Guess what I assisted with last Monday? We didn’t think Maizy was due for another month, but about 6 a.m., while it was still dark outside, I heard her particular brand of moaning, so I went down to the pasture to see what was going on. There on the ground was a dripping wet, just-from-the-womb, SHIVERING baby boy. I laid down a fresh bed of straw in the barn and moved them both inside, Maizy still moaning and licking. I do love my “Jersey Nanny” title.
Names. We need boy names! Any ideas?
Do you have a favorite pair of socks?
Striped or spotted?
Cotton or wool?
Knee-high or nipped at the ankle?
Mine are … all of the above, depending on the season and the pair of boots or shoes I’m wearing.
Let’s face it, a good sock is not only a foot’s best friend, it’s a bit of flair that we can hide under pants …
or flaunt and share.
In my mom’s day and long before that, people were loyal to their socks. It wasn’t so much about fashion as practicality, and it didn’t make sense to throw away a perfectly good pair simply because their heels showed wear.
Alas, mending is becoming a thing of the past, and lots of socks end up in the trash.
But sock startup Nice Laundry is making it their mission to save fuzzy footwear from this sad and eco-unfriendly fate.
Phase One: Nice Laundry’s pedi-preneurs are selling socks. Great socks.
“We started by taking what we loved from one of our favorite $38 pair of socks and then obsessed over every detail: the patterns, material composition, cuff height, and more,” explain co-founders Ricky Choi and Phil Moldavski.
But instead of paying premium prices, you can get six pairs of Nice Laundry socks for $39, or replace your whole sock drawer for under $90.
Photo courtesy of NiceLaundry.com
Phase Two: Ricky and Phil are bent on recycling.
Prepaid return shipping labels come with every order. Send back your old socks and Nice Laundry will recycle them. “A significant percentage will be reused and repurposed,” they say, “while the balance will be converted into recycled fibers.”
Fact: the U.S. wastes some 21 billion pounds of textiles annually.
Ostracized for decades by Britain’s renowned Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the lowly order of ceramic garden gnomes will at last have its day in the sun.
It seems that gnomes are no longer deemed ignominious by the haughty horticulturalists of London, who once described the little figurines as “distracting” and barred them from participating in the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.
(Call it a case of caste discrimination against those that were, well, cast.)
At any rate, a gaggle of good-natured gardeners like Jekka McVicar found the prohibition preposterous.
McVicar, a medal-winning horticulturist and unabashed gnome activist, roused a bit of a row when she displayed a dapper little desperado dubbed “Borage” in her 2009 display.
Photo by EddyDD via Wikimedia Commons
Imagine McVicar’s delight when she learned that the statuettes she has long supported will be welcomed as guests of honor at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show in May.
Oh, yes—it’s true!
Now that you’ve read my book, Glamping with MaryJane, you need to find a fabulous place to get your glam campin’ on.
And so, we’re back for a 4th day of where to glamp in 2013. Ready to sink your teeth into a sweet Georgie treetop campout?
Dancing with the Trees
Georgia
Take in the sights and heights from the top of a canopy. Feel the wonder of safely cresting the top of a branch and snuggling like a leopard into your snug “tree boat.” Dancing with the Trees will give you an unforgettable experience:
Each guest/climber stays attached to a harness and climbing rope throughout the experience while spending a peaceful night cradled in the arms of a tree. The next morning, enjoy a continental breakfast … in the trees! Then there’s a chance for more climbing.
In Gothenburg, Sweden, you can book a stay in, say …
a city park or empty paper mill,
an abandoned café or a dark corner of a fishing wharf.
Mind you, it was only about 20°F in Gothenburg last week.
Chilling.
These accommodations are all about empathy, not luxury.
Photo by Mikko J. Putkonen via Wikimedia Commons
Gothenberg, Sweden’s second largest city, has about 3,400 homeless people within its limits, and Swedish advertising agency Forsman and Bodenfors is determined to chip away at that number using an unusual tactic:
Faktum Hotels. (And you thought this post was leading into something to do with April Fools Day.)
“We have chosen 10 of the places where the homeless might spend the night and made it possible for you to book a place. Just like any hotel,” explains the F&B website. “You can book for yourself or as a gift for somebody else. Either way, the money goes to our work for homeless and socially vulnerable people.”
Personally, I’m partial to Room Number One. For about 15 bucks, you get to nestle into a well-worn sleeping bag in a private grove of Haga Park …
Photo courtesy of FaktumHotels.com
Okay, let’s get real.
If the notion of packing your jammies for a night on a park bench makes you shudder, rest assured.
Faktum Hotels are actually an elaborate work of fiction, but the idea is catchy, and the mission has a heart.
“Faktum Hotels are not real hotels where you can book real hotel accommodations. It’s a smart way to support Gothenburg’s street newspaper, Faktum,” the Faktum founders who are using the money for a good cause confess. “We provide those most in need with an occupation. This helps them to take a step towards a more structured life, as the work involves responsibility, routine, and the opportunity for a positive social exchange—things that are vitally important when trying to find somewhere to live. Or build a life, for that matter.”
Do you think this sort of scheme would fly here in the U.S.?
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of the underserved people in your area, here’s an idea worth keeping alive. Today seems an even more appropriate day to put it on our list of things to do:
Blessing Bags. (Stay with me, I have a different spin on it.)
Initiated by Children Helping Poor and Homeless People and popularized by the moms (and grandmas) of Kids with a Vision (KWAV), the idea of Blessing Bags have started to spread, popping up on Pinterest, blogs, and Facebook.
The gist:
Assemble a bag for someone less fortunate than you, filling it with useful items pertinent to daily life—stuff many of us take for granted. The KWAV gals recommend packing a plastic zipper bag with the basics: snacks, toiletries, first-aid items, and gift cards.
Photo courtesy of KWAVS.blogspot.com
Lauren Wayne of Hobo Mama takes the idea a step further, suggesting the addition of a paperback, deck of cards, socks, a mini flashlight, notebook, pen … you get the idea.
Photo courtesy of Hobomama.com
I propose putting a natural spin on the Blessing Bag, starting with a fabric bag that can be re-used for other purposes.
This venture is good for groups, pooling resources, time, and effort—the perfect Sisterhood project. Kids can help, too, while learning the value of helping others.
Photo by Joxemai via Wikimedia Commons
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
