This was not the first year we made a turkey around Thanksgiving, but it was the first year that we held the main event at our residence. When we were first married, I was in grad school and we lived too far from family to drive home on short breaks. These were the years when we happily accepted invitations to join friends and their families and/or friends for a holiday celebration. A lot of these get-togethers were pot-luck style, and we contributed a dish or two to the meal. One or two dishes that can be serves warm or cold is nothing compared to providing the main event yourself.
Forces combined against us timing things perfectly. I should have expected that, though, since I can't time a regular meal to be ready all at once (unless it is a one-pot-dinner). Despite loving to sleep in, the necessity of rising early on a regular basis caused both my husband and me to get up rather early, considering it was not a work day. Add in a delayed guest (weather increased travel time by about an hour), and my anxiousness to start cooking, for fear of not finishing in time. All that equals mashed potatoes chilling on the stove an hour early, corn pudding resting for an hour or so, and the turkey being allowed to rest for about an hour, instead of 15 minutes, before being carved.
Granted, I did intentionally start the turkey early to ensure it would have enough time to reach the proper temperature. You may be wondering how we were able to cook a turkey, sans oven. The countertop oven, which probably would not have fit the size bird we had, was used for things like rolls and corn pudding. But we did have another trick up our appliance sleeve: countertop roaster. (This looks similar to the one we have.)
Years ago, when we were contributing one or two dishes to someone else's celebration, our host had a countertop roaster that they used frequently. For holiday meals, it was especially handy for them because it kept the oven free for all the myriad of side dishes that they had. It also works very nicely for those who are ovenless.
When I did a search for these countertop ovens so I could show you a picture, I noticed that most returns were quite fancy, and pricey. We got ours about 3 years ago, as part of a deal at the grocery store during the holidays. It was either buy the turkey, get the roaster, or vice versa. Either way, it was a decent deal, even if I have thus far only pulled it out a few times a year.
When using a roaster like this, one should keep in mind that things will not brown like they do in a traditional oven, and cooking times are often reduced. The instructions that came with mine say a 14-16 lb bird will be done in 2-2.5 hours. Ours took closer to 3-3.5 hours, but that was because some of the organs were hiding from me, and stayed in the bird throughout the cooking process. Oops.
Aside from checking the internal temperature of the bird, this was a relatively hands off way to cook the turkey. There was no need to baste, since any steam kept inside the roaster. Overall, despite human error, I am quite happy with the roaster, and the moist turkey it produced.
Certainly helped our first time hosting Thanksgiving be a good one!
(It was wonderful to be able to use my grandparents' dining suite to entertain!)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the 21st week of the GREEN BLOG HOP!!
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
* Link your green blog article to the Linky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!!
Monday, December 13, 2010
*Drip... Drip... Drip... The joys of not being able to call a landlord.
As I mentioned in my last post, we hosted our first holiday dinner this past Thanksgiving. Since we were out of town for a work conference the weekend beforehand, this meant we were in a flurry of activity during our post-work hours on the weekdays leading up to the main event. Once we had settled down, and the only things left to do could only be done on the day of, I snuggled on the couch to watch TV. And that is when I heard it. A sound that will strike fear into the hearts of homeowners who are no longer able to call a landlord...
Drips. I heard dripping from the kitchen, so I went into investigate, hoping that it was just the faucet. It was not the faucet. Instead, I was greeted by a slow drip coming from a small crack in the ceiling.
I may or may not have mentioned this, but our kitchen is very dated: textured wallpaper, possibly-original-to-the-house stove, and carpeted floors. Lucky for us (?!), the leak was not heavy at that point, so I set down a bowl, and got out the wet vac. Upon discovering how wide the wet spot on the carpet was, I was surprised we had not noticed it when we first got home. The wet spot was probably a 1.5 - 2 ft diameter circle.
My husband and I had two moments of panic: 1) there's a leak in our roof, and it is supposed to rain the entire holiday weekend, and (2) we are supposed to be cooking a lot of food and hosting our first holiday dinner!
From our various improvement projects, we do have a smattering of tools. My husband got the dry wall saw, and started cutting around the wet area, so we could try to get a look at the leak. (This section of the roof area is inaccessible via an attic space. The leak makes me think that when we redo the kitchen, putting in a pull-down-attic-ladder would be a good idea, even if those things give me the heebie-jeebies.)
Wednesday evening ended up being full of cutting and clearing the ceiling, dealing with the spray insulation, and finding the leak! While having a leak in your roof is not a very happy thing, finding said leak within 24-hours is. We are relatively lucky in that the water was coming in directly above where it was leaking through the ceiling. No hunting for the water's path or obscure leak location. Turns out that there was a knot in the roof board. Knot - as in an actual hole. And there was a roofing nail through said knot. Water was just dripping in along the nail.
As it was Thanksgiving Day Eve, we knew that we would not be able to do much other than prevent the carpet from getting soaked. We (my husband, rather) put a bowl on the rafters underneath the leak, and used painter's tape and a bag to cover the hole in our ceiling. Classy, I know. ;)
We did check on the collection bowl regularly, and it seemed to do the trick, at least for the time being. The holiday dinner went well, and no one was drenched by roof water. Friday after Thanksgiving, my husband had to work, and went to a hardware store to see what we could do about the leak until we can replace the entire roof (a project we knew we would have to do in the future - this just brings the project into the more immediate future). Less than $10 for some roofing cement and supplies (plus much more for a ladder we needed anyway), and the leak is patched (and holding up against the recent snow).
Now we get to research our roofing options! Do you have any particular favorites?
Drips. I heard dripping from the kitchen, so I went into investigate, hoping that it was just the faucet. It was not the faucet. Instead, I was greeted by a slow drip coming from a small crack in the ceiling.
I may or may not have mentioned this, but our kitchen is very dated: textured wallpaper, possibly-original-to-the-house stove, and carpeted floors. Lucky for us (?!), the leak was not heavy at that point, so I set down a bowl, and got out the wet vac. Upon discovering how wide the wet spot on the carpet was, I was surprised we had not noticed it when we first got home. The wet spot was probably a 1.5 - 2 ft diameter circle.
My husband and I had two moments of panic: 1) there's a leak in our roof, and it is supposed to rain the entire holiday weekend, and (2) we are supposed to be cooking a lot of food and hosting our first holiday dinner!
From our various improvement projects, we do have a smattering of tools. My husband got the dry wall saw, and started cutting around the wet area, so we could try to get a look at the leak. (This section of the roof area is inaccessible via an attic space. The leak makes me think that when we redo the kitchen, putting in a pull-down-attic-ladder would be a good idea, even if those things give me the heebie-jeebies.)
Wednesday evening ended up being full of cutting and clearing the ceiling, dealing with the spray insulation, and finding the leak! While having a leak in your roof is not a very happy thing, finding said leak within 24-hours is. We are relatively lucky in that the water was coming in directly above where it was leaking through the ceiling. No hunting for the water's path or obscure leak location. Turns out that there was a knot in the roof board. Knot - as in an actual hole. And there was a roofing nail through said knot. Water was just dripping in along the nail.
As it was Thanksgiving Day Eve, we knew that we would not be able to do much other than prevent the carpet from getting soaked. We (my husband, rather) put a bowl on the rafters underneath the leak, and used painter's tape and a bag to cover the hole in our ceiling. Classy, I know. ;)
We did check on the collection bowl regularly, and it seemed to do the trick, at least for the time being. The holiday dinner went well, and no one was drenched by roof water. Friday after Thanksgiving, my husband had to work, and went to a hardware store to see what we could do about the leak until we can replace the entire roof (a project we knew we would have to do in the future - this just brings the project into the more immediate future). Less than $10 for some roofing cement and supplies (plus much more for a ladder we needed anyway), and the leak is patched (and holding up against the recent snow).
Now we get to research our roofing options! Do you have any particular favorites?
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Oh, the weather outside is frightful(ly cold).
All I can say is that at least it hasn't been a full month?
(We recently got about 3-4 inches of accumulated snow when they had predicted 1 inch of accumulation.)
As far as heating our home and staying warm ourselves, this winter season has been interesting. We have nudged the thermostat from 64 Fahrenheit to about 68 Fahrenheit. I fear we may need to go as high as 70. Really, we need to work on improving the insulation of the house, and get some throw rugs. Some good news is that our recent gas bill was not unreasonable. I take that as a sign that we are not overusing the heat and that it will be okay to turn the heat up smidge so my fingers can thaw out.
I need to recognize that this is a process and will take time.
We hosted Thanksgiving dinner for a few family members, and the colder temperatures did not seem to be an issue. I realize, though, that this could be attributed to the fact that we have 4-8 people in our house, as well as many kitchen appliances going. We used the stove, the toaster oven, the counter-top conventional oven, and the counter-top roaster (which actually became the coffee-table-top-oven and hung out in the nebulous foyer/living room area).
Aside from when I mention it here, we have not used our wood burning stove. The previous owners gifted us, whether they knew it or not, a whole slew of fire tending implements, as well as fire starters, long matches, and one 2-hour log. Said log is what we burned earlier. Now, we have no real fire fuel.
Recently, it did dawn on us that junk mail would make excellent tinder or random fire fuel. (We always set it aside to shred, but I have burned out more shredders than I care to admit. Either I am impatient, or we get way too many credit card offers. Probably both are true.) And we do have a lot of junk mail. We frequently get behind on shredding it, so it builds up. I am here admitting that we have moved boxes from one abode to another that are either predominantly junk mail, or contain junk mail as padding/filler. Not only do we have a lot of junk mail, we have old junk mail.
The other night, my husband decided to try out this junk mail as fire fodder business. He was sitting in front of the stove, feeding more credit card offers, and was quite toasty. Unfortunately, the warmth did not really reach back to the couch where I was curled up. So, junk mail may not actually heat our house, but it will raise the temperature of nearby air a bit, as well as help get a fire going. Plus, if we burn it, no dedicated con artist can piece the shredded bits back together.
So, things to do to keep ourselves and the house warm:
- more insulation
- throw rugs
- additional socks
- contained fires
- cook!
- at some point look into updating our HVAC system and thermostat
How are you doing?
(We recently got about 3-4 inches of accumulated snow when they had predicted 1 inch of accumulation.)
As far as heating our home and staying warm ourselves, this winter season has been interesting. We have nudged the thermostat from 64 Fahrenheit to about 68 Fahrenheit. I fear we may need to go as high as 70. Really, we need to work on improving the insulation of the house, and get some throw rugs. Some good news is that our recent gas bill was not unreasonable. I take that as a sign that we are not overusing the heat and that it will be okay to turn the heat up smidge so my fingers can thaw out.
I need to recognize that this is a process and will take time.
We hosted Thanksgiving dinner for a few family members, and the colder temperatures did not seem to be an issue. I realize, though, that this could be attributed to the fact that we have 4-8 people in our house, as well as many kitchen appliances going. We used the stove, the toaster oven, the counter-top conventional oven, and the counter-top roaster (which actually became the coffee-table-top-oven and hung out in the nebulous foyer/living room area).
Aside from when I mention it here, we have not used our wood burning stove. The previous owners gifted us, whether they knew it or not, a whole slew of fire tending implements, as well as fire starters, long matches, and one 2-hour log. Said log is what we burned earlier. Now, we have no real fire fuel.
Recently, it did dawn on us that junk mail would make excellent tinder or random fire fuel. (We always set it aside to shred, but I have burned out more shredders than I care to admit. Either I am impatient, or we get way too many credit card offers. Probably both are true.) And we do have a lot of junk mail. We frequently get behind on shredding it, so it builds up. I am here admitting that we have moved boxes from one abode to another that are either predominantly junk mail, or contain junk mail as padding/filler. Not only do we have a lot of junk mail, we have old junk mail.
The other night, my husband decided to try out this junk mail as fire fodder business. He was sitting in front of the stove, feeding more credit card offers, and was quite toasty. Unfortunately, the warmth did not really reach back to the couch where I was curled up. So, junk mail may not actually heat our house, but it will raise the temperature of nearby air a bit, as well as help get a fire going. Plus, if we burn it, no dedicated con artist can piece the shredded bits back together.
So, things to do to keep ourselves and the house warm:
- more insulation
- throw rugs
- additional socks
- contained fires
- cook!
- at some point look into updating our HVAC system and thermostat
How are you doing?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Blog Hop!
Green Blog Hop
Welcome to the 19th week of the GREEN BLOG HOP!!
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots : Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!!
* Link your green blog article to the Linky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
*Chirp, Chirp
Do you hear crickets?
As tired a refrain as it may be, the office has been quite busy. We've had recruiting trips, urgent deadlines, grant reporting, and conferences. On top of the regular stuff we do on a regular basis. It does not leave much time for anything else.
We have an upcoming conference soon, and this time, my husband is coming with me. We both have family in the area, and this is a great opportunity for us to visit and have a little time away. Since the visit is because of a conference for work, my travel and room and board are all reimbursable. It will be a crazy and busy schedule for me, but should be fun!
I also went on a recruiting trip a few weeks ago. During my first stop, I stayed at a hotel that had apples in the lobby and a Target across the parking lot. This was wonderful. I ate more apples in that 24 hour period than I thought was possible, but they were delicious. I was also able to stroll through Target for my dinner, instead of paying outrageous amounts for a restaurant meal. Plus, even though I had neglected to bring granola bars, I was able to pick up a box at Target. Apples and granola bars can make an interesting meal.
In other news, the weather has certainly gotten much colder here. Last year, we were able to put off turning on the heat for a good while, and even then, keep the temperature set at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. We were in an apartment then, and while we only shared a wall/floor with two other units, sharing their heat (we were on the top floor) really helped us keep our own heating costs down.
Now that we are in our own, stand-alone house, heating it is a different story. (Plus, I suspect some major lapses in good insulation. Another project.) We've tried to keep the thermostat set at about 64-65 degrees Fahrenheit, but it is an older model which is difficult to regulate. That and 64 degrees in the house feels tremendously colder than 65 did in the apartment. (I blame my beloved wood floors.)
We do have a wood burning stove in the fireplace. We have tried it once, and it did a nice job of keeping the immediate vicinity (well, the TV viewing area) warmer. We've also purchased a small space heater for the bedroom. Close the door, and after a few minutes, it is positively toasty! (Always follow the instructions, and keep flammable items away from a space heater. Do not leave it unattended!) Of course, we turn it off and unplug it before bed.
In addition, you should see the layers I put on at home. At any given time, I'll have on one or two pairs of socks, maybe leggings and pants, and a shirt plus a sweater. In the morning, when I let our dog out, I am usually toddling about with a hoodie, a sweater, and a coat. But that is because I roll out of bed and let her out. It is the very first thing I do, aside from put on my glasses.
Our electric bill has been slashed though. But, we have gas heat, and are waiting for that bill to spike. It hasn't yet, but we are trying to be prepared.
As tired a refrain as it may be, the office has been quite busy. We've had recruiting trips, urgent deadlines, grant reporting, and conferences. On top of the regular stuff we do on a regular basis. It does not leave much time for anything else.
We have an upcoming conference soon, and this time, my husband is coming with me. We both have family in the area, and this is a great opportunity for us to visit and have a little time away. Since the visit is because of a conference for work, my travel and room and board are all reimbursable. It will be a crazy and busy schedule for me, but should be fun!
I also went on a recruiting trip a few weeks ago. During my first stop, I stayed at a hotel that had apples in the lobby and a Target across the parking lot. This was wonderful. I ate more apples in that 24 hour period than I thought was possible, but they were delicious. I was also able to stroll through Target for my dinner, instead of paying outrageous amounts for a restaurant meal. Plus, even though I had neglected to bring granola bars, I was able to pick up a box at Target. Apples and granola bars can make an interesting meal.
In other news, the weather has certainly gotten much colder here. Last year, we were able to put off turning on the heat for a good while, and even then, keep the temperature set at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. We were in an apartment then, and while we only shared a wall/floor with two other units, sharing their heat (we were on the top floor) really helped us keep our own heating costs down.
Now that we are in our own, stand-alone house, heating it is a different story. (Plus, I suspect some major lapses in good insulation. Another project.) We've tried to keep the thermostat set at about 64-65 degrees Fahrenheit, but it is an older model which is difficult to regulate. That and 64 degrees in the house feels tremendously colder than 65 did in the apartment. (I blame my beloved wood floors.)
We do have a wood burning stove in the fireplace. We have tried it once, and it did a nice job of keeping the immediate vicinity (well, the TV viewing area) warmer. We've also purchased a small space heater for the bedroom. Close the door, and after a few minutes, it is positively toasty! (Always follow the instructions, and keep flammable items away from a space heater. Do not leave it unattended!) Of course, we turn it off and unplug it before bed.
In addition, you should see the layers I put on at home. At any given time, I'll have on one or two pairs of socks, maybe leggings and pants, and a shirt plus a sweater. In the morning, when I let our dog out, I am usually toddling about with a hoodie, a sweater, and a coat. But that is because I roll out of bed and let her out. It is the very first thing I do, aside from put on my glasses.
Our electric bill has been slashed though. But, we have gas heat, and are waiting for that bill to spike. It hasn't yet, but we are trying to be prepared.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
As you may recall, we did some work on the floors of our house before moving in. This means we have beautiful hardwood floors, perfect for the odd dance or two and sliding around in your socks. It also means that the vacuum is almost worthless on it (plus, using electricity when it doesn't need to be used!).
Initially, the space looked huge, then furniture was moved in, and it looked less huge. Then I realized that I had to actually sweep the floors. The space grew exponentially at that point. First few times, I just swept with a broom, and it seemed to do a good enough job.
But, you see, we adopted a dog back a while back. And she sheds. Add that to my hair, and the fact that we do most of our living in the living/dining rooms, and it makes for some dusty floors! Floors for which a simple sweeping does not suffice.
I pondered my problem for a bit, and remembered my mom dusting with old cloth diapers. Thought the same principle would apply - a soft cloth on wood. Hmm... don't have any cloth diapers, and running out to buy them as dust clothes seems to defeat the purpose.
Know what I do have, though? A plethora of tshirts. Some that are over 10 years old. Some that are more like 15-20+ years old. A number of these have been worn considerably, and are deliciously soft and comfortable as a result. Some are down right thin, and relegated to "around the house" wear only. Also known as "perfect as a dust rag."
I selected one of the softest, most worn old tshirt, put it on the end of dust-pusher-broom thing (think Swiffer broom, but it isn't), and dusted my floors. It worked well. Would have worked better if I hadn't let the dog's hair build up so much. (Winter's coming! Why is she shedding!?) Finished off my sweeping the pile into a dustpan.
My floors were beautiful. Until I let the dog back in. Sigh, at least she's adorable.
Initially, the space looked huge, then furniture was moved in, and it looked less huge. Then I realized that I had to actually sweep the floors. The space grew exponentially at that point. First few times, I just swept with a broom, and it seemed to do a good enough job.
But, you see, we adopted a dog back a while back. And she sheds. Add that to my hair, and the fact that we do most of our living in the living/dining rooms, and it makes for some dusty floors! Floors for which a simple sweeping does not suffice.
I pondered my problem for a bit, and remembered my mom dusting with old cloth diapers. Thought the same principle would apply - a soft cloth on wood. Hmm... don't have any cloth diapers, and running out to buy them as dust clothes seems to defeat the purpose.
Know what I do have, though? A plethora of tshirts. Some that are over 10 years old. Some that are more like 15-20+ years old. A number of these have been worn considerably, and are deliciously soft and comfortable as a result. Some are down right thin, and relegated to "around the house" wear only. Also known as "perfect as a dust rag."
I selected one of the softest, most worn old tshirt, put it on the end of dust-pusher-broom thing (think Swiffer broom, but it isn't), and dusted my floors. It worked well. Would have worked better if I hadn't let the dog's hair build up so much. (Winter's coming! Why is she shedding!?) Finished off my sweeping the pile into a dustpan.
My floors were beautiful. Until I let the dog back in. Sigh, at least she's adorable.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Return of Recipe Thursday! Pancakes
The other night, I was planning on making a split pea soup for dinner (and subsequent meals). I figured that on a cool October evening, hot split pea soup with biscuits would be warming and very satisfying.
But then the weather decided it didn't like October, and opted for more July-like temperatures of the 80s (Fahrenheit). I like split pea soup, but it was just going to be too hot, and too heavy of a meal.
Our pantry is pseudo-stocked. A lot of pieces, they just don't all go together. I had pancakes in my head, though, and we decided on that for dinner. We had almost everything on hand, except butter, which had been used up in making our brunch omelets. Off to the store went my husband, and I set out measuring and mixing.
It was 1.5 cups of flour, sifted with 3 TBS sugar, 1.5 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp salt. I was supposed to sift before measuring the flour, but I didn't.
Mix 3 TBS melted butter, 1 - 1.25 cups milk, and 2 beaten eggs. Really, I was supposed to separate the eggs, beat in the yolks, and whip the whites till fluffy and fold them in. I didn't.
I actually made two batches, so we would have leftovers (seriously yummy), and each time, I started out with just 1 cup of milk, but thought the batter was too thick, so I opted for 1.25 cups of milk total. This lead to a very thin batter, which made the pancakes really spread out in the pan.
The thin cakes, and using about a quarter TBS of butter to grease the pan between cakes lead to pancakes that were cooked through, but not exceptionally brown, and with a texture reminiscent of a thicker crepe. This is actually delicious.
We had pancakes with butter and powdered sugar as our main course for dinner that night. Can't tell you how devious that can make you feel.
One issue I almost always have with doing eggs or pancakes is temperature control of the pan. My brain freaks out most of the time, and I end up with a pan that is too hot or one that is too cold. This time, I set the pan over high heat initially, and let it get to the right temperature (according to my Joy of Cooking, this is when cold water sprinkled on the pan will sizzle and dance a bit). Then I reduced the heat to medium. I didn't have to turn the heat back up, because, as I am sure you know, keeping the pan over the gas flame for the amount of time it takes to make a batch of pancakes keeps the pan above medium heat! (Another phenomenon about which I have frequently forgotten.)
Looking back over this post, I realize that for someone who likes to follow recipes and directions, I sure do take a lot of liberties with them.
How about you? Enjoy breakfast-for-dinner? Enjoy following recipes or winging it?
But then the weather decided it didn't like October, and opted for more July-like temperatures of the 80s (Fahrenheit). I like split pea soup, but it was just going to be too hot, and too heavy of a meal.
Our pantry is pseudo-stocked. A lot of pieces, they just don't all go together. I had pancakes in my head, though, and we decided on that for dinner. We had almost everything on hand, except butter, which had been used up in making our brunch omelets. Off to the store went my husband, and I set out measuring and mixing.
It was 1.5 cups of flour, sifted with 3 TBS sugar, 1.5 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp salt. I was supposed to sift before measuring the flour, but I didn't.
Mix 3 TBS melted butter, 1 - 1.25 cups milk, and 2 beaten eggs. Really, I was supposed to separate the eggs, beat in the yolks, and whip the whites till fluffy and fold them in. I didn't.
I actually made two batches, so we would have leftovers (seriously yummy), and each time, I started out with just 1 cup of milk, but thought the batter was too thick, so I opted for 1.25 cups of milk total. This lead to a very thin batter, which made the pancakes really spread out in the pan.
The thin cakes, and using about a quarter TBS of butter to grease the pan between cakes lead to pancakes that were cooked through, but not exceptionally brown, and with a texture reminiscent of a thicker crepe. This is actually delicious.
We had pancakes with butter and powdered sugar as our main course for dinner that night. Can't tell you how devious that can make you feel.
One issue I almost always have with doing eggs or pancakes is temperature control of the pan. My brain freaks out most of the time, and I end up with a pan that is too hot or one that is too cold. This time, I set the pan over high heat initially, and let it get to the right temperature (according to my Joy of Cooking, this is when cold water sprinkled on the pan will sizzle and dance a bit). Then I reduced the heat to medium. I didn't have to turn the heat back up, because, as I am sure you know, keeping the pan over the gas flame for the amount of time it takes to make a batch of pancakes keeps the pan above medium heat! (Another phenomenon about which I have frequently forgotten.)
Looking back over this post, I realize that for someone who likes to follow recipes and directions, I sure do take a lot of liberties with them.
How about you? Enjoy breakfast-for-dinner? Enjoy following recipes or winging it?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the GREEN BLOG HOP
For "Green" Blogs or "Green" Sites Only - Even if you're just starting out!
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!
For "Green" Blogs or "Green" Sites Only - Even if you're just starting out!
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
* Link your green blog to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
Be Kind - Try and follow at least one other person that is not a hostess
Be Kind - Try and follow at least one other person that is not a hostess
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
China, the dishes, and stickers
On the way back home from our recent vacation, we did stop by my hometown to pick up my grandparent's dining set from my dad. We had rented a smallish moving truck for this, and ended up running out of room, so had to leave some furniture my mom was holding on to for us. Just another excuse to visit!
This is a full dining room set that my grandparents had purchased in the 1960s, as far as anyone can remember. So, it is a bit dated, but all the pieces are in good condition (thanks to my dad having them refinished after a water issue in his basement - they were in good condition before that, though), solidly built, and will last a good while.
It is quite exciting because, I've got to tell you, that dining set has turned an empty space into a real dining room (as it would), and has made a huge difference, turning the house more into our home. Combine that with the face that I spent much of Sunday unboxing our wedding china (and peeling off labels and washing it all) to place in the china cabinet, it really is quite homey!
About our wedding china - since we were moving shortly after our wedding, and then in student housing, and, well, transient, for the first several years of our marriage, we didn't completely unpack the china. We opened it, and such, of course, but decided that it was already packed well, and we didn't want to have re-pack it for the many moves that would ensue. (Good call - not one piece was broken!) This is also the first time we've really had the space to store the china in something other than the original box. It has been stored in attics, storage units, and closets, suffering hot and cold temperatures, varying degrees of humidity - all things that are supposed to be bad for china... And all things that made the bar-code stickers harder to get off than dried gum on carpet. Ok, maybe not that bad, but close!
After scrapping a few off with my finger nails, my husband took the windex with vinegar I had used to clean the glass in the hutch and sprayed a label. He waited a bit, and the label came right off. I don't know if it was the windex, the vinegar, or just the wetness that helped, but it sure made the rest of the job a lot easier! So, there's a helpful household hint, should you have stubborn labels
Monday, October 11, 2010
Coming back home
We had a wonderful time on our vacation, and it was great to get away. Didn't realize how tired I was until I could just sleep with no obligations coming up in the next day.
It was wonderful to get away, and spend sometime alone, as well as some time with family. Truth be told, though, I could have used an extra day off to recoup from the vacation! Extra laundry, and all those things that pile up when you're gone. It was worth it, though.
We ended up leaving after work, and driving roughly halfway to our family's that night. Knowing we would most likely stop for the night, but not knowing where, we decided against making a reservation in advance, and instead, opted for the coupon books. For those of you in The States, you know those books that are usually stationed at rest areas, welcome centers, and gas stations along the highway, that have lodging coupons in them? Yup, just a book on newsprint of hotel and motel coupons. We have used them before with great success, and this time, too. The trying-to-be-green part of me does feel guilty about wasting the other coupons/pages of the book, but at least it was printed on recycled materials, and is recyclable itself.
Because we left earlier than initially planned, we had the next day more or less free. Sure, we had to drive a few hours more to reach family, but 3-4 hours in one day is nothing compared to the 8 hours it would have been. We took this opportunity to avail ourselves of another state's welcome center to see what there was to see. Ended up seeing the Parthenon in Nashville, as we had originally thought about doing. I went there in 6th grade on a school trip, and Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief was filmed there. It was definitely worth the side-trip, and worth seeing again for me. The exhibit about how a replica of the Parthenon ended up in Nashville was very interesting, as was the "Women in Mythology" painting exhibit. There was an entrance fee, but nothing too steep. (We did decide against touring the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green because of the price. There are a bunch of cool cars to see outside of the museum, though.)
The bulk of our vacation was with family, and we had a great time catching up, and just spending time with them.
When I was little, my mom always made us clean our rooms/the house before we went on trips. Believe me, I complained the whole time, and was a general nuisance while cleaning. But, I always appreciated coming home to a clean room (partly because it was the only time my room was clean...) and clean house. I'm sure she did, too. Without someone else to push me to clean house before leaving, I've not kept to this pre-trip ritual as an adult. But, this time, I did hit the highlights - bathroom highlights, kitchen highlights, light dusting and sweeping floors - before we left. It made coming home even better.
Do you have any trip tips? Any pre-trip rituals you love, or that make coming home extra-special?
On the way back, we did pick up my grandparent's dining set from my dad. We had rented a smallish moving truck for this, and ended up running out of room, so had to leave some furniture my mom was holding on to for us. Just another excuse to visit!
I've got to tell you, that dining set has turned an empty space into a real dining room (as it would), and has made a huge difference, turning the house more into our home. Combine that with the face that I spent much of Sunday unboxing our wedding china (and peeling off labels and washing it all) to place in the china cabinet, it really is quite homey!
It was wonderful to get away, and spend sometime alone, as well as some time with family. Truth be told, though, I could have used an extra day off to recoup from the vacation! Extra laundry, and all those things that pile up when you're gone. It was worth it, though.
We ended up leaving after work, and driving roughly halfway to our family's that night. Knowing we would most likely stop for the night, but not knowing where, we decided against making a reservation in advance, and instead, opted for the coupon books. For those of you in The States, you know those books that are usually stationed at rest areas, welcome centers, and gas stations along the highway, that have lodging coupons in them? Yup, just a book on newsprint of hotel and motel coupons. We have used them before with great success, and this time, too. The trying-to-be-green part of me does feel guilty about wasting the other coupons/pages of the book, but at least it was printed on recycled materials, and is recyclable itself.
Because we left earlier than initially planned, we had the next day more or less free. Sure, we had to drive a few hours more to reach family, but 3-4 hours in one day is nothing compared to the 8 hours it would have been. We took this opportunity to avail ourselves of another state's welcome center to see what there was to see. Ended up seeing the Parthenon in Nashville, as we had originally thought about doing. I went there in 6th grade on a school trip, and Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief was filmed there. It was definitely worth the side-trip, and worth seeing again for me. The exhibit about how a replica of the Parthenon ended up in Nashville was very interesting, as was the "Women in Mythology" painting exhibit. There was an entrance fee, but nothing too steep. (We did decide against touring the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green because of the price. There are a bunch of cool cars to see outside of the museum, though.)
The bulk of our vacation was with family, and we had a great time catching up, and just spending time with them.
When I was little, my mom always made us clean our rooms/the house before we went on trips. Believe me, I complained the whole time, and was a general nuisance while cleaning. But, I always appreciated coming home to a clean room (partly because it was the only time my room was clean...) and clean house. I'm sure she did, too. Without someone else to push me to clean house before leaving, I've not kept to this pre-trip ritual as an adult. But, this time, I did hit the highlights - bathroom highlights, kitchen highlights, light dusting and sweeping floors - before we left. It made coming home even better.
Do you have any trip tips? Any pre-trip rituals you love, or that make coming home extra-special?
On the way back, we did pick up my grandparent's dining set from my dad. We had rented a smallish moving truck for this, and ended up running out of room, so had to leave some furniture my mom was holding on to for us. Just another excuse to visit!
I've got to tell you, that dining set has turned an empty space into a real dining room (as it would), and has made a huge difference, turning the house more into our home. Combine that with the face that I spent much of Sunday unboxing our wedding china (and peeling off labels and washing it all) to place in the china cabinet, it really is quite homey!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the 15th week of the GREEN BLOG HOP!!
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!!
* Link your green blog article to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the 14th week of the GREEN BLOG HOP!!
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!!
* Link your green blog article to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Over and outta here
You may notice even less-frequent postings by me for a while, as we will be going on vacation. (a real vacation! not just days off!) I have no idea if I'll have/utilize the internet while away, so I have no idea if I'll be able to post.
We get to spend some time with family, and some on our own. We will also be picking up some furniture from my parents. Very, very exciting.
There will be a lot of driving, which isn't so frugal, but my husband just changed the oil in our car (himself - so frugal!), and out car gets pretty good gas mileage. (It's no hybrid or electric, but it is no gas-guzzler, either.) We will be staying in a few hotels, but mainly, we will be spending time with family, which will cut down our food and lodging expenses. Realize, though, that we like our family, and relish the opportunity to spend time with them (and them with us), since we've not lived in the same city as they have since we got married. So, this strategy works for us. Even if we had tons'o'cash, we would still spend the night with family. Just how we are.
I look forward to having options for dining this time while traveling, and not feeling constricted to the hotel restaurant!
One thing to think about when you leave your home for extended periods, of course, is the house's safety. We do have someone who will be stopping by to pull in mail, and put our trash can by the road. (He's also free to harvest any of the many tomatoes that have recently started growing, if they don't freeze) We also are in a small town, with mainly retired neighbors who will not hesitate to call the police if they see something suspicious. That, plus knowing that the things the really matter (husband and dog!) will not be in the house, should something go wrong, makes me feel much better about leaving.
Hope you all have a wonderful time!
We get to spend some time with family, and some on our own. We will also be picking up some furniture from my parents. Very, very exciting.
There will be a lot of driving, which isn't so frugal, but my husband just changed the oil in our car (himself - so frugal!), and out car gets pretty good gas mileage. (It's no hybrid or electric, but it is no gas-guzzler, either.) We will be staying in a few hotels, but mainly, we will be spending time with family, which will cut down our food and lodging expenses. Realize, though, that we like our family, and relish the opportunity to spend time with them (and them with us), since we've not lived in the same city as they have since we got married. So, this strategy works for us. Even if we had tons'o'cash, we would still spend the night with family. Just how we are.
I look forward to having options for dining this time while traveling, and not feeling constricted to the hotel restaurant!
One thing to think about when you leave your home for extended periods, of course, is the house's safety. We do have someone who will be stopping by to pull in mail, and put our trash can by the road. (He's also free to harvest any of the many tomatoes that have recently started growing, if they don't freeze) We also are in a small town, with mainly retired neighbors who will not hesitate to call the police if they see something suspicious. That, plus knowing that the things the really matter (husband and dog!) will not be in the house, should something go wrong, makes me feel much better about leaving.
Hope you all have a wonderful time!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the 13th week of the GREEN BLOG HOP!!
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!!
* Link your green blog article to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Breaking Radio Silence
Good morning, all!
I'm sure your lives have felt the gaping hole that is usually filled with my ramblings. Early last week, I was on a business trip, which consumed the majority of my time, and took me away from regular computer time.
Business trips make me feel odd. For several reasons. One of which being that I'm still the kid in jeans, a tshirt and comfy shoes on the plane. I'm traveling. I'm going to the hotel. I may not even be registering for whatever conference it is until morning. I see no reason to where a suit, and get it all wrinkled and smelly before I actually have to wear it.
Anyway, I carpooled to the airport with our Institute director, so I had no out of pocket, to-be-reimbursed mileage or parking fees. That saved me money, and our institute!
That first day was spent traveling, avoiding airport food, and settling into the room/prepping for the next day. For dinner, I wandered around the hotel, and settled on a sandwich in the lobby bar. It was a grilled vegetable sandwich, and I opted for fresh fruit on the side, instead of fries. Overall, the sandwich was quite tasty, and not too terribly expensive. At least as far as hotel food goes.
For the majority of the conference, I stuck to complimentary coffee or tea, and water to drink. Sounds like normal, though. I did make the mistake once of saying "yes" to coffee with breakfast one morning. Ouch. Expensive cup. I gave myself quite the mental tongue lashing for that. On the upside? I made dinner one night out of the hors d'oeuvres at the reception. Not very healthy, but better than going hungry.
I say that, because over the past year, I've spent several business trips obsessed with staying under the per diem allotment for a given city/day. From time to time, this has lead to me not always eating when hungry. (Not necessarily skipping meals, more like eating smaller meals and not snacking. You probably would, too, if your least expensive option was $5 oatmeal. Seriously, $5 oatmeal. I love oatmeal, but none is that good.)
This trip, I escaped the hotel for lunch one day, with several conference participants. A short, maybe 15 minute, walk from the hotel (which was lovely!), was a mall and an outdoor shopping center, complete with restaurants and restaurant patios. We went to a Thai place (love Thai food!), and ordered. This was probably the most reasonably priced and delicious meal I had the entire trip. Wisdom learned here is that a little exploring is not only good for the soul, but also for the bottom line.
One idea I was turning over in my mind before I left was taking oatmeal with me for the mornings. Or at least some granola bars. Something to keep from paying for $5 oatmeal. Somehow, I had it in my head that one could not take food through security at the airport. Turns out, I was wrong. So, for my next trip, I fully plan on taking oatmeal with me, and using my in-room coffee maker to boil water. Or sticking my electric tea pot in my carry-on, as well. I will probably buy a small canister of oatmeal to take, so I don't take a suspicious baggie of loose oatmeal through security. Might break down and take the instant packets, since I'll have no stove or microwave. Still, better than the alternative.
I'm sure your lives have felt the gaping hole that is usually filled with my ramblings. Early last week, I was on a business trip, which consumed the majority of my time, and took me away from regular computer time.
Business trips make me feel odd. For several reasons. One of which being that I'm still the kid in jeans, a tshirt and comfy shoes on the plane. I'm traveling. I'm going to the hotel. I may not even be registering for whatever conference it is until morning. I see no reason to where a suit, and get it all wrinkled and smelly before I actually have to wear it.
Anyway, I carpooled to the airport with our Institute director, so I had no out of pocket, to-be-reimbursed mileage or parking fees. That saved me money, and our institute!
That first day was spent traveling, avoiding airport food, and settling into the room/prepping for the next day. For dinner, I wandered around the hotel, and settled on a sandwich in the lobby bar. It was a grilled vegetable sandwich, and I opted for fresh fruit on the side, instead of fries. Overall, the sandwich was quite tasty, and not too terribly expensive. At least as far as hotel food goes.
For the majority of the conference, I stuck to complimentary coffee or tea, and water to drink. Sounds like normal, though. I did make the mistake once of saying "yes" to coffee with breakfast one morning. Ouch. Expensive cup. I gave myself quite the mental tongue lashing for that. On the upside? I made dinner one night out of the hors d'oeuvres at the reception. Not very healthy, but better than going hungry.
I say that, because over the past year, I've spent several business trips obsessed with staying under the per diem allotment for a given city/day. From time to time, this has lead to me not always eating when hungry. (Not necessarily skipping meals, more like eating smaller meals and not snacking. You probably would, too, if your least expensive option was $5 oatmeal. Seriously, $5 oatmeal. I love oatmeal, but none is that good.)
This trip, I escaped the hotel for lunch one day, with several conference participants. A short, maybe 15 minute, walk from the hotel (which was lovely!), was a mall and an outdoor shopping center, complete with restaurants and restaurant patios. We went to a Thai place (love Thai food!), and ordered. This was probably the most reasonably priced and delicious meal I had the entire trip. Wisdom learned here is that a little exploring is not only good for the soul, but also for the bottom line.
One idea I was turning over in my mind before I left was taking oatmeal with me for the mornings. Or at least some granola bars. Something to keep from paying for $5 oatmeal. Somehow, I had it in my head that one could not take food through security at the airport. Turns out, I was wrong. So, for my next trip, I fully plan on taking oatmeal with me, and using my in-room coffee maker to boil water. Or sticking my electric tea pot in my carry-on, as well. I will probably buy a small canister of oatmeal to take, so I don't take a suspicious baggie of loose oatmeal through security. Might break down and take the instant packets, since I'll have no stove or microwave. Still, better than the alternative.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Blog Hop!
If you have a green blog or just enjoy reading about green living then these blogs are up your alley! Feel free to add your blog to the list if you'd like to get your name out in the green blogging community.
Thank you for taking the time to visit us!
* Create a new Green Blog Hop blog post on your blog and include the Green Blog Hop button by copying and pasting the code above.
* Follow Going Green with Noah, Tales of the Wife and And Then There were 4, the hostesses of the blog listed in the first three slots. Grab our buttons if you get a chance.
* Add your blog name to the MckLinky below.
* Try to follow at least three additional blogs. This is not mandatory, but it will help ensure that everyone who signs up gets a few new followers!
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
* The weekly Green Blog Hop MckLinky opens every Tuesday night and will be open to add your blog link until Wednesday night. You then have all week long to visit blogs and return follows!
* There is a new list every week. The link you enter one week will not carry over to the next week. Please link up again each week to join in the fun and to find new Green blogs.
Please remember this is a hop for blogs with GREEN content. Please create a blog post including the button after linking up. It's the best way to get the word out!
Thumbnails: This is a Blog Hop! 19 entries so far... you're next!
Friday, September 10, 2010
When your life follows the academic calendar...
...September is busier than you expect it to be.
We have the a larger group on incoming students, which is a good thing. Just surprising! While some fields are seeing a larger than average pool of applicants for graduate school, ours is not one into which you can really just "decide" to go. It takes a certain amount of language training and area background knowledge.
Couple the usual beginning of school and school year issues with a few screwballs thrown to us from left field, and you have a busy department.
Expect things to cool down slightly in a week or so.
In the mean time, headed out of town for a conference in connection to our major-source-of-funding grant. Carpooling to the airport, and utilizing the hotel's free airport shuttle = ways to save (the department) money.
We have the a larger group on incoming students, which is a good thing. Just surprising! While some fields are seeing a larger than average pool of applicants for graduate school, ours is not one into which you can really just "decide" to go. It takes a certain amount of language training and area background knowledge.
Couple the usual beginning of school and school year issues with a few screwballs thrown to us from left field, and you have a busy department.
Expect things to cool down slightly in a week or so.
In the mean time, headed out of town for a conference in connection to our major-source-of-funding grant. Carpooling to the airport, and utilizing the hotel's free airport shuttle = ways to save (the department) money.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the GREEN BLOG HOP
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
Going Green with Noah
And Then There Were 4
Tales of the Wife
* Link your green blog to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!
Thumbnails: This is a Blog Hop! 3 entries so far... you're next!
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
Going Green with Noah
And Then There Were 4
Tales of the Wife
* Link your green blog to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!
Thumbnails: This is a Blog Hop! 3 entries so far... you're next!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Borrowing a Recipe Thursday: Barbeque Ribs
A Barbeque recipe was requested, because of just how many sauces have high fructose corn syrup in them. (It really is everywhere!)
As a barbeque lover, one would think I have an old stand-by recipe, but I don't. So, I've been thinking about this. Where should I go for a recipe? Which style of barbeque should I model? I was thinking myself into in-action.
Then, I stumbled across this rib recipe over at Big Dreams for a Simple Life. I haven't tried this myself, but it looks like a fairly traditional and straightforward sauce. Not too sweet like a molasses sauce, not too vinegary like an eastern North Carolina sauce.
I'm not giving up my search, but I wanted to let you know the progress thus far!
As a barbeque lover, one would think I have an old stand-by recipe, but I don't. So, I've been thinking about this. Where should I go for a recipe? Which style of barbeque should I model? I was thinking myself into in-action.
Then, I stumbled across this rib recipe over at Big Dreams for a Simple Life. I haven't tried this myself, but it looks like a fairly traditional and straightforward sauce. Not too sweet like a molasses sauce, not too vinegary like an eastern North Carolina sauce.
I'm not giving up my search, but I wanted to let you know the progress thus far!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the 10th week of the GREEN BLOG HOP!!
For "Green" Blogs Only - Even if you're just starting out!
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :
Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!!
* Link your green blog article to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
School's back! and Trash Service
Students are coming back to campus.
Classes will be starting soon.
All this means that I've been busy again. And that traffic has increased something like tenfold. The population in our sleepy little summer town just boomed.
I'm sure I have some tidbits of advice in me somewhere, however, they are probably more closely related to credit hours, degree plans, and language proficiency than being green and frugal.
I'll try anyway:
We signed up for trash service. They delivered a big, green plastic herbie, and we are "allowed" 6 bags a week. (all refuse has to be in a bag...) The price is reasonable, and service is somewhat necessary, since they are only open during regular business hours, so we are unable to drop bags off for a fee of a dollar a bag. But, after getting rid of the last bits of moving/floor redoing/wallpaper stripping trash, we are not accumulating 6 bags a week (thank goodness - our actual accumulation is a bit embarrassing still, though).
So, we've offered the service of our green monster to my uncle, too. He generates very little trash, and recycles a lot. (I'm working on it!) Still, if we can save him a dollar a bag every two weeks or whatnot, that'd be something, right?
All of that to say: you may be able to save a little here and there by combining something like trash service with a neighbor. If you are a superstar recycler and reuser, you may be able to save even more by dispensing with trash service, and simply dropping your one bag every month off at the trash center, yourself.
Honestly, pre-house, this isn't something about which I thought. There is a steep learning curve to owning your first home. Still climbing... you?
Classes will be starting soon.
All this means that I've been busy again. And that traffic has increased something like tenfold. The population in our sleepy little summer town just boomed.
I'm sure I have some tidbits of advice in me somewhere, however, they are probably more closely related to credit hours, degree plans, and language proficiency than being green and frugal.
I'll try anyway:
We signed up for trash service. They delivered a big, green plastic herbie, and we are "allowed" 6 bags a week. (all refuse has to be in a bag...) The price is reasonable, and service is somewhat necessary, since they are only open during regular business hours, so we are unable to drop bags off for a fee of a dollar a bag. But, after getting rid of the last bits of moving/floor redoing/wallpaper stripping trash, we are not accumulating 6 bags a week (thank goodness - our actual accumulation is a bit embarrassing still, though).
So, we've offered the service of our green monster to my uncle, too. He generates very little trash, and recycles a lot. (I'm working on it!) Still, if we can save him a dollar a bag every two weeks or whatnot, that'd be something, right?
All of that to say: you may be able to save a little here and there by combining something like trash service with a neighbor. If you are a superstar recycler and reuser, you may be able to save even more by dispensing with trash service, and simply dropping your one bag every month off at the trash center, yourself.
Honestly, pre-house, this isn't something about which I thought. There is a steep learning curve to owning your first home. Still climbing... you?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Blog Hop!
Welcome to the GREEN BLOG HOP - For Green Blogs Only Please
* And Yes - You can just be starting to blog green - as long as your site is trying :)
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time.
We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
We do not mean this to be harsh - only to stay in line with the initial purpose and mantra of this hop.
We would like if everyone, when linking, could link to a specific green article that they have posted on their blog.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
* And Yes - You can just be starting to blog green - as long as your site is trying :)
The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time.
We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.
We do not mean this to be harsh - only to stay in line with the initial purpose and mantra of this hop.
We would like if everyone, when linking, could link to a specific green article that they have posted on their blog.
* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Blog Hop!
It's time for the weekly Green Blog Hop! Please read below before linking up:
Thank you for taking the time to check us out!
Here's How to Hop Along:
This blog hop was created as a resource for green bloggers and to allow networking of those blogs with similar interests. In an effort to preserve this hop for those with eco-friendly interests we are asking that you only link your blog if you have green content. If your blog has mixed content that includes green topics please link a specific green post from your blog in the linky.
Thank you for taking the time to check us out!
* Create a new Green Blog Hop blog post on your blog and include the Green Blog Hop button by copying and pasting the code above.
* Follow Going Green with Noah, Tales of the Wife and And Then There were 4, the hostesses of the blog listed in the first three slots. Grab our buttons if you get a chance.
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