Early Morning Milking

We have decided to try plant based milk for awhile. Several things have influenced this decision. First, animal (cow) milk is expensive! Second, raising cows (for milk or meat) distresses the environment (see reference to Food, Inc in earlier post). Third, having oats on hand is an easy way to make milk as needed.

As one may surmise from the last sentence above we are starting with oat milk. Other plant based milks include almond and soy. If oat does not work out we'll try almond. Soy is out because it wreaks havoc on the thyroid, and my thyroid is already quite touchy.

Thanks freecycle for the new (to us) blender!

Scratch is Back

For this long, labor day weekend we're going to get busy making our own from scratch products. We've been slowly accumulating the needed products (washing soda was the hardest to obtain - we got it in Great Falls on our way through last month). And now we have run out of the store laundry detergent.

We're going to try a powdered version. Because it has the best reviews. It looks pretty easy, grate some soap add a borax and washing soda, viola! Shampoo may also be on our weekend creation list. Its a bit more scary since its hair, but again the recipe is simple. We may need to add some olive oil though so that could be quite the experiment over the next few weeks. Dishwasher detergent will also be on our scratch list, but for now we have quite a bit left from our store trip in '06.

So where ever you are, whatever you are doing to celebrate the unionization of labor, remember your ancestors and think SCRATCH!

UPDATE: We made the laundry detergent - works great. We did a load of sheets and then shower curtains. Everything looks great!

Impacting the Bottom Line

I am excited to report that an annual review of our energy (electricity & gas) bill by the esteemed Northwestern Energy Budget Bill department has resulted in a $18/mo decline in our budget bill amount - a savings of over 20% (ok 21.4%). All that hard work of not plugging stuff in and hanging clothes to dry is finally paying off in our pocket book. Look up and notice the smaller hole in the ozone too. Ahh.

Years ago we switched to the green only electricity. Its $2/100kwh. Really a steal. We have now halved our electricity consumption but continue to pay the green fee for the original monthly consumption - perhaps we're making YOUR electricity a bit greener. So do your part, check with your utility and sign up for green only electricty. That way we're actually buying green energy for Mr. EverythingIsFine, but don't tell him!

How about a little heat?

We've been contemplating an EPA efficient wood stove for awhile now. Our research pointed us the direction of the Jotul Nordic, small enough that we won't be heated out of our home, pretty enough that we want to look at it everyday. The stars aligned with tax credits, a stove sale, and a cold, wet August so we took the plunge.

Now we just need to get some wood...

Who says you can't always get what you want?

The dual flush toilet of my dreams now resides comfortably in my bathroom. Its amazing how much money can be scrounged together when one really wants something. Today we took that extra cash and bought a dual flush toilet at Costco. Who knew Costco would have such a device? Well we discovered it in a dark corner a few weeks ago and have been plotting the adoption ever since. Even the employees were surprised that the store carries toilets.

Jesse was a bit reluctant to get the project started this evening. I think this is because we don't have the best track record of having EVERYTHING we need for a project. Delaying a project until Home Depot opens isn't that big of a deal, unless its the sole toilet. But with a little persuasion we began. Sure enough, no plumbing tape, but luckily that's something that can be bought 24-hours a day, probably due to the number of people just like us (that's a scary thought).

Really though the process was quite simple, turn off water (we had to turn off water to the entire house since the toilet shut-off doesn't work), remove old toilet (we had to break the bolts due to rust), place new bolts, add wax ring and sealant to toilet, place (this took two people), seal using body weight, hook up water connections, turn on water, add toilet seat! Ta-da!

Its beautiful!

Would you like some water?

We are now the proud owners of a Harvest Maid food dehydrator! Tucked in the back corner of Good Sam's for the last two months, this treasure is exactly what Jesse has been dreaming about. Yesterday Jesse harvested apples from our neighbors tree and was contemplating using the oven for days to make yummy apple chips. Today we were rummaging through the thrift store looking for a clock, and then poof, the dehydrator drew me in. We brought it home and cleaned it up with good ole vinegar and water - she shines now. Tomorrow we'll conduct the maiden experiment! Don't worry we'll use the kill-o-watt to see how much energy goes into our food production.

chickens have feelings too

Have you seen Food, Inc? All I can say is wow! I had always heard of the evil of the large components of the food supply, but wow. I must leave it at that due to the laws mentioned in the movie that will rip your soul out if you say bad things about the beef industry in particular. Ok, so maybe not your soul, but definitely would prevent the solar panels from ever becoming a reality. We're definitely looking into more local foods and perhaps less meat (which hasn't been part of our daily lives in awhile).

Ok, here's a taste of information... Did you know the deadly e-coli (remember the Jack in the Box deaths in the 90's and the more recent vegetable scares?) was actually created by feeding cows corn? Apparently it a product of a naturally accruing bacteria and the chemistry of corn being churned by a cow.

In college my friend Dax had a theory that cancer is caused by the bad karma built up in animals. We as humans raise animals for slaughter in the most horrible conditions if you're the animal but the best conditions if you are the bottom line. As the animals lead their horrible life they store the negativity. We then slaughter the animal with no regard to his soul which produces the negative karma. Then the consumer eats the negativity and bad karma and eventually gets cancer. I don't know that Dax's theory can be explained using science, but did you know that meat goes through an ammonia bath before reaching your mouth?