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Fabric Care 101: How to Depill a Sweater

Why is it that by April, that sweater you unwrapped during the holidays has those pesky pills under the arms and along the sides? Pilling occurs when fibers break down, separate, and then clump together in little balls. Pilling can occur on wool, cotton, cashmere, even polyester garments, usually at a point where two fabrics rub together.

Diary of a New Homemaker

Fred Rogers Day

Fred Rogers may be the closest thing our secular society has to a saint. He was awesome, by every report of anyone who had anything to do with him exactly as he appeared on television. Even gorillas loved him, and he loved everybody.

Consequently, I am 100% behind making March 20th, his birthday, a national holiday.

Okay, it's not likely we'll get a real live federal holiday. But we don't need one. No, if we can celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day, by golly, we can celebrate Mr. Rogers Day. We are the Internet. No one tells us what to do, unless we are China, in which case we just use proxy servers.

I intend to celebrate Mr. Rogers Day this March 20th by being extra kind and patient, especially on the Internet, and by putting my shoes and sweaters away when I take them off. No, in all seriousness, I intend to emulate Fred Rogers as much as possible. Maybe it'll rub off enough that I can do it more days of the year than just Mr. Rogers Day.

A Seasonal Taste:

Pack a Picnic

hat better way to welcome spring than a picnic! After months of eating at the kitchen table or around the coffee table, a change of scenery is much needed. The robins and bluebirds provide the music and in many places, the bugs are at a minimum. The kids are raring to get outside, so pick a spot -- park, backyard, or the beach -- and plan a picnic.

Ask the kids to help with the planning. What's the menu? Just snacks or a full meal? PB&J, cold fried chicken, and hero-style sandwiches are favorites that the kids can help assemble.

A Taste of the Hands at Home Section:

From House to Home 8/8/07

• Tired of hardwood floors? The new trend today is bamboo. It can be dyed a color or kept a natural hue which gives a beach-like feel to your home. But buyer beware: cheap bamboo flooring can buckle and delaminate.
• If you love tea, start collecting tea items that will enhance your tea-drinking experience when the weather turns a bit cooler. There are tea strainers in various shapes, all sorts of teapots, cups, and trays to make the ritual of sipping tea more fun.

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