I can't wait for spring. I can't wait for spring! These pictures were taken in my back yard a couple of weeks ago. As beautiful as the icy frosting on the pergola is, I long for the warmer weather that spring brings. Sure, winter's cold weather can be cozy and comforting as you snuggle up by the fire with a mug full of hot coffee while you read a good book... but eventually you'll have to go outside...Lately, here in PA, the weather has been quite contrary. 50 degrees one day in February and then the next day a blustery 20 degrees and the next day 35 degrees with sleet and freezing rain. It's a cruel joke flirting that 50 degrees in our face in the middle of February! What is the difference between sleet and freezing rain anyway? Is this crazy weather of late a symptom of global warming, ozone depletion, el nino or la nina? I don't know but I do try to do my part environmentally. I drive a hybrid car, I recycle diligently and have been trying to "go green" within my house as it relates to cleaning products. Since I focus my attention to the upkeep of the interior of my house during the winter months; as weather does not permit year round gardening outside, I look for ways to improve the way I do things when it comes to cleaning and organizing. Not that I neglect the interior during gardening months, well, maybe I do a little! Anyway, I have been using natural cleaning products lately and I've found that they do just as good of a job as harsh chemical cleaners. My latest experiment has been to clean my stainless kitchen sink by pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar, followed by boiling water. It cleans the drain of any food odor and naturally disinfects it. You can find "green" cleaning products at the grocery store now which is great to see. I've tried some of them and have been pretty pleased. I have been reading Green Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck, Green Living from the editors of The Environmental Magazine and Hortus Miscellaneous by Lorene Edwards Forkner & Linda Plato. These 3 books have provided much information and inspiration about how to live a more healthy and earth friendly day to day. Let me tell you, all I had to read was that your kitchen sink is the dirtiest place in your house (I won't go into all the reasons), even dirtier than the rim of your toilet... and I became obsessed! Let's just say that you will never again find a damp sponge in my sink.... EVER.
