Want to keep that fresh-start feeling that comes as you launch into a new year … the excitement of embarking on new adventures, striving to attain new goals, living out carefully deliberated intentions, or jumpstarting the year with ideas that sprang up as quickly as the new year? For many, the novelty fades within the […]
It starts in late August. That’s when I usually spot the first few dry, brown leaves cascading to the ground. They are an early cue of the changes afoot that eventually will cause some birds to depart for warmer climates, insects and animals to seek shelter for hibernation, and many trees to shed their leaves. […]
8 Great Ways to Green Your Thanksgiving Being green is about more than being eco-friendly; it’s about being a good citizen of the earth in ways that go far beyond the environment. When I think about being green, eco-friendly or earth-minded, I don’t just think about being kind to the environment. Sure, I think about […]
The number of butterflies visiting my neighbor’s butterfly bush, which extends into our front yard, has been increasing steadily over the past couple of weeks. Especially the number of monarchs, which is particularly exciting. Somewhere along the way, I learned about the great migration of the monarchs, but I didn’t have a full appreciation of […]
Last month I recommended the Annual Bat Festival at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington, Virginia as an event to attend. I had never attended the festival before (I simply was unaware of it) and had planned to attend for the first time this year. Unfortunately, my husband and oldest kid were out of town […]
With pots on the stove and dinner underway, I realized that we were out of barbecue sauce for our pulled pork. With a grocery store just a couple of blocks away, my typical response would have been to hop in the car, especially since it was raining. It would take just a few (dry) minutes […]
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time Looking for a way to green-up the way you and your family live your lives? The Green Book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to take small steps to have a positive impact on the environment. It offers […]
This piece originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. I’m not one for sappy, giggly, feel-good movies, but as a mom of three preschool and elementary school-age kids, I’ve learned to tolerate, and even appreciate some of them, as is the case with Big Miracle. Recently, a teacher professional development day meant […]
Want to learn how to attract butterflies to your garden? Come learn how at the Washington Area Butterfly Club meeting at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington. Naturalist Lisa Bierer-Garrett, one of the original members of WABC, will speak on butterfly and wildlife gardening for your backyard. Lisa, a Calvert County, MD resident and longtime […]
This piece originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. Want to simplify and de-clutter your life? Take cues from constructions sites and kindergarten classrooms. Construction projects have always fascinated me, especially large-scale projects, like the National Harbor project or the Woodrow Wilson bridge project. I marvel at how […]
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