Confession Time

"Forgive me Green living for I have not been very motivated lately."

Now I'm not Catholic, but I feel the need to confess to you all that I haven't exactly been motivated lately oh about well anything and that includes my Green Living.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not driving a Hummer or eating out of Styrofoam boxes every meal, I'm still doing my usual stuff, but as for going above and beyond and for lack of a better term "Be the change" I'm not doing that currently.

I recently had a comment posted on this post about how my recycling efforts are going at my church and in my City. To be completely frank, it has gone no where because I haven't done jack diddly squat about it and I feel kind of guilty and surprised all at the same time.

For one I am surprised people actually read my blog or even find it. I forget that in the age of Google the power is just at your fingertips, but I truly am always surprised when I get comments from people who don't know me personally. Its pretty awesome and well, makes me take notice more about what I might say on this blog.

The question was if I had implemented any sort of recycling program first at my church and at the Farmers Market. That would be a big fat no, BUT the question made me realize I needed to get off my duff and DO something--ANYTHING-- about that. So tonight after I read that comment I immediately went to the City's website and the Markets website. I have to start in some way and I know email is pretty simple and HELLO I could/should have done that quite awhile ago. To be honest when I volunteer at our church's booth AT the Market I feel a little guilty I hadn't done anything (mostly because our booth is RIGHT next to a trash can that is emptied about 2-3 times in the time the Market is open).

As for the Church question I haven't done anything, but I need to just do it and tell Pastor I'm doing it. He's pretty easy going and I think if I showed up with some blue recycling bins one Sunday and said, "Use these and I'll empty them" he'd be ok with that. Might even let me say something on the mic about it. I could even go so far as to buy compostable cups/lids for the coffee they serve on Sundays. Might be pushing my budget, but hey gotta do something and it should last us awhile.

But as a whole just having someone comment on my blog that is for one thing, Local and interested really got me to thinking that I should be doing more that is outside my home. I need to literally listen to my readers and be the example. As much as i don't want to be an example, if I say something I need to at least have something to show for right? Sure I might have to get out of my comfort zone, but if it inspires someone else to do it then that's great. The ripple effect right?!

So to you FCC Chapel, thank you. Thank you for reminding me to wake up and not be so stagnant in my "green lifestyle." Just like I wouldn't want to be stagnant in my walk with Christ, I need to be the same in this as well. I already am thinking of what I can do to stop being so lukewarm and start being more on fire about this! Feel free to contact me if you would like more of a personal suggestion to your question. I screen all my comments before they are published and feel free to leave a comment with your email address and I won't publish it.

Blessings to you all! Anyone else want to pony up and confess anything? The confessional booth is open!

The Ladies & Garden

My lady chickens are loving their little Omlet house and love to free range all over the yard, but no eggs yet. Hopefully by Aug or maybe even July we'll see something!

The last batch of eggs I bought at the grocery store I wondered if I would have to buy any again after those. Its sort of a weird feeling to think about not buying things at the store. I almost feel like I'm doing something wrong, but at the same time its so liberating!

Have a garden is almost the same way except in the winter I do'nt know how to grow anything yet. Might try my hand at it this year. We ahve things growing this year I had NO idea we even planted. We have Zucchinni's and a giant sunflower that I vaguely remember planting, but it took and is taking off big time. My broccoli is growing pretty well too.

I'll post pictures soon on my garden so you can see its progress today. I'd like to keep planting more, but I'm also quickly running out of places to plant in our little raised bed. Time to make another one! Yay!

Sometimes I shake my head at what I have been able to accomplish growing things. I would have never imagained that I would do this one day. Its all very good and very eye opening at the same time. I wouldn't consider myself a master planter by any means, but its a start and one less thing I have to pick up at the store.

More later. Sorry for the lame update!!

1- yr Anniversary of No Meat

It will have been nearly 1 yr next month that I offically stopped eating read meat and Pork. I had done that on and off for years before this, but I never took a WHOLE entire year and completely avoided the stuff.

Now I wouldn't have ever actually ate the picture on the left here, but it just goes to show how much meat is engrained in our society here in the US.

Let me tell you it is HARD to find non-red meat/pork options. Swine flu didn't scare me, but man it really showed how much meat is in our food chain. Only time I ever came up to a bad meat situation was actually about a month back. I had ordered Minestrone soup thinking it would be like ALL other Minestrone soups with veggies, pasta & beans. But no. This soup for some strange reason had Bacon in it. Ick. I ate maybe 2 bites before I figured it out and then I just sort of picked at it. I just couldn't break my promise to myself that I wouldn't eat those piggies.

I still miss pepperoni pizza. Its the one thing I absolutely struggle with. But I have overcome. I do still eat chicken and fish still. I have found it must be really really hard to be a complete vegetarian because going out to eat there are literally no veggie options. Sad considering our societies health would benefit from eating from fruits & veggies for sure. This is why making your own lunch is such a great thing! And sometimes its the only option.

So I've made it a year and I'm still cutting back on a lot of the foods I eat. Next up is trying to eliminate Corn Syrup from my diet. I have been reading so many labels lately and we are actively trying to avoid it, but this one is much harder then not eating meat. I think it would be easier to be a Vegan then remove corn syrup. Thanks Ya'all!

Sabbath Day

I haven't always given much thought to the Sabbath Day and that is sad because I know my God wants me to have a day to just rest. I have gotten better at taking time to slow down, but I will confess to not taking much time for God and for my mind.

Because I've always gone to the types of churches where its just

"GO GO GO!!" I don't have a lot of teaching on the Sabbath, but

I got to thinking about how important it could be if we all did it.

In Serve God Save the Planet Dr. Sleeth does talk about how he takes a day of rest and his family observes it as well. He even takes it further to point out that if we in America DID take a day of rest what it would do to impact or environment.

Imaging taking 100s if not millions of cars off the road or stores being closed for just awhile and how much energy that would save! Or if we were really extreme and on the Sabbath we truly didn't work and we didn't cook meals in the oven or the microwave, no TV is watched, no mowing of the lawn, no energy really be put out for vacuuming or laundry. It would be huge.

And if you thought about it, even if we didn't all take the same day off, but took off just one day -- any day-- to be our Sabbath even that would make a huge impact.

I think ti would benefit our well beings and our relationship with God. We would truly be showing God we want to learn from him thru his Word or just showing God we have obedience to take some time out of our busy lives to just do nothing.

What is doing nothing??

Well, its simply that.

Imagine getting up in the morning after you got to sleep in and no alarm clock to jar you awake.

Imagine sitting outside maybe in a hammock or on the lawn just staring off into space or reading a book for hours if possible. Maybe taking a nap later in the afternoon, this time outside to feel the breeze.

Imagine just making a simple lunch of already prepared items like fruit, veggies, cheeses and bread. Something simple that requires nothing more then putting it in your mouth.

Maybe you sit outside and listen to your iPod belting out the Worship tunes.

Whatever it is that doesn't expend a ton of energy on your part is resting. I think some of us couldn't even do that. We couldn't even slow down if we wanted too. Our Adult ADD forces us from taking time to slow it down and just do nothing. I will confess to running around like a crazy person on weekends to get chores done or run errands. I think I could put off that Costco trip for at least one day don't you think?

Maybe you can't do ti weekly, but what if you tried to do the Sabbath at least monthly? Or when you are vacation devote a day of doing nothing. I suspect that those days might be the ones your kids remember the most because you are actually playing WITH them, not along side of them.

Give it a try and let me know how it feels! :)

Picture from HERE.

Chickens & the Eglu

This is my chicken coop: the Eglu by Omlet. It is a fantastic little coop--pricey, but I can move it around and clean it by just rinsing it off or emptying the tray. It is a great little thing for a small little flock like we now have and they seem to really like it. They do enjoy being outside I know that. They are loving the sunshine, the clover in our grass, and all the other fun things they can peck at to their hearts content outside. More on this later!!

Reason's Why Biking is Better

Ok so I'm for SURE not one of those fancy bike rider type people. I don't have the cool bike shorts and matching tight loud looking top that CLINGS to all parts, but I do ride my bike so its a start.

While riding my bike tonight from the store I was thinking of some reasons why riding my bike is better then driving.

• When I ride past a Prius, I feel all smug like I out did them. Take that low emission car-- my bikes got NO emissions. HAH!


• I can cut thru parking lots without fear of a ticket.


• While everyone else is lined up at the light, I keep right on going to the front of the line. Oh yeah. (I do obey the traffic laws though. I'm not one of those bikers that thinks I have the right away everywhere. now THATS annoying)


• I always get to park right in the front. Like right next to the entrance. What car can say they can do that?!


• I can never lock myself out.


• I won't over shop and buy what I don't need because I don't have room for it. I barely have room for my purse.


• I know people look at me while riding and feel sorry for me that I'm on a bike, but I feel empowered. I feel like I'm taking charge of my health and my well being by being on a bike in the first place.


• I can see into people's backyards.


• I can go under the speed limit and no one cares!


• I really do get to feel the wind on my face.


• No one arm tan for me. I can get a whole body tan (depending on much skin is showing)


• Sure I can get helmet hair sometimes, but it beats having convertible hair.


• People are usually really nice to bikers and let me cross more often then walkers. I'm faster.


• I can easily change my bike color if I really wanted too. I haven't yet, but if I wanted to it would be cheaper and faster then repainting my car.


• I don't freak out about scratches or dings on my bike body. Meh.


• I don't need insurance! I have health insurance so that pretty much covers me.

There you go. I know I'm being silly in some of these, but really they are true. I don't know that I'll ever get one of those tight bike outfits or not. I do have the pants, but the top kind of makes me shudder a little bit.

Picture is from HERE.

New Garden & Chicken Pics

Here are my girls I call them. Yes and then there were only 3. Started with 6, but 2 were killed by my evil chicken killing Pug Maggie (yes even Pugs want to kill small animals too apparently). Then one was a Rooster. we gave Red the Rooster away to someone who can keep Roosters in their town. They are not allowed within the City Limits were we live. So now we have Scrappy, Little Red and one that is unnamed.

Here is my Raspberry bush and more tiny raspberries. The one that is the most bushy is getting on a couple years now. Takes while to build them up, but we hack ours back so it won't overwhelm our yard. Not that it would be bad thing since i love Rasberries.

My blueberry tree. Its trying. We just got it this year so it'll be awhile before it starts making blueberries, but gotta plant them while I can!

Ahhhhh .... my tomato plants. I have 4 total, 2 different kinds, Roma and Spitfire. Hoping to make more salsa and tomato sauce this year. Made quite a bit of tomato sauce/spaghetti sauce last year. There's a Basil plant there in teh picture as well, but it had an accident where it took a DIVE off my deck and basically smashed itself. I wasn't too happy about that.

And lastly here is my raised bed. Yes there is fencing around ti this year. The dogs are getting too curious and liked to jump in it and SMASH all my plants. that didn't make me happy. In the top left corner is my strawberries and some peas. Then 3 rows of lettcue (I like lettuce) and some broccoli. Broccoli we are trying thsi year for kicks. Not sure how it'll work, but what the heck. Same for garlic. We'll be trying garlic too.

Only frustrating thing this year is I seem to have caterpillars or something eating my lettuce. Ick. Gotta pay better attention to those things or else I'm going to have a bug infested garden rather then edible treats.

So its not the best pictures, but its just a brief look at how our garden is growing!

I'll be posting pictures soon of my new chicken coop when it arrives. It should (it better be!!) be here tomorrow.

CHEERS! Happy growing!