Recycling electronics

We are very fortunate here in our little town that we have somewhere to take e-waste. They ship it off to a business that tears it apart and recycles the valuable parts. Honestly, I don't know the name of the company nor do I know for sure where it is being recycled. But I do know my other option is to throw these items in the trash, and that is the worst thing I could do.

A partial list of what we took to the recycling center (please note that none of these items work anymore, except for perhaps the scanner, which is so very outdated):

scanner and 2 printers, all from our parents' homes
circuit board to mom's refrigerator
cooling fan for laptop
my dad's CPAP machine
2 old cordless phone systems
answering machine
various electronic cords
CFLs
batteries from our house, mom's house, and Mr. GVs work


As you can see, the items took up the entire trunk of our car. So glad to get this out of our homes.

Black gold

Mr. GV and I bought a new compost container last month. For years we'd been using a plastic container, but it just wasn't working for smell control, and frankly it looked really gross.




We've decided to turn one of our gardening beds into our compost receptacle. We've got a big compost spinner in the backyard but really don't care for it, so we're switching things up to see if it works. Mr. GV is going to build me 2 more beds this spring, bringing the total to 4. We're going to plant in 3 and keep one for compost, hopefully rotating that each year.

We've got plenty of leaves to add to the mix.

Hopefully we're growing that "black gold" out there right now!

Food glorious food

Recently we had another chance to eat at The Wild Cow after a day of shopping. We always have a good meal there but this was the best yet.


I had the Reuben, mustard on the side so Mr. GV could share with me, and a bowl of chickpea noodle soup. My favorite sandwich!

Mr. GV ordered fajitas, which came with marinated and grilled tofu, homemade sour cream, cheese, pico, guacamole, rice, lettuce, and beans. I had one and it was delish.

Of course we had to have dessert, so I picked a chocolate coconut cupcake.

Mr. GV chose raw tiramasu. I am not usually a fan of tiramasu, but this was divine.

Can't wait until we can go back to the Wild Cow again!

Out with the old, in with the new

On New Year's Eve, we stayed in and invited a few others over. We had pizza, snacks, and I made some cupcakes.



Before everyone else arrived, J got in some learning/Uncle time.

Unbelievable to think that some day he'll most likely be able to fill out those shoes.

Mom made brownies that we could all eat, and frankly I couldn't keep my hands off them.

J played hard, but...

sacked out in Nana's room watching TV before the evening got very late.

The rest of us played a game, and had the most fun. Here's our nephew waiting for us to get back to the game.

Mr. GV doing his Geordi Laforge impersonation.

Here is our "serious" group picture. Mom, Mr. GV, me, Bil's partner, Bil, and nephew.

And our not-so-serious picture.

We turned up the TV, blew horns, and were plenty loud. And where was J during all the noise and celebration? Where every 2 year old should be.....

...in bed, with hands propped up behind him of course!

Mil and fil were sick and weren't able to make it. We missed having them!

Park time

We went to a new-to-J park one day. We were the only ones there but still managed to have a lot of fun!



I don't mind showing myself goofing off.

But I'm not going down by myself!

J enjoyed the merry-go-round.

And for the first time in years mom and I went along for the ride.

At this point, I was pretty much ready to be done.

The *very* first thing J said to me when he got inside here was "Na na na na, you can't get me!" So very typical of a little boy.

A look of pure pleasure.

Enjoying the slide.

Listening for termites? Nah, just at the top of the ladder to the swinging bridge.

We collected shells that were mixed in the gravel.

Fun on the tire swing,

although the getting through the middle is a bit tough sometimes.

Ahh....water break on the way back to Nana's house.

Post-Christmas recovery day

The day after Christmas we had some more snow


and most of us spent the large part of the day in our jammies. We colored,

played games that were received the day before,

rested, watched TV, played "giant" (where J says Fe Fi Fo Fum in a deepish voice),

and even the pups joined in.

There were smiles all around,

and more pulling around in the kitchen.

Some of us relaxed by being on our computers *all day long* (or as my mom said---Mr. GV and D grew to the furniture that day.)

Finally in the afternoon J and I went out into the snow. His gloves and warm coat were a no-show though, so he was ready to come in after just a couple of minutes. His exact words to me were "I need to go in!" This boy does not like to be cold.

I went back out later and brought in an icicle for J to examine.

A visit from Santa

We had a big surprise Christmas Day evening. Nana went to the door and came back in saying Santa had dropped off a big bag of presents for J! There was much excitement as you can imagine.


J helped pass out the gifts.

Mr. GV's parents came to visit while we opened gifts. Casper seemed to really like Mr. GV's dad.

Taking a peek inside a gift from Mr. GV and I. (I wrapped it in a map from Doctors Without Borders--J loves maps.)

Opening another gift

Enjoying his map toy.

He enjoyed a tickle on his scalp from this hair tingler his mommy was gifted.

There was even peace on earth for a few minutes!

And then a battle began.

Story behind this: One of mom's beaters disappeared, never to be seen again. That must have been at least a year ago. So I ordered her a couple more and stuck them in her stocking. And now she has a full set....and a spare. lol

Just what he needed. Something to encourage him to perform more. Ha!

The boy and his loot. Keep in mind this is from all of us--his parents, Nana, double aunties and uncles, and of course Santa.