Organic Granny

Explaining war to children can be challenging, but it's important to approach the topic with sensitivity. Here's a simplified, point-form explanation suitable for young children: Wars are fights between countries or groups: Sometimes, people in different places disagree or can't get along. Instead of talking and finding a solution, they might use force, like fighting or using weapons. People have different opinions: Just like friends or family may have different ideas, countries can too. Instead of working together, they may choose to fight. Not all problems are solved peacefully: Ideally, countries should talk and negotiate to solve their problems. Unfortunately, sometimes they make bad choices and start fighting. War causes sadness and destruction: When there is war, many people get hurt, and buildings and homes can be damaged. It makes people sad and can take a long time for things to get better. Hope for peace: People around the world work hard to stop wars and help cou...

Gift shopping at thrift stores can be a unique and sustainable way to find thoughtful presents. Here are some ideas, presented in point form: Second-hand Gifts: Vintage Clothing: Unique clothing items from different eras. Retro t-shirts, jackets, or dresses. Books: Classic novels or special editions. Coffee table books on specific interests. Home Decor: Vintage or antique furniture pieces. Decorative items like vases, frames, or candle holders. Collectibles: Vinyl records or vintage toys. Antique figurines or collectible items. Accessories: Second-hand jewelry, including vintage pieces. Handbags or wallets in good condition. Board Games/Puzzles: Classic board games or unique puzzles. Limited edition or vintage game sets. Artwork: Framed vintage posters or paintings. Handcrafted items from local artists. Kitchenware: Vintage dishes, glassware, or cutlery. Unique kitchen gadgets or serving pieces. Up-cycling Potential: Furniture: Old chairs or tables can be refurbished or painted. Rep...

I'm in my 70s and have a number of hobbies that I pursue at different times. These are the activities that spice my life up, and according to "the science," it is healthy for the brain to be involved socially and physically with others and the world outside our front door.  -I read books and write reviews on Good Reads and if I buy a book, I generally leave a review on the site where I purchase it-- Amazon or Thrift Books, usually. -I love knitting but don't do it as much as I have in the past, partly because my old hands are not quite up to the repetitive strain.  But a baby garment or something I can pick up and set down over a longer period of time-- that works fine to feed my knitty craves. As you put together your list of those for whom you buy gifts this holiday, I recommend that you consider their hobbies-- the ones they actively pursue, the ones they seem to have 'dropped', and perhaps "potential" hobbies that they have mentioned to you, or t...

This faceless grape pie is a big hit in our house. Everyone has seemingly waited for me to start making pies, and now, with my discovery the galette-- so easy and so satisfying-- we have been eating pies like I imagine normal pie-making people always have. Not every day, of course, but not depriving ourselves of the experience when the desire for pie hits.  We had a lot of grapes this year. And the birds didn't seem particularly interested. So, there was a harvest. I spent several days detaching grapes from their vines and freezing them in bags. We are set for smoothies and other frozen grape recipes . So, today I made the galette. Here is the recipe: THE PASTRY Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups organic all purpose flour 3 -5 tablespoons sugar 6-7  tablespoons solid coconut oil or vegan butter (salt-free) 1/4 cup ice water THE FILLING Ingredients: 1/4 cup sugar (plus 2 tablespoons) 1/2 cup cashew pieces or raw almonds (I used cashews as I had them on hand) 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extr...

  Yellow Doll Melon in its Hammock When I was a child in the 1950s in the Canadian Prairies, I dreamed of growing exotic things in our mundane garden: maybe giant pumpkins or watermelons! We did manage to grow a pretty decent crop of sugar pumpkins one year (we kids hawked them on the highway for 10 cents a pumpkin-- a bargain even in that day).  But the watermelons never flourished. Perhaps for others, but not on our little grain farm.  Fast forward to the 1970s when our kids were of that magical Jack-in-the-Beanstock gardening stage. We grew magnificent zucchinis-- they were so thrilled to have a monster zucchini almost as big and as heavy as they were (not knowing that those monsters are close to inedible, that you have to hack through the rock-hard skin with a pneumatic drill and the seeds would be the size of tums). But no watermelons grew. Fast forward to the current age-- old retired folks living on Vancouver Island with cedar planters high enough that we don't ...