Recycling.....we do it more than we think!

I was pondering the whole recycling thing I do.  Of course, I toss in the green bucket just like everyone else, but I started thinking out-of-the-box a bit......where else do we recycle (on an unconscious level?)...well for one, think about remodeling.  Instead of "dumping" your house, what do you do?  You fix it!  Re-paint, re-carpet, re-plumb, re-roof.......re-whatever you can. 

I've been through a couple of remodels......goodness!  That will try your patience on a whole other level. 

 

Where else?  Zoey gets 3 or 4 new toys a day....they are called water bottles!  Here's a look inside her basket of toys.  Note:  the basket was purchased at a garage sale for 50 cents.  Good thing I didn't buy it new because she promptly chewed the sides of it!

Yes, that's right.....water bottles and a fabric softener bottle (almost chewed to death).  Of course, I washed it out thoroughly.  She seems to love that big bottle and it's soothing her need to chew. 

 

Do you know what this is? 

It's the local McDonalds in Lake Forest, Illinois.  Hard to believe, huh? 

I love that the city preserved this building and that McDonald's moved in.  When my children were little we called this the fancy or rich McDonalds.  They have a fireplace inside and play classical music!  Such a proper way to eat McNuggets. :)

 

Here's one.....Zoey on my estate sale find!  I love, love, love this chair.  It's velvet and such a pretty color! 

 

Technically, Zoey is recycled too!

These are going to Half Price Books - I love recycling there!  It's nice to find a new book or two or grab the cash and go!

 

 

Here's some random photography- it's garbage, but could well be art in some circles!

Don't forget to recycle!!!! 

Zoey....aka "Trifecta" - It's a Rescue story, but she Renewed me!

This dog's name was Trifecta.  It was a temporary name given to her by "Orphans of the Storm" in Riverwoods, Il.  She was found on the streets of a local town nearby and rescued.  She's a pit bull. 

 

My daughter wanted a "puppy" - someone to hold, love and train.  She was showing me every puppy she could through local stores.  I told her we could get one, but it had to be an adoption.  That's when she changed her game and started visiting dogs down the street at Orphans.  I guess she was pretty determined. 

I think she visited there for two weeks before I even agreed to go look.....you kind of know this after being a mom for awhile..let the impulse pass.......but it didn't.    So after a bit of begging, I showed up....determined to nix whatever I could.

 

We passed dog after dog.  Some of the dogs were just too hyper, or barked too much.  Some seemed so timid and beat up......it was hard to look at them. 

 

Then we came upon "Trifecta".  Sophie (my daughter) had her hands inside the cage and the white puppy with brown markings and delicate light brown eyes with white lashes held her hand with her paws.  She was gentle and sweet.  She was also a little beat up....a cut here and there on her face.  In her attempt to connect with other pups, she had jumped up and over the crate fence and was met with resistance. 

 

I looked at the dog.  She was bigger than I wanted, but she was soft.  Her coloring was white with caramel and her temperament was gentle.  I stuck my hand in the pit bull's cage and she licked me.  It took a couple of visits (one with my almost 10 year old dog) to convince me to take her home. 

"Trifecta" is now known as Zoey.  She's a bit of an amazing dog.  I've never adopted a dog.....just gone to the local pet store or a breeder.  I do have to say there's a difference when I look into Zoey's eyes.  I know that I changed the course of her life.  I sense her appreciation and love.  I didn't know a lot about pit bulls when I adopted her and have since educated myself in a huge way.  In my own neighborhood within a few blocks there are over a dozen pit bull owners.   We kind of "find" eachother.

 

There is a wide variety of opinions about the breed.  I've known only one other pit bull personally and she was one of the most gentle sweet souls.  I would visit my brother and this dog slept in bed with me.  I remember thinking....."I'm sleeping with a pit bull!" 

My younger daughter had a very unique connection with her.  Lady's coloring was almost exactly the same as Trifecta's so when I saw my daughter connecting again with a pit bull very similar in color and demeanor I knew it was right.   It's a bit of a challenge owning this breed;  they are super strong, yet super gentle. She knows when to play and be rough and when to be gentle and attentive.  There are so many wonderful stories about pit bulls...here are a few....

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/pitbull-honored-hero-163051715.html

 

Did you know Helen Keller's constant companion was a pit bull? 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/pitbulls-landlord-discounts-rent_n_1790737.html 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2vtmAwcCn8

 

http://bslnews.org/2011/02/04/hero-stray-pit-bull-saves-woman-and-child-from-attacker/

It's easy to condemn an entire race because of one .....or a few.  It's easy to condemn an entire breed for the same reasons, but when you think about it...it makes no sense.  You can't condemn the human race because of a few...we are not all bad because of a few.  You can't condemn the animal kingdom or a breed because of a few. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61dMmEo4qjs

Watch these dogs...educate yourself because they instinctively know how to protect anyone who is being harmed - they are the champions of the "under-dog".  I would definitely want a pittie getting my back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=zB9CBniEa-Q&feature=endscreen

 

Halloween, Christmas, Zig-Zags and Monica Lewinsky

It's almost Halloween here in the U.S. Yet as I shopped for "things" to send my mother for her birthday, I saw lots and lots of Christmas stuff.
Do we experience each holiday, or just look to the next? Fall just "fell". I personally would like to take a breather and relax with each wonderful event.
I've always liked Halloween, but I am not a huge, huge fan. I think the most fun I had was when I was about 19 and decided to dress in black tights and a leotard and took 2 orange poster boards and recreated the Zig-Zag logo. It was another one of those "inside" jokes because it was so not me.

The other time I had loads of fun is when my youngest daughter was about 8 months. It was during the height of the whole Monica Lewinsky thing and I happened to have a green beret and one of those ridiculously oversized cigars. I know....I know....I tricked and treated in the city of Chicago with my 5 year old and "Monica". I got loads of laughs and "oh my god's that is so funny but yet...how could you do that???!!!"

I guess I've had more fun than I remembered. I went out to dinner the other night with a very good friend and her daughter and they were talking about the time I showed up at my daughter's school (on Halloween) with just one tooth blacked out - regular clothing and all...just one tooth gone. Yeah....that's my twisted sense of humor!
Back to holidays......I used to have a favorite store in Deerfield. It was called "Romancing the Home" and it was a wonderful cornucopia of pure delight for the eyes. I thought they went out of business, but just discovered they moved to the next town over!!!! Yay! So happy they are still around.
A couple of weeks ago I was at Goodwill with (the above mentioned daughter) and found this....

for two dollars! I think I have about 35 pink, light pink, hot pink, scarlet, red and fuschia globes....vintage....1970ish?

Then I found this at Romancing the Home...

I not only found one, but about 8 and each bag was $2 each....and filled with amazing vintage things!

Okay.....so you get it, right? :) Stay tuned!