A Safe & Happy Halloween?

Do you remember halloween in the 70's?

Remember running from house to house?

And we left our parents home! It was safe back then and they never could have kept up!

Here we are in a more advanced, enlightened world and it's no longer safe.

This year we are hearing about methanphetamine-laced candy! What is wrong with people? Our kids can't be kids.

Maybe we need to end the trick-or-treating and have more parties. At the police stations, fire stations, schools, churches, etc?

Any suggestions?!

What a Beautiful Tree!

Plant a Tree, Cool the Planet

What if each person planted one tree?

What if we did it every year?

What would our individual carbon footprint be then?

This summer I cut down one pine tree and planted 1 apple, 1 pear, 1 plum and 1 fig. I'm creating a cooling island on my property!

Let me know what you are planting...

Mini-Moochers Steal Suet Basket!

My new suet basket. It was on sale today for $3.00 at PetSmart!

I had a basic suet basket for over a year. I used it outside my office window with no problems.

Then we moved. It hung outside my window for 10 months with no problems. Recently, the local Mini-Moochers emptied it, ripped off the chain and clamp, then threw it in the pond! I refilled it and hung it, only to find it missing the next morning!

I'm screwing the new basket to the tree!!!

Highland Park 2

2 kids + 2 dogs = big fun!

Highland Park

Highland Park is a great place for a walk.

Bring a friend and play some frisbie golf! The new course is nice.

Pantry Floor Part 3

The pad is down! Yea! Now to read the flooring box.

Pantry Floor Part 2

Quiet Walk padding, ready to cut!

Now our feet won't get caught on the nail heads.

Time to cut and tape!

Pantry Floor Part 1

I'm tired of not being able to use our pantry, so I'm starting the new floor tonight!

I emptied the room of all the 'stuff' we had stored in there...

What If We All Helped Our Schools?

Dear Parents, Guardians, Faculty and Extended Families,
The ATP fundraising projects allow the students, faculty and parents at our schools to improve the educational opportunities available. Here is a quick list to post on your fridge. The more each family participates, the nicer our schools will be!


If you do not have any family members in school, why don't you volunteer to help your local ATP with one of these fundraisers? It's very simple and really only requires a commitment of 1-2 hours/ month! And it's a great way to get involved in your community and make a difference in the lives and education of our future leaders!!!!



Box Tops 4 Education: This program raises cash for our school! Please, go to http://www.boxtops4education.com/ and register to support our school… we get extra points for each family that registers! While you’re there, you can watch our points grow and learn about bonus points opportunities. I will be mailing in as many bundles of 50 box tops as I can this week to qualify for the October 31st deadline… get your points in to be on the check mailed to the ATP around December 15, 2008!!!



Campbell’s Labels for Education: This program allows us to earn points toward new equipment for our school! We need the UPC's off the cans and lids off the juice bottles. Please, go to http://www.labelsforeducation.com/ and check our point balance and the catalog!



GoodSearch.com & GoodShop.com: These two sites earn cash for our school… when you search the internet or shop online, 1st go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ and search or shop under our school and we’ll receive credit for your search! Add a GoodSearch button to your family website… ask your family to support our school!



Nestle Go Play: Save those Nestle Pure Life labels and put these in the new bin in the office! We can cash these labels in for rewards including field trip transportation and sports gear! Go to http://www.goplaylabels.com/ and check out all we can earn!



Tyson Project A+: Through this program we can earn up to $12,000.00/ year for our school just by redeeming the points on the Tyson products! This is so exciting! Please, if you buy Tyson products, look for the points and send these into school with your children! Go to http://www.projectaplus.tyson.com/ and check out the program.
Cash for Caps: Swiss Valley Farms pays us for the caps. A 1 gallon 2% milk was $2.82 at Sam’s Club on 10-15-08. If you shop Sam’s Club, or like this value, save those caps and drop off in the box in the office! You can go to http://www.cashforcaps.com/ and get a bit more information, but their site is very vague.



Kemps Nickels for Schools: This program pays our school 5 cents for each cap/ proof of purchase symbol! Please, send these into the office and check their site http://www.kemps.com/ for more information.



Red Card: This program puts cash into an account for the school! Just register your Target Red Card under Our School and we’ll receive up to 1% of every purchase you make~ without your prices going up! Go to www.target.com/tcoe for more information.



Funding Factory: This program pays our school for used cell phones and ink cartridges! Just gather these up and drop off in the box in the office! We’ll do the rest. Go to http://www.fundingfactory.com/ for more information.



Coke Rewards for Schools: This program allows families to donate points from personal Coke Rewards accounts to the school! Go to www.mycokerewards.com/schools and donate your reward points to our school, watch our balance grow and check out the catalog for schools (or drop the codes off in the office).



The Future of Our Country Depends on All of Us Getting Involved.

Autumn Relaxation

What could be more luxurious on a chilly fall day than curling up in my hanging chair with an afghan and my knitting?

A Cup of Coffee Really Makes My Morning Bright!

This morning my friend, Jessie, was in the hall waiting when I came to work. (Jessie is in my albums on myspace.com/cozieluv.)

I don't get to visit with him every day, so this was a real treat. Then, to make my day absolutely perfect, a dear tenant gave me a box of Gevalia coffee.

When I take care of the less fortunate, He always takes care of me.

Today I am truly blessed!

Should Everyone's Head be Warm This Winter?

What if everyone had a warm hat?

Imagine being homeless and spending hours outside day and night. Could you do it? What about without a warm hat?

Every day I see homeless people walking without a hat.

Couldn't each family donate a hat to a shelter?

Find a usable hat in your closet, buy a hat or knit a hat~ as long as we each reach out and keep each other warm!

Support Your Local Firemen?

What if we all showed support of our local firemen?

They dedicate their lives to protect and rescue us. They work long hours under dangerous conditions.

When was the last time any one of us dropped off a fresh homemade pie or cake? Fresh bread and home canned jam? Couldn't we spare it?

Let's let them know how much we appreciate them!

Leave me a comment about what you did for them.

What if We All Cared Enough to Pull Over?

What if we all cared enough to pull over? How many times have you seen someone cut off an ambulance? Have you ever done it?

Couldn't we all pull over just for the minute it takes for an ambulance to pass? Are we really running so late as to potentially cause an accident? Or do we just not care?

What if you were in the ambulance and it had to slow down to wait for an inconsiderate driver? Would you make it to the hospital on time?

We all need to care enough to pull over quickly and let the ambulances pass safely.

Your life may depend on it!

Couldn't You Spare Some Cans?

Do you cash in your aluminum, drop it in a recycling station or throw it away?

What if you put all your cans in a bag in your trunk? Then, when you see someone walking with a bag of cans over their shoulder, you can stop and give them your cans.

Your smallest bag of cans could ensure that someone else has enough money for a clean bed for that night, a newer winter coat or a good meal before they head back into the shadows to sleep in places you don't want to think about.

Couldn't you spare some cans to make someones life more bearable?

Fresh Food for All?

What if each of us donated one item from our gardens to a shelter or soup kitchen?

As you sit down to dinner tonight, imagine what it would be like to eat only food from cans and boxes. That is the unfortunate position of those who must eat at shelters due to job loss or mental illness. They sit down to a basic meal in a sterile, cafeteria-style room.

Will the food pass a health inspection? Yes.

Will it include fresh fruits and vegetables? Probably not.

Will there be enough for seconds? Maybe not.

Will there be any fresh cut flowers? No.

As they head back out to sleep on the streets (because the shelters are full), they may not have had enough to eat and definitely did not have a heartwarming meal. Yes, they had something to eat and are grateful, but not a heartening enough meal to inspire them to hope for the future.

Could this scenario be different? Yes.

What could you do to make their meals a little more homey?

Do you have a beautiful cut flower garden?

Are your tomatoes growing out of control?

Your mulberry tree overflowing?

What do you have that you could donate to make their lives better?

What would you want someone to do for you?