Need a new design idea?

Looking for that perfect pair of shoes?

Feeling that overwhelming desire to view hundreds of cute puppy photos?

If you said yes to one or all of these these things your one stop shop is PINTEREST! The newest internet search for all things image based. It only takes a few minutes to set up a profile, and you are instantly off searching for your hearts desire. You can simply “like” an image, you can “re-pin” to your own board creating your ultimate image database or you can actually click through and find the original post or website. If you have some time today please check it out at www.pinterest.com and as they say “HAPPY PINNING!”

Groundwork Lawrence has a WONDERFUL program that does just that called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

It is a way for people to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. Individuals or families become “members” (or “shareholders” or “subscribers”) of the CSA by making a financial commitment to the farm, typically at the beginning of the season. Members invest in the farm, and in return they receive a weekly “share” of fruits and vegetables throughout the growing season, establishing a direct connection to their food and those who grow it.

Why participate in a CSA?
Some of the benefits our past CSA members have described include:

• Eating locally—creating a direct connection to the source of your food and the farmer and increasing your knowledge about what can be grown here and when
• Access to high quality, fresh, locally-grown produce that tastes better!
• Better nutrition and health
• The chance to discover new vegetables, to share recipes, and to expand your knowledge of storing and preserving produce
• Decrease environmental impacts associated with growing and shipping produce
• Getting to meet new people and visit with old friends at the pickup site
• Save money!

Information found at: http://www.groundworklawrence.org/csa#what

You don’t have to be an environmental psychologist to understand that plants look attractive. But dig a little deeper beneath their beauty and you’ll discover the facts – the benefits of indoor plants go far beyond the aesthetic.

Recent research has shown that indoor plants significantly improve a whole range of aspects of our indoor environment.  The benefits cover a spectrum from physically cleaner air to direct beneficial effects on psychological health, task performance, illness reduction and productivity.

Here are the top 10 best indoor plants:

1. Angel Ivy Ring Topiary
Use this fast-growing angel ivy topiary (also known as wire vine) as a lush, living frame for seasonal flowers and bulbs that you can plant at the base of the ring.

2. Braided Ficus Tree
Easy care and adaptability have made the ficus one of the most popular plants grown by indoor gardeners. The variegated foliage and the braided stems of this ficus will really catch your attention.

3. Cactus Combo Bonsai
Bring a touch of the Southwest into your home with a miniature cactus garden. With its unusual plant forms and temperature and moisture adaptability, cacti are an intriguing group of plants.

4. Chamaedorea Palm
This whimsical palm will remind you of the old South. With wispy leaves and easy movement, this plant can bring a taste of the tropics to any part of your home..

5. Chinese Evergreen 
Chinese Evergreen is an excellent selection for beginning green thumbs because it’s a low-light lover and low maintenance. It’s also rated highly as an indoor purifier.

6. Miniature Herb Standard Topiaries
Standard in shape and miniature in stature, this trio of tiny herbal topiaries (lavender, rosemary and serissa) will turn any sunny spot into a celebration of all things green and growing.

7. Moth Orchid, Novelty Stripes
If you love fresh flowers, but your garden doesn’t produce enough bouquets to place in every room, try a living bouquet — an easy-to-grow orchid.

8. Ponytail Palm
For those of you who forget to water your plants — this is the one for you! With a whirl and a flick, the foliage of ponytail palm arises from an unusual swollen trunk and needs little attention to maintain its beauty by the droves.

9. Tropical Combo Bonsai
Cultivate a tropical garden in any small corner! With these miniature ceramic rock gardens, mixed with fun foliage plants, you can get a taste of the tropics right on your desk. ?

10. Amaryllis, ‘Yellow Goddess’
Enjoy a taste of spring indoors with the goddess of flowers, the amaryllis. This “Yellow Goddess” variation bears soft yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers touched with green at the throat.
Sources: http://www.ambiusindoorplants.com.au

Read More http://www.ivillage.com/top-10-indoor-plants/7-a-258925#ixzz1o52MVfQK
Sign up for iVillage Special Offers

Preparing to leave
If snow and ice are an issue in your town, be sure that the entry to your apartment community will be cleared for the moving truck. Likewise, talk to your landlord about preparations to clear outside stairs or pathways that you and/or your movers will traverse when packing the truck.

If you’ll be renting a truck yourself, add chains or snow tires to your list of questions to ask about the vehicle you’ll be driving. Consider whether you are comfortable driving a truck in possible adverse conditions, either in the town you’re leaving or on the roads en route to your new home. If not, you will want to seriously consider hiring a moving company who can handle the winter roads — and the stress — for you.

When hiring movers, ask them about their ability to handle winter weather and the volume of wintertime moves they handle.

Before you leave, be sure that the utilities in your new apartment are connected and ready for you to turn up the heat. You’ll also want to confirm with your new landlord that the driveway into the apartment community will be clear and ready to greet your moving truck, and that pathways will be safe to walk.

Protecting your belongings
When preparing for a winter move, be aware of how cold conditions can affect some of the things you own. Using commercial movers may mean having your belongings parked for days or a week on a moving truck, with little insulation from the chill. Some antique wood furniture, for example, doesn’t do well in extreme temperatures. Find out from your mover how long your items could spend outside of a heated building and ask them what they can do to insulate your most sensitive objects.

If you’re  moving with houseplants, keep them in the car or the cab of the truck (if possible); otherwise, store them in plastic bags with holes for air. This will only work if they’ll be in an unheated area for a short time.

On the road
If you’ll be driving your own car, be sure to have it serviced before you leave, making sure that its fluids are topped off, the wipers are sound and that the tires are in good shape and ready for cold conditions. If you need snow tires or chains, now is the time to get them.

Whether you’re driving a rented moving truck or your car, remember to carry ice-removal tools such as a shovel and scraper, as well as several bags of salt or non-clumping kitty litter for tire traction if you get stuck on ice. The extra weight in the back of your vehicle will also give you better traction.

Be sure to have an emergency kit with you that includes:

• An emergency blanket for each passenger
• Flares
• Flashlights with batteries
• Jumper cables 
• Tow rope
• Candles
• Matches
• Pocket warmers 
• Cell-phone charger

If your GPS fails (or leads you astray), there is no substitute for an old-fashioned road map. Have one handy that can help you get to your destination.

Keep on top of changing weather conditions with an emergency alert radio or a satellite receiver. Some truck rental companies offer 24/7 roadside assistance, so keep the number handy. For your own vehicle, be sure to sign up with a roadside assistance program if you don’t already have one. Bring water and non-perishable food along for the ride, as well. You’ll also want to have plenty of unpacked warm clothing available, something you may not automatically think of if the climate you’re leaving is warm.

Most importantly, don’t drive alone. Should you run into extreme weather that requires putting on chains or fixing a tire, you’ll be safer and spend less time in the cold with an extra pair of hands. Make sure that someone who isn’t traveling with you knows your planned route and your expected arrival time.

Whether you’re moving in winter to lower costs or because it’s simply time to go, know that you can handle cold weather conditions with the right planning and preparations.

Source www.movingtoday.com 1/17/12

In January, 1912, mill owners refused to adjust wage rates to maintain workers’ take home pay after the legislature cut the work week from 56 to 54 hours. By refusing to meet shop committees, supervisors hoped to stifle unrest. Instead, they provoked the bitter strike that changed labor relations in Lawrence.

-Source http://www.breadandrosescentennial.org/node/77

Join us tomorrow at the Everette Mill (15 Union Street Lawrence) 9:30 am to witness the re-enactment and procression to town hall.

AMY SWEENEY/Staff photo. Kimberly Aviles, a junior at Lawrence High School, was one of 20 students in Allshouse class finishing a mural, which will become part of a year-long exhibit at Everett Mill in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Bread and Roses strike. The mural incorporates images from the strike and student's perspective of Lawrence today.

My favorite tip: Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

Pet Winter Tips

Holiday Cookie Recipes

www.etsy.com

Kick of your holiday season by visiting the Festival of Trees in Methuen! This wonderfully fun and festive event ends this Saturday with a raffle to win a beautifully decorated tree to take home! They are open every evening until Saturday, so don’t miss out on this fun holiday event!

Festival of Trees

Geothermal Heating and Cooling