How to Help

Yesterday I told you how the residents of my apartment building have formed a community where everyone helps each other. I’ve shown you recently the trash left by the college students and how so much of what we collected was quality wooden pieces of furniture. But while my little town is enjoying summer-like days, preparing gardens, taking walks or just enjoying the sounds of nature or easy conversations, there is a part of the country reeling from loss. Loss of everything material and even of loved ones.

A Hard Day, but Oh How Fun and Rewarding

Today was a long day. I am currently typing this as my muscles try to relearn how to relax. We are expecting thunderstorms to move in some time during the night and continue for the next three days. With that in mind it was the perfect time to get as much into the garden as possible first. I’m crossing my fingers that winter has finally come to an end.

Trashed and Found

How was your weekend? I had a full weekend filled with family, old friends, and met a couple new people. I had time to work in the Little Cove, I’ll show you how it is coming along.

This week was the end of the semester at the university, which means it was time to pick through lots of trash to save what we could from ending in the landfill. We even took an afternoon as a Family to work on some of the found items.

Friday faves, there’s an app for that.

I am so glad its Friday, although I have a lot of work to do this weekend.My apologies to anyone who tried to reach the Friday Faves last night. I was trying to save my work and instead my new app published it. So while the little ones are happily outside painting furniture I am again using their laptop to finish getting the links inserted.

Teaching the next generation how to dumpster dive.

This week is the end of the university’s spring semester. Students will be locked out later today. Many have already left, if they are done with their finals. With students heading home a lot of perfectly good items are set at the curb for trash day, or simply left inside the apartments for some one else to clean out.

A little work and this solid wooden table will be good as new again

I brought a lot of things back to my place to work on. A few needed nothing and were put in my sons outdoor storage shed until everything is ready for a huge yard sale.

With a beautiful day I also had time to work in the Little Cove today and will add a picture or two of how its coming along.

Adjustable solid wood office chair rescued as it was about to be heaved onto the dumpster

As most of you know by now I am currently without a computer. I have been writing my posts on my cell phone. There are simply some things that just don’t work when using a phone. But I now know there is a WordPress app which allows you to write your posts easier than working from the regular browser. Of course it didn’t come with an instruction manual so I’m still figuring a few things out.

One of the advantage of using the app is that I can again add links and pictures to my posts. You have been very patient with me and i appreciate it, but i know you like a few pictures as well.

Well enough about how I post. I’ll get right to what you came to read.

Change the world Wednesday, plastic bags

Today I am joining Small Footprints at Reduce Footprints for Change the World Wednesday. This weeks challenge is a tough one, reducing plastic bags.

From chore to relaxing pastime

There was a very long period in my life where I refused to even consider trying any activity I saw as woman’s work. I knew I would hate it.

Wabi Sabi is simple eco living

Destined for the trash it got a new life for a little girl total cost to restore and fill with bedding was zero.

A discarded beat up chair is now a favorite seat.

A found piece of lumber, some paint and twigs is the perfect coat rack.

A found kitchen drawer

 

 

As I take a day to do much of nothing, don’t we all need a day like that from time to time, I took a few moments to sit back and look around at the home I created from found items. I am reminded of the practice of Wabi Sabi, the Japanese practice of finding beauty in imperfection

 

Praising Slowness

I hope you had a great Mothers Day yesterday. Mine was quiet, my youngest son and his family celebrated with me last weekend and this week they are on vacation. My eldest son and his family stopped by for a short visit, afterwards I spent some time working on the second guitar I was asked to transform and took time to pick up a book I’ve been reading called In Praise of Slowness. I never questioned how we came to allow a clock to dictate our lives, have you? According to this book it wasn’t easy to convince society to accept a life dictate by a mechanical invention.

Life Lived In Pictures

I promised I had a plan to share pictures with you.  Above are a few of my seedlings.  The container is holding corn,in the front is one of the tomato plants.  The other two we just put melon seeds in.  Do you recognize the blue “box”?  More on  that  later.  I know what you are thinking….why do I have plastic cups?  Well, I didn’t save enough containers for  all my seeds.  I figure if I wash them and reuse them each spring at least they won’t end up in the trash.

Time for Friday Favorites

Well, the idea of using my phone to type up this post was beyond my abilities or my sanity.  I bargained for my son’s laptop for the night.  He wants it back first thing in the morning so this may turn into a very long night. I will also be writing another post tonight that I will publish tomorrow.  I’ve been asked about pictures, having the laptop I can share some!!  I want to thank everyone for being so  patient first with my being absent and now to be kind enough not to complain about how my posts look being typed on a cell phone.