Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

The Christmas Dress

(From the book: Christmas in Dairyland — True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm; August 2003; trade paperback; http://ruralroute2.com)From the time I was a very little girl, I had always loved to watch my big sister, Loretta, when she was sewing. So, one Sunday afternoon while she worked on the red velveteen jumper that was going to be my Christmas outfit, I didn’t want to miss a single thing. Beca. . .

Where Have All The Wise Men Gone? Jesus Is Not Acceptable...

It's CHRISTmas!Where are the wise men?WOW - The wise men are MISSING! What kind of Christmas is this anyway?Are you caught up in the "season" with this Christmas thing? Do YOU know where the wise men are?For over 200 years we have celebrated Christmas and all of the joys and festivities that go with the "holidays" in this great country of ours. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in 1870 b. . .

Home For The Holidays: Heirloom Stories Are A Perfect Gift

Selecting the right gift for a special someone is sometimes joyous, sometimes a chore. Give a gift that’s free. A gift that no one else could give. A gift of your legacy!Consider giving to or requesting a very personal, one-of-a-kind gift this year: heirloom stories. A perfect gift for an adult child who has everything. A perfect gift to request from aging parents who don’t know what to give. . . .

Home For The Holidays: Avoid Aging Parents Becoming A Bu...

By not planning for the future we guarantee that we will leave our children with a tremendous burden. Just about the time they are preparing for their own retirement and their children's college education, adult children often are overwhelmed with decision-making for their aging parents.As a long term care administrator I heard it daily, “I don’t want to be a burden to my children.” But uninte. . .

Home For The Holidays: Visiting Aging Parents

Joanne returned home after not seeing her parents for about 6 months. She found her dad is not doing nearly as well as he has been leading her to believe. Their weekly conversations were centered on talking about Joanne’s mom who had been ailing. Her dad had kept up the façade that he was taking great care of her and all was well. She found out differently. The house was a mess and had not been. . .

Home For The Holidays: Happy Times, Right

This time of the year is supposed to be happy. A time when family is warm and welcoming. A time for loving and feeling loved. We watch the annual TV specials which emotionally choke us up. We watch those traditional, mushy movies like Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life which bring sentimental tears to our eyes. We watch those heartwrenching Hallmark commercials which make us sob . . .

Home For The Holidays: Start That Conversation

Annie waited too long to have that talk with her parents. It was too late to have it now as they were both beyond comprehending the seriousness of their situation. As a result, she had to break the bad news to a long lost brother, and deal with her resistant parents who had convinced themselves that they were independent in their own home, while she had to make some very difficult decisions fo. . .

Home For The Holidays: Is it Time for That Talk?

Just a couple of years ago Annie helped her parents get the washer & dryer moved from the basement to a bedroom on the first floor after her mom missed the last step & broke her toe. Annie reassured them that she would make sure they would stay in their own home no matter what. Before she knew it she was fixing every supper for them at their home, taking care of the yard and cleaning the house . . .

Home For The Holidays: Ask Yourself Some Questions

Annie easily slipped into becoming the sole caregiver of her parents. What started out as monthly grocery shopping for them, over the course of 2 years became a full time duty, an overwhelming burden and just about broke her emotionally and financially.They say that it’s good that primary caregivers don’t know what to expect or they would not enter into the situation. That is only true if they . . .

7 Good Reasons to Have Your Cat Spayed or Neutered

Every year, many cat owners decide to get their cat spayed or neutered. This decision is made for several different reasons, all of which illustrate why it is such a good idea.The many problems caused by un-spayed or un-neutered pets each year are part of what has prompted numerous humane societies to require that any adopted animals be promptly spayed or neutered as a condition of adoption. Ma. . .

Actress Shannon Elizabeth Is America's Sweetheart

What does actress Shannon Elizabeth, animals, and Christine Santos have in common?, They are all angels sent to us by some high power. Animal Avengers began rescuing and helping the cute critters of the world about 2 1/2 years ago and have three branches, all on the west coast in the gorgeous San Fernando Valley, LA, and South Bay. I sat down (ok, we sent e-mails back and forth) with Ms. Chri. . .

Time Management And How It Affects Your Kids

Last week I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and well-known author, Stephen Biddulph on "Raising Boys". As I have an 11 year old son, I was interested to hear what Stephen had to say. In fact, so were the other 800 other parents in the room!The key point that I picked up on was that boys from the age of 6 -14 really need 'time' with their dads. That is the most influential period i. . .

Borrowing Children's Products From A Friend, Or Buying Se...

(NC)—Raising children is expensive. More than half of Canadian parents cut costs by borrowing children's products such as car seats from friends and relatives. One third buy used products at second-hand stores or garage sales.But are those second-hand or borrowed products safe? Safe Kids Canada urges Canadian parents to check these products to make sure.Safe Kids Canada has produced a free "Che. . .

Big Hearts and Oodles of Talent... It is All in the Famil...

I read about Dogfellas in a wonderful article written by a well-known magazine and contacted them immediately. Dogfellas is run by the famous acting/writing Sorvino family including Paul, Mira, and Amanda Sorvino. Being the big-hearted Manhattan gal that she is, Amanda Sorvino agreed to do a phone interview with me recently and I was moved by several accounts of dogs that they have helped to . . .

Getting through the School Daze

It’s back to school time again. Does the thought of having to get everyone organized and out the door make you want to send for boarding school brochures? Here are a few tips to help get through that back to school daze. Making Merry Mornings:The biggest cause of whining and tantrums in the morning is a sleepy child trying to make a decision. Eliminate the choices along with the grump. . .

Family Meetings 101

Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and validated. They also allow younger children to feel they are an important part of the decision-making process when it comes to family vacations and other major and minor family functions. Before the first meeting commences, set a few ground rules such as: Speak in a calm tone. Avoid name-calling, finger-pointing, and sarcasm. Tu. . .

An End To Animal Cruelty...With PETA All Things Are Possible

I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I was when Carla Bennett of PETA agreed to do an e-mail interview with me! PETA’s headquarters are located in Norfolk, Virginia and they have offices in several other major cities and countries. PETA was incorporated in 1980 and made national headlines about one year later with the first-ever conviction of an animal experimenter for cruelty to animals, s. . .

Cottage Living And The Grilling Is Easy

(NC)—Whether you spend a week or a weekend at the cottage or cabin this summer, an important part of your holiday fun involves sharing good meals with friends and family.Summer is the time to kick back, relax and soak up the sun. Although we all want to eat well while we're at the cottage, nobody wants to spend all day cooking over a hot stove in the kitchen. Your barbecue grill is the ideal so. . .

The Battle Of The Sexes Is On This Father's Day

(NC)—It seems once again men and women have a difference of opinion. This time the Mars vs.Venus debate is over the ideal gift for Father's Day. A recent survey, by RadioShack Canada, shows that while women want to keep Dad organized and on track this Father's Day, men are more interested in keeping him entertained. According to the survey, men would rather keep Dad amused with a digital camera. . .

How Do You Define Happiness?

I ran a contest in "Your Daily Dose of Happiness" to see how people define happiness. I was stunned to discover that I am the only person who defines happiness as an extra helping of cheesecake.There were other shockers, too.We know that money can't buy happiness ... except, of course, when we are flat broke. But I figured several people would define happiness, at least in part, as a bulging ba. . .

Exciting Vacations in Your Own Backyard - You Don't Need ...

(NC)—The summer is in full swing and so is the travel season as Canadians take advantage of the long awaited warm breezes and sunny skies. For those of us without a family cottage or a plane ticket out of the province, the options may seem limited for creative, fun destination ideas for a day trip or even a summer-long getaway.Options do exist – and it's often surprising just how close and conv. . .

Are Your Children At Risk From Products In Your Home? Che...

(NC)—Most homes with young children are full of products such as cribs, baby gates, and playpens. Parents naturally think that these products are safe, but this could be a dangerous assumption, says Safe Kids Canada."Some older products have caused deaths and have been taken off the market, but they're still found at garage sales or are passed from family to family," says Allyson Hewitt, execut. . .

Are We There Yet? Study Examines The Family Vacation From...

(NC)—You've done your research, made your reservations, and packed your bags. You're going to have a wonderful family vacation, right?Think again."Canadian society has created this concept of holidays as the opportunity to build family memories and family togetherness," says Susan Shaw, a sociologist at the University of Waterloo. "People believe in the ideal family vacation. And this belief ma. . .

Getting The Most Out Of Family Vacation Planning

(NC)—A recent Travel Activities & Motivation Survey indicates that 77 per cent of Canadians cited rest, relaxation and recuperation as the most commonly sought out experiences during a vacation. But, because this is often the only time families are able to spend together, how can you take a summer trip that allows you to relax and get the most out of your time with the kids?With research and pr. . .

A New Way to Use Old Snapshots

If you're like me, you have hundreds of photographs sitting in envelopes. Pictures from birthday parties, weddings, family gatherings, anniversaries, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You have already put the best snapshots into albums and these are leftovers. You don't want to throw them away, but you also don't know what to do with them.Instead of letting your snapshots take up . . .

Can Cats And Dogs Live Together As Friends?

Can cats and dogs live together without constantly being at war? It seems that they very often can.We often hear people claim to be a "cat person" or a "dog person", but browsing through the various pet forums it appears that there are many of us that equally like both cats and dogs.My son has a beautiful Border Collie who was the only pet of the house until she was five years old. Then three . . .

Wintergreen

From the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm) http://ruralroute2.comAs we drove along the dirt road north of our farm one Sunday afternoon, the color of the sky reminded me of Mom's silver cream and sugar servers when they were tarnished and needed to be polished again.Since morning, the sky had been cloudy, but now at mid-afternoon, the clouds had grown much thicke. . .

Country Christmas Idea: Milkweek Pod Poinsettia Ornaments

Country Christmas Idea: Milkweed Pod Poinsettia OrnamentsAt first glance, milkweed plants and poinsettias don't seem to have much in common. If you live in an area where milkweed grows wild, however, you can use the dried milkweed pods to make poinsettia ornaments for your Christmas tree. Here's how:1. Collect some dried milkweed pods. In the fall, the milkweed plants have already gone to seed . . .

Stop Telemarketers, Do Not Call List or Not

American consumers have spoken and have done so loudly registering 50 million telephone numbers with the FTC’s National Do-Not-Call list since the registry debuted in July.This new telemarketing sales rule, which was scheduled to take effect October 1st, recently encountered two legal battles which could diminish the rule’s intent - to allow consumers to fight back against annoying telemarketin. . .

Indian Summer

It was a warm, sunny October afternoon one day when I was a kid, and as I walked up the hill of our driveway after getting off the school bus at our Wisconsin dairy farm, I wondered how many more nice days we would have before winter came.I was still wondering about winter when I entered the kitchen a few minutes later.“What did you learn in school today?” asked my mother, who was in the middle. . .

ElderLife Matters For Caregivers and Employers

Work & eldercare is a difficult marriage for the half of all employees who are caring for an aging loved one.You may know the facts: The cost of absenteeism, shortened or interrupted work days is $29 billion a year. The cost of replacing employees who leave due to eldercare responsibilities is $4.93 billion a year. Many spend up to 8 hours per week on the phone with eldercare issues, come. . .

Legislators Ponder New Credit Protection Laws

Legislators in Washington, D.C. are considering several credit-related consumer protections as outlined in The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (H.R. 2622). If approved, consumers could benefit from the most wide-ranging changes to the rules covering consumers and credit in decades.One of the most important changes would be the right to receive a free annual copy of your credit. . .

Long Distance Caregiving for a Loved One is Particularly ...

Use this article freely in print or electronic media, but please use author’s byline and let me know where and how it is used. Long Distance Caregiving for a Loved One is Particularly Difficult The phone rang at 5 a.m. John was sure it couldn’t be good news at that hour. He was right. Mom’s neighbors were calling him from 850 miles away in Texas to say that she was out watering her roses an hou. . .

Where Do Your Priorities Fit?

An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students when he decided to do an experiment. He pulled out a large mason jar, a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one by one, into the jar. When no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes."He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. The instruct. . .

Whatever Happened to Christmas?

Remember when no one started Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving?Wisconsin author LeAnn R. Ralph remembers it very well."When I was growing up on our dairy farm forty years ago, the stores didn't put up Christmas displays until the day after Thanksgiving. No one was really thinking about Christmas shopping before that," Ralph said. "In fact, my mother felt so strongly about it that she . . .

Sot Suppe (Norwegian Sweet Soup)

~ "Sot Suppe" ~ (Norwegian Sweet Soup)My mother was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who homesteaded our small Wisconsin dairy farm in the late 1800s. When my mother was a child, sweet soup was a traditional part of Christmas Eve, served cold with julekake, lefse, Christmas bread, or open-faced sandwiches. Sweet Soup is made with dried fruit and tapioca. Sot Suppe 6 cups water 1/3 cup sugar. . .

How to Make Candles Using Old Crayons

As featured in the story "A Candle For Christmas" from the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm)Materials: 1 wax carton (quart) (milk, fabric softener, or orange juice) 1 pound of paraffin wax 4 or 5 old crayons two trays of ice cubes a double boiler (or an empty coffee can and a saucepan) 1 piece of ordinary white package string about six inches long.Caution: Do no. . .

Preserve Your Family History by Writing Your Family Stories

Preserve Your Family History by Writing Family Stories"Everyone has a story to tell." It seems like a cliche—but it's true. After working as a newspaper reporter for more than eight years, I know that everyone does, indeed, have a story to tell.But even before I started working as a journalist, I knew that life experiences make interesting stories. Consider my parents.My mother was the daughter. . .

Porcelain Dolls - Not Just For Children Any More

Doll collecting is the second most popular hobby in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. Porcelain Dolls transport us back to our childhood and evoke memories that no other toy can match. We remember our first doll, our favorite doll, the doll we loved to pieces and the beautiful doll we kept on a high shelf. We remember the comfort and love our dolls gave us and the first time we realized we we. . .

Origins and Uses For Dream Catchers

Dream catchers are a part of the tradition and culture of many of the native people of North America. The stories of the dream catcher’s origin and use are as different as the tribes who used them, but the most common story goes like this:Long ago Spider Woman (whose name and description varies by tribe) showed her people how to weave a web to catch their dreams. She took a hoop and began weavi. . .

Spurce Up Your Garden With Decorative Birdhouses

Decorative Birdhouses are active garden ornamentation --the presence and movement of birds creates a fluid focal point for your garden. As such, placement is critical for you to earn maximum benefit from your birdhouses. Cavity nesting birds will not be attracted to your garden without the appropriate environment. Each bird has a particular way they want to live and specific needs. You'll have . . .

Brighten Up Your Shelves With Picture Frames

Would you like to add a personal touch to your home or office, but not sure how? Picture frames may be your answer. Picture frames are a fun and simple way to add color, character and style.Decorating with picture frames is fun and simple. To add a splash of color to a shelf or mantle choose a series of similar frames in coordinating colors, such as three shades of green. To set a theme in the . . .

The Different Breeds Of Dogs

The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There are seven different groups in which the dog can belong. They are assigned to one of the groups based on what the breed of dog was originally developed for. There is also a miscellaneous group if the dog doesn’t fit into one of the seven. The seven different dog groups are as follows. The first is the sporting group. These. . .

The Best Things In Life Really Are Free!

Who ever said you couldn't get something for nothing sure was wrong. My husband likes to call me the "Freebie Queen" because one of my all time favorite hobbies is searching for things that I can receive for free. Well you can begin to fill your mailbox with free goodies too all that is required of you is a little bit of time and research. I have received loads of free goodies over the past few. . .

The Science of Mother Love

A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the way babies are cared for by their mothers will determine not only their emotional development, but the biological development of the child's brain and central nervous system as well. The nature of love, and how the capacity to love develops, has become the subject of scientific study over the last decade. New data is emerging from a multitude. . .

The SURGE of the URGE!

Have you ever heard the expression, "The Urge to Merge"? It is a term relating to sexuality and marriage. The "URGE" symbolizes sexual interest, and the "MERGE" symbolizes marriage union. We see it all around us! Late night TV bombards us with sexual images and sensual content. Commercials that have nothing to do with sex use a sensual foundation to market to the masses. More than ever in histo. . .

The Informal Normal In A Black-Tie-Affair World

Have you noticed the trend? You ever notice how on programs like "The Bachelor" most of their dating episodes are via limousine escort? They travel to lavish destinations amid scenic splendor. The sunsets are so beautiful you can almost hear nature singing its own rendition of, "Love Is A Many Splendid Thing". You rarely ever even see a rainy day. In "Sleepless In Seattle", the audience was lef. . .

Everything I Know About Relationship Success I Learned At...

It happened again! I was enjoying an evening with my little 2-yr. old son at the playground when, BAM, it happened. You ever have one of those moments in life when you know you are being taught an important lesson? Picture in your mind a chaotic atmosphere of over fifty little children battling for their turn to play on a handful of playground rides and objects. Recipe for disaster, huh? That's. . .

"Divorce Decision: Things To Consider When Making A Decis...

When making a divorce decision, there are quite a few things that you should consider. Too often people find themselves unable to clearly identify what they need to think about when making a divorce decision which leads to further indecision and frustration. When making a serious divorce decision, having an open mind and listing the things that will figure into your decision about divorce, will. . .

Spice Up Your Room With Incense Burners

When you think of incense burners, you probably think of the most common ash catcher style, a flat piece of wood with simple drilled holes to hold the incense. These simple incense burners are classic, and a great way to hold your incense, but there’s a whole world of beautiful and unusual incense burners to choose from.Incense burners come in every shape, style, and color imaginable. There are. . .