We have made it through the two days of a winter ice storm without losing our electricity. The weather is supposed to moderate by midday tomorrow, but tonight is the worst weather yet. If it was just a little colder, it would snow, and that would be fun. If it was dry, the temperature wouldn't be a problem at all. But it is 31 degrees and raining - a treacherous mix for cars, trees, and electric power lines.

I blogged last February about fasting. I just reread what I wrote, and I still agree with everything I said. Fasting does remind us that we are sustained not by "bread alone," but by the Word of God, and it helps us focus our thoughts on God rather than being distracted by daily routines. Fasting does level out my hunger pangs and make me more satisfied with three meals a day.

However, after several months, fasting every week became too taxing on my body. It's hard to explain, but as I approached the day, my body recoiled against the prospect of a fast. I became headachy and irritable in the afternoon. When I started regular fasting, the spiritual benefits overshadowed the physical deprivation. Gradually the physical discomfort began to cancel out the spiritual side.

I still fast, but not on a schedule and not for health reasons. When I have a spiritual goal in mind, my body responds very positively to a fast. But regular fasting is not for me.

I blogged last summer about bringing home an old hydraulic press juicer that my parents no longer wanted. I was excited about being able to make nut butters without oil, and about the advantages of pressing rather than spinning vegetables to get juice. After 6 months, I am about to sell the hydraulic juicer on e-bay and bring my old centrifugal juicer back in from the garage.

If I was going to drink juice every day, I would probably love the Norwalk juicer, but I like to drink juice on a whim. By the time I assemble it, make the juice, wash all the parts, and clean the bags, the desire for juice has dimmed. I can make nut butters with less oil than I do in my food processor, but I still have to add oil to make them creamy - even when I use 1/3 walnuts or pecans.

If you've been saving your money for a hydraulic juicer, think about how you plan to use it. If you drink juice every morning, you'll probably love it. If you plan to make and store lots of nut butter, it will probably be a good investment. For an occasional glass of juice, you'll probably be happier with a simpler juicer.