CURSIVE VS KEYBOARD

I haven't written lately not because I haven't thought of things to write about but because I haven't had a lot of extra time.   I went to retrieve my email on the Yahoo page and found something which irritates me.  They have little news snippets and this one caught my eye:

http://news.yahoo.com/states-move-save-cursive-classroom-081327913.html

I agree totally.

 

This summer my grands went to camp and I had to write them a letter on the computer and print it off or hand print the whole letter myself.   The grands do not read cursive.   I remember the times I spent learning to write cursive.  I remember the pride I had in producing my first squiggly lines.  I also remember long before the fourth grade trying to emulate my parents cursive.  Cursive was introduced  into my curriculum in central Missouri in 1954.

 

They do not need to go to the extreme my teachers went in teaching cursive.  We had to practice for hours with specially lined paper to perfect the letters.  I do believe cursive still has a place in society and children should know how to read it.

 

While schools are at it, in this age of keyboards, why aren't they teaching typing so the kids don't have to hunt and peck and watch their fingers while they are typing.  They would be able to devote more brain cells to their reports if they weren't so concerned with where their fingers were landing.

 

I wonder, maybe we should just teach shorthand. 

After all isn't that the shortcut of printing?  The precursor to texting. 

 

It just occurred to me, does anyone under the age of forty know what shorthand is?  I don't think it is a requirement to be a secretary anymore.  Is secretary still an acceptable word?

 

BTW, how many words a minute can you type?

 

For more blogs by me, visit at:
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind.  
  http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

 

Other Blog site by me:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

GOBLINS, GHOULIES, THINGS WHICH DELIGHT

Goblins, ghoulies, and gremlins,

Creatures of the night,

In evening they'll be haunting,

Streets and roads with delight,

 

Skeletons, dwarfs, and ghosts,

Try with all their might,

To scare all the children,

On this last October night.

 

Spiders, Bats, and Toads,

Things which cause fright,

Cause little children,

To squeal with delight.

 

Squiggly snakes and lizards,

Hide in places with out light,

Kids try to capture them,

To cause adults fright.

 

Witches, Warlocks, and Vampires,

Will visit your house tonight,

When they knock at your door,

You'll open it with delight.

 

Faces smiling, voices laughter filled ,

Costumes hide them from your sight,

They are coming to your house,

To scare you tonight.

 

Beware when it gets dark,

Those creatures of the night,

This evening they'll be haunting,

Streets and Roads with delight.

 

 

For more blogs by me, visit at:
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

about quilting, cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,

 Tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind.  
  http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

 

Another Blog site by me:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KANSAS

I travel across Kansas every couple of months to get to Denver.  It is a very long trip across the state.  Everyone who hears I am making the trip says one of two things:  You drive that far alone?  or, that is the most boring drive. 

 

Aux contraire, Beauty is where you find it, if you are looking for it.  I always find new sites and the old sites, and I am never bored.  I wish there was time to stop and check out some neat sites I have seen.

 

This last trip not 40 feet from the interstate was a field with 6 cows milling around each other.  As I approached the area I saw a 7th one laying down.  It was a picture moment.  I had 7 cows in close proximity of each other, and on the back of the 7th cow there were 7 blackbirds lined up all facing the same direction.  I had to smile but I didn't stop to take the picture. 

 

At mile marker 201- 202, there is an over pass and if you are driving west on interstate 70 on the right, right before the overpass is a lonely stone house all boarded up for over 10 years now I look forward each trip to see if anyone has rescued her and given her the love she deserves.  Even her out buildings are still in good condition.  I want to know her but understand she will only be in my dreams.  So many farms along the highway have a story which they would tell if some one was listening.  They have me imaging what has gone before.  The plateaus you see which may have had Indians hiding in wait. 

 

Roads abandoned, going nowhere,

Marked by post of rock,

Standing sentinel over barren fields,

House of stone, against the wind, windows blocked.

 

The barn, the sheds, empty, alone,

Where are the caretakers of the past,

Who traveled those roads,

Whose hands built them to last?

 

Each time my path takes me there,

I wish I could've known,

Who were these strong willed people,

Why did they leave, What went wrong?

For more blogs by me, visit at:
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind.  
  http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission



 



FIFTY YEARS AND COUNTING

This is a "Where do I begin" moment, it can't even be decided if the chicken or the egg came first.  For me, that is a mute point, it depends on which side of the fence I am on at the moment I'm asked.  The Chicken came first if I am in religious mode, and if I am in a moment of education it is the egg.

 

Right now I am in an extremely spiritual mode.   My life is filled with love, laughter and sadness;  many bittersweet moments,  many moments of elation, and many devastating moments.  Maybe it is the Joys of Rosh Hashanah or the solemnness of Yom Kippur, or could it be my mother's tentative hold on life.  My life is filled with life lessons.

 

This is the time of year when young ones everywhere are excitedly buying that new pair of tennis shoes.   The box of new crayons, unused, makes them beam.  They are beginning a journey which will have many roads to take.  I look back at the roads I have traveled.  Today is the first day of the weekend celebration of my high school 50 year reunion.  I do remember the day I graduated, although I do not remember the first day of school.  There was no Kindergarten at my school in the boot heel of Missouri.  Kindergarten was a very Avant Garde idea.  Too far out for a small country town. 

 

Even though I don't remember what happened the first day of the rest of my life, I do remember what I wore.  It was a red a green plaid dress with little capped sleeves.  My hair was down and mom had used rags to put it into banana girls.  I remember feeling so pretty.   I remember at recess time I wouldn't play on the monkey bars because of modesty but it was more than that, I didn't want to get my dress dirty.  Before the day wore off the monkey bars were my destination. One other thing I remember about that first day is the teachers name.  I don't know how to spell it but it sounded like Miss Laticia.  I think she was older, she had gray hair like a grandma (but I know now that young people can have gray hair).   She was always short tempered and little girls who loved to communicate weren't her favorite people. 

 

My experiences that first year make me wonder now how much an impression the person makes who is your child's first foray into the big world.  Does this person help decide the roads your child will eventually travel?  The other teachers whose names I remember are all related to the world of journalism.  There was my seventh grade grammar teacher, Mrs. Threlkeld.  She made the construction of a sentence fun.  Maybe it was her look.  She was statuesque, and her hair must have been extremely long because she wore a braid that went around the back of her head and was like a tiara on top.   I have seen pictures of Spanish Dancers with that type hair do.

 

In my senior year I took English 4 and Public Speaking.  The teacher for both, was a just out of college journalism student.  I believe we were her first classes.  Her Name is Vieta Jo Hampton.  She showed me one of the roads I could take.  I was introduced to poetry reading and writing.  I was instructed in all venues of public speaking.  But the road which I never expected to travel so soon was shown to me. 

 

She had a Folk music guitarist come to our classes to speak on, "Folk Music as  means of communication".  He spoke to the classes.  I never even got to shake his hand.  I fell in love watching him and listening to him.  On the school bus home I told my girl friend, "That's the man I am going to marry."  She laughed and said you haven't even met him.  I told her, I didn't know how but I was going to meet him.

 

To make a long story short, It is a very long story, It is fifty years for my musician and I.

 

I want to thank all the people known and unknown who shaped my life.

The following blog is the story of my musician and me:
http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-day-of-rest-of-our-lives.html

The following blog is the story of his part in my mortally embarrassing moment:
 http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-most-embarrassing-moment.html

My life's partner was the best choice for me.  I can't wait to see what the next fifty brings.

For more blogs by me, visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting,
cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

 Check out "A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind.  
  http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

 

 

Other Blog site by me:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

 

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .

Please do not copy without permission

 

 

 

 

 



COMING HOME

I have never kept it a secret how much the computer is apart of my life.  How many life lessons I have had in cyber space.  I have met and made friends I will have for a lifetime.  Much to my chagrin because of the limitations of the media I have lost friendships too. 

On other blogs I have discussed this.  We share each others lives and are not there to console and touch when it is needed.  I am fortunate to have met several of my online friends (even several from around the world.)

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2013/02/thank-you-for-sharing-my-life.html

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2012/08/imaginary-friends.html

One of those friends has lost her brother.  She was born and raised in another country.  Her family still resides there.  Her brother was on holiday in another country.  He was having a reunion with his children and their families.  He had a heart attack and passed away.  This was very unexpected.   He is arriving back home.  The only way I can touch my friend is through my words.  

With love I write for her.

The youngest to the oldest,

Loved ones joined, a holiday,

Thoughts, anticipations, instantly erased,

Angels descended today.

My Brother, his final trip home,

Arriving, greeted by tears,

He traveled to lands he loved,

With elation, not with fears.

The clouds are carrying me,

Heavy is my heart,

Paying extra for the burden,

Of this trip, before I start.

The sadness at my destination,

Wrapped in the warmth of memory,

This trip to my homeland,

To set my brother free.

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH BLOGS

COMING SOON

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"

A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

BUTTONS

 

My buttons are all gone,

Popped off my shirts years ago,

My children caused this condition,

Making this mother glow,

 

Today's the day for celebration,

Today's another day I cheer,

My son and his wife,

Are celebrating a year.

 

That's not the only reason

I have to stand so tall,

I received a lovely picture,

Them at the Navy ball.

 

He's quite the dapper Dan,

With a lovely lady on his arm,

You can tell by his smile,

He is beguiled by her charms.

 

Happy Anniversary

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH BLOGS

 

COMING SOON

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"

A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

 

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

BLACKBERRIES

Sun high, almost noon,

Golden, windless, caressing,

Hat, shoes, long sleeves, pants.
 

Wood’s edge briar patch

Hidden treasures to be found,

Snakes, critters abound.
 

Fingertips purple,

Teeth studded with remains,

Berry tart, delight.
 

Tired, itchy, sweaty,

Fading sun, dreaming postponed,

Tomorrow, more work.
 

 

Have you ever been blackberry picking?  It can be an intimidating experience.  They are un-pruned, reaching out, grabbing you. 

Scratching like a wild cat. 

 

Then you have the mosquitoes looking for their free lunch.  Everyone says use the bug spray.  You are already wearing sun screen for the sun. Geesh, by the time you are finished you're an oil slick.  You have so many clothes on to protect you.  You can't move and the Sun is pounding down on you.

 

Why would you subject yourself to this?  The first purple orb you see which is so purple it is black, you pop it into your mouth.  The rain the day before plumped all the little orbs which make up the blackberry.  Do you have any idea how good that sun warmed berry tastes? 

 

It's indescribable. It keeps you in that patch picking, wanting to fill the waiting containers. Always watching the ground at your feet.  Why would you watch the ground?  Under all that foliage there are beasties who slither around.  They don't like blackberries but they love the critters who enjoy them (they are also seeking relief from the hot sun). 

 

You have the possums, deer, raccoons, and skunks (which have gone to bed for the day).  I have encountered a squirrel scampering through the upper canes indulging in dessert.  They are all too large for the slithering kind to eat.  There are the mice and rabbits which seem to enjoy sweet treats  too.  They are just the right size for black snakes and copperheads.

 

There is the occasional garter snake indulging on the lizards who have taken refuge from the sun.  I pray I see a Prairie King snake.  They will eat other snakes.  They are a calm snake, they don't act defensive, startling you.

 

One of the strangest sights I have seen in the patch was one I heard before I saw it. It was a hummingbird.  It flew inches from my face and stuck his beak in one of the berries and slacked his thirst.  Bird do have a yearning for berries.  I just never thought of a hummer indulging.  I should have though,  the woodpeckers drink regularly from the humming bird feeder. 

 

The berries aren't the only reward picking Blackberries.

I picked 10 pounds yesterday.

 

Take time to enjoy the fruits of nature.

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH BLOGS

COMING SOON

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"

A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind. 

 

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

 

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

 



CHANGE OF SEASON

Watching signs, waiting,

Icy winds through leafless trees,

Hawks circling above.

 

Bluebirds returning,

Daffodils, laden with snow.

Hang like golden tears.

 

Leaded skies belie, 

Yesterday, air sweet and clean,

Promise, Earth renewed.

 

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting, but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

 

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

 

 

 

 



MY WORLD: MARCH 24, 2013



Like a Kodak moment years ago,

   Not enough light for colors to show,

Strange for this time of year,

We should have Daffodil blooms appear.

The Red Bud tree clothed in snow,

Wishing its blossoms it could show,

Knowing this happens each year,

It's ready to tell us spring is here.

 

Not today or even tomorrow,

It will sleep, much to our sorrow,

Keeping it's buds closed tight,

Resting quietly through the night.

From my window, in the tops of the trees,

The snow covering everything I see,

I contemplate, what will the deer eat,

Wondering if bark is a treat.

 

Looking East, down the hill,

Grand kids would love the sledding thrill,

Visibility is very poor,

Hardly see the barn next door.

With our view from the top,

Wondering when this snow will stop,

Trudging to the barn, snow to our knees,

Hats, double gloves, so we don't freeze.

 

The snow is still coming down.  In west St. Louis area we have 8 inches now.  It has inconvenienced  satellite TV watching.  The dish keeps getting covered.  I keep the broom handy.  Luckily ours isn't on the roof it is on the deck railing.  As you can see by the second picture we are eye level with the top of the electric pole. 

 

The trip up and down the hill to feed the cats, chickens and water our young plants is very arduous.  It is about a 45 degree and steeper slope.  It is a twice a day chore.  Needless to say I don't think my husband will be going to work in the morning.  This snow is to continue through midnight. 

 

Our bridge won't even have animal tracks on it.  The Russian Blue cat named baby has decided he likes being a house kitty.  He hasn't asked or even tried to go to the door.  I am glad he is nice and warm.            http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2013/03/top-cat.html

 

The barn kitties have it good too.  Hunny said there were no tracks outside.  They have the nicest place to sleep. We left the grass bags on the mower after we vacuumed the last of the dried grass in the pasture.  We left the bags full.  We took off the pipe which goes from the mower to the bags.  They jump up into the hole and sleep in the grass.  For added insulation we covered the bagging attachment with an old carpet.

 

The only worry I have is our mama barn cat looked full in the abdomen the last week and has been real shy.  I think she is ready to gift us with some more kittens.

 

We have had light brief snows in the spring that melt off 3 hours later, nothing of any consequence.

This is very unusual for this area.  The last time I remember an unusual snow storm was May 6 1971 or 72...can't place the year but remember the day.

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting, but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.


TOP CAT

 "BABY"
The following link is the beginning of his story: 

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2012/07/poetry-and-story-todays-happenings.html

He is laying on two of my "Shaggy quilts".
 If you want to make one yourself you find information at these blogs:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/01/trash-to-treasure.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2010/12/raggy-or-shaggy.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/01/rag-quilting-for-little-ones.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/06/rags-to-riches.html


 I am no longer a skinny dude,
Into their lives I now intrude,
Each night I check out the bed,
A comfy place, round and round I tread.

I'm not neutered yet,
A reason, my owners' fret,
The litter box is my friend,
But using it I still offend.

I'm too scared to be kenneled up,
My litter they are vigilant to pick up,
I have heard them, they are going to try,
My family jewels, me to deprive.

He is an amazing cat.  One evening during the last snow storm I opened the door to take his food out to him and he waltzed right into the house.  In front of him were 5 "monsters", growling, hissing, raising their hair.  All he did was try to rub up against them, instant kayos.  I hurriedly picked him up.  Which inherited me 3 scratches on my chest because he thought he was going to fall.  I squeezed him tight to my chest and told hunny to open our bedroom door so I could put him in there to see how he'd do as a house cat.

Carrying him was a chore.  He is very strong and he is at least 15 lbs.  He has been in the house over a week now and doing very well.  We have tried the house cats one at a time in the room and there is only one so far that enjoys his company.  Her name is "Precious".

He has used his litter box from the very first. 
I am so pleased because his "Big Boy Potty" is really hard on the senses.


Saturday was a delightful 60+ degrees.  I sat on the deck with some of my quilting and opened the door to our bedroom.  I figured he might like to come out and if he didn't come back in the house it was going to be a mild night.  He would be fine, he had his house we had built him to stay in.  After about 20 minutes he finally peeked his head out.  A huge gust of wind happened and he turned around, shot under the bed.  It was evident he preferred this house arrangement to the great outdoors.

This cat was still wild and scratching on purpose the night he came in the door. 
He has not attempted to scratch or bite since then.

BABY STRETCHING, BEGGING FOR A TUMMY RUB

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting, but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry

Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.



RECYCLING RE-USING

We are ardent gardeners.  We recycle or should  I say re-purpose/re-use.  We have recycled entire buildings' lumber into sheds and retaining walls for ourselves.  Peoples' pitched and rotting retaining logs have the rotted part removed and they are reused in our garden.  Dinner plates have become low retaining walls.  Speaker boxes that are plastic or metal have been re purposed into planters and retaining walls.

We don't live in an area where plastic recycling is available.  We are very conscientious about trying not to send things to the land fill. 

 The list of large items is endless.

 

Our small item list grows even longer each day.  You do not need to purchase pots for raising your plants.  The discards from friends, neighbors, co workers will give you more items than you need.

 

I hope this list gives you ideas you will be able to use in your daily routine. 

 

1.  Our new favorite potting container. "Activia" .  Other yogurt containers with inward slopping sides do not make good planters.  You can't get the plant out without disturbing the roots.

 

ALERT: WHEN YOU REMOVE THE RING ON THE ACTIVIA CUP PLEASE CLIP ONE SIDE SO IT IS BROKEN. PLASTIC RINGS, IN LAND FILLS, STRANGLE WILDLIFE.  THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING THOSE WHO CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES. (DON'T FORGET THE RINGS ON TOP OF MILK CARTONS.)

THE PLASTIC HOLDERS FOR SIX PACKS (MULTIPLE PACKS) also endanger wildlife .  Each cell is a tourniquet waiting to happen.

2.  Cardboard type milk cartons:  Quarts are great, half gallons are nice,  We use them for plants like tomatoes where we want them to grow lots of roots up the stalk.  When we transplant we only fill the container about 1/3 full before putting in the tomato and then we fill it up.  The plant will grow roots up the buried stem.  Besides the depth it is a narrow container, using less dirt that I have to prepare..so it is a labor saver.

3.  Styrofoam packing trays:  The ones which are from the meat department serve as trays for holding small pots for watering.  The mushroom boxes which are Styrofoam make good under house plant saucers.  All colored Styrofoam trays and packaging are a very good Crafting medium for kids. 

4.  Plastic, take me home, domed containers:  Including those that rotisserie Chickens arrive in.  These are great mini green houses.

Did you perhaps buy a cake at the bakery in either a square or round one.  Turned upside down the lid is a tray and the dome a green house. 

5.  Cardboard boxes food comes in (I.E. cereal, crackers etc.):  Any box that has food in it is safe for food.  You can open them out flat.   The larger ones you can cut in half along a seam.  What to do with them?  You can use them as cutting boards for things like onions.  Then you don't have to wash the board you just throw it away. (If it is a juicy item you don't want to cut it on the "disposable board".  the card board will dissolve).  Another caution, The side with the printing should never be used to cut on.  The inks may be dangerous and the out side may have a plastic coating that would not be good in our digestive systems.

The larger pieces can be used for emergency dust pans.

6.  Have you up scaled a piece of furniture.  Try it and save it from the land fill and put the money you saved  into the bank.

7.  Old clothes can go to good will or you can use them yourself.  I have up cycled clothes which are already in the "use for Paint cloth" bin.  The following blogs are about re-using/recycling tossed aside or worn out items:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/01/trash-to-treasure.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-mans-trash.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2008/09/recycle-those-bridesmaid-dresses.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-re-cycledre-used.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-homemade.html

Edit March 6, 2013:

8.  I have forgotten one of our favorite re-uses.  We cut the bottoms off plastic gallon milk containers and use them for cloches on tiny tender plants in the garden.  You do have to monitor them though.   Sometimes you need to vent the heat out the top (removing the cap), and other times you need to remove the cloche entirely.  If the sun is bright you can cook your little plants.   If your plant is large and touches the plastic and you have a freeze then the plant will freeze where it touches the side of the cloche. 

9. Another garden recycle is newspapers for mulch.  A word of caution, if  you have sow bugs, they feed on them and prolificate under the layers.  You must also weight them down or you will be papering the neighbor hood  until  they get dampened enough.

10.  Carpet:  Old carpet, as long as it doesn't have the rubber backing, is great for paths in the garden.  It can hit the dump after it has served a year in your garden.  (It should be pulled up at the end of the season because of all the unwanted stuff  that might be hiding to emerge next year) 

Break the circle of death,

Break all plastic circles.

 

Have fun finding ways to save our environment.



For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting, but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

                                                  blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry

Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

                                            Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
                                                   Please do not use without permission.

THE LOSS OF A FRIEND

My heart beating,

Sun shining, filtered through tears,

Memories of us.

Where was I when time stopped? 

There would be no laughter, tears, idle moments shared.

I was taken unawares.

Our friendship had me off guard. Each day you rallied,

your smiles gave life to those around you.

 Bittersweet thoughts of days shared. 

I treasure every memory.

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting, but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

 http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry

Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

What has life given to me?

The ability my future to see,

The understanding of what I hear,

The means to tackle the things I fear.

We travel life's road, its twists and turns,

With trepidation and some concerns,

Wondering what we'll encounter along the way,

What we'll be learning on this day.

Tomorrow, will our journey, fulfillment bring,

This date, this time, will sadness be lingering,

Or will someone meet us along the way,

To change our lives this very day. 

How many people have you virtually met who have influenced your lives?

How many have given you optimism when you had a defeatist attitude? 

How many have you come to know even though you have never met?

How many have encouraged you to be more than you can be?

Today I lost an Internet friend who was all those things to me. 

" Knowing" her enriched my life.  Since I became Internet savvy in 1996,

I have had this scenario present its self over and over again. 

When a friend passes on the Internet  it is so different from loosing someone you have in your life physically.  How do you mourn them, how do you share your grief with those close to them, and how do you justify that you weren't there?

To my Internet friends,

I want you to know how much you mean to the people you meet. 

 How much you influence their lives.  Hillary Clinton said, "It takes a village." 

 The internet is a village.

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting, but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,

A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

Blog about dolls.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry

Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.

Please do not use without permission.



COLD WINTER'S DAY

The weather in St. Louis has been Topsy Turvy to say the least.  It could be lots worse.  Last week we had some bitter cold days with sleet and lots of wind.  After one of these days I awoke long before the sun came up and was there for the Sun's awakening.  It was gorgeous.  

Cold icy sunrise,

Blueberry, Raspberry, Peach sorbet,

Flavoring our day.

For more blogs by me visit at:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com

A blog mostly about quilting, but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,

New blog, tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.

New Blog about dolls.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry

New Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

As always, any pictures or writings are my own. 

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.

Please do not use without permission.