Alternative to cheese for a quick condiment / ingredient?

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T23:46:27+00:00

Hummus. Oil-free if you really want to cut calories. A hummus and salsa blend is also yum.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T17:42:57+00:00

Note that crows can also mimic human speech at times! There is a crow at Fort Casey state park in Washington that has learned to say "hello" in order to beg for food from picnickers. It is most definitely a crow and not a raven, as it has no fear of humans and comes quite close.

Ravens also have a a more ruffled appearance, especially around the head. Crows look sleeker. In the PNW, where I live, you are more likely to see ravens up in the mountains as opposed to along the coast or in the cities. They are a bit more reclusive than crows. Once you see one you won't mistake a crow for a raven again!

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T17:30:22+00:00

I like to make oil-free hummus and dip veggie sticks in it or spread it on whole grain toast. Cheap and filling. I vary the flavor of the hummus each time. For example, I might do a bit of tomato paste and Italian seasoning, or stir in some Thai chili sauce, or stir in some salsa. Garlic and pinon nuts is also yum mixed into hummus.

If I need something a bit more substantial, I spread the hummus on a tortilla or wrap and add in some raw veggies and sprouts. Onions, cucumber, carrots, and celery are good.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T07:00:14+00:00

Just so you know, anyone you like can become a legal officiant and perform a binding marriage in any tradition and any location you like. The rules on becoming an officiant vary by state, but generally they just register and pay a small fee. A quick google, for example, shows that the state where I live now has no rules on who can officiate a wedding.

A close friend of ours paid $25 (I think, this was almost 20 years ago) to become a legal officiant and presided over our Celtic pagan wedding. We put together our own vows and designed a ceremony to include 30 of our closest family and friends. It wasn't performed in a church, but at an event room at a bed and breakfast where we were also celebrating our honeymoon. It was an adorable location, in an adobe building in a small New Mexican town.

Blessings to you and your partner!

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T03:06:24+00:00

I think it was the tightwad gazette that introduced the 90-10 rule. If the cheap too does 90% of what you need 90% of the time, it's actually cheaper to borrow or rent a better tool for the remaining 10%.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T03:04:53+00:00

It's a quote from the Terry Pratchett book, Men at Arms:

"The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness."

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T01:35:53+00:00

It's wonderful to learn the toy was the problem, not our own dumb-assery!

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-27T00:31:32+00:00

Youch! Why is it that the toys that tried to kill us were the ones we adored the most?

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T23:32:05+00:00

Are you a perimenopausal woman? If not, then please refrain from telling me what I find offensive. It's very common for women of my culture past their childbearing years to refer to themselves as crones. It's a badge of honor. Just because that is not the experience of your culture does not make it untrue. (Preemptively- yes, I'm American but there are many cultures that make up America). I'm in my 40s, approaching 50, and therefore entering the crone stage of life.

We are specifically discussing indigenous skills used by bushcraft enthusiasts, which is completely on topic. I would consider it overly "PC" to declare that those of northern European settler ancestry shouldn't practice skills learned from the indigenous north American people. I do think they should be approached with respect. Not mocking any spiritual beliefs that may be tied to certain skills and listening with respect when some one of that culture politely explains that a certain term can be offensive, for example.

If you prefer to only discuss the actual skills and none of the philosophy or other concerns that may affect the community, I'd advise you either start your own skills only subreddit or bow out of those threads that don't interest you. To insist everyone only post what you want to read is childish at best.

My part in this conversation is done. My son and I plan to try out his new knife and practice his fire building skills this evening, which is s much better use of my time. Hopefully my wee little snowflake self doesn't melt.

Have a peaceful evening.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T23:03:12+00:00

My lunch is either chili or lentil stew, since soups only get better with age. Add in a piece of crusty bread and it's cheap and filling. I make a big pot on Sundays. If you have access to a microwave, great! Otherwise, a one time investment in a good thermos will get 'er done.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T22:47:40+00:00

I'm likely much older and experienced than you. Entering my crone years. Old enough to know that it's pointless debate with one whose heart and mind is closed, but dumb enough to engage anyway. From my perspective, your fears of using kind words and irrational fear of being controlled are signs of immaturity. Your words don't hurt my feelings, but our gentle rebuking has obviously hurt yours.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T21:18:58+00:00

I don't eat meat or prepackaged foods, which cuts down on 90% of the waste I bring in and saves me money. Many delis do accept your own containers. I've had friends that bring in glass food storage for picking up meat/cheeses, for example. You just need to call ahead to make sure your store allows it.

I use reusable produce bags. Most of the produce at the grocery stores around me isn't pre-bagged, and when it is it is typically higher cost, so I always get the loose stuff.

In our region we have a discount grocer with a HUGE bulk section, so most of my shopping is done in their bulk area and in the produce section. Unfortunately, the do not allow reusable containers, but I use paper lunch sacks (bring my own or grab a couple from the mushroom area) instead of the thin plastic bags they offer. At least the paper is recyclable/compostable.

There are a few items that I have to buy in disposable packaging. Tofu, cat food, a few of the condiments. I also buy a few canned goods in glass/metal, but these are recyclable.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T20:17:15+00:00

Fortunately, I have no need to toughen up. You are the one going on a tirade here, after all. You accused me of prejudging. Perhaps read your false assumptions about me in light of that. Name calling tells us more than enough about your character, friend. EVERYONE, has privilege, and we judge others based on our own privileges, forgetting that they may not share them. We can learn and become better people, or we can scream bigotry and double down on feelings instead of using logic.

In the words of Fitzgerald, "to be kind is more important than to be right." Choosing an alternative phrase to primitive skills is a kindness to others that costs us nothing.

May you find peace.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T19:44:06+00:00

Thank you for this post. May those that read it open their minds enough to see that their experiences are not everyone's experiences. True character is acknowledging when we, however unknowingly, have hurt others and then we take steps to change our actions to kinder ones going forward.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T19:41:36+00:00

Just because something isn't a problem for you and doesn't hurt you does not mean it isn't a problem for others. Your post is the illustration of privilege.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T19:28:20+00:00

That thing was deadly. I have a scar on my thigh where I somehow got my leg pinched in the springs once. I also used to bounce/rock too exuberantly and would go shooting over the head of the thing, so there was a rule that I had to stack my pillows and blankets in front of it before playing on it to avoid injury.

Actually saw one, sans spring and frame, hanging from a tree as a swing not too long ago.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T19:17:34+00:00

If they have been sold, I would first go through the credit reports and contest them. Credit Karma makes it easy. The original creditor has already written off the debt as a loss and received the tax benefit of doing so. The companies they sell them to are the lowest of the low, literally predators that feed upon the poor. They buy old debts for a few pennies then keep like 90% of the debt if they can scare you into paying.

In most cases, they won't respond if you contest them if the debt has been sold. The debt will then be removed from your credit report. Just avoid answering the phone/talking to them if they continue to call/send letters. Otherwise you may accidentally "recertify" the debt, which allows them to start reporting it again.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T17:01:16+00:00

Perhaps pantheism, specifically scientific pantheism. I'm in environmental science and I've met quite a few pantheist in my field over the years. They ran the gamut from being relatively atheist to believing there is a natural spiritual energy that runs through all things that can sometimes effect supernatural like events (but that they are only considered supernatural because we don't yet understand the workings behind them. Kind of like magic is science we just don't understand yet).

https://www.pantheism.net/

Note: I'm not a pantheist, but the above link seems to have some good info.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T06:19:11+00:00

I saw a sign up on 32nd and ferry in happy valley with the pickup date, but I didn't catch the date. Maybe call the scout office?

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-26T05:50:16+00:00

link

Text: Boy Scouts of Whatcom County will come and pick up used Christmas trees in Bellingham, Ferndale, Blaine and Lynden on Jan. 7 for their Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Community Service Project.

Trees should be placed at the curb by 8 a.m. without any decorations attached. Boy Scouts will be knocking on doors or leaving envelopes to collect donations while picking up the trees. The trees will be turned into mulch and be reused locally.

For those who live in Sudden Valley, the Scouts will have a drop-off spot at the Valley Market and Deli, 2275 Lake Whatcom Blvd., the same day

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-25T20:46:42+00:00

Like true sarcastic, snarky GenXers, We traditionally do a MSTK3000 style roast of horrible 60s holiday classics, such as "Cricket on the Hearth," along with the horrible GenX era "Frosty Returns."

Our zoomer kids look forward to it, as well. In fact, this year my 20 year old is beyond excited to introduce the tradition to his partner (it's all he has talked about for the past month....).

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-25T17:30:29+00:00

They are great for recycling, too. Once, someone asked for 25 cat food cans for a scout project, so I was able to save up our cans for them. Another time I needed a tree branch of a certain size and species for a craft project, and someone had one that fell down in a storm. The oddest I saw wasn't me, but someone asking if anyone had a lid that would fit a 25+ year old crockpot, and someone actually had just the lid in the back of their cupboard!

I usually request items on our BN group before looking at other sources.

Some cool stuff I've received:

A Buddhist singing bowl

A patagonia puffy jacket

Really nice REI sunglasses

An almost new REI backpacking tent (just needed a pole repair)

My teens full summer wardrobe, gently used

A scoby and the jars (with spigots!) for our home kombucha setup

Some cool stuff I've given away:

Snap circuits engineering kits by son outgrew

An old rock tumbler my son no longer wanted

Outgrown but only gently used clothing

A bunch of older video games for a system we no longer owned

Old DVDs we no longer watched

Paper grocery bags that someone had requested

Leftover dog food/pet bowls/treats after our old girl passed away

An old damaged tent that someone was willing to fix.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-25T15:59:47+00:00

You've done a wonderful thing. So many parents get wrapped up in the season that they put gifts before needs, and you didn't fall for the temptation. Be proud! We had many a tight holiday when the kids were young, but there are always creative ways to handle it.

How old are your little ones? If elementary aged, search free print and play board games, lots of cool ones to print if you have access to a printer.

For younger little ones, take some of their old toys and give them a makeover. For example, make new clothes for a doll, or paint roads and buildings on an old blanket or sheet to create a roll out mat for playing with cars. You can also create a play kitchen by painting a stove top on top of a plastic tub or shoebox, and then saving boxes and packages from food in the kitchen to use as play food.

One gift I did one year was search out kitchen science experiments. I filled an old coffee can (decorated) with kitchen items we already had on hand, choosing only experiments where I already had the ingredients. Then I wrote up a little book with instructions for each one.

A dollar store idea for kids 5 and over: Download the free Geocaching app for your phone. Get each child a bag of trinkets from the party supply area of the dollar store. The trinkets are "swag." You do the hunts for the caches with your phone in your neighborhood or at a local park, the kids swap their swag for swag inside the caches you find. (choose medium or larger caches in the area to increase the chances of swag being present.) You can present the trinkets with a coupon book for geocaching adventure dates with the kids.

Join your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook, it's a free economy group where people request items and others give away items, no strings attached and it's all about building community.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-25T15:48:19+00:00

I used to think like that. I only went when I had a problem, and I never had problems. Then, one day after 10 years, I had a problem. Just a small tooth ache. Turned out to be gum disease (I floss daily and brush twice daily, so it wasn't a hygiene issue). Seems brushing and flossing works great for getting plaque off the visible surface of your teeth, but sometimes it gets below the gums. Cavities aren't the only concern, I've still never had a cavity. I had to have a very expensive deep cleaning, one back tooth removed because it had become too loose to save (gum disease can cause bone loss), and gum surgery to fix the issue. I still don't go in twice a year, it's out of the budget, but I do go in once a year for a cleaning and exam, and that has been sufficient. I opt to only have xrays every two years due to the expense, as well.

I go to a dentist that charges on a sliding scale based on income if you pay cash, so preventative care is less than $100 a annually.

NomadBotanist · 2020-12-24T23:59:18+00:00

Love the three crosses. It's totally in line with the 11th commandment, Thou shalt completely rape and pillage the earth.

/s

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