perspicacious.org

This is one of those, "Well, of course!" ideas. I saw it on Just Plain Joy quite a while ago and just got around to reorganizing a few weeks ago. So much easier!

We've really pared down our canned food use since I do so much scratch cooking now. The drawer is a bit full right now because we just did a big shopping trip and stocked up.

The canned tomato habit is going to be a hard one to break since produce is so expensive here, but I have really cut down on the amount of canned beans we use by using dried beans. We also eat a bit of canned fruit in winter, but not much. And, obviously, one needs the occasional can of coconut milk. (I'm making crock pot curried chicken next week–will report back to you.) We never eat canned soup anymore, and I don't miss it one bit.

[What I put on before leaving the house, even to just get the mail.]

[Boots rated to -40 F. Not cute, but warm. And heavy.]

[Long johns peeking out of my pants-- I usually take them off once I get to work.]

[Our sun light (this one). We've been using it every morning. I'm not convinced it's doing a whole lot for me, but I like it and it can't hurt.]

Ah, yes. January in Fairbanks equals at least one good cold snap, and while this year's isn't as cold as last year's (compare -30 F to -50 F, not that you really want to), it's still cold. I've already beaten this dead horse (several times), but weather is pretty topical (notice I didn't say "tropical") here in Fairbanks.

How's your weather?

On my nightstand these days:
-clock
-lamp
-cigar box full of handkerchiefs
-ugly coaster
-glasses
-notepad for writing down "Oh crap, I have to remember to…" thoughts I have when falling asleep
-giant stack of books!

I haven't started A Rose for the Crown yet. It looks good, and I really like historical fiction, but it looks a leetel long to attempt right now. We'll see.

The other books are The Little House on the Prairie, which I've been reading out loud to R for fun, The Children of Noisy Village and Happy Times in Noisy Village, which I've been meaning to preview for school, Lighting their Fires, which my mom gave me but is not too bad, Laura Ingalls Wilder Country and a book of fairy tales. Whew!

What are you reading?

One of my current projects is to replace our paper products with cloth. We weren't using much, but it's nice to be able to pare down even more. One thing I haven't missed at all is paper tissues.

These little hankies are so soft! I bought a bunch of them and have them stored around the house. The vintage cigar box was a thrift store find; I keep it on my nightstand. The little basket was a gift from a kid. (It had gross potpourri in it.)

I bought my hankies from picnic basket crafts at etsy. They are bamboo, and ridiculously soft. I also bought her creme brulee organic sugar scrub, which is delightfully scrubby and smells lovely, and the soothe your sniffer gift set. Everything I've purchased from her has been completely awesome. I am in no way affiliated with this seller–I just love her stuff.

What paper alternative products do you use?

Link love, the "must we go back to work tomorrow?" edition:

cooking

• This walnut pesto sounds delightful, and would be a great treat to warm you up on a cold winter day.

• I made these tasty little parmesan cream crackers for a get-together last week. They were easy and looked impressive. Mine weren't as pretty as Deb's because I cut them with a pizza cutter, but they were still cute.

• We're deep into crock pot season, and I'm going to try this beef stew tomorrow. I almost never cook red meat, so it will be unusual for us.

• I realize we're past the flurry of holiday baking now, but I did make this reaindeer chow last week. We all ate the heck out of it.

• I haven't tried these grown-up pop tarts yet, but how could you go wrong? They'd be super with jam as well., I bet.

things to make and do

• If I could come up with a master and not do it the (very) long way like these instructions say, this very lovely multiplication clock might be good for my budding multipliers. It's almost a work of art– check it out.

• Make a gift bow from a magazine page.

• Super cute little houses made from cereal boxes.

• Thinking ahead toward spring? Organize your garden in advance. A tad obsessive-compulsive, but that's why I like it.

• How to make your own snowstorm, assuming you live somewhere where mountains of snow are not a given. All you need are round labels and dental floss. Check this one out– it's cool.

• This is the coolest ever– using this website you can turn videos and things off youtube and the like into mp3's. I did it for a couple of Christmas songs I liked and didn't want to pay for. I love it.

Now to sit on my couch and read a book, and pine for more vacation time.