tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260440715921472952024-03-18T21:59:17.129-06:00desert green goddessearth . world . general green-nerdery . {2017 bin-to-the-curb totals: garbage, 5 times; recycling, 7.5 times}Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-69529195713817283052019-09-17T08:03:00.001-06:002019-09-17T08:03:40.381-06:00We're listening to the quiet*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(NOTE: I have been inactive here for awhile. I never finished reporting my quarterly updates about "my year outside." Earlier this year, however, I was asked to provide a post for the <a href="https://utahrecyclingalliance.org/">Utah Recycling Alliance</a> (I am currently serving as the board president). I wrote a summary of my year. It was originally posted <a href="https://utahrecyclingalliance.org/2019/02/13/the-quiet/">here</a>.)</div>
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My focus for 2018 was simple: Go outside. </div>
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<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />It seems like the simplest of statements. Two words. And seemingly unnecessary. My grandparents would have been puzzled by a “goal” to “go outside.” <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />It was Florence Williams’ recent book that inspired my focus. <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.florencewilliams.com/the-nature-fix/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #67bce3; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">“The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative”</a> is full of hard scientific research from around the globe to back up her title. Check it out. <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />I kept a log of what I did, for how long, and jotted down any observations, both external and internal. <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />As with any adjustment in habit, we must address the obstacles that might stand in our way. With modern conveniences, we have steadily trained our minds and bodies to shun the slightest discomfort. We simply won’t tolerate cold, heat, sweat, snow, rain, boredom, or exertion. This results in retreating to climate-controlled buildings, with instant food and endless digital stimulation. Don’t get me wrong—I fully take advantage of all of those things! This outside focus, though, has forced me to stretch my resilience, work my muscles, and survive discomfort. We consistently underestimate the return on investment of outdoor time. It’s worth it. <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Here are a few things I noted in my daily log: </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pondered what such a ramble teaches children. Gross motor skills, balance, practicing risk-assessment, resilience, adventure/exploration mindset, stretch comfort zone, collaboration, naturalist/citizen scientist, water/land pollution.—15 April</em> </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Biked to…On the way back I literally stopped to smell the blossoms on a tree.—18 April</em> <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Biking is so much quieter–imagine how quiet our streets would be if we all biked! —23 April</em> <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Been thinking about factors in my life that contribute either to my happiness or my unhappiness–this outside project has made me think more critically and consciously about it.—26 April</em> <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /> </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Heard a new bird song. C found it; we observed its details and I looked it up just now: Lesser Goldfinch.—18 May [Starting to keep a log of birds we see/hear.]</em> </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Made grumpy g come out (to work in the garden)… I told her she HAD to come outside for only 10 mins to keep me company. She grumpily acquiesced and almost immediately upon stepping outside her mood brightened.—20 May</em> </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">C asked if she could bike by herself to…[the neighborhood school]. I reluctantly agreed–strongly reviewing rules of: stay on sidewalks, stop at all streets and look both ways before crossing. She made it and felt grown up and independent.—29 May</em> </div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Redwood forests (and, I’ll add, starry skies) have a way of reminding you of your place in the Universe.—June</em> </div>
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Anticipated lesson: Spending time out of doors does, indeed, strengthen my connection to nature and my resolve to protect its wild beauty. </div>
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Unexpected insight: Time outside solidified my understanding of how crucial human connection is. We need each other. Life is made meaningful because we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Connect with nature, connect with your loved ones, connect with the global family. </div>
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That is the “why.”</div>
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*One of my favorite quotes by my children while on a hike down in a hidden hollow up Provo Canyon. </div>
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For many more photos and detailed insights about my year outside visit: <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/search/label/outside" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #67bce3; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/search/label/outside</a></div>
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Other articles/resources: </div>
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<a href="http://www.jeantwenge.com/igen-book-by-dr-jean-twenge/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #67bce3; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">iGen, by Jean M. Twenge, PhD</a></div>
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“The secret to living longer may be your social life,” TED talk by Susan Pinker</div>
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“<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/velux/2018/05/15/indoor-generation-and-health-risks-spending-more-time-inside/610289002/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #67bce3; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">The “Indoor Generation,” </a><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/velux/2018/05/15/indoor-generation-and-health-risks-spending-more-time-inside/610289002/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #67bce3; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">USA Today article (story from Velux)</a> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-20894805933999744442018-07-18T16:10:00.000-06:002018-07-26T10:35:21.445-06:00My Year Outside: Part 3<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBFR_N8PM6Sa6qw-zCj_0iqS_NM86QBJoy0YPoC4vsID8swvqh6-v79X0FnfMZN-8SaSZb-uHzHlIuMUD3cK7Z43NI5GFugUBz3OFSxZFAXP6r0s5hYl8TtkHHa0E14fLa-KddpT265w/s1600/Outside+Part+3+observing+nature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBFR_N8PM6Sa6qw-zCj_0iqS_NM86QBJoy0YPoC4vsID8swvqh6-v79X0FnfMZN-8SaSZb-uHzHlIuMUD3cK7Z43NI5GFugUBz3OFSxZFAXP6r0s5hYl8TtkHHa0E14fLa-KddpT265w/s400/Outside+Part+3+observing+nature.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{slow down. observe. connect.*}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My year outside. Still logging my time spent out of doors: activity, duration, observations. This serves as part 3, covering May and June. (Read </span><a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2018/03/outside.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Part 1 here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2018/05/outside-part-2.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Part 2 here</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most of my walking is to and from our neighborhood church on Sundays. A highlight was my birthday stroll with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law through the Thanksgiving Point </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gardens. So, so lovely. (The Secret Garden is a personal favorite.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"I literally stopped to 'smell the roses' and watch bees pollinating flowers on a bush."--19 May</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I was kind of wi</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">shing I had other errands to run...in the area. It wasn't crazy hot and I wanted to walk around."--25 June</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Total walking time: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">8.32 hours (8 hours 19 min)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Most bike outings are in regular street clothes like skirt and sandals. On a couple of occasions, though, I had to bust out the poncho, rain pants, and galoshes.}</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">May is National Bike Month. Last year I committed to biking <i>somewhere</i> every day of the month. (Here's <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2017/05/national-bike-month.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2017/10/national-bike-month-part-ii.html">Part 2</a> of that report.) Because of that challenge, I now bike more often year-round.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a member of the Orem Bicycle Coalition, I helped out at the inaugural Cyclefest this June. My time spent with a bunch of bike nerds (I would classify myself as a "junior" bike nerd) has resulted in my now wanting 2 additional bikes: a mountain bike and a pedal-assist bike. (NOTE: If you are thinking of buying a second commuter car, I recommend looking into a pedal-assist bike instead--much cheaper!! and smaller and simpler to maintain.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Observations:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"She eagerly found all the puddles to ride through."--2 May</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Copenhagenize blog--chatted with E. about some of the things I learned about American bike culture vs. European bike culture</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"She liked the one-on-one time. Lovely day--good parent-child therapy without distraction."--4 May</i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"C asked if she could bike by herself to...[the neighborhood school]. I reluctantly agreed--strongly reviewing rules of: stay on sidewalks, stop at all streets and look both ways before crossing. She made it and felt grown up and independent."--29 May [Free-range parenting!]</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Not the best/safest way for a kid to get to/from that location. No sidewalk on East side of [the street]. Overgrown vegetation. So we both rode on the sidewalk opposite the traffic on the way back."--29 May [NOTE: If we want to foster independent mobility for our children, we need to ride bikes *with* them and teach them how to safely navigate around hazards. We should also couple that with informing local City reps so they can fix it.]</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Total biking time: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">11.55 hours (11 hours 33 min)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Gardening</i></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlycZ6C08BvEdeIWr67d-bwpxNP5BOs8_-9lxKH19QUTy9qnkVHg_akjw3rUwkRhg3K4Z92jvQRjA7W5nD-8Ie2h_iEzMSmANOxFGkKPeRh54WnWTqWLTLOT7GvYdga8bGBS1rLNxRtZs/s1600/Outside+Part+3+gardening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlycZ6C08BvEdeIWr67d-bwpxNP5BOs8_-9lxKH19QUTy9qnkVHg_akjw3rUwkRhg3K4Z92jvQRjA7W5nD-8Ie2h_iEzMSmANOxFGkKPeRh54WnWTqWLTLOT7GvYdga8bGBS1rLNxRtZs/s640/Outside+Part+3+gardening.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{sadly, not a natural gardener--working on it, though}</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This year's outside focus has found me gardening/landscaping more than I have in years--probably since kids (nearly 16 years ago). It's definitely an exercise in patience and persistence. (And I've already killed some things that I planted...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Observations:</i></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I guess maybe inspired by chatting with [neighbors] while they garden out front. (Outside time and human connection inspired more outside time and human connection.)--27 May</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"g was feeling blue. I made her sit outside with me for just 10 min [while I gardened]. I had her set the timer. When it went off she was good to stay out longer."--29 May</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"We got eaten by mosquitoes so cut it short. I got 4 bites, g got 32! She needs a bubble!"--30 May</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"We planted the front herb garden and the flowers. Enjoyed the bees. Did NOT enjoy digging the rocks. Grr! Felt like a rock-obstetrician using foreceps to pull the rocks out."--3 June</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"bundled some sage and oregano to hang outside to dry."--4 June</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Total gardening time: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">25.42 hours (25 hours 25 min)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Picnicking, visiting, hanging out</span></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFL1Xk6ec_E4xIv2qQVaK_uQh58RdsUctNqe9D2CNzRfx2J9HD-jaH21m-zCpAYpF5LdOo9FEGdAH7bN6cCoGcEOsQ6HLhMK43Xfff6IOIjoXN8TjwrcKXpHjhsoT5oWA0yJZXMSwnhA/s1600/Outside+Part+3+picnicking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFL1Xk6ec_E4xIv2qQVaK_uQh58RdsUctNqe9D2CNzRfx2J9HD-jaH21m-zCpAYpF5LdOo9FEGdAH7bN6cCoGcEOsQ6HLhMK43Xfff6IOIjoXN8TjwrcKXpHjhsoT5oWA0yJZXMSwnhA/s640/Outside+Part+3+picnicking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{Casual family dinners outdoors is a great way to connect}</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We just talk, laugh, enjoy food, and listen to the sounds of nature. We put our phones down and connect in real life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Observations:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Heard a new bird song. C found it; we observed its details and I looked it up just now: Lesser Goldfinch."--18 May [Starting to keep a log of birds we see/hear.]</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Breakfast out back (...garden white strawberries) and reading. Heard birds again, of course. New sound--church bells. Most likely from the Catholic Church across town. Quiet enough to hear them (from that distance). It's funny that we live a a place with a church on every corner (almost!) but no bells from the Mormon churches. I love church bells. I love Muslim calls to prayer. There's something about reinforcing the idea of communal worship of something bigger than ourselves."--24 June [Maybe mine is the call of birdsong, crickets, and thunder.]</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total picnicking/visiting time: 21.25 hours (21 hours 15 min)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Outdoor recreation</span></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2hM4R4FQ48z5uB5co0PU2qaa0Xd8J7TTd0tY5y78WB6NOf9bgLJPDOMcD8veBDVVipLitX6Kv8fA2gQ1AqL0wh57khJDy3GjCt5MX_ybbjdqT1LitKyL_RqrfPgHk8UQrWl2C3KA0zo/s1600/Outside+Part+3+outdoor+recreation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2hM4R4FQ48z5uB5co0PU2qaa0Xd8J7TTd0tY5y78WB6NOf9bgLJPDOMcD8veBDVVipLitX6Kv8fA2gQ1AqL0wh57khJDy3GjCt5MX_ybbjdqT1LitKyL_RqrfPgHk8UQrWl2C3KA0zo/s640/Outside+Part+3+outdoor+recreation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{Family reunion: Redwood forests (and, I'll add, starry skies) have a way of reminding you of your place in the Universe. Some of these trees are 1800 years old!}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is such beauty in this world. Sometimes I take it for granted because I see it every day. And sometimes, during Golden Hour, when the mountains are aglow, it hits me how lucky I am to live here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aside from kayaking and biking, we did a hike with cousins through Muir Woods National Monument (California) and down to Stinson Beach. It was a longer hike than expected but you couldn't have asked for better weather. Just heavenly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4bCPr18Du3B_HePRIZ3ZFG83M10rTsocSROvWZM-K5DUjWPTkeDFE-58sFxV2Zv0M9cWVIZN8KIq5r3x8d1LfMoRvrjtEdAUZKlARrArwxq5TZrCfWmEGHgMHF5BezuIKgAbOBmWI80/s1600/P1040093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1597" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4bCPr18Du3B_HePRIZ3ZFG83M10rTsocSROvWZM-K5DUjWPTkeDFE-58sFxV2Zv0M9cWVIZN8KIq5r3x8d1LfMoRvrjtEdAUZKlARrArwxq5TZrCfWmEGHgMHF5BezuIKgAbOBmWI80/s400/P1040093.JPG" width="398" /></a></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Observations:</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"realized that 15 min in one direction has us kayaking on the lake while 15 min in the other direction has us biking in a forested canyon trail. Pretty great."--15 June</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"We tried to hang out by the marsh on the edge to hear all the new birdsong/calls. So cool! We enjoyed the quiet and added kayaks to our fantasy wish list. It was pretty fun. Relaxing (at times) and super cool way to enjoy the local wildlife."--15 June</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>"Beautiful day! Clear blue skies, trees smelled good, buzz of insects, picture of scat (haha!) [likely bobcat or coyote], navigating with map."--29 June</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Total outdoor recreation time: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">9.25 hours (9 hours 15 min)*</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I was surprised by this number. Too low for my taste. I need to up our hours in this category.)</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Staffing Community Events</span></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70M_Esq7lJ0382wX2WcwvuWSa8T_b4LUxrLFtIOxtzlCXDARYZB-DS5FIX2YwC95aRV0QxG2_744GQP3Gnck2jTHK8o_Tu8TZiZLlM_P4GtqzJ0ceJz9s7amhJ3lBNG5U0hjwnY6IXT8/s1600/Outside+Part+3+staffing+community+events.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70M_Esq7lJ0382wX2WcwvuWSa8T_b4LUxrLFtIOxtzlCXDARYZB-DS5FIX2YwC95aRV0QxG2_744GQP3Gnck2jTHK8o_Tu8TZiZLlM_P4GtqzJ0ceJz9s7amhJ3lBNG5U0hjwnY6IXT8/s640/Outside+Part+3+staffing+community+events.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">{<a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/search/label/free%20swap">Free SWAP</a>, the City of Orem's <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2016/08/results-of-city-vote-on-committee-i.html">Natural Resources Stewardship Committee</a> table (we have bonafide T-shirts now!) at Summerfest, biking-the-canyon-trail selfie after staffing at Cyclefest}</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm a fan of community service. My various jobs push me out there to engage the public on how we can better care for ourselves, each other, and the planet.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Total community events time: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">14.25 hours (14 hours 15 min)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>General Observations</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Human connection is something I've been thinking about a lot in the past year--my own happiness, the Select Health grant for Feast Utah and mental health, social health, Tech Fast weeks and being present with each other, <a href="http://www.jeantwenge.com/igen-book-by-dr-jean-twenge/">iGen (book by Jean M. Twenge, PhD)</a> and social media challenges"--2 May </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">[For more on human connection check out this <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_pinker_the_secret_to_living_longer_may_be_your_social_life/discussion?languageko">TED talk by Susan Pinker: "The secret to living longer may be your social life."</a>]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Chosen 'music' [recording] while doing dishes this morning was nature sounds--waterfall, birds."--19 May</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Made grumpy g come out (to work in the garden). She was in her room being gloomy and I forced the issue. I told her she HAD to come outside for only 10 mins to keep me company. She grumpily acquiesced and almost immediately upon stepping outside her mood brightened. Eventually, G, g and I were working together in the garden. Pleasant cloud cover came in, lovely. Then the wind picked up, we put stuff away, including the tent and ended up staying outside to play in the wind. ... Everyone eventually curled up for a rest outside to enjoy the now calmer winds and eventually some light rain. Pretty fun--enlivened by the elements and time together."--20 May</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I find lately that though I have to work in my home office I tend to open the window so that even though I'm stuck inside I can still hear the sounds of nature. That's a new habit change. Bird-song therapy."--22 May </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"C said to me this evening, 'I think I know why you're feeling blah. Every time I look at you you're looking at your phone.' Insightful, C. She recommended that the 2 of us eat our dinner picnic-style out front while waiting for (the others the come home from their activity). Ate and then visited with neighbors."--23 May</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/velux/2018/05/15/indoor-generation-and-health-risks-spending-more-time-inside/610289002/">USA Today article (story from Velux) 'The "Indoor Generation" and the health risks of spending more time inside.'</a> Started reading on couch then moved outside. Immediately noticed the birds and reflected how sad it would be to lose birdsong."--1 June</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PART 3 GRAND TOTAL: 90 hr 2 min (90.03 hrs)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">part 2 grand total: 29 hr 10 min</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">part 1 grand total: 24 hr 45 min</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PART 3 WEEKLY AVERAGE: 11 hr 15 min (11.25 hr)/week</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">part 2 weekly average: 3.625 hr/week</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">part 1 weekly average: 3.09 hr/week</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Obstacles to Outside Time</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>With modern conveniences, we have steadily trained our minds and bodies to shun the slightest discomfort. We simply won't tolerate cold, heat, sweat, snow, rain, boredom, exertion. This results in retreating to climate-controlled buildings, with instant food and endless digital stimulation. Don't get me wrong, I fully take advantage of all of those things. This outside focus, though, has forced me to stretch my resilience, work my muscles, and survive discomfort. We consistently underestimate the return on investment of outdoor time. Trust me, it's worth it.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The obstacles we most run into right now are: mosquitoes, heat, rain, wind (I hate wind!), and allergies (for some in the family). </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>But mostly mo</i></span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">squitoes.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>[*Did you find the 4-leaf clover in there? And, why, you ask, did I include not 1 but *2* photos of scat? Educational purposes. What, children, can we learn about the animals that live here and what they might eat? Insects are cool. And I love diverse plant textures. What do you see when you slow down and connect?]</i></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-14218360822963748682018-05-03T14:08:00.001-06:002018-05-04T11:55:38.561-06:00My Year Outside: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw115YhaBnXWRPbrrW6-xLhialJTbURbM-rOaTimaeCjOA1bxwB4Q1Z6KGejIWjhWRoDttm3JDoL_B2JsKuiyvJSo1U-7HmIEembg0npg8CHbEyjktftkyNbFETIhFDs1cmAt3R0NGok/s1600/Outside+part+2+ramble+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw115YhaBnXWRPbrrW6-xLhialJTbURbM-rOaTimaeCjOA1bxwB4Q1Z6KGejIWjhWRoDttm3JDoL_B2JsKuiyvJSo1U-7HmIEembg0npg8CHbEyjktftkyNbFETIhFDs1cmAt3R0NGok/s640/Outside+part+2+ramble+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Rambling in wild-ish spaces in Provo Canyon}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My year outside. Still logging my time spent out of doors: activity, duration, observations. This serves as part 2, covering March and April. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Read Part 1 <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2018/03/outside.html">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Walking</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Walking is an easy option for neighborhood locations like school, church. I also counted the walk to and from my car at the far end of the Utah Valley University parking lot to the Environmental Ethics Conference about Utah Lake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total walking time: 1 hr 28 min</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKatqYr7wn6M34AtC7gadKolaRRMUbs0jCI_jg38Ter-RuPikiPhA8fQ0mKaTxGtobKXThfECCYjwOxt6bp7-epB8HkderCZfCDFuD4TszigQMD0VfIvB9hhVTRoGuhYT3AprdTwcL8A/s1600/Outside+part+2+biking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKatqYr7wn6M34AtC7gadKolaRRMUbs0jCI_jg38Ter-RuPikiPhA8fQ0mKaTxGtobKXThfECCYjwOxt6bp7-epB8HkderCZfCDFuD4TszigQMD0VfIvB9hhVTRoGuhYT3AprdTwcL8A/s640/Outside+part+2+biking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This time last year I committed to bike <i>somewhere</i> every day during the month of May. (Read about it <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2017/05/national-bike-month.html">here</a> and <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2017/10/national-bike-month-part-ii.html">here</a>.) I then went on to bike (at least occasionally) during every month of the year. I now feel silly if I think of using the <i>car</i>, instead of my <i>bike</i>, to go anywhere within a 2-mile radius. (Well, at least a 1.5-mile radius anyway.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Highlights in the photos above (L to R, top to bottom): testing out my rain poncho, enjoying a picnic ride with neighbor kids (and MacGyvering a cushion on my rear baskets to seat the neighbor child who isn't yet independent on her bike), trip to the grocery store with the youngest who stopped on the way home to climb a tree, riding with the kids to the library, and my big challenge: biking 3 miles to Costco; successfully brought back 2 loaves of bread, 14 apples, chips and salsa, tortillas, and even 4 dozen eggs!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have I mentioned that I love my granny bike? I bought it second-hand, it's not flashy or fast, it's kind of tacky, but it fits me beautifully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total biking time: 4 hr 22 min</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Hiking, playing at parks, going for a ramble</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjhHKcBXSosJXAOkqeQy1fv-e9Mc909QXwhsXzo5HKBGzWCp0k9GYs9jYxpbzy0oGZjnSjWKfuCrTwmk_bUnUiNKnLu_sE31k2lE8kSEhsD7gmZaV6hnAIf21e0lWKXeQuEs9oqmjWVI/s1600/Outside+part+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjhHKcBXSosJXAOkqeQy1fv-e9Mc909QXwhsXzo5HKBGzWCp0k9GYs9jYxpbzy0oGZjnSjWKfuCrTwmk_bUnUiNKnLu_sE31k2lE8kSEhsD7gmZaV6hnAIf21e0lWKXeQuEs9oqmjWVI/s640/Outside+part+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm grateful that my children like to explore. We have embraced the term "ramble" and all it might encompass--balancing on a log over a river, light bushwhacking, climbing trees, and quickly patching up scraped knees so as to get back to it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5YAeWJsVO9BTNSO2-Yi5cXx_xYXu-ABEK44X7_bmhICRm5EZrrVi7NZBAAtMsq-HXxod2NabmhagXhqS65cX-dG6NMegIePDBWcKeB56yrghloOvLdHR9QCNXKV42AQ-7-mCeGLM2MM/s1600/Outside+part+2+ramble+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5YAeWJsVO9BTNSO2-Yi5cXx_xYXu-ABEK44X7_bmhICRm5EZrrVi7NZBAAtMsq-HXxod2NabmhagXhqS65cX-dG6NMegIePDBWcKeB56yrghloOvLdHR9QCNXKV42AQ-7-mCeGLM2MM/s640/Outside+part+2+ramble+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total park/ramble time: 9 hr 5 min</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Gardening</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUxCyf29ENDgnLcXRqlYJrl0QCSnnXHeGEvhdGK0azJ2Nh0LCEca5Bn3GJFy7Vijr1rApNWRGikC7fDQR9R5AbMvC0kyztuZfDIU9xXutlxCaOGE8J9bLhoZeIPeOcoI9NIrFgc6WNgU/s1600/Outside+part+2+gardening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUxCyf29ENDgnLcXRqlYJrl0QCSnnXHeGEvhdGK0azJ2Nh0LCEca5Bn3GJFy7Vijr1rApNWRGikC7fDQR9R5AbMvC0kyztuZfDIU9xXutlxCaOGE8J9bLhoZeIPeOcoI9NIrFgc6WNgU/s640/Outside+part+2+gardening.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I like to think of myself as "green," but my gardening skills... well... folks, gardening is hard. So much to remember--planting schedules, feeding schedules, ratios of potassium and phosphorous, clay vs sandy soil, water-wise plants, irrigation efficiency, and, of course, weeds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So far, though, we've planted (peas, lettuce, carrots, onions, scallions, spinach), watered, checked on sprouts and harvested some fragrant herbs. (No picturesque garden photos, though. It's kind of a nightmare.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total gardening time: 6 hr 5 min</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Other</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0L9HYgVY9pZN0ZYYWFn-YbASeIi9oPQt9kJDJ31a7OLKWcZu8BeZzSNcD4619vYGXiwDFA45D-n7UZuxv7BFkJYNu5oe6FP9vUYRSZ0GquZh2gfZZxTiFfFcwMjoQC-Js-6ANvaR3QRk/s1600/Outside+part+2+other.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0L9HYgVY9pZN0ZYYWFn-YbASeIi9oPQt9kJDJ31a7OLKWcZu8BeZzSNcD4619vYGXiwDFA45D-n7UZuxv7BFkJYNu5oe6FP9vUYRSZ0GquZh2gfZZxTiFfFcwMjoQC-Js-6ANvaR3QRk/s640/Outside+part+2+other.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{Top L: observed an ant carrying a piece of dry grass, fragrant spring blossoms, dyeing eggs, the rest are from the Central Utah Water Conservancy Garden, complete with red-breasted house finch}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other activities include visiting with neighbors out front, resting in the hammock, visiting a public garden, and dyeing eggs on the back patio.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total other: 2 hr 40 min</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Service</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8SsRLkbmfsShTkGRHMAIO_xEhm4a0_KGdY256qiwyyTkbOJsUQ3cQLrmSA__t60Q3NInbCds4c1-5MAopvTzRlSP8MxuGrGjFmZxgE184_vr6NBdvcpwhHz4dEsCgSXQ2FVN6gYtIcc/s1600/Outside+part+2+service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8SsRLkbmfsShTkGRHMAIO_xEhm4a0_KGdY256qiwyyTkbOJsUQ3cQLrmSA__t60Q3NInbCds4c1-5MAopvTzRlSP8MxuGrGjFmZxgE184_vr6NBdvcpwhHz4dEsCgSXQ2FVN6gYtIcc/s640/Outside+part+2+service.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Service project at the youngest's school. Love me some teamwork!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Total: 5 hr 30 min</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Observations:</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Never made it outside. And felt the lack. I can feel when I need outdoor therapy."--7 March</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Was planning to bike to...., but it was windy and I hate, hate, hate biking in the wind!"--10 March</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"WEAK TOTAL: 28 min"--5-11 March</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Need to remember my front light for riding in the rain."--14 March</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I found that I ended up wanting to stay out longer than I had planned."--19 March</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Took them up the canyon to go star-gazing for Earth Hour. Cold! We snuggled and laughed and watched the stars and the clouds."--24 March</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"C wanted to pack the turtle tent and blankets to read up the canyon. ... It was snowing when we got there. Set up and got cozy. Pretty fun. We read, rested quietly while listening to the snow. It sounded like muffled rice crispies cereal in milk. Soothing to be bundled up in the tent while it snowed outside."--25 March</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Pondered what such a ramble teaches children. Gross motor skills, balance, practicing risk-assessment, resilience, adventure/exploration mindset, stretch comfort zone, collaboration, naturalist/citizen scientist, water/land pollution."--15 April</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Biked to...On the way back I literally stopped to smell the blossoms on a tree."--18 April</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"EARTH DAY--cleared (the weeds) out (of) whiskey barrel out front to prep it for sharing herb garden."--22 April</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Biking is so much quieter--imagine how quiet our streets would be if we all biked! Felt empowered, helped me limit purchases to the basics--no splurges." (about my bike trip to Costco)--23 April</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Love the smell of cut grass. Spinach is growing! And small pea sprouts and tiny lettuce."--25 April</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Been thinking about factors in my life that contribute either to my happiness or my unhappiness--this outside project has made me think more critically and consciously about it.--26 April</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PART 2 GRAND TOTAL: 29 hr 10 min</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(part 1 grand total: 24 hr 45 min)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">weekly average: 3.625 hrs/week</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-12046118849588244972018-04-16T10:09:00.000-06:002018-04-16T10:09:55.515-06:00Free SWAP Photos (from last June's event)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxE8XEl7ASR1b8TIXN3fI4OKWgrBDFkQoNbXoCQhAYowD7Uk4EpHLjtE68sdUyolkOAhNEKk1l8qZX9AV7sK9b0yV1kU3MOSWm8_EsIBaHTleAS41Yk6wE9qUYY2JCHKItIZM1pjHDxo/s1600/Twiiter-Header-Image_Free-Swap-Logo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="1500" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxE8XEl7ASR1b8TIXN3fI4OKWgrBDFkQoNbXoCQhAYowD7Uk4EpHLjtE68sdUyolkOAhNEKk1l8qZX9AV7sK9b0yV1kU3MOSWm8_EsIBaHTleAS41Yk6wE9qUYY2JCHKItIZM1pjHDxo/s640/Twiiter-Header-Image_Free-Swap-Logo3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I recently found a slew of photos I took at the June 2017 swap. Enjoy scrolling through as we look forward to the next one on:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>8:00 a.m. to noon</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Orem City Center Park, Rotary Pavilion</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>300 East Center Street</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-lFNEaVyUIg2nUbaoAtMNSvQ5xnW_OD-_4Vmj1_IlOT8oUeqYWOt3gjINSgW2F_sWXmnvRfLG4FJQSP7uYiv46IlD1M5mIZD7FT1rhLMFpUi41Ux9eHUVYkVz1JCQ2RpKLYQKQreL4Op/s1600/June+2017+Babies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-lFNEaVyUIg2nUbaoAtMNSvQ5xnW_OD-_4Vmj1_IlOT8oUeqYWOt3gjINSgW2F_sWXmnvRfLG4FJQSP7uYiv46IlD1M5mIZD7FT1rhLMFpUi41Ux9eHUVYkVz1JCQ2RpKLYQKQreL4Op/s640/June+2017+Babies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sharing baby stuff</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvawJjEVtftMMyghUkEkMYn8ejfwD-Qt-pEfzcFULmHdbMTEdHZeRxwZjgVpOSvobSi6hVHsFddhIs3yxLpKmtF-MNVeIj_zZosPqwBjjUB3w5v6Kd63RrA8Ea2EdNGGPxDh6haH8V5RHf/s1600/June+2017+New+Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvawJjEVtftMMyghUkEkMYn8ejfwD-Qt-pEfzcFULmHdbMTEdHZeRxwZjgVpOSvobSi6hVHsFddhIs3yxLpKmtF-MNVeIj_zZosPqwBjjUB3w5v6Kd63RrA8Ea2EdNGGPxDh6haH8V5RHf/s640/June+2017+New+Baby.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love this one: on the left, June 2016, this couple (with help from friends) found a baby crib for the child they were expecting. (The crib was donated by my good friends/neighbors who had moved past that particular stage in life.) One year later, June 2017, here the two, uh, *three* are again, Dad and several buddies now lending a hand as volunteers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bikes! Finding new-to-you bikes and helmets. One family rode their bikes to the swap for a wholesome day at the park. They strapped new finds on the backs of their bikes (top R) and had a lovely day out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeG468ykSWtlFDO_dzMtXkcdMWmCEJXJWp3e_tZCYlfneEAf2oLVdNnWznWzkHX-OX5AZ0Ys3B1w9bHeqOKZ_3HexQn_mIPj6RftHjmhzxecOr1krGCd8KsIQZyCKYOL7dE2vztFaspUh/s1600/June+2017+Family+game+time.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeG468ykSWtlFDO_dzMtXkcdMWmCEJXJWp3e_tZCYlfneEAf2oLVdNnWznWzkHX-OX5AZ0Ys3B1w9bHeqOKZ_3HexQn_mIPj6RftHjmhzxecOr1krGCd8KsIQZyCKYOL7dE2vztFaspUh/s400/June+2017+Family+game+time.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Love this photo. What a great way to spend a day in the park: sun, grass and trees, community sharing, and playing games with loved ones. (They scored a sleeping bag, too!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CvdesJGIfbcM-YLx4L9pIR0qlvGYBsPSc0Uc7VKGcsVDzoJ5-pq6_nP3uIMVS3_9TL8BRyyAsunOAgBkbSdOrEWsNT3B-1Dh0Yu-4P2A0fj_OH5avg_frJEEYPv6TQPcMzyLiwmPa-ui/s1600/June+2017+Reading+and+learning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CvdesJGIfbcM-YLx4L9pIR0qlvGYBsPSc0Uc7VKGcsVDzoJ5-pq6_nP3uIMVS3_9TL8BRyyAsunOAgBkbSdOrEWsNT3B-1Dh0Yu-4P2A0fj_OH5avg_frJEEYPv6TQPcMzyLiwmPa-ui/s640/June+2017+Reading+and+learning.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reading and learning</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FN66y430_SEkkCF3GllzK-nIFn7vh8A0-g3QNdxBIx2Wk8T_mAVwDVucDNrv6TjtneLrWFqw0530ly-Pg-nxIw-ML7CV1hNUEtXrPdM1OfU6XFNtWWucUazST9FYCgAUo1hzKZb2OF5f/s1600/2017+swap+stuff+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FN66y430_SEkkCF3GllzK-nIFn7vh8A0-g3QNdxBIx2Wk8T_mAVwDVucDNrv6TjtneLrWFqw0530ly-Pg-nxIw-ML7CV1hNUEtXrPdM1OfU6XFNtWWucUazST9FYCgAUo1hzKZb2OF5f/s640/2017+swap+stuff+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From hospital-style beds to jewelry, there's always something interesting at the Free SWAP</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ3zweuQf80UZq6ui2fItlQW1j_SqI1DGAmzVnu-2jPOh2eFak4G2y-EgjE_QkKT3K63RxV0T5awr3WLMQLSZJh-ZwU6RvkffR3v2jonRztayuOpleLYQqZrGRiNyx1umld6L4k5uYAxj/s1600/2017+June+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ3zweuQf80UZq6ui2fItlQW1j_SqI1DGAmzVnu-2jPOh2eFak4G2y-EgjE_QkKT3K63RxV0T5awr3WLMQLSZJh-ZwU6RvkffR3v2jonRztayuOpleLYQqZrGRiNyx1umld6L4k5uYAxj/s640/2017+June+people.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stuff, sharing, and smiles</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFLjDSq0-relc05eg5CQafPGlhgayOq67kxWkCShVMZEFG3N-sCYgljK4ID1SrcpEGJQig7GxQsdSG83w3WxkeutQpx-TSMHpAmltqeZk5j7gV7fCawWr_W80eGUC37OLF6iUftF0cOuZ/s1600/2017+June+stuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFLjDSq0-relc05eg5CQafPGlhgayOq67kxWkCShVMZEFG3N-sCYgljK4ID1SrcpEGJQig7GxQsdSG83w3WxkeutQpx-TSMHpAmltqeZk5j7gV7fCawWr_W80eGUC37OLF6iUftF0cOuZ/s640/2017+June+stuff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>By supporting the Free SWAP you:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*REDUCE WASTE--less goes to the landfill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*CONSERVE GAS--locally-sourced goods = less gasoline for transportation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*INSPIRE "UPCYCLING"--make something new out of something old</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*CONSERVE RESOURCES--save the raw material that would have otherwise been used if you have bought new</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*CELEBRATE COMMUNITY--see how our generous and gracious community fits together beautifully</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1RRV4Et-sq4ZujNUIyd2YjMi9M7YRw9pXj3Ugib1DRQg3hKw-ghN7vnmH3ksD7Z0Aiss_rsflzHUVxrdlKAFAU8nBwmWrsyJqtjDr6wlG7-k5-b-xvYRw3OWuXxH3ArAj-ilpz9MD-eh/s1600/20170602_181414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="888" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1RRV4Et-sq4ZujNUIyd2YjMi9M7YRw9pXj3Ugib1DRQg3hKw-ghN7vnmH3ksD7Z0Aiss_rsflzHUVxrdlKAFAU8nBwmWrsyJqtjDr6wlG7-k5-b-xvYRw3OWuXxH3ArAj-ilpz9MD-eh/s320/20170602_181414.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few swaps ago someone donated this pair of shoes. My daughter took them home. She had many adventures. She grew. She donated them again to the swap. They continue to have more adventures, somewhere, with another family.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYprHbMCQPeQxG1YBUPBclKg7u8G2pq0c43Nmm8H_olt3fwM22OoXK04Qe1SPAwqAbr09wxJXYHhUtl9r-CdooB1Ji9n5Gk9-9E62lHV6R6Wp2vFZDnNxK-V8ikjJxpVJFNhgH5BPb66l/s1600/June+2017+Volunteers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYprHbMCQPeQxG1YBUPBclKg7u8G2pq0c43Nmm8H_olt3fwM22OoXK04Qe1SPAwqAbr09wxJXYHhUtl9r-CdooB1Ji9n5Gk9-9E62lHV6R6Wp2vFZDnNxK-V8ikjJxpVJFNhgH5BPb66l/s640/June+2017+Volunteers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And, of course, VOLUNTEERS! Yay for our volunteer family. This is a guaranteed great way to spend a Saturday. If you've got even a half an hour to spare, we'd love to meet you and serve with you. Just show up and say, "How can I help?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See you soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Sharing abundance. Uniting communities.</i></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-76031433068746691112018-03-06T08:48:00.000-07:002019-02-08T11:17:22.925-07:00Outside<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMV2PuwsrfCQr6S7Xwrj4e7-ojO2wrS5FRH0m45JD_ZYcUURcFGFL4uFkdEL38pOr26_5390sYkb2nuiuxpJIwR_vuqO2sg_jRH9-tqDvFhbRWnV5BUwp-uMo3mY1XZ8yTmC8c0lo4a8/s1600/P1020957-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMV2PuwsrfCQr6S7Xwrj4e7-ojO2wrS5FRH0m45JD_ZYcUURcFGFL4uFkdEL38pOr26_5390sYkb2nuiuxpJIwR_vuqO2sg_jRH9-tqDvFhbRWnV5BUwp-uMo3mY1XZ8yTmC8c0lo4a8/s320/P1020957-001.JPG" width="318" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">{Provo River Trail}</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My focus for the new year: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">go outside</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems like the simplest of statements. Two words. And seemingly unnecessary. My grandparents would have been puzzled by a "goal" to "go outside."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was Florence Williams' recent book that inspired my focus. <a href="http://www.florencewilliams.com/the-nature-fix/">"The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative"</a> is full of hard scientific research from around the globe to back up her title. Check it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My goal: 20 min/day or 2 hours/week. And for the sake of personal accountability, I decided to keep a log.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No rules about the kind of activity, just that I go do stuff outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are the totals for the past <i>2 months</i>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Walking</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqnM170rE0prXaqYWAiuzhyphenhyphenES7ICvz9_kW3OzRn9U3ln8v99nbJKNB69WxtEJKBJ3OMUYsj7nZ44Vi4VPQWhV0uT0HyOl0l4nFqV3VeoH78vFI3nP4nELswHJ4pO5pPvstLVETYJZHXQ/s1600/20180120_114528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1138" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqnM170rE0prXaqYWAiuzhyphenhyphenES7ICvz9_kW3OzRn9U3ln8v99nbJKNB69WxtEJKBJ3OMUYsj7nZ44Vi4VPQWhV0uT0HyOl0l4nFqV3VeoH78vFI3nP4nELswHJ4pO5pPvstLVETYJZHXQ/s400/20180120_114528.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think I've kind of forgotten about the art of walking. It's so simple, free, and healthy. I know I'm guilty of occasionally equating speed with superiority, hence driving a car is "better," right? We have so many technologies that help us speed up our lives to free us up to do better things with our spare time. And, yet...how do I spend my spare time?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It required a conscious effort on my part to consider walking. Most often I get stuck on auto pilot thinking I need to drive across the big intersection to check for something at the store over there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By walking I felt more connected to my surroundings. I felt my brain could mull over ideas and sort things out. I felt the weather--the cold, the rain, the snow and found myself in a more reflective mood. And, yes, healthier for having done so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Walking Total: 3 hours 50 minutes</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zTT-Mn6qM4MYm0XvY1SRnUIGI6o8m8qkIIkDGZQi5cH7JduxEAcgHRBXDa6jQqpK-7u0qc15gsncjTqTscWoPZPd3FEWggeXSDx86w8pXccrgbADz6QJ31lwHPWbRdLA1yfnE0kVHCY/s1600/20180105_170259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zTT-Mn6qM4MYm0XvY1SRnUIGI6o8m8qkIIkDGZQi5cH7JduxEAcgHRBXDa6jQqpK-7u0qc15gsncjTqTscWoPZPd3FEWggeXSDx86w8pXccrgbADz6QJ31lwHPWbRdLA1yfnE0kVHCY/s400/20180105_170259.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{library book return}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've posted several times about <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/search/label/biking">biking</a>, including <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2017/05/national-bike-month.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2017/10/national-bike-month-part-ii.html">Part 2</a> of National Bike Month, where I committed to biking *somewhere* every day during the month of May in 2017. Remember, I am not an athletic "cyclist." This is the bike that I ride: a 1-speed granny bike with front and rear baskets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to the warmer-than-usual January, I ended up biking 9 times--to places like the grocery store, the school, and the library. My month of biking (in May) showed me that most places I frequent in my community are relatively simple to bike to. Benefits include: physically-active transportation, superior parking spots, inexpensive, and more conducive to <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2014/10/biking-improves-intimacy.html">community-building</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Biking Total: 3 hours 15 minutes</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hiking</i></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi0Tphh871V2jb8uWpTJ7jniWothbDo8t1oWW5k6Yuo1ETAmWmaaFnfLgEFxJKvKlUPitGzUOmumu6S2tODQKM3n0Q4Mr1wmZ34SftsFGerh0BOkDEaoXW3f_KDItbOGKeXk0rHdRKNI/s1600/Jan+2018+hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi0Tphh871V2jb8uWpTJ7jniWothbDo8t1oWW5k6Yuo1ETAmWmaaFnfLgEFxJKvKlUPitGzUOmumu6S2tODQKM3n0Q4Mr1wmZ34SftsFGerh0BOkDEaoXW3f_KDItbOGKeXk0rHdRKNI/s640/Jan+2018+hike.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am a huge fan of hiking, though I don't do it nearly enough. And I approach it the same way that I approach walking or biking: don't insist at the outset on running a marathon or cycling cross-country; just get out there and get on a trail. Easy, moderate, hard, doesn't matter. To an amazing destination or just part-way and back. It could be a 10-minute walk on a flat trail, I don't care. Just take a step away from your day-to-day life and see what it does for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hear more and more about the challenges facing young people these days. I'd like to think that being present with each other in nature can perhaps serve to inoculate against the worst of potential challenges. (Another practice that highlights the benefit of being present with each other is our periodic 1-week <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/search/label/tech%20fast">Tech Fasts</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wonder is magical for the soul. For </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> soul and for my </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">children's</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> souls. The top-right photo shows the children marveling at a squirrel skeleton that we found by the trail. (The best example of awe I experienced with my children this past year was witnessing the total solar eclipse in the middle of Wyoming. It was quite a moving experience that was unlike anything else we had ever felt.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Favorite thing I heard on this particular hike: "We're listening to the quiet."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Hiking Total: 3 hours 20 minutes</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Yard Work</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is always <i>something</i> that needs to be done around the house/property, whether it's shoveling snow in winter, planning and planting in spring, weeding, mowing, harvesting in summer, or raking leaves and cleaning out rain gutters in fall. We often see those activities as unpleasant "chores." This year's focus of "going outside" will help me (I hope!) make a conscious mental shift that <i>welcomes</i> the time to connect with the elements, to enjoy the meditative value, to benefit from the physical exertion, and to mentor my children about the value of work and community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Yard Work Total: 2 hours 35 minutes (most of this is shoveling snow)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Other</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGN2PPEToF_OyfFgIbn1ZScx7WTdSGAed18gfKnB88bQQUvHaPZrEBx9GjzvYn-pX-OVhoeuJ65KK2Y8NATgVobBDRE-3UWko1xhnyEql73WwhDMvR1fpG4DE3q9CWLDctvxYdNmJzxE/s1600/going+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGN2PPEToF_OyfFgIbn1ZScx7WTdSGAed18gfKnB88bQQUvHaPZrEBx9GjzvYn-pX-OVhoeuJ65KK2Y8NATgVobBDRE-3UWko1xhnyEql73WwhDMvR1fpG4DE3q9CWLDctvxYdNmJzxE/s640/going+outside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other outdoor activities included sitting with a good book while my youngest played with friends at the park, overseeing a car-idling research project outside a local school, playing in the snow with my youngest, and skiing with my older two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Other Total: 11 hours 45 minutes</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TOTAL RECORDED OUTSIDE TIME*: 24 hours, 45 minutes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During these first 2 months I often observed that being outside a little made me want to be outside a little more. Apparently that's how American Naturalist John Muir felt, too. I stumbled upon this quote p</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">osted on the wall of the community rec center:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."--John Muir, American Naturalist</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking forward to my year of going outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Sometimes I forgot to record. I didn't record every time I took a step outside the house--just the times that were significant enough to be worth measurement.</span></i></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-32807654699613875342017-11-30T23:29:00.000-07:002017-12-01T09:54:33.103-07:00Tech Fast Week: #26<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3UF1mzwLxQIMfHEVDdCxP8nTWxo8swx8c7vSGxQLh19kMYEUdUfbGCR2nvVtcZYqnhKNXTxI4msth2PXZ2RiJe7rIAyFtocr5FHaLlyRhS7opjCN_qwtF3S2klpWpXh422zog0zUj-w/s1600/P1020747+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3UF1mzwLxQIMfHEVDdCxP8nTWxo8swx8c7vSGxQLh19kMYEUdUfbGCR2nvVtcZYqnhKNXTxI4msth2PXZ2RiJe7rIAyFtocr5FHaLlyRhS7opjCN_qwtF3S2klpWpXh422zog0zUj-w/s320/P1020747+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{This is from our day-after-Thanksgiving #OptOutside hike. Technically taken a week-and-a-half after finishing thisTech Fast Week. Concept is the same though.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our first attempt at a week-long tech fast was in May of 2011. We've been at it for 6 1/2 years now and have completed 26 weeks--half-a-year's worth! The kids who were 2, 6, and 8 are now 8, 12, and 15. And they have survived. Every time. *Without* TV, movies, and digital games.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Survival aside, my occasional reports here have always included the good, the bad, and the ugly of the tech fast week. Let's get real. Nothing is ever the ideal and imagining there is such a thing just sets one up for disappointment. Not helpful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That said, this week was aberrant. It was kind of...really great. Not <i>perfect</i>. But pretty darn close.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's the day-by-day random summary in photos and brief lines taken from my notes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">MONDAY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(<a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2014/08/interested-in-doing-tech-fast.html">we always start on a Monday</a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYZTisGcDPjb2Y-jP1p9G5cK1LA_AkrHDCg2DjeN18-oKqmwYsRRYTvFhRXYDFqgd9oIcqgclgH5IC9QSZuTVpiVOdJdLcln9NPL0wwXIOZhwZm5pJAZdrCExyQOuDLDms2FADCnHdkA/s1600/P1020631+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYZTisGcDPjb2Y-jP1p9G5cK1LA_AkrHDCg2DjeN18-oKqmwYsRRYTvFhRXYDFqgd9oIcqgclgH5IC9QSZuTVpiVOdJdLcln9NPL0wwXIOZhwZm5pJAZdrCExyQOuDLDms2FADCnHdkA/s400/P1020631+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For some reason I eagerly anticipate Tech Fast Week for its home maintenance/ domestic arts possibilities. (Full disclosure: I'm a terrible house keeper.) </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By mid-morning dinner was in the slow cooker. (</span><a href="https://www.slowfoodusa.org/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Slow Food</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"> pairs nicely with Tech Fast Week.) And then it was on to cleaning the garage and winterizing the sprinkling system with my 8-y-o daughter. Finished off the evening with made-from-scratch biscuits to go with dinner. Felt rather productive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notes from the day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"We had a roaring <b><i>good time together</i></b>...Hilarious!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">TUESDAY (Election Day!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6btWk7osdbIK7Ik0YJVQZdsqHMIt8A0V1FbPyo8ewa1kBSNHwVfjDv-C1tZad3lvp6-RnuAkjl5LahLQWH4ztcvR0T_pK98c45mt_ve5jWQ8CdFPsOSMglUXZnzhauhBU9aiFwUHtPI/s1600/P1020659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6btWk7osdbIK7Ik0YJVQZdsqHMIt8A0V1FbPyo8ewa1kBSNHwVfjDv-C1tZad3lvp6-RnuAkjl5LahLQWH4ztcvR0T_pK98c45mt_ve5jWQ8CdFPsOSMglUXZnzhauhBU9aiFwUHtPI/s400/P1020659.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In my role with the City of Orem, I had the opportunity to facilitate a garbage audit project for some Utah Valley University students. They sorted the trash from the recyclables, weighed, and recorded their findings. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Flash back to the educational </span><a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2016/04/feeding-my-soul-with-garbage-audit.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">garbage audit</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> at my daughter's elementary school.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notes from the day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"(15-y-o son) and I <b><i>just talked at the dining table</i></b>....(12-y-o daughter) came home and we all talked."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>[Some reality] "Admittedly, I am checking election results online."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">WEDNESDAY</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGa811Ho8d19Oo5sknG8hO33BwETn2zGOlSQcuzWzr9PYtQXlgVAchOY3hMKkUWUQW_af6itxoIXoal7SGz2ekzPJdLCbVGLq1oJRJH2v7B9ygOQmoGtSjK4FuAKy-kSB5FtWni3eOYk/s1600/P1020690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGa811Ho8d19Oo5sknG8hO33BwETn2zGOlSQcuzWzr9PYtQXlgVAchOY3hMKkUWUQW_af6itxoIXoal7SGz2ekzPJdLCbVGLq1oJRJH2v7B9ygOQmoGtSjK4FuAKy-kSB5FtWni3eOYk/s400/P1020690.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't completely shun tech; I need it for the work I do. For example, I spent the morning creating content promoting a Fix-It Clinic. (I sit on the board of the sponsoring non-profit, the <a href="http://utahrecyclingalliance.org/">Utah Recycling Alliance</a>.) Using tech to *produce* is allowed in our version of Tech Fast. It's just *consumption* that is restricted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notes from the day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Chatted with folks afterward (at a social function). Tech Fast came up and we talked about how we are <b><i>more present with each other</i></b> and enjoy more conversation and laughter. (Teenage son) chimed in with, "And I get <b><i>more sleep</i></b>." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>Feeling grateful for the relationship I enjoy with my kids</i></b>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">THURSDAY</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I_Q5I1TTA_QOXV3Y2cb7BWT2vl0BdIepYon4fM234EgCwtWj39k4-dtr-y2PPxCdVnLx1veXkFLvkPeLAcBj4cjczU5KKiEGeosjBXtGvRj9wHpo1DkS59TYKiSrVsO4NOGIljlXD6M/s1600/P1020698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I_Q5I1TTA_QOXV3Y2cb7BWT2vl0BdIepYon4fM234EgCwtWj39k4-dtr-y2PPxCdVnLx1veXkFLvkPeLAcBj4cjczU5KKiEGeosjBXtGvRj9wHpo1DkS59TYKiSrVsO4NOGIljlXD6M/s400/P1020698.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Home maintenance projects continued... replaced the leaky tank bolts. No longer dripping onto the bathroom floor. Unfortunately, now there's an internal leak through the flapper (I think there might be a crack in the overflow pipe). :/ But, "it's now at least usable."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notes from the day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Everything went well." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">... aaand then two sentences later...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"tantrum"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">FRIDAY</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZVJdHOXIZg5o_zlvHQKzBHdFM-4yFcK-1nF4L2DoKdsXXJk5PaU5TmAKkCFRHrFBMUic6q7BLceDD38eKBPJC80s0KjOwX5zpvROeCO1MS8E8i-GL3et5M9bZHcNWNWG4zTvtQrilP8/s1600/P1020702+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZVJdHOXIZg5o_zlvHQKzBHdFM-4yFcK-1nF4L2DoKdsXXJk5PaU5TmAKkCFRHrFBMUic6q7BLceDD38eKBPJC80s0KjOwX5zpvROeCO1MS8E8i-GL3et5M9bZHcNWNWG4zTvtQrilP8/s400/P1020702+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As great as social media might be to connect digitally with friends living all over the world, time spent in real-life interactions is worth the investment. Our mental health improves when we are with each other. My youngest has set up a regular play date at a local park every Friday. Here she is arranging the snacks she brought for her friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notes from the day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When my husband was out with a friend for the evening: "I am ready to go to sleep. I know that were it not tech fast I would likely stay up and watch something on my own. Instead, <b><i>I'm listening to my body</i></b> that is saying, 'I'm tired.'"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">SATURDAY</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv9ZbhkZusdVLOyD3Lou5SYXKO97JWJNHzuqxLfnnqS49aWPva9SfdsWlIAwOcgqAat0TGVwxjN4a0is-E4q-6gulvwgEXMgc_CKgN9JxUEfXJF8YGReOGIxhrnUHIZhsB9CYe_7o0v4/s1600/P1020720_LI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv9ZbhkZusdVLOyD3Lou5SYXKO97JWJNHzuqxLfnnqS49aWPva9SfdsWlIAwOcgqAat0TGVwxjN4a0is-E4q-6gulvwgEXMgc_CKgN9JxUEfXJF8YGReOGIxhrnUHIZhsB9CYe_7o0v4/s400/P1020720_LI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Woke up on Saturday morning to find the youngest building a "bat home" with tinker toys. She wasn't whining about missing her shows. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"She was </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>so proud of her creation</i></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">..." Weekend days are best when we've planned outings. This time it was a couple hours at the local swimming pool and an evening at the bakery for half-priced pastries and game night. We sat in the booth and played "Say Anything," a game where you have to write the answer you think the chosen player will like best/most agree with. I asked my kids, "What's the best part of Tech Fast Week?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>(In case you can't read that bottom one by the snarky suck-up who mocks my predictability: "Reconnecting with nature and family, riding bikes, doing better to the environment, family bonding, exploring other talents.")</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notes from the day:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"The rest of us </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>just talked with each other</i></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> ... It was funny; </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>everyone was in a good mood</i></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and got along."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKGQZDL3GLPvD_BEQOYjz0wGO_Pl9tPilnb3VsoKM4qu41cN2_C42Ls9Cp-0tIiJeBGH2QaCwUYCIRTM3DyqCNLmjzaTNw2rdpH-xvrzF1rqP8Qgxn0q6kM5XajC-SxsmdFRPI1jvPXo/s1600/P1020740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKGQZDL3GLPvD_BEQOYjz0wGO_Pl9tPilnb3VsoKM4qu41cN2_C42Ls9Cp-0tIiJeBGH2QaCwUYCIRTM3DyqCNLmjzaTNw2rdpH-xvrzF1rqP8Qgxn0q6kM5XajC-SxsmdFRPI1jvPXo/s400/P1020740.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Church, choir, nap, cards, make-believe, studying for the school geography bee, a round of the board game Clue, and then family read-aloud of the 5th Harry Potter. When we can't isolate ourselves in our individual screens, we have to find some other way to pass the time. That "some other way" usually means actively engaging with each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notes from the day:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<b><i>I got creative</i></b> ('Is that even edible?!'--youngest child asked me in disgust) with leftover cauliflower (shredded), kale (previously fried, chopped), feta, eggs into fried patties. Better than expected."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OF NOTE:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just over a week after we finished this Tech Fast, RadioWest (KUER) aired D<a href="http://radiowest.kuer.org/post/igen-0">oug Fabrizio's interview of psychologist Jean Twenge</a>. It's titled "iGen" and discusses some of the links between smart phones/social media and the declining mental health of our children. (I'll venture to guess that it's not just children.) Some of the things they talk about address some of the very reasons why I started this journey over 6 years ago. Recommend it.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-2226949373444277252017-10-14T22:38:00.000-06:002017-10-14T22:38:28.022-06:00National Bike Month: Part II<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF73tRQrti2fifp9dUzkUk7cXdJYSe_Bu4TPb9bohZI8Nhw5UnSYWshmkX0wVr0BLNftIlIW-rtRD7OQAFyhHk97JV05mKsyWCztzDja0PMhUG4cixM49i9pgGr9DMkzr9t-a-b2yQkk/s1600/20171013_121745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF73tRQrti2fifp9dUzkUk7cXdJYSe_Bu4TPb9bohZI8Nhw5UnSYWshmkX0wVr0BLNftIlIW-rtRD7OQAFyhHk97JV05mKsyWCztzDja0PMhUG4cixM49i9pgGr9DMkzr9t-a-b2yQkk/s400/20171013_121745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>{Just the other day I put my rear dual pannier baskets (new addition this summer) to work on a grocery run. It reminded me that I had forgotten to post about the 2nd half of bike month.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bikes are for 9-year-old cub scouts in a parade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or for hardcore athletes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But what if I'm neither?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In <a href="https://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2017/05/national-bike-month.html">Part I of "National Bike Month</a>," I shared my goal of biking *somewhere* every day of the month of May, even if it was just around the neighborhood. By the half-way point I had biked 14 of 15 days. Some of it was running errands, some of it was enjoying a wholesome activity with my kids, and a lot of times it was both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's my report about the rest of the month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Did some more of the same errands as earlier in the month, tried some new places, and added a new challenge: picked up some fast food take-out using an insulated bag in my basket. It worked!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Again, I wore regular clothes; not biking shorts or athletic gear.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq9vJGxnZJFoZ68qHjPocNjG8Dl6yn8zzAC4iywXfsPhw8UwsI5hhUOqhXLUvlj5ybzJqupYeNAXOtwEuDJUDv6mI7Jt_oMaXmkQMxT5WzBT-LL0Ukd7b7lj2W3HI3CVpQHRFviNMZZQ/s1600/20170522_180046+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1042" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq9vJGxnZJFoZ68qHjPocNjG8Dl6yn8zzAC4iywXfsPhw8UwsI5hhUOqhXLUvlj5ybzJqupYeNAXOtwEuDJUDv6mI7Jt_oMaXmkQMxT5WzBT-LL0Ukd7b7lj2W3HI3CVpQHRFviNMZZQ/s400/20170522_180046+%25282%2529.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And during that whole month of biking, often in a skirt/dress, I logged only *one* awkward Marilyn Monroe moment. On a particularly windy day. Not bad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Highlight #1: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We finally outfitted everyone's bikes with front and rear lights. That meant we were ready to do a Saturday twilight ride to a favorite local bakery for the half-priced pastries. It's a common mom-kids date night for us, but this time we were going to do it on bikes! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the caboose, I fell in love all over again with those bike lights. Knowing that I could enjoy a bike outing with my kids all </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">while drivers could see my babies</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> gave me such a thrill. Lights have extended our biking day and freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{You can sort of see our lights illuminated. We paused on the way there to watch the swollen Provo River rushing beneath the bridge.}</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My husband drove to the bakery to pick up the youngest and her bike; she was too tired to make it back. (To be fair, it was our longest family trip yet.) The older 2 kids and I enjoyed a leisurely ride back home, in the dark. We took the quiet streets, when possible, to better facilitate relaxed conversation. You can't really watch a screen when biking so we enjoyed having each other's full attention while slowly pedaling home and chatting contentedly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Highlight #2: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Murdock Canal Trail. Most of my bike trips are errands; especially solo trips. This particular solo outing--to an irrigation-canal-turned-trail--was the first that didn't really have a destination. It was just for recreation. Weird.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ahhh. So lovely to be away from the noise of the street traffic.
The trail was wide and smooth. Loved being serenaded by crickets. It all reminded me
of <a href="http://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/2014/08/globetrotting-japan-part-5.html">biking in the Japanese countryside</a>. As I passed by people’s backyards I felt
like a benign voyeur—checking out all the gardens, hearing someone playing the ukulele, spotting a cool tree house in one yard (jealous), a trampoline in another, overhearing the family get-together, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">smelling the BBQ and</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the blossoms, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and meeting someone's dog on the trail. I ended up biking longer than I had expected. It was heavenly. Look forward to coming back with the kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">last day of the month my outing was perhaps one of the simplest rides I could have taken: to a friend's house for a visit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the conclusion of this challenge (logged 30 of 31 days) I have learned that many of the places that I frequent are bike-able. Really. Once you practice seeing beyond the car-centered default, you realize that you have options. You can engage your muscles, stimulate your senses, and get to know your community better while you're at it.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-6162676750590293372017-10-12T16:12:00.000-06:002017-10-13T13:59:56.444-06:00Fall Free SWAP Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjvadY6WDAu_6vWW5eEso5fk8gHzI1PK8Qsfup5S793qBS62mWogCl3QMuwrdWVK0JRV1cvZS5on1F7Xe0pVJZnWGdzDFWf1M8MVoZsj-IEgr0g7o_LbiBFhViJ_dGtQUtlQOV7_q9rod/s1600/P1020362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjvadY6WDAu_6vWW5eEso5fk8gHzI1PK8Qsfup5S793qBS62mWogCl3QMuwrdWVK0JRV1cvZS5on1F7Xe0pVJZnWGdzDFWf1M8MVoZsj-IEgr0g7o_LbiBFhViJ_dGtQUtlQOV7_q9rod/s640/P1020362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Our set-up crew--Chris W., you're missing from this photo!--ready to start the fun. We very much missed Kerry, who was gallivanting about London--a little too far away to make it this time.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Free SWAP has become a "family reunion" of sorts for many of our volunteers and guests. The children who were too young to volunteer a few years ago are now joining the ranks; it will be fun to see how they grow over the years of Free SWAP photos. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzG1FmUMTxjnKaFSYLpGQUonIoWWp7-45uwJZFQNoo5zwgWfYkaO6N0qEfq7s6o0ZpHbnfv1AZTLr8I1WkmHn6t947dZCbnWQL23gqZ2jsQNc1vAS-jNvjcwAakZ9gelwP5lp_pTYsPWB/s1600/P1020358-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzG1FmUMTxjnKaFSYLpGQUonIoWWp7-45uwJZFQNoo5zwgWfYkaO6N0qEfq7s6o0ZpHbnfv1AZTLr8I1WkmHn6t947dZCbnWQL23gqZ2jsQNc1vAS-jNvjcwAakZ9gelwP5lp_pTYsPWB/s640/P1020358-COLLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Service and sharing are values taught and practiced right here. And we are all the better for them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiz6yrjaIW7cr6sAJFftGfHeCfBy_v5AP9gwdPaZsOYVH_L_QQhobPR5J29EgdvglkXCSWyREbm7fKVCP4XsbUOCsGN6F4SfYa6_WI5VI8Rn4-IsGDOgycVDWya8Qn9nayibWAJPGZl0w/s1600/P1020365-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiz6yrjaIW7cr6sAJFftGfHeCfBy_v5AP9gwdPaZsOYVH_L_QQhobPR5J29EgdvglkXCSWyREbm7fKVCP4XsbUOCsGN6F4SfYa6_WI5VI8Rn4-IsGDOgycVDWya8Qn9nayibWAJPGZl0w/s640/P1020365-COLLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Strangers share a bear, a bike, and some toddler toys.}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rSy7ctm1AW1cBXVUUFiXH01KNwPF5AAt3U2mgCtuwpwxQQrGvQNZoA4oRv7tdFjC4f4-QL7etGdatohae4VC12o_1JYCXUpzZtMMRlE5xL34dWG29Vp35Wu3uaSuLsqqLG4Pf4qp8FP1/s1600/20170930_085915-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rSy7ctm1AW1cBXVUUFiXH01KNwPF5AAt3U2mgCtuwpwxQQrGvQNZoA4oRv7tdFjC4f4-QL7etGdatohae4VC12o_1JYCXUpzZtMMRlE5xL34dWG29Vp35Wu3uaSuLsqqLG4Pf4qp8FP1/s640/20170930_085915-COLLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{New adventures await these items donated by community members.}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcVdtYM9cOdwsuE1_XAQdAa9E_V_2qRqlEXNtmXoshP7y5_I0obMpN63mTZjmbUGXWdUfwTYrvOSB1ab5eNJgDA3cfL5iqObB-CDKwxBUVGOtnHJD5w3CqAlFYShqpBMHpfMsey3dph__/s1600/P1020363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcVdtYM9cOdwsuE1_XAQdAa9E_V_2qRqlEXNtmXoshP7y5_I0obMpN63mTZjmbUGXWdUfwTYrvOSB1ab5eNJgDA3cfL5iqObB-CDKwxBUVGOtnHJD5w3CqAlFYShqpBMHpfMsey3dph__/s640/P1020363.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Hooray for new finds!}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1RvSTQjFmGYhFk2KbaFpm3H8sZbriCYJxLeIWcqIimKDPF96ZiIfr0ZXTkuAvUQF7YenqdreLZPxYt-KiqyCnI1xWIE2K9sjVYiA1SowFsJ2fl0Yf3srERHOPLxHy6ROqtfZxXduFeKy/s1600/P1020373-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1RvSTQjFmGYhFk2KbaFpm3H8sZbriCYJxLeIWcqIimKDPF96ZiIfr0ZXTkuAvUQF7YenqdreLZPxYt-KiqyCnI1xWIE2K9sjVYiA1SowFsJ2fl0Yf3srERHOPLxHy6ROqtfZxXduFeKy/s640/P1020373-COLLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{And more new finds.}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt_Wv6n54NWlFFqsIBOSwJ-z-q0VRLkLVVmFeyarkyARum9t6Y1KnZZP-si6SS8PCEPr6vs0heWNyD1n2AxzKvaCkbH7o8Ppspl3JyzRnfL_xpy9HhXgp2Xk1MorMB9eeZVYs7SioZZLE/s1600/P1020405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt_Wv6n54NWlFFqsIBOSwJ-z-q0VRLkLVVmFeyarkyARum9t6Y1KnZZP-si6SS8PCEPr6vs0heWNyD1n2AxzKvaCkbH7o8Ppspl3JyzRnfL_xpy9HhXgp2Xk1MorMB9eeZVYs7SioZZLE/s640/P1020405.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{I had to snag a photo of this delightful family after noticing their playful big group hug.}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JXe_-80XEF3lOJGlkNDJnrkENXdVMPHvVfMMYb9JLF2lccmnKLlxCL_UcRlYdu3owSykLgbZZOnN5h3ykgJq8SUCBEiqlCouqTHjidjYtM1r3RGUNuFkq5GC1stwaep8eoB5EZOS1eVq/s1600/P1020385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JXe_-80XEF3lOJGlkNDJnrkENXdVMPHvVfMMYb9JLF2lccmnKLlxCL_UcRlYdu3owSykLgbZZOnN5h3ykgJq8SUCBEiqlCouqTHjidjYtM1r3RGUNuFkq5GC1stwaep8eoB5EZOS1eVq/s640/P1020385.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{This is the second swap where these two have shown up with a box of goodies to share with perfect strangers--sweethearts!}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gfylIBMeSt72xa8MMj1xDOCUoEQ7L87BnkmgoQ9MZmNPTIICAt_sHtjlHo4c-Kd272cnREkRhEDyU99UbPtXSS-WNBgrLaCOkBHnWdeGczQ6gbv2cV-itEivDFQESYKjRgWhHsKoQmpd/s1600/P1020376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gfylIBMeSt72xa8MMj1xDOCUoEQ7L87BnkmgoQ9MZmNPTIICAt_sHtjlHo4c-Kd272cnREkRhEDyU99UbPtXSS-WNBgrLaCOkBHnWdeGczQ6gbv2cV-itEivDFQESYKjRgWhHsKoQmpd/s640/P1020376.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Hurricane Irma destroyed their home in Georgia. They are rebuilding their lives here.}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iKlOIZljms-6Ev9vvAdrPOUtNzr5pCXxAWIPaT-TAWR8JIWqYF4GmMdicJ7WSlqFUFhNqQ_yqGjO0B6eNUzK9qWv2xPCrl_99-fY7cZiRS7TYj2vQgMa7BPx3NbJk26yayVf8TuqpPav/s1600/P1020410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iKlOIZljms-6Ev9vvAdrPOUtNzr5pCXxAWIPaT-TAWR8JIWqYF4GmMdicJ7WSlqFUFhNqQ_yqGjO0B6eNUzK9qWv2xPCrl_99-fY7cZiRS7TYj2vQgMa7BPx3NbJk26yayVf8TuqpPav/s400/P1020410.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{This is J. She likes books. (Past photos show this.) She said, "I found a book at the first Free SWAP I came to that I have kept in my purse since." To whoever donated that book years ago...it's getting plenty of love. And thank you!}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcYVFZl8yFNTcB-0PLO7oLPMtNMsdMl0dHZgG3kArYm4A0DtaRnl4avbPXIdNZ-UqaN4pl_iiNnIdfVU3976uixni7XpQx2A7SGPMCXqj_tdUIe0OAKfVjeGAuUDcYllS0l0uYC_Uil7Y/s1600/P1020378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcYVFZl8yFNTcB-0PLO7oLPMtNMsdMl0dHZgG3kArYm4A0DtaRnl4avbPXIdNZ-UqaN4pl_iiNnIdfVU3976uixni7XpQx2A7SGPMCXqj_tdUIe0OAKfVjeGAuUDcYllS0l0uYC_Uil7Y/s400/P1020378.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{The senior generation of volunteers got a kick out of this donation--talk about a blast from the past!}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwbqtE598f8AUi3g_dS_a0k4TCvaFhynhE-6pZ0TFz1q-PehZpNRZUNIN5zXVOhx_-AQYVwJyKc-CUJWyxkBeL1Y7UtO9AdkeJEh3aoQsnyyhCSaOqfuZ1jjbb7hvPho2FZIyql5CMR9I/s1600/P1020420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwbqtE598f8AUi3g_dS_a0k4TCvaFhynhE-6pZ0TFz1q-PehZpNRZUNIN5zXVOhx_-AQYVwJyKc-CUJWyxkBeL1Y7UtO9AdkeJEh3aoQsnyyhCSaOqfuZ1jjbb7hvPho2FZIyql5CMR9I/s640/P1020420.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{We called up the folks at <a href="http://www.giveithub.com/">GiveIt</a> and they put us in touch with J. His kids go to a local elementary school that is in the middle of a clothing drive fundraiser. All the leftover clothing went to support one of our community schools. And, thanks, J, for staying to help with clean-up!}</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xj6mY9cNltpS95MNHBnEjFC32h8VrVXzNgRrdKrkxUDkBcIfB9UzRqjJuAnCnnJTkU5Np77456SZZLXWxuF-EGFbIjc5KAezLUdBqwFWL_2FvUX0AFu8l7EwEuY8hPFqE2wyRDWHbWQZ/s1600/P1020423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xj6mY9cNltpS95MNHBnEjFC32h8VrVXzNgRrdKrkxUDkBcIfB9UzRqjJuAnCnnJTkU5Np77456SZZLXWxuF-EGFbIjc5KAezLUdBqwFWL_2FvUX0AFu8l7EwEuY8hPFqE2wyRDWHbWQZ/s400/P1020423.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{As for what *I* found and took home? This fully-functional, beautiful vent cover (right) to replace our damaged one (left). Super random. But it fits perfectly! The other went in the recycling bin where it will find new life as something else.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so we close out another Free SWAP season. It was a good one. As usual. We love our community. There is so much love and generosity here. Thank you to all who participated, especially the volunteers! We love you! Until next time...</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-27814030173207274002017-09-21T11:33:00.000-06:002017-09-21T11:33:14.418-06:00Fall Free SWAP Coming Up Soon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClsNr1pSvYD7tUMAhZthR5hnq7a0gIiV6xt7Y8YjexmVUxFWjOBn8a8wlBUvHydCpJd3A3LqCP_LCxSmfcvC3lqk0Pv9cqmsKMy0VvnA0F3bTEGg1dxFMOHkmNonLxvSw6vkbvt8HW-Z6/s1600/20170603_105448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1352" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClsNr1pSvYD7tUMAhZthR5hnq7a0gIiV6xt7Y8YjexmVUxFWjOBn8a8wlBUvHydCpJd3A3LqCP_LCxSmfcvC3lqk0Pv9cqmsKMy0VvnA0F3bTEGg1dxFMOHkmNonLxvSw6vkbvt8HW-Z6/s640/20170603_105448.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{June SWAP--Ah, such a beautiful day. And a big THANK YOU to the folks at <a href="http://www.giveithub.com/">giveit</a> who donated their time, energy, and truck! They were a delight to work with. They have developed a donation app that makes year-round giving so very easy--free pickup(!) and it goes to help local non-profit organizations Check it out.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By this time of year the yard sales have mostly died down. The weather is changing, the leaves on the mountainside are starting to turn. We think this is a great time to throw a final Free SWAP for the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you're getting out your children's fall/winter clothes, check to see if they still fit. If not, it's the perfect opportunity to share those coats, mittens, and boots with other children who sure could use them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another thing that we're finding out about the Fall SWAP...free holiday shopping! Toys, books, recreational equipment, musical instruments, and crafting supplies for the creative minds out there. We've seen them all come and go. For free! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All thanks to the generosity of our community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fall Free SWAP</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 30 September</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Orem City Center Park, Rotary Pavilion</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>{donations accepted 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.}</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>And, as always, we love volunteers! Come join in the fun.</i></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-36544699607046135622017-05-31T02:26:00.000-06:002017-05-31T02:26:06.495-06:00Summer Free SWAP Coming Up SATURDAY!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRM-J8L8zgpm0YbqCUBh9ACB3cPmO5W7Tsj1xB6ckUEYZdferm5MTWVbtICrBXHQJx-6tIYb9Eue0WD8Mja9LqErWfNlcY7KuYMrL3L-RX6OHETRV8sxPAGx39r0ERZUYPgMN0cbNcAEf/s1600/2016-06-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRM-J8L8zgpm0YbqCUBh9ACB3cPmO5W7Tsj1xB6ckUEYZdferm5MTWVbtICrBXHQJx-6tIYb9Eue0WD8Mja9LqErWfNlcY7KuYMrL3L-RX6OHETRV8sxPAGx39r0ERZUYPgMN0cbNcAEf/s320/2016-06-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday 3 June</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Orem City Center Park, Rotary Pavilion</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>300 East Center Street</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Volunteers are welcome to join starting at 6:30 a.m. to help set up. We are at our best when there are enough hands to help make the magic happen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are always in need of folks with larger cargo space to transport any leftover items to area donation centers. That starts at noon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Make a morning of it: bring a blanket, some snacks, and hang out to witness the generosity within our community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See you then!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/368875810179036/">Link to Facebook event page</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Invite your friends and family</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-56489202507798540582017-05-16T17:14:00.002-06:002017-05-16T17:14:39.485-06:00National Bike Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihP25YMaIdvELwTU7H5qLuX-MRWwTtuZiliqdGfgyIN_UZIpK6fC1wSsdrFQbD5ILdQogRXH3lrcXglPse9cwp6jWkEpoaw1xPeATk8jVyOR1ZXJ317IN09cKWj3LcH3N-UjohgLqiOs/s1600/2017-05-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihP25YMaIdvELwTU7H5qLuX-MRWwTtuZiliqdGfgyIN_UZIpK6fC1wSsdrFQbD5ILdQogRXH3lrcXglPse9cwp6jWkEpoaw1xPeATk8jVyOR1ZXJ317IN09cKWj3LcH3N-UjohgLqiOs/s320/2017-05-06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are "cyclists" and then there's me. A dame who occasionally rides her bike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A colleague from the City committee I chair (Natural Resources Stewardship Committee) is celebrating National Bike Month by going on 20- or 30-mile rides. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Daily. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(what?!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My goal is much smaller. It's still designed to stretch me, but it's a much more modest effort that fits my life right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My goal: to bike <i>somewhere</i> every day of the month. Even if it's just around the neighborhood. Just get on the bike and ride.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are halfway through the month now. My current record: 14 out of 15 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I have noticed:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Biking...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...is a great way to have some one-on-one quality time with individual children. Most of those outings were with my youngest, the most recent independent biker. It's an opportunity to teach her about safe bike habits and for her to build competence and stamina. And to teach, by example, that biking is a healthy addition to her lifestyle. She now loves to bike.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv_OYYG4CkrTTOxrD4Nz5_IuzHA7DSr14Nj_sRWv1s_qDQbVRwEl6Ai-ff5lupgUdXG0X7Wu5XX6jIy33XWIn3y1EOBQhpi_SctDa-4PXtuISA4GG0B1nWRI3fa_zF07Qqqf-MrTwT3U/s1600/National+Bike+Month4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv_OYYG4CkrTTOxrD4Nz5_IuzHA7DSr14Nj_sRWv1s_qDQbVRwEl6Ai-ff5lupgUdXG0X7Wu5XX6jIy33XWIn3y1EOBQhpi_SctDa-4PXtuISA4GG0B1nWRI3fa_zF07Qqqf-MrTwT3U/s640/National+Bike+Month4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{We get a lot of use out of Orem Community Hospital's trail. We hold running races across the grass and often stop by the <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/orem-community-hospital/giving-volunteering/live-well-garden/">LiVe Well Community Garden</a> to check on the emerging veggies.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Biking...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...means you get the closest parking spots around. I've been trying to bike more to local errands and, boy, parking sure is conveniently placed. The bike racks are usually right there on the sidewalk near the entrance. Or for quick stops with no bike racks, literally right outside the front glass door.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kxgUPxIrXDP3B7EdbDDIcckusVHUhJSGO9Sj9X8XTOqQ-_5pfAMfKaIpfEtas9mUoa8hlsL2jvZ-JqKwrLO0VEGIriqY2iN5j0sEEk-gr20fxYuFaP9jON0NNOYzeb5cN1XOI3aFnrA/s1600/National+Bike+Month6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kxgUPxIrXDP3B7EdbDDIcckusVHUhJSGO9Sj9X8XTOqQ-_5pfAMfKaIpfEtas9mUoa8hlsL2jvZ-JqKwrLO0VEGIriqY2iN5j0sEEk-gr20fxYuFaP9jON0NNOYzeb5cN1XOI3aFnrA/s640/National+Bike+Month6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Running errands to the cleaners, the bank, the school, three different grocery stores, and the post office--all under a 2-mile radius from home}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And with my old-but-new-to-me cruiser with generously-portioned front basket, I can make all those trips wearing regular clothing. From jeans and sneakers to, yes, even some skirts/dresses and matching shoes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa8wQbgDKrnAmUicPQLHD4j9IIMhYBd6bFOqT5EPq_3mbK_9HxNruntK8d9EAv7wlYxTWqCymKAd0nU0x0lIyLaaYUSNoxvQqykWnkekdtRb5s7__U2Dj-3OAo2kzAH0Q636voydBTKk/s1600/National+Bike+Month8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa8wQbgDKrnAmUicPQLHD4j9IIMhYBd6bFOqT5EPq_3mbK_9HxNruntK8d9EAv7wlYxTWqCymKAd0nU0x0lIyLaaYUSNoxvQqykWnkekdtRb5s7__U2Dj-3OAo2kzAH0Q636voydBTKk/s400/National+Bike+Month8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Biking...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...is great for wholesome family recreation. The weather has been so lovely lately (of course, a winter storm is forecast for tomorrow). Perfect time to be out--everything is green, fluffy clouds, blue skies, white-capped mountains. When we all went out together on my birthday, I swear we looked like the von Trapp family. It's a similar feeling we get during <a href="http://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/search/label/tech%20fast">Tech Fast weeks</a>--consciously choosing active "together time," sans screens. Sure, nothing is perfect and we have our challenges (wind, fatigue, etc). But for the most part family bike rides have really boosted the mood--individually and collectively.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYiC2jSPe-wdZ9F93M_3vEFz0GQRnw5T8V0Q8VWEOS7jPIrLzdwvXX_OqggAqYgmPwcptS4RcsyDPbL7xs207ytqOS9zHg0gyVPjfIVY07GkGul0wIO8GxozxZvPqvxNOzJ9zmZH8NCo/s1600/National+Bike+Month5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYiC2jSPe-wdZ9F93M_3vEFz0GQRnw5T8V0Q8VWEOS7jPIrLzdwvXX_OqggAqYgmPwcptS4RcsyDPbL7xs207ytqOS9zHg0gyVPjfIVY07GkGul0wIO8GxozxZvPqvxNOzJ9zmZH8NCo/s640/National+Bike+Month5.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Family rides for my daughter's birthday, for Mothers Day, errands, playing on the field, picnic trip to the library courtyard}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so begins the second half of the month. The biking adventures continue. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How are you celebrating National Bike month?</span></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-33892538369516472622017-05-03T13:59:00.000-06:002017-05-03T14:01:36.934-06:00Fall Free SWAP Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZByvx-kFZrehaGOd7XMMU-BsUskPDU_pVhttF8KKGzTRIRohfRcxoCIjGtpS4Do3P2gXyIwvRa7LApcVL373DQWbwHHs5QlgLk49tS1meM7JcN7lrEO_XJuKrTPbz1Uzl0RWMuWdYdlNj/s1600/2016-09-025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZByvx-kFZrehaGOd7XMMU-BsUskPDU_pVhttF8KKGzTRIRohfRcxoCIjGtpS4Do3P2gXyIwvRa7LApcVL373DQWbwHHs5QlgLk49tS1meM7JcN7lrEO_XJuKrTPbz1Uzl0RWMuWdYdlNj/s400/2016-09-025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was another rainy swap. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Not as bad as the one from a couple of years ago; just a steady drizzle this time.)</i></span> But, you know what? People <i>still</i> came.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And freely shared with each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have I mentioned before that I love the Free SWAP? It's just about the best thing ever. It's a win for both the givers and the receivers. It's a win for the environment. It's a win for creativity. And it's a win for Community.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbDiY0DRKOFdT4nzOnBDzsrP-aUNw3XuLb_ttg88ozqcI8g-krHs5sTGmyfCsRVcAnoMJsxz8kJ_acJKG4CE4P8QJ5BpEZykgy0HlhXT52qHMxhTfZ9sKFpWyx2EQH-6aVCDaarGrN9ts/s1600/2016-09-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbDiY0DRKOFdT4nzOnBDzsrP-aUNw3XuLb_ttg88ozqcI8g-krHs5sTGmyfCsRVcAnoMJsxz8kJ_acJKG4CE4P8QJ5BpEZykgy0HlhXT52qHMxhTfZ9sKFpWyx2EQH-6aVCDaarGrN9ts/s400/2016-09-24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">{Givers and receivers together (clockwise from L): a hand-crafted rocking horse, a nativity set, a decorative boat-shelf}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOHKK9rfK8oB4A5svsDcLZMMHjA2LX48AJG6MdbUMicK2zMsfW7l9fZDkXrvrQq7FjR2Z3aclcbyUAY1oznTzA6vkYleRErjuGRnhnH5HNSSr68vKNclhAkRuzdRV9-0Y1O9m_f0gnCe0/s1600/2016-09-026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOHKK9rfK8oB4A5svsDcLZMMHjA2LX48AJG6MdbUMicK2zMsfW7l9fZDkXrvrQq7FjR2Z3aclcbyUAY1oznTzA6vkYleRErjuGRnhnH5HNSSr68vKNclhAkRuzdRV9-0Y1O9m_f0gnCe0/s400/2016-09-026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">{Excited about new finds: a glass drink dispenser, a dutch oven, an over-flowing bag of clothes, and a T-shirt for this die-hard Hunger Games fan}</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQXcVzWcmum0QMZ79wdGPx2qgEtU_txUD4jfAbOWGFbNJfb_NTjivsw_hmhNcOnvKLWBmyKUFP7WCD-WBOO7WL7heOEUnUW6JgbNT9ZmFE1Vuu5iDU-ylMqPk9DMoPPmNZVhAxbFcNXM2/s1600/2016-09-027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQXcVzWcmum0QMZ79wdGPx2qgEtU_txUD4jfAbOWGFbNJfb_NTjivsw_hmhNcOnvKLWBmyKUFP7WCD-WBOO7WL7heOEUnUW6JgbNT9ZmFE1Vuu5iDU-ylMqPk9DMoPPmNZVhAxbFcNXM2/s640/2016-09-027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">{Clockwise from top L: lots of clothes come and go, our family's old stroller went to a veteran volunteer who could use it, baskets, rugged army boots, plant therapy donation, my good friend spreading the word, and a bassinet}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And a hearty big thanks, again, to the volunteers who make it so much fun and help facilitate this community event.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHYlu8die5iiIboNHhd4wRxW_4KY5N6Gw_SUZesCjXz-jzLNnmJvaaqM5a4YZmR40cYezczIHIfjHZcopQEzAQEZqzk9_22nbaO54PkkXqyu2kFWA643Eztn0q2vhcnHjsmMaIpE9WMqG/s1600/20160924_094715-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHYlu8die5iiIboNHhd4wRxW_4KY5N6Gw_SUZesCjXz-jzLNnmJvaaqM5a4YZmR40cYezczIHIfjHZcopQEzAQEZqzk9_22nbaO54PkkXqyu2kFWA643Eztn0q2vhcnHjsmMaIpE9WMqG/s400/20160924_094715-001.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">{Some of our crew. We love doing what we do.}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Come join us for the next one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...which will be: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saturday 3 June 2017, 8:00 a.m. to noon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Orem City Center Park, Rotary Pavilion</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">approximately 300 E Center Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Visit <a href="http://www.freeswap.info/">www.freeswap.info</a> to learn more.</span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-59831513530907551832017-04-28T12:07:00.000-06:002017-04-28T12:07:45.177-06:00Modern Off-Grid Living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirCVFPodYb3q7fC9KIsEH5L_IV_4qF90wesk0OTn-YCAcWtI8mWyrP99Rm1b6idqh-N9oIU8mpA4LFybDDHY5TZ2hg7rytXNUPfASo_bbcD8_vD0ouBvIdykubrnN9CN8m8KTgn8LulU/s1600/P1010119-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirCVFPodYb3q7fC9KIsEH5L_IV_4qF90wesk0OTn-YCAcWtI8mWyrP99Rm1b6idqh-N9oIU8mpA4LFybDDHY5TZ2hg7rytXNUPfASo_bbcD8_vD0ouBvIdykubrnN9CN8m8KTgn8LulU/s400/P1010119-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>{walking on the back of the house--which is a pile of dirt and dried vegetation}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While living in Singapore, we caught the travel bug (Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia). It was truly a privileged experience; we realize that. And we pretty much spent all our reserves on those cultural explorations. I mean, who knows when we would have such an opportunity again?! The way I saw it, if we came back with money leftover, we did it wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now here's the problem: we still have a travel itch to scratch, but no budget for much international travel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we do road trips. And you know what we have found? There is an abundance of cultural experiences to be had right here in the United States.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For example:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The kids and I just returned from a Spring Break trip to Taos, New Mexico. This is where indigenous culture, Spanish-Mexican culture and 19th century frontier culture met (and clashed) over the years. Did you know that there is a village that has been continuously-lived in for 1000 years?! One THOUSAND years, people! It is <a href="http://en.unesco.org/">UNESCO</a> World Heritage Site, </span><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/492" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Taos Pueblo</a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">. (Perhaps I'll share more from our trip another time. Quite fascinating.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u><a href="http://earthship.com/">Earthships</a> ("Radically Sustainable Buildings")*</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we travel I prefer to find lodging a little bit different than a standard hotel (that is, if I find lodging at all, hello, car camping). So, I stumbled upon Earthships. I had actually heard about these <i>years</i> ago, so this introduction was not new. During those years, though, Earthships had definitely gotten a bit of an upgrade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The general concept behind the Earthships is that a home could be built in a low-tech/high-tech hybrid way that made it self-sustaining:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*no water lines coming in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*no sewage lines going out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*no electrical grid coming in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*no furnace or A/C</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And yet...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*modern fixtures (standard sinks, range/oven, high-efficiency refrigerator)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*flushing toilets (yep, just like the ones at your house)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*comfortable indoor temperatures (even though northern NM can be both hot and cold)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*indoor greenhouse (including banana and fig trees!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*...and, yes, even wifi</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLTPC1fKwX2ae7Or1qxWa2NO0BnMDmPAXGWStIKZXCMQhMmyWYkOM0jdM61U7fv7JrsJDXtr22WJB0RmqinCOnEloRLxFaAPXmidZOk-68myH0DdNO_9mL_vt70nna3ESmxfwLFzR78U/s1600/Earthship1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLTPC1fKwX2ae7Or1qxWa2NO0BnMDmPAXGWStIKZXCMQhMmyWYkOM0jdM61U7fv7JrsJDXtr22WJB0RmqinCOnEloRLxFaAPXmidZOk-68myH0DdNO_9mL_vt70nna3ESmxfwLFzR78U/s640/Earthship1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are Earthships weird? Not gonna lie, yes, they are. They are built with old tires, cans, and bottles, and dirt. They're also built with upscale stone, tile, wood, and glass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLssoTOwNKWcfHONgvr95q52mXbObqRcB_5UgQOZIaoSN8mqbBLb6CRjaR3a4ivOmJFlKFhXvpuDWAKW-Z2r_v0GwGjsKb88McCcQZLv01NROp00UGoKryTrQRzs82pKj-sSoKNNRkyk/s1600/2017-04-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLssoTOwNKWcfHONgvr95q52mXbObqRcB_5UgQOZIaoSN8mqbBLb6CRjaR3a4ivOmJFlKFhXvpuDWAKW-Z2r_v0GwGjsKb88McCcQZLv01NROp00UGoKryTrQRzs82pKj-sSoKNNRkyk/s640/2017-04-006.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My older daughter was disappointed when we first arrived. (Sleep-deprivation, hours in a car, and walking in mud can do this.) She hates the color beige and most of the buildings were various shades of it, and just plain funky. She felt like I had sentenced her to live her worst nightmare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then...she walked inside our home and looked around. She quickly changed her tune and indicated that it was one of her favorite places we have <i>ever</i> stayed. I think it was all the plant therapy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO351xslSmQuwCispz9_mH9RKZRJy3f7IVE67Moeu4KFLr7RbcqGPL3MD1VC8d-zO76LQ0rq1WCDsQlturgOkIz8IACnqn3eQ9vf7zwpKaz8yykOZnDLTqRcS8u9ZVSE9OxHuqAn9sfEw/s1600/2017-04-005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO351xslSmQuwCispz9_mH9RKZRJy3f7IVE67Moeu4KFLr7RbcqGPL3MD1VC8d-zO76LQ0rq1WCDsQlturgOkIz8IACnqn3eQ9vf7zwpKaz8yykOZnDLTqRcS8u9ZVSE9OxHuqAn9sfEw/s640/2017-04-005.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Water (rain/snow) from the roof is collected in a cistern. After you wash your hands, that water goes into a grey water system that then flushes toilets or waters the indoor greenhouse. After you flush the toilet, that waste water goes into a "black" water system that waters the outdoor plants. All water gets used multiple times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">South-facing photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity from the sun, which is then stored in batteries in the 2-car garage. There is DC and AC power for many modern needs. (No dishwasher, microwave or toaster, though.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, there is <i>some</i> fossil fuel: a propane tank. Some of the water is solar-heated, but propane supplements hot water needs and cooking needs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5rZiy-Ew0UVOgzGzhtg0Jhh2i_4GJdxaOXrV2hjszc5M2zlqxPunTo-bqe8xDG6845BUu47jcI_U2GL33mJ2y9-JqQ6hrH-P3us3L9wSMXtMnv7-HdA8xTSE3I0eH2qtFYFSWwP1Wgw/s1600/2017-04-041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5rZiy-Ew0UVOgzGzhtg0Jhh2i_4GJdxaOXrV2hjszc5M2zlqxPunTo-bqe8xDG6845BUu47jcI_U2GL33mJ2y9-JqQ6hrH-P3us3L9wSMXtMnv7-HdA8xTSE3I0eH2qtFYFSWwP1Wgw/s640/2017-04-041.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite parts was such because of how very low-tech it was: the heating and air-conditioning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The south-facing windows draw in the heat. The north wall thermal mass of tires and dirt (internally covered over by a kind of stucco or plaster) then absorbs all that heat. When the temperature goes down at night, that heat is released into the living space. It <i>snowed</i> the first day and night we got there. With <b>no</b> <b>furnace</b> the house's internal temperature remained probably in the high 60s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3NITg16yCx8JZwoBv5fY1Z1_SgrDZrixGlNqbmwjJrFHzdSrp725uzHYLiAijqGdn32PaMqZ-lLcEhwi5x4ceT4DzGYqq2hHtCWQQzWjQ0b81xdHMS1Qcpg3JUdL8Mc4AvfImnGyQu4/s1600/20170406_141423-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3NITg16yCx8JZwoBv5fY1Z1_SgrDZrixGlNqbmwjJrFHzdSrp725uzHYLiAijqGdn32PaMqZ-lLcEhwi5x4ceT4DzGYqq2hHtCWQQzWjQ0b81xdHMS1Qcpg3JUdL8Mc4AvfImnGyQu4/s640/20170406_141423-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What about cooling? Again, very low-tech. Long galvanized tubes are buried underneath the back dirt hill behind the house. One (screened) end opens to the outside and the other opens to the inside of the house, on the north wall. That air, buried under the dirt is nice and cool. The counterpart of this cooling system is the ventilation near the top of every room on the south side. Crack the window open and vent the hot air to the hallway, where there are larger vents to release the air outside. After returning from our second-day adventures, it was too warm. So we opened the cooling tubes and the window vents. Within minutes the temperature normalized. Amazing! No fossil fuels used at all.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QeeBJrIT284M3MxhoNyFjyImByY_Xrla_rl1ShFkaeVlKJ8LMm5I-Az9DW4Jt2Jvz2H9lRYQg_n_quQTL7pkSmX0ZeqQtuMEPA-1peurj0a7ylA-vIGrSAEcG15gveUvwPOiIJxG52k/s1600/2017-04-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QeeBJrIT284M3MxhoNyFjyImByY_Xrla_rl1ShFkaeVlKJ8LMm5I-Az9DW4Jt2Jvz2H9lRYQg_n_quQTL7pkSmX0ZeqQtuMEPA-1peurj0a7ylA-vIGrSAEcG15gveUvwPOiIJxG52k/s640/2017-04-04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was more than just lodging; it was an education. I've already begun fantasizing about a possible test project based on this general design concept, an educational community greenhouse.</div>
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Though I often look fondly at all of our road trips, I need to occasionally remember that it's not a dream for everyone. Sometimes we hear things like this (from the youngest): "You don't want to go in there! Mom is going to read to us...about CULTURE!" (legitimately horrified look on her face) Poor dear.</div>
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So, when's the next one?</div>
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*We received no compensation for this post about Earthship Biotecture. We're just geeky.</span><div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Totals for </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5 days of travel, Monday-Friday</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1,662 miles</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>36.736 gallons of gasoline</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>$89.83 cost of fuel</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Average of 45.24 mpg</i></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-61489559370497790192017-02-27T12:32:00.003-07:002017-05-02T13:31:19.106-06:00Hippie School<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUahKuWVlMSSKAValyKk0Mj9rcqxiVc-IoZT7dkupO9kIphjcfzhUO-XwFle_2mcNJNwIuJ8k5Rjt-iyYwMwU3R9h0LnqYBJg7oluzhZxV9QNlQ0eRGqMt_jEM-v2w-3-ykIulG3ltNlg/s1600/2016-11-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUahKuWVlMSSKAValyKk0Mj9rcqxiVc-IoZT7dkupO9kIphjcfzhUO-XwFle_2mcNJNwIuJ8k5Rjt-iyYwMwU3R9h0LnqYBJg7oluzhZxV9QNlQ0eRGqMt_jEM-v2w-3-ykIulG3ltNlg/s320/2016-11-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is the nickname I've given my youngest's school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There's a "Peace Table/Corner" in every elementary classroom, yoga is regularly in the rotation, there is an "<a href="http://edibleschoolyard.org/">Edible Schoolyard</a>," and learning about the various cultures/religions of the global family is common. There used to be chickens but a predator situation highlighted a need to upgrade the chicken habitat. (Coming in Spring.) The lunch room always has a vegetarian option. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The nearby canyon is where the school hosts Back-to-School night, the Leaf Field Trip and the Five Senses Field Trip, among others. The high schoolers go backpacking/camping for their back-to-school retreat. There are recycling bins around the school and compost buckets in the lunchroom for collecting food waste.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See? Hippie school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I first visited the school to learn more, it happened to be Earth Day. I knew, when the director said, "Well, most of the classes are busy right now working on their Earth Day projects outside..." that this might be an interesting community for me to join.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's a glimpse:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB0o8OImxWjCdlCCbsVl6s8XJj65byr4idPCX1BVw5YhMReNldz_F8Tqw-JcOh5ffPJquXsFijiQ43a6Xpdy7w9djtSRWeHj8N4Mtla55oHVWFxzxnfdfUwsKM-0WXdM2rEzSGUzRk2k/s1600/2015-02-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB0o8OImxWjCdlCCbsVl6s8XJj65byr4idPCX1BVw5YhMReNldz_F8Tqw-JcOh5ffPJquXsFijiQ43a6Xpdy7w9djtSRWeHj8N4Mtla55oHVWFxzxnfdfUwsKM-0WXdM2rEzSGUzRk2k/s640/2015-02-06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Clockwise from top left: self-portraits during the Leaf Field Trip, playing on the pile of dirt excavated for landscaping/playground improvements, playing by the river up the canyon at the Five Senses Field Trip, chickens near the playground, compost bucket at the annual Jog-a-Thon (some of it went to the school compost and the rest went home with parents to feed their chickens)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpszOt0NKFEY3HJ-998gcuQrAD9fqz_PUkLA6P2lQfNKM8xkd_WI7Vx28qtAOwrjR-tlee2DCP-3CtNbRZUIOqWXtFAcc1FB0aaOn2G-MuK6vIrnJvLhKtMCvhKyVcwe8M1eAoBi4L4lY/s1600/2016-04-023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpszOt0NKFEY3HJ-998gcuQrAD9fqz_PUkLA6P2lQfNKM8xkd_WI7Vx28qtAOwrjR-tlee2DCP-3CtNbRZUIOqWXtFAcc1FB0aaOn2G-MuK6vIrnJvLhKtMCvhKyVcwe8M1eAoBi4L4lY/s400/2016-04-023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fruit smoothies (with optional chia-seed add-in) and group yoga sun salutations</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABk81JZ3dqyfZuHtfAZtsrph9MZypik1QST52HeYsOU-BK1L27coppOX9rVEmUkqHstL7t4KT8w2zHUunRyooYTYasHQmKS69dwPxwUxfLNVBw0tT_RPJJ89rNMdHDVAUc5NxWJVegyo/s1600/2015-02-061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABk81JZ3dqyfZuHtfAZtsrph9MZypik1QST52HeYsOU-BK1L27coppOX9rVEmUkqHstL7t4KT8w2zHUunRyooYTYasHQmKS69dwPxwUxfLNVBw0tT_RPJJ89rNMdHDVAUc5NxWJVegyo/s400/2015-02-061.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Clockwise from left: Reminder to parents to improve the air quality for our children, "I will help the Earth by...," 100+ Acts of Kindness (from Martin Luther King Jr Day to Valentine's Day)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7KJldsVijtqEs3Lx7QRNifRxgW5zFxlnq_zbJe15Ju-hsoGYApikrpQldpJ8Y-orN4suIakI7bCXx60pGavUv2HsdqUJkCUSYA53TZL8Pm2h3hVUdTdquGh0CubGHPzFOjVL2YIoic4/s1600/2016-11-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7KJldsVijtqEs3Lx7QRNifRxgW5zFxlnq_zbJe15Ju-hsoGYApikrpQldpJ8Y-orN4suIakI7bCXx60pGavUv2HsdqUJkCUSYA53TZL8Pm2h3hVUdTdquGh0CubGHPzFOjVL2YIoic4/s640/2016-11-17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Making smudge sticks: parents taught 4th & 5th graders about the Native American tradition of smudging/blessing with herbs. There was mint, lemon balm, lavender, and sage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh, it smelled heavenly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">And, yes, I know I said it was a hippie school, and here we are using, uh..."herbs," but no worries--we did not use, ahem, *that* herb. ;)</span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-1692540901866333492017-01-03T13:07:00.000-07:002017-01-05T13:37:20.768-07:00A Year in Review: Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV-VEz54O6b2H1oQjkcNzOlSGfcqjs0E8_E_g1TC92SQpUU941ujeL9tsePirv9cDTM0UbA0i4y5vM_zrsiLJhW52ZOlBQIYouSI3mJ_RCB5qPYzcZ-QbV3HotLrD0KECvGpjr55Vfxw/s1600/20160706_115855-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV-VEz54O6b2H1oQjkcNzOlSGfcqjs0E8_E_g1TC92SQpUU941ujeL9tsePirv9cDTM0UbA0i4y5vM_zrsiLJhW52ZOlBQIYouSI3mJ_RCB5qPYzcZ-QbV3HotLrD0KECvGpjr55Vfxw/s320/20160706_115855-001.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have several themes for "A Year in Review." We'll see if I get to any of the others. If I do only one, though, I'll go with "Nature."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>WINTER</i></b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Despite challenges like circulatory deficiencies (<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/basics/definition/con-20022916">Raynaud's syndrome</a>), cold-triggered respiratory health issues, and frequent days of unhealthy air quality here in Utah, we try to get out and do at least a few winter outings.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzsdOJuPFZBM2g8_ceyLhoglEjrQzj43YFuGuQNlgoJLDSo0eXbM9pWGvPhMVT4GR5_B-AyVJrrSly6N6mVLzxwxng-a5nfZ-K2s62UsTxT5S727VBf6h-2Pyak-mdR_56qEC6v6OcBI/s1600/2016-02-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzsdOJuPFZBM2g8_ceyLhoglEjrQzj43YFuGuQNlgoJLDSo0eXbM9pWGvPhMVT4GR5_B-AyVJrrSly6N6mVLzxwxng-a5nfZ-K2s62UsTxT5S727VBf6h-2Pyak-mdR_56qEC6v6OcBI/s640/2016-02-15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since we have a ski resort (<a href="https://www.sundanceresort.com/">Sundance Mountain Resort</a>) that is less than a 20-minute drive away, we try to find the money (Christmas bonus) to provide the children at least a few lessons/per season. We won't be great skiers, but we have fun together. The other photos are when we tried to walk on the frozen reservoir like the ice-fishers, but found that the time of day was just a bit too warm for a solid hike out to the middle. Getting in touch with the elements is, uh, invigorating!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>EARLY SPRING</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another thing I love doing with the kids is watching the night sky. Bright full moons, meteor showers, and the point of this outing to the middle of the Salt Flats: to see as many stars as possible during a clear night, a new moon, away from light pollution.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSKkqMtn9gNLSZn1L7VPek8WIjtgEeXweCaA3XlahHyYquk8fuwRCpgM-O7zl4zlmcbAeqy9i3awB-XQRhnBsp8U71sUHfz6DPevR1RERK0UOaNQBFq3s2nmGrPm4KKW4jJ8ffyTtagQ/s1600/2016-04-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSKkqMtn9gNLSZn1L7VPek8WIjtgEeXweCaA3XlahHyYquk8fuwRCpgM-O7zl4zlmcbAeqy9i3awB-XQRhnBsp8U71sUHfz6DPevR1RERK0UOaNQBFq3s2nmGrPm4KKW4jJ8ffyTtagQ/s640/2016-04-008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I did not have a good camera for shooting stars (heh, heh), but they were spectacular to watch. It was an un-glamorous overnighter, camping in the car off a frontage road at the edge of the Salt Flats. (I would have loved to drive way out to the middle of the Salt Flats, but didn't dare risk sinking and getting stranded.) But what we lacked in amenities and comfort, the sky more than made up for in glitz and wonder. Seeing a *real* night sky reverses my aging momentarily. Adults become children once more. And children start asking the questions that blur the lines between science and faith. Those are cherished conversations that explore the edges of thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>HEART OF SPRING</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We live near a canyon. In less than 10 minutes by car we are surrounded by mountains, a river, waterfalls, trails, and forests. It's our happy place.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHmXOGbBsgmYmnBylIl18OmP-bukMISdr-lMt4EqBot_cW-6XhBtdzR2MipX11yRu0z1y_yqfYB-3aMN5-8HWo_ujaqqvPHoLVeKS8o3s_is_-dXECqHEAnqJPmp2KGd-_4qc6HI5z6U/s1600/2016-05-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHmXOGbBsgmYmnBylIl18OmP-bukMISdr-lMt4EqBot_cW-6XhBtdzR2MipX11yRu0z1y_yqfYB-3aMN5-8HWo_ujaqqvPHoLVeKS8o3s_is_-dXECqHEAnqJPmp2KGd-_4qc6HI5z6U/s640/2016-05-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These photos show field trips my two daughters had at their different schools. They explored textures, colors, sounds, played at the edge of the river and looked at river organisms under microscopes. So grateful when educators see the value of engaging with Nature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>SUMMER!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In July we played with my side of the family in <a href="http://www.angelscamp.com/">Angel's Camp</a> (home of the jumping frogs made famous by Mark Twain) and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm">Yosemite National Park</a> in California. We saw big, big trees and ginormous rocks and loved it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcS0VG1f0wIdN7L_T7ZID9IwUJCx2UeXK90iD88KKU9wiWj4qecFqZ6GbjewBwRABSoZCiIHWglbnOOf4-qXXw6-uYsXi8U7J757ca0eGQOHW1wU6TSFM95-0W08OM0l5qqNXoLcf6yM/s1600/2016-07-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcS0VG1f0wIdN7L_T7ZID9IwUJCx2UeXK90iD88KKU9wiWj4qecFqZ6GbjewBwRABSoZCiIHWglbnOOf4-qXXw6-uYsXi8U7J757ca0eGQOHW1wU6TSFM95-0W08OM0l5qqNXoLcf6yM/s640/2016-07-06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love, love, love the National Parks. And National Parks with family? Even better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In August, we played with my husband's side of the family in Oregon, first in <a href="http://rockawaybeachor.us/">Rockaway Beach</a> and then <a href="http://www.waldport.org/">Waldport</a> and a bunch of sites in between and beyond. I sure lucked out in the family I married into; we made some good, good memories together this summer.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8jk6v7FFBjlMIcyvF9IK5OgzybBKpJSFt_FTEIMdtqgZ9H34NwgwFcvq-zzTOosLd432HxhGcaFie5OBhq4mKkoAndvxo2p2G1BWygc3C2lwtr29HHtRHl3ZNR_wuw6K3_TVQ9eJJD4/s1600/2016-08-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8jk6v7FFBjlMIcyvF9IK5OgzybBKpJSFt_FTEIMdtqgZ9H34NwgwFcvq-zzTOosLd432HxhGcaFie5OBhq4mKkoAndvxo2p2G1BWygc3C2lwtr29HHtRHl3ZNR_wuw6K3_TVQ9eJJD4/s640/2016-08-004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh, the Oregon coast is kind of magical. I couldn't capture it on film, but the quality of green light on the trails tells me that fairies surely live there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I decided to extend the road trip back from Oregon. After dropping my husband at the Portland airport--back to work for him--the kids and I headed north to Seattle, Washington for two days, then to Moscow, Idaho for a day, then to Boise, Idaho for a day. The point of this extension was to visit with family and friends I hadn't seen in awhile. I loved this addition! We didn't worry about touristy stuff or schedules. Just catching up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBHxI62FF25KvM065nX66K3K09okGIlPmmSmtesNklvyzcTYwTyFm66bJ4QhC7C-82mIby78EyL9J_583uz-XDwVWi3_2Eu9ezG17b73PNz0jdVVanCWZgApWc1j5a83LMKXNYIfNhkk/s1600/2016-08-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBHxI62FF25KvM065nX66K3K09okGIlPmmSmtesNklvyzcTYwTyFm66bJ4QhC7C-82mIby78EyL9J_583uz-XDwVWi3_2Eu9ezG17b73PNz0jdVVanCWZgApWc1j5a83LMKXNYIfNhkk/s640/2016-08-08.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most of our trip wasn't super Nature-y, but we did get to kayak in Lake Washington and visit the tiny, out-of-the way cemetery where my mother's parents are buried. I guess you could say we were getting in touch with our roots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>AUTUMN</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ended up on a semi-spontaneous Fall Break trip to toasty Arizona. The plan was to donate a monetary birthday present to the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/index.htm">National Parks System</a> (Happy 100th!) at the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm">Grand Canyon</a> and then go visit some friends who had just moved to Phoenix. We would warm up one last time before winter was to set in.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX975ReVWAj2UXxkQ3fpOCa1uQotCdr7NSwh0WEKjJb23CKu4_oMR2o44qpINfKFtsIEqe04UMhyphenhyphenO8Z6DFrr4bQueWRo67qo3u4j8mFZemTc1xwtU2epar7eVYsYQpZfmCKJf49jHrsg/s1600/2016-10-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX975ReVWAj2UXxkQ3fpOCa1uQotCdr7NSwh0WEKjJb23CKu4_oMR2o44qpINfKFtsIEqe04UMhyphenhyphenO8Z6DFrr4bQueWRo67qo3u4j8mFZemTc1xwtU2epar7eVYsYQpZfmCKJf49jHrsg/s640/2016-10-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My phone quickly ran out of battery and my other camera ran out of space. Who does this?! Who goes to the *Grand Canyon* with insufficient methods of photographing it?! Oh, but the mental pictures we took...the grandeur really does live up to the name. Perhaps one of these days we'll go back and backpack down to the bottom to camp for a couple of days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's time to take our outings in Nature up a notch. Guess who got camping backpacks for Christmas?</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-36198758489570058482016-12-06T13:46:00.000-07:002016-12-06T13:46:26.272-07:00(More) Zero Waste Christmas Wrapping Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-1riTbKaSL3NHJUDC7fScyfl62Obh5sZyC4clZvocAWKfcM5BofhXw5aMsNn1tPH2r4SSAxXkliTI1lI1XWUuhG1SlHADVQZLMIZ5r9xXumC9xLCnfhjjJ1Mbzxbcde2-JRN9hKTfUg/s1600/2016-12-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-1riTbKaSL3NHJUDC7fScyfl62Obh5sZyC4clZvocAWKfcM5BofhXw5aMsNn1tPH2r4SSAxXkliTI1lI1XWUuhG1SlHADVQZLMIZ5r9xXumC9xLCnfhjjJ1Mbzxbcde2-JRN9hKTfUg/s400/2016-12-010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We've built up a bit of a Christmas library. (Much of that thanks to a certain sister-in-law of mine--love it!) I liked the idea that I heard about wrapping each Christmas book at the beginning of the season and inviting a child to select one per day to open and read as a family. Here are a few examples of my zero-waste approach to wrapping all those books:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Summer blouse with neck-ribbon-turned-gift-bow:</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvx832Hif9xK5voJubEusXy0TyONJ8mF9RLrGyPf1FLQwrwI1SyBO2znwQ_8NxXtynAcp5IVJRMXeqL7Y6d6m2T4LjECz4IkJbTP5M5Q7_-AOQPVPLUjPcnJcr-FgKaC6gHjhxId1JDQ/s1600/2016-12-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvx832Hif9xK5voJubEusXy0TyONJ8mF9RLrGyPf1FLQwrwI1SyBO2znwQ_8NxXtynAcp5IVJRMXeqL7Y6d6m2T4LjECz4IkJbTP5M5Q7_-AOQPVPLUjPcnJcr-FgKaC6gHjhxId1JDQ/s400/2016-12-06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Lay out blouse</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Place book in the middle, fold in sides of blouse, fold up bottom</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Fold down top, wrap both loose ribbons behind to other side, weave one ribbon through the neck opening</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Tie ribbons into a bow</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Large square silk scarf (traditional Singaporean print honoring our year there):</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTW6jhoGLMLZlzeQdy-m1_QQDVBF6iv-XmExdfjQKz9pW3Jio9cTUf1eiHpz29u3Wsefe16eXamtl7cBIGvoO0mb9pxILTkHXRaSbS5VxFh9gzZ-TpBrnaFw4Xq3c2axeiMUQrfA72qU/s1600/2016-12-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTW6jhoGLMLZlzeQdy-m1_QQDVBF6iv-XmExdfjQKz9pW3Jio9cTUf1eiHpz29u3Wsefe16eXamtl7cBIGvoO0mb9pxILTkHXRaSbS5VxFh9gzZ-TpBrnaFw4Xq3c2axeiMUQrfA72qU/s400/2016-12-008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Lay out diagonally</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Place book in center, fold one corner, then the other (you may need to fold the corner a couple of times)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Tie loose ends in the middle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Double-knot it and done</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Long woven scarf</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kBhBqOzE3EtmeZI1-e6WsVawVUKSU9JyUzBp8_wEjTlheFU9Xx6wEPiKHiCwEw8szEvrKdyiVeX7DIB18wyMindtTieykR5S9aZiMVf3pYYqllQCJQYVKwaDBFSNXWoD_J2EiCFJkvQ/s1600/2016-12-009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kBhBqOzE3EtmeZI1-e6WsVawVUKSU9JyUzBp8_wEjTlheFU9Xx6wEPiKHiCwEw8szEvrKdyiVeX7DIB18wyMindtTieykR5S9aZiMVf3pYYqllQCJQYVKwaDBFSNXWoD_J2EiCFJkvQ/s400/2016-12-009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Flatten out a spot in the middle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Place book in the middle, fold in the sides</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Wrap book with loose ends of scarf</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Tie into a bow/double knot or if the ends *barely* fit (like mine here) flip it over and use the scarf pattern as the decoration</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Girl's summer dress with waist tie (and tulle petticoat)</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigGvkGYYRoiNkFFynsk_UrARfCkxwngwG8eQj5GyGoiukLWdIG9PfSs0NZN_3w0LuzKfB_hNhEdd-RFwWQDclvptkmwVzJ7BhNWPKJ4GTMmZ_FUd8quJCh5DNqdRCGV1-rcWaYZnhBuY/s1600/2016-12-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigGvkGYYRoiNkFFynsk_UrARfCkxwngwG8eQj5GyGoiukLWdIG9PfSs0NZN_3w0LuzKfB_hNhEdd-RFwWQDclvptkmwVzJ7BhNWPKJ4GTMmZ_FUd8quJCh5DNqdRCGV1-rcWaYZnhBuY/s320/2016-12-007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Lay dress out</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Place book, fold down top, fold in sides leaving ties free</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Fold up skirt/petticoat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. Wrap ties around the skirt, tie in back, fluff skirt/petticoat into a flower decoration</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My daughter wrapped a gift in the glass jar shown in the top photo and wrapped a scarf around it. Besides clothing and scarves, scraps of fabric from the sewing stash, pillowcases, baby quilts, bandannas, cloth napkins all work. If you like to accessorize your gifts you might have some fun with: jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets), hair accessories, neckties, belts, fun shoelaces, chopsticks, small toys you already have, or natural treasures like leaves, pine cones</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, cool sticks, shells, acorns, raffia, feathers, sprigs of your neighbor's evergreen tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By getting creative with items we already have around the house we:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. save money on gift wrap</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. save storage space for gift wrap</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. enjoy a quieter, more peaceful Christmas morning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. spare our garbage can of Christmas morning bloat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. teach our children how to think outside the box and practice creative innovation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. teach our children that we love our planet and this is one thing we can do for her*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(*This does NOT mean that if you <i>don't</i> do this then you clearly hate the planet and want to see it consumed in flames. You likely already do lots of things to show your love for our shared home. This is just one idea.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More on this and other Christmas stuff <a href="http://desertgreengoddess.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas">here</a>.</span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-66747978620828045542016-09-20T22:11:00.001-06:002016-09-20T22:11:34.548-06:00Fall Free SWAP (with quirky new feature) *THIS* Saturday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5UcmZkiv_Yh_Iol-z_HTzrW3us-DQyxbAp_1s8VHBqlX5FXpU3xYJAwZW6gEphTC9Z1rIL4LevsrpYhfEXCzN2djvbNpoPGLdE37mv6ypPUos1ODUPoktyKIQ4ze3ZM-mRoioDfMqCfi/s1600/Garden+vegetables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5UcmZkiv_Yh_Iol-z_HTzrW3us-DQyxbAp_1s8VHBqlX5FXpU3xYJAwZW6gEphTC9Z1rIL4LevsrpYhfEXCzN2djvbNpoPGLdE37mv6ypPUos1ODUPoktyKIQ4ze3ZM-mRoioDfMqCfi/s320/Garden+vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saturday 24 September (that's *THIS* Saturday)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Orem City Center Park, Rotary Pavilion</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">300 East Center Street</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Introducing the Free Ugly Fruit Stand! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to sharing clothes, books, toys and furniture, we'd like to celebrate fresh, local fruits and vegetables that often get overlooked because they are... well... "aesthetically-challenged." So much good food goes to waste. And then when you put that together with phrases like "food insecurity" and "food deserts," and, well, let's see if we can't engage in those conversations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whether you are a commercial grower or one of those killer backyard gardeners, the Free SWAP heartily invites you to consider the Free Ugly Fruit Stand as a good home for those harvests of funky tomatoes or over-abundant zucchini plants. You'll be feeding tummies and souls. We love to celebrate community! What better way to do that than through food?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">***Volunteers are needed!***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7:30 a.m.--Set up the canopy, tables, pavilion, signs, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.--Receive and sort donations</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1:00 p.m.--Pack up leftovers, transport them to donation centers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">See you then!</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-72782988233773358472016-09-18T18:53:00.001-06:002016-09-18T18:53:31.146-06:00Summer Free SWAP Report--Next One is Coming Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkzZlPpGwAwQp6K1MARrH-VG-sfMevRrha0mEv_PIIhscmaKpf6wPrY6UJG-Exya8xxUCXA_F_nR6qta4wAWQmEweDt6BRKyz-t9sg_aw_xSe2mDmTWkPtSkQE22VURGnrhjxCC4OnagF/s1600/2016-06-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkzZlPpGwAwQp6K1MARrH-VG-sfMevRrha0mEv_PIIhscmaKpf6wPrY6UJG-Exya8xxUCXA_F_nR6qta4wAWQmEweDt6BRKyz-t9sg_aw_xSe2mDmTWkPtSkQE22VURGnrhjxCC4OnagF/s400/2016-06-006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Summer Free SWAP was just lovely. As always. The weather was great and the community spirit was abundant.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2zaE6edAXO5Yl2Dy_TuJctE2e_V09WQT3gvb7AZAdw-Cf53uehoBjI3cE0AdGxeRUiBllaJ9Py1RVMdIdA2XQY86DInolct9YlaDzGca-9gWPJlort9AVpvDpMy_tDQrtIMnKvlDQuzp/s1600/2016-06-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2zaE6edAXO5Yl2Dy_TuJctE2e_V09WQT3gvb7AZAdw-Cf53uehoBjI3cE0AdGxeRUiBllaJ9Py1RVMdIdA2XQY86DInolct9YlaDzGca-9gWPJlort9AVpvDpMy_tDQrtIMnKvlDQuzp/s640/2016-06-04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Top left:</b></i> This group of friends found a new home for my neighbor's old crib. One in their party was expecting her first child. Already this child has a tribe looking out for her. Lucky kid. <i><b>Top right:</b></i> This family was moving into a new apartment and scored a dining room table--one of the hardest-working pieces of furniture in any home, for sure. Oh, and a stuffed animal and football for the kids, of course. Kids love the Free SWAP. <i><b>Bottom left:</b></i> These lovelies shared their smiles and free new finds! <i><b>Bottom right:</b></i> These girls pulled up a patch of shady grass and made a day of it. Fresh air, hanging out, and treasure-hunting. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm amazed at all the items that come and go throughout the morning. We don't have the resources to catalog everything; many times we can only get a fleeting glance at something before it's gone again. I guess that's the idea, though. It's working.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, these two gentlemen...this was fun to witness. The gentleman on the right had come a bit earlier and brought some things to donate. As he was making a trip back to his car he passed the approaching gentleman on the left (my brother-in-law, as it was) who was bringing <i>his</i> donations. Among the donations were a couple of canes. As it turns out, the first guy's cane--which he needs and uses regularly--had broken just two days before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kismet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is part of the Free SWAP's hardworking crew of volunteers--without whom the swap would be overwhelming. These are choice folks, people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love hearing the vignettes of people's lives--the life lessons we share with each other, the heartaches and mourning, and the short-but-sweet moments of compassion between strangers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This woman was a delight to meet. She had heard about the Free SWAP and came at the end to see if she and her family might be able to load up some of the leftovers. She's a leader in her LDS (Mormon) church congregation in a neighboring city and organizes a free back-to-school shopping night for the community members in her neighborhood--many of whom struggle to make ends meet. What a sweetheart she is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hugs, indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am honored to meet such fascinating, complex, inspiring, quirky, funny, nice, hard-working people at the swap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These are the days that feed my soul.</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-31096874187135372342016-08-24T11:24:00.000-06:002016-08-24T11:24:13.280-06:00Results of City Vote on the Committee I Proposed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">{From L to R: City Manager Jamie Davidson, Councilmember Mark Seastrand, Councilmember Sam Lenz, Councilmember Debbie Lauret, Economic Development Director Ryan Clark, me, Mayor Richard Brunst, Councilmember David Spencer, Councilmember Tom MacDonald, Councilmember Brent Sumner}</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...and now, two blissful summer road trips later...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The vote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'll give you the Cliffs Notes version.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I first approached Orem, Utah Mayor Richard Brunst a year and a half ago about establishing a new city committee focused on environmental sustainability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Along my journey I have met folks who have been all for the idea and I have met folks who have been opposed to it. And folks who are somewhere in the middle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Navigating politics has been very educational. I have heard words like "communism" and "extremism." That has been both surprising to me and yet helpful as I continue to shape my presentations to better suit my various audiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The truth of the matter is that the environment has become highly politicized. Politicized in a way that associates it exclusively with the Democratic party. Utah is a predominantly-Republican state. You see the challenge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have loved the natural world much longer than I understood anything about modern American politics. (Who are we kidding? I'm *still* trying to figure out American politics.) All kids, no matter their parents' affiliations, love to climb trees or find bugs or grow tomatoes or throw rocks into the river or watch the night sky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's what I want to celebrate. That's where I want to grow. Planted in the common ground of honoring this beautiful spot on the planet that we call home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the end, the vote w</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as unanimous. In <i>favor</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so I present the Natural Resources Stewardship Committee, the first such committee in the county to be written into city code. Little bit of history in our corner of the world.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-64992508061591262412016-06-20T21:48:00.001-06:002016-06-20T21:48:39.645-06:00City Council to Vote on Environmental Committee I Proposed<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, this labor of love will *finally* have its day in court. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really don't know how the vote is going to go. Fingers crossed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll write a more complete report later; no time. Life has been crazy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wish me luck!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-56742707054634673132016-06-02T11:04:00.001-06:002016-06-02T11:04:35.377-06:00My Freak Show Life in Today's Daily Herald<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A big "Thank You" to Genelle Pugmire of the Daily Herald for finding value in my crazy lifestyle. I really enjoyed our chat the other day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's her <a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/orem/orem-mom-working-on-mastering-low-waste-living-takes-trash/article_76c2187a-543c-5729-9b59-731853cd316e.html">article</a> about my interest in low-waste living and my advocacy for a possible new city committee. Enjoy!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-13020446432396879052016-05-16T23:30:00.000-06:002016-05-17T13:40:55.652-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">{September
Free SWAP--Got a couple of b</span></i><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">anners
to help guests find their way. </span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Loving
the new logo, Kim Bateman.}</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Yes, that's right. That says "September." And, yes, that's right; the
current month is...(ahem)...</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">May</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Now that we've gotten that bit of embarrassment out of the way...</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Here's our celebration of community sharing.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Furniture, electronics, children's toys, and, yes, musical instruments show up
at every swap. Instruments in the past have included a drum set and an organ.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Kids have
the best time at the swap! There's so much to see and play with that it can be
both a blessing and a curse for the parents. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sorry and
you're welcome! ;)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">What a great extended family outing at the
park. Pull up a patch of grass, soak in the fall sun and enjoy the feast. New
surprises on their way home.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Retro/antique gems for the home artists and
a couple of items for the nursery--whether your babies are human or leafy.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead of throwing away the items you
don't need or want, bring them to the free swap. Chances are your free
offerings will be just what your unknown friend needs right now.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">BEFORE
AND AFTER</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We were
lucky to be able (in all the high-energy of the swap) to snap shots of both
donors and recipients of a couple of items. This is how community sharing adds
that extra touch of connection. To see the story of a treasure and its journey
from one home to another.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEajdrzoFlD-PByQLsocuP9DOtmqyasfKvCZeDyycbVgsiKTaMKoDlgv3g5iB6Y7lP_CiMZ40Gmwv29zA0kqVLgkKRTXtdJyvZ-f7GbT9BZ4OoVNFEW6nR8aM_2M6T7-nuws-JkVeZo8U/s1600/2015-09-029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEajdrzoFlD-PByQLsocuP9DOtmqyasfKvCZeDyycbVgsiKTaMKoDlgv3g5iB6Y7lP_CiMZ40Gmwv29zA0kqVLgkKRTXtdJyvZ-f7GbT9BZ4OoVNFEW6nR8aM_2M6T7-nuws-JkVeZo8U/s400/2015-09-029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">{donors
above; recipients walking away below}<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">{donor, left; recipient, right}</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We have the
most everyday items that come and go. And we always have a handful of quite
unexpected donations. Keep 'em coming, folks.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Odd
things that you might have seen at the September swap include an ovulation kit
(my favorite "unexpected" find), the coolest orange-colored patron to
come through our doors, and, my good friend Cowboy Santa helping with
promotion. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvB7LdD1hjMMyERTkeoy663B_f22DC-yYVtAuLEXJuKT_vhmpTppnyjCTdv-Ekq0YJSV9Yb2STQ4BekjZmejxEzToWxhg7B5QticrrqgNZ5rtOuZEF4vsRzwwaTCuYEJd6XxfqQeUD4M/s1600/2015-09-036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvB7LdD1hjMMyERTkeoy663B_f22DC-yYVtAuLEXJuKT_vhmpTppnyjCTdv-Ekq0YJSV9Yb2STQ4BekjZmejxEzToWxhg7B5QticrrqgNZ5rtOuZEF4vsRzwwaTCuYEJd6XxfqQeUD4M/s400/2015-09-036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">VOLUNTEERS!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We love
volunteers and have been fortunate to enjoy the delightful company of veterans
and new recruits alike--all eager to serve with a smile. Whatever time they
have available. Truth is, the free swap would be *impossible* to do without
volunteers.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A hearty
THANK YOU to all volunteers past and present.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(The
photos represent some, but not all, of our crew.)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thank you, thank you!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">NEXT
SWAP: Saturday 4 June, 8:00 a.m. to noon; Orem City Center Park, Rotary
Pavilion (approx 300 East, Center Street)</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-9557591782399532532016-04-17T23:30:00.000-06:002016-04-20T10:48:01.670-06:00Feeding My Soul with a Garbage Audit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzulHdwg1LPDoP41OXztxhWAQSoZz98Ru6dq_zTOGys3YYrtqeEZ4-waTotBaFyIaIZ3xD41o415h66f57gUJLboxAOnn0Dgo9s3_IPcCuMN_u3uwjoVzIB9eaa1_oIdxMZ_bAW-4O7PE/s1600/Greening+Our+Garbage+Together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzulHdwg1LPDoP41OXztxhWAQSoZz98Ru6dq_zTOGys3YYrtqeEZ4-waTotBaFyIaIZ3xD41o415h66f57gUJLboxAOnn0Dgo9s3_IPcCuMN_u3uwjoVzIB9eaa1_oIdxMZ_bAW-4O7PE/s400/Greening+Our+Garbage+Together.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As cool as you think it would be to conduct a garbage audit of the school lunchroom waste, your 5th grade daughter will assure you that it's not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's *horrifying.*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was going to have to take out a hefty loan on any possible "Cool Mom" points I might have stored up. Talking to kids about <i>garbage</i> and <i>sticking your *hand* in the trash</i> to rescue errant recyclables was a tall order, I tell you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's how it went:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We sent home a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxyyIvwfBAcjUWF4R0N6aWFBMGM/view?usp=sharing">"Green Week" flyer</a> with each child--with daily encouragements--and indicated that at the end of the week we would do a "Greening Our Garbage" Challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The end of the previous week we sent a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxyyIvwfBAcjbFZHeEkyb1gwajA/view?usp=sharing">letter to all the staff</a> and invited teachers to come by our outdoor "laboratory" for a mini on-site field trip. We were eager to teach the children about waste, recycling, composting and overall tending to the planet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>*Thursday--Trial Run*</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because students were not used to sorting their trash, we knew we needed to practice ahead of time. Thank goodness for a supportive custodian! (Thanks, Mr. Larsen!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We posted signs at each can and a welcome sign for students to see as they came into the lunchroom so they could get a bigger picture of the challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Trial run}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The trial run was enlightening and, we decided, absolutely necessary for a successful audit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>*Friday--It's a go...*</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We had our canopy up, our table, bathroom scale, charts, markers. We were ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let the good times roll, folks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My equally-crazy partner Stephanie (fellow PTA parent and planet enthusiast--she was fantastic to work with!) and I worked the breakfast shift together in the cafeteria and then moved the party outside and started collecting data. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We wondered if we would get any visitors. Nobody had done this before. And, frankly, it was super, super weird. We knew that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But you know what? They came!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHULmcrZpife3QclFODkVHY4GNKsmQDPRHCzC9Tjksg6E92Xrzjg_x4FsczPdzyWxc8EB9xsH5ncf-k8DtF0QBKiIz1t4WLjNEMHti7SnbkCikOpRPKpG3t0LwhAHQfyZuEknCXc1qbf0/s1600/20160318_103016-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHULmcrZpife3QclFODkVHY4GNKsmQDPRHCzC9Tjksg6E92Xrzjg_x4FsczPdzyWxc8EB9xsH5ncf-k8DtF0QBKiIz1t4WLjNEMHti7SnbkCikOpRPKpG3t0LwhAHQfyZuEknCXc1qbf0/s320/20160318_103016-002.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Stephanie got our young visitors engaged in, yes, garbage! and ways to take care of our planet}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{Stephanie and I were still smiling at the end of the day. I'm not a fan of posting unflattering photos of myself, but I'm such a ham when teaching kids that that's all you'll get!}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At lunch, Stephanie took charge in the cafeteria and I manned the booth for more fun with garbage!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{charting, data, student standing on scale while holding a trash bag, looking at a sample of almost-garden-ready compost, finished chart, getting artistic during lunch recess}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All-in-all, a good day. Messy, time-consuming (over 8 hours of volunteer work-that's just day-of hours, not total hours), but thoroughly fascinating. Even though there were mixed reviews from students (totally understandable!), we were thrilled. At least they were *talking* about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We loved that.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvGuMzOuy6Yu8SZS-3qJhIwLTCpePG6d_6RPYVaYKxVDPeAgKyh_DYqHkayv8jsyJapuBmMhfagSL189sZ4V5CNIMPBvEB6VkixQaHaONqHWn0vjPslazqX7K0ltwF2sKVWCBRQvK6_E/s1600/Our+Data.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvGuMzOuy6Yu8SZS-3qJhIwLTCpePG6d_6RPYVaYKxVDPeAgKyh_DYqHkayv8jsyJapuBmMhfagSL189sZ4V5CNIMPBvEB6VkixQaHaONqHWn0vjPslazqX7K0ltwF2sKVWCBRQvK6_E/s640/Our+Data.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{our total for the day}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's to finding ways to make the world a better place for our children.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">[*Special thanks to Paula and Summer (PTA rockstars) for your help! You are gems at this school. And to Mr. Conley, you really supported us in this effort. We don't want to take that for granted. Thank you, thank you! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To the lunchroom staff, thank you so much for all that you do to take care of our children every day. To the teachers, thank you for putting up with our craziness and encouraging the students to be good citizens. And, of course, thank you, students for the energy and enthusiasm you bring to life. Keep it up!]</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>NOTE: Wear an apron and rubber gloves!</b></span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-86357702829571725132016-03-23T03:15:00.000-06:002016-04-07T00:52:48.358-06:00Earth Hour 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0W1KUtd-axg7hvbL2d3-yphP8xd6CFk_XfaSm96FCYJbYSbCMsjA98aob4JzftNveu05LlRSTfEQmGkzLcxDatSiUtsZNC_OjgG8izTMblHLGzgzDryFqDKzBxXrA06wGINEs3-J36s/s1600/20160319_215300-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0W1KUtd-axg7hvbL2d3-yphP8xd6CFk_XfaSm96FCYJbYSbCMsjA98aob4JzftNveu05LlRSTfEQmGkzLcxDatSiUtsZNC_OjgG8izTMblHLGzgzDryFqDKzBxXrA06wGINEs3-J36s/s320/20160319_215300-001.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>{drinking some hot cider brought from home}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">When was the last time you saw <i>shadows</i> cast by the bright light of the <i>moon</i>? If it's been awhile, consider getting out there for a refresher. It's kind of magical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">That was how we spent our Earth Hour, among the moon and stars at a remote canyon park. We brought blankets, hot cider, and footed pajamas, but left the flashlights unused. Seriously bright moon. Amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The evening's reading included selections from "A Child's Introduction to The Night Sky," by Michael Discoll, illustrated by Meredith Hamilton. <i>Did you know that on the planet Venus, <b>one day is longer than one year</b>? 243 Earth days to 225 Earth days. Who knew?! Well, obviously astronomers did, but for us regular folks that was a fun thing to learn.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We found our favorite constellations: Orion, Big Dipper, Casseopeia. Couldn't see the Milky Way; need to wait for a new moon to see that around here. I think perhaps we'll learn how to find Cygnus next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In the end, our stay was longer than the one hour. There was something healing in the quiet. In the darkness. In the space that simultaneously connects us to the great expanse of the universe and the close intimacy of our human relationships.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEDtCaIRzsXXLnIUjMcnvVMsflAfvT63EB_y1T4hte9P0zUO0uwP8Omn4pdsp1yKYxI7-oJveiePvJEGRjqFy6BZyNDRe55lqO_H7OffGSfKwXL-QCcnJ2qps8uCe8zaVf7ue7D42vao/s1600/20160319_215455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEDtCaIRzsXXLnIUjMcnvVMsflAfvT63EB_y1T4hte9P0zUO0uwP8Omn4pdsp1yKYxI7-oJveiePvJEGRjqFy6BZyNDRe55lqO_H7OffGSfKwXL-QCcnJ2qps8uCe8zaVf7ue7D42vao/s320/20160319_215455.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">{Even with my inferior phone camera, I was still able to capture not only the moon, but our tiny-yet-bright sister-planet Venus. That off-center spec.}</span></i></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126044071592147295.post-27588079932019222812016-03-10T21:55:00.000-07:002016-03-11T12:55:29.452-07:00Handyma'am 101 Benefit Workshop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FWWr1JWtDwKf5X_ZdiWDLjgaOOLRbQJiU7mtlN7OiE31zhsBue-RDzPwIomNzhaOyVZKnFfD4XO-xvurgNxRaEHzl0r7pbKqTvBRV4wtdqKDjq6qu7Dxlu4Xycuuw4Bx1r7BiDsMXRw/s1600/Handyma%2527am4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FWWr1JWtDwKf5X_ZdiWDLjgaOOLRbQJiU7mtlN7OiE31zhsBue-RDzPwIomNzhaOyVZKnFfD4XO-xvurgNxRaEHzl0r7pbKqTvBRV4wtdqKDjq6qu7Dxlu4Xycuuw4Bx1r7BiDsMXRw/s320/Handyma%2527am4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of months ago I learned about a <a href="https://www.habitat.org/">Habitat for Humanity</a> home that will soon be built for a local widow and her two young children. Having always admired the Habitat for Humanity mission, but never doing anything about it, I was finally given the nudge I needed to get involved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the faith communities with which I associate (if you've read enough of my posts, you know I like to get involved with the interfaith community), accepted Habitat for Humanity's challenge to raise a set amount of money to support the upcoming build. Interested members of the congregation were challenged to collect donations to add to the pool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, I really struggle to ask people for money. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Would love to recoup my hundreds of dollars of personal family money I've spent over almost 5 years of <a href="http://www.freeswap.info/">Free SWAP</a> productions...but, I cringe at asking people for money.)</span></i> But, this was a good cause, so I figured I could ask my friends to donate a buck or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then I thought of something more fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Habitat for Humanity build is slated to be a "Women Build" home. "Women Build" homes are completed with at least 75% of the volunteer force comprised of women. That, combined with <a href="http://www.internationalwomensday.com/">International Women's Day</a> (8 March) inspired me to organize a "Handyma'am 101 Workshop."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The idea was to gather women together--both the handy-inclined and the novices--to teach each other basic carpentry, power tools, car maintenance, electrical, plumbing, etc. Women and girls,* age 8+, were invited to bring their donations to the workshop and get some hands-on practice learning/teaching.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved learning new things and especially learning more about the smart, brave women and men around me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The feedback I got before and after the event went a little something like this: "Oh, I can't/couldn't come that night, but I'm really interested. Are you going to do this again?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Truth is, my venue (my garage) was limiting. So the next day I reached out to <a href="http://www.habitatuc.org/">Habitat for Humanity of Utah County</a> to ask, 1. if it already organizes such events, and if "yes" then how can I best help promote them, and 2. if it does not already, would Habitat <i>like</i> to host such events. The plan is to meet up and talk it over. I look forward to that meeting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's celebrate women building women.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJIvEilIfz-274Hg28rljjGRYi0x5SN9pNDOiQxFXQC31BRuxDuCypK9wPxL_VOZL6znn9eJeMC1cGVT6-66t1RC7calMtDrMtUxTjBEOxBqjkh7D5PKpXoLO78uoOZHCX8ggLRmRUCU/s1600/Handyma%2527am3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJIvEilIfz-274Hg28rljjGRYi0x5SN9pNDOiQxFXQC31BRuxDuCypK9wPxL_VOZL6znn9eJeMC1cGVT6-66t1RC7calMtDrMtUxTjBEOxBqjkh7D5PKpXoLO78uoOZHCX8ggLRmRUCU/s640/Handyma%2527am3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>{Wherever/whenever possible I encourage my girls to practice their handyma'am skills and hope to always be an example of curiosity, creativity and optimism.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bonus embarrassing reveal: before/after photo of part of my garage...that I was...(ahem)..."inspired" to clean before the workshop.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO1F8fIhBO5SJ7m0etbgkj_Iw4RyFbPLCDS4yH2vntdWTwcZqC0lDis8RTloulRS4IW5kbhWuSvVvscqLOvwxa0TrSQegaO3w_tLwchUCBmN5FDoqEdMffJ-LVIyKQp9MBXAejkD3cGE/s1600/Before+and+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO1F8fIhBO5SJ7m0etbgkj_Iw4RyFbPLCDS4yH2vntdWTwcZqC0lDis8RTloulRS4IW5kbhWuSvVvscqLOvwxa0TrSQegaO3w_tLwchUCBmN5FDoqEdMffJ-LVIyKQp9MBXAejkD3cGE/s400/Before+and+After.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>{Don't judge. We're each a work-in-progress, right? So housekeeping isn't a strength of mine. Oh, but the garage looks so great right now; I love it! I organized what I needed to, recycled what I could, put stuff aside for the Free SWAP, and found some out-grown equipment to pass along to a nephew.}</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Yes, I've been MIA for over 3 months. I'm hoping to throw together a quick catch-up post next.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*The event was marketed toward women and girls but not limited to them. Men and boys were heartily welcome to join. FYI, International Men's Day is 19 November.</span></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">© 2010 - 2017 All rights reserved.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02522267744834567219noreply@blogger.com0