Speaking of frugality ...

A lady, busy in her kitchen just before break time asked her young and culinarily inexperienced daughter,

"Jenny, would you put some water in the kettle and put it on to heat for tea, please?"

The obedient daughter filled the kettle, put it on the stove and turned on the heat to a fairly high level.

Mom, being busy, wasn't paying much attention, but the idea skated quietly into the fringes of her mind that it seemed to be taking a long time for the kettle to boil.

She checked the stove, noted that the heat was on quite high ... then lifted the kettle.

It was heavy - Jenny had filled it almost full!

Mom's Response, "Oh, no, Jenny ... you've boiled a full kettle - now I'll have to make Jello!"

This story must relate to the generation that came later than the wood-stove-in-the-kitchen era.
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A young lad said that his grandfather used to dry his used chewing tobacco on the windowsill.

After a few cuds had dried thoroughly, he would pack them into his pipe and smoke them.

Saved the ashes to sniff up his nose as snuff.

Saved the spit to polish his shoes.

Heard these on the radio just now.

Don't suppose they'll be too applicable to your situation, but sensitive to the complaint that I've been off topic here on occasion, thought I pass them on ... in an attempt to retread my reputation.

Have a happy post-Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas season, folks.

joyful Ed

Don't recall folks sending us teabags, new or used, when we were abroad.

But that was about 40 years ago ... and this old fart's memory is getting a bit spotty.

We didn't get bananas, and the ice cream that we made was a pretty poor substitute (our family looves ice cream). But we did get persimmons - which had a lovely taste (when ripe - before that they were quite astringent).

Powdered skim milk, sent over by U.S. surplus as foreign aid by the multiple ton, was quite a contrast in price from powdered whole, which came in by regular channnels - and sometimes a can cost ten times as much.

When we arrived in Korea, just after the Korean War, the old-timers told us, "If there's anything you need , tell us. We'll tell you how to get it - or how to get along without it".

They did, too.

Actually, for the first year three of us newcomers lived on an island where scarcely anyone knew English. When our teachers went home at night, we were nearly speechless till the next morning. Tough time for a preacher!.

luv ya.

ole joyful

If you use an electric stove - how about putting a (mini-skirted) tea cosy over the pot? If you use gas - that would be a gas.

That should heat things up more quickly.

One realy shuld use resorces sparngly, wisely.

Don't yu think?

Our kids lrn frm us - they watch evrythng we do.

Maybe we shold take a leaf out of ther book, in trms of fascnatin with the wrld, spontnety, nd jst plain exubrnce!

What a shame tht we tend to kill th child in us.

Don't swet the small stuff!

jyful gy/Ed

P.S. I'v hrd tht n lectrc kettl - a ketl with an lectrc elmnt inside tht hets watr rely quikly is peculiar to Canda, but not found in the Stats.

Is tht tru - or one f thos myths? EB

For years we've had electric kettles with the element in the bottom and cord attached, so they were rather heavy and a bit of a nuisance to carry arond, with cord dragging.

I was rather surprised that such a handy appliance (possibly) wasn't known and appreciated in the U.S.

But in recent years we have those detachable ones as well, where you put the water into the jug, set it on the base, then flip a little switch to start it (which kicks off when the water is hot).

When the water is hot, lift the jug off the base and carry it wherever, with no cord to drag along.

Speaking of cords - reminds me of a leash.

Someimes when I see a person sporting a pager or cell phone on their belt, I comment that I see that they have their leash on today.

Some look a bit puzzled, but when I point at the pager and note that those things keep them at the end of the boss' line, that he can jerk when he feels like it, they agree and usually get a bit of a laugh out of it.

Good wishes to you and yours for the season,

ole Ed

Sorry all you people who do it differently. I see nothing wrong with doing it differently except for one thing: When I was in high school and college, I worked as a waitress. I brought tea to a customer, who said in front of me, but to her companions, "Eh, I HATE when THEY do this!" as she removed the tea bag. Now, FYI, I always poured the water at the very last second before I went to a table (after I had everything loaded up,) so the tea didn't get too strong, as I know that some people do not like it strong (just as I do not like strong coffee.) I was thinking to myself, but did not say aloud, for fear of reducing my income, "Eh, I hate when people don't ask for what they want, and then complain when they don't get it."

Please specify to your waitress how you want your tea made. I ALWAYS ask them to pour the water over the bag.

Sorry to go so far OT. I suppose I should add some frugal tip to make amends. Hmmmm....Oh, I like this one: Do you ever print junk (short-term useful information) off of web sites and then throw the paper in the recycling bin? Well, don't do that! Turn the paper over and use the perfectly clean, white side. Then, don't forget to put it in the recycle bin. ;)

As long as you look (vaguely) like a cow, we could never mistake you for a jackass.

Almost always something to be thankful for.

I hope you're having a satisfying week - good wishes for a happy holiday season - and New Year.

joyful guy/Ed

Electric kettles boil water RAPIDLY.

Then - you can pour it over the bag in your teapot.

Or - you can leave the teabag out of the pot, pour a little boiling water into the teapot, swirl it around to warm the pot a bit, throw it out.

Then, throw in the teabag, followed by the (rapidly boiling) water.

Apply tea cosy.

Good wishes for a glorious spring.

joyful guy

What does "NIB" mean?

I hope that you have a happy day.

ole joyful - who still has lots to learn

P.S. I've been trying to put my posts on a diet. EB

ole joyful