Friday, February 20, 2009
spring is coming . . .
so, even though it snowed a bit last night, i know that spring is on the way. i need less and less layers when i walk to work every day. i've moved from mittens to fingerless gloves when i drive. i've even contemplated wearing my sunglasses from time to time when i leave the house.the promise of spring is peeking through the gloomy clouds and biting cold of winter!
i am quite ready for spring - my favorite time of year even though i have horrible hayfever during the entire month of may.
some lovely things i'm doing to get ready for spring:
we've started composting. those friends we met from oregon, that i mentioned a few posts down explained to me how they are composting without a yard . . . so i am giving it a go.
i've also emailed the community garden organizer and put my name in to get a plot this year if there is one available. the plan is to share the plot with all the people in our apartment. between the 8 of us, we can share the duties of watering and weeding and harvesting throughout the summer - especially with all the summertime trips we all have planned. there is bound to be at least one person in the house that can stop by the plot and check it out. and this way, if we plant too much eggplant for one family, we'll be able to split it up between everyone.
and i will have somewhere to take my compost when it becomes nutrient rich earth.
i've also been committing to doing yoga more often to get a little more in shape for the spring and summer - shorts, tank tops and swimwear season . . . maybe i should get a little sun too? in the spring and summer, we plan to take our bikes out to the bike path that runs along the bay - it's at least 15 miles long and goes all the way out to the state park in bristol. a lovely summertime ride. i have romantic notions of wearing a skirt and keds and riding my schwinn along the ocean . . .
other things i am looking forward to:
grilling outside
sitting in our little haven next to the house while eating the above mentioned grilled food
rollerskating
going to the beach
hiking
possibly bouldering and rock climbing (with my new shoes from the REI garage sale!)
road trips (niagra falls? dc? who knows!)
my sister's wedding
drinking iced coffee in the patio seating at olga's cup and saucer
camping up north
open toed shoes
not looking forward to:
puffy red eyes and other allergy related discomforts
being super sweaty in the hot humid summer
missing the GORGEOUS pacific northwest in the summertime!! ack! my heart!
being afraid for my life while riding my bike because of the way people drive
ticks
dirty feet from wearing flip flops
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jon has been sick for the last two days . . . sad. he's on the mend though! and hudson has been taking good care of him (so have i, but i don't have a photo of it). here is a photo of hudson laying down by the bed guarding his sick master. and helping him with his homework (notice the library book under his paws):
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lastly,
i would like to report on the eco-friendly scouring bath and tile cleaner that i made today.
i usually use mrs meyer's clean day scouring scrub. it smells so good and works really well. it's also safe and healthy to use. i ran out last week while scrubbing the tub and put it on my shopping list. sadly (or luckily?) they didn't have it at the grocery store when i went looking . . . so i thought, "why not just make it yourself?"
it is SO MUCH CHEAPER and SO EASY to make it! and this way i KNOW for SURE that the ingredients i used are safe for my housemates, my doggie and me to use.
here's what i did:
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
10-12 drops of lemon essential oil (you can use whatever scent you want. i am a fan of citrus for cleaning).
mix it all together. store in a wide mouth mason jar. double, triple, quadruple the recipe as needed.
it smelled so good - like lemon frosting! i could eat it if i wanted too . . .
i haven't used it yet, but i will let you know how it works as soon as i do!
say it don't spray it 2:22 PM
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