Heather Solos's Blog, page 37

I Can’t Do [x] Because [Y] or Reviewing a Book on Procrastination

Heather says

It’s a little weird to be asked to review a book on procrastination. The jokes nearly write themselves, right?

I can’t review the book on procrastination because I’m going to write my own book on procrastination, and I’ll start tomorrow.

Most of you are here for life skills of some sort, learning how to deal with things that you probably weren’t taught growing up. Perhaps someone did try to teach you, but maybe you weren’t ready to listen.

It doesn’t matter the cause, you’re here now.

I have alluded to, but not really said that at one time this community filled a void that I couldn’t even tell anyone existed? I was absolutely terrified that if you or anyone found out that I was miserable that you, all of you, would lose any shred of respect you had for me -not that I had any for myself- and I’d end up more alone and more miserable.

So I filled up my days writing here, taking care of my kids, and pretending everything was fine. Not necessarily picture perfect, but fine, thank you very much.

And pound by anxious pound I slipped away.

People who haven’t dealt with anxiety, think that it’s a knot in your stomach and worrying.

People who have can tell you sometimes it’s being stuck in the stall of a public bathroom, dripping sweat, hanging on to the handicap rail and begging God, “Please, just please don’t let me pass out, I can’t be found like this” while trying to keep your toddler from crawling on the floor of a bathroom.

Sometimes I’d come home at night from work and I’d shut the garage door and think about whether or not to turn off the car. I always found a reason to make myself get it together and go inside. (Those reasons are currently zipping up and down the stairs with nerf toys having the time of their loud little lives)

One morning I was getting my youngest out of her carseat, I put her on my hip, reached for a bag of groceries and my legs gave out.

They said, “No. You’re done.” On the floor of my garage, I knew I couldn’t fake it any more.

I was a basket case of stress that I couldn’t explain. I really wasn’t hungry much of the time and what little I did eat, to put it politely, exited quickly.  (Potassium is very important, trust me)

I didn’t even know how to tell my then husband. (That maybe should have been a clue, but denial is a funny thing).

I started going to see a therapist and I made myself a plan. I gave myself two years to change my life. After I was done emotionally vomiting over this poor lady,  I realized she had no valuable feedback and just went to work on my plan to change everything.

What does this have to do with procrastination, Heather? Why all the  stories are you just trying to put off the review?

No, I’m not. I just know what depression and anxiety look like and they aren’t pretty and procrastination and anxiety often go hand-in-hand.

 

I know how tiny tasks can be put off and the next thing you know these once little things are these massive –incomprehensibly so–  and it’s just too hard. So you find a distraction.  Maybe it was an oil change, or a haircut, or a dental appointment and weeks go by and these tiny tasks get bigger and when you have three young children those tasks pile up awfully fast.

I had a plan though and I carried it out. I made it happen one little step at a time.

After I moved out, I felt on top of the world. I had it made. I had a house for the kids and I, in a place where I wanted to live. I could have friends over and I began to feel less like a puppet going through the motions, like I was actually alive, and I was hungry again.

And then my world fell completely apart.

And while I had friends willing to help, and a therapist who was more than a sounding board, this was a pit I had to climb out of on my own.

I wish I had read: The More You Do The Better You Feel by David Parker long before any of this.

I knew that when I dug deep and made myself tackle a task that it was rarely as bad as it initially felt.

No one ever even yelled at me. (I am the stereotypical eldest child, overly responsible and terrified of authority figures)

I don’t necessarily identify with David Parker’s theories about why we procrastinate, but overall I did like his techniques for dealing with the habit.

Just like FLYLady doesn’t work for everyone David’s J.O.T. Method™ may feel like overkill to some of you. If you’re not seriously struggling with procrastination and avoidance, chances are this book wasn’t written for you.

And hey, that’s okay, some people like mayonnaise and I can’t wrap my brain around THAT.

While it may seem like this was an awful lot of writing to say, “Hey, if you are a procrastinator and it is severely affecting your life, order this book,” it was simply a chance to tell you that I get it, I’ve been there, and it’s going to be okay, but you are responsible for making the changes and taking those steps. If things are really bad, sometimes that first step is a call to a professional.

It doesn’t matter if you’re completely overwhelmed or feeling desperate, you aren’t alone.

                 

Cabbage Slaw with Lime, Honey, and Cilantro

Heather says

This ridiculously easy recipe is what I refer to as a ratio recipe. You can scale it up or down depending on how many or few you are serving.

 

 

: Lime and Cilantro Cabbage Slaw

: Great topping for tacos

1/2 head of green cabbage, sliced thinly or shredded 2 TBSP lime juice 1 tsp honey 1 TBSP fresh cilantro, chopped Whisk together the lime juice, honey, and cilantro. Toss the cabbage in the dressing and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the flavor to develop.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Refrigeration time: 1 hour(s) 

Diet tags: Gluten free, Raw

Culinary tradition: USA (Southwestern)

 

                 

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac, It’s All About the Urushiol

From Facebook:

How do you deal with poison oak, sumac, and ivy in general?

Scratchy in Santa Fe

Heather says:

If you come into contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac the most effective “treatment” is to immediately and thoroughly wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. All three of these plants (and interestingly their distant cousin the mango) have the same allergenic oil, urushiol. Interestingly, not everyone is allergic to urushiol. While I’m allergic to everything else Mother Nature throws at me, I’ve never had a case of poison ivy despite my years and years of rambling in the woods, but enough about me.

So the structure of urushiol looks a bit like this, with alkyl chain at the R in the image. An alkyl chain is simply a bunch of carbon atoms with hydrogen attached kind of like this C/C\C/C\CH3 (That’s about the best I can do in a standard text editor, just pretend you get it). That alkyl chain makes the urushiol molecule difficult to dissolve in water.

However your skin has oils and urushiol will gladly hang out in those oils, having a party, raising blisters and an ugly rash.

The urushiol can be spread through contact, if you have some on your arm and you scratch, you may get the urushiol under your finger nails which will then be spread to your face or wherever you decide to touch before you wash. (And gentlemen, I’ve heard plenty of embarrassing stories about men not washing their hands thoroughly and -how do we put this delicately- spreading the fun to less public body parts and later assuming they have other issues that require a visit to the county health department.)

Despite the persistent old wives tale, you cannot spread poison ivy from the rash itself, UNLESS, that rash never got washed and still has urushiol. Got it?

If you don’t wash the oil promptly your skin may absorb the urushiol; which, as you can imagine may intensify your reaction. Some people even have systemic (whole body) reactions to poison ivy and will break out in rashes, even in places that have not had contact with the irritant.

Keep in mind that animals that have come in contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac may spread the urushiol on their fur. If you’re especially sensitive, try to keep animals off of the furniture (especially beds) and bathe them thoroughly.

When removing poison ivy, sumac, or oak from your property, your best defense is to wear long pants, long sleeves, and gloves. Take this clothing and immediately place it in the washer – check out How to Remove Poison Ivy from Clothing, and wash your hands thoroughly. That’s it. There’s no magic trick. Sure there are plenty of products out there that claim to work especially well, but that’s mostly marketing. Wash the area with plain old soap or dish detergent (for hand washing, not the stuff you put in your dishwasher) and then treat the rash itself with your favorite OTC topical ointment.

Oh and a very important side note: Never burn poison ivy. That rash you get on your skin? It’s nothing compared to a potential reaction in the lungs.

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

                CommentsJewel weed is good at fixing poison ivy. Just smash up the weed ... by NancySon of Joseph M Ott, Thank you for sharing your story and ... by StephenI think this is one of the most significant information for ... by get rif of celluliteI was interested in the chemical structure which brought me ... by Son of Joseph M OttIf you're not sure if you have poison ivy in your yard, take a ... by Perry at ScottsPlus 5 more...   

Have a Family of Bookworms? Try Amazon Family Library

Heather says

A couple of years ago I shared how to download audio books from your local library for free. If you liked that, I think you’ll dig today’s info.

I use Amazon for a lot of things, it’s also a small source of revenue – if I link to something here and someone makes a purchase through that link I get a percentage of that sale. It’s something pretty common on the web and it’s called an affiliate link. If I mention a product I use or like, it makes sense to do this as it doesn’t cost the purchaser any extra. In theory it is possible to be shady when using affiliate links, but I only add the link if it is relevant. I’m not going to try to make you buy a $37 ebook on how to start an aquaponic farm (I saw that yesterday), but I will link to baking soda if it’s in a recipe and sometimes I’ll even plug my own book.  (If I don’t, who will?)

That revenue this brings in isn’t huge and mostly feeds my book addiction and occasional binges on tv shows. I do love Amazon Prime‘s free shipping which keeps me from having to brave Walmart or Target, because, well, people. . .

If I can avoid this, I will.

The kids are taking after me in the read everything they get their hands on department and while I generally don’t mind visiting the used bookstore, I am really beginning to appreciate the ease of the Kindle and free Kindle apps to feed their voracious literary appetites. If you haven’t heard of Bookbub, go check it out, I’ll be here when you get back.  (That is not an example of an affiliate link, it’s just a really cool way to find low cost and free books through publisher promotions.)

If you’re a geek like me, you may find over the years you’ve had quite a few phones, tablets, and apps attached to your Amazon Kindle account. Yesterday I was trying to figure out how to get rid of some of the devices I’ve broken and or sold over the years so I can get the default download to be my current device. It’s kind of a pain, but you can find it under My Account in the Digital Content section.

While I was poking aound I noticed something called Amazon Family Library, being curious I looked into it. It turns out you can more easily share content with family members AND this also gives you better control over what you’re giving your children access, too. The younger two have Kindle Apps on their Nabi Tablets and the oldest one has my old Kindle.

I’m still figuring out all the ins and outs of managing the multiple devices, but I thought you might want to hear about it.

I try really hard to be aware of what they are exposed to, my mom had no idea how advanced my reading abilities were as a small child until after I’d read the copy of Stephen King’s It she’d left lying around when I was 7. Oops.

Oh and Amazon Prime includes the Kindle Lending library which lets you borrow books marked Prime for free. *winning*

Of course, like the free audio book rentals, I could just be one of the last to know.

If not, enjoy!

                CommentsThank you, thank you, thank you for showing where to take off ... by LauraI wish I had found it before I bought Ray a physical copy of ... by Heather SolosThis is great! Now that my kids both have their tablets, we ... by Tameka   

Home Organization: A Home-Ec 101 Guide

When I think of my dream home it is perfectly organized from floor to ceiling, basement drain to roof vent. Real life organization is a bit different than my dream. I found this quote by Christina Scalise that sums up my goal for organization: “Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life.” Following are some articles with tips to help you with that type of home organization; just click the title of the one that you want to read more about.

Avoid The Just-Walked-In-The-House Clutter

How to avoid the buildup of shoes, coats, mail, etc. from when you walk in the door. I think most people struggle with this, since it’s really easy just to toss down your stuff and sack out in a chair the second you get home.

Cleaning Up With Preschoolers

I have a 3 year old girl who refuses to clean up her messes and because I don’t like to punish her too hard, I do it for her, but lately my house is so cluttered with dirty laundry, her toys, and most of my husbands clean jeans, that I feel like I’m going to scream because of the mess.

Customizing The Chore Routine

I love your site and I want to love this chore list, but I don’t know how to make it work for our family. We have a 6 month old, a toddler, and two hairy cats. I work part time and have two days during the week to do chores. Can you suggest a 4 day chore chart and/or how to get chores done with two young children.

Dealing With Too Much Stuff

Our home is full of stuff that needs to go.  It is 25 years of what ever, it’s neatly stored and organized. The house is telling me do not bring anything else home. There isn’t any place to put it.

Determining Your Home Management Style

Within your own household, you and your significant other will have different management styles as well. Let’s look at a few types of management styles and what works best together.

Get Clothing Clutter Under Control

I find my bedroom becoming cluttered very quickly with clothes that are “too clean to wash” yet “not clean enough to put away”.  I didn’t want to spend more time on laundry than I had to. I’d wear clothes until they were visibly dirty, overly wrinkled, or they became… umm… odiferous.

How to Curb Clutter

About as close to a magic pill as a person can find.

How to Divide Chores Evenly

My husband and I both grew up in homes where the father worked, and the mother largely stayed home and attended to all of the household duties. We both work, and sometimes have a hard time agreeing on who should be doing which chores, how often, and how well.

How To Reduce Paper Clutter

There are stacks of paper all over my house. Do you have any suggestions on how I can better organize this mess?

Keeping Up With Receipts: Keep Your Tax Accountant Happy

Many people throw their receipts in a shoebox and at the end of the year, they have a tangled mess to either hand to their tax accountant or go through themselves when they’re doing their own taxes. This method not only wastes time, but potentially can waste money OR get you in trouble with the IRS by either deducting too little or too much.

Organized, Clean, Sanitary, Sterile: Defining the Terms

It dawned on me last night that after nearly three years of posting I have never described the difference between: clean, organized, sanitary, and sterile. Well hang on because it isn’t that difficult.

Organization Is Fundamental

In which Ivy loses very important directions and has to wing it, and it all could have been avoided by keeping all her stuff in one neat place instead of keeping her stuff flung all over the house.

Review of Clutter Rehab by Laura Wittman

It’s a a very quick read, ringing in just over a hundred pages and seems like it would be a great thinking-of-you type gift.

The Secret To A Clean House

Dear Home Ec 101, How do you keep a clean house?

Signed, N00b in Newford

What Babies Don’t Need

All the baby books and sites have these huge lists of things it says we “need” but what do we realistically need? What are the must have items and what kind of quantities do we really need?

Yet Another Reason To Declutter

It’s strengthening my resolve to not just declutter the main house, but also my garage, attic, and all the hidden clutter I own.

Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com .

Click the picture for more cleaning help!

Click the picture for more tips!

                 

It’s Time Again for Hurricane 101

Heather says:

June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season. For those of us on the East and Gulf Coasts, we know this means anxious meteorologists glorifying every thunderstorm that appears in the oceans. Although the public tends to become jaded with media saturation, there is no reason to get caught with your pants down.

Hurricane Hugo was the landmark event of my childhood. Thankfully my family made it through safely with relatively little damage. I remember not only the storm, but the camaraderie that developed during the clean up. Everyone in my neighborhood pitched in, adults cleared downed trees and grilled defrosting meals. Older kids babysat and entertained the younger ones so the adults could work unhindered. I was only eleven, so my memories consist mostly of the awesome forts we were able to build with scavenged materials. I was too young to understand what a nightmare filing for damages or dealing with FEMA could be.

Here are some tips to be sure you and your family are safe should a storm make landfall. (Many of these apply to those living near fault lines or in tornado country who don’t have the benefit of prior warning.)

Check your insurance coverage. Do you have adequate protection from both wind and water? Are they with the same or competing companies? Keep these documents in a safe, dry place and remember to bring them along if you must evacuate. Have enough food and clean water for each family member to last at least 72 hours. One gallon of water per person per day. As long as water is still flowing it can be used after boiling. 2 drops of unscented chlorine bleach purifies one quart of water.  This is a last resort if boiling is not an option.  Let any particles settle out, filter using coffee filters, paper towels or a cloth, then add the bleach, stir or shake well, and allow to sit for 30 minutes.  Your bleach must be at full strength, be sure to have a new, unopened bottle in your kit, rotate for a new one every three months. Food should be ready to eat or only require minimal preparation. Please don’t forget to have a manual can opener on hand. You may end up the most popular person on your block. Candles, batteries, flashlights, and a crank or battery operated radio are a must. Keep your gas tank filled at least half way at all times. Keep an emergency cash supply on hand, as ATMs do not work without power. Have an evacuation plan. Shelters are only for those in the most dire need, those who have no where else to go. Take identification and proof of residency with you. If an area is badly damaged law enforcement will restrict access to people trying to return. Have a plan for Fido and Fluffy as well. Most shelters do not take pets, know what you are going to do before a warning has been announced. As a pet owner this is an important responsibility that is frequently overlooked. Have a well stocked first-aid kit. Keep all prescription medications filled and take them with you, if you must leave. Have sturdy work gloves.  Keep an extra pair with your emergency kit. Have sturdy shoes, you don’t need to be nailing a tarp to your roof in flip flops. Except for emergencies, stay put after a storm. Emergency personnel have enough to deal with: restoring utilities and rescuing those who were injured in the storm. Don’t add to their workload. Curfews may be established. Obey all law enforcement personnel. People under severe stress may act erratically. Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly. Remember snakes and other wildlife may become disoriented after a storm. Watch where you step and never put your hands where you cannot see when removing storm debris. If you live in a rural area, learn how to safely operate a chainsaw. This goes for you ladies, too. Downed limbs are pretty much a given. STAY AWAY from  power lines. Own one, keep it in good condition, and have gasoline, oil,  and chain oil on hand. Have plenty of  propane or charcoal for your grill. I’ve brewed coffee using a grill in the past. My neighbors loved me for it. NEVER use a grill indoors. The flames produce deadly, odorless carbon monoxide. If you have to board your windows, make sure you already have the plywood on hand. It can be reused each year. Have a couple of tarps ready, they can be used to temporarily cover a broken window or a hole in the roof until more permanent repairs can be made. Remember cell towers may be damaged in a strong storm and communication may be spotty or non-existent for a while.

And finally, if you’re watching a storm with potential to become a threat and you’re not in an evacuation zone,  it’s time to check and make sure everything is ready.

Go ahead and get the laundry caught up, find the cooler, check the generator –if you have one–, swap the stored gasoline if you have / need that.  Make ice if your freezer isn’t full.

A full freezer will stay at temperature for 48 hours, only 24 if it’s only half full.

If the kids have electronics, go ahead and make sure they are fully charged, be ready to ration their use.

If a storm does look like it will hit, let the people who haven’t thought ahead deal with each other in those last few hours. You’re ready; stay home, safe and dry, and make your own version of Harriet McLeod’s Go Away Cookies.

And while the drama is what the media plays on, remember it’s the little, preventable accidents that are most common.

Here is hoping for a quiet season!

                CommentsGreat gudie. As a Katrina survivor, I can atest to the ... by Life HammerI am fortunate with where I live that it would require the ... by JayMonsterI grew up in the east, and I remember Hugo too. That and ... by Frugal Babe   

Menu Monday Memorial Day 2015

Heather says

It’s Memorial Day once again.

Many of you will be celebrating with picnics and cookouts. If you haven’t figured out what to pack yet, here’s a list of picnic possibilities  and if you’re looking to easily feed a crowd Lowcountry Boil is always a good option. Don’t forget as host / hostess of an event it’s your job to make sure food safety guidelines are observed, as no one wants to spend tonight curled up on their bathroom floor.

I’m currently trying really hard to relax. I’m not good at relaxing, I find it takes a lot of effort and restraint and here I am breaking my promise to not work this weekend. (Home Ec 101 never really feels like work anyhow, so don’t tattle, please.) Photo credit: Ray Bergman

Last night’s dinner was a quick, use lots of vegetables because more are coming, dinner. I made Easy Foil Veggies with a splash of balsamic in the packets,  and marinated a chuck steak in balsamic, olive oil, and Chef Prudhomme’s Redfish Magic. I the vegetables got a headstart on the grill. After the steak was flipped, I topped it with blue cheese. Not too bad for a let’s use what we have kind of meal.

While it is a holiday, people around here are still going to expect to be fed throughout the week, so here’s this week’s Menu Monday.

Monday – Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa, and an experiment – kohlrabi and turnip slaw
Tuesday – Grilled Vegetable Packets with Grilled Hot Italian Sausage
Wednesday – Buffalo Chicken Tacos with radish slaw (more were in the CSA and more are predicted for this week, too)
Thursday -Vegetable Fajitas, refried beans, spanish rice, guacamole (recipe to come this week)
Friday – Lentil Burgers (the kids devoured them last week, I modified them to make them wheat-free, I’ll post that later too), kohlrabi slices with ranch dressing

Saturday / Sunday are to be determined based on produce and protein on sale this week.

What are you making this week? Did you try anything new?

                 

Stupidly Simple: Radish Slaw Recipe

Heather says:

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was finally able to take advantage of our local CSA. If you’ve never participated in a CSA, it’s a program where you pay a farm a predetermined amount at the beginning of the growing season. The farm then divides up the produce harvested between those who have contributed. Some CSAs also require a labor or time investment as part of the share, the one I belong to does not.

Joining a CSA isn’t a sure thing, if the crop is wiped out in a hailstorm or the weather just isn’t conducive to a productive year, you are susceptible to the same risk as the farmer. While I am a big advocate for supporting the local economy, a CSA may not be for you, if you are a super tight budget and having to buy vegetables after investing in a CSA would be a hardship.

There’s a little bit of adventure involved in being a part of the CSA, while you may have a good idea of what will be included in your share, sometimes some produce you normally wouldn’t buy shows up. I like the challenge. Not everyone likes to play Iron Chef though, so I’ll gladly do it for you.

This week’s challenge vegetable? Radishes. I don’t mind radishes, but I’m not the person who sits there and thinks, Gee a radish would really hit the spot.

So, when a bunch of radishes were included in my share I tried to think of how I could convince everyone else to eat them, since they weren’t my go to vegetable for spring side dishes.

Everyone in this household loves tacos, if I can put it in a taco, I guarantee that there will be no complaints. When I make fish tacos, I use a ridiculously easy cabbage slaw. I decided to experiment and see if this technique would work for radishes, which have a significant bitter bite. The acidity of the lime juice and the sweetness of the honey mellow out the bitter to a pleasant heat and crunch that is an excellent taco condiment and I bet it’d be good on a Southwestern wrap or burger, too.

Enjoy.

: Radish Slaw

: Easy condiment for tacos, wraps, and burgers

  1 small bunch of radishes, cut into matchsticks (think thin strips) 2 TBSP lime juice 1 1/2 tsp honey 1 TBSP chopped cilantro Whisk the lime juice, honey, and cilantro together. Toss with the radishes. Allow to marinate for at least one hour in the refrigerator. Re-toss before serving

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Cooking time: 1 hour refrigeration

Number of servings (yield): 6 

 

                CommentsI have. I'm a huge fan of roasted vegetables in general, ... by Heather SolosHave you tried roasting radishes? They mellow out nicely. by Steph   

Help! The Laundry Smells Like Rotten Eggs

Dear Home-Ec 101,

I followed all of the advice in your how to deal with stubborn body odor in laundry article and my clothes still stink. There’s sort of a rotten egg odor and nothing I do gets rid of it.

How do I get rid of this sulfur smell in my laundry?

Signed,

Sick of the Stink in Stinesville

Heather says

Did you know that scent is one of the most powerful memory triggers? When I was a little girl, I went to Girl Scout Camp (Camp Loco for you South Carolinians) and they had a serious sulfur issue in the groundwater. It was so bad that neither Kool-Aid nor sweet tea could cover that eggy taste. It’s been –well, we won’t say how many years– a long time and the slightest whiff of sulfur takes me to that hot, sweaty summer.

Sulfur odor in well water has two potential sources and it takes a little bit of household detective work to determine which is the likely culprit. In both cases, Hydrogen Sulfide is the offending chemical, but how it gets into your water determines the solution to removing the offensive odor.

1.  Sulphate reducing bacteria:  H2S is often the result of bacteria doing their bacterial thing and processing organic matter into waste.

2. Hydrogen sulfide gas: If your well is in shale or sandstone hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in the water itself is possible. You may notice other symptoms of this issue around your house – corrosion of your pipes and silverware that quickly turns black for example.

Unfortunately this sulfur compound, as you have noticed, can build up on your clothing. In order to solve this issue you’ll need to address the actual cause or you’ll quickly understand the plight of Sisyphus. I contacted the reader and asked if the smell was present in only the hot water or in the cold water, too. In her case, the odor is found in both, which was a little disheartening as this hot water only has the simplest fix.

If sulphate reducing bacteria has colonized only the water heater, it is possible to kill it by raising the temperature of your water to more than 140°F for 48 hours.

If you choose to attempt this fix, please be careful if you have an elderly relative or young child in the home. Water over 140°F can cause scalding and extra care should be taken.

If the odor returns, bacteria is likely colonizing the magnesium and aluminum anode rod in the water heater. You can try replacing it with an aluminum-zinc rod -go ahead and flush your water heater at this time. If you also utilize a water softener in your home, you’ll find that this tactic likely won’t be effective. The salts that condition the water negate the effect of using zinc instead. Isn’t chemistry fun?

Call your county extension office and ask if hydrogen sulphide gas is an issue for groundwater in your area. If indeed this is the case, you should consider treating the water before it comes into your home. Unfortunately there isn’t a simple solution and requires either aeration or chlorination of the water at a point between the well and your home. The option you choose depends on your budget and longterm plans.

If hydrogen sulfide gas is not of local concern, again it’s probably sulphate reducing bacteria, only this time it has colonized your well and pipes rather than just the water heater.

Thankfully sulphate reducing bacteria in your well can be treated with household bleach. Here is a guide that gives step-by-step instructions to determine how much bleach is needed based on the depth and size of your well and how to shock the well and your pipes.

Before starting, know that you will not be able to use your water supply for 12 – 24 hours and you should plan accordingly. Remember this includes flushing the toilets! If you choose to remain in the home during the time of the shock you can use buckets of water filled before the shock to flush your toilet. If you are also on a septic system you must use care when flushing the bleach from your pipes, you don’t want to overwhelm your septic tank. Too much chlorinated water can kill off the good bacteria in your septic system and cause it to not process the waste. Collect the shocked water in buckets and dispose of it anywhere but down the drain.

If the sulfur smell begins to return shortly after shocking your well, it is definitely time to have your well inspected. Bacteria may be entering your well through cracks or your well may need to be moved to a better location.

Once you eliminate the hydrogen sulfide from your water source normal laundering will remove the rotten egg smell from your clothing. It may take a couple of washes to completely eliminate the odor, but you’ll get there.

I’m sorry there wasn’t a just use vinegar or borax style answer to the problem.

Best of luck!

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com

                 

Back to Life, Back to the Menu Plan

Heather says:

Back to life, back to reality, not the whole song, just that one line is on repeat in my head. In the last 45 days I’ve been all over the country attending work events, conferences, meeting bloggers for my day job, and visiting family. While I had some fantastic meals (and wine) on these work trips, I am ready to eat a bit healthier. Currently in the fridge I have almost half a box of produce to use up and more to pick up tomorrow.

Last night I made a sausage and squash soup, it was quite possibly the ugliest thing I have ever eaten, but it tasted good. I am just glad that everyone trusted me to just try it, don’t look at it. I am quite certain that soup will be the butt of jokes for years to come.

It happens.

After a long couple of years, I’m finally in a place where I have good lighting, a nice kitchen set-up, and I have some mental bandwidth to spare. I’m excited to break out my camera and seriously begin shooting pictures again. As I’m able, these recipes will be linked to the versions I use for this site. In the interim, I’m linking to my starting points.

Monday -Squash and Zucchini Carbonara: Place holder Carbonara Sauce Recipe  I’ll be tossing the sauce with the sauteed vegetables Tuesday – Chicken tacos in lettuce wraps with a radish slaw – lime, honey, and cilantro in place of the normal shredded lettuce Wednesday – Lentil burgers with tzatziki, vegetables marinated in homemade Italian dressing Thursday – Vegetable fajitas – don’t tell the kids, I’m just not going to add any meat – guacamole  Friday – Hamburgers and sweet potato fries Saturday – Some kind of grilled meat on skewers, over rice, with lots of vegetables… I’ll get it figured out Sunday – Clean Out Refrigerator Night

What are you having this week?

Do you need a printable to start planning your menu?

Have you tried anything new lately? How did it turn out? More interestingly, have you had any failures? What did you learn?

Do I ever stop asking questions?

Why would I?