Adreamer's Profile

I have a lovely analog zen alarm clock that gently chimes. The chimes gradually increase in frequency as I continue sleeping, but eventually they do the job. There is no snooze button, and the clock is on a shelf far from my bed, forcing me to get up. During the summer I wake up naturally (sun in bedroom) or rely on my 2nd, never fail alarm--dogs.

These are inspirational. Maybe I'll find some string lights at Target on my next visit. But the open candle next to the curtain or canopy in 4 does look like a major uh-oh.

How many of you who oppose using microwave ovens live in a hot, Southwest US desert city?

I use my m/w oven to melt butter, etc., re-heat leftovers (homemade or restaurant), heat tamales, thaw frozen veggies a little before throwing them in a casserole, melt cheese on my easy nachos. It adds little heat to my house, if any. My hallway thermostat read 81 degrees the first days of November (doors/windows open). I do not like having air conditioner on forever & do not need extra heat from ceramic cooktop or the big oven. Making house hotter and using more energy isn't an improvement over the microwave. P.S. I use quick heating electric kettle for water. Learned that in England where energy is even pricier.

I don't really like plain vegetables and often make an easy hollandaise, mixing most of the ingredients in the blender first. Also I use olive oil now and butter. I rewarm leftover hollandaise using my double boiler.

Béchamel is a standard for my winter casseroles, pot pies, and mac/cheese. Veloute is my basic sauce for my chicken tarragon and my goulash (the latter would have red wine & paprika). I don't like to rely on canned soups for sauces and learned early-on how to throw together some of these basic sauces. I also typically prepare my own chicken stock (in advance, stored as cubes in freezer). I'm kind of lazy and old-school at the same time.

This was such an interesting post. It makes me want to see more Indian-adapted home decorating. It sounds (and from the pix, looks) as if you found a marvelous apartment. Cheers!

In the coolest months, I love my duvet with different colors and patterns! But I have cats. Hmpf! So I have coordinating quilts that I put over the duvet, and they are easy to change and wash frequently.

In the long summer (in Phoenix, hot as 2 Hells) I ditch the down and keep the whole-cloth quilts which can be washed often. I typically sleep on top of the quilt, with a large, gossamer pareo over me to block the direct hit of the ceiling fan.