Q: Our lawn mower quit. We got just two mowings out of it this spring. The cost to repair it will be more than it is worth. I was thinking that we should get an old-fashioned mower that doesn’t require gasoline, but my husband thinks they are heavy and that they don’t cut very well….
4 Ways to Make Safe Problem-Free Homemade Fabric Softener
Fabric softeners are designed to reduce the amount of static in synthetic fibers and make laundry come out feeling soft and smelling great. These products contain lubricating ingredients that help coat and “soften” fibers in fabrics when added to your laundry load in the form of liquid, powder or dryer sheets. So why would anyone…
Keep Mothballs out of the Garden
Q: Bradley, our young indoor-outdoor cat, recently experienced a bout of vomiting, lethargy and seizures. By the time we got him to the veterinarian, he seemed normal and the vet could find nothing wrong. Two days later, however, Bradley suffered a repeat episode. I just now remembered that our neighbor had scattered mothballs in her…
Letting Nature Do Its Thing: Balancing the Birds and Bugs in Our Gardens
Something is happening in our gardens. Little by little, a very unsettling silence is falling upon them. During my childhood, our garden was a blur of color as a multitude of brightly patterned insects busied themselves amongst the flowers. The number of bee species on the lavender bushes was a sight to behold and butterflies…
Pediatrician: When a Child Does Something Wrong, Do Not Scold but Praise the Child
A mother brought her 9-year-old son to my clinic. The boy beat someone at school, and the teacher told the parent. The mother said, “I don’t know what to do with him. Scolding does not work, nor does punishment.” I asked, “Can you tell me something he is good at?” The mother said, “He doesn’t…
The Magic of Wind Chimes
Wind chimes—instruments producing mystical sounds when played by the wind—have existed in some shape or form since at least 3,000 B.C. Originating in Southeast Asia, the first wind chimes were made from bones, wood, or shells with sinew, primitive cordage, or other materials. They originally functioned to scare birds away from early farms (a purpose…
Seven Simple Savers
Seven Simple things that can reduce your household costs by an easy 10% This sounds tricky. You’re careful with money. You don’t go out shopping without reason. You plan days out. Here’s how to reduce your household bills by 10% without feeling too miserly or making your life a misery. This advice isn’t specific to…
Dry Your Own Herbs
Herbs provide quick, versatile, and easy ways to flavor food. From a little oregano and basil in an Italian dish, to dill and thyme in oven-baked salmon, the possibilities are endless. Humans have used herbs as far back as 60,000 years ago—long before written records. Archeological discoveries from various burial sites show a history of…
Frugal Luxuries Here’s How I Live as Luxuriously as I Can
Frugal Luxuries That Make Me Feel Rich Even Though I Live on a Budget When you’re frugal and living beneath your means, it’s easy sometimes to get frugal fatigue. You have been at this money saving lark for years on end and you could, if you’re not careful, overspend and be back to running up…
Spring Cleaning
The best time of year! Spring cleaning is just around the corner. It is a perfect time to hit the reset button on your space. Clean out your house, your car, your desk at work. It feels so good to declutter, deep clean, and wash everything! It will also help your allergy symptoms so much….
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