Green....What does green mean or signify to you? Does it mean "eco-friendly?" How about fresh spring "green" grass or the ever-eluding "green-backs?" Maybe the word green makes you envision funny liitle leprechauns and four leaf clovers? Or maybe your "green" thumb starts to itch when warmer weather creeps around? Explore the many ways green is entwined in our daily lives as The Kendal Compnaies encourages you to.....
Be Green - Living a more eco-friendly life
Save Green - Save a few greenbacks
Make Green - Make more green!
Give Green - Giveback some of your own green
Celebrate Green - Celebrate Irish Heritage and St. Pat's Day!
Cook Green - Fun green recipes
March brings Saint Patrick's Day - the "green" holiday!
I've complied a few fun facts, history notes and
a song or two to help you,
Celebrate Green
Growing up blonde haired, blue eyed and fair skinned, after asking, "Are you a natural blonde?" people would always say: "You must be Irish." It wasn't until my thirties that I read, in full text, the family genealogy my grandfather spent the last years of his life researching. Turns out, I am more than just a little Irish.
(Me and my dad, St. Pat's Day, 2008)
Although my mother named me after the "girl" in His Girl Friday, my first name, Kendal, is a true Irish name. Its actually Celtic, (more on that later) and means, "ruler of the valley" and "rolling, river valley." 8 of the 10 known strands of my family are from Ireland: My immediate family - The Hustons, The Fords, The Browns (Brauns, they are also German), and The Waldrops. The Hustons (my mother’s father’s family) are direct descendants from Claud Huston, the earliest known land holder in Ireland. Luckily for me, I LOVE Saint Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick Day Facts and Legends
Ireland was converted to Christianity from Paganism by St. Patrick.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the “Baptism of Ireland” and is the day St. Patrick died.
St. Patrick was not Irish, he was British. He was kidnapped at 16 and put into slavery. He escaped and went to a monastery – then “had a calling” to go back to Ireland and convert the Celtics.
St. Pat’s was first celebrated in America when Irish colonist brought it to Boston in 1737. The parade started in 1762 when the Irish members of the British army were recognized in a parade in NYC. Savannah’s first parade was in 1813.
This is the 185 celebration in Montreal – the longest running parade.
The shamrock symbolized the three holy spirits – Mary, Jesus and the Holy Ghost. St. Patrick used it to demonstrate this to the Celtics.
Blue, instead of green, used to be the color for this day. Green is not the color of Irish; in fact, it used to be a symbol of bad luck. It was thought to be the color of the “good Fairies” and if a person wore too much of it, the fairies would kidnap them. It now is the symbol of the Irish members of the British Army and on the Irish Flag.
The coloring of the rivers green began when the Irish in Chicago poured green Vegetable oil coloring into the river. Savannah stopped coloring the river in 1991 and now only color the fountain in Forsyth Park.
It is tradition for women spectators to kiss the Armed Forces men in the parade.
The Blarney Stone is a gem located in Blarney Castle in Ireland. The legend is that a witch cast a spell on the stone granting whoever kissed it the power to “talk eloquently” which means to be able to talk people into things. She cast this spell after the king of the castle saved her from drowning. You can visit this stone in Ireland still, although the have to lean, backwards and upside down to kiss it.
1940 was the first and only other time the parade had to be moved from March 17 due to the celebration falling on Holy Week. It will not happen again until 2160.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
LUCK OF THE IRISH RECIPES
EASY Corn Beef and Cabbage
This dish, which still turns up on some Irish tables at Easter, has become familiar to people of Irish descent as the traditional favorite to serve on
Saint Patrick’s Day.
Ingredients
4 slices bacon
4 tablespoons butter
1 head green cabbage, coarsely chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 can corned beef
Instructions
Cook the bacon in large pot over medium heat until almost
crisp. Remove the bacon from the pot and set aside. Melt the butter in the pot with the bacon grease. Add the cabbage, stirring well to coat the cabbage in fat. Add about 1/3 cup water, and salt and pepper, to taste.
Cover pot with a lid, and cook over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the bacon into small pieces.
Remove the lid from the pot, and scatter chunks of corned beef and chopped bacon over top of the cabbage. Cover and cook until desired doneness.
Stuffed "Irish" Potatoes
1 bag small red potatoes
8oz. cream cheese - softened
16oz. Oscar Mayer REAL Bacon pieces
1 bunch green onions, diced
Cook potatoes in the microwave, four at time, on your Baked Potato setting - do not puncture. While the pots are still hot, cut in half and use a small spoon to scoop out the inside. Be sure to leave enough potato that it creates a sturdy base (see photo) Try not to tear the skins. I put each pot in a large muffin paper cup.
In a bowl, mix the cream cheese and bacon bits. Fill each skin with the mixture and broil until slightly melted.
Top with scallions and serve!
Lucky Punch
2 liter Mountain Dew
2 Liter Ginger Ale
1 Can Bacardi Margarita Concentrate - Frozen
1 Lime, Sliced
12 Mint Leaves, uncrushed
Mix all together until Margarita concentrate is melted. Add limes and mint. (Alcohol optional: Add one cup white tequila) Serves 25
Pickled Okra Tea Sandwiches
These little tea sandwiches may get a sneer at their name and green toppings, but one bite and everyone will be hooked. I serve these at all my functions as an extra treat and they are gone in a flash! I do have to credit Paula Dean for the original recipe, but I am sure she would be glad to share it with you herself if you asked her!
PICKLED OKRA TEA SANDWICHES24 oz. Loaf of Sliced White Bread
8 oz. Softened Cream Cheese
16 oz. Jar of Pickled Okra, drained - Pickle your own okra using the recipe below or you can buy it year-round in grocery stores
everywhere.
1 Cup Finely chopped Fresh Parsley
Remove crusts from bread. With a rolling pin or smooth glass, roll each slice very thin. Coat each slice with cream cheese and place an okra spear in the center; roll up. Spread a light coat of cream cheese on the outside of each rolled up sandwich. Roll sandwich with parsely. Cut into thirds , if desired.
Quick Hints:
It easiest to use your fingers to spread the cream cheese on the outside of each roll. My little girl loves to help with this part!
Always use the best brands of cream cheese and the cheapest brands of bread.
I use HOT okra and everyone loves it!
Don't prepare these too early or the bread will dry out. They can be kept in the refrigerator for a short time if necessary.
TO MAKE YOUR OWN PICKLED OKRA:
This recipe comes from my neighbor, Mrs. Barbara Evans.
Cut okra tops off.
Into 5 pint jars, pack in okra TIGHTLY.
Boil 1 quart white vinegar, 1 Cup water, 1/2 C. salt, divide into each jar.
Add one garlic clove, one hot pepper and 1 tsp. dill seed into jars.
Screw on top and......that's it!
Be Green
Simple Steps To Help You Get Started
Recycling can be easier than you think. I tried to recycle on and off through the years but gave up, well, because I was a little lazy! I got serious and started my home recycle center after reading "Garbage Land - On The Secret Trail of Trash" by Elizabeth Royte. Royte lives in New York and, while she goes into all the gross and intricate details of WHERE our trash ends up, it really came across as a challenge to me, as well as a fact finding tale. In no way does she rant and rave about our "duties" to recycle but she does get to the heart of the matter of trash. It's a funny read and I recommend you read it .
Recycling is more than rinsing out soup cans and saving your Sunday paper. Although even if you just start ONE type of recycling, it makes a huge impact. There are really three ways to recycle. Reuse your stuff, reduce what you buy and recycle what you can. There are tons of websites to give you facts and stats,
but here I simply want to help you get started.
TIP:To keep your trash clean and not smelly, you can usa a kitchen tabletop compost pail (if you don't have a garbage disposal) for about $15 - just search "kitchen composter pail." A yard composter is more complicated and expensive for my tastes but if you feel gun-ho, do a google for that as well.
My own recycle center (shown above) is easy and inexpensive to set up, scroll DOWN for instructions. In the kitchen, one trash can is actual trash and the other is for recycled cans, bottles and plastic (our county recycle center does not require that these be separated.) The bins are labeled "newspapers," "cardboards" - such as cereal boxes and "color papers" - such as catalogs. I also have a wall-mounted bin for plastic grocery bags (which I return to the store) and a bag for empty cardboard paper towel and t.p. rolls (which go to the art dept. at Grace's school.) All our magazines are recycled separately during my Opus Sorority Nights. I took card stock paper and printed out the labels from my home computer and taped them on each bin so the kids could keep it all straight.
When the kitchen bins get full, we transfer the contents downstairs where I have three large trash cans, with secure lids. Make sure you get the lids to keep bugs and animals out of the cans! The recycled cans, etc go into the trash cans and the newspapers, etc go in a plastic laundry basket with handles.
TIP:I don't recommend lining these with plastic trash bags because it is easier to spray out the cans with the hose than deal with sticky trash bags, plus once you get to the recycle center, they make you empty the plastic bags into the dumpster. It's just a waste of a trash bag.
I monitor the bathroom trash cans and have a small shred box in both mine and my husband's office. Everything from deodorant empties to rubber bands gets recycled or reused. It's become almost like a game to me - nothing goes in the trash! (of course, the kids don't think it's so much fun, but they are learning!)
Something the kids DO participate without any nudging, is the donation box. I used to constantly purge their closets and rooms of old clothing, toys, books, ANYTHING they didn't regularly use, and take to the children's or women's shelter. Now that they are teenagers, to keep me out of their rooms, they automatically put unwanted stuff in the "donation" box in the garage. It makes me proud to peek in and see sweaters, shoes and old stuffed animals they have added on their own. They have been with me to deliver these items to the shelters and have seen the children and women they are helping - and I think that helps them keep their clutter to a minimum on their own. They don't realize they are helping reduce the landfills and helping the earth too.
About once a month, when the cans are full, we track it to the recycle center in our county. I take the paper stuff to the fire station drop off centers and the donated items to the shelters. It takes a little effort, but the results are worth it.
The final "part" of our home center is the "ebay," "yard sale," and "freecycle" box. These are items that hold some type of value, are collectible, are too large to move myself or things I just feel need a really good home.
Yard Sales are alot of work but if you have enough items, they can be worthwhile and eBay is a great way to trade out things you used to love for a little profit. You can check out more hints and info on the Kendal Kleanz It Out site.
Freecycle.org is a website that is divided by communities. For example, local to me there are separate sites for each of the surrounding counties and one of the entire North Georgia area. You post items for FREE and then other members contact you for pick up. Everything must be listed as FREE and it is up to YOU who picks it up. It's great for left over yard sale items - the last yard sale I had I listed that the person could not sort through the stuff, but had to TAKE IT ALL! It was fabulous!
Walmart Now has a "buy Back" program that buys back electronics, cell phones and movies. Earn extra cash AND they pay the shipping to them charges. Check out http://walmart.gazelle.com/?_gzl=1
The kids had a hard time remembering to recycle at first, but now it's a habit! Our actual trash went from an average of one full bag per day to one per WEEK! I kid you not! For a family of five!
Do your part - even if it just using BOTH sides of a sheet of paper! I'm not one to harp, chant and rave, but I do think a little goes a long way,
one family at a time.
More great recycling tips:
Children learn by example. It may be hard for us, as adults, to get going on this bandwagon, but if children learn as part of their routine - they will continue it throughout their lifetime.
One of the reasons people give up on recycling is that, over time, Coke cans, beer bottles and food containers attract gnats in the bins. To combat this problem, purchase outdoor trash bins with SECURE lids. If bugs can't get in, they won't gather around your treasure of recyclables!
Another reason is smell. Rinse out soup cans, milk jugs and other containers carefully. If there is no residue in the collection bins, then there will not be a smell.
Many businesses offer trade-in coupons for electronics. Check Staples.com for ways to recycle your printers, monitors and other electronic devices. Staples also offers a reward program for ink cartridges. You get $3 per cartridge you recycle through them.
Composting is a great way to create your own soil for gardening. Use the chart below as a starting point for what can be composted and what can't. Check your local library for books on setting up your compost bins.
AT&T will recycle your old cell phones and send them to the soldiers overseas.
Click and print out the chart below as a great guideline for recyclables.
Creating Your Own
Simple Home Recycle Center
Recycling is simpler than you think.
My set up is easy and inexpensive. I use bins, trash cans and laundry baskets. You can find just about any size bins to fit your space. Before you track to the store, measure your space. Twice I bought too large of bins and had to return to the store! I bought my final bins on sale at Staples for about $4 each and the trash cans at Walmart for $1.99! I also bought three extra large trash cans for the garage for $5 each and two plastic laundry baskets for $2 each.
That's a total of $35 for my one-time total set up.
Our recycle center (shown to the right) is two-fold. We have one in our kitchen and one in the garage. In the kitchen, one trash can is actual trash and the other is for recycled cans, bottles and plastic (our county recycle center does not require that these be separated.) The bins are labeled "newspapers," "cardboards" - such as cereal boxes and "color papers" -such as catalogs. I also have a wall-mounted bin for plastic grocery bags (which I return to the store) and a bag for empty cardboard paper towel and t.p. rolls (which go to the art dept. at Grace's school.) All our magazines are recycled separately during my Opus Sorority Nights. I took card stock paper and printed out the labels from my home computer and taped them on each bin so the kids could keep it all straight.
Take advantage of all the activities your local community offers to.....
Save Green
Bartow County Library - After high school, most of us forget about the library - but why? Where else can you get the latest best sellers, new DVD releases, even college courses on dvds - all for free?! They offer computer use and wireless Internet also. Need something for the kiddies? Try story time in the children's department. Teenagers? Our library offers Wii and movie nights. Looking for a book club? Join the one at the library - ALL FREE! For an event calendar visit: http://www.bartowlibraryonline.org/
Try one of our local museums instead of expensive theme parks! The New Tellus Museum and the Booth Western Museum offer hours of fun!
Bartow Buzz/Buzz Kids is a FREE monthly publication full of upcoming events, local businesses and even coloring pages for the kids. Use the "Bartow Bucks" found in every issue at local businesses around town to save $. The magazine is published by a Cartersville localwho really keeps "family" issues at the top of
The Kendal Companies offers several monthly groups that are always FREE. Check out our EVENTS pages for upcoming events such as, Creative Night, Scrapbooking Crops and Book Clubs!
More great tips on Saving "green"
When you pay with cash, put all the coin change you receive in a separate place. I keep a jar in my car and automatically put the coins in the jar. I keep another jar on the top of my washer (for emptying pockets), one by my husband's bedside and one large jar to empty the smaller ones into. You would be amazed how much loose change adds up every year! Better yet, don't keep cash on you. You are less likely to buy that candy bar and Coke if you have to put $2.50 on your card - and you might loose a little weight!
At my bank they offer to do the same type thing every time I use my debit card. They round up the purchase price and deposit the difference in a savings account automatically. Check to see what they may offer you.
Recycle your printer cartridges at Staples. They will give you $3 in rewards cash for every one you turn in.
Read your favorite magazines on-line. Saves not only the subscription costs, but paper waste as well.
Download your favorite songs instead of buying an entire CD. Pay only for the ones you want!
Instead of buying annual plants every year - buy seeds. You can start the seeds in your garage in early spring and have healthy young plants by the time warmer weather comes around. Compare .89 cents for a packet of 25 seeds to 1.98 for a 6 pack of plants!
Everyone could use a little more cash! Below are a few ways to...
Make more Green
Yard Sales
Although it's still a little cool to actually have a yard sale, it's the perfect time to plan one! During these last weeks of cold-inside weather, go through your home and gather those items you no longer want/need/use into one place. (You may want to try our 10 Things You Can Do Right Now steps to get motivated.) Try to keep your yard sale area organized by placing similar items together. If you have extra space, set up a table for breakable items and shoe boxes for small items. Put tubs or boxes under the table to separate toys, books, clothing, etc. When you have time, try to price everything. Let your family know that from now on, anything they don't use should automatically go in this area. (You can also threaten to put everything left on the floor in this area - it's a great way to keep kids motivated to keep their toys picked up.) As yard sale day nears, you will be better prepared, less stressed and - yard sales that are well planned tend to make more money!
eBay
If you've ever bought anything on eBay, you know that anything and everything can be found there for sale. Have you ever considered actually selling anything there? Although it's a lengthy process, it's quite easy and can be profitable - if you have the time. Great for items that are too valuable for your yard sale. For more on selling on eBay, click HERE
Craig's List
Basically an on-line want ad. Super easy to list and your listings are "area" based. Meaning, if you live in Georgia you can chose to list in the "Atlanta" area. Great for larger items such as washers and dryers, or items that need to go quickly - like sporting event tickets.
Etsy.com
Great, inexpensive way to sell/buy any type of handmade item. From cards to quilts. You create your own "store front" and sell you wares. Fees are considerably less than eBay and you hit your target audience.
Local Consignment Sales
Two churches in our area have bi-annual children's clothing sales. You price your items, drop them off at the sale and pick up your % after the end of the event. I did this with all of my youngest daughter's clothing and it was worth it. You do have to put each item on a hanger, pin a tag with your seller number and price onto it - which takes a little time, but it benefits you and the churches.
Cash4Books.Net - Use their search engine to see if they are buying the books you own. They make you an offer, you print out a pre-printed shipping label, you ship the books- they send you the money via Paypal. Simple as pie!
Wal-Mart "Buy Back" program - Simiular to Cash4Books.
Use their search engine to see if they are buying the old moives, cell phones, iPods, and other electronics you own. They make you an offer, you print out a pre-printed shipping label, you ship the books- they send you the money via Paypal. http://walmart.gazelle.com/
They say "give and you shall recieve" and I truly belive it.
Below are a few tips to help you...
Give Green
Most people are wary of donating to charities away from the big-named organizations. www.give.org is a great website for more information on how to donate safely.
Here are a few tips when choosing a charity and donating money.
When solicited by phone, if you are unsure if the charity is valid, request that written material be mailed to you instead of pledging over the phone. NEVER give out your checking account or credit card information over the phone. If you ask for the information to be mailed to you, any reputable organization will gladly send it to you.
St. Jude's and other well-known charities send free address labels in the mail. If you read the insert, you will find that they are asking for a donation in return for your use of the labels. Be honest - if you use the labels, send in the requested donation.
For larger donations, never give cash. When you pay by check, make the check out directly to the organization, not the group collecting the money. Most donations are tax deductible and a canceled check is a good way to keep records of your donations.
For smaller donations, give items instead of cash. Bags of groceries can be left at most church's food bank (www.goodneighborshelter.org). Extra sheets and towels can go to the local homeless shelter. Magazines, books, and school supplies can be sent to a Shelter for Teenagers (www.advochild.org).
During Thanksgiving and Christmas, the donations pour in - try donating at other times of the year when the charities really need your help.
Don't know which charity to donate to? Pick one that is close to your heart. Here are few examples:
Love pets? Donate to your local animal shelter (www.bartowga.org/animalshelter). They will accept cans and bags of food in lieu of money. Our local animal shelters hold birthday parties where guests bring in food and treats for animals instead of the birthday girl/boy. It is a great way to support your shelter and teach the children about charity.
Have a soft spot for those homeless children in other countries? Try your local children's shelter (www.advochild.org) or Boys and Girls Club (www.bgca.org). You can actually see your money making the difference in a local child's life instead of sending your money off to some other country.
Does someone close to you have cancer or another disease? Donate to your local chapters (www.gabcc.org) . Check with local churches for families in need of help with medical expenses such as www.abigalsmiles.com.
