We have moved! Please visit the new, improved (self hosted!) site at www.educateempowerenjoy.com

See you there!

My mother in law, who is the poster child for “going green”, is always on the lookout for ways to improve our earth. She signed up for a rain barrel workshop through her local community center and invited me to come along, and I jumped on that opportunity. I, like most of the world, really want to make good environmental choices, but just don’t know where to start. I had heard about rain barrels and rain gardens, and since I am the airhead who forgets to water the garden thus killing the tomatoes, I was more than intrigued. So at 10 am on Saturday morning, Cherie and I got our barreling on….

First off, before we actually made the barrel, the Parks and Rec people gave a little presentation with some startling facts about water for example:

• The average rain storm produces 700 gallons water that falls from your roof

• Rain water (run off water) is not treated by the wastewater system (EWWWW).  Basically, anything you place in storm drains goes directly into a lake or stream.

• During the summer, the city we live in is almost always within days of having to go into water conservation mode.

Next, we got our barrels and began the construction process. Our barrels were soda drums which had been donated to the city.  For a pdf of detailed instructions click here. 

There are really 3 main parts to a rain barrel: the collection basket, the overflow, and the spigot. There was a station for each main part, which made the process go much faster.  The actual creation was rather simple, although it required some uncommon tools. (ok, they were uncommon to me as I am not allowed to touch the tools at home.) We used a jigsaw, holesaw, drills (with multiple bits) and even a pipe tap – my grandpa would be so proud of me.

Finally, we attached all the accessories and we were ready to go! This was a very very very easy way to add a little green to our lives. While I doubt I will ever be the type to install a rainwater toilet or do my dishes with it, I am looking forward to using it to water my garden this spring.

Do you have any easy green living suggestions?  Please share!

Here are some of my favorite posts from the bloggy world this week:

After our recent home repairs (which never seem to end!) Simple Mom’s Good to Own post especially hit home with me.

On my quest for peace, harmony and organziation, stephmodo’s Organizing tip #22 was quite interesting (this is one  of those DUH, how simple ideas)

This week I discovered the site Fun Finds for Mom– Loved the whole darn site

As you may know, Mark is my super eater, so we are naturally working with him on his table manners. List Mama hit the mark with her list.

Those are the links I am lovin’ — what about you? Any great finds this week? PLEASE share!

Amy, over at Amy’s Finer Things hosts a Friday meme called “Finer things Friday.” This is been a strange week at the Ziegler Zoo, full of life’s ups and downs. Week’s like this make me realize the finer things in my life…. My boys.

I am talking about my husband and son of course.  They are the loves of my life and make everyday worth living.  Dale and I went to high school together, but didn’t start dating until we were almost out of college. God keep him in my life for all those years. I dated boys who were not right for me, but Dale was always there to listen when someone broke my heart.  Our senior year of college he and I went out over Christmas break and have been together ever since.

Mark is my miracle. I always knew I wanted to be a mommy, and from the moment  I saw him on that little screen I knew he was mine. A perfect blend of Dale and me. He has Dale’s eyes, which melt my heart. He makes me laugh everyday, he shows me what is important and makes me stop and realize the true “finer things”

And then there are my furry kids…. Sukey the wonder mutt and Simba the tank. They were my first children, they taught me to be a mommy.

So here is to the finer things in my life,  what are the finer things in yours? Visit Amy’s site for more of the Finest things

PS:

Educate Empower Enjoy will soon be moving to www.educateempowerenjoy.com !! But don’t go there yet– I am stil working out all the bugs and trying to edit code to make it look presentable…. I am excited to be an “official” blogger

photo byRberting

Many of you know I teach special education, which covers a very broad umbrella of kiddos. There are a TON of great resources out there, but since many students have multiple needs I often found myself searching and switching screens. Not a good use of time…. enter SEN teacher! This site has it all and in one place! print-ables, free software downloads, customized search engines. It has really saved me a ton of time and headache.

 And it is FREE!!

This is what Works for Me? What works for you? Check out Shannon’s Blog for many many many more great tips!

B – Bed size: King

C – Chore you hate: cleaning bathrooms

D – Dad’s Name: Robert

E – Essential start your day item: Coffee, LOTS of Coffee

F – Favorite actor(s): Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey

G – Gold or Silver: both

H – Height: 5-5 ish

I – Instruments you play(ed): clarinet, but trust me you are thankful I stopped

J – Job title: Mommy, wife,  teacher

K – Kid(s):Mark

L – Living arrangements: our house is Johnson County

M – Mom’s name: Cindi

N – Nicknames: “boss”(from my daddy) ” Trouble” (my grandpa

O – Overnight hospital stay other than birth- pregnancy bed rest, scarlet fever and for monitoring in 7^th grade

P – Pet Peeve: Wining

Q – Quotes you like:” Please don’t ask me to relax, my tension is all that is hold me together”

R – Right or left handed: Right

S – Siblings: Mike

T – Time you wake up: way to early

V – Vegetable you dislike: mushrooms

w- why run late- KIDS!!!

X – X-rays you’ve had: teeth, sinuses, knees, ankles, nose, chest, head, hands, fingers, hips,… um you name it!

Y – Yummy food you make: Crispy Confections!
Z – Zodiac: Pieces!

Finally I get it!!!