I'm getting more comfortable all the time wearing the "greeny tree-hugger" moniker, though I'm a little sad it's not due to a newly discovered self-confidence, but instead to the fact that being a tree-hugger is increasingly popular. Emily and I have talked a lot about consumerism being the root problem of environmental degradation, and the irony of most "green" solutions that rely on buying a new or different product, rather than not buying one at all and making-do with what you already have or even better getting comfortable doing without. This article was provocative in that direction - even though the "Greatest Generations'" motives weren't "green," the values and willingness to sacrifice behind the motives had a green affect. Will our willingness to be green and sustainable last beyond our ability to avoid sacrificing, or survive the siege of consumerism?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Luxury Delivery
We did our hospital tour tonight at Presbyterian Hospital's Women's Center. Holy mackeral! We've been there recently to visit friends who have had children, but it never struck us how daggum beautiful that place is! The artwork is spectacular (mostly local, lots of interesting sculpture), and the common areas and rooms are all set up like a spa. There's even a whirlpool in the delivery room, though Emily said it wouldn't be wise for my longterm well being to chill out in the hot tub while she's in labor. We've never enjoyed a trip to the hospital quite like this. I must say that I totally failed at remembering anything useful about how to get Emily to the right place at the right time. We walked out to the parking deck and I couldn't remember a thing we were just told. Thankfully I did remember that we should bring our own DVDs in case labor lasts very long.
Scout.com
Apparently everyone except me has known about this web site forever. In case anyone reading this is as out of the loop as I was, enjoy.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Belly Update
An update to a previous post Emily is starting to show - a lot!
The week of June 13, 2007 (Baby Week 22)
The week of June 20, 2007 (Baby Week 23)
The week of July 4, 2007 (Baby Week 25)
Gaston County
We finally visited Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont yesterday after years of having it on the "to do" list. We were concerned that the summer would be a poor time to visit, but it was absolutely lovely, and gave Emily some great ideas for the yard.
The happy mommy- and daddy-to-be outside the second fountain (self-portrait).
A sitting area tucked away behind some hedges. The trellises were interesting and looked like a painter was in the process of setting up an easle to go to work.
This fountain was fun, and had a sign that more or less called visitors wimps if they didn't pass through the water arches.
The lines-of-sight were really well done, with both clear vistas and moments of discovery. The walkway from the welcome center to the first fountain was lined with an interesting mix of traditional hedges and arbor vitae as well as cacti and exotic groundcover.
We had never seen Italian Arum before and thought it was really colorful and whimsical.
The arborway was a dramatic walkway with an interesting use of light and dark in the plants. It also underscored the awareness that the garden is very new - I guess it's about a decade old. As pretty as it is now, it is going to be stunning in 20 years when the trees have filled out and the structures feel more organic.
One area outside the North arbor walkway struck Emily as a good model for a section of our back yard.
Robyn loves the gladiolus, and we thought of her in this section of the flower garden. The gladiolii in her garden are much better than the few here at DSBG.
Emily and Stephanie in front of the first fountain before the walkway to the canal.
Emily and Zipper in front of the second fountain.
The firecracker vine is another element Emily wants to incorporate into our own yard.
The Freeze for Bees mascot!