"If there’s a world here in a hundred years, it’s going to be saved by tens of millions of little things. The powers-that-be can break up any big thing they want. They can corrupt it or co-opt it from the inside, or they can attack it from the outside. But what are they going to do about 10 million little things? They break up two of them, and three more like them spring up!"
- Pete Seeger, in YES! Magazine

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Sort and Deliver Books to Friends of the Library

The project:
Sort through boxes upon BOXES of books in the Washington garage, and begin the deliveries to the Friends of Ilwaco Library to shelve, or more likely sell to raise funds for other titles and needs. (Most of the books were beach-friendly paperbacks ideal for quick sale and fund-raising.)

Time:
Probably close to two hours sorting through the books (don't you think, Mom?) and loading them into decent boxes. A few minutes to load six of the cases into the truck, a few minutes to drive to the library and back, a few minutes to deliver to the library - and a few minutes to put the library cart back together after I inadvertently disassembled it while attempting to get over the library threshold.

Why bother?
The garage/rummage sale effort probably yielded some cash for the local animal shelter, but the remainder of the belongings have been hanging out in the very large garage ever since. We cleaned out the kitchen items earlier this week. And on another day went for the book sort, pack, cleanout. TODAY I merely delivered the books - and rebuilt the library's cart.

Worth it?
YES! Another big project that left a dent on the BIGGER project.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Donate Cash to Food Program


The project:
Donate cash to the local food program.

Time:
Seconds to pull out the wallet. A blink of an eye to drop it in the barrel.

Why bother?
Long Beach, Washington, has lots of fun activities throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend (and, no doubt, throughout the year). We particularly enjoy the Pajama Party for kids at the local theater. In trade for admission to the showing of a kid-friendly flick, the theater requests donations be made to the local food pantry program - canned/packaged food or a cash donation. Lacking foresight, we took the cash option.

Worth it?
YES! I think it's super neat that the theater gives its space up for a program that has become a family tradition for so many, while also providing a program that benefits local families and individuals in need.


Photo courtesy Dinah Sanders under Creative Commons License.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Help Medicate Foster Kitty

Mom n' Mooshoo socialize. He likes to snuffle ears.
The project:
Help medicate and socialize with a kitty Mom is fostering during our stay in Washington.

Time:
It only takes a couple of minutes to hold the kitty while Mom gives him his drops. No big deal. Wiping a kitty's dripping eyes and oozing nose takes seconds, and is probably among the most disgusting things I can think of...strangely. And socializing the kitty - it's a cinch with Mooshoo.

Why bother?
Whenever they're in Washington, Mom n' Doug foster kitties from the local no-kill shelter. The shelter, now knowing them, usually gives them the bottom of the barrel - unsocial kitties, frightened or shy kitties, or sick kitties; basically, kitties who need extra love and care that is hard to provide in a kennel/shelter situation.

When we visit, we're just along for the ride on this fostering program, but the girls and I enjoy the extra furry company - particularly when they're as friendly and playful as this boy turned out to be once he could see and breathe again.

Worth it?
Yes.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Clean Gutters

The project:
Clean several years' accumulation from the gutters while visiting rainy Washington.

Time:
30 minutes

Why bother?
It rained for most of the first four days we were in the great Pacific Northwest this trip. There was a lot of water, not to mention the winds. While the Big Red House is equipped with rain gutters, they weren't draining through any of the downspouts. Instead, the water was filling the gutters and overflowing, creating interesting, but destructive and very noisy, waterfalls at various points around the house. It bugged me enough that I borrowed a tall ladder from the neighbor across the street to check it out.

My younger daughter stood at the bottom of the first downspout to let me know when the water started draining. Well, with the first handful of leaves and muck removed from immediately above the drain, the gutters flushed like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't have missed it, even from atop the ladder.

I continued around the house, removing what turned out to be more than five years' accumulation of leaves and moss, grass and soil from the gutters, sometimes filled flush with the top edge. I only wish I'd had a better ladder - and a good nozzle on the hose for a 100% complete job, but I think this effort will last the gutters for a year or more.

Worth it?
ABsolutely. That first flush was rewarding. Knowing that the rest of the cleanout will help keep the drains running through winter was a bonus. Mom's kiss on the forehead and thanks were great rewards, too! :)

Photo courtesy Eric Schmuttenmaer under Creative Commons License.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Clean Out Garage - And Donate to Thrift Store


The project:
Help Mom clean out her garage, and deliver a station wagon load of kitchen goodies (accessories, dishes, pots, pans, appliances - you name it) to the local thrift shop that benefits a food program on the Long Beach Peninsula (Washington).

Time:
Couple of hours - no watch today. But it took us quite awhile to sort, box & load. Only a few minutes to unload thanks to the help of the thrift store clerks who lent a hand.

Why bother?
A few years ago there was this garage sale/rummage sale. A few households were involved, but ultimately the leftovers were pulled into Mom's garage where they remained, gathering dust but otherwise untouched, until this trip. It was time to begin reclaiming the garage, and putting these goods to use somewhere else.

Worth it?
Yes - I love a big project, and it was great to see such a great dent made in the garage cleanup, PLUS deliver the goods to a shop that will ultimately help provide meals to those in need in the area.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Household repairs while on vacation


The project:
Do simple household repairs/maintenance as the need arose during our visit to wet and wild Washington.

Time:
A few minutes here and there: lubricating locks; lubricating hinges; plunging (and ultimately chemically altering clog) in bathtub; plunging kitchen sink.

Why bother?
Every house needs a little help now and again. A century-old house needs a little extra TLC. Since I had time on my hands, and the know-how, I figured I'd lend a helping hand.

Worth it?
Yes - I always like to do a project that NEEDS to be done and is going to provide lasting results. Rusted hinges mean no entry. Rusted locks mean ... no entry. And the clogged drains? Those are just a pain in the tuckus. (Dusting, vacuuming and mopping, for example, while wonderfully rewarding in the short term aren't really my idea of a good time. After all, the floor mopped today will be dirty again tomorrow. A sink unplugged today will probably stay that way for months! FAR greater bang for the buck!)

Photo courtesy Arlen under Creative Commons license.