SAVING WATER

The story is told of the woman visiting in Las Vegas who gushed to her hostess that she couldn’t wait to fill the tub and just soak. Aghast, her hostess exclaimed, “Oh, no, my dear!! Out here you can’t spend water like money!!”

My students might remember learning ways to save water when we studied conservation of the environment. Now I teach a Master Gardener class on Water and Soil Conservation. And then, this winter, they raised our local water rates AGAIN! Today in our Lake Health Education meeting, we decided it was a relevant topic to communicate to our residents. So… to remind those who have heard this before and educate those who have not, here are some tips!

Being an RV camper, saving water (and sewer) has become an art. We have all heard that we should get low flow toilets and water saving showerheads and faucet aerators. Here are some more water saving tips to go with them:

* Put a clean bucket in the shower to collect the initial wait for hot water as well as happenstance water that goes in it. I put it in the washer for the next load. (Or use it for a flush! It works at the kitchen sink, too.)

* Get a rain barrel or cistern hooked up to your gutters. We've had several workshops here at the lake to build and install them for use watering plants and washing cars. My husband got an inexpensive pump to put into ours (2 hooked together) for better pressure.

* Use a dishpan when washing fruits and vegetables and use that water to water plants (or to flush).

* Wash the "by hand" dishes first starting with just a little water and soap on a rag or sponge. Rinse them over that same sink adding to the wash water. THEN put the dishwasher dishes in that water instead of rinsing them in running water. It will save a lot of water (and in winter, that heat stays in the house longer instead of running down the drain).

* Don't forget, when buying plants look for varieties that are
drought resistant so you don't HAVE to water them. Plants native to Virginia typically require less watering and tend to be more deer resistant.

* Only wash full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine. It takes the same amount of water, but you get more done.

*When buying plants look for varieties that are
drought resistant so you don't HAVE to water them. Plants native to Virinia
typically require less watering and tend to be more deer resistant.

For more ideas, these websites might be helpful:
"Simple Steps for Saving Water" from the EPA http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/simplesteps.ht

Many useful water saving tips for indoor and outdoor from the city of
Charlottesville.
http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=640


Every drop counts!!!

MORTALITY

A dear friend is dying. It is sudden. One minute she's playing golf as she did 95% of the year, and the next she is dizzy, confused, and very ill. Too quick. Another friend dies after two days of illness. And Dad wakes up with a cold, coughs hard, says "That feels better." and is gone. I know with my family history I am a cardiovascular incident waiting to happen. This brings real urgency to bear on a number of things.

Today I made a new album on facebook - - "Nieces and Nephews". It revved up more communications with them, and I realized that there is a lot about family history they may not know. Someday I want them to share in the family treasures (Paul and Kaylene really don't want all of them), but those treasures need to be identified for them, and the memories associated with them recorded. So, another big item on my "to do" list. I am glad that I made hand embroidered (by me) pillowcases for each of them a goal, and I have 13 of the 18 finished. And it is a highlight of my life to communicate with them. I confess to having favorites... in fact my favorites happen to be whichever ones have communicated most recently. I hope they will always know and remember that I love them.

All of this comes back to the New Year Resolutions. Now if I could just do the blogging, and recording the memories instead of playing those dumb computer games!

New Year's Resolutions

Once again, we look at ourselves as the old year passes and new year begins. "How fat am I?" "How lazy" "Where is God in my life?" And so, as it is my habit, I made my New Year's Resolutions. I have copied them below and you will notice that one of them is to write more on my blog. I began it thinking that it would be a good way to leave some of me for my grandchildren and hopefully great-grandchildren (Hello to you! I hope I had a chance to meet you.) And I realize that one of God's good gifts to me is my writing ability. It may not be much, but as His gift, I know that I should use it and I have neglected it. So, later into the year than I had planned, but here nevertheless, is my first of the New Year blogs: My New Year Resolutions. Enjoy.

Oh- - - and feel free to ask me on occasion how my resolutions are going this year.

IDA

PS. #1 is going great!
#2 was delayed by the vertigo treatment I had last week, but is okay otherwise.
#3 the kiss is out - John is sick - so I am substituting good hugs.
#4 It's Jan. 11 and this is my first entry.. you judge.
#5 I am doing really crummy on this one.


NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS 2009

1. For spiritual health, I will read the Bible through this year.
2. For physical health, I will go to the gym or walk at least 3 times a week.
3. For emotional health, I will kiss and hug John every day.
4. For mental health, I will write in my blog at least once a week.
5. Because it is a complete waste of time, I will avoid playing computer games.