Poppens & Jeeves Newsletter

Matching Colorado Families With Domestic Employees Since 1996

The P&J Newsletter Issue 4

Welcome!

to  the 4th issue of the P&J Newsletter. 

     Your input will always be welcomed and may be addressed to P&J by telephone, mail, or email:

Poppens & Jeeves
Cell: 303 437-1920
Phone: 800 951-7651 / 303 437-1920
Fax: 866 676-1472
Fill out our Contact form to contact Bobbie.

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Giving Thanks 

to all of the P&J Clients and Applicants who have helped to start out 2005 on such a high note..  

A huge thanks to the good folks who refer P&J to their friends and colleagues. Let us know who you are, because often the referrals come in something like, "Jane told me I just had to call Poppens & Jeeves for the best housekeeper--I don't know Jane's last name, but I see her every week at the spa." 

[P&J: "Oh!  that Jane! "]   

Also. . .

-continued appreciation to Tom Martino of Troubleshooter.com, for his informed referrals; MOMs (Mother's of Multiples), and Darling Doubles  for their mutual support.  

Special thanks to Dr. Roger Firestien of  Innovation Resources, Inc.  for his incredibly informative newsletters that have been instrumental in keeping P&J on the creative and joyful path.  (www.rogerfirestien.com)

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The People's Home Library 

Published by The R. C. Barnum Co. Cleveland, Ohio--Minneapolis, Minn. Imperial Publishing Co. Toronto, Canada

1915

excerpt  from 

"A Chapter For      Young Women"

". . .The dress should always be comfortable.  The skirts should be fastened so as not to drag at the hips.  A corset is all right if it is not tight but who ever saw a woman who would admit that it was ever tight.  A tight corset presses upon and injures the lower part of the lungs causing difficult breathing; it compresses the heart in the chest cavity; presses the stomach, liver and bowels out of place often causing indigestion and it also causes displacement of the womb and ovaries with their attendant evils."

P&J's Referral Page

You've noticed that part of P&J website is devoted to a friendly "referral page." It doesn't cost anyone anything.  It's an opportunity  for P&J to spotlight some favorites. Most are small, one-person businesses.  All have been tried out by either Bobbie Van-Nix (pres/owner of P&J), P&J clients or applicants.

It's all about passing on a good word, folks, so if you have recommendations for this page, let us know.

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Good, Bad, Ugly

 Share with us your "good, bad, and ugly" experiences about domestics placement. No names, please!  The idea is to learn something, have a chuckle, or be grateful "it wasn't us."

Here are some examples (no kidding) from the P&J Archives

Good!  From a Nanny who has been working for a P&J Client since 2001:  "Fridays are always cooking days for the kids and me (2 boys, 5 & 7 yrs. old; 1 girl, 26 months old). Sometimes it's cookies, other times a cake, often it's cinnamon rolls 'from scratch.'  Of course, we're careful, and the kids know all about kitchen etiquette and safety.  They're learning that the microwave isn't the only way to prepare food. They're learning math when we measure & divide ingredients. . .they're learning a bit of physics and chemistry when they see the yeast's affect on the dough and what cooking does to the shape and size of their creation.  They're learning patience, too--nothing is 'instant' about this activity!  The little one does the special 'creative design' with the last of the dough or cookie or cake batter.  Whatever she designs, we cook and decorate it, even if it's a tiny 'bug.'  We have a great time, and Mom & Dad get a treat when they come home!"

Bad!  From a new P&J Client:  "Help-- Please find us a housecleaner who knows how to clean hardwood floors! Our former cleaner, a really sweet woman who worked for a housecleaning service, scrubbed our  new  hardwood floors with a combination cleaner/wax remover.  We had to have all the floors refinished." (P&J placed a housekeeper with this family in 2003, and the placement is still going well.) 

Ugly!   From a P&J  Nanny Applicant:  "I left my last job after working only a week because I found out my employers' solarium was being used to grow pot.  I couldn't believe they'd put their children at risk like that!  I don't want to give you their names and I won't ask them for a letter of recommendation.  I hope this won't disqualify me from being accepted by Poppens & Jeeves"  (P&J--no problem:  her other references were great and sufficed.  She was placed with a P&J Client, and this placement has lasted 3 years-- and counting.)

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Follow your dreams and enjoy the trip.

--Frosty

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Placements that Last do so because of mutual respect.  "Do unto others" still  works miracles.  

A pat on the back, a straightforward "clearing of the air," a fair day's work for a fair day's pay, going the extra mile--all reinforce a good relationship and a well-matched placement.

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The Swing--

by Robert Lewis Stevenson

 In Memory of Molly Brug, 1911- 2005, who gave the poem a melody & made a memory for her grandchildren.

How do you like to go up in a swing

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

--

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside--

--

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown--

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

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from Grandmother Mame's Recipe Cards

"Fast Lemon Jell-O© Cake"

c. 1950, or so

1 Betty Crocker© lemon cake mix

1 package lemon Jell-O©

4 fresh eggs--best gathered in the morning and kept on the sideboard until ready to use.

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup oil

Mix  all above  ingredients well.  Pour into a greased 9" X 13" cake pan

Bake in a medium hot oven 30-35 minutes [modern ovens--at 350 degrees]

Have ready: juice of 3 fresh lemons mixed well with 3 cups powdered sugar.

When cake is done, and still warm, punch top of cake full of holes with a fork, and pour the lemon/powdered sugar mix over it.

*Honey can be substituted for the powdered sugar.