Funny side note

I didn't get all the windows covered with the plastic stuff yet, but I did the one in my bedroom and this morning I got to watch Emmy be denied when she tried to jump on the little ledge which is now covered with plastic.  She jumped like normal but bounced off, she was not pleased to say the least.  Funny incident did result in three tiny tears in the sheeting but some tape should cover it.  Poor kitty is losing all her ledges for the season, an unexpected side effect.  As a devout animal lover, I will not deny a little twinge of remorse for the poor dear. (Though not enough to take the plastic down.)

Baby, it's cold outside!

Given the drop in temperature and the snowfall in my lovely corner of the world, I have decided to post on keeping those tootsies toasty. First, take stock. Look at yourself, how are you dressed right at this moment? Could you be wearing the same thing in April? May? September? You know, when it is warmer out? If so, you probably have your heat tuned higher then necessary. One of the joys of winter is bundling up in those cozy sweaters. So dress the part. You can save some energy (and some pennies) by turning down the thermostat. For example, at this moment, I have long johns, jeans, knee high socks, house slippers, long sleeved t-shirt, and perhaps the plushest, coziest house coat on the planet. (I am not wearing a sweater because the housecoat is soooo cozy, sweater tomorrow!)
Other things to do, check the windows - are there drafts? The coop is not the most sound of places, but as a renter, I am limited. So I invested in the Duck brand Window kits. The amount plastic is bothersome to me, but it is less impacting then the heat loss generated.
Also, something as simple as indulging in that cup of hot cocoa or tea. The internal warmth created helps bit the need for bumping up the thermo.
My other big step is to invest in a small space heater. I purchased a forced fan variety because they are safer for the furry friends. It pleasantly heats the little nook I prefer to sit in to watch a movie or read a book. I am keeping my heat between the 63-65 range and have been very cozy. Stay warm! Give something above a try or turn the heat down a degree or two. Remember, baby steps are as important as leaps, both keep you moving forward.

Baked Oatmeal

My favorite breakfast food.

1 cup oil
1 1/2 cup Sugar
4 eggs
Mix until glossy

6 cup quick oats
1 TB & 1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Salt
2 Cups milk
Add & beat until Blended
1 9x13 pan (or a bunch of little Pyrex or corning ware containers)
400 degrees 30-40 minutes

Options: add 2 peeled, cored apples and 1 tsp cinnamon or 1 cup raisins & 1 tsp cinnamon
I prefer to add this after, I don't like mushy raisins.

It doesn't raise a whole lot so fill the Pyrex about 3/4 full.

Breakfast to go.

Some mornings are hard to get out of bed, especially in the winter when the bed is so nice and toasty. As a result, sometimes breakfast is sacrificed. Well, maybe not sacrificed - more like postponed. Often I stop at the little coffeehouse on my way to work and purchase baked oatmeal or buy the "breakfast" option the school has for the students (or the really unhealthy muffins they have.) The problem with these is packaging (and transport but that maybe taking things to far.) I have been actively trying to avoid any and all Styrofoam use and individual packaged items. The aforementioned breakfast items violate both of these. So I decided to try to make my own baked oatmeal and freeze it. So I dug out the little Pyrex and corning ware containers and my large muffin muffin pan and got to experimenting. SUCCESS! Today I had a rushed morning, so I grabbed a baked oatmeal muffin out of the freezer, microwaved it at school and ate it while taking care of morning emails. Yeah! (and this will be cheaper in the long run for the frugalistas out there.) I will post the baked oatmeal recipe soon.

Embarrassment Ensues

So I can't believe it has been two months since I posted and that my last posting was about Whiskey. Good Grief! (To quote that good ol' boy, Charlie Brown...I have been watching way too much CB lately.) Yikes, I have nothing more to say. Hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, new posting for all four of my lovely followers to come.

Whiskey Wishes

an addendum to the previous post both my dear friend, Marilyn, and my dear mother (also a Marilyn) have suggested substituting whiskey for the water.... (shocking from my mom, but she swears our ancestors would highly recommend it....yes, I have some hill folk in the background.) So you can give it a try if you would like. (Check out Marilyn-the friend's comment to the previous post for some extra directions.) Me, I honestly don't have whiskey on hand, but perhaps that needs to change?

Better than Cough Syrup....

That's right, I have a better remedy the the OTC cough syrup. Honey and Lemon, yep, you heard me right. Prepare yourself some hot water than stir in 1 TBSP honey and 1 TBSP lemon juice. Drink and feel better. (I am on my third cup of the weekend.) Next time you have a cold or a cough or sore or ....well, you get the idea.....try it.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Cleaning agent extraordinaire!! Life is smelling sweet again in the chicken coop.

FYI

The apartment still reeks of rotten melon, ugh. A late night at work and I am greeted by stench. I am going to ignore it tonight and go to bed. Tomorrow, busting out the baking soda and vinegar....I will prevail!

Hmm, did you know......?

So do you know what happens when an aunt, who is notorious for giving away produce that is nearly past it's prime, gives you a watermelon and you leave it on the counter for two days? Amazingly enough, it spontaneously combusted. Yep, sure enough. I was washing dishes last night and I hear a loud pop, then a cat goes flying across the room. I turn around to see the watermelon split in half, pieces every where and lots of watermelon juice all over. (Of course, my cell phone was sitting there, taking a swim in the juice.) I thought, hmm, that's weird...so I walk over to clean it up and the smell tells me why it blew up.....note to self....cut the watermelon up right away!! Yuck, yuck, yuck! To top it off, it was 10:30pm, so I just put it in the trash to deal with later, and by the time I got home from work today my entire apartment smelled of rotting melon...blagh..so a quick trip to the dumpster and lots of open windows.

Tomato Leaves

So recently a friend of mine mentioned that she had purchased a soy candle that was tomato leaf scent. I told her I don't think I had ever bothered to smell tomato leaves. So I recently decided to take a whiff...oh wonderful. I am reminded of the simple pleasures nature has to offer yet again. This is a photo of my slowly ripening hearty cherry tomato plant. I love the smell. To twist a common adage, take time to stop and smell the tomato leaves today...you won't be disappointed.

Beans and Eggs Recipe

Now, with permission from the lovely Mary, the beans and eggs recipe I showed before. (Here is another poor quality photo showcasing my friend, Rachel, enjoying her dish, darn flash on the fritz.)

Cook beans until crisp tender. (You may steam them, boil them, whatever you prefer, we used the leftover beans from the night before.)

Fry an egg (to your preference, I go over medium) for each serving of beans.

Place a piece of cheese on top of each egg (Mary suggested cheddar, I had provolone, so that is what I used. ) Place in oven for until cheese melts. (I went with 350 that seems the catchall temp.)

While this is baking, for each serving saute one TB of butter, three TB of red wine vinegar, and one TB of dijon mustard. Whisk until creamy. Spoon desired amount on each serving. We found making 3-6-3 version for 3 servings a bit too much, so you may not need exactly one per serving depending on how much sauce you like. Also, I used spicy brown mustard instead of dijon, because, well, that's what I had so that's what I used.

Another variation I am excited to try is to switch out the beans for asparagus, yummy.....actually, I haven't eaten dinner yet, I may have to make this...

A gift idea.

So I tried to paste a photo but I am unable to figure it out. I did send the info somehow, which explains the 2-tier post. I am interested in using less plastic, yet I pack my lunch nearly day, I have mostly plastic containers, but I found the website http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/ and found the 2-tier tifin with plum brown carrier and sidekick for $34.95....hmmm, seems like a good birthday gift. It seems that someone's birthday is within three weeks....perhaps some family or friend type might be seeing this..makes you think huh... In all actuality the site has a plethora of neat products to check out if you are thinking about a life without plastic as well.

2-Tier Tiffin Combo Pack with Sidekick and Plum Brown Bag | Life Without Plastic Boutique

2-Tier Tiffin Combo Pack with Sidekick and Plum Brown Bag Life Without Plastic Boutique: "We want to make sure that you have all that you need to stay good to go. When you purchase this Combo Pack, you get a sidekick, a 2-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin Set* and a bag to carry. A great way to have all that you need for wherever you're going and eating.

Dimensions: Assembled: 5 1/2' H x 6 1/2' D (14 cm H X 16.5 cm D) Top Unit height: 2 1/2' (6.4 cm) Bottom Unit height: 2 3/4' (7 cm) Liquid Measurements: 4 3/4 cups (1.1 L), each unit

Sidekick Dimensions: 2 1/4' H x 2 1/2' D (10.2 cm H x 6.4 D) Liquid Measurements: 1/2 Cup (118 ml)"

First Tomato

It may not look like much to seasoned gardeners, but this was my first tomato of the season. I snapped a quick photo, then washed it and ate it! No fancy schmanciness here - just a tasty, warm from the sun treat, ah, heaven. I may have to try to be more serious in my honing my gardening skills. At least I semi-weeded this year, progress is progress after all.

Cooking again.

Sorry for the poor quality photo. However, this was an exciting cooking foray for me. My friend, Mary, gave me a lovely (and easy) recipe. It is green beans, a fried egg, cheese, and a yummy sauce to coat the entire thing. It was yummy. I will check with Mary and if she agrees I will post this wonderful quick dinner.

Sunflowers

I had some beautiful, humongous sunflowers in my garden They were chock full of buds. I was hoping for several more weeks of beauty. Then I return from visiting a friend to find the towering plants all on the ground. There had been a sudden downpour, the second in a week, and apparently it was too much for the stalks and they broke. sigh. So I cut out the some of the blossoms and I have two vases in my house to at least extend the blossoms for a few days. I also saved the once that were fully seeded. I will try to save them for next year. I have decided to up the sunflower planting over all next year. I do love them.

Fresh Produce and Successful Cooking Adventures

I felt I needed to post some good things to counteract the bad bit of "healthy" tasting muffins. So here are some good healthy tasting meals from recent adventures in cooking. The produce in all of these are fresh from farmer's markets or my garden.(There are a few potential exceptions, read on, you'll understand.) The rice/bean mix in the first photo were courtesy of a friend who made too much and gifted me with leftovers. (I love when she does this.) The lettuce is mine, a spicy mesclun mix. The salsa is Newman's Own. Tomatoes are farmer's market. Tortilla (which I toasted) are a whole wheat/flax seed blend. The second meal consisted of more of my lettuce edible flowers from the farmer's market. (If you have not ventured into edible flowers, it is a fun trip.) The cucumbers in the salad and the water (did you catch that, yes, there is a cucumber in the water, try it before you knock it) is another farmer's market find. The strawberries are from my mom who doesn't garden so are either purchased roadside or supermarket (but let's not pass judgement) but yummy. The beets are farmer's market find that have been sauteed in organic olive oil. (Yum, I love beets, again, let's not pass judgement.) The apparent sausage patties are actually morning star fake sausage patties. Not my favorite but still edible. I am working on trying to purchase less prepackaged frozen foods, because they are not the most ecologically sound wise.

Perserve Toothbrushes

Just renewed my toothbrush subscription from www.recycline.com! Don't forget to consider it next time you need a new toothbrush.

More Blackberries

The blackberry muffins were okay. I suppose I am used to very sweet, bad for you, cake like muffins, these were much more dense. I will freeze a few of them for quick breakfast once the school year starts. If I try furit muffins again, I will try a different recipe. I guess you can't win them all. I was told they were good by the few people who tried them, but I have a feeling they were being nice. Not bad, not great....I guess this is to keep me humble. On to a new recipe.

Blackberry Cobbler

Success! I found a recipe online and used some of my freshly picked blackberries, to make this incredible cobbler.....I know, humility is a gift of mine...anyway, the only downside is I have no vanilla ice cream in the house, sad, but true. Tomorrow I will rectify this situation by walking down to the homemade ice cream guy and buy a quart, reheat some cobbler and...ah, perfection! Try some seasonal baking, it is fun. Tomorrow I am going to get up early and make some blackberry muffins for my breakfast meeting.

Blackberry Pickin'

So confession time.....while I am a small town girl, love nature, loved going to camp all my life, have stepped in all sorts of , well you know, on a variety of farms (barefoot no less), I am a light weight when it comes to outdoorsy things. In fact, today I was called something akin to a pansy, I can't remember exactly the slight, but pansy is close enough. I went blackberry picking with some of the lovely ladies from my book club at the home of one of the ladies. I am shredded to bits from the 'stickers'. I am terrified I will have a killer poison ivy outbreak from the abundance of exposure. ....and I had several close encounters of the eight legged variety. (One such encounter elicited the pansy moniker.) I think three hours of berry picking is enough for me this summer. At least I am using seasonal local and seasonal food. I am going to risk 2 1/2 cups of blackberries in a cobbler tonight. I am having a company tomorrow morning at 9:30 am, is that to early to serve cobbler? Maybe I will find a muffin recipe. Hmm. In the meantime, I am researching homemade poison ivy remedies just in case. Photos of the cobbler process will come in a future post.

Taking in the View!

Just a cute little vacation from information for a cute little photo of Emmy grooming in front of the mirror. Awws all around.

Cooking Diva

Oh, yes, I am becoming a domestic goddess. Bow down to my culinary prowess.....okay, going a bit overboard here, I know. However, I am determined to learn how to cook. I have been using the Simply in Season cookbook I mentioned a few post back. The soup is the Zucchini Garden soup found on page 93. It is scrumptious! The other is a vegetable pancake thing. I was supposed to use a 9 in pie plate, but alas, I am without one. My mamacita has graciously offered me one of her spares for future endeavors. In the general cooking area, I am trying to use local and in season items (I have been bumming veggies from already fruitful gardens, mine is slow growing.) in my cooking. Check the cookbook out from the library and try the soup it is yummy and easy.

Eww, what's that smell?

So I have been testing out a variety of 'earthy' deodorants....I have said the above statement for a couple of them as I realized, darn, that smell is me! These are three that have performed more efficiently. I was very skeptical of the crystal one but it works fairly well, not overly convenient for a quick reapply later in the day due to the need to get it wet, but it works fairly good. I like the Kiss my Face the best but am a little concerned about the packaging involved for the roll-on. Hmmm. Things to ponder.

Garden Again

So a progress update on the garden: It's Growing!! I honestly was worried due to the late planting, but most everything is coming up. The second go of sunflowers didn't come up and only one measly clump of spinach came up but I had a good row of spicy mix lettuce. I was certain I was wasting my time on the watermelon and cantaloupe seeds because they were 'expired' but I have four vines of each started. Yeah. Some lettuce is ready, the rest is a waiting game.

Door Mat

So I needed a door mat for the front door. I found this one that is made from 100% recycled rubber. Not super cute, but in this case I needed function. Remember, your purchases contain power. If more people buy products made from recycled products there would be a greater demand for recycling. Give it some thought need time you shop!

Seasonal Cooking

This is a great cookbook that encourages seasonal cooking all year. It is separated into the four seasons allowing you to see what is available at the market. If you don't have a garden, you can find local foods at your farmers' market. Also, you can help by buying foods that are season at your local store. Seasonal food requires less transport to arrive to your table. You can find this cookbook at Amazon.com or at http://store.mpn.net/showproducts.cfm?FullCat=9 Give it a try it is a wonderful cookbook.

Garden Update

As of today everything is officially planted. The garden looks great and weed free.* We shall see how long it last.


*I did leave some weeds around the volunteer sunflowers. I was going to pull them, in fact was in the process of pulling them, when I noticed Rose was relaxing in her "jungle" paradise of those weeds. Since then I have noticed her hanging out there quite a bit, so I have decided to leave them there. FYI, Rose is one of the ferals I have TNRed (grammar?) She has taken up permanent residence on my porch and surrounding area. She was Porch Kitty until I broke done and named her. She is fully an outdoor cat, but if anyone wanted her for an indoor kitty, she is forever trying to come inside. I should post of photo of her in the sunflowers but I don't have one. Sad. Well, this post took a major side trip. Tee Hee. By the way, as of this post, Rose is the lovely cat featured as my profile photo.

Garage Sale Find or Exercise in Folly

After a breakfast and shopping with an old friend, I went to her neighbor's garage sale. My pal talked me into wheeling and dealing for this little table and chair set. I had been saying I wanted something to sit on my porch for tea and an occasional breakfast. My requirements were cheap to free. Well, I was able to secure this lovely set for $5. I am certain I overpaid, but they were asking $10, so what do you do. Tish convinced me I can easily reupholster the seat cushions and paint the set. So the adventure begins. Tish and I went to a fabric store and found some cute outdoor fabric and outdoor foam. I wanted to buy the bamboo foam, but it was for indoor use only. The process has been harder than I imagined. The heads of the screws that hold the seat in place were all striped so I had to for the cushions apart. (Holding my breath that I didn't break the chair.) Then the staples holding the fabric were rusted and difficult to extract. However, I persevered. Then I discovered that the foam is a smidge to short on one side, so I had to do some additional cutting, but after an hour and half, I have one seat cushion done. I will clean and spray paint the chair tomorrow and go from there. Eventually I would like to replace the table top with beveled glass (as was originally there) until then I am unsure what to do because the table top that is there is awful, any suggestions?

Adventures in Gardening

About a month ago, I had my lovely little plot plowed and tilled. Well, as sometimes things go, the time was never available to plant, so the weeds took over. The first photo gives a clue to the weed growth. The second shows my early progress and the volunteer sunflowers that I have decided to leave. The third is the gas tiller that I had planned to use to work up all the weeds, maybe not the greenest option but would have saved time. The final photo: The rickety, old, hand powered plow that is very difficult to use because it has definitely seen its better days years ago. As I am sure you are realizing, sometimes we must use the greenest option by force not choice. I could not for the life of me get the gas powered til to start so I spent an hour and half pushing this horrible contraption back and forth. Now I have three blisters but it is nearly ready to plant, I need to do a cursory raking to pull the weeds out, then planting time. This is apparently not for the faint at heart.

Gardening

Well, tomorrow begins my yearly escapade in gardening. I usually loss interest in the weeding process by mid-July. Maybe this year will be better, fresh produce straight from the garden is one of the great pleasures in life. So here is to optimism. Maybe this year will go better. Happy Hoeing. (Sorry, I can't help but giggle at that.)

Gross Alert - Proceed at your own Risk.

Okay, so it isn't as gross as all that, but some may find it a little gross to think about so if you have a sensitive disposition. However, while having a severe allergy issue, I looked around the room and saw all the piles of tissues I had used. For one, I was grossed out at the thought of cleaning them up, two, I was grossed out by the number of times I blew through, a tissue, and third, I was grossed out by the amount of waste I was contributing to by the massive usage of tissues. So, I thought about it and decided to give an old fashioned idea a try. Bring on the handkerchief! I have the big old school ones for allergy season and colds, and the more dainty, feminine ones for more daily use. I have grown to love them. I don't have to worry about blowing out and having "that" issue to deal with anymore. It is great. I had a friend mentioned she was grossed out by the idea of washing them and having that bodily fluid in her washer. However, I think it isn't any worse than washing your underwear.....think about it.

In praise of the toaster oven!

Again, a common sense suggestion, but when making small amounts of food, try to use a toaster oven rather than your conventional oven. Obviously, it takes much less energy to heat up a small toaster oven. I find that the small bar pan from Pampered chef is the perfect accessory to the toaster oven. I often use it to make french fries. So give it some thought.

A Break.

Spring Art Show, Next Year's Orders Due, and Field Trip all within Five days. This explains the previous and ongoing break in posting. Please be patient with me.

Vino

Ah, the love of a nice glass of wine. Organic is a great way to go, but right up there is patronizing a local winery. Around my neck of the woods there are several very nice local wineries. A nice perk is most have a tasting area and a restaurant. My favorite has a nice selection of whites and reds, and serve a wonderful wood fired pizza. Yummy. Makes me want to call the gals and head on over. Try out some local wineries near you. (Check out the super cool thrift store 70s era glass.)

Happy Earth Day!

I am too tired today to have a good posting but I wanted to acknowledge the day.

TNR photos

Here are some photos of the TNR process. I had two live traps set and covered near the feeding stations. I did not set food out the day before to make the bait more attractive. I used aromatic wet food in the traps. The traps are then covered with breathable fabric so the cats are more likely to go. The second photo is one of a trapped cat. (If you look in the first photo you can see the trap with burlap has been engaged.) The cat on the outside is Rose, she is a feral who has decided to be a tame cat. She was spayed during the first wave of TNR. The second the recovery room set up. I have a crate that is made for cats. I have it in a small room that can be closed off from my pets. Again the crate is kept covered to help keep the comfort of the cat during the recovery. It is important especially after a spay surgery to try and keep the cat comfortable and quiet for 48 hours. This timing really worked out for me. The two days I had her indoors in recovery, it was gray and rainy. However, release day was beautiful and sunny. This cat made a mad dash for her barn. We shall see how long before I see her again. I always have my vet use dissolving stitches so I don't have to worry about that. He also ear tips them while they are out. This is a process of removing the tip of one ear. This may sound cruel to some, however, it is the suggested method for typical TNR methods. It prevents cats from having unnecessary anesthesia and surgery only to find out they have already been trapped. Ear tipping will allow me to see immediately so I could just release the ear tipped cat.

TNR

Today is a TNR day. If you you don't know TNR stands for Trap - Neuter - Return. It is the most environmental and humane way to deal with a feral cat population. I will go into more detail in another post the difference between feral and stray cats. However, it is really early and I do need to start getting ready for work. I have set two live traps - Have-a-Heart, are the traps of my choosing, and made arrangements with a vet to perform the procedure at a reduced price. My dear sweet mother is dropping them off at the clinic as I must go to work at 6:00 or 6:30 and the clinic doesn't open til 8. I will pick them up in the afternoon after work. It will be interesting because I have to also take in Emmy, for her yearly vaccines. The ride home should sound like a choir of angels, tee hee. At least it is only a four mile drive. I have already in the first five minutes made on successful trap. Yeah. Slowly and surely I will sterilize all the barn cats around here. Granted, I have to combat the continual drop off of new cats. Ugh. More on that later.

Second Hand Spring

This lovely yellow trench was a purchase for Clothes Mentor, a consignment store. Gotta love second hand clothes. I absolutely love the feeling I get when I wear this, especially during gray rainy Spring days. I feel like walking sunshine. I added a fun little flower pin I recently purchased at a fair trade store. I will have to talk another photo with that. I, unfortunately, shut the clasp part of the belt in a door, breaking it, so now it is a tie belt, oh well, laugh and move on, I say. When cleaning out and or updating closet during spring cleaning, donate or sell old clothes. Goodwill is especially looking for donations. During tough economic times, they are in demand. Enjoy Spring!

UrbanBranches

So while procrastinating I was viewing other blogs. I know I am have a long way to go. One blog I really like in the environmental theme is at www.urbanbranches.blogspot.com. I have a long way to go to catch up to her level of blogging. Well, I guess we all need someone to emulate! Check it out. Her blog is from an urban standpoint versus my rural standpoint. A good contrast I suppose.

Delay in Construction

So I am delaying compost bin construction. I decided instead to use the last bit of my break to visit a dear friend in Goshen, Indiana. Plus, I am a bit intimidated about the bin. So I may enlist the services of my Daddo. He is handy with a hammer. I figured I completed my June goal on March 28th, so I can extend the timing of the March goal. My new time frame is Earth Day. (April 22nd for the those who may be a bit unaware.) Musing on Goshen: it is a lovely town. I heard on the news though it is one of the hardest hit areas in the nation of job losses right now. They are at about 19%, Yikes! I tried to help the local trade a bit though. I went to a local bookstore called "Books for Good" They collect used books from people, libraries, etc, and then donate them to various literacy programs around the world. They have recently ventured in to selling some of the books here to try and raise funds. They had a special of buy $30 and receive a free tote. Okay, so me in a bookstore easily equals $30. Yet another bag to take when shopping. Then today I went to a large fair trade store and used my own bag. As a special treat, if you bring your own bag during the month of April you get a piece of dark chocolate. Yeah, fun. We also visited a local potter were I purchased a cool olive oil dispenser. Whew, that is a lot of shopping .... I am done with that for now.....and I think I am done rambling for now as well.

Compost Bin

So my March goal was to set up a composting system. There is no reason not to. I have the space and the landlord's permission. However, I got so caught up in the car buying process this month (which was June's goal) that I got side tracked. So wish me luck. Tomorrow I shall wield my hammer and wire cutters and stumble my way through construction. I imagine it will be a funny sight. I will include photos. I am using a ramshackle of supplies, so I don't have to buy new. Apparently, there are great commercial composters out there (yes, I will buy one some day) but right now the better financial option is to beg and borrow from different sources. Dear Aunt Mary has some wood stakes in the barn I can have and I have some chicken wire left over from a sculpture project. Thursday, I will hit the flea market to see if I can find a pitchfork to turn the compost over.

Reusing Prom Dresses

So I have started a little project at my school. I collect use prom dresses and give them out to girls at my school who need or want them. I totally ripped the idea off of a news segment I saw on urban versions of this. I have given out four so far this year. I need to work on getting some stylish bigger girl sizes. I am hit again with the correlation between poverty and obesity. It is saddening. However, on a more positive note, I get to help make a special night for some girls. I know prom in general is not very green but it is so memorable to people and I am just trying to find ways to green it. I am happy to say last year the prom advisers invested in silverware to cut down on the waste of disposable plastic ware.

2009 Earth Hour

Here is a photo of Petunia (my cat) as we participated in last nights WWF sponsored Earth Hour. In case you missed it, Earth Hour was a campaign to raise awareness about energy consumption by encouraging folks to go without power for an hour 8:30 through 9:30. Many famous landmarks (the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, the Vegas Strip, etc.) participated in the campaign. If you are intrigued by the idea and were unaware of it happening, you can just pick your own earth hour. I am thinking of trying it once a week for a while. It was relaxing to have everything turned off. I realized I don't spend much time in silence. This was a pleasant side effect of turning everything off. Enjoy.

Calendar

This calendar was purchased at a locally owned bookstore (an eco plus) and is eco friendly (soy inks, recycled papers, etc. It is a reminder when possible try to purchase even small items in an eco way. Remember we all have great power in where our money flows.

Also, try to support independently owned establishments. Okay, on an completely related unrelated item. I went to Target and left with only

a diet coke with lime. Yeah for me.

Rechargeable Batteries

Okay, so this post is a bit on the lame side, because rechargeable batteries are a no brainer in the eco friendly path, but as I have mentioned before baby steps are the best path for most into a greener life. So if you have not made the plunge yet consider it. I started just with my AA and AAA batteries. I purchased the small travel charger and a couple packs of each size and as batteries died I replaced them with the rechargeable ones. Soon I felt compelled to buy the mondo recharger that services a wide range of rechargeable. I have been extremely happy with both. Some battery operated items need recharging more than others. (Digital cameras for instance.) However, they are battery hogs regardless of the type of battery used. One point I need to make in earnest whatever battery you choice. Dispose of them properly!! Please do not throw them in you regular trash. The components in the batteries are nasty and we definately do not want them leaching into our soil. Call around for drop off sites, I know my school collects them so that is where I take mine.

Draft Dodger

The spring thaw is definitely happening and warmth is showing up every now and again, so I need to post this one quickly before it is completely irrelevant for many months. (Okay, so it is already past that point, but it is so darn cute.) I picked up this adorable draft dodger at my favorite fair trade store, but was in the Serrv international catalog (http://www.serrv.org/). Even if they are not carrying it this season, this is a great fair trade website. Peruse at you own risk. The jewelry is addictive. (the Divine white chocolate bars are amazing.) Be forewarned, it might be best to freeze your credit card in a block of ice first. Anyways, back to the draft dodger, I live in a very drafty apartment. There is little I can do because, well, I rent, so no structural changes. The draft dodger is a cute and handy way to prevent heat loss. Also, many websites give instructions how to make one yourself, but I have yet to become that crafty. If you are interested though, as always Google is a great way to find some. Well, this post became a bit more sporadic than I meant, oh well, spring tends to addle my mind a bit.

Cat Hair Dilemma

So I dearly love my feline friends, however, I don't like wearing their fur with me whereever I go - I was going through the lint rollar strips like a madwomen. While at Target (okay, I admit I am a bit of a Target addict, I am working on it) I saw this package on an endcap. They had the 'as seen on tv' label on the package. It came with this large model and a little travel one. I bought them on a whim (yes, something else I am working on) and have been thrilled ever since, I still have my disposible lint roller from before simply because I haven't finished using it because I use the reusable one more. It is wonderful, just keep an eye out for one. (I have no idea what the real name is, I bought this about a year ago.)

Pencil Extender

So this Kohl-I-Noor pencil extender is a great product that I use in my art world all the time. It really helps extend an art budget by allowing more use from your colored pencils, pastel pencils, watercolor pencils, drawing pencils, you get the idea. Well, one day I was applying my eyeliner, being frustrated by the small size of the left over pencil (throw back to early post about trying to use as much of the product as possible to not be wasteful) and I had a 'doit' moment - it's a pencil - use the extender! Birds sang for a moment, a light shown down, okay, maybe not that dramatic, but it was easier. Yet another handy tool and this is great because it can be used for make-up and office/art/etc. Okay, this one is a bit rambling, I'll stop.

Make-Up Brushes

Continuing with the make-up theme: these are some make-up brushes I picked up at Target called Ecotools. The handles of the set are made with bamboo handles and cruelty free bristles. The metal portion is from recycled aluminum. The brush roll is a 55% hemp/ 45% cotton blend. The packaging it came in is listed as reusable. It took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to use it for because, well, not very attractive. So I finally realized I needed something to hold my hair ties and scrunchies in my gym bag. (Yes, I know, I still have scrunchies. In my defense, I only use them when I am exercising - waste not is the theme remember!) I love the quality of the brushes. The price is reasonable - around $14.00. If you need new brushes give them a try. (Remember, if you have brushes that are doing the work for you, the most eco friendly option is to keep using them rather than buying new.)

Apology

I apologize now and forever more. This blog is rife with typos, grammar errors, and spelling miscues. Shame and woe is me. I will continue to try to do better, but alas, it seems a losing battle.

Excess Packaging

Truth be told I am not ready to give up make-up. I enjoy being a girl and looking the part. As I use up products, I am consciously trying to find more earth friendly products that have no animal testing. Peta's website has a helpful list for the animal testing part. I have been somewhat discouraged though as I try to use the rest of my current make up. There is so much extra product in tube products that I am sure many people throw away. I know that I am guilty of this in the past. I don't know how well this photo illustrates it, but this roll on foundation goes at least 3/4 of an inch beyond where it stops rolling. I am being diligent digging deeper to use all of the product, but I am disappointed in the company (which shall remain nameless at this point.) that markets this product.

Plastic bag dryer

This is a handy little invention that can be found at Lehman's Hardware. (http://www.lehmans.com/) Search plastic bag and bottle dryer. Let's face it most of the baggies we throw away can be used a few more times, but drying them properly is a pain. Prior to receiving this as a Christmas present, I would dry mine one at at time on my banana hook stand thingamabob...what is the proper name for that contraption anyways! Give it a try, I love mine.

Yeah!

Well, the laptop has finally arrived so hopefully that will equal more regular postings. One thing I would like to suggest is to sign up for a subscription to Ideal bites. It is a weekly email that gives light green ideas. It is great. I have learned so much from them. They also have a mama bites for all those moms out there. Really it is worth your time!

New Computer

The new computer is in process and well be here soon. New post to follow!

Making Yogurt.

My new hobby. So I decided I really wanted to limit the amount of non recyclable plastics I use. Also, a good friend of mine who lives out of state had me try her homemade yogurt while I was visiting her and it was yummy. I read up on ways to make yogurt and while there are non electric ways to do it, I had to be honest with myself and realize they were more labor intensive than my natural laziness could handle. So I decide to purchase and electric one. I love it! It is super easy and healthy. I boil my non homogenized silk milk (180 F) then let it cool to 110. Stir in the yogurt culture, pour into the containers, and plug in for twelve hours. After that throw it in the fridge for three more hours and your done. So easy. I am experimenting with flavors now. (which is why the one jar is brownish - chocolate)

I have continued to try and use my purchasing power to support more Eco friendly items. Seventh generation has a full range of products that are responsible. I have been using the toilet paper and trash bags for almost a full year now. The cost a little more at this point, but I have made cuts elsewhere to compensate for this. I actually don't use paper towels anymore. I just use cloth towels. The paper towels in this photo where purchased for my dad. I can't break him of the paper product cycle. I also, don't use paper napkins, I have all cloth napkins, which are more absorbent anyways. So there you go.

Tony Campolo

I just finished reading the book How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshipping Nature by Tony Campolo. (A Christian's Call to Save Creation.) Wow, good book. It was written in 1992 before the whole Eco movement was "in." It is a very timely read, I felt like it was written yesterday. It talks about how Christians should definitely be on the forefront of the movement as it is our God's charge to us. I definitely recommend it. Another book a read a while ago that was good. I forget the Author's name but it was written by an MD and called Serve God, Save the Earth or something like that. I will double check it and edit this later.