tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32987314462464238102012-02-02T08:56:24.904-08:00Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.comBlogger1511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-20038507212836126282010-07-01T09:36:00.000-07:002010-07-01T09:39:58.362-07:00

I found this web site... it's a company that creates custom reusable shopping bags for businesses. (Ah-ha! That's how they do it ;)http://www.icegreen.ca/custom-reusable-bags.phpHappy shopping!Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-40044398911499491672010-06-06T18:20:00.000-07:002010-06-06T18:29:54.872-07:00

I bought a Shop Cart from Canadian Tire recently and really like it. My Pack and Roll is starting to fall apart (I still think it's durable, I just used it a lot :) and I wanted something with quieter wheels.The Shop Cart does not disappoint. The wheels are whisper quiet, and it can carry quite a bit of stuff. I've found the umbrella compartment quiet useful, and although it doesn't fold as small

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-91187001545282746962010-06-06T18:12:00.000-07:002010-06-06T18:16:17.042-07:00

My newly located potato plants are thriving! There are even some plants growing robustly in the old location, as well as one taking over the compost heap. Apparently my garden soil's PH is just perfect for potatoes, lol.Next year (I keep thinking about this ever year but never do it) I'm going to plant JUST POTATOES. Why not? They're the only crop from my garden that the entire family eats, and

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-85099298232013285262010-03-14T06:25:00.001-07:002010-03-14T06:31:08.765-07:00

A few years back I bought a bag of seed potatoes, and haven't had to plant any since (they just keep coming back - year after year!!). They say you're supposed to rotate your potato crop, and who knows if my yield would have been better if I had done that (like I had any choice - they just grew where they wanted ;)This year I thought I'd move them. Why not? This time, however, I used spuds from

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-57945068428268482102009-12-22T06:40:00.000-08:002009-12-22T06:43:28.683-08:00

...even though our ground has been pretty frozen. Not sure if this is the right thing to do or not, but I've been placing the compost on top of the frozen heap, and then covering that with whatever I can find (leaves, twigs, etc.)How about you - do you (and if so how) compost during the cold of winter?Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-9546597810583955052009-09-25T10:06:00.000-07:002009-09-25T10:15:27.087-07:00

I admit I love my dishwasher. There are those who say that the newer ones are greener to use than washing dishes by hand, although I have a hard time believing that. Still, I indulge in the convenience provided by my Frigidaire.I do, however, have a compromise. I don't use the "dry" feature - instead I air dry my dishes. As in, I have a dish rack by the sink (for the items that are not dry yet

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-71808858946247278382009-08-21T07:55:00.000-07:002009-08-21T07:55:00.355-07:00

I used to just crumple our used juice boxes and toss them in a plastic bag. We'd have a bulky, sticky mess that my husband hated to recycle.Then a friend of mine said to me "Really? You don't flatten them?". Me: "Flatten them? Seriously? What a good idea. I never thought of that." (I'm bright, but we all have our dull moments.) Now this is what I do. I unfold all the corners and flatten them. I

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-26534833237695679632009-08-20T07:39:00.000-07:002009-08-20T07:48:11.348-07:00

School is just around the corner, and now I'll be sending two packed lunches every day instead of one!Last year my daughter, who was then five, had trouble opening plastic containers (and these were the Disney Princess ones, made for kids!!). I was forced to send zip loc bags for a few days until I was able to shop around for other containers with tabs on the lids that she could grip more

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-53632843888867087512009-07-26T22:24:00.000-07:002009-07-26T22:32:47.544-07:00

I have blogged about this before, but the tip is worth sharing again:I compost, so I keep a plastic container in my sink which I empty daily into a larger containter on my balcony, which I transfer weekly to the compost pile in my garden. Occassionally fruit flies find their way into the kitchen and to my sink, and do their best to DRIVE ME NUTS.That is until I discovered this nifty fruit fly

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-62098061112655637652009-07-25T10:46:00.001-07:002009-07-25T10:51:48.203-07:00

Wow!! Much bigger zucchinis this year! (Last year my largest one was smaller than the fork in the picture). The difference, I think, is because I moved my planting location.I did this primarily because the plants grow so huge that they take over my garden bed, so I wanted them to have their own location away from the other plants. Their new spot is a sunnier one, so that may be the reason for the

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-84682833374576668542009-07-24T09:47:00.000-07:002009-07-24T09:55:16.837-07:00

This may seem like a no brainer for the experienced gardeners out there, but I am just seeing the benefits of carrot mounds myself, so bear with me.In previous years, my row of carrots was planted on a small mound of earth, no higher than any other veggie mound in my garden. I thought I'd try elevating the carrots a little this year though, and the results have been much better.I have no photos

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-75509427147229443872009-07-11T22:42:00.000-07:002009-07-11T23:26:59.361-07:00

I have six strawberry plants, only two of which are producing fruit. The others have been producing runners, which I decided to plant today. It was totally spur of the moment, without any research first. Basically what I did was snip them from the mother plants, dig small holes in the ground, and plant them. I thought this would work because the runners naturally seek out the ground to root

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-80406772692446100352009-07-09T09:53:00.000-07:002009-07-09T09:59:31.091-07:00

Here's a trick I tried today that I thought I'd pass on. I have some cherry tomato plants that are now producing fruit that isn't quite ready to be picked. I forget the name of the strain of plant, but they grow low to the ground. I'm out of string and was looking for another way to prop them up so they don't sag to the ground.I took some plastic forks and removed the middle two tines, and presto

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-7061948064459561102009-07-05T12:23:00.000-07:002009-07-05T12:43:04.785-07:00

On July 13th, the Burrard Bridge will undergo a reconfiguration of sorts - bike lanes will be designated on both sides and pedestrians will all be moved to one side.I am very much in favour of this. I do simpathize with the motorists who simply can't bike and need effective roadways, but realistically, there are folks out there who drive who could walk or bike, with a few simple changes to their

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-36830823332637747372009-07-01T11:17:00.000-07:002009-07-01T11:24:57.495-07:00

I'm optimistic about my zucchini this year - last year I got a few, and this year the plant is bigger with more flowers. I can't wait to start harvesting :)Our cherry tree has already provided BUCKETS of fabulous fruit (no exaggeration!). There's so much more to pick, too - this has been the best year for that tree since we've been living here.I'm also seeing some green tomatoes - cherries and

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-53324978898607354682009-06-22T18:01:00.000-07:002009-06-22T18:06:36.166-07:00

I found yet another use for my fave salad topping today - cleaning away battery contact corrosion.Let me stress that this corrosion was not on a battery, but on a removable metal contact in a battery operated toy. I tried cleaning the corrosion off with a paper towel to no avail, and then discovered that the contact plate was removable, and therefor available to other cleaning methods.Hmmm. What

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-44378696800029034892009-06-21T23:36:00.000-07:002009-06-21T23:58:18.620-07:00

So I have TWO piles of compost now... the first pile that I started a couple of seasons ago, and the "current pile" where I now put all the fresh kitchen veggie scraps. I've been focusing on simply turning the soil of the old compost pile, without adding any new scraps to it (with the hopes of using it soon). Today I actually did that - I dug through the original pile with a shovel, filled a

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-38192877411611273072009-06-14T12:37:00.000-07:002009-06-14T12:43:55.001-07:00

I wrote a post awhile back about how I use water trenches and hand waterto minimize weed growth, and today I snapped a few quick photos to demonstrate (spinach, carrots, and brussel sprouts). They're not perfectly tidy and may not be the best examples, but you get the idea... I love doing this because the amount of weeding is absolutely minimal as a result :)Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-19527697052389757832009-06-12T13:22:00.001-07:002009-06-12T13:25:56.015-07:00

That was quick! I've never grown spinach before - previously just lettuce. It's ready pretty quickly - as soon as the leaves are large enough to pick. This, and the little strawberries, are the first things to come out of my garden this year.Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-34193769479008308732009-06-12T12:12:00.000-07:002009-06-12T12:15:16.024-07:00

Here's the latest in my "green plastic photo gallery" ...this one is from Pharmasave:Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-22192831895023950242009-06-11T23:55:00.000-07:002009-06-21T13:55:18.664-07:00

I've just been browsing through old posts on this blog, and found this one: Three New Green Habits. I'm happy to report that I've kept them long term. 1) I'm more consistent with keeping the kitchen lights off both when it's sunny out and there's enough natural light coming in the window, and if I'm going to be away from the room for more than 15 minutes or so.2) I always unplug phone chargers

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-25177656979055829322009-06-10T22:43:00.000-07:002009-06-10T22:48:27.046-07:00

Tasty, but OMG. (Maybe Mother Nature is trying to help with my diet ;)Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-70409373638184687332009-06-08T12:27:00.000-07:002009-06-08T12:33:50.586-07:00

What a tease!! I plucked the first strawberry of the season from one of the plants on my balcony, and it was absolutely delicious - all 1/4 bite of it! Yup, it was pretty small. Below is a photo I took before I gobbled it down. I take some consolation in the fact that I got to it before the birds did...Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-61595857272649574102009-06-06T23:23:00.000-07:002009-06-06T23:33:32.910-07:00

If anyone has a stubborn cat pee cleaning issue and has never tried vinegar and baking soda, to say that I HIGHLY recommend it is an understatement.My cat's latest exploit was to pee in my daughter's room. Arrrgh... and EWWW, how (insert the expected expletives here) gross and nasty. Anyhoo.I managed to rescue her pee drenched stuff by soaking them in vinegar and baking soda before running them

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-64395920884725959082009-06-04T00:03:00.000-07:002009-06-04T00:06:16.127-07:00

Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-37277539784022183582009-05-30T14:46:00.000-07:002009-05-30T15:04:03.121-07:00

While walking with my two kids today, on a side walk next to a busy road, I heard a shout of "passing on your left!" only to be nearly plowed down by a cyclist going fast enough to move my hair with the breeze he created.Kudos to him for using green transportation, and for trying to warn me of his approach. And you know what? If there is no bike lane (which there should be everywhere) I really

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-34146433916400367102009-04-28T14:09:00.000-07:002009-04-28T14:37:15.558-07:00

Yay sunshine!! I usually do all of my garden planting at once, but today my son didn't want to stay outside long enough. I don't blame him, because I think he may have been too warm. I had him dressed in long sleeves and long pants, out of habit because of our endless winter. I had no idea it was actually shorts weather today.Still, I managed to turn the soil, and plant zucchini, cucumber, and

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-69476397437367965422009-04-07T14:16:00.000-07:002009-04-07T14:19:12.982-07:00

In my bid to pay tribute to all things green, here's another "smart packaging" pic. DH bought eggs from Superstore yesterday, and I noticed that they didn't come in styrofoam :)Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-29301957355903010632009-04-06T20:36:00.001-07:002009-04-06T20:42:05.799-07:00

I don't know if it's safe to start planting anything yet... I'm still not ready to put away the snow shovel, ha ha. But I was outside today, and inspired by these signs of spring... a strawberry plant starting to sprout and garlic shoots standing up...Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-64870530646843531462009-03-28T09:37:00.000-07:002009-03-28T09:48:20.336-07:00

Earth Hour 2009 is tonight, from 8:30-9:30 local time. At this point I'm planning to participate in some ways... like I'll turn down more lights than I would normally.I have a 6 yr old who is not fully comfortable falling asleep in the dark, so out of respect for her I'll more than likely leave the hall light on by her room. Chances are, DH will be on the couch watching TV, so I can easily turn

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-3832728588984287032009-03-16T09:37:00.000-07:002009-03-16T09:58:18.248-07:00

(This is why I don't throw away newspapers until I've read them ;)Here's a March 12th Vancouver Sun article about technology invented by professor Lorne Whitehead and being produced by a UBC research team that involves using sunlight to light offices, with a solar canopy and a series of mirrors to redirect sunlight into the depths of buildings where simple light from a window wouldn't

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-20577053137529829382009-03-15T11:07:00.000-07:002009-03-15T12:02:09.916-07:00

I've heard many times about grinding some citrus (like lemon or orange pieces) to clean the garburator, but hadn't considered the vinegar/baking soda option.In his column in today's Vancouver Sun, Shell Busey suggests the following:Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the garburator, then 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Close the drain, leave for eight hours, then carefully rinse with boiling water.I'm

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-52673782255573440992009-03-14T17:32:00.000-07:002009-03-14T17:50:30.438-07:00

It's green, and it sanitizes, degreases, kills athlete's foot, kills anthrax spores, kills salmonella, cleans toilets and sinks, increases the shelf life of produce, to name a few. It's ten times more effective than bleach at killing bacteria, and you can drink it.I want this stuff!!What is it? Electrolyzed salt water. Low voltage electricity can convert salt water to a very powerful, yet

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-21899894146282490282009-03-01T21:14:00.000-08:002009-03-01T21:28:39.093-08:00

We have the Brother Intellifax 770 fax machine. One day, in the midst of receiving a multiple page fax, I inadvertently stumbled upon another green/savings trick.Dang, the cartridge ran out, and oops I had no replacements left. Desperate and willing to try anything, I simply rewound the film back from one side of the cartridge to the other and re-inserted it into the fax machine. It worked like a

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-90138106340764668902009-02-28T18:24:00.000-08:002009-02-28T18:33:23.395-08:00

Apparently I'm specializing in photographing plastic bags ;) I think I feel compelled to do this as a way of recognizing organizations that are making a green effort. This one is from Save-On-Foods:Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-21287087475915218812009-02-24T13:04:00.000-08:002009-02-24T13:27:03.453-08:00

A few years ago, we bought this $100 dog bed for our husky that consisted of a zippered cover over a giant piece of foam. The cover is machine washable, but not so much for the foam (it's huge).We have cats, and one of them pees.(sigh)The first thing I did when we bought this $$$ piece of foam (sigh), was cover it with green garbage bags to protect it from the, uh, cat remnants. This involved

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-3645369646827970702009-02-21T16:40:00.000-08:002009-02-21T16:43:19.070-08:00

It's not quite as impressive as the London Drugs bag, but still a step in the right direction:Return to Fine Grind

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-6248043469711653662009-02-04T18:01:00.000-08:002009-02-04T18:03:38.789-08:00

____________________Return to Blog Scene By Jeanne

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-17678310916664572792009-02-02T16:51:00.000-08:002009-02-03T07:05:49.975-08:00

Here's a handy reference (in Canada), listed by province, of which municipalities will accept plastic bags for recycling:http://www.myplasticbag.ca/municipaldatabase/default.phpI knew that our neighbourhood was one of them, and have always included them in our blue bin, but have never separated them from the other plastics (oops ;) I now resolve to sort them, per the www.myplasticbag.ca

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-9469896111417474212009-01-30T10:20:00.000-08:002009-01-30T10:35:30.206-08:00

Several weeks ago, homes in Mission BC suffered a high voltage power surge, resulting in damaged appliances. The cause is unclear, but the bottom line is that many electrical devices that were plugged in at the time of the power surge are now no longer useable.When I read the list of items lost (in the article linked above), I can't help but think that typically not all would be used

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-26584225102844810042009-01-21T07:19:00.000-08:002009-01-21T07:30:40.559-08:00

It's tough to give up your car. Even "miss green me" finds the prospect of not driving across the Fraser River and taking the kids on the bus a little daunting.I usually don't have to drive because we're pretty local and "walkable" with all of our stuff, but on occasion, the car is a huge convenience. If given the choice between taking my kids in a carpool vs. transit, I'll grab our booster seats

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-47356781063866479582009-01-18T15:36:00.000-08:002009-01-18T15:39:43.694-08:00

Here's an eye opening article published in the Vancouver Sun yesterday, about the impending end to the "age of oil". The experts believe that if we're lucky, we may have only about 40 years worth left.Here's the link - it's definitely worth the read:http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/ending/1189119/story.htmlInteresting, to say the least...____________________Return to Blog Scene By Jeanne

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-4489963558541199432009-01-17T10:58:00.000-08:002009-01-17T11:10:05.844-08:00

Now's the time to get organized for this year's garden!! (Or start Christmas shopping? HA HA). I think I'll start with the garden.Over the next week I plan to:Inventory my seedsSchedule planting times in my day timerOrganize pots and soil for things I want to start indoors Make a shopping list It's a place to start, and it'll save me from what happened last year - I wasn't organized and started

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-69927633834621242202009-01-15T10:57:00.000-08:002009-01-15T11:06:53.304-08:00

Lately I've been noticing that my daughter's lunch has been coming back with her sandwich uneaten, still in its Disney Princess plastic container. The explanation, I was told, was that she couldn't get the lid open, forcing me to send her sandwich to school in Zip-loc baggies (which get too messy to be re-used), or plastic wrap.Ah-ha moment: my solution was to get a different kind of container -

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-65354370624488808522009-01-08T09:18:00.000-08:002009-01-08T09:27:26.067-08:00

Call me a newbie, but I didn't know you could root Rosemary. I just assumed it was too woody.A few weeks back, before our deluge of snow that buried my entire garden and everything else in sight, I plucked a few sprigs of Rosemary from the bush in my garden for some cooking I was doing in the kitchen. I had one sprig too many, and I popped it into a bud vase filled with water and left it on on

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-3403175133329059662009-01-06T13:57:00.000-08:002009-01-06T14:11:24.404-08:00

Ok, kids - you choose. Slip sliding away on slush, or sitting in the sled in a pool of rainfall.In the end I chose for them, and hung the sled up in the garage. My argument in favour of wearing snow pants even though it was(is!!) raining paid off, because they both slipped and ended up on their knees in slush several times. In the end, though, all things considered I think they stayed pretty

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-44880434131739008762009-01-05T21:57:00.000-08:002009-01-05T22:00:57.344-08:00

It wasn't so bad! An added bonus is that after pulling the sled with about 80 lbs of kids on it through slippy mucky slush, I feel like I've been to the gym ;-)Tomorrow should be interesting (not bad!! interesting!! ya, that's it) because it'll be wet, rainy, and all out NASTY (there, I said it ;-)Good thing we're only three blocks from school!!!____________________Return to Blog Scene By Jeanne

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-71721271372304786642009-01-05T07:08:00.000-08:002009-01-05T07:18:04.268-08:00

I don't think the snow is that bad yet, but when I let the dog in this morning from his quick jaunt outside, his back was wet, with no flakes. That means one thing: rain!!There's quite a bit of snow out there and it's unlikely to clear anytime today (although some of the walks that were shovelled yesterday might get back down to pavement). That means that the sled will be my mode of green

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-32061914022461144622009-01-04T23:49:00.000-08:002009-01-04T23:56:20.479-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted on this blog - caught up in all the holiday madness I guess :-)School starts again tomorrow, and I suppose I'll be my green sledding self in getting the kids there and back. It should be fun - ha ha - with all the rain we're supposed to have tonight. That will no doubt wreak havoc on the sidewalks.When you're transporting kids on foot, you need either all snow

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-37799770348815692872008-12-20T09:34:00.001-08:002008-12-20T09:51:50.408-08:00

Phew ;-)The outside temperature is currently -12C/10F. If we had our old windows, they would now have sheets of ice on the inside (frozen condensation), unless I had the furnace up to about 24 or 25 (75F).I went to high school in the interior of BC - my old hometown is currently at -33C/-27F. Houses there are built a little differently though - ALL the windows have two separate, independently

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-37219578654495778102008-12-18T12:41:00.000-08:002008-12-18T12:52:55.880-08:00

Green Deed #1: Lil' J and I went to get haircuts while A is in school, and we went on foot, with the toboggan. We arrived early and stopped at a nearby produce store to pick up some bananas and potatoes first.I had a big backpack, and J was bundled to the hilt, in layers including snow pants. He had fun :-) The only minor glitch was trying to decide what to do with the toboggan once we arrived at

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-40669851607208364122008-12-12T13:36:00.001-08:002008-12-12T14:10:24.673-08:00

I bought one of these (Pack & Roll box on wheels): http://www.amazon.co.uk/PACK-LARGE-FOLDING-BOOT-SHOPPING/dp/B0013UQQPY/ref=pd_sim_lp_1/279-4013353-0342744 ...recently, and love it. I bought it at Home Hardware and paid about the same as shown in the above link (it was about $30 Cdn.).It's durable plastic, so it doesn't matter if you're out in the rain (like I just was about :20 ago!). It has a

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-70214316490869772252008-12-09T10:14:00.001-08:002008-12-09T14:39:34.947-08:00

It's raining at the moment, so my mind naturally wandered to rain barrels, lol. When I did a quick Google, I was surprised at the variety of products that are available these days.Here's a quick recap of how rain barrels are beneficial and green:1) They reduce the amount of water that needs to be chemically treated (residential irrigation can account for as much as 40% of treated water

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-23264738492975004142008-12-06T11:43:00.001-08:002008-12-06T11:53:55.655-08:00

It's nice to see corporations getting into going green - and example is Steelcase (they manufacture office furniture). If you visit their website, they have a section on Steelcase sustainability, where they outline their corporate green initiatives.For example, under their "materials chemistry" section they talking about manufacturing their product with the following in mind:1) Safe and healthy

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-49321578605101927812008-12-05T15:58:00.000-08:002008-12-05T16:19:28.501-08:00

When it comes to decorating for the holiday season, the best choice for Christmas lights seems to be LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Here's a brief recap of some of their advantages:Cost Effective - the initial expense is recouped over time, with less wattage used and fewer replacement bulbs needed.Cool - LEDs cause no heat build-up, therefor reducing risk of fire.Durable - LED are solid with no

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-9646709226751892412008-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:002008-12-08T17:26:57.407-08:00

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Styrofoam can be used to aerate compost. Because it doesn't decompose or absorb water, if you break it into small pieces and mix it in with your compost it will help to increase air access.I did a quick google to try and learn more and found a good article at blogonsmog.com that covers this and some other suggestions as to what you can do with Styrofoam:1)

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-87572390026297504772008-11-27T20:24:00.000-08:002008-11-27T20:28:20.463-08:00

In my Saving Money blog I posted about a Shopper's Drug Mart sale on toilet paper ... what I didn't mention was that one of the brands on sale (the brand I bought) is Bio Life toilet tissue. It's made from 100% recycled material and it's septic safe.Economic and green :-)____________________Return to Jeanne's Blog List

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-40158570754915197422008-11-26T20:33:00.000-08:002008-11-26T20:53:05.212-08:00

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, microwave ovens are the cheapest to use. Second are gas ovens, and the most expensive to run are electric.As an example, the institute compares a meal that can be cooked in a microwave in :15, or in a gas or electric oven in :60 (the same meal). The costs are as follows:Microwave oven: 3 centsGas oven: 7 centsElectric oven: 17 centsToaster oven: 8

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-69977594664451892202008-11-25T11:17:00.000-08:002008-11-25T11:30:02.280-08:00

I was at an Esquires coffee shop recently and ordered a small Americano. I usually bring a travel mug but I'd forgotten mine, so had to use the disposable cup provided by the coffee shop.The Barista, no doubt trying to do a good job and follow the instructions she'd been given, gave me a paper sleeve to ensure that the hot drink didn't burn my hands. However because it was a small sized cup, she

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-44504670470806428952008-11-22T21:42:00.001-08:002008-11-22T21:56:48.682-08:00

The percentage of aluminum recovered is currently 54% in the US - so just under half of the cans distributed end up in landfills.That was a shock to me - I had no idea so many cans are still not being recycled. I'm guessing that the majority of this happens when consumers are out and don't have easy access to recycling bins - they must then simply throw out their cans rather than transport them

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-11370168734800383222008-11-20T11:05:00.000-08:002008-11-20T11:12:31.178-08:00

Did I mention that green is my favourite colour?(lol)Here's a stat from my gas bill that sums up the results of being energy conscious:"Average Daily Usage GJ"Nov 07 - 0.28Nov 08 - 0.18That's a decrease of about 36%. I'll take it!!____________________Return to Jeanne's Blog List

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-3757760317779509952008-11-18T19:36:00.000-08:002008-11-18T19:49:54.917-08:00

I was volunteer Mom at J's preschool the other day and was a little shocked at the waste.While I can understand using paper towels for the kids to dry their hands (it must be a germy place!) I don't get why they don't have dish towels to dry with after washing the art supplies. EVERYTHING was washed and dryed using paper towels.Then there was the garbage - everything went in there. It would have

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-15015848600459873732008-11-14T14:27:00.000-08:002008-11-14T14:35:04.140-08:00

They're really healthy looking, at least! My poor sad little indoor carrot crop... nice and green and perky, but still the size of... well, the same size as they were when I wrote this post. The greens are still about 2 inches tall.Meanwhile I've been buying carrots at the store...

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-56413315973158155662008-11-11T17:29:00.000-08:002008-11-11T17:38:37.544-08:00

I noticed it today - the absence of background noise from the television set.Something was missing... an element of underlying chaos. It nagged at me ("why is everything so still today?") until I figured out what it was... ahhh!! The TV is off!!Don't get me wrong - I'm not ready to cancel the cable and sell the set on Craigslist, but as I type this the kids are eating their dinner, and instead of

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-85327285973916981762008-11-07T07:22:00.000-08:002008-11-07T07:29:49.429-08:00

The other day walking home I could smell the aroma of wood burning: a fireplace lit to ward off the chill of our fall weather. It took me back to the cozy, lazy days of my childhood when we had a fireplace (ahhh!!). Memories of camping marshmallow roasts came flooding back. I miss wood burning fires!In my Google (is that a verb? ;-) to learn more about the environmental pros and cons of such, I

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-2304129969975025572008-11-06T10:25:00.000-08:002008-11-06T10:36:57.659-08:00

Ahhh... peace and quiet!!! For how long I have no idea - I'm home with a four year old!He is playing with Play-Doh, and I've turned the TV off while he's doing it. So far he has not noticed, and hopefully will continue to enjoy the Play-Doh.I've been more and more proactive about turning off the TV unless it's specifically being watched. We no longer have it as background noise, and personally I

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-71845742881087438242008-11-04T06:43:00.000-08:002008-11-04T07:18:13.407-08:00

Help... I need to vent!!!Why is it that when people see me walk everywhere, they react with either sympathy or amazement?In the first place, walking (for those of us blessed with normal health) is NOT difficult.When it rains, you dress for the rain. If you can't afford new waterproof boots, plastic bags (inside where no one can see ;-) work amazingly well. Small fold up umbrellas can be purchased

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-74113473040661169062008-11-02T22:13:00.000-08:002008-11-02T22:33:25.994-08:00

Since posting this post a couple of months ago, my indoor carrot crop has not changed. I'm not kidding you - it's as if they're frozen in time. They still look like the beginnings of carrots - the greens are starting to take shape even thought the roots have not developed into anything edible yet.I wonder if I've watered them enough, or if I need another type of seed. I've read a few websites

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-23675684502254185922008-11-01T09:54:00.000-07:002008-11-01T10:02:46.675-07:00

Last night (Halloween), after our kids were in bed, my husband took our dog for his nightly walk while I curled up on the couch with a cozy blanket at the TV remote to enjoy the quiet after a busy night.When he returned, he was amazed at the noise level difference between inside the house and out. He said there were fireworks going off everywhere, and that it was still noisy and bustling

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-40435205973894497522008-10-31T07:19:00.001-07:002008-10-31T07:29:55.320-07:00

Mwah ha ha ha... (eeeek!!!)I consider myself to be more green than average, but for a one day a year event I'm willing to let my green standards slide a bit. Life is about balance, after all.Then it occurred to me that we're already pretty green in our approach to Halloween. Check it out:1) Our kids carry the same pumpkin shaped buckets every year.2) They're wearing the same costumes as last year

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-59732245029469954772008-10-28T16:51:00.000-07:002008-10-28T17:03:37.094-07:00

OK... I got the mulch part right, but apparently I trimmed them too soon.Preparing strawberries for winter involves little more than covering them with hay or some other breathable mulch that will give them some protection from the frost.I trimmed mine as well, but I'm reading now that this is not always beneficial, as this can stimulate new growth which can be damaged by the cold (makes sense).

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-63564229451680297312008-10-25T23:47:00.000-07:002008-10-25T23:55:31.284-07:00

Ahhhh!!! Warm house in the chilly autumn :-)Not only are the new Energy Star windows good at keeping the cold out, they're also good at containing the heat.My Dad is visiting and staying in our basement suite, so I have the electric baseboard heater turned up to 20C (68F) for his comfort. I am noticing that the entire house is warmer, whereas for his visits prior to the installation of the new

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-25567035193044980062008-10-25T07:56:00.001-07:002008-10-25T08:10:30.163-07:00

Amazon's new wireless reading device, Kindle, is a way for avid bookworms to indulge in their favourite hobby and save trees at the same time.It is an electronic device, for which you can buy memory cards, onto which you can download and keep books. Instead of having heaps and heaps of paper, you have one hand held tool in which to store all of your reading material.Not only is it green for not

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-25301319487187059972008-10-20T06:50:00.000-07:002008-10-20T07:00:55.447-07:00

You bet!!!!Since having our new windows installed, I can leave the heat turned off all day, and the room temperature will dip by only .5 to 1 degree (10 degrees colder outside). With the old glass, the house would have gotten down at least 3 or 4 degrees, if not more.In fact, last night when Heat Junkie Hubby came home, I forgot to turn the furnace back on (usually I scoot over to the thermostat

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-37063669406767057272008-10-17T11:19:00.000-07:002008-10-17T11:30:23.313-07:00

Arrrrgh...Maybe it was me not paying enough attention or maybe I wasn't given adequate information, but check this out:in order to qualify for an Energy Star window rebate, you have to have an energy assessment done on your home BEFORE and after installation of your new windows.(Let me reiterate: before AND after...not just after). In other words, if you do what I did and wait until the work is

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-34809624830157055032008-10-16T17:15:00.000-07:002008-10-16T18:03:03.404-07:00

A Vancouver based company called EPI Environmental Technologies has created an additive to plastic bags that makes them biodegradable. These bags have been sold for years to chains such as Wal-Mart (US), T&T Supermarket (Canada), Thrifty Foods (Canada), The Body Shop (international), Roots (US) and Tesco (UK), to name a few.My Mother-In-Law told me recently that she had an older plastic bag from

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-56876817957049357852008-10-13T07:36:00.000-07:002008-10-13T07:48:58.406-07:00

On this Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for...1) the beautiful sage green walls in my living room? (lol, ok that's not earth friendly ;-)Start again:1) the large yard we have that has room for a veggie garden2) the fact that we have a yard so it's easy to compost3) the new windows we're getting next week that will enable us to keep the heat turned down more this winter4) the curbside recycling

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-69911020146125949342008-10-08T15:54:00.000-07:002008-10-08T15:57:15.109-07:00

This one's kinda fun... a jacket with a solar module for charging your iPod. I could have used one of those when we were camping, lol.No need for batteries or an electrical outlet - just good ol' sunshine. Now if only I could get it to make dinner for me too...

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-58970765927637685672008-10-07T23:42:00.000-07:002008-10-08T00:11:00.615-07:00

No single initiative can ever please everyone.Take the planned wind turbine for the top of Grouse Mountain, for example. This is a green source of energy (really? something green?), and there are actually people who oppose it.The main two arguments appear to be aesthetics, and injury to birds and bats.(Um... what?)OK, (sigh). I'll go ahead an address the aesthetic issue. Have they seen photos of

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-27692016704105125622008-10-07T07:03:00.000-07:002008-10-07T07:26:03.847-07:00

There appears to be an answer in sight to the high costs associated with commuting to and from work: more and more companies are considering telecommuting as a viable option.It's one thing to surf the net and find obscure articles about telework and its pros and cons, but to see an article in your newspaper naming major companies who are adopting the trend is really a good sign.I actually know

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-48545446309411785142008-10-06T21:10:00.000-07:002008-10-07T06:52:22.621-07:00

We get new (double paned, LowE2) windows installed on the 16th, but meanwhile it's not so toasty being green!I'm huddled over my laptop trying to keep warm, thinking about all the $$$ I'm saving keeping the furnace off. Hubby thinks I'm nuts. He doesn't handle the cold well. What the hell, once he chisels the ice out of his moustache he should be fine.Wimp.

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-85815078279263260582008-10-04T09:09:00.000-07:002008-10-04T09:22:37.983-07:00

This is really interesting... check out this post at www.green-blog.org. They talk about the fact that each year, we consume more resources than the planet produces each year, so we end up finishing each year by dipping into the resources of the future (kind of like spending more than you earn, and making ends meet with credit while you accumulate more debt).They refer to the point in the year

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-45886604230870435392008-10-03T09:58:00.000-07:002008-10-03T10:08:06.065-07:00

Costco... gotta love that place. Stuff stuff and more stuff, and deals to be had (if you keep on top of prices).It never occurred to me before, until Susan from http://www.bagsontherun.com/ mentioned it in a post, that Costco doesn't use plastic bags (unless you purchase meat, and this is for sanitary reasons). The rest of your goods must be brought home in used boxes, which they'll provide, or

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-79284971614495130042008-09-28T17:42:00.000-07:002008-09-28T17:52:38.462-07:00

Ha! I was right. (kind of).My hubby and I were trying to figure out whether or not the new dimmer switches we'd installed would actually save $$$.My concern was that the current (and therefor the cost) would stay constant and just the resistance would be altered. Hubby didn't seem to know either way. Neither one of us are electricians.Turns out that the old technology (called variable resistance)

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-56911894520561873922008-09-27T17:19:00.000-07:002008-09-27T17:45:52.366-07:00

I love my dog - he helps me go green:1) Let your dog clean your plates (literally, or scrape the food into his dog dish). Some restraint is necessary here because a dog that is overfed table scraps can become unhealthy pretty quickly.2) Cook, and buy, less. I know, I know... this is really hard: "better to have too much than to run out." Hmmm. Maybe, as a society, we eat too much anyway? Dunno

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-16860310910670015302008-09-25T07:21:00.000-07:002008-09-25T07:25:15.321-07:00

Wow... nickle and diming really does add up. I've been obsessive about conserving electricity, and this month's hydro bill shows our consumption at roughly half of what it was last time I checked, putting us within the low rate category for BC Hydro's proposed two tier rate system.Now if only we were on the brink of warm and bright summer, instead of cold dark winter...(sigh!!!)

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-57056000589977844902008-09-24T23:17:00.000-07:002008-09-24T23:27:03.164-07:00

Ha! I knew that banning water from vending machines was a, um, "less than perfect" solution (don't get me started on that one again ;-) According to a Global TV news story tonight, plastic water bottles don't take up much of our landfills at all, and most are already reused in British Columbia.Here's a breakdown they gave for some of the local landfill contents:wood waste - 22 %paper and

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-54019241015356320242008-09-22T17:52:00.000-07:002008-09-22T18:16:42.194-07:00

The first day of autumn is here with a vengeance!!Ok not quite, but boy is it cooling down. I may have to plug in the electric oil heater in the bedroom to deter Hubby from turning on the furnace ;-)He's not totally "ungreen" though, in spite of his trigger happy ways with utilities. He's the one who wants to replace our windows. If we did that, then we wouldn't have to turn our furnace on as

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-46855428092207869322008-09-20T00:45:00.000-07:002008-09-20T00:52:22.062-07:00

Translink is letting elementary and secondary school students ride for free from October 6th to 10th in honour of International Walk to School Week. This will be the second year that Translink has shown their support for this green initiative.Thanks Translink, and here's to many more years to come!

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-67491453371514304232008-09-18T00:32:00.000-07:002008-09-18T00:57:58.097-07:00

Today at Costco we bought some compact fluorescent light bulbs.Recently we've installed some dimmer switches in a couple of rooms (as well as two new bathroom fans complete with timers... LOVE the timers :-) We were looking forward to replacing our old light bulbs with the new CFLs, but apparently you can't use the type we bought with dimmer technology.However you CAN use them in recessed

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-52965787343839544452008-09-10T17:12:00.000-07:002008-09-10T17:19:02.855-07:00

Ha!! Drunk, drowned fruit flies... heh heh.Fortunately I didn't have to waste too much wine to catch them ;-) Hubby's beer I can live without (blech) but catching the flies doesn't work quite as well with beer as it does with the wine.You pour about 1/2 cup of wine in a glass, dip your finger in a teeny bit of dish soap, and then touch the surface of the wine (the soap breaks the surface tension

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-40601349989522155732008-09-09T13:12:00.000-07:002008-09-09T13:26:56.737-07:00

Somehow or another the lid to my balcony compost tub got sealed shut (I know who did it, but I'm not naming names ;-)This is NOT cool. Ordinarily I leave it cracked open, which allows the flies to come and go without accumulating (the practice of leaving things sealed so that fruit flies don't get in never seems to work for me - I guess they sneak in when I open the lid to add compost?)Anyway, I

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-40221004176658440262008-09-07T17:53:00.000-07:002008-09-07T17:59:35.529-07:00

Hey!!! They're starting to look like carrots!!! (I'm referring to the seeds I planted in the window box in my laundry room).Well... let me clarify. If you didn't know what carrot tops looked like before they're at the "big and bushy like in the store" stage, you wouldn't know what these where. However if you've grown carrots before and know what they look like when the greens are about an inch

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-43095306950642332812008-09-04T14:30:00.000-07:002008-09-04T14:34:18.722-07:00

Yikes!!! Just checked our hydro bill, and our consumption is about TWICE the upper limit for tier one. How on earth can I cut our electricity use in HALF? Sheesh.I already hang most of the clothes to dry, and I'm the "turn the furnace down" drill sergeant. Hmmm. I guess it's going to be a nickel and dime adventure...I hereby accept the challenge!!!(wish me luck!! eeek!!)

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-1260045235322266242008-09-03T22:45:00.000-07:002008-09-03T23:07:55.643-07:00

My ability to make lemonade out of lemons with this one will be tested: BC Hydro is about to implement a new billing system whereby they charge for services on two different levels based on the customer's energy consumption.Tier-one power could be priced at about 6.15 cents per kilowatt hour, as opposed to tier two power, at 7.21 cents per kwh in October, increasing to 8.27 cents per kwh in April

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-18905042082686299462008-08-29T17:10:00.000-07:002008-08-29T17:16:42.534-07:00

I'm the only person in the house to turns off the TV when I leave the room. It's not rocket science - it's just one button. Even my four year old can handle one button.I've tried and tried and tried to get the others to follow my lead, but nope!! The TV yammers on and on to and empty room. I've pretty much given up on training the others - I just wait until they leave and then turn it off

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-52016288394393010542008-08-27T17:12:00.000-07:002008-08-27T17:18:21.134-07:00

I just planted garlic bulbs in my garden - this is my first year trying them. In the past I've always just planted stuff in the spring and waited to see what would grown. The idea of starting to grow something at the end of August seems bizarre to me, but apparently that's what you do with garlic.My plot looks quite a bit different now than it did a couple of months ago... all the radish and pea

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-26283903952030053952008-08-23T22:38:00.001-07:002008-08-23T22:41:34.737-07:00

It's a good thing I'm not living off my strawberry crop, that's for sure:

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-45675820172484293032008-08-21T16:17:00.000-07:002008-08-21T16:25:16.744-07:00

After returning from a week on the Sunshine Coast of BC, I just want to comment on the difference in the ocean water between the lower mainland and further up the coast.I don't have much time for a lengthy post (my oven timer is beeping at me!!), but I feel compelled to comment that even though our campsite beach was not even halfway up the coast of the province, the water there was dramatically

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298731446246423810.post-24068856882748710872008-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:002008-08-10T08:00:01.840-07:00

....after August 18th. We're away on a family vacation until then, so I'm posting this same message on all of my blogs.(I thought I'd be organized and write some posts and post date them for while I'm gone, but that never happened. Life got in the way, I guess ;-)See you soon!

Jeanne Ellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096040179637686179noreply@blogger.com0