Help with Emergency Maintenance at Museum

The project:
Help place buckets throughout California Auto Museum to help protect the collection from rain pouring through the sieve-like roof.

Time:
A few minutes here and there as we moved through the museum.

Why bother?
Clearly, volunteers were overwhelmed by the job of protecting this beautiful collection of cars. While there were tarps and towels and buckets throughout, volunteers were busy trying to guide visitors while also occasionally emptying buckets. What they needed was a new roof. What I could offer was a hand.

Worth it?
Yes. But sad that the place is in such disrepair.

Super Secret Sewing Project - Revealed!

The project:
Faithful followers might recall that last spring my daughters and I worked on a few sewing projects. We turned in homemade quilts to Project Linus, and completed a Super Secret Sewing Project. Now that the SSSP has been delivered to its intended recipient, I can reveal the final result, and the rest of the story.

Time:
HOURS upon hours. Enough obsessive work to cause back spasms.

Why bother?
In 2008, my aunt and uncle joined us on a long leg of our Big Trip. They on their motorcycle, us in the minivan which doubled as a vulture shield. We had a memorable vacation together, and since we're in the sewing mode, I wanted to make something special for them that would serve both a utilitarian purpose (keeping them warm) and memorial of our trip. The quilt was born.

The squares, selected and created by the girls and me, represent the camping experiences we shared, the Western heritage we explored, the bandanna my aunt and uncle wear when they ride, and the Vulture Incident. The quarters are divided by bands representing roads.

Making a quilt takes a lot of time, and making a custom quilt takes even longer. It's much more enjoyable to do this for someone who understands and appreciates the effort. My aunt and uncle are nothing if not understanding and appreciative.something you do for a person who doesn't appreciate the time put into it.

Worth it?
ABsolutely!

Trash Pickup - American River Parkway

The project:
Pick up trash during a walk in the American River Parkway, Greater Sacramento, California.

Time:
A few minutes here and there as we hiked for a few hours.

Why bother?
The trash was there, and so were we.

Worth it?
This 23-mile park preserve along the American River in the Sacramento area is a great natural resource. If city planners did NOTHING else right, THIS was a great move. There are more than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails, and loads of natural area to explore. It's a resource well worth keeping free of trash.

Donate Toys

The project:
Donate toys to Toys 4 Tots.

Time:
A few minutes to pick them out at the store while doing other shopping. Since Toys 4 Tots prefers the gifts be donated UNWRAPPED, there isn't much work to do here. Pick up new toys, deliver them unwrapped.

Why bother?
While most of our children have more than they could ever need, there are some family's who could use a helping hand, particularly during the holidays.

Worth it?
It would be nice if Christmas hadn't become so commercialized, so driven by gift-giving, but it has. And for a kid to get NOTHING while her peers are being inundated by a flood of toys and clothes and gadgets is rough. Maybe donating a toy or two will help some of them feel more in line with the "norm."

Oddly, while Toys4Tots was taking donations in my community, while searching the website, I learned my community is "Not Covered." My city isn't listed, and neither are any neighboring communities. The closest community listed is more than 50 miles away.

Makes you wonder...