My Mobile Home Gourmet Blog
Sunday 2026.3.29
Something New
I learned something new this week. The water I press out of my tofu is supposedly good for tomato plants. It has nutrients that increase leaf growth and stem strength. I can't imagine my plants need more than the soil enhancement I bought. They've been growing well. However, it seems good to know the tofu water will not be wasted.
And Speaking of Tofu
It's too early to know for sure; a month's data would be more informative. However, my blood sugar levels have been very good since I substituted tofu for meat in my evening stir fry dinners.
Gifting Forward
I waste a lot of time in Amazon Vine, mostly refreshing the web page repeatedly to see what, if anything, was added to the inventory. I found a new website, VineChart.com. It displays the activity in Vine. I can simply leave it open on my computer while I do something else. If inventory is added, I'll see it on the graph.
Occasionally, people donate to the maintenance of my website, either cash or something from my Amazon Gift List (see the buttons at the top of the left panel). Thank you. I appreciate your generosity. However, I don't just accept gifts; I gift as well. I sent the developer of VineChart.com a modest gift because I really appreciate the usefulness of the site. Thank you, whoever you are.
Vine went through a three-day drought this week. Nothing was added. Then, according to VineChart, 2,678 items were added in the latest "drop." I ordered nothing because…
And Speaking of Vine
I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, but I believe I will fulfill my review quota without ordering anymore items. My account says I have reviewed 70 items. There are a dozen items either in shipment or waiting to be shipped. The goal is 80 items in each six-month review period. My current evaluation ends on May 1st. So, for the month of April I can simply coast, looking at the newest items, but only ordering something if I really need it or I can't live without it.
Weight
I did a little better this week, losing slightly more than my goal. My weekly average is still above my best average, but not by much. I need to keep thinking diligence and discipline.
Wednesday 2026.3.25
O Joy, O Rapture
I have a new outlook on Amazon Vine, and it's working well for me. I used to stress occasionally when trying to find inexpensive items to satisfy my review quota while minimizing my tax liability. Now that I understand the $0.00 taxable value on some items, I order as many of those as I can get, regardless of the product. Dietary supplements are easily discarded.
I do have my limitations. There were some male condom catheters at $0.00. I couldn't bring myself to order those. I also saw several sex toys costing nothing. But, again, I simply couldn't press the button. Besides, I don't need the items for my quota. So far, I have nearly enough orders to meet the requirements. Five more orders will fulfill this six-month evaluation period, which ends on May 1st.
There are a few oddities. I requested a cushioned play mat for babies. It can be placed on the floor or inside a play pen. I can't explain why that item would be considered a non-taxable consumable. However, I ordered it. I'll write a review saying it's perfect for when the kids come to visit with their new baby daughter. In actuality, I'll remove the cover and cut the foam to fit some chairs, then I'll use the fabric to make cushion covers.
I still search through my wish list each day. This morning I ordered another box of coffee filters, with a taxable value of $7.99. I estimate those will add about $2.40 to my state and federal taxes. I don't understand why coffee filters are taxable. They are definitely not reusable. However, I don't need to understand everything. I'm satisfied I know enough to avoid most taxation.
That leaves open any opportunity to request something I genuinely want, such as the wok ladles I ordered. I use my wok almost every day.
And a special "Thank you" to ChatGPT. Writing reviews is now almost effortless.
Tofu
Maybe worth mentioning: That tofu press I mentioned in Sunday's blog post arrived on Monday. It works well. I used it to remove excess moisture from a cake of tofu. I then cut some of it into cubes and added it to a vegetable stir fry for my dinner yesterday evening. It was good, but there is room for experimentation.
The Tomato Chronicles
The tomato plants are doing well, almost too well. The topmost leaves are now well above the rim of the planter. I also saw two new vines starting at the soil level. I was tempted to let those grow, but I pruned them off because it was time to add more soil to the planter. The soil would have buried those new vines anyway.
As planned, I again pruned off the two lowest branches, and a few more flower buds. Then I mixed some of the previous soil with the compost and manure I ordered, about half of each, for enriched soil, and I brought the level up to about two thirds of the planter.
I also noticed I missed seeing one of the suckers. It was developing into a new branch. Just for a fun little experiment, I pruned it off and placed it in a glass of water. If it roots, I might try planting it in a small one-gallon pot I have. I'd like to see what happens.
Sunday 2026.3.22
Heat
We are finally getting some relief from the heat wave that engulfed most of the western USA this past week. Daytime temperatures are starting to come down.
Mini Golf
In an earlier blog post I mentioned a new course, based on Hollywood, being released. We played it a few times. It's okay, but it's rather plain. Some of the courses, such as "Around the World in 80 Days," are filled with beautiful, stunning details. There are even some clocks that show the local time. "Hollywood," for all the legendary glitz and glamour, lacked sparkle.
Tofu Too
I am nearly 75 years old, but I'm not too old to try something new. I've been cooking for myself since I was a teenager, but I never experimented with tofu. I wanted to try it in my stir fries.
I bought some extra firm tofu at Costco. Then I watched some videos about browning it. Some of them surprised me. One chef said to freeze it first. The ice crystals that form inside open the structure a little, and that allows more moisture to escape.
Another video explained the importance of pressing the tofu to remove liquid. And yet another video showed using a simple tofu press. Who knew?
I ordered one. It was only $10 on Amazon (none were available on Vine). Meanwhile, I put my frozen and thawed cake of tofu in a container, covered it with plastic wrap, placed it on a plate in the sink, placed a skillet on top, and then I nested a pan of water in the skillet for extra weight. That was my clumsy, but effective, tofu press. The tofu press I ordered will be much easier to work with.
As for my dinner, I browned some of the tofu and then I cubed it. I used it in a vegetable stir fry. A little more research turned up better information. Tofu protein contains all eight essential amino acids and none of the cholesterol common in meat.
Here's a thought: If I were to eventually use up the meats in my freezer and replace them with tofu, would that make me vegan?
And Speaking of Vegan — NOT!
On Friday, before my home became too warm to do anything but sit close to the air conditioner, I portioned a boneless leg of lamb for future stir fries. I put 13 five ounce portions in the freezer. That might be the last of any meat I might buy. A lot will depend on how well I eventually adapt to tofu as a substitute.
Maybe it's worth considering the expense. The lamb cost me $40. It portioned into four pounds of meat after discarding the fat. That's $10 per pound. The four-pound box of tofu (four one-pound tubs) was $5.79, which comes to $1.45 per pound. Which would you choose?
Weight
This past week was not a good week for weight loss. I didn't really try. I decided I wanted a little break; so, I bought a bag of fish sticks, which I really like. On the positive side, I didn't make any tartar sauce, which would have added more calories.
Wednesday 2026.3.18
Springtime
Tomorrow is the last day of winter; Friday is the Spring Equinox. As I mentioned in Sunday's blog post, high heat was predicted for SoCal. The forecast changed from "watch" to "advisory," which lowers the risk a little. It's still quite warm outside.
The heat is expected to last all week.
The Tomato Chronicles
The tomato plants are amazing. The Better Boy is a little small, but it also put out flower buds. I pinched those off. As I said before, the emphasis is on growth now, not on fruit production.
The uppermost leaves are at the top edge of the planter. I'm not ready to add more soil to the planter; however, I did prune off the two lowest branches on each plant and any suckers I saw developing. Maybe next week will be the best time to add soil.
You Broke It; You Fix It
I'm a little amused by Trump's efforts to get NATO nations to protect ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and I'm not surprised they said No. He insulted those nations in the past, saying they did not contribute enough to their own security. It took considerable arm twisting to get Trump to commit to Article Five of the NATO treaty. He threatened to take Greenland away from Denmark, a NATO member. He even briefly threatened to withdraw the USA from NATO.
Naturally, those countries don't want to be drawn into America's war with Iran. What would happen if a missile severely damaged a French war ship and killed many of its personnel? Might France retaliate and be pulled into the war?
The USA doesn't depend on oil from the tankers going through the Strait. That oil goes to Western Asia — India, China, Japan, etc. Why does Trump want to protect it? To keep gasoline prices down in the USA. Higher prices at the pump will do the GOP no good in the midterm elections this fall.
Vine
I was disappointed with Amazon Vine for a while. Now I'm excited again. Learning about the $0.00 tax liability for consumable products changed everything.
I already fulfilled my quota for this week. (I set myself a goal of three to four items per week to reach the required 80 before the next evaluation.) The only taxable item was a set of stainless wok spoons, which I really like. Now, I mostly search for nontaxable items and order them, even if I have no use for them.
I "write" the review in advance using ChatGPT. It's easy. I might need to change a few words. I ordered a treatment for cauliflower ear. I changed "I have been using…" to "My son has been using…." It's all the same.
Technically, I could fulfill my entire review obligation without adding any income tax obligation.
Another Done and Dusted
Yesterday, I finished the latest shirt I was tailoring. I haven't used up all my available fabric yet, but I'm working on it.
Sunday 2026.3.15
Temptation Resisted
There was an item on Amazon Vine that I really wanted, but I resisted. It was an ice cream maker attachment for a KitchenAid mixer, retailing at around $50. You might be familiar with them. There is a canister you put in the freezer for 24 hours. Then, you blend up some ice cream base, set up the canister and paddle on the mixer, and run the machine as you pour in the base. In about 30 minutes or so the liquid base freezes into creamy ice cream.
I already have an ice cream maker. It's a separate appliance, but it works with the same principle. It makes delicious ice cream However, since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I've been careful about sugar in my diet.
I decided to wait on the KitchenAid attachment. It was 3:00 in the morning and some things look better in the light of day. If the device had been available in the morning, I might have ordered it. However, it was gone, and therefore I was satisfied I waited. My thinking was, it would be one more thing to store and I might never use it. I haven't used my existing ice cream maker in several years.
On the other hand, I am keeping up with my orders to satisfy my quota. On Friday I ordered a metal light socket cover for $6.99. That will go into the recycling bin when it arrives. I also ordered a bottle of non-acetone nail polish remover. I don't use nail polish, but it might be a useful solvent for removing stuck-on stuff, like glue residue from a label.
As usual, the goal is to meet my quota with inexpensive products I can easily discard in the trash or the recycling bin. Most of the items I request cost less than $10. However, I did order a pair of wok spoons, one of which is perforated, for $12.99. I've been looking for those on Vine since I got my wok in November of last year. I love that wok. I use it almost daily.
I really wanted only the perforated ladle/strainer. I saw one being used in a stir-fry video. Cook the meat first, then use the strainer to remove the meat, leaving the oil in the wok for the vegetables. Less oil, fewer calories.
Something New
I learned something new this week about Amazon Vine. Some items, such as vitamins and foods, are "consumables" and they do not have a taxable value, even though they have a retail value. Therefore, I can order as many as I can find to fulfill my quota without adding to my tax liability.
Now I wish I had ordered that jar of New Zealand Manuka Honey. I didn't, because I knew it wouldn't do my blood sugar any good. I did get a bottle of Nail Polish Remover: Non Acetone ($0.00), four jars of Mushroom Nootropic Pouches ($0.00), and Uric Acid Support Vegetarian Capsules ($0.00). As usual, I'll get a ChatGPT review and toss the stuff in the trash when it arrives.
So, now I have a new plan for satisfying my quota. I'll order things I genuinely need or want (like those wok utensils mentioned above); otherwise, I'll look for consumables.
Extreme Heat Watch
Summer is coming early. Technically, it's still winter, but an "Extreme Heat Watch" was issued for this week here in SoCal, starting tomorrow. I didn't wait. I hooked up the office air conditioner yesterday. I am prepared.
Weight
I did better than planned this week. I lost more than 1½ pounds.
Wednesday 2026.3.11
Gasoline
The cost of gasoline is always high here. I live near Santa Barbara. We're supposed to be wealthy and able to pay more (even though I live in a mobile home in a trailer park). If someone sneezes in the Middle East, the local gas stations use it as an excuse to raise prices.
My friends in Kentucky said their gas price jumped from $2.66 to $2.99 per gallon. I filled my car's tank last week. I paid $4.66 per gallon. The last time I looked on the internet, the national average was $3.32.
The fill-up cost me $51.58. I'm not complaining. It was the first time I put gas in the tank since I bought the car more than a year ago. I don't drive much. The guy across the street said he fills his truck's tank every week. Yikes!
I filled the tank because the war in the Middle East is causing the price hike. And, I must admit, it was kind of amusing. I couldn't figure out how to remove the gas cap. Actually, there isn't a cap. There is a covered hole where the pump's nozzle goes through.
And maybe worth noting, the cost of gasoline is a major factor in the minds of voters when they go to the polls. There is still plenty of time before the midterm elections in November. But, according to the news, the GOP is in a panic.
Mini Golf
Tomorrow is a big day. Mighty Coconut, the creators of Walkabout Mini Golf, will release their next course. This one will be an addition to the Passport Series. The first one was Venice. It was followed by Tokyo. This third one will be Hollywood, but more of an homage to the golden days of movie making.
I saw one teaser. It looked like something from the film Chinatown, or one of its many variations. As usual, I'm excited about this new course. This one will bring the total to 39 courses.
And maybe worth mentioning: In about ten days the cherry trees will be blooming in Japan. One of the earliest courses, number two, is Cherry Blossom. I'm usually the first one in the game; so, I typically choose the courses to play. When we meet on March 24th, I'll choose that one.
Amazon Vine
Vine continues to disappoint, but I am keeping up with my review quota. Yesterday morning I ordered an appliance extension cord. It's short, but it has an L-shaped connector that is supposed to make it easier to use something like a computer close to a wall. Whatever. At only $8.88, it fit my preference for something cheap that could easily be discarded. And this morning I ordered some plastic shower curtain hooks because they were only $6. They will go into the recycling bin.
The Tomato Chronicles
It has been only ten days, but the plants are looking healthy. They are growing. They look much larger and with more leaves. Their color is a vibrant green, thanks to the soil improvement I used.
The Big Boy is living up to its name. It's bigger. There are a few flower buds in the center. When they get close to blooming, I'll prune those off. At this early stage, I want the plant's energy to go toward growth, not fruit.
I remember my problem last year with the soil. The plants looked weak and unhealthy. I added compost to the soil and they perked up and grew well. The fertilizer I used this year is a combination of compost and manure. I ordered it from Amazon.
Maybe by the end of March, maybe sooner, I will be able to prune off the lower leaves and add more soil to the planter. The goal is to eventually have the planter full.
Sunday 2026.3.8
Happy Daylight Saving Time
Today the sun sets an hour later, giving us an extra hour of sunlight in the evening. I had to manually set a few clocks forward; the others changed automatically.
Archiving
I continue to archive my movie files to blank Blu-ray discs. My newest supply arrived on Wednesday. I have been working on my James Bond movies. I have all 26. There are 27 if you count the David Niven spoof, Casino Royale, that was made in 1967. I have it, but it isn't worth watching more than once. I enjoy a good comedy, such as those in the Pink Panther series. But the comedy must be more intellectual, not inane.
As mentioned in last Sunday's blog post, some of the Bond films were too large. I wanted to put two on a disc. So, I used Handbrake to make them smaller. That also gave me the opportunity to eliminate all the foreign audio tracks and subtitles. English only, please.
This week I read an article about internal Blu-ray disc burners for PCs becoming extinct. There is little demand for them now, even though there is still a need among some to archive files to a more permanent form of storage media, such as discs. That's me. As for movies on Blu-ray discs, they're still being sold, but streaming is taking over the market. Having that permanent copy of that favorite movie might be important, but for most entertainment, streaming is good enough.
After reading the article, I came to the conclusion these two home-built desktop computers will be my last. When these die, I'll replace them with a store-bought laptop computer. My days of making cooking videos are mostly over (see Uh-oh below). All I really need is access to the internet for blogging and for email.
I have one more test to do. When I have all of the James Bond films archived, I'll put the suspect Blu-ray burner in the other computer and try burning a disc. Is the problem in the hardware or the software?
Meanwhile, that external Blu-ray disc burner I ordered was almost useless. It would play a movie, but it wouldn't let me burn files to it. I returned it to Amazon. I added a different one to my wish list.
Uh-oh
On Thursday I went to the dermatologist's office to make an appointment. Thankfully, someone had canceled and the doctor was able to see me right away.
A small round bump has been growing on my nose. At first, I thought it might be a pimple. However, it didn't go away. Instead, it slowly got larger.
The doctor diagnosed it as potentially basal cell carcinoma. It isn't a life-threatening form of cancer, but it needs to be removed; otherwise, it will keep getting larger. It's my nose. I don't want my face to be disfigured by surgery. Therefore, radiation treatments are my only option. Either that, or I go to a cosmetic surgeon.
The doctor cut a piece for a biopsy to send to a lab. I'll know in a week or two whether or not it's cancer. Meanwhile, I'll hope for good news.
I don't want to make cooking videos with a disfigured nose. I make a little money from my videos, but not enough for them to be an important source of income. So, depending on the outcome, I might not make anymore cooking videos for YouTube.
More Uh-oh
I was walking through Costco and a women right in front of me suddenly coughed just as I was passing her. She didn't cover her mouth. My first thought was, "Now I'm going to get sick." Sure enough. I'm down with a cold.
Weight
I knew the numbers would not be good this week. My average for the week increased by half a pound because I treated myself to a big bag of Cheetos on Monday — a reward to myself for seeing weights below 190. The salt made my body put on water weight: 8 pounds in 4 days. The numbers slowly came back down. Yesterday morning I weighed less than 190 again (189.5). This morning I was 188.8.
I'm back to my regular diet, a healthy stir fry for dinner and a low-cab snack before going to bed. I love my wok and I love my stir fries. They're quick, easy, and delicious.
Wednesday 2026.3.4
Several photos this week.
More About That Owl
In Sunday's blog post I wrote about a mechanical owl I bought. I set it up at the top of my tomato cage, as planned. During the first day, I saw them fly up to the neighbor's awning, where they nest. They'd stay for a few seconds, then fly away. The following day, they were back, and the owl didn't seem to make any difference to them.
Supposedly, for the owl to be effective, it needs to be moved occasionally so that the birds don't become accustomed to it. I cut a larger platform from that first piece of scrap plywood for a lower position on the tomato cage. I also moved it to an outdoor patio table and then a chair.
I also experimented with the settings. There is a switch inside the head. The center position is off — no movement, not sound. Number 2 is both head movement and screech noise. I set it to number 1, which turns on the head movement. The owl is equipped with a motion detector and it works very well. However, the head moves occasionally anyway, without any apparent movement around the owl. The birds didn't seem to care. On the positive side, I don't see any further damage to my window screen. Maybe they are finished building their nest.
And for some added eeriness, the eyes light up when the head moves, and that looks really spooky at night.
When the tomato plants (see below) grow to a height of around 42 inches, I'll need to remove the center platform. By then, maybe the end of May, nesting season will have ended.
A Little Political
Why Iran? Why not North Korea? North Korea claims to have missiles that can reach the USA and they have nuclear weapons. Is it because Iran has massive oil fields and North Korea does not? The USA invaded Iraq and deposed Saddam Hussein because of oil. That didn't end well. Lesson not learned? I'm going to conclude Iran was an issue because that country funds terrorist activities in other parts of the world.
The Tomato Chronicles
Let the 2026 Chronicles begin!
Last week I bought two tomato plant seedlings. The Gardening Center didn't have the Early Girl plants I like, and I didn't want to wait, hoping they might eventually get them. Instead, I wanted to start my season on March 1st; so, I bought two other varieties — Better Boy and Big Boy — boys this time rather than girls.
I was careful with my selection. I made certain they are "indeterminate," which means they'll produce fruit all season.
On Sunday I began the process of rejuvenating the soil for a new crop. I had everything I needed. It was laborious — digging the old soil out of the planter, mixing some of it with the compost and manure I bought, and then preparing the planter for my new plants.
One thing I originally had hoped for: that last year's plants would come back to life in the spring. When removing the old soil, there was no sign of any living roots, even though the soil was kept moist all winter.
I followed the instructions I learned two or three years ago. Start with the planter only about
As usual, I did some research. These plants take longer to mature, compared to the Early Girl variety (50 days). Better Boys mature in 70 to 75 days. Big Boys take a little longer, 78 to 85 days. So, I shouldn't expect any harvest until late in May.
The Big Boy plant probably won't require the full height of the tomato cage. It typically grows to four or five feet. However, the Better Boy can grow up to eight feet. The Big Boy produces large heavy fruits; therefore, supporting them on the cage will be essential. Because of its height, the Better Boy is not recommended for a container. I don't have ground for a garden. The planter will need to suffice.
I won't repeat my mistake from last year. I'll trim off suckers to encourage the vines to grow upward, not outward. The goal, again, is 6-foot tall plants, like I enjoyed two years ago. The abundance of tomatoes isn't as important as tall plants.
Sunday 2026.3.1
Another Done and Dusted
On Friday I finished another shirt. I think a time will come, maybe soon, when I will never again attempt another shirt. They're too frustrating, even with my computerized Janome that is supposed to make tailoring easier.
Most of the shirt was assembled on my old black industrial Singer 31-15. It doesn't even have a backstitch. Nonetheless, it's easier to use. It's a set-and-forget model. The only adjustment is stitch length, and I never change that. No buttons to press. No features to select. Just ower it on and sew.
I use the Janome for machine basting, buttons, and buttonholes. And, lately, I've been using it to embroider my last name on the locker loop. All the other stitching is done on the old Singer. "Old" because it was built on April 1, 1942 (according to on-line records).
Another One Started
I thought I might have enough cotton muslin for two shirts. After cutting the first one, I was afraid there wouldn't be enough a second. So, this week I laid out the pattern pieces and, thankfully, there was more than enough. I started tailoring the second shirt yesterday.
Damned Birds!
And damned neighbors too! It's springtime, or nearly so. The birds are hooking up and preparing their nests. The wife next door loves the birds. She even puts out food for them. Okay. I like animals too. But, when they cause property damage, they're no longer cute; they're pests.
The sparrows have been tearing threads out of one window screen to add to their nest. Something must be done.
I printed a picture of an owl and placed it in the window where the damaged screen is. Owls supposedly scare away small birds. The first day, it worked. I watched. I didn't see any birds. I ordered one of those mechanical models with a moving head, screeching sound, and lighted eyes. It is motion activated. I have the perfect place for it — at the top of my tomato cage. It's plenty high enough to keep the owl in the sun, which charges its batteries, but it is also within fairly easy reach.
Now here's the thing: As I said above, it makes a screeching noise. Evidently, it's a "screech owl." The neighbors might complain about the noise; however, the wife loves birds so much, her husband bought her a parrot. It squawks off and on all day. It's annoying. The husband doesn't hear it. He's at work. If he complains (she won't because she doesn't speak English), I'll offer to make a deal with him. If they'll move the parrot to the other side of their home so that I won't hear it squawk, I'll turn off the owl's screech sound.
I did some measuring of the prongs at the top of the tomato cage. Then I drew up a template. Thankfully, I remember enough geometry from my school days. I had a piece of scrap plywood in the shed. It would be a good platform for the owl.
Yesterday, one of my neighbors was working on a project outside; so, that inspired me. I made the platform. It ain't pretty, but it should work well for my needs. Now, I patiently await the delivery of my electronic owl. I might be nearly 75 years old, and new California laws might stop me from driving soon, but I can still fabricate things.
And, thankfully, we are enjoying glorious weather. It was a great time to work outdoors.
Short Addendum
I received e-mail yesterday afternoon saying the owl, and two Vine items, were shipped. They are out for delivery today.
Do a Good Deed
I was feeling a bit down on Friday. I don't know why. Sometimes it's because I'm not eating enough vegetables, but every stir fry is mostly vegetables. Maybe I felt bad about the damage being done to my window screen.
I had a set of KitchenAid nylon utensils I ordered from Amazon Vine, which I mentioned in last month's blog post. I was hoping there would be holes for hanging them. There weren't. One of my neighbors just got a set of nonstick pots and pans, but her utensils are metal. So, I gave her the nylon ones. They were still new in the box, never used. It worked out well for her and it made me feel good that I did something for someone. They're good neighbors.
Blu-ray Project
I continue my project of archiving my saved movie files to blank Blu-ray discs. I am currently working on the James Bond films. They're too large. I can get only one per disc. I'd like to get at least two. I have all 24 movies, but only eight blank discs left. This week I'll order another package.
Weight
It was a good week for my weight. On Wednesday I recorded my first 191. I've seen 192s, but never a 191. Yesterday morning I recorded my first 190. My average loss for the week was 1.8 pounds. That's three times the goal average I set for myself for this year.
I added another note of inspiration to the front of my refrigerator — a sign that reminds me of my New Year's Resolution: "I will lose 30 pounds this year."
If my weekly average drops below 190, I might celebrate with a pepperoni pizza.