Cross Country Runner Stops By The Burgh April 28, 2011

Imagine getting up every morning, knowing you are going to run 40 to 50 miles before the sun sets. Ok you can stop laughing now. This is the reality for Dean Karnazes and he embraces it.

Karnazes is an ultramarathoner who is running the equivalent of two marathons and day and consuming 10,000 calories to power his personal engine, It’s an amazing achievement and this amazing athlete is doing it while he crosses America. Leaving Disneyland in February, he is well ahead of pace to finish in New Y0rk City in May at the studios of “Regis and Kelly”.

A post-race discussion with Dean Karnazes. He’s gone 2500 miles already. Just 450 to go!

So why is he doing something many of us would consider impossible? He says he’s doing it for all the young children who sit on the couch and don’t get out.

Karnazes came to Aiken Elementary in GreenTree Wednesday to spread of the gospel of children staying fit and being active. He pointed to the childhood obesity epidemic which no one denies is harming our children. His message: a healthy lifestyle begin by putting one foot in front of the other.

That figure casting the long shadow in morning sun in GreenTree is yours truly.

So grade school kids, along with adults, joined Karnazes for a 5K around the school, It was hot but it was fun. I joined them for the 3.16 mile run. While I love to run, I’m not marathoner. Ok, I have completed one but I’m not in Dean’s class. However, I understand at this point in my life how critical it is to be active. Let’s just hope the children got the message.

Homemade Savings April 18, 2011

Hope you enjoyed Monday’s’ story about Pat Long and her homemade money-saving secrets. She is a great example of how to make a frugal life a fun life. She also left for you some recipes so you can start saving in the confines of your own home. Also, thanks to reporter Sean McDonald of our sister station, WMUR:

PAT LONG’S HOMEMADE RECIPES:

Candied Grapefruit from ” The Fannie Farmer Cookbook”　

2 or 3 oranges or 6 lemons

2 cups sugar

3 Tablespoons light corn syrup

Peel the fruit in large strips, using only the zest & white peel. If the white is very thick, trim it down a little.

Put the peel in a pan, cover with cold water, and simmer for 30 min.

Drain, cover with cold water, and simmer until tender.

Drain & cut the peel into small strips, about 1/4 in. wide & 2 inches long

Mix 1 cup of sugar with the corn syrup & 3/4 cup of water in a heavy saucepan & stir over low heat until dissolved.

Dip a pastry brush in cold water & wash down the sides of the pan, then add peel & cook very gently over low heat until most of the syrup has been absorbed.

Cover & let stand overnight.

Reheat & bring to the simmer again, then cool a little & drain,

Spread several thicknesses of paper towels with the remaining cup of sugar & roll the peel in it, turning so all the pieces are well coated. Let them stand until they are dry enough to handle.

Stored airtight, they will stay fresh for several months.

If they become too dry, put a lemon in the container for a day or two and the peel will soften.

Note: Pat does not use paper towels but use wax paper instead or just put it on a sheet pan. The left over sugar can be used to sweeten a cup of hot tea.

Also, older cookbooks are a good place to find forgotten about recipes & ideas on making do with what you have.

Homemade Laundry Soap

4 Cups – hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup – Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax

– Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer “Super Washing Soda” – in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent – It must be sodium carbonate!!

 

Powdered Laundry Detergent: Top Load Machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup – Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax

Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered.

Mix all ingredient … For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons.

Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

Use *Arm & Hammer “Super Washing Soda” ONLY.

Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent – It must be sodium carbonate!!

Laundry Soap Tops

Pat uses Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don’t use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle.

Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.

Using Vinegar as Fabric Softener:　

– Pat says there is NO odor AFTER the laundry dries, but she admits it’s not quite as soft as some retail products.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap:

4- hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup – Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water.

Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.

Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax.

Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

Fill bucket to top with more hot water.

Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water.

Shake before each use. (will gel)

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons.

Add once soap has cooled.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer “Super Washing Soda”

.Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent – It must be sodium carbonate!!

Pat also says check out  Duggar family website for more home savings ideas. It’s one of her favorites.