Kristine Virsis & Hope.

 As we grow up we are encouraged to use our free time doing things like watching tv, shopping, and eating out. Things that keep us sitting still and spending money, as the concept of play that was so natural to us as children becomes foreign. For me learning to ride a unicycle has been more freeing than I could have imagined. - Kristine Virsis


Word of the week: HOPE [the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.]
What to do with it: GET SOME. 

 I've been letting things get me reaaaaal down lately. Things like the oil spill and homeless animals and rape and classism and racism and borders and how sad people look as they go about their daily routine. Optimism seems to get harder...but I keep reminding myself that there are (probably? hopefully?) as many good things happening in the world as there are bad. They just aren't dramatic enough to appeal to the masses, so they don't get televised.

For instance:
This week Sarah Reilly saved dozens of tadpoles from a rapidly drying puddle; they now stand a chance at becoming frogs! Marvin Reilly rescued a tiny kitten from a stack of tires at his work and it is now sleeping beneath his beard! A bittersweet farewell-to-the-pool party was had at the PleasureDome! Steve Bates didn't drown in the flash flood! Lauren Matlock and all her housemates didn't get shot even though they live in the for-real ghetto! Endangered crocodiles hatched in Cambodia! Thousands of rubber ducks raced down the Connecticut River to raise money for charity! People are overcoming stuff! Folks are loving each other! Songs that don't suck are being written! Trees are still growing nice 'n' tall in lots of places and grass still conquers the sidewalks, doggone-it!

I'm tired of the gloom.  Gonna build something better.
Amen?

DIY Laundry Soap

How does 64 loads for 55 cents AND earth-friendly sound? You only need these three things (plus some water):

1. Grate 1/3 bar of Dr. Bronner's soap. 
2. Dissolve soap in a quart of water over low heat while stirring.
3. Stir in half a cup of borax & half a cup of washing soda over low heat until powders are dissolved.
4. Pour mixture into three quarts of cool water (in a bucket or container of choice). Stir thoroughly. 

EASY.

Use 1/4 cup of this detergent per load and bask in your thriftiness!

I made this stuff today and also whipped up a batch of armpit/earth-friendly deodorant with a simple recipe from Abi's blog. I used orange essential oil in it and my pits are smellin' mighty fine!

Other things I've done today:
Sunday bike ride.
Started an embroidery project.
Planted five tomato plants in the alley.
Admired this

for a long time. 

Camping was great, with the exception of a whippoorwill that decided to camp ten feet from our tent and carry on all night. We rescued two turtles from the road, one water snake from the creek (well, Marvin did), and saw a tarantula and a baby beav! I had forgotten how good s'mores are and how nice it is to fall asleep looking at the stars. I also ate a hot dog, some bacon, and a hamburger this weekend. Holiday lapse in vegetarianism. It happens. My digestive tract pays for it.   

Now I must get back to the crafting challenge that Courtney has given me. And bea arthur mountains pizza.

My Makeup

on my cheeks I wear
the flush of two beers


on my eyes I use
the dark circles of sleepless nights
to great advantage


for lipstick
I wear my lips

- one of the world's best poems according to me, by Rochelle Kraut

This week I vowed to always be true to the following things: hammocks, meteors, returning phonecalls. I am no longer true to housekeeping. I also attended a non-house-church for the first time in probably six years. What did I get from the experience? The desire for trendier hair and a collarbone tattoo. No, really I just prayed a lot that God would help me to not judge hipsters so doggone much. Especially nice ones in a house of worship. The commute to and from Little Rock was nice though, and confirmed that I need to get out of the house and workplace more often. A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Derby just yowled and carried on like cats do when when they've caught you a "dinner" of dead mouse or bird. The Derbs, however, was proud to present us with a wadded up paper napkin. Quite the hunter.

Just the type of thing I would be excited about!

Sun Chips bags are now compostable.



Now if all the other snacks would follow...

I expanded the container garden yesterday! This summer we will (hopefully) be enjoying organic tomatoes & lettuce, Jerusalem artichokes, and catnip. I'm thinking about adding a bell pepper plant and some wildflowers and trying to guerilla garden in the alley with any of the tomatoes that germinate that I don't have room for in buckets on the deck.

That sentence contained far too many prepositions and these dolls are magnificent:

Images from cartbeforethehorse.etsy.com.

Also, I love going to yard sales on my lunch break. <3 Happy weekending!

A masterpiece.

For those of you who haven't started your self-portraits for the Wall of Fame, Jorge Garcia has just put you to shame:

The man's on a hit t.v. series, lives in Hawaii, and STILL managed to get this masterpiece to Arkansas in less than a week. I bet you procrastinators feel pretty lame now, dontcha?