New Scores

Our buy-nothing plan has kind of slipped, but we're going to try again.

I've been making popcorn in a pot on the stove. It hasn't worked very well. Lots of kernels were not getting popped completely, making it hard on our teeth. I thought maybe it was the cheap bulk popcorn, so I bought a jar of Orville Redenbacher popcorn. On the same shopping trip I stopped at the Goodwill to see if I might luck out and find an air popper. Score! I found one that looked like it was in good shape and clean, but it was missing the cup on top. I figured I could come up with something to plug the hole. It was $6.99. I also noticed a Hamilton Beach food processor, also in good shape, for $9.99. When I got to the checkout I learned that the popcorn popper was half price. So I got both for $13.50. I've tried the popper already, and it works great, even on the cheap popcorn. I have yet to use the food processor, but it appears to work fine.

More from the Synagogue

Today as I went past the trash bins next door I found a bunch more jars, with lids. I got five big peanut butter jars and three pickle jars.

Garden Chairs

I finally got the wooden chairs from the synagogue painted. They turned out pretty well. We've placed them in the 'vineyard,' the space along the path next to the vegetable beds. It's a lovely spot to sit on warm evenings. It's shady and there's almost always a cool breeze.

It's also a nice spot for some morning sun.

Also, I made a semi-impulsive purchase from Brook Farm General Store. I love their stuff! And they ship zero waste! I've been looking for a bottle brush that wasn't made of plastic, without success. So I found a nice wooden one at Brook Farm. Then I spotted a set of brushes for cleaning sinks. So I ordered them as well. I think they'll be really helpful for cleaning out our Ikea bathroom sinks.

Canning Beans

Well, my first attempt at cooking beans in my new pressure cooker was a qualified success. The cooker seemed to work fine, but I put too much in it and it overflowed. But in the meantime I have discovered that I can use my big pressure canner to can beans. I did two batches, one black beans and the other cannellini beans. I can do nine jars at a time. So for now, this is how I'll do my beans. It's a lot more trouble to do, but I now have beans that I can use immediately when I need them.

Bad News, Good News

After receiving the replacement gasket and safety valve for my new (old) pressure cooker, I attempted to remove the old gasket. No luck. It was like concrete, and there was no way it would come out cleanly.  Back to square one. My investment of $16 was for naught, to be sent to the thrift.

But yesterday, while we were walking around in Silverton, we went into a 'resale and collectibles' shop. And there I found an older Presto pressure cooker for $15.  I made sure that the gasket could be removed, and it could. So I brought it home and then discovered that the replacement gasket that I had ordered would fit my new one!

So, voila! Now I have a working pressure cooker.

Pressure Cooker

We've just returned from our annual winter trip to Tucson. I haven't posted anything since before we left. But now, I'm back.

Twice a year Far Horizons has patio sales in the park. When the spring one was coming up, I decided there were two things I'd look for. The first was a small wooden cutting board to use for cheese. I thought this might be an easy one. I found a perfect one for 25 cents. But the second thing I've wanted is a pressure cooker to use for cooking beans. I figured this one was not likely.  Well, Bob and Claire Rogers had not one but two old pressure cookers. The one I bought (for $1!) is from the 40's. It needs a new gasket, and I thought I should probably replace the rubber vent plug as well. I found a place online that sells replacement parts for all models, so I ordered them.  For $16 total, including shipping. I don't have them yet, but I'm hoping they will work.  Stay tuned.

I'm also going to start keeping track of our purchases again. So I'll call this Month Five.

Another Synagogue Score!

Since the big clean-out at the barn next door, there's been a huge pile of stuff sitting outside. It's been going down very slowly. That's where I found the gallon jars. We walked past the pile yesterday and I noticed a couple of wooden outdoor chairs. We pulled them off the pile and looked them over.  Other than being a little wobbly, they look great. So we brought them home and David tightened all the bolts. I plan to paint them some time, maybe not until spring, and them put them in the back where the old orange bench was. They're much more comfortable than the bench.

Stay tuned. We may find more treasures.