By JENNIFER VOGELSONG
For Smart

Precious few occasions allow etiquette-conscious adults to don bibs, eat with their hands, pound on their food and just plain make a big ol’ mess.
Picking crabs is one of the best excuses around for engaging in such typically taboo behavior.

Still, that shouldn’t be reason for skipping out on a crab feast complete with plenty of beer, food, friends and fun.

Crab connoisseurs may have their own favorite methods for getting at the steamed meat, but Tom Gotwalt, owner of T&T Seafood in Dover Township, suggests following these steps:

INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR FEAST
• Disposable tablecloths, brown paper or newspaper
• Mallets for cracking the shells
• Metal or plastic knives
• Small appetizer forks (optional)
• Condiments such as melted butter, garlic butter, vinegar, Old Bay or other crab seasoning for dipping
• Plenty of water and other drinks
• Side dishes such as corn on the cob or hush puppies

HOW MUCH TO BUY
A bushel generally includes 60-70 crabs, which will feed about 10-12 people depending on appetites and what else is on the menu. Prices vary depending on the season, availability and the size of crabs.

WHERE TO GET 'EM
Here are just a few local joints where you can pick up a handful, a dozen, a bushel or more of live or steamed crabs:
• T&T Seafood, 2899 Carlisle Road, Dover Township 764-9705
• Paddy’s Seafood, 29 E. Main St., Dallastown 246-5753
• Captain Bob’s Crabs, 4336 N. George St. Exd., Manchester 266-5235
• Henry’s Seafood, 5865 Lincoln Highway, Hellam 252-1112

STEAMING CRABS
If you’re purchasing your crabs live, put them in cold water or surround them with ice to slow them down before steaming.

Fill the bottom of a two-section steamer pot with water and bring to a boil. Put the crabs in the screened top section of the steamer and cover. If you want to add Old Bay or other crab seasoning, now is the time to sprinkle it on the crabs.

Cook for 25 to 35 minutes. The crabs are typically done when the shell turns red, but sometimes the shell gets red before the meat is fully cooked.

Source: Tom Gotwalt, T&T Seafood, Dover Township

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The Barbeque Bible

Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue SR8003 Ultimate Luma Tongs with Grab-Light

By SUSAN HALLER
For Smart

If summertime in your house means dad takes all the cooking outdoors, make sure he's properly outfitted this Father’s Day (June 17). Here are five must-have grilling gadgets to kick the season off right:

The Pampered Chef

Pampered Chef Barbecue Basting Bottle.

1. Pampered Chef Barbecue Basting Bottle ($14 pamperedchef.com). A 10-ounce bottle, which holds your favorite sauce, is topped with a silicone brush, perfect for evenly basted foods.

2. Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue SR8003 Ultimate Luma Tongs with Grab-Light ($14.99 www.Amazon.com). These 20-inch tongs come equipped with a tiny halogen flashlight attached to the handle for easier nighttime grilling.

Christopher Glass - for Smart

Smart BBQ Remote Temperature Meter with Trimer.

3. Wireless Remote Cooking Thermometer ($24.95 www.Amazon.com). Finally, you can mingle a little at your barbecue without overcooking your burgers. This thermometer allows you to walk up to 100 feet from your grill or oven and still monitor the temperature of the meat via a remote transmittor.

Onward Manufacturing Co.

Magnetic Propane Gas Level Indicator.

4. Magnetic Propane Gas Level Indicator ($6.95 www.barbecue-store.com). Stop guessing when the gas is low. Mount this magnetic device on the bottom portion of your propane tank — the indicator’s liquid crystals change color when the gas is low.

The Barbecue Store

Flippable Kabob Basket.

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Submitted

Children who love playing with the satin tags on blankets or stuffed animals will love Taggies, a company that makes a variety of playthings covered in tags.

By ERIN ESMONT
For Smart

Fifi Spangler’s educational philosophy reverberates off the walls of the York Jewish Community Center five days a week.

The noise of children playing is just that — the noise of children playing: the clanking of wooden blocks or toy train pieces, the chatter of a child talking to her baby doll, the collision of play cars.

There’s no electronic gadgetry whirring. No talking dolls, no battery-operated beeping toys, no fancy learning systems with handheld styluses. No computers. No TVs. No DVDs.

Spangler, director of the JCC’s Early Childhood programs, won’t allow it.

There’s been the occasional teacher who’s tried to smuggle in the latest in electronic play, but Spangler’s been able to short circuit those attempts.

In her admittedly biased opinion of electronic playthings, she concludes: “It’s kind of a useless toy at best, damaging at worst.”

That’s a pretty harsh assessment in an ever-growing electronic age, when companies market the latest in products aimed at producing baby geniuses, and parents snatch up toys designed to give their little ones an edge.

“The marketing has a tremendous effect,’’ she said. “It hits parents hard — they could be losing an opportunity to have a smarter kid.”

When it comes to the youngest learners — infants and toddlers — child development experts recommend simple, basic toys that put the child in charge.

Sukhdeep Gill, assistant professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State York, believes playtime with this age group comes down to safe toys that actively engage the child — soft balls, cloth books, items the child can see, touch, hear and taste.

“The best toys for infants and toddlers are the ones that cater to these senses,” Gill said.
These types of playthings develop sensory and motor skills, she said. “Can they touch it? Squeeze it? Manipulate it? Reach out to it?”

Sometimes, the best play sessions between parent and child involve no toys at all.
“They like human faces more than anything,” Gill said. “And a smiling face is the best of all.”

Peek-a-Boo, a game where adults cover their faces with their hands and then open them up, is a favorite. Gill said it’s a basic form of conversation between a baby and an adult. There’s a give and take, plus babies come to realize that even though the parent has gone away (by cover-ing her face), she’ll be coming right back.

Parents need to be aware that children have extremely short attention spans, so play sessions should remain brief. It’s important to time play sessions for when a child is fed, rested, alert and not overly tired.

When buying toys, evaluate how the child will interact with it. Does it require thinking skills? Does it engage the child in an active way? Or is it merely passive entertainment?

“Any toy that is going to make the child passive is not a good toy,” Gill said. She cites TV as the worst example of a passive activity for babies because they lack the eye coordination and focus needed to see at a distance.

Spangler believes that children, even babies, should be in control of their own play. They should be manipulating the toy, determining the sequence of events, seeing first-hand the cause and effect of their play.

Some electronic toys rob children of that control by requiring them to respond to electronic or musical prompts, she said. The toy directs the child, not the other way around.

Sit a toddler in front of a plastic milk jug with some clothespins, she said, and watch him learn.
He’ll figure out that the clothespin is small enough to fit into the larger jug opening. He’ll also quickly catch on to the sequence of events — first I put the clothespin in, then it falls to the bottom.

When a parent or teacher helps to identify and reinforce what’s happening — “Look, the clothespin is small enough to fit in the jug” — the child catches onto concepts faster, she said.
When a toddler plays with a doll, she is dressing it, feeding it, talking to it and practicing vocabulary routines. Playing with trains is a lesson in geometric configuration — how to build it, where to place the track. Playing with blocks is free-form play — there are different ways to position the blocks, but the toddler is learning about balance and symmetry. Playing with puzzles instills the concept that there is only one way the pieces will fit.

Rich Gordon has spent the past six years learning what toys appeal to children.

He left his job in the insurance industry and decided to open a specialty toy store, The Learning Express, a franchise in Exton, Pa., about 50 miles from York.

His children were 7 and 5 at the time, “prime toy-testers.“ As he watched his children and others come into the store and play, he came to the conclusion: “Give the right tools and let them create.“

Whether it’s dress-up clothes, or construction toys, or puzzles, children need playthings that ignite their imaginations. “We can provide them with toys with them not even knowing they’re learning,“ he said. “Those are the best toys.“

That also led to his decision to phase out most electronic toys, including Baby Einstein videos. He decided he didn’t want to contribute to toys that promote passivity. The electronic games he does carry are some Leapfrog products that require interaction from the child, and have self-correcting features so the child has to come up with the right answer.

Those who come into the store asking for PlayStation 3 leave disappointed. Gordon believes the media contributes to the frenzy surrounding video games and other must-have items that make it harder and harder for parents to resist.

“Parenting is not an easy job, and when children are constantly bombarding parents with requests for games and toys that breed inactivity, it’s very difficult for parents to say ‘No.' "

Childhood obesity is growing by leaps and bounds through the electronic age. It’s not a coincidence.“

PLAY THE DAY AWAY
Dr. Edgar Klugman, an expert in the area of children and play, identifies the different categories of play in his book, “Taking the High Road Toward a Definition of Play, Policy and Practice”:

Functional Play: The child enjoys repetitive play with objects and gains motor and practice skills. Examples are dumping, filling, stacking, water play and outdoors play. Functional play characterizes infants and toddlers and, at age 3, constitutes 50 percent of a child’s play. Although functional play decreases as a child grows older, it remains important. Functional play can be either solitary or parallel (another child is involved in a similar activity at the same time). Children experience enjoyment, develop motor skills and achieve mastery through functional play.

Constructive Play: The child creates or makes something and solves problems. Examples are building with blocks; playing with arts, crafts and puppets; and doing puzzles. Approximately 50 percent of all activity for 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds is constructive play, and this type of play continues to be important through the primary grades. Children can play constructively alone as well as with others. This type of play develops thinking and reasoning skills, problem solving and creativity.

Pretend Play: Through pretend play, children transform themselves, others and objects from real into make-believe. Pretend play can be both a solitary and a group activity. It reaches its highest level at preschool and kindergarten age and becomes less important as a child grows older. Pretend play helps children process emotions and events in their lives, practice social skills, learn values, develop language skills and create a rich imagination.

Games with Rules Play: This play involves preset rules such as board games, ball games, chanting and skipping games. This type of play becomes dominant as children reach school age. Through this type of play, children learn and practice cooperation, mutual understanding and logical thinking.

SOURCE: “The Importance of Play,“ by Patricia Mikelson, president “Highlights-Jigsaw.“

TOYS TO CHECK OUT

Best toys for babies
1. Taggies — Babies love to play with tags, so give them the ultimate sensory experience — a toy filled with tags. Available in balls, stuffed animals, etc. and stacking cups. ($24.99) www.learningexpress.com
2. Peek-A-Boo Blocks — Soft, colorful blocks with pop-up pals. ($9.99) www.target.com
3. Learn to Dress Bearemy — Zip, snap, button, tie — Dress a cuddly friend and practice fine motor skills. Ages 1-24 mos. ($14.99) www.learningexpress.com

Best Toys for Toddlers

1. Puzzles — Magnetic Animal Book — match the removable wooden pieces with their correct spot. Ages 2-plus ($14.99). www.fatbraintoys.com. Or, Pattern Block puzzles from Melissa & Doug, help with early color and pattern recognition. Ages 2-4. ($19.99)
2. Stuffed animals — any kind — helps with vocabulary skills and creative play. $7 and up www.toysrus.com
3. Dress-Up — Cast-off clothes of yours, hats, gloves, costume jewelry, old wallet, old suitcoat and tie.

4. Musical instruments — Simple instruments that let them experiment with sound while building fine motor skills. Band in a Box by Melissa & Doug Wooden Toys. Age: 3-plus. ($19.99). www.walmart.com

Posted in Babies From this issue Gifts Parenting Playtime

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By ERIN ESMONT
For Smart

It used to be that playing in the backyard meant racing to a metal swing set, fighting over the available swing,

Jason Plotkin - for Smart

Tre' Allen looks up as his brother Keith Orr uses the playground at Martin Luther King Park in York.

Today’s swing sets are sturdier and safer and resemble backyard playgrounds. They have features and upgrades that rival automobiles, and consumers need about as much skill and savvy as a car buyer when shopping for one.

Before stepping out to shop, here are a few things to consider:

1. Material matters
Just a few years ago, wooden sets were all the rage. But an ‘‘arsenic scare’’ slowed that trend and ushered in the latest must-have: vinyl swing sets. Vinyl offers greater durability than wood and no concern about possible carcinogens. Vinyl also eliminates worries about warping, bees and splinters, but it comes with a heftier price. It’s made out of the more expensive PVC tubing. Steve Fisher, a swing set salesman at Penn Dutch Structures in Glen Rock, said an average vinyl set is $2,500 to $3,000. But the higher cost doesn’t seem to be hurting business at his store, at The Markets at Shrewsbury, 12025 Susquehanna Trail South (www.penndutchstructures.com). He said he’s on target to sell 80 to 100 vinyl swing sets a month during the peak spring and summer season.‘‘They are a lot more money,‘‘ he said. ‘‘But well worth it.‘‘

In 2003, the federal EPA announced that much of the lumber used in decks and play sets was pressure-treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), more commonly known as arsenic. The chemical protects against bugs and rot. But the residue also gets on hands and skin, and once it leeches into the soil, it cannot be removed.

Increasing concerns about the material’s toxicity led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require lumber companies to stop using it. It was phased out by 2004, yet old, tainted lumber may continue to circulate. Lumber is now pressure-treated with a different chemical, a non toxin. After a blast of media coverage, the issue died down, and consumers may have forgotten about it. Those wanting to know whether their wood was treated with arsenic should check with their sales company or the manufacturer. Parents shopping for a wooden set will want to ask what chemical was used to pressure-treat the lumber.

2. What’s new
At the York Expo Center recently, swing-set salesman Fred Mervine spent two days looking at the latest the swing-set industry has to offer.

Mervine sells swing sets for four different companies, primarily through his Web site, www.lancasteramishdirect.com.

Three of the companies he represents sell vinyl sets only. The swing sets are built of wood, then the lumber pieces are sized to slide into thick vinyl casings. (Be wary of vinyl that is coated in a shrink-wrap type plastic, he said. The material is wrapped on the set and heated so it adheres.) A-frame swing sets are the newest design, and consumers will like them because they take up less room in the yard, Mervine said. Top add-on items for custom-made swing sets include Turbo slides (enclosed tubular slides) and baby swings.

3. Lower-cost options
The basic swing set, found in retail stores such as Toys R Us, hasn’t changed much over the years in terms of what it offers — typically two swings, a teeter-totter and a sliding board.
The Manchester 6-Leg Swing Set sells for $249.99 on www.toyrus.com. It’s been a popular item, according to a spokesperson at Toys R Us’ corporate office. The set has two swings, a two-passenger tandem rider, a trapeze and a teeter-totter. It has a powder-coated steel frame.
Judging from recent customer postings online, the swing set is a good deal for the money, is fairly easy to assemble and provides plenty of entertainment.

For families looking to entertain toddlers but aren’t ready to invest in a long-term play set, Little Tikes has a new item: Clubhouse Swing Set ($299.99) for all ages.

4. Kid-to-equipment ratio
Simply put: How many children will use the swing set? Add neighborhood kids who regularly play at your house in this count.

Swing sets are proven kid magnets. If you anticipate extra tyke traffic, consider adding a swing. (For instance, if you have two kids, buy a set with three swings. For safety’s sake, only two swings can be mounted on one section. Additional swings must be mounted on a separate support section.) This cuts down on turn-taking troubles.

Once you get the set, buy a cheap timer for outside and set it for two minutes to allow children to share the swings with minimal quarreling. Once this rule is established, children can learn to regulate the timer themselves.

5. Growing up, not outgrowing
If your children are preschoolers, look for a swing set that will grow with them. Most swing sets list the age of users as 2-10. Use baby swings or toddler-safe swings for the youngest users, and graduate to regular-sized swings only when they are old enough, weigh enough, and are capable of swinging without slipping off the seat.

Avoid possible strangulation features such as ropes or cargo nets for little ones. Consider upgrading to heavy-duty seat material for the elementary-school set. These seats may cost more, but they’ll last longer and comfortably hold adults. Check to make sure that swings are reinforced on the top bar for added protection.

6. What activities your child likes
Children who like to pretend may get maximum use out of a fort attached to the swing set, where they can bring stories to life, have tea parties and picnics, or open a stuffed animal hospital. Those who thrive on physical activity benefit from pieces that feed that need — monkey rings, rock-climbing walls or trapeze bars.

Wood coated with arsenic

Here's how you can tell if your play set has been constructed with arsenic-coated wood: Freshly treated wood, if not coated, has a greenish tint, which fades over time. As a practical matter, Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) has been the principal chemical used to treat wood for decks and other outdoor uses around the home. Generally, if your deck or play set has not been constructed with redwood or cedar, then most likely the deck or play set was constructed with CCA-treated wood. Call the store where you bought it, or the manufacturer, or the lumber yard for more information. Both the EPA (www.epa.gov) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov) offer more information and tips on their Web sites.

Posted in From this issue Parenting Playtime

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By JENNIFER VOGELSONG
for Smart

With Little League season in high gear, you’ll want to make sure your child has the perfect glove for catching pop flies and stopping line drives.

Jason Plotkin - for Smart

Members of the Family-Child Resources Little League team go for a fly ball during their first game on opening day at Noonan Park in 2005. They are Andrew Mackley, front, Jonathan Ronera, rear left, and Gerrod Adams.

Who says dad has to be the expert on all things sports in your house? Here’s the best way to break in a baseball glove according to some local residents.

Marlyn “Curly” Holtzapple puts two baseballs in a glove and wraps the glove with a piece of string or rubber band. Then, he throws it in the bathtub, lets it soak overnight, then sets it out in the sun to dry.

That’s the way you form it, and you’ll have a glove to your liking,” said Holtzapple, who played minor league baseball in York in the 1950s alongside Brooks Robinson and had a long career playing and managing summer baseball in York County’s Central League.

Mike Resetar, varsity baseball coach at South Western High School and coach of the South Western York American Legion baseball team, does the same thing. Once the glove is dry, he rubs it with a glove conditioner before using. He said the whole process takes about two weeks, if done right, but added, “within a week, you could probably be playing with it.”

Don Trout, the former varsity baseball coach at Dallastown Area High School, has helped hundreds of teens break in their new ball gloves over the 20-some years he has coached. He also adheres to the baseball-tied-in-a-glove-and-dunked-in-water school of thinking, but he says it’s what you do with the glove while it’s drying out that’s most important.

Most of the time, he and his players will take the rounded end of a wooden bat and pound the glove to form the pocket. Between poundings, he tells players to store the glove in a plastic bag to slow down the drying process.

When it finally dries out, Trout recommends coating the entire glove with Vaseline or petroleum jelly. “A lot of places will sell grease or glove oil ... but that dries the rawhide laces out too fast,” he said.

SMART TIPS

• Keep the glove in a cool, dry place when not in use.
• If the glove gets wet, dry it with a towel and let it air-dry. Do not put it in the oven or near a heater as it may dry out the leather.
• Do not over-oil the glove. Rubbing oil or glove conditioner over the glove a few times each season is plenty.
• Get broken or damaged lacing restrung from time to time and have torn eyelets repaired. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, check with a local sporting goods store or shoe repair shop.

Source: Don Trout, baseballgloves.com

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By SUSAN HALLER
For Smart

My mom looked slightly embarrassed as she uncovered her angel food cake at a recent family gathering.

Instead of being a glorious fluffy masterpiece, the center of the cake was sunken, prompting good-natured teasing about it being a “fallen angel food cake.”

She served it anyway topped with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream. There was one piece by the time we were all done gorging.

Rather than aiming for Stepford-wife perfection, my mom laughs at the misshapen cakes of her life, knowing that making a warm home is more important than having House Beautiful.

She picks her battles carefully.

In her house, there might be dinosaur stickers covering the legs of her coffee table — remnants of an era when six kids were running amuck. And every available surface is covered with papers and books from her ongoing pursuit of a master’s degree.

But she refuses to give in on her war against dust bunnies, and the windows are always sparkling clean.

She finds joy in her overflowing pots of petunias and geraniums. In the satisfied smiles of family and friends who have enjoyed a meal she cooked. In standing up for her colleagues and patients at the hospital where she works as a nurse.

She is a smart woman.

And here at Smart we’re all about smart people and smart ideas. We know you don’t have the time or energy to devote to living the perfect life, but we hope to give you ideas for how to make it better.

Smart is a new magazine for all you Central Pennsylvanians who want innovative and simple ways to make your lives easier. Our goal is to relay practical information about your home, family and yourself that you can use every day.

Need advice on how to lighten up your home décor for summer?

Don’t know the first thing to look for in a new mattress?

Looking for motivation to get in shape?

Get Smart.

And unlike any other magazines out there, Smart will be about you and your life in York County and the surrounding areas.

We won’t send you all the way to New York City to find the perfect summer fashion — we know you can find it right here.

We know that you have plenty of great ideas, too, so if you have Smart advice for anything from gardening to parenting to cooking to fashion, e-mail me at shaller@ydr.com or visit our Web site, www.smartmagpa.com.

And if you have any ideas for fluffing up a deflated angel food cake, please let me know — I’m sure my mom would appreciate the help.

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In honor of Mother's Day (May 13), we rounded up some of the best advice reader's have received from their mothers.

You can't learn anything if you think you know it all.
June Grove, Brogue

You will never be sorry for what you do not say.
Doris Muir, 80, Shrewsbury

The best advice my mother gave me was to be true to myself, listen to my gut feelings and don’t worry about what others might think. Although I’ve yet to master any of the above, I have faith someday it just might sink in.
Jeanine Scarpato, 45, Seven Valleys

My mother had a great work ethic and worked as many as three jobs at a time as I was growing up. As I was trying to decide what I wanted to do in life, she offered me this advice:
“Whatever you choose to do, there are two things you MUST do. 1. Get educated and trained for the job the best you can. 2. Make sure you love doing it as you may have to wake up every day for the rest of your life and do it.”
Great advice, Mom. I have been teaching 33 years and I still love it!
Shelby Ness, 56, Spring Garden Township

My mom had some of the best advice I have ever received during my lifetime. She was raised in an English family and the traditional English “never give up” motto was engrained in me. If something was worth doing, then do it well. Find a way to do it right and do it well. Use patience, intelligence, care and consideration of others, and find a way to accomplish the task.
Paulette Houghton, East Manchester Township

It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
Sue Dobak, 46, York Township

Always remember that if you act like a lady you will be treated as a lady.
Elizabeth Neary, 78, Shrewsbury

My Mother told me that boyfriends will come and go but it's the relationships of friends that need to be nurtured because when the boy is no longer "the one!" you still want your friends to be around. It is so true and when the girls call and you keep saying no, the potential is there that they will stop calling. There really is plenty of time in life to find "the one!" but throughout life, it's friends that we truly can count on and need. (even when married, with children and settled in with "the one!")
Karen Strathmeyer, 39, York Township

The best advice she has told me, and keeps reminding me, is that each age you achieve has something exciting and wonderful to offer you, and in my 57 yrs, I have remembered that and found it to be so true!
Denise Pittenger, 57, Springfield Township

My best advice I received from my mother was “don’t forget your please and thank you.” Whenever we went to a friends house or to a birthday party the last words out of my mother’s mouth were “Don’t forget your please and thank you.”
My mother has been gone for 32 years now I was only 20 when she passed, I am proud to say that I embedded that same phrase into my three children and I was always told how polite my children are, I am blessed with grandchildren now and I shall teach them the same message.
In this day and age manners are few and far between but to me they are the most important thing.
Bridget Landis, 52, West York

I can remember my mom — when my children were little and they had a belly ache; she would put them around the leg of a table several times — this was called bow-wowing.
When the grandchildren were bad, she would say, “Do you want a floggin?”
She always told us to make sure you had clean undies before you went to bed because you never knew if you would get sick at night and you would have to go to the doctor or hospital.
Dolly Sutton, 70, Dover Township

My Mother taught me how to love and take care of children no matter what problems they had. They are all special. She was the best!
Rita A Gall, 62, Manchester

My mother’s best advice was, “always be able to support yourself, you never know if by chance, choice or circumstance you will be alone and responsible for yourself and/or other family members. If you decide to leave the workforce to raise children or engage in other pursuits, make sure you stay current with your career (education and training) so that if/when you re-enter, you won’t be in a catch-up or starting over situation."
Siri Rainone, 53, York

My goal as a mother is to impart wisdom to my children for when they become mothers, they can take what was taught to them and add a little more for their children and to pass on the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. My relationship with my mother was not one that was close. Having a hard relationship with my mother as she raised me by herself and my brother and sister lived with my father and my oldest sister marring at the age of 16. When I was a teenager she worked two jobs and things were still tight. I resented my mother for so many thing that I could not wait until I was a mother. I never wanted to put my children through the same things as I went through. I wanted to be better then my mother, however once I became a mother and my children were about four, six and seven years old, my mother told me how proud of me she was. That I was being a good mother to my girls and that I was raising them with values and manners. This was a precious comment that I will treasure and never forget those words that my mother spoke to me. I realized that being a mother was hard work and a never ending job and will be one of the toughest and most rewarding jobs I will ever have. Being a mother is a very hard job and that you are not always the most popular person in your children’s life. You are not doing the job of being a mother to be friends with your children, but to teach how to care for themselves and get them ready to become adults to live in this world as decent human beings. My mother died about two weeks after her comment about how proud she was of me being a mother. I believe that many mothers go into motherhood not truly understanding their roles as the child’s mother. Some great things that my mother taught me were to work hard , not give up on yourself or your children. I do believe that there are reasons why we are brought into this world with the mothers we have. Their job is to help shape and mold you into the person you will become as an adult. I can truly say I am thankful that I had the mother I had. God Bless
Tina Miller, 37, Windsor

Advise my Mother gave me:
1. If you have nothing nice to say to others then don’t say nothing at all.
2. Don’t judge a book (meaning a person) but its cover. Until you get to know the person.
3. Seek and you shall find. (Meaning if you can’t find something. keep looking you will find it.)
Debbie Doughty, 35, Springettsbury Township

My parents have taught me so many amazing things including working hard and giving back to my community ... basically how to be a good person. What I learned from my mom that helps me on a daily basis, however, is howto act in social situations. This has helped me tremendously in my teenage and adult life. While many people become shy or fearful in public, I actually enjoy interacting with people, and I’m confident in myself. Mom made sure that we knew how to approach people and talk to them. When speaking in public, which I do quite often, I am typically not nervous, while many people confess to being scared to death. Mostly, though, mom taught my brother and me how to act at the dinner table. At a very young age we learned how to set the table and how each item is used. As an adult, and even as a teenager, I never have never had to ask what fork to use or which plate or cup is mine. And, because we ate meal sat the kitchen table regularly, we learned how to have dinner conversation with others. Because of my mom, I feel so confident starting and participating in conversations during a lengthy formal luncheon or dinner event with people I have never met before. I thank my mom for instilling such confidence in me. While I don’t have any children, my family and I are passing these skills on to my brother’s three children.
Bryan Tate, City of York

When we were young, my mother would tell me this saying: “You run with the wolves, you howl with them.” It meant you go with friends who get in trouble, you are in trouble too. I shared this with a friend and she thought it was good advice.
Dorothy Leithiser, 86, Wrightsville

She always taught us to take good care of our things. My grandmother saw what good care we took of our belongings so she wouldn't mind giving us new things. To this day I still follow her advice.
Rita Potter, Springettsbury Township

My mother taught me the meaning of giving not always with words, but how she was living. She still gives of herself and it’s easy to see — her time, an ear, her voice, money or food. Whatever it takes to meet the need. Love for one another is a strong part of her giving instilled in me early — now that’s how I’m living 30 years later, here are my children, and they do the same, and we are so thankful giving was a part of how we’re trained.
Deborah Orr, 54, York

When you have your own home and family always keep your beds made up, and dishes washed and put away. You will always have a neat-looking home.
Charlotte Biesecker, 88, Thomasville

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Michelle Stoltzfus left a hectic job at Hershey Medical Center for the quiet simplicity of Shiloh Nursery in Emgisville. Here, the 37-year-old stepmom of two shares her philosophy on gardening and life.

Christopher Glass - For Smart

Michelle Stoltzfus holds a pot of pansies she planted for spring.

1. Where do you work?
Shiloh Nurseries in Emigsville. I’ve worked there six years.

2. Why did you start working there?
I had worked in an operating room at Hershey Medical Center 10 years prior to this. I just decided I wanted to have another job where I could spend a little more time at home. (Working at the nursery) is seasonal work, so there are times when it is slow. Obviously during the winter is our time to regroup. Spring and summer is busy.

3. Family?
My husband, Rod, and I and two step-daughters. Jessica is 17 and Katie is 15. They’re just really great kids and I love spending time with them.

4. What are your hobbies?
Definitely spending time with my family. My six cats. And the animals, that’s definitely a hobby. I personally am involved with my church. I spend a little bit of time volunteering there and doing some child care. We have a beautiful old farm house which provides endless projects.

5. How did you get into gardening?
As a little girl I’ve always loved flowers and just have been really involved outdoors — hiking and playing outside. It was in our family because my parents have run the nursery, so I grew up with it. Although I’ve definitely learned to appreciate it more with age. I’ve just learned to love and appreciate the beauty of our Earth. I’ve just learned to appreciate being a good steward of our Earth. I want to pass it on to our children in good shape. I’m definitely an advocate of loving the Earth and treating it with respect. I’ve learned to love the peacefulness of being in my yard and planting in my yard or in my pots and the joy of seeing what arises.

6. How do you make time for to garden?
I come home from the nursery and some days I’m pretty tired so I just burn off a little stress by planting a little bit. There’s other days when I have a lot more energy and I have an urgency to get home and get out there. I try to make time because I love to have flowers in the yard and my husband and I love to take care of our yard.

7. Do you incorporate your family into your gardening hobby, if so how?
Rod said, “Tell her my husband does it.” He’s very involved. He’s always out doing something in the yard. He loves to mow .¤.¤. I’m always bringing home trees and container and he’s always digging the holes. My daughters are involved. Now that they’re teenagers they definitely have more of a social life but we’ve always tried to do stuff as a family and that involves being outside and hiking and I think that’s good for them and a time to chill. For years the girls and I have planted sunflowers. We just stick them in the yard someplace sunny and literally you have this huge plant come out of the ground that’s so beautiful. Birds come later and eat the seeds.

8. What has gardening taught you about life?
I think it’s taught me to just appreciate what God has given us. It’s definitely given me feelings of peace and happiness. It’s taught me patience. You know, because I’ve tried to simplify my life and just slow down in this busy world.

9. Do you have any tips for people interested in getting into your gardening?
I would just say it’s absolutely trial and error. If you try something and it fails don’t get discouraged. It’s happened to me so many times and you learn from that and try again. And just have fun with it. If you can, try to be patient. I think that there’s a thrill to it, it’s just gratifying.
When planting annuals or flowers, check for sun or shade exposure and plant accordingly. For example, I use lots imptiens in my shade gardens and just vary the colors each year. When planting annuals or flowers, check for sun or shade exposure and plant accordingly. For example, I use lots of impatiens in my shade gardens and just vary the colors each year.
Finally, but most important, stop by a nursery or garden center to see what is growing and to ask questions.

10. If you had a motto for your life, what would it be?
What works for me, and what’s in my heart is everything you do just do it with kindness and love toward others.

11. What is your favorite part about gardening?
That is kind of hard. It shouldn’t be. I just feel one of my favorite things about it ... it gets me excited. I like that excitement. I look forward to all of it. I look forward to planting flowers. .. spring.. just all of it. Right now I have a 6-pack pansies sitting on my porch and I’m looking forward to putting them in a pot

12. What inspires you in life?
My faith and what I believe in. My family and my friends. And basically helping other is inspiring to me. Always make me feel good. ... I love talking to people and the public, young and old. I’ve learned a lot about gardening and really cool stories from elderly people.

NOMINATE SOMEONE Do you know a Smart woman we could profile? Someone who inspires you with her energy and passion? To nominate your sisters, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, send an e-mail with the subject line "Smart Woman" to shaller@ydr.com.

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By TRACEY BISHER CULLEN
For Smart

This weekend, bring the sumptuous flavors of Paris into your kitchen by serving up sweet crepes. Add some fresh fruit such as apples, strawberries or bananas, and a little whipped cream and you will feel as divine as you would sitting outside a creperie on the Champs Elysees.

STEP 1
Prepare batter:

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.

STEP 2
Pour batter: Heat a lightly oiled crepe pan or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. The batter should just cover the pan.

STEP 3
Swish: Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.

STEP 4
Check: Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, then lift the edge closest to you with a spatula to see if the underside is golden.

STEP 5
Flip: Use a spatula to turn the crepe, then cook that side briefly. When golden borwn, transfer to a plate, add toppings, roll it up and serve.

TOPPING SUGGESTIONS
• Apple pie filling and top with powdered sugar
• Fresh strawberries and top with whipped cream
• Sliced bananas and top with chocolate sauce

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