Always low prices

[Lorenzo]

@Joseph E. Smith

This sounds yummy. If you have the recipe (measurements or their ball park figures) I’d appreciate a copy before you sign off the net.

I’ve been out half the morning playing kitten whisperer…taming wild kittens.

I learned this recipe from my wifes sister’s mother-in-law.

1 qt. water
¼ cup raw almonds (boil for 5 min. to remove skins)
¼ cup raw cashews
dash of vanilla
1 tablespoon favorite sweetener (sucrose, honey, maple syrup, etc.)
salt to taste

place in high speed blender for about 5 minutes

Here’s some comments about nut milks…different recipes and procedures.
http://www.paleofood.com/nmilks.htm

from - http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=almond+milk+recipe

[Lambchop]

@Martin Milner

I do have a problem with Cran using the phase “In popular usage” because I do not think he has enough data to know what “popular usage” comprises.

Gonzo, let’s just move that thesaurus over to the shelf, shall we? It looks as though we may need room for one more on the couch shortly . . . I think Martin may be joining us . . .

[Caj]

@Cynth

The local merchants actually can operate successfully in spite of Wal-Mart by offering products and services Wal-Mart doesn’t. Special orders, repairs, high-quality items, advice, etc. It takes some figuring out, but it is not impossible.

Heh heh heh. Back in DeKalb, IL, after the big box stores opened out on the highway, main street evolved (or reduced?) to just businesses that don’t compete with Wal-mart: a head shop, night clubs, and the Paperback Grotto, one of those stores with opaque windows and video booths in the back.

It’s funny how Wal-Mart can sculpt the character of a downtown by deciding what they’re not going to sell 5 miles away.

Anyway, I don’t have to wrestle with the question of whether to buy at Wal-Mart: I’ve started doing all my errands on bicycle, for both exercise and scenic views, and all the big-box stores are way out on Rte 434, out of reach. The only in-town major franchise is CVS, and I shop there just in hopes that one day nobody will be at the register, so I can call into the PA system: “cvs checkout hyphen h, cvs checkout hyphen h.”

Also, I echo Wanderer’s observation about clothing. I’ve noticed that shirts from the Gap or Banana Republic are flimsy and often fray to uselessness. With clothing, it’s hard to find a quality product anywhere.

Caj

[Cynth]

@izzarina

@Martin Milner

That is the way of capitalism.

I agree, and hence my problem in it’s entirety

Okay, izzy, I can see where you are coming from now.

@Caj

@Cynth

The local merchants actually can operate successfully in spite of Wal-Mart by offering products and services Wal-Mart doesn’t. Special orders, repairs, high-quality items, advice, etc. It takes some figuring out, but it is not impossible.

Heh heh heh. Back in DeKalb, IL, after the big box stores opened out on the highway, main street evolved (or reduced?) to just businesses that don’t compete with Wal-mart: a head shop, night clubs, and the Paperback Grotto, one of those stores with opaque windows and video booths in the back.

It’s funny how Wal-Mart can sculpt the character of a downtown by deciding what they’re not going to sell 5 miles away.

I don’t know why, but our town sure doesn’t have any stores like those!!! Maybe people don’t think it would go over because people want to be anonymous when they go in those places. And they wouldn’t be here!

I think different towns might be affected differently. We did lose a nice drugstore downtown, although I am really not sure why, but the other old businesses are still there and the others keep going in and out of business just like always, even before Wal-Mart. We’ve never had a bookstore stay in business, there just aren’t enough people. And now amazon.com would make it impossible I think. The bookstores just never had anything I was interested in. But we have a good shoe store, a nice women’s clothing store, a good paint and flooring store, a good hardware store, a great fabric and yarn shop—and they all sell things of higher quality than Wal-Mart and they offer advice or repairs or something special.

@Caj

Also, I echo Wanderer’s observation about clothing. I’ve noticed that shirts from the Gap or Banana Republic are flimsy and often fray to uselessness. With clothing, it’s hard to find a quality product anywhere.

Caj

I don’t like the styles of Wal-Mart’s clothes and I figured they would be flimsy. But I have to say that one summer I was desperate for some baggy lightweight cotton drawstring pants and I got a couple of pairs there for $12 each. I have been wearing them almost constantly for several summers now. I really am quite surprised. It may just be that particular item, I realize. I haven’t bought any other clothes there.

I can find good quality clothing if I want to pay for it. I bought my husband a ridiculously expensive flannel shirt once. It was a completely different thing than your ordinary flannel shirt in terms of the finishing and in how it came out of the dryer–not all puckered in the seams and things. It really was beautiful and very sturdy. But I can’t bring myself to spend that much on clothes.

[lilymaid]

We have this little organic food co-op that’s a bit cheaper. It’s a good idea, really.

Honestly, I won’t shop at Walmart if I can help it. My groceries come from a local market. (Or sometimes evil Whole Foods, I’m afraid, due to the variety of odd things I can find there and the fact that it’s on my way home from work.) I try to buy organic when I can afford it, too. I just watch what I cook, mostly. If you keep it to less expensive ingredients (tofu, lentils, rice, whatever interesting things you find on sale), it helps a lot. I can make supper out of stuff from the natural foods market for about $8.00 for the two of us and still have some left over for breakfast.

I’ve also found our local natural foods market is actually pretty darn inexpensive when it comes to a lot of things- bulk spices, tea, tofu, and such. Cheaper than the regular market a lot of the time.