Sandy Stacey

I'm in the process of researching to build our homestead. There are some great sources on Youtube about trying to fireproof your rural home. One of the most helpful overlooked advice is to ensure you don't have vents in your eaves. Those vents are one of the primary causes of rural house fires in fire prone areas. They suck up a spark on the wind into the attic and there goes the house. The actual fire may be miles down the road. That was what stood out to me as the most blatant example. The commonsense things of nothing flammable within 50 ft of the house etc.

Here's the set I use. These have to be at least ten years old. It uses ceramic burrs and the grind is adjustable. I bought glass with metal lids first. I broke those consistently. I didn't think I would like the all wood shakers but they've held up to constant abuse.

https://www.amazon.com/XWXO-Wood-Salt-Pepper-Mill/dp/B07C9TVC17/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2N1O5P0761H83&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pClybhjCzwfcgVe9UM8XbhKzDvG9Iz3ZWN87uDEQcM-E0dwiRCc4ash7ZlXKKBUe_i4KBE-asrn9vU7gC2_Qg3FDcqFU85BnhPZ5cHJHJpCKZVYgKMgk3gNArApJn-K7NS1WflfEpDQlg8ImQBNeebLkRjVpOqfM_1pBw9p-9OwxcivKeEo1PJaxyvmDkQ0H7vOt-cNjOkCBAdUzkMMVWtP05oY3OLj53FEdT9KrAVXYGm-t31G5zHiKg_f_5T-GHintkmDYUd1B5mIDaMjeGSBU3kICp5XHwt9YYfm9v9k.ac6xiluitF9tNydHg-aNkCGDH9cCDtb95uOg9-w4mRk&dib_tag=se&keywords=wood%2Bsalt%2Band%2Bpepper%2Bgrinder%2Bset&qid=1758486976&sprefix=wood%2Bsalt%2Band%2B%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-6&th=1

I have fine, thin hair. So most of what's out on the market doesn't work for me. Barrettes and clips just slide out. A few years ago I found a clip called Xenclip. It looks like a spring but it holds my hair in place. I can even sleep in it. Trips to the dentist are easy now. I don't have to take out my hair clip to lay back in the dental chair. I put my hair up in the morning and I take the clip out at bedtime. I brush my hair like I would for a ponytail then make a bun style and clip it into place. I'm done for the day.

This was tough. I go through so many spices baking and cooking but when push comes to shove nothing beats korintje cinnamon. You've smelled and tasted korintje cinnamon when you go to the mall and eat a Cinnabon's cinnamon bun. The smell is heavenly. They use korintje cinnamon. It's the only cinnamon I use. I love allspice and nutmeg but life would be sad without korintje cinnamon.

I have more sourdough recipes than I ever would have time to bake. I also have recipes for things like cinnamon rolls, crepes and pancakes you can make from the sourdough discards. I even have sourdough recipes for different types of grain. What I don't have is step by step basic instructions for making a good quality sourdough starter. I can not get a sourdough starter to work. I have changed grains and water sources. I weigh everything that goes into the starter.  I would love a really basic book with pictures so I know yes that's what it should look like so move on to the next step. Sourdough has defeated me. I do live in the desert so I keep blaming the dry humidity but it's probably something I'm doing or not doing.. Also how to dehydrate or freeze dry starter for the future.

I used citric acid today when I canned wild blueberry pie filling. Citric acid subs for lemon juice  when canning but it leaves no taste behind. One tablespoon of bottled lemon juice is equal to 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid. I really like to use citric acid when I freeze dry apple slices and canning apple products. It doesn't leave that funny taste on apple products. Yes it's food grade and I buy it from Amazon. Made in the USA.

Jetted bath girl here. I will take showers but nothing is as perfect as a long hot jetted bath to take the aches away.

Please ignore my "report". I accidentally clicked on it while I was trying to find what each button does. I follow a female physician on Youtube and she recently did an episode on women who pee in the shower. She said anatomically women are not built to pee in an upright position and that it damages the pelvic floor. That will result in urinary incontinence. Just thought I would add this little medical oddity to the thread. Thank you for all the great advice I've found reading on this forum.