American Heirlooms - February 2021

American Heirlooms - February 2021

302-653-2411

FEBRUARY 2021

This past December, my family and I found ourselves sitting on my brother’s dining room floor, hidden and eagerly waiting for him to come home. His wife had arranged for us to travel the eight hours from Delaware to their home in Vermont to surprise him for his birthday. We try to see each other at least once each year, but it had been two years since we had been the ones to travel to Vermont instead of his family traveling to Delaware. We gladly made the trek for the celebration his family had planned! And the moment of the big reveal had arrived. We couldn’t wait for him to walk through the front door. When he finally came home, we all started singing "Happy Birthday." He was like a deer in headlights! He was so shocked to see me, Bethany, and our children. After we said our hellos and explained all the sneaking to keep the plans under his radar, that’s when the fun really began. While we were there, we were excited to experience Vermont snow and subzero weather. (I guess “excited” depends on your opinion of snow and cold weather!) On Saturday, we bundled up to go outside and headed for the sledding hill. Once we shooed the cows away from the hill, we were able to take off.

There was a steep hill that was great to race down at first, but after one heart-racing ride, I was much happier taking the less-steep hill next to it. The landing was much easier, too! When the adults weren’t reliving their youth on the sledding hills, we really enjoyed watching our children play with their cousins, especially as they slid down and ran up the hill over and over again. We also did some work in Vermont, too. My brother builds outdoor furniture for a local manufacturer, and he recently received an order for some Adirondack chairs. We helped him prepare his shop for this production. It was nice to swap ideas with him and share our expertise together. All told, it was a short but great weekend adventure to Vermont. We really enjoyed the time we spent with my brother and his family, and surprising him was the cherry on top of the whole adventure. It’s something we will remember for a long time, especially as we learned to appreciate our mild winters without negative-degree weather.

We’re already looking forward to our next visit!

–Ethan Zimmerman

They had sleds, snowboards, and toboggans, so you had your pick of which vehicle you wanted to hazard your life with.

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In the famous Swiss novel "Heidi,” a little girl recovers from her fragile health — both physically and mentally — by spending time in the mountains. There are plenty of anecdotal stories about the medicinal effects of mountain air, but how much is supported by research? Here's what there is evidence for so far: Cleaner, Pollution-Free Air One basic but important benefit of getting to a higher altitude is the escape from city pollution. It may surprise some city dwellers that air pollution is linked to asthma attacks for those with sensitive lungs and also to more serious conditions. Research suggests that prolonged exposure to air pollution may lead to chronic illnesses such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and other lung diseases.

One study from 2017 even found that living at a higher elevation is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that include high blood pressure, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol.

Even more interesting, mountain air may passively improve your weight loss journey as well.

Natural Weight Loss One German study followed 20 obese men who lived in an environmental research station below the highest peak in the country. The subjects reached the peak effortlessly by railway or cable car, and they were allowed to eat as much as they liked. By the end of the week, however, each had lost an average of 1.5 kilograms or 3.3 pounds. Two factors are thought to have contributed to the weight loss: A naturally decreased appetite from the altitude (the men ate nearly 700 fewer calories than usual) and an increased metabolic rate. While there is still more to learn about the potential benefits of spending time in the mountains, these three studies give the greenlight for more high-altitude adventures.

Up in the mountains, you’ll likely be able to breathe a little easier.

Reduced Risk of Obesity and Heart Disease People who spend more time at high altitudes may also experience a decreased appetite and lower risk of obesity.

If you have been cooped up all winter, February is the perfect time to get outside and explore. Enjoy the quiet stillness of local wildlife during the winter or hear the woods come to life again as spring begins. Here are three great spots to do just that. Lums Pond State Park Hours: Every day from 8 a.m. to sunset Where: 1068 Howell School Road, Bear Lums Pond State Park has been an official Delaware state park for nearly 60 years, but the history of this spot goes beyond that. It was once the site of St. Georges Creek and used by Native Americans as hunting land. Today, Lums Pond sits along the park as a result of the C&D Canal, and it’s become the perfect spot for explorers. Hike, bike, or ride your horse along the park’s trails, or plan your next paddling

and fishing adventure in the pond. If the weather is right, you can even take a bird’s eye view of the park with Go Ape’s Treetop Adventure Course! Learn more about the park by calling 302‑368-6989. Sudlersville Park Hours: Every day from dawn to dusk Where: 200 E. Main St., Sudlersville, Maryland Located just over the border in Sudlersville, Maryland, Sudlersville Park has become a family favorite for Ethan Zimmerman and his family. There’s plenty for everyone in the family to enjoy at the park, such as a picnic at one of the many tables or pavilions. Play a game of soccer, tennis, volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, baseball, or lacrosse at one of the many fields and courts at

the park. There’s even a playground for the little ones to roam around! For more information, call James Miller at 410‑778‑4430. Delaware Seashore State Park Hours: Every day from 8 a.m. to sunset Where: 39415 Inlet Road, Rehoboth Beach Looking for a bigger adventure? Drive south and check out Delaware Seashore State Park. Aptly named, the park sits along the Atlantic Ocean and the Rehoboth and Indian River bays. It’s a great spot for fishermen, surfers, kayakers, and sightseers. If it’s too cold to hit the water, take a hike through Burton Island or learn more about the history of the park at the Life-Saving Station. Discover what’s in store at this park by calling 302-227-2800.

2 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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INGREDIENTS • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 3 tbsp sugar • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup butter, softened • 1 21-oz can cherry pie filling

• 1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened • 1/3 cup sugar • 1 egg • 1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven at 350 F. 2. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. 3. Add butter and stir until combined. 4. Press into bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. 5. Bake 10–12 minutes or until lightly browned; remove from oven. 6. Pour pie filling into crust. 7. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. 8. Carefully spread around outside edges of pie, leaving a 3-inch circle of cherries exposed in the center. 9. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until edges begin to brown. 10. Cool on a wire rack. 11. Refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Photo Credit: Heather Brooke Zimmerman

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Brought to you by KCS Builders of American Heirlooms and Penns Creek Furniture 291 Blackiston Rd. • Clayton, DE 19938 Phone: (302) 653-2411 • Email: [email protected] The Swiss Craftsman

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Inside this Issue

A Surprise Trip to Vermont Page 1

Can Mountain Air Actually Improve Your Health?

Explore Our Region This Winter Page 2

Learn About This Super White Paint!

Cherry Cheese Pie Page 3

A Few Ideas to Better Insulate Your Home Page 4

Are you feeling a draft, even when you’re nestled on the couch? Even though good home insulation is important every part of the year, chances are you notice its absence much more in the winter months. But before you call in a construction crew to tear down your walls and fix your insulation, try these simple, budget-friendly ways to keep heat inside your home. Weatherproof your doors. If you can feel chilly air coming through the crack between the bottom of your door and your hardwood floors, putting foam or rubber weatherstripping under your doors can stop the cold air from getting into your home and circulating through every room. Even if the crack between your floor and your door is extra large, you can double up on weatherstripping. Plus, it can be easily removed when necessary! Install thick curtains over your windows. If you have drafty windows, invest in some thick curtains. Light curtains are great when the weather is warmer, but a good set of heavy curtains will keep the heat from escaping. For added insulation, you can also find curtains with thermal backs. However, if saving money is more important than aesthetics

for you, you can also insulate your windows by blow-drying some plastic wrap onto the windows to fill any holes.

Keep up with your HVAC maintenance. Maintaining your HVAC system means changing out filters once a month, cleaning ducts regularly, and watching for leaks in the air duct system. (Some key indicators of leaks are higher energy bills during the summer or dust accumulating more in one room than in others.) You can also maintain your HVAC system by simply moving furniture out of the way of vents so it can disperse heat more equally throughout your home. The cold may be sticking around for a while longer. But with some proper insulation, you won’t have to be reminded of that when you’re indoors, all while saving a pretty penny.

4 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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