"can’t imagine doing without running water for 4 months!" It was . . . interesting. Fortunately, there's both an indoor pool, and a campground nearby that let us use the showers. And a neighbor let us fill jugs at his house. "You use green beans as dried beans? That’s a first! What do they taste like?" Dried beans are basically beans that have been left to get mature. So they just taste like beans to me. They're not as pretty and fun as, say, Vermont Cranberry Beans, and the flavor isn't as specific as most dried bean varieties, and also they're not as big so they don't shell quite as easily. But they're great for a lazy person :) "I guess you cook when you travel. The security check at the airport must be interesting with all that produce in your bag. You don't have a frying pan in there too? [g]" A fry pan -- lol! Well, on road trips I have been known to travel with a salad spinner and Cuisinart :) Always have to have a kitchen. Or someone else's home cooking. Really dislike restaurant food. Self seeded veggies are wonderful. And yes, the ones I mentioned come out good, even if not exactly true to seed, it all tastes good. (though they seem to be true, as well) If you'd have to pay for hay or straw it doesn't seem worth it. Maybe ask a couple neighbors if you can have their grass clippings and/or leaves? (those who don't use herbicides) It sounds like the next few years hold some exciting experimentation for you! You'll have to report back and tell us how it goes. I'd love to hear how you do with fall lettuce and greens if you try them this year.

if I don't have green beans from the garden...occasionally I'll throw in a can of mushroom soup...I would dare do that to my freshly canned green beans.... Mary it must be nice to have fresh food at every meal...I wish I had the time or the love of cooking to do that...I guess without people like me...that aisle at the grocery store would be a thing of the past!

On days I work I try to eat 4 snack/meals a day. I usually eat an egg or small portion of leftovers for breakfast with coffee. I wake up between 5 and 5:30. Around 10:00 I have Greek Yogurt and sometimes a few nuts. Some days I don't get to do this, especially if I have a busy group of patients. Lunch is usually a frozen dinner. I'm so sick of frozen meals. I keep changing brands but they are all bad for you and don't taste good. I have been buying mostly organic stuff lately but most of it doesn't taste any better. I buy them for convenience. Sometimes I freeze meals I make at home and take them instead. My dinner/snack in the evenings has been those P3 snack packs with meat, cheese and nuts. Fast and easy and are good source of protein. I do sometimes bring another meal but sometimes I don't get a chance to eat it because we're too busy, one reason I started taking the P3 snacks instead. I just stated getting meals from Hello Fresh. I'm alone at home now and find myself eating out a lot because I'm tired of cooking the same old things and then having tons of leftovers that get frozen or thrown out. On days I don't work I usually eat 3 meals but sometimes I forget to eat a 3rd and may just snack on cheese and a little fruit or nuts. I do sometimes eat things not good for me. Like bagels and cream cheese but usually only eat half a bagel at a time. I also like Skinny Pop popcorn.

It varies. It used to be dictated by one sister because as she has children, any and all schedules MUST be convenient for them, (none of my other siblings are like this, they all have children and understand that they wont DIE if they are a little more hungry than usual at mealtime). My mother always complied because the rest of us are more flexible and it was easier, even though it ticked me off. And to make it worse, that sister and her family are always always always LATE, even when she picked the mealtime, and then she blames it on having 6 kids. Its a vicious cycle. Or it was. But, as all her kids are getting older, and admittedly, I have become more obstinate about it, it is more flexible.(They are still always late, by an hour or so) I remember growing up it was at 3 pm. Always. Why I am not sure. When i started cooking the meal,I was still living at home and therefore cooked the whole meal there. I could not (still cant) STAND people in the kitchen PICKING at things because they were hungry, and then when the meal was ready everyone was full. Now that i make most of the meal at my own home the day before, well, the meal is when i show up and finish it. So there. This year I am hoping my mother will agree that a 12-1 pm mealtime will be okay. I have to be at work at 5 am the next morning because someone is on vacation that week and i am to cover her shift that day. Day shifts are pretty rough on me, rougher than they have been in years past, and i find i need more rest beforehand than i used to to be useful. They live about 45 minutes away, and i will be there early to start the turkey and other things, So I am hoping to leave around 3, 4 at the latest, get home, and get into bed.Besides, I have always thought such a big meal should be eaten at midday, then the leftovers can be picked at later when everyone gets hungry again. The only obstacle would be the above mentioned sister, who will be bringing some sweet potato thing and corn casserole. Normally i cook everything. But no matter to me anyway. I have NO reservations about serving the meal at the time it was announced that it would be served,whether or not they and their dishes are there.. They can put a plate in the microwave to reheat it when they get there. And that system doesn't seem to bother them either. It used to. She really expected us to wait, all the food ready, for her to show up and put whatever in the oven and wait for it to be done to eat. Nope. She learned the hard way.