The Intellect and Education of the Keeper at Home...

Contrary to our culture's belief, being a keeper at home provides a woman with many outlets for improving her mind. Those of us who choose to tend to family and household as our primary career need never let the world make us feel inferior on that account. Likewise, if we feel that our daily tasks are becoming routine -- as can happen with any endeavor in life -- we can refresh ourselves by learning new aspects of our vocation.

Have you ever pondered the following topics?

1) The principles of chemistry related to baking and cooking.
2) Economic principles; the historical connection between household economy and a nation's economy; the current economic situation and how it affects your household economy; how your household economy might play a part in the larger economy; stewardship; consumer science; how to assess quality of basic household materials and goods; how goods are made and merchandised and shipped
3) Nature as viewed from your back yard; the trees and flowers that grow in your area; principles of landscaping and gardening; botany; your area's environmental health or needs; ornamental plants and plants grown for food; indoor plants; historical varieties of plants; cultivating soil for lawns and gardens; the components of soil; the science of composting; chemistry as related to botany and also to plant care; stars seen in your area; effect of sunlight on a household
4) All about your pets; local animals; local birds; migration patterns of birds in your area; local butterflies and other insects; animal science as is related to your household's needs or to animals that live near you
5) Your area's climate and weather; how the climate affects your household management; the delights of your area's seasons
6) The principles of chemistry related to cleaning and laundry
7) The development of your area's style of cooking; your favorite country's cuisine; kitchens and cooking around the world; cooking seasonally
8) The principles of art as they relate to creating a comfortable and attractive living space; color, shape, arrangement, flower arranging
9) How fabrics are made; properties of various fabrics; how clothing is designed and made at a commercial level; home sewing
10) Family communication; childhood development; language arts
11) Nutrition, health, physiology; the development of a child within the womb; gerontology; how children grow physically
12) Computers, cars, appliances, a little bit about home construction; energy sources in the home (such as electricity)
13) Historical styles of home furnishings; houses from different countries; local houses of interest; houses in your area that have been turned into museums or bed-and-breakfasts; notable women of the past who managed households well
14) The history of manners; customs from different countries; changing views of manners in modern day; etiquette in the home; law as it affects the family and household
15) Principles of efficiency, more effective ways to accomplish tasks in the home; principles of organization and time management

These are just a few examples of subjects that relate to the management of a home. As you manage your household, your curiosity may be sparked by one of these topics or by something else entirely. In today's world, you have a number of options for further study: your own personal observation (keeping journals and sketches add to the fun), library books, the Internet (though be sure to check sources), asking people who have already studied these topics (asking intelligent questions will make you a more interesting conversationalist), visiting local museums, and taking a class.

It's not necessary to study all of these things in order to keep a house well. Just as you can drive a car without knowing what's happening underneath the hood, you can cook without knowing the chemical principles behind it, sew without knowing how certain fabrics are made, use a computer without understanding anything about software or hardware design, and balance a checkbook without knowing anything about economics. I, for one, couldn't tell you much about the inner workings of a car, much less of a computer.

You may find great satisfaction in your work simply by mastering the most basic concepts needed to manage a household, and that's wonderful. Or, you may choose to follow the elementary principles of home management in most things, but take an extra interest in one or two particular aspects of homemaking.

That's the beauty of being a keeper at home: All you really need for success is love, faith, courage, willing hands to work, and attention to detail. However, if you do want some extra intellectual stimulation, the possibilities for learning about subjects related to home management are endless. Have fun exploring the topics that interest you!

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Williamsburg: Home of the American Garden

When you think of the quintiessential colonial American gardens, do you think of Williamsburg, Virginia? Williamsburg was the first capital of Virginia, which was perhaps the most prosperous and the largest of our thirteen original colonies. The town not only served as its government seat, but also as the center of Virginia culture, as well.

As cities go, however, Williamsburg looked more like a green, lovely, country town than did more urbanized cities like Boston. In old Williamsburg, this country-seat atmosphere has been maintained for us to enjoy today. Thus, we can learn a lot about colonial gardening from this popular vacation spot.

One reason that old Williamsburg was lovely then and now is that it was laid out in an orderly and charming plan. The colony's Lieutenant Governor, Francis Nicholson, envisioned a city growing neatly around an orderly grouping of public buildings. He saw each building as being related to his overall scheme. He dreamed of broad, straight streets and impressive, baroque style vistas, with lots of open spaces. According to baroque style, he wanted the landscaping and the public buildings to work together. His vision reflected the citizens desire for controlled growth. Such specific planning meant that the city developed in an organized fashion, rather than sprawling out as many American cities have done.

Interestingly, there was a certain movement in Europe during that time to revive more naturalized gardens. This new theory of gardening had absolutely no appeal to Virginians. After all, colonial towns and plantations and small farms were carved out of a vast wilderness -- a wilderness that still existed outside of their fences and could easily swallow them up again. Virginians had no need to re-capture a wilderness long past; they could simply look around them to see virgin forests and unplowed meadows.

So, American coloniests wanted reassurance that their wild land could be tamed. After all, their survival depended on conquering the wilderness. High on Virginians' list of gardening priorities was creating order and tranquility, which they valued as signs of civilization. They wanted to garden controllable spaces that were safely enclosed behind hedgerows and fences. Thus, when looking back to Europe for inspiration, Nicholson and his peers turned to the classic styles rather than to more modern naturalist movements.

This desire for order was all the stronger because Williamsburg was a decidely English town with conservative English values. (Remember, this was before the Revolution, when the government of Virginia was moved to Richmond). England, itself, may have been experimenting with new architectural and gardening ideas. But, eighteenth century Williamsburg residents held tightly to their own memories of England or the memories that were passed down to them by their parents. They clung to the England of William and Mary and sought to re-create it on American shores.

In keeping with conservative British outlook, little Williamsburg boasted some of the finest examples of Anglo-Dutch gardens in the thirteen original colonies. The town's citizens favored the old formal enclosed gardens and symmetrical layouts. They planted fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, whose seeds or bulbs they had brought with them from the old world Most of these plants had been grown in English gardens for hundreds of years.

Naturally, they also made great use of the edible and ornamental plants they discovered in Virginia. Thus, as in many places in America, the town's old gardens reflect a marriage of European and native plant life. Not only were native plants used in Williamsburg's gardens, many a Virginian was making a fortune off of a local plant -- tobacco. Those involved in the tobacco trade of that time could not look ahead and foresee the health problems that would follow as a result.

While Williamsburg was designing gardens in conservative English style, English gardeners were hungry for exotic plants from the Americas. So, throughout Virginia's colonial history, local gardeners and British gardeners corresponded with great frequency. Some of the letters and drawings they exchanged survive until today, giving us a window into what was going on in the gardening scenes of both the colonies and Great Britian. British and colonial gardeners also exchanged plants, bulbs, and seeds. Thus, many European plants were introduced to the U.S. and many American plants found their way to the old world.

In the U.S., we take plants such as black-eyed Susans, golden rod, and the fall-blooming aster for granted. In fact, for a long time, Americans thought of these as weeds -- particularly the golden rod, as it was said to induce hay fever. Yet, to the Europeans of the eighteen century, plants such as these were exciting treasures from a new world. (Of course, there was nothing new about these plants to native Americans. We are speaking from the point of view of Europeans, for whom the Americas represented a world that was yet to be fully explored.)

Just as Europe was eager to learn about species native to North America, they also adopted South American plants, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes. European gardeners then introduced these South American plants to North American gardeners, including those in Virginia.

The first gardens of any size in Williamsburg were the college yard in front of the oldest building at William and Mary College. It was a decorative, formal garden lined with topiaries. Again, this little college was surrounded by the predominately natural landscape of colonial Virginia. But, in keeping with Williamsburg ideas of gardening, it was a little spot of order and symmetry. Sadly, the garden disappeared right after the Revolutionary War, and we know of it only from written accounts.

Later, in 1710, Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood arrived in Williamsburg. He built a monumental garden at the governor's mansion. This garden was more elegant and extravagant than any other garden in the settlement. The garden was well documented, so it was able to be re-created. Today, many gardeners look to Spotswood's garden for inspiration when designing gardens with colonial flavor. Like most Williamsburg residents, Spotswood equated gardens with civilization and with gracious living.

In the eighteenth century, botany and horticulture were favorite pastimes of the wealthy and the educated. Gentlemen in Virginia, like their counterparts in Europe and in the other American colonies, took a keen interest in gardening. They experimented with new methods of farming, as well. They kept diaries in which they recorded their studies of plant life and evaluated the success of their gardening and farming efforts. Two of our early Presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were Virgians who are almost as famous for their gardens and plantations as their politics.

For the ordinary settler, gardening was no gentleman's hobby. It was a means of survival. Though ordinary homes may have had kitchen gardens out of necessity, they were still planted along the symmetrical, orderly lines favored by the citizens of Williamsburg.

We take vegetable gardens for granted. But, at one early point during Virginia's development, a vegetable garden was viewed as something of a luxury. It meant that you had laid down roots enough to devote space and time to vegetables. These vegetables were valued sources of nutrition.

Since the gardens of Williamburg were typically enclosed, the plants were than and are now protected from winds and cold temperatures. Williamsburg is near the coast, which means that it has a milder climate than some parts of Virginia. One of the loveliest plants I saw on a visit to Williamsburg was a huge, old crepe myrtle that grew up against the shelter of the house. It was huge, and it's trunk was unnaturally large and strong. The protection it received allowed it to flourish. Of course, being a Southernor, I'm in tune to crepe myrtles and was curious to find such a lovely and strong one so far north.

If you've visited Williamsburg, you've also noticed that boxwoods became an essential part of the gardening landscape there. When it came to ornamental trees, colonists made use of the lovely species at hand: dogwood, redbud, magnolia, and caltpa. They used the elm, the chestnut, the poplar, the sycamore, the oak, and the pecan for shade.

Naturally, Williamsburg gardeners were interested in edible fruits. Native species that proved useful were wild grapes, strawberries, huckleberries, blackberries, and raspberries, and the local residents soon learned how to use them in the garden. Local fruit trees weren't to the settlers taste, so they introcuced apples, plums, pears, and other fruit trees from Europe.

If you're interested in creating a colonial style garden a la Williamsburg style, you can find books and pamphlets that will help you lay out your garden and choose plants. Of course, you will have to adapt it to your local growing zone. But, since Williamsburg is sort of halfway up our eastern coast, it isn't extremely Southern -- such as Charleston is -- or extremely northern -- such as Boston is. So, chances are you will find something from the Williamsburg garden to grow in your area.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

In Keeping with the Holiday, Here Are Some Interesting Quotes from Martin Luther King

Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."
Letter from Birmingham Jail 1964

We be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremist for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime---the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jeans Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.
Letter from Birmingham Jail 1964

Yes, I love the church. How could I do otherwise? l am in the rather unique position of being the son, the grandson and the great- grandson of preachers. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and through fear of being nonconformists.

There was a time when the church was very powerful in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators"' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests.

Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Par from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent and often even vocal sanction of things as they are.
Letter from Birmingham Jail 1964

If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.

Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love.

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.

JANUARY IS A GOOD TIME TO...
(Fun and Frugal in January)

Thinking seasonally is one of the best ways to save your money and use your time wisely. In keeping with that idea, here are some ideas to make the most of January:

1) First, let's mention the obvious: now's the time to pick up holiday decorations at greatly reduced prices. You can save a lot if you buy Christmas cards and wrapping paper, now, as well. Even when I'm out and about this late in January, I still see some Christmas items on sale in the stores around here.

Another obvious bargain at this time of year is containers for organizing and storing items. Retailers know that most of us are eager to straighten up after the holidays. They also know that most of us start the new year with resolutions to get our lives in order. As a result, the stores offer sales on all kinds of storage containers.

Around here, I've been snapping up the cutest boxes on sale at Burlington coat factory. The boxes come in several themes and color schemes. For example, one set is in a pink rose pattern; another is coordinated around a 1920's Paris dress shop. In each scheme, there are hat boxes, boxes with handles shaped like small suitcases, boxes made to look like little steamer trunks, stationary boxes, etc.

I bought two hat boxes to actually use for hats, although I'm sure most people buy them to store other items. And, I bought a suitcase shaped box with a handle in which to store all of my letters and cards that DH has given me through the years -- after 26 years of marriage, in addition to our courtship and engagement, I need a fairly large size box to hold these treasures. I bought a very small round box with lid in the colors of my bedroom to hold hair pins and the like. I set it on my dressing table.

I am hoping the store's large supply of these containers lasts for a while, as I can not afford to buy them all at once. I work in buying one of these pretty, inexpensive storage items here and there.

2) Most of us also know that January is traditionally the month of "white sales". If you are looking to create a romantic bedroom or to stock up on towels, sheets, and other linens, now is a great time to shop! Among items to look for are high quality, high-thread count sheets. Do your homework, though. Just because a vender says it is offering a white sale doesn't mean that their prices are true bargains.

3) Remember that the retail world lives at least one season ahead of the true calendar. Stores are pushing the next season's merchandise earlier and earlier each year. I was flabbergasted when our local grocery store started putting out Valentine's Day goods a couple of days before Christmas!

You can use this seasonal push to your advantage, especially when it comes to clothing. If you live in the northern hemisphere, blustery winds may have you longing for a new coat or a pretty sweater. Merchants, however, already have their minds on "cruise wear" and spring fashions. They are eager to unload any winter merchandise that did not sell for the holidays, and you will find huge sales on winter clothing right now. (Reverse that thinking if you live in the Southern hemisphere).

In certain parts of the U.S., we had an unusually warm fall. I have read that this may result in even better sales on winter clothing this year. When the weather stays warm, consumers are less interested in buying wool skirts, sweaters, scarves, gloves, coats, etc. So, retailers are likely to have an even larger number of winter items than usual on their shelves and racks. All of these must be moved out to make way for spring clothes, so the extra stock is heavily discounted. And, it seems that this is timely; the weather experts are saying that our delayed summery phase is over and that we will start experiencing true winter weather.

If you sew most of your own clothing, look for similar deals on fall/winter fabrics and patterns.

4) Don't forget the grocery store when it comes to saving money in January. You will be able to find great savings on holiday meats, such as turkey and ham. Cook a turkey or ham and slice and freeze the meat in small packages to be pulled out for recipes or sandwiches. Or, simply freeze the turkey or ham until you are ready to use it as the main entree in a meal. Jams, chocolates, and other items that were meant to be Christmas food gifts are on sale now. Be careful here, as most were probably over-priced to begin with. But, if you shop wisely, you might be able to snap up some treats for your family at vastly reduced prices.

Look for great prices when it comes to citrus fruits and winter root vegetables. (Again, if you live in the Southern hemisphere, reverse your thinking to accord with your area's seasonal pattern). You can often save money by plannning a whole month's menus around whatever is in season in your area, even if -- ironically -- your chain grocery store ships this produce in from somewhere else.

5) Applicance manufacturers introduce their new lines in the spring. During January through March, they mark down their current stock in order to move it out to make way for new stock. Now's a good time to buy washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.

6) While you're installing that new applicance, think of painting the room where you're putting it. Paint is often on sale at this time of year.

7) January is often a good time to pick up bargains on winter sports items. Additionally, this is off-season for some vacation spots, and you may find reduced rates for hotels, tickets to local attractions, etc.

Using your Time Wisely in January:

1) Again, let's mention the obvious before we move on to other things: Now, is the time to do some planning for the year. Be sure to include a plan for tackling re-organizing or spring cleaning or some other home improvement endeavor in little bits, so that you aren't overwhelmed by all that you want to accomplish. Think in terms of a year or two years out when setting goals.

Sometimes, we know we want to change something, but the change at hand seems nebulous and overwhelming. For example, let's say you want to do a thorough cleaning of your bedroom. You will find it easier to accomplish if you break down that goal into small steps and give each step a reasonable timeframe. For example, I will go through my closet and give away everything that I no longer wear by Janaury 31st.

I find that I do better with goal setting when I keep in mind the old saying, "Man proposes, God disposes". I pray and plan, but I remind myself to be flexible if the Lord moves events in a direction I had not forseen. Sometimes, even small things pop up can move us away from our goals. If we aren't surrendered to God, we can find these little unexpected happenings to be very frustrating. But, if we remember that God's plans and purposes are always good, we can accept the changes and adjust accordingly.

2) For the serious gardener, now's a great time to plan your spring/summer gardening goals. If you live in an area where the weather isn't condusive to getting out in the yard, you can use the time you might usually spend in pottering about in the garden by reading seed and garden catalogs.

If you live in an area where the weather is mild, as I do, you may be able to accomplish some lawn/garden tasks on warmish, sunny days. Our local paper provides a monthly calendar of things to do in the yard and garden for our local growing zone. The calendar is even more specific than the general guidelines for our Growing zone and it is geared to the few counties in the paper's reading area. Be sure to check a similar resource to make the most of your gardening efforts.

If you are ultra-serious about gardening and you live in an area where you experience hard winters, you may be able to extend our gardening season through cold-frame gardening.

Again, if you live in the Southern hemisphere, your gardens and yards are probably coming into their peak. Please go outside and smell the roses for those of us who are in winter now!

3) Now, while you're in the planning mode, think through the tools and appliances you will be using in 2007. This is a good time to clean and repair tools. If you would like to do a lot of sewing this year, for example, make sure that your sewing machine is in good order. Stock up on needles and notions.

Get your gardening tools ready before spring comes to your area. Does your lawnmower need to go to the shop? Are the blades on your garden shears rusty or dirty? Take care of these things now, while the days are cool. When warm, sunny spring comes, you'll thank yourself for having your gardening gear ready to go.

Remember, nothing is worse than starting a project, only to wrestle with poorly maintained tools or machines. If a tool or machine breaks from neglect, that's more frustrating still. You can save yourself a lot of headaches by keeping your tools in working order.

If you think it would be best to wait until later in the year to do maintenance on a tool, machine, or appliance, jot a reminder to yourself on a calendar page. For example, you could make a notation on June's calendar page to take care of a certain item.

4) Spring cleaning came about because older methods of heaing a home produced lots of grime over the winter months. This grime stuck to walls, furniture surfaces, drapes, floors, windows, and ceilings. Also, our foremothers of generations and generations passsed did not have the access we do to running water inside of the home. Nor, did they have vaccuums. So, when the winter snows were past, its no wonder that great-great-grandma cleaned every inch of her house.

For that reason, some people no longer do a thorough deep cleaning, but prefer to keep things fairly neat and clean as they go along throughout the year. Cleaning expert Don Aslett suggests that modern homes get the dirtiest during the summer, when people track in dust and pollen after outdoor activities. I think that may be true, here in the South, where we don't have to fight as much slush from snow and ice as other parts of the country. But, I would imagine that areas with heavy winters a lot of dirt may be tracked into the house from slush and snow. At any rate, Aslett suggests that we modern home keepers should do our deep cleaning during the fall.

Aslett's advice may work for some. But, I have an idea that spring will always awaken a desire in our hearts to make our homes clean and fresh. There's no time like spring for airing out the house or cleaning windows or sunning mattresses.

What we can do, in today's world, is to get a jump on spring cleaning by starting in January. Since we don't have the winter grime buildup that great-great-grandma did, there's no reason why we can't start cleaning out drawers and closets or polishing cabinets. If we start now and work little by little, we won't have to do all of our deep cleaning in one exhausting whirlwind. Plus, with many tasks out of the way by the time spring rolls around, we will have more time to enjoy sunny and balmy days.

5) Now is a good time to remember the elderly, people who are shut in with illness, and the poor. Sometimes, these people receive a lot of attention during the holidays, when people are focused on being charitable. But, they are forgotten once the holiday spirit passes.

Have a great January!

Enjoy!
elizabeth

Laundry health hint:
I didn't know!

I read an article in AARP magazine called "9 Secrets to Better Health!" about quick and simple things you can do to feel your best. Five of these hints surprised me. The one that surprised me the most had to do with laundry.

It begins, "Just how clean are your just-laundered clothes? If you're like most Americans, not very. Only 5 percent of Americans now regularly wash their underwear and towels in water that's hot enough -- at least 160 degrees F -- to kill bacteria, according to University of Arizona environmental microbiologist Charles Gerba, Ph.D."

The article goes on to say that this means live bacteria can spread from one garment to another. Most surprisingly to me, the article also says that when you remove your wet laundry, those live germs can get on your hands. If you touch your mouth or rub your eyes, you can get a cold, an infection, or E. Coli. Lest you think that putting the clothing into a dryer solves things, the dryer is not hot even enough to kill pesky germs!

Well, I thought I was being thrifty and environmentally conscious by washing nearly everything I could in cold water. Since I have allergies, I do occasionally wash sheets in hot water to kill dust mites, but not nearly as often as I should. I've been using mostly cold water to wash nearly everything for 26 years of marriage!

So, what does the article suggest as solutions to this problem? There's always the option of using bleach or washing everything in water that is 160 degrees or hotter. But, as I discussed in an earlier post, there are drawbacks to making use of bleach on a regular basis, even though it is a disinfectant. Among other things, it is hard on clothing and on sensitive respiratory systems. So, the hot water idea sounds more feasible. Even at this, you have to weigh the drawbacks against the benefits. Washing everything in hot water adds to your utility bills if you do a lot of laundry. And, while some fabrics do wash better in hot water, others lose their color and shape and size if washed in hot water. Even so, I foresee more hot water washes in my future -- especially when it comes to underwear!

If you don't like the two alternatives above, the article suggests that you do this: Head to the sink for a soapy hand wash immediately after putting laundry into the dryer. In order to kill the germs, you must wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and use plenty of soap and hot water.

The article does not say how long the germs live after surviving a tumble in the dryer, so I imagine that a hand washing would be good after touching dried laundry as well. I'm thinking that all of this means I need to clean the inside of my washer and dryer!

The article does not mention if drying clothing outside kills the germs or not. I suspect that it might, as sunlight is known to be a slight germicide. Last week, I would have said an emphatic yes, but, then, last week I cheerfully went about throwing clean, wet, cold laundry into a dryer!
Off topic, Professor Gerba also suggests using a commercial sanitizer to wipe the bottoms of handbags, which collect and spread dangerous germs when placed on tabletops and public restroom floors.

What were the other two health hints that surprised me?

Well, as we wives and moms already know, airing a house is good for health. But, I was surprised to see that scientists are supporting us on this issue. According to them, any house built since 1970 was built with such good insulation that it prevents fresh air flow from outside in and inside out. This can mean, according to the article, that the air inside your home can be 100 times more toxins than outdoor air, according to the U.S. EPA. Much of it is from chemical vapors evaporating from building materials -- In other words, the house itself is poisoning us. Other toxins in the air come from air fresheners, cleaners, paints, and other odor-producing household chemicals. Many of these things cause asthma.

Could this be why asthma death rates have risen in the past thirty or so years? Hmm. Still, in allergy season, an open window can mean trouble for an asthmatic, as well. Perhaps, the pollens that come in can be dusted away if you are consistent enough. As with everything, weigh the pros and cons.

Solutions listed in the article: Open windows when appropriate, put at least two tropical house plants per 12 by 12 room, air new items such as computers and furniture made out of particleboard in the garage for a few days before bringing them inside your house, and run exhaust fans in springtime and the fall, when air doesn't move as easily from indoors to out.

(I had to think about that part when I first read it. Spring and fall are when I most enjoy the breezes that come in through open windows. But, I suppose the author means that the air in these seasons comes in, but doesn't move out as easily. And, when dealing with indoor toxins, you want to flush the air outwards. Anyone else have any other ideas?) When opening windows, make sure you have a cross-breeze going, the article says, so that the air really does freshen the house.

A similar hint was getting a few minutes of sun each day sans sunscreen. Again, don't we moms think this is good? I do, even though both sides of my family are poster children for skin cancer. But, doctors are beginning to see it our way. They are starting to think that a few minutes of sunlight can help in the fight against heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and even some cancers. (My dh suffers from psoriasis, which is helped greatly by sunlight) We also need sunshine to make sufficient Vitamin D, and sunscreen blocks the production of that chemical. But, fair skinned people need to get the sunscreen on after five to 10 minutes in the sun, two or three times a week. If your skin is dark, you will need to go for a little more sun: 15-30 minutes. But, no one -- not even the darkest skinned among us -- needs to bake.

Fourth surprising hint: Move you pills. Don't keep vials of drugs and vitamins in the bathroom medicine chest or kitchen. I knew this, but had never seen it so firmly emphasized. I do keep my medicines in exactly those two places, so here's some re-thinking that I need to do.

Fifth surprising hint: Drink more coffee. It's loaded with good stuff and doctors are now saying that "It's good for what ails ya," as we say in the South. However, the jury's still out on this one as far as I'm concerned. I have health problems that are made worse by a lot of caffeine. And, I have dear relatives who are unable to function without coffee. So, I think I'll stick to having an occasional cup of decaf as a treat. Also, the article does warn that if you have osteoporosis, you should follow your doctor's advice for calcium supplementation. Coffee, though rich in antioxidants, is associated with some increased risk of bone fractures.

Enjoy!
Elizabeth