food

• add a tsp of honey to tomato-based soups to counteract the acidity and improve the flavor
• don't cut back on sugar when making ice cream. it inhibits the freezing process to get the texture right!
• to ripen an avocado, place it in a brown paper bag and roll the top shut. keep the bag at room temperature

remedies

• coconut water rehydrates (was even used in emergency situations in WWII where saline solution was not available)
• for minor cuts and scrapes, apply the inside coating, or skin, of the shell of a raw egg. its moist surface will adhere to the wound and ease the pain. it may also reduce the risk of scarring
• putting a cabbage leaf on minor burns aids in healing
• to cure a sinus headache, boil sprigs of lavender, peppermint, rosemary, thyme (alone or in combination), make a tent with a towel over your head, and inhale the steam
• to help relieve throat pain, mix 1 tbsp cider vinegar + 1 tbsp honey in 1 cup warm water

gardening

• never plant the house garden all at one time, but begin to plant peas in march and plant a few every 2 weeks until the 15th of june
• to determine the proportions of sand, silt, and clay in your soil, place a cup of soil in a 2-cup glass jar. fill with water, shake, and let it set. the sand will settle on the bottom, silt in the middle, and clay on top. organic matter will float
• to plant garlic, gently break apart a bulb into individual cloves. plant them 6 inches apart, leaving a foot between rows. cover with soil so that the tips are just below the surface. water only if surface is dry.

housekeeping

• fruit fly trap: 1/2 inch apple cider vinegar in a small jar, 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix
• to remove tomato stains from washable clothing, add 1 tbsp dish soap + 1 tbsp vinegar to 1 quart water in a pail. soak for 15 and then rinse and wash as usual.

other useful things

• a narrow room appears wider when the opposing short walls are darker than the long walls
• calculating (roughly and quickly) annual salary based on 40 hour work week: double hourly wage, add three zeros
• to use short-stem flowers in tall arrangements, insert the stems into drinking straws before placing in a vase

superstitions

• a black cat that boards a boat of its own free will is considered good luck
• bay leaves under your pillow bring good dreams
• expect a cold winter when:
  • bushes are full of berries
  • hornets build their nests near the ground
  • rabbits are fat in october and november
• if a piece of bread falls on the floor buttered side up, you will have a visitor
• it is good luck for the bride or groom to bring the family cat to the wedding
• it is good luck to have a full moon on a monday
• it is good luck to keep a jar of pennies in the kitchen
• the seventh day after a full moon is a good time for partners to meet and fall in love
• to ensure good luck, do not carry furniture into a new house until the salt and pepper are on the shelf
• to have a project prosper, start it during the new moon

facts

• before yeast was sold commercially, people collected wild yeasts from the air. potato water and flour were left at room temp covered with a porous cloth. bubbling indicated wild yeasts were feeding on the flour and fermenting
• burls, deformed growths on trees, are prized by woodworkers for their unusual grain patterns
• freezing rain is snow that melts in air, then freezes as it hits cold surfaces. sleet starts out the same way, but freezes before it hits the ground
• in october 1881, the great cobweb storm stretched along the shores of lake michigan
• when you open your eyes in a completely dark room, the color you see is called eigengrau