Monday, May 30, 2011

Porch Garden planted today using Homemade upside down planters with homemade watering system




These worked out well last year, new experiments this year. The upside down portion of the planters include Fusia, Dill, Jalapeño and Tomato starts. On top of the planters are some Lettuce and Basil plants.  Used some milk cartons as well as the soda bottles lined with paper bags, filled with dirt and some fertilizer. 

My husband husband ingeniously collected an old but functioning fish tank pump, duct tape, 2 liter bottle, plastic tubing from an air bed inflator, short extension cord and a hockey stick from the garage into a watering system, so no step stools or ladder this year! 

Some of the starts were a little stressed after being threaded through the bottle openings, but they all look to have survived.  Wonder what these will look like in a month! 

For last year's pics and materials used see this blog link: 

File under One of a Kind...Treasure Quest Thrift Store and Beyond




 


Meridian Thrift, 

Treasure Quest
16621 Meridian E
PuyallupWA 98375-6203 map
Tacoma, WA Metro Area
Website:
Information not found


Phone:
            (253) 848-2042      

We were out of town for once and stopped by a thrift store on the way home.  From the looks of the outside of this place, I was pretty curious what (terrors or treasures) could be inside.  I mostly liked the signs outside for a photo. Would take a brave soul to take on managing all that stuff.  

My kid found a coffee cup and was told he could have it for free.  I let the proprietor know discreetly that sometimes a person appreciates something more when he can pay something for it.  There was a  pool stick which he did pay his four quarters for, and had some fun imagining he could stand on the street with his stick and cup begging...perhaps making more out of the original investment...joking, not serious there. 

I found a record, Aesop's Fables recited by Burgess Meredith. Records for a dollar each.  Really liked the stuffed gooey duck with real shell most of all, but could not justify where I would keep or use such a thing. 

Our oldest and youngest found a keyboard that allowed more than one key to sound at once and they could play chords and all on it.  On asking, the price was $5 and what do you know the two missing keys are still inside. It was purchased, cleaned and is ready for dismantling and fixing up tomorrow. 

There were some Star Trek items of note, motorcycle helmets, a pink Barbie TV, only to name a few of the things there. 

Some antique typewriters, selling for $65 each.  A regular customer was attempting to purchase an ornate kimono style covering for $1 (she commented it might make a good bathrobe), but not sure how those negotiations ended up. 

The store has been there over 14 years. Wonder what internet, a face book page, staging, more attention to repair, cleaning, rearranging, pricing & sifting out without stifling creativity and purpose would do for this store.  Perhaps ruin it or make it solvent.  It was an easy place to just interact with people and we are glad to have stopped by. 

Down the road is a Salvation Army that has been around 25 years, and a Goodwill Store built more recently, directly across the street from one another. A bit farther from them is St Mikes Thrift store, so there seems to be some competition (or demand) for this piece of the local market. 





The Goodwill had a bike and helmet for middle kid, his has been missing but good for some time now.  It was a pretty penny, at $49. The brakes need replaced and that is about a $4 fix. A project worth taking on with Dad.   His smile says it all.  

The A&W dinner stop on the way out of town was an expense we had not planned on ($38) and could have done without, excepting some made on the spot root beer, which we all think is pretty cool.  We were wondering what is root beer made of and is sassafras a real thing?








Friday, May 27, 2011

How do you do it?

School kids are on the go, how do they keep hydrated? Our pediatrician told me once at least 50% are walking around dehydrated.  What are simple ways to conserve and have water on hand that kids will drink.  A hydrated  brain and body functions differently than one that is not.

Schedules once you are no longer employed.  How do people who have been school teachers or administrators for decades regulate meals, activities and days with out the 8-5 commute, preparations, and tasks?  I took 6 weeks off once and that was tricky.

What Routines get in the way and what reminders support the effort and delight of being alive and engaged in meaningful work?

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

cross over concepts and caffiene


Spaced out and drank a diet soda at 7 pm, thus I was still awake at 2 in the am even though I had tried to sleep.

That and the college science building ventilation behind my house was extra noisy and then the military base some 30 miles away was detonating armory...

Not looking for trouble mind you, each day does have enough of its own.
Trouble sometimes seems difficult to stay out of.

Finding a way through difficulty is so much more rewarding than coasting along. It is not the difference between living and dying? Living things do a little of both every day. 

I wonder what tomorrow will be for the youngest children of today, what will we leave behind, everything or anything? What ever it is, what will they (have to) do with it?      

I was reminded this year about grace and accountability in ways I could understand and apply them.  Work projects would not have turned around if I had not faced where I was letting my team down and if they had not given me room to work to my best. Thats a cross over concept in a lot of settings, a keeper. 

Glad for another day and glory is not mine. good to part of the mix of it all. 

radiant hopeful open minded noble daring adventurous seriously underrated encouraging delightful appreciative valued insightful & strong
(Can you do one?)


Monday, May 23, 2011

Not Able to Get Along?

Tornadoes a mile wide. Wow.That is a lot of pieces to pick up. prayers for those who lead and labor today. If you fight, may it be just and kind in the end. One big boat and not everyone can hope for the best spot on it. What tears apart and what brings balance?  Jumping ship is not a realistic option for those who intend to complete the journey and find shore ground. 

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Playing the Numbers until Payday

Cleaned up the Top Foods Monopoly tickets I had been stuffing in a bag these last months.  We had won a roll of paper towels, a yogurt, and a box of chocolates, as well as some 25 cent off coupons for items on sale at the store.  

$9.50 brought home 20 pudding snacks (for lunches), 5 pot pies (quick dinner Tuesday), 1 free gallon milk(we were out) and three more instant win tickets for baking soda, oatmeal, a can of chili and 18 count Tortillas.  Total bill was $25 for other sale and essential items purchased. 

Win co mailed out a flyer for totally free 1 lb hamburger, BBQ sauce, 2 liter soda, and ketchup.  Did purchase a bottle of apple cider vinegar for learning how to make salt & vinegar chips from scratch (got potatoes on hand) 

Worth the drives and got some reading and organizing brain workouts.
May just make it to next pay check solvent....  

Small things do amuse sometimes.  Grateful for grub. 



Thursday, May 19, 2011

Gasoline Expenses: More Go for the Gallon


Bike, Bus, Walk or Drive?
With gas taking up a huge portion of our family budget once again, we are looking for ideas to reducing the amount of gasoline used, and hopefully reducing the amount of cash out the door needing to be set aside for this each month.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Little Da Nang Restaurant-Only in Olympia



Little Da Nang Restaraunt
301 W 4th Ave
Olympia, WA

Website & Contact Info          http://littledanang.com/

My Favorite Restaurant, even if I don't always know the name of the dish I am ordering!

This is not a fast food restaurant! It is food done right, from scratch, no MSG, with fresh ingredients to order.
   

Friday, May 13, 2011

Roller Hockey is an indoor sport worth checking out

Tomorrow there are three Roller Hockey games.


YMCA teams play at Skateland in Olympia. 


  


Local boys & girls ages 7-18 have been playing Roller Hockey here for at least the past 7 years.  Fall, Winter & Spring sessions through the YMCA youth programs with scholarships available. 

Giving up and Moving on?

 If you see a suspected runaway in your area, do not hesitate to contact authorities and get the word out! Would you consider posting flyers in your vehicle or bag and having your cell ready to discretely take a photo for confirmation and help in locating these loved ones? 


No school, no work, no home. 


Where do they hang out and spend thier days? 

        The mall
        The bus station
        The park
        The library
hotels, homeless shelters, camp sites


Consider those who get booted out or take off before age 20, some with babies living in motor homes along the streets:


Where do they eat, sleep and wash up?
What do they learn from one another? 
Why is this so common today? 


Unemployed and Drop out rates for teens in Thurston County


http://www.indicatorsnorthwest.org/DrawRegion.aspx?RegionID=53067&IndicatorID=21


http://www.indicatorsnorthwest.org/DrawRegion.aspx?RegionID=53067&IndicatorID=22




Meaningful, supervised & accessible after school & summer options for young people make a huge difference.  


Ways to facilitate loving, safe and positive reconciliation with family makes our community stronger. 


What are your ideas? 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Spring Flowers & Fruit Blooms

Tulips & Fennel
Time to get out the bikes!



Time to plant the starts!


Ever bearing strawberries are blooming.


Blueberries are blooming.



Asian Pear blooms

Two Tulips

Cherry blooms


Sunday, May 8, 2011

Treasures


On her website, Jeanne DuPrau writes:
I didn't really set out to "be a writer." I just wrote. Reading and writing have always been my favorite things, though for a while I wanted to be a writer and an illustrator. I still have my very first book, which I wrote when I was about five years old. It's called Frosty the Snowman, has five pages, and is illustrated with red and green crayon.


From the thrift store: 
Phonograph recordings of the Monkees 1966 & The Frog Prince starring Kermit 1971.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkees


From the public library, selected by 9 yr old:

  • My Side of the Mountain, coming of age book, main character 13 yr old Sam Gribley (1959) movie adapatation (1969)




  • The Tale of Despereaux, great kid's castle & mouse tale (2004) movie (2008)




  • City of Ember, Awesome book for children & adults by Jean DuPrau (2003), even better movie (2008)



Saturday, May 7, 2011

Today is National Free Comic Book Day

My husband used to own a comic book store, that's how we met. My brothers were 10 & 11 and I watched them sometimes when my sister was being born. I took them to Fred's comic store to look for old Super Friends to share & the rest is.....history. My husband still sees customers around town he knew from back then. You meet quite an assortment of folks in a comic book store, like most other places, I suppose. 


Get out and check out your local comic book store if you have a chance.  The art and variety of offering is pretty amazing, and it is still an affordable hobby for most.  


If you would like to send a snapshot of your favorite local Comic book store,  we could post them here. How many stores are out there going strong. Takes a lot of skills to run one successfully over the years, and a lot of lessons learned even in ones that folded up. 


Danger Room Comics
201 W 4th Ave
Olympia, WA 98501
WWW.DANGERROOMOLY.COM


Quote from http://www.dangerroomoly.com

"The store was built to the specifications determined by Professor X when he constructed his original Danger Room for the purposes of training his young proteges. We have, however, deactivated most of the lasers."


Friday, May 6, 2011

Homemade Upside Down Tomato Planters

These worked pretty well last year.  Wanna give some a try?  Materials used are paper bag for lining, twine, empty 2 or 3 liter bottles, smaller empty bottles for inverted watering, fertilizer, dirt and a tomato start small enough to carefully fit through mouth of bottle.Both the jumbo and cherry varieties did well.
Suggest hanging on the porch entry so they get enough water.  Had 6 along the entry last summer. 

Any aesthetic & inexpensive water efficient ideas that don't require a step ladder this time round?


 



Beagle is Relieved-originally posted 4/27/11

Been a bad backpack week. Spent the weekend chasing an awful smell around the house, cleaning stinky puddles up here and there and suspected the dog. it was Andrew's water bottle that had been filled with milk some time ago and it was building up pressure and leaking out...yesterday Josh came with a smashed banana in the outside pocket. Both backpacks have gone through the wash and the beagle is quite relieved.

All Eastered Out-originally posted 4/23/11

I was all Eastered out about noon today, went to preschool class later and by time things were done, it seemed wonderful again. Beyond the hype of spring, candy, yard sales, earth day, art walks, parties, dinner plans & processions, I got a moment to realize how very much there is to be grateful for every single moment. No need to mark the day to celebrate this or that, every one is precious and has already been scheduled by someone much wiser than I.

Invited to a Sales Party?


Several friends have started sales businesses recently....Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Herbal Life ... I usually avoid these things, and am a terrible customer as I like to buy stuff rock bottom, do not wear make up, and it is hard enough to get the basics covered as it is.

Maybe I should just have them all over for a ladies nite, have them bring their catalogs, as long as no arm twisting, sales pitches, or party bookings occur.

Simply visiting & hanging out is seriously under rated these days, I only need new stuff every now and then, and I am usually broke when it is time to buy stuff. I have been wanting a couple of the 2 cup glassware containers & glad I know someone who can order them when I am ready to.  

I remember the time the preacher's kid & later my nephew got a job at Kirby.  It lasted until about 30 of his closest relatives & family freinds purchased a new vacuum.

Man, I sound grumpy in this note, but not really. Just wondering how to support & encourage friends without losing my shirt....and the acquisition of stuff is the least of my concerns or the root of them... is anyone selling household organizing & clean as you go robots on the cheap?