vera in dc's Profile

I have the exact same problem from roasting chickens. I just accepted my oven would be dirty most of the time, and then, occasionally, when it gets to be more than I can handle, I break out the paste and the no-scratch scrubby back of a sponge. It takes a LOT of scrubbing, and it comes out looking sort of okay.

You are not the only one, Enamorada! So annoying. I've started sort of ignoring posts that include them.

As someone in DC who needs to get a chair reupholstered-- do you have good recommendations for places to go? I haven't decided yet between upholstering and slipcovering, I just know I'm probably not going to do it myself.

Our farmer's market in DC is still selling beets. I think they're like carrots or parsnips-- easy to store in a root cellar.

I agree that it's tacky to ask for money. I even think it's tacky to ask for money if someone asks what they can bring. I sometimes ask people to bring pre-dinner snack food, like olives or cheese, or to bring wine. Both of those can be pricey and are easy to bring. Don't ask a friend who's always late to bring pre-dinner snacks, though.

Tea (and I see you're a tealuxe fan! I worked there for a summer after high school). Also teapots and tea sets. If I ever throw a brunch for exclusively tea drinkers, I will be all set. Otherwise, it's a little bit of overkill.

I also collect vinegars, which I didn't quite realize until I opened my cupboard last week and it was packed with them: balsamic, sherry, zinfandel, raspberry, white wine, rice wine, cider, and so forth.

Finally, my freezer is packed with chicken bones, carcasses, and stock. Homemade stock is just so useful.

I've done this and it's worked well. It takes a fair amount of self-control to keep from watering (and, in my case, not gently tugging on it to see if it's rooted yet).

Any ideas on where to get old office furniture (like, for instance, filing cabinets) in the DC area?

This all feels beside the point. I'm willing to spend a little more to buy soaps and detergents that are less damaging to the environment, and organic or grass fed milk. But my farm share is cheaper than buying from the grocery AND it's organic AND it's local. And reupholstering furniture that I already own is cheaper than buying similar-quality furniture new. And cobbling shoes that I love and taking care of them is cheaper than buying new shoes. And there's no cost involved in vermicomposting. Being "green" should not be about buying new things.

Although it's pretty, no question.