Those little things that make life so good......

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Good Morning,

Just fixed my 2nd cup of coffee of the day and was struck by how important my little ritual is to making my morning "nice". I use those little Melitta 2 cup cones which you pour boiling water through and make 1 cup at a time - superb taste.

I responded as an EMT one time to a home where the wife had woke to find her husband dead next to her, probably heart attack.

While we waited for the coroner I tried to stay close and just visit with her. She kept asking if she could get us coffee or tea, at first we declined but then I realized she needed something to do. I joined her in the kitchen and watched her make tea the english way - you know, with the strainer and loose tea, etc. She smiled and said it was these simple silly things that bring us back to ground and comfort us when everything gets crazy. I will always remember her and I will always keep a big supply of whole beans and my silly little coffee filters.

-- Kristi (securx@Succeed.net), April 20, 1999

Answers

Nice thoughts, Kristi. I think just about everyone on this forum is stashing coffee and/or tea, so we can all relate. Have to ask: do you have a hand-grinder for the beans? And how about one of those permanent filters instead of paper ones?

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 20, 1999.

You can make your own permanent filter from cheesecloth, wash it and reuse it. Make several and sell them for those not far-sighted enough to buy cheesecloth ;-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), April 20, 1999.

Tricia!

I think that is the best "tip" I've picked up in the entire 1 1/2 yrs I've been surfing for Y2K stuff!

THANX!!!!!

-- Sheila (sross@bconnex.net), April 20, 1999.


This site has a re-usable (stainless steel) coffee filter, as well as other interesting offbeat products (lots of 'em sold out!)

I just ordered the coffee filter. Have never used one of these, so can't speak from experience.

http://www .webcom.com/ecostore/bargainbasement1.html

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), April 20, 1999.


Cool link Debbie!

That site also has something I hadn't thought of. Many people are planning to have SOMETHING so they can generate a little power now and then -- solar power, bicycle-power, for whatever reason. That site sells 'compact fluorescent' bulbs that in their words, last up to 13 times longer than ordinary incandescents and save up to 75% on energy. They fit into existing sockets. If I was generating power during the day, for example so I could give my chickens a few hours of light at night (or myself for that matter!), surely the power consumption of my bulbs and appliances would be the first major concern.

PJ in TX

-- PJ Gaenir (fire@firedocs.com), April 21, 1999.



PJ. I have some of those fluorescent bulbs. They're now made to give out a much softer light, almost natural, as opposed to the harsh light we're familiar with. Newer bulbs can also fit into small light fixtures, including our desk lamps. In addition to the cost savings, there are two other important advantages: they don't use as many watts as a regular incandescent, hence essential if you're using solar panels; and you don't have to change the damn things so often!

Could lead to a whole new sub-genre of lightbulb jokes.

-- Bright Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 21, 1999.


PJ Glad you enjoyed the site.

Compact fluorescents are good. I heard from several sources that some not-so-good brands are Feit, and Lights of America. Feit was confirmed for me when my Feit EcoBulb went out after about 3,000 hours - it was labeled as supposed to last for 10,000 hours. (easy to test because we had it on 24 hrs. a day)

Phillips Earth Lights (sold at Planet Natural) apparently, are supposed to be the best. Phillips has a patent on some of the compact-fluorescent technology. This was told me by a sales person at Home Depot -- she said there were endless complaints and returns on the other bulbs, and she recommended I get the Phillips, so I did. We shall see. YMMV!

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), April 21, 1999.


I am embarassed to admit that I splurged on a one cup expresso maker that you can put on the fire or the woodstove. It works!

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), April 21, 1999.

Yep- coffee is important. We use a press pot- works great- no filters to buy or dispose of- coffee grounds go into compost. We also have one of those stovetop cappachino(sp?) /expresso makers- works wonderfully.......we DO NOT plan to just eat rice and beans!!(and when we do, they will be seasoned with our hot peppers, garlic, herbs, etc....)

-- anita (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), April 21, 1999.

Marsh,

A few years back... while in Roma, I picked up a very handsome two cup expresso maker that you could put on a stove top or similar. Ended up giving it away as a gift, but sure wish I had one now for my camping bag. With all the preps and no vacations planned this year, I'm feeling a little sad. Where could I get your one cup expresso maker?

Thanks for your assistance.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglboal.com), April 21, 1999.



Excellent story, thank you Kristi :). Everyone needs their "thing" of some sort. On a personal note I quit caffeine partly because I don't want the problem of withdrawal/dependancy when things go nuts. Instead I will grow and forage for herbal drinks.

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), April 22, 1999.

I got my campout expresso maker at a local drugstore chain called "Rite Aid." I imagine you could make faux cappuchino with some non-dairy creamer like coffee mate

-- marsh (marsh@sisqtel.net), April 22, 1999.

There are products I really want to buy in bulk. But I don't know where to shop to find them in bulk. They are very expensive in the small packages. Such as:

Sugar.

Raw coffee beans for grinding.

Just to start. Do you guys have any ideas about this??

PJ in TX

-- PJ Gaenir (fire@firedocs.com), April 22, 1999.


Stan --- you can get Italian 2-cup, 4-cup, 8-cup stovetop expresso makers for $20-40. Try kitchen gadget stores. You can also get Bodun "presses" for making steamed milk by "hand". We prefer both of these to electric capuchino makers.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), April 22, 1999.

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