environmental attention 14 Jul 2007 08:18 pm
From the comments:
Adele: You’ve shown your e-face!!! Wow, what an honor! You brightened my afternoon…I can say in all honesty, “I didn’t expect to see you here!” 
Kyra: the Crab and Squash casserole was delish. Even my non-squash eater ate it up. I’m not sure I got it all right, since we exchanged that on the fly in line, but whatever I did, was pretty good. Now to see if I can recreate it…I froze 4 quarts of squash this week specificaly for the purpose of that casserole concoction! It will be great during fast times when we need fish recipes!
Christian Faith: Good questions! My frustrations with Walmart have been on the blog quite a bit; a search turned up these offerings. The transition to local stores will be hard or easy, depending on what kind of environment you have. I have several local stores to choose from and travel over 60 miles one way on my shopping day. I’ve also streamlined my household needs quite a bit. I don’t rely on them for food shopping at all; their grocery department sucks my soul the most and we combine a food co-op, a grocery store, and local produce stores to meet our needs over and above our garden (which is only supplemental as of yet). I’ve eliminated almost all household cleaners (baking soda, vinegar, and Dr. Bonners), no longer need diapers (went back to cloth and he’s learninng the potty). I still go in for my contact lenses, one pharmaceutical item that is double and triple the cost in my local stores, and seasonal sporting stuff/toys that I can’t find second hand. Amost all of our clothing is second-hand from thrift stores, consignment, or handed down. These choices all stem from environmental as well as financial concerns and all have worked in combination to free me almost completely from the insane frustration that particular big-box store wreaks on my being! I wasn’t really saving money shopping there, which was it’s own revelation. One temptation they seem to offer is that I can “one stop shop”, which with four kids in tow and limited time, lures me in on occassion. What never fails though is that they will be out of enough on my list to require I shop at other stores that day too, just to get what I need, which is incredibly mind-vibrating. In essence, life is just too short to spend there.
oh and my apologies: that should have been CFL’s not CFC’s. Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs. Google them for lots of info on how they can save energy. One caveat: they contain mercury so if they break, care must be taken for the clean up. Regualar lightbulbs create more mercury in manufacturing and we used mercury filled thermometers for years…so to me, I’d rather take the energy savings, longer lasting bulb, and softer enviro impact. But everyone has to decide on that one for themselves.
Carol: Funny you should say that….it was exactly what was going through my mind! I could not beleive the woman was watching my baby drip poop and suggesting I actually walk him through two departments of the store! I could only imagine being a fellow customer seeing that! My word. If I hadn’t of insisted on a can of disinfectant, they would have just returned that cart back into circulation unwashed…..
Queen: thanks for the flea help! I wonder if the lemon puree works like lemon essential oil would? I saw that as a recommendation on a website somewhere. We are putting together a plan of action that includes everybody’s suggestions: Dalissa marvelously is sending Frontline, we’ve added garlic to their food and vinegar to their water, we’ll treat the yard and bedding with Diotomacious Earth first, and if that doesn’t work, try Borax, and if that doesn’t work, the harder stuff. That should at least keep it manageable until the winter; I’m so glad it freezes here!
Fun comments everyone! Sorry it took me so long to rely!
