Problem: Article: The color of teak wood varies depending on what species a tree is and what part of the tree the wood is from. Color ranges from dark golden-brown to yellowish-white. Knowing what type of teak you're looking for is important when examining color.  The outer layer of the tree is called sapwood and is yellowish-white in color. This wood has a higher moisture content and is therefore weaker than heartwood.  The core of the tree is called heartwood and ranges from golden brown to darker brown. This wood is harder, stronger, more expensive, and generally more desirable than sapwood. Some teak dealers or stores may stain the wood, therefore masking its true color. Make sure to ask if the wood you're interested in has any stains on it. If it does, you'll need to identify the wood in a different way. Since teak wood gets darker with age, you should also ask about the age of the wood so you can make sure you get the type of wood you want. The grain of true teak wood is generally straight. It will look like straight streaks or lines of a darker color than the rest of the wood. If the wood grain doesn't look straight or at least mostly straight, you'll want to ask some questions. Depending on how the wood was cut, the grain could also be slightly wavy.
Summary: Look for dark golden-brown to yellowish-white wood. Ask if the wood is stained. Look for a straight grain.

Problem: Article: Oftentimes, family members are more open to listening to outsiders than their own relatives. A respected family friend or community leader may be able to bring up the topic in a way that your relative is receptive to. Pinpoint who in your loved one’s life they hold in high esteem. Then, ask this person to assist in your cause. Gender differences, cultural barriers, and even educational gaps may affect a person’s decision not to see a doctor. If this is the case with your loved one, try to work with them in choosing a healthcare provider that aligns with their beliefs and makes them more comfortable.  For example, your relative may prefer a practitioner of traditional medicine to a Western-style physician. If your loved one is a female, she may prefer to be seen by a female physician. If they don't like hospitals, look for a small, independent practice. Set up a consultation with the doctor so that your loved one can meet them before being examined. Work with them to conduct research and find a credentialed provider who can address your loved one’s needs while easing their distress, too. Your relative may feel less distress if you join them at the doctor’s visit as a patient, too. This may release them from the pressure that they alone have a problem. Make it casual and relaxed, like you both simply need to get a yearly examination. Your loved one may be more inclined to see the doctor with this approach.  For example, you might say, “Dad, I was thinking we could schedule our checkups together this year. I know that going with you will make me far less nervous than going on my own. Does that sound okay to you?” Making it like they are going to support you rather than the other way around may remove the pressure, also. Despite your best attempt, your loved one is ultimately the deciding factor in their medical treatment. Unless they are at risk of harming themselves or someone else, you can’t force the issue. Be honest with yourself in recognizing that there is only so much you can do.  If your loved one refuses to see a doctor, you might try mailing their physician a letter stating your concerns and hope that they call your relative in for an appointment. Or, you might mention a problem to a doctor that they are willing to go to, such as privately telling a cardiologist about any memory problems you've noticed with the hope that they'll pass the info along to the primary care physician.
Summary: Find an ally. Let them choose the doctor. Offer to get a checkup, too. Know your limits.

Problem: Article: Your spouse's body, personality, goals and dreams are going to change over the years, just like you are changing. Married couples need to accept each other as they change and mature, rather than struggling to hold on to youth that is no longer there.  Don't see your spouse's changing body as being full of flaws. Our culture views aging as something to resist, but this is a backwards view. Changing skin and hair can be beautiful in their own right. Be glad you and your spouse get to grow old together! Be flexible enough to accept your spouse's changing personality, too. People tend to get a little harder as they age, but they also get wiser. Help your spouse mature into a happy, whole, fulfilled person by being flexible and accepting. Remember when you took your marriage vows? You never could have imagined all you'd go through together as a couple. Look how far you've come, and how much you've accomplished, and be grateful for it. Expressing your gratefulness to your partner will re-energize your marriage and help you look forward to a long future together. Don't compare your spouse to his or her former self, and don't compare your marriage to its early stages. Life is full of changes, and that's a good thing. Wishing things were as they used to be isn't going to help your marriage to grow. And would you really want it to remain stunted forever, anyway? You can enjoy talking about memories and looking at old pictures, but try not to get overly wistful and nostalgic. Focus on the here and now, and planning for the future.
Summary: Be accepting of your spouse's aging. Be thankful for your life together. Don't dwell on the past too much.

Problem: Article: Stir the spinach and garlic occasionally to help them cook more evenly and prevent them from burning. Cook until the spinach is wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Once the spinach has wilted, transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor. Add some hot water and puree until it is smooth. If the spinach is not mixing smoothly enough, use a rubber spatula to scrape any unblended spinach down the sides and towards the bottom. Set the mixture aside when it is completely smooth. Make sure that the saucepan is large enough to fit the rest of your ingredients, including the milk and pureed spinach. Occasionally stir the mixture with a spatula. You will end up with a roux-like paste, which you will eventually thin out. This will help create a thicker soup. Use a whisk to help the roux dissolve and break up any clumps or lumps. Open up the blender or food processor, and pour the pureed spinach into the saucepan. Whisk everything together to combine, then cook until the soup thickens, stirring occasionally. If you need to, add in some more salt, cayenne pepper, and/or black pepper. For extra flavor, garnish it with Gruyere cheese. You can also use other types of cheese as well.
Summary:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the spinach and garlic. Puree the mixture in a blender or food processor with ¼ cup (60 milliliters) of hot water. Cook the onions in butter over medium heat in a saucepan until the onions start to soften. Sift the flour into the mixture, and cook for another 2 minutes. Pour in the milk, salt, and pepper, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the pureed spinach and cook until it thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes. Taste the soup and make any necessary adjustments. Pour the soup into bowls and serve.