See Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy for food porn at its finest. The descriptions of the food that Almanzo eats as a young boy on a successful farm in New York State are mouthwateringly detailed.

I have to have donuts when I read that book. It is mouthwatering. I always imagined Laura trying to get Almanzo to tell her about his childhood, and all he could remember was the food. There is also an interview that Rose Wilder Lane did with her father that shows what a man of few words he is-- almost every answer he gave, even to questions that asked for descriptions-- was one or two words.

Hubby was wondering how much of an organic crop is lost to parasites and such and how it compares to current practices.

Done correctly, not that much.

Which "she?"

Oh, Alice Waters.

The whole segment just reminded me of a ridiculous conversation my sister had with a friend about the "simple life" movement. This woman was going on and on about getting back to basics (in that "I have a lot of money" way of course) and my sister just finally said "My sister does that. It's called being poor."

Of course, after reading Gourmet Food Nation, I was pre-disposed to dislike Alice Waters. She does not come off well at all in that book.

Skipping the interesting food convo...which I will go read now to say that I got to see Sparky, her wonderful DH, the prodigal Sass AND the bump at the doggy lama workshop on Saturday. Thanks for coming guys! It's always great to see you.

Hey, Sparky, did you notice that mixed puppy next to you biting her person? My friend, K, with the shih tzus, kept shooting me significant looks, but since the dog's backside was to me, I didn't notice. Lordy, I hope that woman calls me. Having your beloved draw non-consentual blood is so not on.

Battling lack of sleep and a tedius uti today. Blech.

I didn't know regular yogurt had HFCS in it! What the hell, Yoplait. I am trying out this Stonyfield Farm organic yogurt stuff. There is fruit on the bottom. I am trying to mix it up so it looks pink.

There is also an interview that Rose Wilder Lane did with her father that shows what a man of few words he is

I wonder if that's online somewhere? I remember reading a quote from Almanzo where he says (in very few words) how disappointed he was with the way his life turned out--maybe that came from that interview. If you think about it, he really did end up not nearly the successful man he thought he'd be, especially if he based his adult plans on his father's model. No sons surviving past the first few weeks, only the one daughter, his first farm fails in South Dakota and his house burns down, he is permanently crippled by diptheria, the attempt to farm in Florida fails, he and his family have to live with his inlaws while he earns money doing day jobs to save for another farm in Missouri, which takes decades to become successful, only to have his life savings wiped out in the 1929 crash after his daughter talks him into investing it all. It's only his wife's late-in-life literary success that gives them anything to retire on.

Having your beloved draw non-consentual blood is so not on.

I kinda love that in this forum you have to specify non-consensual.

Everything has HFCS in it. Bread. Tomato sauce. Salad dressings, ketchup, mayo. Canned beans.

I try to avoid it when I can. We go to the farmer's market when it's open. I'm trying to cook more good stuff. Those are changes I can make because we have money and I work at home.

But yeah, if I had no disposable income, no car, no farmer's market, and no grocery store in walking distance, I'd probably get pretty grumpy at someone telling me that I should change my lifestyle.

Clearly, we all need to go beat up the HFCS makers.

The whole segment just reminded me of a ridiculous conversation my sister had with a friend about the "simple life" movement. This woman was going on and on about getting back to basics (in that "I have a lot of money" way of course) and my sister just finally said "My sister does that. It's called being poor."

Oh, like the way I always laugh about the "country antiques" I see in the fancy schmancy decorating magazines and I remember how eager my country neighbors were to pawn off that old battered table with the chipped paint and the wobbly legs to the city folk.

Of course, then I wonder just how old that wobbly table with the turned legs is that everyone says, "Oh, Grandma had that, I think her grandma had it," and no one thinks to wonder that under all the old paint and dog-chews might be something grand.

What the hell, Yoplait.

For some reason this phrase is cracking me up. I'm imagining using it in any situation where I would say "what the hell," and I think the added "Yoplait" gives it a piquant charm.

(Also, Yoplait's custard-style yogurt is my favorite, and the HFCS thing drives me nuts since I love the yogurt so.)