~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
March 28, 2012

★~ Today’s Quote: It is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together.  Robert Fulghum

★~Eggs-ibit Day:

The history of decorating eggs goes back to pre-recorded time. Most cultures have, at one time or another, had a tradition of decorating and giving eggs as gifts. Many artists love the challenge of decorating eggs due to their unique shape and fragility. Goose, duck, and hen eggs are usually “blown” for this process, whereby a small hole is made in one end and the contents inside the egg are blown out. The egg is then carved, dyed, appliquéd, or painted. The International Egg Art Guild is a non-profit organization that promotes egg artistry around the world. Celebrate Eggsibit Day by decorating some eggs to eggsibit over the Passover-Easter holidays.

★~Washing Machine Day: 

In honor of the washing machine (in 1797 Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patented the washing machine), I thought I would share some useful information for anyone who may be in the market for a washing machine now or in the future. As I may have mentioned a time or two, I just love Facebook, and one of the many reasons why I love Facebook is the information my Facebook friends and I share with one another. I have recently cleaned my patio deck to a like-new state thanks to the comments suggesting the Pressure Cleaning Services in Mclean Virginia, I will always go to Facebook for advice. Recently El Morno friend Antoinette needed a new washing machine, so she reached out to her Facebook friends to ask for suggestions. As you can see from the conversation below, the suggestions flowed in. Antoinette made her decision based on the Facebook thread. A few months later when my sweet mom’s washer took its last spin, and she was looking for a new washer, I pulled up the washing machine thread from Facebook for her, which she read while my dad went in search of consumer reports. Whose research do you think my sweet mom followed? She loves her new Whirlpool Cabria, one of the washers recommended. Sometimes the following thread is comical; obviously, when it comes to washers, we are a little opinionated.

★~ Something on a Stick Day:

Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate Something on a Stick Day: fried butter,  peanut butter and jelly, fried ice cream, cheesecake, tiramisu, turtle mousse bars, Twinkie logs (frozen Twinkies dipped in white chocolate and rolled in cashews), octodogs (octopus-shaped hotdogs), chocolate-dipped cake, buffalo chicken, pretzel rods dipped in caramel or chocolate, fried pickles, corn dogs, fried cheese,  corn on the cob, cotton candy, hot bologna, shrimp, monkey tails (chocolate-covered bananas), taffy, deep fried Snickers bars,  meatballs, fudge puppies (waffles drenched in chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream), chili dogs, potato lollipops (four thick slices of russet potato deep fried with dipping sauces), fried pineapple (fresh pineapple dipped in funnel cake batter and deep fried), or rock candy.

I think I will try to make a meal on a stick tonight for dinner but not while jumping on a pogo stick — because I don’t want to put my eye out.

★~ Today in History:

♥~ 1881- Greatest Show on Earth – P.T. Barnum and James A. Bailey merged their circuses to form the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

♥~ 1907- Irving Lazar “Swifty” _ Hollywood talent agent whose clients included Ernest Hemingway, Lillian Hellman, Cole Porter, Richard Nixon and Humphrey Bogart (who nicknamed him “Swifty” after Lazar met Bogart’s challenge to make him five film deals in one day in 1955)

♥~ 1960 – On the cover of LIFE magazine: Democratic Senators and presidential hopefuls John F. Kennedy & Hubert H. Humphrey

♥~ 1968 – Hair Broadway Opening – The controversial rock musical Hair, produced by Michael Butler, opened at the Biltmore Theatre at New York City, after playing off-Broadway. For those who opposed the Vietnam War and the “Establishment,” this was a defining piece of work—as evidenced by some of its songs, such as “Aquarius,” “Hair” and “Let the Sunshine In.”

♥~ 1974 – A streaker (i.e.: someone running around naked), ran onto the set of The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. The clever NBC censors decided to blackout the lower half of the TV screen on the videotape to prevent an ‘X’ rating. The streaker was arrested, but released, for “lack of evidence,” said Johnny.

★~ Born Today:

♥~ 1899 – August A. Busch Jr. beer magnate; Anheuser-Busch; St. Louis Cardinals owner;

♥~ 1905 – Marlin Perkins zoologist; TV host: Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom;

♥~ 1948 – Dianne Wiest Academy Award-winning actress: Hannah and Her Sisters [1986]; Bullets over Broadway, Radio Days, Edward Scissorhands, Little Man Tate, Footloose

♥~ 1944 – Ken Howard actor: The White Shadow, The Thorn Birds, Country Girl, Oscar

♥~ 1955 – Reba (Nell) McEntire multi Grammy, CMA, ACM Award-winning singer: [30 #1 singles, 14 #1 albums]

♥~ 1970 – Vince Vaughn actor: The Lost World: Jurassic Park, A Cool, Dry Place, Return to Paradise, Clay Pigeons, The Sky Is Green, No Place Like Home, The Wedding Crashers, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie

♥~ 1986 – Lady Gaga  (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, American singer, songwriter. 2008 single US & UK No.1 single ‘Just Dance’, 2008 single “Poker Face”, reached number one in twenty countries.

★~ Did You Know:

♥~ March 28, 1797 – Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patented the washing machine

♥~ The earliest clothes washer was a rock in a stream.

♥~ L’Ossovatore Romano, the newspaper of the Vatican, announced that the washing machine had more to do with women’s liberation than the birth control pill or their right to work. A University of Montreal study agreed, pointing out that home appliances, including the washing machine, freed women’s time, enabling them to enter the workforce.

♥~ The average American family does 8 to 10 loads of laundry each week, for a total of about 50 pounds. Almost 90 percent of laundry is done by women. The average load contains 16 different items and takes just under an hour and half to be washed and dried.

♥~ Washing Machines use about 22% of the total water consumed in the average United States home.

♥~ Clothes Washers can be powered by renewable wind energy. However, climbing to the top of your windmill to add fabric softener can be terribly inconvenient.

♥~ The most popular nick name for a Washing Machine: Oprah Spinfrey.

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And now grab a cuppa and read the washing machine conversation  you have been eagerly waiting for…. please feel free to join the conversation- What kind of washing machine do you have? Inquiring minds want to know. Odd Loves Company! 

Washing Machine Conversation: 

Antoinette: I haven’t been washing machine shopping in over a decade so any suggestions, hints, etc would be very much appreciated. Top loader or front loader, recommended brands, any sales on, suggested stores round the eastern suburbs, good internet sites for comparison??? I’m desperate and already panicking wondering what I’m going to do without a washing machine for even a day.

Nicole:: Front loader-Takes a little longer, but washes better & uses less water 🙂

Antoinette: Thanks Nicole, I’ve always had a top loader so I’m interested in hearing what people think about the front loader. It’s a good opportunity for me to changeover of course.

Jo:  I got a new one 6 mths ago. Got a Samsung front loader & I LOVE it!!!!!!! LOoooooove!!!!! I have never had a front loader before & I was a little reluctant to change but I truly love it!

Justine: I’d get a water saving top loader. Uses the same amount of water as a front loader. I hate that you can’t soak in a front loader. If I had the money I’d buy a steam washer.

Antoinette:: ooh, a steam washer, I’ll have to google that one, but I’m thinking it might be out of my budget.

Simon: Go front loader, cheaper to run and spins stuff really dry. I am happy with my Bosch one.

Antoinette: Thanks Simon. So far it’s ….4 front loader -recommendations (1 by phone) and 1- top loader. I’ve only ever had a top loader so I appreciate any tips.

Suzie: NO FRONT LOADER!!! Mine finally died and i was so happy. it takes forever, you can’t open once it’s started, they take too long (again). fisher and paykel or lg top loader. can’t go wrong!

Antoinette: Thanks Suzie, that’s 2 for the top loader now. Sheesh, replacing the microwave this week was so much easier.

Claudia: Fisher & Paykel smartdrive top loader! Love it! I use it every morning before work, it’s quick and has never let me down. Even Liv & Daniel sometimes bring heavy duty stuff to be washed without any problems.*touching wood as we speak* good luck.

Wendy: I don’t like front loaders….for some reason they freak me out…..I like to keep how my clothes get washed a mystery…..plus I watched a horror movie once where…no won’t go into it…shudder.LOL:D..top loaders are easy to clean too…..

Fay: Def front loader… Takes longer but better results…

Antoinette: Thanks for all your suggestions. Oh geeze, I hope I choose a good one that will give me over a decade of good washing…whether it be a top or front loader. I think it might also come down to price as well. Claudia, I like your washing machine, plus it always reminds me of the sound of an aeroplane waiting to take off….ahh, fond memories of many and future holidays.

Jo:  My front loader doesn’t take forever…..You can choose time settings too which is great, so some things I just put on for 15mins or so… My samsung is fabulous!!

Julie: My lg front loader is sensational. Love the front loader quick washes doonas underlays it does the lot!

Antoinette: Looks like I’m not going to be able to make a rush purchase, this is going to take time to choose a good one for me, only one thing I’m sure of , it has to be a big sized one for this messy family of mine.

Prue: Had my front loader for 7 years and would never go back to a top loader. Has a quick wash setting too!

Antoinette: Thanks Prue. I have to say, so far the front loader is way ahead of the top loader.

Aimee: Mum told me to get a front loader. she always had a top loader and bought a front loader a few yrs ago and would never go back!

Antoinette: The front loader is certainly getting the thumbs up.

Josy: Front loader Bosch works for me.

Antoinette: Thanks Josy. I’m now getting excited about the prospect of getting a new washing machine. I really hated this one but held onto to it purely because it was still functioning.

Maree: Time to put in my two bob’s worth… We have had an ASKO (Swedish)front loader for 10 years. Been repaired once. It is fabulous!!! Gentle on clothes, tough on stains but does require you to be organized. You can not add items after it has started and the stain cycle can take a long time (2 hours or more)  so it is better to do it overnight.

Antoinette: Thanks, I’d like one that is tough on stains, especially as I have a son that plays soccer and likes to slide around in the mud.

Manda: Get one that is a large weight we have a four kilo and is wayyyyyy to small

Antoinette: Absolutely, that’s the only thing I’m sure of, what size I want. With my brood I need a family sized one that can handle a multitude of towels and clothes galore, I’m thinking around 7 kilos.

Kimberly: Front Loader – High Efficiency.

Steve:  Front loader for water conservation, energy efficiency and less mechanical parts. Be aware that many are cross sold under different names. We don’t have an LG washer now but have been impressed with their other appliances.

Bernadette: My brother had a front loader on wooden floors and the pressure from the spin cycle pushed his stumps put of alignment. Apparently they are better on a concrete slab. Have always had a top loader myself, but then again, I’m only on my third machine in 31 years!

Dona: Can I chime in?? I have a front loader and would NEVER EVER buy another one again. The top loaders today are so much better, larger washing capacity, have the exact same cycles to save water, and if you forgot something you can OPEN the lid and drop it in! The efficiency of top loaders is almost exactly the same. Think about it, they have to be to compete at all.. A front loader you have to stop the cycle (only in the early minutes will it even let you) and then restart again. If you are like me you will find that you need them on their pedestal so they aren’t so low to the ground, AND if they are on the ground they dance all over the place without them! My daughter just bought the newest top loader and dryer on the market. She got a great deal, and those machines do more, have more cycles (as well as the exact same ones on my front loader), and the drum no longer has that thing in the middle! You can put the baby, dog and 2 loads of laundry in at the same time! lol lol I admit, front loaders look great, but for the ease and simplicity of a chore that never ends, go with the top loader. You will be so happy you did!

Nancy: I was afraid of a front loader too! I was worried about the mold that can gather in that rubber ring. I purchased a Whirlpool Cabria which is FANTASTIC! Nobody does more laundry than I do and I am so pleased. It is energy efficient . It can handle extra large loads and it has no middle agitator so the clothing doesn’t get stuck onto anything. My very best feature of it is that the clothes are spinned so much they are practically dry. It’s great if you hang your laundry outside. Love my machine!

Dona: oh yeah, I forgot about the mold on the door. I am forever wiping mine off, and I leave it open a little to help it dry. I have noticed that with the constant wear and tear the rubber is thinning. I hate to think of the cost to replace that! I can’t remember the brand that my daughter bought, but she said the same thing about the spin cycle. She has actually taken things out and put them away (bibs and such) because they were dry!! 😉

Nancy: Antoinette, I know you like to air dry your laundry and that you have a lot of it. Do not buy the front loader. Over time they leak. Yuck!  I spent months gathering data before my decision. I researched it like crazy. Whirlpool is absolutely the most reliable. You can put huge blankets and comforters in this thing it is unbelievable. I think I could fit in there too!

Joe:  I’ve had a front loader , on the ground, for 4 years. It works fine( a Samsung). I have only one problem with it. It is in a laundry room that is a pass through to the garage. front loaders seal tight. One needs to leave the door openor else a musty smell can build up. That smell goes away with the next wash or a quick rinse & spin cycle with a bit of bleach. friends who can leave the door open say they have no problem. One other small thang. I used to be able to add bluing to the whites every so often. It is extremely difficult to do so with a front loader. Do stores still carry ‘bluing’ would probably be a more relevant question.

Carol: This is fantastic – I’ve been reading through it all because I’ve never known the real pros & cons of these either. Very helpful!

Antoinette: Isn’t FB fantastic for this kind of stuff! I’ve written down so many tips and suggestions and I feel more confident about asking questions and looking for my future washing machine now. I was still using a relic from the dinosaur days.

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