What's that...smell?

I woke up a little before seven this morning, and was tired enough to go back to sleep, except for one thing.  I could smell something a little funny in the house.  The first thing in my sleep-fogged brain was 'electric fire' or maybe 'strange gas leak.'  I couldn't quite fall back asleep with those thoughts roaming through my head, so I stumbled off to the bathroom before sniffing my way downstairs.  (As anyone knows, it is an absolute faux paus to investigate possible fire hazards in the house without an empty bladder and clean teeth.) 

Downstairs, things definitely smelled stronger, and what was that?! A strange light shining in the basement!  But...it's a shining, steady light, no flickering glow.  I forgot a light on in the basement when I was looking for a lamp yesterday.  And it didn't smell funny down there, either.  (Well, no worse than usual.)  Hmmmm, where to look, where to loook. Nothing in the office was on fire.  (My neighbor's printer once went up in smoke, so it was possible.)  And the lamp I brought up to the living room seemed fine. 

The kitchen.  Where else was left?  Maybe a gas burner was left on low all night.  The smell was definitely stronger in the kitchen.  In fact, it was strongest right next to the...crockpot.  The crockpot where I have been cooking a chicken all night (on low).  Sheesh!

Well, now I'm awake, and I have the house to myself for an hour or two.  I just made coffee and will find something fun to listen to on Librivox while knitting a shawl for my mom.  Maybe I'll even get it done this winter : ).

Oh, and I have a chicken in the crockpot all night because we are trying an elimination diet with Elise.  We don't think she's allergic, but her fatigue, headaches, and many pains over the years might be traced to something that doesn't quite agree with her.  So for a few weeks she is not eating wheat, dairy, yeast, eggs, soy, nuts, and refined sugar.  (Do you know how much food soy is in?  Good grief.  I think it might be the first thing we add back.)  Basically, she is eating fruits, most veggies, and meat (mostly chicken).  I found a gingerbread recipe she can eat, and am searching for other such treats.

We are starting Day 4 today, or Day 6.  On Monday, she had sugar in some muffins I made (before we decided to cut that, too), and Tuesday, ate some rice crackers that had soy.  Did I mention that soy is in a lot of stuff?  I heard from my neighbor that Elise could have a blood test done to find her sensitivities.  Her son did that a year ago.  Not only was he sensitive to everything on the above list, but things like kidney beans, blueberries, and lemons.  So we are considering that.  First of all, it's dang hard to cook like this, and baking is just right about out the window.  It's not like we are a family that subsists on Ramen packets and Swiss Cake Rolls, but we are not adverse to eating the odd one, either.  Second, we might not catch some of her sensitivities, anyway (though we'd see if it was any of the big ones.)  Third, eating during our upcoming vacation to St. Louis will be much trickier for her, and I don't think I can eat a Subway sandwich in front of her.

Yet we also hesitate.  She already feels a little better.  It is so much healthier to eat this way.  I supported a friend and local small farmer when we bought three chickens and a turkey yesterday.  It is eye-opening to go shopping and really see what is in my food.  Eating fresh, healthy, and hopefully local foods is better for us, and the environment.  So we'll see.  She had fish and sweet potato fries for lunch yesterday.  I had never made sweet potato fries before.  At least we are expanding our horizons!

p.s.  I just found 'The Elements of Entymology' published in 1845 on Librivox.  How cool is that?  The language is like Jane Austen talking about bugs...but not as funny, of course.