being unemployed means i get to be first. again.

also: i thought your oven didn't work!

Instead of Target, try your local public library. The books/magazines/DVDs/audiobooks are free, librarians are always glad to see you, and the quiet is very peaceful & relaxing. You can even drink your coffee in most public libraries these days. Best of all, you won't be tempted to buy anything because, as I mentioned, it's all free! Thanks for a very enjoyable blog! Sincerely, Heather

did you really mean to call your winners weiners?

*snort*

p.s. this is not a criticism.

I'm so glad for your blog! It makes me happy..I've been reading it for quite a while ...just thought I'd let you know...:)))...
uh oh..BOSS coming down the hall...see ya!

smokeyJoe, the landlord finally got it fixed. But I cooked the chicken in my toaster oven -- it doesn't heat up the whole house that way.

i was thinking about this yesterday, as i surfed the net. your blog is, without doubt, my favorite. i always save your URL for last so i have something to look forward to.

okay, gotta work on my resume now. srsly.

smokeyJoe, thank you -- also tomorrow I'm doing an update on the zukes and you were right (as I suspected all along) about the volunteer veggies, but mine has a funny twist involving Mrs. Lee. hee.

Do you think the spuds will grow into tater plants?

p.s good luck on the job hunt!!!

Salad dressing plus chicken equals my favorite "I don't feel like cooking" dinner. Try the dry Wishbone Italian salad (the one that uses that carafe?) and make it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and pour it over chicken. Let it marinate and then bake. DELICIOUS!! I love that Asian dressing too...YUM!

How's the garden going?? I have about 30 zucchini flowers on 4 plants and tons of little teeny tiney greenbeans the size of sewing needles along with green tomatoes and miniature green peppers. I don't have any cucumber flowers yet. I also have tons of catnip!!

Getting older really does have it's advantages. The older I get the more mellowed out I become. I was quite OCD when I was younger but most of the time these days I just don't have the energy to indulge my compulsions anymore!

budding spuds will absolutely turn into delicious potatoes. i have been planting mine in 5 gallon plastic containers so i can control three factors:

1. moisture. taters like it. i don't want to water the whole patch however.
2. random tater volunteers. it seems like you can never get all of them when you harvest. they'll be baaaaaaaack!
3. growing conditions. cut your spuds up so that each piece has a sprout. let dry for several hours. plant in several inches of soil, so that the alien thingy is buried. water. when the green leaves start sprouting, continue adding soil; the potatoes will continue to develop along the stem. when you want to harvest, just tip it over. or reach in and feel around to grab several.

i know potatoes are cheap to buy, but i don't like scabs on mine. plus they probably spray nasty sh*t on them in the field to control insects.

oh yeah, i forgot to mention in my potato planting treatise that the process of cutting up the spuds with a viable eye is called chitting. i plant three or so chits per container. they like soil with lots of compost/humus in it to grow the big ones.

You know what I've usually been doing on Saturday mornings? Going to Garage Sales! Buying other people's junk that I don't need! This last weekend I resisted and went to the knitting class at my LYS instead. More relaxing, used less gas, spent less, and only thing I brought home was an almost-finished sock (you HAVE to try socks Laurie, they are awesome!)

As part of a goodie-basket from some store raffle, our boss brought in some stuff he wouldn't use, including some coconut chicken curry broth (wish I could remember the brand! not Campbells or Progresso - it has a white & light blue label) that I used instead of water to make rice with and it turned out really well.

potatoes are VERY persnickty to grow, so dont be sad if they are DOA. also, the green buds can be toxic to your kitties. (just the green parts, the rest of the potato is fine, fyi) my kitties like to explore the cabinets and gnaw on plants so those taters would be IN trouble and BE trouble at my place LOL

i'm so glad you get to chit (new word! also - sounds vaguely dirty!) your potatoes . . . It's so much better to find them all sprouty than as that vile-smelling brown puddle that happens when they move into the rotting stage. Ugh.

Are you going to name Mr. Potato Head?

Now I'm all hungry.
.

I can not wait for a new story with Mrs. Lee! Isn't there something about lighting a light bulb with a potato? If your taters end up like your zukes than we have the end to any energy crisis right there!

Smart idea with tagging your garage sale items as you go.

Bonsai potato!

OK Laurie, you inspired me. I was pretty much buying shoes (and other things) as therapy but when you posted about not shopping, I took your advice and just started writing down what I want. And most of the time the urge passes me! So far I do still need a new trench coat but I think that can wait until the fall, and there will be more in the store then anyway. So it remains on the list. The blue and/or turquoise handbag for summer will probably fall off the list soon, unpurchased. For me, that is progress, because two weeks ago I would have gone click, click, click, mine!

I have this very vivid vision of a potato chip tree.
It must be the heat wave we're having here....

I meant to comment yesterday about what food for thought that post was, and then you go posting today's with even more food for thought, plus some food for the stomach as well. I am trying potatoes for the first time this year, too. I can't wait to see how yours come out -- as well as the Mrs. Lee/zuke plants. And maybe the peppers too? Or was that just for last year? Oops, must go call into conference call now...

Spud :) - a funny word. I've benefitted from a friend's potato patch; a delicious nutty taste to the taters, hope your spuds grow. If LA doesn't have the weather to set them, at least they will make very pretty vines if not lots of tatties.

laurie (too) -- I really enjoyed your most recent interview!!!!!

Sorry to hear ya'll are in the heat wave out there. Ours looks like it will start this weekend and last until November. The one good thing is that my heater broke over the winter and my landlord had to have someone come fix it and the guy was really good, he even changed the thermometer to a programmable one so now I have it set up so the house stays moderate while I'm at work (85-ish) but cools down as I am getting home at night. I swear to you it is the greatest thing that ever happened to my house. I'm hoping my energy bills aren't as bad this summer since I don't have the old thermostat which had basically two settings -- on and off!

I *love* the idea to put price stickers on stuff as they move to the get-rid-of-this-crap-I-don't-want pile. Seriously, that's cold-fusion brilliant.

My mom & I have a give away pile. We have a designated spot in the house, out of visitor view, that houses all stuff we're ready to part with. Its so nice to find something I'll never use/wear again and walk it over to one of the bags and feel like is gone. *poof* like magic.

Then, once the pile takes on a life of its own, we fill up ye ol' Explorer and take it down to Out of the Closet, in my opinion, the coolest charity store. Unlike many of the westside thrift shops, the people who work at Out of the Closet are actually...nice.

Laurie, you are so right - - it is so nice to have a good friend to work with. I have a very good friend who works here with me. We became close a few years ago when we had to work on some projects together, and developed a very good friendship from that point. It makes the day go faster when you have someone there that you can be on the same (warped) wavelength with!

Hey, I second the thought about the local public library. The DVDs, CDs, or, if you're a retro fan, VHS tapes (*snort*) are great. So are, I think, the books ...

And "It feels like out of nowhere you find options, things you wouldn't have considered in the past."--wow, that is so right on. She's a wise woman, your friend.

I have not been buying stuff for threee weeks now, and it really is liberating. Amazing how much of my time was spent in the pursuit of stuff, needed or not.
Good luck with the potats!

Hey! Your American potato growths are all green and pointy and pretty. The Europotatos I find creeping in my pantry are looooong and pale and tendril-ly - kind of like Triffids trapped in a potato suits!

as if you needed another blog to read to keep you occupied... i found another: http://earlpomerantz.blogspot.com/2008/06/shecky-p.html
also take the time to go back a couple entries to the critters one... god i love to read fun stuff at work. keeps me from attacking other people in their cubicles with my stapler.

Laurie,

I, too, have been inspired by your resolve to only buy essentials. I've put my knitting on hold for while, so no yarn will be bought until fall. And by raiding the storage dresser, I found yards of fabric that I have used to make some cute bags for the grocery store (plus, my store gives you 3 cents back for each bag you bring and use). I agree that the free time that you get as a result of this tactic is marvelous. AND the library is a great resource for entertainment. I'm currently working through the seasons of 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.

Marinating chicken in salad dressing is one of my favorite ways to cook - it's easy and my whole family loves it. (My kids are 11 and 8, and sometimes I am simply stunned when I cook something that everyone eats without complaint.) Marinate some chicken in Italian dressing, grill it, slice it up and toss it into a green salad - man, it's so good you'll faint! :)

Oh Laurie, I hope your taters grow! My parents let one of their neighbors use some of their land for a potato and bean patch. Those were the most amazing potatoes I've ever tasted!! For the past year, every bag I've bought at a grocery store has had a nasty moldy smell and next to no flavor. I hate doing it but my 15yo son is going through a potato thing right now. Maybe I should let a few of them sprout huh? If I can hide them from him long enough.

Thanks smokeyJoe for the tips! And, I'm sure glad I don't work with denise t. I'm off to read the blog she posted.

I love that your "not shopping for anything but essentials" is going so well. And how you used to go to Target every Saturday and walk up and down the aisles and just buy things--that is still so me! But you are very inspirational. I also like that you have a bag or box in your closet for putting in things that you no longer need. I am going to borrow that idea as well.

Have a good day!

That salad dressing is also delicious on tuna. I've been bringing in my own salads for lunch and the past two have consisted of greens, shredded carrots, grape tomatoes, red grapes, sliced almonds, chunks of fancy white albacore tuna, and Newman's Own Light Sesame Ginger dressing. I've also found that a small amount of dressing will cover LOTS of salad if you keep tossing.

The people-watching at Tarjhay (lol) is worth the price of buying something needed!

Will the potatoes be John, Paul, George, and Ringo....or will they be Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie? ;-D

Oh, and not listening to the news in the morning--I like that too! That has become my goal because news can be so depressing and it makes me sad and it is sometimes hard to shake that feeling.

I never win anything... How many people enter your sweepstakes? I need to know what my odds are for the next draw... (yes, statistics nerd here)

Laurie, Since you have more time for reading, you should check out this book: Quite A Year for Plums: A Novel by Bailey White. There is a great character in the book who gives away almost all her possessions. And I think you would really enjoy Bailey White's sense of Southern humor!

I planted 6 rows of potatos last year and they all were crap. I dug bout 1/4 of them and just left the rest in the garden. I really hope that yours turn out, there is nothing better than fresh tatters. My garden patch is currently looking jungle like, so I'm taking a year's break from produce and will be trying to convince my family and neighbours to share their abundance. Also a tornado touched down about 1/2 hr from were I live (alberta) and I had no idea till two days later. No tv, no cable, no early warning flashing across bottom of tv. There are good and bad things about this. I could have spend all of last Friday totally freaked out and worried about getting swept away to Saskatchewan, but no I was reading or sleeping or drinking beer peacefully, without a care in the world. I have since instructed friends with tv connection to please call me with important warnings like this, so the boys and I can take cover. But thats it, the rest of the world happenings, I don't need to know...I'm happy in my bubble. a great jumble of information today...congrats to the winners.

i mean wieners...

Ah, the pantry raid... Good for U.

I hope your potatoes grow! I grew my first-ever potatoes last spring and I am totally hooked. They are soooo much better fresh out of the ground. Yum!

I remember my grandpa cutting up the potatoes to plant them. One eye for each plant.

Right on, no news-watching. I haven't watched the a.m. news for years and it's liberating. If it's something you really need to know (like 9-11 style) BELIEVE ME you'll find out (fyi I was watching Golden Girls on 9/11 and someone did actually call me, knowing that I'd have no idea). First perk, you don't hear about dreaded diseases that your doctor, according to the news, will let go undetected 'til it's too late for poor ol' you. Also, you won't hear a thing about the housing bubble, whatever that is. Gas prices, they explain themselves. And so on. If you must, wean yourself and just watch the evening news, or maybe just a newspaper, so you can "pick and choose the news you use."
The sesame dressing is also good on spaghetti noodles when you're trying to use what's available. Toaster oven baking is the way to go! Whoever mentioned tuna, yes, that's a good idea. mmmmmmmmm.

Beware of the library. They cost me more in fines than buying all the books I want. I however buy a book on amazon read it and then resell it.

I too have been inspired by your "only essentials" shopping, which frankly, I didn't think was possible. Now, instead of thinking I need to take check out that warehouse sale of my most favorite store, I realized - I'd rather have the time, and I don't need the stuff. Truly revolutionary for me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Wow, can't believe you are doing the pantry thing too! Great minds, and all that. My project also includes the freezer...mining frozen lumps from the frozen depths and making myself eat whatever it is! That plus trying to eat up the pantry has made for some very strange meals, let me tell you...

As long as your taters are buried about two taters down and get water, they'll prolly grow. If they do grow, you will never ever be free of potatoes but you prolly won't want to eat them after the second year as little bugglies will be making them look yucky. ooh, smokeyjoe said spud! That is what we call them back 'ome :-)

This is a large part of why I love reading your blog - I find validation here :) I have SO wanted to do this with my sprouted potatoes - but I'd knew I wanted to try them in a container, so I wouldn't have to dig - now, thanks to Smokey Joe, I think I'll try those big ol' empty kitty litter buckets (my daughter is going to groan at that - but hey, it was CLEAN kitty litter that was in them). Hmm, but wait - I think they're only 3 gallons - maybe that just means fewer potatoes? Also, how water-loving are they - should I poke a hole in the bottom for drainage? Smokey Joe, are you out there still?
Thank you, Laurie and Smokey Joe!

3 gallon buckets will work; maybe plant just 2 chits. all plants need drainage to stay healthy, so put some holes in the bottom, and maybe put some stones in the bottom (or old broken pieces of terra cotta pots) to give the roots breathing space.

the amount of water depends on the weather. in portland it doesn't rain much in the summer, so i keep them moist but not wet and set the containers in a tub to make sure they soak it up (also saves water).

there is a really good book about square foot gardening that also mentions the use of heavy black garbage bags to plant potatoes and tomatoes (am i spelling this right? it looks wrong) which is a great way to maximize your urban garden space.

and i agree, everything grown fresh in my garden tastes better, especially sweet corn. can't wait!

for anyone who might be interested, check out:

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

and maybe get the book out of the library. some of his methods are a little fussy, but the principle has served me well. less work, more food.

So here's the reverse of the salad dressing on chicken idea. I have a marinade from Trader Joe's called Soyaki that is full of sesame seeds (yum). I put it on a whole wheat pasta salad with grilled chicken that I had absentmindedly grilled without marinade and pea pods. It was fabulous.

Here's how my financial life has changed my wandering habits:
1994: Bored - go wander around Lord and Taylor
2000: Bored - go wander around Target
2008: Bored - go wander around the internets.

Since I will never see another zucchini without thinking about you, Laurie, I have a question for you. I have planted 2 zuke plants in an Earth Box (www.earthbox.com) It is a big container with water and fertilizer. The plants are starting to grow. Are zucchini plants vines like pumpkins or bushy type plants like tomatoes? I am just wondering what to plan on. Besides lots of zukes.

Here is my garden suggestion. I haven't tried it, but it might work! Take a big bag of store bought soil, plop it in a plastic laundry basket, open the top of the bag o' dirt, plant a tomato or pepper plant, etc, remembering to water it. The plant should grow! I'd also poke a few drainage holes in the bottom of the bag.

Thanks, Smokey Joe. Actually I am doing a variation on Mel's Squarefoot gardening on a whole lotta other stuff - we built one each, 4x4 and 6x4 raised beds, and more or less followed his recipe of compost/peatmoss/vermiculite for filler, but have planted in more of a French Intensive/companion planting kind of way (which sounds more high falutin' and complicated than it is). The squash/corn/green bean plants especially, have grown so much faster and healthier than when we used to plant in the ground, and I've hardly had any weeds to contend with - I think I've pulled out a handful of tiny strays in the two months since we started it. The carrots I grow in a tall pot, that's worked really well for them in the past. Taters are just the new kid on the block for me. My mom and grandma would grow them in half barrels when I was a kid, but I was too busy daydreaming while weeding, to pay proper attention. There's a LOT of stuff they grew or made back then, that I wished I'd paid more attention to...they're prob'ly sitting up in heaven, having coffee with my aunts, all of them nodding their heads, saying, "We told you, you best pay attention..."
Sigh.

Hmmm, I'll have to go plant the rest of my potatoes! That's what I love about your blog- always something interesting and funny to read, and great tips from your readers! Also,I wanted to add something to my comment yesterday:even though I live in Norway with "everything covered" America is still "the land of our dreams". I think that goes for a lot of norwegians-we may mock the "american way of life", but still we secretly envy you...

Is this a Hundreth Monkey sort of thing? It seems like everyone, including myself, has suddenly decided to drop out of the consumer lifestyle. And not out of a sense of need or discipline but instead with a sense of freedom and abundance. I'm not trying to do a 100% drop out, but I'm finding it much easier than I thought to not buy 90% of what I would have bought before my "less is more" epiphany. I'm not stopping myself from buying things, instead I don't WANT to buy them. It makes the things I do buy mean more. And the rest of the time I have more money, more time, and less things to dust or wash. Win/win/win.

square foot gardening rocks! the only way i can grown stuff in my swim-and-tennis community is this way.

someone else probably already said this, but in case they didn't - when the taters' green tops get tall and gangly (6-8 inches i guess), make sure to pile up mulch all around them all the way up the stem to the bottom leaves and keep doing that over and over to get more spuds; they are ready to harvest when the top greens turn yellowish and sort of fall over. i love homegrown spuds... easy and rewarding!

Guess what I made for dinner last night...asian chicken, beans, and rice. yummm..boyo's loved it too. thanks for the tip!

Marit,
I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your comments both the other day (when I was talking about my economic worries) and here. Thank you.

I went to Norway many years ago when I was married and I picked out exactly where I want to live (it was just outside Bergen). I found Norway to be like a paradise, clean and pretty with the most awe-inspiring scenery. People were so nice and I met so many folks who spoke three languages fluently!

This happened a lot -- I'd be standing at the breakfast line in the hotel, any hotel, and someone would say something to me in Norwegian, and I would make the universal "I don't speak Norwegian but thank you for thinking I am not sticking out here like a sore thumb!" face. So they would immediately switch to German, or sometimes Dutch. I kind of pass for both.

Then when I said I didn't speak German (I can say that in German, and I do understand a fair bit of German, just can't speak it) they would slip so easily into English. It was one of the most impressive things I ever saw!

Anyway, your messages these past few days have reminded me how much I loved Norway, the food, the people, the good air, the dairy products (!!!) and my whole trip there. It was one of the nicest trips I ever took with Mr. X and I am so glad we went, to this day it is a very happy memory.

I live on the 9th floor of a condo and I'm trying to grow herbs on my patio. Colorado is high desert and so far between the sun and lack of oxygen I've managed to bake all the plants that have ever lived out there. I tell myself this year will be different! That remains to be seen.

I love this post!! keep it up, you can do it!! very liberating stuff!! I love the whole keeping a bag ready to put stuff in that you no longer want. very cool!!

Just about every vegetable that comes into my house ends up looking like those potatoes. If I had the real estate, I'd be a hell of a gardener, just from what I take home from the produce section along. Onions, Garlic, Potatoes...I have a lovely sweet potato sitting on the counter right now, that was an extra from a meal I made. The poor thing is doomed...

Oh, and in case I don't get back here for a while (because I've been such a slug lately...), have an excellent birthday!

It will grow. Don't ask me how I know this. If it weren't dark over here, I could sneak out to my garden and take a picture of the one little bush of green (remnants of a sweet potato from my cabinet, but, shhh, don't tell anyone).