Recycling

Recycling is a worthy activity for young and old these days. But reusing is always the real challenge. I am on the lookout for new ideas for reusing old materials and when I found Jan Pinney's Art See Blog I just had to share. The clock is made from cardboard and the flowers from pop bottles. Be sure to check out January's archive where a mannequin leg is all decked out. Check it out.

P.S. Hello to all and I am back!

Banner From Neda

I received this beautiful banner from Neda of Papiers Colles for my contribution to Maraya Galleries wall dedicated to Blog Action Day when all the bloggers wrote about the environment on Oct. 15th. I love being called an artist even though I am more of a wannbe. Thank you Neda, I treasure this banner.

Blog Action Day Oct 15th 2007

This is my entry for Rima's Wall of works commemorating Blog action Day.

We must change! We cannot continue trashing our planet like we did in 1957 when folks had never heard the word "environment". Back then DDT was sprayed regularly and no one gave it a second thought. Our manufacturing was dirty and polluted the air. Cities were grimy. Nuclear bombs were built and tested in my home state of New Mexico. But this is not 1957, still we have the same environmental issues as back then and more. Here in the Longview, Texas area we have regular ozone alert days, especially in the hot summer. It is always blamed on the gulf winds bringing pollution from Houston and Dallas. We take no responsibility for our bad air and make no noticeable change to improve it.

I've been posting early blog action day posters (here and here ) and you might wonder where I got such great images to use. Sadly I got them within walking distance of my home. Some, such as this photo, taken on my own property. I regularly clean up my road frontage and it is a constant battle between me and the non caring public. I have picked up such a variety of stuff, some I won't mention here, but is mostly beer bottles/cans, cigarette packages, and fast food packaging. When I was younger I picked up trash in a 2 mile radius, but now I only clean my property and adjacent properties about 1500 feet on both sides. Sometimes I ask myself why I continue with this battle and my answer is that I care. I also ask myself how can I help others to care. So far I haven't found an answer but have explored many hair-brained ideas :)

So, I am asking others to care about our world. To cease treating our planet like it is disposable. To stop making war on our neighbors and killing the environment and people at the same time.

We must change, we can change, we will change!

Backyard Happenings

Getting a Headstart on Blog Action Day

This is a photoshopped picture of my woods in East Texas. Looks wonderful and serene doesn't it? Like the hand of man has never touched it. But when we bought this property I single handedly picked up 9 dumpsters of trash out of these woods. Even today it continues to be an uphill battle. Beer bottles, fast food wrappings, and yes even disposable baby diapers (what are mommies thinking?). It is like seeing a pile of litter gives you permission to throw out your own. I care, do you?

p.s. I reworked the text on this image at Sue's suggestion and voila! What do you think?

Click Here For A Bright Idea

The single best thing you can do for yourself and the environment! These bulbs have become reasonably priced and can be replaced a few at a time or as your old bulb burns out. Do it!

Light Pollution

A very good article about light pollution:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4794249.stm