Family and Consumer Sciences

Kentucky Quilt Trail
Madison County Project
Have you seen all the quilt blocks going up on barns around the county?  They are beautiful, eye catching and recognize two important Madison County traditions, tobacco farming and quilting. 

Click on the Barn Quilt for more information...

Planning on a day trip this summer? Check out the Quilt Trail Brochure and map for a fun trip around Madison County. (For those of you interested in "latitude and longitude" see the Quilt Trail Coordinates.)

Fall Antique Classes Have Been Scheduled!
This Fall Antique Class Flyer will give you all the details. Don't delay in your registration - these classes fill up fast!

Quick Links...

• Family & Consumer Sciences Newsletter
  

• Consumer Information - Television Converter Box Information
  

• Madison County Extension Homemakers Upcoming Events
  

• Health Bulletins from the HEEL Office at the University of Kentucky
  

• Farmers' Market Cookbook Recipe Submission Form - complete and return before Friday, May 30, 2008!
  

• See a list of Family & Consumer Sciences Publication you can view and print.

Kentucky Family Policy "Blog"

www.kyfp.org

This blog is dedicated to examining issues facing the Commonwealth of Kentucky and providing a nonpartisan, family perspective on public policy making. Through the use of issues identification, review of research, and consultations with experts, we hope to provide a forum for Kentuckians to review and discuss these issues. The opinions expressed herein belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Kentucky, its affiliates, or its representatives.

Timely Tips and Information...

"Phantom Load" a Drain on your Wallet
A dripping faucet can make a water bill soar, so rather than watch money go down the drain, you’d probably grab a wrench or call a plumber. But there are equally expensive leaks elsewhere in your house, and you probably aren’t aware of them. They’re called phantom loads, and they’re constantly draining electric current.

The term phantom load refers to the amount of energy electronic devices and appliances use when you think they’re turned off. Instead, these devices go into standby or sleep modes. And though it’s just a trickle, it can end up costing you a great deal over the course of the year.

You may think you’ve turned off your television, DVD player or computer, but the fact is, as long as the device is plugged into the wall, it is pulling current to run timers, remote sensors or programming. It is estimated that 25 percent of the electricity used by home electronics is consumed when the device is “off.”

Some of those energy-sucking devices may surprise you. A cordless phone base pulls nearly 29 kilowatt hours of electricity over the course of a year. That’s the equivalent of 483 60-watt light bulbs burning for one hour. A DVR uses 111 kilowatt hours. Constantly keeping your desktop computer plugged in eats 311 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. And a plasma TV? It’s the all-time winner, drawing 1,452 kilowatt hours per year or the equivalent of using 24,200 60-watt light bulbs for one hour.

Not only is that a drain on the bank account, but it’s hard on the environment. Depending upon your total energy usage, up to 10 percent could be going toward maintaining home electronics and appliances when you’re not using them. Multiply that amount by every home in the state and then every home in the country. That’s a lot of fossil fuel being burned to generate electricity, not to mention the resulting carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

What’s the answer? Unplug electronic devices when not in use. A convenient way to do that is to plug multiple devices into a power strip, which you can easily turn off when you’re finished using the equipment. Group devices that have common usage. For instance, plug a computer hard drive, monitor, modem and printer into the same power strip. With one touch, the entire system is taken off the grid.

And don’t forget about a laptop computer’s transformer. If you disconnect the cord from the computer, but leave it plugged into the wall, it will still draw power. Unplug it to cut the current.  

In the kitchen, unplug the coffee maker and microwave when not in use. In the garage, don’t keep the battery chargers plugged into the wall after the batteries are recharged. They will continue to pull a trickle of current.

Though you may not be able to unplug every device in your home, every little bit counts. In the long run, those little bits will make a big difference for both your budget and Mother Earth.

For more information on energy conservation, contact the Madison Cooperative Extension Service at 859-623-4072.

(Sources: Robert Fehr, extension professor, Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Reader’s Digest)

Quilt Show!
If you are lucky enough to have some family quilts, you may have wondered about the best way to care for and store them. Handmade antique quilts provide a link to your family heritage. Their sentimental and monetary value makes proper care and handling essential.

The Extension Homemaker Happy Hands Quilt Club is having a Quilt Show, Thursday, June 5^th from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will have some of their beautiful and unique quilts on display. They will also be answering questions and giving advice on care and cleaning of old quilts. The public is invited to view the quilts and take advantage of the free advice.

If you can’t make the show, here are some tips from the Happy Hands Quilters:

• Do not dry clean old quilts. The chemicals used in dry cleaning can harm the quilt.
• Lessen musty smells by airing outside in the shade. Airing combined with frequent vacuuming is the only safe treatment for delicate quilt.
• Safely vacuum even damaged quilts by placing fiberglass screening on the surface of the quilt and cleaning with an upholstery tool. Vacuum both sides.
• Plastic should not be used for quilt storage as it cuts off the air. Mold and mildew result from moisture trapped inside plastic covers.
• Cardboard boxes that acidify quickly are detrimental to some dyes and fibers. Boxes also cut off circulation.
• Avoid direct contact with wood, especially unsealed, such as that in cedar chests. Wood also gives off detrimental acids.
• The best material in which to store quilts is washed cotton muslin or percale fabric or acid-free paper.
• Folds create stress in quilted fabric. You can lessen the strain by padding folds with crumpled, acid-free tissue paper. Fold quilts off-center and in a different place each time. Change folds at least once a year.
• You can roll quilts around a tube for storage. Obtain them from carpet factories. Use a tube at least 3 inches in diameter to reduce strain on the fabric.

For more information on quilts, drop by the Quilt Show, or call the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service at 623-4072, and ask for publication FCS1-322.

For more information, contact the Madison Cooperative Extension Service, 623-4072. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serves all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Gina Noe, Madison County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences

859/623-4072 or e-mail gcnoe@uky.edu