Gifts for a Home-Bound Friend

Filed under Holiday, Well Being by on December 1, 2011 at 10:54 {no comments}

Are You Looking for the Perfect Gift

for a  Home-Bound Friend?

By Penelope Folsom

Most of us draw a blank when we try to find just the right gift for a friend who is home-bound. Here’s a list that should help with ideas for gifts that anyone would love to find under their Christmas tree.

  • Large-print books and crossword puzzles  found locally or at www.amazon.com  Mechanical pencils with erasers would make a nice accompaniment.
  • Stamps www.shop.usps.com as well as pens and stationery. An assortment of greeting cards that can be sent to commemorate various occasions would be ideal. Any local paper store would carry a wide selection.
  • Newspaper or special interest magazine subscriptions found at any of these websites:  WSJ.com  or WashingtonPost.com or OutLookbytheBay.com or magazines.com
  • A warm washable throw or small blanket found at www.thecompanystore.com
  • Exercise equipment that can be used while sitting. A good selection is offered at www.activeforever.com
  • www. americanmedical-id.com has a varied selection of medical alert necklaces or bracelets.
  • www.RitzCamera.com carries an interesting array of digital frames that can be loaded with favorite pictures that change every 3 to 5 seconds.
  • Solo games and jigsaw puzzles found at Wal-Mart or Barnes and Noble are always a hit. Solitaire can also be played on line at www.worldofsolitaire.com Careful, it’s addictive.
  • Audio book subscriptions can be found and are free at www.librivox.org or www.audiobooks.org The latter charges a small fee, but carries an extensive list.
  • A lap desk for letter writing and to hold a computer could be the best gift ever and can be found at www.levenger.com
  • And to truly get into the holiday spirit, a decorated, table top Christmas tree found at www.llbean.com that can be delivered for free to the door.

            Perhaps the most welcome gift would be a visit.  Bring along a basket of goodies filled with such things as Christmas cookies, a couple of paperback books, a good magazine, a DVD or CD if electronic equipment is available, a Christmas candle and a sprig of holiday greens.

 

Think Outside the Box

Filed under Holiday by on November 30, 2011 at 17:27 {no comments}

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

 

GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT WRAPPING 

By Louise Whiteside 

          “Oh, it’s too pretty to open!”  How often have you heard this sentiment of excitement and delight from a gift recipient? Personally, I must confess, not too often! For the most part, most of my gift wrapping has been rather commonplace:

the usual square of tissue or Christmas wrap, a pre-made bow, a tiny cardboard tag with a run-of-the-mill greeting, or maybe a paper gift bag with a wad of tissue paper. In other words, not much of an attention-grabber! 

          But craving a little adventure, I’ve recently found myself browsing through gift wrapping books and magazine illustrations, and to my great amazement, there are infinite possibilities for creating novel and elegant gift packages. 

          Think about it. Which do you think would be more fun: reaching through a mass of tissue paper and pulling a gift out of a bag, or opening a beautifully wrapped package with decorations that reflected your personality? Sure, the gift would be meaningful in any case, but which of the two would be more likely to send the message that the giver had gone to a little extra trouble just for you? 

          Let me share with you a few ideas — none very complicated or timeconsuming — that might give your gift wrapping a little more pizzazz. That might even earn you the “too pretty to open” remark from a loved one. 

          THE WRAP.  Browse in flea markets or yard sales for vintage newsprint.  Save or purchase scraps of interesting wallpaper.  If you’re artistic, draw or paint seasonal designs on plain paper. Cut colorful pages out of magazines for wrapping small gifts. Wrap a child’s gift in the Sunday comics or a colorful road map. Instead of buying the traditional red or green holiday wrap, spring for softer, more subtle shades, such as creams, delicate pinks and pale lilacs. Colored construction paper can be used artistically for a gift to a child or a teacher gift. Look through your fabric store for remnants of luscious satins, velvets, laces, linens and tulles.

          THE RIBBON.  Ribbons come in a multitude of textures and designs. Stroll through fabric stores, where you will find ribbons made of satin, grosgrain, velvet, taffeta and metallic fiber. Tulle (a netlike fabric) comes in precut rolls and is perfect for fashioning frilly bows. 

          EMBELLISHMENTS.  Take a look in your sewing box for fancy buttons, in your jewelry box for strands of beads or pearls, or for stray earrings, in your Christmas collection for tiny ornaments and snowflakes. Be on the lookout for embellishments at yard sales, the dollar store or the cake decorating aisle of your grocery store. Scan the scrapbooking department at your local craft store. Children love candy canes and tiny toys on the tops of their gifts. Think of creative ways to personalize your gift packages by adorning them with cookie cutters for the baking buff, fishing lures for your favorite fisherman, paint brushes for the family artist, and crayons and scissors for your creative grandchild.  Dried flowers and sprigs of fresh holly, evergreen and poinsettias always make lovely embellishments.

           OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY PACKAGING.  Dig out an old lunch box and create a whimsical container for homemade cookies. A Mason jar decked out in stars and ribbons is perfect for showing off homemade candies. See if you can locate a single blue-and-white delft plate at a thrift store. Fill it with your favorite baked goodies and wrap it in blue cellophane.  Topped with a gold bow, this makes a handsome hostess gift.

          It’s so easy, inexpensive and just plain fun to do creative gift wrapping. Once those creative juices begin flowing, you may decide never to go back to the old gift bag-and mass-produced bow again.  

FOR MORE GIFT-WRAPPING IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES: 

Fritsch, Christine, Gifted Wrapping, Quarry Books, Gloucester, Mass., Quarry Books (2006) 

Meisner, Kimberly, Victoria, 500 Christmas Ideas: Celebrate the Season in Splendor, Hearst Books, New York, London (2009) 

Playford, Jennifer,  Wrapagami: The Art of Fabric Gift Wraps, Quirk Packaging, Inc., New York (2009)

 

 

 

Relax: Celebrating the Holidays with Mindfulness

Filed under Holiday, Life Styles by on November 30, 2011 at 15:54 {no comments}

Relax: Celebrating the Holidays with Mindfulness

By Pat Jurgens 

          Whatever your cultural or religious tradition, the holiday season will be more enjoyable if you cultivate mindfulness. A powerful Eastern practice founded in Buddhism, mindfulness meditation has attracted thousands in the West who seek peace amidst the complexity of modern living. Many of us meditate every day, wanting to calm our minds and hearts. Modern applications have been developed in psychotherapy, management training, dispute resolution, law enforcement and health care.  Mindfulness meditation can relieve anxiety, depression, stress, anger and other negative emotions.

          What is this magic? And how can it prepare us to meet the ups and downs of the holiday season? Essentially the practice of mindfulness is focused breathing and the awareness of your breath.  Breathe in, breathe out…in, out.  It is simple, but not always easy. Thoughts may race around, worries collect, distracting feelings accumulate and ruminations pull us. Whenever this happens, we bring our mind back to the present moment.

          Mindfulness meditation can be practiced sitting, lying down or walking. As you breathe in and out, you notice the rise and fall of your own chest, holiday music in the next room, the cry of gulls out the window or a fog horn in the distance. You feel your stomach relax, watch your emotions dissipate and see problems past and future letting go.  You are as you are; things are how they are.  At this moment everything is all right.

          Another approach is cultivating mindfulness in daily life. Stress during the holidays is almost inescapable. There are grown children arriving from out of town, grandchildren to buy presents for, parties to host or attend with friends, activities to plan, a house to clean, meals to prepare and special foods to bake. You can probably name a dozen to-do’s in one breath.

          Practicing mindfulness requires you to take time to be alone and centered in the midst of activity around you.

          Try this:

        Set your alarm half an hour early and sit quietly before others arise in the morning.  Or retire to your bedroom earlier than usual and take time to go inward.  Make this a priority, part of your daily schedule.

        Do a quiet activity with mindfulness. Knit, crochet, quilt, whittle or even cook. Breathe in, breathe out… Put your mind at rest, and when it wanders, bring it gently back to the task at hand.

        Do a physical exercise with mindfulness. Swimming laps is repetitive and can be very meditational; so can the treadmill or cross trainer. And, of course, yoga is the essence of meditation, using the breath with each asana (pose). 

          The holidays are full of things to do, places to go and people to see. Make it your intention this holiday season to slow down and focus on one thing at a time. 

        Play Christmas carols on the piano or guitar. No matter if you’re not a virtuoso — allow yourself to enjoy the experience.

        Eating mindfully can be a true delight. Special holiday baked goods like German stollen, Russian hoska and African American sweet potato pie have an aroma and flavor to be savored. It’s amazing how good food tastes when we pay attention to every mouthful.

        Wrapping gifts. Maybe like me, you wait until the last minute before rushing home with ribbon and paper to wrap presents. Try setting aside an evening well before the gifts are presented.  Rather than rush through it as a job, enjoy cutting and smoothing the paper; feel the silky texture of the ribbon.         

          Mindfulness can be practiced with our friends and family members. When was the last time you gave undivided attention to a loved one who was distressed? Problems and conflicts can arise during the holidays, as people carry stress from past as well as present situations. We don’t need to have answers for others; listening deeply with an open mind and heart is a gift in itself.

          Think of other ways you can increase the well-being of others:

   Baking cookies with love in your heart and distributing them to neighbors and friends can be practiced with mindfulness rather than feverish haste.

   Giving a person who lives alone a ride to their place of worship or to the shopping mall may make their holiday.

   Reading or telling stories from your cultural or religious tradition at a daycare center or library can make children happy.

Finding ways to express generosity by sharing your time and energy is living in mindfulness. 

          This holiday season just pause every now and then, and become aware of your breath. Notice what there is to notice, right then and there. Let go, and let it be as it is; a present moment, wonderful moment. 

*        *        *

Further reading:

   Kornfield, Jack. Buddha’s Little Instruction Book. New York: Bantam, 1994.

   Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Wherever You Go There You Are; Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life.  New York: Hyperion,1994.

        Thich Nhat Hanh. The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching; Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation.  Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press, 1998. 

Pat has practiced meditation on and off for the past 30 years. She can be contacted at: 4louises@comcast.net

 

Blue Christmas

Filed under Holiday by on November 29, 2011 at 15:53 {no comments}

 

BLUE CHRISTMAS

how to handle the holidays

By Leslie Payne 

          Every holiday season I hear a gloomy Christmas song that makes me giggle. Just one note of Elvis Presley’s  “Blue Christmas,”  and I’m back in my senior year of college with two wonderful roommates. Whenever the song came on the radio, Cindy and I sang the octave jumping “Ew-Ew-ew-Oh-ohs” as we swung our hips backup-singer style. Sarah, with hairbrush in hand as her microphone, sang the lead. At the top of her lungs, Sarah and Elvis sang of blue snowflakes and memories. It was a miserably sad sound, primarily because Sarah couldn’t sing worth a darn. When the song ended, we’d collapse into giggles at the silliness of it all. Whoever heard of feeling blue at Christmas anyway?

          Fast forward several decades and that thought is not as amusing. Too often, feeling blue during the holidays is reality. Among the three roommates, we’ve lost five parents, two siblings, several friends, too many aunts and uncles and all our grandparents. Often, grief increases during the holidays as advertisers insist this should be the happiest season of all. Not always so.My method of grief management was once “I’ll stay in bed until next year.” While it protected me from constant in-your-face holiday happiness, I ended up with a dreadful case of bed head. I needed a new plan.

          Last year before Christmas, a much better option presented itself. Sarah and I met at a local church for a “Blue Christmas” celebration, which was a beautifully designed service that offered a safe place to pause, grieve and reflect. It gave us permission to acknowledge our grief, so later we could celebrate in traditional Christmas style. We both cried some during the service, and that was OK. My only complaint was she still looked so beautiful, while my tears left me with a splotchy complexion and a case of the hiccups. Yet the evening was a tremendous comfort in the midst of the holiday rush.

          Over the years, after trying a few different approaches, I’ve picked up some strategies to help deal with grief during the holidays.

♦  Acknowledge your grief and emotions by conceding that this year will be different. Realize that anticipating the holiday can be worse than the actual day itself.

♦  Make comfortable changes in traditions. Exchange gifts in the evening instead of morning, eat dinner at a different time or place. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate the holiday.

♦  Honor your loved one in a special way by playing her favorite music, making his favorite food, lighting a candle or hanging a special stocking. Have family members write down special memories and slip them in the stocking. Talk about your loved one with others.

 ♦  Take care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, because this season can be physically and emotionally draining. Remember good nutrition. Exercise daily. Be sure to have some time alone, yet don’t isolate yourself.

♦  Avoid additional stress. Don’t feel obligated to do things just because you did them in the past. Ask for help and support in specific ways from friends and family. Avoid people who drain you.

♦  Be kind to yourself, give yourself grace when you’re having a difficult time. And at other times, don’t be afraid to laugh and enjoy the holidays. Each day, holiday or not, is a gift. 

Leslie, a longtime resident of Annapolis, can be reached by visiting her website at www.livingwithpayne.blogspot.com

                                                                         

“HOPE FULL HOLIDAYS” seminars by Life Center at Hospice of the Chesapeake

To honor grief and memories, plus explore coping strategies for the holiday season. 

In Anne Arundel County:

Registration required:  410 987-2129

“BLUE CHRISTMAS” worship service

College Parkway Baptist Church, 301 College Parkway, Arnold, MD

For more information:  410 647-5594

 RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON GRIEF:

Don’t Take My Grief Away: What To Do When You Lose A Loved One by Doug W. Manning

How To Survive The Loss Of A Parent: A Guide For Adults by Lois F. Akner

A Tearful Celebration: Finding God in the Midst of Loss by James Means

 

 

The Downward Holiday Spiral

Filed under Adult Kids, Holiday, Well Being by on November 28, 2011 at 14:36 {no comments}

 

The Downward Holiday Spiral

…and how to get ahead of it

By Susan Singleton

 

Holiday stress is more than just having too much to do and not enough time to do it. The preparation for this extended holiday season began with Halloween on Oct. 31 and culminates with the New Year’s celebration ending Jan. 1. 

To maneuver through the holidays gracefully and gain control over your own expectations and experience, you need to take a step back and discover what really goes on both biologically, mentally and physically during this eight-week period. Before getting to some advice for adjusting to the holidays, consider what you are facing. 

FALL

The fall is really a very busy time of year. Summer ends, children are back to school, you transition from a very casual warm weather lifestyle to one that is more structured. Many people take on new interests. We slip into a very task-oriented, organizational mode. This is reflected in nature as we can see the animals scurrying around in preparation for the winter. We are fundamentally programmed to act this way as well. Our 24-hour grocery stores and endless supplies of food haven’t phased out this ingrained response. We are gearing up in order to gear down. 

HALLOWEEN

Candy! Candy! Candy!  Who can resist. The weather turned cooler, days were shortened. We tend to not drink as much water during the cooler months and turn to hot caffeinated beverages instead.  Your body also begins to crave protein and fats during this cooler weather in order to insulate itself, which can lead to nutritional imbalances if you ignore your intake. The whole holiday itself is about the hunt for candy, sugar and chocolate. This is the beginning of the spiral that leaves you mildly dehydrated, over-caffeinated, with sugar cravings, and the beginning of a nutritional imbalance caused by a shift in the seasons.  

THANKSGIVING

          Once Thanksgiving hits, we really can’t deny the fact that the days are shorter, darker and cooler.  Our bodies begin to reflect the need to slow down after the flurry of activity in the autumn.  Instead, we hit the ground running and congregate nationwide for a day of overeating and preparation for marathon shopping. This is also a time for visiting and spending time with family that can include travel, highlight emotional issues and create tension. 

CHRISTMAS

Office parties, family get-togethers and social events can involve late nights, overly processed food and copious amounts of alcohol.  Add to that the stresses of shopping and overspending, and creating an environment of Christmas euphoria for those around you. The demands of parties, shopping, houseguests and family reunions can also cause tension. Oh and guess what? You need to have your New Year resolutions and a  plan for the “new you’ just seven short days later for the New Year. 

The physical, mental and emotional demands of getting through this eight-week march of festivities takes a tremendous toll on our well-being.  Additionally, the holiday season for many people is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures and anxiety about an uncertain future, which can spiral into depression. 

Unfortunately, tradition and society work against our ability to maintain a proper balance during this time. Begin by acknowledging that you can do things differently this year. Take a few of these tips to heart this holiday season and see what a difference they can make: 

*Keep expectations of the holiday season reasonable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself. Organize your time and make a list of the most important things you need to get done. Be realistic in what you can and cannot do. Do not put your entire focus on one day, ie: Thanksgiving. Remember this is a holiday season with many events.

*Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat at holiday parties, choose instead to eat fresh, lightly cooked  plant-based, nonprocessed food the day of the event.  Do not go to any party hungry, rushed or exhausted.

*Keep yourself well hydrated every day.

*Eating foods out of season can suppress your immune system and can  make you prone to colds, flu and other illnesses.  Eating out of season also causes a nutritional imbalance that will leave you fraught with cravings.

*Commit to adding a nutritionally dense smoothie to your day.  Get a head start on your New Year’s resolution to eat healthy.

* Be aware of excessive drinking. Intake of liquor will only increase your feelings of stress and desperation. Not to mention that being in a continual hangover will snowball itself into the next few days.

* Try something new. Decide which parties and events you are NOT going to attend this year.  Limit your time at the ones you attend.

*Spend time with supportive and caring people. Try to make new friends or contact someone you have not heard from in awhile.

Now that you know that there are many different forces working on you at this time of year, you can do one of two things. You can acknowledge and honor the requests that your body is asking of you in order to keep itself well, or you can get caught up in the frenzy and wear your body down. Make a simple change or two this year, be aware of what your body is asking of you and honor its influence. 

Susan, a certified holistic health counselor, is the founder of Healthy Life Consulting, a holistic health and wellness practice.She can be reached at susan@healthylifeconsulting.com

 

Lights in the Bay

Filed under Of Local Interest by on November 27, 2011 at 15:47 {no comments}

 

Lights in the Bay

Henry S. Parker

          In the darkness of December, tidewater Maryland begins to glow. All along the Bay—in Severna Park and Solomon’s, Havre de Grace and Hoopersville, Chestertown and Chesapeake City—the shoreline shimmers with holiday lights. In Annapolis two public, light-spangled spectacles draw thousands of sightseers every year.

          The first, Lights on the Bay (Nov. 19 to Jan. 2), presents more than 60 illuminated exhibits along a scenic drive at Sandy Point State Park. The other, Eastport Yacht Club’s annual Parade of Lights on Dec. 11, features a slowly-circling procession of local boats bedecked in kaleidoscopes of imaginative, nautical-themed and sometimes hilarious displays.

          These are impressive shows, sure to kindle the holiday spirit of even the most Scrooge-like among us. But few are aware that, year-round, beneath the Bay’s waters, there lurks an even more impressive display of lights: bioluminescence.

          Bioluminescence is natural light produced by living organisms. We’re all familiar with a terrestrial version: fireflies. But the phenomenon is rare on land, largely limited to lightning bugs, glow worms and a few species of fungi. In contrast, it is common in the ocean.

          Have you have spent time on the Bay at night? If so, you have likely seen the sparkle of a boat’s wake or the pinpoint pricks of light in the swirl of a dipped oar. The physical disturbance has stirred up living creatures. Some respond by undergoing a chemical reaction catalyzed by an enzyme. The enzyme, luciferase, combines with a pigment molecule, luciferin, releasing light energy (but not heat) in the process.

          The shallow waters of Chesapeake Bay harbor many bioluminescent life forms including various microbes, plankton and jellyfish. The tiniest are some species of bacteria, notably the human pathogen, Vibrio cholerae, which, regrettably can be abundant in local waters.  Other common light-producers are Ceratium and Noctiluca (translation: “night light”), types of microscopic one-celled motile algae known as dinoflagellates. Larger light-emitting Bay denizens include soup bowl-sized moon jellies which produce a bluish light when agitated. The smaller, translucent and gelatinous sea walnut, a type of comb jelly (not a true jellyfish), is also bioluminescent. Sea walnuts often cluster together. When disturbed, the mass emits a luminous green glow. No, it’s not brighter near Calvert Cliffs.

          The submarine light show in Chesapeake Bay can be impressive, especially in late summer. But it pales in comparison with what goes on in the deep sea.

          Even in the clearest ocean waters, the sun’s rays penetrate only a few hundred feet below the surface. This means that 90 percent of the oceans’ volume is perpetually dark—dark, that is, except for biological light. And there is plenty of biological light: Scientists estimate that four-fifths of deep sea creatures—notably shrimps, fish, jellyfish, marine worms and squid—may be luminescent. Their light is concentrated in special organs, called photophores, which are arrayed in species-specific patterns. In the vast expanse of the dark deep sea, this may help individuals to locate and recognize potential mates and avoid incompatible—or dangerous—liaisons.

          Photophores may also function in predator-prey interactions. The bizarre-looking deep sea angler fish sports an elongated dorsal fin, complete with light organs, just above its gaping jaws. When illuminated, the fin acts as a lure for unwary victims. Alternatively, bioluminescence may be a defense mechanism. The bright flash given off by disturbed sea creatures may startle or confuse predators.

          Bottom line: bioluminescence has adaptive value in the eternal whirl of the survival of the fittest. But when you go down to the sea at night and watch a light show beneath the waves, you need not think of nature red in tooth and claw. Instead focus on the beauty of a timeless natural spectacle. It rivals the holiday lights any time.

Legal Insights

Filed under Legal Insights by on November 25, 2011 at 15:45 {no comments}

LEGAL TEAM SPEAKS – OCTOBER 2010

Robert R. Smith, Esq., and Gilda O. Karpouzian, Esq., are practicing lawyers in Maryland with over 30 years of experience.  Their answers below are based on assumptions that Maryland law applies.  Mr. Smith can be contacted at 410 268-5600 or info@fjbslaw.com and Ms. Karpouzian can be contacted at 410 280-8864

            *                      *                      *                      *                      *

Dear Legal Team:

            We love our kids but are finding that our grandkids are lots more fun. They give us lots of attention and respect. We want to pass over our children and leave what we have to our grandkids who have not reached the age of their majority. If we do this, can the courts overturn it if our kids decide to go after it?

Grandmom

Dear Grandmom:

            The question you raise is whether you can disinherit your children and leave your assets to your beloved grandchildren. Evidently your children no longer fall within the “beloved” category. 

            As long as an individual adult is legally competent he or she can decide how their assets should be divided and who should be receiving from their estate.  The last will and testament that one executes disinheriting children should clearly have language listing the children that are being disinherited and language providing some information as to the reason for not allowing for such children.  You can also have language included in the last will and testament that allows zero to be provided to any child if such a child contests your will by filing caveat proceedings.  

            As to the grandchildren not being adults, you can leave assets in trust for the benefit of the minor grandchildren and designate a trustworthy individual or entities to act as trustee for the benefit of the children.  Your last will and testament would have to include language about the creation of the trust.  Through language in the will, you will have to provide the age at which each grandchild is to receive their inheritance free of the trust.  The trust that will be created by your direction in your will authorizes creation of the trust upon your death and appointment of a trustee or trustees as you direct in your last will and testament.  The trustee appointed by you in your last will and testament will have the authority to pay to the grandchildren income from the trust and other additional funds as directed by you in your will.  

            If you do not want to create a trust via your will, and you want the grandchildren to receive their inheritance at age 21 and not older, then your will can leave the assets in trust for the children by the use of a statute entitled Uniform Trust to Minor Act (UTMA), which provides for the powers and authority of the trustee to act on behalf of the grandchildren who have not yet reached the age of 21 at your death and for the assets to be distributed to the grandchildren as each reaches the age of 21. 

            You should consult a lawyer in drafting such a will to leave assets to grandchildren and disinherit your children to make sure that your wishes are followed through after your death. 

Dear Legal Team:

            My neighbor’s perfectly healthy tree roots encroach on my property, causing plumbing and foundation problems to my house. I would like to dig up the roots that are on my side of the property. Can I do that? Can I hold my neighbor responsible for the damage his tree roots have caused?

Frustrated neighbor 

Dear Frustrated Neighbor:

            First, as a general matter, courts have uniformly held that you as a landowner do have a self-help remedy to clean up and care for your own property. Thus you have a right to cut encroaching branches, vines and roots back to your property line. You are limited, however, to cutting back growth to your side only. You may not enter the adjoining landowner’s property to chop down a tree or cut back growth without your neighbor’s consent. Courts will not, however, generally impose liability against your neighbor for damages resulting from the natural growth of trees, such as clogging your sewer line. The common sense of the common law has recognized that it is wiser to leave the individual to protect himself rather than subject the other to the annoyance and burden of lawsuits which would likely be innumerable and in many instances purely vexatious. Maryland courts, for example, decline to impose liability upon an adjoining landowner for the “natural processes and cycle” of trees, plants, roots and vines.” In such cases you must assume responsibility for the care and preservation of your own property. As one Maryland court stated, “Along with the benefits derived from property ownership come certain obligations. Property maintenance of one’s own property is one of those obligations.” So we wish you happy digging. 

                                    *                      *                      *                      *                      *

This site provides information about the law. Legal information, however, is not the same as legal advice about your specific circumstances. We try to be accurate and useful.  We strongly recommend that you consult a lawyer to find out what is appropriate to your particular situation. We are not giving specific legal advice to you.  These answers do not create an attorney-client relationship.

 

 

My Trophy Kitchen

Filed under Home and hearth, Well Being by on November 25, 2011 at 15:42 {no comments}

 

My Trophy Kitchen

By Maureen Smith 

          I’ve become hooked on watching HGTV.  Which one of the three houses will they select?  The one with the view that’s pricey; the one with the ‘man room’ in the basement, but that is too far from work or the fixer-upper that’s close to a park?  It’s always nice to see them three or more months later, all settled in, finally married with baby and friends coming over for a toast.  

          Best of all are the comments from the young couples: “Oh, we’ll have to put in granite countertops.” “This is so ’80s.” “This bathroom will have to go.”  My rejoinders: What’s wrong with kitchen tile? Weren’t the ‘80s just yesterday? How could you destroy the charm of the claw-foot tub? I’m now convinced that this show is what inspired us into the bizarre idea of redoing our kitchen. Why should we live with an outdated kitchen?  It will be good for resale when we opt for assisted living.  It all started with a burner going out on our stove, which reminded us that the ice maker was no longer working in the fridge and the parquet floor had no more layers left to sand.  My cabinet drawers didn’t pull out and I’d forgotten what goodies were in the very back — spices older than I am.  Suddenly, we are looking at our miserable kitchen with new eyes.  Even our children are getting new kitchens, so maybe they won’t be too upset about us spending their inheritance. 

          My decorator friends convinced me that with a major redo I would need help. It’s a process, they said. This was an understatement. The first decision is to find a kitchen planner (KP).  It is important to collect thousands of kitchen pictures so the KP can determine your taste.  A good KP will also visit your home and make suggestions like pushing back walls or taking out the downstairs bathroom (which is one of the reasons we bought the house in the first place). All of these were immediately nixed.  We are told that we have to ‘think out of the box.’ We’re trying. 

          At this point we were inspired by an architect friend visiting us from Los Angeles.  He shared his four points to consider when undertaking any major redo:  First, consider what already exists that is of great value and quality that should not be messed up.  Second, think of what already exists that has value, but isn’t quite right and could be improved.  Third, determine what exists that is unwanted or beyond repair that should simply be taken out.  Fourth, decide what is missing, needed and perhaps is the stimulus for initiating the whole project. 

          These four points were a big help. We decided that we like the layout of our kitchen.  We just want appliances that work and maybe a new look that will make the cover of Southern Living magazine. We decided to go for it. 

          Before this decision my life was relatively calm. Now I’m losing sleep worrying about my choice of two different kinds of wood for the cabinets. Will it be too much for my small kitchen?  Was tile a good idea for the floor?  Will it be too hard on the legs and too cold on the feet?  Should I go with the light, medium or darker shade of green for the walls?  There are astronomical numbers of countertop choices. Then I worry about these privileged sort of worries I have while there are so many real problems in the world.  At the floor place, the marble place and the appliance place, I run into other redoers equally confused and conflicted by all the decisions facing them.  Should we form a support group? 

          The real irony of this whole project is that in our stage of life, cooking has become very simple. Large dinner parties are a thing of the past. When we get together with friends, we discuss which restaurant we wish to visit.  Our china, crystal and silver stays neatly tucked away in a chest. One contractor suggested that perhaps this will be our “trophy kitchen.”   Sounds good to me. 

          During construction we set up a little kitchen area in our TV room with a chest holding a microwave and toaster oven on top. Our refrigerator was moved to the deck.  It’s amazing what food can be put on a plate with these basic appliances.  In fact I began to wonder if we really needed a kitchen.  For weeks it has been pointless to clean because the workmen would be back the next day creating more dust.  Besides, I have no idea where my cleaning materials are hidden.  The dining room has become our storage place for every item from our kitchen and the living room has been scrunched to one end to provide a place for the cabinets when they arrive.  We carved out a narrow path to the front door from our den for escape purposes.  Not a pretty picture. 

          Now I am proud to report that this project is ending. Baseboards and trim are being installed, knobs put on cabinets and each new appliance is sliding into its place. The counters arrive this week and then the real work begins for me — finding places for all the stuff we took out of the kitchen in the beginning. This is stuff that we have lived without remarkably well for weeks.  Now come decisions about what to keep and what to pitch.  Already the outdated spices and canned goods have been jettisoned. Pictures will go back on the walls and baskets back on top of cabinets. Best of all, to the relief of my friends, I can once again carry on a conversation without the word “kitchen” being in every sentence.

          One thing. I was joking about making this a trophy kitchen. I’ve signed my husband up for cooking classes.

 

Navigating the Medicare Maze

Filed under Good Health, Retirement by on November 22, 2011 at 15:52 {no comments}

Navigating the Medicare Maze 

By Amy Rubino 

            That was one heck of a health care reform package providing a single system to cover millions, insurance that protects both individuals age 65 and older and younger disabled person, basic and extensive medical and hospital care, an annual premium of $110.50 per month and a program accepted by virtually all hospitals and most providers. Does something sound wrong? That is because we are not discussing the 2010 health care reform package, but rather the monumental passage of Medicare back in 1965!

          Reflect for a moment. Without Medicare, there would be no assurance that people over age 65 and people who are disabled would have health insurance. Reflect for another moment. People with Medicare typically have health issues. Statistically speaking, almost one-half of the people with Medicare have three or more chronic health conditions. Medicare has been the stalwart insurance program providing health insurance to our graying population for more than 45 years. Overwhelmingly, our nation strives to protect Medicare—any political mention of “cutting benefits” creates an imposing reverberation from voters.

          Yet while we venerate Medicare, we grumble as we wade through the mire to understanding the particulars of Medicare. We know it is vital that we make important decisions related to our Medicare, yet we feel defeated as bewilderment overtakes us. No doubt about it, Medicare is a massive program. With Medicare covering more than 47 million people, is it any wonder that we feel the odds stacked against us as we try to find the answers we need to make an informed choice?

          Medicare is a complex program. Medicare benefits range from Medicare Part A (hospital), Medicare Part B (medical), Medicare Part C (advantage plans), and Medicare Part D (prescription coverage). With all the facets of Medicare is it any wonder we feel overwhelmed by the overload? Medicare is managed by two federal agencies: eligibility is determined by the Social Security Administration, whereas Medicare benefits are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare advantage plans, Medicare supplement plans and Medicare Part D are sold by private companies.

          What is needed is a roadmap to successfully navigate the labyrinth of Medicare. We are well advised to begin learning about our Medicare at least three months prior to turning 65. One of the first steps is to contact Social Security to discuss enrollment in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Social Security’s role, as related to Medicare, will be to (1) determine if you are eligible for Medicare Part A and B, (2) determine the premium costs for your Medicare and (3) enroll you into Medicare Parts A and/or B. Social Security does not answer questions about the benefits of Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare advantage plans and Medicare supplement plans.

          The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the agency responsible for administering the Medicare program. The website, www.medicare.gov is comprehensive and provides links to answer most Medicare questions. The website provides a tool to compare your options for Medicare Part D, Medicare advantage and supplement plans. There is also the option of calling the Medicare hotline at 800 633-4227 to talk directly with a customer service representative. The hotline is staffed 24 hours/seven days a week. CMS provides many publications free of charge. The principal publication, Medicare and You, is essential to a person who is new to Medicare.

          However, even with all the state-of-the-art hotlines and websites, there is still a time when we just need another person to help. But not just any person will do. We’re not sure we really trust sales agents since they have financial gain if we sign up. We want a knowledgeable, trustworthy person to answer our Medicare questions.

          Medicare provides grants to every state to provide a peer-mentoring service. The program is called the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP relies on specially-trained volunteers who can help us understand our Medicare benefits and choices. SHIP counselors are unbiased; they do not sell insurance. Rather, SHIP counselors provide a person with the tools needed to make the important decisions related to Medicare.

          SHIP is a free service that is typically offered through the local area agency on aging. In Anne Arundel County, SHIP is offered at the Department of Aging and Disabilities. To make an appointment with an Anne Arundel County SHIP counselor, simply call 410 222-4464. If you live in another county in Maryland, call 800 243-3425 for your local SHIP program. If you, or a family member wants the SHIP program in another state, simply call 800 633-4227 for the correct contact number.

          Medicare decisions are vital. To sum up, allow adequate time to learn about your Medicare at least three months prior to becoming Medicare-eligible. Use the correct avenues to get the answers needed. Read Medicare and You, visit www.medicare.gov or call 800 633-4227. If there are still questions, ask your local SHIP program if they can assist. 

          Amy Rubino is SHIP director at the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities.

 

Cast Your Dice for the Right Cooking Equipment

Filed under Food by on November 22, 2011 at 15:40 {no comments}

 

Cast Your Dice for the Right Cooking Equipment

By Melissa Conroy 

            My parents own a cast iron Dutch oven and skillet set that have served our family for more than three decades. While we have shattered glass cooking pots, warped aluminum frying pans, melted the plastic handles off electric skillets and scratched stainless steel pans, our cast iron set has remained indestructible, dependable and indispensable. Over the years, we have called upon our Dutch oven and skillet to produce hundreds of chilies, stews, soups, casseroles, cornbreads and desserts. They’ve been propped over campfires, left out in the rain, used to crack nuts, brought to church picnics, accidentally dropped, abandoned in the fridge for weeks and banged on by bored children, yet they continue to serve our cooking needs and will likely do so for many years to come. 

          As cold weather descends upon us and you start thinking of warming soups, hearty chilies and comforting roasts, consider investing in a set of cast iron pots and pans. Cast iron should be a staple part of every kitchen because it has so many wonderful benefits. 

          Cast iron is generally formed from pig iron and other scrap iron and scrap steel which is melted, then poured into a mold. Cast iron cookware has quite a long history: The Chinese people discovered how to make a fire hot enough to melt iron as early as 500 B.C., but it took Europeans until the 12th century to figure this out for themselves. Aside from a hot-enough fire, cast iron is quite simple to make and quickly became popular as a form of cookware because of its many advantages.  

          Cast iron is extremely durable and can take quite a bit of abuse without cracking, warping or breaking. It can cope with extremely high levels of heat which is why it is so popular to use over an open fire. Because of its excellent heat-diffusion ability, cast iron cooks foods evenly and is terrific for long simmers and slow-cooked items. When food is cooked in cast iron, small amounts of iron are released into the food, particularly if it has a high acidic content like tomato sauce does. Also, cast iron imparts a rich, satisfying flavor to food. Chili, for example, is much better when allowed to simmer in a cast iron pot. For excellent flavor, nothing beats a stew or chicken and dumplings cooked in cast iron over a campfire. Properly cared for, cast iron will last a lifetime, if not more. It is entirely possible that you can pass down your beloved cast iron cookware from generation to generation. 

          All cast iron really needs from you is a little attention and it will continue to perform. In fact, the more you use cast iron, the better it gets. However, a brand-new cast iron pot or skillet requires some preparation before it is performing at optimal rate. Cast iron needs to be seasoned, meaning it needs to be given a coat of fat and oil. While cast iron is shiny and smooth right out of the box, it performs best when it is black and slightly sticky. Seasoning protects the cast iron from rust and makes a stick-free surface. When you fry in a seasoned cast iron pot, you generally don’t need to add oil because the seasoning makes it nonstick. 

          To season a new cast iron pan, first scrub it with soap and water because it usually has a protective oil coating which needs to come off. Then dry it by placing it on a burner and heating it dry. It must be dry before seasoning it. When it has cooled off, rub it inside and out with a generous amount of Crisco, vegetable oil, bacon fat or lard. Put an extra layer of the grease on the bottom of the pan and shove it inside the oven at 300 degrees for at least an hour. If you have a lid for your pan, it needs the same treatment also, so make sure to season it too. 

          There is some debate about the best way to wash dirty cast iron. Some purists insist that cast iron should only be rinsed out and wiped with a paper towel, but a good chili or rump roast can leave a lot of gunk behind. Other people say that if you use soap on cast iron, you should always re-season it afterwards. Personally, I generally use mild soap and water on my cast iron and it works just fine. Also, if you wash your cast iron before the food in it starts drying out, a quick scrub in plain water is often sufficient to get it clean. However, don’t wash hot iron in cold water as there is a chance you could damage it. Also, you really only need to worry about cleaning the inside of the pan. Since the outside does not come in contact with food, it just needs a rinsing unless it is really dirty. Lids only need a rinse since they don’t normally have contact with food. Dry your cast iron thoroughly after washing to prevent rust. 

          If you notice rust, if your food starts sticking to the bottom or you over-scrubbed your cast iron with soap, all you need to do is re-season the pan. Keep it clean, seasoned and well-used and over time, your cast iron will build up a wonderful coat of black that imparts its own unique flavor and smoky goodness to your cooking. And it’s versatile, for everything from frying up homemade French fries to making corn bread for a chili feed. Enough singing the praises of cast iron; here is a recipe especially suited to it.

Mom’s Famous Pork Chops 

1 lb pork chops

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can water

cooked rice 

1)  Brown pork chops on both sides in either a cast iron Dutch oven or cast iron skillet

2)  Pour mushroom soup and water over them, cover

3)  Let simmer an hour or until tender

4)  Serve over rice

Page 6 of 20« First...«456789»1020...Last »

Subscriptions
$24.95 per year
Bimonthly (6 issues)

Outlook by the Bay, LLC
626-Admiral Cochran Drive
Suite 608
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone 410-849-3000
Fax 410-630-3838