mbd's Profile

plants ... marooned in a sea of mulch
At your home, plant your garden as you choose. Please try to reduce your use of pesticides and fertilizer, much of which goes right to the ocean when it rains (coastal town, many surface water drains lead to the ocean).

When commercial landscapers use vast quantities of mulch, I dislike it. A few daylilies (the commercial, non-spreading variety) in a sea of mulch is not terribly attractive. And over-mulching trees is bad for them. Then people see that it's what landscapers do, so they copy it.

I use pecans instead of pine nuts, both for cost, and so I don't have to make a trip to a specialty market. I like my pesto a bit coarse, so I don't process it too long. Arugula & walnut pesto - gotta try it.

Some new people on Pinterest take time to realize how it works, and open lots of new boards. The spammers are really annoying, but if somebody had really good links to stuff at amazon, I wouldn't mind; they'd be getting paid to be my personal shopper.

Of course, Pinterest probably wants, or deserves, referral money. Are all those fashions really personal pins, or ads?

Still a useful site, esp. if they address the spammers.

I love my woodstove, and the ability to install one was a factor when I looked at houses. Sitting by a fire is really pleasant, and it primarily heats the room in use, while warming the rest of the house. I bought an EPA-certified stove on Craigslist. Installation is not cheap - get it done by a pro, as safety is serious. I live in Maine, where wood is 190 - 210 a cord, delivered.

Hearth.com and other sites have great research on stoves and woodburning.

I have an oil furnace for when I'm not home, and to make sure things stay above pipe-freezing levels when it's -15 overnight. I'd like to have a small propane gas-powered stove/heater in the bedroom, for the combination of coziness and warmth, but there are installation problems, so it's pending.

Bubble-wrap on windows lets in light & insulates, drapes insulate and block drafts. Bookshelves against outside walls insulate. Get an energy survey, so you know where the heat loss is. The sooner you implement the recommendations, the sooner they start to pay for themselves.

I like the aluminum chairs, and these are affordable. They stack, which can be useful.

Or, if you like it more eclectic, look for metal office chairs; the ones with the old vinyl seats are easy to recover in fresh fabrics.

I'd put in new backsplash and new counters. I have under-cabinet lights; they were easy and they provide great light for working in the kitchen. The overall look of the kitchen is very brown-n-white. I'd consider a new floor, not brown. Marmoleum/lineoleum is gorgeous, easy-care, and environmentally friendly. Comes in vivid colors in sheet or tiles. I'd do a checkerboard pattern w/square floor tiles, in deep blue and cream. I just used pressed tin for my backsplash - not too spendy, looks great, easy care.

Before you decide, what's your goal? Sleek and modern, colorful and eclectic, country, etc? That would help you choose colors and materials.

if you need storage, like someplace to keep sweaters in summer, holiday decortaions, or anything else that can be boxed, get storage boxes, paint with gloss paint (easier to clean) and use it as neutral storage. Or, collect branches, paint them white, and add white led fairy lights.

I love beets, and may try the beet ravioli. The pictures are lovely.

I live next to a lake, and minimize use of rock salt. The fireplace ashes do a great job on the driveway. I don't use them on the walkway or deck.

I agree that paper towels are easy to stop using. A roll lasts me a month or more; I have a stack of dishtowels that can be washed easily. Cotton or linen napkins, not polyester, absorb well, and are much nicer to use than paper. Just plain buying less stuff makes a big impact on the environment. I'm not as obsessed as she is, but I'd rather have more people like her, and fewer people who live a lavish lifestyle, buying and discarding lots of of stuff.