Sunday Update

Yesterday was a good day. It did not rain, so I got the yard mowed. While I was mowing, Doug trimmed the two bushes outside of Chloe's bedroom. The bird nest is still in the large bush, minus any baby birds of course. Doug took some pictures of the garden while I cleaned up the cut branches. Then Doug asked if I would like to take some pictures. I'm not real good at taking pictures, so some of mine turned out blurry and had to be deleted.


Empty nest, but a beautiful nest.

The zucs are going crazy this year.

Nice rose picture.

Petunias

I picked this one last night.

This is a type of carnation that is growing in the front yard.

The green peppers are also doing very well.

Fly on a flower.

Nice cucumber.

Baby cuc.

The bird feeder that I won playing Bingo at the Jordan family reunion on July 4th.

Pumpkin blossom.

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Saturday Update

It is a bit cool this morning. I am going to wait about an hour and if it does not rain I will probably mow the yard. There are also a few bushes in the yard that need to be trimmed. We also need to make a trip to the grocery store and probably Sam's Club. Not much else planned for the day.

Shatner Does Palin

Green Tip of the Day

Used Baby Gear

If your kids aren't too jazzed about wearing their older sibling's duds, they might be convinced by pre-owned clothes with a bit of Hollywood flair. After successfully auctioning used baby gear from Gwen Stefani and Nicole Richie, Handmedowns.com is currently accepting bids for Melissa Joan Hart's donated items. Proceeds from the monthly celebrity auction are donated to charitable organizations (Melissa's charity is Friends of the Family). Even after this auction closes on August 5, the site will still be chocked full of gently used stuff from non-celebrities.

Friday Update

Happy Friday everyone. The long week is coming to an end. I don't have much planned for the weekend. The grass needs mowing and I should probably weed the garden. I think I will try to get a nice walk in as well.

Green Tip of the Day

In the U.S., we throw away well over 25 percent of the food that is produced. A lot of this waste happens outside of our homes, but much of it does happen right in our own kitchens. The website Still Tasty aims to help us know how long our food and beverages stay safe and tasty.

Thursday Update

This has been one long week. And yet not much has happened.

After work I came home, checked the garden, had supper and washed dishes. I have been getting quite a few cherry tomatoes and the early girls are finally starting to ripen. I also have a good number of cucumbers and zucchini.

On TV we watched 'Time Team America' and 'House Hunters International". I told you not much happened.

Cats Riding Buses

Evidently it is getting to be quite common for cats in Britain to ride the bus.

A mysterious cat has been routinely riding a bus by himself in Britain since January, reported by the Daily Herald. He gets on at the same stop almost every morning and jumps off near the local fish and chip shop.


The cat was nicknamed Macavity after the mystery cat in T.S Elliot's poem.

Casper enjoys his daily ride - aboard the No 3 BUS in Plymouth.

Each morning the pet leaves home and awaits the 10.55 service. He stands patiently in the queue before hopping on board and taking his favorite back seat spot.

He then travels 11 miles around Plymouth before returning home.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2561512/Cat-takes-a-daily-trip-on-No-3-bus.html

Toilet paper cores: Rolling out of the recycling bin & into a creative craft project

http://www.greenwala.com/community/blogs/all/1477-Toilet-Paper-Cores-Rolling-Of-The-Recycling-Bin-Into-A-Very-Creative-Rainy-Day-Craft-Project

Wednesday Update

Yesterday was another uneventful day. The cleaning crews were still in our building yesterday. They finally got the entry to the Granby Building cleaned up and opened again.

We received our second movie from the Kelloggs cereal box offer. We send them tokens and they send us movies. So far we have received 'One Fine Day' and 'Benny & Joon'. They don't have a great selection, but hey, they are free. Next we are getting 'Legally Blonde 2'.

Takeuchi Taijin took a wolf suit, a papier-mâché pig, and hundreds of photographs and came up with a brilliant animated fairy tale.

Green Tip of the Day

Rain Water

Collecting rainwater for your garden is a smart idea, no matter what your motivation. Plants like rainwater, because it's naturally soft, and free of chlorine and other chemicals. If drought is a problem where you live, collecting rainwater is a good way to deal with watering restrictions. If you're on a municipal water system, you stand to save a considerable amount of money.

When it rains, it's surprising how much water you can collect. Just half an inch of rainfall on a 1,000-square-foot roof will yield 300 gallons of water.

Tuesday Update

Yesterday was a longer day at work than I had hoped for. The smell was mostly gone, they had clean-up crews working all day downtown. But they still had the entrance to the Granby Building closed when I left.

Last night we had chicken cooked in the roaster, green beans from the garden and salad for supper. Very yummy. We watched Antiques Roadshow and Deadliest Catch Behind the Scenes.

Snl Harry Potter Skit - Entertainment Video via Noolmusic.com

Green Tip of the Day

Reuse Your Paint Roller

Approximately 64 million gallons of paint each year are left over when jobs are done. Make sure you don’t throw away that paint roller after the project is done.

• Clean the roller immediately after use. Scrape excess paint off with a putty knife or paint stirrer to aid in the process
• Not done but taking a break? Wrap the roller in plastic wrap or a damp rag if you stop painting for more than a few minutes, preventing build-up
• Moisten the roller with water or paint thinner before use. This can help prevent paint from drying on the roller
• Share painting supplies with friends and neighbors, less to buy and less to waste
• Volunteer to help a friend paint their space. You can bring your own tools and give them some reuse tips while you’re at it
• Reusable remolding supplies are great housewarming gifts. Make sure to include a reusable roller in your gift basket

Monday Update

Happy Monday everyone. Today should be busy at work. We will have to make up for not being there on Friday. I hope sale will be high and I'm sure the day will go quickly.

Yesterday was pretty quiet. We grilled delicious burgers, hot dogs grilled in oil and Polish sausages. We also had tater tots cooked in oil on the grill. We watched TV the rest of the evening. There was a new episode of House Hunters International and we watched Jesse James is a Dead Man. He had better be careful or he really will be a dead man.

Now I am pretty sure Thumper is a female, because I have never seen Thumper try anything close to this.

Green Tip of the Day

PREPPING PASTA

Use less water to cook your spaghetti. It works just fine. If you want to go even further, you can start cooking the pasta while you wait for the water to boil.

You can get away with boiling a pound of pasta with only 1.5 quarts of water, rather than the recommended 4-6 quarts (but you do have to stir more to make sure it cooks evenly).

If all Americans use less water and put the pasta in the pot from the beginning, we could save 500,000 barrels of oil per year (energy used to boil the billion pounds of pasta we make each year).

In tests, heating pasta and water together from the start saves 6 minutes. Not a lot, but think of all the pasta you make in a year…

The New York Times - read about cook and food writer Harold McGhee's pasta-to-water ratio experiments.

Sunday Update

Not sure what today will bring. So far I am getting a slow start, I slept in until 7. Put in 1 load of laundry and washed a few but not all of the dishes from yesterday. I also put the home-made summer sausage in the oven to bake.

Yesterday was a fun Stampin Up day. I made 1 Christmas card, 1 Celebration card and a little gift package with Peanut M&M's inside. I gave the gift package to Doug when I got home. He liked everything that I made. It was a fun time, thanks to Diedre for inviting me.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=da50782b-c936-4892-b6e0-3a0d9ecd47e3&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_articles" target="_new" title="Armstrong back for Tour in 2010">Video: Armstrong back for Tour in 2010</a>

Armstrong is competing again next year and this time he's going to have his own team with RadioShack.

Green Tip of the Day

Recycle Old Eyeglasses

Recycling isn’t limited to cans and newspapers – even your eyeglasses can be recycled. Donating your old glasses to an organization that redistributes them to people who can’t afford a new pair. You’ll improve someone’s quality of life and extend the life of those old frames you were going to throw out.

Saturday Update

Yesterday was strange day. Went to work not knowing what would happen. As soon as I entered the Granby Building I knew it was not going to be a very good start to the day. The burnt electrical smell was almost unbearable. You could even taste it. After about an hour most of us were feeling ill, some were getting headaches and a few were even light headed. We were taking turns going outside to get fresh air. The decision to let us go home came in around 10. I was pretty glad I did not have to put up with that smell all day.

When I got home Doug was still gone on his fishing excursion. He arrived about a half hour later. I went outside to see if he needed any help with his gear and a cop drove by. He stopped and asked if we had heard any fireworks. We had and told him this has been going on for many days. Someone in the neighborhood shoots off a bottle rocket once about every five minutes, sometimes for hours at a time.

We went to Pizza Ranch for lunch and I probably ate way too much. Later I had a stomach ache, not sure if it was from the food or the smells earlier in the day. Later we also grilled brats for supper.

After supper we settled in to watch TV and Doug also watched the radar for the storm that was brewing. Sometime between 8 & 8:30 he said there was going to be hail and we needed to get the cars to shelter. We decide to drive to Lindale to go under the parking ramp. We left about 3 minutes too late. We got soaked running out to the cars and there was flash flooding everywhere on the streets. Once we could almost not see the road because the rain was coming down so hard. We finally made it to the parkade safely. We stayed there for about 15 minutes and then drove home. The worst of the storm had passed. Later on the news they were showing corn fields that had been destroyed, the stalks were broken in half.

Wanda, Mark and Amber stopped by around 10 to show us Amber's new car and to bring us half a watermelon. They left on vacation early this morning and did not want the melon to go to waste.

I am excited about the stamping party this afternoon. It should be fun. I just hope there are no crazy drivers on the road.

The King Blues vs Byron - BBC Poetry Season

Corin Hardy, a London-based artist with Academy Films, was commissioned by the BBC to make a short viral film for their Poetry Season in an attempt to make poetry more accessible to British youths. His 75-second spot features lead singer Jonny Fox (a.k.a. “Itch”) of the local band the King Blues reciting Lord Byron’s classic stanzas (with a perfect rocker snarl) as end-of-the-show chaos swirls artfully and in slow motion behind him onstage. And it works! After all, Lord Bryon was once described by his lover as “mad, bad and dangerous to know,” and this poem boasts such lines as “though the night was made for loving.”

Green Tip of the Day

When hiking or camping, remember this adage: "Leave only footprints and take only pictures." The exception to the rule? If you notice litter on the trail, pick it up and pack it out. Review the rules for ethical hiking and camping at Leave No Trace.

Friday Update

Good morning everyone. Hope you have a happy Friday.

I am sitting here wondering if the Granby Building has power yet. There was a fire underground outside the building last night. This is the building where my office is located. I'm pretty sure I won't be lucky enough to have a day off. It was so slow yesterday that it would be nice.

We did get a free meal from Zio Johno's at work yesterday. The company bought us lunch for meeting our sales goal last month. I had a gyro and it was very good. Zio's does not deliver fries so we had to get those from the food court downstairs, not so good. I can't understand why people pay so much everyday to eat at the food court.

Tomorrow I will me driving to Eldora for Diedre's Stampin' Up party. It should be fun, I enjoyed making a card with her when I was visiting during my vacation.

Fire underground last night outside the Granby Building where I work. http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/51533017.html

Good Morning America traveled to Cedar Falls, Iowa on July 23, 2009. A crowd of Cedar Falls fans gathered on Main to welcome ABC's anchor Sam Champion and his crew. As I understand it this was outside of where Bobo works.

Thursday Update

Happy Thursday everyone. I hope today goes by quickly.

Last night we watched 'Time Team America'. It is a new PBS archaeological series highlighting archaeological work at five sites across the United States. Last night they were at New Philadelphia, Ill. They were looking for the town's first schoolhouse. It is a very interesting show and it is the second time we have watched.

Very moving wedding moment (via TheKheinz)

Can you imagine how fun the reception was if the wedding started this way?

Green Tip of the Day

VOLUNTEER VACATIONS

Take a volunteer vacation, where eco-adventure, exposure to different cultures, and doing something good for the world await you.

You'll be performing essential work such as coral reef restoration.

Volunteer vacations are often less expensive than vacations at the usual tourist haunts.

Learn how to monitor dolphin migration patterns, farm organically, or restore trails - sometimes stuff you can put to use when you get back home.

• Earthwatch Expeditions - work with researchers studying topics such as Kenyan elephant behavior and climate change's effect on the Arctic ($2,350 and up, not including airfare).
• Oceanic Society Expeditions and Reef Check EcoExpeditions - scuba dive, snorkel, or boat your way to monitor underwater life in oceans across the globe ($999 and up, not including airfare).
• American Hiking Society - spend a week building and maintaining trails across the United States ($275, not including airfare).
• Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms - more than 1,000 organic farmers offer you food and accommodations, in exchange for your work on their organic farm.
• GAP Adventures, Sustainable Travel International, and Travelocity Travel for Good - search for volunteer vacations; tons of options.
• The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life - great book intro to "experiential" travel and volunteer vacations ($14).

Wednesday Update

Not much happened yesterday. Another long day at work, had a really good sale so it was profitable.

Not much else happened. Came home and had tortilla pizzas for supper. We watched Deadliest Catch and tried to watch The Colony.A typical reality show; the people are too hand picked for the dranma and everyone wants to be in charge. We ended up watching House Hunters International instead.

Live Solar Eclipse 2009

Today the World witnessed a supernal sight of the magnificent diamond ring that occurs once in 100 years. The solar eclipse was visible for nearly three minutes after it occurred. Certain locations marked this historic event as the “longest solar eclipse of the 21st Century”. Starting at around 1:32am (GMT) the eclipse lasted for 6 minutes and 39 seconds. Unfortunately the eclipse was only visible in Asia and the Pacific.

Green Tip of the Day

Fast Food - Eco-tips you can use even at the drive-thru

Take just what you need; think about how many ketchup packets you toss without using.

American drivers use more than 2 billion gallons of fuel each year while idling (in drive-through lines and otherwise) - and idling creates twice the emissions of a car in motion. Go inside. Your legs will get a stretch, and you'll use less fuel than driving through. It's often faster too.

Order "for here," even if you're taking out to avoid the bag and excess napkins.

Go for the veggie option, since it takes way fewer resources to produce veggies than meat.

Skip the toy. Plastic's not especially healthy for little kids to chew on, and they usually get tossed pretty quickly anyway.

Of the Top 10 most-frequented fast food restaurants, McDonald's and Subway are your best bets, incorporating recycled paper in their napkins and building storefronts that incorporate eco-materials.

Tuesday Update

Yesterday was a long drawn out day. But it was a pretty successful day as well.

Last night we watched Mythbusters about the moon landing hoax. We also watched the special about the Apollo 11 moon landing.

As You Remember It: The Lift-Off of APOLLO 11

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Green Tip of the Day

Camping Tents

Camping tents made from materials such as recycled plastic. These tents perform just like non-eco versions, all while incorporating materials such as solar panels and reclaimed fabric from irregular tents (instead of typical PVC). While good tents are expensive, you can get a lifetime of use for the cost of a night's stay in a hotel room.

• Nemo Nano Oz - superlightweight (just 4.5 pounds - great for serious backpacking) two-person tent made from recycled plastic ($449).
• Big Agnes Salt Creek 2 - water-resistant tent made with recycled polyester; comes with an awning and sleeps two to three people ($350).
• Eureka Solar Intent - lights up and even charges your batteries using the sun; sleeps up to six ($240).
• Lowergear - rent what you need instead of buying to keep your consumption (and budget) in check.

Monday Update

Back to work, not looking forward to it.

Space Monkey Pictures

Fifty years ago, NASA fired two of its first astronauts — a rhesus monkey named Mr. Able and a squirrel monkey named Miss Baker — into space. (You can see these monkeys and chimps, and a half-dozen others, in National Geographic’s online gallery.)

Green Tip of the Day

FOOD WRAP

Unlike plastic wrap and waxed paper, you can buy 100% recycled aluminum foil and recycle it in most areas. Plastic wrap and waxed paper are made from petroleum and some contain carcinogenic PVC.

Earth911 - type in aluminum foil and your zip to find out if you can recycle it locally (note: while it usually doesn't have to be spotless, clean big chunks of food off of it before putting it in the bin).

Sunday Update

The last day of vacation. Now it just feels like another Sunday. We didn't do much yesterday. I mowed the lawn in the AM. Washed some laundry and dishes and went to the store after lunch. Doug did not feel up to going along, so I shopped by myself this week.

Last night we watched Wipe Out and then we watched a show called Hooked on the National Geographic Channel. This was one show in a series on the Megafishes Project, it was about taimen, also known as the giant Eurasian trout. Taimen can grow more than six feet (up to two meters) in length and can weigh up to 200 pounds (91 kilograms). New episodes air on Mondays.

The 50 Greatest Trailers of All Time - By IFC

Green Tip of the Day

Recycle Old Carpet

Americans get rid of some five billion pounds of carpet each year—that’s nearly seven times the weight of the Empire State Building. But thanks to an industry/government group called the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), you may be able to recycle rugs you once would have thrown away.

CARE unites a national network of recyclers that turn old carpet into raw materials for new products, like composite lumber and carpet padding. Though the network is still in its infancy—recycling facilities aren’t available everywhere yet, and homeowners typically pay from 5 to 25 cents per pound of carpet to recycle it—more facilities are joining, and costs will likely drop as CARE expands.

Individual carpet companies are doing their part, too. Many manufacturers offer lines that contain recycled content, and some let you ship back samples or old rugs for free. Take our cheat sheet to the store, and make sure to ask your carpet dealer if there are rug recyclers in your town:

Mohawk: The company's EverStrand carpet fiber incorporates PET (polyethylene terephthalate) from recycled plastic bottles, using 100 percent postconsumer recycled content.

Shaw: Some lines of this brand containing Anson nylon use recycled content and can be recycled at Shaw's facility in August, Georgia.

Milliken: Its Tesserae carpet tile incorporates 33 percent recycled content.

Flor: The Fedora line uses 80 percent postconsumer fibers to make new carpet tiles and is available in seven colors. Customers can also ship old Flor carpet tiles free of charge to the company's recycling facilities.

Article: How to Remove Every Type of Carpet Stain

Saturday Update

Down to the last 2 days of vacation. I woke late today at 8 AM. I was a bit worried about Mao because he normally wakes me no later than 5:30. I guess we were both worn out.

Last night we had a visit from Mark and Wanda. They had to bring Doug's shipment of Wanchai Ferry Frozen Entrees. They were packed in dry ice. Of course we had to play with the dry ice. Doug has a video on Twitter. Mao was a good boy while they were here. He only growled at Mark once and Mark even got a pet in on Maos head. After they left Mao went to the rug in the kitchen and looked at me like, "I was so good, I deserve cheese, right!"

I am going to go out to mow the yard in a little bit. The rest of the day I hope to catch up on laundry and maybe relax a bit.

Walter Cronkite (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) - Rest In Peace

NASA release

Neil Armstrong Statement on the Death of Walter Cronkite

The following is a statement issued by Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong on the death of Walter Cronkite.

"For a news analyst and reporter of the happenings of the day to be successful, he or she needs three things: accuracy, timeliness, and the trust of the audience. Many are fortunate to have the first two. The trust of the audience must be earned.

"Walter Cronkite seemed to enjoy the highest of ratings. He had a passion for human space exploration, an enthusiasm that was contagious, and the trust of his audience. He will be missed."

Iowa Barn Sale

This is one of the goats we saw at the barn sale we stopped at in Toddville, on our way home from Thomas and Diedre's. (They were not selling animals, just lots and lots of junk.)

I'm on Vacation, Damn-it!!

Wednesday Update

Vacation Day 5

Can't wait to talk with Chloe later today to hear all about the new Harry Potter movie. We also will be able to give her birthday gifts to her later today. Plan on eating out with the kids this evening.

I am a bit sad. The baby cardinals are no longer in the nest. I hope they left on their own and that no other creature got them. One might be hiding lower in the bush because we thought we heard something and the mother flew in several times yesterday. We looked and could not see anything though.

We ate a kohlrabi yesterday. It brought back childhood memories for both Doug and I. Thanks Wanda...

Lance talks about why he’s riding in the Tour de France and why he needs your help right now.






Send a message to the Nike LIVESTRONG Chalkbot.

Green Tip of the Day

Reduce food waste

Make a list: Before you head out to the grocery store, take a few minutes to think about your family’s schedule for the week ahead and which foods will work best for your menu. If you're organized, go ahead and plan out your meals for each day. For the rest of us, just aim to have a good idea of the types of meals you will eat throughout the week. There is no point in buying a lot of great organic ingredients if everyone will be too busy to eat them. Make a list of the ingredients you’ll need and stick to it.

Pass it on: Got an extra jar of creamed corn or box of mashed potatoes that you’re not likely to use? Pass on any non-perishables (or even unspoiled perishables) to your local food bank so that they can feed someone in need. Check out America’s Second Harvest to find a food bank near you.

Give it to the birds: What is it about bread crusts that makes them so hated by kids? Save those discarded bread crusts along with any stale crackers or moldy rolls and bring them along to feed the birds on your next outing in the park. (Make sure that it's OK with town or park officials for you to feed the birds before you do it.)

Be a dirt farmer: Don’t toss those rotten tomatoes or banana peels in the trash. Turn them in to compost instead. Compost is the ultimate recycler … it turns useless yucky stuff into really valuable yucky stuff. It also reduces waste, saves money, and can help protect your plants from diseases and pests.

Tuesday Update

Vacation Day 4.

Wow the days are going quickly!

Yesterday was a good food day. For lunch we took the leftover breaded zucchini from the night before and topped it with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese and parmesan. Very tasty... I baked 2 loaves of zucchini bread (need to blend the zucs better next time before adding to batter). The bread is very good, but the chunks of zucchini settled in the middle of the batter. For supper we had grilled brats and corn dogs. You cannot go the summer without corn dogs at least once.

In the afternoon we stopped by to give Wanda some cucs and zucchini. She gave us a bag full of kohlrabi. I remember eating these as a kid, but I have not had one in years. I have never cooked with them, but I was able to find some recipes in I case I want to give it a try.

This is one of the two Cardinal nestlings from a nest in
our bush just outside Chloe's bedroom window.

Yummy Zucchini Parmesan


The elusive Corn Dog that you cannot seem to find at County Fairs any longer.


A nice slice of Zucchini Bread with Brummel & Brown

SpaceX Falcon 1: Razaksat Launch on July 13, 2009

Happy 21st BoBo!!

Monday Update

Vacation Day 3 - Happy Birthday BoBo!!!

Not much happening so far this morning. I took out the trash and the birds are quiet so far. The baby cardinals where making noise all day yesterday. And last night until dark the parents were as well. I wish I could snap a picture of the babies in the nest, but the parents have it hidden in the bush pretty well and I don't want to make them angry at me either.

We ate the large zucchini for supper last night, we sliced and breaded it. It was very yummy. We also had ribs, potato salad and dinner rolls. It was a very quiet supper with just the two of us, plus Mao begging for food. I picked more cucumbers and zucchini from the garden yesterday.

Garden Cucs & Zucchini

Green Tip of the Day

PFC Chemicals

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are commonly found in stain guards, beauty products, and nonstick pans. Studies have linked PFCs to organ damage and hormone disruption, and they accumulate in our bodies and circulate there for years. PFCs never fully break down in nature; in gas form they warm the atmosphere up to 6,500 times more effectively than carbon dioxide (they cause global warming); and the EPA is looking to phase them out in many products.

Avoid stain-resistant treatments on carpets, clothing, and furniture, or buy products that aren't stain-guarded and apply a non-PFC-based option such as Nikwax yourself.

Check your personal care product labels for "PFTE" or "perfluoro" in the ingredients, and avoid them when you can (lotions, nail polish, powders, and shaving cream often contain them).

Lower your greasy food intake - foods like French fries and microwave popcorn sometimes come wrapped in PFC-treated packaging.

Kick your Teflon cookware habit in favor of other, greener nonstick or cast iron options.

Environmental Working Group - check out lists of products and manufacturers that use PFCs.

Sunday Update

Day 2 of vacation.

Day 1 was pretty unexciting. I went to the Grande Ave garage sales in the morning. I bought a table cloth to use on our table on the patio and a book (The Best American Short Stories 2004). I stopped by Johnny's. They were selling the usual kids clothes and misc. They also had hot dogs and snow cones. I talked with John's mother for a little bit while having a hot dog and raspberry snow cone. Johnny gave me 3 boxes of Emer'gen-C, they were Raspberry, Tangerine and Lemon-Lime flavored. They are a fizzy vitamin drink. I have had them before and they are not too bad. After leave Grande Ave I stopped by a few more garage sales that I saw signs for. Everyone really puts too much value on thier junk. I did stop at one in Marion, I think the woman just wanted to get rid of her junk. The woman before me bought two items and it was a quarter. Then I bought two things marked a quarter each and it was just a quarter. I ended up spend a whole dollar all morning.

The rest of the day I made potato salad, refrigerator pickles, washed laundry and dishes. We watched the new Create channel. It is kind of a mixture of the Travek Channel, Food Network and Discovery.

BANZAI - Squirrel Fishing

Green Tip of the Day

Most of the appliances in your kitchen are designed to make things hot or cold. Interrupting this process wastes lots of energy. Exposing the inside of your refrigerator/oven to room temperature makes them work extra hard to get back to normal. Here’s a few good suggestions to follow:

1. Know what you want before going to the fridge so you limit open door time
2. Use your oven light to check on food instead of opening/closing the door
3. Cook multiple dishes on the same burner so it will already be warm

Saturday Update

I survived a very slow day at work yesterday. First day of vacation today. I am going to shower in a few minutes and then go to the Grand Ave garage sales. Doug might be going with. Tomorrow we are skipping Soup Sunday and relaxing. Tuesday and Wednesday we plan to stay at Thomas & Diedre's. We will leave sometime Thursday. No big plans at all, I think we will just play it all by ear. Doug says he doesn't want to just sit and do nothing. All I want is a relaxing week, to spend some time with the kids and maybe a little gardening. The cucs and zucchini are starting to take off.

Notice the size of the zucchini compared to the quarter.

Eternal Moonwalk

Powered by Belgian radio station Studio Brussel (StuBru), Eternal Moonwalk has a simple concept: Anyone anywhere can send in a 10-second clip of them putting their own spin on the famed Moonwalk dance. There are a couple of specifications—everyone should be heading in the same direction, hands and feet should be visible—and then you, too, can be tied into a seamless international loop. It’s great fun to check out the dance move as interpreted by all ages in Turkish living rooms, English backyards, a kitchen in Rio de Janeiro or an office in upstate New York (someone in Tokyo—of course—submitted an animated robot). It’s a rather mesmerizing spectacle, with the number of meters moonwalked ticking upward as thousands of feet slide across the globe.

Free gift bags to the first 100 teachers.

8/1/09
1542 Flammang Dr, Waterloo, IA 50702

8/1/09
1333 Buckeye Road, Ames, IA 50010

8/1/09
4601 1st Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

8/1/09
2431 Wiley Blvd., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Green Tip of the Day

Green Staycation

Like on any vacation, it might be tempting to let your green habits slip for a long weekend, but continue living green during your staycation no matter where you go.

Whether you stay at a local hotel or your own house, remember to help save energy and continue to recycle. Just because you’re relaxing, doesn’t mean you have to be lazy where the environment is concerned.

If you’re going on a picnic or just packing travel snacks, use reusable containers in lieu of plastic baggies. And, if you’re considering taking disposable goods, pack the washable ones instead, or properly recycle your disposable goods. Also, make sure to pack reusable water bottles so you don’t stop at the local gas station to stock up on plastic ones.

If you’re still looking for staycation ideas, consider popular outdoor activities like relaxing by the pool, visiting the local beach (if there’s one in your area) and camping.

When you stay closer to home, you have more opportunity to continue eating your favorite organic munchies. So, pack away your favorite green snack foods or visit a local restaurant with your favorite organic meals.

Plus, by staying in your region, you can stay true to eating locally-grown food if that is something you’re already practicing.

Friday Update

Happy Friday everyone! Vacation starts at 4:30 PM!!

Big crack and boom outside. It think we are ready for a big storm. Lights are still on....

Depending on Bobo we are hoping to go to Thomas and Diedre's Tuesday or Wednesday. Maybe get in some fishing and Doug would like to go to the casino. I'm not sure about the casino, I think I would be bad luck. Maybe I can find something else to do. Then again, maybe I'm afraid I would win big and need 1-800-betsoff.

Last night we went to the Linn County Fair with Wanda and Mark. It was fun to look at what livestock they did have, nothing big like cows and horses. Mostly lambs and chickens. We saw some very beautiful and exotic chickens (also a few ugly ones). We also looked at all the 4H projects. We voted on the quilt squares and Doug almost signed up to make one for next year (Diedre's Grandma could have helped). He thought he was signing up to win one, but it was the sign-up list for next year. Thanks to Wanda his name was removed from the list. The music started shortly after we got there but it was not very good, The Large Midgets and Inch 75. Candlebox was playing later, but it was too late for us.

We also signed up to win a free solar car. When Mark told Wanda and I about it, we thought he meant a real car we could ride in. Turns out is was a small model car. Still it would be fun to win. Wanda wants one of the log sculptures made by the LogHoggers. There was a cute bear in a log. We also saw Mark's brother Roy with his electric truck and solar panels. Down from his demonstration was someone with a small monkey offering good luck for a quarter or a picture with the monkey for $5. Some poor little boy was getting his picture taken.

We ate pork sandwiches with chips & pop. Doug was not happy they were out of corn dogs. What's with that? A fair should never run out of corn dogs. Wanda wants to know why Carneys are so scurvy. I think it is the crack. We did sample some very good kettle corn. Wanda and Mark both bought some. After seeing everything there was to see we left and took a drive through the park that was near by. We saw a very nice camping spot, it was surrounded by trees and brush, you would most certainly need a lot of bug spray and bug lanterns.

When we got home Doug shot off a rocket he had been given by you know who. It went up very high and made a very big boom. It must have sounded like a gun shot to some, the next door neighbor came out to his deck with a flashlight and it looked like he was looking at his siding for a gun shot hole. Hmmm.........a few enemies maybe?

For those of you wondering, I believe this is the fair queen.

Brandy Zumbach, from Coggon, is the 17 year old daughter of Louie and Deb Zumbach. Brandy will be a Senior at North-Linn High School this fall. Her future plans are to attend Iowa State University.

Repper

Repper Tutorial from Studio Ludens on Vimeo.

Repper is a free, easy-to-use Web app that turns your photos and images into wild, kaleidoscopic patterns.

Upload an image file, and drag your mouse around to manipulate it. When you’re done, save the file, share it with others, or use it as your desktop wallpaper. The app works especially well with portraits.

Green Tip of the Day

Eco-Condoms

In honor of World Population Day (tomorrow) try on an eco-condom.

Over a lifetime, the average North American will throw away 600 times his or her adult weight in garbage. Fewer people traipsing around slows environmental destruction (about 25% of the world's mammals are endangered due to lost habitat).

Biodegradable, vegan, and nontoxic condom options are available.

Not sure why these have to be made so far away (c'mon, American manufacturers!), but at least some are available through American retailers.

• Sheer Glyde Dams - female latex condoms made ethically in Malaysia; includes a cola flavor. Also: male condoms ($5-$10/12).
• French Letter Aphrodisiac Condoms - rose- and vanilla-scented, fair-trade condoms made from FSC-certified rubber latex; three other varieties also available ($15/12).
• Condomi Condoms - an assortment of vegan latex condoms from Germany - including XXL and fruit-flavored versions ($5/15).
• Condom Depot - not vegan, but it only stocks condoms without Nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide in conventional condoms that carries similar risks to parabens).

Thursday Update

Two days to go before vacation! Still no big plans, just not going to work is good enough for me. It sounds like Thomas and Diedre are having a good time in Minneapolis. They went to Ikea and Mall of America. They also ate supper at a Greek restuarant (I don't remember the name). Thomas said their feet are very tired from all the walking. They relaxed at the pool for a little bit, but he said the pool isn't as exciting as it used to be.

Not much happened here last night. Just the usual; supper, dishes watch TV and go to bed.

Shock, horror! Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is an atheist

Two atheist stars of the latest Harry Potter movie: Jim Broadbent and Daniel Radcliffe

Green Tip of the Day

Reuse

Part of green living is, of course, recycling; sometimes, though, reusing items can be just as effective as recycling. If you put some thought into what you're throwing away, you may find that some of your trash is your – or someone else's – treasure. Some simple ways to reuse:

• Since plastic grocery bags can't be recycled, take them back to the store and use them to bag your new groceries

• Don't throw away old books; donate them to libraries or school programs

• Get creative! Make art out of old fabric, office and school supplies, or books; if you're not the creative type, find an organization that collects such materials for artistic purposes

• Rather than using disposable paper towels, use rags, sponges, or towels to clean up messes or for cleaning

• Rather than throwing away plastic containers that take-out food comes in, wash and save them to store leftovers, vegetables, or other food in

• Use rechargeable batteries to reduce hazardous waste from dead batteries

• Go through clothes and shoes periodically (every month or so) and donate items in good condition that you don't wear to a charitable organization

• For old photos, journals, diaries, and the like that you don't want to keep, call the local historical society and see if they would be interested in taking the items

• Old appliances like refrigerators – even ones that don't work – can often be donated to charitable societies and refurbished for further use

Wednesday Update

Three more working days until vacation. It is raining this morning, I hope it does not rain a lot next week. We now have baby cardinals in the bush outside Chloe's room. I was out in the garden yesterday after work and thought I heard them. I peeked into the bush and saw two little heads with beaks opened in the nest. The mother was there with them. This is not a picture of the actual nest, but it is basically what I saw.

Green Tip of the Day

Eco-Camper

Make sure to bring out any waste that you bring in. Leave no trace behind, and recycle what you can when your trip is over.

If you’re going to purchase new equipment, look for sleeping bags, clothing and other products made from recycled materials. Borrow camping equipment from friends and family. By trading and sharing, you reduce your group’s need for gear that you may not use on a regular basis.

Bring reusable dishes and silverware, rather than disposable items. They may not be recyclable and create unnecessary waste.

Document your trip through photos and a blog. Share your experience with friends and family to spread your green camping knowledge.

Tuesday Update

Not much to talk about today. It was a fairly busy day at work yesterday. After work I planted snapdragons and petunias we bought at Drugtown on Saturday. I put them in our front yard planter. They are a nice addition. The rest of the evening was spent watching TV and washing dishes from Sunday. I was very tired as my sleep schedule was off from the late nights this past weekend. I think I will try to go to bed earlier tonight.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

5th Annual Cow Appreciation Day
Friday, July 10, 2009Come into any Chick-fil-A^® restaurant
dressed as a cow and receive a free meal. Don't have a costume? Make your own using the starter kit.

Green Tip of the Day

Stop junk mail

Sign up for an unwanted-mail (including phonebooks) reduction service. It'll shield you from paper and energy waste. Each American receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail per year. The production and transport of junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars use every year. Annually, 100 million trees are used to make junk mail. Every American wastes about 8 hours per year dealing with junk mail.

• DirectMail.com - free, quick way to get your name off commercial mailing lists.
• MailStopper - paid service that stops your junk mail, and actively keeps you from getting back on mailing lists; promises to stop 90% of your junk mail in 90 days. Makes a great gift ($20/year).
• Catalog Choice - free service that'll get you on no-send lists to stop catalog spam.
• OptOutPrescreen.com - opt out of preapproved credit card and insurance offers online or by phone: 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
• YellowPagesGoesGreen - get your name off phonebook mailing lists.
• EcoLogical Mail Coalition - helps businesses stop mail addressed to former employees.

Monday Update

Happy Monday everyone. I hope everyone had a good long holiday weekend. I know I did. Five more days until vacation. We are going to spend some time in Eldora fishing and relaxing. We hope to figure out the schedule once we know what Chloe is up to.

We now have cabbage growing in our garden, we got both red and green plants marked down 75% at Drugtown on Saturday. I have never tried growing cabbage, so this will be a learning experience.

Green Tip of the Day

Recycling that pays

A handful of entrepreneurs have created services that pay you to keep your electronics out of the landfill. Instead of contributing to the already challenging problem of e-waste by tossing your used electronics into the regular trash -- which eventually ends up in a landfill -- turn to a company like Gazelle. Simple search menus on the company’s website inform visitors of the residual market value of their desktop computers, laptops, digital cameras and other devices. Gazelle then sends you a prepaid postage box in which to ship your product back to the company. Once you send in your products and their condition is verified, Gazelle will mail you a check.

The GreenPhone.com site tells you how much your cell phone or PDA model is worth and then allows you to mail it in for cash. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that across the United States, more than 500 million old cell phones languish in desk drawers and other storage spots. Disposing of these devices properly is of vital environmental concern since the devices contain hazardous chemicals like arsenic and lead that can be released into the atmosphere, soil and groundwater.

And if you’re feeling more virtuous, visit GreenPhone.com’s sister site, CollectiveGood.com, which offers the same service and donates your proceeds to charity. Or visit CellPhonesForSoldiers.com, an organization that collects and recycles used cell phone and uses the proceeds to pay for calling cards that it gives to soldier serving overseas so they can connect with friends and family members back home.

Sunday Update

Yesterday was a fun day. Shopping in the morning, relaxing in the afternoon, bingo and fireworks at the Jordan family reunion in the evening. I won bingo three times and won some awesome prizes; plastic bowls, a chickadee feeder and a ceramic candel holder. Some members of the Jordan family put out hundreds of dollars for fireworks this year. And we added in the ones we had been given. It was an hour of fun fireworks. The audience watched fireworks from Kirkwood & Elmcrest while waiting for the rounds to be shot off. I was very tired by the time I went to bed past 12. I slept in until about 7:30 this morning.

These are the fireworks from last night.

Joey Chestnut Wins Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest

Green Tip of the Day

Recycling Plastic Bags

Plastic bags can be made into dozens of new and useful products. According to the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, more than 1,800 U.S. businesses handle or reclaim post-consumer plastics. According to the EPA, only about 12 percent of bags and film were recycled in 2007. Many consumers are not aware that collection programs are available at stores.

It takes 91 percent less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper. For every seven trucks needed to deliver paper bags, only one truck is needed for the same number of plastic bags. Plastics can help trash burn more efficiently in energy-recovery facilities, creating energy that can be used to make electricity in some communities. When one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil is saved.

Small plastic bags made up about 9 percent of the debris found along various U.S. coasts in a five-year study.

Due to their light weight, most curbside programs do not accept plastic bags. They can easily get stuck inside machinery when recycled as well. However, most grocery stores throughout the U.S. now offer plastic bag recycling. However, the trick is actually remembering to take those excess bags with you next time you go to the store. Here are a couple of reminding tips:

• Hang a cloth bag in your kitchen or garage where you put excess plastic bags. It will be easy to notice once you leave the house.
• When filling out your grocery list, make sure to add “recycle plastic bags.”
• Don’t forget about the other light weight plastics! Plastic film, dry cleaning bags, newspaper bags and plastic wrap from products can be recycled at your grocery store as well.
• Toss your leftover plastic bags in your reusable shopping bags. You’ll remember both on your next trip to the store.