Waste Audit

Well, with the weather being the way its been we're off our regular routine. Greatly. This means the recycling has been piling up in the back of the garage. What does our refuse look like after three months? For a family of five basically.

In addition to this we've also generated 4 kitchen trash bags and 2 42lb dog food bags of various other (mostly paper and plastic bags) trash. I'll spare you the photo of that. While I still mostly shop the perimeter when I go for groceries there are certain condiment and staple items that we still purchase. But the worst culprit of refuse is the milk jugs! With four males in the house they easily go through a gallon a day and would go through more if I bought it. Prices going up as they are we may be going on a serious milk fast.

Surveying our accumulation I've been convicted once again to find a way to cut back on our trash generation. This winter I've been baking a lot, making our own sweet goodies for not only the idea of cutting down on packaging but also because of the nutritional benefits of being able to control the amounts of sugars and types of ingredients. The results of this has been a great loosening of all my pants! I am constantly persusing various books from the library on green choices, thrifty suggestions, and healthy/economical foods. My latest favorite is “The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making” by Alana Chernila, and found it to be a fantastic resource. Some items are beyond what I would attempt such as graham crackers or bread stix.  Many recipes I've seen before and have put together myself from time to time such as pancake mixes and granolas. Where I need to put more effort into producing my own in bulk or per use is in the area of condiments. Suzanne Sommers had a great recipe in her diet books for ketchup, it's a little time consuming but definitely worth the effort, the flavors are much stronger and natural than the store bought variety.  I haven't attempted it yet, but I've always been curious about making mayonnaise.

Household items are an area that can get out of hand when it comes to packaging and disposal. Paper and plastic products for quick meals and lunches can be a great temptation as well. We try to use cloth as much as possible for napkins, rags, etc. Convienent as they are, believe it or not, paper towels contribute to 3,000 pounds of waste in landfills each day.

So, what's in your garbage?

Still working on a major overhaul of things accumulated around here.  We've seemed to become the donation zone for many, which is cool if you know you're going to use something but it's time to whittle down and make the tough choices, if it's been sitting for five years, time to go.  Just waiting to hit the ground running once all this snow-jazz is over with!

iSaw the Signs

Outside my Window:  It's been quite sunny lately with spatterings of rain, temps have been in the 80s all week.

What's on my Mind: Oh so many things.  Spoke with a lunch lady from one of our schools and asked if they are allowed to even cook for the kids anymore?  Like if someone donated meat to them that was raised locally to use.  All the food in the schools is "government packaged" to meet all the required "standards" and is basically warmed up and put out.  Wow, how sad is that.

The lack of success in my veggie garden is annoying.  Things are growing nicely then a critter comes in and feasts!  My corn and zucchini still look untouched but the beans, spinach, and peas gots wiped out.  Used to have a kitchen garden up by the house, perhaps I need to work closer in again.

Finding ways to keep my boys on track when it comes to their schooling.  We had some dips in grades and I don't want that to become a habit.  I know they are capable of better and sliding will not go on for long.  There's a fine line between nagging and encouraging.

Thankful for:  Having the time to get things done in my gardens and around the property.  I have a row of beautiful perenniels that got overtaken by grass and trumpet vine that was finally conquered.  Ben and Ethan rescued an area of hollyhocks, helianthus, and rose of sharon and pruned two humungus spirea. Got a great deal on impatient flats and added some color to the shade and gramma garden.  It may seem like a small thing but gardening represents a type of progress to me at this stage in my life.

 

Creative Endeavors:  While Fox was up at grandpa's property helping with the cabin construction I took the opportunity to clear out his room and remodel.  We had changed out the windows a while back but they were never framed in, plus there was some drywall issues to deal with.  I had a great time transforming the room and finally getting it finished.  This room is on its third metamorphesis, it was Alex's bedroom at one point and then my office before it became Fox's lair.  Still working on some finishing touches but the result has received favorable compliments.

Latest Project:  Ethan and I built this cage frame from scraps of wood Rob brought home from the shop.  The rabbits are getting to the age the genders need to be separated.

My 3 Sons:  Fox worked all week and the younger two for a couple days helping grandpa build a cabin on his property.  I hope they were good workers.

My relentlessness on putting the video games away for periods of time has prompted the boys to find other interests one of which is Dungeons and Dragons.  I'm all for it, let the imaginations run wild! 

Ethan did not make the All-Star team but it's fine we're all ready for some down time to putz around at home.  Ben is starting to make sure he has everything in order for Space Camp and has been invited to be in the 4th of July Parade with the other crews.  He said he would do it.  Both of the boys have also helped with the 4H Feeds Families Committee by giving presentations at the Freemasons and Knights of Columbus meetings to raise funds to use at this year's Fair.  Fox is going to present to our orthodontist who like to support 4H each year as well.  We're still waiting to find out about some grant money.

The first Born:  ...just got a letter sent to the house from BK Main Office.  I let Ethan read it to her since we were driving....it was to announce she is getting a raise and to thank her for her hard work and loyalty.  Sweet! 

Employment News:  Summer vacation.  Working for free.  Workin' on me!

Hoping to Improve:  Still contemplating the "Garbage Project".  So many products, so many processes.  I admire Alex's vegan loyalty, it is not easy to change eating habits especially when you live with others beside yourself.

Food for Thought: "Why don't I do things I say I want to do?" The answer is in your subconscious beliefs. Learn how to detect these sabotaging beliefs and how you can change them.  ~Ten Habits of Natually Slim People

Last Words:

Repent - Subbing - Tuna

This is a little embarassing to admit but the first step to change is admitting it, right. Although I am a reduse, reuse, recycle advocate I fell prey to the fast-paced, instant gratification, rut, blatently disregarding the evils of styrofoam to quelch my own thirstastic needs. I've been picking the boys up from school pretty much every day because Fox has practice and every day I stop by our local Sunrise gas station/convienience store for a cherry coke fountain drink on the way. The cups are starting to add up and this picture is only the ones that made it home. Many I've thrown out at different places to hide the shame of having them accumulate at my house.

So I hinted and cajolled the boys that a perfect birthday gift would be a reusable mug from Sunrise so I could avoid using all this stryrofoam. I even told them exactly where to find it in the store and how much! Benny my boy was the one who made sure it happened. You rock!

Yesterday I was in a First Grade classroom, Ben's former teacher. I really enjoyed her as a parent, she does a great job. Her class and I'm sure others are very diverse in abilities. The more I see it the more I am against mainstreaming developmentally-delayed and behavioral issued students. It seems to me they'd benefit more working at their own comfortable pace regularly. They get pulled out to work with other teachers and then can't finish the work the class was doing originally. It is a very disjointed day. Two children were on medication. It threw me a little when in the morning the teacher next door explained that if the one didn't get his morning dose he may need to be sent to the office. I asked if there was anything Deb did to help deal with the episodes, she said there's nothing really to do, the behavior is just not conducive to being in school. Yikes. She said I'd know right when they walked in if they were on track. Thankfully both boys were fine and we remembered to get the one down for his second dose at 1pm. These pictures were taken during a moment of free play time after they finished their stations. This was a difficult time for the 2 dose boy, he just couldn't focus on one thing to do. I noticed him wandering and directed him to a task, he opted for playdough but didn't stay with it long. He wandered into a few other play groups but didn't get to disruptive. The worst thing is he decided to wash the mirror with the sponge. It wasn't too wet. A couple kids tattled about it. I said, that mirror could always use some cleaning, but now I need you to wipe the water off with a paper towel. He did. Nice job. Next we went out for recess. Talk about crazy time! I'll spare you all the gory details, they were a good bunch over all but it is a high energy day. I'm rather liking the middle school level the best, truth be told. But I'll hang with any age really, keeps it different.


Lastly, something from the kitchen.....
Sorry about the typo on 'until' - I didn't notice it until after I flattened and saved and I didn't feel like setting it all up again.

Happy Rainy Monday!

The weekend sure seemed to fly by around here as nothing but the basics got taken care of, grocery shopping, meals, laundry, and I finished writing some video reviews. School and sports continue as usual, a little lighter this week, no games for Ben until Saturday, practice Tuesday. Fox has a meet in Marlette on Wednesday, they will get out of school an hour early to take the bus there. I'm going to pull Ben and Ethan a little early too so we can get there by the time Junior High runs. Fox expressed he'd like it if someone was there at all his meets for him, I said I'd do my best to make that happen. There was one so far I couldn't be at cause Ben had a soccer game at the same time, but Alex and some of her buddies were there to cheer him on.

Alex, unfortunately did not get the part that she was hoping for in the play....again. It's a dog eat dog business, acting. She is "an Egyptian woman" which has me shuddering as to what the costuming might entail for that. Second week of Intro Philosphy seemed to go well, she reported that the prof actually advocated drug experimentation....great. The kids thought is was hilarious; and apparently the North Branch Broncos girls made friends with some duel enrollments from Dryden High School. So, she's enjoying the class so far. We've already got a new boyfriend, this one really threw me at first, but after spending some time with him Friday night after he brought Alex home from having dinner at his house so she could meet his parents and sister, I think he's ok. He's a very honest, up front, fellow, which is refreshing, and I can honestly say I know more about this gentleman than anyone else Alex has ever 'dated.' He's really big into making sure she does what her mom says so that they'll be able to do things together, smart guy.

Recycling news: I was happy to find out that North Branch Elementaries are participating in the Capri Sun recycling program. They have a recepticle in the lunch room to collect packages, of which the school can get $.02 each on. Click here http://www.caprisun.com/terracycle for details on Be Green Earn Green: Earn $$$ for School.

Green Efforts: Now that I have a dryer it is more of a concious effort to hang clothes outside. I do most of the clothes out on the line except for socks. I also dry towels inside (crunch factor), but sheets and blankets outside. Someone suggested vinegar as a softener, tried it, seems to help somewhat on lighter materials, makes no difference on jeans or towels. Unless you have a really good warm breeze going, towels just don't dry soft outside.

Not having the oven working helps cut down on energy but is challenging to come up with stove-top only meals and I don't like to microwave too much and definately not entire meals. Still keeping our eyes and ears open for a cheap or free electric stove. Checked the ReStore but none there, I'm on the wish list, a few on Craiglist were already gone or too far to go get. I know I can find something decent for $50 or so, any leads let me know.

Shopping Bags: I don't know what it is but I never remember to put my bags back in the car after I shop and I forget to grab them when I leave to go shop. I hate that feeling of pulling up in the parking lot of the local mega mart and realizing I'm bagless, then I have to make a choice if I'm going to use the plastic, if I'm just grabbing a few things forego the bag entirly, or buy yet another reusable bag for the collection. Ugh.

I'll be running between the raindrops as I do a few errands this morning, of course it could be 75 and sunny by the time I leave to coach at GTC this afternoon. The other day I used reverse psychology Murphy's Law. It looked like rain and I had laundry to put on the line, I knew - "Murphy's Law" - if I put it out there it most definately would rain, so I decided I'd put the stuff in the dryer and cause it to be sunny instead, it worked!

Saturday was the end of their winning streak, I think those little brains were mushed up after a full week of school and two weekday games, they just weren't playing their best. Orange defeated them 3-0.

Getting Better (Lennon/McCartney)

When I decided to use Beatles songs to title my postings this month I figured since there are so many in their catalog I would attempt to post daily. It's more challenging than I thought it would be, but I press on. What's up? Rob sent me a cryptic email a short while ago that he has a check in his possession, that's all I know. Not sure how much it's for, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

The boys are doing swimming lessons at the Imlay City Pool this week and next. Unfortunately it has been a little chilly but not too terrible for them when they are in the water. I sit poolside in pants and a shirt, but no jacket. A friend from Seeds of Faith Co-op has her daughter in the class after ours so we have a few minutes to chat during the change-over. Cheryl and I have a kindred connection in that our husbands are of similar mind-sets in many areas and we've faced similar challenges job and family wise. It's always nice when you know other people are dealing with the same 'spiritual growth' opportunities that you do, makes you feel you're not alone in this big crazy, jumbled up world of ours.

Work wise for me I am getting ready to start writing more TVonDVD entries but unfortunately my home greening and decluttering efforts are not being carried out as effectively as I'd like but with the boys around everyday it's really pointless to even hope for a total decluttered state. We'll get there eventually (like in ten years when they've all moved out!). The main task at hand lately is to get everyone in the house to understand the concept of picking up after themselves! I wake up in the morning, come out of my room, and I know exactly what everyone did by the trail they've left behind. Anybody relate, can I get an Amen!? Fox has made the most improvement but we're all still in training.

Recycling efforts are still going well, although I have been rescuing items from the trash again lately and I gave up on the small compostable paper separating, instead just throwing them in with regular recycleable paper. Also, I am feeling good about the miles of walking and biking that I'm starting to log for the summer. When I was staying at my mom's I took her bike out and got a couple really good rides in, probably up to nearly 40 miles riding so far, maybe 15 walking. Tomorrow the boys and I are hoping to check out another section of the Clinton River Trail if the weather cooperates.

Chin Up Peoples & have a Terrific Tuesday!