Recycle, eh

Halloween doesn't have to be all spooky and sinister. I like to brighten it up a bit with a few elegant as opposed to macabre touches around my flat. For that, I often use the bright orange heads of the plant known as Japanese Lantern or Winter Cherry (Physalis alkekengi) to create garlands that can be used in a number of different ways. See what you've got out in the garden besides the ubiquitous pumpkin and transform it into a Halloween goodie.

Here's a quick and easy last-minute Thanksgiving decorating idea.  You can get it all at your local market or grocery store and no skills required. If you wax the pumpkins with floor wax (not the liquid kind, the real wax kind) and, after Thanksgiving, store in a cool dark place, these should last until next year. So will the corn without waxing.

Have fun and don't eat the entire turkey in one sitting.

At the Bytown market yesterday afternoon I spotted my favourite vendor selling pussy willow branches and, of course, I couldn't resist buying a few. I sometimes just place them in one of my old sap buckets but this time I wanted to create a nice wreath to remind me of spring. It's a perfect decoration if Easter is not a holiday you observe but still want something seasonal.

To make the wreath, I simply recycled a twig wreath that I had left over from Christmas.  Here are the instructions. The wreath will last a long time.

If you're too busy to find time to shop for seasonal decorations, here's an idea to decorate your banisters that I spotted while web searching this morning. It will take you from Thanksgiving (American friends) right through to Christmas. Just head for your backyard and collect a bunch of colourful leaves (better yet, get the kids to do it while they're clearing up the leaves in the backyard).

To prepare the leaves, first protect your ironing board or area with a piece of fabric remnant or newspaper. Place your leaves between two sheets of wax paper (not parchment paper) and run a warm iron over the leaves for a couple of minutes. The paper will leave a residue of wax on the leaves; gently peel away the top sheet. Note that you will have to replace the wax paper when all the wax is gone. When you've got enough leaves, hot glue them to a length of butcher's twine (or similar string) and wind that around a string of Christmas lights. Then wind that (I know, a lot of winding - better than whining!!!) around your banister.

No twine, no Christmas lights? Make my leaf wreath instead.

Image Living etc. magazine

Tomorrow, April 22, is Earth Day. Can you think of a few ways you can create an environmentally kind day?  Here are 25 things you can do:

1. Turn down the temperature in your house.

2. Buy local produce, if possible.

3. Dine by candlelight tonight.

4. Organize a neighbourhood cleanup with neighbours and then enjoy a potluck dinner.

5. Shower instead of taking a bath.

6. Close water taps while brushing your teeth.

7. Don't buy anything you don't need.

8. Gather up all those unused and outgrown toys and kids clothing and take them to a local shelter.

9. Laundry only with a full tub.

10. Hang up your laundry outside. Did you know that sunshine kills any leftover bacteria on your laundry?

11. Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products

12. Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water

13. Collect all unused CDs, DVDs, books, and magazines and take them to a senior residence, shelter, or hospice.

14. Start a front yard garden.

15. If you don't have a front yard, you can still garden in pots.

16. Take the bus, bike, or walk instead of using the car.

17. Start composting your kitchen waste.

18. Fix that leaky faucet and save money.

19. Get a rain barrel for the garden.

20. Use both sides any paper you are printing. 

21. When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure.

22. Go vegetarian or eat less meat today.

23. Consider renting or borrowing tools and equipment that you seldom use. Talk to neighbours and friends about setting up a Tool Borrowing Club.

24. Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash

25. Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers