[Washer that can fit king-size comforters]

I run things that big to the laundromat for the double or triple load machine once or twice (rugs) a year.

 

[Do your appliances match?]

Dh likes to replace all the appliances in a room at the same time, whether the kitchen or the laundry room.  Luckily we've really only replaced each set once.  

[If you have a chest freezer....where in your house is it?]

Small one in the basement and a little bigger one in the garage.  I prefer the garage--it's handier there.

 

[Trade School, Apprenticeship, etc check-in?]

My oldest has been working in his dad's HVAC business, learning since he was in high school.  He's the lead installer and also does service work.  If someone has a mechanical background, a good attitude, and is really good with people, don't be afraid to apply for work as an installer or technician.  There are shops willing to train!

[Underwear]

I love my Jockey.  I get the french cut.  They don't ride and wear a long time!

[Life sure can be strange (in an "odds beating" way)]

My dd, born when I was 42, and I each have a childhood friend named E.   Very unusual name!

[Are these ugly shoes to anyone else?]

I think they'd look fine with pants.  I'm another that would think they looked good on someone else more fashionable.  ;)

 

[Sad, disappointed or who knew]

Both of my sons were in their best friend's weddings the same day.  Lucky for us we could make it to both as they were at different times only 40 minutes apart.  Only made it to one reception tho--the one we RSVPed to first.

 

I know your niece will understand.  Just send her a nice card and gift.  Maybe there would be a shower for her that you could attend??  

[Food choices for low income]

this was in my inbox today and is for a gluten free diet:

https://growingslower.com/budget-grocery-list/

 

[Do you wear scarves?]

No way! I've seen them on others and thought they looked beautiful, really made the outfit pop or added nice color, whatever it may be. But since I'm only 5'2", and ....well  let's just say more pounds than I would prefer, and very large books to boot, they look ludicrous on me. They don't hang at all, they instead are laying as if on a table up in my face. No thanks! Not only does that make me too hot and annoy me by being all up in my face, I'm afraid it would draw unwanted attention to the ol' books. So I pass, and just admire them on other ladies.

I also can't wear khaki pants, but that's a whole other story.

Hence the reason I only wear jeans!  What other pants can one wear??

[Can we talk about "healthy" food?]

I think they're trying to come up with ideas a mom can run in the store and grab conveniently.  And what might be affordable?  Tho aren't Larabars a bit pricey to buy for a classroom of kids?  (No, I've never bought them.)

[What to do with lots of tomatoes?]

Fresh salsa

Serve them sliced or wedged as a side dish or put into salads.  I could eat them as a snack, but dh needs a meal with his.  :P

spaghetti sauce-  then freeze in meal sized baggies

I like homemade tomato soup

 

Freeze the rest.  

[Wow! Is this HVAC quote in the ballpark? UPDATE in post 31]

At least in our local area, all the HVAC people are booked up. It will be more expensive just because whoever you get are coming and working OT to even have time to get to your house right now.  (I work for a plumbing-HVAC company -- but we work 95% of the time for commercial customers so I'm not a good resource for residential.  I do know that, when the company has time, they will do air conditioning replacements for employees at cost (including the labor cost to get the work done) and it is still thousands of dollars.  And right now we're too busy to do it.

 

We own an Aire Serv HVAC company.  We do not have extra emergency charges after hours, nor do the prices change with the season.  May want to check with them if you need service.

[Tea - the beverage]

I drink a lot of Twining's Earl Grey.  Lady Grey is a slight variation of that.

 

Tazo's Zen is a good green tea with lemongrass and spearmint.  First green tea I liked.  They also have a wild sweet orange tea.

 

Hibiscus teas are really good.  

 

Harder to find, but Taylors blackberry and raspberry is really good, too.

 

[If you painted your walls white]

I did the basement family room in white so it would look big, but then did the far wall in eggplant so the room would look like it was painted, not just primed. ;)

[Can I just pay for HGTV?]

I wasn't happy when they pulled the HGTV shows from Netflix.  I had purposely not binged on them, making them last a while.  Never again. lol

 

 

[I envy those of you who married a version of yourselves . . .]

We have leather furniture in our living room because we couldn't agree on any other couches when we needed a new one!  

 

And I have to smile to myself every time someone repins the blue and white checked chair I pinned to my Pinterest board many years ago.  I searched all the stores by me when it was furniture shopping time and couldn't find it.  But I swear that chair has been pinned a ton of times!!

[Fermentation Experimentation]

Ah, the rose kombucha is a lazy girl recipe.

 

Buy Dilmah Rose and French Vanilla tea. 

Make up a batch of it and put in some sugar.

Pour into the scoby pot.

Binge on it.

 

 

One of these years I will have to get into this second ferment business, but in the meantime I use flavoured teas. I picked up some packets of tea from the Chinese shop the other month with goji berries, hawthorn fruit and all sorts of other interesting stuff. They're pretty good too.

I've made my kombucha with different teas several times and it's worked fine.  I then flavor a glass here or there by adding a few blueberries or such and letting them flavor it while I slowly drink it.  

[What size tote bag for flight?]

I use the zip top thirty one bag.  Fits perfect and can hold a lot of stuff.

[Q for North Americans]

Especially when I'm so busy watching British and Canadian shows on Netflix! :P

[Bloating that time of month]

Well, I find that I usually crave-- and head for-- sweets and such.  Giving up Coke and other pops have really cut down on my bloating.

[Meal ideas.... low perishables]

How about a cooler with ice to expand your fridge space?  If it's indoors and not opened regularly, it should last a few days and give you some needed space.

[Should I get a propane tank put in? Country living...]

Having lived with electric, it is the most expensive.  Gas is currently the cheapest, I believe, with propane coming in second.  Not sure how oil compares to electric, but it's higher than gas and propane.  Up north here, we sell mostly gas furnaces, etc.

[Does anyone not take drugs?]

Yes, at 60 I have seen the surprise that I don't have prescriptions for blood pressure, statins, etc. Still just on caffeine and ibuprofen.

I'm with you.  Never considered the once or twice a week lattes that have caffeine as drugs tho!

[What to do with cucumbers]

yes, chopped up in cream cheese with dill weed for a bagel spread.