Earth Day At Our House

Last week, Athena and I were walking down the streets of our town. She spotted some pop cans and crumpled up candy wrappers on the road. She said "Mommy look! Someone is not caring for our earth." She started to bend down to pick up the garbage. I told her that I didn't want her to pick it up because she didn't have any gloves on and nor did we have a garbage bag with us. I told her it was Earth Day next week so on that day we would put on some gardening gloves, grab some trash bags and head out to clean up "our earth". Grand intentions. That day it was a warm spring day. Tomorrow, as you well know, is Earth Day. Problem is, our town is covered in a fine layer of snow and tomorrow more snow with a high of -2 C is forecast. Ughhh! Now I wonder if I should go with her anyway or not tell her it is Earth Day until it is a bit warmer. Hmmm.

In related news, our output of garbage has significantly lessened over the past month or so. I have been extra vigilant about the recycle. We have recycled every bit of cardboard and paper that we come across. We have always done cans and bottles but I really noticed a huge difference with this extra attention. Even empty toilet paper rolls make it to our bins now. This makes me happy. Another noticeable improvement was that I used the Diva Cup this month for the first time. I loved it! No waste (cuz I recycled the box). I didn't know how it would work out but I am a believer now. Most of my garbage is food scraps and peelings. If my husband weren't so opposed to compost bins I don't think we would have much to roll out on garbage day at all.

So, I'll let you know if we brave the elements to clean up our town or if I wimp out and do it another day. Happy Earth Day to you!

ME TIME

Some days I wish I could just run away. Not really, but it seems that I seldom find time to do the things that nourish my soul. I know that I have a 4 year old at home and that presents its challenges and I know that my husband travels more weeks in a month than I even want to think about but still... There are 24 hours in a day. I should be able to find some time for myself. Some days when Athena is in bed I just sit in the front room with a glass of wine, finish it off, shower and drop into bed, I'm just that tired. Anyway... what I want to know, I guess, is how do you find time for yourselves and what do you do with that time? What brings joy to your heart besides your husband and children? Do you even make time for yourself. I hold my breath waiting for your response.

HER SPRING ROBIN

Upon the recommendation of Jen, Athena and I checked out the book My Spring Robin from the library. It is a cute story about a little girl who is waiting for her spring robin to return in the spring. We have read and renewed this book several times. We have been looking for a robin to return for weeks. Yesterday I thought surely there should be robins back by now so we went for a long walk, hoping to find one. No luck.

This morning she came in to my bed quite early. Daddy is away on business so she had plenty of room. As we snuggled and talked a little bit I heard the unmistakable song. So did she. Yes, we heard a robin at last. We got up and got ready for the day. We rushed downstairs and looked out the patio doors. Lo and behold, right on the fence stood her spring robin. What a day to celebrate for a 4 year old. Now we will hear the robin's song all summer long. "Cheer up, cheerilee, Cheer up, cheerilee, Cheer up, cheerilee" Happy Day!

APRIL

April is upon us at last. What a wait it has been. Although I love winter, the last grey slushy weeks of it are not my fave. The winter I like is cold, snowy white, sparkly and crisp. I never know what to put on Athena when she goes outside. One day it is her snow suit and the next it is slush pants and rubber boots. But, alas, April is here.

Almost all of the snow is gone now, save for a few stubborn piles in the corners of the yard. The skies threaten rain but you never know in Saskatchewan. It could just as easily turn to snow. Nevertheless...

I thought I would share with you some wonderful new blogs that I have come across. Not that you don't read enough already. These blogs are all Stay-At-Home-Moms, like I am. Some are Waldorf families, some are Homeschoolers but all are Tree Huggers and Earth Lovers. All seem like wonderful women. So, if on a rainy April day, you have a few spare minutes (read:hours) be sure to check a few of them out.

Nature Mom

Green Style Mom

Renaissance Mama

Periwinkles and Pine

Mom in Madison

Also, April is National Poetry Month so I leave you with a short poem we probably all know by heart:

March winds and

April showers

Bring forth the

May flowers.

Spring Cleaning

Yes, it is that time of year again. Spring cleaning time is upon us. Boy do I need to clean my house. I have just begun to make a mental list of all I want to accomplish. It is a long one. Our basement looks like a disaster zone. My curtains in the front room have not been washed since we moved her almost 2 years ago. Horror! I just got an energy efficient front load washer and new dryer. Sparkling brilliant white. My laundry room however is a catch all for who knows what. We have wine to bottle, piles of recycle to haul into the city. Salvation Army donations piling up. The list goes on and on.

This week I plan to make a comprehensive list and compile my supplies. Dear Husband needs to paint the kitchen and the front room, not to mention the ceiling in both as well so some of my work will depend on his schedule. Other than that I am roaring to go. I want to have it all done before gardening season starts too.

Thank you Nature Mom for the banner and the motivation.