Taking Baby Steps

I'm always amazed by the area that Richard and I live in. Not far from Downtown Vancouver, and even closer to Burnaby the Fraser River is where we call home. This year alone we've been blessed with a few sitings of Eagles, possibly a Falcon, and unfortunately a dead Seal. All of these things have made me realise that despite being a city dweller Nature still plays a major roll in our lives. I think seeing the dead Seal washed up on shore made me start thinking about how Richard and I can help in our own little way. I have started researching some small things that we could do around the house. Living in an apartment sometimes limits what we can do BUT when there's a will there's definately a way. For starters we're looking at alternative solutions for Cat Litter. Recently we bought crystalised litter but both the cats and I are not impressed and upon further research cat poop is not good to flush ( further research into that issue will have to be done.) The Crystals can also cause lung damage and other health issues, and I love my kitties so if I can help them live a happier life I'll do my very best. There are some environmentally friendly brands out there and thus the hunt begins.

Another issue is our organic waste. Growing up my family always had a compost heap in the backyard, it was so simple and so easy to use. Apparently people in apartments can also compost! This pleases me greatly and will be looking further into this matter. The last thing I want to do is upset our neighbours but apparently we can keep the compost inside if need be. I'm not sure how willing we'll be to have a bunch of worms in the house but if we can manage cats then I think worms should be quite simple! Feed and let them do their thing! How much easier could it be?

Now as for cleansers, soaps, chemicals and other harmful toxic crap that piles up under our sink and is apparently required for keeping a house clean...I think it's all a bunch of CRAP! My take on things is if Grandma could make her own cleansers...SO CAN I! I've checked out David Suzuki's web site: ( http://www.davidsuzuki.org/About_us/Lindsay_Coulter/default.aspx#videos) and have managed to find some simple ingredients to make my own home cleaning supplies. Some of which I didn't even know I could do and are very simple to make. I had no idea Furniture Polish could be made with a few simple ingredients or that I could make my own toilet cleaner! Look out Toilet Duck Kristi is going to reclaim the throne! HA!

Slowly but surely I hope the little changes we make will help in a much more healthier future. I know the seals happily swimming in the River that we gaze upon every morning will be pleased!

Green Thumb?

I enjoy testing my abilities to try and grow plants, especially when Spring rolls around. I always tell myself I'll do better than last year...but somehow manage to kill off plants due to my lack of knowledge on the subject matter. My Granny however, is a natural...despite her refusal to acknowledge such a talent. Though I do notice she does enjoy praise given. HA! This year I am seriously considering growing some herbs and spices. Not like my cupboard isn't already packed with bottles of pepper, chives, cinnamon...you name it I probably have it. Anyways the challange is being able to grow plants that won't kill my cats. I love them dearly and heaven forbid they nibble on something that looks beautiful but is actually deadly to them. Last year I planted some Cat Grass and boy was that ever a hit. So this year I purchased some more...Meeko loves it and has already munched the new stuff down to nubbins. A couple of years ago Meeko managed to eat my Lucky Bamboo...with the bowl and rocks strewn across the carpet floor and a nice big wet patch for me to walk through...I salvaged what I could and now have the survivors at work. I am proud to note they are doing very well! Safe from any eager eaters!

Now there are many plants I could try and grow...where to begin and what I want is kind of overwhelming. So I started thinking...what direction does the deck face, how much sunlight are we actually getting, more importantly how much room do we have? There might be some shifting of patio furniture to make way for my new additions. We'll see what kind of trouble I can get into at the gardening shop. Last year I had my Mom with me to at least guide me through the process...this year I'm flying solo. Well Richard will be with me to help carry stuff...I love him!

Another option that I stumbled across was to invent tiny little gardens. People that do this stuff are really talented but then I have visions of Meeko terrorizing say a little village I create and it would be like Godzilla taking over Tokyo!

I could do without the fairy mind you but such a cool idea! I wonder where they found all the little miniture goodies? I suppose this is an excuse to hit Micheals Monster Craft Store! Wooooooo...

60mins of Punishment

The time has come to dust off the ol' bike, oil the chain and strap on the gear because biking season has finally arrived. I thought it would NEVER get here! There have been so many set backs this year (snow, bike issues, and MORE snow!) but we've pushed through them and are on week 2. Thus far I do not miss Transit or the pushy people that accompany the trip to and from work. The burning, wheezing and drippy nose I could certainly do without...who wouldn't at 7am in the morning, it's already challenging enough dragging myself out of bed to get to work! HA! It's a small accomplishment but managing to bike from our house to work is something else...hills, cars and other bikers make for an interesting ride in. Never a dull moment! And on weekends I look forward to our mile long jogs! Can it get any better than this? Yes it can...I can't wait to get home and soak my achy bones in a nice hot tub of water. Why do I torture myself like this? I keep telling myself it's one less car, another pound dropped and another year to my life....zoom zoom.