Merry & Mod at home

in full swing

We are in full swing holiday mode around here and I've been loving it. In fact, there has been very little stress involved in the preparations. This is a direct result of my decision not to give as many handmade gifts. Oh, we have nearly three gallons of coffee liquer infusing in the pantry, and there will be a batch of muffins later this week, and plans for peppermint bark, but not the crazy a-crocheted-hat-for-every-person-in-my-family kind of thinking that usually consumes my December. 

Yesterday, I finished a huge project that I've been working on for several months, got the boys started on a holiday painting project, wrapped all the teacher gifts, and put together 80 holiday cards. And I was in bed before 11pm! It feels miraculous. I'm about to treat myself for my productivity by getting bundled up and doing some local shopping downtown, but not before I tell you about the wrapping paper we made. 

I found the instructions in Kid Made Modern, an inspiring library discovery. Simply put: paint with festive, pearly colors on bubble wrap, press an opened brown paper bag (even I forget my reusables at the grocery store sometimes!) on top, let dry. Ta da! Holiday polkadot wrapping paper. So fun! And pretty! Nearly free! 

(The gifts are luscious bars of La Lavande soap purchased locally at Pomegranate Home and Garden for all the wonderful teachers in our lives.)

 

a welcome visitor

A few weeks ago we noticed a new bird visiting our back yard.  With his crimson capped head and graphic white and black feathers, he created a dramatic contrast against the scrub jays, flickers, and robins that frequent our feeders.  E looked through his bird books and we identified our visitor as an acorn woodpecker.  

After consulting with a colleague, who is also a seasoned birder, we learned that there are only four previous documented sightings of acorn woodpeckers east of the Cascades - and two of those only stayed in the area for a day or so.  We are tickled that this avian pioneer of sorts has chosen our back yard as his new hangout.  

This particular woodpecker appears perfectly content in our neighborhood.  I've noticed him flying from tree to tree in the cul de sac among the neighbors' homes.  And he's been rather industrious pecking a hole into one of our numerous juniper and feasting on the bird feeders.    

I've enjoyed observing him so much, I find myself wishing he'd bring some friends over the mountains to join him.  

Happy Belated Arbor Day

 
Weekends lately are full of long days working in the yard.  With each bare root rosebush, rhododendron, or bunch of rhubarb I place in the dirt, I find myself talking to each plant, hoping they will feel at home.  It's a little surprising to find myself enjoying this satisfying work so well.  Our children explore the yard - endlessly entertained by earthworms, lizards, piles of dirt.  And we work and work, dreaming of the bounty and relaxation to come.  
 
 

encouraging courtesy

This is not terribly impressive, I know.  But I made it and I like it and it serves a purpose in our home, so I'm sharing it with you. 

We live along a walking trail that eventually leads to a dog park.  Dogs are everywhere in this neighborhood, and unfortunately, so is their excrement.  So I found this little wooden doghouse at the craft store, lightly sanded it, added a layer of wood stain and a polite message.  Now it's stuffed with the plastic bags our newspaper arrives in and fastened to our fence, just where the easement from the street (which runs along our fence) meets the trail. 

 

Hopefully it will encourage some courtesy among dog owners so that we can all enjoy the trail and neighborhood park.  (Hopefully is the operative word there, I know.) 

Procession of the Species

 

Bald eagle.  Shark.  Mama bird. 

 

In our natural habitat. 

 

The Procession of the Species is an annual Earth Day event in Bend.  Children, families, all sorts of people dress up like mountains, trees, insects and animals and walk around a few blocks downtown.  I found it tremendously fun and loved the community spirit.  Also, it was a wonderful opportunity to play with glitter and feathers and a glue gun.

In it to win it.

Thursday morning I had an epiphany on two levels.  Driving into work, listening to a review of Leonardo DiCaprio's new documentary, The 11th Hour, I realized:

1. If in the future, after quitting my current job and launching a new creative career, I should  decide to return to non-profit work, I will work for the environment. 
2. I am not doing nearly enough in my everyday life to save the environment.

The latter discovery was more earth-shaking (no pun intended) than the former.  I consider myself a conscientious person, but really, I'm just scratching the surface.  Once at the office I drafted a list of about 12 things I can do now to live a greener life.  I've since been adding to and riffing on the possibilities.  None of these changes negatively impact my life, though perhaps a few are marginally more expensive than their non-eco-friendly alternatives. In fact, I believe these changes will improve my quality of life.  Here are a few items I'm most excited about:

• Shop locally.  This means a smaller carbon imprint (food travels a shorter distance from its origin to my tummy), supporting independent farmers, fresh seasonal produce, AND more trips to the Farmer's Market.
• Reduce packaging.  No more snack packs.  No more individual servings.  Reuse plastic and glass containers.  Hmmm...does this mean I should make my own yogurt again? 
• Consume my purchases.  Plan menus, shop with a list, follow through with the plans.  No more spongy cucumbers or moldy pita bread. 
• Eliminate grocery bags.  Every time you bring your own bags to Trader Joe's you're entered in a monthly gift certificate raffle.  Observing my fellow shoppers today, I'd say my odds are definitely decent.  My vinyl bags from TJ's are fun and colorful, though they are likely petroleum-based and I probably should have bought the canvas ones.  (Rookie mistake.)
• Replace all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights.  The expense hardly seems to be an issue - $7 for two and they'll last forever?  Turns out the CFLs come in various shapes besides the spiral, so I'm changing the bulbs in the bathroom fixtures, too. 
• And perhaps my favorite for it's obviousness and simplicity...stop using plastic utensils.  I bring my lunch t0 work almost every day, why the hell am I eating with a plastic fork?  In my lunch bag for tomorrow, already packed (ta da!), I've stashed a spare fork, spoon, Asian soup spoon, and knife.  They'll live at my desk and I'll feel virtuous all day long. 

In the face of such dire daily news concerning the world we share, it's easy to be overwhelmed by a sense of futility.  But I'm empowered by the knowledge that a series of simple changes can have lasting impact - especially if I encourage others to make similar improvements.   

On that note, I'm taking myself and my bamboo fiber nightgown to bed.  Tomorrow is Yoga Monday (another change) and I'm hitting the ground running.