Sofia & Carmela

Grandpa's Workshop

We grew up on an 80 acre wooded plot of land ... and have wonderful memories playing for endless hours on the property. My father continues to reside on this property with my mother, after 49 years of marriage, they are like school kids ... deeply in love.

My father is now retired and is busy working on making each of his four children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild fantastic family heirlooms! He cuts down the trees, processes the wood and individually designs each piece for the person he intends to present the gift of his labor to. He does not use any nails when he constructs a box or chest. They are amazing and the dovetails are perfect!

Each of us cherish his efforts and truly appreciate that the wood came from the trees we planted as children together, climbed on, the woods we ran through, and from the land we grew up on! Below you will see a few examples of the pieces I have.

Oak Jewelry Box

Spratted Maple Box With Wood Hinges & Black Walnut & Maple Tray

Walnut Box With Wood Hinges

Sasafrace Chest Lined In Chest

Sasafrace Machinist Tool Box - 1920 Reproduction - With Eagle

My father made me this wonderful Machinist Tool Box ... It is fantastic!!!

Double Rainbows Over Copper Mountain

Road Trip ... We're Heading West ....

We are heading to Vail to scout out a few school and snowboarding opportunities for Patrick!! Unfortunately they did not present themselves earlier in the year!!!



The wonderful news is that my cousin will be in Vail during the same time! I am so excited that we will have a chance to visit and then attend his concerts with the NY Phil while we are out there!!

I am really looking forward to a break from the Tundra and the music festival should be fantastic! For those of you who actually read this blog ... please check back soon ... we are on vacation!!

Is Your Family ... The Poster Family for Domestic Wreckage

When considering my personal family "unit" I must say it is very disapointing ...with a few wonderful exceptions.

I have to wonder how so many different personalities and views can spawn from the same parents. Genetics are literally amazing and often even ones environments are identical and yet .... domestic wreckage can occur between parents, siblings, children and more distant relatives. Maybe it all just boils down to free will.

Consider that a family consists of a domestic group of people (or a number of domestic groups), typically affiliated by birth or marriage, or by analogous or comparable relationships — including domestic partnership, cohabitation, adoption, surname and (in some cases) ownership (as occurred in the Roman Empire).

Contemporary society generally views family as a haven from the world, supplying absolute fulfilment. The family is considered to encourage "intimacy, love and trust where individuals may escape the competition of dehumanising forces in modern society. It is a shame most families do not even realize this.

If that is true ... then why can family actually be so very disapointing? Is it that our expectations, beliefs and morals are so very different? I would suggest that when evaluating a "family" relationship ... consider how your family actually treats you ... would you remain friends with people who treated you the same way? Often times not.

But lets remember ... this is not Walton's Mountain ... now is it?

AL OR FDR ... FOR PRESIDENT .... AGAIN!!!!!

Typically I do not voice my personAL views on Politics. That topic falls along side religion, sex and fiances. You do not dicuss those topics when surrounded by large groups of people. At least that was what my father taught me.

However, since this blog is going out into space ... and I am so absolutely discouraged ... I will share my views so that some other soul may understand and realize they are not alone!

As I watch CNN, scroll over to Fox and yes even the Networks, and consider the 2008 canidate possibilties ... I think I will vote, "None of The Above!". I am an Independent these days. The "Parties" ... the "Administration" ... now that has to be the biggest joke on the planet! I mean really ... what can you believe? Certainly not the spoon fed crap they have been serving ... filling us with perservatives for years! I cannot stand by and listen to yet another, wind up my ass speech, by yet another of our elected Evildoers!!!!

Morals, Values, Doing the Right Thing.... they are clueless! FOR THE PEOPLE???? Yeah, right! It is a complete humilation to travel abroad and actually admit you are an American. People actually laugh and they have no respect for us or our Policies what so ever. We are the selfish, big, greedy, bully's of the West! European's get the real news ... we acutally get a version of truth that meets the need of big brother's agenda! And if you don't think that is real ... do your research! We get the polished verison of the truth. European's get the real news and consequently have a very real opinion.

Don't get me wrong ... I love this country. I am an Army veteran. I am a single mother of two boys and a Grandmother! However, use your mind .... None Of The Above ... it is our harsh reality! We are not in a position to end up with more of the same!

Since we all know our lilly white politicians will continue to vote in their own pay raises and protect their own intersts, even when they are squandering any possiblity of a healthy positive environment and a secure financial future for our children ... I will suggest, as an alternative, since the popular vote apparently doesn't mean zip in our nation of the free, and special interest groups, ... draft AL!!! FDR certainly did what he could, and impacted this country as a whole, more than any president in history.

Our planet is dying, our children are dying, the economy and housing markets (despite the polished numbers) are dying, our grandchilren having hope to excel and achive beyond the capabilities of their ancestors ... their dreams are dying!!!!

SIGN THE PETITION TO DRAFT AL GORE

How Does One Become A Cat Woman...after all?

Recently a friend of mine warned me of becoming a cat woman. Since I live in near isolation, unable to sell my Crackerbox Palace, due to the ongoing local suffering from the broken economy, there is really very little chance that I will meet a confident, self-reliant cultured companion to share my days with, in these here north woods!

Apparently the cards I drew do not include a relationship with a man who has not been called to my house to repair an appliance, fix the well or plow the snow from my driveway! And since I am not a bar type of girl it is very unlikely a local redneck with dental deficiencies would be a suitable scenario.

However, I must say, being alone is actually not a terrible thing at all. I become a bit stir crazy from time to time, ponder the value of the friendships I have developed here, and have learned most definitely to prepare a very mean Cosmo!

In time, once my son graduates and starts college, I will venture out … back into the real world. I do wonder if there will be a refresher course available to help me with my lost grammar and my inability to operate a vehicle at warp speed! And then … when I do get the opportunity … I wonder if my failing body will remember how to function in a skirt and pair of heels!

Until then, I will reside, with my two cats (and a dog by the way) … alone.… in the tundra … wondering what effects global warming will continue to have on this isolated uncultured place. Possibly I should not bother relocating to a warmer geographical location for the winters … it will be warm here soon enough!!!!

My Father's Day Card from Bobby

Crane ... WARNING!

Warning ... when driving in a low lying area ... aka wetlands ... it is highly recommend that you keep the drivers side window up! The reason for this is my near death experience with a whooping crane!!

No really ... this is not a joke ... if you can even imagine .. I am off, just enjoying my morning, driving down state, when out of no where my automobile was attacked by an exceptionally large whooping crane!!

At 75 miles an hour, the massive span of this bird, does in fact cover the entire drivers side of a mid size car's windshield, further wrap all the way around to the divers side window and, ultimately rip the driver's side mirror from your authomobile, as the giantic bird brutally falls to it's death, you will be just horrified at the mass volumes of "matter" which continues to block your view as you attempt to control your vehicle.

My warning is acutally not a joke ... however it is now at some sick level ... funny. No one will even believe you. I mean really ... how could this even happen ... a whooping crane??!!!! Obviously ... only to me.

An important point to remember is that I can personally confirm that these birds do in fact have a wing span of about seven feet ... literally! I certainly burnt off a whole bunch of karma this particular morning! This poor bird was having a very bad day. Luckily no one witnessed the killing of this endangered species and I was not ticketed for going five miles an hour over or the reckless driving episode that followed the event, and the damages seem minimal compared to the alternatives.

My near death experience was only prevented since my window was almost fully rolled up. Had it been any lower the gigantic, and potentially very angry and injured crane would have been in my face and lap! Needless to say ... I am sorry the poor crane did not survive the ordeal however, I am grateful that my window saved me from a certain misfortune.

Blog Bumper Stickers ... I have a nice car.

Now, REALLY, is this such a difficult concept? What more can I say?

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." ~~Philo of Alexandria

Canning 2007

I am so tired of living in the tundra and consequently not having fresh … real … fruit and vegetables … I am canning.

So far I have made salsa, two variations of Chutney, Rhubarb-Peach Jam, and Orange Marmalade. As the season unfolds my goal is to finish up with Apple Butter, Strawberry Jam, Bread and Butter Pickles, Corn Relish, Tomato’s and Alan’s Bloody Mary Mix!!!!

And … if… that goes as planned I may include the basic vegetables and fruits as they become available.

However, since it will be only me here this year the quantities are very small. I am using small half pint and pint jars as opposed to quart and trying to stay realistic as to how much I would actually consume in a year.

In reading this post I have to wonder how it is I became my mother and then ended up so isolated in the North Woods. Many people have asked why bother … just buy it. Well, fresh and without preservatives is very important to me. And real food is typically not available by mid winter. The quality of fruit and vegetables is not even consumable after one day if you purchase it locally and the nearest real grocery is one and a half hours drive if the weather is good. So … there you go!

Improve your outlook in 7 Days

A seven day lesson in Life's Realities.

Day one: Life is not fair.
Day two: Things do not have to make sense.
Day three: Have the courage to be imperfect.
Day four: How you feel is up to you.
Day five: Life is a series of choices.
Day six: Persistence pays.
Day seven: Attitude is everything.

Welcome To Kmart ... May I Help You?

Patrick's first day of work! He is saving for new skis.

Roman Conference Call - Roma, Italia

WE the people --- voted for them!

I am writing this entry today out of complete dismay. Please someone must tell me how so many elected officials without any level of common sense could have been voted into office?

This week I contacted multiple government officials regarding the lack of recycling in my area. I was told over and over again that Recycling does not work and that it has nothing to do with Global Warming!

Maybe it is possible they do not own a television or cannot read and have not had the opportunity to watch Al Gore's documentary??? Or ... maybe they are just arrogant, self centered individuals who really don't care that we the people ... elected them.

I urge every person to contact their local and state representatives ... hello .. global warming is no longer a myth. We are effectively killing the planet and our troops in Iraq.

I urge each of you to find out how GREEN your lawmaker is? You will be shocked!!!

THE QUESTIONS

Do you recycle? If so, what items do you recycle?

Why it matters: Recycling saves money that would otherwise be spent on landfills or incineration. Every ton of recycled paper saves about three cubic yards of landfill space.


What type of vehicle (make and model) do you drive on most days? If it is not a hybrid, would you consider buying one?

Why it matters: Automobiles have a major impact upon the environment. According to the EPA, "driving a private car is probably a typical citizen's most 'polluting' daily activity."

Do you shop for fair-trade products and environmentally friendly cleaning products? If so, which items do you buy?

Why it matters: Fair Trade Certification empowers Third World farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities. Environmentally friendly cleaning products make your home and daily life more Earth-friendly.

Do you shop for food products grown in Michigan (your state)? If so, which items do you buy?

Why it matters: Buying food locally reduces transportation and energy costs, reduces the need for preservatives and packaging and supports local agricultural production.

Paper or plastic?

Why it matters: Plastics are produced from waste products of oil refining. Paper bags are made from trees, which are a renewable resource. On the other hand, plastic grocery bags consume 40 percent less energy to produce and generate 80 percent less solid waste than paper bags. Environmentalists suggest bringing your own canvas bag instead of choosing.

Have you enrolled in the local recycled Energy to support renewable energy production?

Why it matters: Consumers Energy's 6-month-old Green Generation program allows customers who are willing to pay a premium to purchase all or part of their electricity from Michigan-based renewable energy sources.

Do you use herbicides or pesticides on your lawn?

Why it matters: Synthetic herbicides and pesticides are popular, but they remain controversial, especially regarding their effects on children. Of the 36 most commonly used lawn pesticides, 14 are probable or possible carcinogens, according to the nonprofit Beyond Pesticides.

Do you have a compost pile or compost bin at your home?

Why it matters: Compost reduces the amount of material that is transported to landfills or incinerators. It's one of nature's best mulches and soil amendments and can replace commercial fertilizers.

How often do you use mass transit?

Why it matters: Granted, mass transit is spotty in West Michigan. However, it does reduce fuel consumption and reduce the overall cost of transportation to society.

Do you have a rain garden or rain barrel to prevent stormwater runoff?

Why it matters: Government studies have shown that up to 70 percent of the pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes is carried there by stormwater. Rain gardens and rain barrels reduce stormwater runoff by keeping rain where it falls.

Are you actively involved with any environmental groups? If so, which ones?

Why it matters: Environmental groups educate and advocate for "green" causes.

From a "green" perspective, how would your grade yourself on a 1-10 scale?

Why it matters: Because today is a day for everyone to reflect on their "green" habits?

What Can Be Recycled?

Communities required to recycle must have curbside collection programs for at least three materials from the following list:

Clear glass containers
Colored glass containers
High-grade office paper
Newsprint
Corrugated paper
Aluminum cans
Steel and bi-metallic cans
Plastics

Most curbside recycling programs collect four or more of these materials. Also, leaves twigs, and garden trimmings must be separated for composting (a process that produces a mulch). These materials take up valuable space in landfills and can interfere with the burning process in waste incinerators.

Individuals can and should recycle waste oil and automotive batteries that result from do-it-yourself auto maintenance activities.

In communities where recycling is required, all commercial, institutional, and municipal establishments and sponsors of community activities (such as fairs, bazaars, concerts and organized sporting events) must recycle aluminum, high-grade office paper, corrugated paper and leaves.

The summary chart shows what can and cannot be recycled, but a little bit of background on recycling might help. Please contact your local or county recycling coordinator to confirm which materials are included in your recycling program and how they should be prepared for collection.

GLASS
Glass is completely recyclable and saves precious energy resources. Making products from recycled glass uses less energy than starting from scratch. Recycled glass is made into new beverage bottles, food jars, insulation and other construction materials.

Usually, clear glass containers are recycled into new clear glass products, while colored glass containers are recycled into new colored glass products. For this reason, some recycling programs may ask you to separate glass containers by color. Many curbside recycling programs will collect clear and colored glass containers and separate them for you. Since food in containers can attract insects, rinse them in water. Labels do not need to be removed. Some recycling programs will ask that lids and metal rings around the necks of containers be removed. DO NOT include window glass, ceramics, light bulbs or ovenware, because these items can damage a glass manufacturer's furnace.

NEWSPAPER
Newspapers are commonly recycled into paperboard, new newsprint, insulation and animal bedding products. Recycling newspapers saves valuable space in landfills. Put newspapers in paper bags or tie in bundles with string. In general, you can include any inserts (advertisements, comics) originally delivered with the paper.

OTHER PAPER PRODUCTS
Office paper can be recycled into other writing paper, tissue and towel products. Corrugated paper is used to make new paperboard and corrugated boxes. Some programs are now recycling magazines, catalogs, telephone directories and unwanted "junk" mail. These materials should be handled in the same way as newsprint: store in paper bags or tie in bundles.

ALUMINUM
Aluminum is the most valuable of household recyclables. Aluminum cans are recycled to produce new aluminum cans. By recycling aluminum cans, you are helping to conserve energy. To make sure that a can is aluminum, use a magnet and see that it DOES NOT stick to the can's top and sides. Rinse the cans to prevent attracting insects and crush them if you need to save space.

Other sources of household aluminum such as clean aluminum foil, clean pie tins, aluminum siding, and the metal frames of aluminum lawn furniture also can be recycled. These items, however, may not be accepted by your local program or may require special handling. Check with your local recycling program.

STEEL CANS
Steel cans are eagerly sought by the steel industry because they are a good source of steel scrap and their tin coating also can be recovered and recycled. A magnet sticks to steel cans. You might want to flatten food and beverage cans to save space. As with other recyclable containers, they should be rinsed. Many recycling programs also collect empty steel aerosol cans and paint cans.

PLASTIC
The plastics industry has developed a coding system to help consumers identify different types of plastic resins used in packaging. The codes can be found on the bottom of most plastic containers. Of the many types of plastics used in packaging, two types of plastic from household trash are commonly recycled today:

Plastic Soda Bottles: The material used to make plastic soda bottles (polythylene terephthalate or PET) is recyclable. These bottles are coded with the number 1 and the letters PETE. About 30 percent of all PET bottles sold are recycled into a variety of products. The bottles you recycle could end up as carpet backing, sleeping bag insulation, containers for non-food items, tool handles, auto parts and even clothing. Rinse, remove caps and rings, and flatten bottles to save space.

Plastic Milk Jugs: The plastic used in one-gallon milk and water jugs (high density polyethylene or HDPE) is also recycled to make products such as trash cans, flower pots and plastic pipe. Your recycling program may also accept other HDPE containers such as those sued for laundry products. These containers are coded with the number 2 and the letters HDPE. As with other containers, rinse and flatten them to save space.

Recycling opportunities for other plastic products, including plastic foam cups and plastic cutlery, are expanding. It is important that you recycle only those types of plastics that your community or hauler specifies.

LEAVES AND OTHER YARD DEBRIS
Anyone who has done yard work knows that leaves, twigs and trimmings take up a lot of space. As a result, the recycling law requires counties to make a plan for disposing of this waste in a way that doesn't take up valuable landfill space. Luckily, leaves and yard debris quickly reduce in volume if composted or allowed to degrade into a rich mulch that is an excellent plant fertilizer. You can compost in your own backyard or at a central composting site in some locations. Contact your local recycling program or county recycling coordinator for more information.

MOTOR OIL
Pennsylvania alone produces about 35 million gallons of used lubricating oil every year. People who change their own motor oil produce 11 million gallons of used lubricating oil each year. If this oil is dumped into sewers, soil or streams, it can pollute the water that we drink. Fortunately, used motor oil can be recycled into heating fuel, industrial lubricants and even new motor oil. Your role is simple: store the oil in a sturdy container and take it to an auto repair shop that accepts used oil. To find the shop closest to you, check the list of used oil recyclers in your county or check Earth911.org

USED CAR BATTERIES
It's against the law to dispose of a car (lead-acid) battery with your household trash. This type of battery is recyclable and must be taken to a recycling center that takes batteries or an automotive battery retailer in exchange for a new one.

WATER
Use a rain barrel to catch the rain naturally or flowing from your roof. You can use this to water your flowers, plans and grass or even wash your car. Wash your car naturally ... Let it rain!!

Getting People to Recycle

Recycling services are available to over 95% of citizens, yet many people still don't recycle. Are you one of them?

People who run recycling programs need to understand why some people jump on the band wagon, and why others don't.

People are motivated to recycle, if they understand the benefits which could be:

Extending the life of a landfill
Making a contribution towards a better environment
Reducing pollution and conserving non-renewable resources
Doing the 'right thing'
Helping local groups and businesses create jobs
Supporting the economy
People are motivated to recycle, if they know what to do, like:
How to prepare materials for collection
Having clear instructions about where the depots are
When materials are collected on their street
OR If they feel the process is convenient.

Factors that Discourage People from recycling

People are discouraged from recycling when they are:

Misinformed, believing that waste is not a problem, conservation is not an issue, and/or energy and resources are abundant;

Indifferent, convinced that:

'Out of sight, out of mind', or that they generate an 'insignificant amount' of recyclable waste.Inconvenienced, claiming:

A lack storage space in the home for recyclables;
It is too time-consuming to prepare materials;
The depot is too far away or has inconvenient hours;
They have had a bad experience (eg. missed pick-ups);
The collection schedule is too complex or there are unusual pick-up locations (eg. front yard for recyclables vs back lane for trash).

What does recycling mean?

People saving their recyclables for the curb or depot
The materials being collected and prepared for market
Industries buying those materials back
Transporting shipments of materials to buyers
People buying new products that have been made from recycled materials!



Have you seen this symbol before?
It's called a mobius loop (pronounced: mo-bi-us)
and it is recognized around the world.

Each arrow stands for the 3 main components of the recycling system:

The companies that make products and sell them to households and businesses.
People who buy products and separate their recyclable trash.

The recycling industry that collects, sorts and processes our recyclable materials, and gets them back to the manufacturers who will make new products from them.

Imagine each arrow supplying goods or materials to the next one. If one arrow stops doing its job, waste will result. It's the continuous cycle that makes the recycling system work.

Is recycling the only answer?

We all know the benefits of recycling, but remember the 3 R's? Well, recycling is the 3rd 'R' -- after reduce and reuse!

Keep on recycling, but do these things first:

Reduce the amount of waste you generate! Think before you throw it away. Can it be repaired or used again by someone else?
Compost organic food and yard wastes.
Use both sides of the paper.

Watch out for packaging!

Don't buy products that are overpackaged.
Purchase refillable products or products in recyclable containers.
Don't buy single-serve or convenience packages.

Buy environmentally-friendly products!

Avoid disposable items such as diapers, paper napkins and cups.
Purchase durable and repairable goods.
Make your own non-toxic household cleaning products.

Stay informed!

Become an advocate for the environment.
Keep looking for ways to minimize waste to reduce your impact on the environment.