Un Momento Nordico

Energy !

2012-04-17T22:10:00.003+02:00

A sunny day make such a difference. Finally the sun showed today, after a few dreadful rainy weeks and a grey dark sky.

Of course Californians are happy and beautiful people.

Just seeing the sunlight this morning made me jump out of bed and start the day with a smile.

Completed the 3 months of accounting that has been piling up.

Cleaned the kitchen and pantry.

Managed to complete a few washes and even get the laundry dried in a day. Such a magnificent smell !

Trimmed 6 rosebushes and planted 8 rosemary bushes.

Made an appointment with the vet for the spring check up.

Loaded Mad Men Episode 5 for this evening.

Let's hope for a sunny day tomorrow,

Gunn

TOKYO

2012-03-26T16:47:00.000+02:00

Just arrived in Tokyo and feel that I arrived home. A wonderful sunny day in Aoyama. Noticed a few green walls. That is the best trend ever.

Some of my first stops are one of my favorite shops , Drawer. They show a few good french brands and a lot of well designed own product. Feminine Chic and I always manage to pick up a new fine gauge sweater or the perfect tunic dress.

My first lunch or dinner is normally HONMURA AN, 7-14-18 Roppongi, Minato-Ku.

They serve excellent food and give a warm and stylish atmosphere. Freshly made soba. It was also our very favorite place in NY.

Yellow is a color that is starting to pop up everywhere , just before Easter. I am not a fan of yellow flowers and plants, but I have to admit it brings sunshine and Spring fever to you.

After lunch a good cup of tea sits well at Tè Hong, back at Aoyama.

It doesn't matter if you are in Tokyo for a couple of hours or a couple of months, a stop at Tè Hong is a must. They have a great choice of both green teas, Sencha and Chinese teas.

Select your cup for the cermony....

This is my arm and the Sencha I had.

Tokyo is really great. The best place for people watching.

Gunn

In Shanghai...

2012-03-25T17:22:00.003+02:00

A few days later....

...these figures greeted us when entering the Grand Hyatt Shanghai....having breakfast at the Cloud 9 lounge on the 87 th floor.

Is this great ? No, it's pretty scary, if you ask me.

I think I would be more in tune with this message.

My passion for health and strange erbs made me purchase some roots at this herbal store. Nobody speaks English so you kind of have to help yourself. I trust my intuition and smelled all the strange items until I settled for a black rubber looking root called

Chinese Foxglove /Rehmannia root, being fantastic for strengthen and nourish the blood. It is also excellent for the kidneys. Got a few other things, like Goji berries. Love them on the yogurt in the morning.

A nice visit to Old Shanghai teahouse for a good ambiance and a decent cup of Jasmine tea. If you like to avoid crowds, this is not the place to visit.

Unfortunately there was not enough time to see what I really would have liked to see.

Modern architecture, clubs, trendy restaurants and fashion stores. This was my first time to Shanghai and perhaps not the last.

It did leave me unimpressed...

Gunn

What a mess !

2012-03-25T16:24:00.000+02:00

This is an image of my office at 4 in the morning a couple of days before leaving for China. Somehow the time originally carefully calculated disappeared and the deadline was coming up for an important job to be delivered.

We had to put in some overtime in the studio. My four legged colleges are very helpful....

I have seen the office in better days.

I am normally a quite an orderly and precise person and pretend the same from my staff.

Everything was packed a few days later and taken to China and Tokyo.

We have a new task....

To coordinate and help Mila Schon with a new style.

Gunn

Cardamom Spice

2012-03-10T19:09:00.001+01:00

I unfolded one of my passions in the last post, Cardamom spice.

If we look into it a bit more it is a very useful spice.
Egyptians chewed cardamom seeds as a toothcleener. Greeks and Romans used as a perfume. Vikings came upon cardamom about one thousand years ago, in Constantinople, and introduced to Scandinavia.

It is common in Indian cooking, just think of Masala Chai. How great is that....

CARDAMOM

-when chewing on a few seeds, it takes away a bad breath.

- it is also used to treat infection in gums.

- it is good for the throat and lungs in general

- if I remember correctly the Aurvedic medicine use Cardamum oils a lot for treating kidney stones

In India it is regarded as a cure for obesity.

So, a good digestive.

For spice lovers !

Gunn

Garden and kitchen

2012-03-07T19:57:00.001+01:00

The Silver Spoon kitchen made the most perfect cooking book,

VEGETABLES FROM AN ITALIAN GARDEN.

A season by season guide to cooking vegetables the Italian way.

Wich is a a perfect way to eat healthy, economically, locally and sustainably.

The book is divided into 4 seasons and is explaining what vegetable is " in season " for the beginners. With instructions on how to grow them in your garden.

Collect the produce and how to prepare them.

Each season got a colored ribbon as a divider. It's great.

There is lots of classic tasty Italian recipes.

Another book I keep using lately is this sweet ( just as it's content ) little book of sponge cake recipes. It was made by Swedish Mia Ohrn ( with 2 dots on the O ) and Claes Karlsson

They probably love to "fika" as much as I do.

My very favorite cake this month is with a Cardamom spice.

I thought I would be very kind and translate this for you. it is worth making it, believe me.....

It takes: ( I now it by memory...he he )

2 Eggs

1 Cup of normal sugar

1 Cup of brown sugar / caster sugar

3 Cups of fine flour

2 Teaspoon baking powder

75 Gram of non-salted butter

1 Cup of milk

2 Tablespoon of ground Cardamom

I start with melting the butter in the cake-form in the oven as it is slowly heating.

Let it cool and add the milk on the side.

I brush the cake-form and sprinkle grated coco on it's sides. I prefer this to the normal bread-crumps. It is lighter.

Whip the eggs and sugar into a soft foam.

Turn in the flour and baking powder carefully.

Add the cardamom. I have a tendency to exaderating this measurement. I love spice.

Add butter/milk.

Pour it all into the form and bake for 40 minutes.

Leave some for licking clean the form...it is the best for an uplifting mood.

So enjoy it with a cup of tea !

FIKA is a word used called the coffee break at 11 am and 3 pm.

I am hooked,

Gunn

Green legs !

2012-02-21T09:54:00.000+01:00

I am crazy about the idea of green legs and green shoes !

Such a fantastic look for February.

Gunn

Last days of snow !

2012-02-20T10:03:00.001+01:00

Another lovely day with a bright sun and happily, luckily and fortunately the snow is melting.

I actually could hint some snowdrops showing through the snow today.

Spring is started !

Tarte Tatin - Miracles Are Sometimes Made By Mistake

2012-02-19T19:49:00.000+01:00

Ever since my friend Larry Jasse served the most perfect Tarte Tartin for dessert in

December I have been completely hooked.

That is, making and eating a Tarte Tatin every weekend.

The very first Tarte Tatin was first created by accident at the Hotel Tatin in France in the late 19 Century

The hotel owner Stéphanie Tatin, who did most of the cooking, was making a traditional apple pie but left the apples cooking in butter and sugar for too long. Trying to rescue the pie she added the pastry base on top and completed in the oven. It became an immediate success.

A classic recipe will serve 4 to 6 slices.

Start with making the crust:

You would need; 100 gr Butter, 2,5 dl Flour, 2 tablespoon Icing sugar, 1 tablespoon Water

Mix butter, sugar and flour to an even crust and add the water in the end. Leave it on the side for a moment.

Peel 1 kg Apples and cut them into four pieces, eliminating the seeds.

Next step:

Heat a cast-iron pan with 120gr Butter, 1 dl Brown sugar. When melted add the apples and move the apples around until they have taken some of the butter and sugar. Place them as the above photo at the bottom of the pan.

Cover with the crust and bake in an oven at 200° for about 20 minutes.

It will take a man to turn the Tarte around. Place a large serving dish on top and keep firm and concentrated...

I like to serve with Creme Fraise and perhaps some lovely Calvados.

It is not my character to follow recipes more than once and as I make the tarte every weekend it is always a new version and I think my new style is lighter and healthier. I use less sugar and add cinnamon and almonds to the apples before topping with the crust.

The crust is lighter with butter ( a must ) and other kinds of flours for an alternative, like Spelt flour. It can also be less sugar in the crust.

I think if you also make a pie every weekend you will get the hang of it....

It's fun and a perfect sweet for Sunday afternoon.

Gunn

Think twice:

2012-02-17T10:56:00.000+01:00

I think this is a great slogan for today !

Gunn

Thinking Slim

2012-01-05T20:51:00.001+01:00

Oh , how boring to start the year with a diet. But after a busy Holiday with too much good food and too many sweets it might be a good idea to return to those veggies.

I keep receiving many newsletters about cleansing options from different enthusiasts.

I will share some of my favorites with you;

The GOOP ( Gwyneth Paltrow) blog is suggesting Clean with Dr Junger. There is some lovely recipes to be inspired by.

OR,

Go directly to Mr CLEAN , DR Junger himself at the Cleanprogram. I am sure you will be taken by all the good ideas to eat light.

Another wonderful blog in Sweden Life by Lisen with lots of great ideas for a better living with some help from the nature and Lisen herself.

go to a site called Macrobiotics for some healthy downloads......

AND

walk for at least 45 minutes a day.

Happy new year !

Gunn

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2011-12-24T12:25:00.001+01:00

I wish You all a Happy Joyful Christmas Holiday !

Care & Share

2011-12-23T16:17:00.000+01:00

If You wish do make a last generous gesture, keep in mind my favorite Home,

Care & Share in India.

,Gunn

Christmas Eve in 2 days

2011-12-21T19:14:00.001+01:00

The last days before Christmas are so great.

We are busy wrapping gifts in all sizes and colors. Christmas is the most exciting time of the year for me. The atmosphere is positive, joyful and friendly. The busyness of planning, cooking, decorating, shopping and meeting friends for a last drink before Christmas.

Oh...social life...

Gunn

Anita's Ginger Cookies

2011-12-21T12:48:00.000+01:00

I am completely crazy about Anita's Ginger cookies....They are fantastic all year and very suitable for the Christmas table. The spicy taste of Ginger is wonderful. They have just the perfect amount of crunchiness ...

Many of them disappeared as I took this photo and are gone by the time this word is written...

Gunn

Detox before Christmas

2011-12-17T18:10:00.000+01:00

After running around Christmas shopping it is a pleasure drinking a Detox Infusion with Orange peel and Cloves. It is also recommended during the holiday when we tend to over eat all the good food and sweets. You can also add some regular black tea to the infusion for a Christmas tea.

Take a few Cloves, I would guess 6-8 for 2 cups and let simmer slowly for 15 minutes. I like it strong in taste and perfume.

Peel an Orange, needless to say...organic. Add it to the infusion and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.

An Orange was a precious gift for Christmas some years ago.

Try it !

Gunn

Christmas Decorations in my home...

2011-12-17T15:57:00.000+01:00

When Christmas comes around it is a pleasure to adorn....

One of my favorite and perhaps one of the easiest as well is a large glass vase with a candle and some greens. Sometimes Pine, sometimes Ivy wrapped around the candle. i fill the bottom of the vase with 2 cups of salt. This helps the candle to be still.Note, do not use sugar as insects and mice would love it.

Another wonderful easy decoration is a good looking flowerpot in the perfect size for a large candle. I normally fill the pot with sand where i place the candle. The empty space around the candle is filled with white moss.

I often make a wreath of different greens and use it as a candle holder. It is a great center piece for the Christmas Eve dinner.

There is no Christmas without an Amaryllis flower , they are so tall, proud and elegant....

A classic decoration is Pomanders, orange with cloves. It makes a lovely gift.

The scent alone of citrus-spice is very inviting.

I love a white Christmas but is weak for the traditional red as well. The bedrooms are normally getting some red details. Blankets, pillows and slippers for this moment. It gives a warm and friendly mood.

Red apples are never a mistake in a Christmas decoration. This time on a bed of pine branches.

The garden takes care of the decoration by it self....

Chinese lanterns are also making a festive mood.

The Rosa rugosa in the garden is left to seed for Christmas ornaments.

Here is a good example, a wreath made by a friend.

All the presents are very decorative as well, to keep around for the gift giving moment.

Merry Christmas,

Gunn

Santa Lucia Celebration

2011-12-13T22:01:00.002+01:00

It was the day of Santa Lucia today, as the day is over for me by now.

We had a fantastic day at Un Momento Nordico. We had an " Open Day " celebrating Santa Lucia " with the traditional glogg (mulled wine) , warm apple juice with lots of sweets and salmon in a few variations.

The shop has been open for over 3 years and I am very proud of having wonderful clients. This was our forth Santa Lucia Party.

Under the arcades of the Sanctuary Oropa, Biella ,there was also a group of Swedish girls singing Christmas carols and showing the traditional procession, organized by the community of Ronco,Biella.

The celebration, which is headed by "Lucy" and the eight bridesmaids with lighted candles before the Virgin Mary will celebrate the anniversary of Oropa, finds it origins in the tradition according to which Lucy, Siracusana girl of good family, brooke off the engagement to devote her life to the marginalized and suffering: It is said that with a lamp attached to the head began to walk narrow passages of the catacombs to distribute the assets of her dowry to the poor.

Martyred under Diocletian, Saint Lucia is revered for centuries in Sweden, probably due to the Christian missionaries who spread the cult. celebrated on December 13, Lucy, "bearer of light" is remembered by a girl dressed in a white robe and a crown of seven candles, which collects offerings and gifts to be distributed during the Christmas holidays.

Gunn

The power of Color Red

2011-12-11T21:42:00.001+01:00

A as in awesome red or awesome A ! Just Love strong graphic letters.

This red hooded sweatshirt in superfine cashmere is one of my travel favorites.

It's a Joseph.

If I had to choose one flower as a Christmas decoration,

it would be a beautiful Amaryllis belladonna.

Pretty cool Prada coat in a fantastic red. You will not go unnoticed in this. Red is a color that makes you feel dynamic.

Lunch in Tokyo.

The beauty and simplicity of the fish served on a lacquer red table, amazingly strong.

I am selling these beauties " kabbeleka "in Un Momento Nordico made by artist,

Tina Hellman at Sturehofs krukmakeri.

Red is not the color you dress in when feeling shy. Read article by Elisabeth Agnell.

How about a pair of designer socks for Santa Claus ?

The tree of Love ? All in hand crotched patchwork. Sweet !

"Una Coppa " in red glass by Italian Maestro Lino Tagliapietra

New boxes for the Loveliest Rose scent from nara heltnaturligt

The perfect " Little Red " in jersey

I found these mirrors at Few and Far in London. I think they are really very nice of "cut out" in metal sheets.

Red fruit for Christmas is very decorative.

The philosophy of Red - Read Jim Slate's article - here

Feeling red at the moment,

Gunn

Saffron Buns

2011-12-06T22:15:00.001+01:00

Or Lussekatt as we call them in Sweden.

I am in Stockholm this week, just a few days before the traditional Santa Lucia celebration and there is Saffron buns are to found in every form and size. I can also notice a slight happy childish expression on faces when the bun is eaten. It probably brings back wonderful memories from childhood or from the previous year...

It is also commonly thought that this golden piece of bread has a magical power. It was the pagan goddess Freya who brought the treasure in the darkest time of the year. The bread symbolizes the power of the sun.

We have them with coffee, preferably in the morning.

This is how You can make them at home;

My favorite recipe is with quark /cottage cheese, which makes it softer and less dry.

Plan on 2 hours for 50 buns. Ingredients for the dough:

50 gr fresh yeast

150 gr butter ( unsalted)

5 cups of milk ( the real thing )

250 gr quark

1 egg

1gr saffron ( i suggest to look for a good quality. No need to be stingy before Christmas ) half a teaspoon of salt

2 cups of sugar

17 dl flour

You will need 1 egg for brushing and 1 cup of raisins for garnish at the end.

Let's get started.....

Crumble the yeast in a large bowl.

Melt the butter in a saucepan (slowly so it does not burn)....I manage to burn everything. Add milk and heat to a finger warm temperature , 37° Stir until all is dissolved.

Add quark, egg, saffron, sugar and salt. Work the flour into the dough until it is beautifully smooth. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.

I love to clean up and have a cup of tea....

Place the dough on a lightly floured work bench. Kneed it smooth and glossy.

Split it into five parts. Plan 10 buns of each part, rolling into 20 cm sticks.

Make an S and place them on a baking tray with baking paper. Press a raisin into the S on each side.

Let them rise again until doubled in size for 20-30 minutes.

Just remember to keep the kitchen free of curious visitors and without draft..... In my house that would be 4 dogs, 2 cats, husband, staff and in-laws.

Now it's time to brush them with a beaten egg. I have the perfect brush from Iris Hantverk / Un Momento Nordico

Bake the buns in the middle of the oven 225° C for about 8 minutes.

Let them cool on a pretty kitchen towel from Axling's / Un Momento Nordico

Buns are best eaten fresh. Or freeze for at the most 3-6 months.

Enjoy !

Apples Can Help You Sleep

2011-12-06T16:41:00.001+01:00

One of the biggest worry of the day is ;

- How did You sleep ? - Did I sleep well or not ? - Am I getting enough sleep ?

One of the most successful pills over the counter are pills to help us have a restful night.

I prefer to look for help from the nature.

This is my remedy and it is tasty, simple to make and very helpful.

Take an Organic apple, cut it into a few pieces. Add it to a large cup of fresh water in a sauce pan. And the pinch of salt of course. Let it simmer for 20 minutes. Filter the Apple from the infusion and the apple goes in the compost...

Drink it warm in your favorite cup before bedtime.

Try it ! I promise it will help,

Gunn

The perfect bag

2011-11-26T12:31:00.001+01:00

The perfect bag is now available at Un Momento Nordico, Biella.

It's available in 2 sizes, a large tote and a small pouch to take out for dinner.

I am testing is every day and brought it on a trip and found it being a good size for carry on.

Fits the Ipad and all the other stuff...we need to log around.

It is made in a surplus of security belts by Karma. The material has a slight shiny look that gives an elegant mood. The color is black, going slightly dark charcoal.

Happy, happy ..... for a new bag !

Gunn

Feeling Light !

2011-11-12T11:49:00.001+01:00

Found this on my desktop today and I just can not remember where I found it...

It is lovely !

Gunn

Eleven

2011-11-11T11:01:00.001+01:00

It's a pretty unusual day, today. The Eleventh of November in 2011.

The number 11 symbolize change. Great !

We need it.

Particularly here in Italy.

During the Victorian era, the idea of the using the language of flowers to express one's feelings became very popular, and this practice is still in use today.

Pimpernel
- The Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) is a tiny wildflower of the lily family. It symbolizes change, particularly a major life change.
Heather
- Heather (any plant from the family Ericaceae) is a sturdy flowering shrub that is covered with feathery lavender or white bloom in the spring. Heather symbolizes transformative change, or something growing from the mundane to the extraordinary.
Lilac
- The lilac (Syringa vulgaris), which is an early flowering spring shrub, symbolizes growth. It stands for the change from ignorance to knowledge, from innocence to wisdom.
Black Rose
- True black roses do not exist in nature, but common roses are sometimes dyed or painted black. A black rose is symbolic of death, particularly the death of old habits, and rebirth into a changed life or state of mind.
Daffodil
- The common daffodil (Narcissus sylvestrus) is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, often poking its green shoots through the snow. It symbolizes the change of seasons, the triumph of new hope over despair.
Delphinium
- Delphinium are tall, blue spikes of bloom from the family Ranunculae. In the language of flowers, they symbolize spiritual growth and change.
Iris
- Iris (genus Iridaceae) symbolize the change from the dreary monotony of winter to the showny rebirth of spring and the renewal of the earth.
Snapdragon
- Snapdragons (Antirrhinum) convey the wish that all of the recipient's hoped-for changes will come to pass.

Regarding the philosophy of Numerology it is not the eleventh today.

It would be 8.

Number Eight This is the manager. Number Eight is strong, successful, and material vibration. Ruled by Saturn. Keywords: ambitious, business-minded, practical, leading, authoritative, successful, courageous, accomplished and organized.

If expressed negatively; tense, narrow, materialistic and forceful.

Numerology

Numerology is the study of the purported mystical or esoteric relationship between numbers and the character or action of physical objects and living things. Numerology and numerological divination were popular among early mathematicians such as Pythagoras, but are no longer considered to be part of mathematics and are regarded as pseudomathematics by most mathematicians. This is similar to the historical development of astronomy from astrology, and that of chemistry from alchemy.

( text from Wikipedia )

My birthdate ends up being the number 1.

ONE

Much potential for financial gain and accomplishment. Strong personal desires and needs.Self centered, but capable of hiding it from others though aware of it. The number one will spend time and money to satisfy material needs. Possess great inner strength can overcome any weakness in self. Has administrative and exective abilities and skills. very good leadership capabilities.

Hm......no comment.

Then it all depends if we believe in all this or not ?

Gunn

Smart Trash

2011-11-10T16:37:00.000+01:00

One of the best moments of the day is when I receive a mail from Whole Living

They always are featuring something interesting and useful.

This was their post on 4 of November and I could never write it so well myself , so I will just show You what they advised.

Please read the information carefully. It has so many tips and smart ideas.

See wholeliving.com for more ideas and inspiration.

Ever wonder if recycling is worth the effort? After all, in the face of melting ice caps and epic hurricanes, it's hard to see how a few less cans in the landfill will amount to environmental salvation. In fact, we're recycling more now than ever before, and yet problems like shrinking forests, dwindling oil reserves, and climate change persist. Can the simple act of tossing a bottle in a blue bin really add up to anything significant for the planet?
We turned to environmentalists and experts on the inside tracks of recycling and waste-and crunched a lot of numbers-to find out. Bottom line: Recycling has everything to do with climate protection. The process reduces heat-trapping emissions at every stage-and there's no better time than the present to step up the effort. For many of us, recycling is an event that ends at the curb. But as you'll find out, that's just the beginning.

Q: Does recycling really save resources?
A: Yes. Consider aluminum: Recycling a six-pack of aluminum cans saves enough energy to power a TV set for up to 18 hours or a 100-watt bulb for as long as 24. If we recycled the 50 billion aluminum cans that we dumped in landÂfills last year, we could have saved the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of crude oil. In all, a can made with recycled aluminum requires 95 percent less energy than one made entirely from virgin materials.
Other common recyclables offer similarly worthy savings. Recycled steel (like the kind used to make many soup cans) requires 60 percent less energy to produce than new material. Recycled newspaper and glass each offer 40 percent energy savings, while plastic saves 70 percent. But there's more to it than energy: Each of these products begins as raw material usually gathered from mines, oil fields, and monoculture tree plantations (which lack the life-sustaining biodiversity of the natural forests they often replace). By recycling, you reduce demand for those resources and limit support for wasteful and polluting industries.
Of course, that's not to say that recycling doesn't entail its own pollution and energy use. The best approach, say members of the growing Zero Waste movement, a grassroots effort to raise producer stewardship and turn waste management into resource management, lies in rethinking our all-consuming habits. "Recycling of any resource is good," says Larry Chalfan, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Zero Waste Alliance. "But it doesn't erase the impact of acquiring, processing, and shipping the raw materials to create that product in the first place." To make your efforts complete, Chalfan recommends thinking about the whole life cycle of your purchases. That means not only recycling, but purchasing items made with recyclable, post-consumer recycled, and simply fewer materials. It's a "cradle-to-cradle" mind-set-the green design principle that says at the end of a product's useful life it should follow nature's model and provide nourishment for something new-that's already taking hold in places around the world. From Oakland, California, to Canberra, Australia, many cities have resolved to achieve zero waste within the next 15 years by encouraging (and sometimes mandating) more thoughtful design, boosting recycling rates, and making composting more accessible, among other initiatives. "We'll never be perfect," admits Chalfan, "but we can get so close, it's definitely worth trying."

Q: Do all recycled goods become new products?
A: As long as you abide by local guidelines, nearly all of the recyclables you leave at the curb for pickup (upwards of 90 percent, by some estimates) will find new life in some form. Newsprint may not return in the Sunday paper, but it might help make lower-grade products like egg cartons or cardboard cereal boxes. A plastic bottle may not hold another gallon of milk, but it might show up in goggles or carpet, keeping it from the landfill for one more life cycle. Aluminum cans, on the other hand, are often recycled ad infinitum. They could also go into auto parts or cookware.
As for the small amount of material that doesn't get recycled, it's usually because it didn't meet local criteria. To maximize the usefulness of items in your bin, sort carefully and resist the urge to dump something in because you don't know what else to do with it. "If you're going to make new paper, plastic, or metal products, you want clean source materials," explains Robert Reed, director of corporate communications for NorCal Waste Systems, one of the most aggressive recyclers in the country. "You don't want pieces of molded plastic in the bales of recycled paper you allow in." What about those occasional reports of solid waste outÂfits secretly dumping recyclables into their company-owned landfills? According to Brian Taylor, editor of Recycling Today, a trade publication that tracks industry trends, such cases are rare and "blatantly in violation of city contracts."

Q: Does the "chasing arrow" symbol mean you can recycle the product?
A: The recycling symbol tells you nothing on its own. But it usually accompanies information about the material used to make that particular product. With paper, the arrows often come with a statement of how much recycled and post-consumer recycled paper went into the new sheet. With plastic containers, you'll see a number in the chasing arrows; your community may use this to tell you what is okay to include in your recycling bin (for example, "We accept plastics #1, 2, and 5"). In general, when the local recycler contracted by your city or town can find a lucrative and reliable market for a certain plastic, it collects it-and the more, the better. If not, it will ask you to put that material out with the trash. For more information, contact your neighborhood's recycler (look under "Recycling Centers" in your Yellow Pages) or visit the Web site earth911.org (enter your city and state or zip code for local details and contact information).

Q: What's the difference between recycled and post-consumer recycled?
A: Post-consumer recycled materials have completed their life cycle as consumer goods and would have become waste if they hadn't been recovered for use in this new product, explains Darby Hoover, senior resource specialist for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Otherwise, recycled content probably comes from manufacturing scraps that were never destined for a landfill or incinerator to begin with. This "pre-consumer" material should certainly be recycled, says Hoover, "but it provides fewer benefits in terms of supporting municipal recycling programs."
When shopping, choose products with higher amounts of post-consumer recycled materials. In doing so, you will help divert materials from landfills, reduce demand for virgin materials, support local collection programs, and "close the loop" on the items you put to the curb. You can find post-consumer recycled content in everything from shoes and pencils to laundry detergent and trash bags.

Q: Are we running out of landfill space?
A: No. Although the number of landfills in the United States dropped from 8,000 in 1988 to 1,654 in 2005, capacity has remained fairly constant because today's landfills are much larger. They do pose plenty of environmental problems, though. Municipal solid waste landfills, where more than half of our refuse ends up, make up the largest source of human-related emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas and potent factor in global warming. Ton for ton, methane gas traps 21 times as much heat as carbon dioxide. Other escaping gases contribute to smog and air pollution, and former landfills account for one out of every five of the more than 1,500 sites prioritized for hazardous waste cleanup under the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program. In short, landfills do no favors for our health or the environment; we should divert as much material from them as possible.

Q: In the big picture, can changes in private households really make a difference?
A: Yes. "Consumers, by their sheer force of numbers, have a huge impact on the environment," says Rob Wallace, vice president of communications for Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit organization that promotes community cleanup projects and consumer responsibility. According to the EPA, an average family of four that recycles plastics waste alone can save the equivalent of nearly 340 pounds of carbon emissions per year just by preventing emissions associated with the extraction and processing of oil and natural gas for virgin materials. Recycle a year's worth of Sunday papers, and you save more than 270 pounds of emissions. Become more mindful of what you buy in the first place, and the resulting effects can be profound. Says Hoover of the NRDC: "Being conscious about what we buy and how we dispose of unwanted materials has a positive ripple effect that reaches far beyond a single household or individual."

Q: Where can we go from this point?
A: After spectacular climbs during the 1990s, recycling rates have lingered between 30 and 35 percent of late-and some critics see no problem with that. Rates have more than tripled since 1980, they say, so why bother to do more? "You'd think we're winning the waste war," says Stanford University garbologist William Rathje, Ph.D., who pioneered the archaeological study of contemporary garbage. But while recycling rates have climbed, so has the amount of waste. In 1995, Americans generated about 208 million tons of it; 10 years later, we generated 246 million tons, an increase of more than 18 percent. This was a slight drop from 2004, but part of a dangerously steep upward trend. Rathje calls this phenomenon "the percentage paradox." "People who recycle tend to feel that they've done their part, so they can buy whatever they want," he explains. "So we're buying and using and throwing away more and more stuff, and doing that faster than we're increasing recycling."In short, there's no reason we couldn't be doing more. According to EPA estimates, as much as 75 percent of our trash could be recycled. The Curbside Value Partnership, a national consortium of curbside recycling programs sponsored in part by the Aluminum Association, reports that twice as many households could participate in curbside recycling programs with existing technology and infrastructure. With those numbers, we could prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking more than 75 million cars off the road. Getting there will take a little diligence, starting with careful sorting, avoiding excess packaging, and choosing durable goods over disposable ones. "The fact that recycling rates have leveled off after a period of substantial growth isn't necessarily a bad thing," says Wallace of Keep America Beautiful. "It indicates a massive and successful consumer movement in recent years" -- and shows how much room we have to grow.

Q: Does recycling "pay for itself?"
A: "This is a nuanced question," says Natural Resources Defense Council senior resource specialist Darby Hoover, because when you compare the costs of different disposal options, it's an apples-to-oranges endeavor. "In terms of avoided resource use, recycling more than pays for itself," says Hoover. But when it comes to a city's bottom line, you also have to consider factors such as varying landfill and hauling costs. For manufacturers, virgin materials often bear lower price tags than recycled ones -- but not because they're cheap to produce. Rather, waste seems frugal largely because of subsidies and tax breaks for oil and timber companies. Even so, studies show that well-managed recycling programs with high participation rates create more jobs and generate more revenue than other disposal options. So while curbside recycling began primarily as a good-hearted effort to preserve the planet, today's programs are as much about buying, selling, and trading resources as they are about conserving them.
New York City illustrated this new paradigm in the early 2000s when it attempted to cut costs by suspending some recycling services. The move failed to produce savings (and generated no small amount of protest), and the city eventually adopted an improved system that's expected to bolster municipal coffers by up to $20 million. How? Recycling diverts valuable metals, minerals, and fibers back to the stream of commerce where they are subject to supply and demand. As a result, revenue from much-desired materials (especially aluminum) helps cover the cost of processing less marketable ones, such as glass. Rising energy prices also boost the value of recyclables. The more energy costs, the more manufacturers stand to save by using recycled materials, which can generally be processed into new goods with less energy than virgin materials. Nationwide, the recycling and reuse industry is worth more than $235 billion in annual revenue.
By contrast, landfill and incinerator operations thrive by turning resources into waste -- at the cost of municipalities. "Most business managers now realize that if their operations generate marketable scrap they are much better off selling that material to a paper mill, plastics compounder, or metals smelter
than paying to have a garbage company pick it up," says Brian Taylor, editor of "Recycling Today", a trade publication that tracks industry trends. Much of the municipal sector -- which includes curbside pickup programs -- is following suit. However, most cities remain years away from breaking even because recycling rates remain low. Over time, as the tonnage going to costly landfills decreases and recycling collection expenses are offset by reduced garbage-collection costs, community recycling investments should begin to pay off.

Q: Should recycling be considered an environmental success story?
A: Not yet. In a society that throws away about 80 percent of products after a single use, it's dangerous to think of recycling as a cure-all for our environmental woes. "We have a system in which, to a large extent, people who design a product don't think much about the end of its life," says Larry Chalfan, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Zero Waste Alliance. As a result, garbage is part and parcel to everything we buy. And regardless of whether we burn, bury, or recycle, a majority of our discards cause ecological destruction.
Paper recycling, for example, can create toxic sludge as a byproduct of ink removal. But if manufacturers were held responsible for the disposal of their products (as they are in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and other forward-thinking places around the world), they might replace petrochemical-based inks with environmentally benign alternatives.

Recycling 101
While recycling programs vary from city to city, a few rules hold true for most curbside collection programs. To find out about your local regulations or learn how to start a recycling program in your building, neighborhood, or city, visit earth911.org.

Hazardous WasteThis group includes household products that have corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients, such as rodent poisons, paints, batteries, electronics, cleaners, fluorescent lightbulbs, and thermometers.
Do Read product labels for disposal information.
Do Follow the "reduce-reuse-recycle" hierarchy. Reduce the amount of hazardous waste in your home, and use up as much as possible. Donate leftovers (find out where at earth911.org). As a last resort, arrange for disposal through community collection programs (call 1-800-CLEANUP or your local solid waste agency for dates and locations).
Do Participate in take-back and trade-in programs for batteries, computers, cartridges, and some electronics. See company Web sites for instructions.
Don't Pour hazardous waste down the drain, storm sewer, or in your yard.
Don't Put electronics out with your trash or recycling. Learn about the impact of "e-waste" and how you can help at svtc.org.
MetalsDo Recycle all aluminum cans. (If you're not certain if a can is aluminum, test it with a refrigerator magnet. Aluminum isn't magnetic.)
Do Rinse out tin cans (the kind that soup and pet food come in) before putting them in your bin. You don't need to remove labels, but if they're paper and come off easily, recycle them.Do Find out if your program accepts clean aluminum foil.
Do Remove plastic caps from metal containers and recycle them separately.
Do Check to see if your program accepts empty aluminum

PlasticDo Rinse out containers before recycling.
Do Look beyond the number. Although products may have the same number, they may not all be recyclable. For example, #2 bottles may be acceptable but not #2 wide-mouthed tubs. Check local rules to find out what's okay.
Do Find out if your program requires removal of plastic bottle caps, which are often a different type of plastic. When in doubt, remove the cap and throw it away.
Don't Mix plastic bags, film wrap, or molded plastic with your recyclables. Put film wrap in the garbage and recycle bags at a local supermarket. Donate usable products, such as chairs and kids' toys, made with molded plastic.
GlassDo Check local guidelines to see which colors of glass (green/blue, brown, clear) jars and bottles you can recycle.
Do Remove caps, lids, and corks from jars and bottles.
Do Rinse out glass containers.
Don't Put ceramics, heat-resistant ovenware (such as Pyrex and CorningWare), mirrors, windows, lightbulbs, drinking glasses, garden pots, or broken container glass (bottles and jars) into the mix.
Don't Drive 50 miles to recycle a few bottles. If you don't have curbside pickup, find a local collection facility or buy-back center (often located at supermarkets).
PaperDo Keep it clean and dry. For many programs, a greasy pizza box or damp paper towels can render a whole bin useless. Limit moisture by putting recycling out on collection day, rather than the night before.
Do Flatten cardboard.
Do Recycle junk mail, including envelopes with plastic windows, unless local guidelines specify not to.
Do Recycle magazines after removing all samples and non-paper inserts.
Don't Throw in wax paper, Styrofoam, or heavily soiled paper (like oil-soaked fast-food wrappers).
Don't Bundle papers together with tape, wire, plastic, or rope. If local guidelines allow bundling, use lightweight string.

Did You Know?
The first recycling center in the United States opened in 1896 in New York City.
The first citywide curbside collection program began in University City, Missouri, in 1974.
In 2000, the Environmental Protection Agency established a link between global warming and waste management, showing that waste reduction and recycling help stop climate change.
Americans go through nearly 100 million plastic bottles every day and recycle roughly 25 percent of them.
Recycling a six-pack of aluminum cans saves enough energy to power a television for up to 18 hours or a 100-watt bulb for as long as 24 hours. If you throw away two cans instead of recycling them, it wastes the energy equivalent to a 12-ounce can full of gasoline.
The average fee for dumping a ton of waste into a landfill ranges from $14 in California to $73 in Massachusetts.
Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job. Burying that amount in a landfill creates six jobs, and recycling it creates 36 jobs.
In a survey of Americans with access to curbside recycling, the Curbside Value Partnership, an industry-funded consortium of communities with curbside recycling, found that baby boomers report the highest recycling rates, with 80 percent saying they always recycle. Young adults report the lowest, with only 45 percent saying they always recycle and 15 percent saying they never do.
Paper constitutes more than 30 percent of the waste generated in the United States.
The chasing-arrow symbol represents the three stages of recycling: collection, processing, and reuse. A student designed it in 1970 for a contest sponsored by cardboard-box manufacturer Container Corporation of America.
Read On
Want more dirt on waste and recycling? Wade through the mysteries and histories of our discards with these fresh reads.
"Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash", by Elizabeth Royte
"Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage", by Heather Rogers
"Recycle: The Essential Guide", edited by Duncan McCorquodale and Cigalle Hanaor
"Rubbish! The Archaeology of Garbage", by William Rathje and Cullen Murphy
Text by Josie Garthwaite.

Un Momento Nordico

Energy !

TOKYO

In Shanghai...

What a mess !

Cardamom Spice

It is common in Indian cooking, just think of Masala Chai. How great is that....

CARDAMOM -when chewing on a few seeds, it takes away a bad breath.

- it is also used to treat infection in gums. - it is good for the throat and lungs in general - if I remember correctly the Aurvedic medicine use Cardamum oils a lot for treating kidney stones In India it is regarded as a cure for obesity. So, a good digestive.

For spice lovers ! Gunn

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CARDAMOM

-when chewing on a few seeds, it takes away a bad breath.

- it is also used to treat infection in gums.

- it is good for the throat and lungs in general

- if I remember correctly the Aurvedic medicine use Cardamum oils a lot for treating kidney stones

In India it is regarded as a cure for obesity.

So, a good digestive.

For spice lovers !

Gunn