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The Extraordinary Life and Times of Strawberry + more

Miscellany day!

The Extraordinary Life and Times of Strawberry

This short video about the life travels of a strawberry is a good reminder to use the food we buy.

Email subscribers, click here to visit the post and watch the video.

(Hat tip to reader Julie for sharing!)

Gratitude Physically Changes Your Brain

Anne from Modern Mrs. Darcy shared this article on Facebook, and I read it with interest, given my passion for the subject of contentment.

Gratitude Physically Changes Your Brain, New Study Says Inc.com - Mozilla Firefox 5262016 93509 AM

New research appears to show that when we practice gratefulness, our brains actually change and become more prone to future gratefulness.

If this is true, it’s like the opposite of a vicious cycle.   Gratefulness begets more gratefulness, which, I would assume, begets even more gratefulness.

It’s a small study, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the findings hold up, based on my own observation of how gratitude works in my life and in my children’s lives.

(related: my post about looking for the good.)

Lisey is doing a teeny bit better.

She’s past the dreaded 6-8 day stage where scar tissue forms, and the pain gets worse.     She’s been able to eat a little more than before, and I’m hopeful that she’ll be able to start the process of getting off of the pain meds soon.

Tonsillectomy recovery is just so slow.   Oof.

But at least we are past the worst of it and I have high hopes for what the next 7 days may bring for her healing.

I got Joshua signed up for driver’s ed.

A friend called to let me know about a special session that runs before public schools end, so I signed him up.   A nice bonus is that it’s $50 cheaper than the usual rate, so, yay!

2011-honda-civic-coupe-2-door-man-si-side-exterior-view_100326151_l

And it’s close by, which is awesome (given that he has to go for two weeks straight.)   That’ll save me a lot of time and gas.

Wouldn’t it be so convenient if people could drive themselves to driving school??   😉

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That’s all, folks!

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Sharelle

Saturday 28th of May 2016

With a sharp knife cut the apple top to bottom just right of the middle and just left of the middle so that you have cut the checks off each side like you would a mango. Cut each check in three or four slices again top to bottom keeping them together. Slice off the othe two slices you left on the core, top to bottom. Then reassemble all the pieces around the core exactly as they were before cutting and secure it around the middle (like round the equator) with a rubber band (recycle those ones from the asparagus bunch). Because no surface is exposed to the air it doesn't brown even with no treatment with lemon juice or fruit fresh or who knows what it is they use in those packaged ones!!!

ReneeCA

Saturday 28th of May 2016

I use powdered vitamin C (ascorbic acid). If you mix a small amount, maybe 1/8 t., in a bowl and slice your apple into it, then drain on a towel, it'll stay white for the rest of the day.

Patti

Friday 27th of May 2016

I love to send all four of my kids to school with apples in their lunches, but - has anyone figured out a reliable way to slice the apples and still have them fresh at lunchtime? I did the lemon juice trick but they thought they tasted "different" lol.

Kristen

Friday 27th of May 2016

Have you ever looked for fruit fresh? It's a powdered mixture that you sprinkle on fruit to prevent it from browning. I think it has ascorbic acid in it, and I'm quite sure it's tasteless.

WilliamB

Thursday 26th of May 2016

I thought something might be up, when I saw the strawberries were being some other things in the fridge.

Speaking of food waste, NPR had an article yesterday afternoon about food, from which I learned two interesting things: 1. Slicing apples increases consumption. Kids in schools tend to throw out whole apples but eat sliced ones (I tuned in partway through so didn't hear the stats), presliced apples have benefits (more fruit eaten, including by kids) and detriments (more plastic waste); and McDonalds kicked off the packed presliced apple market by including them in Happy Meals.

2. Baby cut carrots aren't merely large carrots ground down to small cylindrical pieces. They're made of carrots that are too ugly to sell. Not only did they save the carrot industry but they also promote carrot variety and reduce food waste!

JD

Thursday 26th of May 2016

My driver's ed was taught in my home town high school, free of charge, as a regular class all the sophomores took. I was shocked to find that my daughters had to pay for driver's ed and it was offered in a community center instead of school I really like the Life and Times of Strawberry. I have really been paying more attention to food waste. I get so mad at myself when I forget something and it's wasted. At the very, very least, I'm wasting the money I paid for it -- not to mention all the resources it took to grow it. Good job on Lisey's getting through the worse of the tonsillectomy recovery!

Stacy

Thursday 26th of May 2016

I took drivers ed in high school too for free, but they have now stopped doing that.

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