“One man’s garbage is another man’s anniversary present"
- Hal, Malcolm in the Middle

It’s spring, time to think clean. It’s also time to get rid of stuff. Most folks put stuff in one place, an attic, a basement a hallway, a garage, where ever. But doesn’t it seem to be spontaneously regenerating. Up here in New Hampshire, we use our garage. It doesn't have cars in it, but tons of stuff sharing space with the chipmunks. Now it’s time. It’s time to free ourselves of some earthly possessions. And as Frugal Yankees that means only one thing - Yard Sale!

Some call it tag sales, yard sales, garage sales, barn sales, moving sales. It matters little. This folkloric event has not received any academic interest, so the history is appropriately clouded. Some maintain it came from the Romans. Seems those good soldiers of Caesar would hawk their plunder on the streets looking to make a few bucks, probably for a night on the town.

In the days of tall masts, a ship’s Captain would often sell off unclaimed cargo on the wharves. The French have a word, ‘arrumage’ which means ‘to pack with cargo'. Do you think we got the word rummage sale from them? Probably. Read more »

I've seen a fair amount of advertising and commentary on how you don't need intelligence to be a mother, or a father. The only criteria is a decent libido, the proper working parts and no contraceptives. Yesterday this was brought into sharp relief for me.

I was traveling on NH Rte 124. It was a bright, spring afternoon. New Ipswich center was behind me and Sharon center was before me. There's a long hill before I take the Rte 123 turn off towards my house.

I was motoring up the hill, I saw two slightly over weight young woman pushing baby strollers. At first I thought, how wonderful, the young mothers are out strolling the babies and getting some exercise.

Then I thought, gee, this road is a tough road to go strolling on. It's a typical New Hampshire secondary road. It's a two lane job. The shoulders are usually a gravel sand mix and there is very little space to walk, let alone push a stroller. Toss in the tough winter and many of the shoulders are eroded. The speed limit is posted at 50, but most folks push 55 or more. Read more »

The Christmas Tree has been purchased. Now comes the work of setting it up and caring for it before that special day of fun and enjoyment.

Buying a tree in a timely manner, usually right after Thanksgiving, offers the freshest and best selection. However, many homes aren't ready to put the tree up and decorate. If that is the case in your house, leave the netting on and store the tree in an unheated garage or some other area out of the wind and cold (freezing) temperatures. Make a fresh one inch cut on the base or butt end of the tree. The place it in a bucket of warm water. A bow saw works well for this cut. Warm water is used for two reasons. One it will 'melt' the hardened sap and two, the water will be absorbed by the tree more quickly if it is warm. Read more »

As we sit down this Thanksgiving to a veritable fees, it is good to know that Congress has weighed in on food, especially in our schools.

The millionaires in Congress were asked by the Obama administration to upgrade the quality of food being served to our youngest and most vulnerable, the lids in schools.
Rather than doing the right thing, these denizens of back room deals, succumbed to the snake oil arguments of the industries that make money off the school lunch programs.

As a result, the frozen pizza companies that supply America's schools with pizza as well as the salt industry and the potato/french fry industry successfully lobbied long and hard to make sure their products were not to be missed when hungry children line-up with their trays. The thoughts of an obese nation were far form their thoughts. What was paramount to them was simple - money. Read more »