Yeps lots of fav foods too

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Do you try to buy them wherever possible, or only if you happen to pick them up in error? If you intentionally buy them, why? Do they taste better, are they better for you, do you believe you're helping the environment?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/04/13/cl.organics/index.html

Organic vs. conventional: What do experts say?

By Amy Spindler
CookingLight.com

The organic market is growing at a steady pace of nearly 20 percent annually, and that translates into organic alternatives in nearly every grocery aisle -- from snack foods to frozen meals to baked goods. "Everyone wants to be healthy and these foods convey an aura of health," says Marion Nestle, Ph.D., professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University and author of "What to Eat." Here, experts compare some of the benefits and drawbacks of going organic.

Are organic products more nutritious?
A few small studies have shown that some organic foods contain higher nutrient levels than conventional ones. For example, a recent study showed that organic ketchup had 57 percent more of the antioxidant lycopene than regular ketchup. But the wholesale claim that organics are more nutritious than conventional is ahead of the science. "More research is needed before it can be stated that organic foods provide more nutritional value," says Connie Diekman, M.Ed., R.D., director of university nutrition at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Organic foods may have other benefits, though. Charles Benbrook, Ph.D., chief scientist at The Organic Center, asserts that some organic products are less processed, which means they may contain fewer chemically adulterated ingredients (think hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives).

Bottom line: "Read labels and look at each product in its own right," Benbrook says. An organic potato chip may contain as many calories and saturated fat grams as a conventional chip. "The price premiums associated with processed organic food are not as great as the premiums charged for organic whole foods," Benbrook says.

Are organic products healthier for the environment?
What's best for the environment is hotly debated among experts. "There is no scientifically accepted evidence that organic foods are better for the environment. Organic production allows natural pesticides, which can be toxic to humans and wildlife," says Alan McHughen, Ph.D., professor of botany and plant sciences at the University of California, Riverside. Organic fertilizers may also contain harmful bacteria, such as E. coli. Plus, organic farming yields only 75 to 90 percent of the crop of conventional systems, meaning that more land must be planted in order to have an equal return.

Organic advocates counter that chemicals used in conventional farming spread far beyond the fields where they are applied and have unintended consequences. "Synthetic pesticides have been linked to developmental and neurological problems," Benbrook says. "Organics eliminate synthetic pesticides and the damage they do to farmers, land, and drinking water."

Organic regulations also prohibit the use of genetic modification -- another thorny issue with as-yet unclear implications for the environment.

Bottom line: Focus on foods' benefit to your immediate environmen -- i.e. your body -- first. "A good diet means variety, balance, and moderation, regardless of the farming method that produced the food," McHughen says.

that I've made for over 30 years....Hayseed, wish you lived closer, I'd bring you over a batch of stuffed peppers. They probably wouldn't be as good as your mom's though.

Cat

Satisfy cheeseburger lovers with an easy-bake version you can whip up in minutes with Bisquick� mix.

Prep Time:20 min

Start to Finish:

Makes:16 to 20 servings

9 Ratings
5 Reviews
Read Reviews
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1 1/2	lb (at least 80%) ground beef
1 1/4	cups chopped onions (about 2 large)
1	can (10 3/4 oz) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 1/4	cups Green Giant� frozen mixed vegetables, if desired
1/2	cup milk
2 1/3	cups Original Bisquick� mix
2/3	cup water
1 1/3	cups shredded Cheddar cheese (about 5 oz)

1.	Heat oven to 375�F. Generously spray bottom and sides of 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. In 12-inch skillet, cook beef and onions over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in soup, vegetables and milk.
2.	In large bowl, stir Bisquick mix and water until moistened. Spread evenly in pan. Spread beef mixture over batter. Sprinkle with cheese.
3.	Bake uncovered 35 minutes.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Do not add cheese before baking. Bake 35 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; bake about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

I've got 1 room that turned into a storage room and every week I tell myself I have to get in there and straighten it out. I open the door, look around and close the door, and find something else to do.

I don't have any closets in my house and it drives me nuts. No place to hang coats, etc. when coming in from outside. They get slung over the chair that nobody sits in by the door.

We have 2 sheds and a 1 car 'tent' garage. Hubby keeps half his stuff in the tent garage and shed, I keep some of my stuff in the shed and mom's stuff is in the other shed. The first shed was built when we were moving from the old house, needed some place to go with it until we got in the new place, but it's still there!!!! I can't get to it because of hubby's snow blower and other quipment. I probably have some antiques in there by now.

Mom died 7 years ago and I still haven't looked to see what's in her shed. I just don't have time.

I love to be organized, but when I organized my home the last time, I couldn't find anything!!!

1. How old is the first house? The one with the sewing room and the carpet coming up?

3. Have the rest of the houses in your neighborhood appreciated 66% in the last five years? (from $75,000 to $125,000)

Your husband has a good idea about putting the money in savings for six months to make sure you can afford to pay a mortgage that is twice what you are paying now. And after six months, you will have $1800 more to put down on the house.

This is strictly personal experience - but last summer we moved from a 25-year-old house to a brand new one. We lived in the 25yo house for 12 years, and the money we spent remodeling and updating (+ original price) it would have bought us a brand new house of the same size. So I would say go for the newer house if it comes to a choice. Older houses can be a LOT of work.

OTOH, you say your husband likes woodworking. If you're willing to live in a house that is in a perpetual state of remodeling...go for it!

about angels, too. I have never "seen" angels, but I have often seen them at work. I thank the Lord for providing protection through them. Whenever I have a "near-miss" I thank the Lord.

My husband told me once when he was trying to change lanes, the steering wheel pulled itself right back so he couldn't. There was a car in his blind spot!

I remember once one of my kids running down the sidewalk and fell. From where I stood it looked like he cracked his head on the step in front of him. I cringed, but when I got to him he was fine. I just know an angel put his hand between the step and his precious head.

My mom was driving one day and didn't see that the intersection was icy. She tried to stop but started sliding. She slid into the path of an oncoming car. She closed her eyes and braced for impact but...nothing. She opened her eyes and the car was past her. She said there was no way he could have missed her.

Demons are fallen angels. They chose to worship Satan. They exist to torment and cause people anguish. Angels exist to praise God and they also provide divine intervention and protection for people.

You've got a number of issues. The biting and scratching is all part and parcel of being a 4-5 month old kitten. Get lots of toys - some of mine like small catnip toys, others like the small fur mice, and anything that rattles is usually good fun. I also have a small stuffed bear that my mom gave to one of my cats when he was a kitten - she rubbed catnip all over it - and he's over a year old now and he still snuggles with that bear and suckles on it. You might try something like that to give her some comfort.

As to the inappropriate urination, that could be a number of things. You need to take her back to the vet and make sure there are no urinary tract, bladder, kidney or thyroid issues. Many times that can make a cat go someplace other than the litter box. Make sure that the box is someplace she can get to really easily. You might also make sure that it's in a quiet corner. Sometimes cats don't like it if they feel like they're in a main traffic pattern. Clean the box every day, if you don't already. I sometimes get lax on mine and that's when my cats go someplace they shouldn't.

You might also try changing the litter. I use a scoopable and I tried to change to something that was biodegradeable and it was a disaster. The cats hated it and I had huge messes to clean up. There is one you can get at PetSmart called Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract Litter. They have a Kitten Attract formula. I've used it a little bit and the cats LOVE it. The first night I put it in some of the boxes, one of the cats jumped in and started digging like he was digging for gold. Then he just sat there in the box and wouldn't let any of the other cats in it. Fortunately I have a lot of other boxes. It's a little more expensive than the regular Tidy Cat scoopable litter that I use and I have a lot of boxes, so I can't use it all the time, but that would be worth a try.

Febreze works really well for getting out odors. One of the cats occasionally would urinate on my bed and it gets out all the smell. She did it to my new 6 month old Tempur-Pedic mattress too. I could have killed her. She hadn't done it in so long I thought I was safe getting a new mattress. Get a really heavy duty mattress cover, too - that will help in case she does it again so there's no seep through to the mattress.

You might also try Bitter Apple spray. You can get it at PetSmart as well. That should work to keep her away from places you don't want her to go. A former co-worker told me that she took cut lemons and rubbed the juice on plants and her kitten hated it. Cats don't like citrus smell at all.