Seven Ways to Make the Most of a Moment - Week 9

Life is made up of many moments.  

Getting the very most out of your life starts with how you use each one. 

Here are this week’s suggestions:

1. Hang on to that booster seat!  Most people don't have enough storage space to keep a high chair after their kids outgrow using it. But, if you own a small portable booster seat that fits onto a chair, it may be worth finding a place to keep it.  We did - and when a family with a toddler came to our house for dinner last night, they appreciated being able to use it. 

I'm glad I kept this little booster seat

2. Change your furnace filters.  Regular replacement of your furnace filters can extend the life of your furnace, reduce your energy bills and circulate cleaner air through your home. I have always wondered how to know when they need to be replaced.  According to The Family Handyman, you should check your filters monthly by pulling them out of the furnace and holding them up to a light.  If the light does not shine through them, they should be replaced.  The Family Handyman website provides clear instructions on how to change them.

3. Freeze overripe bananas for smoothies.  None of my family likes bananas after they have gone soft - which seems to happen a lot.  No problem. I just peel them, break them into several pieces and keep them in the freezer in a zip lock bag.  It is nice to have a supply of frozen bananas to make smoothies with - and they work well in baking too.

Breaking bananas into pieces makes them easier to use after they are frozen.

4. As the weather heats up, remember to protect your pets. Don't forget to provide your animals (dogs, cats, horses, goats, ...) with plenty of water to drink and shade.  

5. I haven't seen a movie in quite a while.  My husband and I were going to rent Philomena last weekend, but we ended up with other things to do.  This movie is based on a true story of a mother searching for the child she was forced to give up for adoption.  Judi Dench plays the mother, and I always enjoy her films.

6. I have a favorite spring-time book.  Have you read From the Ground Up: The story of a First Garden by Amy Stewart?  I've read this amusing memoir several times.  If you are not a gardener, it will inspire you to be one.  If you are a gardener, it will inspire you to be a better one.  I discovered today that in addition to writing well Ms. Stewart also paints ... and she has a blog! 

7. Even though summer is coming, there are still days when hot soups sounds good.  I recently made a Broccoli Cheddar soup which turned out very well.  Tomorrow I will post the recipe!

Broccoli Cheddar Soup is colorful and tasty.

Have you ever read anything by Amy Stewart?  

Do you recognize the tulips in the top photo? I'm so glad they were not eaten by the deer!