We knew that something was going on with the neighbors across the street.
One of those large storage cubes, which sat in their driveway one weekend, was filled and hauled away the following Monday. Then, an advertised three-day estate sale—though both owners were alive and well—seemed successful, as folks arrived from 10-5 each day, most leaving with all sorts of goodies…furniture, lamps, lawn mowers, ladders, tools, exercise equipment. Purchases that were too large to carry away on-the-spot were tucked into the far end of their driveway for pick-up at the buyer’s convenience. That same week, people came to look at one of their two cars, and within a couple of days, it, too, was gone. Then, this past Saturday, the forty-something couple hoisted bulging suitcases into their already full car and hit the proverbial road, and we haven’t seen them since.
Wow, we thought. Did they just do what we think they did? Did they execute a major downsizing, selling almost all to move on and forever escape the upkeep of a single family home…maintenance, cutting grass, raking leaves, cleaning gutters? Have they possibly moved out-of-state, to someplace bereft of humid summers and freezing winters? Someplace where they can ride their mountain bikes year round? Wherever they are, they definitely seemed to have had a plan, and we wish them well. And that plan is sounding awfully tempting…
And the household items that had no takers? They were left alongside a garbage can on the curb at the end of their driveway…an uninteresting chair, a broken umbrella, an overpriced walking stick, a laundry basket, a kitty’s scratching post and…a full size leather sofa. What? The leather sofa I’ve been pining for, but wouldn’t spend the money on even if I had it? The leather sofa that would replace our 15-year-old tuxedo style one with its shifting cushions, impractical fabric and ill-fitting slipcover? That leather sofa? I am a die-hard dumpster diver and love a good find, so, being about 99.9% certain that it was left for trash pickup, we took a chance and shamelessly shuffled it across the street to its new home. Despite some scratches and claw marks, mostly on one arm (from their kitty, I assume) and a broken brace that caused some sagging (which W has since fixed), it is perfectly fine and quite nice.
A new beginning, hopefully for the neighbors and most definitely for their sofa.
What kind of website would have “Earth” in its domain name, yet not have a worthy post waiting in the wings to commemorate the planet’s Big Day? Well, you’re lookin’ at it. But then I started thinking about what I’ve been up to recently and thought, okay, not a new idea for bettering the Earth, but not always practiced either: reusing whatever we can. So I hope this doesn’t look like a lame attempt to celebrate last minute, although I am, you see, celebrating last minute…
For the past week I’ve been helping my mother pack up for an impending move, all the while putting aside things she’d like to be rid of, whether that means giving to family or friends or strangers, in need or not. Whatever my sister and I don’t take will travel on to others, hopefully filling their needs and maybe even their wants…though I can’t imagine who would want…uh, never mind. Anyway, the move is some months away, so there are more packing sessions in my future and hopefully plenty more stuff that will need a new home and maybe help some folks out, too.
My mother, sister and I also had the task of dealing with my father’s belongings…heartbreaking, but it needed to be done. As our plan was to divvy up his things amongst ourselves, we hesitantly invaded his chest of drawers and closet, pressing pieces of clothing to our faces and taking deep breaths, hoping to feel his presence. Soft corduroy shirts that he reserved for going out. Leather boots, which he’s had as long as I can remember, polished and still looking like new, except for the telltale creases. Old shirts with the sleeves cut off and so threadbare and thin that they seem to float in the slightest breeze, worn while he mowed in the hot sun. A drawer full of trinkets…pocket knives, old coins, watches, a nut or bolt with a notation of its origins. The ritual gave us a chance to reminisce and turned out to be not as dreadful as we had imagined. Although very sad, it made us feel closer to him…and maybe to each other…maybe. So we took whatever we could use, wear or wanted as a keepsake, and the rest we passed on to close family down the road so they could take what they found useful. Whatever is left will be donated to a local charity. As an avid reader who always gladly donated his National Geographics and old books to the book mobile so they could benefit others, I’m sure my dad would feel the same about the things he left behind.
And I hope he would be happy that I’m now wearing this old wind-up Westclox, which still works and might possibly be the one he’s wearing here.
What better way to celebrate Earth Day 2009 than to involve a child?
The world’s children are going to be saddled with solving the environmental problems that we adults have racked up for decades. Teaching children early on about the benefits of recycling and its effects on the environment can lay the foundation for good green habits that they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug, released by Worthwhile Books, is the latest children’s book featuring the publisher’s green-caped crusader, Michael Recycle, who debuted in 2008. Written by Ellie Bethel and colorfully illustrated by Alexandra Colombo, Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug is a big, entertaining picture book that will capture your child’s imagination, as well as teach him/her the importance of recycling and a green lifestyle. Follow lazy and wasteful Litterbug Doug’s trash-strewn trail throughout his clean, green town as planet Earth’s green-caped crusader attempts to show him the error of his ways. Will Michael Recycle succeed in reforming Litterbug Doug? Find out!
Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug, 32 pages, 10 3/4 x 11 3/4,is available through Worthwhile Books and Barnes & Noble.
I originally started this post with only the photo in mind, for obvious reasons! The bright splash of springtime green in otherwise bleak surroundings…
Why? What were you thinking?
Anyway, I quickly realized that this was a good opportunity to push another kind of green. Seeing how spring has sprung and tourists are descending on the District of Columbia, like nobody’s business, I thought it would be a good idea to let them in on one of the coolest ways to get around the city. Not only will they be saving the air and fossil fuels, but their journey around the city truly will be the reward.
I can tell you from experience that it’s no fun trying to get around Washington, D.C., much less during the tourist season. Between trying to get from point A to point B and finding a parking space in the same zip code, it can be a nightmare. But there’s an excellent solution for all you sightseers, as well as locals. National Pedicabs, shown here, takes advantage of a similar mode of transportation that has been popular in other countries for years. National Pedicabs claims that their pedal-powered cabs are quicker than walking, more earth-friendly than other forms of public transportation and a lot more fun for customers. And the neatest thing, is that National Pedicabs doesn’t use set rates, but uses a “pay as you please” system—you pay what you feel your ride is worth! This is stated on their website, but you should probably call to confirm that this policy is still in place. So, if you’re planning a visit, check them out. There’s no downside!
Did I mention that this is another one of my drive-by photo ops? From a complete stop at a red light, of course…
I was recently given the opportunity by National Geographic to review their newly published book, True Green Home: 100 Inspirational Ideas for Creating a Green Environment at Home. Written by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin, True Green Home is the fourth in their series of True Green books and incorporates what they’ve learned from building and renovating their own homes.
True Green Home’s ten chapters of ten green ideas each, covers just about every aspect of a green home from choosing a building site and renewable materials to implementing energy- and money-saving ideas throughout the house, outdoor living area and garden. While some of the ideas are more involved and take a little planning, others require nothing more than a trip to the hardware store or a little imagination. Whether planning to build, renovate or just apply green concepts to the home environment, True Green Home offers a multitude of ideas, many of which are inexpensive, easy to implement and will reduce your carbon footprint. True Green Home helps you choose products in your everyday life that are not only healthier, but use less energy in their production.
In True Green Home you’ll discover…
• green issues to consider when choosing a location for a new home and how best to deal with old materials and choose new materials when building or renovating
• the culprits that cause bad air in your home and green ways to clean it. Your indoor air can be worse than outdoor air. Yeah, really!
• how to save energy and money by knowing how best to use your window dressings. Did you know that there’s a way to keep the heat outside and lower indoor temperatures by as much as nine degrees?
• a simple way to extend the life of your microwave oven and keep it out of the landfill
• one of the biggest energy consumers in the home
• how just a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank can save up to 200 gallons of wasted water a day
• which recycled items can be used in your bathroom rather than buying new, mass-produced, energy-intensive ones
• how to prolong the use of your cotton bath towels between washings
• recipes to make your own chemical-free air fresheners and stain-removers, as well as chemical-free suggestions for cleansers for your home
• how to achieve a paperless home
• how to garden while saving water and maximizing your garden’s success
• how thoughtful planting of trees and shrubs can keep your home cool
Each chapter of ideas is followed up with a case study of those who have worked to incorporate green principles into their own businesses and organizations.
I really enjoyed True Green Home and recommend it to anyone who wants to lessen their impact on the environment. Although some of the ideas are familiar, many are not, and True Green Home organizes all of them into an easy-to-read format, accompanied by relative, inspiring photography. The glossy softcover has a fresh, clean look that is suitable for the coffee table, yet is practical (approximately 8″ x 8″) for carrying along as a reference while working on your green projects. And of course, True Green Home is printed on recycled paper!
True Green Home: 100 Inspirational Ideas for Creating a Green Environment at Home is available through National Geographic’s online store and at Amazon.com.
It’s just like me to come out with a holiday post, post-holiday. Flawed by procrastination (and a few other things, I’m sure), I put off tasks, often to the point of losing the moment altogether. But I digress.
I have one more week to put the Christmas tree out on the curb for Fairfax County’s pickup and recycling. Yes, as much as I care about Earth and all her creatures I still buy a fresh tree for the holidays. I know, shameful. A few weeks before Christmas I was faced with the dilemma of whether to 1. go with the usual 6-7 footer, 2. reluctantly downsize to a tabletop, 3. hold my nose and go “fake,” or 4. chuck the idea altogether. W and I needed to leave town for the holidays earlier than expected and that would leave little time to enjoy it anyway, so I was leaning heavily toward door #4. What nagged me, though, was all of those vintage ornaments and lights living in their own little Christmas village in the basement waiting for their once-a-year debut. Could I really move through the holiday season without seeing them? Uhhh, no. That said, I decided on the tabletop—it would be easier to trim and the price was right—and I wasn’t ready for an impostor. (For a fleeting moment I actually considered that killing a small tree might be less non-eco-friendly than killing a big tree—how is that for a lame rationalization? I sometimes baffle myself.) The poor 4-foot victim took only one string of lights and was trimmed with just a fraction of all our ornaments. I wondered if I had possibly offset the despicable act of choosing a live tree with the energy savings from using four less light strings. Probably not. As far as eco no-nos go, I’m pretty sure that killing a tree trumps using minimally more energy.
So, for Christmases 2009 and beyond, the vintage ornaments will stay and so will the tree—in the ground that is. I resolve to not only spare the trees, but to replace them with something cool enough to showcase the 40-year-old ornaments in a way they deserve.
Now, I have one more week to enjoy the twinklies before I put off taking the tree to the curb.
Please "click" the photos to see them at their best!
Grace
T
8noodles
Anita
justin
YogaforCynics