1.

I’ve been reading a lot of foodie books (Michael Pollan, Barbara Kingsolver) and they both emphasize eating locally and eating in season. I’ve virtuosly passed up on cherries from Chile and thought twice about buying corn on the cob in January (really, what’s the point of that?) But I really experienced what they are talking about, that produce shipped halfway across the world doesn’t taste as good or have as many nutrients.

2.

I needed a few quick things from WalMart, and after I cruised their produce aisle, just for kicks. Their produce is terrible there, and I rarely buy it but I wanted to see what they had and Mr X needed some bananas (when I say needed I do mean NEED. He’s part monkey.) They had pint boxes of fresh blueberries for just $3!

I picked it up to smell them. I almost always smell my fruits and veggies, especially if it’s in a bag or package, to sniff out anything musty or rotten. Plus, the smell of fresh berries is wonderful. Strawberries in May are intoxicatingly sweet, one of teh highlights of shopping in the early summer. Anyway, the blueberries didn’t smell bad. They didn’t smell like anything. Certainly not blueberryish.

Yeah, I passed. If they don’t smell good, what are the chances they’ll taste good? And as I put them back on the shelf I noticed that these, too, were from Chile.

3.

More on this real food health kick. When our food stamps first came in, I went on a stocking up spree. I took a kid with me because I knew this shopping trip would be a two-carter.

I purchased raw, organic agave nectar because I often saw it used by a blogger who was a Nourishing Traditions princess. I hadn’t ordered my copy, though I had read it from the library several months before and followed many “nourishing” blogs. Anyway, into the cart it went!

Turns out it’s not raw nectar and is about the same as high fructose corn syrup. I’ve never opened the bottle, but I can’t return it because *I* didn’t pay for it. So on the shelf it sits while I ponder what to do with it. I’ll probably use it up here and there.

4.

We got Star Trek in from Netflix. I do not understand why, if in the future they have universal translators, Chekov has a thick Russian accent. Wouldn’t he just speak in Russian and have it translated to Standard?

5.

My daughter got some Charlotte’s Web readers from the library. “Based on the new movie” was written on the cover. Um, no. Aren’t they based off the book? The same one the movie was based off? Related: I’m making Mr P read The Trumpet of the Swan for class. He claims it’s stupid and boring and he’s already seen the movie but I’ve caught him reading ahead.

6.

I have an bloggy friend who has been deployed to Afghanistan. She gave me her address – but I am a terrible letter writer. Do any of you write to soldiers that you’ve never met? What do you say? Why do I have stage fright? How do you even mail a letter overseas? I also have a little something I need to send to a friend in the UK, and a card. I have no idea how to mail anything more complicated than the electric bill. Why am I such a postal loser?

7.

I dropped a whole quart of half and half on the floor this morning. It was Promised Land, so it comes in glass jars which shattered. Just wanted to report that my mostest favorite mop ever is still going strong, 3 1/2 years later.

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Sherry January 29, 2010 1:21 pm edit
I literally laughed out loud at #6. My name is Sherry, and I am a postal loser too. I never know what to write. What is more horrible is that I never know what to say either when I’m face to face with people. I think I’m the poster child of social ineptness.

Anyway, I am in recovery on the mail/postal part b/c I mailed a package to a friend’s son (whom I’ve never met) in Afghanistan. I didn’t know what to write so I told him who I was, how I ‘knew’ him, and thanked him for his service. I also included notes and pictures that my kids made. I thought about it this way, we read blogs where people write about themselves. The soldiers overseas would probably enjoy some of the same in writing from us. If nothing else, it’s entertainment.

Sherry January 29, 2010 1:31 pm edit
On #7… I think I’ll have to try the mop. Does it clean better than the swiffer? I hated the swiffer. My floors are always in need of super scrubbing, and the swiffer just didn’t cut it. Yeah. I’m more of a houseunkeeper though I try.

On #1…On my last trip to the bookstore, I read through the Nourishing Traditions book. I took away a few good things, but I’m not too sure about some of the recipes. Maybe it’s just too new to me.

- Milehimama January 29, 2010 1:51 pm edit
  I have 8 children. My floors laugh at the Swiffer and mock it. This is like a Swiffer, but with washable cotton terry pads. I’ve had the same two pads for 3+ years.
  
  Sometimes I do have to scrape the floor with a plastic scraper, but I think I’d have to do that with any mop. Oatmeal is unforgiving.
  
Birdie January 29, 2010 1:47 pm edit
Instead of the agave nectar, use stevia. Trust me. I’m a diabetic with sugar and corn syrup allergies so I know what I am talking about here!

My kids have laughed at me in the past for smelling food before I buy it, but I have caught a couple of them doing the same! It really does work.

Nadja January 29, 2010 6:05 pm edit
Have you noticed how mushrooms, which used to get slimy, and raspberries, which molded in days, now just shrivel up? I’ve had tomatoes that rot inside and still look fine on the outside! Am I the only one creeped by this?

- Milehimama January 29, 2010 7:40 pm edit
  YES I had an orange do this to me lately! Smelled and looked fine – but inside it was rotten and slimy! So weird.
  
Ginkgo100 January 29, 2010 7:01 pm edit
Mailing overseas is easy. I’ve never mailed to a military address, but it can’t be harder than mailing an international letter. You just put the address on, and make sure you put the country name at the very bottom. Add “USA” under your return address. Then look on usps.com to find out the postage. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

I think the different countries’ post offices have agreements where they’ll take over delivery of incoming mail from other countries, free of charge. The cost is made up by charging more to send letters out of the country.

- Milehimama January 29, 2010 7:41 pm edit
  Oh, I thought you had to have a special envelope, that was red and blue. I wonder why I’ve always thought that?
  
Tia January 30, 2010 10:17 am edit
Oh, I keep meaning to ask…can you send me our Afghanistan friend’s address, please?

Elizabeth@Frabjous Days January 30, 2010 11:05 am edit
I’m trying to eat seasonally, too. My kids are *so* unimpressed that we can only eat salad in the summer — really!

Carrots, anyone?

ycw January 30, 2010 11:55 am edit
Are you in the market for a house? An online friend is selling and I thought of you because you are in the Houston area; she is QuiverFull and has four daughters plus more treasures in heaven.

“[A]n announcement to anyone looking for a house in the Houston area.[...]
$165,000 for two homes on 3 1/2 acres. The first is 1800 sq ft
manufactured home built in 2002, open concept “great room” with vaulted
ceiling and large picture window overlooks many trees, back yard faces a pasture, no houses! Three bedrooms/walk in closets and 2 bathrooms,
very large kitchen with island and breakfast area, the bar and island
could seat 6 or more. The laundry room is also quite large. There is
also a newer single wide (not sure of the square footage) to be sold
with the property, 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms, full hookups with deep well.
We live in a small country town between Houston and Galveston, close to 288 and 35. We are outside the city limits, so livestock is allowed and the second home can be used for business, a teen house, rental, or for
elderly family members. There are a number of homeschool groups within
40 miles of here, and I have been told a new one just started here in
Alvin. There are also a lot of family integrated churches in the
Houston area.

- Milehimama January 30, 2010 12:10 pm edit
  Thanks ycw. We aren’t looking for a house now, but will be in a few months. Voddie Bauchum is here in Houston so QF/VF/FIC isn’t so very rare here! I do want somewhere we can have a garden and maybe chickens or rabbits. I HATE our HOA.
  
Stitchwort January 31, 2010 7:31 pm edit
The red and blue envelopes were special air-mail envelopes. Used to be, you paid extra and your letter went by air, which was much faster than sending it by boat, the only other alternative.

Nowadays, all letters go by air, so it no longer matters.

7 Quick Takes vol. 4

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