What my Flooring Taught Me

Over the past few months, my flooring has taught me acceptance.  I had to accept that my 5 year-old builders grade carpeting was stained, ripping at the seams, and full of mold and allergens.  I had to accept that these were my options over cement sub-flooring:

Cork and Hardwood: No-because of cement sweating. The one available hardwood, altered ash, is harvested here and shipped to Europe for an intensive heating process and shipped back. This process obviously has a huge carbon footprint and results in the very high price of $11/yard uninstalled. Times 1800 square feet? I don't think so!
More carpet: No-environmental and health impact
Engineered wood or Linoleum: No-environmental impact, concrete sweating, and chemicals in home.
Professionally repair and refinish cement: No- Over $10,000 for my home.

The water and mold sitting in the padding under the carpet

This was the point I had to sit down and have a heart to heart with myself. I wanted it all. Beautiful flooring that wouldn't hurt the world, our pocketbook, or our health. I was being unreasonable and unrealistic. This was a lesson for me in compromise and priorities. And when I was honest, I realized that beauty came in a distant third to our heath, my values, and our financial stability.

I accepted a compromise.  In this case, my husband patched holes (from carpet trim) with quickkrete and painted a border with low VOC Valspar from Lowe's (color: La Fonda Jalapeno).

Is it perfect? No, but nothing is.  Is it ever going to make the magazines? Nope.  But it is growing on me.  I love the simplicity, the fact that it is saving us money and keeping us healthy, the fact that it is an outward symbol of our inward values.  I accept my cement floors.  And I accept myself as being the kind of person who has cement floors.

Recipe :: Quesadillas

I'm back! The computer is fixed. Better yet, it was under warranty.

I return with a a tasty treat I have been enjoying a lot this summer, vegan quesadillas.

These are great because they are customizable to the person, the mood, the food in season.

Start with tortillas. Sprouted grain are the healthiest but you could use corn or flour. I find the bigger the better.

Add filling:
Veggies-really whatever floats your boat. My favorites are diced tomato, onion, lettuce, and pepper.
Cheese-I use Daiya mozzarella and pepper jack.
Protein-I like to steam tempeh and crumble it in salsa. But you could do seitan or tofu as well.

Cook. I like to pair it with Costco organic corn chips and salsa.

What are you munching on this summer? How do you like your quesadillas?

Broken Computer

As much as I desperately wish it wasn't, my computer is broken.  I will be back as soon as I can get that squared away.  Hope you are all well.