I fancy myself Madam Curie. Or Martha Stewart. Or something.

Slow drain? Fruit flies circling the kitchen sink? Looks like it's time for the Brady Bunch Volcano solution! (Or BBV, as it's known in some quarters.)

Well, really it's more like the vinegar/baking soda solution, but it's so much more fun to pull a '70s sitcom into the equation, dontcha think? Besides, who knew that clearing drains could be such fun?

I guess that it's pretty common knowledge that if you dump some baking soda into the drain, then follow up with a little vinegar, you'll end up with crazy, fizzy awesomeness, but it's a relatively new discovery for me. Yeah, I could cloak this observation in a profound commitment to the environment and a lofty attempt to oust caustic chemicals from my home, but I won't lie. I just like playing mad scientist with the bathroom sink.

So why bother to write about it? No reason really, except that it's my awkward segue into my latest foray into prairie housekeeping.

I blame it all on Amazon's "Super Saver" deal; that is, if you order more than $25.00 worth of certain goods, Amazon will ship your order for free. It all began with the innocent purchase of a flannel duvet cover, and, before I knew it, I'd included a copy of The Little House Cookbook with my order. Please don't fool yourself into thinking that I'm some kind of culinary genius; I mean, I'm more like the Countess of Cup-O-Soup. However, even for devotees of *ahem* squeeze cheese and off-brand Triscuits, this book, written by Barbara M. Walker, is a great read.

The roast suckling pig and rye'n'injun bread, however, still remain unbaked. Shocking. I know.

Still, I think it would be fun to try a few of the things in the book. From reading it, I gather that the tastes and textures of the foods are very different from the things we're familiar with today. I also like to think that I'd get an appreciation for the day-to-day pioneer experience. If I take the time to create "Long Winter" bread sans the convenience of my breadmaker, I might have more appreciation for just how difficult the Long Winter really was. I may even try grinding up some of the grain in an antique coffee grider that I own ... although, to be honest, I suspect my enthusiasm will dim after a batch of two. Or even a spin or two of the crank. Heh.

I mean, if nothing else, it would be interesting, right? Yep, I'll keep telling myself that. I'll repeat it as a mantra while an ill-conceived attempt at sourdough starter begins to grow like the Blob, devouring both my cat and the local diner. Interesting. An experiment. Hoo doggies!

What especially caught my fancy? Vinegar. There's a recipe for creating my own vinegar. In fact, this is a rather important one to try, as vinegar was a staple, and modern store-bought vinegar has been pasteurized so it won't work properly with a number of the recipes. So, yes, I am considering becoming a vinegar alchemist. Who doesn't? I figure I'll either create a tasty garnish or a smelly, fermenting apple-core bomb. Only time will tell, I suppose.

At any rate, I could dump any shameful fermented outcome down the drain .... and test the limits of that Brady Bunch Volcano effect.

Days until trip: 291
Money saved: $245