My Bloggy Food Week Wrap-Up

$11.50 doesn't buy very much

Well, I’ve done it. I’ve survived Mumma Troll's $1.64-a-day challenge (that’s the equivalent of feeding oneself on one British pound per day). I can’t say it’s looking very pretty at the end because I’m out of coffee, butter, veggies and fruit (and didn’t have any fruit to start with) – but I did it.

Lessons learned? Well, I can’t successfully feed myself on that small an amount of money for any length of time. Unlike those who live in poverty (and in the U.S., feed themselves with U.S. Department of Agriculture food stamps each month), I had a pantry stocked with staples that I could have used (and for breakfast did) to make my food dollar go farther. At some point you have to replenish your pantry stash, but if you’re surviving on such a small food budget, you never get that opportunity. You are consistently behind the food eight ball.

It is also a juggling act to feed oneself nutritiously and mindfully on such a minimal budget. I would have loved to make different, more civically and environmentally conscientious purchases but could not. The financial bottom line was the driving force, and that cannot be a good thing for one’s mind, body and soul for any length of time.



Anyone for some tuna noodle casserole?



I really want a piece of fruit – almost any one will do. I will savor that first bite of apple or pear or orange, and can absolutely imagine how good fresh fruit must taste to anyone living on such a paltry sum.

I’ve also absolutely enjoyed everyone’s input and comments on this week’s food odyssey. What a pleasure to hear how and where you make your food purchases. I love to cook and bake, so everything about food pleases me. I was thrilled to hear that many of you take pleasure in it as well. Good food, whether in the field or at the table, has the ability to bring people together and get them talking about what matters to them. There’s a lot, culturally, wrapped up in food. This week I’ve gotten a little peek at what animates some of you, food-wise, and for that I am most appreciative.

The money I saved on this week’s shopping I wound up donating to my Great American Bake sale fundraiser (which went well in the sunshine yesterday). While my overall bake sale total was not as great as two years ago, I was nevertheless thrilled with everyone who walked by and just gave a donation – no baked good needed. I was also very thankful for receiving donations from local businesses as well as a baking donation from a community member. Way to go, everyone!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled dose of all things fiber, art and craft. Just don’t be surprised to see more food-related posts cause, hey, it’s my bloggy party, right?

A Break From Food Blogging – Cause It’s Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday

I’m writing this with the hope that Blogger comes out of read-only mode long enough to let me update – it’s been a busy week here at chez Voie de Vie.

Initially, I completed my Rainy Day Lace, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out, minor hiccups and all:

The lace blocked out so well, and the Bernat Roving is really soft. I continue to be pleasantly surprised with this yarn. The hiccup? It blocked out far wider than I anticipated. I could have easily gotten away with making the smallest size, and potentially adding another round of lace. However, things are what they are: I positioned my buttons many inches from the edge of the shawl, and then sewed a hidden button on the inside to help keep the overlap in place. It worked out well (and it’s extra warm in the front as a result), but it’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind if I use this yarn again.

Of some note: don’t you just love the buttons on this?!!!! They were extras from some item of clothing that got chucked into my ever-growing button stash (the buttons, not the clothing), and they were perfect for this shawl. They really give it almost an art-deco feel.

Additionally, last week I received some lovely fiber in a swap package from April’s Veni,Vidi, Vixi swap (my group on Ravelry where we read novels and swap fiber).

The one on the left is Cherry Tree Hill; the right is from The Loopy Ewe. I love both, although the darker hank is not something I would necessarily have been initially drawn to. However, I have a shawl project in mind that, coupled with two other colorways, will look superb. At least I think they will.

Finally, in connection with my week-long food blogging extravaganza (really more of a food-awareness week) I’ll be hosting a Great American Bake Sale tomorrow. If you’ve never heard of it, this is one of the four prongs Share Our Strength uses to raise funds in their fight to end U.S. childhood hunger. This is the second local bake sale I’ll host, and I won’t be alone – this is the Great American Bake Sale’s designated national bake sale weekend. So, all across the country, bake sales are occurring this weekend (although if one wanted to host a bake sale after this weekend, it would certainly be fine, and many more are scheduled on later dates). You can find a bake sale in your area by searching in the lower right-hand corner of the Great American Bake Sale page (you'll see the US map). If so, please consider going out and supporting this amazingly worthwhile cause. If not, and you’d like to donate, I have an online presence for my bake sale, and you can definitely make a neat, nifty and secure donation online to help my bake sale total. In addition to my own bake sale items, I’ll have hourly live auction items, all of which have been generously donated. I’m looking forward to a fun time … and keeping everything crossed for good weather. Soggy baked goods are no fun, people!

I’ll be back on Sunday for a final food blog entry to wrap up this bloggy food week. I want to thank everyone that’s read and commented – who thought that feeding oneself on $1.64 a day would generate such interest?

Finally, definitely check out Andrea's blog (but give her time to update - you know the Blogger bogey-man got us all) – I’m pretty certain she’s not writing about no stinkin’ food, but you’ll be able to see what everyone else is up to on this Fiber Arts Friday.

On Some Things Food and British



My humble sugar bowl is full
at the moment, but ...

 Ok. Food and Brits haven't traditionally been found in the same sentence. Yet, I find I am thinking a lot about both lately.

Initially, the food stuff. Food prices in the U.S. do seem to be going up at about the same rate as gasoline prices recently - which means they are through the roof. There was a time not so long ago, in this here land, when you could buy butter and eggs relatively inexpensively. But now, even when on special, butter for instance, is $3.00 a pound. When did that happen? And why? Forget home economics - someone is making a killing on commodities, and it certainly ain't the average Joe and Jane.

So, I'm going to explore just how far my measly bucks will go in May by partaking in Mumma Troll's Challenge 35 -  for one week, feed yourself on the equivalent of a British pound per day (which, according to today's conversion rate, is $1.64). You can read the complete rules at the link I provided above.

This, apparently, is a very timely idea, because there's a worldwide effort to raise awareness of extreme poverty through this very same food challenge hosted by this organization. However, I'm going to stick with the good Mumma Troll (international solidarity and all), and blog about my food experiences for seven days commencing Monday, May 8th. If any of you out there want to join me in Mumma Troll's Challenge 35, definitely let me (and Mumma Troll!) know.


From my 2009 Great American
Bake Sale. All the mini quick-bread
tins sold.

I should say that I care rather passionately about poverty and food issues generally ... and I've committed to hosting my Second Somewhat Annual Great American Bake Sale on Sunday, May 15th, which is about all the food commitments I'd care to make in a week. I'll provide more information on my Great American Bake Sale a little later. I do think it will be a great way to cap my own personal May food-focused awareness week. 

Of course, all of this leads me to having Britian on the brain. Can we get out of the way of all things British? I have been thoroughly enjoying the new Masterpiece Theater's Upstairs Downstairs episodes. How many of you are planning on watching the Royal Wedding live in the wee hours this Friday? Having a slumber party to boot? And, not to leave out my fiber passion, check out this custom dyed laceweight yumminess Fyberspates whipped up in honor of the nuptial events:

 

The packaging was rather wedding-like.

 

They only dyed 1,000 skeins of this royal-blue-with-sparkles amazement. I don't know if there's any of it left, but it's gorgeous and I know exactly what I'm going to make with it. Starting on Friday during that little wedding ceremony happening across the pond. With some early morning nibbles and tea that I spent way too much money on at the grocery store.

Charitably giving? Caveat emptor.

My recent visit to Canby, OR for the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival (you can check out the photos here) coincided with Share Our Strength's annual Great American Dine Out. For those who may not be familiar with the Great American Dine Out, during one week each year, participating restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to Share Our Strength. It is one prong of a five-pronged approach Share Our Strength utilizes in raising funds to help end American childhood hunger. I have participated in the past through a different prong – I’ve hosted a Great American Bake Sale.

So, before I left for Canby, I checked online and found a participating local restaurant, the Rivershore Bar and Grill in nearby Oregon City, and was excited to help the cause this year in this way. When I got to the restaurant, I ordered a small house salad (surprisingly fresh greens!), a burger (ho-hum), and a glass of house merlot (nothing memorable).

I decided to ask my waitress about the Rivershore’s participation in the Great American Dine Out. After initially not recognizing the event (which was my first tip the conversation would not go well), she let me know that the only way one could get the restaurant to make a donation (of $1 per glass) was through a patron’s purchase of wine from a particular winery – Jacob’s Creek. Ok, so I tried to order an additional glass of red because, hey, I was dining in the Willamette Valley – one America’s best known pinot noir-producing areas. But, no. The restaurant only had Jacob’s Creek chardonnay available. In the heart of pinot noir country. For a non-profit donation promotion of $1 per glass that would last one week. Needless to say, I was sorely disappointed with the Great American Dine Out.

I have corresponded with the director of the Great American Dine Out, and while I appreciate the quick, personal response, the anemic quality of the defense of the event left me rather cold. While I cannot know with any certainty, I expect that my humble, one-day bake sale last year (which took in about $300) raised more money for Share Our Strength than did the Rivershore Bar and Grill in an entire week.

In a time when charitable giving is down, I choose to focus my time and dollars on giving that is targeted and transparent. Any benefit the restaurant may have garnered because of its association with Share Our Strength may be short-lived. Additionally, Share Our Strength has lost some goodwill. In future, I’ll stick to my own baking efforts.

If you have any Share Our Strength stories I’d appreciate hearing them, so please leave a comment and let’s compare charitable notes, alright?