alfreda89: (Winter)
True story.

I like wooden spoons. They always have felt right to me, and were my mixing tools of choice (even though I snapped a couple with stiff doughs.) Then I became so ill, the arthritis advanced like wildfire, and I could not hold my spoons anymore. So -- off to buy a new one. I had to go to Sur La Table to find one with a thick enough handle that I could use it. It was OXO, believe it or not, and other OXO outlets didn't have it.

It lasted a month. Split in the bowl -- the biggest OXO failure I've ever had. I felt silly returning it, so boiled the sucker regularly and used it for rice dishes and such. But also baking. Now, with The Gluten Question, I have to at least separate the utensils.

In the meantime, my sister gave me a wooden spatula from http://whetstonewoodenware.com/. It is gorgeous. It fits my hand well. It was made a few miles from where my sister lived, from American kiln-dried, hard maple. I used it carefully, and the mineral oil sealant kept it from absorbing food of any kind.

I priced spoons -- and found they are the same price or cheaper than the one from OXO that fell apart immediately. So I gave a bunch for the holidays one year, and can now report that mine look as good as when I bought them.

They have never broken, or even chipped.

And the new Amazon Wish List button for other sites works with their site just fine.

So this year, I'm asking for American-made hard maple utensils and probably a new cutting board. There are things I buy from China, because they do those things well, and the rest of the world needs to eat, too.

But from now on, all wooden spoons come from Whetstone Woodenware. Just as soon as I am earning a living again. In the meantime, my wish list will keep track for me!
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Default)
So, as part of my backing off on everything that may jimmy with my health, I've gone to using things like agave nectar and maple syrup in recipes to be sweeteners. Now, in the winter, Costco had maple syrup regularly. It was in the vicinity of $14.99/quart, which was the kind of price you usually find at a stand in Vermont or upper New York or Michigan. Then it vanished. I kept requesting it, and they kept telling me it was expensive and not in season, so no more until it got cold again.

That takes a while in Texas.

Well, it is expensive if you're buying from the stockpile. But New England has had a bumper crop this spring, and maple syrup is to be found at better than the $19.99/quart Whole Foods was asking for their 365 syrup. A not unreasonable price, if you know how maple syrup is made. But -- I needed to find the best price possible. So -- I go online. I compare Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Michigan 100% grade A dark amber syrup. Ultimately, I find it packed in 1/2 gallons for convenience, at $48.00/gallon. Even with $18.00 shipping, it saves $14.00, and I can use that. Plus, supporting a family farm. Win-win.

Last Monday I ordered the syrup. Wednesday, I go to Costco to pick up something. What do I see as I walk in the warehouse door? A huge pile of 1 quart containers of 100% dark A maple syrup. $12.99/quart.

Well, of course I bought four jugs. I'm not an idiot.

But there may be maple ice cream in my future, for some distant party.

And I am supporting both a family farm AND the warehouse of my choice.

I feel like a patron. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Default)
I've got seven things to get from them, but the S&H on those 7 items is a minimum of $10.00. Anyone else want in? It's a much better price the more we order, since most of the price is distance, not weight.

http://www.thespicehouse.com/
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Default)
Actually,

I was looking for color swatches of hair, like on the boxes. It helps me construct characters. While thrashing around on a bad Google day, I found this article:

http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip095.htm

Very interesting -- the writer is a professional who is great with color, and has a list of warnings for self-application -- as in, mondo caution and a friend as maniacal about getting it right as yourself.

I really don't want to do this, but between silver hairs finally starting to show up, the LBb arthritis and the weight gain from the drugs, if I 'm going to look young enough for a job, hair touch-up is in my future.

Of course, I have someone wonderful here in town who does great color -- but we're talking $$$ for all that skill. Wish I had the $$$ for his work. I am paying him to do make-up for me for passport and driver's license photos. I look half-dead when I'm trying to look good. Not a chance I can wander in off the street and get a good snapshot.
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Chai anime)
You can check this out -- they claim to sell only fresh coffee. That coffee is supposed to be a sweet drink, all by itself, and that within weeks of processing loses half its "notes" of flavor. Coffee should never be bitter, or flat.

And it's fine to drink old coffee, if that's all you ever drink. But beware -- once you try this stuff, they claim you'll never be the same.

You have been warned. This is merely a public duty to my caffeinated friends...

http://www.coffeefool.com/?Click=11631

July 2025

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