Magic Water Beads

It's when you're not looking for anything in particular that you sometimes find the most interesting items.  I was recently walking through a street fair with Ron and Pepper, when some colorful marble looking balls caught my eye.  I went over to take a closer look and discovered Magic Beads.  Magic beads start out dry, about the size of a large grain of salt.  When water is added, they plump up and become about the size of a marble.  It takes 6-8 hours to hydrate the beads, and then the fun begins.  \

I bought two different colors at the street fair, green and purple.  I plumped them in water, then stored them in a plastic container.  Magic beads come in so many colors you won't know what to buy.  I decided to try out two colors, then layer them in a vase and add cut flowers.  The display is gorgeous.  When the balls begin to dry up (which doesn't happen for a long time), just add more water. 

I liked the magic beads so much that the following week I went to the website www.magicbeads.com and ordered more beads.  They're very inexpensive.  I bought a variety of colors, and have made some cute air fresheners with them.  For example, I took yellow bead, put them in a glass dish (vase), but not too high, added the beads, and a bit of lemon fragrance extract.  Add water to hydrate the balls, and in 6-8 hours you will have a wonderful air freshener for your bathroom.  (these make great gifts)

There are endless uses of the magic beads and  flower arranging.  The best thing to do is go to the website and get some ideas.  If you're artistic, you'll come up with lots of ways to use the beads.

Finally, the beads are very inexpensive.  You can make gifts using the beads or just give the beads as a gift.  Everyone seems to love them.  I store them in plastic containers, each color in a separate containers.  Enjoy.

The Joy Of Cooking

No, I'm not writing about the cookbook that everyone uses, but the joy of cooking with family. My mom recently visited us, and one of the things we did together was cook, or should I say bake. Several months ago we had been in Colorado together, visiting Phil and his family, where we acquired a recipe for focaccia. Phil is into baking bread and he made his focaccia for dinner one night. We enjoyed it so much that we decided we would make it when we returned home. So that's what we did.

There's nothing like cooking together. Almost everytime I'm with my kids, we end up cooking. It's just a great time to enjoy each other, reminise about days gone by, or talk about the future. I remember cooking with my mom when I was a child, cooking with my kids when they were young, and now cooking with my adult children.

Several weeks ago I went to LA to visit my mom and we spent the morning making spanikopa. Those are the delicious triangles filled with cheese and wrapped in filo dough. We talked about the past, how we used to make hundreds of these cheesy delights and freeze them for future use. Phil and I cooked together a lot when he was young. As an adult, I remember several visits to when we spent hours together just cooking. David, who also loves to cook, has spent many afternoons cooking with me. It's one of my favorite ways to enjoy my family.

Anyway, my mom and I made Phil's focaccia. It's easy, but time consuming, about 3 hours in all. The good part is that each step takes just a few minutes, then you have to wait 30 minutes for the dough to rise again. That's great time for talk. We just had a ball, and ended up with some delicious bread. I'm not giving you the recipe because I doubt if anyone wants to make it, but it was delicious. We had the warm bread, a variety of olives, a wonderful aged Gouda cheese, and a great bottle of wine as the start to a fantastic dinner. Actually, it could have been the whole meal, but we also had a marinated barbequed flank steak, roasted vegetables and a baked potato. We were all stuffed. I'm including a picture of our beautiful bread, and I can tell you that it tasted every bit as good as it looks. It was a great day of baking, eating, and enjoying each other.

16 Ounce Limit On Soft Drinks In New York

When I first heard of Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to limit the size of sugary soft drinks that could be sold in New York to 16 ounces,  I thought to myself that I didn't want anyone telling me what size drink I could buy.  Of course Bloomberg's motive is to make consumers more aware of what they are drinking, how much they are drinking, and what it is ultimately doing to their bodies.  If someone really needs more, they can buy 2-16 ounce Cokes.  The proof is out there.  We are killing ourselves with sugar and fast food.  Other than American Samoa, where 93%  of the people are overweight, we are the fattest nation in the world.  67% of our  people are overweight.

What all this means is that in the not too distant future, Type 2 Diabetes will be commonplace among teens.  Heart and vascular disease will continue to rise, and health costs will reach astronomical numbers.  If you think health care costs are high now, just imagine what they'll be in 20 years when half our population will be diabetic. 

Sometimes the government has to step in and propose things for its people that they aren't doing for themselves.  It's for the good of the whole.  Trying to curb the drinking of sodas is meant to help people control their sugar intake.  It's a small step, and it can't solve the problem, but it just might raise people's consciousness.

If you are among those that don't want government telling you what to do (and I include myself in that group) think of these things that the government has told us we must do.  Think of what life was like before government instituted these restrictions, or rules.  They were made for the good of the people.

1.  Seat belts....how many lives have been saved by seatbelts.  Remember the resistance at the beginning?  Now no one would think of getting in a car without a seatbelt.

2.  School vaccinations...again, these were mandated by the government to protect each individual child and all children from certain illnesses.  Today, except for some religious exceptions, we accept this and are happy to comply.

3.  Ban on smoking....This one was fought for years, but now everyone accepts that smoking is bad for you and you should not expose people to the risks of second hand smoke.

4.  Canvas bags for shopping...Solana Beach just imposed an ordinance that requires people to bring their own bags to the market, rather than use the paper or plastic that was traditionally used.  The environmental reasons are obvious.  Some people have been providing their own bags for years, but others simply would not convert.  Now they must, and in time, it will become second nature.  This is another ordinance imposed by government that will be for the betterment of everyone.

So back to the 16 ounce soda.  I reconsidered what at first glance looked to be an infringement on my right to drink a Big Gulp and realized that sometimes the government must step in and put restrictions in place that some might not like.  Most of these are implemented to improve the health and safety of all citizens.  We are a nation of laws, most of which are meant to protect the health and safety of the people.  Those that are implemented that don't work out, like prohibition, are repealed. 

If our schools would stop selling soft drinks all together, stop serving our children such calorie laden, fat laden breakfasts and lunches, and provide our kids with some healthy food choices, we'd be headed in the right direction.   There's so much to do to get children on the right path toward good nutrition.  Mayor Bloomberg's proposal is only a small step in a giant problem.

Better Than Moth Balls

There's nothing I hate worse than taking out a nice wool sweater, and having it smell of moth balls.  Not that I have that many wool sweaters anymore, but I still do have wool clothing, and in order to keep the pesky moths away I hang moth repellant in the  closet.  What a terrible smell.

A few weeks ago I was out with some friends, and Carol, Jean's sister who is visiting from New Jersey, asked if I'd heard that lavender is a moth repellant.  No, I had not heard this, but how nice would it be to have the smell of lavender on your wool clothes rather than the smell of traditional moth repellant.  I told her I'd check it out and get back to her.

Lavender can protect your valuable wardrobe from moths with a fragrance that will soothe your soul.  Unlike mothballs which smell toxic and cedar which can stain clothing, lavender can be used to prevent, clean and store your clothing without any negative effects.

Begin by taking everything out of your closet.  I know that sounds like a big chore, but look at as a chance to clean out your closet too.  Vacuum the floors and "swifter" off the walls with lavender floor soap.  This preventative step will greatly reduce the probability that these destructive pests will choose your closet for their next meal.

Moths will be attracted to any biodegradable soil in clothing, so dry-clean or wash everything.  Tossing lavender dryer sachets into the dry cycle will provide lighter scent and can also be used as refresher for clean woolen sweaters and blankets on "dryer press" cycle.

Finally store your clean out of season clothes in garment bags and hang lavender sachets on the inside over the hangers.

Experts say these measures should be taken twice a year.  I doubt if I would do all this twice in a lifetime, but hey, I live in California where not much in the way of wool clothes is needed.  I told Carol the best thing for her to do was to leave New Jersey for California, and never have to worry about moths again.  That's not entirely true.  Moths do attack leather and blended fabrics, so even though we don't have a lot of woolen clothes, precautionary measures need to be taken.  But twice a year, come on!

I Love The Olympics

I've been hooked on the Olympic Trials.  These competitions determine our Olympic team in gymnastics, swimming, track and field, and many other sports.  The competition is intense, as fractions of a second determine who goes to London, and who watches at home.  I admire these athletes.  Many have devoted most of their young lives to training for a chance to represent our country.  Most are disappointed, but from what I've been told, would do it all again.

One of the most heartbreaking things that can happen to an athlete is to suffer an injury just prior to the Olympics.  This happens often, especially in gymnastics.  Young athletes train for years, thousands of hours, and a slip on the balance beam could dash their hopes.  Getting to the Olympics is winning.  It's like being nominated for an Oscar.  Just the nomination puts you in an elite class.  So too for our athletes.  We forget that the rest of the world is training just as hard as we are to be winners on the world stage.  The Olympics is the ultimate test of strength, courage, and determination.

Our American team is just about set, and London is just a few weeks away.  (July 27).   I can't wait.  Unfortunately due to the time change most of the events will be in the middle of the night.  We'll probably be watching it all on tape anyway.  I remember back in 1984 when our family took an apartment in London for a few weeks, to escape the crowds in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympics.  We watched the Olympics in the middle of the night then, and I guess if there is any live coverage, we'll watch in the middle of the night again.  In any event, it should be a spectacular show. 

I've included a flag in this blog.  Take a look and see how many of these country flags you recognize.  Many of them will be represented in London.   I hope to see the stars and stripes on top many times in the next few weeks.

Amazing Grace: The Story of John Newton

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...."  So begins one of my favorite hymns, sung around the world by followers of many religious denominations.  The author of the words was John Newton, the self-proclaimed wretch who once was lost, then found, saved by amazing grace. 

Newton was a man with little schooling, but was taught religious scripture by his mother, who died when he was a child.  His father was the commander of a merchant ship.  When his father retired, Newton took over.  However he found the conditions onboard the H.M.S. Harwich deplorable, and deserted.  He was soon captured and publicly flogged. 

Finally, at his own request, he was exchanged into service on a slave ship, which took him to the coast of Sierra Leone.  He became the servant of a slave trader and was brutally abused.  In 1748 Newton was resuced by a sea captain who had known his father, and he ultimately became captain of his own ship, one which plied the slave trade.

It was on homeward voyage from West Africa, while attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, that he experienced what he referred to later as his "Great deliverance."  He felt that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.  He had begun to study Hebrew, Latin and Greek, and was able to read the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Latin.  After he returned safely to England (after making it through the storm) he devoted his life  helping mankind.  For a time he continued in the slave trade, however he saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated humanely. 

He decided to become a minister, applied to the Archbishop of York for his ordination, was initially refused, but persisted and was subsequently ordained in Olney, in the county of Buckinshamshire.  He was so popular that the church had to be enlarged to accomodate the crowds that came to hear his sermons. 

Among John Newton's many contributions were a number of hymns that are still loved and sung today.  Amazing grace is the most famous.  It was probably composed between 1760-1770 in Olney.  It was likely written for one of his weekly services.  There were six original verses, but other verses, by other writers, were added later.  The melody is either an early American folk melody, or a tune of a song the slave sang.  No one knows for sure. 

Newton was not only a prolific hymn writer but also responsible for much of what is known today about the eighteenth century slave trade.  He kept journals and letters which have been invaluable on  uncovering what happened on the slave ships.  The first few stanzas of this hymn refer to his survival through the storm, and how he turned his live around.

The next time you hear the hymn "Amazing Grace" you will probably think of John Newton, his trip through a treacherous storm, and his conversion. 

Amazing grace!  How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

Speculoos Cookie Butter

About a year ago I wrote about a delicious product, Biscoff Spread. It comes from Lotus Bakery, and it is mainly available online. It looks like peanut butter, but is made from speculoos cookies. It's amazingly addictive. It's a spread similar to Nutella, and is very popular in Europe, but just making its way to the U.S. Recently Trader Joe's started carrying something called "Speculoos Cookie Butter." It's the same product in a different package, and you've got to try it.

When I saw this product at Trader Joe's I knew it was just like the Biscoff spread. Speculoos cookies are buttery, brown sugar and spice cookies. For the spread they are crumbled, then additional ingredients, like margarine and more sugar are added. The Trader Joe's spread comes from the Netherlands, is $3.49 for a jar of delishisness. It is only 90 calories per tablespoon, but you wouldn't eat more than that at one time. Spread it on pancakes, English muffins or toast. Dip pretzels in it. Get creative. You can substitute it for peanut butter in cookies. I think this will become a staple in your pantry.

Several years ago my mom introducted me to a restaurant in Los Angeles (it's a chain) called Le Pain Cotedian. It's a little French bistro that we both love, and on each table they have their own product, similar to the Speculoos Cookie Butter. It's so good you want to eat it right out of the jar. My mom loves the spread, so when I tasted this product for the first time, I called my mom right away. I sent her to Trader Joe's to get her own bottle of the delicious spread. She loves the stuff more than me, so I doubt if it will last long at her home. She said she's going to have to hide it from herself!

If you're close to a Trader Joe's you can try Speculoos Cookie Butter too. You're going to love it, as I do.