Earth Hour, coping with change and other assorted thoughts

This evening we will celebrate "Earth Hour". I don't want to get preachy on the subject, but I think it's fair to say that participating in the event is a way of showing love for our planet, so it *is* topical.

In previous years, at our house, we have turned off the lights, unplugged the TV and the rest of the equipment attached to it, and the computer. We usually light candles, and then play a board game or two. It's fun, and the kids really get into it (at least, those who are at home). We don't rush to turn everything back on again afterwards, either- the candles are kind of fun! And let's be honest, when we're playing a game together, we're much more connected than when we're watching a film together (much as we love doing that, too!).

This year, however, I will be out at the time of Earth Hour. I'll be spending time with some wonderful people, and the lights may very well go off there, too, but I have to admit, I'm sad to be missing that time with my boys (Miss Tigger will be at work).

Coping with Change:

Recently, Boo learned that one of his best friends would be moving away. He seemed to be handling it fairly well, too. But when he came home from school yesterday, he started crying inconsolably; yesterday was their last day at school together. It broke my heart to see him so sad. Her Mom and I have already made arrangements to help them stay in touch and keep their friendship going, but it will be challenging, I'm sure.

In other news- It is Springtime, but apparently she didn't get the memo:

 

 

 

This photograph was taken on March 20th, the first day of Spring. Yes, the snow really does go right to the top of our front steps. And yes, the Hound of the Baskervilles™ *really* wanted to go and jump in it. She loves the snow!

It was so very kind of Spring's older brother, Winter, to offer to cover her shift until she gets here ...

Connecting to our Community- another form of self-care

I love living in our neighbourhood. The streets are tree-lined, the neighbours friendly, and the river paths provide lots of exploration (and burr!) options for the "Hound of the Baskervilles".

One of the other things I love about our neighbourhood are all the interesting little shops which abound- it is possible to find all manner of interesting and useful items (and services) without needing to go more than a few blocks. Groceries, banking, rent a film, antiques, nails ... you name it.

For things such as the nails, one needn't look further than Pollock's Hardware. The display window alone is something to take in (especially if you are simply out for a walk)- it looks like a shop window from another era. This sense of time-travel only gets stronger as you cross the threshold- old wooden shelving sits on the rough hewn wood floors, and you can find all manner of odds and ends you wouldn't have thought were still available for purchase.

Odds are good you'll be greeted by a shopkeep of the four-footed variety, as Digger et al are often hanging out there. Visitors are permitted to bring their dogs, too (we tend not to, as The Hound is rather large, and tends to bump into things. She's also extremely protective of her "pack").

Need just a few nails? Don't bother with Rona or Home Depot, where you have to buy them by the kilo, but you can still get them by the handful at Pollock's ... The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and if they don't happen to carry what you need, they will be able to suggest a place where you might find it. Not only have I found I can usually get what I'm looking for there, the price is often just as good as, or even cheaper than the "big stores".

We have been renting films from Video Cellar for over 20 years- they recently raised their prices, but are still relatively inexpensive. For our family, renting a film on DVD works out far cheaper than taking everyone to the cinema (although I have been known to do that, as well), and it gives the Littlest man the opportunity to ask questions or leave the room if something proves to be overwhelming for him. (Video Cellar also sells assorted junk food at cheap prices, but we won't go there ;-) )

I have previously mentioned Vintage Veruca- I can't stress enough how lovely it is, and if you haven't checked out her shop, you really are missing out on something special.

Another of my favourite places to visit is the Modern Sewing Machine Company. The gentleman whose shop it is is quite knowledgeable about the products he services, and his is the shop to go to if you are looking for parts for a Singer treadle machine. The prices are very reasonable.

As well, we have Sonya's Flowers. She not only sells flowers (as one would expect, from the business name), she also has a small tea & coffee bar at the back of the shop. Most of the teas are on display in glass jars so that you might give them a sniff before ordering a cup. It's a real exercise in being present in the moment- you don't come here to grab a cup as you dash off to work; no, it's best experienced by having a seat, and taking in the scenery while you wait the 3-5 minutes for your tea to steep (2 minutes for white tea). Sonya herself is very helpful and friendly, as is Marilyn, who also works in the shop. The shop also boasts many very lovely little things to display or give as gifts- from colourful sock monkeys to candles to "Lug" bags ...

A few weeks ago, when Himself had the day off, we went for lunch at Santa Lucia. The dining room is very small, but not cramped; rather intimate. They also have a bar/lounge with a patio. Our lunch was excellent; it was nice to just spend time together, too.

Next door to Santa Lucia is Tenderloin Meats, a shop which is frequently called "The Bacon Store" in our home. Tenderloin is home to what is probably the best bacon in town.

By patronising local businesses, not only are you helping your local economy, it gives you a chance to meet and get to know some of your neighbours, too. The more people in your neighbourhood you know, the more connected you'll feel to the community. A connected community is a healthy community, one that looks after its members. Our neighbours seem to know one another fairly well; so well, in fact, that a stray cat is enough to cause a stir ...

So, that's my neighbourhood in a hurry, why not take a walk around yours and tell me what you've found there?

Gardening

Working on a plan for this year's garden- what to plant, where to plant it, what to do with the pre-existing fauna ...

I have found this process harder than I had anticipated. Our new house has lots of garden spaces, which presented itself as nothing but potential when we were looking at the place, but the previous owner planted a lot of perennials, and planting my choices means removing some of those already there.

Shouldn't be hard, right? But it goes against my instincts to pull out healthy plants for no reason other than they don't exactly fit in with my plan. There's nothing wrong with the plants, but I have a very practical mindset when it comes to the garden. I want everything to have a purpose beyond just "looking nice". I'm trying to plant both food and medicinal herbs, as well as fruit bushes (saskatoons, blueberries, raspberries). And we haven't even started on the vegetable garden ...
This has been a stumbling block for the past two summers- I have given away some plants, but still have more to remove. I have ferns, rhubarb, lily of the valley, hostas, tiger lilies, asiatic lilies, bearded iris, Goldflame spirea, a sand cherry bush and a hydrangea.

The hydrangea is a large, gorgeous, plant, but not entirely happy in her present location- she produces lots of bloom clusters, but very few of the flowers ever open.


If you live locally to me, see this, and are interested in one of the above-mentioned plants, please, drop me a line and we can arrange an adoption!

Lights Out for Earth Hour

Today was “Earth Hour” day. From 8:30-9:30PM local time, people participating in this global event turn off their lights for an hour. Some folks even go so far as to completely turn off their electricty for the hour.

Our family has developed a bit of a tradition around the occasion; the lights go off, we light a few candles, and we play a card game (typically, “Munchkin” or “Bang”). This year, however, the three eldest Minions of Chaos were “otherwise occupied”- the eldest is away all weekend for work, our daughter went to a bonfire with her boyfriend, and our middle son went for a sleepover at his buddy’s house.

So it was just Himself, myself and our two youngest boys tonight. Earlier in the evening, we baked some chocolate chip cookies. Then, just before Earth Hour began, we lit some candles and made Rice Krispie Squares (once the marshmallows are melted, there’s no electricity required ;-)). The boys marvelled at how easy they are to make- I love seeing the world through their eyes!

Of course, if we were being truly hardcore with our Earth Hour commitment, we’d have placed the pan in a cooler on ice to set up, rather than into the fridge, but hey; baby steps, right?

Obviously, turning off the lights for an hour is not going to solve the world’s environmental and energy problems- I am not as naïve as all that. But I do believe in the gesture, all the same- especially if accompanied by a dialogue about other ways we can reduce our footprint.

For The Minions of Chaos, of course, the fun is in playing cards and “hanging out” by candlelight. They enjoy it so much that they ask if we can do it more often! Thanks to older, above-ground power lines and big, old, trees, they do get to experience it more than once a year- we had three storms which caused us to lose power for 3 hours or more last year- one of those incidents was during a Pampered Chef Party- cooking demo by candlelight ... it was ... Interesting.

I have to say, it is a nice way to spend an evening.

We didn’t end up playing a game by candlelight this year; instead, once the various treats were set to cool, we leashed the dogs and went for a walk. We toured the neighbourhood, boys and puppies alike, the boys checking to see who else amongst our neighbours had the lights off for Earth Hour, while the puppies checked their “pee-mail”. Sadly, we didn’t notice quite as many lights out as we normally do- I’m thinking because many people were not aware it was tonight, or they knew, but forgot.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed the warm evening, and the puppies enjoyed having “walkies” down by the river ... We arrived home shortly after the official end of Earth Hour, Oftentimes we’ll extend our lights out to two hours, but this year, alas, we did not.

 
Loving our planet is really a way of loving ourselves- being ‘green’ doesn’t just save the earth, the practices usually mean healthier living for her people, too.