T Tuesday: left the house edition

Welcome to this weeks edition of T stands for Tuesday…the one where I left the house.

After weeks of working from home and only venturing out to do a quick curbside pick up of groceries or take out, I was pulled from my normal distance learning position to support our districts frontline workers childcare. We had been told when this all started that we may end up in the rotation but had been spared until now. Most of the workers who generally fill the childcare positions have been furloughed. That leaves us to pick up the slack.

Murphy was definitely having fun with me today… check it out.

I did not sleep very well at all because I was worried I wouldn’t wake for my alarm…like that has ever happened. I got up at 5 am had a bit of coffee, gathered my things and headed out to the door. Turned the key in my van…click, click, click. Dead battery. Great. It hadn’t been driven in weeks so I guess its not a huge surprise.

I head back inside to regroup and figure out what I’m going to take to work only the handle doesn’t turn. I’m locked out. Swell. I found the right key on my ring…wasn’t even sure I had one for that door… and got back in.

Mr G told me to take his car since his trunk was empty and I was planning to go to Home Depot BEFORE starting childcare at 6:45am. Ok…all is good there. As I pull into the Home Depot lot at just after 6 am…the sky opened up and a deluge of rain came down. Since my plan was to get mulch, compost and potting soil…from the outdoor garden center…that was a big no thanks.

Since I now had some time to kill and I realized I never ate breakfast I drove to Starbucks. As I’m waiting in the drive thru for the drink and muffin I realize my phone is at home…on the arm of the couch. UGH. I quickly drove home, grabbed the phone and made it back to the childcare site by 6:40am.

And now I get to start mt actual day of work….

I wore one of my homemade masks during my time. I had 10 littles in my charge….kindergarten and 1st graders. Herding cats is all I can say. I am exhausted. I definitely know that I do not want to work in elementary school again. Middle school is great!!!

Gosh, I’m even more tired reliving that…LOL

On Saturday I moved our compost bin to a location that makes more sense. It’s old location down by the neighbors chain link fence just wasn’t working for me. It was often half under water and I had to walk through a patch of creepy charlie to get down there. Did I mention I’m allergic to creeping charlie? And I often…most of the time…am barefoot.

So here it is….relocated and edged with flagstone veneer from a fireplace. I traded a friend for it several years ago thinking I’d be using it to ring a firepit. That never happened but this as an equally good use of some of the stone. I trenched the pieces about 2 inches down. 

Not bad for a mornings work.

Mini-me is all set to go do some target practice. We discovered the back seats of the Jeep folded down super easy so now she can transport it herself.

Lastly I leave you with a bit of humor I saved that made me laugh this past week.

 

Tuesday finds me back at distance learning from my livingroom. I’m not complaining one little bit. Our governor has extended distance learning for the entire state for the remainder of the school year. I know its the right call and am thankful he did this. But I’m not going to lie…I felt like crying when he said the words. So many emotions.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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Earth Day reflection

Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22nd since 1970… half a century now. For all the gains we’ve made in technology and knowledge of the impact that we are having on the environment, we are far from friendly to our Earth. In fact, we have become even bigger consumers. A throwaway society.

I feel as if every day should be Earth Day and I know I am not alone in thinking this way. I try to be environmentally conscious but I know there are so many ways that I could do better. We often take the easy way. One thing I do know is that since returning to the workforce I am finding myself lacking in effort I used to put forth. Of course I could make a ton of excuses to justify my lack of effort…especially time constraints. But lets get real folks…if everyone makes excuses for things they don’t do…then nothing gets done.

Earth-friendly isn’t always pretty

Doing things the old fashioned way isn’t necessarily glamorous. Sometimes it’s downright ugly. But that doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing to do even when it doesn’t fit into our pin-able, post-able social media driven society. Not that social media can’t help in our efforts and teach us methods of doing things we might think are out of our reach and definitely outside our comfort zone.

There are plenty of trash to treasure, DIY projects out there. Again I’m not talking about the glamorous ones that are more new product than the original. Take something headed for the trash or even curbside and repurpose it. Look at items through a different eye. It may not be suitable for its original intention any more but that doesn’t mean it can’t still serve a purpose. Old boots become planters, bicycle wheels become a trellis or even garden art.

Clothing and textiles

The clothing and textile industry is even more unfriendly to the Earth than I realized with 15 million tons of textiles hitting the landfill every year. One pair of jeans uses 2000 gals. of water to produce from field to store. Those are crazy numbers!!!

So what can we do about it… Instead of buying new for everything, try shopping at second-hand stores and rummage sales. Give and accept hand-me-downs from friends. Set up a clothing exchange party. Shop our friend’s closet for items to borrow.

Mending clothes is also an option. Darning socks, adding trim to cover a worn cuff or length to children’s clothes, visible mending with a sashiko method or slow stitching. This can add character and life to your clothes.

I could go on and on telling you in great detail things you already know about being kind to Mother Earth. Instead here is a little list of reminders that might jog your memory with boring you into submission. I think often we get bored too easily and need things laid out simply.

T Tuesday late June garden edition

Gardening

  • Seed saving
  • Composting
  • Trading plants and seeds with others
  • CSA (Community supported agriculture)

Reusable bags

  • Many areas have outlawed plastic bags (due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic this has been repealed in many areas due to risk of contamination)
  • Keep a stash of bags in your vehicle or near your door
  • Purchase at the store or make your own

Less packaging

  • Buying in bulk
  • Choosing products that are refillable
  • Minimal packaging

Programmable Thermostat

  • Adjust the temperature in your home while you away
  • Keep it lower in the winter and warmer in the summer. You can always adjust the amount of clothing you wear.

Other ideas

  • Borrowing or sharing items that are only used a couple times a year
  • Passing down used children’s toys, clothing and accessories.
  • Fixing broken appliances…many times it’s a cheap fix especially if the appliance is old.
  • Doing without…what a novel concept these days

Making changes

If every person made a few small changes in their mindset…heck even one small change and stuck with it…the impact could be profound. Every single day should be Earth Day if we plan to have anything left for future generations.
I am fascinated by the global changes that have happened so quickly during the current COVID-19 crisis due to people and nations in quarantine, factories shut down and the vast majority of people in the US under stay-at-home orders in their respective states. The canals in Venice are clear, fish can be seen swimming through them and even just today I saw a news report of a jellyfish. Air quality is getting better with less industry and less vehicles clogging the roadways each day. Check out this article from the Billings Gazette about how the world is changing with people staying home.
There are countless other ways to make a difference that I haven’t even thought of or touched upon here today. In previous years, I have shared my Earth Day celebration and attempts at living eco-friendly. You can see those here if you had missed them,
Please let me know one way you are honoring Earth day, every day.

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T Tuesday: bits and pieces edition

Hello! We’re still here…all still here…always…

Have you settled into a routine within our new normal? I feel as if we have. It’s slightly less structured than the beginning of this new normal. Workspaces have shifted. Schedules have adjusted…Marvin is still not pleased but such is the life of a cat.

In my free time, I’ve continued to put scrap paper to use making serendipity collages. These are so fun and can be made without much thought. Very therapeutic.

I was able to cut 3 postcards, 2 tags, a bookmark, and a tiny tag. These are not finished of course but a good start.

I have a bunch of seedlings started in my plant cart. Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers so far. I have some flower seeds in the purple pots but they are kind of old so I’m not holding my breath on those. I also started a few cold-weather crops outside…I’ve never tried it this early so we’ll see what happens.sewing masks

sewing masks

I got back to sewing more masks as well. My fabric selection is dwindling as well as my elastic supply. Thankfully I had a spool I bought last year when I was making scrunchies from Mini-me. Otherwise, I’d have never been able to make as many masks as I have.

Distance learning continues for Mini-me and I.  J has two weeks of class left of his sophomore year of college. Final exams will be taken from his bedroom…so strange.

I’m staying hydrated while getting this post written with some ice water…please excuse the messy desk.

 

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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17 Comments

T Tuesday: mixed media edition

Who knew that inspiration could strike while randomly gluing bits and pieces of paper from the scrap bin. Seriously…this is too weird. I was feeling the need to craft something…anything. I had watched a couple of YouTube videos of folks making these insanely beautiful collaged papers. Of course, the bits and pieces that they used were amazing. Pieces that I wouldn’t be “just trying to use up”. But this thought got me to put paper and glue together.serendipity background beginnings

I started with a double-page spread from a children’s music book. I added bits of paper from my scrap bin until I was pleased or in this case…just “done” with this process.serendipity background

Not bad right…not super but workable. I added some washi tape, stamping, and stickers.

Next, I took the sheet to my guillotine cutter and needed to decide how to chop this up.

serendipity background

I decided on three postcards and several tags or perhaps journal cards.

I added some paint and embellishments to the postcards before adhering them to plain paper. I then ran them through the sewing machine to make sure everything stayed firmly together.

serendipity postcard

serendipity postcard

serendipity postcard

Super fun!serendipity background

These are the completed pieces that are ready to use. The gaps are still WIP. Not sure what I’ll do with them but that’s ok.

I had so much fun with this process that I made another collage sheet.serendipity background

I have 5 postcards and 2 tags with a fun springtime vibe.

I made this sheet on Saturday…before this happened on Sunday.Merry Eastergiving

SNOW!! What a crazy weather day. Mini-me and I decided that we should say “Merry Eastergiving” since the outside said Christmas, I was making a Thanksgiving style meal with turkey, all on Easter Sunday for just the 4 of us.

The card in the collage above was made by a sweet friend of mine.  She is a tremendous card maker. I’ve been sending more cards lately. A card in the mailbox is a tiny bit of joy I can send someone. Just getting a handwritten card by a real person these days is nearly cause for celebration. We need that these days.

Distance learning continues at our house…both on the teaching and learning ends of things. chromebook styleMy school issued Chromebook is getting a workout. Stickers optional but fun indeed.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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Tuesday thoughts

nature winsThe following is just a personal narrative or perhaps just a mind dump. I do not intend to offend anyone or downplay that gravity, sacrifices and heartache that COVID-19 is bringing to the world. Choose to read or move on…it’s okay. I don’t mind either way.

Is it wrong of me to think that there is a teeny, tiny part of this pandemic that could be thought of as a good thing? A reset button that was pressed by mother nature. Something to get us back to reality. What really matters. Not the superficial, Instagram worthy fluff. But what really matters day to day. Food, family, connection. The shelter in place, stay at home orders have done this.

There seems to be a great resurgence in old timey skills that were nearly forgotten. Making due. Making things work…not always exactly like you had envisioned but the way you can with what you have. No big box, order online, get it tomorrow ideals.  What do you have and what can you do with it?

This time has also made me realize how close to the edge so many people live. There are tons of families that count on school providing a meal or two for their children everyday. This shutdown has to be scary for them. The whole thing makes me very sad. How do we live in a society that people and corporations throw commodities away daily while some families can’t even feed their children? It makes me a bit sick inside when I dwell on it.

This reset button has had a positive impact so far on our family. Expectations have been lowered. Now some might say that is a negative thing. But I have to respectfully disagree. Because of the area we live in, our children expect more from life than we can afford. That being said, they aren’t like some of the entitled jerks you see in viral videos but they also could stand a bit of reality slapping them in the face. Honestly…most Americans fit into this category…myself included.

Circling back to expectations…for nearly two decades I was a stay at home mom and wife. There is a certain expectation that the title holds. Home cooked meals at the prescribed times, of course, balanced and beautiful. Clean and tidy house. Lovely garden. Bills paid. Cupboards organized. You see where I am going. 1950’s housewife category. Perhaps that was mostly an expectation I put upon myself. This “reset” has helped to temper those thoughts. Can I get my family fed with what we have at home without exposing ourselves to potential illness? Is what we are seeking out worth the possibility of being exposed to a contagion?

This weekend was Mr. G’s 50th birthday. Typically I would have scoured the stores until I found his favorites to cook a feast. Or seeking out a restaurant. This year things were very different. Expectations were lowered. And guess what…we had a phenomenal meal. I tried a couple of new ideas since I was making due. Twice baked potatoes…which could have had more flavor or been better but hey…I wouldn’t have tried to make them had I not been “forced” to improvise. With that said, I feel I must be transparent. I love convenience. I am somewhat prone to laziness. I am not afraid of hard work but I definitely will take the paved road in most instances over the rocky path. 

This time is also getting us to try new things…working from home, learning from home, final exams from home. Who would have thought?  The internet is definitely helping keep us together and learn new things virtually. Thank goodness.

In a year that I wasn’t planning to garden I am now actually expanding my garden. Adding new crops. Experimenting with container gardening and small bin composting. All to be more self-sufficient. Not that I am afraid that our food supply is going to collapse but I would rather not go to the store for fresh produce if I can possibly grow it myself. There is also a bit of pride for me in this. Being able to do things for our family…again those nearly forgotten skills in our fast paced, buy it now society. Having my kids see that we don’t have to purchase everything in life. Things don’t have to be brand new or perfect to be good and useful. 

Beyond expanding the garden I’ve also been baking bread, sewing masks to donate, giving haircuts to the family. We’ve watched movies and Netflix. Taken walks. Had meals with conversations. Played darts in the garage. Felt what it was like to have family time again.

I do pray when this is all over that we, as a world community, have all learned something very important and long lasting. If not it is a very big slap in the face to everyone on the front lines against the fight of this virus who risked their health and sacrificed time with those they love.

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A second look: recycled t-shirt bags

Since we have entered April, which happens to be Earth Month…or at very least the month that we honor Earth day…I thought it fitting to “recycle” one of my upcycling posts for Second on the 2nd.

Take a look….

2/22/2013 Recycled T-shirt Bags

t-shirt

First of all, I have to admit that this is not my original idea. I’ve seen many versions of this on Pinterest.    box pleat

But after going through the kids clothes and coming up with 2+ garbage bags full to pass along to a friend, it inspired me to keep a couple school shirts for this project.

This project couldn’t be an easier. I turned the shirt inside out then stitched the bottom closed.  Next was the box pleat to create a flat bottom. Basically you sew perpendicular to the bottom seam at each corner. You end up with a triangle of fabric that is not usable bag space. Gosh, I think I’m making that more complicated than it really is!! Here’s a link that shows the process if I just confused you.

Anyway…then I turned the shirt back right side out and cut off the sleeves and made a scoop cut at the neckline. No pattern just start cutting. We all know what a plastic handle bag from the grocery or discount store looks like….that’s what you are going for in shape.

All in all, not too shabby for a few minutes work. It saved a couple of shirts from the rag pile since  they’d likely never be worn again.

Little J claimed the lime green one as soon as she returned home. It was her shirt to begin with so now it will continue to serve her in a different capacity.

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Won’t you join me for

Second on the 2nd

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T Tuesday: many hats, one place edition

Welcome to yet another rousing edition of T stands for Tuesday.

This week finds most of us in the same place as last…at home, still at home. The difference for me is now my job has started back up after an extended spring break. I find myself in a very strange place much like hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people. Trying to figure out how to work from home.

I had two laptops set up on opposite sides of the table yesterday. My work one was the only one that actually saw any work. I had thought I’d get this post written but navigating through day 1 of distance learning proved to be more intense than I had expected. Honestly, I think it’s easier to just go to school. Likely because there is also no distractions.

When I’m at home I tend to wear those other hats; chef, nutritional consultant, household manager, inventory specialist, artist, garden and landscape architect, blogger, chief procurement officer, mom, seamstress, and wife. All these titles…and likely a few I missed…I’m used to at home…it’s the new one, the one that is my actual paying job that needs to be my focus. So weird. Such uncharted territory.  I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to work since with so many folks now unemployed. I am determined to do my absolute best to support my students during this confusing time.

Speaking of the artist hat. I have been neglectful in posting this journal page. 

It’s a very simple page. The striped background is an artist page from an old Stampington & Company magazine. After adhering bits of scraps, I was at a loss as to what I wanted as a focal image. I decided on drawing simple greenery. I used watercolor crayons over my pencil marks until achieving the look I wanted.

The green plant provided hope for spring. We are definitely in need of a little greening up out there. Everything is brown, matted grass and depressing. It is warming up though, so it’s coming!!

Last week I was also sewing masks. I had seen repeated calls for help with providing masks for health systems that are running low. Ones that aren’t used on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Since I had materials to create the specific ones shown in this video tutorial.


masks

I made 28 and a friend stopped by to pick them up from the front step to deliver with all of hers. I had posted this image on Instagram. Shortly after a woman private messaged me asking if I’d be willing to sell her a couple of masks. I told her no but I would send a couple to her. She wanted to pay me so instead I told her to Pay It Forward.
 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Hello everyone.. the picture of the bandanna face mask were made by @halleshobbies and she is donating them to a medical facility. She also sent one to me ( I have IPF) I offered to pay and she asked me to Pay it Forward. The Respironic Nebulizer machines are mine. I contacted Lifespan and a home nurse is picking them up. They will be given to two families that are going to be healing at home with the Covid- 19. Lifespan hospital will thoroughly clean the first of course. It is my way of paying it forward. With my illness these machines were almost in every room of my house. They actually have saved my life many times. If any of you can find a way of donating anything to help out in our current situation look around the house see what you can do. Even if it’s giving your neighbor some toilet paper. A huge thanks to Halle. Please everyone go check out her channel!

A post shared by June Basiliere (@thriftedinapeartree) on

I love that! I’m so happy that our little exchange has the potential to save lives!!

Today is day 2 of distance learning. My own children seem to be doing just fine. I talked to a neighbor last evening…at the proper social distance…her girls are early elementary age and in Spanish immersion. Her day was not so easy. Hopefully, we will all settle into this new normal quickly and keep on learning each day. Perhaps discovering something deep inside ourselves that we weren’t able to see before.

empty halls

This lonely hallway photo I snapped gives me pause. So quiet, so lonely. Yet look…there is light at the end, just as there is light at the end of this journey for all of us.

 

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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15 Comments

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