Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day friends! Let's celebrate!

Happy Earth day friends
{I truly had to resist the urge to put a chicken photo here}



Something really awesome happened a couple days ago. I had been outside, trying to work on the concrete on the chicken coop (that's not the awesome part. That's the sucky part) and when I came inside, there was a message on my answering machine.

It was from a reporter from the St. Joseph News Press (which is a town about 45 minutes from me). You see, Ken, the reporter, was working on an article for Earth Day and wanted to do a story about me and my nature photography.

Of course I said yes.
Duh.

So I tried to vacuum up as much chicken dust as i could, and I moved the ducks to the dining room table, and the chickens rolled to the dining room in their playpen.

Man chickens kick up a lot of pine shavings. My vacuum is full!

First Ken came yesterday and he's a really neat person. Very much a newspaper guy. Did I ever mention I used to work in a newspaper? There were 7-8 Kens there all the time so it was like visiting with an old friend. Right as he left, the photographer showed up, and I actually ended up spending more time with him than Ken. We talked about motorcycles and cameras. He has gear that makes me drool.

But we've talked about how you don't need expensive gear right!?
Right? :(

That's what I keep trying to tell myself anyway.

Sooo... Today is earth day, and the article came out. I got up at 7:45 to 5 text messages from my husband telling me I was front page news.
Above the fold.

He's very excited.
I am too. ;)


So anyway, If you've read here long enough, you know that I try to celebrate Earth Day like other holidays too. Only there's no gift wrap cuz dude, that wouldn't be earth friendly would it?

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a certified tree hugger, although I do hug my trees when they actually live. Sadly a few trees are not getting hugs this year. Each year I set one or two small goals for myself that makes the earth a little bit better place than it was before. One year I started recycling, then I set a goal to plant more trees (15 trees later...), I also started a small compost pile (very recently!), and I use reusuable bags - when I remember them. grrr.

This year I'm going to do a few simple things. First, I'm going to actually USE that compost and get my beds really going around the house. It's a slow process but we're getting there. I'm still wondering how I will save my flowers from free range chickens, but that's another post for another day.

I also am going to take better care of me, because well, I'm part of this earth too and by golly everyone is stuck looking at me, I should do my best to give everyone a better view. This might entail me venturing into the organic section of the grocery store.

I'm going to try to travel less (not drive to town every stinkin day).

And lastly, I'm going to help you celebrate too.
Wha?

Yep, I'm going to give you something!!

Yay free stuff!!

Last year for Earth Day, I gave away a tree, and this year I'm going to do it again! I'm going to give away to one person that comments a Royal Empress Tree. They are quite entertaining and supposed to be fast growing. Last year, one of mine was growing an inch a day!

I picked this tree because it's hardy in most zones, but you should check out the map to make sure it works for you. If it doesn't we can always send it to your mother in law as a mother's day gift. SWEET.

To enter, you must follow these rules:
1. Leave a comment and tell me your plans for the weekend.
2. Enter only once. I'll know. Trust me. Violations will get konked with a sock full of rocks.
3. Come back and see if you were a winner!

Winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Monday!

14 comments:

Stacey said...

What a great way to celebrate Earth Day! My plans for the weekend are attending my granddaughter's baptism and spending time with 6 out of the 7 grandkids. It doesn't get much better than that!

Stacey

Courtney said...

My plans this weekend? finish up my two "directed studies" basically correspondence courses that I couldn't take the year they were offered, but have to have for graduation. Blah. But once they are done I am done with school!

Tracy said...

Very nice article. I agree with your husband, front page, very big.

This weekend we may go to our cottage as my daughters want to do some photography out there.

Jen@FIRR-Kids! said...

Congratulations on being front page news! That's great.

This weekend, I am finally getting to see my girlfriend's new house. The husbands are watching the kids and we are having a day on our own to do whatever we want. Pretty excited.

firrkids(at)gmail.com

MG said...

I love free trees! I don't have plans for the weekend yet, but for Earth Day I am thinking about seeing the release of a new film called "A Chemical Reaction".

Ande said...

Congratulations on being in the paper! My plans for this weekend are a funeral :( and a visit with my sister :). For earth day this year I am going to start a compost pile also! I already line dry my clothes, and I have seeds already for a nice herb garden - I always plant a garden but this year, new house, new garden. Still haven't decided where to put it but I have to hurry!

ahiller said...

Congrats on being front page news! No big plans this weekend except to try and get my 10-week old daughter to sleep in her crib.

Kim in ABQ said...

What a great way to celebrate Earth Day! This weekend, I am doing some SUPER fun things. First on Saturday, I am attending a Beth Moore simulcast on her new book "So Long Insecurity". Not that I'm at ALL insecure. Nope. Not me. Nuh uh! *insert sarcastic eyeroll* And then on Sunday, first I'm singing at church then going to a home and garden show! As luck would have it, I'm in DESPERATE need of landscaping! So we're going to try to find inspiration and cheap labor! LOL.

Have a great weekend, and Happy Earth Day!

Erin said...

hey i was substituting at the HS here in St Joe today and in the library I passed the Newspaper rack and....TAH-DAH! There you were!
I thought "hey I know her!"
Even though I don't.
I just read your blog.

Jen said...

Congratulations on making Front Page News! Your photos are lovely! Our approach to conservation is similar to yours... little by little, but they're lasting, long term changes. We've also eliminated most chemical cleaners from our home and instead, I make our own. And we LOVE our compost-hope you enjoy it too!

LJensen said...

I love that you have chickens and ducks in your living room! We are another country family and poultry is my daughter's 4-H project. Have a look at my blog and you can see her favorite feathered friends!
This weekend we will be going to an Autism Awareness fun day.

www.frujensen.blogspot.com

Kat said...

I love your Earth Day Resolutions! They are fabulous. Congratulations on getting in the paper and planting all those trees. This weekend I am going to a little boys birthday party and making a trip to anthropologie.

Amanda said...

Awesome for you to be featured in the paper! I had one of my photos published in our small town newspaper this week. Not as cool as a feature store, but awesome to me anyway!

Plans for this weekend include going to some yard sales tomorrow and vegging out on Sunday!

Tammy J. said...

Happy Earth Day!!! This will be a busy weekend for me, attending a "Day for Dogs" event on Saturday with my two kids and two dogs, then having friends over for dinner and cards in the evening. Sunday I am hoping to get some spring clean-up done in my yard, prepare for a garage sale next weekend, and clean my camper in preparation for an upcoming camping trip...I think I may be too ambitious!

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