Shop-local movements are organizing around the country. We’re beginning to understand it’s in our interest to frequent independent businesses on Main Street, Anywhere, USA. One’s power as a socially responsible buyer is undeniable. Supporting local merchants translates to investment in our communities.”A rising tide floats all boats”: prosperous neighbors lead to stronger municipalities. Sure it’s easier to have shoes delivered by Zappos almost before I … Continue reading
I can’t go to a museum without at least a quick tour of the gift shop. Current well (curated) favorites are at the Gardner Museum and MOMA where I found an excellent trivet by French designer Erwan Peron. It’s something I’ll use almost every day, recalling a recent mother/daughter(s) trip to New York. For the many who are rethinking the … Continue reading
As Willy Nelson is to have said: the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. 1. Measure twice, cut once. 2. Take your pulse before administering (glucagon). 3. Gauge the depth of the pond before diving in. 4. Stop and smell the roses. 5. Fools rush in. You get … Continue reading
Those of you who baked and ate cake last week, or at least read about it, know that Peter and I celebrated an anniversary earlier this month. While I didn’t get (didn’t WANT) diamonds, I did receive a magnificent bouquet of organic, sustainably grown flowers. Megan, the owner and founder of Field Sustainable Floristry amassed a wonderfully creative … Continue reading
Annie’s been bringing colorful shopping bags to the market for years. I knew it was the right, smart, green thing to do. Even Uncle George told me how much he saves each year by supplying reusable bags. But it wasn’t until Dori gave me some as a hostess gift a couple of weeks ago that I “got” the convenience and pleasure of it. … Continue reading
Don’t Judge a Book by It’s Cover The following is a video about one French Super Market’s radical and brilliant strategy to eliminate waste and make good produce affordable. Intermarche took this idea to the bank with their brainchild: Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables. They figured out how to sell millions of pounds of produce that would be otherwise trashed each year. … Continue reading
“Our Bees, Ourselves” by Mark Winston, author of forthcoming “BeeTime: Lessons from the Hive”, is a frighteningly convincing essay about the parallels between Honeybee collapse and human environmental degradation and subsequent challenges to golbal health and habitat. Read it, bee-ware, bee-warned, and bee-inspired. 1. There is a noticeable reduction in the number of bees in our garden. Luring birds … Continue reading
More good news for people who eat a GF diet (or love someone who does) and live around Greater Portland: Jill Miller started The Maine Pie Company. Gus didn’t like pie as much as the rest of the family, so creating a successful fool proof GF crust wasn’t an early priority. Still, since his diagnosis in 1998 … Continue reading
Bakers Chef Professional Plastic Food wrap is efficient, effective, and easy to use. Loved it. Had boxes in several widths. But plastic isn’t good for the environment. Glass food storage systems are an alternative, however sometimes left-overs need to be just covered. Julia brought Bee’s Wrap as a hostess gift to a gathering at which I was a guest. … Continue reading
Baking is essentially science. While it’s possible to make the occasional substitution or omission to accommodate dietary or pantry constraints the (muffins) may be a little different than originally conceived. Oven temperature, humidity, salted or unsalted butter, white or brown sugar, GF or conventional flour, egg size and freshness are among factors that will determine the quality … Continue reading
