Did you know that in 2001, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission required a change in the manufacture of cords for window coverings in response to child-strangulation concerns?
This is another of those cases where my Mother asks, “How did we manage to raise you with all that danger around?” It seems to me that parents could have managed this all by themselves, rather than requiring the expense of an entire Federal Safety Commission.
If you have cords that were purchased prior to 2001, and feel that you need to protect your children from their threat, free retro-fit repair devices are available to you through the Window Covering Safetly Council. Go to www.windowcoverings.org for information.

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For years, we’ve been told that we needed Downy Fresh softness in our wash, or the convenience of Bounce dryer sheets. Fabric softeners take away the scratchiness of towel, and, well…..soften them.
Unfortunately they also take away some of the absorbancy. Have you ever had to use a hotel towel, or perhaps one from a gym? Those scratchy towels are much more absorbant because they don’t use any fabric softener in the wash.
There are two other reasons not to use fabric softener. As a quilter, I’ve found that cottons which will be used in quilts shouldn’t be softened. The chemicals stay in the fabric longer, because quilts are not frequently washed, and they can deteriorate the fibers.
And, for those of you who have asthma, the perfume added to fabric softeners can be a problem. Years ago, we lived in an apartment building that had laundry facilities. I had to go down a flight of stairs, out the door, over to the next entry and down another flight of stairs to get to the washers. I noticed as I was reversing the trip that I was wheezing by the time I got back to my front door, and even started an exercise program to get into shape.
When the wheezing didn’t go away, it finally dawned on me that I could add fabric softners to the list of materials that I was allergic to. Now, whites, are the only clothes that I use softener on. I wash and bleach them, rinse them, start the washer a second time with a quarter of a cap of softener, and then rinse them once more. The rest of our clothes go softener-less, and no one has complained!
Try giving it up. It will save you money, and might make your towels more functional!

It astounds me what you will find in the newspaper these days. On the front page of the October 5, 2003, Chicago Tribune “Q” section, the editor saw fit to post an article on a new product called The Flatulence Deodorizer, or the Flat-D.
The Flat-D is shaped like a flat light bulb, and contains a layer of activated charcoal. It’s worn inside your underwear. It’s a washable device which sells for $12.95.
I know there’s a use for this product. I was thinking about getting some as stocking stuffers, or handing them out at Thanksgiving. The writer actually tested it so that he could give his personal opinion, and he found it to function well if you make sure there is a comfortable seal. (We’re well past the TMI! limit…)
What astounded me about this was that it wasn’t buried in the back of the section, but it was on the FRONT PAGE! Either flatulence has become epidemic in proportion, or editorial standards have slipped.

I’ve been getting ready for my niece’s wedding this weekend. I was overjoyed when she asked me to be one of the readers for her wedding. I’m really looking forward to celebrating this milestone in her life.
But, like a lot of women, it’s stressful for me to choose what I’m going to wear. I have four siblings who have superb taste in clothing. They always look exceptional. I am the one who is overweight, and I tend to lead a very casual lifestyle, so when it comes to a family celebration, I get a little crazy……well….a LOT crazy, about what to wear.

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The news this morning was about studies which have been done in Finland, Sweden and the United States. It seems that women who opt for breast implants are three times more likely to commit suicide than women who have not had the surgery.
It’s likely that women who choose to alter their shape surgically will be unhappy with how they look even after the surgery. They may be unable to see themselves in a positive light no matter how good they look.
It’s a sad commentary on our society that we are unable to accept our bodies, and that we STILL prize a look that requires an anorexic life style.

It’s way past my bed time, but I wanted a chance to blog before I call it a day. We have a guest tonight, so I spent part of my evening cleaning. I laid a fire and lit it before she arrived, along with some vanilla scented candles.
DH and I covered the plants at the front of the house with light plastic tarps. We are supposed to have temperatures drop to about 23, so we’re expecting our first hard frost. I don’t know if the plastic will be adequate protection, but the heat radiating off the bricks may sustain the plants for another night.
The dog and cat have been fed, and most of the dishes have been washed. The clothes have been folded, and the house is closed up for the night.
I like this time of day. I wish that I could find a compromise between having the quiet of the house to myself late at night, and having to get up early to get a start on my day. I particularly like that my phone stops ringing around 10:00. When you were a kid, did your parents teach you that you weren’t to make phone calls after 9:00 unless it was an emergency? I tried to teach that to my stepchildren, and they thought I was crazy.
Tomorrow we have the last of the preparations for the wedding on Saturday. I have the last of my clothing shopping to do, and Mother and I have appointments for manicures.
The fire is starting to die down, and I’m just about out of tea. Time to toddle off. Good night all.

In 1991, the Great Wall of China became the second largest man-made structure in the world. The largest was the Fresh Kills Landfill, serving New York City. It is now the highest point on the east coast.
Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every HOUR! (Now you know how Fresh Kills outstripped the Great Wall.)
For every glass bottle recycled, we save enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours. (That makes us just about even in our household.)
One pound of recycled steel saves enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for 24 hours.
Recycling and reusing the material in “tin” cans reduces energy use by 74%, air pollution by 85%, solid waste by 95%, and water pollution by 76%.

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