Emily as a Cute Kitten

Emily knows that her mother looks at photos of kittens on the web.  She wants everyone to know she was little and cute too once.

Too Many Toxins in This World

If you want a place to smell fresh or pretty and have the urge to use a room deodorizer, please think again.  Those are harmful artificial chemicals you’re putting in the air.  They are toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air you breathe. Exposure to VOCs can cause nausea, headaches, drowsiness, sore throat, dizziness, AND impaired memory. Long-term exposure may even cause cancer. 

Here is information contained on Getridofsmells.com from Oreck: 

But in spite of what manufacturers would have us believe, air fresheners do not “purify” the surrounding air, nor do they add natural fragrances. In fact, they coat the nasal passages with an oil film (such as methoxychlor – a   agent (www.consumerlawpage.com), to drown out whatever smells may be deemed offensive.

Various harmful substances in air fresheners include allergens, potential carcinogens such as acetaldehyde or styrene, dangerous substances such as toluene and chlorbenzene, glycol ethers, phthalates and artificial musk.

Paradichchlorobenzene (a white, solid crystal) has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals, and phenol (carbolic acid) is flammable, corrosive and very toxic. (Alive: Something in the Air, February 2004)

Even more dangerous, formaldehyde, (admitted by the EPA to be a cause of cancer), and benzene (a carcinogen for which the WHO recommends zero exposure), may hang around the air after the use of several types of incense or electric scenter. Not to mention all the other chemicals not mentioned here and about which we know nothing. (WECF, 2005)

Most of these chemicals have never been the subject of an in-depth toxicological study, and the effects on health and the environment have not been subjected to sufficient evaluation before the products were launched onto the market. When used in a confined area, like a homes, at work, or cars, they create an intense amount of toxins in a small area.

The following list of ingredients that may be found in air fresheners is taken from “Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products”, by Gosselin, Smith and Hodge, 1984.

Spray Type Deodorizers:

ethyl or isopropyl alcohol

glycol ethers

surfactant (quaternary ammonium salts)

perfume

water

propellants

metazene (4.0%)

petroleum distillates (6.0%)

aluminum chlorhydrol

bromsalicylanilide 2,3,4,5-BIS(2-butylene) tetrahydrofural

cellosolve acetate

dichlorodifluoromethanol

ethanol

fatty esters

lauryl methacrylate

methoxychlor

methylene chloride

o-phenylphenol

p-dichlorobenzene

pine oil (toxicity like turpentine)

piperonyl butoxide

pyrethrin

synthetic surfactants

trichloromonofluoromethane

wax

zinc phenolsulfonate

Wick Type Deodorizers:

formaldehyde (37%)

water-soluble perfume

coloring

water

emulsifiers

essential oils

aromatic chemicals (xylene)

chlorophyll

Several of these components are well-known carcinogens, and others have a wide range of immediate and long-term toxic effects on vital organs. The cumulative effect their mix has on human health is largely unknown. But it is safe to say that these products represent a real risk to health not only of allergy sufferers, asthmatics, pregnant or nursing women and children, but also to anyone using them continuously.

According to a September 2007 report released by the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), these noxious chemicals may even affect hormones and reproductive development.

Another harmful ingredient is called 1, 4-dichlorobenzene, or 1,4-DCB, which could harm your lungs, according to a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

The study – published in Environmental Health Perspectives – analysed the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as 1,4 DCB on the lung function of 953 adult men and women. Of the 11 chemicals studied, only 1,4 DCB was linked to a reduction in pulmonary function; a link found to be significant even when smoking was factored in. This could be serious for those with asthma or other lung problems. Reduced lung function is also a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. (WebMD July 27, 2006)

This chemical is usually found in space deodorizing products, such as room fresheners, urinal cakes and toilet bowl fresheners, and is used as an insecticide for moth control. It can also be found in things like tobacco smoke, paints, cleaning products and vehicle exhausts, and is detectable in 96 percent of population blood samples. (www.newstarget.com)

And now, because advertisers have made so many people fall in love with these products, I can’t visit my mother without getting sick.  I come down with the symptoms listed within an hour or two and end up being very sick by the time I get home, and needing additional rest the next day.  I’ve figured out I have been sick a good part of the winter and spring because I visited my mother in her apartment complex.  The management installed room deodorizers in the hallway of each building.  In addition, residents feel compelled to spray even more air “freshener” in the hallway during the day.  I am my mother’s only child.  The rest of the family doesn’t bother much with us.  I’m having a hard time right now and like to visit her.  My mother is elderly and doesn’t drive. What am I supposed to do?

Color Affecting Me

I thought I was happy with my version of the Fleidermaus shawl I was knitting with yarn from the Periwinkle Sheep.  However, a friend showed me this pattern recently:

This shawl, called "Color Affection" was designed by Veera Välimäki and is currently the most popular pattern on Ravelry.  Knitters have designed some lovely shawls.  I was inspired by the shawl below to attempt my own using 4 colors.

It is a very large and long shawl.  It can be worn wrapped like a traditional Danish shawl which appeals to me.

Occupie of Roaster's Whim

Occupie has been a resident of Roaster’s Whim in West Stephentown, New York   She was dropped off nearby in the fall of 2011 during the birth of the Occupy Movement. Fred found her on the windowsill one morning.

She quickly became a favorite and I heard a rumor that sales have gone up since she’s been there.  It says something for the business and its clientele that she quickly became very comfortable there, trusting and laid-back.  After the first few exposures to dogs, I haven’t witnessed her growl or hiss, even when visiting children paid a lot of attention to her.  Visitors happily share a chair or the sofa with her in front of the large stone fireplace.

One Friday afternoon when the Heritage Spinning group met, the half-grown cat was without a child to play with her or a dog to tease.  She decided to amuse herself.  Accidentally on purpose she walked into my yarn.  It didn’t seem to be fun enough. 

She walked further into the circle of crafters. Up on her hind legs she started to explore the contents of a basket, much to the dismay of the owner who gently removed her.  She then decided my friend’s red multi-color roving looked like fun.  She grabbed ahold of it and fell over on her back.  My friend wasn’t very upset since she started to tickle the cat’s tummy.  As she amused the cat I removed the roving from her grasp and gave it back to her.  She set the spitty fragment aside. 
 

Then Occupie decided to see if my yarn was interesting yet.  After pulling it away from her again I put the balls on my lap.  However, the cat thought the bright red and green yarn another friend was knitting with was just great.  She grabbed it with both paws and fell on the floor wrestling with it.  It took both of us to untangle the yarn and rescue it.

At one point in time Occupie wanted some petting.  As my friend started petting her, the young cat started doing the funny skating on the tile floor thing with her hind legs.  You can see on the left the young sheltie Gideon that Occupie likes to tease, staying just out of reach.

The Roaster’s Whim is the home of Liquid Assets Coffee, Tea & Spice Company  and is a combination of coffeehouse and community center.  It’s a delightful, comfortable, funky place with plenty of mismatched furniture, books and a pool table to help you enjoy your carefully selected and brewed coffee or tea.  There are delicious homemade desserts available as well. 

Emily in the Closet

One day when I opened the door to this closet, Emily just had to get in it.

Verizon Not Green

If Verizon keeps insisting on having plastic sleeves with Fios advertisements put repeatedly on my doorhandle, at least it could use plastic that was RECYCLABLE. Just saying.

Visiting Claremont, New Hampshire

Early last December I stayed overnight in Claremont, NH.  It might not have been the ideal time of year.  The week before there had been over a foot of snow, but all that was left by the time I got there was one dirty snow drift in the motel parking lot.

Finding the motel was a trip.  The directions told me to keep on the highway through the center of town.  I did it correctly but thought I was lost.  I had to drive through the center, turn right and drive through the parking lot, then turn left. 

Following Routes 12 and 103 through Claremont, NH.  City Hall is on the left.

Feeling lost, I parked in front of the library and went inside for help, which I kindly received.  The streets in the center of town revolve a small parking lot.  There are five different turns you can make.  I had to make the third turn to reach the motel.

This used to be the Hotel Claremont. I've found it listed elsewhere as the "Historic Moody Building."  The cars are in the parking lot mentioned.

The motel was old and the room was small, but it was very clean and had everything that I wanted.  The one problem is that the HVAC unit was under a small window in the back wall.  The drapes on the window were too long and the air went right up under them.  I held down the bottom of the drapes by holding it down on the window sill with my shoes.  Then it got warm inside.

I woke up in the morning to a bright blue sky and crisp, clean air. 

I was within walking distance to downtown so I walked there to find a place to have breakfast.  I had no idea what place was best, so I picked the most interesting looking place, the Java Cup.  It didn’t seem likely that they would have breakfast food, but they did. The window had a white Christmas tree decorated with fairies.  Inside were walls hung with local artwork and tables decorated with displays for sale.   Breakfast was very good and so was the pastry that I bought to eat on my way home.  The people were very friendly.  They were the type of people who didn’t mind if you made a comment as they decorated the little café for the holidays.

The holiday tree displayed in one of the Java Cup's windows.

Inside the Java Cup

The Java Cup on Pleasant Street in Claremont, NH

On my way into town the previous day, I had seen a scrapbooking store:  Scrapaholics... Scrapbooking, Stamping and More.  I had a close encounter with scrapbooking last year.  Having difficulty finding what I wanted, I sometimes wondered if scrapbooking stores existed anywhere.  The owner did a very good job of choosing materials that I hadn’t seen elsewhere.  The salesclerk was very friendly and helpful.  I no longer want to do the project I had in mind, but I can’t help thinking there are other things in my life that deserve commemoration. 

Outside the scrapbooking store

The large holiday display.  This isn't all of it.  There were shelves with paper on the right.

Inside Scrapaholics... Scrapbooking, Stamping and More

Here are a two more photos of downtown Claremont.  It was a lovely morning and a nice place to walk around.  People were very friendly, which is not so common these days.  It looks like downtown Claremont's struggling to keep alive, like too many other places that I know.

I’ve discovered that I’m not that different from my friends in my ambivalence towards housework and organization, but it must be done.  When I’m at the point when I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished, I can think about what I want to commemorate.  Maybe a clean and organized apartment!  (Ha, ha, ha laughs the crafter and the historian.) 

At least I have an argument against learning to spin.  I find that spinners are always willing to convince other people they want to spin.  Currently I have no room for roving or a spinning wheel.  I have to do something about my yarn stash first.