Farmer's Market... finally

I finally made it to the local Farmer's Market. It was worth the trip. The Farmer's Market is open every Saturday from sun up 7:00 a.m. till I can't remember exactly about noonish.

I had been forewarned that there isn't much produce this time of year. Still, I had a great time.

Check out these apples gourds apple gourds. Apparently you can paint them and keep them as decorations or even make a bird house out of them.

Toad houses, in case you are wondering.

The local Horticulture Society had lots of plants and herbs to choose from.

This guy (not pictured) is a beekeeper and had a honey stand. Look closely at his stand for the Visa/Master Card sign. These guys take credit cards. Who knew?

Bro had to have his blood drawn today so mommy got him an oatmeal cookie for breakfast.

More herbs from a local farmer.

Oh sweet heaven - they sell coffee. I was told that the beans are not grown locally (DUH - I'm glad they cleared that up for me), but they are ground and packaged locally. This farmer also had tea available and the herbs for the tea were, according to him in fact, grown on his farm.

More flowers and plants from local farmers.

After the Farmer's Market, we hopped over to Fairy Grandmother's house. Bro ate some banana while we waited for her to come back from the gym...




... and we kept Dear Husband company while he prepared Fairy Grandmother and Luvs2Boat's boat for the Blue Angels' flyover.

Conclusion: Loved, loved, loved the Farmer's Market. Will go back again. Can't wait for some local produce to arrive (tomato, fruits, yum).

Earth Day

Also, while I was sick with strep throat (but didn't know it yet), I volunteered for Earth Day at Lulu's school.



I arrived to a courtyard with lots of mud dirt awaiting the arrival of plants.

Let me tell you what we were working with here folks... it was cold, it was wet, it was MUDDY, and it was actively raining at times. Look at the puddle streaming down the side of the dirt. Lulu was cold, but too "glam" to let me go in and get her jacket for her. Most of the kids were filthy after 10 minutes.

There were a few plants left that needed to be planted. So, I planted one. Note to self - not a good pose for a pic. Whatever!


Exactly 24 hours after the time that this picture was taken, I was in the doctor's office pleading for some relief. Have you had strep throat in the past... 20 years? I haven't. I don't want it back either.

It was a very nice way to spend Earth Day and I was happy to be volunteering at the school again, even if I wasn't feeling well.

Earth Day

Wow! I think that I made it. Well, maybe I didn't blog about Earth Hour to Earth Day every day, but I sure made an attempt to be better to momma Earth over the course of the past few weeks.

Besides blogging about the challenge, I also purchased (and used) reusable grocery bags, started a tomato plant (ok, DH did this really), started a basil plant, recycled even more products, and volunteered to participate at Lulu's school for Earth Day.

I also plan to use wash cloths, instead of paper towels, to clean Bro after he eats; plug my entertainment equipment into a power strip and turn it off after each use; and visit the local farmer's market.

How about you? What 1 earth-friendly change have you made this year? It doesn't need to be monumental. Just one little change can make a difference.

The Science Fair is Almost Here

Here are the crystals that Lulu grew for her science fair project. Lulu drained the liquid from the jars so that she could get a better picture of the crystal growth.


Crystals growing on yarn.







Crystals growing on fishing line. The fishing line scrunched up on this first jar so she was not able to dump the liquid out.







Crystals growing on rope.




The project is due Wednesday night (or she is permitted to push it off til Thursday morning, but I'd prefer not to do that).

Here is her project to-do list:

1. Experiment (Complete)
2. Locate a scale that will weigh small amounts (Complete - thanks Fairy Grandmother)
3. Display (Most of the sections are ready to print)
4. Catchy Title (Still Need to Do)
5. Print Out Picture for Display (Still Need to Do)
6. Weigh the Crystals (without disturbing them because she needs to have them if she gets chosen to go to the County Fair) (Still Need To Do)
7. Create Data Chart (Still Need To Do)
8. Come Up with 2 Research Resources (Still Need to Do)

Green Tip of the Day (for Crafters - and eaters too)

True confession. My household has become moderately green (eco-friendly) over the course of the past year. Seriously folks, we didn't even recycle our trash last year. Please, don't hate. Our newest waste is... (drum roll please)... napkins and paper towels.

Why so much paper towel waste?

Bro (like most babies) makes a sizeable mess when he etas. Then, we need to wash off his hands, his face, his tray, his cup, and his seat. We probably use 12 paper towels just in cleaning up Bro from a day's worth of food. This drives the eco-friendly part of napmom crazy.

My personal challenge is: to bring down some wash cloths and use one a day to wipe/clean Bro and his tray. Rinsing out after each use. Tossing in the dirty clothes at the end of each day.

Ok - now for the crafter part of this post. Skip To My Lou made her own reusable napkins. They are very easy (for those of us with no sewing skills). Plus, you can coordinate with fabrics to match your kitchen or to match the season.

Mine. All mine.

Green Tip of the Day (for Readers)

Confession: I want to own my books. I don't want to borrow them from the library. I want to own them. I want to read them quickly (or not), loan them to a friend (or not), or... just... have them. I like books. I like the way that they feel... I like the way that they smell. The library is one of my most favorite places on the planet and I am like a book-oholic when I walk into a bookstore. I give books as gifts and I like to receive them as gifts. I love them.

There is one problem with this. I do not have the place to store all of my books and it is a waste of money (sad to say) and trees (yes, trees) to buy a book, read it once, and sit it on the shelf. I just doesn't make sense.

PaperBackSwap to the rescue. According to the PaperBackSwap web site, it is a way to

Mail a book. Get a book. Any book you request is yours to keep, share or trade. No late fees. No processing charges. No hidden charges. Every time you mail a book to another member, you can request one for yourself from over 3 Million.

PaperBackSwap was advertised on the Today Show over the weekend. The idea was touted as a way to read, own, and/or trade books economically. The upside is that this also saves trees! Check it out and see what you think. I haven't tried it yet, but I do have a few books on my shelf waiting to be traded, including this new one that Matt mentioned. Now that we are over the "Is Twilight appopriate for my tween" dilemma. I can read something for myself.

Do you rent your books from the library, borrow from your friends, or buy new?

Gone.

So, session is over. Life, as I once knew it to be, is fine and dandy once again. "oh - hello normalcy - I didn't recognize you - where in the heck have you been?"

I had planned to take a field trip, per say, (during my break - because I actually get to step away from my desk for a break during the interim) over to the House of Delegates Office Building today. Why? To take pictures of the art work that has been hanging on the wall for three whole months now. Walls and walls lined with awesome artwork made from (drum roll please) recycled products. Ah yes - lets all do the trash-to-treasure dance!! jiggle, jiggle

Guess what I saw when I reached the top of the stairs...

and looked down the hall?


Answer: NOTHING - NOTHING - GONE - ALL GONE - THE ART WORK IS GONE!!!!


Geez! They wasted no time taking down the art work. Really - it was dynamite... you would have loved it.

On the way back I spotted this cute Oriole (he's fake. cute, but fake). That counts for something, right?

(Grocery) Green Tip of the Day

So, since I can't blog about turning trash into treasure (see above - sigh) then I will ask you to go to your local farmer's market this weekend. My local farmer's market is open on Saturday mornings. It opened two weekend ago. I haven't been yet because... well, we all know where I hang out on Saturday mornings. I am going to make a conscious effort to go tomorrow. I've never been to a farmer's market before and I am excited to see what the buzz is about, find some fresh produce, and reduce my carbon footprint on the Earth. Do I need to bring cash or do they have credit card machines? When is the best time of year to find fresh produce at the farmer's market? AH, wish me luck.

It's a Natural Thing

Not much going on today, but I did get an interesting event e-mail and wanted to share these events with you.

Vote Now! Vote for the Ocean Conservancy 2010 calendar cover. Will it be the Florida Manatee, a Sea Otter, or the Sea Lions. You decide!

News about Nest Watch.

Nest Watch is a continentwide citizen-science project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Cornell is looking for volunteers to help them track the progress and success of this year’s newborn birds. It seems that this is kinda like the Great Backyard Bird Count, but participants are looking for and monitoring nests, not birds.



The other event is the Great American Backyard Campout, which is officially on Saturday, June 27, but you are encouraged to participate at any time.

Lulu has a June birthday and is planning a campout theme party (including the campout part) - lucky me!



The National Wildlife Federation wants us to participate in Wildlife Watch. Help the federation track the health and behavior of wildlife and plant species nationwide by simply going to their website and telling them about wildlife in your area. You can upload a picture or tell your story. Participation is super easy. See what wildlife watchers are tweeting about. View their flickr pictures and share your own wildlife pictures.

For those of you who live in the MD/DC/Va area (and even for those who don't, I think), the Chesapeake Bay Foundation wants you to watch the PBS special Poisoned Waters. Click here to see a preview.

From their website:

More than three decades after the Clean Water Act, iconic American waterways like the Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound are in perilous condition and facing new sources of contamination. In FRONTLINE’s Poisoned Waters, airing Tuesday, April 21, 2009, from 9 to 11 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hedrick Smith examines the growing hazards to human health and the ecosystem.

I hope that you have a chance to get out and enjoy all of nature's natural treasures this Spring!

Easter: (Part 4) A Birthday Surprise

We now return to our regularly scheduled program. Eco-friendly tips are found at the bottom of the post.

Note: Sadly (sniffle, sniffle), at the time of this posting, I will be working. I will be working on my birthday -- which isn't soooo bad. However, I will leave for work before my family wakes up and I will not get home until they are asleep. However, I will make it through with a smile on my face because this past weekend gave me the go-juice to carry on.

You see... after all of the eggs were hunted...

... and the children had tired... and the sun was setting...



there was a little more fun to be had... a birthday celebration... for little ol' me.

I don't point this out to be vain, but because I was so caught off guard and overwhelmed. I was not thinking of myself. I didn't have any birthday events planned. No one had even mentioned that my birthday was coming. But then, there were cakes... and my family (aunts and uncles and cousins and all...) were in Grammy's kitchen singing Happy Birthday. I was overwhelmed. I was tearing up... over a birthday song. So much of my life is about pleasing others and thinking of others and I have been so busy... that I had almost forgotten that my birthday was coming... and then all of a sudden... it was here... a bit early... if even for a moment.

Look at the beautiful cakes and pies.






It was such a sweet and sincere ending to a very wonderful weekend. I am so grateful and so blessed to be surrounded by my family this holiday season!

(Birthday) Green Tip of the Day

Have you had an eco-friendly birthday this year? Well, really this is a kid birthday idea started by our friends at EchoAGE - where children celebrate giving. The idea is simple. You register your child's party online and he/she gets to pick out an e-vite style invitation (for a real party of course) as well as a charity cause of his/her choosing. The guests do not bring gifts but instead they donate money to a cause of your child's choice. Once all of the money is collected, EchoAGE takes 15%, the charity gets 50% of what's left, your child gets the other 50% of what's left to use as he/shes wishes.

I know, I know. It would be difficult to get a child to go along with this. Start small. You could encourage your child to register their "friend" party with EchoAGE which would still allow him/her to get something special from Grandma and Grandpa.

This is so great -- on so may levels. Click here to see what other well-known companies are saying about EchoAGE.

Other benefits - no paper invitations to send out; no wrapping paper get rid of; no toy packaging to get rid of and so on.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming

We are blogging about Easter (and this may take awhile folks).

We haven't forgotten to blog about the Earth Hour to Earth Day challenge and will be back to our regularly scheduled programming soon.

In the meantime, check with How to Make a Difference for the latest and greatest eco-friendly tips.

Blossoms

Are you enjoying mother nature's small wonders this Spring?

I am.

Guess what I did?

Nope - I didn't go see the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin.

I did, however, take these pictures when I got home.

Yep, Lulu and I looked up at our neighbor's tree and pretended that we were at the Tidal Basin.

My neighborhood is lined with these gorgeous flowering trees (which I think are some relative of Cherry Blossoms actually) every April.

I hope that you get a chance to enjoy nature's beauty in your community this weekend. Please stop back by and let us know what you saw.

Burnt Meatballs = this baker needs some slow cooker help

Burnt Meatballs is not the name of the newest heavy metal band. Although, that would be a good name, huh?

Burnt meatballs (in the slow cooker) is what we didn't have for dinner last week.

I have tried to make this recipe several times. The directions are clear and simple. Dump in frozen meatballs. Add apricot jelly and bbq sauce. Cook for 4 hours. I always, always, always get burnt meatballs.

Why? This is a serious question. What am I doing wrong?

(Lunch) Green Tip of the Day

Are you reusing your plastic lunch utensils? Take a peek inside my desk cabinet. There is a little coffee cup holding my lunch utensils. See the fork up front? I swear - that thing will last me a year.

Of course, I pack my lunch most days (because being green also saves some green - get it?) but even on the rare day that I buy food at the cafeteria, I don't need to take an extra plastic fork because I already have one. Wash it out. Use it again!

Earth Promise

Have you made your Earth Promise today? Earth Promise is a “website that provides an easy way for people to make, track, and keep promises about changes that will benefit the environment.”

It’s so easy and fun. All you do is make and post one little promise. You can also read what others have promised and check off the ones that you have already done! Oh, you’ll get so many good ideas and feel so accomplished with all that you can check off.

Here are some actual Earth Promises from the site:

To use mascara made from plants and minerals instead of petroleum.

To use a reusable coffee filter.

To clean all paint brushes in the sink as opposed to outside as it may contaminate groundwater.

To use reusable containers for food storage instead of aluminum foil, baggies, or plastic wrap.

To use the luggage tag on my suitcase as opposed to filling out the paper type at the airport.

Do you have any Earth promises of your own?

Lulu (seen here with her official Gardener for the Bay gloves) took the Chesapeake Bay Gardener’s for the Bay Pledge.

I promised to promote Earth-friendly tips from Earth hour until Earth Day (and have learned a lot in the process).

What is one Earth Promise that you can tackle?

Special blog to note: If you read my blog comments then you may have noticed that How To Make a Difference commented on one of my EH2ED posts. I have added her blog to my blog feeder and I read her updates every day. The real cool part is that she is my place for one-stop-updates about bloggers and tweeters who are taking the EH2ED challenge. She posts a daily "blog carnival" highlighting bloggers who post ED2EH challenge updates and she adds twitter updates too. If you look closely, you might see that she mentions No Regrets (that's me) in some of her daily posts and I'm definitely on her EH2ED challenge blog roll. So, please visit How to Make A Difference and give her some good ol' fashioned blog love!

It's not to late to take the EH2ED challenge yourself and leave her a comment on her blog roll so that she links to your blog too!