That's Gneiss! #77 ~ In which I AM TIRED
Some weeks I know exactly what I’m going to write about and the newsletter falls into place. This was not one of those weeks. But it was A WEEK. Work was a rollercoaster, not with highs and lows but more of a corkscrew. The weekend has been a nice break from that, but I’m taking up pretty much where I left off when I go back to work tomorrow. Lots of changes ahead in the next couple of weeks.
We had a nice visit from my parents (hi Mom & Dad!) this weekend. A drive around Everett to take a look at the house my mom grew up in, and she pointed out other houses where friends & relatives lived. Lots of history here in Everett! We had dinner at Scuttlebutt, and this morning we ate breakfast at the Totem Family Diner before they headed back over the mountains.
The rest of today was spent doing some much needed yard work. The weather finally cleared, allowing me to make a dent on some badly needed weed pulling. The beds around the apple trees were a mess! The bulbs have all finished blooming, and the dandelions and grass have been making a move to take over.
YIKES!
I spent quite a bit of time out there pulling weeds today, and things are looking better. I’ve still got a lot of work to do though. Rowland is a big help, as always. He’s especially good at barking at the neighbors who were also out enjoying the sun, and anybody else that passes by out house. Very ferocious.
I talked to the neighbors a bit, and learned that the apples from our two big trees are inedible. The only thing they’re good for is throwing against the wall across the street! The neighbors all hate the wall - when it was built it didn’t change the sound level from I-5 at all, and it blocked a bit of a view to the east. Throwing the crappy apples serves a doubly therapeutic purpose. I’m looking forward to that autumn bonding activity with the neighbors!
Before we moved in somebody pruned several of the plants in the garden, including the camellia at the front of the house. I think they killed it. The only live growth is at the back and on the bottom. Sure is pretty! I think we can make a good argument to have that removed, and I will happily plant something more attractive and easy to take care of there. A Japanese Maple perhaps.
Walks with Rowland are quite enjoyable on these days with nicer weather. This morning he had a stare-down with some cats, and we saw a cool old car.
Wild times in Everett on a quiet Sunday morning…
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On another note, Nolan and Mia have been traveling through the Yukon to Alaska with a friend. Their life is much more exciting (the right kind) and interesting than mine this week. They saw a lynx, sea otters, caribou, and bison. They also stopped at these beautiful sand dunes in Carcross, Yukon, which Nolan tells me is the world’s smallest desert. They also found a restaurant with a sad bar.
And that pretty much wraps up my week. I need to get a good night of rest so I am ready to get back onto that corkscrew rollercoaster for another week.
I hope all of you get to ride a quiet kiddie choo-choo train on a flat track this week.
Cheers!
Tidbits
Everyday objects covered in cross stitch and needlepoint (artist’s Instagram)
Everyday objects covered in white beads (artist’s Instagram)
Do have a desire to bake geologic creations and compete with others who have the same desire? Enter the Great Geobakeoff 2019! Previous entries can be seen here. The functional oil pump is impressive!
Butterflies are beautiful, but caterpillars are just as lovely!
I’ve tried podcasts, and just don’t care for them - this article hits some of the reasons why. I’ll stick with my music.
Making: I carved a stamp! Sorry, no picture yet as it’s for a gift. I have useable workspace and I love it.
Recently eaten: a closed restaurant meant trying a new place for lunch - Pacific Northwest Kolache. Will go back! And hopefully they’ll have some of the stuff on the menu - the selection they had was different, but very tasty! I’d never heard of kolache before - now I’m a fan.
Reading: I am on the last disc of Becoming - this short commute is no good for audiobooks (but I’m not complaining). Hope Never Dies is amusing me (and not only because Biden drives a 2017 Sublime Challenger T/A…). Still working on Puckoon.
Videos of the Week
Iggy! 72 today… just a youth of 65 in the first video.
Mike Watt alert! Saucy language alert, too.
Question of the Week
Answer if you wish, and I’ll share next week - anonymously of course. Just hit reply…
What are your favorite pizza toppings?
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Last week I asked what you’re doing to live lighter on the earth.
Became a vegetarian at 16, and only about 16 years later reconsidered eating fish so I wouldn't have to eat fried cheese (which is sometimes a chef's idea of a vegetarian option). I do my best to use as little plastic as possible, or reuse it, and I take the bus or walk instead of driving. It's small potatoes, I know, but I have to offset my mother who considered all these things "a phase I'd grow out of."
I went 7 years without owning a car pre Uber era. Rode my bike everywhere. I recycle everything I can. I believe in buying used and try to fix something before replacing. I am slowly making meat a smaller part of intake and more vegetable based proteins are on deck. No straws thank you and I shop with reusable bags.
I use baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice to clean virtually everything in my house. I buy one small bottle of bleach about every 3 years or so just for occasional things and to keep the mold on my window sills at a reasonable level. I also use only liquid castille soap for shampoo and body wash. Oh, and I also just made cloth napkins recently. A co-worker explained that she has never used paper napkins or paper towels while growing up because her family just didn't. They have always made cloth napkins and cut up old socks, t-shirts, sheets, and towels and used them as rags. I asked if she ever runs out of rags and she said never. I started cutting up old t-shirts and sheets and keeping a supply under my kitchen sink. I wash and re-use them if they look pretty good, but I throw them out if I have to use them for a particularly gross task. It's really true - so far I never have even come close to running out. Speaking of rags, I've also been using cloth pads and a moon cup for close to 20 years. Not only are all these things better for the planet, the cost savings is mind boggling. However, I worry about how our consumer culture influences all of us. I believe the popularity of Marie Kondo and getting rid of stuff has merit, but I fear old habits die hard and it is yet another way consumers will justify buying more new stuff. And doesn't environmentalism inherently clash with consumerism? (Buy this re-usable water bottle! It's better for the environment! But isn't it still plastic?) To really make a difference I think only legislation will help. I have to remind myself that as much as I am doing, it won't help as much as stopping the big companies from making terrible stuff for the environment in the first place. This cartoon exemplifies that. http://leftycartoons.com/2019/03/24/global-warming-and-the-politics-of-personal-purity/
And have I actually done anything to influence legislation besides voting yet? No. Sigh... But I'm working on that this year.
Last summer I participated in #plasticfreejuly. It was a good way to be aware of what single use plastic I consume. It made me think differently when I shop. I already bring a cloth shopping bag with me and reuse plastic bags for produce. When they wear out, I have cloth produce bags waiting. I use cloth bags for bulk grains and nuts. After July, I tried to find a balance between what works for me and what I can reasonably change.
I keep hoping that I can move back to the city I work in so I can walk or ride a bike to work. I line dry my fitness gear and try to only wash what really needs cleaning. I have a hybrid car and use the energy awareness gauge. I'm always seeking ways to be more environmentally friendly within my means.
I remember the energy crisis of the 70s, and my parents taught us to conserve resources.
Living in Germany in the early 90s helped me become even more thoughtful about consumption. Recycling was mandatory. Each apartment building in our housing area had seven recycling bins. There were three different bins just for glass - one each for brown, green, and clear. By the time I took the trash out for my family of five (one paper grocery sack full, once a week) it was smoking! It’s not quite as easy to recycle in the U.S., but it’s something I have done since living in Germany.
- I walk a lot more rather than using my car for trips under a mile or so.
- I started mending my socks!
- I repurpose much more and go to thrift shops or garage sales FIRST if I'm looking for something in particular, rather than clicking a button on Amazon. The small town I'm in also has a great swap and sell FB Page which is a great thing! I got a nice coffee table and dresser recently.
- I frequently channel my dad and remember to TURN OFF THE LIGHT WHEN I LEAVE THE ROOM. That's him shouting in my head.
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