I looked up baking in crockpots after I asked you about that, and it turns out a lot of people like to do it when they’re on the road. They somehow plug their crockpots into their cars! Anyway, I’d need to get an accessory for the crockpot that is no longer made. We don’t eat much bread, other than pita bread, so I probably won’t bother.

Wow! A heat wave so early in the year? Or is that normal for your area? I am not looking forward to any 100 plus days here this summer.

You know, I have not heard of baking in a crockpot, but it sounds like a fabulous idea. During the summer, a Texan friend of mine cooks in her crockpot on her back porch to keep even it from heating up her kitchen. I might have to contact her to see if she has ever tried it.

I read somewhere that it’s possible to bake bread in a crock pot. Have you ever heard of that?

I am anxious to hear how your bread turned out. I have not quite mastered the art of baking bread, but I keep trying…and trying and trying. I figure one person can only have just so many different failures.

Sorry about your mess, there. I am sensitive to chemicals, too, but not to the extent you are. And to have that happen at Whole Foods! I wonder how many others have been affected. Sad.

Lisa in MN

Sounds like you do have some sensitivity to chemicals, Susannah. What you describe is very much like how it started for me. The best thing you can do to avoid getting worse is to avoid chemicals as much as possible. Switch to fragrance free [not unscented] personal products, laundry detergent and household cleaners. And stop using dryer sheets altogether–they’re very toxic. Let me know if you want more information about this.

It amazes me that the WTO sued Canada for it. Why would you need an excuse to restrict the use of poison where it might, uhm, actually poison someone?

D’uh. But then I am from NYC where they woudl aerially spray malathion or ground spray pyrethroids without warning and hit all the food carts and stands, playgrounds and gardens as if the drops of poison magically disappeared whenever they came into the proximity of human territory. Oh, Wait! Magic exists whereever profit is to be made. Silly me, everyone knows the laws of biochemistry and physics can be suspended on a whim…

More like magical thinking.

Which is hope inspiring: if I acted first, I could reduce thinking by 90%.
Id make more mistakes, but get feedback from reality on which to base my decisions.

‘a stitch in time saves nine’ is useful.
Do things ahead of time, and get a 900% return on investment. Things like sprouting sprouts are like that. Or putting on an apron instead of getting stains out.

21st century life! Where is great-grandma when I need her!

I think that you cant get to 90% through 20%. Its just a thought, but 20% is a dead end road. To get to 90%, we need to approach the thing from somewhere else.

I love the way you write, it makes me happy.

Hi Anna! I’m glad you’re doing the challenge too — an apartment dweller like me. We need to support each other. Think of all the folks who live in apartments in this country. We need to figure out ways to become more self-sufficient, even if it’s only growing herbs in the window. I’m going to be talking more about that on Bornfamous.