Apparently canning is sorta like child birth. The excitement of the end product makes you forget the long, hard, back-breaking work. And it was my friends, a very long day.
Many, many times today I contemplated the necessity of my day's project.
Wouldn't it be easier and make just as much sense to simply use the coupons I clip every Sunday and just buy the fruits & veggies- already washed, peeled, canned and ready to eat? The actual expense isn't that different.
The time it takes for a novice like me is great. All day long, my children were left to their own devices. The babe spent the day in the same onesie she spent the night before. There was a lot more TV and a lot more..... shall we say, creativity? This meant a messier than usual family room and lots of snacks. Apparently my starving daughter can make a PB sandwich by herself. Who knew? I was super excited to discover this makeshift kitchen on the carpet. Something like that.
Speaking of coupon clipping-
Each week, I gather the newspapers into a pile.
Each week, I have great intentions to take these papers with me to drop off at the recycling bins in town.
Each Thursday morning, I take the piles of newspapers out to the trash for garbage day, and think to myself, next time I will recycle. I seriously have guilt about my newspapers. Silly, ridiculous guilt.
A few weeks ago, in one of my many time-wasting, blog-stalking moments, I clicked to The Story of Stuff. This is a web-video all about production, consumption, environment. Now, generally, I lose interest in such things after a few minutes. This story is a full 20 minutes long- almost an eternity by internet attention span standards. I watched the whole thing. There was a statistic given about the football field sized areas of trees being cut down at an insanely fast rate. It has stuck with me.
The grocery store that I go to requires customers to bag their own groceries, in exchange for cheaper prices. I usually double bag, almost always use plastic and use more bags than I need to.....on purpose so that I have the bags to use at home as garbage sacks. Please don't hate me. I keep thinking I will maybe try out those re-usable shopping bags, but frankly, I have been too lazy.
But that video- that dang video.
CHALLENGE......bag it
Take your own bag to the store this week. It doesn't have to be the grocery store. It could be the dollar store, produce market or your candy bar fix at the gas station.
Maybe you all are much more "aware" than I am and have already been doing this- if so- well, I have a different challenge for you.
Use a coupon. Don't just clip the coupon, but actually use it.
So, some of you probably already are coupon queens. Couponing is all the rage right now. So, how about another one.....
Recycle something that you normally don't. I will actually take my paper pile to the big blue bins. Maybe I will get all crafty and make something new out of something old. Don't hold your breath on that one.
Really? You already recycle too?
I would type what I am thinking, but then this blog wouldn't be quite so family-friendly.
I am running down the road to catch the environmental awareness bus. Ok- maybe speed walking.
I know! Use cloth diapers instead of disposable.
HAAAAAA! I kid. If any of you really do that- I bow to you. And really don't envy you.
So basically, do something, anything this week, to be a little better of a steward of this lovely Earth........even if it just means simply not double-bagging your groceries.
I would love to know what you already do, what you have good intentions to do. If you complete this challenge, come back here and leave another comment and tell us all about it.
You might just be surprised at how a simple little something can make your heart happy too.
Are you in?
