And Now We know

What is it we know, you may ask yourself? Well we now know exactly how long it is between when I feel good enough to blog and do a few other small things in my life, and when I tackles everything head-on again after a major surgery! *laugh*

As evidenced by my recent disappearance from the blog, I've been exceedingly active as of late. This coming weekend is Barataria Faire, Springfield's very own pirate and fairy festival. I have to finish my costume, I'm impatiently awaiting the delivery of some of my components, I'm trying to get out of sewing as much as I can manage, and since the great data loss a few months ago, I've also been completely reworking my product labels! *pant pant*

But that's not all! Oh no, of course not! I still have to make a new batch of every product I sell, adfter, that is, I say, AFTER! I find my danged recipe book! *pulls out hair*

And I have to get a whole lot more volunteers to paint on before the event so that I can make a paint example book that will be not only worthy of the event, but also worthy of my artistry. These next few days are going to be a TON of fun, let me tell ya!

Actually, they will be. I've been having a blast creating the little finishing touches for our costumes, and I'm planning a sew & show party for Wednesday. I finally found both my canera and the charger for it's battery, so the photos are coming as quickly as I can find models willing to be immortalized in my paint book. Three down, about 40 to go! LOL

And of course, everyone is welcome to attend Barataria Faire The tickets and attractions are inexpensive, and it's going to be a fabulously fun time! Bring yourself, bring the kids, and come frolic with the faeries and pirates in the first Barataria Faire ever, on the square, in Springfield, MO! *grin*

Wish me luck!

Happy Cow Appreciation Day!

On or around this day each year Chick-Fil-A has their annual Cow Appreciation Day. This is the day in which all of the chicken lovers dress like a cow so they can prove they're not chicken, and score a delicious meal, FREE!

We'll be attired meagerly this year, as I'm not sure where all of my cow-ish clothing is since the move. We haven't finished unpacking completely yet, but by golly, I'm not going to miss out on my free chicken! *chuckle*

Oh, did I mention that it's a lot of fun too? *grin*

You're invited! Theme Parties Open To The Public!

Want to learn something new, or have an exciting new experience?

How about a challenge for your bravery and your tastebuds?

Then I have some parties for you!

I am hosting a series of Themed Tupperware parties, and there is one to suit nearly everyone!

Tightwad Auction Party

Frugality & Free Tupperware

10/07/09, 6:30pm, Springfield, MO

For more information & to RSVP, click here.

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Eco-Auction Party

Saving The Planet With Free Plastic!

October 15, 2009, 6:30pm, Springfield, MO

For more information & to RSVP, click here.

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Fear Factor Party

Hauntings & Bizarre Foods!

October 25, 2009, 6:30pm, Springfield, MO

For more information & to RSVP, click here.

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Holiday Gatherings Auction Party

Starting the season off right with free Tupperware!

October 29, 2009, 6:30pm, Springfield, MO

For more information & to RSVP, click here.

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Also coming soon!

Drunk & Dirty

Fund Raiser Expose'

To host your own exciting custom-theme party, contact me today!

Tupperware parties no longer have to be held in your home! You can have your party at a park, at a restaurant, in a local community center, and more!

FaceBook Ate My Brain

Several months back, I was merely being a bit sporadic with my blogging. I was working hard on getting back into my good habits...

Then FaceBook came along.

No, not really Facebook, more the evil, time-sucking, amusements known as FaceBook applications. You know the ones; cutesey little games with graded levels of success, bonuses, gifts for your friends and the like?

Well it all started out with Pet Society. A cute little custom pet that does stuff on your computer. Not so great by my description unless you think on the game's addictive qualities. The fact that you can buy really neat and cute things for your pet and to decorate your pet's personal little house, for example. Or that there are mini-games, gifting, gardening, Mystery boxes that harbor exclusive treats and goodies for your pet, and new, special, one-week-only items that are worth a lot on the trading forums....

Yeah, about that trading thing. See, You can trade goodies in Pet Society with other players. Different things have different values, depending on their perceived rarity. Like, say you want a black cat? That was put out Halloween of last year as a one-week-only item. Lots of people love and collect them. Very valuable, those. Likely you would have to trade two or three other, slightly ore new one-week-only or mystery box items for just one... If you are really lucky, AND the other trader is feeling exceedingly generous...

Of course, there is another way to go about it.

See, a lot of the folks who are addicted to one game on FaceBook are addicted to at least one or two other games... That means that you are likely to find folks looking to trade Fish Wrangler gold for a pink hearts rug in Pet Society, or Super Brie cheese from Mouse hunt for hammers in Egg Breaker, which you can then trade for pet food in Fluff Friends so you can barter for some Red Love Chum in Fish Wrangler, which you can then trade for gold, which you can then trade for that dad blamed pink rug you just HAD to have...

*sigh*

And you end up playing all of the games, just so you can get the best goodies for your little pretent pixellated internet pet, and each game takes a certain amount of devotion in the terms of time, and after a while...

Someone invites you to plant a garden or grow a farm, or run a virtual restaurant, and you start to play... "For just a couple of minutes" or "just a few days", you tell yourself. "Just to see what it's like and why your friends like it" you rationalize.

But it's already too late.

You are doomed!

Your fate was sealed as soon as you clicked on "accept" instead of "block this application", and you knew it before you hit that button, but you did it anyway.

Staying up until the wee hours of the morning every night, clicking your mouse, becoming a strange new type of being that gets barely anything valuable done each day, but has strong typing fingers, myopic computer-screen eyes, a constant migraine, and a broad talent for warming chairs.

So I've stopped paying so much attention to my silly little pet, all those eggs waiting to be cracked, and the little fluffy pet. From time to time, I still drop in to take a photo of some ghost or another, feed my pet in my quest for the elusive golden poo, plant and harvest some crops on my farm, or reel in an interestingly bizarre fish with a penchant for playing dress-up, but otherwise I'm done.

It was an interesting addiction diversion while it lasted, but now I have more important things to do. Hells, I had more important things to do then too, I just didn't do them.

I've managed to re-install a portion of my brain, and the synaptic repair process is well underway. I do warn you though, there may be times when the wires get crossed and the cranial server is down for a little bit, but please rest assured that we have our best techs working on rectifying the error. *wink*

Delightfully Decadent Eco-Decor: Fall & Winter Series; Leaf Rubbings & Prints

The third in our inexpensive recycled autumn & winter crafts series for 2008 is leaf rubbings & prints.

Ages 2+

For this you will need paper, leaves, tempura paint, and a box of crayons.

Make your own greeting cards, place mats, pretty art presents, photo frame matting, and/or gift wrap with freshly fallen leaves and a little creativity.

This one is quick easy fun that can last a good long time. Simply place your leaf on the table, put the paper on top, then rub the side of a crayon across the leaf to make a rubbing.

For a print, brush a small amount of paint onto the bottom (veigny part) of the leaf, then place the leaf where you want the design printed. Gently roll a rolling pin (or soda bottle, or can of food) over the top to make the print. You may use a paper towel or piece of scrap paper to prevent paint mess getting on the rolling device.

Photo copyright Just Another Family

Delightfully Decadent Eco-Decor: Fall & Winter Series; Autumn Potpourri

The first in our inexpensive recycled autumn & winter crafts series for 2008 is Autumn Potpourri.

Ages 3+

Supplies:

• Clove essential oil
• Acorns
• Small pinecones
• Small tree leaves (Maples are pretty)
  
• Spices: cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, star anise, whole cloves and whole bay leaves

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients except bay & tree leaves in a large colander.
2. Add some drops of essential oil to the mix & toss gently.
3. Drop in more essential oil until the scent is strong enough for you.
4. Add all leaves & lightly mix.

Display in a bowl. Add a single glass-contained large candle or three glass-contained votive candles for accent and gentle heating of the potpourri for better scent dispersal.

* Since we are running so far behind on these crafts this year, some posts will be served with photos of the creations of others. This photo property of Good Hope Botanicals.

Delightfully Decadent Eco-Decor: Fall & Winter Series

*Whoops!*

I am determined to get some of this done before the holiday season really gears up into full swing.

The family has already started the Thanksgiving tree and countdown turkey this year, so other crafty goodness must assuredly follow. *smile* (Instrictions for 2 different varieties of bonsai Thanksgiving trees, large Thanksgiving wall tree tutorial, crafting a Thanksgiving countdown turkey)

First things first.

To do all of the crafts in fall portion of this series correctly, we must start with a nature walk to gather free materials. This can be a lot of fun, so pick a nice day and get out of the house for a while.

How can you make it more than just a simple no-cash craft-supply shopping spree?

This can be a special family time just as valuable as doing the crafts themselves, so bring everyone, and make the most of it.

* Make a list for each family member, give them two reusable fabric grocery sacks or canvas totes and a plastic grocery bag, and call it a scavenger hunt.

What's the plastic bag for, you may ask? Picking up any litter you might find on your hike! Nothing makes a nature walk even better like leaving it nicer than it was before you found it, and protecting the environment and local wildlife in the process.

* Turn it into an educational event for fall plant and tree identification, a wild food hunt and gathering party, or seed some untended areas with winter food for local animals.
Here's your list of things to get while out**;

Tall grasses with the seed heads still attached. (20)
Twigs with branches off of them, or dead tomato plants with the leaves stripped off. (5)
Dried Leaves (2 plastic bags full)
Small log or large branch section (2)
Pinecones (15)
Small pinecones (20)
Birch bark strips (about 25)
Small nuts, shells, woody misc (1 plastic bag)
Feathers (any you find on the ground)

Other Supplies Needed (or that might prove useful);

Waxed paper
Busted crayons
Scissors
Apples
Cheese grater
Oranges
Markers
Yarn
Hand quilting thread
Whole cranberries
Clove oil
Iron
Baling wire (or metal coat hangers and pliers)
Ribbon
Empty, clean food cans (any sizes)
un-popped popcorn (unflavored)
Glue stick
Air popcorn popper (or other popping method)
Sharp darning needles

From the spice cabinet: vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, star anise, whole cloves, whole bay leaves, pumpkin pie spice

* State and national conservation areas may have a law regarding gathering of plant matter. Please check your state's regulations and stay legal!

** List is for one-2 of each project. For more projects, get more goodies.

*Whoops* : I accidentally forgot to change the date of posting to reflect the actual date I posted this instead of the date I started writing it. Sorry about that. *blush* All better now!

Healing: Week 1 & Community Events

Well, it's been over a week since her surgery, and Ladybug refuses to be kept down. She's healing up great, and now that most of her physical limitations have been lifted, she is able to go help friends out with light construction work, and is finishing up preparing for her first day of babysitting this weekend.

She's also really looking forward to fighting with boffa swords (padded weaponry) at The Picnic At The End of The Universe this Saturday from 11am to 6pm at Phelps Grove park now that she's officially allowed to run again. Sponsored by 1984 and Metagames, there will be all sort of fun, including a Sci Fi Free Market! It's like a flea market, only FREE! For more info on the activities, visit the activities page.

Bring a covered dish and come share in the fun!

Celebrate Freedom, Read A Banned Book

Saturday marked the start of Banned Books Week for 2008.

"Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read" is observed during the last week of September each year. This year's celebration (September 27 through October 4) marks the 27th anniversary of the event, and I want you to celebrate it with me.

Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. People challenge books that they say are too anything. Objections to profanity, slang, offensive portrayals of racial or religious groups, and even positive (or simply not negative) portrayals of homosexuals are the most common reason for a book to be challenged. Targets range from books that explore the latest problems, to books on natural animal behavior, simple fictional novels, and even the most classic and beloved works of American literature.

See, a challenge occurs when a formal, written complaint is filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Challenges can be filed by individuals or groups, and it is estimated that for every challenge issued, about four others go unreported. A challenge is an attempt to ban or restrict materials, based upon someone's personal opinions. Successful challenges result in books being restricted, or even banned.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose and express one’s opinion even if it may be unorthodox or unpopular in the prevailing culture. Stressing the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to explore them ensures intellectual freedom for all. In times like these, freedom of thought is a sacred right, to be celebrated and embraced, not taken lightly.

“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.” ~ Noam Chomsky

There are many events scheduled throughout the country to celebrate Banned Books Week. To see if your area has an event or display scheduled, visit the event listing.

As there are no book stores in Southwest Missouri listed on the event calendar as celebrating Banned Books Week, I invite everyone to come to the square for the First Friday art walk, this October the 3rd, from 5-7pm, and read banned books. Pick a book to read quietly, or simply gather to discuss censorship. Just come, and let's all support one another in standing up for the First Amendment right to free speech for ourselves, and all other peoples! Don't have a banned or challenged book to bring, no problem, there's a library right off the square. Pop online right now at the Springfield Green County Library's web site and reserve a book, or have one sent to the downtown branch, to check out there, and let's exercise our rights, and deny censorship, while expressing and encouraging community solidarity!

“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” ~ Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.

Below is the list of the most challenged individual titles and authors last year, as well as a link to the some of the best books in history that people have challenged, or actually succeeded in banning.

For a list of the banned or challenged books from the Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century visit here. Stop by your local library and check one out today in celebration of your freedom to read what you want!

You can also find Banned Books Week on Facebook & MySpace!

The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2007” reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

1) “And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
2) The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
3) “Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
4) “The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
5) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
6) “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
7) "TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
8) "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
9) “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
10) "The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

The most frequently challenged authors of 2007

1) Robert Cormier
2) Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
3) Mark Twain
4) Toni Morrison
5) Philip Pullman
6) Kevin Henkes
7) Lois Lowry
8) Chris Crutcher
9) Lauren Myracle
10) Joann Sfar

Other links: The American Library Association

Banned Books Week ~ Because freedom of speech isn't just for those who share your opinions, it's for everyone!

* Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Library Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Association of College Stores. Banned Books Week is also endorsed by the Center for the Book of the Library of Congress.

J.K. Rowling's New Potterverse Book Coming Soon!

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard" by J.K. Rowling is set for release on December 4th this year, and it's now available for pre-order!

A book of fairy tales, which was written to supplement the Harry Potter series comes in two distinct versions for your reading pleasure. Buy the standard version for the kids, and for daily reading, and get the special collector's edition for your own personal collection.

The Standard Edition features all five fairy tales from the original The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a new introduction by J.K. Rowling, illustrations reproduced from the original handcrafted book, and commentary on each of the tales by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

The exclusive Collector's Edition includes a reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition.

Remember, collector's editions are an investment in the future.

I'm so excited to see her publishing another book in the Harry Potter universe, aren't you?

Flurging the Flerg

Researching the true meaning behind an instant internet phenomenon.

For some odd reason, nearly everyone who is online seems to be searching for the word "flurge", also known as "flurg, flirge, flerge, flerg, flerj flirj, flurg, flirge, flerge, or flerj".

It's obvious that nobody knows how to spell this thing, so it must have been heard in audio media in pop culture recently to be such a hot topic.

So I have to know what this word is, now, if not for my own sake, then because I'm likely to be asked what it means a good 30 times tomorrow while I'm answering questions for ChaCha, which adds to it's popularity ranking because now I'm searching for it too. *laugh*

Isn't the lust for knowledge grand?

Anywho...

When I search it, Google asks me if I mean "flogao". I have no idea what that is either, so now I have two things to look up! *rolls eyes*

The first search is an easy one; Floago is a Portuguese social networking site. One down, one to go.

Urban dictionary defines "flurge" as a verb. "A cross between flush and purge, as in 'I flurged the wax from my ears.'"

Other places tell me that my first assumption was correct, and it was an audio-only word in mass media. Specifically, Saturday Night Live had a Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton skit on tonight in which the word was used.

Some are saying, after listening to it repeatedly via their DVRs, that the word used was actually Flurch, which Urban Dictionary defines as a passing of gas with accidental fecal discharge into one's pants. Of course Urban Dictionary doesn't say it quite so politely. *chuckle*

Others say It is spelled FLURGH, and is used in place of another word that would offend if spoken out loud. With a meaning a bit more pronounced than "No comment".

While still others state the spelling must be Flerg, which the Urban Dictionary says is a noun, meaning shrunken erection, flaccid or foreskin (penile-related).

A rare few are using the word as a fricative as well, as in "Holy Flurging Schmidt!", (sometimes spelled" shnit"), or "No flurging way!" which definitely qualifies as a creative way to bypass language filters if nothing else.

There's even a song that refers to the word; "Only You" by 112 contains the word "flurging" with the same ambiguous meaning, seeming to be used only because it rhymes with "purging".

In online reports of the skit, one of the characters is said to have stated "Stop calling me a [erection] shrinker" so this definition makes the most sense for our current search.

What an odd little merry-go-round that was, all to come up with the oh-so-common-these-days bathroom humor.

I guess we can't expect a lot out of "entertainment" these days.

It's little wonder why we don't watch much broadcast television at our house!

UPDATE: Read the full transcript and of the SNL skit and watch it yourself. Like everything else online, the spelling of the word in question varies, but it's the words we all know how to spell that makes the meaning of the other more clear. *smile*

Autmn Gardening

It's that time again, time to plant your cold-weather crops for the fall season and start thinking about bringing in the planters from outside in the hopes of an all-year crop, or at least extending the harvest.

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Outdoors, plant your greens leafy vegetables again, and don't forget your quick-growing root crops like radishes. If protected from frosts with a floating row cover or other such thermal happiness, they can be convinced to produce throughout the winter.

We're seeding winter wheatberries in our yard this fall to see if we can produce a crop over the winter season, or at least keep a little green in the area. It will be worth a try, and if it doesn't work as well as we'd like, at least the soil will reap some pleasant benefits from the planting. *smile*

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All containers can be brought in, and if placed in a sunny window or supplemented with a timed grow-light (if in a shady spot), can grow and produce fresh food happily well into planting season next spring. Just do yourself a favor, and make sure your planters all have saucers under them, or someone may just end up watering the floor too. Those saucers really are important!

If you don't have room to bring it all inside, that's okay!

Most plants, grow and produce really well in micro-hydroponics, which take up a lot less room than planters, and require about the same amount of work.

Some plants, like tomatoes, root really easily if a cutting is simply dropped in a cup of water for about a week. They'll root even faster if you use willow water, which is full of natural rooting hormones. If you want to save your tomatoes indoors this winter, but don't have room for the containers, or if they're firmly in the ground, and still happily producing, just snip off a limb or three and set them to root. In about a week, you will have a good root system developing, and you can plant them inside however you wish, for a year-round harvest of deliciousity!

We'll be building a microponics system inside sometime in the next few weeks. Plans are to forgo the usual route of chemical fertilizers commonly used in hydro systems, and try out a few methods of natural fertilization, but with the same type of system. We'll see how it works out. The project would be underway now, except that we are so broke that we have to wait for a gift card I earned online to come in so we can buy the supplies. That's the only reason we're waiting, as I'm raring to get started. I'll be sure to post photos and instructions for building your own as soon as we get it done.

Delightfuly Decadent Eco-Decor On the Cheap

Fall is rushing upon us, and if you're anything like me, you don't have a lot of cash lying around to outlay on cutesy decorations, but you still want to add a festive air to the house.

Here's how we decorate for fall, a little at a time, as the season rolls on.

Notice I said, a little at a time? That's your first clue.

With everyone's busy schedules, nobody really has the time anymore to sit down and craft their little hearts out for an entire day at a time, and with apartments constantly getting smaller and smaller, a lot of us simply photograph their decorations from year to year, and dispose of the decor after the holiday to cut down on clutter.

Most of my family's decorations are made from recyclable materials so that really helps to cut down on things going into the landfill, as we can take it to our local recycling center for re-use after we're finished with it, or simply toss it in with the compostables.

The only things that aren't recyclable in some way are the things that we are keeping from year to year, or that we can give as gifts later. For example, our Halloween box is a mere 4"x2" in size, and goes into our overall decor box for all the yearly holidays, which is small enough to be easily stuffed into the top of our closet.

We have no autumn decorations this year, so we're gong to be building things as the season progresses and posting them here for you to enjoy and create for your own home. Every craft will contain at least one re-used item, and most of them will be fully recyclable when the season is over.

Stay tuned for detailed instructions for beautiful, fun, and elegant crafts in this ongoing series.

Texting My Way To A Richer Life

I have a great new job I can do from anywhere, that's fun, exciting, and pays really well, and I just can't keep it to myself anymore.

I work from my computer, searching the web for great answers to interesting and varied questions with the help of specialized search tools, and have no set schedule or hours, which is great with kids, homeschooling, and running a busy house. Heck, with the laptop, I can do it from anywhere!

Just last week, I was making money while watching the kids play in the park.

I'm a ChaCha guide, and I make 10-20 cents for every question I answer from people who text one in by dialing 242242 from their mobile phones. Have unlimited texting on your phone and want to give it a try? Go for it, ask your guide anything, it's free! Answers usually come back within 4 minutes. Want a joke, or just to chat, text to ChaCha, and get a different guide every time, but still have a decent conversation! Your answers will even have a link to the site where the answer was found, if you want to read more about it!

Sometimes, I'll use ChaCha to teach my kids something an infoseeker has asked about, so it even helps with our homeschooling! I can take breaks whenever I want, for however long I want, so this is easy too. I can go for days without working a lick, but I wouldn't want to, it's too much fun!

I'm making better money being a guide than I have at any of the other things I've done online, and at a quicker pace also. I can get paid whenever I want to my own use-it-anywhere debit card, or just monthly as a direct deposit to my bank account, whichever I prefer. Most questions take me under two minutes to answer, and that adds up really quickly. ChaCha is a great way to prove true the old saying "If you take care of the nickles and dimes, the dollars will take care of themselves", that's for sure. *chuckle*

To become a guide, you simply sign up online, learn a little from their online resources, pass their easy simulator test, and then you're ready to go. Work as much or as little as you want. Complete 200 or more answers in a week with 95% accuracy (SO easy!), and your pay raises to 20 cents a question from 10 or 15 cents!

There's a lot of fun in being a guide, and it's not all in just answering the questions. There are positions for voice transcribers (type what you hear), and expediters (categorize the question and sent it to the guide). There's also a great forum for the members to chat and share information and tips, an area where you can have your own ChaCha blog, and more! I know some moms (with toddlers even!) who have quit their jobs because ChaCha pays them more than their other employment did!

ChaCha guides are specially trained to be able to find the answers to any and all questions. What other search engine has real people, with real feelings, who take real bathroom breaks?

Are you curious, professional, and Internet-savvy? Do you enjoy learning new things, sharing your knowledge with others, and being part of a fun, diverse community?

ChaCha could be your ideal job too!

On behalf of ChaCha HQ & all 15,000+ guides, you are hereby formally invited to earn extra cash having fun!

To sign up, visit http://www.chacha.com, and when it asks for who sent you, type (cut and paste somehow doesn't count the referral) my email address into the box. That's
.

Heck, I love ya so much, join up now and get approved as a guide on my team, and I'll send you all my best hints and tips to get you started on the right track, with the best possible speed and accuracy rating!

Do the ChaCha!

Cacheing Tides

I've stopped geocaching for the most part too, so don't feel too bad about being left in the dusk (not quite dark, I still post sometimes). I've cut out the majority of everything at this point, in an effort to get everything caught up, and with the new job, that makes it that much harder.

I still find the time to go grab a geocache with the family as a little break from the day once a week or so, but that's what I wanted to start cacheing for anyway, some nice, fun, quiet time for my family to share together. A quick and adventurous activity to bring us all closer together. Family time is so underrated these days.

Of course it never hurts to grab one or three with friends from time to time, but devoting my life to the hunt doesn't work for me. I'd rather leave some to find later, and make it into a somewhat leisurely sport, at least as far as my family is concerned. Now don't get me wrong, if I happen to see a new cache that nobody's found yet, you'll have to tie me to my chair to keep me from bolting out the door, but I'm no longer checking the site every three hours or so to make sure I haven't missed anything. *chuckle*

More later. *hug*

Spiderwort After The Rain

One of our most distinctive native Missouri wildflowers, with it's beautiful purple-blue petals, bright golden stamens, and long slender leaves, Spiderwort was the first wild plant I ever learned to identify on sight.

Spiderwort blooms in late spring and early summer, producing vivid blooms throughout the season. Each plant can produce over 20 short-lived flowers per stem. While each individual flower only blooms for a single day, the blossoms and buds are so heavy and numerous that they often weigh down the usually knee-high plant, causing some stalks to lean sideways instead of standing upright.

The scientific name of Spiderwort is Tradescantia sp., and another common name for it is Cow Slobber, likely both common names came about due to the highly-stretchy nature of the sap, reminiscent of both spider silk and bovine drool. It is related in class to grasses, as well as the Iris, Lilly, and Orchid families.

One of our many wild edibles, the leaves, and stalks may be eaten raw as a salad green, steamed as a vegetable, or added to stews. The flowers make an unusual garnish to salads and summer drinks, and if candied, look delightful as cake decorations.

Popular in English gardens, Spiderwort is easily propagated from seeds and cuttings, and is one of the wildflowers that has made it into the nursery business. If you can't find it at your local nursery, it is sometimes available for purchase at the Department of Conservation's spring seed and plant sale, and makes a vibrant addition to any native flower garden.

Springfield Metro ReUseIt

The Springfield Metro area has a new option for recycling your unwanted things!

Tired of the endless rules and internal politics of larger orgs?

Looking to have a place to build community and get to know your neighbors?

Want to rid yourself of unwanted, reusable items, or get new-to-you stuff for free?

Desire an easy way to help the environment and your neighbors at the same time?

ReUseIt is the answer you've been looking for!

Join now, by clicking the button below.

Click to join SpringfieldMetroMOReUseIt

I Made This For You

Waaaaah *sniffle*

I've been pushing full speed ahead for a while now, working, having fun, volunteering and more, and I think it has finally caught up with me.

I'm sick.

Of course this would have to happen when I'm half-finished with weeding The Radish's community garden patch, planning a visit to some friends, arranging to pick up some fruiting bushes from a Freecycle(tm) member, planning to host a cooking class, cleaning the house, and setting appointments for people to come get their dreadlocks formed or maintained (along with all the other stuff we do regularly). And right after I develop a burning desire to visit St. Louis for two very special Geocaches too! *sigh*

It always works out that way, it seems.

But I'm on all sorts of treatments to make this ick move along faster, and hopefully with enough supplements, juices, and sleep, I'll be over it quick, and we can all get back to our regularly scheduled programming. *smile*

Unfortunately, this illness means that the trip may have to be delayed indefinitely to avoid overcrowding and grumpy children on the long trip.

Bonus, up to the minute news; The girls are over at a friend's house, and I just got a call telling me there has been an accident. Littlebit just bashed her nose on a bicycle because some adult picked her up and didn't watch his surroundings. She had a nosebleed, and may get two black eyes. Isn't that lovely? They're on their way home right now.

Catching Caches

Geocaching is fun!

So much fun, that we've been so busy,(and trying to catch up on my neglected emails), that not only have I not taken Keeb to his little weekly get together, but also I haven't been blogging again.

Of course you already probably noticed this, but still. *chuckle*

Tonight's caches were especially fun and educational, with an Osage Orange tree nearby for a short botany lesson, and short healthy walks, punctuated, of course, with sticking our heads in bushes, walking into spiderwebs, and looking lost. *laugh*

The house is coming along nicely, thanks to hard work from Keebler, and we have an appointment for more caching on Tuesday, just us adults, while Z-man is away at camp! This is going to be fun!