Archive for August, 2005

August 30th, 2005 - Yogurt

Two weekends ago, I made yogurt in my dehydrator. I’m so glad I finally got around to doing it. It was easy and I LOVE IT! The greatest advantage is that my yogurt isn’t tart like the plain yogurt we buy. (We have bought plain yogurt for years as an addition to the dogs’ diet. I try to eat it now and then and find it horrid.) My Super Baby Food book explained that you can leave it in the heat longer to make it more tart. The 2 hours is perfect for me, however.

SBF had a list of possibly inclusions in yogurt. The first one tried was peanut butter. I adore peanut butter yogurt. I’ve had it for most lunches over the past week and it’s on the slate for the rest of the week. The second one I tried was molasses and wheat germ. Oh my goodness was that nasty. I ate it, but I never will again!

I made another batch this past Sunday and it’s now going to replace the store-bought for the dogs, too. It costs about 1/2 as much, although I’ll be eating more now!

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August 29th, 2005 - Lunch and snacks

My lunch and snacks at work today consist of: carrots from my garden (I’m eating one now!), a tomato from my garden (also had one for breakfast), homemade pesto pizza (I also made the pesto from basil from Dad’s garden), homemade peach tart, and homemade oatmeal chocolate creme pies (cookie sandwhich like Little Debbie’s). What a lovely, lovely food day!!!

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August 26th, 2005 - Why, oh why?

I never thought highly of the goodie bags people get at awards shows. Now I like them even less: Radar Online’s comparison of goodie bag items to Heifer International and Good Gifts alternatives. If a company had a little note in the goodie bag saying “Instead of X, we purchased a library” or a llama or a dowry or whateverelse, I might actually consider buying a product for them. Celebrities don’t need more free junk and us average people don’t need to subsidize them.

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August 25th, 2005 - Toilets

Earlier this summer, our first floor toilet started leaking (not on the floor, but within the tank). The flapper (I think) we’d replaced last year no longer sealed. I hadn’t thought the sealant stuff was very good in the first place and turns out I was right. It’s what came with it, however. I looked and looked and looked and finally thought I’d found what we needed to fix it. So two weeks ago, we took the tank off and started to fix it…only to find that the part was too big.

Long story short: Our only solution was a new toilet. Which we installed ourselves last Saturday. It was easier than we thought it would be! And we now have a 1.6 gallon flush toilet, which utterly delights me. Our old toilets always had 2 20oz bottles in them to reduce the water, but now not even one bottle will fit in the tank! I’m so thrilled I want to replace the old upstairs toilet, too!

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August 24th, 2005 - Modern, modular carpet tiles and area rugs

I know what kind of carpet/rugs I’d like to have next (we really need to replace our carpet and there’s hardwood underneath but we have dogs and a kid so need something in at least some areas of the house): Modern, modular carpet tiles and area rugs for Do-It-Yourself ease by InterfaceFLOR. This page is the “look how easy it is to clean” page but explore the site to learn about how cool they are!

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August 24th, 2005 - Modern, modular carpet tiles and area rugs

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August 24th, 2005 - Lunch

Another small change: I brought a fork and spoon from home to use when lunch requires it. I used to bring them when needed…but often forgot to bring them or left them in my backpack instead of putting them in my lunch bag at work. So I’d pick up a plastic utensil at the Union. But now I have a permanent metal fork and spoon in my lunch bag. They’ll never need to go home. I also brought a cloth napkin from home. Small changes, but since I eat lunch at work 5x/week this would really add up over the course of my worklife.

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August 23rd, 2005 - Tomatoes

I picked tomoatoes on Sunday! Woohoo! I wondered if I’d get any at all, and they are suddenly ripening. I’m eating them whole as a snack at work. How delicious!

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August 23rd, 2005 - Biking

About a month ago, I wondered if I’d ever get used to my bike ride. Well, it doesn’t usually feel like it, but I know I’ve gotten better at it since last year. Last year, shortly after buying the bike, I had to take it to the dentist, which is probably 3x the distance I normally bike. The ride was long and hard for me. I had to do it again last week and I was not looking forward to it. So much so that Eric said he’d come pick me up so I wouldn’t have to ride back. I finally said no, that’s not right, save the gas. I’m glad I did! It was not long and excrutiating like last year! Well, it was still long but didn’t take anywhere near the time I gave myself for it (I was 25 minutes early for the appointment!). At the very end, I felt tired, but I wasn’t exhausted. Maybe in the next few months I’ll take some longer rides, like over to the lake just for the fun of it!

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August 16th, 2005 - Massive Manure Spill Pollutes N.Y. River

Yet another problem with the mass production of meat in this country: Massive Manure Spill Pollutes N.Y. River. It’s been hard to insist on only organic meat lately. I made pizza the other night and my favorite topping is pepperoni…and it only went on Eric’s. On the other hand, I had just made fresh pesto thanks to basil from Dad’s garden, so I was still happy. But I still miss pepperoni. (I have seen recipes for pepperoni beef jerky which I will try making. I hope it’s just as good!) It sure is a good thing that I’ve always liked fruits and vegetables.

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August 15th, 2005 - Orange peel paint texture

The walls in our stairwell, living room, and den are horrendous under the wallpaper (or former wallpaper as it’s been removed in some areas). While we’d love to do a Venetian plaster, it might be out of our price range. Instead, we may do a texture, such as orange peel. (These are directions for future reference.) I’m not certain this would hide the flaws our walls have, however. I wouldn’t call all of them minor. But at least it would get rid of the rough surface they have.

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August 12th, 2005 - Blog experiment

Following a link on a blog I glance at each day and not being able to find the exact post, I ran across the author’s eperiment to see if he can find everyone who links to his blog. He suggested a different title for the post, but that might make it a lot easier to find. So this has nothing to do with simply living. I’m just doing it because I find technology interesting. Plus. the guys blog does seem kind of interesting….

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August 10th, 2005 - The argument for bicycling

In this first chapter of the book Seven Wonders, an excellent argument for bicycling is given, including arguments for more tax dollars to be spent on cycling (such as bike lanes).

The biggest problem with building a house in the country (outside of the expense) is that I won’t be able to commute by bike. I’ve even thought about commuting nearby and riding my bike the rest of the way. I’d skip the parking fees that way, too. In bad weather and winter time, I’d walk, or pay for daily parking, just like I do now.

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August 10th, 2005 - Sinple actions in a hotel

I was at a conference the first few days of this week. I believe in continuing my principles even when on someone else’s dime. For example, I hung the do not disturb sign on my door at all times. (This was originally a tip I saw about safety.) So I didn’t get new toiletries each day nor new towels that I didn’t use. In addition, I saved the staff from having to make my bed–something I could have done myself if I cared to. (I didn’t spend much time in the room during the day so I didn’t bother with that much. I should have….) I’ve heard that in at leas some hotels, they give you new sheets each day. What a horrendous waste of water for all that washing! At the continental breakfast, I chose carefully and ate almost everything I took. The one exception was a pastry that I just didn’t like and couldn’t finish. Instead of taking the free paper with me, I left it for others to enjoy.

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August 5th, 2005 - Waste-Free Lunches/Success Stories

Here are great stories of Waste-Free Lunches/–including a very innovative program at Humboldt University in CA that has elimnated disposable packaging at the cafeteria. To-go meals are placed in reusable, Tupperware-like containers. A student can puchase one–or just borrow one till they return! (I have a friend who works at Humboldt.)

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August 5th, 2005 - Amaranth

I bought some amaranth for Maggie last weekend. It wasn’t what I expected, so I had to find out more. Can’t wait to try it like popcorn!

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August 4th, 2005 - Not quite organic, but

There’s a group of WI potato growers who are rasining “fresh and healthy grown” potatoes. they are grown with fewer pesticides, not none, but it it a step. I’ll have to see if these are on the shelves at Pick ‘n’ Save or Festival. I learned about them due to taking an online survey!

Check whether a store near you carries them. The only one in Oshkosh is Cub, and we stopped shopping there.

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August 4th, 2005 - Laptop Lunches: Newsletters

I just subscribed to Laptop Lunches: Newsletters. I’m probably not going to buy the Laptop Lunch products, but they have nice tips in the newsletter about homemade lunch–which I do every day! I’m fine using our assorted boxes for my lunch materials, but the idea of a nice, compact, pretty box for everything is appealing. But unnecessary.

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August 4th, 2005 - No mow lawn

A Wisconsin company sells a “No Mow” Lawn Mix which I’d just love to have. It slowly grows to a max height of 4-6 inches. You have to mor 1-2 times a season. Unfortunately, you need to plant it on bare ground–it can’t c ompete with regular grass. But perfect if we build somewhere….

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August 1st, 2005 - Target ROCKS!

And I’m not the one who says so, this time. Seventh Generation, makers of natural cleaning products, diapers (which we use), and other paper products has chosen Target over Wal*Mart. The article explains their reasons very nicely, including both why they did not choose Wal*Mart and why they did choose Target. I wonder if diapers will be carried or only the cleaning products? And will I choose to buy them at Target more cheaply or the Red Radish to support them? I don’t know….

Unfortunately, my Target isn’t one of the 2 in WI that will be in the initial rollout. Check for your area.

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My Adventures in Simple Living

Archive for August, 2005

August 30th, 2005 - Yogurt

August 29th, 2005 - Lunch and snacks

August 26th, 2005 - Why, oh why?

August 25th, 2005 - Toilets

August 24th, 2005 - Modern, modular carpet tiles and area rugs

August 24th, 2005 - Modern, modular carpet tiles and area rugs

August 24th, 2005 - Lunch

August 23rd, 2005 - Tomatoes

August 23rd, 2005 - Biking

August 16th, 2005 - Massive Manure Spill Pollutes N.Y. River

August 15th, 2005 - Orange peel paint texture

August 12th, 2005 - Blog experiment

August 10th, 2005 - The argument for bicycling

August 10th, 2005 - Sinple actions in a hotel

August 5th, 2005 - Waste-Free Lunches/Success Stories

August 5th, 2005 - Amaranth

August 4th, 2005 - Not quite organic, but

August 4th, 2005 - Laptop Lunches: Newsletters

August 4th, 2005 - No mow lawn

August 1st, 2005 - Target ROCKS!

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