I CAN"T BELIEVE I ATE

a footlong corndog and drank rootbeer from a plastic jug! But I did. That's what you do when you go to the fair. For the last 28 years with only missing a couple of years Jim and I have gone to the Ozarks Empire Fair. This year we took Grace and that meant that the rides were a big part of the evening. She has an adventurous spirit and is not afraid of anything. She was ready for any ride they would let her on. We rode the farris wheel together and then she the others by herself. She decided I was a liability when she realized that every time I rode with her it took more of her ride tickets!

A PILLOWCASE FOR GRACE

I made Grace a new nightgown from a beautiful old embroidered pillowcase. I originally intended to made her a little summer dress but didn't do it soon enough and now she is too old for that look. It made cute nightgown and she seems to like it especially with my shoes, heels of course!

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Why does "Natalie Portman vegan shoes" sound like a more appealing purchase than a "pvc handbag"?

NEW LIFESTYLE

A few weeks ago on her blog my sister, Catherine asked what everyone was doing to save money with the high gas prices. There were lots of good ideas and as I thought about it from a $ saving standpoint I realized that these changes also provided a means to change my life so that I could start living it instead of just maintaining it. So I wanted to share what I have been doing.

I have always been interested in healthy eating and lately I have become more and more concerned about chemicals and additives in food. So we are now reaping the harvest from our garden. We are eating lots of squash and peppers and our first tomatoes will be ready this week. I made pesto today from my very own basil. And we made a couple of trips to the farmer's market this week for corn and peaches which I put in the freezer. I can't speek for Jim but I only ate out once this week.

I also made a huge sacrifice yesterday in name of conservation. Jim and I went to town together --in the same car to run errands. This meant that I spent the afternoon listening to his commentary on everything from high gas prices, traffic in Springfield, crazy drivers, why the city doesn't do something about ..various topics and the legalities of cameras at traffic lights. There may also have been some important remarks about the Cardinals but by this point I was pretty much tuned out.

Two of our errands also promoted my other goals. I took my espresso machine and my Rowenta iron to a small appliance repair shop instead of trashing them and getting new. Interestingly, there is only one shop in town that does repair. We are definitely a disposable society. ( I also checked prices on a new espresso machine --about $600.00 so I saved!) My new life requires a new thought process too so when I got home last night after buying new red wine glasses I decided to take them back. My current wine glasses can be used for red or white so why do I need more? I answered that question differently at the Coach store. It is not like my friends are going to refuse a nice merlot just because of the glass!

However, I do refuse to share bath water as a means of conservation. We can both pee in the new water saving toilet before flushing but that is as far as I am willing to go.

WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER

On Friday the 13th the golf course behind our house turned into a lake. Normally there is a small dry creek bed that runs through the property to carry drainage from the hills behind but on this day it couldn't do the job and a lake formed. We have been here 15 years and never seen that much water. Our home is quite high overlooking this area and we were not in any danger but so many people have not been so fortunate. I cannot imagine what someone must feel to see water at their roof or to see their home floating down a newly made river.

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

is the green slogan but they forgot REMAKE. I have always enjoyed my sewing from an artist's perspective but it also a great way to make my clothes continue to work when they have been redesighned. For example, I cut off all my capris and made burmuda shorts and I hem and rehem skirts and dresses constantly to update. Simple. And if you don't sew you probably know someone who does and you can trade out-- clean her toilets - she'll hem your pants! In the storage room there are 3 big plastic tubs filled with clothes. Some are clothes I've made and some have been purchased, the fabric is wonderful and will someday be remade into something new. I also cut out zippers and take off good buttons before something goes to the donation pile. And did you know that if something isn't fit to be worn by anyone it can still be donated. Most organizations will accept those things because they sell it by the pound and the fabric is recycled. Pretty neat, your favorite old stuff can have a new life.

FORGET THE GARDEN

Jim just came in and said the garden is destroyed. Our latest round of storms today produced quarter sized hale and beat the leaves off everything. I doubt I'll be able to talk him into planting it again since this was the third time. The first two plantings were killed by frost and cold weather even though we had covered everything. I am so disappointed. The squash already had little squash! He is more upset about the pool -- now filled with leaves! Yesterday it was sparkling.