Gadget Stacking
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What is gadget stacking?
When we started training our cat Roxy to be able to walk outside on a harness and leash we occasionally came across situations that she’d been exposed to before which caused her to have a meltdown and get totally stressed out. It was difficult to witness as we only wanted her to have positive experiences and join us in our love of the outdoors.
Roxy enjoying time in the forest - quiet wooded areas with well defined paths are her favourite places to explore. (EXIF data iPhone)
I had a breakthrough when I learned about trigger stacking which is when a dog or cat experiences multiple stressful events (positive or negative) in a short amount of time, without time to calm down between each event. This can lead to increased excitement, anxiety or aggression.
A situation that on its own would be fine could result in a heightened emotional outcome for her if it was paired with one or more emotionally heightened situations - trigger stacking.
For example, Roxy is not a big fan of windy days or wide open spaces when we’re walking. We once took her for a walk on a new hike at Lake Helen in the Rockies and she was enjoying herself until we came to a wide open area - we had reached an altitude where there were alpine meadows and she was not excited about this section of the trail, but continued to walk with us.
Roxy taking in the scenery at a hike at Peyto Lake. (EXIF data f5.6, 1/250s, 120mm, ISO100)
When we reached the lake and stopped for lunch there were a lot of people around (again not something she’s a big fan of) and then the wind picked up and that tipped her over the edge. She started meowing and wanting to get back into her backpack (her safe spot) because the combination was just too much for her.
As soon as we dropped back below the meadow and into the forested area again she calmed down and started to walk again.
Awareness of trigger stacking enables us to navigate these situations more effectively by ensuring that we take built in calming breaks to allow her to reset before continuing.
How does this relate to gadgets?
You might be wondering where I’m going with this, but please stick with me… as it will hopefully make sense shortly.
One of my most read blog posts was about GAS - gear acquisition syndrome - or the heightened desire for something new with an expectation that it will enhance your ability or experience. Well it’s clear that I love gadgets and even more so when they save me time or do something that I can’t do without the gadget.
Using my borescope to check for nests and eggs when bluebird monitoring (EXIF data iPhone)
Well for me - gadget stacking is when I can take two or more gadgets and use them to create something that I can’t do without the combination (i.e., I can’t do it with a single gadget alone) - this makes me feel like I’m really winning (wow that sounds really weird when I reread that sentence!)
Bluebird nestlings viewed on the borescope screen. (EXIF data - borescope image)
For example using my borescope when doing mountain bluebird monitoring so that I can see inside the nest box without removing the roof and disturbing the birds is using one gadget and then when I couple that with my cordless drill to fix boxes with loose sides so that the birds stay secure in their home - that is gadget stacking.
Ok I’m not sure if gadget stacking is a real thing, but if it’s not - it should be!
How did my recent obsession with gadget stacking start?
Well my most recent obsession with gadget stacking really started from two separate issues I was trying to solve and this led to a convergence of gadgets - kind of like gadget stacking utopia.
Kory and I have a morning routine that includes a morning coffee - now I’m not a big coffee drinker (in fact I didn’t drink coffee until a few years ago), but I have come to enjoy a nice creamy morning latte. Now somehow over the time that Kory and I have been enjoying this treat we’ve moved away from drinking dairy and substituted oat milk.
Almond Cow - nut milk maker. (EXIF data - iPhone - portrait mode)
Our doctor has been trying to get us to move away from oat milk because of the preservatives and stabilizers in the store bought products - not a good thing to hear! She then went on to suggest substituting some kind of nut milk and even recommended getting The Almond Cow. I know you’re wondering if that is a typo and I can confirm that it is not - there is such a gadget as an Almond Cow.
Almond cow basket containing soaked almonds and pulverizing unit. (EXIF data - iPhone image)
You put 1/2 cup of almonds (they don’t have to be soaked, but I find it helps to soak them in water for at least 1/2 hr) into the basket and attach it to the pulverizer. Then place this mechanism into the reservoir containing 5 cups of water - a touch of salt and maple syrup.
Cow Button on the Almond Cow. (EXIF data - iPhone image).
Lock it in place and press the cow button (I’m not kidding about the cow button - it’s the best part!) and 2 minutes later you have almond milk (the device also makes cashew milk and a whole host of other “milks”).
In the basket is the pulverized remains of the almonds once they’ve been mulched, so there’s no filtering of the milk required.
Soon I was making all sorts of nut milks and turning my back on the oat milk lattes to now enjoy almond or cashew milk lattes. Life was good - well almost.
How is this gadget stacking?
Hang on a moment - I’m getting there! So as I mentioned I’m enjoying healthier options for my morning coffee and enjoying using my new gadget (Almond Cow) when I started to wonder about using the almond milk for my Ninja Creami high protein ice cream (I wrote about it here) rather than purchasing nut milk - well obviously this was an easy substitution that worked really well.
So now I’m making almond milk for my morning coffee and my high protein ice cream and life is good - well again - almost. Remember I mentioned that the by-product of the Almond Cow is the pulverized almond leftovers - well I was accumulating quite a bit of the by-product and tossing it out seemed like such a waste, so I did some reading and found a great new way to use the Almond Cow leftovers.
I started dehydrating the mixture by heating it over a low heat on the stove, adding a bit of cinnamon and brown sugar and voila - I have the topping for an apple crisp. Pair this with the Ninja Creami vanilla ice cream I’m making and now life is beyond good!
Ninja Creami high protein chocolate ice cream. (EXIF data iPhone)
I mean I’m making almond milk (with the Almond Cow - gadget #1) and this is fulfilling my morning coffee routine need along with using it to make my high protein ice cream (double duty uses gives me bonus points) - and don’t forget that I use my Vitamix high speed blender to make the ice cream mixes (gadget #2). Add to this the using the pulp to make the crisp topping for apple crisp that gets coupled with the vanilla ice cream from using my Ninja Creami to make the ice cream (gadget #3) - this is truly gadget stacking at its finest.
Efficient, Effective and Enjoyable
I know that this is a bit of a lighter post, but I do have to admit to enjoying making batches of ice cream mix which is efficient and effective use of several of my gadgets - well actually it’s a hat trick of gadget stacking (that’s three in one)!
Do you enjoy using gadgets or are you more of a minimalist? I’d love to hear about your take on gadgets in the comments below or drop me a note directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
Colourful mural in Iceland reminds me of the joy I feel when I successfully gadget stack (a stretch for relevance I know, but I do like this image). (EXIF data f7.1, 1/400s, 120mm, ISO800)
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
