WorldCat is a free online network that claims to have links to more than 10,000 libraries with access to 1.2 billon books, DVDs, CDs, tapes and videos.

You type in a title and your zip code and it finds the item in the library nearest you.

You also could help people at a distance. For example, if you knew your Aunt Karen wanted to read The Apron Book, you could plug in the title, her city or zip code, and then contact that library on line to see if the book could be taken or sent to her, which many communities do for the elderly or the disabled.

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A friend of ours loves her Palm Peeler for skinning potatoes, mangos and butternut squash.

We prefer our OXO Peeler for most prep jobs but the Palm Peeler definitely has a place in the kitchens of people who can’t grip the handle of a conventional peeler.

The Palm Peeler, which has a soft rubber finger grip, takes a little getting used to because you can’t see the blade in motion. That’s why it’s best for bigger contoured fruits and vegetables rather than, say, skinny carrots.

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In the last decade, 129 accessible playgrounds have been built in 24 states - in large part because of a nonprofit group formed by a Connecticut couple who lost their son to a degenerative neuromuscular disease.

More of these playgrounds are in the works as part of national movement to create recreational spaces for children with disabilities.

Accessible playgrounds have rubberized surfaces to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. A child in a wheelchair uses wide ramps to reach the top of climbing structures and many of the playgrounds include “cozy spots,” where children with Down syndrome or autism can go if they are overstimulated.

Click here to learn more.

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Our three pet hens having a little siesta among the melons and squash we have planted in containers in the Gimpy Garden. The “girls” are very social, co-exist nicely with our dogs and do a great clean-up of pesty insects and slugs.

They’re also very alert to when we leave the sliding-glass door open on the patio and adept at silently sneaking in the house. This has happened more than we like to admit.

Cait calls them Mensa chickens because they are uncanny at evading detection. Once I found the three of them in my linen closet, settled down and ready for a nap. They clearly have a broad definition of “free range.”

Many cities and towns outlaw the raising of backyard chickens. Our city, fortunately, has a more progressive outlook. Click here to learn more about backyard chickens and remember:

“Wherever chickens are outlawed, only outlaws will have chickens.”

Eds. Note: One time - and one time only - Rex - the yellow chicken nestled down in the front of the photo - got into Marty’s back seat and rode undetected most of the way to the mall while standing on the passenger arm rest and looking out the window behind Marty’s back. It was only when other cars pulled alongside and started pointing and laughing that Marty figured out Rex (the Mensa Chicken) had come along for the ride.

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These photos of our pumpkin patch were taken just days apart.

We have two varieties in there - Atlantic Giants and Pump Ke Mons. Cait thrills to see the pumpkins grow. Marty thrills to see the vines turning into something from the Little Shop of Horrors - “Feed me!”

If you live in a condo or an apartment, and have a sunny spot, you can go grow a pumpkin vine in a container and have beaucoup foliage within weeks. They are easy to grow and the vines are gorgeous, though they need full sun to bear fruit.

What we have here is a depression in our backyard, presumably where the septic tank was buried before our home was hooked to the city sewer system. The depression becomes a small pond during heavy rains - perfect for water-loving pumpkin roots.

For our containers, we coiled lengths of chicken wire into cages and filled them with leaves, half-rotted compost, straw and old bedding from the chicken coop. The pumpkins are loving it, as you can tell! We had a cold spring and planted late this season, so we’re not banking on a huge crop. It always gratifying to get even a few.

To learn more about pumpkins, check out The Pumpkin Nook

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Like many people, The Gimpy Girls have numerous improvised scoops to handle dog food, bird seed, chicken feed, potting soil, etc.

Usually, it’s just what we can grab - an old can, a pitcher, a plastic container - none of which were designed for scooping and most of which crack or break or spill the contents.

The ideal scoop, in our opinion, is a galvanized grain scoop - lightweight and designed for the job with high rounded sides and a nice balance. Even if your hands aren’t steady, these trusty farm scoops are easy to use and get the contents from barrel or bag to its intended destination.

We live near farm country and Cait brought one home from a tag sale and gave it to Marty - The Official Gimpy Girls Scooper for chickens, dogs and what have you. Mary loves it and wishes she had more.

The eNasco online farm store has several sizes to choose from and many other fascinating products, including everything you need to raise an Alpaca or artificially inseminate a cow. (Isn’t the Web amazing?)

Click here to see myriad scoops.

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