How about a Vinegar Tuesday?

Theo Van Gogh

People are always telling me they miss Vinegar Fridays, so I thought I'd slip in a Vinegar Tuesday today. For those of you who really enjoyed VFs, I will be releasing a book in the fall with all the vinegar tips organized in a semi-logical order! I hope you'll buy it.

Did you ever start unloading your dishwasher only to find a bunch of miscellaneous gunk accumulated in one or more of your glasses? How does that happen?! Unfortunately, I find it happens more often when I'm using 'green' dish washing products, which makes my husband emphatically state, over and over again, that we need to go back to Cascade.

Anyway, I was emptying the dishwasher yesterday and pulled out two glasses that were simply not going to be put away. They're tall narrow glasses that are difficult to hand wash. So I put a little water in them with a teaspoon of baking soda. Then, I added the magic ingredient -- distilled white vinegar. Just a splash of it was enough to cause the effervescent reaction I was hoping for. All those tiny little natural scrubbing bubbles attacked that dishwasher gunk in no time. Voila! A couple of shiny glasses! I can't tell you how excited I am about this new discovery!

Today is truly a vinegar Tuesday for me. I started out in the shower rinsing my hair with apple cider vinegar. I alternate how I do this. Some days, I pour 1/2 cup in a jar and add 2 cups of water. At the end of my shower, I simply pour this on my hair as a final rinse. Other days, I put a tablespoon or so in the jar with a cup of water and use it like conditioner after I'm done washing my hair, thoroughly rinsing it out. This is the best detangler around ... and it's completely natural. If you have light-colored hair, you might prefer using distilled white vinegar instead.

Next, as I was making my coffee, I grabbed the Dr. Bragg's Organic Unfiltered Raw Apple Cider Vinegar from the cupboard and took a tablespoon, followed by 8 oz. of water and then a thorough rinsing of my mouth (it will erode tooth enamel if it just sits in there!).

After breakfast, I took a couple of vases into the kitchen and took the dead sunflowers out of them (to be put in the compost pile). The vases had that dead-flower-slime in them, so guess what I did? Yep. Baking soda, water and vinegar. The foaming is actually cool to watch -- your kiddos will love it!

So that was it with the vinegar ... so far. On the agenda for later today or this evening -- a apple cider vinegar foot bath. A 5 minute soak in one cup of ACV in a basin with warm water creates the softest feet I've had since I was a toddler. Seriously. It's amazing how soft my heels get. If you have rough feet, you have to try this.

After the foot soak, I'm going to repurpose the ACV-infused water and give my cat a bath. Theo is not aware of this yet, and he won't be too thrilled when it actually happens. But the results will be well worth it. You see, Theo is allergic to bug bites. So every summer, he ends up covered in scabs. Poor thing. Then his fur gets a bit oily and yucky feeling. The vinegar bath will sooth the itch and make his coat amazingly soft. I might endure a few scratches in the process, but like I said, it will be worth it.

That's my Vinegar Tuesday. Let me know if you have a Vinegar Tuesday of your own!

Keeping it green, healthy and soft with vinegar,

Hana

The Sabbath Experience -- week 44

I decided to take Saturday off this week. I had a pile of work neatly listed, and not yet crossed off, in my assignment notebook, but there was something a bit more urgent ... spending some time alone, and spending some time with my dear friend, Carol.

Carol's niece's husband shot himself on Wednesday. One bullet in the chest. I can't tell you how incredibly sad this made me. Matt was a kind man with two children, ages 9 and 11. The last time I saw him was about 10 years ago. They lived about 120 miles or so north of here. There was a period in my life when I spent a great deal of time in that area with this family, who 'adopted' me as one of their own. I was with Carol and her sister and brothers during the most difficult time in their lives -- the sudden and unexpected death of their mother, followed just 22 days later by the death of their dad. I was there for both funerals. I was there, by his side, when their father took his last breaths. It was an experience I will never forget and one I was somehow honored to share in.

The years passed, life got busy and we simply stopped getting together. After the news of Matt's death, I found myself deeply regretting that fact. So, shoving work aside, I drove 2 hours north and spent the afternoon with Carol in a town 45 minutes south of her home. It was wonderful. For me, the knowledge that I am loved so deeply by this family, humbles me. And it refreshes my spirit. They consider me one of their own.

Have you ever experienced that? 'Adoption' into a family that is not your own? There is something so incredible about being invited in by a family, rather than simply being born into one.

Carol and I reminisced about that awful March 11 years ago when she lost both of her parents. Sometimes, there is comfort in the retelling of those stories. We both got teary-eyed, but neither of us broke down, so that showed progress. We caught up on each other's lives. And we laughed. For me, work was so far off the radar for this one wonderful day, that it truly was restful.

There was another reason I opted to make a 4 hour roundtrip drive on Saturday ... for the sheer solitude of it. The drive up Route 28 was beautiful. I made a couple of stops along the way and shared the story of my blog with some interested people who noticed the sign on my car door.

"Green Grandma?" the gentlemen asked. "What's Green Grandma?"

By the time I was done with my pitch about cloth diapers, non-GMOs and recycling, I had some new fans. At least, I hope I did. Since this was a flea-markety kind of shop, I ended up coming home with some good bargains. A couple of Christmas presents and a lovely painting that is now hanging above my desk. It will serve as a reminder that sometimes, closing the laptop and choosing a different course for the day is exactly what God wants of me.

And so that, my friends, was my Sabbath Experience for this week. God ministered to me in an unexpected journey, some much needed alone time and in the hug of a friend. When we give God the chance to bless us with a day of rest, He's not one to pass up the opportunity.

Sharing my Sabbath experience,

Hana

Discovery

This is the foundation of all.

We are not to imagine or suppose

but to discover what nature does

or may be made to do.

-- Francis Bacon                  

Friday's 3Rs -- a peek into a recycling center

Some quick green tips for summer

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

Did you know a dirty lawnmower has to work harder and use more gasoline than a clean one? That's why you should always clear the underside of any grass/leave clippings after you're done mowing your lawn. Or, if you really care about greening your lawn care, why not switch to a hand pushed lawn mower? In this heat, it will be a good workout and you can skip the gym! Don't you love multi-tasking?! Here are some more ways you can live a little bit greener during these hot summer months:
• End of season savings are often found at your local greenhouse and garden centers. Grab some vines and shrubs to plant close to your house. They will actually help cool your house on these brutally hot days, as well as keep things a bit toastier in the winter. Natural insulation. Who knew? Of course, you don't want vines climbing the siding on your house, as that can cause some damage.
• Purchasing an Energy Star dehumidifier or two and running it/them on hot, muggy days can keep your house feeling a bit more comfortable. If you use AC, you can even hike the temp up a bit as the dehumifiers suck the moisture out of the air.
• If you have electrostatic filters on your AC system, make sure you clean them monthly. Simply use cold water and a soft brush or run them through a gentle cycle in your dishwasher. Do not dry in the diswasher, however!! Air dry the filters before replacing them.
• Continuing on the AC route ... schedule an appointment with your HVAC guy (or gal) to recharge and recycle the refrigerant in you AC system every 2 years.
• If you have vents in your basement, close them during the summer. Why cool an area that's naturally cool already? If the basement is damp, this is a perfect instance where a dehumidifier would be helpful.
• Is your upstairs considerably warmer than your first floor? That makes sense, since hot air rises. With my second-floor office simply not cooling down enough, we ended up hanging an insulated curtain at the top of the steps. It really helped in cooling the upstairs. Also, if you have ceiling fans, set them to rotate counter-clockwise. This will draw the warmer air upward and away from you.
• There's no doubt you already know to clean your lint catcher in your dryer. But how often do you clean the vent leading outside your house? A cleaner system leads to more efficient operation. Of course, hanging laundry on the line is the greenest option, you know : )
• Other than running errands around town, it is more efficient to run your car's AC than it is to drive with the windows open. Why? Simply because the open windows increase drag. The result? A loss of up to 10% in your mileage. Ouch.

Okay, time for me to get to work. Hope you found these tips helpful.

Keeping it green,

Hana

And the winner is ...

Congratulations

to Eileen Wetli!

Eileen won a $15 gift certificate to

New to You Clothing!

Please email me to claim your prize! 

Review It Wednesday Let's talk boobies ... Bamboobies

Since it is World Breastfeeding Week, I actually thought about doing a breast review. I even asked my daughter to write it, from her baby's perspective. She opted, instead, to write the following review of one of her favorite breastfeeding products. Thank you, Bethany, for another great review!



Bamboobies Breast Pads


In honor of World Breastfeeding Week I thought I would introduce you to one of my favorite breastfeeding products, Bamboobies reusable nursing pads.

When I first became a mother I knew that I would be trying to make green choices for our growing family. We used cloth diapers, cloth wipes and cloth napkins. We were on a roll and I was happy with the choices we were making. The one thing I never thought about was my breast pads. I was using the store bought disposable ones and didn't think anything about it. However, I had many problems with them. They were sooo itchy!! They bunched, they leaked and sometimes, even smelled bad (yuck)! I tried just about every brand on the market and, in those early days, was going through at least 4 pairs a day! The cost was adding up quickly and I wasn't happy with throwing them in the trash. I also started wondering what chemicals might be in these absorbent pads that were placed against my body and tainting the place my baby was sucking on (gross)! So one day I started researching cloth (duh, why didn't I think of this before!!)

Various cloth options



I tried a number of cloth pads, which all leaked. Just like with cloth diapers, I knew there would be a learning curve and I would have to find one that worked for me. That's when I discovered Bamboobies!! There are so many great qualities, I just need to list them for you:

• One of their tag lines is "Like a cashmere sweater for my boobies!" Um ... yes they are!! When I got them I couldn't stop rubbing them all over my face! They are amazingly soft!!
• They are made of super-soft bamboo and organic cotton. Your nipples can, and will, be sore; they need to breathe and only be touched by the softest fabrics.
• They soothe chafed nipples
• No leaks ... really!!
• No lines (goodbye round circles!)

Bamboobies vs. Disposable

Just like with cloth diapers, you can save a lot of money with cloth nursing pads! Check this out...

Averaging 4 pairs a day with the leading disposable pads, you are looking at $359.64 for a 9 month supply!! You can get a great starter pack of Bamboobies, including an overnight pair and 3 pairs of regulars, for only $29.00!!!

So here is some great news for you! In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, Bamboobies is offering a free pair of their regular heart-shaped pale pink nursing pads. All you pay is for shipping!! I personally guarantee you won't be disappointed!!

Reviewing it for you,

Hana (and Bethany!)





Today's challenge

This is why

As I stood in the basement folding a seemingly endless pile of freshly laundered cloth napkins, I thought, If you'd just stop being so darned green, you would've used paper napkins and thrown them away and you wouldn't have to be spending your valuable time doing this. I was having a little green pity party. After all, company was coming in a few hours and I had a long list of tasks to accomplish. Folding napkins was simply holding me up.

But then another thought entered my mind. You're doing this for Lincoln. You're doing this for Laura. Suddenly, I found myself folding with a renewed passion as a I chanted my new mantra: You're doing this for Lincoln. You're doing this for Laura.

So that's today's challenge for you. When tempted to opt for less green ways, chant the mantra, inserting the names of the children you love and renew your commitment to leave behind a better earth for the next generations. Whether it's switching to cloth napkins, rags, sanitary products, or diapers, or turning off lights, televisions, or electronics when not in use, conscientiously decide to live a more earth-friendly, therefore child-friendly life.

It's up to you. It's up to me. Small drops in the bucket really do add up. Are you filling yours, or draining it dry?

Keeping it green,

Hana

A sacrifice of praise, a hug and something you'll probably think is strange

It's the Sabbath and I'm cheating.

Our best friends, who live in Virginia Beach, came into town yesterday and they're staying with us until Thursday. Right now, they're at a family picnic, since most of their family members live in the Pittsburgh area. My husband is over at his first wife's delivering some pictures she wanted of their 20 years together. I was going to accompany him, and then the thought dawned on me that I could use this time alone to my advantage and work on some blog posts. He was okay with that, so in the past hour, I've been working on my blog and catching up on some emails. Not my usual Sunday fare.

We're taking the day off tomorrow to spend with our friends, so I won't have time to write about my Sabbath. I will say that, for the most part, it was a very restful day. Our morning worship service was especially inspiring. As I looked out over the congregation (I was up front singing with the worship band), I was struck by the amount of pain and sadness represented in the pews:

• a recent miscarriage
• chronic physical pain
• a suicide survivor who is now permanently blind
• a woman hunched over in a wheelchair after a lifelong battle with CF
• a widower who recently lost his 53-year-old wife
• grandparents of children who have been unjustly taken away from their daughter by CFS
• a single woman who has dreamed of being married for over 50 years
• my own daughter who has lost two babies
• and so many more ... private struggles and unanswered "whys"

Each and every one of those in need of stretcher bearers inspired me. How? In their countenances. I looked out, knowing the pain that was there, and saw joy ... and faith ... and the sacrifices of praise. Tears welled up as I watched them, singing their praises to the Lord who didn't answer their prayers in quite the way they would have wanted ... the Lord who still remains silent in the midst of pain. Joy. That's what I saw. I saw people who, rather than running away from God, were running toward Him. I saw a miracle.

That's how my Sabbath started. What about yours? Was it the same-old-same-old? Have you lost your passion for worship? Perhaps you need to look deeper into the faces of those who are suffering. Perhaps you need to pick up an end of their stretcher and carry it for awhile. Perhaps you simply need to offer up a sacrifice of praise.

My day continued to be a delight. After church, I was holding my relatively-non-affectionate 11-month-old grandson and ... he hugged me!! For the first time ever. A hug. My heart leapt with joy.

Impromtu guests joined us for our traditional after church lunch, as Bill's brother and his wife passed by as we were going into the restaurant. That was delightful.

Later, at home, another brother stopped by for awhile. Equally delightful. And then I napped. Especially delightful!

So, all in all, it was a restful Sabbath, and sharing my thoughts with you is actually not a chore, but a privilege. I am honored every time you take the time to read my words. After all, there are millions of other words you could be reading right now. But you chose to pay Green Grandma a visit and, like I said, I'm honored.

Over an hour has passed since I started this post. Now it's time to head out onto the porch and relax while my husband and I wait for our friends to return. Bill and his first wife had an enjoyable evening reminiscing as they looked at the photos documenting their life together. Does that sound strange? It's not really. They loved each other and bore two children together. That bound is unbreakable and I respect that. They talked, they laughed, they hugged. And that makes me happy. Bitterness and regret destroy the soul. It's not good for anyone. Mary Ann's only regret tonight, according to Bill, was that I didn't come along. How sweet is that?

Sharing my Sabbath experience with you,

Hana

Laziness?

Photo by Dorothy Sessions

Rest is not idleness ...

listening to the murmur of water

or watching the clouds float across the sky

is hardly a waste of time.

-- John Lubbock             

Friday's 3Rs -- Lemons with a twist

In light of yesterday's post about lemons, I decided to do another one. This one is about repurposing lemons ... keeping with the theme of Friday's 3Rs. And, once again, it's a post Worth Repeating, originally posted in October of 2010.

When life gives you lemons, start cleaning!

My microwave is dirty. I don't know what exploded in there, but it definitely left its mark.

Now before those of you who are anti-microwaves (and probably rightfully so) jump on me, I know microwaves are not the best things to have in our homes. I use mine sparingly and generally keep it unplugged. Actually, it serves more as a breadbox than anything.

But back to the interior condition of my microwave -- it needs a good cleaning. Fortunately, I have a solution, and it doesn't involve chemicals! I found this little hint in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine recently. The blurb started out with "Let lemon-infused steam do the work of cleaning your microwave." That got my attention.

Here's what you do (and what I'll be doing a bit later):

Grab a glass bowl that is microwave-safe. Add about two cups of water, followed by the juice from half a lemon. Next, place the squeezed lemon half into the water and put the bowl into the microwave. Set it on high for five to ten minutes and turn it on. Now walk away...don't stand there watching the bowl spin. It is best not to be nearby when the microwave is doing its thing! Keep the door closed for an additional five minutes or so and then wipe out the inside with a cloth. According to BHG, "the work is done."

Here's hoping...

Now that you have used half of your lemon, why not use the other half for something useful? Here are some ideas:

• If the change in weather has you feeling under the weather, and you are suffering from a sore throat, simply skewer the halved lemon and roast it over your stove's burner until the peel turns golden brown. After it cools down a bit, mix the juice with a teaspoon of honey and swallow it.
• Are your fingernails (or toenails, for that matter) looking rather yellow and sickly? Just rub them with a wedge of lemon. They will be sparkly white in no time.
• Speaking of white -- if you add about 1/2 cup of lemon juice to your wash cycle, your dingys won't be dingy anymore.
• Plastic and wooden cutting boards can get nasty with food stains over time. Super lemon to the rescue! Just squeeze the lemon onto the board, rub the stain with the juice and then let it sit for a half hour. Rinse it off and it should be looking like new. This will disinfect the cutting board as well. This is a good trick for sanitizing chopping blocks, too.
• If you have been grating cheese, simply rub the lemon (pulp side) over the grater and voila! No more stickiness!

Don't you love discovering new uses for the things God's created? Okay, I'm off to clean my microwave. I'll let you know how it goes!

Keeping it green with lemons this time,

Hana



Okay, here is my review on cleaning the microwave -- A-

After a little bit of scrubbing, my microwave looks like new. I only "cooked" the lemon-infused bowl of water for seven minutes. Perhaps had I gone with ten minutes, I would have bumped the grade up.

When the microwave was clean, I went on to clean other things in my kitchen with the lemon water. Then I used the cooked lemon and scrubbed my bamboo cutting boards. Finally, I soaked my sink stopper in the bowl and ripped apart the lemon and fed it to the garbage disposal. No waste here. My kitchen smells wonderfully lemony and I feel really good about disinfecting and cleaning with nothing more than a halved lemon, some water and a dishcloth. Post your own review after you give this a try. Maybe you'll give it an A+!

Worth Repeating -- Lemon-fragranced ... naturally!

Some things are simply worth repeating. My skin crawls every time I see a lemon-scented Pine-Sol commercial!

"It smells so clean!" they boast. It drives me crazy. No, it doesn't smell clean!! It smells like lemon-scented chemicals. Wolves in sheep's clothing.

But there is something wonderful about the invigorating scent of lemons ... provided they are real lemons. So, with that in mind, I'm repeating my post from one year ago today ... and it's all about lemons. Enjoy!

Lemon-fragranced ... naturally!

I received a question on Facebook after my post yesterday regarding the use of lemons in natural cleaning products. In addition to adding a truly natural lemon scent to your home, here are some of the things you can do with a lemon:

• Polish up your brass and copper by halving a lemon and rubbing it on the tarnished items.
• Dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits with undiluted lemon juice.
• Scrub kitchen surfaces with a halved lemon sprinkled with baking soda. Use it the way you may have used Comet years ago. This is a wonderful way to get stains out of your sink or off your counters. You can also wash dishes, pots and pans with this handy little lemon scrubber. When done, toss the lemon into your garbage disposal. Ahh, the energizing aroma of lemons!
• Polish your hardwood furniture with a solution of olive oil and lemon juice (1 cup to ½ cup). Guaranteed to make your home smell yummy – naturally!
• Disinfect a cutting board by rubbing a cut lemon across the surface.
• Speaking of disinfecting -- lemons are natural disinfectants. As a matter of fact, researchers at Tsyuma Central Hospital determined that lemon juice kills 99.9% of microbes, including the strain that causes strep infection. To make a natural disinfectant, simply mix up lemon juice with water (50/50) in a spray bottle and apply to non-porous surfaces.

Make sure you wear gloves if you have any cuts on your hands or fingers when cleaning with lemons. Lemon juice can sting when it seeps into an open wound!

Hope I’ve cleared up some of the questions about using lemons in your everyday cleaning. Keep the questions coming! I’m happy to find an answer for them when I can!

Keeping it green,

Hana

New to you ... and to me, too!

It's Review It Wednesday and today it's all about what Amy Boehme of Minneapolis did with an idea.

You see, Amy loved to shop at garage sales (a woman after my own heart). She also wanted to start a business someday. Passion + drive = magic! At least, that's the way I look at it.

Amy is the owner of New to You Clothing. Oh, another resale shop, you may be thinking. What's so special about that? What's special about it is that you don't have to get dressed, fix your hair/makeup, strap the kiddos in their carseats and drive to the shop. You simply pop open your laptop and shop in the luxury of your home/office/backyard ... wherever. But don't think you're going to have to pay premium prices for this premium concept. Nope. Amy offers garage sale prices on gently used kids' clothes. And shipping in the U.S. is beyond reasonable. $2.50 for the first item, with a 50 cents charge per additional item. Or, you can fill a box for a flat rate price of $10.95 for a medium USPS box, or $14.95 for a large one. Of course, bulky items might run a bit more, but overall, the S/H costs are quite low compared to other sites.

It all started with a need to sell her first child's clothing. Living in a small apartment, Amy simply didn't have the space to store clothes in case they had another girl. So she started listing her clothes, in lots, on Craigslist. While some things sold, this was not an ideal situation. Then one day, after considering the recommendation of a repeat customer, Amy launched her New to You Clothing website.

Here's what I like about it:

• Convenient. Like I said, this is I'm looking grimy today, but it's okay kind of shopping. You can do it anywhere you have Internet access.
• Cheap. With prices ranging from 50 cents to 15 dollars, this site gives Goodwill and garage saling a run for their money!
• Categorized. Don't you hate having to search through Rubbermaid bins full of kids' clothing at garage sales? Or sorting through the racks at Goodwill, where there is no rhyme or reason to the placement of clothes? Amy has her site set up in such an orderly fashion, it is a delight to shop for clothing for your little one. Everything is categorized according to gender and size, with pictures and description of each item. I simply love this!
• Clean. Amy carefully launders each item prior to listing it.
• Cool. This is just a cool idea. Period.
• Creative. I just adore creative minds.

Here are some of NTYC's current offerings:



$4.00



$15.00



$5.00





$5.00



I could go on and on about why I think this is an awesome business. But I'll let you decide that for yourself. While I've not yet ordered anything, I cannot testify as to the speed of delivery, etc., but after browsing through some of the posts on her Facebook wall, it looks like the folks are pretty darned satisfied with their dealings with Amy.

Now, who doesn't love a giveaway? Amy is graciously offering a $15 gift certificate to one lucky community member. Will it be you?

This time, in order to enter, I need for you to do two simple things:

'Like' the New to You Clothing FB page and post a message saying Green Grandma sent you. If you already 'like' their page, but haven't joined us in the GG community yet, simply 'like' my page and post a comment saying you want to win the NTYC gift certificate.

If you already 'like' both of us, just post a message on FB and let me know.

The winner will be chosen via Random.org after midnight on Monday, August 1st and posted here on the blog on Tuesday, August 2nd. Winner has 5 days to claim their prize. After that, another drawing will take place and an alternate winner will be named. As always, I will post a link on FB when the winner is announced.

Amy and I would both appreciate it if you would spread the word about this online garage sale. After all, who doesn't like a bargain ... and a giveaway?!

Sharing more good stuff with you,

Hana

The Sabbath Experience -- week 42

As I typed 'week 42' in the title, I found myself amazed that this experiment has continued on for this long, morphing into an experience that I intend to follow through with for the rest of my life. Of course, I don't always expound on the Sabbath itself when I write these beginning-of-the-week posts. Often, I just give you a glimpse into my life.

Last night, I returned home from a lovely 3-day weekend break. I must admit, I'm struggling through those Monday morning, don't-want-to-be-at-work, blahs. The break just wasn't long enough. Do you ever feel that way? The temptation to check my emails and see what I would be facing workwise as I started the week was strong last night. But my commitment to stay true to my Sabbath Experiment prevented me from doing so. Instead, I relaxed with my husband and watched an episode of Season One of Beauty and the Beast.

Bill and I left on Friday morning with our lovely little granddaughter and headed east on the PA Turnpike to Manheim, Pennsylvania where we gathered at my mother's house with my two sisters (from Glendale, CA and Binghamton, NY) and my niece and her family (from NYC). Since I spend most of my days alone with my computer, I must admit at first I had trouble adjusting to the crowd, especially on Saturday morning. Time spent alone on my porch with my coffee and Bible, was replaced with time in a small, hot, crowded kitchen with lots of noise. I eventually adjusted, and by the time there were 13 of us in the house on Saturday night, I was enjoying the company.

Life's like that sometimes, isn't it? We ease into a routine that is comfortable and then, WHAM, something disrupts it and we're thrown a bit off balance. Often, it's by choice, and the disruption is temporary. Other times, we're thrown a situational curve ball that completely knocks us off base and we have to struggle to find a new balance. If you are going through that right now (because of a loss), my heart goes out to you. Please know that will come a time when your equilibrium is back in tune. Granted, it will be a different tune, but lovely, just the same.

When I became a grandmother, I earned bragging rights. I have an absolutely adorable grandson, Lincoln, who will be turning one next month. Unfortunately, he wasn't with us in Manheim over the weekend. But our 33-month-old little Laura was. And she was such a delight. We've traveled with her since she was quite young and enjoyed every trip. She has never complained, whined, or asked "Are we there yet?" on our trips. There is no DVD player to entertain her. Rather, there are songs and games from the start of the drive until the end, with a nap thrown in there along the way.

Some of my favorite memories with my girls when they were young emerged from time spent in the car. Those of you whose kids are caught up in videos or video games instead of conversation and fun as a family, are missing so much, in my opinion. What can you play with a 2-year-old? Well, we look for things that start with certain letters. Or we look for shapes.

"Look grandma! It's a rectangle!" Laura will shout as a large truck rolls by.

"A triangle," she exclaims as we pull off the road and she spots a yield sign. The stop sign is acknowledged with "A octagon!" (She doesn't know the difference between 'a' and 'an' yet.)

Since we were driving in Pennsylvania (the Keystone State), all our state highway signs have keystones on them. Laura now can identify a keystone.

Is that normal for a 2-year-old? Probably not. Is it because she's exceptionally bright? Probably not. Perhaps it is just she's been taught. Not by an educational television show, but by parents, an aunt and uncle, and grandparents who have instructed her from the time she was born. It's not hard to do.

While putting on her tiny little socks when she was a baby, we'd say, "This is your left foot," or "Give me your right foot." I can't tell you how long she's known her right and left now. While grocery shopping, I'd say, "I need 3 apples," and she'd help me count them as we put them in the cart. Browsing through the shoe racks at Goodwill, I picked up various sizes of shoes and Laura would tell me if they were too big or too small for her. And she got it right every time, even though she was only 27-months-old.

Children are so teachable. We just have to use the time we spend with them to work teaching into our regular routine. My daughter is teaching her The Lord's Prayer, and I was amazed, over the weekend, how much of it she knows already. And it's not just about words. It's about explaining the whys and the meanings behind the words. It's about encouraging reasoning. It's about doing it in love. When there is love behind the teaching, children will absorb the lessons like the little sponges they are. They want to learn.

Don't miss the opportunities, folks. Don't let cartoon characters or puppets replace the teachers you were meant to be. And, for goodness sake, lead by example.

Bill and I left Laura in Manheim with my mom and sisters yesterday and traveled back to Pittsburgh. While we can always find enough to talk about in the car, we still missed that little voice in the backseat saying, "Let's sing 'Tinkle, Tinkle Little Tar' again, Gamaw," or "Look, PapPap, a circle!"

While I know she's having a ball with her Great-Grandma Gene and Great-Aunts Carolyn and Tina, I have to admit I'm a little jealous. After all, they get to spend the next few days with my favorite little girl in the world, and I ... I get to get back into my routine.

Sharing my thoughts,

Hana

My daily dilemma

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

"I wake up every morning

determined both to change the world

and have one hell of a good time.

Sometimes this makes

planning the day

a little difficult."

-- EB White                         

Friday's 3Rs -- Give me a little kiss ...

In keeping with my chocolate train of thought I started earlier in the week ...

Did you know that approximately 80,000,000 Hershey's kisses are wrapped in foil every day?! That foil could cover 40 football fields! And what do we do with it? Most of us simply toss it in the trash. But guess what -- that foil is recyclable.

So the next time you reach for a kiss (the chocolate kind), make sure you save the foil for recycling. It's that simple and, today, that's all I have to say.

Reducing waste,

Hana

Heat and tough days ... oh, and a glass of milk

Photo by Sharee Basinger

It's hot. Really, really hot.

Work is challenging (to put it kindly), and my Internet is plaguing me with difficulties. Needless to say, I'm a bit grumpy today. Actually, I've been pretty grumpy all week. I do not like heat. I do not like trying to appease hard-to-please clients. I do not enjoy repeated calls to my Internet provider (and by now, they know it).

Do you ever have weeks like that? How do you put everything back into perspective? For me, I have to keep focusing on the fact that the temps will eventually drop, this project will wrap up (hopefully today!) and in heaven, there will be no computers : )

In the meantime, I'm hoping for a productive and successful day here in this heat. And I'm really hoping the electricity doesn't go out, as they are calling for brownouts across the region. If my AC goes out, I just might melt away.

But nothing I've said is particularly useful to any of you. So here are a couple of tidbits I've read lately and thought I'd share:

Milk. It does a body good, right? Well, apparently not for kids if they're drinking too much of it! According to Claire McCarthy, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Boston, children who drink more than 16 - 24 ounces of milk per day are at a greater risk of constipation, anemia and becoming overweight. Who knew? I certainly didn't. I've never liked milk and could literally gag just thinking about drinking it, but that's beside the point. I know many of you give milk to your kids and wanted to post this warning, in case you have a milk-guzzler in your home. And remember, after they turn 2, make the switch to low-fat milk. Of course, as far as possible, please stick to organic milk as well. Your kids really don't need all those hormones and antibiotics regulary found in conventional milk, right?

Vincent Ianelli, M.D. recommends giving your toddler smaller doses of milk at a time. Instead of pouring in 8 ounces, stick to 3 or 4 sippy cups each day with 4 to 5 ounces in them. Your little one won't notice the difference. Also, watch their juice intake. When kids fill up on milk and juice, they're less apt to eat healthy doses of good-for-them food. You don't want them coming to the dinner table full. And, this should go without saying, stay away from the soda!!

That's it for today. Time to get back to the project from ... well, you know. It's rumored to be hot there, too.

Keeping it healthy,

Hana

Review It Wednesday -- letters from across the pond

I'm in the mood for something different. So here it is.

A couple of months ago, my daughter's best friend, Nicole (who I affectionately call 'my favorite daughter'), posted something on Facebook about a book she'd just read called 84 Charing Cross Road. Well, the concept of the book intrigued me, so Nicole sent the book home with Bethany after a weekend visit. I am so glad she did.

This 1970 non-fiction gem was written by Helene Hanff, the woman responsible for the Ellery Queen television show scripts. Quite simply, the book is a compilation of letters written between Helene and Frank Doel, principal buyer for Marks & Co., an antiquarian bookstore located at 84 Charing Cross Road in London.

Rarely have I read a book that delighted me as much as this one did. After a really long day seated at my desk, I ventured out onto the porch with a glass of wine and this marvelous little book. Once I started reading, I knew I was in it for the long haul. As the night wore on, my outbursts of laughter disturbed the stillness. It is not often I laugh out loud like this while reading a book. Laughter eventually gave way to tears, as I wept with regret and remorse, the way I assume Ms. Hanff once did as well.

Stemming from Ms. Hanff's passion for hard-to-find classic books, the couple engages in enchanting banter, via snail mail (air mail in those days) from New York to London and back again. Doel sends Helene obscure books and Helene gifts him, his family and the others working at Marks & Co. with eggs (a rarity during the days of rationing in England) and other delectable treats.

Of course, the above description may not lure you into picking up a copy of the book for yourself. It does sound rather bland. But there is just something about this short little book that captivates, enthralls and delights the reader. Perhaps it's the essence of Helene's and Frank's personalities that shine through each letter. Quite honestly, I couldn't help connecting the exchange between them to today's Facebook walls, where we invite others in to read our thoughts and conversations with people they don't even know. It's like reading Facebook posts spanning two decades a half-century ago.

There was just something about these letters that draws the reader in. By the time you're done reading, you feel as if you've just spent time with some good friends. And you know you will miss them as you gently close the back cover.

I cannot recommend this book more highly. I want everyone I know to read it. Not because it has any real drama or suspense. There isn't any hot romance or unsolved mysteries. It's just a simple book that turns the ordinary into something extraordinary.

And, for those of you who just don't like to read, guess what? In 1987, a movie, so closely based on the book, was released. I went on eBay and snatched up a copy for less than $5 with shipping. Of course, it's a VHS. But that's not a problem in our household of antiquated electronics.

I was both excited and afraid to watch the movie. So often, the screenwriters seem to destroy the original stories. Not in this case. Bill and I both loved this adaptation, with the incomparable Anne Bancroft, as Helene, and equally brilliant Anthony Hopkins, as Frank. The superb acting was matched by a simply amazing screenplay. And it would have to be, wouldn't it? After all, it is based on a book comprised entirely of letters.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, as I sat down to write, I was in the mood for something different. A book and movie review. Yeah, that's different for this site, but it was on my mind this week and I just wanted to share. Let me know if you read the book or see the movie. I'd love to know what you think.

Reviewing it for you,

Hana

We have a winner!

Congratulations

to Andrea Hertz,

the winner of the

Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

from Earth Mama Angel Baby!

Andrea wrote:

"My fav. way to get dirty as a kid was to play in a mud puddle and make mud pies. It would have been nice to have some earth mama angel baby shampoo way back then

(the 70's lol)."

Andrea -- send me an email and I'll let you know how you can claim your prize : )

A Tuesday quickie



Photo by Petr Kratochvil

 Sometimes we all just need a quickie. Too much info bears down on us and we just can't process it all.

So today, I thought you might enjoy a quickie. And it's all about your health, ladies (sorry guys). Just 3 simple tips:

1. Wine is good for you. Really. A glass a day (red being better than white) just might help you fight heart disease. How? By increasing your blood's level of omega-3 fatty acids. That's according to a report by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. By reducing inflamation, your arteries will simply be healthier. Cheers!
2. Smoking is not good for you. Yeah, you needed me to remind you of that, right? If you are a smoker, just know that, on average, those cigarettes have robbed you of over 14 years of the life you've been blessed with. Bottom line ... that sucks.
3. This one you'll love, and you probably know. But it is well worth repeating! Sally Scroggs, R.D. (M.D. Anderson Cancer Prevention Center) says dark chocolate, oh yeah! has properties that just may hold off cell changes that lead to tumors, thus reducing your risk of cancer.

Bottom line -- stomp out the cigarette and grab some dark chocolate to accompany that small glass of wine. Your body will thank you for it.

Keeping it healthy,

Hana