m.wall's Profile

Yup all names for the same tree fruit.

The wood was used by natives for bows because it is such a strong and durable wood. Apparently, the wood was used as a yellow-orange dye.
A chemical in the fruit can also repel mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, roaches, and crickets.

Metal curtain rods with your choice of solid, sheer or whatever fabric indoors. Lace has been popular for decades for a reason.
On these rods, make sure the magnets are heavily covered to protect the door.

A nice exterior wreath changed seasonally with a "no solicitations" sign built into it. ;)


One of my neighbors never bothered to answer her door for any solicitations. They could see her in the house and she'd shoo them away from her chair. They did get the message. She did reach for the phone on one persistent salesman. Friends and family knew to call her if they chose to drop by.

When I first moved into a house, Dad reminded me why people have lights at strategic places around the outside of the home at dusk to dawn. The lights pull your eyes to the brighter areas on the architecture and make it very difficult to be a casual window peeper and see details inside the house.

Starched fabric can also work on windows, as noted here:


You could check with the landlords about some added security lights to lower their property insurance and increase the exterior security. I'd also mention the peepers, unless the landlord is part of the problem.

I have noticed for the salvation folks that treating the ringing doorbell as a reason to convert them to your own beliefs tends to have them rethink ringing your doorbell. ;)

Politically, I explain that I vote when undecided "on the candidate whose party contacts me the least, and what party are you with? Oh, yes, so many calls and knocks, already."

Most areas have regulations on sales folk, pan handlers, salvation and charities. Check with your city or non-emergency number. Our old neighborhood had a string of interesting things happen and we all began watching from our homes during the day and reporting to the police. People peering into a neighbor's window had me calling the police. Did learn that in that town they must have the permit. Permit costs a fraction of the fines without it and were insanely easy to get. Thefts, fires, and scam artists vanished together.

Sounds like a tiny video camera might be worth your effort on the doorway as well. A small sign with a camera picture saying "smile, please" might cure the peeper as well. They stare, they are on tape doing so. Handy should you need to report anyone to the police for peeping or stalking.

Hmm.
Assuming you can't paint the walls, get an appropriately sized rug for the space. You could go for a modern bright multi colored rug. Your art should be bright colors and coordinate with the rug. Frames and mats could be black or white.
Pillows and lamps should be bright as well. Pillows with patterns in colors you like, yes could have a bit of near black or near white in them. Change the lamp shade as others suggested. Red, orange or yellow could work with the wall color. Turquoise or teal would as well. Up to you on choices. The curtains will lend more neutral to the space as with the gray sofa, but it sounds like you are already color accent starved. Pick your accent colors and repeat in shades and patterns in other accents around the room.

I treated this room like an outfit.
khaki pants, black belt, white shirt. need a bright tie now.
Or, Neutral skirt, another neutral top. Bright necklace, shoes, purse, etc.

Our hallways have held our family photos- apartment and two homes. Yes, I do have guests who slowly oggle every photo in the hallway and want to know everyone whom they don't recognize in each photo. I even have empty spots for those we don't have a photo.
The entire rest of our house has non-people photos we've taken on trips and some meaningful art prints.

I'll add a serving suggestion too.
Use custard cups/ramekins/baking cups to serve your creations. Cereal bowls and ice cream dishes can be larger than you or he realizes. Depending on the brand, one of these custard cups can be 6-10oz.
For him, portion size is as important as the fat and sugar contents. Work out a list of flavors he loves, you love, and any others intriguing to you both. Begin trying recipes with those flavors and that meat his other requests.
Cold can deaden your taste buds, so be ready to boost any wimpy-flavored recipes with more of the main flavor ingredient, if needed.

Hmm.
That omits the American Diabetes Association Cookbooks- Have found some amazing recipes in those I've eye-balled. Seasonal, regional, etc.

Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything" and "HTCE Vegetarian". I'll go check for the nutritional info per recipe.... nope not in my editions. Can give new ideas for same proteins and new side dish options. He usually others several different cooking options from around the world. Might or might not appeal to your Dad.

Nechama Cohen's "Enlitened Kosher Cooking". As you would expect, no seafood or pork. Lots of shortcuts for healthy choices on festival staples, menus planned for major holidays, and so on. Does mention that word in the text of the book, but Drool-worthy photos and nutritional info for every recipe. The almond cookies, mock noodle kugel and the chicken are family favorites here- diabetic, pre-diabetic, or nothing yet.

Otherwise,
You want to find cookbooks which actually list the nutritional info on the same page as the recipe. Some publishers are better about this than others. Having the massive nutritional list in the back of the book annoys me. Calories and carb counts are useful. Watching portion sizes is very useful.
Since he is a cook, he might also need to use far less salt per dish. Daily allowance is 1/4 tsp/1400mg or less total.
Without a bit more effort on his part, not sure this will help him. "Ostrich disease"/denial folks are very resistant to change. Bottom line, kidneys, eyes, heart, legs, teeth, feet can all be changed for the worst permanently if he doesn't adapt. It's a balancing act, and few type 2's wish they had not adapted quicker before they did permanent damage.

I'd suggest a diabetic counselor to offer recipes and ideas, if he'd even accept that.
Get yourself into a diabetic family member forum and make the changes for yourself. You can offer innocuous new recipes to your Dad if nothing else. As a child of a Person With Diabetes, many folks are surprised at what my relative joyfully eats on a regular healthy basis. They do request the recipes.

I'll second the earthtotes at reuseit.com.
They are washable, just drip dry. I think I bought two sampler sets of the grocery set which had : 2 earthtotes, 2 hemp, and 2 workhorse bags. I also picked up the cute Chicobag produce bag starter set(comes in the apple pouch). I like everything except the hemp bags- too floppy for most trips except a farmer's market run. Chico set has tare weights printed on the bags so knowledgeable cashiers can avoid charging you for the bag weights. Scales are calibrated to ignore the store bags. the workhorse bags are handy to keep in your purse or other bags, for spur of the moment shopping trips.

As a teen, I was coming down with the crud in the heat of the summer. Picture family reunion the next day at a state park and we had barbecue the night before. I chose the ham for whatever reason. The next day right after lunch at the park, in 100+heat, supper, breakfast, and the lunch reappeared. After 20 years, barbecued ham was finally appealing again.

Specific dish: something a family friend gave Mom as a soupy casserole-like dish. Friend called it "tamale pie", but it is much thinner than the versions I've found online. Has the usual ground meat, black olives, some cheese, kernel corn, tomatoes and so on. Texture is as repulsive as the appearance and taste to me. (The chicken pot pie thread above gives the general idea.) Mom makes the dish and offers me older leftovers. It was my one dish I could avoid eating at the dinner table.

Food dislikes:- oysters, raw, fried, whatever. Oddly, Sis IS allergic to them and she was never fond of them either.

I kept trying okra until I found several cooking methods I liked. I prefer it fried or steamed. The slime and bitterness depends on the size of the pods, and not over cooking them. At first, only fried dipped in ranch dressing was edible. (Grandpa couldn't see the okra pods to pick them until they were 1+ inch around and quite long. Very bitter.)

Lima beans, I'd eat, but Mom never served them as a bowl of lima beans. They were in a mixed veggie frozen package. Seems Mom hated Limas, butters and whatever similar types are out there from childhood. She still doesn't like them in her 80s.

Eggplant- I prefer the heirloom types or even better, the Asian type. Dip is good.

Radishes- eaten raw they were never sweet to me. Grilling slices until translucent- sweet heaven.

beets: Harvard/pickled = BLECH. raw or steamed or roasted are quite appealing.

My grandmother never said much when she gifted homemade jelly. It was understood that if you liked the jelly and wanted more, you'd return the empty jar or a jar. That idea is not apparently intuitive in many people. She overheard a neighbor commenting on all the empty clean jars that he had eaten, and loved jelly, but folks stopped gifting them jelly. She pointed out that costs of the fruit if purchased, sugar when purchased, pectin if purchased, and the jars and lids. Small town, retired folks, etc. Person sent six jars back to every gifter in town and had a sudden flood of new jellies to try.
Had never occurred to that giftee that the gifts cost more than time and the giver's understood effusive thanks + empty jars = "more, please".
Many folks had trash pits for burning trash on designated days, so the city dump didn't exit and filling a trash pit was an issue on personal property. Others were from a "waste not/want not" generation as well.
To me, sending the empties back when possible, is a good way to recycle the jars into new gifts for me or other folks. I, like Elsa, have been known to return the jars with something else edible inside.

I've done dresses. Catalogs more than stores- think light weight cotton- climate determines sleeve length.
I've also done skirts with tops. I know colder climates enjoy black for their neutral, but southern/warmer climates tend to traditional white or khaki for their go-to neutral color. I prefer khaki because I am a klutz when wearing white.

For packing lists I use a combination of http://www.onebag.com/checklist.html and http://www.travelite.org/?p=259 to create my own perpetual list for summer and winter trips.
I do not pack everything on the list for every trip.

I have used those "a week of outfits from 10 pieces" articles in various monthly magazines. Same magazines did weekend versions as well.
If you limit yourself to 3-4 colors, packing is really easy. Every item from head to toe should coordinate with at least 3 other items. Every thing should be easy care because It. Is. A. Vacation.
I do a minimal makeup kit, too. Sunscreen, night cream, foundation, blush, 1 lip balm, 1 lipstick, makeup remover cloths.