying and feared for their own lives. 

It must have been a rough time for robbers as well. But a group of clever thieves came up with a solution. They concocted a prophelactic remedy that would protect them as they robbed the bodies of people who died from the plague. Hmmm. Guess what the main ingredient was? 

Of course! Vinegar! Welcome to the first Vinegar Friday of 2015. May the tips you receive throughout the year help you to live healthier lives. In addition to new tips and recycled old ones, I'm hoping to bring you an updated version of my book, VINEGAR FRIDAYS, in both print and ebook. If you have a tip you'd like to add, please email me at greengrandma@comcast.net and let me know. I'd love to add a chapter called, Favorite tips from the Green Grandma community. 

But back to the bubonic plague. Whatever could the thieves have used to keep them safe as they touched the bodies of those who died? And could it possibly help us today in warding off the flu viruses and other nasties out there? It certainly couldn't hurt!

Four Thieves Vinegar

According to the ever-reliable Wikipedia, it is also called Marseilles Vinegar, Marseilles Remedy, Prophylactic Vinegar (and no, it doesn't protect you from getting pregnant), Vinegar of the Four Thieves, camphorated acetic acid, Vinaigre des Quatre Voleurs, and Acetum Quator Furum.

Start off with a quart jar filled with organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Do not use the filtered stuff, as the effectiveness will be greatly reduced! 

Add the following to the ACV:

I highly recommend sticking to organic ingredients so their property is not compromised by RoundUp or other toxins.
 
 

• 1 TBSP lavender 
• 1 TBSP peppermint
• 1 TBSP rosemary
• 1 TBSP sage
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 TBSP chopped garlic 

Seal tightly and shake. Then store in a cool, dark place for 2 - 3 weeks, shaking daily. (Some people recommend placing it in the sun -- your choice.) At the end of the stewing period, strain. Add several garlic cloves, crushed, and steep for an additional 3 days. Strain once again and store the liquid in the refrigerator.

Alternate recipes add mint, wormwood, or marjoram.

Note: Since vinegar can be erosive, you may want to put a piece of plastic wrap across the top before screwing on the lid.

As an immunity booster, adults can take 1 TBSP a day and kids can take 1/2 TBSP, diluted with lots of water!

If you're squeamish about taking the tincture internally, that's okay. It still is a powerful disinfectant that can kill germs effectively. Consider soaking cloth wipes in the liquid and carrying them with you for quick disinfecting of restaurant tabletops, high chairs, and shopping carts. You can also use the wipes after shaking hands with business associates or people at church. (I recommend doing this discretely, of course!)

Adding it to a spray bottle to use on kitchen and bathroom surfaces is effective as well. Make sure you save some for the summer, too, as many claim it works well at keeping insects at bay. Bonus: this is safe to use on your pets.

Of course, do not use it on broken skin or open wounds.

While I can't promise you a flu-free season, I'm pretty confident the Four Thieves Vinegar will protect you from the bubonic plague, should it show up in your neighborhood!

Keeping it green and healthy with vinegar,

If you're in a hurry for more vinegar tips, 

check out the reviews of my book 

and pick up a copy.

TBT -- Some New Year's thoughts at the end of 2009

It's Throwback Thursday and it's also New Year's Day, 2015. Wow. 2014 flew by, didn't it? I looked through old New's Year's posts and found this one, which I think is well worth sharing again. Honestly, I could just substitute the years and it is as current as it gets.

Happy New Year, my friends! 


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,