If you are going to be leaning into the oven to check whether the Honey Baked Lentils and Raisin Bran Bread are done yet, don't wear a metal necklace. If you already did it once and experienced a disturbing burning sensation everywhere the front portion of the necklace was touching your skin, don't try it … Continue reading Things Not To Do, Oven Safety Edition
Things Not To Do, Hair Care Edition
Do not wash your hair with coffee grounds. I don't care if you read on the Internet that doing this will give your brunette hair beautiful softness and luster, in addition to making use of something that otherwise would be garbage. This is not a good idea. Here's why: The process of applying coffee grounds … Continue reading Things Not To Do, Hair Care Edition
Arithmetricks
For this back-to-school edition of Works-for-Me Wednesday, I'd like to share some strategies for learning and doing arithmetic. Some of these I learned in elementary school, and others I picked up later but wish I had known in elementary school! I'm now the data manager of a large social science research study, so I use … Continue reading Arithmetricks
Parental Profanity Policy
Disclaimer: We only have one child. He is unusually observant and tends to pick up social rules fairly easily and accurately. What works with him may not work with every child. We are only two parents, and the two of us share extremely similar values. What is comfortable for us may not be comfortable for … Continue reading Parental Profanity Policy
Electric Kettle
I love hot drinks. In addition to my dependence on coffee or caffeinated tea, I drink hot chocolate or herbal tea regularly in cold weather to warm me up--and I sometimes need that even in the hottest weather when my office building's management chooses absurd air-conditioner settings! I'm also a big fan of quick oats … Continue reading Electric Kettle
Things Not To Do, Dessert Edition
When I was in college, I belonged to a very silly geek social organization called KGB. We did a lot of weird things, including some which were worked into the structure of our weekly meetings. One of these was Things Not To Do: You'd get the floor, say, "Things Not To Do," and share an … Continue reading Things Not To Do, Dessert Edition
Grilled Cheese Worth 14 Years of Gratitude!
First the recipe, then the story. To make one delightfully delectable grilled-cheese sandwich, you will need: 2 slices of bread your favorite cheese, in slices about 1/4" thick, enough to cover one slice of bread about 1 Tbsp. marinara sauce (or use jarred sauce) about 1 tsp. yellow mustard plenty of butter a good frying … Continue reading Grilled Cheese Worth 14 Years of Gratitude!
Free computer game!! “The Sand Boxes”
Daniel wrote another computer game for another contest! "The Sand Boxes" is accessed by clicking the icon with a picture of a wooden Inca face (also, the title pops up when you roll your mouse over the icon) on the contest page. This game has graphics and is shorter than Daniel's previous game, "Ka". It … Continue reading Free computer game!! “The Sand Boxes”
Quick Trick for Reading Readiness
I learned to read at age three and have been frustrated that my child hasn't followed in my footsteps, in that regard--he's five-and-a-half, and although he's been acting like he's about to catch on to reading for a couple of years, he still only recognizes a few short words. Any day now, I expect him … Continue reading Quick Trick for Reading Readiness
The Time-to-Go-Home Clock
It's Works-for-Me Wednesday, and I'm very busy at work today with not much time for writing, but I've been thinking about a simple thing here in my office that really works for me: I have a small digital clock-radio plugged into the same power-strip with my computer and monitor. At the end of the day, … Continue reading The Time-to-Go-Home Clock
THE Coleslaw Recipe!
I've tried many coleslaw recipes over the past 20 years but never managed to produce a batch of coleslaw that tasted quite right to me. Sure, I could eat a serving and enjoy it, but the typical cabbage is pretty big and makes a lot of coleslaw, and I never made any that I liked … Continue reading THE Coleslaw Recipe!
Brick-Paved Street
We live on a little side street just one block long, built in 1920 and paved with yellow bricks. Those same bricks have been there for 90 years. There are only a few spots patched with visibly newer bricks or concrete. In the eight years we've lived here, our street has had only one small … Continue reading Brick-Paved Street
Tangy Honey-Apricot Tofu
This recipe is unusual among my tofu ideas: It's Chinese-flavored but contains no soy sauce, onion, or garlic! Its sweetness makes a nice contrast with something salty or spicy. Try it in a Tofu-Soba Supper (or over rice) with Salty String Beans. To make 5 servings, you will need: 10 oz. firm tofu 2 Tbsp. … Continue reading Tangy Honey-Apricot Tofu
Salty String Beans
For this Favorite Summer Recipes edition of Works-for-Me Wednesday, I've got a recipe that uses fresh green beans (plentiful in summer) and plenty of salt (good for replenishing sweaty people). It's my attempt to replicate the string beans served in many Chinese restaurants. I'm not giving specific measurements because I always just look at the … Continue reading Salty String Beans
Pizza Box Stained Glass
My five-year-old son loves to play games , but there's another reason he looks forward to attending the same game convention every year: the individual pizzas in the convention center food court! I think they're not that great, but I'm willing to let him eat one each year. Like many fast-food pizzas, it's served in … Continue reading Pizza Box Stained Glass
My kid can play IceTowers!!!
My five-year-old son has learned several new things this month. He learned how to ride a bike in an impressively short time, and he learned on the same little bike I rode as a kid, so that was a proud and sentimental milestone. He taught himself to make pizza box stained glass. But last weekend, … Continue reading My kid can play IceTowers!!!
“Ka” Walkthrough
Back in February, Daniel placed sixth in an interactive fiction game writing contest. His game, "Ka", has now been archived on the site, and the page includes a walkthrough, a series of hints that will help you get through the game. Each hint is hidden under a "spoiler alert" until you click it. This walkthrough … Continue reading “Ka” Walkthrough
Why We Love Community-Supported Agriculture
UPDATE: It's 2015, and we're beginning our fifteenth summer with the Kretschmann Farm! We got a crate full of spinach, three kinds of lettuce, radishes, rhubarb, parsley, and multi-grain bread on Wednesday, and we're bringing a big salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing to a cookout tonight! I cleaned up and updated this post for Real … Continue reading Why We Love Community-Supported Agriculture
Tuesday Potlucks
On the first and third Tuesdays of the month, our church offers a short service followed by potluck dinner. Attendance usually is small, between 5 and 20 people. In order to get there on time, I have to rush from work to pick up my five-year-old son Nicholas from his preschool and trust that the … Continue reading Tuesday Potlucks
Washing Plastic Bags
It's Works-for-Me Wednesday , so here's a mundane but easy tip that saves a lot of money and helps the environment, too! We wash and reuse plastic food bags, like zip-top freezer bags and sandwich bags. I always used to shake out crumbs or maybe rinse them a little, but if there was any significant … Continue reading Washing Plastic Bags
The Earthling's Handbook 