Happy Home Companion

A podiatric ecosystem for the boudoir

2011-05-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time when I was a young wife, one particular housekeeping nuisance caused such grief. I would lose sleep, pace the floor and stew about the house. What could have been such a horrible annoyance?

Unmatched socks.

Everyone deserves a companion, I thought. What has become of Tube Sock with Grey Heel’s better half? Oh sure, I could attempt to pair him with Tube Sock with White Heel…but then what if Grey Heel eventually shows up? Like in the movie My Favorite Wife. Poor Irene Dunne.

Nowadays, however, I’m proud to announce, I maintain a humane system of handling troublesome loner socks. Introducing…

The bedroom sock basket.

There is no more tube, anklet or mid-calf drama. A permanent fixture in the boudoir, the basket occupies merely a small space. It’s not invasive or offensive. It hurts no one. It is symbiotic.

Turmoil has been eliminated. There is no more pressure to match the chronically unmatched. In fact, I’d go so far as to say, the day there is no sock basket in my room, is the day when I have too much free time on my hands.

After the easy-going socks have been paired, a clan of rowdy rebel socks surface. Instead of reacting with a horror-movie scream (as I had so often in years past), I say, “Hello boys. Off you go to the basket.” That is their punishment for seeking love elsewhere.

I’ve done it so often now, I don’t even feel remorse. One might say, I’m desensitized to this process.

Maybe socks don’t dread the basket. It’s not such a bad place to be, I imagine, from a sock’s point of view. The socks enjoy spending time with one another, many from different backgrounds—like a melting pot. Large ones, small ones and a variety of colors coexist peacefully.

Perhaps stories are swapped about the old days back when they were “in the loop” of mainstream laundry. Maybe they console one another over the hardships of being socks—toes popping through, being worn outdoors. In gravel even!

Their community has been kept pure. Besides socks, no other articles reside in the sock basket. Well, maybe a dryer sheet or two, but that’s all. There is a sporting chance each sock’s mate may be found in that very same location. If it gets stirred enough, perhaps the two will find each other and have a reunion. Would it be a happy reunion? Or would they each blame the other on their circumstances?

Sock 1: After the slumber party when I was being carried into the house, I saw you just lying there in the van. You lazy slob, all rolled up in a ball, not moving an inch. You don’t care if we stay together do you?

Sock 2: I was so sad you left me in the van. I was hoping someone would kick me. I even rolled up into a ball--you saw that. But no one kicked. Alas, not even a strong wind budged me from my predicament.

Both socks sob and hug the best way socks can.

So, you see, the sock basket is to me, I would guess, what a Habitrail is to other people. I don’t have the heart to disrupt their lives now that they have adapted to living there.

Maybe I already do have too much time on my hands.

Cheery springtime cake

2011-04-09T06:20:00.001-07:00

You don’t need to be a professional cake decorator to “wow” family and friends with a pretty cake.

For the cake in the photo, coconut was tinted green to simulate grass; and royal icing was used to create the colorful decoration toppers. It’s all so easy to do. Here’s how:

First of all, make a cake and frost it.

To tint coconut:

Place one cup of coconut in a baggie along with 2 or 3 drops of food coloring. Seal the bag. Shake and squeeze. Make sure color gets through all coconut clumps.

The coconut is now ready to be used for decorating.

Tips:

Add another drop of coloring to darken the batch.
Add more coconut to lighten the color.
Save money by using an empty bread bag for this job. Just twist and hold the end shut.

To make royal icing decorations:

In a mixer on low speed, mix for 7 minutes:
3 tablespoons meringue powder (found in the craft/wedding supplies area at the store)
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons warm water

Portion amounts of icing into small bowls. Add food coloring or paste to create one color per bowl of icing and mix thoroughly.

Transfer icing into decorator bags, squirt bottles or even a baggie with the corner snipped. One color in each, of course.

I find the squirt bottles easy to use and clean. They also can be found in the craft/wedding supplies area at the store. The bottles come two to a pack.

Lay some waxed paper down and begin creating fun, colorful shapes. The icing should be rather thick. Avoid making designs with thin lines, because the shape may break upon removing from paper. The fatter the shape, the better.

As long as you are physically able to use your hand muscles to squeeze the icing onto the waxed paper, it is not too thick. If it is really uncomfortable to squeeze out, remove the icing from the bottle or bag, stir in a drop or two of water and return icing to the bottle or bag. Flatten unintentional icing peaks by pushing the peaks down as soon as possible with a finger moistened with water.

Make extra shapes of similar size. When you think the icing has hardened (after a few hours or overnight) remove these extra shapes from the paper first. If they peel off easily, your real designs probably will, too. And practice shapes are just as yummy as the real thing—a sweet treat for the baker!

If you are going to top the cake with coconut, do so at this time.

Carefully peel your gorgeous designs from the waxed paper and lay them onto the cake. I recommend using a layer of coconut first because it is so forgiving. The icing pieces can be tried in a few different spots before final placement. Just fluff the coconut and no one is the wiser.

All that’s left to do is enjoy the praise…and eat some cake!

Kitty goes all twitchy; blames dog

2011-03-09T05:07:00.000-08:00

Society is fickle. Follow your heart.

2011-02-02T10:58:00.001-08:00

I gave the puppy a pillow

2010-11-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

I-can-do-it apple pie

2010-11-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

Think you can’t make a decent apple pie? Do you feel these types of desserts should be left to the blue ribbon winners at the fair?

Well, throw those notions out just like that uncooperative batch of pie dough. Try this recipe instead!

Start with the pie crust…

Pie crust: (You’ll say, “You must be joking. This crust doesn’t hate me!”)
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons milk

Mix the above ingredients together and work it with your hands to make a big ball of dough.

Take about half of the dough and press it evenly into a greased pie plate. Keep the remaining half nearby.

Apple pie filling:
6 apples, washed, cored, peeled and thinly sliced
½ cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Place the apple slices inside the formed pie crust.

In a saucepan, heat the butter and flour together to make a paste. Mix in the remainder of the ingredients (sugar, brown sugar, water and cinnamon). Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat down, but keep on the stove, stirring every once in a while. Don’t keep the heat on longer than 5 minutes or so.

That is just enough time to…

Roll out the remainder of the pie crust dough on a floured surface. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes. Lay them on top of the apples in an attractive design. (Extra dough freezes well.)

Pour the stovetop mixture over the top of the apples and the cookies on top. Just pour, pour, pour--making sure not to overflow or splash.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Lower the heat to 350 and bake for another 40 minutes.

You might want to place a sheet of foil under the pie plate to save your oven from any overflows (mine did not overflow, however—probably depends on the size of your pie plate.)

Not worth my time? So says Convenience.

2010-11-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

The Mertz Log Cabin at Faust Park, Chesterfield, Missouri

I wrote the other day about how Worry paralyzes me from doing what is necessary. Let me introduce you to my other frenemy, Convenience.

Convenience says, "Kris, it's not worth your time to bake bread and mix your own orange juice." It continues, "Just pick up a loaf at the store and while you're there, grab one of those gallon jugs of orange drink, too."

Stop it, Convenience. Stop it, right now!

I see you giggling with Worry behind my back. You two are like mean girls gushing over my new sweater before glancing eye rolls at each other. I'm onto you guys.

At best Worry and Convenience are enablers. At worst, they are saboteurs. Oh yeah, those days are over. I must find new, like-minded pals.

I am learning that the spare change saved from domestic activities such as cooking from scratch add up. And, money saved is actually better than money earned because you don't have to pay taxes on it.

Implementing even more do-it-myself projects should really ca-ching" into some major dough (I regret the pun).

Are you with me?

I love Elsah, Illinois

2010-10-27T05:22:00.000-07:00

Stinky bug, stinky bug...in my bathtub

2010-10-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ewww!

In our upstairs bathroom, I thought I trapped two wasps. I didn’t stick around long enough to investigate--just shut the door and reported the sighting to hubby. Turns out, they weren’t wasps at all but stinkbugs.

“This is new,” I thought.

We have been getting accustomed to seasonal ladybug guests, sometimes covering the back of the house almost completely. But stinkbugs? They’re not even cute. Or ladylike.

After a bit of research, I learned stinkbugs are a relatively new problem around here. They love to suck the juices from soybean crops and also wreak havoc on apple trees.

I thought the bugs might die off during the winter, but after more digging learned the stinkers lay low, such as under piles of leaves, and are very much waiting for springtime. Pesticide sprays are known to miss, because these pests are so good at hiding.

So, what should a homemaker do? Rule number one is Do Not Smash Stinkbugs. That’s how they become stinky. Some remedies have included flushing them down the toilet and sucking them up in the vacuum cleaner (throw the vacuum cleaner bag away). Rule number two is to make sure there are no openings in screens where the buggers can easily enter a home.

What do stinkbugs smell like? I’ve read they can smell like skunk or even cilantro. Their scent is dependent on the interpretation of the one smelling them.

Smells like one more inconvenience to me.

I have acknowledged my nemesis. His name is Worry.

2010-10-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

"No, Worry, No!" (Imagine a horror movie scream)

The economy recently lost 95,000 jobs because of government layoffs. The business news channels on television report each twitch which may affect stock portfolios.

Someone's thumb slipped and the backsides of everyone's investments are bloody from all the downhill skidding. The market's up. The market's down.

Are you on the edge of your seat?

My lookie-loo nature is tempted every time I sign in to my e-mail account. The search engine constantly refreshes the Dow Jones green arrow up or red arrow down. I suspect the down arrow appears more often, but I don't know really. It's kind of like approaching a traffic light. You don't know if it will be red or green. Whichever it is, that's reality and we must accept it.

I've had it. I'm done trying to outguess the economy's next turn. All this suspense is not useful. It is not convenient. It is not joyful. It is actually hindering efficiency.

I've been hovering over the news like a new parent next to a baby monitor. Why be on worry-alert status? What a waste of time. I don't even "play" the market. There isn't a thing I can do to help the world economy.

Of course, we all can try to drum up business ourselves, make responsible purchases and hire when we are able. Maybe invent something. But that's about it.

Worrying about something so far beyond our control impedes are ability to make individual progress. Yes, teeny-tiny progress. But homemade bread in the freezer is something.

I'm sure that if a catastrophe occurs, I'll find out. Waiting for it to happen is a real downer and fairly morbid.

It's time to be joyful and BUSY. If something earth-shattering does happen, it is best to be prepared. When a tornado approaches, you don't run outside to watch. You hope you've prepared well and take cover.

The watching is over. The worrying is over.

How about you?

Happy. Happy. Happy. Busy. Busy. Busy.

Graphics provided by Designed To a T. (Thank you).

Mark time and then some

2010-10-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Having been a "flag girl" in high school, I am aware of the trials, sacrifices, drama and exhaustion that goes with the activity. But that was back in the day. Back in nineteen eighty *something*.

Nowadays, flag and rifle lines are called "guard" and have their own activity, winter guard, of which the band is not invited (tee hee).

These days expectations are more demanding. Lines are straighter, tosses are higher and, what's this? The guard smiles now. We used to be instructed to look intimidating, kind of mean even--being at attention and all.

Competitions are ALL DAY LONG. When I say ALL DAY LONG...I mean, the day starts at 5 a.m. and bedtime isn't until 4 a.m.

Competitions are such long affairs, the seasons change. One arrives in summer, sporting a light jacket. A sweat attack occurs in the afternoon--everyone wishes they'd worn shorts and halter tops (well, maybe not everyone).

When the sun goes down, flags and rifles are fumbled due to cold-numbed fingers. The spectators watch the awards ceremony wrapped in blankets. Some parents cause near riots at the concession stand for the warmth of a cup of hot chocolate to hold. Trash can fires are considered.

These competitions are the icing on the cake. They are the big deals which bands have been preparing for since the heat of mid-summer during band camp. Competitions are prepared for by arriving at school an hour early every morning and staying late for practices nearly every day.

To say that marching band is an extreme sport is an understatement.

Anyway...a salute to the bands (and parents) in the throes of marching season right now.

It's tough out there!

Look deeply. Can you see it?

2010-09-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

I wish there was a way to take a photo of what's happening inside my head. If I were an artist, there would be a painting of it.

I used to think it would be a worthy goal to become totally self-sufficient; but family and friends always pooh-pooh this notion. After years of considering details, I agree absolute self-sufficiency is unlikely.

But...

Wouldn't it be awesome to provide as much as possible for oneself? Here is a "word picture" of my dream:

Imagine a small cabin. No big whoop. I don't care if it's made from wood or mud. I don't care if it is a school bus, a discarded grain silo or shipping container.

Home blooms anywhere.

One of our first chores would be to erect a clothesline. Planting those poles would cement our claim, symbolizing strength as it would also celebrate escaping conformity, community associations and subdivision restrictions. This simple, domestic staple screams "FREEDOM." At last, no fear of citation. Clothes will flap as flags of independence.

We would catch water from the sky and the sun's rays would purify it. I've heard this is possible. A composting toilet would suffice, even providing fertilizer for fruit trees and non-edibles.

We would have a small array of solar panels. Not that we would need them. Prior to electricity, humans lived totally without it, obviously. What a secure feeling knowing we can survive without the spoiling of our modern era.

Let's go beyond a backyard garden--further even than chickens and goats. What about growing grain? How about raising bayberry for candle wax? A trip to the craft store is what suburbanites do.

Why choose to be dependent?

Our days would be spent gently tending the garden and animals. Some days we would work harder than others. Mostly, we would just consistently chug about the grounds and relax fireside in the evenings. We would enjoy sing-a-longs with neighbors.

And smile a lot.

I read a storybook in grade school about a little girl and her playhouse. Its details soaked into my psyche: flowers in window boxes, dainty curtains, stuffed animal roommates, a tea party. This current homestead vision is similarly charming.

Swoon.

If only I could take a photo of a dream.

(Clip art provided by Designed to a T.)

Exhausted. Cause he works so hard.

2010-09-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

Elegant cherry turnovers

2010-09-07T06:35:00.001-07:00

These turnovers are so simple to make!

Just remember to buy Phyllo dough…the rest is probably on hand.

Here’s all you need:
melted butter, cherry pie filling or other flavor, Phyllo dough, sugar, powdered sugar.

Butter each sheet of Phyllo dough. Stack the buttered layers.
Cut the stack into squares (however big you want).
Top each square with a dollop of pie filling.
Fold each square over and pinch to close.
Brush each turnover with butter and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 350 for about 20 to 25 minutes, until dough is golden brown. Let cool.

Drizzle with a powdered sugar and water glaze.

***This recipe featured on A Moderate Life's Two for Tuesdays Recipe Blog Hop. Lots of great recipes there. Check it out!!***

Almost apple-pickin' time

2010-09-05T10:16:00.001-07:00

Are you eagerly waiting a fall apple picking trip? Me, too!

Have a lovely Sunday!

Aren't barns romantic?

2010-09-01T05:45:00.001-07:00

A little customer appreciation over here, please?

2010-08-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

This is not a photo of me :-)

Why won't that one big box behemoth at least pretend to care about its customers? I don't like to dwell on the negative, but today's occurrence will be life altering for me. So, dwell I must.

I was checking out at the garden center cash register. My total only came to about $12 and I paid cash--a $20 bill. The cashier gave me my receipt but no change (this isn't my gripe).

I asked him for my change and he said, "Sorry, you're right." And he gave me my change. No big deal. It happened quickly...in the time it would have taken him to sneeze and for me to say, "bless you." There definitely was no argument, no scene, no scuffle of any sort.

The door "greeter" was stationed a mere 10 feet away. There were only a handful of people in the general area. As there was nothing else going on, the "greeter" most likely witnessed our quick transaction.

On my way out the door, the "greeter" asked to see my receipt. Of course, I complied. As I walked to the car, I got angrier and angrier. On top of the store not giving me my change, they implied it was probably my fault. That's how it felt to me and that's probably how it looked to anyone paying attention.

The customer behind me did not get her receipt checked--this made me even angrier. Why me? Why did they neglect to give me my change and then imply I was the criminal? How dare they!

When I got home, I called the store.

The manager told me the "greeters" are instructed to randomly check receipts. They don't do it to everyone. I told the manager it is much worse to randomly check receipts as it makes those who must stop appear suspicious.

She said she would talk to the "greeter." I told her I didn't blame the "greeter" at all as it seemed she only did as she was instructed. I also told the manager I realized the corporation was too big to really care about customers and I'm sure I didn't matter to her one bit, but...

I refuse to shop where I'm treated as a criminal.

I shall not support that store or any of their world-wide locations from this point forward. It will be a challenge. I will cook from scratch and search bargains from locally-owned groceries. Things I should have been doing anyway.

I know I shouldn't take this personally. But I feel kind of stupid supporting a store which doesn't give a whit about me, while the local store down the street is extremely friendly and gracious. And, by the way, I DO actually have a choice.

I choose to live better and not be under suspicion.

(I'm so mad I could spit.)

Here comes the parade

2010-08-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love a parade?

Thought I'd post some photos from yesterday's "Wabash Days" parade.

Have a lovely Sunday!

Pistachio pudding cake...from scratch

2010-08-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a pudding-in-the-mix kind of cake from scratch. On a whim, I made one the other day. Wasn't much effort at all.

Pistachio Pudding Cake

Ingredients:
3 egg whites
2 ¼ cups flour
1 box pistachio pudding mix (or substitute another flavor)
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups sugar

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a 9 x 13 glass pan.
Beat the egg whites until a bit frothy.
Mix the flour, pudding mix, salt and baking powder together. Set aside.
In a mixer, blend the milk, oil, vanilla and sugar.
Mix in the eggs.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Beat until combined.
Beat on high speed for 1 full minute, scraping bowl as needed.
Bake for 30 minutes or a little longer--until a toothpick comes out clean.
Allow to cool.

Ice your cake with this yummy frosting:

Ingredients:
½ cup shortening
½ cup butter
¼ cup milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
Chopped pistachios, optional

Directions:
Blend ingredients and spread on cake.

I want this ice box

2010-08-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

Toilet paper wars

2010-08-24T06:46:00.001-07:00

As morning broke on Tuesday, evidence of overnight toilet paper pranks became apparent in my neighborhood.

School is back in session and evenings have turned cooler. It seems the traditional Junior/Senior war for 2010 has now begun.

Then we considered breakfast

2010-08-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I stumbled across this rustic log cabin a few days ago. Look! It’s for sale, too. The sign out front read, “Bed and Breakfast.” Oh my goodness. Pinch me.

The dreaming began…

Oh, I know. I know! “How about we run our own bed and breakfast?” I said.

Just saying it aloud gave value to the statement. We started talking seriously. Logistically. Realistically.

Pro: I love to bake and get gooey over hospitality.

Pro: Hubby is great at handyman fix-it-up things and troubleshooting.

Pro: The cabin is near Historic Main Street, a hopping tourist destination.

But…

As we drove further from the property, we were forced to own up. We live a few cities away from this place. We would have to wake up excruciatingly early to make breakfast and then drive it all the way over there. Truthfully? Breakfast isn’t our thing. (I’m eating a toaster pastry at this very moment).

We laughed how we most likely would hurriedly buy our guests value meal breakfasts from some drive-through during commute. We giggled about the misfortune of overnighters enduring breakfast from the likes of us.

Running a bed and breakfast would not be a good idea at all, we decided. It would be disaster, heartache and probably bankruptcy waiting to happen.

Now, opening a bakery, on the other hand…

Lovely day for a triathlon

2010-08-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

Was a gorgeous morning yesterday for a triathlon. Boy, was I TIRED! Taking photos is EXHAUSTING. :-P

Have a lovely day.

"Now is the time," said the typewriter

2010-08-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

I was skimming blogs the other day and discovered a post about how the blogger received a typewritten résumé from a job applicant. I thought, “How sweet. Someone typed their résumé.”

I love typewriters.

Well the post wasn’t about typewriters at all, but about how the applicant was so lame he must not even know how to use a computer. The blogger pondered, “Why would anyone use a typewriter?”

I experienced swift and immediate pity for this person. Hadn’t he ever been exposed to the tactical joys of typewriting?

The clicking sound of the keys called to me at an early age. The doctor’s secretary typed. The school secretary typed. City hall workers typed. The 1960’s office ambiance was enticing—metal desk and files, spinny rolodex, carbon paper, and the leader of the pack…the clacking typewriter. Recalling those scenes makes me nostalgic.

Putting aside my own typewriter affections, I believe others also harbor a fondness for this machine. Think about the many journalists who enthusiastically pecked away at each top story.

Consider cabin-bound eccentric writers, isolating themselves in the woods with little more than cigarettes, booze and a sturdy typewriter.

What about Mary Richards (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)? She was so hip at her city job, composing each newscast on her typewriter. She probably wouldn’t have thrown her hat in the air if she had to use a computer.

And columnists. Think Andy Rooney. For years an old typewriter sat behind him on the set of 60 Minutes. His computer doesn't evoke any particular feelings.

Students have been double-spacing and whiting-out for years. Even to those of us who now use computers, seeing or hearing a typewriter stirs many a college memory. Do kids in *keyboarding* class warm up by typing, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of his country?” Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.

Mysteries have been solved by deciphering the “hand-writing” of a typewritten note. A detective would declare, “Clyde is the murderer! I know because his typewriter drops its f’s. See here? The f’s in this letter match those in the ransom note. It’s elementary.”

If you want to hear squeals of curiosity from your kids, introduce them to a typewriter. Teach them not to type directly on the platen and to type rhythmically so the keys don’t jumble. Tell them that using a typewriter takes responsibility—and that you trust them. They will be so thrilled with this new discovery and proud to be trusted to use it.

There are many pro-typewriter bloggers who post actual type-written copy. Some of these people are also busy buying and reconditioning typewriters. Check out backspacetypewriters.blogspot.com, clickthing.blogspot.com and typeclack.blogspot.com.

See, I am not the only one.

That anti-typewriter blogger didn’t realize how typewriting is much more than putting words to paper. How naive.

Admittedly, a computer and printer do that job more efficiently and the job applicant probably should have conformed for the sake of employment.

But where is the romance?

Kid stuff, with an adult vocabulary

2010-08-20T08:06:00.001-07:00

Warning: Rant switch is *on*

It's happening everywhere:

Someone parks their cart in the middle of the grocery aisle so no one can pass;
Someone steals a turn at a stop sign;
Someone talks on a cell phone instead of addressing the cashier at the checkout;
Someone does not thank a waitperson while being served;
Someone does not return an informal good-will smile;
Someone parks in a no-parking area.

The list of offenses goes on, but you get the idea. People are so absorbed with their own lives, or their own self worth, or something…they simply will not acknowledge others.

It’s intriguing because most of the offenders are nicely dressed, otherwise seemingly successful people, yet they have not conquered that basic life skill—manners.

Perhaps they’ve bought into the reality TV trash attitude best summed up by a “celebrity” who recently said, “Yeah, I’m a _____ and I’m proud of it.” Isn’t that a lovely demeanor? Are we supposed to admire and emulate this woman as she gives no regard for others? Please.

Apparently she and those like her have been misled into thinking that the way to get ahead is to tromp on pesky “other people” because they have the nerve to exist. Others are the competition. Others are in the way. Others must be crushed.

I would tell that reality TV woman, “Oh, honey, that barbaric attitude is so history. Get with the now.”

Though countless marketing sources recite the “it’s all about you” mantra, it’s really not. We need to GROW UP.

Cooperation is the new competition. We must learn to get along, share and respect each other. If we cannot relate with civility to one another over the little things, how in the world are we going to relate to each other during the big things?

We mustn’t let the invasion of alpha-dogging poison our communities. Refuse to participate. If someone is wetting their pants to arrive first at the stop light, let them.

Smile. Wave. Open a door for someone. It’s difficult when friendly gestures aren’t returned, but we must pervade. Have patience, for "rudies" need to be shown the way.

This is a matter of extreme importance to society. I hope you’ll help.

Sweet, flourishing basil

2010-08-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

Photo above: My baby.

After growing basil from seeds this spring, my windowsill crop is flourishing and about ready for harvest. Trouble is, I hate to use any.

I feel so green-thumbed when I look over at my buddy, all grown-up. He's the herb I coddled from infancy. While I'm doing dishes, I think, "I'm his mother."

When one of his leaves is rubbed, a lemony/minty aroma is released. Natural perfume!

I'm quite proud.

Nevertheless, I should get over myself and realize the purpose of growing basil is, in fact, to use it. It is food. Or as eco people might say, on my windowsill I practice "food production."

Here's what's happening with my basil bumper crop:

Drying basil for use during the year. Here's how:
Clip some sprigs.
Wash and dry them thoroughly.
Gather the bunches of sprigs
Hang them upside down until dried. Try to find a dark, dry spot.
When the basil is dry, crush them a bit and store in a container.

And, you know...a discussion about basil wouldn't be complete without a recipe for pesto!

Ingredients
About 2 cups of fresh basil (not dried)
At least one whole clove of garlic--more if you like
1/2 cup of nuts (pine nuts are traditional, but substitute peanuts, walnuts or almonds)
One cup of Parmesan cheese
One cup of olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions
In a blender or food processor, pulse the garlic and nuts.
Add the basil and pulse some more.
Add the cheese and process.
Sprinkle in some salt and pepper.
Add olive oil gradually. Continue processing until the mixture is creamy.

Fresh pesto lasts about one week in the refrigerator.
Freeze some in ice cube trays for quick-grab-pesto.

Top pasta dishes with pesto instead of a red sauce or use as the sauce on pizza. Pesto is also tasty as a dip or on crackers.

What about you? Is it sweet basil harvest time at your house?

Awwww, Mom

2010-08-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

"Was the bus on time? Do you like your teachers? What did you eat for lunch?"

There are million things mothers are dying to know about the first day of school.

What kid would be annoyed if Mom pried about their life via cake?

You have to admit, it’s an original approach. Cheap, too. (not as cheap as talk...but still)

I used gumballs to jazz up the border without too much huff.

“So…how was your day?”

Familial sewing basket neglect

2010-08-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

I recently inherited my grandmother’s sewing basket. She wasn’t much of a seamstress and neither am I. We received baking genes instead.

Yet, there is something special about having her sewing basket. It just may be precisely because she and I were both out to lunch about sewing. Just as I can relate to her rolling out pie crusts, I can also relate to her obligation of mending—even though it wasn’t her thing.

We were kindred spirits in this regard. We shared a kind of “yeah, I don’t get it, either”-ness.

Oh sure, we could hold our own with a needle and thread…to a point. Buttons? No problem. Buttonholes? Uh, um *cough*. Excuse us, while we check the bread dough.

The other day, I organized this symbol of domesticity—for the both of us. I merged her notions and mine into her larger green sewing box. (My small pink basket remains from a childhood Christmas and hasn’t been able to handle the needs of a growing family.)

Tangled threads—be gone! I snipped and color-coordinated like there was no tomorrow. I also found some interesting items.

This needle (dagger?) struck me as strange. What project would have required such a scary device? And look how it’s bent at the bottom. I think it might have something to do with drapes. Or tractor tires.

Isn’t this package for blue jean patches cute as can be? And look at the way it was priced at 29 cents. Adorable.

A paper of “le chic” buttons—with only one button still clinging. The whole set was priced a mere dime!

Thread on a wooden spools, vintage book of needles and various other notions.

Grandma did own a sewing machine and perhaps during her teen years she made her own dresses as so many women did. I would love to know more about those times in her life.

Her hand-written recipes tell a lot about my Grandmother. The splatters and stains indicate which ones were her favorites. But this sewing basket also tells a story about the woman--a woman who would rather not, yet must sometimes, sew.

We’re the same that way. She and I.

10 ways to endure difficult times

2010-08-12T08:21:00.001-07:00

Photo above: tomato plants

Preparing for tough economic times seems to be a skill with which we have lost touch. From the bible to fairy tales, preparedness has been lauded as a virtue.

There are some simple ways we all can make sure our homes are lean and operating efficiently, even under the current challenging conditions of rising oil prices and inflation at the grocery store.

Check out these 10 suggestions:

Take inventory of what you already have. Put like items together so you’ll be able to find them quickly, such as: kitchen gadgets, office supplies, tools and sewing supplies. If you already have something, you won’t have to purchase another one.

Keep more food on hand for emergencies. When you are at the store, trade that bag of empty calories for some cans of beans or corn. The prices will probably rise anyway, so buy now and enjoy the piece of mind a full pantry offers. (Remember to heed expiration dates.)

Get out of debt. Of course, this will offer huge savings in interest. But it’s easier said that done. Dave Ramsey has been helping people for many years crawl out from under that burden. Check out his website here or borrow one of his books from the library.

Cooking from scratch has the potential to save big bucks. It may be the one area in the family budget that can be reduced so drastically. Here is a great website for doing just that.

Consolidate car trips. This is just a matter of thinking ahead. Eliminate trips to the store for just one item. Make a list and venture out less frequently.

Vacation near home—or at home. Getting away is just a state of mind. Declare your home a bed and breakfast for a few days. Don’t do any work at all. Lounge around. Go out to dinner nearby. Rent movies. Play games. Spoil yourself.

Plant a garden. This doesn’t have to be rows of corn and asparagus in the backyard. Plant a tomato plant in a container and set outside in the sun. Water and tend to it. Pretty soon, you’ll feel smug eating tomatoes for a fraction of the cost to buy them. Check out this website for more container gardening information.

Repair items, such as clothes, instead of buying new ones. We have been spoiled with inexpensive clothes for such a long time. The temptation to run to the store at the first sign of button failure is so great. But there is no reason not to break out the thread and a needle to repair a rip, sew on a button or even fix a hole in a sock. It not only saves the price of a new garment, it saves gas getting to the store as well.

Hang clothes instead of tumble drying them. Depending on your rates, machine drying clothes could cost about 50 cents per load. Don’t fret, you are still able to hang dry your things, even if the subdivision restrictions say otherwise. Set up a rod in the laundry room or over a bathtub and hang some things. Maybe everything won’t fit, but at least all the laundry doesn’t have to be machine dried. If there is space, erect a clothesline in the basement.

Wash your hair every other day instead of every day. I heard somewhere that models prefer day two for styling their hair, because too soon after a wash, hairstyles don’t work as well. So, we can save water and shampoo all while sporting better hairdos.

These painless steps are just a beginning into the life of conservation and frugality. When we become aware of our habits, it becomes so much easier to recognize where we can cut back.

The good thing is that once we have our own lives in order, we are more prepared to help others during their struggles.

Life is imperfect. Participate anyway.

2010-08-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

This quilt was handmade. Its imperfections make it a one-of-a-kind treasure.

I wrote the following a while back for a local paper; yet I still have to convince myself to live this way...

I love visiting historical homes but wish I could have seen them as they were being used. During daily life, wooden floors probably weren’t polished. There definitely were no "keep-out" red ropes in place.

Instead of viewing a still life (in real life), I would rather see what’s cooking in the kitchen and what’s hanging on the line out back. The residents were messy, unpredictable and inefficient, just like we are today. Dressing up their lives portrays a false image.

We do not have to be ready-for-show to do what we love. If we wait for conditions to be perfect before embarking on a project or fulfilling a dream, it will never happen.

We will never have enough money, time or the approval from others. So what? We are allowed to play, even if we don’t “perform” flawlessly.

Don’t listen to those promoting insecurities. Ultimately, in the very end, we are judged by our hearts, not by the orderliness of our lives.

What a relief.

Perfection is not the goal. You don’t get recognition for being perfect and it is incredibly dull anyway. Celebrate your individuality and get on with your passions.

I wish I could kick naysayers in the teeth sometimes (figuratively speaking) and write without reserve. Get out the guitar again. My life, my business. Ya know?

What have you been holding back on?

Honey baked popcorn--way too easy!

2010-08-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Get 2/3 cups of popcorn popping in an air popper.
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Add 4 tablespoons of honey. Stir.
In large mixing bowl, toss popped corn with honey butter mixture.
Spread on a baking sheet and bake about 6 minutes.
Sprinkle with salt before serving.

You’ll receive rave reviews.

**This recipe was posted on the Two for Tuesday Recipe Blog Hop. Check it out!!**

Blackberries: jovial and stand-off-ish

2010-07-30T10:58:00.001-07:00

After planting blackberry bushes last year, we are thrilled to finally have some harvesting to do.

The berries in the photo appear to be more raspberry-ish, but I assure you they are blackberries. They are thornless and very approachable, friendly even.

As a special bonus, we also found some wild blackberries. Not wanting to take any chances, we summoned the expertise of our county extension service for confirmation. Yep, we have lots of blackberries! Happy. Happy. Happy.

This was a practical discovery, considering their zero cost; however, the wild bunch is very much NOT thornless. They are aloof and quite persnickety--but that's no deterrent when one is determined about cobbler.

As a side note, the raspberry bushes we planted last year fizzled. Apparently, it is not OK to plant raspberries and blackberries too close together.

Live and learn. And eat blackberries!

How are your gardening attempts going so far?

Using the sun to cook dinner

2010-07-28T06:41:00.001-07:00

Solar cookers provide a way to save on your utility bill while saving energy, too.

Check out this video of a woman using a solar oven in Minnesota. The temperature was nine degrees that day. (Note: Wash hands often when dealing with raw meat)

A solar oven could cost upwards of $200, but the design is simple. If you are still financially reeling from a recent pizza delivery splurge, use the pizza box to create your own solar oven. (Note: Use eco-friendly paints and glues)

Follow this link for instructions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWbtuDnlBVw.

(Sunshine image from www.designedtoat.com)

The fresh scent of line-dried sheets. Not.

2010-07-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought times would change so drastically that people would have to fight for the right to use a clothesline on their own property?

I would love to hang out my laundry, but I’m fairly certain particular covenants and restrictions prohibit such a thing where I live.

Let’s look it up.

The precise wording from our community association is as follows:
“No permanent poles for attaching wires or lines for the purpose of hanging laundry thereupon shall be erected, installed or constructed on any Lot.”

I spoke to the coordinator at the community association and he told me laundry poles were the issue, not the laundry itself. If we rigged up a retractable system, that would be fine. He also told me to check with the city to make sure they did not have an ordinance against drying laundry outside.

So, I spoke with the code enforcement representative for our city. She told me there was no ordinance she knew of against it; but that almost no one hangs their laundry outside here. She said maybe one or two people have done it within the last five years. And sometimes when residents do hang their clothes, their neighbors report them to code enforcement—even though there is no ordinance against line-drying.

She *helpfully* took my street name so there is now a record of my phone call, just in case someone complains about our laundry outside. Once again…I don’t know why it matters since there is no ordinance against it!

I doubt I’ll soon be so rebellious and radical as to hang out my laundry. Yet I hope someone will step up and be nervy enough to act within the city code and do something perfectly legal—to make hanging laundry outside acceptable once again.

Actually there is a movement afoot in favor of “right to dry” legislation--you may know about it. Check out the Action Center on Project Laundry List’s website at www.laundrylist.org. While you’re there view photos of how simply gorgeous a clothesline can be.

The benefits of hanging laundry are so many—energy conservation, sterilization by sunlight, money savings, aesthetics (clotheslines are beautiful, after all!).

Perhaps one day I'll be able to hang out the laundry without making the neighbors fussy.

What about you?

Do you love a clothesline? Or are you dryer-all-the-way?

Pretzels, get your pretzels here

2010-07-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

This recipe is economical and incredibly yummy. Bake some and see what you think.

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 ¼ cups warm water

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve above ingredients and let sit for about 10 minutes. The mixture should foam a little.

Into the yeast mixture, add the following:
3 ½ cups flour
½ cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

On a floured plate or board, knead the dough. Add about one cup more flour as needed during kneading.

Lightly oil a large bowl and roll the dough in it, so that all sides of the dough are lightly covered with oil.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a greased towel and let rise in a warm place for about an hour and a half.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Shape dough into 12 pretzel shapes or about 24 twisty sticks. It seems twisty sticks are faster to shape, easier to handle, and brown more uniformly when baking (but you do what you want).

In a saucepan, dissolve ½ cup of baking soda into 4 cups of hot water. Simmer gently.

Dunk one or two pretzels at a time into the water. Use a slotted spoon or wire basket-type spatula so some of the water drains off. (Stir water mixture often to prevent baking soda from clinging to the pretzels).

Bake pretzels on a greased baking sheet for about 8 minutes or until golden brown.

Immediately brush with melted butter.

Then, enjoy them as is…or
*dip them in a bowl of Parmesan cheese; or
*sprinkle a cinnamon/sugar mixture on top; or
*sprinkle course salt on top.

These are so soft and delicious--you’ll want to eat them all at once.

Do you love soft pretzels?

**This recipe was posted on the Two for Tuesday Recipe Blog Hop. Check it out!!**

He couldn't possibly have a dark side

2010-07-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

I’m aware some people have ongoing, raging combat with raccoons. But really, how can you not love that sweetie-pie face?

We spotted this guy a while back. We drove all around him, snapping photos. He waddled here and there, but never seemed extremely concerned about being followed.

I think we’ll name him...Bandit. (Like you didn’t expect that?)

Have a lovely Sunday!

Pork spareribs supper with carrots and rice

2010-07-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

Honey baked pork spareribs were a hit the other night at our house. I purchased the meat for 1.49/lb at a local grocery store (not big-box).

Here’s the recipe:

Honey Baked Pork Spareribs

2 pounds pork spareribs
garlic powder
¼ cup honey
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/8 cup soy sauce
salt and pepper

Cut spareribs into manageable serving-size pieces and place into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Salt and pepper the meat. Cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees for an hour.

Heat honey, vinegar, soy sauce and some garlic powder in a saucepan until boiling. Discard the liquid from the sparerib pan.

Spoon the honey mixture over the spareribs. Turn the oven up to 350 degrees and bake uncovered for another 20 to 30 minutes. Baste with juices. Serve with some bbq sauce.

White rice and brown sugared carrots go well with these ribs.

Brown sugared carrots
Place one pound of baby carrots into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with water and microwave for 15 minutes. Drain the water and melt some butter over the carrots. Add a couple tablespoons of brown sugar into buttered carrots, creating a caramel sauce.

What have you been serving at your house??

**This recipe was posted on the Two for Tuesday Recipe Blog Hop. Check it out!!**

Playing house, or um, camping

2010-07-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

Recently, my husband and I visited one of the many awesome county parks in our area. The views were breathtaking and the walking trails exhilarating; but the cabins were most intriguing. I think every little girl or grown-up little girl will find something magical in these teeny “homes.”

As we peeked inside one of the structures, my husband probably thought something along the lines of,

“Electricity for laptop. Bring bug spray.”

This is what I thought…

“Wouldn’t a vase of daisies on the dining room table be lovely? Oh, let’s sew window curtains in a fabric of pink and green gingham and, of course, stitch bed quilts to match!

We will sit in rocking chairs on the front porch and that’s where we will knit and sing.”

“We will roll out pie crust and then bake our masterpiece over coals outside. After chasing kitty from the windowsill, we will place our pie there to cool. Fresh air will dance with delicious aroma, filling the room with a homey scent.”

“Our kitty will be calico and her name shall be Pinky. She will be adorned with a hot pink collar studded with diamonds--and she will sleep with us.”

“If any extra boys want to play, they can be the dogs. If they don’t like being dogs, then they can just go home.”

The daydream ended as we headed back to the car. Real-life kitchens, laundry and pets aren’t nearly as much fun to contemplate as the possibilities found in these cabin playhouses.

Yes, these cabins happen to be located in the woods and, no, they do not have bathrooms or running water; so using them is, technically, camping.

But, isn’t it way more fun to play house?

Super-duper granola bars

2010-07-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

After buying boxes of ready-made granola bars containing who-knows-what ingredients plus all that packaging...I have been using this really easy recipe and making them myself instead.

This recipe is great because you can throw in bits of this and that--whatever you have on hand or whatever your family likes.

This is how we like 'em:

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 cups oats
1 cup rice cereal
1/2 cup broken pretzels (recommended!!)
some sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, raisins (or whatever you have on hand)
handful of chocolate chips

Boil over medium-high heat: 4 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup honey.

Then simmer on medium-low for about 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and add 2 cups of oats, 1 cup of rice cereal, 1/2 cup of broken pretzels, and other fruit and nut additions.

Spread into a 9 x 13 pan.

Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top and press them into the bars. (Don't stir these into the warm mixture...unless you prefer them melted and not as chips.)

Cool and slice into bars.

What is your favorite granola bar recipe?

Tell me, tell me!!

The honey locust tree and its bad reputation

2010-07-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

The honey locust tree’s most obvious feature is its abundance of thorns. Thorns on the branches, thorns on the trunk and thorns on the thorns. At first glance, this tree appears to be angry and ready for a fight. Its arsenal is quite apparent for anyone in doubt.

One may wonder, “What are honey locust trees good for?” Actually, quite a few things.

The pods from the honey locust tree are sweet and edible when mature (as opposed to the black locust tree’s poisonous pods). These pods may also be used to ferment for beer. Just be careful of the leaves, they are poisonous.

The honey locust’s wood is high quality and durable and is often used to create furniture.

And those huge, stabbing thorns may even be used as nails.

The honey locust is sometimes planted near black walnut trees. They love to grow together and nurture each other. And black walnuts, once cracked open, are yummy.

So, the honey locust isn’t all bad. It just has a bad reputation.

Some nurseries sell thornless, podless varieties for shade and ornamental uses. But where’s the adventure in that?

The native honey locust has many offerings for those brave enough to get to know it. Just remember to wear a suit of armor and most of all, do not taunt the honey locust tree.

Peek-a-boo in the rain

2010-07-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

This video was taken during a recent thunderstorm. Do you see what I see?

I was nervous for this sweet little guy but knew if I attempted a rescue mission, he would hop away. So I kept watch at the window.

He didn’t seem terribly concerned about weather conditions as he was nestled safely during the entire storm.

I was relieved for him when the wet and windy excitement concluded. Afterward, he nibbled nonchalantly on grass.

What a brave little bunny!

Red sauce from the garden

2010-07-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

For some time I have wondered if it would be cost-effective to make homemade red sauce with fresh ingredients from the garden or farmer’s market.

Would I need bushels of tomatoes for just one pasta dinner? I didn’t know.

I decided to wing it and find out what happens.

Some recipes instruct starting the recipe three hours before mealtime. Most days, that’s not going to happen around here. I only simmered this batch for about a half hour.

You may call this marinara, pasta sauce or dipping sauce. I guess it depends on what you eat with it.

Easy and speedy fresh-from-the-garden red sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ onion, chopped fine
¼ green pepper, chopped fine
½ celery rib, chopped fine
2 tomatoes, diced
2 teaspoons of Italian spices
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper

In a saucepan, sauté the onion, green pepper and celery in some olive oil sprinkled with garlic powder.
Add the diced tomatoes (with peels, juice and seeds—what’s wrong with being lazy?)
Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer, stirring often, for a half hour or until you are ready to eat.
The result is salsa-like in consistency. I made it a bit smoother by breaking up and mashing the mixture with the edge of a spatula during simmer time.

This recipe makes enough for two small servings of pasta or enough pizza sauce for one pizza.

Double or triple as needed.

Do you have a recipe for red sauce using fresh tomatoes? Please share!

**This recipe was posted on the Two for Tuesday Recipe Blog Hop. Check it out!!**

A bouquet of flowers in a hay field

2010-07-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love visiting the country?

Have a lovely Sunday.

Is suburban forest gardening possible?

2010-07-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

I recently learned about a section of permaculture called forest gardening. For those concerned about any aspect of a “peaking” society (peak climate, peak oil, peak population, peak water) or for anyone who may want to live closer to nature or merely save money, forest gardening sounds exciting to explore.

This method throws farming and traditional gardening for a loop. There is no tilling of soil. There is almost no maintenance required, making it appealing to an aging population, folks with disabilities or just the chronically lazy.

Why do forests thrive unattended by human effort? Because they want to grow there. It’s their natural inclination. Forest gardening takes this natural setting and introduces edibles—but only the ones wishing to grow in a particular region.

Layers make the most of a small plot. Neighboring together could be: vines, ground-level edibles such as strawberries; root vegetables; typical garden residents like lettuces and herbs; shrub-size berries; and dwarf fruit trees. This whole environment would be protected under a canopy of large fruit and nut trees.

Weeds are minimal and fallen tree leaves provide rich mulch. Plants attracting beneficial bugs (to dine on bad bugs) could be added. In a small space, a whole ecosystem thrives.
After years of chemical farming requiring expensive machinery, working with nature sounds almost too simple.

Though much information I found about forest gardening is from England and the notion of permaculture hails from Australia, residents in Colorado and Massachusetts are succeeding at forest gardening. One source I read claimed ten people could be fed from one acre. Encouraging.

Perhaps suburbanites can practice sustainability after all.

Would you attempt a forest garden?

Unemployed? Broke? Live a Little.

2010-06-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

Watching episodes of Real Housewives recently, it occurred to me how they never drink from lidless sippy cups. Even while consuming their mandatory six glasses of water, they do so from elegant stemware. Not only that, but these socialites are consistently decked with bangles and baubles. Oh and how they love to rub elbows!

Yes, the rich and famous exude panache. But is that because they are rich and famous? No. Their status merely allows them to expect a particular lifestyle. That does not mean they are the only ones permitted to indulge. Heck no!

Here are some ways to enjoy such privilege without cracking a nest egg. Spoil yourself, Sweetie. Be a little fussy even!

Raise your pinky, Dahhhling.
Practically every household has funky or fancy dishes which rarely get table-time. Bring them to the front of the cabinet. (So what if they need hand-washed? It’s worth it.) Bask in change. Feel pampered.

Blingage.
No, no--not $20,000 bracelets. That’s just silly. But even reality offers hope. Isn’t there a forgotten pair of dangly earrings in the jewelry box? Frame your face like a portrait with them! Catch a glimpse in the mirror. Feel like a million bucks, even if the earrings were picked up at a garage sale two summers ago.

Party! Party!
Big money does not a party make. Guests are the event (You knew that). Invite some buds over and then just fill in the blanks. Light candles. Infuse the background with soothing tunes. Nosh on grapes, crackers, cheese slices and a bottle of wine. Desserts can be inexpensive yet elegant. Make shortbread or try a new cookie recipe. For a snazzy effect, drizzle thinned white icing over just about anything. Lovely. This fantabulous spread can be had for around $20 (depending on number of guests, of course).

Clean up your act.
It costs next to nothing to have a tidy home. Just go for the illusion of clean—don’t knock yourself out. Open the curtains and bask in sunlight. Ahhh.

Now that’s living!

Temporal Mechanics? Maybe.

2010-06-12T14:09:00.001-07:00

So, I was at the store the other day loading my groceries into the back of the car when I noticed her. She was about 75 years old and had red hair--obviously dyed.

She looked sincerely joyful, was wearing something colorful (borderline loud) and I thought, “Hmm. I wouldn’t mind looking like that when I get to be her age.” Then it hit me.

Maybe she was me.

You never know. What if…just what if…time travel is invented--sometime in the future, of course? Then humans just might be able to take a vacation to a different time period. Like instead of going to the Wisconsin Dells this summer, one goes to the Wisconsin Dells, 1945.

The idea doesn’t seem so crazy. After all, Fermilab in Batavia, Ill. has been working on particle beam physics for a while now. I don’t claim to know any more than that about the whole thing, except that time manipulation is thrown in there somewhere.

Fermilab is a Department of Energy laboratory, so I doubt they run it just for cool tricks in time travel. But, you never know.

There may be a “you got your chocolate in my peanut butter” kind of moment and then BAM. Temporal mechanics.

Now when I look around at people, even children, I think all kinds of deep things. What if my great-grandchildren decide to take a trip back in time to visit me, their dear Grammie, before I lose my hearing?

Next time daily monotony numbs you, get lost in a freaky daydream of time travel. It might not be fantasy after all.

Think about it.

(picture courtesy of www.designedtoat.com)

15 ways to save green--right now

2010-06-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

I wrote this a while back. Reading it again, I notice it sounds kinda preachy. Still some good ideas, though.

The high cost of everything these days makes sticking to a budget more difficult than ever. When prices keep going up, but incomes don’t, there is only one thing to do—implement frugality.

Here are 15 ways to save some green—starting right away:

Work to reduce debt. This isn’t as easy as it sounds, but a lot of creditors are willing to work with their customers. It’s important to pay even a little something to perhaps avoid a late charge in addition to interest build-up. It does not hurt to call the creditor and attempt to work out a payment plan. You may be able to agree on better rates or a time table more suited to your needs.

Ditch the cable or satellite TV. Come on, now. Is this a necessity? If your internet and phone service are all tied to your satellite plan, then at least try to reduce your plan to the very basic service necessary.

Send e-mails rather than make long distance calls or mail letters. Every little bit helps. A long distance call can easily cost $20 and if you e-mail that note instead of mail it, you save almost 50 cents.

Do the kids really need all those lessons and activities? Consider swapping a stressful schedule for a more relaxed one by dropping a superfluous activity. You’ll save money in fees and gas. If this leaves your child too bored, visit Grandma. If Grandma doesn’t live nearby, visit someone else’s grandma at a local nursing home. Thinking of others is a valuable lesson, too!

Cold cereals—forget about ‘em. At $4 a box, they are a budget-buster for sure. Enjoy instead toast, oatmeal, muffins or cornbread—home-made, of course.

Give soda the heave-ho. Noticed the price of soda escalating, too? It’s crazy out there! Soda isn’t healthy for you anyway. Besides, those plastic bottles are ugly and fill up the recycling box too fast. Make iced tea or lemonade at home instead.

Don’t buy books, CD’s or DVD’s—get busy with that library card instead. Just watch due dates and avoid those late fees!

Cook from scratch. For every convenience food, try to make a from-scratch equivalent. Pizza is an easy one to crank out. Same with brownies, cookies and popsicles. The crock pot is a time saver. Check out this recipe for crock pot brats.

Rediscover entertaining at home. Invite some friends over for a dinner of pasta and salad. Pull out some board games, watch a movie or just chat while the kids play.

Does Mr. Spiffs really need special toys? Cats love string. String. How inexpensive is that?

Let those coins accumulate. If you drop your day’s change in a jar, you’ll have a couple hundred dollars in a few months without even trying.

Zap the frapp. Even if the small is the tall it’s still about $5 for a cup of diluted coffee and whipped cream. Learn how to make one at home. Check out this recipe.

Consolidate car trips. With gas prices consistently breaking price records, driving has become a splurge. Make a plan before heading out. Map the route beforehand to use the least amount of gas. Be sure to gather all you need while you’re out. Carpool with co-workers for rides to and from work.

Recognize bad spending habits. Getting a soda from the machine each time the kids are at soccer practice quickly becomes an ingrained routine. It takes keen awareness to identify the pattern in order to change it.

Challenge yourself to take the savings as far as it can be taken. Like this: Instead of buying that soda from the machine, bring soda from home. Better yet, bring a water bottle. Better yet, bring the water in a re-usable cup instead of a purchased water bottle.

These days troubles are touching everyone, families, singles, retirees—everyone; but, many have already discovered that the simple life can be a refreshing and overdue change of pace.

Peace of mind is priceless.

Well, h'aloe vera

2010-06-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

I adopted her a couple months ago and named her Vera. She keeps me company whilst I cook and do dishes. She absolutely adores sunning in the kitchen window and is growing by the minute. (I refrain from saying she’s growing like a weed. She takes offense.)

Though she sacrifices limb and sap for her love of nursing, she is passionate about first aid. I might add…she’s also quite succulent.

You’ve probably guessed that my bff, Vera, is an aloe vera plant.

Vera is not high-maintenance at all. She spends her days sunbathing. I just take her a refreshing drink when her soil goes dry.

As a kid during the 70’s, I remember aloe vera commonly complimenting the décor of homes. Maybe it was a style thing, but aloe vera is such a practical home companion, it deserves a space in every household.

Aloe vera’s sap is said to be effective in treating wounds and can be used topically on burns as well. Wikipedia states that aloe vera has antibacterial and antifungal activities. It may even aid in fighting cancers in cats and dogs. Interesting.

Of course, her medicinal traits are probably challenged by skeptics. Whatever. Those people probably don’t even talk to their own plants.

What I know is that when someone has a boo-boo, Vera’s right there to lend a leaf of sap.

Maybe it’s mental, but Vera encourages me to nurture and heal naturally, like an earthy, hippy-momma. She takes me back to the land and keeps me in tune with nature.

Well, the nature on my windowsill, anyway.

Excuse me, do you have chicken thighs?

2010-03-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

Serving a budget-friendly meal is quite a challenge, so I was tickled plucky to spot chicken thighs on sale for 99 cents a pound.

Pushing the cart proudly through the store aisles, it dawned on me that chicken thighs aren’t in my meal repertoire. In fact, I’ve never made them; however something with BBQ in the name seemed like a good bet.

To make matters more experimental, ready-made BBQ sauce was avoided at the store in favor of something homemade.

Here is what we had for dinner that night. It was quite tasty. You should really try it!

(Can you even resist asking the butcher if he has chicken thighs?)

BBQ Chicken Thighs

3 pounds chicken thighs (about 8 pieces)
olive oil
salt and pepper
garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place chicken on metal baking sheet (with sides) which has been drizzled with olive oil.
Remove chicken skins if you like.
Sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic powder on the chicken.
Bake for 35 minutes.
While chicken is baking, prepare BBQ sauce (recipe below).
Top each piece of chicken with some homemade BBQ sauce.
Bake for another 20 minutes.
Test meat for doneness.

St. Louis inspired BBQ sauce (a little thinner than KC-style)

2 cups catsup
½ cup water
1/8 cup white wine vinegar
¼ cup brown sugar
a squirt of prepared mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients and simmer in a saucepan for about 15 minutes.

No Butter Biscuits

2010-03-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. Butter left out of the fridge overnight is probably just fine to use.
Note this explanation from the Missouri Families website.

But, if you are out of butter; or if you feel funny about using “counter butter,” try this fast butter-less biscuit recipe:

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons shortening
2/3 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Grease a jelly roll pan with a little shortening.

Mix dry ingredients and cut in the shortening.

Add the milk and mix well.

You could roll out this dough and cut with a biscuit cutter…but so much fuss isn’t necessary.

Just break dough into 20 equal parts. Form each piece into a ball.

Then flatten each ball into a round that’s about ¼” thick.

Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, until biscuits turn golden.

Serve with a dab of jelly, if you wish.

Feathered friends say, “Thanks for the nibbles”

2010-02-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

Do a good deed craft today.

Make a pine cone bird feeder. It’s
so easy.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Ingredients:
pine cone
peanut butter
bird seed
string

Tie a length of string around a pine cone.
Use a spoon to swipe some peanut butter on it.

Then roll the pine cone in a plate of bird seed.
Hang it in a tree branch near a window, so you can watch the birds from inside.

Lovely to meet you!

2010-02-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

I thought an introduction about myself and this blog were in order. Here goes...

Ever wish you had a comfortable, familiar friend on your side? Someone who wouldn't judge, wasn't competing with you and wasn't around just for babysitting perks?

I have.

Lonely women are everywhere. Women who are scared to let daily messes show. Women who think they can't let their guards down and share their true selves.

We shouldn't give up on chatting and mingling simply because we haven't finished "getting ready." Are we ever really ready?

The workplace dictum, "Never let 'em see you sweat" has shoved its way into neighborhoods, clubs and PTA's.

This isn't healthy. Women need each other. We need to know we are normal. We need to know our kids are normal. We need to talk about how normal we are!

In current media, if someone doesn't measure up, they are labeled LOSERS. No one wants to be a loser, so everyone tries to be perfect (i.e. fakes it). It's silly. Life isn't perfect and people are not losers.

Have the bullies from 4th grade taken over the grown up world?

It is my mission to provide a kinship. Let's try projects and recipes. Let's discuss whatever we want. And let's do it in an atmosphere of acceptance, encouragement and sisterhood.

Please be yourself here and not worry about impressing anyone.

I hope you will share ideas and ideals (in the comments section).

It's time we are all on the same side.

Oh, my name is Kris and my kitty's litter box needs cleaned.

Hi.