Project Genesis 9/1/2011

Mother Nature has been wielding 

a heavy hand the past couple of years,

and many people are suffering.

Although there is only so much we are 

able to do to protect ourselves from

occurrences beyond our control, we are not helpless.

We can prepare as much as possible. 

I have had this discussion numerous times with friends
and find my nagging  advice is rarely heeded.

So...once again with enthusiasm, I shall

be the one asking you..

"ARE YOU PREPARED?"

Do you have enough stored water to support

your family's needs for a minimum of three days?

Batteries, lights, food, diapers, medicine?

Are your personal essential papers, 
and photographs copied and in a safe location, 
that is NOT your home?

Do you have an outside number 
where your family can call into

to check in on each other, in case communication
 in some areas of the country are down?

My kids and I will call my brother in another state

to leave messages for each other, 

via Red Cross if necessary.

Do you have a will, a trust for your kids, 
power of attorney for medical and financial, a DNR?

I do not have a crystal ball that predicted disaster
will never come my way, so I will be prepared 

to the best of my ability.

What does this have to do with PG?

I believe it is our obligation to 
take care of ourselves, as much as possible, 
before expecting help elsewhere.
That way the neediest get help first,
reducing strain on our public services.

Of course catastrophic events happen
 that are impossible to prepare for but we 

should never have to say

 "I wish I had, I never expected.. if only..."

Am I ready?

to all of the above...YES, and more.

Here is how prepared you too can easily be.
This is a system I developed a few years ago.

These two wheeled medium size trash cans
contain enough supplies to take
 care of a family of four for over a week.
Right next to them is sufficient water, sleeping bags,
a first aid kit, extra clothing and a tent. 
I grab those, the food in the pantry I have set aside, 
and in under five minutes we can hit the road,
 if we have to evacuate.
I can cook, clean, shower, etc. 
There are leashes, bowls
 and stakes for the pooches, 
and even an emergency toilet.
Knowing I am ready does give me
 comfort and piece of mind.


Maybe you don't wish to go this far, 
I am known to take it to the extreme, 
( no comments you local chums)
but I'm guessing there is something 
you could/should be doing
to be just a bit more ready 
when a bad day comes.
Why not start today?


Please join us here and remember
*Link to your PG post not just to your blog
*Please no self promotion
*Please no thrifting or upcycle posts
I reserve the right to edit any links :D

Project Genesis

is returning this Thursday Sept 1

See RULES HERE

Again please, no self promotion,

 link only to your PG post, not just to your blog 

and no thrifting or remakes please.

Remember it does not have to be a big profound post

on how you are saving the world, 

unless you are, then please share..

Any info, great websites, small/large environmental 

changes you are making;

all are welcome and appreciated.

If you wish to see some previous links,

 check my sidebar for prior PG days and some 

great gals and their posts for Project Genesis.

(I still get emails on my vinegar uses post,

lots of gals removing fish odors lol)

Email me with any questions and 

please join us! 

It's the only planet we've got.

Not a Hurricane

No, this is not the aftermath of Irene.

This is prep for a garage sale tomorrow.

No, it was not all mine, not even close.

Jessica McClintock dresses, size 4 Yikes

Several gals joined in and it started piling up.

Preview night was this evening. Friends on my mailing list 

come early to shop and get 1st dibs..

Tomorrow at 6 am we start hauling tables out into the driveway more and stage the tables and pull out the clothes racks and drink lots of Starbucks frappacinos.

I was going to rework tables after they were decimated this evening but I'm tuckered out.

Looking at this makes me crazy, 

my perfectly organized garage.

Justice is checking it out as you can see.

Howie is scared of it all. 

I think about a third is gone already.

$$$$$ We made some moola tonight!

Almost everything of mine that is left over goes to

 Goodwill immediately after the sale. 

AS for the rest.... 

The rules are : if you bring it down to my house it must

leave with you, no really, so by 4:00 my cars will be back where they belong  and orderliness will reign once more.

Why do I show you this mess? It sure isn't pretty.

But as much as I hate doing it,

it is far easier than what many are facing this weekend.

My heart and prayers are with all those facing Irene,

including my kids, Laura's daughter, Carole and George,

Debra and her kids..and so many more I care about.

Stay safe all of you.

See you all safe and well on the other side of Irene.

I'm naming my garage hurricane Julia;

they go in alpha order don't  they?

Project Genesis returns Sept 1st.

PLEASE put your thinking caps on.

Goodness knows this planet needs help! 

Z

Project Genesis 5/1/11

WELCOME BACK !

Keeping it simple today so as not

 to scare off any newcomers.

I recently learned of this organization 

via PBS (yay PBS!)

everymothercounts.org

Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign to increase education and support for maternal and child health.

Every Mother Counts seeks to engage new audiences to better understand the challenges and the solutions while encouraging them to take action to improve the lives of girls and women
worldwide.

There is an important film No woman No cry 

coming up this month,

and we as women need to care about this. 

Mothers Day is May 8th.

All Mothers deserve equal care.

period

Think you cannot affect change?

Donate your old cell phones to

provide a link for mothers and 

health care professionals

via HOPE PHONES 

Now it's your turn..

teach us, inform us, change us...

Bunnies and Bears and oh EAGLES

...and a few roses ( maybe 30 packages?) YIKES!

Thanks to Beth I am now addicted to THIS

My studio table is covered in stuff, 

completed and in the process stuff, 

and I should not be stopping to watch Eagles.

But oh, just try to stop!

My computer is not in the same room,

so I am running up and down the stairs

 trying to get everything done and in

 a few hours I am helping a friend do some

 bulletin boards at her school for an event.

Some of the roses etc will be loaded into

 the shop but many are headed to a friend's

booth this weekend.

The timing is right for White Wednesday

and Bloggers Bodega.

Whew, I don't have time for anything else today,

I have Eagles to watch.

Now folks this is reality TV I can get behind.

To hell with Kim, Chloe, Snooky, Kate and 

the kagilllion others that offer up garbage compared

to this majesty and wonder.

Want to make the next generation care a bit 

more about the planet?

Loop this non stop at homes and school cafeterias. 

Consider this Project Genesis for April since we skipped.

...and yes it will return in May,

 so put your thinking caps on girlfriends.

Now I have to ponder moving the computer

upstairs to the studio. hmmmm? 

BITS AND PIECES - THIS AND THAT

This beauty came from my SIL Sarah.

(and yes, she sells them - they are beautiful - ask me)

We were together last week playing with

 other friends and they were all beading and I was, 

of course making more roses.

They are going to a local sale this weekend, 

but if interested in some more white ones, 

let me know, I have quite a few dozen.

About 1/4th of the way through this necklace

 I leaned over and said "keep me in mind while

 you are making it; it will be going home with me."

My postal lady thought perhaps it was my birthday week

 because several other treasures also came my way.

Erin made me these adorable doily baskets, see

how she made them HERE.

They were filled with chocolate... now, where did that chocolate go?

Connie sent me this sewn text garland which is 

perfect for me and a handmade journal with

 the cutest little Scotties and ruffled edge. 

I always seem to smash the small paper

 notebooks in my purse, so this will be my

 newest tool to stay organized. 

I am so grateful to you my friends.

Thank you for all the great comments

 and emails on my Just Sayin' Post.

Sorry I scared a couple of you,

 but I think we have the facts all squared away now.

It was a much grander issue than I thought,

 which was borne out by the numerous emails

 discussing it with me, while afraid to comment publicly.

I have said it again and again.

Play nice.

At the post office on Friday I observed a screaming fight between two patrons, one male about thirty,

 fuming about the wait in line ( he'd been there all of 4 minutes ) and an elderly woman who

 loudly said with a snarky tone 

"well then go ahead of me if you are in such a big hurry." 

Next thing they are shouting at each other in

 front of everyone including several children

 also in the lobby.

 It ended with him making a very crude comment

 about her weight and out he stormed.

Pause here please while I sigh, and shake my head in disgust.

If adults set this example for our youth is there any hope 

for kindness and courtesy in our futures?

Speaking of our futures, I'm almost done ( lol)

Project Genesis was absent this month.

Only two people inquired about it.

I would love to continue but it appeared

 to me that there was not much interest or else it 

is merely a time thing with so many other parties

 that help some of you promote your shows and shops,

and we all know how time is a balancing act here.

I also think that there was confusion as

 to what was permitted as material. 

It need not be elaborate,

 just informative and not self promoting.

So...I still feel it is an extremely important discussion

especially in light of what we have just witnessed

in Japan, and the current global conferences on glacier 

melting, but you need to tell me if you wish to continue.

I adore the decorating, the white, the antiques, the food,

as much as you all do but I try to be/do more than that. 

 I am a citizen of the world and for the world. 

My analytical shows a ginormous jump

 on PG days, even with only a handful participating,

so it has other value to you beyond
 just caring for the planet, it still promotes your blog.

Heifer International

one of my favorite charities, currently has 

corporations matching your donations

 so your money is doubled, sometimes tripled.

Once again, caring for the planet, and each other.

OK, I'm finished,

Go in peace.

Suzan

.

PROJECT GENESIS 3/1/11

Achieving perfection in anything is difficult.

At times, we can only give it our best shot,

 and hope it counts for enough.

Recycling is grand, but not purchasing items

that need to be recycled is one better, or so I thought.

I know that the safest, most tested water

 comes directly from our taps,

but I'm not always a huge fan of the taste.

Having a fridge filter,which by the way ends 
up in a landfill, or using a pitcher type
 filter is the best alternative

 to not purchasing bottled water, 

even though the plastic is recyclable.

I covered that in another PG... many of our plastic bottles

 sit in landfills in India after being 

shipped using fossil fuels.. OK,

you know the drill and comprehend my guilt... 
because...

Shame on me, I started purchasing these
 to make my cold brew tea.

I justified it by knowing that I would use 

at least 24 empties for emergency water storage.

When I had used those 24, I promptly 
gave a dozen to a client to use for her 

emergency storage, then another 12 to a friend.

Since I cannot always count on knowing someone who

 will accept a dozen, even though EVERYONE should 

have emergency water storage, I had to determine

 if I could continue this luxury, without tremendous guilt.

Put your recycling where your mouth is Suzan.

Last week I was faced with 8 empties.

Guilt rained down like a toxic cloud.

At Target yesterday, perusing the $1.00 section,

  I loaded several sets of little pots into

 my cart to use inside my drawers for organizing,

when the proverbial light bulb arose. 

I already had containers at home if I just

 cut off the bottom of the bottles. WOOT!

only 1 problem..I still had the tops! ARGH!

Shazam! 

Poke a teeny hole in the cap and you have

 a way to slow water outdoor pots while away from home.

Cut the cap part off and you have a shield 

or mini greenhouse for small seedlings!
(Use your imagination, no seedlings here)

Oh, guilt be gone! 

Well, until I accumulate too many again...sigh

Anyone need drawer organizers? Anyone?


This bears repeating from an earlier 
Project Genesis post. If you have 
not viewed The Story of Stuff,
you really should educate yourself and 
those that you love.

Please join us! It truly helps.  

The planet matters. 


Don't know or remember the rules? 
SEE HERE
I reserve the right to edit links if
you do not play nice... : D


Just got a notice from link...seems there is a slow down today

"About the site slowdown today:

I worked hand in hand with my hosting service today and we narrowed down the one and only issue: thumbnail images.

The retrieval and downloading of HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of thumbnail images when your visitors view a Thumbnail Linky on your blogs is causing the overall webserver that hosts Linky Tools to slow down." 

THE SOLUTION:   

The solution is to have JUST the thumbnail images hosted on their own dedicated server. So I just spent all the subscription income to buy a server and have it hooked up to a very fast internet connection.

There will be NO interruption in service when the new thumbnail server goes online, however IT IS GOING TO TAKE 2-3 DAYS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.  I’m praying there won’t be any website slowdowns in the meantime,  like there were today, but I have no way of knowing or guaranteeing that."
Don't know exactly what this means to our link for
PG but one link has already made it through, 
so keeping fingers crossed.

Project Genesis 2/1/2011

Welcome Back

We took 2 months off to allow us to

 celebrate the holidays with Gusto.

Now we have to get focused back on 

doing our part to change the planet. 

This year I'm starting off with something 

easy and simple to do but it will have guaranteed impact.

My chosen word for 2011 is BEGIN,

and I have begun a new goal.

I never spend my change, or use it to pay. 

Even if the bill is $5.01, I give them the $6.00.

I save it all in this tin, and in the past 

few years used it to take DD to a Shakespeare festival.

This year I've decided to save it and donate to

 Arbor Day Foundation

My dad was a lifetime member

For every $10.00 donation they are able to save

2,500 square feet of rain forest.

I usually save over $200.00 a year in change, so the possibility of my impacting 50,000 square feet is 

my goal for 2011.

I have my annual charity contributions for

St Judes

Habitiat for Humanity 

Heifer International 

KNPR 

Goodwill

 Safe Nest

NRDC

and now the Arbor Day Foundation.

(Shakespeare will forgive us)

Whether your contribution alters 

the environment, a person's life,  

searches for medical cures or rescues

an animal it has impact.

Lest you think I live a cushy life...ah, no...

I do aim for 10% of my income
annually and most years I make it.

ANY amount multiplied by 

hundreds, thousands of others,

IMPACTS.

So get educated, find a group(s) you believe in,

and routinely donate. Lest we forget, 

 volunteer your time to these groups, just as valuable.

IMPACT OUR WORLD

See the Rules to participate if new to PG:

(no self promotion, link directly to your 
PG post not just to your blog, etc)

C'mon we would love to have you join us!


BTW- all the Valentine Necklaces have been sold- thank you!