I Think I Need An Intervention

It has been awhile since I have blogged about plastic.  And even longer since I blogged about my great weakness for containers.  First off, in my defense, quite a few months ago, I made a commitment to no longer buy plastic if I can help it.  Although, I did not get rid of what I had, I stuck to my commitment. (except with a momentary weakness at Cosco for cereal containers....my bad!)  So while going through my plastics, I tried to give the same diligence I give the rest of the house and items.  I really have no problem with getting rid of things we don't use.  I will give them to someone I know, Goodwill, or recycle.  And I do use the plastic I already have for LL's lunch.  Where he works, because it is a secured facility, does not allow glass.  I figure, better to use and reuse what I have, rather then it end up in the landfill.

So I got my plastics in order.  Made sure any residue of gluten is off.  But then comes my real weakness.  I can not seem to get rid of any plastic lid.  This is my way of thinking.  What if I just misplaced the container and it shows up..........what if it is a lid to someone elses container that they accidently left.........what if I can use this lid for some other purpose!  I can't do it.  A normal person would match their containers with the lids and throw the rest out or recycle.  Well I never said I was normal.  Just can not do it.  So, Calling all out to anyone who has ever been to my house bearing food........come see if I have your lid.  You might just find Pay Dirt.

Sometimes Waiting For Something Is Worth It!!

                                              First thing first.  As you all know, I have no visual pride, so I am showing my before picture that would even make Beau, who is the pro with before pictures proud.

Note the sad wrinkled look.  Stay with me here.  I was really trying to grow my hair out.  But just couldn't do it.  Could do it when I was younger, but not so much anymore.

And here is the after.  Thank you Kris.  Must say, when I style it, it is a bit more spiky and wild then this picture shows.  Ya, that's how I roll.

Still I feel I am channeling Sharon Stone and Phyllis Diller here:)

Now, Some things are worth waiting for.  My Max, who most of you know has Autism, is creative and a dear,  has for a long time been wanting his own Laptop Computer that has the media capability to do his films.  LL and I have been willing to contribute, but only if he can get serious and save for it himself.  Like most people at his emotional level, he will take care of it better and appreciate it more if he earns it.  Well, he saved his Christmas and Birthday money, along with a little of his spending money every week.  We found one that went on sale but only had a few available.  So the saint, my LL, and Max at midnight last night, went and bought it.  He is sooooo happy and he deserves it.  It is a VERY big deal that he saved most of the money himself, and LL and I had no qualms about giving him the rest of the money.  He showed determination and maturity. 

Now for my waiting and worth it moment....For at least two years, LL and I have been saving and watching Craig's list, Ads, Sales, and distributors for a deal we could afford.  We bought a used one years ago, and had nothing but headaches.  So we were frugal and patient.  This is for mostly me, I am the green girl, and love the outdoors, but LL wanted something powerful enough so he could ride it when we are RVing.  Can you guess, I am sure you can. 

Here is my moped, scooter, or whatever you want to call it!!

It is a Brand New, never ridden 2009 Honda Metropolitan.  The reason we could afford it is because the 2011 models are coming soon and they had to get rid of about 15 of them.  So we got it for about half off and the full warranty to boot.  Yes we are that good!!

First thing LL did this morning is reinforce the platform in back of Marlin.

Oh yes, we are soooo ready to go somewhere.

Isn't it cute.  I am not sure where we will be headed, but I am so ready.

I am such a lucky and blessed girl and I know it!!

I must say, I already drove it to Mt.Angel this morning.  Going there was great!  Oh I was feeling good.  Cold, a little, but fun.  After going to Mom's, Kris's, and Karen's, I started back home for the 5 miles.  Oh my gosh, I guess the wind was going with me on the way to Mt.Angel.  On the way back to Silverton, the wind was against me and blowing hard.  It was cold and hard to even keep the scooter upright.  And also, on the highway there is a lot of loose gravel.  LL and my friend Ernie both think I need to buy a visor attachment for my helmet rather than goggles.  To use when I go out of town..I am all for that.

I haven't figured out the specifics but I want to do a contest for naming my scooter.  I need to find a gift, and need to figure out if I pick a name from one of my friends out of country like New Zealand, how do you get the gift to them?  I am thinking of picking out a bento that can be sent directly to the winner.  If any of my fellow bloggers can tell how to do this the best way, comment or e-mail me.  As most of you know,  I name my favorite Material items.  For example, Baby is my camera, and Marlin is my RV.  I have a couple ideas for my scooter, and if anyone is clever enough to come up with the same names..they will have the advantage.  I will not pick my own name, but one of yours.  Stay tuned for when I start my contest.

BTW- can you get any better than Boston's more than a feeling.  I don't think so:)

Trying To Live, Not Judge

This morning I was reading one of my favorite blogs.  http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com/ It is written by a lady who has chose to raise her family in a very simple environment.  Yesterday she had shared while on vacation, noticing how many people lived and felt more at peace with her choice of living more simply.  She was not being judgemental.  Just making an observation.  She, today, extended an apology because some commented and defended a more "modern" lifestyle.  I felt bad for her.  She was expressing a relief that she was making the right decision for Her family.  But this has me thinking

I have written several blog posts about living simpler, more green, etc.  Do I come off sounding judgy?  I hope not.  I am trying to be more green.  Driving less, spending less, making do, reusing, and must admit, the plastic issue in the world has me getting mad at myself if I forget my canvas bag at the grocery store.  But even in my own household, I try not to say much to LL and Bailey.  I try to just model better choices.  When it comes to transportation, well I must say when I see the one Hummer that someone owns in town here, I do cringe a little, but a lot of people drive nice, new, large pickups and I choose to just think they are farmers or in construction, which would make those vehicles practical.  My brother David has a beautiful large pickup but travels very far to work and drives his small economy car.  He shares his pickup with anyone in the family who might need to haul something, so there is almost always a place and time for anything.  Including a gas guzzler.  When someone does bring a plastic bag from the grocery store into the house, well it always gets reused.  It's a great way to dispose of my soiled diaper or pack LL's lunch in.  I hope I never get them confused.  Can see me throwing his lunch away, and at noon, LL having a big surprise when he opens the sack.

LL and I live in a large house with a swimming pool.  10 yrs ago when we bought it, we got a great deal.  Now that my kids are grown, we look forward to the housing prices changing so we can afford to sell and buy a 2 bedroom small house with a yard that I can still garden and have my chickens.  Preferably on Silver creek but we'll see.  Downsizing is important to us, as living within our means is and not trying to keep up with the Jones. 

P.S. Forgot to mention Marlin, our RV.  Talk about gas guzzler, but we only use it for distances so I can get out.  Must admit, I did have to debate long and hard about buying it.  But as I said, a time and place for most anything.

But I try not to judge others on their choices.  This is just where I am at now in my life.  But I may sound preachy at times and for that I am sorry.

So What's Wrong With Mediocrity

Mediocrity, is that even how to spell it.  Can't find my dictionary.  Anyway.  I am surrounded by talented people.  My LL can decide to do something new with little effort.  My children are creative and have talents.  I have two sisters who do hair so they are creating art everyday, but both can also do crafts, bake, make afghans, etc. with few mistakes when trying something new.  One of Max's staff can do it all.  When Max is having down time or doing a chore independently, O. is making jewelry, crocheting, needle pointing, and it all is beautiful.

 

Still I think no one can beat me when it comes to the desire to create.  Boy, I believe I have the eye.  I know what I like, I know what is good work, but when it comes to creating something of quality, well I am missing the gene.  I am borrowing a sewing machine I got from my sister, she borrowed it from my niece.  So Kelli, your sewing machine is at my house.  I took home ec. for one term in high school.  Couldn't get out of there fast enough.  I got into a second music class instead.  But I was in home ec, long enough to learn how to sew a straight stitch from the machine.  That's about it.  But I don't know how to even do that now.  But I have the desire to learn. 

Marlin is in need of new curtains.  So as soon as I can figure the machine out and sew straight, my goal is to make curtains for the RV.  But I lack any confidence of being able to do well enough for even that. 

For some people, perfection is the goal.  For me, mediocrity would be an achievement.  Don't feel sorry for me.  I do many things very well.  Hmmm.  Let me think of an example..............Still thinking...............I'll get back to you on that.  So wish me luck on learning to sew.  I can do it!  Really!  I can. 

Practicing My Chicken Dance

One of the biggest events of the year in my life is The Mount Angel Oktoberfest.  http://www.oktoberfest.org/  I grew up in the country about 5 miles from Mt. Angel.  Even though I went to a different High School (I went to Gervais), and our address was a Silverton addy, I consider myself a Mt. Angel girl.  It's where my mom grew up and was married.  I was also baptised, married, my kids baptised in Mt. Angel, and most childhood memories are of Mt. Angel.

I now live in Silverton, 4 miles from Mt. Angel. But I become 100% Mt. Angel Girl for the next 4 days.  Starting tomorrow, the small town grows and is the third biggest event in Oregon.  Oregon State Fair and the Rose Festival in Portland are the only larger events.  I will spend most my time visiting with family and friends, hopefully working in the beer garten on Friday evening if my "digestion" allows, eating a bit, trying new wines, looking at arts and crafts and just having a merry good time.   This year we even took the RV and parked it behind my sister's house.  This will give me a place to go and have privacy when "digestion" hits, and we can stay the night on the two busiest and dangerous nights to travel, Friday and Saturday night.

So today I need to cook and bake a bit so we are not only eating the food at the festival.  It can get expensive and unhealthy.  Oh I will still get a fondue one day, a Rubin sandwich another day, and don't forget the dough boys, but having some other food available is a good idea.  Also today is the day everyone brings in the booths.  It has become a bit of a tradition with my mom and sisters and I.  We walk on down to the festival area and watch the set up.  All the neighboring towns and organizations come in and set up their food booths.  We get to see a lot of people we know all in one place and can say hi and all, without the huge crowd.  Once the crowd begins tomorrow, it is hard to visit workers in booths.  They are just too busy. 

Unfortunately, the weather prediction is not good for the festival.  I imagine it might not be as busy as in previous years.  But it will still be fun.  So expect a lot of pictures of the oktoberfest in the next few days.  Well I best be off getting my cooking done.  Have a great day.

The Clothes Line Poem

I found this poem on-line while reading one of my regular blogs. I enjoy drying clothes out one line. The rest of family doesn't like the stiffness of clothes and towels, but I think the freshness and smell more than makes up for the crunchiness. So here is this cute poem.

THE CLOTHES LINE POEM
A clothes line was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.
It also was a friendly link
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by
To spend a night or two.
For then you'd see the 'fancy sheets'
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the 'company table cloths'
With intricate design.
The line announced a baby's birth
To folks who lived inside
As brand new infant clothes were hung
So carefully with pride.
The ages of the children could
So readily be known
By watching how the sizes changed
You'd know how much they'd grown.
It also told when illness struck,
As extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
Haphazardly were strung.
It said, 'Gone on vacation now'
When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, 'We're back!' when full lines sagged
With not an inch to spare.
New folks in town were scorned upon
If wash was dingy gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way.
But clotheslines now are of the past
For dryers make work less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess.
I really miss that way of life.
It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best
By what hung on the line!
-AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Garden of Eden-Willamette Valley

When I was small, I remember hearing stories from my mom and dad about the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. They both were small children, but these two historical incidence had a huge impact on their life. My mom is from Nebraska, my dad from Kansas. They probably never went hungry themselves, but their parents went hungry in order to feed their children.

My mom and dad both came to Oregon in the mid to later '30's. They both told the story about when they saw Oregon and the abundance of fruit hanging from trees and vegetables in the fields. It was beyond their wildest dreams. My husband's mother was born and raised in Oregon. She said people suffered here during this time, but she did not think many went hungry. It is no wonder.

Oregon, the Willamette Valley in general, has the nickname "The Garden of Eden" for a good reason. Almost anything grows here. And grows well. With the exception of tropical fruits, you can find almost anything locally grown here. Berries, Apples, Peaches, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, clover, wheat, on and on and on. My family grows strawberries, Marion, boysen, blackberries. Various vegetables. My uncle raises cows for meat and makes his own sausage and pepperoni sticks. Even with my VERY restrictive diet, there is no way I will ever go hungry.

Besides the various foods, we have the ocean an hour away, and the mountains an hour away.

Because of our great hops available, Portland is one of the biggest areas for microbreweries.

And they say our grapes rival Napa Valley and has been given the nod from vineyards in France and Italy. The pinor noir for the Willamette Valley is especially loved.

Spending time in nature is not hard to find here. This is Max and I last weekend taking a walk.



This month I am concentrating on buying less packaging, bulk and getting rid of plastic. But I am also enjoying the abundance of food at my disposal. In July, my focus will be on producing what I can in my yard. Taking advantage of the wonderful produce my family has to offer, and gleaning the leftovers from the farmer friends I know. I will be canning, freezing, and thoroughly appreciating the Garden of Eden that I live in.

This is my lunch from today. I didn't take this picture because of the culinary brilliance, obviously.. I didn't take this picture as an example of my great art of photography, also apparent. I wanted to show you how lucky I am. My diet is very restrictive. I can't have much fiber, whole foods, dairy, meat, on and on. But the bread is homemade, the jam is from my uncles berries, the eggs are from my chickens, and the juice I made from the apples here in Oregon. I am looking forward to blogging over the next few months about the wonders of Gods natural foods. I just hope the rain stops soon so the cherries and berries are not ruined for the year. But I am blessed to live in The Garden of Eden.

By the way, this is another product of this area. Everclear is from this area, and my son's band has played the same venues that Nirvana did. Goooood Music.

Take THAT!! You Oil Men

The week after our house burned down 6 years ago, (our vehicles burned too) we bought a used mini-van. As I was still driving kids and their friends around, it seemed like a smart choice at the time.

Since we bought our second car and LL sold his truck, he has been driving the van to work everyday. About 25 minutes away.

A year and a half ago, we decided to get a new car. One that had a good warranty so my LL would not have to work on it, and one that got great gas mileage. I wanted a hybrid but we couldn't see spending that kind of money and having high car payments. So we bought a Ford Focus. There are no power locks or power windows. Just the basics Ma'am. We love it. It is a great car.

Well we made a decision recently to switch vehicles. LL has to drive to work and the Focus gets much better gas mileage. I don't go anywhere often and when I do, it is mainly within 5 miles. So Take That!! you oil men.

Recently, mainly because of my health, I have been researching chemicals, air, what is happening to the environment, etc. So we are taking further steps to living a more sustainably responsible life. In doing this, I have decided to try to cut my driving even more. This may sound easy but remember, my digestion will make walking iffy sometimes, and Oregon is wet, a lot, so I need to get use to being wet, a lot.

I don't have a picture of me walking, so here is Bailey, Boyfriend, and Beau. The 3 B's.

But instead of walking, because when getting into digestion troubles and not being able to get home fast, I decided my first mode of transportation will be my bicycle. LL put a nice big basket on the back this weekend. I should be able to carry a gallon of milk and a sack of groceries in it. So...........................TAKE THAT!! You oil men.

My goal is 3 out of 4 in town errand trips will be walking or on bike. Saving the 1 out of 4 trip for getting big things like chicken feed. Well, we'll see how I do. BTW, Love this song, Brand New Key.

Sustainability and Practicality

The person I was B.C. (before cancer) didn't mind a good argument one bit. I would argue politics with my brother, and sometimes religion (although I never have liked to argue religion). Through my ignorance and perhaps a bit of arrogance, I use to think arguing made a difference. Like it will change someones mind. Never realizing if my mind was so made up, why would I think the other persons opinion was going to change any easier. The person I am today tries to avoid conflict when possible, it is not that I feel less passionate about things, its just I think modeling my spirituality, and other views are much more persuasive and lets face it, I certainly don't have all the answers so who am I to lecture. The reason I started this post making the above point clear is that I am going to be talking regularly about my journey into living more sustainably, but I want it to be clear that this is MY journey and I do not want to be perceived as lecturing. I also will be making lots of mistakes and I do welcome suggestions but criticisms are not welcomed. With all this said I will list the areas I will be working on and also talk a bit about my day yesterday.

Smart Shopping

The first area I want to talk about will be my most difficult. Buying more responsibly. Things I do right is I usually shop when I need something, not always when I want. (containers are the exception, but I will work on it). I shop at thrift stores first to see if I can reuse an item. I tend to buy natural materials, but haven't looked into "organic" clothing. Where I am going to have the most problems are that I am cheap, um I mean frugal. I like to coupon, but most items you get couponing are not the healthiest, too much preservatives, not local or organic and come with far too much packaging. So on this journey I will talk a lot about this struggle.

Household Energy

I like a warm house in winter, cool house in summer. I have a lot to learn and work on about lowering our energy use in the household. But I will learn. One thing I have done right is use my Solar Clothes Dryer. But I have not used it as often as I should and will be using it almost exclusively this summer and fall. I haven't figured out the Oregon rainy winter and spring use yet but I have lots of time to figure it out. What's a Solar Clothes Dryer you ask.........................

An old fashion clothes line:)

Transportation

I am blessed with living in a small town that is very bike friendly. With the exception of a few big hills, it is very easy to get around in my town. LL and I have already made some changes to lower are gas usage which I will post later about but we can do more.

This is my cute old fashion bike I have named Freda. Yesterday, after being so upset about Susan's death I decided to ride Freda to the store to clear my head.

On the way home I stopped and visited with a family I have got to know. There are 4 of them who basically have the run of the neighborhood. By the way, all the cars went by without even noticing my friends. Maybe they are just use to them, but the drivers never even turned their head to notice. So another benefit of walking or riding a bike. Here is a picture of some of the family yesterday.

Local and Organic

I definitely need to improve at trying to only eat seasonable, local, and when possible organic. It also means growing as much of our own food as possible. Which includes eggs from my ladies:) My dietary issues will make this very difficult but I am determined. Yesterday, my "digestion" issues and Neopathy was manageable so I got a lot done. I am determined to plant less ornamental and more edibles this year and as chemical free as possible. This is what the garden looked like at about 10:30 yesterday.

I dug and turned the soil, mostly myself but needed M. help with an small 2'x2' area that I swear someone poured concrete on. It was that hard.

Now I know worms are good for the soil and garden. I should leave them all alone. But what is a lover of fishing to do while digging and seeing the best juiciest worms around. Well I boxed them up for fishing tonight. I have to have balance in my life you know.

I borrowed my brothers cultivator, after he showed me how to use it.

And planted a few things.

So there is an overview. I have a lot of planting to do today. (if my "digestion" holds out) and hopefully a funeral to attend. I hope you all have a blessed day.

Konnie

Who Is Konnie?

Really examining who I am as a person can be frustrating. When you are a person that doesn't ever quite fit in, but have spent a better part of your life trying to, it is hard to know exactly what you truly think, enjoy, believe in, or if you are influenced by what society, church, neighbors, family and friends say you should think, enjoy, and believe in.



On this road to intentional living, I am finding that in order to be truly successful in this endeavor, I need to really discover who I really am and who God really wants me to be. Over the years, while trying to but never quite succeeding at fitting in, I have been described as odd, eclectic, eccentric, liberal, moderate, christian, too worldly, "she marches to a different drummer", unusual, and so on. These all while I have been trying to fit in. Can you imagine, if I really start following my heart, what I will be called. Well so be it. Actually, I kind of like the eclectic and she marches to a different drummer labels. But anyway, there are a few things I know for sure about myself and a few things I have yet to discover.




I am a Christ follower. I love Jesus and the example he has set for me on how to live my life.

I am a die hard Democrat. Yes you can be a christian and Democrat at the same time, no matter what some friends have said at my old church.

I am a tree hugger, even more so since my cancer. I don't like chemicals in my food, I don't like to breathe it and clean with it. I need to do better at living an organic life, which is a goal I will be working on in the years to come. I don't compost enough, and buy way to much processed and plastic covered materials. But I do try to improve everyday.

I am a peacenik. I believe in peace, I believe wars are fought for the most part for big oil, NeoCons, who hide behind the flag and brain wash people into believing that a "true" American can't also be an peace loving Activist. Notice I did say for the most part. Almost nothing in this world is absolute.

I love simple living. I have in the past, been brainwashed by consumerism, but basically I have simple tastes and I enjoy a simple slow pace in life.

I love cargo pants and long sun dresses, even when they are out of style..........Who Cares!

I would rather be outside working then inside, this comes straight from my mothers genes.

I love Elton John and Steven Curtis Chapman. Talk about eclectic.

And above all else except God, I love my family. My husband, children, mother, siblings, nieces and nephews, in-laws and good friends.



So these are the things that I know for sure. There is much I don't know and slowly but surely will find out about myself.

I am tired of trying to fit in. Tired of worrying about being labeled odd, or a radical. God has put some principles in my heart that I have had since I was a child, my mom and siblings could attest to this. So I am choosing to embrace what I know to be true about myself. If it makes me eccentric and odd. So be it.



You might notice I put back up my peace background. It is my favorite and I will probably keep it for a while. I can't wait until I can afford the nikon camera I have been wanting, so tomorrow I will be picking up a cheap digital that's on sale at Sears. So new pictures soon. Whoo Hoo!

Reality Check

Warning-Talk about the fall-out from rectal cancer is in this post.......You have been warned.

The rectum is a miraculous part of the human beings anatomy. It allows you to hold the waste until a convenient time to go to the bathroom. The rectum is also responsible for the senses of knowing when you have to go to the bathroom. I can no longer hold or tell when I need to go because I no longer have a rectum.

I have been living my last 3 months like any day it will get better. Keep trying to get out and live somewhat normal. Well, last week I had two accidents in public. Once when I was walking down the road close to my house, another at the grocery store, leaving a grocery cart full of groceries. Yesterday I had an accident on the way home from Target. It was a very long 20 minute drive home. Sunday I had to run into my brother-in-law's house unannounced. How embarrassing. And today, I felt fine. Drove to my mom's five miles away, and by the time I got there I needed to run in and barely made it to the bathroom.

This brings me to a decision I am thinking about. I am considering not even trying to be in public anymore. I think I will only leave my little town for doctor appointments. Go to only really special occasions like my daughters graduation, which will require me to fast the day of and the day before. I can buy most everything from the big stores on-line. I can just make very quick run-ins at the grocery store for a couple items. I am not very social with strangers anyway. I am very shy.

My doctors say things might improve in a couple years. If not, I can consider an ostomy. Which I have had in the past and really don't want if I can avoid it. So I need to make a fulfilling life here at home.................................



I have my chickens to take care of and get fresh eggs from.

I have a big extended family that I can still visit, as they mostly live close by. They also can be here often.

I have a huge lot that I can make use of. I can extend the garden in the backyard. I can make use of the room in the flower beds. I can definitely raise more produce and preserve more which I enjoy.

So I guess my big town lot is going to become my little town farm. It sounds sad to some but I still have the hope that things will improve and my life is actually pretty rich but very simple. So if and when I get a new camera, my blog will be focusing more on garden progress and my life at home. I know that is what it has been mostly about already but even more so now. Hope to not bore you too much.

No TV-Day 3 Saturday

As I said earlier, not watching TV is much more difficult when I am with someone else. I did not ask my family to curtail any of their TV viewing but am finding that in order to make it easier on me, they are watching less. Which I guess is a good thing.

Saturday is usually time for LL to get things done around the place but he also watches TV off and on throughout the day. He watched a lot less. I think this is a good domino effect. So here is what I did. Some of which would not happen if TV was part of my day.

We got up and had our usual coffee time, ate breakfast, and then we both went and soaked in the hot tub. (My husband got it running last week after not using for over a year). Then Beau and I went for a walk. A friend saw us and visited for about 10 minutes. I didn't hurry because I knew without TV my day was going to be a lot longer:)

The bridge over Silver Creek. I cross it everyday.

When I got back from my walk. I told LL that we should go to Salem to the home improvement store because we needed some supplies for a couple projects. And he said "Get your hat on, we're going to town!" No, he really didn't say that. But he could of.

So we went to Lowes and then Home Depot. While in town I wanted to stop by the bakery outlet to get a few things.


Got all this for less than $5

So first project is getting the wicker furniture painted. Today, we bought new cushions for them and will show the completed result another day. But this will be the before picture.




Here's my LL painting.


Here is LL replacing our utility sink. We bought a new one today.

I know, I am showing you more what LL did, but I was his cheering section. "GIVE ME AN L. GIVE ME ANOTHER L. WHAT'S IT SPELL?...........Love of my Life.

I was busy baking cookies and cleaning while he did these things. About this time I was trying to decide if I was going to be brave and get ready to go to the Brewfest at the Oregon Gardens. It is just down the road from us and happens once a year. We were kind of looking forward to it. But I was not brave. I did not trust my "digestion" and would be mortified if I had to deal with a long line at the bathroom and had an accident. So we stayed home.

Made Uncle Leo's Burgers for dinner. My uncle Leo has never made me a burger in my life. Its called this because the meat is from his cows. He raises them so there is no hormones or anything else toxic. He also makes it extra lean so it is pretty healthy.

After dinner, my daughter, her boyfriend, LL and I played a new card game I had just bought called Slap Scrabble. I won all 4 games. I know, I know, I really am a bad winner. This definitely would not have happened had we been turning the TV on:)

I read for a couple hours and went to bed early. Good day all around.

A Day Late, A Dollar Long

Earth Day got me thinking......I know I am a day late.

I am an American, and as an American I am very aware that we can be a wasteful nation. Don't get me wrong, I am including myself. I am also an Oregonian, and as an Oregonian, we tend to think of the environment often. Which means I am wasteful, but am trying always to do better. I try to compost, recycle, reuse, and when running errands, I try to go local whenever possible and consolidate my car trips. Now that I feel better and the weather is improving, I plan to walk to places when possible. This brings me to what I really want to talk about.

My favorite store reopened. In November there was a fire and it had to close. It opened up yesterday and I am so happy. The store is Goodwill. I love thrift stores. I generally hate shopping but I love finding good deals on items that still have some use in them. Since I lost a lot of weight with the cancer, I have been trying to find jeans that fit. I am a casual girl and seldom buy fancy dresses or suits. Who am I kidding. I have never bought a suit in my life. Anyway, I have a hard time finding pants that fit. I do not possess the lovely figure most women have. A small waist and round hips. No, think of a 13 yr old boy and that's pretty much how I am build. So when Goodwill reopened I just had to go and see if I could find some jeans. Well....................I didn't. But what I found was better. Cargo pants. They are perfect for someone like me. Larger in the waist, sometimes with a draw string and narrower in the hips. If its too baggy in the hips it doesn't matter because lots of people wear it that way. So I found two pair. One an old navy and I am not sure of the other.

I also found a couple sleeveless tops. Ones a little big but I am just wearing them at home for the most part.

The best part of the pants is that there is room for when my "digestion" starts up and I have to wear a diaper...........Ummm I mean Undergarment:) I love recycled clothes. I can afford new but why, if you can find it used and still have life in it. If you have never shopped thrift stores, try it you may like it.

Beautified Beau

I haven't blogged lately about the love of my life...........uhhh I guess that's my husband. I mean my baby.................uhhh I guess that's my daughter B. Ok, I haven't blogged about the best companion on four feet, my sweet Beau. Remember the sheltie with Joe Pesci's personality. Well, I usually have him groomed every 6 to 8 weeks. But in dealing with having surgery and being hospitalized and trying to save a little. Beau went over 3 months without a grooming. He was bathed a couple times in between, but let me tell you it was a big mistake waiting that long. He actually looks very cute with his hair longer. But it is almost impossible to keep him clean and not smelling. His long hair collects everything. So this morning I couldn't take it any longer. I got him into the groomer at 12:30 and just picked him up. He is not as cute with it shorter but he smells good and looks more comfortable. So all is well and he gets some extra petting this evening I am sure.

This morning before grooming....................



And this afternoon after grooming.............................