My family has an ancestral home, a place that's been owned by our family ever since it was built in 1910. It's a large, elegant, three-story brick house on the main street of a pleasant town in Ohio. My maternal grandmother grew up there, and although she itched to leave that town because of the … Continue reading That Time I Drank 33-Year-Old Grape Juice
ePantry keeps getting better!
ePantry, a convenient subscription service for environmentally-friendly supplies delivered to your home, has become more energy-efficient for customers living in the eastern United States by adding a distribution center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They've also expanded the product line to include more of the products I recommend, and I've tried something new that I like a … Continue reading ePantry keeps getting better!
Standing in the Waves with Grandma
Grandma meant so much to me that I can't cram it all into one article. Here is just one story that I hope will show you a little bit of what she was like and how she shaped me.
What Insurance Is For
Although I've managed to get 5 articles posted in the past 6 weeks, I'm actually not doing all that well, and I finally decided that I owe my readers an explanation. I was driving, with my whole family in the car, when our car was rear-ended on August 15. Nobody else was hurt. I didn't … Continue reading What Insurance Is For
Pen and Marker Recycling: Starting Year 3!
My son Nicholas is in fifth grade. He and his friends Emma and Sadie have been running a recycling program at their school since third grade. Each year they have to make arrangements with the principal so that their recycling bins will be left alone by custodial staff and they have permission to go around … Continue reading Pen and Marker Recycling: Starting Year 3!
National Drive Electric Week: Events Around the Country!
This is a guest post by Maria Ramos. Maria is a freelance writer currently living in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a minor in Communication. She blogs about environmentally friendly tips, technological advancements, and healthy active lifestyles. National Drive Electric Week is … Continue reading National Drive Electric Week: Events Around the Country!
Book Reviews: Guys and Womanhood, Grown-ups and The Child’s Child, and Tripods!
Different kinds of people and their different ways of living are among my main interests, and I've been reading about a variety of demographics in the past two months. The Book of Guys by Garrison Keillor I remember really enjoying this book of short stories the first time I read it, several years ago. This … Continue reading Book Reviews: Guys and Womanhood, Grown-ups and The Child’s Child, and Tripods!
Two Healthy Breakfasts for Late Summer
Tomato season is in full swing and apple season has begun here in Pennsylvania, so I'm alternating between these two delicious breakfasts! Both are quick to prepare, with minimal dirty dishes. They make good snacks, too. You get plenty of vitamins and fiber from the fruit, plus protein and fat to keep you feeling full. … Continue reading Two Healthy Breakfasts for Late Summer
Sckoon Menstrual Cup and Cloth Pad Review
WARNING: People who are offended by graphic discussion of menstruation should go read something else. I first tried a reusable menstrual cup in 1997 and reusable cloth menstrual pads in 2001. Over the years, I've tried a number of different brands, and I've written about why these alternatives are better than disposable pads and tampons … Continue reading Sckoon Menstrual Cup and Cloth Pad Review
That Time I Caused Trouble in Sunday School
This is a story I've told my son Nicholas many times. It's entertaining for him, but it's also a story that really gets him thinking about right and wrong, temptation and resistance, punishment and forgiveness, what those kids who get into trouble all the time might be thinking, and many other interesting issues. It's inspired … Continue reading That Time I Caused Trouble in Sunday School
Cutting Food Waste at Home and Worldwide (70+ recipes and tips!)
This is a guest post by Maria Ramos. Maria is a freelance writer currently living in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a minor in Communication. She blogs about environmentally friendly tips, technological advancements, and healthy active lifestyles. (The recipe section of this … Continue reading Cutting Food Waste at Home and Worldwide (70+ recipes and tips!)
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
This recipe came about when my ten-year-old Nicholas rejected the first two ideas I proposed for using the enormous zucchini we got in our farm share: (1) "Nooo! We still have zucchini bread from last time!" and (2) "Nothing with tomato sauce unless it is a pizza." Hmmm... I remembered a casserole recipe from some … Continue reading Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
3 Ways to Save on Fair-Trade Coffee
Daniel and I both drink coffee, at least 3 cups a day each. That adds up! We support human rights and environmental stewardship by buying only fair-trade*, organic coffee for our home. My church also buys fair-trade, organic coffee. This coffee is more expensive than the big mainstream brands. How can we get the most … Continue reading 3 Ways to Save on Fair-Trade Coffee
Book Reviews: 4 British Books
Although I've never been to Great Britain, books by British authors have been on my shelves since I was very young. The first ones I read to myself were from the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton, when I was in first grade; I remember that after the first few pages, I stomped off to … Continue reading Book Reviews: 4 British Books
Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap!
This tip is a real winner: You can make your own foaming soap in about one minute by mixing just two ingredients. Foaming soap will save you a lot of money because you'll need less soap to get clean. Refilling your foamer will save even more money and reduce the packaging you discard. You can … Continue reading Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap!
All-Natural Vegetarian Non-Refrigerated Convenience Foods
This is not a sponsored post. This is a recommendation of products I tried and liked. Daniel and I try to make enough real, from-scratch, healthy food that I (working in an office) can take leftovers for my lunch every day and he (working at home) can get something ready to eat within a few … Continue reading All-Natural Vegetarian Non-Refrigerated Convenience Foods
A Real-Life Menu (early summer)
I was recently asked by a reader to share what one of my family's meal plans really looks like. I've previously described how I plan the menu even though Daniel cooks our weeknight meals, how from June through November I'm planning around the vegetables we receive from our share in a local organic farm, how … Continue reading A Real-Life Menu (early summer)
Top 3 Veggie Burger Recipes
Daniel and I have tried dozens of varieties of veggie burgers in the past 15 years or so, since they started appearing in stores and restaurants. We gave up meat for Lent in 2002, and since then we've never gone back to eating as much meat as we used to eat. In particular, we really … Continue reading Top 3 Veggie Burger Recipes
My Father Taught Me How to Be a Working Mother
When I was born, my mother quit her paying job so she could be home with me. When my kids were born, I took 12 weeks off and then returned to my job. It's my father, not my mother, who has been my role model for balancing parenthood with employment.
Technology to Help You Be Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly This Summer
This is a guest post by Maria Ramos, who offered to share her research on these new technologies with my readers. I'm not a smartphone user myself and don't carry any other high-tech device routinely, which is one way to conserve energy...but if you're already carrying a device or you're considering getting one for other … Continue reading Technology to Help You Be Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly This Summer
The Earthling's Handbook 