PRAIRIE DREAMS, Greensburg Kansas

Explinations.. sort of....

2009-09-15T08:41:00.004-05:00

I've spent most of the summer holed up in the house. Depression, it seems... no money to go to anyone who could actually diagnose that... I apologize for disappearing...

Lauren and her boyfriend moved in here... 5 people in 800 sq. feet is just a bit much...

I went almost 6 months without my truck... totally dependent on Rick to pay bills,(I never saw any money, nor did the checking account) and he wouldn't ever get it fixed, but I finally begged enough he reluctantly did... so now I have wheels at least... lots of bills he didn't pay, too, so I'm trying to get our finances back on track...

While I was "out of it" no one did anything but accumulate things, and the house is a mess - can't find anything and there is stuff everywhere, what packrats... so this month I'm cleaning out and organizing everything... pretty theraputic to just grab everything in sight and throw it in a trashbag, hehe...
I've started to go out and take pictures, too, so that helps... not back to normal, but I"m better... Thinking about getting a job, we need the extra income with two extra mouths to feed..

I"m starting a new blog... Prairie Dreams II, (original, eh?) and all my others will remain up for links etc. The new blog should be out today or tomorrow...

David Headrick for President... he's got my vote

2009-08-25T22:49:00.001-05:00

Had to come back and share this, if anyone ever stops here anymore.. LOVE this guy...

Thank you....

2009-07-30T10:48:00.002-05:00

Um... ok, well I think this just has to be the end of the line for Prairie Dreams.. it started 2 years ago tomorrow, and it ends here...

It's run its course, and I'm moving on to other things... when I get to where I'm going I'll send out a notice, if anyone wants to know :)
I just can't get the inspiration for any of my blogs anymore... I"m really sorry...

Thank you all for being such fabulous readers - and friends. I hope to keep in touch with all of you, and promise to start reading blogs again!

Thanks again... take care...

Anita

Real journalists are getting few and far between.....

2009-07-18T02:05:00.004-05:00

Wind Topples Wall at Greensburg Schools Building Site

2009-07-13T23:54:00.004-05:00

See Article HERE

A stray thunderstorm packing straight winds of up to 90 m.p.h. toppled a section of a concrete block wall at the site of new Greensburg School late Friday afternoon. According to USD 422 Supt Darin Headrick the storm hit around 6 p.m. and was “pretty intense for four or five minutes.” The wall is to serve as a divider between the primary gymnasium and the rest of the school building. Headrick said it’s too early to determine the degree to which the mishap will set back the timetable for completion of the school. Work was on pace for the facility to be ready to open for classes a year from next month.

I head that the National Weather Service said they clocked the wind at 99 mph... Rick and I stood on the front porch on the north side of the house and watched huge things blowing around.. it was pretty scary, even though I knew the actual storm was already past... this was at the tail end of the system...

New video

2009-07-13T09:39:00.001-05:00

a new video added today to YouTube... someone drove through Greensburg in February of this year just shooting video.. not real good quality(actually made me kind of dizzy, lol), but it gives you some sense of how it looks to drive around Greensburg... this was 6 months ago, and we have some more construction since then, but it's still pretty much like this in a lot of areas in town...

http://video.asterpix.com/v/387667071/greensburg-kansas/

2009-07-11T16:32:00.003-05:00

Promises...

2009-07-10T19:12:00.003-05:00

After a tiny little thunder shower came through and delivered a surprising 80 mph wind (they are speculating as to whether it was a "microburst") I captured this gorgeous rainbow, taken from the road in front of my mom's house. I love how the streaks of rain make the sky look...
(click to see larger)

New article on wind farm...

2009-07-10T08:05:00.001-05:00

Greensburg, Kansas, which was devastated by a natural disaster in 2007, will soon be powered by the force that nearly destroyed it: wind. Groundbreaking for the 12.5-megawatt (MW) Greensburg Wind Farm is scheduled for summer 2009, and the facility could be in operation the following year.

Article HERE

Not your ordinary greenhouse...

2009-07-10T08:03:00.003-05:00

Want to know what the heck this is?
Check out the article HERE

Moisture Sensor

2009-07-09T08:13:00.001-05:00

About 50% of home water usage goes towards the lawn. There is no real benefit to over-watering. In fact, it weakens the grass. Excess moisture gives the grass no incentive to grow deeper roots. This leaves your grass open to pests and disease.

Most people over-water simply because they do not know any better. How much water does your lawn need? If you don't know the answer to that question, then you should consider installing a moisture sensor.

More information HERE

50%!? Does that shock anyone but me?

10 Overlooked Low-Tech Ways of Keeping Your Home Cool

2009-07-08T18:28:00.002-05:00

Ok, I snagged this from treehugger.com, which is a very reputible site even though my readers seem to doubt it... I think this article is controversy-free enough.

You all know that my favorite "green" is the low-tech stuff, a lot of which our ancestors knew about before us... check out these great tips:

_________________________

Summer is here and the air is full of the the sound of whining air conditioners, all seriously sucking kilowatts. Yet much of that air conditioning load could be reduced or the air conditioning season shortened if we did simple things, many of them common before air conditioning was common in North America. Here are some low-tech tips for keeping cool.

The best ideas are those that keep the heat out of your home in the first place, rather than paying to pump it out after it gets in.
1. Use awnings.

According to the Washington Post, The Department of Energy estimates that awnings can reduce solar heat gain—the amount temperature rises because of sunshine—by as much as 65 percent on windows with southern exposures and 77 percent on those with western exposures. Your furniture will last longer, too.

We noted in Planet Green last spring that this can translate into a saving of cooling energy of 26 percent in hot climates, and 33 percent in more temperate climates where it might even make air conditioning unneccessary.

2. Plant A Tree.

I don't own an air conditioner. The house immediately to the south does it for us, completely shading the south side of our house. What it misses, a huge ancient maple in its front yard gets, so in winter I get a lot of sun in my window, and in summer I am always in shade. A tree is as sophisticated as any electronic device around; it lets the sun through in winter and grows leaves in summer to block it.

Geoffrey Donovan studied it in Sacramento, and calculated the savings.

"Everyone knows that shade trees cool a house. No one is going to get a Nobel Prize for that conclusion," says the study co-author, Geoffrey Donovan. "But this study gets at the details: Where should a tree be placed to get the most benefits? And how exactly do shade trees impact our carbon footprint?"

Find out in Planet Green: Be Cool and Plant A Tree
3. Plant Vines.

Frank Lloyd Wright once said "a doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines." It turns out he could have been a mechanical engineer, for it is surprising how effective vines are at keeping a house cool. With the new weatherization grants, the salesmen are out peddling ground source heat pumps to keep you cool for less, but really, free is better.

Vines such as ivy, russian-vine and virgina creeper grow quickly and have an immediate effect; according to Livingroofs.org.

Climbers can dramatically reduce the maximum temperatures of a building by shading walls from the sun, the daily temperature fluctuation being reduced by as much as 50%.Together with the insulation effect, temperature fluctuations at the wall surface can be reduced from between –10°/14°F to 60°C/140°F to between 5°C/41°F and 30°/86°F. Vines also cool your home through envirotranspiration, described in our post Be Cool and Plant A Tree.

More in Planet Green: Plant Vines; It is like a second skin for your house.

4. Tune your Windows

The windows on your home are no just holes in the wall that you open or close, they are actually part of a sophisticated ventilation machine. It is another "Oldway"—People used to take it for granted that you tune them for the best ventilation, but in this thermostat age we seem to have forgotten how.

For instance, everyone knows that heat rises, so if you have high windows and open them when it hot inside, the hot air will vent out. But it can be a lot more sophisticated than that. When air passes over your home, it works the same way as it does over an airplane wing: the Bernoulli effect causes the air on top and on the downwind side of the house to be at a lower pressure than on the upwind side. So if you have double hung windows, you can open the bottom section of the upwind side of the house and the upper section of the downwind side, and the low pressure will suck the air through your house. Make the outlet openings larger than the inlet opening, it increased the draft. That is why I love double hung windows; they offer the most flexibility and options. Others say that casement windows are best because they can open up to 100%; double hungs can never be open more than 50%. However I have seen studies (which I cannot find) that show that double hung windows actually work better because of the many options in setting them.

More on Planet Green: Tune Your Windows; They are not just holes in the walls.

5. Get a Ceiling Fan

It doesn't have to be like Collin's Batman fan; they come in all kinds of designs and work on the same principle, that moving air evaporates moisture from your skin and keeps you cooler.

Collin notes that using them is one of our 25 Ways to Save the Planet, and they can save you some cash since they operate at a fraction of central and window air-conditioning units (and they can work great in tandem with your A/C if global warming has you sweating it out). As Energy Star reminds us, ceiling fans help keep you cool (rather than cooling the entire room.

6. Paint Your Roof

Kristen writes: In much the same way that more ice/snow reflects UV rays instead of absorbing the heat the way the oceans do (think: feedback loop that results from melting polar ice caps), cities are now giving white roofs a second look as a way to cool cities and fight climate change. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Climate Change Research Conference, held this week, advised that if buildings and road surfaces in 100 of the largest cities in the US were covered with lighter and heat-reflective surfaces the savings could be massive.

7. Install Operable Shutters or External Blinds

The best way to deal with unwanted solar gain is to keep it out in the first place. One can do that with properly designed overhangs or bris soleil, which keep out the sun in summer but are designed to let it in during winter. However this is not very flexible. Another option is the exterior blind, quite common in Europe or Australia but expensive and hard to find in North America, where upfront cost always loses out to operating cost. Shutters really are the most amazing overlooked technology. They provide ventilation, security, shading and storm protection in one simple device.

8. Get an Attic Fan

A lot of people run expensive air conditioning when it is actually pretty cool out- after the sun has been baking a California house all day it can be cool in the evening but the house is still holding a couple of hundred thousand BTUs of heat. In more temperate parts of the country, just moving the air and having good ventilation could eliminate the need for AC much of the time.

9. Don't Cook Hot Food Inside

There is a reason our ancestors built summer kitchens; those stoves put out a lot of heat and you didn't want them in your house in summer. Outside summer kitchens are all the rage in the luxury house/ mcmansion set as well. It really makes no sense to run a stove inside, just to then spend money to run air conditioning to remove the heat again. So get a gas barbecue and grill your vegetables, take advantage of farmers markets to get fresh stuff to eat lots of salad.

10. Be Smart Where You Put Your Money and Energy.

John's graph from the Florida Solar Energy Center says it all. When the weatherization contractors come to get you to insulate your house, (the most expensive thing you can do to save energy) you can show them that this makes no sense, only 7% of the cooling load is coming through the walls. A couple of hours with a caulking gun to reduce infiltration would do more.

When they tell you that you need to install expensive new low-e tinted windows, remember that an awning or a shutter is more sophisticated and flexible; you have the choice whether to let the sun in or not.

Tape up your ducts, turn off your computers and save your money. The simple, low-tech tried and true methods cost less, save more energy and work forever.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2009-07-06T17:18:00.001-05:00

I've really been thinking seriously about doing this, so next grocery trip I'm going to get the stuff and I'll let you know how it goes :)

Announcement...

2009-07-06T14:56:00.005-05:00

I get so many emails any time I try to put anything Christian on this blog... Um, excuse me people... I AM A CHRISTIAN! What do you expect? I wonder if other people with Christian blogs get so much flack??

So, I'm returning Prairie Dreams to its regularly scheduled non-personal politically correct posts, and I've created a new blog under a new account so that I can share my faith with like minded people in peace... If you want to read the new blog, I'll put your name on the list, but comments will be moderated.

Actually, my environmental posts get attacked too... and people wonder why I've been absent so much from the blog world!? Its like, "Come on back so we can drag you down some more!"

If it isn't my personal life, and it isn't environmental news, what exactly do people want to hear on this blog? I am who I am... these are the things that interest me, and if I'm writing it for myself I may as well make it private and let no one else read it... Hmmm, now there's an idea...

Unbelievable...

2009-07-05T13:16:00.003-05:00

"A San Diego pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a county official and warned they will face escalating fines if they continue to hold Bible studies in their home.

The couple, whose names are being withheld until a demand letter can be filed on their behalf, told their attorney a county government employee knocked on their door on Good Friday, asking a litany of questions about their Tuesday night Bible studies, which are attended by approximately 15 people.

"Do you have a regular weekly meeting in your home? Do you sing? Do you say 'amen'?" the official reportedly asked. "Do you say, 'Praise the Lord'?"

The pastor's wife answered yes.

She says she was then told, however, that she must stop holding "religious assemblies" until she and her husband obtain a Major Use Permit from the county, a permit that often involves traffic and environmental studies, compliance with parking and sidewalk regulations and costs that top tens of thousands of dollars.

And if they fail to pay for the MUP, the county official reportedly warned, the couple will be charged escalating fines beginning at $100, then $200, $500, $1000, and then it will get ugly."

From HERE

My question: Do they do this to Ethel's Tuesday Bridge Club? Or Joe's Friday Night Poker game? Doubtful.

History

2009-07-01T08:34:00.006-05:00

Here's a photo I hadn't seen before... AFtermath of the 1923 "cyclone" that hit Greensburg... Our little house survived this one, too...
Both this one and the one in 2007 hit in May...

This house on the right almost looks like one down the street from us... hmm...

2009-06-30T13:50:00.004-05:00

In this first official photo of twin daughters provided by Robin Layton, actors Matthew Broderick, right, Sarah Jessica Parker, left, and their son James Wilkie Broderick pose with their new daughters Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick, left, and Tabitha Hodge Broderick on Monday, June 29, 2009, in New York. The girls were born Monday June 22, 2009.
__

What a beautiful family... I LOVE SJP :)

Cotton Candy Sunrise

2009-06-29T06:50:00.003-05:00

Billy Mays...

2009-06-28T12:20:00.004-05:00

...was found dead this morning... he was 50...

Article HERE

2009-06-27T22:30:00.000-05:00

2009-06-26T12:41:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to make a note...
There will be no Michael Jackson post here, because I would prefer people to remember the good things, and all people want to do is rehash all the bad things...

"Michael Jackson enriched our lives, made us happy. The accusations, the persecution caused him so much financial and mental anguish. He was vindicated in court, but the battle took his life. There is probably a lesson here for all of us." Imelda Marcos

His music shaped the lives of several generations, like it or not... give him credit for that, at least...

Farrah Faucett Dead at 62

2009-06-25T12:38:00.003-05:00

\
Farrah Fawcett, the "Charlie's Angels" star whose feathered blond hair and dazzling smile made her one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1970s, died Thursday after battling cancer. She was 62.

I can remember in grade school, we would go out and play "Charlie's Angels" every day at recess... Farrah was such an icon, hard to believe she's gone...

Amen

2009-06-24T01:11:00.004-05:00

LOVE this song, and it doesn't hurt that my favorite song writer stars in the video and my second favorite song writer wrote and performs it :)

My playlist will come back in a day or two when everyone has seen this video :)

My daddy taught me
In this county everyone's the same
You work hard for your dollar
And you never pass the blame
When it don't go your way

Now I see all these big shots
Whining on my evening news
About how their losing billions
And it's up to me and you
To come running to the rescue

Well pardon me if I don't she'd a tear
Cuz they're selling make believe
And we don't buy that here

Because in the real world they're
Shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his
Bonus pay and jets on outta town

DC's paying out the banker
As the farmers auction ground
And while their living up on Wall Street
In that New York City town
Here in the real world they're
Shutting Detroit down
Here in the real world they're
Shutting Detroit down

Well that old mans been working
Hard in that plant most all his life
And now his pension plans
Been cut in half and
He can't afford to dye
And it's a crying shame
Cuz he aint the one to blame
When I look down and see his
Callused hands Well let me tell you friend
It gets me fighting mad

Because in the real world they're
Shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his
Bonus pay and jets on outta town

DC's paying out the banker
As the farmers auction ground
And while their living up on Wall Street
In that New York City town
Here in the real world they're
Shutting Detroit down
Here in the real world they're
Shutting Detroit down

I love Dogs, BUT...

2009-06-22T16:53:00.003-05:00

My neighbor owns two very vicious black labs, a male and a female... They got out a few days ago, and attacked my German Sheppard/Blue Heeler mix dog that was on a leash we had slipped over a pole in the yard... he fought them off, but they got him good in the front leg and a bit on his side...

I keep wondering what would have happened if that had been Isaiah in the yard...

UPDATE:
I emailed the vet a pic of Guardian's leg, and she said he was keeping it clean enough that it should heal fine... :)

Forecast..

2009-06-22T11:15:00.001-05:00

Do you know how much I love this forecast? Lets just hope it doesn't change...

Rain, Rain, Go Away....

2009-06-20T08:37:00.003-05:00

See our river? our street is spilling rainwater over the curbs... looks right at home wtih the jungle that is the empty lot next door...(and more of those dreaded "tree of heaven" trees that I HATE...)
Heard on the scanner that 183 is underwater south of town...

I think its gonna rain....

Another good Greensburg clip...

2009-06-19T04:28:00.001-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Ed Mills in this clip, the 74 year old retired truck driver, is a long time friend of our family's... in fact, it was his family that gave me that teddy bear on my 16th birthday that I still keep on my bed to this day... lol Just one more of my "favorite Greensburg people"...

Calm after the storm...

2009-06-17T21:08:00.004-05:00

Severe lightning this evening... transformers hit, electricity out... fires... incredible...
Nothing as pretty, though, as the sunset after a storm...

Taken looking to the northwest from my front porch... THe whole neighborhood looked like I was wearing orange or yellow sunglasses... it was beautiful...

Another stormy evening...

2009-06-16T06:55:00.004-05:00

This is a picture from Facebook of the tornado on the east edge of Dodge City... this is the storm we dealt with last night... the rotation in the clouds was amazing - reminded me of water going down a sink drain, the whole sky was spinning...
Thankfuly, there isn't any bad weather in the forecast for us... unless they change it, which the frequently do...
Some minor damage in Haviland, about 10 miles east of us, but thankfully I don't think any of the tornadoes created by this storm did any major damage in Kiowa County...

This would have been a good morning...

2009-06-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

...to have slept in...

But since I've been up for almost 6 hours, I am going to make the most of it... Think I'll scrub the kitchen spotless, then mess it up a bit by cooking something fabulous for lunch... Comfort food anyone?

Levi

2009-06-12T07:11:00.002-05:00

My sister had to have her dog, Levi, put down a couple days ago...

She got Levi while she lived in Alaska, he was 1/2 husky and 1/2 malamute, and was 17, which is pretty old for a dog as big as he was - not that he knew how big he was, lol... He was a fabulous dog and we'll all miss him...

Rough morning...

2009-06-12T05:19:00.006-05:00

The police scanner has been very active for the past couple of hours... vehicles in the ditches, deep enough in the water for it to be coming in their cars - because they are dumb enough to try and keep driving in a Kansas T-storm where you can't see past the end of your car, and the hail is up to 3" across... My BIL has been out there working - he's starting to sound tired...

Its calming down now, so once they get the last of the vehicles out of the ditches things should be fairly normal...

I have to take two of our cats to the vet in Pratt this morning... wish I had someone to go with me, lol...

I didn't get up until 3, but its still going to be a long day...

UPDATE:I was going to take my mom's car (my truck is still down...) and she lives on a dirt road - doesn't want to get out in the deep mud to bring me the car, so I'm having to postpone the vet visit until next week... :( After putting a new fuel pump and relay in teh truck, we've decided to have Shank Motors come get it and they can deal with fixing it... ther goes my money saved for craft supplies... *sigh* - its always somethin', isn't it??

Question

2009-06-11T02:37:00.002-05:00

If the price of gas is going up because the dollar is weak and it take more to buy oil from foreign countries, why is it that 3/4 of all the oilfield workers I know (and I know a LOT of them) are out of work, rigs stacked out everywhere? Why has NEW domestic oil production come to a screeching halt?

Thoughts

2009-06-11T01:30:00.005-05:00

I have to wonder at the people -
who don't realize that life isn't about earning as much money as possible...
who don't see that it isn't about acumulating more and more..
who are always thinking about the next thing they can acquire...
who don't realize bigger isn't always better...

who think everyone should live their way, and want what they want...

People who don't know the meaning of "enough","simple" or "content"...

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone."
~Henry David Thoreau

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."
~Henry David Thoreau

Our houses are such unwieldy property that we are often imprisoned rather than housed in them.
~Henry David Thoreau

Announcement

2009-06-10T18:15:00.004-05:00

It's official.
I gave Daniel my resignation today. I no longer work for Greensburg GreenTown.

It's a relief, actually... if you listen to yourself well enough, you know when its time to move on... when change is needed... and I'd been hearing it loud and clear for a while now...

I'm getting my routine back now,(tightening up the budget that had been getting a bit loose lately) and setting goals for finished items for the online shop... I love new directions - especially creative ones!!

More bad weather...

2009-06-10T11:57:00.004-05:00

I took this picture last night after climbing out of my mom's tornado shelter... this was the rotation over by Brenham. The entire cloud was rotating...
Its a bit hard to see the bottom, there was rain between me and it...

They are calling for more bad weather this afternoon and evening.. *sigh* I love the hot weather, but I'm ready for winter - this weather makes me so nervous I get sick to my stomach...

"HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DODGE CITY KS
407 AM
CDT WED JUN 10 2009

BY LATE TODAY, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL
ARE POSSIBLE
IN THE ST. JOHN, KINSLEY, GREENSBURG, PRATT, ASHLAND, COLDWATER
AND MEDICINE LODGE AREAS. THE RISK OF LARGE HAIL WILL BE AFTER 5
PM CDT.

SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED AFTER 5 PM CDT TODAY. THE NEED FOR SPOTTERS
WILL DIMINISH AFTER 10 PM CDT."

Jun 6, 1944

2009-06-06T10:18:00.003-05:00

Lemonade

2009-06-06T00:29:00.005-05:00

Have a great weekend! :)

I think...

2009-06-05T15:10:00.003-05:00

... Isaiah likes the new couch :)

The coffee table here is the one I'm planning on painting... I put it there to see how it will look.. I think its kinda short... Any suggestions? I'd hate not to use it, my friend gave it and a matching end table to us...

Thursday Morning....

2009-06-04T08:09:00.002-05:00

ANY QUESTIONS???

Gov't studies playground risks

2009-06-04T05:14:00.001-05:00

SAN FRANCISCO – The federal government is reconsidering whether sports
fields and playgrounds made from ground-up tires could harm children's
health
after some Environmental Protection Agency scientists raised
concerns, documents show.
SAN FRANCISCO – The federal government is reconsidering whether sports fields and playgrounds made from ground-up tires could harm children's health after some Environmental Protection Agency scientists raised concerns, documents show.

The EPA is concluding a limited study of air and surface samples at four fake-surface fields and playgrounds that use recycled tires — the same material used under the Obama family's new play set at the White House.

Although the EPA for years has endorsed recycled-rubber surfaces as a means of decreasing playground injuries, its own scientists now have pointed to research suggesting potential hazards from repeated exposure to bits of shredded tire that can contain carcinogens and other chemicals, according to internal EPA documents.

The scientists cited gaps in scientific evidence, despite other reviews showing little or no health concern, and urged their superiors to conduct a broad health study to inform parents on kids' safety.

rest of story HERE

I so want this!

2009-06-02T13:08:00.003-05:00

"IDEA PAINT": DRY ERASE PAINT... turn any surface into a dry erase board... how FUN would this be?? Of course all my walls are textured, but I could use it to paint the doors :) Maybe a 4x8 sheet of plywood and hang it on Isaiah's wall?

LOVE this story!!

2009-06-01T09:58:00.003-05:00

Late last fall, 7-year-old Salinan Mateo Blecha received the birthday present that was at the top of his list. Actually, it was the only item on his list: a trip to tornado-ravaged Greensburg to help clean up the damage from the year before.

Mateo had been interested in storms after seeing one firsthand in Texas, and his passion only increased when he saw television programs about Greensburg.

His father, Jarrod Blecha, an assistant public defender in Salina, drove him to the southwest Kansas town, where the youngster vacuumed a house and performed other pint-sized jobs. The trip made for a long day, and the elder Blecha figured that would satisfy his son's interest in benevolence and violent weather.

Not quite. They returned a half-dozen more times, and at one point, Jarrod Blecha received a job offer. The town, it seemed, was a few lawyers short of a legal team.

"I laughed it off," Blecha said. "I had no interest at all in moving there. My only desire was to make a birthday wish come true."

Well, if Mateo wants to help clean up Greensburg on his eighth birthday, he will be able to walk to the job site.

He and his dad will be official Greensburg residents by then.

Jarrod Blecha accepted the offer to become the county counselor for Kiowa County. He'll also have the opportunity to hang out his own shingle, as soon as he has a place from which to hang it.

Rest of the story HERE

Welcome Blecha family!!

Working at GreenTown I have fielded several calls from families that were interested in moving here from all over the country... its so exciting to see this! With several large manufacturing companies committed to moving to Greensburg, we are going to start having new growth as people come for new jobs...

Personal Opinion

2009-06-01T09:22:00.009-05:00

You know, hunting for food is one thing... but THIS is just disgusting... killing something just for the sake of killing it?? Especially when most of the animals they show are considered threatened or near-threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species! How barbaric is that?? I can't believe in this day and age this sort of thing still goes on... Someone has to be a bit disturbed to get their kicks from killing things...
I believe that no animal should be shot unless you are going to eat it, you are protecting your life, or it is rabid or otherwise sick beyond help.

2009-05-31T19:49:00.001-05:00

"However profound our differences as Americans
over difficult issues such as abortion,
they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."
Barack Obama

Suspect arrested in connection with slaying of abortion provider George Tiller

2009-05-31T14:26:00.000-05:00

BY STAN FINGER AND JOE RODRIGUEZ, The Wichita Eagle

The suspect in this morning's fatal shooting of George Tiller is in custody, according to emergency dispatchers. Authorities have yet to release more information about the arrest. Wichita police have scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference to discuss the case.

George Tiller shot to death at church

2009-05-31T11:09:00.001-05:00

BY STAN FINGER, The Wichita Eagle

George Tiller, the Wichita doctor who became a national lightning rod in the debate over abortion, was shot to death this morning as he walked into church services.

__________

This is so horrible... I'm just stunned...

Momentos

2009-05-30T13:12:00.003-05:00

The girls building our porch all signed one of the boards - I hope 50-60 years from now someone puts a new porch on and the names are still there :)

What do you think?

2009-05-30T10:06:00.003-05:00

I believe in defending yourself and your property, even with guns... and I would defend him if he shot to wound... but this is cold-blooded scary...

"OKLAHOMA CITY – Confronted by two holdup men, pharmacist Jerome Ersland pulled a gun, shot one of them in the head and chased the other away. Then, in a scene recorded by the drugstore's security camera, he went behind the counter, got another gun, and pumped five more bullets into the wounded teenager as he lay on the floor.

Now Ersland has been charged with first-degree murder in a case that has stirred a furious debate over vigilante justice and self-defense and turned the pharmacist into something of a folk hero.

Ersland, 57, is free on $100,000 bail, courtesy of an anonymous donor. He has won praise from the pharmacy's owner, received an outpouring of cards, letters and checks from supporters, and become the darling of conservative talk radio.

"His adrenaline was going. You're just thinking of survival," said John Paul Hernandez, 60, a retired Defense Department employee who grew up in the neighborhood. "All it was is defending your employee, business and livelihood. If I was in that position and that was me, I probably would have done the same thing.""

rest of story HERE

Jules :)

2009-05-28T13:13:00.002-05:00

If you look at the couch in these pictures, across the back, it seems to have both the colors in it... maybe it has something to do with the sheen of the fabric and the light coming in the window..
That gold color is sort of "homey" because it reminds me of my mom's house and my grandma's house in the 70s :)

FYI

2009-05-28T09:19:00.004-05:00

There is a very good "Greensburg" (and Detroit) article by Desiree Cooper of the Detroit Free Press HERE

Another question...

2009-05-27T15:55:00.003-05:00

You guys are always so helpful... I'm taking a poll:

EXCLUDING SCRAPBOOKING, what do you think are the top 5 most popular crafts in America?

Knitting? Quilting? Clothes making? Crocheting? Jewelry making? what do you think?

More Kitchen Ideas

2009-05-27T09:58:00.015-05:00

I need to clarify I think...
My biggest influences in my vision for my kitchen is Daisy Cottage (Note her blue/green chairs don't have any yellow) whose home has been featured in many magazines...(maybe a bit too bright) (I'm really loving her playlist today, too!)

and Fiestaware (whose yellow is very similar to the yellow in the previous post)

I don't necessarily want all those colors. lol... I'm not a big red fan (except when paired with turquoise like THIS) And I don't like "matchy matchy", which is why I very rarely buy anything in "sets" whether its bedding, or kitchen accessories... I like my rooms to look like they were accessorized over time, acquired piece by piece... stuff from lots of decades together... and you know, if I took the two recommendations from the previous post and added them together - one for brighter, one for lighter - I'd get.... just what I had in the picture... LOL Maybe instead of brighter or lighter it needs to be a different shade of yellow... I really think this one is the same tone as the green in the fabric, but I may be wrong...

(By vintage I don't mean museum quality accuracy, I mean a place where my vintage pieces of glassware and textiles can look good and feel at home - from the 30s stuff to the 60s stuff)

Question

2009-05-27T06:27:00.002-05:00

Could I paint my kitchen walls this color of yellow when my curtains are this apple fabric? I like it... but I don't know if it works or not... the trim would be white... the floor and countertops are beige... I want my kitchen to be yellow... maybe I could just use the fabric elsewhere...
My whole house is beige and it feels like a city rental apartment... way too beige, I'm not a beige person! I'm thinking I might just paint every room in the house... LOL

Maybe time laws were changed?

2009-05-27T04:20:00.004-05:00

REAT BEND - Before dying Sunday evening, a middle-aged female mountain lion that had spent about half her life at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo escaped to freedom, encountered some frightening animals, and spurned a meat trail that would have led to re-captivity.

Her fatal error, though, was moving into an aggressive, haunched position as officials sought to recapture her.

(rest of story HERE)

The main sentence that stood out to me in this story was this one:

"Law enforcement isn't required by the state to undertake special training because of the zoo"

Why isn't it? And why isn't it required of all zoos to have tranquilizing guns on-site with people trained to use them? She hadn't left the zoo grounds yet, I think it would have made a difference. If they are going to bring these animals into urban areas they have a duty not only to citizens but to the animals, too. She didn't ask to be there.

Unbelieveable...

2009-05-26T21:55:00.004-05:00

Did you know that you can't buy a spool of thread in Greensburg? They don't sell thread at Wal Mart in Pratt, either.

I'm going to Dodge City from now on.

I got the material I ordered for the kitchen curtains and I can not find a spool of thread to sew the curtains with!! SO frustrating...

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

"Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action."

I think too many people think Memorial Day Weekend is the weekend set aside to "remember how to drink beer".

May 31, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita

2009-05-25T02:56:00.001-05:00

I SO wish I could go to this and attend every event!!

Old Cowtown Museum will be hosting a Civil War event highlighting Kansas’ role in one of our country’s most tumultuous eras. The Blue and The Gray: Brother against Brother will take place May 30-31 on the grounds of Old Cowtown Museum.

The event will feature military skirmishes performed by various reenactment groups including the 8th Kansas and 2nd Colorado Volunteer Infantries. The weekend will also feature live musical performances by the Free Staters, Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance, Northfield School and Generation Bluegrass. Visitors can observe a military parade, memorial service, medical demonstrations and food preservation techniques as well as take part in activities such as cricket games. Sutlers’ Row, a vendor area will feature merchandise such as flags, leather goods, furniture and more. Food will also be available for purchase.

In conjunction with the event, a quilting workshop will also be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 30. The workshop will allow participants to create a table runner based on a Civil War soldier’s cot quilt. The cost to participate is $25 and includes materials, though participants should provide their own sewing machines. Reservations are required, to reserve a space in the quilting workshop, please contact Sheri Gaskins at SGaskins@Wichita.gov or 316 350-3317 by May 21.

A Victorian dance will also be held 8-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 30th. Admission for the evening dance will be $5.

Also, at 7:pm in the Visitor Center at Old Cowtown Museum on May 29th a movie will be held:

Bloody Dawn: The Lawrence Massacre by Lone Chimney Productions Director, Ken Spurgeon, will present a short talk on the film and answer questions.

Love this...

2009-05-22T11:48:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday praised an Army soldier in eastern Afghanistan who drew media attention this month after rushing to defend his post from attack while wearing pink boxer shorts and flip-flops.

In fact, Gates said he wants to meet the soldier and shake his hand the next time he visits Afghanistan.

"Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage," Gates said in remarks prepared for a speech in New York.

"I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine seeing that: a guy in pink boxers and flip-flops has you in his cross-hairs. What an incredible innovation in psychological warfare," he said.

Army Specialist Zachary Boyd, 19, of Fort Worth, Texas, rushed from his sleeping quarters on May 11 to join fellow platoon members at a base in Afghanistan's Kunar Province after the unit came under fire from Taliban positions.

from HERE

TGIF on Memorial Day Weekend!

2009-05-22T08:33:00.002-05:00

We've been spending more time working on the yard than on the inside of the house this week... we finally got most of the debris cleared in the front yard and the front porch cleaned off... still haven't found anyone with a powerwasher to get the spray paint off the house... and I'd like to take the nasty astro-turf off of the porch, but I'm thinking that's all that is holding the porch together at this point... lol The porch is our next concern...

Rick has the bed off my truck, Lauren and I helped him lift it off it was rather comical, to say the least... Hopefully he will be able to put the new fuel pump in this weekend...

This weekend is the biggest weekend of the year in Greensburg. The rodeo is going on Saturday and Sunday nights with the rodeo parade Sat. morning and dance Sat. night. All the Greensburg High School alumni things go on this weekend...
GreenTown will be conducting "green" tours. I work 11-2 on Saturday - hope to see people who care about the environment come in!

Hope to get the totes all gone through and moved this weekend, too... I've been planning window treatments and hope to buy material for those soon... I seem to have been working enough at GreenTown that I haven't got as much done as I planned... THEN I will take pictures to post :)

2009-05-21T23:39:00.001-05:00

Still here...

2009-05-12T11:10:00.004-05:00

Just a quick note to say that we are finally all in the house... and internet is back on - Yay!

We're not ready for pics yet - still living in a sea of totes and boxes. 800 square feet and the only storage is one small closet in each bedroom - no basement, no usable attic space... makes for a lot of paring down. I'm having to go through and rearrange totes so that everything that we don't absolutely have to have will be packed away in the storage unit. That means a lot of decorative things won't make the cut unless they hang on the wall... we just don't have space.
I have a new sewing machine, but for now there is no room for any of my craft things. I have a small workspace and shelves planned in our bedroom, but the kitchen shelves come first. We had them leave out the upper cabinets in the kitchen - half will be open shelves LIKE THIS and a small section will be a plate rack similar to THIS ONE... and while the lower cabinets are a light oak color, the shelves and rack will all be painted white, against the light camel of the walls...

gotta deal with these totes first, though... *sigh*

OH! I have to tell you the bathtub story... We were going to get a used clawfoot, but couldn't find one, so we were going to move in anyway and just take showers at my mom's until one could be found... well it seems the Greensburg city code says you can't live in a house without a bathtub or shower... so at like 7 pm on the night before we were supposed to be out of the FEMA traler, the guy in charge of the renovation called and said he'd found us a tub and was on his way to Hutchinson to get it... the next day he put it in, and I went to see it and was stunned... it is a brand new beautiful slipper tub!! Can't wait to share pics of it with you :)

Home Sweet Home

2009-05-05T14:02:00.003-05:00

Tonight will be the last night we stay in the FEMA trailer... I can't wait to show you all pictures of our house!! You will be AMAZED when you see the before and afters :)
They are running new water lines from the meter to the house today, and water lines to the bathroom... and doing some touch up painting on trim... other than that it is DONE and it is BEAUTIFUL!!
______________________________-

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere.
Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home!

An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain;
O, give me my lowly thatched cottage again!
The birds singing gayly, that came at my call,--
Give me them,--and the peace of mind, dearer than all!
Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home!

How sweet 'tis to sit 'neath a fond father's smile,
And the cares of a mother to soothe and beguile!
Let others delight mid new pleasures to roam,
But give me, oh, give me, the pleasures of home!
Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home!

To thee I'll return, overburdened with care;
The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there;
No more from that, cottage again will I roam;
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home!
There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home!

-THE END-
John Howard Payne's poem: Home Sweet Home

FYI...

2009-05-03T12:48:00.001-05:00

The Kansas Library Association set up a Greensburg/Kiowa County Relief Fund to help rebuild our library and restock it... check it out HERE
All donations are tax deductible.

Overwhelmed...

2009-05-03T04:33:00.003-05:00

We went to see the progress on the house today... don't see how they can get it all finished in time for us to move in, there is so much not done... We may have to stay at my mom's for a night or two... (God, I hope that isn't the case!!)

We spent several hours yesterday picking out furniture. Rick and I have never had brand new furniture, and with help from the Red Cross and the Methodist Church (Anyone that has anything to do with either of those, thank you SO MUCH!!) we are able to have brand new furniture now - its so amazing to think about how wonderful everything is going to look!! Even Rick was excited to be in that furniture store, picking out things! We picked out a washer, dryer, couch with matching chair and ottoman, a dining room set, and bedroom furniture for our room and Isaiah's... its all so overwhelming!! I can't wait to see it all delivered... in the meantime, we have some furniture that we can borrow to use - the paperwork and delivery won't be for 10 days or so, and we are going to have to be all moved in by Wednesday. I took pictures of it all, but I think I'll make you all wait to see it when it's finally in our house. :)

Its going to be like staying at someone else's house for a while, with it being so new and all the appliances and furniture being new... lol

Can't wait to start decorating...

Greensburg Tornado Anniversary Weekend

2009-05-02T08:21:00.009-05:00

Well, here we are... the Anniversary Weekend of the tornado that changed the lives of everyone connected to Greensburg, Kansas.

I should have some moving, well written post here, but I'm too busy packing, and moving out of our FEMA trailer by the due date of May 6. Our house is nearly completed, and hopefully will be by the time we need it to be.

Anytime a tornado hits a home, it changes the lives of the people who live there. But when it destroys 95% of an entire town, it wipes out life as you knew it completely. Rick and I had just been talking that evening about how our life was finally exactly where we wanted it, and how content we were. But in the 20 minutes it took the tornado to wipe out town, it took that life away completely.Our home, all landmarks in town - both schools, all the churches, all the stores, the hospital, my job... We had to start life over completely. And we haven't done such a good job of it.

Our routines never got back in line, home schooling didn't go nearly as smooth as it had before, the relationship between me and Rick has deteriorated... We both seem to have lasting side effects - memory loss, sleeplessness, mood swings... I am hoping that finally moving into a real home, a permanent space that doesn't feel like a cheap motel will be the thing that finally starts our life over.

As far as the town, I have always loved Greensburg, but I have never been more proud of it. We have come so far, and done such amazing things... and there are so many more amazing things to come... this is such an exciting place to call home now...

There are many things planned for this weekend celebration... and yes, there are those that say it should not be a celebration because of the 11 lives that were lost. But this isn't about the tornado anymore. This is about our resilience. This is about our tenacity. This is about us not only surviving, but thriving, using this huge negative as an even bigger positive... Making do with what we have and building stronger than before. This is about Kansas spirit. I, for one, believe that is something worth a celebration.
(Go HERE for a list of the weekend's events)
258

Opinions?

2009-05-01T15:54:00.002-05:00

I've had all these thoughts about the ~~swine flu~~ H1N1 (whatever) going on in my head... Homesteading In A Condo did a great post on it that TOTALLY echoes my thoughts... what do you think?

Did you know...?

2009-04-30T17:24:00.002-05:00

In 2007, the FDA only did 11,000
border inspections on 33 billion
pounds of imported fresh produce?

According to THIS REPORT from foodandwaterwatch.com

3:30 am plans...

2009-04-30T03:21:00.002-05:00

This blog is starting to feel.... very... 'heavy', for lack of a better word... I want to lighten it up, write more, post more varied things... I think that without a goal as to where I'm going, I will never know when I get there. I need to redefine where this blog is going... The "random green things" with a few of my "life happenings" thrown in isn't working any more...

Stay tuned for an upgrade... soon...

Um... ok...

2009-04-29T17:14:00.003-05:00

This is kinda gross... grease art...

BTW...

2009-04-28T08:54:00.003-05:00

Some of the photos I took on our trip to Colorado are up at my Flickr page now.. I really need to get back to taking pictures!!

Odds and Ends...

2009-04-27T15:25:00.005-05:00

An interesting NY Times article on the life of a house in New York... "From Euchre To Crack To Urban Chickens"

Two great blogs I just found recently... Homesteading in a Condo and The Path Less Pedaled

A fabulous low-space solution for home-grown veggies: Gutter Garden

And an update...

WE have to be out of the FEMA trailer by Monday... Official eviction date is May 6th. Our house should be done by Friday or Saturday if all goes right, except we don't have the bathtub bought yet! We are going to try and get that done this week... finding the faucet hardware for the old tub may be a challenge, but we'll figure it out... we dont' have much furniture, yet, either, but we'll take care of that soon...

Exciting Earth Day Announcement

2009-04-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

GREENSBURG - The work to rebuild tornado-ravaged Greensburg as a "green" community will include a wind farm that could power the entire south-central Kansas town.

The city, Kansas Power Pool and John Deere Renewable announced a plan Wednesday to develop the Greensburg Wind Farm. It is expected to have 10 wind turbine and could be running as early as next year.

Officials involved with the project say the completed wind farm should be able to power all the city's homes and businesses.

Rest of this article HERE

Earth Day 2009 - April 22

2009-04-21T11:23:00.002-05:00

No Child Left Indoors - Go HERE to send a message
to your congressperson in support of
Environmental Education in schools!

My Favorite Vegan

2009-04-14T10:26:00.001-05:00

Unite For Hunger and Hope

2009-04-10T14:36:00.005-05:00

(click photo for details)

Right now, more than 500 million people are living in “absolute poverty”
and more than 15 million children die of hunger every year.

Event coming
April 29
Stay tuned

I'm an Auntie!

2009-04-08T04:44:00.000-05:00

Donations Needed for Educational Garden Project in Greensburg, Kansas

2009-04-02T16:34:00.007-05:00

"In May of 2007, an EF-5 tornado wiped out 95% of Greensburg, Kansas. In a monumental decision, the residents and leaders of Greensburg decided to rebuild their town "Green".Greensburg GreenTown is a non-profit created among other things, to educate people on building and living green.

Anita Hohl is a fifth generation Greensburg resident who works for Greensburg GreenTown. Having grown up in this small farming community, Anita is passionate about gardening, the environment, and passing on knowledge to others.

Susan Quateman, a sustainable landscape designer originally from London now living in Boston, had never heard of Greensburg before the storm. After the storm, she wanted to help.

Two women with very different backgrounds have formed a very unlikely friendship, and come together to build a series of four educational gardens for the town of Greensburg.

1.Rainwater Garden: A water/rain garden using (mostly) rainwater collected with rain barrels or cisterns, with “rain chains,” an alternative to gutter downspouts, as a design feature integrated into the garden.

2.Xeriscape Landscaping: A garden based on principles of xeriscape design, where native plants are selected for their drought tolerance.

3.Edible garden: An organic vegetable and fruit garden that will illustrate principles of permaculture, an approach to building self-sufficient human settlements.

4.“Lose the Lawn”: A garden illustrating the principles of lawn alternatives such as ground cover, shrubs and trees, and native grasses and perennials, as well as the use of rocks and other natural hardscaping.

While this very worthwhile project has a modest budget of $15,000, in this current economy they are having trouble finding the donations to make it a reality. We would love some help with getting the word out that this project needs help, or with a donation.We plan on creating a publication on the building of the gardens, to help others learn about sustainable landscaping, and we want this to benefit not just the residents of Greensburg but people in communities across the country."

Contact E-mail: anita@greensburggreentown.org
Any of my regular readers have any suggestions?

Peas

2009-04-01T07:30:00.005-05:00

Have you ever planted peas? I haven't... but I'd like to. Not sure it's going to get done this year... hope to at least get the raised beds at the Florida House built, but its supposed to get cold again this weekend... *sigh* Our average frost free date is approaching, and I don't even have the beds done, much less seeds sprouting, or even ordered!!! I have GOT to get things done... ok, I'll get the planning done and order seeds this week, and maybe we'll have good enough weather to get the beds built, at least, if not filled... we have some good compost in the compost bin we built last summer, so thats a plus :)

organicgardening.com (LOVE thier website) has this excellent article on peas...

"Still a garden favorite, peas are of of the first vegetables that you'll plant and harvest in spring.

Growing Guide

# Soil preference: Early peas in particular like raised beds or a sandy loam soil that warms up quickly. Heavier soils can provide cooler conditions for a late pea crop, but you'll need to loosen the ground before planting by working in some organic matter.

# Planting: Give peas a sunny spot protected from high winds. Later crops appreciate partial shade.

# Fall planting: Some growers have success with fall pea crops by planting them where corn or pole beans will shade them until the weather cools.

# Spacing: Space seeds of bush or drawf peas 1" apart in rows 2' apart. Sow early crop seeds 2" deep in light soil or 1" deep in heavy soil. Thin to 2"-3" apart. Plant vining types in double rows 6-8" apart on eather side of 5'-6' tall supports.

# Watering: Providing peas with just the right amount of water is a little tricky. They should never be water logged. On the other hand, don't let the soil dry out when peas are germinating or blooming or when pods are swelling. Once the plants are up, they only need about 1/2" water every week until they start to bloom; then, increase their water to 1" a week until the pods fill out.

# Fertilizing: Peas supply their own nitrogen, so go easy on such fertilizers as manure. Too much nitrogen produces lush foliage but few peas.

# Special hint: To make good use of garden space, interplant peas with radishes, spinach, lettuce, or other early greens. Cucumbers and potatoes are good companion plant, but peas don't do well when planted near garlic or onions.

Pest Watch
Watch out for aphids, pea weevils, thrips. Crop rotation is one of the best ways to avoid persistant problems. Don't grow peas in the same spot more than once every five years.

Disease Alert
Plant resistant cultivars to avoid Fusarium wilt, which turns the plants yellow, then brown, and causes them to shrivel and die. Root rot fungi causes water-soaked areas or brown lesions to appear on the lower stems and roots. To avoid root rot, provide good fertility and good drainage for strong, rapid growth. Warm weather brings on powdery mildew, which covers the plant with a downy, white fungal coating. Sulfur dust if applied early can be effective or avoid powedry mildew by planting resistant culitvars.

Harvesting
Pods are ready to pick about three weeks after a plant blossoms, but check frequently to avoid harvesting late. You should harvest peas daily to catch them at their prime and to encourage vines to keep producing. Also, their taste and texture are much better if you prepare and eat them immediately after harvesting; the sugar in peas turns to starch within a few hours after picking. "

Snow Totals...

2009-03-30T12:17:00.002-05:00

Greensburg only got 18" of snow, but Pratt got 30"... rumor has it they brought National Guard into Pratt by helicopter to help with snow removal..
We're going to Pratt this afternoon to get Isaiah's meds... I'll take my camera and get some pics both here and in Pratt...

Human Greed

2009-03-30T10:24:00.003-05:00

This from treehugger.com:

"The Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson, Arizona has sent out a warning about the unsustainable harvesting of American turtles to feed Asian diners. They're urging several mid-western and southern states to implement a ban on turtle hunting to help give the numbers time to bounce back.

From Scientific American

Earlier this month, the organization petitioned eight U.S. states (Arkansas , Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee) to ban turtle hunting in all public and private waters. Meanwhile, Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has proposed its own ban, and will present a draft of the rules at a Commission meeting next month. The Commission recently estimated that 3,000 pounds of softshell turtles are flown out of Tampa International Airport every week, enroute to food markets in Asia. "

They have to realize that if they insist on harvesting them, it should be in a sustainable way or there will be none left! Next, because of man's greed, we'll have to have a "turtle season" with an imposed daily limit.
*sigh* Makes me ashamed to even be a part of this human race sometimes...

Great Article

2009-03-30T10:19:00.003-05:00

Planet Green has a great article on "Borrowing Grandma's Tips for Getting Through the Recession".

As you know, my grandparents taught me most of what I know - from being frugal, to gardening and sewing...

Check out the article, and do you remember anything from your grandparents that would be good to share?

A few shots...

2009-03-28T09:26:00.003-05:00

Our problem here isn't the total amount of snow, its the drifts created by the 50 mph winds... this first one is almost 5 feet... and its hard to tell, but the one behind the truck was even with the top of the bed (Rick had started trying to dig it out)...

The Great Blizzard of '09...

2009-03-28T07:41:00.007-05:00

Well, I can see it going down in local storyteller's memory that way...
the City and State crews can't even get out - so town is in a state of total shut down. I pray that no one needs medical emergency services in the next 12 hours or so... Rick's boss is the only one that got out this morning, and thats just because he took the big backhoe home last night... and he's even having a hard time getting around in that...

Rick couldn't get the 4wd truck out of the driveway due to the 5 ft. drifts every few feet...

the wind is still blowing a good 30 mph, and its still snowing... hope to have pics for you later when I get brave enough to go out there...probably won't get off the porch, though, as short as I am I may get stuck in a drift... lol

Ahh... springtime on the prairie!

Is this what spring is supposed to look like?

2009-03-27T11:42:00.003-05:00

30 miles east of here they have closed the main highway coming this way... and from here west all north/south roads are closed too... its 20 degrees with a windchill right at 0...

"This Afternoon: Snow and widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 22. Very windy, with a north wind between 33 and 37 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible."

Why do I feel like singing Christmas songs?? Hmmm.....

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.....

2009-03-26T09:56:00.004-05:00

I keep telling people that it doesn't snow in southwest Kansas in the winter time any more... it always waits until spring...

From the National Weather Service:

"Tonight: Rain likely before 11pm, then snow. Widespread blowing snow, mainly after 3am. Low around 23. Very windy, with a northeast wind between 26 and 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Friday: Snow and widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 30. Wind chill values as low as 4. Very windy, with a north northeast wind between 33 and 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

Friday Night: Snow likely and widespread blowing snow before 1am, then areas of blowing snow after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 19. Wind chill values as low as 3. Very windy, with a north wind between 23 and 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible."

Dimming skies..

2009-03-13T11:31:00.002-05:00

WASHINGTON – The skies are dimming, for most of the world. Increases in airborne pollution have dimmed the skies by blocking sunlight over the past 30 years, researchers report in Friday's edition of the journal Science.

While decreases in atmospheric visibility — known as global dimming — have been reported in the past, the new study compiles satellite and land-based data for a longer period than had been available.

"Creation of this database is a big step forward for researching long-term changes in air pollution and correlating these with climate change," Kaicun Wang, assistant research scientist in the University of Maryland, said in a statement. "And it is the first time we have gotten global long-term aerosol information over land to go with information already available on aerosol measurements over the world's oceans."

They reported that dimming is occurring everywhere except Europe, where declines in pollution have resulted in brighter skies.

Rest of article HERE

Conspicuous Consumption, a Casualty of Recession

2009-03-10T15:07:00.001-05:00

excerpt from a very good article in the New York Times:

ATLANTA — It is a sign of the times when Sacha Taylor, a fixture on the charity circuit in this gala-happy city, digs out a 10-year-old dress to wear to a recent society party.
Or when Jennifer Riley, a corporate lawyer, starts patronizing restaurants that take coupons.
Or when Ethel Knox, the wife of a pediatrician, cleans out her home and her storage unit, gives away an old car to a needy friend and cancels the family Christmas. “I just feel so decadent with all the stuff I’ve got,” she explained.
In just the seven months since the stock market began to plummet, the recession has aimed its death ray not just at the credit market, the Dow and Detroit, but at the very ethos of conspicuous consumption. Even those with a regular income are reassessing their spending habits, perhaps for the long term. They are shopping their closets, downscaling their vacations and holding off on trading in their cars. If the race to have the latest fashions and gadgets was like an endless, ever-faster video game, then someone has pushed the reset button.
“I think this economy was a good way to cure my compulsive shopping habit,” Maxine Frankel, 59, a high school teacher from Skokie, Ill., said as she longingly stroked a diaphanous black shawl at a shop in the nearby Chicago suburb of Glenview. “It’s kind of funny, but I feel much more satisfied with the things money can’t buy, like the well-being of my family. I’m just not seeking happiness from material things anymore.”
To many, the adjustment feels less like a temporary, emergency response than a permanent recalibration, one they view in terms of ethics rather than expediency.
“It’s kind of like we all went overboard,” said Ms. Taylor, 33. “And we’re trying to get back to where we should have been.”

rest of article HERE

From stopglobalwarming.org....

2009-03-10T08:44:00.003-05:00

SOFT IS ROUGH ON FORESTS

America has an obsession with ultra-soft toilet paper, but as a recent New York Times article pointed out, that fluffiness comes at a high environmental price -- the destruction of millions of trees in North America, including rare old-growth forests in Canada.

But it's more than just the loss of forests: "Turning a tree to paper requires more water than turning paper back into fiber, and many brands that use tree pulp use polluting chlorine-based bleach for greater whiteness. In addition, tissue made from recycled paper produces less waste tonnage - almost equaling its weight - that would otherwise go to a landfill."

No forest should be used to make toilet paper. There is another choice -- post consumer recycled tissue products. Greenpeace and the NRDC provide guides to the environmental soundness of tissue brands. Check them out.

FACT: Americans could save more than 400,000 trees if each family bought a roll of recycled toilet paper - just once.

Smithsonian Article on Greensburg

2009-03-07T08:32:00.000-06:00

Written by Fredric Heeren, who did a very good job on the article... Rebuilding Greensburg Green
He took some great photos, too, they are HERE
Including one of Greensburg GreenTown's first eco-home, the Silo Home, with my co-worker (who I hope I can also call friend!) John Wickland in front... All the people in these pictures I've known most of my life, but since the tornado, everyone in this town has taken on a more 'family' feel... Leaving this town, if thats what I'm destined to do, is going to be a hard thing to to...

I took my own shot of the Silo Home's progress on 3-3-09:

GreenTown Slide Show...

2009-03-07T05:51:00.000-06:00

I've started posting these at Greensburg GreenTown's site every 10 days or so, but I may as well post them here, too... since this is the only type of photography I've been doing lately...

The rebuilding process of Greensburg:

Inspiration....

2009-03-06T06:42:00.001-06:00

The article about The Dervaes Family (MY HEROES!!!) from the Feb./Mar. issue of Mother Earth News is online.. Check it out HERE!!

Further info on HB 2295

2009-03-06T00:24:00.000-06:00

I had a more detailed response from Dan Kerchen on HB 2295 I wanted to share with you. He makes some valid points. (I am very glad to hear he has had no dealings with Monsanto!)

Please allow me to give you some background information so that perhaps
you can see my concern for dairy families interests in HB 2295. I have
been a dairy farmer for 45 years. The year I started grade school is the
year I began working on our family’s farm. My brothers and I went
into the business for ourselves in 1974. Our family milked between 75
and 200 cows twice a day. During that time we never used rBST,
although many of our neighbors did.

This technology is a management tool that every producer has the choice
to implement on his/her farm. They must decide if they want to pursue
the extra care and management needed to gain the benefits of the
product. I must admit that those who successfully use this product have
gained an efficiency that has continued over the past 16 years, when it
was first approved by the FDA.

I know of no dairy farmer who would use a product that was not declared
safe by the FDA. Milk is one of the most regulated products in the food
business. Every sample that leaves the farm is tested for a number of
quality conditions which include, bacteria, somatic cell, antibiotics,
etc. BST is naturally found in milk samples, whether a producer is
using the product or not. That is why a producer must sign an affidavit
which states he is not using the product.

The costs to segregate milk supplies is paid by the producers . On the
average, the producer receives about 5 cents a gallon for this effort.
The retailer collects between 50 cents to $1.00 for the same product.

Now some retailers are proclaiming their milk is “antibiotic “ free
when all milk by law must be antibiotic free. This is about selective
marketing, to influence consumers to assume that other products are less
desirable because of the label.

We want consumers to know what is in their food. We support accurate
labeling. I have 5 children myself and a grandson and would never allow
them to consume a product that is harmful to them. By the way, I have
never taken a cent from Monsanto and have often been critical of their
handling of the product rBST. I hope we can reach a mutual
understanding that protects consumers, dairy producers and their product
manufacturers so interstate commerce can continue as it should.

Thank you, best regards
Rep Dan Kerschen

What If You Organized a PRO-COAL Rally and Nobody Came?

2009-03-05T05:10:00.001-06:00

Read how CEI couldn't even get all of the people who work in its Washington office to come to its defense of coal rally against the Capital Climate Action rally in Washington... HERE

Anti-Coal Rally, However...

2009-03-05T05:09:00.000-06:00

Was a success... read about it here: POWERSHIFT 2009

I don't know if you knew him...

2009-03-04T10:59:00.004-06:00

...but around here, everyone loved to hear Paul Harvey give "The Rest of The Story..." We will surely miss him.
His was a voice I grew up knowing as well as any of my neighbors.

Hear a sample of that unforgetable voice, with "The Rest of The Story"

Learn more about him HERE

Greensburg School

2009-03-04T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is a picture from BNIM Architects of how our new school will look... I took this picture last week - the ground is being prepared now, building will start soon!

HB 2295

2009-03-03T15:48:00.001-06:00

On February 26th, the Kansas House Agriculture Committee considered legislation to restrict 'aftificial growth hormone-free" and "rbGH-free" dairy labels, HB 2295. I signed a petition against this legislation, and while I can't seem to find out what the results were, I recieved two responses I'd like to share with you.

"Thank you for your email. The labeling law deals with misleading information. To claim a product is "free" of or contains some other component that you can't prove is there, does a dis-service to consumers.

It implies that one product is better than another, which is not true.

Best Regards,

Rep Dan Kerschen"

AND

"Anita,

We heard proponents and opponents to HB 2295 in the House Agriculture committee yesterday. As an agriculture producer I feel it is my objective to produce what the consumer wants. I share your thoughts!

Sincerely,

Pat

I responded to both, thanking them for their response. I told Pat Maloney it was nice to know there WERE people there who LISTENED to what we think, instead of trying to tell us WHAT to think.

How much 'stuff' do you need?

2009-03-03T02:33:00.003-06:00

(No, this is not my house... its from the internet... but I have seen houses like this, sad to say...)

Ok... if you've been reading my blog long, you know my biggest issues... and "stuff" is a MAJOR one!
I found this article at treehugger.com, discussing "How Much Stuff Do You Really Need?" and it has some good points, and good links...
AND... I think this is a good time to re-post the "Story of Stuff" video link... I posted it about a year ago, to not much reaction, but its VERY informative and I think its worth posting again... so here it is .... "The Story of Stuff"

I used to look around my house and make a mental list of all the things I would want to save in case of a tornado... but when it really happened, all I thought about was pets and people... and the rest was just *stuff*.

Wall Street Journal

2009-03-02T11:55:00.001-06:00

There is a video I just posted at greensburggreentown.org that Wall Street Journal made the other day... shows the little tan building where I work (and am right now) and my yellow truck... and a lot of interview with the director of GreenTown, Daniel Wallach... Really good video! (I was inside the building hiding that day last week when they were here... lol)