Store Help

The project:
Pick up parking lot trash, help clean freezer, restock shelves, take out trash at family member's store.

Time:
Hmmm...an hour total perhaps

Why bother?
In order:
Trash in the lot never looks good, yet people figure SOMEONE will pick it up. Today, that someone was me.

Freezer cases need maintenance. It's not too tough to lend a hand.

Stocking shelves, alphabetizing anything really, is right up my alley.

Taking trash out has arisen as a major theme of this blog; clearly a great need in our society.

Worth it?
Yes, on all fronts, because any effort is much appreciated by this recipient.

Photo courtesy Jacob Christensen under Creative Commons license.

Guests serving guests

The project:
Make dinner for our hosts' guests.

Time:
30 minutes including prep, but not bake time. I mean, come one, does visiting while the OVEN does the heavy work really count!? ;)

Why bother?
The relatives hosting us this week are really busy, too. Today, they all happened to be at work while we, one set of guests, welcomed another set during an overlapping visit. I know where (some) things are in the kitchen, and we'd packed some groceries for the visit, so this seemed like the perfect day to put dinner on the table.

An added plus: when our hostess returned home from work, her steaming plate of scrumptious dinner was, quite literally, on the table for her.

Worth it?
Yes. We shared a family favorite, and everyone reaped the benefits.

Feeding Cats

The project:
Purchase cat food and feed the cats at Mom's house while she was away.

Time:
Finding a store that carries cat food open that late - 30 minutes.
Feeding cats - 10 minutes.

Why bother?
In their rush to get out of town, Mom n' Grandpa D realized they were out of cat food. We were staying at their house for a night (recovering from late night at the birthday party), so it seemed like a need we could easily fill.

Worth it?
Yes.

Photo courtesy Sapphiren under Creative Commons license.

Planning a Surprise Party for Someone I Love

The project:
Grandma's 60th Birthday Surprise Party

Time:
Undocumented - but Grandpa Doug and I have been working on this one for a little while. Of course, I couldn't document it HERE because GrandMom reads the blog! ;)

Why bother?
Who doesn't enjoy their OWN SPECIAL DAY now and again?! This was hers.

Worth it?
OH YES! Without doubt or reservation, this was DEFINITELY worth it!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Recycling Aluminum, Glass & Plastic - again

The project:
Deliver our recycling to the buy-back center. Today, I drove; the girls did the sorting and turning in.

Time:
15 minutes - plus drive time

Why bother?
Seems a waste to toss stuff that can be turned into NEW stuff. Plus, we're headed to the Happiest (and possibly most expensive) Place On Earth. The girls could use the extra bucks.

Worth it?
Absolutely.

New Ideas welcome

I'm picking up trash daily, at this point. Recycling is an everyday thing, too, with plastic bags multiplying in spite of our efforts not to use them. Turns out we use recyclable plastic for a LOT of things besides grocery bags. (We are lots better at taking our reusable bags to the grocery store now.)

We'll soon be heading north for a little vacation, but could use some refreshing ideas. Please post here. :)