stashaswitzer's Profile

I hear ya! I've found something that works well for me. I line the box with a plastic bag so nothing seeps into the box itself. I change the bag periodically. I use a litter called Swheat Scoop which is made of wheat. I've tried numerous types of litter, and this is hands down the best product I've tried. It's available at Target. I also sprinkle in some baking soda which also absorbs odors. Additionally, I scoop it out every day or every other.

My experience with frozen milk is similar to what Xarchady said: it becomes grainy. My family would shop once a month because we lived in a very rural area, so we'd freeze several gallons. It was disgusting! I quit drinking milk because of how nasty is was. The fat separates & becomes chunky sediment in a sweet, watery glass of ewwwwww.

My family has a lovely tradition. My dad always purchases a beautiful ornament for my mom. It has to be "extra special"- something very striking. He hides it on the tree on Christmas Eve and my mom has to find it on Christmas morning. We kids always would discreetly look for it and loved watching mom's face light up when she found her special ornament.

The fact that smoking is a health hazard isn't the neighbor's or Home Association's business. Neighbors should do their best to be considerate, and HOAs should maintain the neighborhood. That's it. They have no entitlement to police individual's personal liberties, such as smoking on one's own patio.

This is so practical and such welcome music to my ears. Yes, yes, yes!

A self-healing cutting mat is high up on my wish list.

You know, I really have to disagree with this. American can produce enough food to sustain itself, it just doesn't. In order to be a self-sustaining nation, a few changes would be needed.

1) Our national diet would have to change to include more plants and less junk food and meat

2) We'd need to eat what is in season in our region, and in the off season, eat preserved versions. Example- I like in Minnesota and eat tomatoes and strawberries, etc when they are available. In the fall and winter, my fruit and veggie intake is geared more toward root crops that store well, squash, and what I've preserved from the summer. I live in a major city, so I know it's possible to do this without being in the countryside.

3) Govermnent subsidized monocropping would need to be greatly reduced or prefereably ended.

4) Small scale farms need to make a comeback. The countryside all over the nation is dotted with abandoned farms. Lots of things have happened to cause the demise of the family farm, but I hope we can make it return.

Joel Salatin has a lot to say about food security. He has numerous books out that are very enlightening. I have a lot of faith that American can feed itself but many changes need to be made on a govermental level and in the attitude of the people toward food.

I'm a Gen Y-er and I do garden, however, like many people my age, I'm pretty limited because I rent. A lot of my friends don't garden because they live in apartments, have landlords who don't let them, or are too stinking busy and broke working their hefty student loans off at starbucks-type jobs!

There is a great example of the Frankfurt Kitchen at the Art Institute in Minneapolis.

I hear everyone on the "too much MCM" sentiment but I'll say this in its defense: I'm glad there is a renewed interest in well-crafted items. Danish teak furniture is really good stuff- so if it's cool again, I say that is good. Maybe people's taste will expand beyond wood laminate IKEA junk.