adventures in sustainability

Doesn’t that sound BORING? Or oxymoronic? Eh, maybe. Kind of like me — boring and oxymorinic most days of the week.

Yesterday was a recovery day, when I did nothing much but read, lie down, eat, read, knit, lie down, rest, nap, eat, and check my email. I needed it. It was good for the body and soul.

Today Mr. Husband is busily preparing for his Jimmy Buffett concert — the one I was also going to until 2 days ago when my sciatica screamed at me. Now, the thought of standing on the lawn for 3-4 hours does not sound like fun. So I’m staying home with the chickadees. 🙁 But we’ve been enjoying nonstop Jimmy tunes for the past week. 48 more hours until I stay home :(.

Laundry on the line — it can be done even when it’s overcast or semi-foggy. The wind will dry your clothes. It is really just a slower process than on a hot sunny day. Very eco.

Tomatoes are still ripening, so I just made some salsa (with our last hot pepper) and have pasta sauce simmering on the stove. The Crock pot has pinto beans cooking ahead for Tuesday’s tostadas. Thinking ahead to what else I can cook, with what’s on hand and fresh in the garden, I’m thinking tomatoes, and also beets. We seem to have an abundance of beets just now. And apples. Fresh homegrown produce = very sustainable. In other words, eco-riffic.

On my front door is a revamped grapevine wreath. I had saved a bunch of hydrangea blooms from our wedding, and last weekend I stuck all the ends of the dried blooms into the wreath. So our front door has a pretty homemade hydrangea wreath on it. Very pretty. And yes, eco.

Simone and I went thrifting last week and scored big-time. Found some fun items for gifties, and also some cute clothes. All are washed, hanging on the line, ready to be rehemmed or ironed. Ironing board at the ready. No dry cleaning. No plastic or chemicals. Just a simple iron, a woden ironing board, a little bit of water (to make steam) and an occasional spritz of starch. Time-consuming — but eco-smart. And actually, better for the clothes as well as the environment.

Cat jumped on my lap: Miss Fabulous FiFi (Ophelia) just landed here, full from her latest meal of homemade catfood. Chicken necks, backs and guts. Cottage cheese, carrots and oats. Salmon oil and kelp. Cooked till everything’s soft and spreadable. Yum. At least for the cats, yum. And guess what? Pretty eco — and better for them than a bunch of corn fillers. FiFi tells me she thinks so by sticking her claws into my knees.

This noon we went across the street to the O Club and scoured the Friends of the Library used book sale. Two of the Grrrls came along, and Mr. Husband, and we walked home with one box and seven bags of books. That was a good $26 spent — and we came home with a couple of hundred books. Simone got 63 just herself. She figures it as 7 cents per book. Mama mia! Gifts, fun reads, how-tos and more. I’m planning to settle down with a couple of piles of books later — after ironing…how eco is it to get used books and divert them fron the Discard pile?

Pretty freaking eco, if you ask me. And reading is one of the most eco hobbies you can have — as long as you’re not buying new pulpy paperbacks that will end up in landfills. Make sure you recycle as much as you can and books are a valuable use of paper. Otherwise, despite my own book-writing ways, books can be a waste of paper. My own opinion, of course. Does anyone *really* need a book about Why Cats Dream or some such? But as I say: Used book sale — taking our own cloth bags — walking and paying cash: ECO? Uh, yeah.

* * *
An interlude just passed where I very eco-mindedly assisted my eco-thinking daughter in making her own dressmaker’s dummy out of an old T-shirt (Goodwill) and some duct tape (she says, thanks, Pa! for the trip to Pagano’s). She put on the T-shirt and I wrapped her in duct tape. It took about 45 minutes and she looked like a mummy–who couldn’t breathe. Then I cut up the back and we pulled her out. Taped it back up, stuffed it with the stuffing from an old pillow, to fill out the contours that exactly match her size…and voila! The Simone-sized dress form.

Alas, the rest of the Fam was out shopping with gift cards at Le Target, and my camera was in the car, so I was unable to document any of the fun. But can you say eco? Can I just pat my girl on the head and say eco-rama!? Like, wow.

And now the fog is rolling back in, and another cat is rubbing at my legs (hi, Delilah) and now in my lap. The chili is in the oven with a cornmeal crust, and green beans from the garden awaiting a rinse and snap and into the pan for a steam bath. Time to go on a bike ride with Mr Husband. Out for a wee spin…whee!

10-02=08

A mathematical date today. A pity I missed 080808, but O-well.

Juggling balls and spinning plates. Tried to have a sick headache last night but was interrupted by life, kids, hunger and a cross-Island junket to pick up a teen and save her from a dark bus ride. But at least I had a chance to catch up with Mom on the phone.

Continuing my quest to be further-Compacty, I found my two fountain pens and got some artist’s ink. I was able to refill both cartridges, one with green ink and one with purple ink, and will be using these at work instead of my colored ballpoint pens. At least, I will try to make the switch. I just realized I was writing with a black ball point to take a message, and that my pens are in my purse.My fountain pens are old friends but I haven’t used them much. One is a no-name brand — something from an art store a decade ago, and the other is a very nice Waterman pen from Mia.

Mr Husband has given me a few quill pens, including one with an amazingly beautiful silver pen holder, filigreed, holding a feather, with a really nice nib. But that requires dipping into ink, while the fountain pens do not need dipping, as they have cartridge. I figure this will get me away from plastic disposable ball points.

* * *
And…it took me too long to finish the post so here’s what Friday morning was like…Guess what we had for breakfast?

We have the double-toaster, extra-wide for bagels. Yesterday I tried to toast some waffles and the left side wouldn’t go down/turn on. This morning I tried it again with a bagel for D#3. Left side didn’t work. Moved it to the right side and it was fine. Followed suit with my own bagel.

Daughter #2 came home from school to make cookies and said the kitchen smelled raunchy. She snooped around a little and found…in the toaster…our mouse friend from the dishtowel drawer.

Yep. Toasted mouse on the left side. No wonder the cats have been on the counter all week.

Say it with me…eeeeeeeeeewwwwww!!!!

Eco-Mama’s Muse

…or…My Eco-Conscious Day: An Accounting

Drove the Boy to school. NOT eco (but not late, either)

Drove home and rousted college daughter out of bed and into car on the toe of my boot: NOT eco. Not late for class, but almost.

Brought my lunch to work, consisting of all the stuff I put into two kids’ lunches for the past three days that they refused to eat = half a container of Annie’s bunny crackers, half container of raisins, raw carrots and pea pods (organic!) in a Tupperware without a lid, container of cinnamon organic baby cereal (good snacking). Plus assorted stuff in my desk at work (crackers, hot cocoa mix). VERY eco and NO WASTE (though not super healthful)

Took my coffee to work in a mug= VERY eco (decaf!)

Dropped my car at the auto place to investigate the CHECK ENGINE light (this is the “good” car so we had to deal with it ASAP, as the other car is about to die). Estimate $80. Vehicle maintenance = eco.

Walked halfway to office from car place but got picked up by coworker. VERY eco

Worked like mad dog, as usual. Made deadline, went to meetings, etc. Usual day….until the phone rang from the auto place. My gas cap was slightly loose. They tightened it for me. NO CHARGE. VERY eco (and bonus points for supporting a local business that in turn took care of me when I needed it)

Continued working until 5:05 when I couldn’t find my car keys and realized that — I forgot to pick up my car and they close at 5! Called and begged them not to leave yet.

Grabbed large purse (from Goodwill), canvas bag (replaced briefcase, much more eco), and empty lunch container (reusable!) and ran a mile and a half in gold, sparkly flip-flops ($3 from the Dollar Store, made in China = NOT eco) — Overall balance of this item = eco
Thanked car guy profusely, got into car all sweaty and drove home, changed into another blouse, organized dinner for 3 Teen Grrrls from the pantry, went back out to teach a class at the Adult School. Drove = NOT eco. But extra income necessary to avoid further debt = eco.

Handed out double-sided info materials in class (using recycled or found paper from bin at work, and double printing even though it messed with the copy machine and annoyed my coworkers.) Semi-eco. (Paper = bad. Recycling = good)

Used chalkboard instead of expensive hi-tech computerized overhead projector that I couldn’t figure out. Energy saved! VERY eco!

Taught a roomful of interesting local people how to promote their upcoming events = enjoyable, if not eco

Stopped at local grocery store on way home for milk; did not buy anything except milk (local dairy) and cranberry juice for daughter. Did not buy chips, ice cream or candy. Wanted to, but didn’t. Brought own bag from the car = eco

Came home and wanted to go to bed but Mr Husband (who was out with the Boy and two feral neighborhood kids being semi-raised by very old grandparents, at an Oakland A’s game — for which we were given FREE tickets) was out of shirts for work, so ironed three (to give him a choice) and discreetly listened in on teen conversation in family room = eco

While ironing, discovered that teens (who in another community might be as likely to bash in mailboxes with baseball bats just for fun, if we had that kind of mailboxes and they had a car and a bat) were laughing, drinking water (really), debating the merits of alarm clocks vs the body’s natural rhythms, and — wait for it — doing a giant jigsaw puzzle. The TV was off.

…and then I woke up.

No, just kidding. It’s all true. VERY eco.
Dinner at last at the computer as everyone goes to bed and I get to eat my long-awaited cold cereal (my favorite dinner)…Priceless.

the end, and the beginning

I think, I think Measure H passed — by 105 votes? That’s the last I heard, and we posted it to the Web but our story for tomorrow still says losing by one vote. At least we didn’t say it had totally lost in big letters. That’s a plus-one for us this week. However, there is a distinct disadvantage to a weekly cycle, mainly, that life goes on no matter when your press run is. So there we are.

Tonight our Mia comes in. Friday our Moni graduates. Our Ana got perfect attendance and a prize (tix to see the A’s) and a B average, which means she’s earned a TV in her room all summer. Our other ones are doing well, and so looking forward to summer. We’re down to one occasional sofa surfer, and that’s nice, but it feels quiet around here — if a houseful of 6 or 7 can be quiet, ever. But so it goes.

Just put a bunch of sliced apples on the dehydrator and whipped up a batch of cat food. Whipped up is an exaggeration — it bubbled in a crockpot all day and I just did the blenderizing and put it away. Ask me about this activity if you really want to know. I’m trying to pass the time until 10:30 when I leave for the airport. Not easy when I go to bed at 10 most nights. We’re going to Chico Saturday for my dear friend Catie’s wedding. Road trip! And we’ll do it the eco way, taking our own lunches and snacks and mugs and water.

The veggies are up and taking over. I seem to have more pumpkins than anything else and that is just not OK. I have one zucchini producing already and a crookneck squash right behind it. There are a couple of mystery squashes growing; my luck they will all turn out to be pumpkins. I also have a couple of gourds growing. Cukes, not so many. I think I have two, and they are very small and not blooming yet. I want lots of those but I may have blown that. May be too late. However, corn is a-coming in, 52 stalks so far and it’s about 3-4 inches high. Growing half an inch a day, it looks like. I also have an abondanza of tomatoes. If they all fruit, I have about a dozen bushes and will be swimming in red and yellow.

Grapes are coming along, though someone/something knocked a branch off. That is tres annoying. That’s months of growing, gone. I have some raspberries that will not likely bloom and fruit but I wanted it as much for the leaves for tea. So that’s actually OK. Any fruit is a bonus. Same goes for the strawberry patch — which is doing OK. We’ve lost some with hot spells and then chilly weather, but they are doing all right. I haven’t had much fruit, though. Raccoons? Maybe.

I thought I had finished putting the fourth grade’s poetry book together when I just realized that half the pages printed upside down. Damn! That’s a $50 loss in printing fees and I’ll have to go back and print it again. Before Friday! Such a bummer. Waste of paper, too. That’s all I have to say about that because I am so annoyed that I want to throw something. Grrrr!

And…looks like we’re not moving to the West End just yet. We are back on the market for another office. Other place didn’t work out, which is a serious bummer because I loved the space, the location, the cheerful color scheme, and all the potential. Sigh. We’re working with our good friend Kathy Moehring of WABA (West Alameda Biz Assn) to find us a better space. Watch for the announcement here…

And…had a great visit with my parents and Aunt Barbara over the weekend — truly fun and pleasant and good food and lots of laughing. Her only regret was that she didn’t get to see all the kids.

This begins to sound like a to-do-list in reverse. I-did-em-all, I guess you’d call it. Well, I did. And I’m justifiably tired but proud. What have you done lately? Drop a line and let us know.

Lesson recently learned: Get it in writing.

Another lesson recently learned: I’m happiest when I’m at home. And glad I have one.

hell’s kitchen

that’s where we are today — roasting on a spit, being basted with sweat. Ick.

But actually I LOVE the heat. So I’m faux-complaining just to get the ball rolling here. Today was Bike to Work Day and I did so — I think it’s about 5 miles though I actually have to clock it tomorrow to make sure. Each way! In the heat! It was not hard going, since Alameda is so darn flat, but it wasn’t my good bike, since one daughter rode it and got a flat the other day. So I rode her bike, and it is too short, even for me. My booty is sore and my legs a little wobbly, and my face was beet red when I got home. But it was still fun. A pity I couldn’t find any of those free juice and goodies stations.

Luckily our friend Conrad came into the office today with danishes and cut fruit. It was just like a bike-to-work station. Thanks, Conrad. Four out of five Alameda Sun staff rode bikes today. Woo hoo! Watch for the photo in the paper next week. I’ll get it for here, too.

My plants are wilting a bit in the veggie garden but I’m going to wait a bit longer before watering tonight. Still too hot. We just got the news about East Bay water rationing, so I’m working to determine how much water we usually use, and how to see exactly how we can measure our progress. Besides just cutting back. I want to see a goal and a measurable result.

Here’s what we’re doing so far — turning off water for hand-washing and teeth-brushing. Full loads in dish and clothes washer. Short showers — 5 mins only! If it’s yellow, let it mellow. (Except in the guest bathroom.) Use water twice — I mean, while rinsing the coffee pot in the morning, I water the plants with the rinse water. Like that. We’re gonna see if we can use the graywater from our washer to water the yard. We use eco soap and cold water, no rinses or bleach, so it should be possible. It’s just Day 2 of the rationing so we have lots to do.

We also heard on the news today about the state’s Supreme Court backing the constitutional right to gay marriage. Wa hoo! Good for us. We actually do sometimes get it right. Not often. But sometimes. Equal rights for all — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Amen to that.

I could keep writing but this office is hot, and I want some fresh air and am waiting for dearest Mr. Husband to being home sushi for his lovely bride and daughters. I love sushi, though it’s not good to eat it all the time because it is emptying the ocean. But once a month is OK, I should think. Besides, I need the omega-3.

I have more to tell — but later, when it gets cooler in here. (fanning self). Mmmm. Love the heat.