>Love is: a rain barrel

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>My rain barrels are turned upside down, emptied for the winter so they don’t fill and freeze. Ice expands, which would crack even the heavy duty barrels.

Chuck, dear husband of mine, models trains in HO scale. For the uninitiated, HO translates as small. Tiny. Put-on-your-glasses and look very closely for details Small.

The building below is part of a granary in his layout. The rain barrel is about the size of my pinkie fingernail, if not smaller. Yes, dear readers; he made a rain barrel in his train layout in tribute to his wife’s green philosophies.


Now if I can stop him from buying the shopping bag that says, “I carry this bag because my wife cares about the environment”!

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>Doing Good by Buying Green

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>I’m still finishing up the Christmas shopping. There are a few people that are just hard to please! They’re either very picky, have very expensive taste, or have everything they need and don’t want more. Mother Nature Network has their Quirky Gift collection, the Nature Conservancy has a Green Gift Guide.
You can plant a tree, donate an acre, or “give” a coral reef.
You could “give” a jaguar. Well, you couldn’t actually wrap it up and put the big cat under the tree, but you could donate in your loved ones’ names to help preserve the jaguar’s habitat.
The Nature Conservancy also has a Marketplace, where all purchases go toward the lofty goal of preserving nature. Ooh, maybe I should get the organic cotton crib bedding for my new niece! Hint to family: the logo t-shirts are cute, and they have some books that look to be right up my eco-friendly alley.

Ever since Chuck ordered knit slippers from National Geographic’s online market, he’s been getting their print catalog full of unique gifts. There’s also Heifer International, where a small donation will donate a cow, goat, sheep, llama, or even (gulp) rabbit to a family in need. These are gifts that truly pay it forward; the money spent does good in the world.

I can’t bring myself to sponsor a rabbit, even though they are a valuable source of protein. I’ll pick up a few items for our school’s Adopt-a-Family program, though, and do good in my own small way. Then again, a teacher and blogger can never have too many of these…

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>On my to-do list:

gather a few holiday CDs to bring to school
wrap birthday presents for Chuck and La Petite
empty dishwasher (ugh)
clean kitchen (double ugh)

I really live a boring life. Let’s see if I can liven this up a little.

Gather holiday CDs to bring to school
– must be intrumental for playing in class, no audible lyrics for students to notice and bring home tales of teacher playing music that might possibly have religious significance in a public school classroom
– a few fun collections for ME so I can listen to music that brings me to my Happy Place while I’m working and the kids are out for recess
– Debate leaving classroom door closed (heat functions better that way) or open (to share the good tunes)

Wrap presents for Chuck and La Petite
– Darn these December birthdays!
– Amigo will want to be part of the process. We have fun putting gifts together.
– I’m still serious about not buying wrapping paper. We have plenty of alternatives, and they’ll look good.
– Storing gifts will be easier after they’re wrapped. I won’t have to hide them.

Empty Dishwasher (still ugh)
– Chuck and I have mastered the art of procrastinating. The one who needs something from the clean dishes first ends up dealing with the dishwasher.
– Chuck and I have mastered the art of turning a blind eye to the dirty dishes – almost. I usually cave first; I can’t handle having the small counter space covered with dirty dishes for long.

Clean kitchen (still double ugh)
– It’s such a tiny space we really can’t let it clutter up. There’s not much counter, which makes wiping it down much easier and quicker, but still a bother.
– Why does it feel like I’m the only one who cleans the microwave? Perhaps because I am?

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>Fun with leftover turkey

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>Ah, Thanksgiving. Leftovers. The embarrassment of riches in an overflowing refrigerator. The challenge of using those riches to feed the family a few more times.

Crockpot Shepherd’s Pie; poultry style

Make layers in crockpot:

  • stuffing
  • gravy
  • vegetables
  • turkey
  • mashed potatoes

Heat on low for 6-8 hours. Optional; add grated cheese to the top an hour before serving.

BLTT Sandwiches
Add a layer of turkey, sliced thin, to your standard bacon lettuce tomato sandwiches.

Easy, delicious, not so same-old, same-old. Now it’s your turn; share the wealth. What did you do with leftover turkey?

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>A Bad Day at School: Reality Show Edition

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>Assistant: Who was that guy who visited your classroom late in the afternoon?
Daisy: the Superintendent of Schools for our district.
Director (to photographer): I hope you got a good angle on him. He’s the big guy, the boss of the boss of the bosses.
Daisy: I hope you didn’t get the kid falling out of her chair while he was there on camera.
Assistant: That was funny! And the kids who kept giggling; didn’t get that this was an important guest.
Daisy: Funny? Hardly! He must think I’m a complete disaster; the kids were awful while he was here!
Director: We followed him next door. That class told him math is boring.
Daisy: Shakes head, hand on forehead. Is it Friday yet?

Back up, earlier in day.
Liaison officer: I need to talk to Johnny.
Daisy: Johnny, go with Officer Krumpke.
Director: Can we use that? He might be a juvenile offender. Those records would be sealed.
Daisy: No, no, no. He’s just a bully who needs a little, um, firm hand. One with a badge and handcuffs to impress the point.
Liaison officer (returning to room): We need someone who actually witnessed the incident.
Daisy (to class): That means someone who saw it happen, not someone who heard the rumors.
Officer Krumpke: Speaking of rumors, let me clear up a rumor that’s going around in your grade. I am not a school security guard; I’m a police officer.
Daisy (aside to Officer K, as they walk into the hallway, motions toward gun): That’s a heck of an arsenal for a security guard.
Officer K: (laughs out loud)

Back up, earlier in day
Daisy (quietly, turns microphone off): Carter, did you take your medicine at lunchtime?
Carter (bouncing on chair): What? What?! I didn’t do anything.
Daisy: I’ll give you a choice: show me which you choose. You can start reading here, quietly, or you can take some time to settle down in the office.
Carter: No way!
Daisy: Show me. You’re not in trouble; you just need to choose where you’re going to read.
(three minutes later)
Daisy (on phone to office): Carter’s on his way; he needs a little time to settle down before he comes back to class. He’s bringing his book and his reading log.
Assistant to director: Gee, all the other kids settled down now, too.
Daisy: It’s called removing the entertainment. Now back away with that camera and let me teach these kids to read!

Back up, shortly after sunrise
Assistant: Why do I have to ride in the mom-van with you and the photog?
Daisy: You drew the short straw. Oh, drat. Darn it!
Assistant: What happened? Did you forget your homework? Your lunch box? Ha-ha. Ha-ha.
Daisy: Worse. I forgot my coffee!!

Maybe that explains everything!

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>When green products have wasteful packaging

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>Eco gifts. Love ’em or hate ’em (and how could anyone truly hate a gift that helps keep our planet healthy?), they’re here to stay. Last year I gave reusable shopping bags, some simple, some fancy. This year, I’m still looking for the perfect inexpensive eco-gift for my extended family and friends.

Mother Nature Network has an unusual set of gift suggestions in their Quirky Gift Guide. I seriously like these bootie slippers, but they’re a little pricey for my gift budget. My favorite, however, is this wallet. If Amigo needed a new wallet, this cute bifold made from ties and suits would be perfect.

I’ve been thinking of giving anti-static dryer balls as a stocking stuffer. They’re inexpensive, long-lasting, useful, creative – all in all, a good gift for the family members who don’t need Random Stuff in their Stockings. But wait: look at this wasteful packaging! Much bigger than the product itself, plastic galore, impossible to open without scissors, yada yada yada. In other words, how could such a good product come in such a terrible package?!

I contemplated returning it. Really. In the balance, is it worthwhile? Thinking long term, these simple anti-static balls will keep a year’s worth of fabric softener chemicals out of the water supply, save $$ by removing the product from grocery lists, and help take good care of clothing in the process. That’s my dilemma: does the good outweigh the bad?

Readers, what do you think? How do you balance the eco-good with the eco-bad? The green with the greenwashing? The green and frugal product in the plastic package?

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>Are your holiday cards in the mail yet?

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>

Mine are not on the way. Mine sometimes even end up going out close to or even after Christmas. I confess.
I heard a Plurk friend exclaiming that she’d already received a card from an uber-organized Martha type. I guarantee it wasn’t me. In fact, I just cut up last year’s cards a week ago! With the help of a few fun craft scissors and a basket full of holiday and birthday cards, I can create gift tags and little decorative pieces for gift wrap. Some cards will yield not just one, but several cute tags.

Martha Stewart doesn’t live here. Nope. Never has, never will. But I’ll tell you this: I haven’t purchased gift tags since we were married 25 years ago. It’s too much fun (and green and frugal)to do it this way!

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>The Great Small Purse Drive

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>

Mocha Momma is who I want to be when I grow up. Oh, wait; she’s younger than I am. Oh, well, she’s wise beyond years and simultaneously young at heart. Did I mention generous? Creative? Resourceful?

She is a high school administrator in Springfield, IL, at a school with, well, lots of difficulties. Safety is a big concern, and with that in mind, students cannot carry backpacks around with them. Boys complained that girls were allowed to carry purses, and the policy was updated to limit purse size.

70% of the students in this high school live at or below the poverty rate. These girls can’t afford a second purse just to keep themselves together at school. Mocha Momma came up with a solution: the Great Small Purse Drive.

I’ve been reading Kelly’s blog for several years now, she’s read mine, and we’ve emailed back and forth. She’s a woman of integrity, with great taste in coffee and a great sense of what’s important in life. I trust she’ll get these purses into the hands of girls who need them.

Purses should be smaller than a standard 8.5 X 11 piece of copy paper. Send any donations to:

Kelly Wickham
P.O. Box 9465
Springfield, IL 62791
Let’s do it, readers. Pass the word and pass the purses. One big closet clean-up for you; one small purse for a young woman.

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>Prepping for Thanksgiving, the Reality Show

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>Assistant: What’s wrong with this coffee?
Daisy: I’m cleaning the coffeepots with a vinegar solution. Don’t drink it.

Director: Okay, I’ve sent him out for Starbucks. What’s next? How much can you really do ahead of time?
Daisy: Quite a bit, actually. Today is just cleaning. coffepots, roasting pan, extra crockpot, wine glasses. Tomorrow I’ll get out the tablecloths and napkins. Wednesday we’ll cook all the side dishes, and the only thing we’ll have left to cook on Thursday will be the bird.

Daisy: In fact, I even cleaned the oven. Slaved over it. Scrubbed, soaked, worked my fingers to the bone. Oh, the sacrifices I make to host Thanksgiving dinner at our house!


Assistant: I’m back! Who ordered the Pike Place blend? Hey, you folks got a lot done here? How’d you do it all in such a short time?
Daisy (in a stage whisper): I called in the Fairies.

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