Baby Acrobatics: Kids Health Study
Grandparents resisting the temptation to overuse hand sanitizers after playing outside: In 2016 Finnish researchers added forest floor, sod, and planters for growing annuals to 10 playgrounds in daycare facilities where commercial floors once stood.28 days later the kids playing in these environments had measurably different immune systems. Their skin microbiomes diversified, their T cells went up (immune systems=healthier) and signals for allergies and immunity moved in the right direction. All of these responses happened within 4 weeks with a tiny shift of their biodiversity. The biodiversity hypothesis: Regular exposure to diverse microbes from soil, plants, and animals trains the human immune system.
Water bottle and dish soap bubbles
It might not be original but she’s someone’s entertaining grandmother and that counts for a lot. Griggly gives the giggles. And she wears a mean scarf and hat. I brought this jury rigged bubble set to the playground and had a modicum of success. It’s all in how you chop up the water bottle- no jaggy edges. Also think it may be a bit much for a three year old old to blow into the end of a water bottle so this might work best with 4 and up- or better yet- you do it and let the kid grab at the bubble stream and watch the kids in the playground ask to have at it.Bring extra bottles, rubber bands and wipes JIC.
Yuccas grow anywhere
Yuccas are often found in the desert in dry climates. This one above is ours and she lives in the desert that has survived for at least two decades in summers that reach 120 degrees - I’ve only seen it flower once in the last 3 years but she’s at least a few decades old! The yucca below is a baby and she’s growing on the Northwest corner of a busy windy Brooklyn NY corner. It made it through its first winter with at least 3 snowstorms. If a yucca can flower here it can live anywhere. Plant one in your difficult climate for endless enjoyment.
In case you missed it…The Big Ass Bag
for the little ass…es among us (which decidedly does not include me) Lululemon brings the bag world together with the bag it never thought was needed. An 80L bag, and at 22" W x 12.6" D x 32.7" H, fits 375 apples (for example) or 3 grocery bags of… apples, 8 Birkin 25’s, (you heard that right), a few dozen puppies, maybe a week’s laundry for a family of 4… at $248 it even comes with its own ‘mini’ tote. (It’s all relative.) And it’s selling like hotcakes.
