batya7's Profile

Like @kissandrachablis, I frequently poach the chicken. This is especially fast in the microwave. Chop an onion, cover the bottom of the pyrex pan with water, place the chicken on top. Squirt some lemon juice, sprinkle garlic powder or herbs, cover, and zap on half power for 5 minutes. Check for doneness. Rezap for another 3-5 minutes until done.

Be sensitive to the background. Make sure there is no pole that will look like it's sticking up from uncle's head. While it's convenient to pose groups together in front of a wall, that shot can end up looking like the junior high class photo or a group mug shot. Likewise, don't make people stand in front of a well lit window because the camera will compensate and the faces will be dark.

Finally, warn the child who inevitably rolls up his eyes and tugs at their corners alien-style that if he does it in this photo, you'll skin him when you get home! (That goes for the guy who does the donkey ears on every picture, too!)

We're always leaving ... something. There's something so poignant about leaving a home: the laughs, the sounds, the smells, the conversations, the creaks, the imperfections, the people, the times. But it's true, you can never go home again. Each room holds the past, each floorboard the memories of people who walked by. We don't realize the precious moments as they happen. Who'd have thought that the shrill cry of "Long distance! Get the extension!" would ever be missed? Or that double bang of the wooden front door screen which never closed on the first push? The squeaky tread on the stairs and the chipped crystal doorknob that always fell off the closet were annoyances when you lived there but now produce wistful sighs.

I've lived in many places, left many places behind. I even sold a home to friends - and when I enter their home, I gawk at the places that used to be mine but are now indelibly imprinted with their lives -- despite my wild wallpaper still wrapping the walls. Cherish the memories, and live for the future.

If the ceiling is not high, color on it can be suffocating, especially in rooms that have a lack of natural light. White, or a paler tint of the wall color like that of the blue room, adds height and light, although I'd prefer an even lighter tint. The butter yellow works due to a high ceiling and the pink works because there is ample light. I'd feel claustrophobic in the narrow, smallish navy kitchen, however. We spend mostly dark hours in our apartments; in winter the sun sets early, and in summer when we are outdoors a lot. There is simply not enough natural light in my city apartment to sway me to use color on the ceiling. Colors on the ceiling look different, too, when illuminated by artificial light. I'd like the editors to consider showing day/night shots when showing a new idea such as this.

Whatever you do for fabric storage, remember, sunlight fades colors!

I had about 10 yards of some lovely brocade I was saving for "special," and after a few years on the shelf, it has some interesting faded bands on the edges. Though this fabric wasn't anywhere near a window, it was still sensitive enough to fade.

I think black dyes are especially sensitive to light but I haven't seen this scientifically proven. My first quilt had (inexpensive) black background fabrics. Now they are chocolatey brown, pinkish, and gray where time and light has faded them.

So, all the shelving AT shows is delicious, but unless you have high fabric turnover, not practical for at home. I'm going to stick with nicely labeled plastic bins, by color or theme. They are not the prettiest storage, but are dustproof and organized.

The best absolute cleanser is pure baking soda! I have used it to clean the burnt-on guck on gas range burners and cooking pots. I use it where a more abrasive cleanser would damage surfaces, like the plastic parts of the refrigerator. It rinses clear on glass surfaces, too. I keep a stainless steel flour shaker full of baking soda by my kitchen sink to have it always at hand. It is non-toxic, kosher, and cheap!

@patmac, @GreenGeek - Consumers using small quantities of WD-40 in the recommended manner should have no adverse effects. The MSDS has a section for "Normal Consumer Use," and the recommended protection methods are simple common sense: use in well-ventilated area, avoid eye contact, spray away from your face, avoid prolonged skin contact.

There is more potential for adverse effects from inhalation of gasoline vapors while fueling your car! (No, I do not work for the WD-40 company.)