LOL! I wonder how many times I have mentioned Fibromyalgia, Carpal Tunnel surgery, muscle spasms, etc. etc.. I have trouble crushing the sides of a child proof lid, let alone those hard bits. A hammer might do the job but it doesn't sink and the babies don't get any because it winds up in the skimmer or rotting among the stems where it collects because it doesn't break the surface tension. Nancy is right about the way the big guys become vacuum cleaners sucking up what ends up on the bottom. Sometimes a red crisp is missed, (I don't know why) but the big guys use their tails to make waves that wash the trapped crisps back where they can be eaten or they climb into the pots and guzzle down the crisps until they are gone. If they miss anything, the guppies are gathered in there at feeding time anyhow. It's funny to watch the acrobatics of the big guys getting over the rim of a pot. I used to have a koi that would climb onto floating lily pads to get to what landed on the pads. Does anyone know why the red crisps are passed by until everything else is gone? It is the last thing eaten in the aquariums, too. Sandy

My husband makes the best french fries. He cuts the russet potatoes in rounds....doesn't peel them. Then he cuts them in sticks, so they are about the size and thickness of my little finger. He has a pot of oil, and he dumps them all in at once...which tends to cool the oil a bit, but when the oil reheats and they finish frying, it is like they have been fried twice, which is the real way to make french fries. You fry them, drain them, and then fry them again. They are lightly crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. I used to always cut my french fries length ways, but after seeing how he does it, I changed to his way. His still taste better than mine. I am another one who loves an electric skillet. I don't think I have ever fried potatoes in one, but I like frying chicken it better than I do using cast iron. And I have over 100 pieces of cast iron cookware. Or, did have. I have given a lot of it away.

How prepared are you for even a small "disaster"? If not, why not? I think one has to weigh the definition and potential disasters you could face together with the impact of them. I'm not a "prepper". I prefer to think I'm a "common senser". I just can't get myself to scare myself into laying in years upon years worth of dehydrated food, hundreds of rolls of toilet paper, and an arsenal of weapons to protect the toilet paper when the SHTF. That said, I'm also pragmatic and living in a northern state an occasional snow or ice storm is a very real possibility and then tack on some severe cold weather. Living in a city, the likelihood of getting so snowbound that we could not get out in an emergency isn't a top danger, but the reality is that a heavy storm makes it worthwhile to stay home in bad weather. My latter years of working enabled me to be able to adjust my schedule most of the time so I could stay home in bad weather and ride out the storm. I've always kept some food in the house for such a need, plus having it means I don't have to run to the store every couple days. I do not like shopping. I go to a store, get what I want and get out asap most of the time. I still comparison shop, etc, but I don't make a hobby out of shopping. I used to keep a fairly well-stocked pantry with canned and dry goods but with health issues that has expired. I am now using the freezer more as my food storage and try to keep a week or so covered with refrigerated and dry and freezer supplements it. It's not so much for emergencies but for convenience. And the convenience would pay off in an emergency. Especially during the winter, but even in the summer I try to keep some gas in the vehicle, at least 1/3 of a tank and I keep a couple 2 gallon cans of gas for the mower so that could be used if a need should arise. The second major impact or "disaster" if you so desire, is a power outage. During and following a big storm many years back my power was out for 7 or 8 days. Now that would have an impact on my preparedness but at the time, it really didn't too much. I used what I could from the frig and freezer right away but after a couple days I just went to a sandwich shop or deli and picked up the days food. Some meals were simple and basic, sausage, cheese, crackers, etc. The streets were made passable quite quickly. Water service was not interrupted. I used my vehicle to charge the computer and cell phone and as I recall the landline wasn't affected. I had a battery TV and radio for entertainment too and I used up my cache of batteries during this time period. I do keep battery lights and flashlights around. More than most. I don't lay in food supplies in fear of getting laid off or something as do some. For me, that comes under money management. And some people tout keeping cash handy in case of disaster but many if not most make the mistake of thinking everyone will have and will be willing to make change for them. I keep some money around and I keep small bills for tipping on deliveries, etc. Many also make the mistake of thinking they can buy anything in a disaster if they have cash. Many stores will close in a power outage, their fuel dispensers won't work and the registers won't work either. In the event of a chemical disaster or something and I can get out of town, I do have places planned where I could go for cover. I don't keep a "go bag" but grab a couple changes of clothes isn't a big deal. Meds are kept together and grab a couple other things, I could leave.

Sure. I got the recipe right from this site. As stated above, I will use the ingredients but not bundle the beans, but bake in a casserole dish and sprinkle crispy, crumbled bacon over the top of the casserole. I still call this site Gardenweb. It was known by that for so many years, I just can't use the word Houzz. The comment at the bottom was from phoggie, also of this site. Green Bean Bundles A family favorite. Amazing Aunt Audrey@gardenweb 4 16-oz cans whole green beans 1 pound bacon 1 stick butter 1 t garlic powder 1 c brown sugar S&P Preheat oven to 375. Drain green beans. Cut bacon strips in half. Wrap a piece of bacon around 12-14 green beans forming a bundle. Place in a baking pan and set aside. Over low heat, melt butter in a small saucepan. When butter is melted, add brown sugar, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Stirring constantly, heat the mixture just until it starts to boil. Drizzle the mixture over the green bean bundles. Cover the baking pan. Bake 45 minutes covered, then remove cover and bake 10 minutes more. Maybe broil them right before serving to crisp the bacon a bit. phoggie AAA...my family loves these green beans also. I did not fix them for Thanksgiving and a grandson wondered where they were so they will be served when he comes for Christmas!