I decided to come up with (steal) a craft for the Brownie meeting tomorrow night. For mother's day, just a simple thing (idea stolen completely from Deb's demonstration party the other night) and something the girls can decorate easily. I'll take photos. The leader was a little stressed (we usually do not have two meetings in a row, instead of bi-weekly) and I figured I would throw my hand in to give her a break. She's grateful, and hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can use up any spare time out in the playground. That should cover the entire meeting, beside the flag ceremony and circle time. Now I have to shop for supplies tomorrow and make a sample (I'm using a different shape, Deb... a heart not an apron), no big deal really, but I just have a lot on my mind already. Still, it feels good to be able to help, and I don't really offer to do much of anything for anyone unless I'm asked first. That sounds all kinds of shitty of me, but it's more sanity preservation.
I have a new washer and dryer arriving on Tuesday. The set I currently have will be going to the coffee house. Get ready for some major appliance porn: they are front loading; they have cute attached storage drawers; they can be timed to go on and off; the temperature is completely controllable; they use less water and hold larger loads. I will be able to wash anything, including my comforters and air mattresses and other such crazy-big stuff. I could probably wash my children (kidding).
This excites me to no end.
I am planning on purchasing (eventually) a composting bin. I know I could make one pretty easily in my back yard, but that won't do in my neighborhood. Neighbors are too close and I'm already the freak with the clothesline. Also, my yard is too deep, I'll never trudge my butt all the way down to discard scraps. Finally, any smell will not be tolerated by my neighbors or my husband. We also have too much wildlife that will rip it up if it is exposed. So I've been looking at those ball-shaped enclosed composters. You dump the scraps in somewhere, turn a lever and mix it up that way. Does anyone have any experience with this and give me some recommendations? I'm also keeping an eye out for one for the coffee house. I'm expecting we will have distributors that will carry industrial sized things. I'll see. Anyway, I'm interested to hear suggestions for convenient composting. Also... how much "scrap" becomes how much soil? I'm trying to gage what size I would want to have.
I am looking forward to:
Mother's Day, I have no plans and my own mother and mother in law will still be in Florida.
My parents coming home the end of this month, and my girls are old enough to do day trips without much angst.
Camping with the Brownies in my backyard, this June.
The girls' gymnastics expos, also in June.
Camping this summer with my friend Lisa, no idea when.
Going down the shore with my sister and her boys, in July.
Working all summer, in preparation for opening the coffee house. Seriously. I'm excited to work again, it's been a decade.
Having both my children in school full day, this autumn, and being able to work and schedule my self care without stress again.
Peaceful blessings.
Good night.
Comments (16)
I like your list of things to look forward to. I tend to get depressed when I don't have things 'coming down the pike.'
Trust me I know of your excitement about the new washer/dryer. Our tax return was well-spent on a similar set last year. I've not regretted the purchase for a minute. They are very VERY well used.
Enjoy!
We have a compost bin and a few rules to follow, firstly, just peels
in the bin, noo cooked food like bread, left over rice etc. with
the compost, add some grass clippings and chookpoo, horsepoo or cowpoo,
this will heat up the composting material, break it down fastewr and
keep the rodennts out of it. it also need to get air into the
composter. It doesn't smell and is excellent fertilizer for the
garden
Someone keeps moving the keys on my keyboard, thus the typos
i have one of those! and i love it. i haven't had it long enough to make compost. and i didn't follow the directions. i just put a shitload of leaves and grass clippings in and have been adding food scraps every few days. i hear that a good compost heap shouldn't smell and so far mine doesn't so maybe i'm doing something right.
Check out the first testimonial over here.
Perhaps you could offer the coffee shop's grinds to customers or gardners from your 'hood. Great way to "give back" to the community, build goodwill, and "make a name". (Free marketing.)
And it would save you the trouble of composting the stuff yourself (you can't compost with just one ingredient).
As for your home composter... I have never had compost that smelled, nor have I ever had problems with critters. If you follow the general guidelines (found everywhere) you shouldn't have any problems.
@ToReadYou - Yes... I already do that in my garden with my own grinds and I intend to give it away free to whomever asks once we open.
Thanks for that link... off to read.
Actually, there are more interesting coffee shop grinds testimonials further down that page...
oops, we cross-posted
@ToReadYou - Yeah... I'm reading it now. Awesome tips. I'm going full force with my grounds now. I had no idea how well they work for all plants.
What will you be washing at the coffeehouse that you'll need a washing machine for, just wondering?
@brittannichols03ffad - linens, towels, aprons, etc.
Check out Mike McGrath @whyy he was the guy doing the composting talk Saturday! OMG it was amazing... LOL
I have to get Little Man to the bus but will message you some more info he gave later!!!
Love you and Love the heart idea!!! VERY cool!!!
Debs
I'm going to do the composting thing at the new house too. We have so many trees I need to.
If you put worms in the compost, everything turns into fresh soil.