Closed vs. Open Floor Plans

...characteristic is a closed floor plan. Even the kitchen still has an almost 100 year old swinging door. I’m nearly certain that the next owners of this house will knock out the kitchen wall and put in one of those bar stool counter thingies. Before they do that they may want to read these arguments against the open floor plan from a mom’s perspective. Summary: sometimes what goes on in the kitchen should stay in the kitchen. Coincidentally I just...

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What I’m Growing this Winter

...ved about this particular chicory. It’s a large-leafed variety that can be used in a salad or cooked. Radicchio and Chicory Mix: “Misticanza di Radicchi” I’ve never gone wrong with Franchi’s salad mixes. The best damn salads I’ve ever had in my life have been made with these mixes. Mache “Valeriana Verte de Cambrai” This is my first attempt at growing this cold tolerant weedy vegetable. Portuguese cabbage I’m usually hesitant to grow cabbage due t...

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The Africanized Bee Myth

...eral hive that I would consider aggressive. Africanized bees should not be used as an excuse to ban beekeeping in Los Angeles or anywhere else that has Africanized bee populations. The people fanning the Africanized bee hysteria all have agendas (and, I’ll point out, they have never actually worked with Africanized bees–only killed them). Exterminators want your money. Government bureaucrats need an enemy to justify their jobs and pensions (govern...

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Self-Righteousness Fail: We Bought a Car

...c two hour car journey in rush hour. If it’s going to take me an hour to go 10 miles I might as well be reading and relaxing on the Expo line. One great thing about living without a car is how all those traffic reports don’t apply, not to mention insurance, repairs and gas. It took me a long time to write this confession. The truth is that I’m ambivalent about the car. It’s more convenient to have one, especially late at night. And there are times...

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