American Heirlooms - June 2022

American Heirlooms - June 2022

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JUNE 2022

Sleeping Near the Garden Is One Way to Camp

Warmer weather is upon us — although you wouldn’t know it at the time I’m writing this cover article in late April. Sunny, warm days should be the norm by the time you read this newsletter, but up until then, we have experienced a strange spring. A few nice days popcorned their way into spring, but every week we seem to dip back into 30-degree weather. I, for one, cannot wait for that trend to stop for the season. The start of springtime at our house means it’s the end of the school year for our children. If you’ll recall from a past newsletter, to celebrate the end of the school year in 2021, we took the children camping. They had long begged us to take them on this adventure. When we finally relented last year, we ended up at Trapp Pond State Park in southern Delaware. Once there, we did all the camping classics. We slept in tents, cooked over an open flame, went fishing, and snapped a few family photos. It was a great trip. And while Bethany and I are not ones for camping — we prefer our home — we both admitted it was something we ought to try again. Unfortunately, our favorite site was booked by the time we planned our end- of-the-school-year celebration this year. As I write this, we’re

still debating just how to recognize another successful school year with the children. Of course, one springtime expectation didn’t fail us: the annual return of the garden pest. And it led to a camping trip of sorts, I suppose. The

finicky weather has required that Bethany adapt some of her gardening habits to protect the buds that were sprouting, and the discovery of a nighttime pest wreaking havoc in her garden — specifically, the peas — was enough to convince me that a stakeout was necessary. So, Malcolm and I plopped down in an empty dog run near the garden, blew up an air mattress for comfort — and a nap if we fell asleep — and spent the night waiting and watching for the culprit. Eventually, Malcolm fell asleep, but I fought off the shut-eye. And sure enough, there the intruder was. I fired a few shots, and by that point it was already midnight. Despite the noise, Malcolm didn’t even stir in his sleep. I didn’t want him sleeping in the cold all night, so I picked him up and shuffled off to the house. Even though we were camping out in the yard for Bethany and her garden, I know she was happy to have us back indoors once again. The next morning, I found the dead rabbit. I was so sleepy the night before that I didn’t even think about searching for it. Since that incident, we haven’t had an issue with rabbits. Despite the strange weather, we have experienced a nice spring. I am looking forward to whatever it is the summertime brings with it. I wish you a blessed summer as well. –Ethan Zimmerman

SAYING GOODBYE TO THE NEWSLETTER

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3. CLEAN YOUR CONDENSER COILS. Dust, dirt, and pet hair can clog your A/C’s condenser coils and limit the unit’s function. If you’re careful and handy, you can use compressed air or a shop vacuum to clean the copper tubing and aluminum fins composing the coils, which typically form the side walls of your outdoor A/C unit. 4. TEST YOUR CIRCUIT BREAKER. It’s possible that the entire circuit covering your A/C has been tripped, turning the A/C off with it. To test this, turn your thermostat off and head to your breaker box and look for any switch in the neutral position. If you find one, push it to off (right) then on (left). Wait 30 minutes, then turn your thermostat back on and set it to cool. These four steps may be the only ones you need to fix your A/C problem! If you try them with no success, then it’s time to call in the experts. Of course, you can also make that call from the get-go if you’re not comfortable DIYing your household systems. We promise they won’t judge you! It’s always better to be cautious than accidentally worsen the problem.

It’s 100 degrees F outside. The sun is pounding relentlessly on the sidewalk. Vegetation is wilting. Meanwhile, you’re huddled indoors, basking in the A/C … until it rattles to a stop. This stomach-dropping scenario happens to hundreds of people every summer. A/C units across America are overstressed right now, and when you run your unit at full blast, it’s more prone to malfunctioning. Fortunately, you don't have to call in the pros for every little issue. Here are a few DIY ways to fix an A/C problem. 1. REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER. The experts recommend changing the filter in your A/C system every month. If you don’t do this, it can get clogged and cause your A/C to turn off! Replacing the filter could kick start a nonfunctioning A/C. 2. DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR THERMOSTAT. We know it sounds basic, but your A/C might have turned off because your spouse reset the temperature, the kids flipped the thermostat from “heat” to “cool,” or the device’s batteries died. Don’t rule these silly problems out without checking them!

Vacuuming your home would hardly be considered a cause for celebration today, but in 1901, “vacuum tea parties” were all the rage. That’s because it cost the same price as a maid’s yearly salary to have your home vacuumed, and the contraption used to do it caused quite a stir in the neighborhood. In 1901, engineer Hubert Cecil Booth witnessed workers at Empire Music Hall in London attempting to vacuum the hall’s grand carpets. Instead of sucking up the dust and dirt, the machine simply blew it into the air. Workers collected the airborne dust in a bag — although this rarely worked. In true engineering fashion, Booth thought there had to be a better way, and he set off to design his own appliance.

His first attempt was anything but successful. In fact, Booth almost died from sucking in the air and choking on dust when running his first test! But after a few tweaks, Booth was able to build a unit that could successfully suck up all the dirt from the ground. This large vacuum cleaner was driven by horses to various homes, and a series of tubes were fed through the windows into the home. There, the gasoline-powered device would use suction to remove debris from the carpet. (This method is still used in vacuum cleaners today, but without the gas.) This process became a spectacle in England’s streets. Neighbors would stand outside to catch a glimpse of the dust and dirt that the machine

collected from their wealthy neighbors’ homes. This also caused a lot of debate, as people complained that the device was too loud and caused a disruption. Still, Booth’s device became so popular among England’s elite — because they were the only ones who could afford it — that he was tasked with cleaning the carpets in Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mint, among other grand locations. It’s hard to imagine that such a common household chore caused so much conversation, but since Booth’s invention was the first of its kind, it paved the way for the vacuum cleaners we use today. Perhaps now we will have a little more appreciation for just how easy and portable today’s devices are!

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We know that God’s creations are beyond what man could ever conceptualize, and researchers at Ohio State University recently made a discovery that highlights the vastness, beauty, and complexity of His creations. According to Thomas Insights, researchers reviewed brain scans of newborns and discovered the visual word form area (VWFA) was already activated and connected to the portion of human brains that is used in language processing. In other words, before newborns have any opportunity to develop a concept of how to read and interpret words, their brains come equipped with a tool designed to decipher the written word. Experts believe the brain is “pre-wired” to read.

activated the visual processing centers of the brain, wherein, until children learn how to read, their brains decipher their world with image clues only. However, the discovery of the existence of the VWFA in infants changes this understanding of human brain development. Instead, this shows the VWFA is active from birth. As such, researchers re-asserted the long-held belief that communication, including speaking, writing, and listening, are active components of reading development. When babies and toddlers are spoken to, attempt to speak, or are given opportunities to “write,” they are not only developing the language centers of their brain, but they are also preparing to become active readers. This is what researchers in this latest study theorize, and they plan to continue studying this concept to unlock other secrets in brain development.

brain scans of 3- and 4-year-olds to compare how the VWFA grows from the newborn stage through early phases of childhood development. What does this all mean for childhood development? Speaking, listening, writing, and reading are all vital components of healthy reading and language development. It also reminds us that the Creator has designed intricate networks that we would only be so blessed to discover. With each discovery like this one, we are provided with valuable information to fulfill His intention for our creation.

In the past, neurological experts hypothesized that early reading activities

As for the next step in this study, researchers are now analyzing the

INGREDIENTS For the Dough • 1 cup warm water • 1 tbsp active dry yeast

• 1 cup browned sausage • 5 slices bacon, fried and chopped • 1/2 green or red bell pepper, sliced • 1 small onion, sliced • Black olives, chopped • Fresh basil, chopped • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • Parmesan cheese, grated

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp honey • 2 1/2 cups unbleached white flour • 1 tsp salt

For the Toppings • 1 cup pizza sauce • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven at 475 F.

By Heather & Megan

2. In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, whisk together warm water, yeast, oil, and honey. 3. In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the middle and pour in yeast mixture. Mix with a fork until combined. Knead lightly on floured surface and form into a ball. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–2 hours. 4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and grease lightly with oil. Oil your hands and stretch dough to within 1 inch from the sides of the baking sheet. (This also works using a 14-inch round pizza pan dusted with cornmeal.) Spread with toppings in order listed. Bake for 10–12 minutes.

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

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Inside this Issue

Camping Near the Garden Page 1

DIY Tips for a Broken A/C

Early Vacuums Created a Ruckus! Page 2

New Study: Reading May Be Part of His Design

Our Favorite Pizza Page 3

How to Create a Mental Health Sanctuary in Your Home Page 4

CREATING A MENTAL HEALTH SANCTUARY IN YOUR HOME

GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS. Social media, mainstream news, and cellphones as a whole can have disastrous

According to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, an estimated 26% of Americans over the age of 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder. With increases in the cost of living, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising tensions in Eastern Europe, that percentage could increase even more throughout the next few years. If you’re someone who struggles with mental health, you’ve probably tried all of the traditional methods to improve your situation, but have you made any adjustments to your actual home? If you’re unsure where to begin, try out these tips. GIVE EACH ROOM PURPOSE. One of the biggest interior design mistakes you can make is using a room for more than one thing. This is even more important if you work remotely. Each room should have a dedicated purpose. If you work from home, your office should not be in your bedroom or even in the area where you exercise. Plan out every bit of space that you have and add personal touches to it to remind you of what’s really important in your life.

effects on your mental health. When you’re in your home, try to minimize your use of these technologies. Also, try to keep your home as clean as possible because clutter and dirt can easily bring you down. USE NATURAL LIGHT AND CALMING COLORS. When designing your living space, try to incorporate as much natural light as possible. Regular exposure to sunlight gives you more energy, makes you happier, and even improves your appetite. If you’re painting, avoid any loud colors and use calming neutrals instead. Adding the right colors, natural light, and some plants will help create an aesthetic that will boost your mental health.

4 • THE SWISS CRAFTSMAN

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