Bees are dying at an alarming rate. So much so that humans will die of starvation before global warming.
Did that get your attention?
I hope so.
Our local paper is doing a 4 part series on the bee problems that we're facing. Bees are dying like crazy from pesticides and also from a lack of food supply. Here in Minnesota farming is not what it used to be. One bee farmer even calls Minnesota the "Bee Killing Fields." Farmers used to have fields with all different crops and do crop rotations and now because it's all corn and soy, there's just nothing left for pollinators.
Corporate greed? Money, money, money? Our capitalist society seriously has me worried about our future.
In urban areas we go to the grocery store and see it fully stocked with food (from God knows where at this point...) and we can't actually SEE where our food is coming from.
But again, that's just for the people the buy fresh produce - so many people rely on convenience foods to feed their families (Kraft macaroni & cheese, skillet meals, canned foods, candy, pop, etc...). In just decades corporations saw a niche for convenience foods and filled it - with disgusting preservatives, loaded with sodium and artificial flavorings and artificial preservatives.
What happened to families to rely on processed foods?
Busy schedules? Finances?
I don't know.
But at this point I do know this - something needs to be done. Something needs to happen to save the bees.
And I don't know what to do.
I know that I can help by planting native plants like bee balm, native lilies, butterfly weed, and milkweed. I know that I can help by buying organic food. I know that I can help by growing as much food as I can for my family. And I know that I can help by not using pesticides in my yard.
Are those enough changes to make a difference?
No, it's not. I can't change a whole country's worth of bee population in my 1/8 of an acre yard.
More people need to help. More people need to stop using pesticides on their lawns. More people need to buy more organic produce. More people need to be educated about pollinators. More people need to plant more native plants in their yards.
But how do you change people's minds when they can't actually see what's happening?
Maybe grocery stores can pull pollinated produce from their shelves for awhile to make an impact.
I think there needs to be a "Save the Bees" something-or-another campaign. With a mind blowing explanation of what will happen to our food supply without bees.
6.30.2014
6.28.2014
Crochet Shawlette
Time. All I need is time. Just for crochet. Time doesn't come easy for me. I wish there were two more hours in my day (in which The Monkey was napping!!) so that I could have enough time to finish items and list them on Etsy. Last week I was able to list quite a few things and get a list of items to make going - more men's items and also, cat beds/baskets/bowls for charity for Pet Project Rescue's Kitten Shower later in July. The cat items will be for sale there, all proceeds will go to PPR.
This shawlette was easy to make, didn't take up too much time and I had two skeins of yarn that were just begging me to make something with them. This is the free pattern from Lionbrand yarns - it's the South Bay Shawlette. It's the perfect size for wrapping up warmly in the summer nights! I can't wait for someone to buy it and enjoy it - I may have to make one for myself!
Where Has June Gone???
OMG. Summer... it's totally slipping away... day by day...
I have no idea where the time has gone.
The Monkey has Tumble Tots class (which is in the big kids gymnasium and she gets to walk on the balance beam, fly off the vaults, jump on the HUGE trampolines, swing on the uneven bars... holy buckets, my child really is a monkey!!). We've done play dates every week, we've seen new babies, we clean, go grocery shopping and garden like mad.
I'm thinking the rest of the summer is about to fly right by and we're going to miss something super exciting! But maybe not. Maybe we just need a few lazy days at home.
Last week we went to Colorado to visit Bimmer Man's family and that was so much fun. The Monkey did well on the flight there but the flight home was a disaster. Delayed flight + nap time = a complete and utter disaster (this time we had the SCREAMING child, ouch, sorry fellow passengers!!!).
I learned a lesson with a screaming child - to those that don't have children and you're on an airplane with a screaming child - instead of groaning and moaning and complaining - turn around and ask the parents if there's anything that you can do. While we're frantically trying to calm our child, you might be able to fill up a sippy cup of water from the flight attendant or grab books out of the carry on above us or even make funny faces at the child to distract them and calm them down. For some reason, kids are so distracted by strangers making funny faces. Actually, don't ask, just do. Parents want a peaceful flight just as much as you do - not only does that make traveling with a toddler so much easier for us, but it makes traveling next to a toddler so much easier for you too. Quite frankly, we borrowed a carseat which I think was pretty uncomfortable for The Monkey and that was really the problem (our carseats are incredibly heavy but SO COMFORTABLE). She couldn't get comfy to sleep and would only sleep 40 minutes on a 1 1/2 hour flight.
Lesson learned, lesson learned. It takes a village to raise a child, right???
Anyway, here's some photos from our trip!
I have no idea where the time has gone.
The Monkey has Tumble Tots class (which is in the big kids gymnasium and she gets to walk on the balance beam, fly off the vaults, jump on the HUGE trampolines, swing on the uneven bars... holy buckets, my child really is a monkey!!). We've done play dates every week, we've seen new babies, we clean, go grocery shopping and garden like mad.
I'm thinking the rest of the summer is about to fly right by and we're going to miss something super exciting! But maybe not. Maybe we just need a few lazy days at home.
Last week we went to Colorado to visit Bimmer Man's family and that was so much fun. The Monkey did well on the flight there but the flight home was a disaster. Delayed flight + nap time = a complete and utter disaster (this time we had the SCREAMING child, ouch, sorry fellow passengers!!!).
I learned a lesson with a screaming child - to those that don't have children and you're on an airplane with a screaming child - instead of groaning and moaning and complaining - turn around and ask the parents if there's anything that you can do. While we're frantically trying to calm our child, you might be able to fill up a sippy cup of water from the flight attendant or grab books out of the carry on above us or even make funny faces at the child to distract them and calm them down. For some reason, kids are so distracted by strangers making funny faces. Actually, don't ask, just do. Parents want a peaceful flight just as much as you do - not only does that make traveling with a toddler so much easier for us, but it makes traveling next to a toddler so much easier for you too. Quite frankly, we borrowed a carseat which I think was pretty uncomfortable for The Monkey and that was really the problem (our carseats are incredibly heavy but SO COMFORTABLE). She couldn't get comfy to sleep and would only sleep 40 minutes on a 1 1/2 hour flight.
Lesson learned, lesson learned. It takes a village to raise a child, right???
Anyway, here's some photos from our trip!
6.03.2014
Get Rid Of It All
I would like to become a Minimalist.
But unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen. But maybe it will.
Two weekends ago I had a garage sale and it felt so great to get rid of so much stuff. We made enough money for some groceries, a dinner out, etc... even though I priced EVERYTHING to go (think 25 cents on everything but the kitchen sink...).
And then I came back in the house and thought, "Omg, I could have gotten rid of more stuff!!" It's really just finding time to go through closets and storage boxes and determine if I'm going to use things again. Every Christmas I get rid of more and more ornaments and decorations because I HATE taking them all down. So we have the tree with few ornaments, a candle holder, stockings, and a small tree for the dining room table. I don't do anything else.
And I got rid of three clothes racks full of clothes that don't fit, I don't wear, or aren't in style. That felt great.
But I still feel like I can get rid of more.
I will purge again later this year. It feels too great not to do it!
But unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen. But maybe it will.
Two weekends ago I had a garage sale and it felt so great to get rid of so much stuff. We made enough money for some groceries, a dinner out, etc... even though I priced EVERYTHING to go (think 25 cents on everything but the kitchen sink...).
And then I came back in the house and thought, "Omg, I could have gotten rid of more stuff!!" It's really just finding time to go through closets and storage boxes and determine if I'm going to use things again. Every Christmas I get rid of more and more ornaments and decorations because I HATE taking them all down. So we have the tree with few ornaments, a candle holder, stockings, and a small tree for the dining room table. I don't do anything else.
And I got rid of three clothes racks full of clothes that don't fit, I don't wear, or aren't in style. That felt great.
But I still feel like I can get rid of more.
I will purge again later this year. It feels too great not to do it!
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