Children and gardens go together right? Then why are both of my daughters skeptical of my attempts at sustainable or environmentally responsible living? Neither show the slightest interest in gardening (organic or otherwise) recycling, saving energy (unless it is their own), or downsizing. Yesterday as I was perusing my newest Mother Earth News, I came across an article about a couple living in a tiny house. When I mentioned that I would like to do the same, JMorgan just shook her head and said she “just doesn’t understand” me. Hais has severe issues with me line drying her clothes in the warmer months. Not only does she NOT like the crispness of the clothing, but she deplores the scent…what is wrong with her?

Of course, this is all poked in fun…well at least on MY part…but my girls definitely do not share any of my passion for organics nor environmental responsibility. Where did I go wrong?

Today I came across a grant contest sponsored by Heinz for inter-generational gardening. Though sad that I have no little ones at home with whom to enjoy this project, I found it to be quite interesting. An application can be found at KidsGardening.org…

from the website…

“Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award will help families grow memories together. Recognizing the power of gardens to connect individuals of all ages socially, culturally, and emotionally, the H. J. Heinz Company is proud to sponsor the Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award, designed to foster family-focused garden efforts in communities across the country. The award will provide 57 families with the tools needed to embark on a successful gardening adventure that will foster lasting intergenerational memories while growing wholesome food.”

Winning applicants will receive a $500 Award package including:
Kids’ Tool Set
Preschool Kids’ Tool Set
Cedar Raised Container Garden
SofTouch Hand Tool Set
Picture Pockets, Large
Zinc Plant Markers
GeoBin Composter
3 pairs Kids Work Gloves (1 of each size)
Watering Can
Kangaroo Pop-Up
Veggie Garden Seed Collection
5 Gardening Journals
Down & Dirty Activity Book
Intergenerational Gardening Tip Sheet
Heinz® Tomato Seeds

KidsGardening.org states the entry deadline is January 10, 2o10 and last year’s winners can be found on the Heinz website.  With an empty nest here at our place, we are a bit late to apply, but I hope that you will apply today!

In years past it has been our tradition to set a formal table for Christmas Eve Dinner. This year was no different, with the exception of an added guest. Many hours and days are spent preparing for this one meal where all the china and crystal is set for a festive celebration. Two days of shopping in two seperate cities were spent looking for some of the items for the dinner and two days of cooking culminated into a seven course meal which included an aperitif.
After the meal, as we were all finally able to sit around the living room, each of us expressed an interest in change. As tired as I was at the moment, I listened with interest. We all decided that next year we might lean more toward a more casual affair. I jokingly mentioned that we could have taken a quick weekend vacation for what it cost for the meal….OR we could have least dined on the most elegant cuisine and not had the worry of preparation and clean up afterwards. The time spent “working” could have been better spent playing games and interacting…all in the same room.
After a bit of consideration, I am thinking that this may have been the very last “fancy” Christmas Eve meal. Of course, I do not think I will resort to eating at Burger King as I did on Thanksgiving, but a less labor intensive meal will be in order. If this change does come about I will, however, refuse to change my own favorite rule of “MOMMA DOESN’T COOK on CHRISTMAS DAY!” just because I am simplifying Christmas Eve.

Several times, My Hero has asked me what I want for Christmas. Every year I beg for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for my stocking. I am almost embarrased to say, but one Christmas the Erasers were not in my stocking, nor were they under the tree…and boy did I pout. I was so, so, so disappointed! Don’t think he will ever make that mistake again.

This year, I am asking Santa for a solar dryer! Yep! A REAL clothesline, not a make shift line tied between a pole and a hook on the garage. After a couple of days of research, I believe I have made my choice. I think I like the idea of a parallel collapsible clothesline. Whitney make a galvanized steal arm version of a parallel with 182 feet of hanging space. With this type of clothesline, I can store it away during the winter or when we have guests in the back yard.

Unless I want to drive about 150 miles, I have no way of being able to see these in person or to compare a parallel with an umbrella. The parallel above is on sale at Amazon at the moment. After searching several sites, I have found that Amazon has the best price on the Whitney Designs 4000 Parellel Clothesline, so I am thinking I will be including the url on the list I hand over to My Hero Santa.

This past summer was more than crazy for us and I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t feel I had the time to do  what was best for the environment. I never hung any clothes on the line and our electric and gas bill showed it.  Summer before last we saw a 33% energy savings over the prior summer. Soon after Christmas this year, as our household quiets down, I plan to have more time for being more environmentally responsible. The new clothesline is only a first step in the right direction.

Most of you know that, because of large trees, most of any gardening we do is in the side yard. Due to some major life events this past year, there was no gardening at all. Partly due to time constraints, but mostly to do with lack of motivation.

Looking out the kitchen window was fairly depressing, so I set out to add some minor points of interest on which to gaze while doing my least favorite chore of washing the dishes. I love to watch wildlife out my window, but because we have always had cats, very few species dared to entire our yard. Now that we are kitty-less I decided it was time to start feeding the birds again. In the past we felt it pointless and almost cruel to provide a “kitty-buffet” for not only our brood, but the multiple strays that wondered in. Now that we have none of our own, we have fewer feline visitors.

We put up corn feeding stations for the squirrels, who now provide us with much entertainment, and two bird feeders. We only feed safflower, nuts, and black oil sunflowers in hopes to pull in the specific species of birds. Along with the feeders, I provided a “make-shift” watering spot as well. Every day, as I would stand at the sink, I wondered how long it would be before the little darlings found the bird feeders. Every day I was met with disappointment….UNTIL TODAY! Today, my patience was rewarded with the site of two finches!

This week we also actually planted some mums that I had sitting in pots on my front porch in hopes of saving them before another (major) freeze. No sustainable vegetable gardening going on here at the  moment, but I figure that about February I will be perusing seed catalogs and dreaming of a greener side yard for spring.

Squirrels provide such great entertainment with silly antics. These next photos were taken on the first day that the squirrels found the “stash” we had provided for them.

Well, I am not certain what happened, but after I posted my last bit…just for grins I clicked on the view site link and ~viola~! I have a sidebar. Wordpress gremlins at work maybe?