Happy Earth Day!

When we moved to Kansas City last August, I instantly realized that I had taken western North Carolina for granted. Since moving back, I've made more of an effort to get out and enjoy this beautiful part of the country I'm so blessed to live in.

The weekend after we put Athena to sleep, we went to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and hiked the trail there. It's an easy two loops totaling 2 miles. From the USDA Forest Service site: This forest is one of the Nation’s most impressive remnants of old-growth forest. The forest contains magnificent examples of more than 100 tree species, many over 400-years-old, and some more than 20 feet in circumference and 100 feet tall.  

There are some other trails that branch off of the main trail, but we decided to go back and do those once the trees leaf out. Oh! I almost forgot! There are all these warnings posted..."This is an old-growth forest. Beware of falling limbs and trees." This is NO JOKE. We watched a tree fall not even 15 minutes into our hike. If our hearts weren't already pumping from the hike, they were then!

Canopy shot - trees just starting to leaf out

My boys

Q: Why did the Fungi leave the party? A: There wasn't mushroom. 

Trillium grandiflorum

Coming Soon!

My adventures in backyard chickens!

I love my little town.

I said to my husband this morning, "It's days like yesterday that I really love where we live."  He agreed.

Yesterday was the 15th annual Greening Up the Mountains festival.  From downtownsylva.org: "This annual spring festival, named for the way the “spring green” creeps up the mountainsides, began as a celebration of Earth Day and has now evolved into a celebration of our local economy, sustainability, and traditional heritage crafts."

Sadly, in my 6 years here, this was my first year partaking in the celebration.   We started with the Greening Up the Mountains 5k where we got these awesome shirts:

We then headed over to the festival where we entered a raffle to win a 55 gallon rain barrel...and WON!  I'm so excited.  The trash can rain barrel we made just didn't hack it.  In fact, last weekend it busted up the side so we were in dire need of a new one.  I'll post pictures later when we have it set up.  In the meantime, here are some other pictures from the GUtM festival:

I wasn't quite sure what to think of this rack(?).  And they had several.  I giggled a little bit.

 Lunch was YUMMY!  Indian fry bread topped with lots of yummy stuff.

Doing my part to save the planet.  Are you doing yours?

We couldn't leave without getting some kettle corn.  :)

This used to be the county courthouse until a new building was built several years ago.  They recently did a major renovation and now it's the public library.  It's amazing in there.  Especially compared to where the library used to be housed.

I had to get a picture of this beast.  His name is Jake.  His brother Elwood was at home.  He's the biggest pitbull I've ever seen.  

That night we went out to Soul Infusion aka "The Tea House", hung out with friends, ate good food, listened to some jam bands, and sampled some great brews out of Tuckaseegee Brewing Co-op's kayakerator.



Here's to good times and great friends.

Crunch Time!

Me releasing a Carolina northern flying squirrel - you can barely see it on the tree there.

• 95% done
• I'd like to submit my thesis to my committee members on Friday - might end up being Monday.
• My defense is next Friday at 3pm.
• I think I'll celebrate by taking a nice long hike in the woods.

Feeling Perturbed

I'm a little annoyed right now.  I don't want to be skinny, I want to be healthy.  Part of being healthy is feeling good.  Part of feeling good is eating well. 

I began cooking from a low-fat cookbook I "stole" from our nutrition intern--it wasn't really hers, it was a cookbook left over from the registered dietician our university used to have.  I've made three recipes from this book so far:  broccoli shrimp linguine, fish stew, & beef burritos.  The beef burritos are the best so far, but they all leave a lot of be desired.

I'm just peeved that I can't find healthy food I enjoy eating (that I make myself).  I was asked this question on Saturday:  since you've lived in so many different places, what's your favorite food?  My response, "Well, I just enjoy all food in general."  For someone who enjoys food and would like to eat healthy, it's painful to not be able to find a satisfying low-cal, low-fat cookbook.  Do I need to retrain my taste buds?  Does satisfying low-cal, low-fat exist?

I also want to throw it out there that I'm contemplating the idea of going vegetarian again.  My husband will wring my neck when he reads this.  I've just started feeling really guilty again about eating meat.  We drove past a truck full of featherless chickens on the road when it was cold outside and I thought: that chicken is probably on it's way to a plant right now where it will be prepared for my consumption.  Note:  I'm not against meat eating altogether.  If I did decide to go vege again, I would be okay with consuming organic, free-range etc. animals--or meat from a deer my cousin shot.  And then I saw a commercial about over fishing.  Icing on the cake. 

Anyway, that's where I am with food right now.  Gotta love the inner conflict!  P.S.  Little known fact about me: I love tofu when it is cooked correctly. 

Live Clean, Live Well

Today was our Earth & Wellness Day.  I don't know precisely why we combined Wellness in with Earth, but it certainly makes sense.

I got to hang out at our table playing cornhole & ladder golf and also got to visit the different tables to be schooled on either 'earth' or 'wellness' and converse with lots of interesting people.

I was most impressed with the guy who turns beer bottles into glasses.  So cool.  I also started to entertain the idea of being a staff leader for the Service Learning trips that are taken by students in the fall and spring--essentially they're alternative fall/spring breaks.  I'm definitely at a point in my life where I feel I need to take more trips, do new things, and be more adventurous.  Hence the running endeavor.  There was one CSA there and I'm trying to get C excited about it.  I understand his concern.  It's $250 to receive a box of veggies every two weeks during the summer.  It sounds steep, but in my opinion, well worth it--local, organic food while supporting local farmers.  I promised him I'd try to find something cheaper, but if not, I'm sorry, but I'm going for it.       

What else?  We went for a two mile run today.  I didn't run the whole time but I definitely felt stronger than I've felt in a while.  The race is on Saturday.  EEK!  I'm excited though.  So once we get through that and get through the end of the year party for all our staff on Sunday, we're home free and I can enjoy some time off to relax.  Until May 10th when we start our 10k training.  Oh yeah...you heard me. 

My Calling?

My husband and I went on a hike with a friend this weekend.  It was absolutely awesome to be back outside again.  I couldn't tell you the last time I went on a hike it's been so long.

After my field research was complete I shipped my hiking boots back to the manufacturer because the seams were coming undone and I only had them a couple of months.  I never did get new boots, however, because they're just so blame expensive.  I feel like once I get a new pair I'll feel whole again.

I went looking back through my pictures of Belize and the river work I did.  Such great times.  I miss it so much and really look forward to doing field work again.  A GREAT feeling to have considering I went through a long period of time when I didn't want to think about hiking or going into a forest or anything.

I love love love love love the work I'm doing in the rec center right now and the people with whom I'm working.  Everyone is very mindful of their "wellness" and generally upbeat.  I can't imagine my life without fitness and positive people now.

I'll have to try to find some way to meld the two together.

P.S. My friend over at Wandering Thoughts wrote about having a glass of wine while working on her prospectus.  I tried that tonight and it didn't work so well.  My written words have a certain slant and letters keep getting transposed.  Perhaps I should work up to a full glass?  :)   

The life of a married woman

1. I cut off my hair. It's chin length now. I took pictures to post, but I'm too tired lazy to post them.

2. Remember the website alice.com that I blogged about a while ago? Well, I've continued to buy my household items from them & I love it. Especially after the shipment I got today.

First, the packages arrive faster than a speeding bullet. I ordered on Saturday & it got here Wednesday. Three business days. Pretty good when you don't pay for shipping...ever.

AND...AND...get this...I got samples with this latest shipment. Sun Crystals *eh*, Boogie Wipes *uh, okay?*, and A FULL CAN OF CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY ODOR ELIMINATOR, CLEANER, & STAIN REMOVER. I'll be on this high for a while. When you have 2 dogs & a cat & get an entire can of carpet cleaner for free, it's a glorious thing. It says it's made from all natural ingredients, pet safe, & 100% biodegradable, but I never put much weight on that.

That's all for today...signing out.

Doing my part

I recycle.

I use rechargeable batteries.

I use reusable grocery bags.

I made a feeble attempt at a garden. This year will be better, I declare!

I have a compost pile.

I reuse.

I make eco-conscious shopping decisions (most of the time).

I use plastic containers for my bag lunch instead of ziploc bags.

I (mostly--I won't lie) use fabric cloths instead of paper towels. One roll lasts for months.

I have moved to the funky light bulbs (used up all my old standard ones).

And now, my big (or little) move is to natural cleaning products. My fiance says, "We're out of Scrubbing Bubbles! Put it on the list!" Little did he know, I have a plan. When "natural tub cleaner" is typed into a Google search, this is what pops up first. And as I expected, vinegar and baking soda do the trick. Not surprising since these two products are used often in cleaning. Think of the money saved! Think of the satisfaction gained by knowing crap isn't going down the drain! *sigh*

Now there's something that I've wrestled with for a while. Instead of completely replacing everything (bulbs, appliances, cleaning products), I use them until they're gone and then switch to more eco-friendly options. And boy do I feel guilty! Why is that?? Why, after all the reducing, reusing, and recycling I do, do I feel guilty for using my chemical laden cleaning products that I still have?! I'm blaming it on the media.

I've come to this conclusion: this is what works for me and I'm not changing a thing.

I know that it gets tiring hearing "Green is the new black" over and over AND OVER AND OVER. On Oprah yesterday (she drives me nuts sometimes) she was floored by the massive (size of TX she kept repeating) swirl of trash in the ocean. Really? You're JUST now aware of this? Just like with the puppy mills. She was flabberghasted and swore she'd only adopt from then on! Really? You're JUST now aware of this? Anyway, she has tons of money so I guess it's okay.

I guess I get upset because it seems like being eco-friendly has be done a certain way. Go replace all your bulbs. Go recycle everything that can be recycled...and if your city doesn't recycle it, find some place that will. Create a rooftop garden. Get rid of your old appliances and buy only energy efficient ones. Install a digital thermostat. Ride your bike to work. The list goes on and on. I say screw everything you're supposed to do. Do what you can. Can't remember those reusable grocery bags? That's quite alright...carpool to work tomorrow instead. Can't afford to get all new energy efficient appliances? Buy just one. Or whatever little thing you can do.

It's like trying to become something your not...it just won't work.

Don't want to get rid of all your non-eco-friendly cleaning products? Use them until they're gone, then replace with green options.

Perhaps I have it all wrong...people really are just giving suggestions and really would like to see a minute change and it's my own self that's bringing out this crazy feeling of guilt.

I'm ending it there. Because now I'm all confused and can't make heads or tails of this post. Ha!

The animals save the planet

I love these!

Being green

The things with which people come up! (An aside: that's such a goofy sentence, but you're not supposed to end sentences with a preposition.) At any rate: the Twist and Spout is a neat idea to reuse your soda and water bottles. I wouldn't benefit from it, however, since I don't ever have any plastic water or soda bottles. A neat idea nontheless!