Home and Family

The 2020 Pandemic has challenged you to rise to new levels of creativity and flexibility for you and your family. Many school districts have had their teachers in Zoom virtual classrooms teaching your school age children for 4 to 5 hours a day! Also, some parents have homeschooling their children to maintain a learning environment for their children.Now that summer has arrived, how can you leverage the familiarity with technology and combine it with the resources at your fingertips to keep your child's thirst for knowledge alive during the Summer? Here are 3 simple strategies to create a fun adventure for your family:1. Involve your child (or teen) in the "virtual vacation planning" process. This is essential for them to buy into the idea and maintain interest. I'd recommend creating a sho...

Like many people, I try planning and arranging my week so I can accomplish as much as possible.For example, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage on Monday morning hands me her "honey-do-list" to complete by the end of the week. When she hands it to me, I smile and underneath that list I have concealed from her my "to-do-list."It is not that I ignore her list... well, maybe I do. But, I don't do it on purpose... well, maybe I do.I have a priority with my "to-do-list" and most times forget about hers.Through the years, I have become an expert at making excuses about why her "honey-do-list" has not been fully completed by me on time. If there is an excuse to be found anywhere in the room, I have it in my pocket.Most of the time I get away with it. I am not bragging here, although I lean sli...

It was one of those weeks when the more I completed, the more I had to do. These are not my favorite kind of weeks. So frustrating.During these weeks, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage finagles her infamous "Honey-Do-List" in my direction. Because I am busy doing other things and distracted, I do not actually see what she is doing.She can slip one of her "To-Do" jobs on to my schedule without my knowing it. I see it on my schedule and assume it is one more job to do. When I see it, I say to myself, "I'll do that tomorrow." Then I can move on to my next project.My favorite saying has been, "Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?"It has become a habit with me. The wife will ask me if I have time to do something and I always say, "Not now, but I can do it tomorrow." Of course,...

A lot of people ask if they should tip their mover. The short answer is; yes. Provided of course, they are on time, don't break anything, and do what was promised. Still, some moving companies will want to charge your credit card up front with a 20% gratuity add-on, claiming that it is standard in the industry. That's not entirely true.Further, if you are at a restaurant and finish your meal and the service was horrible, are you still required to tip? Heavens no. Okay so, let's dive into this topic a little deeper so you can better understand what is proper and how you can leverage your tip to ensure quality care of your belongings as they make the transition into your new place.Relocating and moving is often an act of controlled chaos. It's a stressful time. No matter how perfect you thin...

I must admit I don't get away with very much, and I never have. It's not that I never try. It's just that whenever I try to get away with something, it always backfires.I wish there were a class somewhere entitled, "How You Can Get Away with Anything." I certainly would sign up. But I haven't found it yet.Every time I do something behind the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage's back, she always turns around. I don't know if she has eyes in the back of her head or if it's just women's intuition. Believe me, I will not investigate this subject.The many times she has fooled me is beyond calculation. I am probably the easiest person to fool in all the world. A salesman, I am not.As a kid, I made little dishes out of popsicle sticks. Then I went around the neighborhood to try to sell them. My s...

For your furniture to have a great look for an extended period, you should be very mindful of taking care of its fabric. There are different steps you can take for different furniture fabrics, different results you are trying to yield, etc... Here are a few of the main areas you will be focusing on:Vacuuming It would be best if you considered vacuuming your fabrics more often, particularly those made from polyester and microfiber. By vacuuming them at least once per week, you will be able to keep your furniture surface clean and free from dust and soil.Spot cleaningSince accidents tend to happen more often on furniture, spot cleaning becomes vital. It is highly advisable to blot on your furniture immediately using a clean towel; rub the spot gently, and if possible, you can get rid of the ...

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I arrived home from our vacation late Tuesday afternoon.I'm not one for vacations, but this one was special. Our grandson who lives in Ohio was graduating from high school and then this summer he would be heading off to London for some soccer group. He loves soccer.This is the second of our grandchildren to graduate from high school. I would not say this to everybody but, this year is the 50th anniversary of my graduation from high school. I cannot believe it has been that long. I must have fallen asleep for several years without waking up.To see a grandson graduate from high school and then look at my graduation picture 50 years ago I was amazed. How can he be as old as I was? What he does not understand is that one day he will be as old as I am....

If you plan a vacation or business trip, it is best to ensure your safety by packing a carbon monoxide (CO). These devices can lessen the uncertainties of any fire hazards or CO gas emission when relaxing or sleeping in a hotel room. It would be best if you always carried a portable CO detector to intercept gas leaks and a vacation turning fatal and chaotic. Evidence indicates that several countries do not meet CO detector installation requirements in hotels, especially in every room.Carbon monoxide properties Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that is toxic and is referred to as a 'silent killer.' Whenever there is incomplete combustion of fuel because of an insufficient supply of oxygen, carbon monoxide is released. Additionally, the CO is partly responsible for deaths that...

Our beds are a much bigger and indispensable part of our daily lives, but how often to we really take note of our beds (besides of course when we're falling into them)? Not often enough, actually. There are a number of important questions we should be asking ourselves when it comes to our beds - more particularly out mattresses.What does it matter, you may be wondering. Well, firstly consider that we all need restful and sufficient sleep to function, i.e. perform our daily tasks, fulfill responsibilities like work, chores, parenting etc. Secondly - inadequate sleep decreases productivity; increases irritability and can eventually cause several health problems (such as diabetes; weight management problems; high blood pressure and so on). Thirdly - our beds (old or unsuitable mattresses) cou...