“You say you’re ‘depressed’ — all I see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesn’t mean you’re defective — it just means you’re human.”
― David Mitchell
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Archive for the ‘Other’ Category
Human
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, inspiration, quotes, Thoughts, Writers on May 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Not Tue Terrible
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, gods, Thoughts, Tuesdays on May 3, 2022| 1 Comment »
You may remember that I have a thing about Tuesdays. It’s work related and therefore largely unavoidable.
All sorts of ugh tends to accrue on the day, largely because it’s hard to feel groovy about taking out the trash or finding a big cobweb has somehow suddenly popped up on the living room light or whatever when your general attitude is no bueno.
Understandable. Still annoying.
Whatever, it’s fine, I’ve got this.
There are some nice things about Tuesdays, however. When the work day comes to a close I feel great. And sometimes I can share a bit of fun with you despite the day. Like this.
Tuesday Is Named For A One-handed God Named Tiu
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No Mow? Yes Please!
Posted in Other, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, #LifeisBetterWithBees, #NoMowMay, home, inspiration, pollinators, Thoughts on May 1, 2022| Leave a Comment »
We’ve reached the point where most people are aware that pollinators need help, that traditional grass lawns do little to support bees and other wildlife, add to pollution, waste water, and contribute to a host of other environmental problems.
I have mentioned that I am not a big fan of grass lawns. We also know that Mrs. Mannerly (not her real name) down the street will give us stink eye if we don’t toe the weed-whacked, chemical-laced, 2-inch tall, monoculture turf line.
What’s the answer?
Partly, it’s changing what we grow, and we’re adding pollinator-friendly plants as much as we can. But until we’re ready to completely upend the lawn paradigm, we need better ways to deal with the grass we have.
And we’re hoping to bring our little corner of the world along for the ride.
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When Mr Man and I moved to this charming area a decade ago, a typical weekend was filled with the roar of lawn mowers. One fellow a few doors down sported a first-generation corded mower, but for the most part our new neighbors were all about gas.
Garage doors would open each Saturday morning to show off rows of gas-powered mowers, bright red gas canisters, leaf blowers and battle-hardened lawn trimmers. Our morning walks often required us to step gingerly around streams of spilled fuel and shout to be heard over the racket.
No more.
Sure, that one neighbor with the riding mower still manages to spend a large proportion of his afternoon outside, but that might have more to do with his home life than his landscaping needs.
Otherwise, a remarkable sense of peace has taken over our street.
As new homeowners standing in front of the row of mowers at Home Depot, gas power did not appeal. We picked up a battery-powered unit that played well with our other power tools. The unit was light, easy to use, quick, quiet, cut well and, perhaps most impactfully, was a bright fluorescent green.
The neighbors noticed. The couple across the street watched us for months, then asked about it. It took time, but eventually they converted to an electric mower. Other neighbors on afternoon walks eyed us up as we mowed. Several years in we noticed another handful of neighbors had made the change as well. As minds changed the trend continued to spread.
Now a decade in, it’s hard to find a neighbor with a gas mower, and that’s terrific.
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What’s the next challenge? Our neighbors still mow early and often. The good news is that the city lets our extensive network of road separators grow bumper crops of dandelions. Bright yellow carpets fill the streets (and feed the bees) for weeks. Still, private lawns account for a substantial amount of acreage* and could be key to turning the tide for bees and the rest of our unpaid pollinator workforce.
“When you run the numbers, it turns that almost anything is better than a grass lawn — except pavement.”
— Lawns are the No. 1 irrigated ‘crop’ in America. They need to die.
Take No Mow May. This movement started in Britain but quickly jumped the Pond to North America.
What Is No Mow May | Better Homes & Gardens
No Mow May isn’t about laziness (although that is a side benefit); it’s about helping the bees.
Also laziness. Whatever works for you, no judgement!
No Mow May: 8 Reasons to Let Your Lawn Grow This Month – Bob VIla
When it comes to spring yard work, what if you could actually do more by doing less? By participating in No Mow May, you’ll spend less time, money, and energy on your lawn while helping to improve the planet.
I’m hoping that at least some of our neighbors will realize, as we have, that in the case of mowing, less is definitely more.
Why You May Not Want to Mow the Lawn This Weekend
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I hope our shift to an electric mower had some small local impact but it’s not just us, of course. The folks around the corner switched to a xeriscaped yard and posted signs about helping pollinators. The world is noticing that the pollinators need change and wants to help. The question is now less about “what” and more about how to do it in ways that work with the world we have.
So this year I’m supporting my local eco organizations, planting native flowers, and braving potential side-eye from Mrs. Mannerly across the street.
Who knows? Next time I see her across my bee-filled yard, she might even smile.
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* For example, lawns can be counted as the single largest “crop” in the U.S. and are estimated to take up over 400 million acres in the U.S. And they don’t even taste good!
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What Do They Say About Hope?
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, creativity, lists, optimism, productivity, Thoughts, writing on April 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I think I should start posting earlier in the day. You know, when the schedule still glows with possibility, and my plans have yet to come to fruition but still could.
Have I finished baking the week’s bread? No, but it is in progress.
Have I aced today’s Wordle? No, but it’s still possible I could pull out a miraculous win. (It’s not, if I’m honest. Really not.)
Will I get to all that yard work on my list, including a date with a massive downed tree branch and a power saw? Soon, definitely!
Finished reading that book on building better habits (and generally being more awesome)? No, but I am halfway through and already feel a fresh cloak of virtue wrapping itself around me like a warm blanket.
Have I worked out a fix for a broken computer, created a brilliant new recipe, drafted a story, sent in that submission, raked and trimmed and seeded and cleaned and refilled and laundered and baked and donated and delivered? (Or realized that this list is unrealistically, impossibly long?)
Now, barring a sudden attack of zombies or a meteor shower, I’ll actually get a lot of these things done. But all of them?
Probably not. The gap between where I am and where I’d like to be will always be wider than my reach.
Still. It’s morning and right now all things are possible. Doesn’t the sun shine brighter for it?
Here’s to a productive weekend. Because hope, as they say, springs eternal!
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Seriously, Winter?
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, snow, winter on April 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Postcard from Spring
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Affinity Photo, Canada geese, Spring, Thoughts, yay on April 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Not everyone likes Canada Geese (they can be messy), but I love to hear them calling as they fly north to the river, pointing the way to spring.
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An Experiment in Empathy
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, #theblackwalnutbakery, empathy, news, Thoughts, Ukraine on April 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »
It’s a question I sometimes ask as I see the news: What would it be like if that were my town, my street, my house? Perhaps you do too.
With apologies to Parliament, a minor experiment:
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Depressing? A bit, sorry for that. But if it helps me be even a little more empathetic, it’s worth it.
One of my favorite ways to help is to feed people. World Central Kitchen is doing just that.
More links and resources from our favorite local (and Ukrainian co-owned) bakery: Stand with Ukraine – The Black Walnut Bakery Inc.
Happy Day, Earth!
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, #EarthDay, climate change, Thoughts on April 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
It is Earth Day 2022 and I’ll be honest, between the news and climate change I’m feeling a tiny bit discouraged, but! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the climate news is not all bad.
Should we be concerned? Of course. Is there hope? Of course!
How young people are taking action against climate change
5 ways to live more sustainably this Earth Day
We know individual actions can only get us so far, and solving the astronomical issue of climate change is the job of governments and policies. But we also know that our decisions matter.
Let’s make them count.
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A Meditation for Tuesday
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Thoughts, Tuesdays on April 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Being a one-word meditation on the concentrated essence of Tiw’s Day:
Ugh.
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In Short, Life
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, #yardworknothanks, home, Spring, Thoughts on April 9, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Does my yard look tidy? It does not. We left last year’s detritus over winter and it’s still there. A lot of our neighbors started raking and clipping and blowing and trashing leaves and other plant materials as soon as they could find the grass beneath the snow, but not us.
Instead, we have Mr and Mrs Cardinal out front, perching on the Joe Pye Weed stems as they hunt for lunch among the dried maple leaves. We have squirrels coming down into the back yard to gather up mouthfuls of pine needles for nest building. We have duos of doves, clusters of chickadees, and gaggles of goldfinches growing brighter by the day. We have, in short, life.
And while it may not always be pretty, it is beautiful.
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