My Content: Hubs, Answers, and Forums
6The Top 6 Summer Vacation Romance Movies
Short descriptions of 6 fun films which probably rate no more than one hankie, if that, for summer romantic fun.
0Jazz Bridge Fundraiser in Philly
Guitar. Jazz cats and Blues musicians sometimes need help. In Philadelphia, they can turn to The Jazz Bridge Project for emotional support, social work-type guidance and referrals, and even money. Because the board and the niche served are active...
0Music and The High Note Café, South Philly
At the corner of 13th and Tasker Streets is FrancoLuigi’s Pizzeria, a take-out pizza and sandwich joint. The other half is the spectacular, elegant High Note Café featuring live jazz, opera. and more.
4Shark Bite Would Have Been Easier to Handle: Because I Can
On a cross-country family vacation trip, a mother of three is critically injured in a highway accident. The long road of her miraculous hold on life and the rescue of her left leg from amputation..
2How a Singer can break into Performing at Jazz Jams
Four tips for how to sing at a jazz jam session.
2LaRose Jazz Club – The Sunday Jam Sessions
Every Sunday night at 5531 Germantown Avenue, Phila, a vigorous synthesis of jazz arranging, improvising & playing is the order of the evening at the LaRose Jazz Club Jam. How it works, times & more.....
6Costs of a Bathroom Remodel
Lists of supplies with costs and 16 photos of a bathroom fix-up project done partially by the homeowner and partially by paid help.
5Manischewitz Passover Matzos
Every spring we see the rectangular matzo boxes at the grocer's. There is a whole story behind why and what they are. It starts in Cincinnati, OHIO...
2Candy Stores, Old-Fashioned and Independent, in Lebanon County, PA
Candy shops near Lebanon reviewed. Wertz Candies combines charm, tradition and home-made treats; Van Winkles make opera fudge in their home; Smith's Candies makes nothing but sells everything.
11Raffle Basket Ideas for Cat Lovers
Ideas on what to include in a raffle basket for a fundraiser (or as a gift) which will appeal to cat owners.
5Beer Distributors in Lebanon, PA
A survey of five beer distributors in or pretty danged close to the city of Lebanon, PA. Hours, addresses, pix, and more.
7Lebanon, PA Habitat for Humanity Re-Build-It Store: a Partnership which Works
In Lebanon County, PA, the Habitat for Humanity store partners with a Christian mission - a collaboration which works very well. The RE-BUILD-IT STORE has used building supplies plus used housewares.
10Kids How to Make a Luminary with Kitten Images on Tin Cans DIY
Step-by-step how to for kids and everyone. Includes 9 pictures and real-life experience comments.
0Insulating a Bathtub How-To and Photos
Many pix and directions for klutzy homeowners on how to put insulation around an existing cold bathtub.
0How to Fix Basement Leak: DIY Basement Wall Crack Repair that Even Novices Can Do
Description of steps to get rid of basement water due to cracks & small holes in the foundation walls. Product recommendations. Personal experience shared by a non-construction worker homeowner gal.
0Jazz Jam at Annville’s Allen Theatre and MJ’s Coffee House
Information on a jazz jam session held semi-regularly in Annville, Pennsylvania (Lebanon County.)
6Wonderful New Kitten Brother for Skeeter Cat
What a gorgeous little boy kitten he is! As I planned to move with my tabby cat Skeeter to a different town, leaving MyGuy and his two cats Sammy and The Goddess behind, I knew that my 2-year-old cat, Skeeter, could not be an âonly cat.â He is...
4Thrift Stores in Lebanon County, PA - Locations, Hours & More
Great thrift stores along Route 422 in Lebanon, PA. Addresses, phone, hours, maps, and more info given.
6Recipes for Valentines Day - Salads with Red Ingredients
Three easy recipes with only 3 ingredients for Valentine's Day salads: Green and Red Potato salad, Strawberry-Green salad, and Extra Cherries Fruit salad. 20 photos.
8Snack Food Treat in Lebanon, Pennsylvania: Shueys Pretzels
A description of a visit to an old-fashioned small Pennsylvania pretzel bakery and shop tucked into a residential neighborhood in a small town. It does not advertise, but the locals flock there. 14 pictures included.
5The Difference Between a Fixer-Upper and a Wreck for Re-habbing
Someone who knowingly bought a real wreck of a house explains the difference between buying something to re-decorate and buying something that needs major tearing apart and re-building.
210 Best Puppy Bowl YouTube Videos
The Puppy Bowl is an annual television event with extremely cute puppies romping on a puppy-sized football field. Coincidentally, it airs on the same day as football's Super Bowl. If you have never seen even a part of the Puppy Bowl on the Animal Planet cable television network, here are some short clips which give you the flavor of this seriouos competitor to the Super Bowl.
0Great Songs for a Community Band
In a crazy period betwwen "real" conductors, the author actually led the community band in a performance. Phew! Glad that's over. Community bands present a great challenge to the musical director shepherding them through music. The volunteer...
4The Puppy Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday by Animal Planet
The “Puppy Bowl” is an annual television program aired on the afternoon of American professional football’s SuperBowl game. Puppies romp on a small field as comedian commentators and referees pretend their frolicking movements are football maneuvers. It is a brilliant comic farce of professional football with extremely cute puppies. Over the years, kittens and other baby animals have been added as cheerleaders and supporting cast.
6How to Trim Your Indoor Cat’s Claws – Easy DIY Method
Indoor cat owner's tried and true method for DIY claw trimming is explained with diagrams.
0Does Last-Minute Christmas Shopping Pay?
Some people are über-organized with lists and budgets and timelines for buying Christmas gifts starting in a ridiculous month such as July. Others don’t get into the spirit of Christmas gift shopping until about December 20th. Does either type save significant money? Also, what are other costs? It’s not a black and white choice.
6Festivus Carols
Festivus is a holiday intentionally created by a family whose needs were not met by traditional mainstream winter season Holy fetes. The world learned about Festivus through the television comedy series Seinfeld. Composers have been inspired to...
0Donate a Bike to a Kid: 88Bikes Grassroots World Charity
This is the masthead photo for the charity 88Bikes webpage. â88Bikesâ strikes most people as a unique name for a charity. What does it mean? Do they build 88 bicycles and then go home? Or is it biker-bikes (also known as motorcycles) that...
2Prayers for Healing When Children Are Killed
For families in Newtown, Connecticut; Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania; Norway, the Middle East, Vietnam, everywhere⦠Candle light. Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, who brings forth goodness on the earth. Hear me and hold me, O LORD, for I...
3Borax on Wooden Joists for Mold Treatment
How to put Borax (to kill mold roots) on moldy wooden house structural parts written by a homeowner who did it. Photos included.
2Christmas Activities to Keep as Traditions for Families with Children
Nothing is as special as a child's touch in decorating a Christmas cookie. First of all, loving families do not intentionally create stress for its members. So, do not look at the activities on this list as more things to squeeze into an already...
2180 Great, Original Cat and Kitten Names
This rescue cat is my precious "Skeeter." Families are moving away from choosing tired, predictable pet names in favor of more unique and creative ones. This is similar to the trend for human children names - and since cat people think of their...
6Mold Control for Water-Damaged Houses: Mistakes I Made which You Can Avoid
How to DIY remove mold when your home is flooded. With a rather non-existent budget, here is what I did, learned, and recommend for severe mold throughout a house. Photos included.
6How to Decorate Safely for Christmas with Cats in House
Cats know when interesting, fun, new things enter their environment - such as Christmas holiday decorations. This article provides godd, tongue-in-cheek ideas for safe decorating when one owns cats.
4Diseases Humans can Catch from Cats
Although we generally think of diseases as being species-specific, in other words, attacking only one group of living beings, there is occasional crossover. Cats have a few illnesses which can affect people. Following is a list of the most common...
2Easy Chocolate Walnut Fudge Recipe
This is an easy, quick fudge recipe using one burner of the stove. The hardest part is staying put at the stove for 3 minutes to stir continuously. You can do that! semi-sweet REAL CHOCOLATE chips,marshmallow cream,white sugar,vegetable...
4Bathing a Cat in Dawn Blue Detergent for Flea Treatment
Have you ever picked live, running fleas from a wiggly four-month-old kitten's wet testicle fur? If you succeeded, please tell me how to do it! I apparently drove those dagnabbitable fleas from my cat's head towards what they perceived was a...
0Family Christmas Newsletter
Christmas newsletters meet needs - we want to know how distant friends are doing. This is a How-to of writing a short, good letter and how to express band news and good news. Slightly humorous.
0How to Convince People to Vote
Arguments in favor of a national, simultaneous voting time for presidential elections in the USA.
8Easy Quick Ways to Get Cash for Christmas
This year, avoid the debt cycle as you purchase gifts for loved ones. Instead, earn more cash. Five tips on how to quickly do this before Christmas or Hanukkah.
2List of Kitchen Utensils Every Cook Should Have or Receive as a Gift
You can do a lot with a pot, a frying pan, and a colander. If a fire destroyed my kitchen, here are the first items I would wish to replace. A lot of extras can fancy up oneâs meal preparation, but these basic eight will get any cooking job done.
2Multi-Religion Families-How to Make it Work
An author speaks from experience on how to have children understand their multi-religious family.
2How to Make Cleaning a Bedroom an Easy and Fun Chore
Here is a method of bedroom cleaning guaranteed to accomplish the job and to be rather painless. Steps are given in order for quick, efficient cleaning.
2Information on Neutering Cats
Cat neutering is a surgical procedure. It is the removal of a cat’s reproductive organs— called spaying for females, and called castration for males. Here arre details on the procedure, reasons for it, and costs.
8Easy Cilantro Onion Egg Recipe (Frittata) with Photos
A finished cilantro and onion frittata. This is a recipe which fancies up scrambled eggs, but not as an omelet. Since onions and garlic are on the list of super foods which provide fiber, flavonoids, and cardiovascular benefits. However, they...
0Terezin Concentration Camp: Art lives on at Beit
During WWII, the Nazis created a “sham” concentration camp, Terezin, to deceive the rest of the world into believing that the Reich concentration camps were tolerable refuges for displaced Jews. Three levels of reality existed: daily work and malnutrition, the showcased happy children and workers in civilian clothing, and the underground creations by adults and children reflecting the true Terezin experience.
8How to Make a Halloween Ladybug Costume for a Kitten
Three-month-old kitten in a ladybug halloween costume. We cat owners/parents (who can OWN a cat?) are a fierce and tenacious bunch. To us, it seems that pet retailers grossly favor dogs, offering many more toys and clothing than they do for felines....
2Seasonal Affective Disorder: Treat in EARLY Autumn
If you know that you have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), be pro-active. For goodness sakes, does it make any sense to wait until there are only 8 hours of daylight to begin helping yourself? Of course not. The challenge to prevent or reduce the depression you get from lack of full-spectrum daylight exists the moment the Summer Solstice ends. Days grow shorter and darkness grows longer.
4Expert Insider Tips on Home Hair Coloring with Photos
It takes a brave woman to reveal to the world a photo like this. Let it be known that I am laughing at myself. Letâs face it. The difference in cost between getting your hair colored at a salon and doing it yourself at home is huge! ...
1Kittens Teething and Biting
I had no idea that kittens have teething and chewing needs when I adopted my eentsy weentsy fellow! I had only heard of puppies chewing everything in sight. Therefore, I needed to educate myself very quickly about kitten teething. Kittens are born...
2Customer Service at Retail Stores - 4 Ways to Give Great Service
Gas stations, grocery and big box hardware stores have trained customers how to do self-service scanning and paying without participation by store employees. Does this mean that the retail world is moving towards total self-service in a warehouse...
0How to Buy a Purse
Pocketbook, purse, handbag, clutch, satchelâ¦whatever you call it, the choices in the market boggle the imagination. Here are tips for making a good decision for your next purchase. Take inventory of your current purses Determine what...
2How to Make Halloween Ghost Decorations for Outside
Easy DIY ghost decoration that kids can make to hang outside for Halloween. Making holiday decorations with children always delights me. Traditionally in the USA, Halloween is a holiday that belongs to children. Although scary characters are part...
2Redneck Meatless Meals - Sound Nutrition with a Little Humor Added
The redneck food pyramid often includes beer. These meal ideas and recipes are NOT vegan or vegetarian. They come close to vegetarian, but no one will slap your paws if you have slight amounts of animal meat products in the foods. The purpose is...
2Causes of a WET Basement
These ocean waves capture the essence of my basement floor before repairs began. Use and enjoyment of your basement space is threatened when it floods on a regular or semi-regular basis. For the unfortunate among us, more than one cause may be...
3Small Room Solution: Use Vertical Space (16 Photos)
Many people are coping with how to optimize a small living space. For some, the downsizing of the American economy and consequently, downsizing of their wages has instigated a move to a smaller residence. Others are intentionally choosing to...
4How to Make a Window Cat Shelf: Step by Step Instructions
On this wire shelf, note the plexiglass making the surface solid. This plan uses material found in many big box home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Loweâs. When there are easy variations, I will describe them. The photographs show...
2Kitten First Vaccinations and Veterinarian Visit
My new kitten at age six weeks. Baby animals: the Supreme Being made them all pretty danged cute. The humans who are lucky enough to have them in the family may look into those big eyes and wish that the pet puppy or kitten never grows up. But,...
6Honey Wine Winery (Meadery)
Wine has been made by fermenting honey in water since approximately 7000 BC. Although many Americans drink wine from grapes, the art forms of craft brewing and wine making are becoming popular again. Thus, there is a market for old-fashioned honey...
2How Cell Phones Hurt Toddlers
Can anyone imagine life without cell phones? Imagine being pregnant, ready to deliver any moment, and not being able to reach your partner who is on the job when your labor starts? Can you visualize being stuck in traffic or behind a horrific...
2Microbreweries & Brewpubs near Reading, PA
Is this an American hobby - drinking beer? Now that Pennsylvania liquor law has made it easier for small local breweries to operate and sell their brew, one would expect entrepreneurs to select the Reading, PA area as a likely location. After all,...
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Microbreweries & Brewpubs in Lancaster County, PA
In Heaven, I believe that there IS beer... Pennsylvanians love their beer and pretzels. Understandably, the south-central area of the state around Lancaster offers four great choices for pubs with an associated microbrewery. Stoudtâs sits on...
7Cat Dementia
She has a point there. Yes. It does exist. Veterinary researchers in Scotland, England and California have been working on this question for close to a decade. While cognitive decline has been seen in senior cats for years, Dr. Danièlle...
9Information on Cats with Allergies
Is he finicky or is he allergic to his food? We love our feline family members. Although sometimes we can be accused of anthropomorphizing (pretending that our pet has human characteristics) a bit too much, there are times when people and cats share...
3How to Make Christmas Fabric Ornaments
One side of a fabric Christmas ornament. A great aspect of making fabric ornaments is that you can do a large scale project if you desire, or one at a time catch-as-catch-can. The latter has the advantage of being fit into your life as a baby is...
7Fleas and Worms in Cats
A sick kitty makes us sad. The thought of worms or fleas afflicting oneâs pet is not pleasant. Nonetheless, a little education can keep it from becoming a major problem, not only for the feline, but also for other family pets AND for the people...
8How to Improvise Classic Children's Games
There is so much learning in BINGO as it is played traditionally or with modifications. First of all, children's traditional games which become "classic" do so for a reason: they are entertaining AND they offer incredible learning. Any game with...
5How to Make Your Own Christmas Crafts 23 Photos
If you are like me, there are only about three months of the year in which I am not thinking about Christmas. I just love so much about the holiday. So, I feel justified in starting to practice Christmas carols on the piano again (practice makes...
2Children’s Online Learning Activities
Following are my three top picks for non-commercial and lightly commercial websites for educational purposes. No surprises here. PBS is devoted to education and high values. A parent or guardian can rest assured that there will be no...
1Black History Projects and Lessons
I have a dream that one day all people will be equally treated and our consciousness of races will be so dim that we will wonder WHY our countryâs schools ever had a Black History Month. And that will be a history lesson in itself. In the...
3Children’s Gift Ideas for Christmas
Anyone who has a hand in raising a child hopes that the precious little one will grow up to be kind, productive, self-sufficient, and lead a life which is meaningful. Of course, we adults guide their development towards this end through many tiny...
7How to Take Care of Aging Parents
When the people in your life who nurtured you with strength and compassion start to reverse roles with you, an adult child, it can be difficult knowing how or when to maneuver caring for them without eroding their dignity. Following are some...
2Supplies for Craft Making with 12 Photos
Pine cone placecards handmade with love. When you are home, away from work and obligations and totally free to be yourself, it can be very satisfying to allow your inner child or inner artist take the reins to produce something âall yours.â Men...
7The Best Dry Food for Cats
How does a cat lover intelligently evaluate the choices of dry cat foods? Online cat food reviews frequently are just anecdotes and pages sponsored by brand name cat food companies are biased. Availability of the food and its cost, moral or...
9Chicken Crockpot Recipe
Everything is assembled and ready to slow cook. Remember the faithful slow cooker - the crockpot? It is very easy to make a simple, tasty, and inexpensive chicken dish using it. This might be a good recipe for the children to master! Or, even the...
2Kids’ How to Make Salt Dough for Crafts, Gifts, Jewelry and More
Dough pendants and ornaments waiting to go into the oven. Don't you love the shark? Parents, teachers, babysitters and grandparents often search for fun and unplugged activities for children. Making items from a salt dough taps into everyoneâs...
23 On-Line "Must Checks" for Starter Homes
Aaah...a place to relax that is all yours. Home, Sweet Home. Despite the challenging economy, Americans still dream of owning, rather than renting, a place to live. For people who have been able to hang onto enough savings for a down payment and...
4Cat Poems: A Cat and His Human Wax Poetic
Cats belong to the sub-group of beings which appreciate the finer things in life such as poetry. Thus, 4 poems and 2 great photos are given.
0Sunday School Lesson for Jewish Purim Holy Day
The Bible story of Esther has many positives for children: a female heroine, a wedding, kings and queens, party food, raucous noise, and an ending with the good guys winning. It can be used during any unit on the Bible, the Old Testament, and in Vacation Bible School.
2Eyebrow Make-Up Tips - Easy Cosmetic Lesson
Women’s eyebrow shapes have changed again. If you observed the fashionable female stars on the Red Carpet at the Oscars’ ceremonies, recent advertisements in print magazines, and guests on television talk shows, or the delightful Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge [bride of Prince William] you have probably detected that the “In Look” for eyebrows has shifted. This article provides simple instructions with 12+ diagrams for the new style.
5National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA
In Harrisburg, PA sits the rather new National Civil War Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Open 7 days a week, it claims to be the only museum with fair and even-handed representation of all sides of the War Between the States.
2The Oscars for CARTOON Nominees
Review of the Oscar nominees and 4 more gems of Animated Shorts. Be prepared for the 2012 Oscar Night.
4Geri-cat-rics: Aging Cat Issues
Our eldest cat is at least age 6, maybe much more. As she ages, our beliefs about not going to extraordinary measures might be put to the test.
8Cats and Cuddly Nooks
Like all house cats, ours seek out cuddly nooks to protect them, without permitting intrusion. Each cat appears quite content and pleased as he surreptitiously (in his own mind) surveys the world from his Cat Cave. Both commercial climbing trees and creative locations do the job. And, they are absolutely adorable in their hiding places.
5The HOA (Home Owners' Association) from H E _ _
For more than ten years, I lived in a private townhouse community subject to the draconian rules of the builder’s charter and the HOA. This place could have been the inspiration for any sit-com episode about the worst of homeowner association rules. it was the townhouse community from hell.
2Super Bowl Party and Deaf Guests in Denial - Help Me!
The Super Bowl countdown is in its final week. Rachael Ray and every other cooking program have been pushing Super Bowl menus at us for weeks. Wide-screen television and home theater systems are at their best sales. It is all racing to the exciting “Day of Days” for pro football fans: Super Bowl Sunday. But what do you do about a party guest who can't hear and won't admit it?
0Movie The Artist: Fantastic 1920s Sets, Costumes, and Hairstyles
Due to its garnering of Golden Globe Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Original Score awards, The Artist has returned. Now, you can see it in mainstream movie theaters. As I watched it, I was thrilled at the level of attention to detail in scenery, costumes, and hairstyles to re-create California in the late 1920’s and early ‘30’s.
10A 97-year-old : This is not another Great Depression
A 97-year-old friend of mine knows that the economy is rough right now and that able-bodied, willing workers struggle with the lack of jobs and all that goes with that. But, he vehemently declares, “this is not like the GREAT DEPRESSION.” One hears the capital letters in his voice.
15Travel: Shady Maple Farm Market, Lancaster County, PA
The Shady Maple FARM Market of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is a gorgeous wide-aisled uncommon supermarket in a building updated and expanded in 2010. Wow. Run by a Mennonite family, it is immaculately clean and it gives God the Glory!
2Drum Circle in Sinking Spring, PA
A Sinking Spring store jam=packed with African goods hosted a new drum circle. This gathering of west African drumming was so successful, it will continue every First Friday of the month at Spears-Harambee Company. It is worth visiting for the store and the drumming!
5Sammy, Our Peace-Loving Middle Cat
A tribute to our middle cat, Sammy. He is the older "brother" to our rescue cat, Skeeter, who landed in our lives last winter. Sammy is the saint of the feline family and he is very cute.
2January Garden Work
If your land in January is frozen from the topsoil down about a foot, “garden work” may not make sense. However, if you resemble me in my gardening habits, there is work to be done. Photos included.
4Mist on Our Mountain
We live in a suburb close by a city of more than 80,000 people. Fortunately, we have a wee pocket of wilderness which affords us much more natural delight than a neighborhood of deforested Monopoly houses would.
6Seed and Plant Catalogues: Heralds of Spring
Two certainties in the mail for the week between Christmas and New Year’s are tax forms and seed catalogues. Paper catalogues are fun and have advantages over on-line listings.
4Christmas Card Friends - Yearly Connections to Cherish
We have friends living far away for whom we care even though we are no longer in each others’ lives. The exchange of yearly greetings at Christmastime guarantees we will get caught up.
5BLACK WALNUT Cookie Recipe - A Specialty of Gramma Morgan
Easy instructions with 9 photos for how to make Pennsylvania Great Depression era BLACK Walnut Cookies. This is a Morgan family recipe used at Christmas.
4Christmas and All Holidays: Why Gift Choice Doesn’t Matter
When one cares about another person enough to want to give a present, it usually means one wants to make a good gift-to-person match. This is natural. But the actual gift really doesn't matter...
2Turmeric Spice For Senior Citizen Brain Health
One nutrient which captivates me is turmeric for prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. This is easy to work into my daily diet in tiny amounts. I figure that tiny beats none. Here is how I do it.
5Quilted Table Runner Wedding Gift to a Chinese Couple
The panels include pictures special to the bride and groom. I made a gift for a couple living in China. A friend will carry it in his luggage when he travels there for the nuptials. I wanted to give them something meaningful, but also have it...
2Invite Someone to your Temple, Mosque, Church in December
A kind word or compliment may have happily disproportional effects for someone who is down. Even something as minor as buying him/her a cup of coffee when you go for yours can be a ray of sunshine. An invitation to a non-threatening religious service says, "someone wants to spend time with me; I am not a total loser."
4Festivus Holiday Meatloaf Recipe – Variations for all of Us
Meatloaf is the main dish for Festivus, but my circle of friends has all sorts of varying dietary needs and preferences. Thus, I have developed a quick and easy way to make 2 meatloaves with minimal work.
4Furoshiki – Green, Earth Friendly Re-usable Wrapping Cloth
Furoshiki is the Japanese art of wrapping anything in a reusable piece of fabric, often a square, is the trendy way to present gifts. This article includes 3 videos demonstrating how to do it.
6Kids’ How to Make Christmas Mouse Ornaments with Photos
Mouse ornaments are popular for Christmas trees. Directions with 9 photos for this simple project which can be done in 1 day plus another day for drying. Good for children who are elementary school age.
4Discount Rx – A Tale of Four Pharmacies for Uninsured Americans
What happens to the gap group which has no health insurance but cannot qualify for poverty assistance or for old age assistance? Why is there a huge range in prices of prescription medications made throughout the world but available for purchase by Americans?
4Family and Kids’ Easy How to Make Clothespin Christmas Ornaments
How a group of adults and kids can make Christmas tree ornaments from wooden clothespins and a few other supplies. 10 photos. Great for family bonding, religious education class, craft group.
10How to SUPERSIZE a Cat Tower’s Platform Step by Step with Photos
How to change the top platform of a carpeted cat tower to a larger platform. Good if your kitten outgrows a cat condo tower. 15 photos. This DIY project can be no-cost if you have carpet remnants and a good sized board.
2Kids' Easy How to Sew a Christmas Stocking for a Pet
Step-by-step instructions with 14 photos for how to make a simple small Christmas stocking from fabric scraps. A sewing machine is used. This is a DIY craft for children about age 10 and older with some basic sewing experience.
7Kid Friendly Family Christmas Advent Ceremony
A reproducible family Protestant Advent ceremony which is short and child-friendly to be used in the home. Adapted for kindergarten through primary grade kids. Provides list of supplies, script, and suggested songs. Family Advent ceremonies are used for the 4 Sundays before December 25th. Held in the evening after sunset, the candles glowing in our dark living room accentuate the mysteries of preparing for Xmas. kids participate in readings and lighting candles with SUPERVISION.
2German Speakers and Pennsylvania Dutch Folklife in Greater Philadelphia
Goschenhoppen. It’s such a fun and funny-sounding name. Pronounce it: GUSH’n HUP’n. It’s also a region, a German-speaking community, and a group of concerned historians in the five-county greater Philadelphia area. Before first-hand knowledge was extinguished, the Goschenhoppen Historians jumped to save it. Members learned at the elbows of true Goschenhoppen Germanic settler community. By executing living archeology or living anthropology, the members have fun and stay connected to the past.
0A Thanksgiving-Christmas State of Mind All Year
The older I get, the clearer my blessings are to me. I can walk, talk, hear, see, eat, drink, read, write, and drive without assistance. Each year that passes makes that more important. I have grand friends who see the real me and, despite that, still genuinely love me. I love them back, and that is a great blessing – the ability to give love. Every year, I can identify new blessings.
4DOG Massage Therapy! Photos and Video
People understand that a massage delivers physical and psychological benefits. It is entirely logical that other mammals, such as our beloved pet dogs, would reap the same benefits as do humans. Fortunately, animal experts and veterinarians have realized this and developed research-driven canine massage protocols. 11 pix of Jennifer DeLong, canine therapist, performing massage.
4Angel Encounter
As I lay there, I just replayed the event over and over with full confidence that I had just interacted with my own Guardian Angel. And, that felt grand!
11Kids' Easy How to Make Thanksgiving Pine Cone Turkey Place Cards
Directions with 19 photos on how a child age 3 to 12 can make a pine cone turkey as a place card for the formal Thanksgiving dinner table. This is easy and fast - it can be completed in under 30 minutes. The grandparents will love the results and the children will contribute to the event and stay out of the adults' hair. Win-win!
6Health Boosting Stretches for Senior Citizens
Senior Stretches in Bed (TM) exercise program. Warm up those standing, walking, and balancing parts of the body before we ask them to work. The point of these exercises is to do them in the morning while still in bed. It is like warming up a car before you put it in gear. Very VERY easy.
2Frugal Local Gift Ideas by Recipient Age Categories
This is my mantra for anyone with challenges in the financial area who contemplates winter gift-giving with bewildered puzzlement: “It’s the love that counts.” If your gift recipients love you, can’t they understand that some years are like this? I am betting that they can. Recommendations for frugal gift ideas to meet two goals – (1) expressing thoughtfulness on a shoestring, and (2) directing your pennies to local independently-owned businesses. Suggestions given by age categories.
2Frugal Living: How to Score a Turkey Meal for American Thanksgiving
Ways to get either a totally free turkey meal, a very low costs one, or ideas (common sense) for keeping costs down for the big Thanksgiving feast.
22 Movies for People Dreading the Holidays with Dysfunctional Families
f you’ve ever thought, as you attend some mandatory family get-together, “Who are these people? Where did I come from?”, you are not alone: a significant enough portion of the population feels the same way so as to have inspired movies depicting it. Thus, in my desire to offer possible comfort of the “you are not alone” persuasion, or better yet, the “you think YOU’VE got it bad?” ilk, I suggest the following 2 movies.
0How to change a photo to make a close-up with Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery
Instructions on using free, often pre-loaded Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery to crop a photo.
2Easy Way to Extend Shed Roof Life
If you own a shed as an outbuilding in your yard, you really depend on it to store seasonal equipment. Since the shed would cost several hundred dollars to replace, it would be foolhardy to allow it to deteriorate. During a recession, replacing the shed might be very low on your list of spending priorities. Your life will be better if you can make the shed last as long as possible. Here are 2 ideas illustrated by 8 pictures.
3Joe Paterno Scandal Highlights Pennsylvania’s Pitiful Child Protection
Lots of people at Penn State did the wrong thing. But additional bad guys exist. in 1998, civilian police AND an investigator for the Department of Public Welfare collect damning evidence against Sandusky. Despite this, the County District Attorney decides that there will be no criminal charges brought.This is unconscionable. Officials in the DPW and in the District Attorney’s office should be brought to task for this – and tarring and feathering would be too good for them.
2Soaring on Emily’s Wings
When I wrote this poem, Emily and all her winged art symbolized, to me, the freedom and energy to embrace one’s potential. I admired the position in life where she stood. Realizing that as long as anyone is drawing breath, she or he can follow a dream, I wrote this poem to honor that leap of endeavor. It also hints of the energy one can receive when inspired by another.
23 Thanksgiving Movies for Baby Boomers
Author reviews 3 full-length flicks from the Baby Boomers' younger days whose plots either involve Thanksgiving or occur at Thanksgiving time. Miracle on 34th Street, Holiday Inn, and Alice's Restaurant are recommended for this Thanksgiving.
4Winter Decorations for “More than Christmas” Holidays
How we can sneak other cultures’ winter holiday symbols into a few pockets of American Middle-Class-Protestant-Mainstream-White-Bread-Land.
0WWII Citizens of Japanese Descent Interred in America: Bronzeville – A Play
A third-generation Japanese-American (whose father was interred) teams up with a Black-American who has lived in both Japan and Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo to create a stage play, Bronzeville. The drama captures the consequences of the WWII displacement and the opportunities and challenges for other second-class Americans during this time of shame in America. At this time, it has been performed only on the West Coast, but the author strongly hopes it makes its way across the country soon.
212 Gift Ideas for Baby Boomer Women
Gift suggestions for Baby Boomer women for consumable items, so there is neither clutter nor need for more storage space. Her grateful memories will be huge. Additionally, you will be the perceptive, sensitive, insightful family member or friend who truly understands women of the Boomer Belt.
0Ruled Accidental
His death. It bothers me still. Sometimes it’s just a little niggling, faint drone. Sometimes a wet-eyed cry and need for a hug. Often a weight on my attention: a huge, troublesome question mark. It was “ruled accidental.” He was 25.
6Family Value Gentle Halloween Movies
Five flicks from “baby boomers' era” involving Halloween are reviewed. They were not made-for-television children’s specials. They are films from our lifetimes produced for the general public. Today they all would be rated G and family. I think any and all of them would be fun to share with grandkids. However, children are not necessary to enjoy them one more time.
0Kids’ Spooky Books for Autumn
In cool Halloween and dark fall, here are two books which have enough of the mystery of the autumn combined with a happy ending, that it meets your reading needs for preschoolers and early elementary children.
4How to Make a Cat’s Costume for Halloween
Step-by-step guide with 12 photos and diagrams for making costumes for a cat. No sewing is required. Often, all the materials are already at hand so no cost is involved. Win-win!
5How to Legally Dumpster Dive and Trash Pick
Survive the recession and help the planet with perfectly legal trash re-purposing. Four venues for finding good items are described.
4Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part 14 – Halloween Cat Costumes
The local pet store is holding a Halloween Dog and Cat Costume Contest. My three cats can't tolerate being taken to a strange store confined in crates and costumes. However, i had great fun making them costumes for a photo shoot at home. Skeeter, the Goddess, and Sammy all cooperated - amazing!
6Genealogy Road Trip and Beginners’ Tips
Genealogy research lessons and narrative about finding ancestors’ resting places. Ideas for beginners in finding family forebears.
6The New Normal After Bereavement
The author combines 2 perspectives on grieving to comfort those adjusting to a major, unhappy change. They are the Kubler-Ross model of five stages of grieving, and the "new normal" philosophy.
0Cleaning the Garage and Workbench Feng Shui Style
Common sense cleaning and organizing automatically incorporates the fundamentals of Black Hat Feng Shui. Yes, even in a garage, you will get “two-fer” credit when you start cleaning! Photos of the good and the not so good included.
0Rent, Our Town, and Life Lessons
Program of the Players Club of Swarthmore, a community theater company near Philadelphia.. Interpreting English literature and plays scared the guts out of me in high school and college. Whereas my younger brother Jay easily perceived all sorts of...
02 Books for Baby Boomers to Wax Nostalgic
Baby Boomer highly recommends 2 biographies as a blast from the past. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid and Dangerously Funny.
0Eco-tourism is a Family Affair in Peaceful Southcentral China
How to experience the real life of Chinese people in Yunnan province with a multi-lingual native tour guide. In addition, the scenery is wild and unspoiled and the Old Town of Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
9Historic Apple Orchard Open to Public with Photos
Public apple picking at rock-bottom costs occurs every fall at a National Park Service historic site in the southeastern Pennsylvania. For $1 a pound, visitors may pick heirloom apples the old-fashioned way at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site near Elverson, PA.
47 Online Used Booksellers
A list of 7 online bookstores which include used out-of-print books is discussed. Each has its own twist on what it sells and how it operates.
4Kids' Books For Peace-Loving (Pacifist) Religions
Pacifist religions. If one is looking for children's books to entertain and concurrently reinforce the belief that killing is a bad activity, I recommend these four.
2Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part 13 - Pink Thread
Stories of blending an abandoned yearling cat, Skeeter, into a staid two-cat family. Skeeter has enough gumption, energy, and personality to make every day a delightful adventure.
6Copyrighting my writing in the USA
Thoughts on stating one's copyright at the end of a blog or a hub.
4Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Twelve
After taking in an abandoned yearling cat, a couple deals with blending him into the prior cat family of a mother tabby and her placid son. The angry mother cat finally starts to soften up. But hissing has not totally disappeared. Read all the installments of Skeeter's story!
8How the Brain Works when Playing Piano
Explanation of all the things the brain does when reading music to play piano.
8Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Eleven - The Woodwind Player
What happens when a mischievous cat discovers his human master left her clarinet out and unprotected in the living room overnight.
4National Weather Service – Good Guys in Government
Description of one of the laudable efficient and useful agencies in the federal government: the National Weather Service. This agency is a keeper which has saved lives and property.
4Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Ten
Owners of 3 cats describe the adorable antics of their newest, a rescue cat named Skeeter. They wonder if he is channeling the spirit of the renowned Labrador Retriever, Marley, of the book "Marley and Me."
2Recipe for Noodles from Scratch from The Great Depression
Simple recipe for egg and white flour noodles made from scratch and air-dried traces back to the Great Depression and the author's Altoona, Pennsylvania grandmother. Many photos included.
14Bathroom Plumbing Fixtures: How to keep them clean
Graduated list of ways to keep bathroom plumbing fixtures sparklingly clean.
0A Letter to Robby Felix, NFL Lineman
Robby Felix is trying to return to pro football after suffering a stroke. Kudos to your determination, but can't you choose a new career lower on the brain-injury probability scale?
67 Mistakes to AVOID when Harvesting and Roasting Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds. This is the NOT-TO-DO guide for a newbie’s leap into sunflower food production. Whether for birds or humans, you want seeds which look like the ones you formerly purchased at the grocery or the feed store. Now that you are a sunflower gardener, do not be impatient or cut corners. Here are 7 mistakes to avoid.
2Re-Enactors: Amity Colonial Dancers
A group of living history devotees performs English Country Dances as they would have been enjoyed in Colonial Pennsylvania from 1740 to 1840. They rehearse in Douglassville, PA which is near Philadelphia.
6Funny “Red Green” Style Laptop Computer Cooler
Red Green, Canadian Handyman, is a man who knows the value of duct tape. Such is his genius that there is no equipment problem which he CANNOT fix with duct tape. In his spirit, I lightheartedly offer my Red Green style laptop computer cooler.
0Kyle D. Pagerly 5K Run
Twenty-eight-year-old Deputy Sheriff Kyle Pagerly was fatally shot on June 29, 2011 in the line of duty. People in the county where he lived and worked have been extraordinarily generous in giving to his family. A 5K run is part of this fund-raising support.
6A List of Jazz Jam Sessions at Clubs in the Philadelphia Area
A list of some of the jazz jam sessions in Philadelphia and the greater Philly area (in Pennsylvania only.) Keeping track of changes is hard, but phone numbers and cover charges are included when possible.
6Camping in 15 States Raises Rules about Firewood and Emerald Ash Borers
The United States Department of Agriculture determined that emerald ash borer has gained territory through transport of timber, nursery stock and firewood. Commendably, federal and state environmental departments have quarantines and strict rules to prevent the movement of invasive pests in campground firewood.
6Ways to Save Money to Cool Your Home
3 ways to save money to cool your place and none of them cost you money. In this recession, we need tips to save.
2Exeter Community Band Growing and Glowing
Pulling out the old instrument and shaking up those brain cells a bit, joking around with buddies, giving pleasure to audiences, and making some pretty good music – “A community band is a lot like Heaven,” admits one of the band’s past presidents. Learn about the Exeter (PA) Community Band.
0Travelling World War I Exhibit
A traveling exhibit affiliated with the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri is making one-day stops throughout the country. It is free.
0Caregiver Rants and Reviews of 3 Cancer Movies
photo help delete down full width edit text help delete up down float right edit I have an ax to grind into the backs of cinema make-up professionals and directors. I don’t require gratuitous ugliness or gore, but some of the films coming out are very unrealistic in depicting individuals with cancer. As a cancer caregiver. I rate three films on realism.
4Jynx, a K-9 Cop Hero
Deputy Sheriff K-9 dog Jynx alerted a task force to the location of a sniper, and tried to pull his partner to safety. June 29, 2011 in Berks County, PA.
4Princes William and Harry of Wales
An American blog writer wishes the sons of Princess Diana all the best. She also comments on the book Diana’s Boys: William and Harry and the Mother They Loved.
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Update on Free Rice Charity Learning Game Site
FreeRice.com is a website at which one can do a little relaxing and a little learning while doing good at the same time. It is maintained by the United Nations World Food Programme.
5U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors Band SWINGS!
Review of the excellent, professional U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors traveling band.
0Front Yard Vegetable Flower Combo Garden Progress Report
A progress report on the gardens of a homeowner growing vegetables and flowers combined together in her front yard. Yes, Oak Park, Michigan - the front yard.
3Dead Bird in the Freezer Humor
Humorous story of trying to convince the West Nile Virus screening agency to come test after finding a dead bird in the yard three times in short succession.
5My 91 Cent Liz Claiborne Purse
How to find and evaluate great gently-used clothing, purses, shoes at salvation army, goodwill, and thrift shops for even less than a dollar! The author bought a used Liz Claiborne purse for 91 cents.
4Nativeseeds.org: An Heirloom Seed Company with a Low Profile
Gardeners - Nativeseeds.org -SEARCH offers heirloom seeds especially suitable for the arid southwest USA and Northwest Mexico through its on-line catalogue and its retail store in Tucson, AZ.
11Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Nine - The FIRST Cat
The Goddess in her younger and happier days. Over Presidents' Day weekend 2011, a five-pound ball of feline fluff landed in our home. I have been relating all the funny adventures and misadventures we have experienced. Now I'd like to share the...
0Farmers' Markets in Berks County
In Berks County, PA, as real estate developers gobble up farmland to make housing tracts, townhouses and condos suburbs, the people clamor for old-fashioned Farmers' Markets. In recent years, many townships and boroughs are creating such markets.
6Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Eight - Hubwriter Helper
It almost sounds like "Hamburger Helper," doesn't it? Well, this is a short, blink of an eye hub featuring behind the scenes photos of my preparation of a hub on making corn husk dolls. It features my favorite little shelter-rescue buddy, Skeeter....
14Kids' How to Make Corn Husk Dolls with Photos
Step-by-step photos and instruction on how children can make a corn husk doll (sometimes with a little help.) Includes 15 color photos. Very simple supplies used and the author's personal experience tips.
2Jazz & Martini Fridays at Cafe Waldorf, Reading PA
Live jazz musicians perform upstairs every Friday night at this American cuisine restaurant in Reading PA. The Cafe Waldorf is minutes from Berks Jazzfest venues, the Reading Royals, and the Reading Phillies.
6Learning to Play Clarinet in my Fifties
A baby boomer with some musical training decides to learn the clarinet at age 55. Brava! She describes her slight speed bumps and her fierce determination. Older gals keep vital and keep learning!
4Bee Balm Uses with Many Photos
Monarda, a perrenniel flower also known as bee balm, is easy to grow. It tolerates partial sun and dry soil. Shows how to use leaves and flowers in salad and how to dry the plant for tea.
0Pete Souders of Ortlieb's Jazzhaus: How He Made His First Recording
Pete Souders of Ortlieb's Jazzhaus in North Philly: an old fart axe player finally records what his horn has to say. Thank GOD we didn't lose him with all his music still in him!
6How to Enjoy and Brag about Turning Age 50
Baby Boomer woman describes how she celebrated for a year to take away the fear of turning age fifty.
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Lightning Bugs, Fireflies, and Fire Bees
There was never a time I did not know about lightning bugs. They were as much a part of summer as were heat, plastic wading pools, and Popsicles. Lightning bugs were nature's sparklers for kids - safe, glowing, and ever-so-fun. Everyone knew the...
0Gardener Humor: 7 Terraces of Purgatory
Humorous parody of Dante's levels of Purgatory as it applies to the home gardener.
0Disabilities before the ADA
A baby boomer recalls pre-ADA days: We had at least three US Presidents with disabilities: Roosevelt, Lincoln, Kennedy.) We had veterans from many military conflicts who returned without parts of their limbs or parts of their faces, and they were not ostracized. People lived with their limits and others accepted them. If someone fell down a well as a child and forever after had a damaged, useless leg? The attitude was: “That’s life. Now, get up and do something constructive.”
0Tooth Brushing Technique from a Six-Year-Old
Spending a full 2 minutes brushing makes an incredible improvement, as the author learns from her niece. two full minutes seems like forever. How much time do you spend brushing?
6Clothesline Cons and Pros
Humorous article on the misfortunes awaiting clean wet clothing on an outside clothesline. Very funny.
0Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Seven - The CATNIP Caper
Yes, we own some. We do not dispense it daily, not even weekly, because our cats are active enough without it. Well, maybe not our dear Sammy with his love-handles. Nonetheless, we occasionally give it to our threesome. Now, I am re-thinking...
2TSA and SWA (Southwest Airlines)
Part of the boarding document and a thought for the trip... At Philadelphia International Airport (PHL for you code freaks) â I am leaving for California on a Thursday afternoon to visit my brother and his family. I am traveling on Southwest...
4Self-Checkout of Library Books: Brilliant!
Today I visited the Dublin, California, Alameda County public library. New checkout technology absolutely amazed and delighted me. Similar to self-checkout systems in grocery stores, home improvement stores, gas stations - basically any retail...
2Sonoma Train Town - A Family Amusement Park with Heart and Steam Engines
Yesterday I took a journey into a gentler time of amusement parks: I visited Sonoma Train Town. I am a baby boomer who remembers the Bill Bryson times of the fifties and sixties. Regarding amusement parks in particular, this means no humongously...
0Star-Spangled Moment at MAAM WW II Weekend
Visitors at 22nd World War II weekend at Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Reading, PA spontaneously show patriotism. Goose-bump moment.
0Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Six
Hilarious account of what we did and didn’t do (but should have) when a five-pound bundle of fluff dropped into our lives. Each morning, we follow our routine. I awaken and stumble into the kitchen to serve exquisitely delicious wet cat food to...
2Exciting WW II Weekend at Mid-Atlantic Air Museum
During the 3-day weekend commemorating World War II at the air museum at Reading, Pennsylvania's airport, it is always June of 1944. This celebration started as a rather small regional affair 22 years ago. Now it is a re-enactor's paradise bringing in guests and participants from all over the country.
4When I won a "Major Award"
A recession struggling cat owner describes her surprise, delight, and relief when she got an email declaring that she had won the Grand Prize in the Petco-Good Housekeeping "Green Your Pet" contest.
5Front Yard: Mix Vegetables and Flowers Beautifully in the Gardens
Despite Oak Park, Michigan's hostility to co-mingling flowers and vegetables in the same plot, the author shows how effective and easy it can be. Also, it works in the front, side, and back yard.
3Garden Humor: Harvesting Rocks
I love sunshine, fresh air and digging in the soil. That's a good thing because I live in eastern Pennsylvania, land of glacial remains. If I had included harvesting vegetables on my list, or enjoying copious clouds of flower blossoms lovingly...
2Easy (Cheap) Garden Sculpture
How-to instructions for making an artistic wooden tripod as a garden accent - at low to no cost.
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How to make photos larger or smaller with Paint.NET
Changing size is the only thing Paint.NET is free software which was developed by college students about a decade ago. Do not confuse it with the pre-loaded program that often comes with Microsoft Windows.  That one is called Paint. Just...
0Fantastic Djembe Tuning Tutorial
Very easy way to tune a djembe using a vice grip tool. YouTube video included in article.
0CatChow.com Website Review
A cat owner's review of the Purina website. Some features are excellent and other areas of the website need work.
5Funny Adventures in Cat Adoption, Part Five
What do you mean I shouldn't be on the table? Hilarious account of what we did and didn’t do (but should have) when a five-pound bundle of fluff dropped into our lives. We live in a county which was heavily Pennsylvania-German for centuries. ...
0Senior Adults' Sense of Smell Issues
The loss of sense of smell concurrent with aging leads to problems in tasting, keeping oneself clean, and keeping the home and pets safe.
0“Be Blonde” Media Pressure
Boomer-age females in the USA were subjected to constant messages that the “best” hair color for a female is blonde. Research on the message in the 1950s and 60s and its sources. Apparently. Clairol's marketing changed the hair fashion world as we know it!
