Why that jar of canned tomatoes might not taste so good

• November 11, 2023

Q. I canned some tomato sauce using a tested recipe and followed the directions exactly. When I opened the jar (only two months after canning it), the sauce looked OK but tasted kind of off. The jar was sealed, and when I opened it, it didn’t spurt out (like it does sometimes when spoiled). What could have caused the off-flavor, and was it safe to eat? (I discarded it rather than take a risk.)

There are several possibilities here. I’ve had an entire batch of sauce ruined by one bad garlic clove.  Make sure all your ingredients are good because the canning process will not be kind to ingredients that are less than perfect.

I suspect that your sauce became “flat-sour.” This can happen if the jars are left in the canner for too long. Cooling your jars too quickly by removing them from the canner immediately after processing can cause breakage or siphoning due to heat shock. On the other hand, leaving them in the canner for several hours or overnight can cause the contents to become flat-sour. This is a quality issue rather than a food safety issue, but the advice, “If in doubt, throw it out” is always a safe bet.

So, if the food is safe to eat, but is unpalatable, what is going on?

The canning process (whether hot water bath or pressure) will, when done properly, kill all bacteria that causes food poisoning. Some (non-disease-causing)  bacteria are thermophilic, which means that they can survive high temperatures.  (There are bacteria that thrive in Yellowstone’s hot springs, for instance.) These bacteria survive the canning process and will multiply rapidly at high temperatures. This process causes the flat-sour taste. 

If you allow the jars to cool, while taking care not to heat shock them, and store them in a cool place, you can minimize the chances of this kind of spoilage.

Q. I have a huge pine tree in my front yard (diameter 10-12 feet) & for years have watched squirrels run up the tree, eat the pinecones & drop the stripped cobs on the lawn. This year,  maybe because of all the rain, every squirrel in town is chowing down on the massive crop of cones, which means I am out twice a week raking up large quantities of cone scale bits & cobs to prevent this layer of ‘mulch’ from killing the grass. Is there anything I can do to keep the squirrels from the tree?

If the squirrels are super-motivated, there’s scarcely anything you can do to keep them out of your tree completely. I’ve never heard of them munching on pine nuts, but there’s always a first time for everything.

We have peach trees, so we have had our share of squirrel problems. I’ve found that planting something at the base of the tree will somewhat deter them from climbing up the trunk. We’ve used geraniums, lantana, or some other spreading shrub that grows about 2 feet tall. Of course, if they want to play “Mission Impossible” and leap from a nearby tree, there’s not much you can do but enjoy the show and hope a big hawk comes by to take care of things for you.

Los Angeles County

[email protected]; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/

Orange County

[email protected]; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/

Riverside County

[email protected]; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/

San Bernardino County

[email protected]; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu

​ Orange County Register 

Hawaii takes on the rising seas around it

• November 11, 2023

For the past three weeks, working from home has for me meant from a surf shack in a remote part of Wainiha on Kauai’s North Shore. So, yes, don’t cry for me, Mainlander, and I will be back in Southern California as you read this.

After taking a break one afternoon and catching a few waist-highs on my Papa Sau at Pine Trees in Hanalei, I grabbed my phone and a can of beer and looked for a place in the shade of the ironwood trees to check my email. The only picnic table available was already occupied by a young woman with a supermarket sushi lunch spread and a bottle of Corona.

“Mind if I share this for a minute? Swear I won’t bother you with another word.”

“Sure thing,” she said. “Aloha.”

After five or six minutes, she looked up from her own phone. “You local?”

“Kind of, yeah,” I replied.

“Me, too,” she said. “I mean, I grew up here in Kapa’a.”

“Nice.”

“But when I got married, we moved to Maui.”

“Nice.”

“Yeah. Only — well, we were living in Lahaina.”

That caught my attention. I put down my phone.

“Oh, no,” I said. “I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah,” she said, introducing herself as Danielle. “Nice apartment on Front Street. All we had time to grab was three surfboards, our dog and our cat. Everything’s gone. All I can tell you is that it’s been even worse than you’ve heard.”

And she proceeded to regale me with her and her husband’s story of having to flee that gorgeous little town as the wind-blown wildfire bore down on it, killing 97 and leaving thousands such as themselves homeless.

“There’s still about 8,000 of us without a place to stay, and no work — nothing. They put us up in a hotel for a while. No power. It’s hot down there these days. No fans or AC. Then even that expired. We just had to leave. Now we’re staying with my dad here, and can’t find a place of our own. They want like $2,700 for a one-bedroom, and no one wants us with our pets.”

It wasn’t climate change alone that caused the Maui fires. But the weather on that western shore is much drier than it used to be, and the land use is vastly different than formerly, with  invasive grasses providing fuel for the deadliest fire in recent American history.

Here in the Islands, while climate activists and politicians would agree that what they can do won’t by itself change the entire global crisis, they are doing something anyway. And I say good on them.

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As Jennifer Hijazi of Bloomberg reported this month, “When it comes to mitigating climate change, ‘yesterday’s good enough has become today’s unacceptable.’ That was what judges on Hawaii’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this year, in the first U.S. decision to declare a stable climate as an affirmative right.” At the “state’s special environmental court — one of only two designated environmental courts nationwide — a youth coalition is pursuing a first-of-its-kind constitutional lawsuit against the state’s transportation department for approving high-emission projects.”

Looking out the window here, with the Pacific just below me, the crisis is already real. The predicted 3.2-foot rise in the sea level by the end of this century would have the waves almost lapping at the lanai.

Denise Antolini, a retired law professor, told Bloomberg she “credits Hawaii’s emergence as a climate litigation trailblazer to a ‘perfect triangle’ of influences: strong Native Hawaiian rights, robust environmental protections and the inclusion of natural resources in the state’s public trust doctrine, which has roots in Indigenous law.”

The 50th state is fighting back. Mahalo for that, Kama’aina.

Larry Wilson is on the Southern California News Group editorial board. [email protected]

​ Orange County Register 

817,669 Californians left in 2022. Which state did they move to?

• November 11, 2023

California lost 817,669 residents to other states in 2022.

No state had a larger outflow of its population to other parts of the nation, according to Census Bureau data. New York was No. 2 with 545,598 exits, followed by Texas (494,077), Florida (489,905) and Illinois (344,027).

So where did ex-Californians move to in 2022? And how did that flow change over the year?

Location. Location. Location.

Texas was the No. 1 spot for ex-Californians with 102,442 relocations. Then came Arizona (74,157), Florida (50,701), Washington (49,968) and Nevada (48,836).

The least popular states included Delaware, which snared only 660 Californians, followed by Vermont (855), West Virginia (879), Rhode Island (919) and South Dakota (957).

Consider these moves as a share of a state’s population. Or, thinking about the flow another way: What are the odds someone would meet a new California transplant in another state?

Nevada has the highest concentration of former Californians in the Exiting Class of 2022, at 155 per 10,000 residents. Then comes Idaho (140), Arizona (102), Oregon (87) and Hawaii (74).

WHAT EXODUS? California has 4th ‘stickiest’ population in US, says Dallas Fed

Conversely, where is it hard to find a newly minted ex-Californian? West Virginia was tops at 5 per 10,000, then Mississippi at 6, and Delaware, New Jersey and Iowa at 7.

By the way, how common are new ex-Californians in the state’s big rivals? Texas was No. 14 at 35 per 10,000 and Florida was No. 23 at 23.

The swings

The population flow out of California is by no means static. Last year, 23,396 fewer Golden Staters left than the year before – a 3% drop from 2021.

And destinations changed, too. Florida had 2022’s biggest increase in gaining former Golden Staters at 13,237. Then came Arizona (4,725), Alabama (4,643), Massachusetts (3,503) and Kentucky (3,386).

At the other end of the spectrum, Oregon’s inflow shrank by 15,194 – the No. 1 drop among the states. Then came Nevada (off 13,601), Washington (off 7,608), Hawaii (off 5,554) and Texas (off 5,104).

Or you can look at the one-year change in migration in percentage-point terms.

Delaware’s flow of inbound Californians grew by 469%, followed by West Virginia (139%), Alabama (138%), Kentucky (130%) and Louisiana (41%).

RENT TRENDS: What’s available – and what are landlords charging? CLICK HERE!

The largest shrinkage was Nebraska’s 68% loss, then came Rhode Island (off 68%), Iowa (off 58%), South Dakota (off 43%) and Wyoming (off 40%).

Rival Texas ranked No. 30 with a 5% dip. Florida was No. 8 with its 35% jump.

Bottom line

Among the smaller number of Californians moving out, there seems to be a simmering desire for life east of the Mississippi River.

Yes, Western states are still the top destination, taking in 474,235 from California last year vs. the East’s 343,434.

REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER: Get our free ‘Home Stretch’ by email. SUBSCRIBE HERE!

But the West’s Golden State intake was down 54,287 from 2021 compared with the East’s 30,891 increase.

So, the East grew its share of the California outflow – grabbing 42% of former Golden Staters last year vs. 37% in 2021.

Caveat

As I often point out, California is better than you think at retaining its residents.

Consider the outflow as a share of the state’s population.

In 2022, 2.1% of Californians left for elsewhere in the US, but 2.5% of all Americans switched states.

Only eight states had a smaller share of its residents leave in 2022 topped by Texas, Michigan and Ohio at 1.7%. And Florida had a 2.3% exit rate.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]

Leaving California?

Which state ‘culture’ is best alternative?
Where ‘best state’ rankings tell you to go
What states are safest?
Here are the healthiest states
Want ‘fun’ lifestyle? Move here
States with the strongest job markets
What state is the best bargain?
Bottom line: Where you should go!

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​ Orange County Register 

Why these drought-tolerant grasses can light up your winter garden

• November 11, 2023

For everything you ever wanted to know about ornamental grasses, I recommend perusing “Grasses for Gardens and Landscapes” by Neil Lucas (Timber Press). 

At the outset, Lucas extols the ‘seasonality’ of grasses, as they keep our interest throughout the year, changing as the months go by. Speaking of deciduous grasses – to be cut within a few inches of the ground before regrowth in the spring – he draws attention to “their annual miracle of fast green growth, magnificent flower, and autumnal tints, followed by their winter brown coats standing tall and resolute until the following spring.” 

Certain grasses have an allure all winter long due to their persistent luminescent flowers which light up the garden under sunless skies. Here, the Miscanthus genus takes center stage, with species such as silver banner grass (Miscanthus saccharifolius), Miscanthus sinensis var. Silver Charm, and Miscanthus sinensis var. Fire Dragon resplendent with glowing silvery white flowers in winter. Fire Dragon has the added bonus of foliage that turns maroon and burgundy in the fall and stays that way through the winter months. 

In truth, you could create a garden of nothing but Miscanthus species and cultivars due to the wide spectrum of eye-catching effects produced among them. Indeed, more than 50 different Miscanthus selections are featured in this volume. They include Miscanthus x giganteus, whose brilliant green fountainesque foliage can reach ten feet in height, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Bandwidth’ with discrete yellow bands running the length of four-foot foliage, and Miscanthus sinensis Red Cloud, Red Spear, and Red Zenith, all of which bear reddish inflorescences. 

Keep in mind that the foliage of ornamental grasses is not only green. You will find them with leaves that are blue, red, pink, purple, as in purple fountain grass (Pennisetum x advena var. Rubrum), gold, or chartreuse, too. I could easily imagine a whole yard of perennial grasses in this melange of colors. Many of them are highly drought-tolerant and would only need an occasional hosing down once established in the garden. Incidentally, if you fancy pink, you will want to plant pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) and pink crystals (Melinis nerviglumis) due to the enormous clouds of pink flowers that they provide.

I was curious to see what the author had to say about feather grass (Nassella tenuissima). I was curious because it is easy to be seduced by this grass – I know I was – at first sight, especially in the fall when its needle-thin foliar tresses turn tawny at their tips until they are completely golden and softly inviting too. The problem is its invasiveness so that, before you know it, feather grass will be growing in your neighbors’ gardens as well, whether they like it or not. The good news is that feather grass is not deep-rooted and you can be rid of it without too much effort. Although its capacity to set seed is mentioned, implying that its self-sowing could be an issue, no explicit warning about its invasiveness is given in this book.

Another grass that I wanted to find was feathertop (Pennisetum villosum). Ever since I saw it growing as a ground cover on a parkway strip, I was wondering about its utility as a lawn substitute. I learned here that it normally grows to a height of around three feet but, based on what I saw, foot traffic merely flattens, as opposed to killing it. Its white flowers, resembling caterpillars, are its salient feature. In warm climates such as ours, it is a perennial and I would not hesitate to plant it where people occasionally walk or exit their cars, as in a parkway between sidewalk and street.

Where grasses are concerned, as in garden design generally, mass planting is recommended. With so many selections to choose from, you may be tempted to plant a smorgasbord of grasses. Although this may be justified if, as alluded to above, you want to create a rainbow of foliar colors or perhaps an expanse of different species that have silvery flowers in common, where a dramatic effect is desired, staying with one or two or, at most, three species, is generally recommended.

California native of the week: Beargrass (Nolina parryi) is a legacy plant that is meant for gardens that will be handed down from the present generation to the next, at least. I say this because it may take more than 30 years for a seed-grown plant to flower although it can be assumed that potted specimens will produce a flower in a shorter period of time. Rosettes that will remind you of yuccas may expand in a clump up to 15 feet across, yet leaves are soft, unlike sharply pointed yucca leaves. Eventually, beargrass will grow up to 12 feet tall and its caudex or basal stem, from which new growth arises and which stores water, may reach a diameter of two feet. Flower spikes are worth waiting for as they are eight feet tall and bloom from mid-spring into summer. Nolina parryi is available by mail order from anniesannuals.com.

Do you have any ornamental grasses to recommend? If so, tell me about them in an email to [email protected]. Your horizontally-oriented photos of unusual plants (which may be published) are always welcome as well as recommended gardening practices in addition to questions and comments about any plant species. 

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​ Orange County Register 

The many ways that California’s online age-verification law is unconstitutional

• November 11, 2023

California lawmakers passed, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA) last year. The law imposes an age-assurance requirement on websites, which means regulated businesses must estimate the age of their users with “a reasonable level of certainty appropriate to the risks that arise from the data management practices of the business.”

NetChoice, a trade organization representing tech companies and platforms, challenged this unconstitutional imposition on California citizens and businesses in federal court. On Sept.18, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman ordered the state not to implement the law until the case is decided. Freeman, appointed by then-President Barack Obama, agreed with NetChoice that the law’s demands likely run counter to the right of citizens to access online content and free speech protected under the First Amendment.

There are many reasons this law should be overturned. The primary ways to determine a user’s age online are self-reporting, document review, and automated age estimation. Self-reporting checking a box or entering your birthdate—doesn’t meet the law’s requirements. Automated age estimation means using biometrics, like face scans, to determine the age of the person trying to log in.

Document review means showing your driver’s license or other government-issued identification to verify your identity and age. Sharing your official ID or allowing your face to be scanned to visit virtually any online location means sharing private information with every website operator that can be used to steal your identity, whether or not you trust them. You can’t even inspect the website first to see if it is worth sharing your identity. Thus, the law creates tremendous risk for everyone who wants to go online and would be a boon for every scammer itching to get your identity.

Judge Freeman noted the law compromises privacy, writing that it is “actually likely to exacerbate the problem by inducing covered businesses to require consumers, including children, to divulge additional personal information.”

That alone is enough reason to thank the court for blocking it. However, the CAADC has other troublesome implications.

Given the risks of potential privacy violations, people would likely become choosier about which websites they visit. Kids would have to think about how much they want to risk their identity online when researching a school assignment and doing things online. Likewise, when adults attempt to comparison shop for cheaper prices, they’ll have to decide how many places they want to share their sensitive personal information. Ultimately, we’ll all have less access to online information, goods, and services.

And the same goes for free speech. How many news sites, blogs, and apps are you willing to share your sensitive personal information with to read or watch their content? How much less information will you see as a result of your reluctance to share your documents or data? Readers will go to fewer websites, and content publishers will see drops in visitors due to the requirements.

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U.S. courts have repeatedly rejected federal and state laws that impose online age-authentication requirements as violations of the First Amendment. California’s attempt to get around precedents by calling for age “assurance” rather than authentication does not pass constitutional muster.

In 1996, Congress enacted the Communications Decency Act, which the Supreme Court largely struck down in Reno v. ACLU as a vague and content-based restriction of protected speech under the First Amendment. In 1998, Congress passed the Child Online Protection Act, which contained an age-verification provision and was also rejected by the Supreme Court. In addition, several states have passed similar laws that were declared unconstitutional. California’s latest attempt to impose age verification will likely go the same way.

Common sense and a quick look at the Constitution should have killed the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act before it was passed.

Dr. Adrian Moore is Vice President at Reason Foundation. Eric Goldman is a law professor at Santa Clara University.   

​ Orange County Register 

More Crystal Cove cottages are about to be available — tips on how to score

• November 11, 2023

Stepping into the Crystal Cove cottages is like taking a time machine to a simpler time.

You won’t find a television, radio, phone or even a clock in any of these beachside retreats – even internet connection is spotty. But what you will find is a treasure trove of history and plenty of downtime to build memories with friends, family and loved ones.

“It’s not a luxury hotel. It’s not about that,” said Randy Gamache, project manager for the Crystal Cove Management Company, who gave a sneak peek at some of the newly-renovated North Beach cottages being readied for overnight stays. “The whole idea is to relax, enjoy your family and enjoy the beach. And that’s why it’s so important to us, bringing family and history together.”

Eight newly-renovated units that have been shuttered since 2001 will be up for grabs starting Monday, Nov. 13. But be warned, it will be no easy feat to nab one of these coveted coastal cottages.

The more than two dozen on the south end open since 2006 are among the most in-demand State Parks “campsites,” gobbled up within seconds of reservations opening. The North Beach cottages are expected to be just as hard to reserve for people wanting a unique overnight stay right on the sand.

Here’s what to know if you want to give it a shot:

A month of reservations will open at 8 a.m. on Monday at reservecalifornia.com. The overnight stays start on Nov. 20 through Dec. 20, a soft opening so the Crystal Cove folks can work out any kinks with the newly restored cottages.

Then, by the end of the month – no exact date has been announced – another wave of reservations will open for the period between Dec. 20 through March 1, 2024.

Tip: Be logged in and have your credit card ready to go, know which date and cottage you want and be ready to have very fast fingers right when the clock strikes 8. You might want to have a back up cottage or dates in mind in case the one you want gets scooped up or even enlist friends and family to try for the desired cottages to better your chances.

The first batch of eight units are among 17 cottages expected to all be open by 2026 in a $55-million project that’s doubling what is currently available.

So, why are these cottages so high in demand?

While the beachfront location can’t be beat, it’s more than just the soft sand and glistening blue sea that’s the lure.

Wedged between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, the area has a storied past.

The tucked away stretch of coast was first used as movie sets for early-era films such as “Treasure Island” in 1918, and the palm-frond huts built by crews were left behind.

When the Pacific Coast Highway was built in the ’20s, tourists started coming down for day trips, some setting up tents and staying overnight.

Some visitors liked it so much they cobbled together makeshift cottages using lumber from capsized ships or finding leftover building materials from projects further inland as the region started to be built up.

The area became even more popular in the postwar era of the ’40s, and for the next few decades a tight-knit community would either live there full-time or use their cottages as family getaways.

The cottages grew and rooms would be added wherever space allowed. Sometimes, a person had to go outside and down a set of stairs to reach the toilet or shower.

The designs – or lack of – gave the cottages what’s called vernacular architecture, meaning there were no plans, specifications or inspections during their build, eventually earning the area its designation as a historical landmark. Few examples of this colorful, creative, makeshift style – once popular along California’s coastline – still exist today, instead most were replaced by stricter building codes and master-planned communities.

“This is a real, true part of history,” Gamache said. “Our main goal is to maintain as much as the historic fabric as we possibly can.”

His job for the past five years has been to make sure each cottage stays true to its original design – it’s been no easy task to refurbish original fixtures, tiles and tubs, or hunt down pieces as close as possible to the vintage versions.

Gamache on a recent day gave a tour of some of the intricate details that might go overlooked, starting in Cottage #6, dubbed the Hawaiian Bungalow.

All of the rust-colored shingles set outside along the front are original from the 1930s, as are the white scallop accents under the window.

“People had a sense of style back in the day,” he said.

The floors in this cottage are original, except for the kitchen, but that area has the original poppy red color just as it did in the ’30s.

Other elements had to be changed, functionally, like this cottage’s original shower required walking outside and down a staircase and has been altered for the privacy of guests. Structural beams had to be added to the ceilings, as did sprinklers, to meet fire codes.

Related links

Crystal Cove’s latest restoration focuses on past, but also a future facing climate change
Crystal Cove cottage area touts its unique historic past, but much still to be done for the future
Coveted Crystal Cove cottages
A paradise to be shared
Cottages tug at visitors’ hearts

Rustic Retreat #8 is among Gamache’s favorites, he said, with tattered “ghost pictures” cut from magazines still lining the bedroom wall.

“It will, over time, disappear. There’s nothing we can do about it,” he said, adding they are going to place Plexiglas over them to try and slow the process.

Look on the side of the kitchen sink for hidden, colorful jellybean tiles, a small detail most people will miss.

“If I don’t point them out, people wouldn’t know because they are not looking for them,” Gamache said. “That’s what I love.”

Little Grass Shack #7 has its original white tub, mirror and towel bar used by a family that passed the cottage down through generations.

One detail not to be missed is the growth chart written on the bedroom door by John Adamson and wife, Diane, whose family had owned the cottage since 1939.

It shows son Tristen’s height through the years as he got older – right up until July 1, 2001, seven days before the family was evicted by State Parks so the cottages could be transformed into a public overnight destination, a favored plan over proposals for a mega luxury hotel that was defeated by longtime residents and other opponents.

Adamson spends his retirement years working at the cottages in guest services for the Crystal Cove Conservancy, slowly watching his old home come back to life. He reminisced about how his son grew up on the beach, learning to swim and surf in their front yard, and how he and his wife would enjoy nightly sunset cocktails on the deck looking out at the sea.

It’s a nostalgic seaside story many of the residents shared: catching abalone and lobster for that night’s dinner, toasting to the martini flag at sunset, stealing kisses on the sand with summer flings.

And now, it’s time for the next chapter of Crystal Cove to allow more people to make even more memories to cherish.

“Hopefully, they will see what it was like to live here and they can experience that, if they are lucky enough,” Adamson said. “I’m hoping they’ll see what this little slice of heaven was like all those years ago and how the families lived. I hope they’ll take away some of the history of Crystal Cove with them.”

Want a peak at the newly renovated cottages? There will be a North Beach Open House event for the public from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, to get a glimpse inside. Go to crystalcove.org to RSVP.

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​ Orange County Register 

Home decor: A little bit of great beats a lot of mediocre

• November 11, 2023

“I think of you every time I buy soap,” says the young woman, a friend of my daughter’s from college. We are chatting at a wedding. “Triple-milled,” she continues. “Your daughter drilled this into my head.”

I’m not sure how to take this.

“Well, I’m glad some lessons have sunk in,” I say.

My son-in-law overhears this exchange and chimes in, “How about the time she said that if anyone ever smothers her with a pillow, she hopes it has a 400-thread-count, Egyptian cotton pillowcase.”

“I said that?”

He nods vigorously. I don’t recall that, but It sounds like the way I would want to go.

Though the soap-and-linen dialogue may seem trifling, it lies at the heart of a topic I’ve thought a lot about and written a lot about this past year —rightsizing. It’s the subject of my next book, which will come out in January.

Here I thought I was addressing my generation when exploring how to decide where to live, in what size house and with what stuff to create a rightsized life, but the younger generation is tuning in, too. Living a rightsized life means not only having just enough house in just the right place, but also furnishing it with the fewest, best-performing household goods possible.

The message applies to all ages.

That means choosing only those sheets, towels, soaps, knives, pans, wineglasses, furnishings and other household basics that excel at their jobs and that elevate your life. Owning fewer, higher-quality items leads to living large while spending less. It’s the key to gracious, clutter-free, rightsized living.

Imagine no more sheets that don’t fit right and don’t breathe, no more towels that aren’t thirsty, no harsh bath soap that dissolves into the drain after three showers, no pans that scorch your food, no pillows that fall flat, no sofas that you avoid because they aren’t comfortable. Instead, everything you have is a pleasure to use and look at and live with. It was all money well and thoughtfully spent.

Unfortunately, many homes are filled with the opposite: subpar products that aren’t quite right, that don’t quite work, and that we continue to buy wrong, because we don’t always know how to buy them right. Then, because we feel guilty getting rid of these barely used items, they clog our cupboards, closets, and lives … unless we learn how to buy them right.

That was part of my aim when I wrote this book, because I love nice things but hate to waste money. I wanted to discover — and help you discover — the luxury of less. So I interviewed experts on the various staples needed to outfit every room of the house, from tea towels to sectionals, and teased out what makes some items exceptional and how to buy those everyday items right.

Here’s the SparkNotes version so you, too, can buy once and buy right.

Study up. Become a student of quality. Look beyond the brand, packaging hype and marketing ploys to discover the properties that make a product the best in its class. To pick great household products out from a noisy and confusing line-up, learn about the production process, the materials used to make them and when to choose one material over another: linen or cotton, crystal or glass, cast iron or stainless-steel? Understand why you should choose hand-knotted rugs over machine-made ones, triple vs. single-milled soap and the best chromium-nickel ratio in flatware (18/10).

Avoid cooking sets. Big box sets of pots and pans and knives seem like a bargain, but they contain filler pieces you will likely never use. Buy good pans and good knives one at a time.

Try before you buy. Before investing in a full set of sheets or towels, buy a pillowcase and a face towel. Use them, wash them and use them again to make sure you like the feel and function. You can also test drive area rugs by purchasing (and returning) the smallest size — 2 by 3 feet — and seeing how the colors and pattern look in your home before you invest in the 9 by 12.

Expect to spend a bit more initially. Don’t waste your money on subpar products. In the end they’re more expensive.

Purchase and purge with confidence. With a fundamental understanding of the properties that make basic household items work better, you will become a more discerning consumer, be able to confidently purge cupboards and closets, and surround yourself with quality not clutter.

Make this your mantra: A small amount of great beats a lot of mediocre.

Marni Jameson is the author of seven home and lifestyle books including “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow,” due out Jan. 2. Reach her at marnijameson.com.

​ Orange County Register 

A tour of Hydraflow offers a look at one family’s legacy and challenges ahead

• November 11, 2023

As I’ve shared in previous columns, much of my time is dedicated to counseling family businesses, those closely held manufacturers and logistics providers that form the backbone of our local economies.

Often, my involvement is sparked by pivotal moments, such as a succession plan or the acquisition of a competitor. On the flip side, I’ve witnessed family-owned companies being acquired by private equity groups on buying sprees, seeking to acquire, fix, and flip. In nearly every scenario, a common thread emerges – a commercial real estate requirement, most frequently the need to dispose of excess facilities.

Recently, I had the privilege of gaining insights from a family-owned and operated manufacturing company right here in Orange County.

While no major transition is currently underway at Hydraflow, I believe that sitting down with a family deeply entrenched in our local business landscape would offer valuable perspectives.

Thanks to Pat Soldano of Family Enterprise USA, an advocacy group championing family businesses, I had the opportunity to connect with the leadership team at Hydraflow – Cindy Ayloush, CEO and daughter of the founder, and her children, Sasha and Ramsey.

Perched atop a hill in Fullerton, Hydraflow occupies a 174,000-square-foot facility on what was once part of the vast Hughes Aerospace campus.

Designed by Ware Malcolm, another stalwart in our county’s business community, and constructed by Snyder Langston in the early 2000s, this facility is a testament to Hydraflow’s commitment to growth and innovation.

Having toured countless manufacturing plants, I was struck by the impeccable cleanliness and efficiency of the layout. However, what truly stood out was the palpable sense of family permeating the atmosphere, evident not only in their operations but also in the abundance of company swag proudly worn by the staff.

Tragically, Cindy’s dad and founder of Hydraflow, Leonard Edward (Len) Ullrich passed away shortly after the move on Feb. 7, 2003. He had faithfully shepherded the company through five decades, weathering various challenges and multiple relocations across east Los Angeles County.

I’m certain, Len would be blushing with pride if he could witness his legacy.

Ullrich laid the foundation for Hydraflow’s journey in 1961 when it was a mere two-employee operation working out of a converted two-car garage in Maywood. Back then, it bore the name Hydraflow Supply and began as an industrial hose distributor.

Len’s vision extended beyond mere distribution, as he aspired to become a designer and manufacturer. With prudent foresight, he chose to slowly nurture his customer base while maintaining the distributorship.

The pivotal shift toward design and manufacturing took place in 1968, and in 1970, Hydraflow expanded to a larger facility in the City of Commerce. Over the years, their business extended its reach into both military and commercial aircraft sectors. The 1970s marked a significant turning point, with Hydraflow finding its niche in low-pressure fluid transfer products. Through the 80s and 90s, the company continued its steady growth trajectory.

According to Cindy, from its inception, Hydraflow has been grounded in the values that Len held dear – customer service, hard work, frugality, family and ethics. These family values formed the bedrock of the company’s culture and have continued to guide its growth. Today, with over 250 employees, Hydraflow is renowned for its expertise in designing and fabricating low-pressure fluid transfer components tailored for aerospace and high-technology applications.

But as with any long-standing family business, Hydraflow faces its share of challenges. Material shortages, compliance and regulatory complexities, finding and maintaining quality employees, and generational pass-throughs are just a few of the hurdles they navigate.

These challenges reflect the evolving landscape that family-owned businesses navigate. However, Hydraflow’s ability to address and adapt to these challenges showcases its resilience and adaptability. They remain dedicated to preserving their family legacy while thriving in a competitive business environment.

Hydraflow’s journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of family-owned businesses. Their story reflects the values and vision of their founder, the dedication of their leadership, and the commitment to serving their customers and community. As we celebrate the success of companies like Hydraflow, we are reminded of the strength and innovation that family-owned businesses bring to our local economies.

Allen Buchanan is a principal and commercial real estate broker at Lee & Associates, Orange. He can be reached at 714.564.7104 or [email protected].

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