SHARED LOVE

Blame it on the weather! Yesterday, I planned on posting about a few special environmentally friendly products.
Today, I planned on a Valentine’s Day tribute.
On Tuesday afternoon, however, an unexpected ice storm hit. My husband couldn’t get home from work and had to stay at a hotel.
On wednesday we lost power, heat, and phone service. The problems continued sporadically all day yesterday. (Wish I had a Gaiam radio, see below. )

Since yesterday was the first day the The Mystery Project (TMP) resumed production, the power problems made life very difficult indeed. We now have a new editor at the publishing company and a new deadline (June.) More about this next week.
Hope you don't mind, but I decided to combine the two posts-- first comes green, then pink.

If only part of the post appears and not the rest, please know it wasn’t an operator error, blame it on the weather.

(Photo by GlassCityJungle.com)

Kermit the frog, of Sesame Street fame, was famous for saying “It’s not easy being green.” But, nowadays, if you interpret ‘green’ as being environmentally conscious it’s getting easier each and every day.

Companies concerned with the environment –or their bottom line—are going green. I’d like to share some of my favorites.

THE BIG BAMBOO
From flooring to furniture, bamboo is one of the most fabulous, renewable resources there is!
I’d like to introduce bamboo’s softer side. Did you know bamboo rivals the softest Egyptian cotton or cashmere?

In addition to its luscious feel, bamboo is hypoallergenic, allows your skin to breathe, absorbs odors naturally, and is easy to care for.
Bamboo Dreams bedding is cozy, soft, and incredibly comfortable! You’ll find gorgeous green coverlets, sheet sets, shams, and blankets in a rainbow of colors at www.dreamsack.com.

(Photo by Soy Silk)

Southwest Trading Company (www.soysilk.com) makes sustainable stitching easy. In addition to an assortment of wonderful yarns spun from bamboo fibers, they also produce yarns from annually renewable resources like corn, soy, milk, and chitin (a combination of shrimp and crab shells.

GARDEN THE GREEN WAY
Gardeners are the most environmentally conscious group of people, right? Wrong! As more folks take up gardening, the release of toxic chemicals into the air, soil and water has reached crisis level.

According to author Joe Lamp, if most gardeners watered early in the morning, instead of the other times of the day, nationally we would save at least 700 billion gallons of water each year!
Joe, a master gardener and certified landscape professional, has thought about environmentally sound ways to water and more. (He's also thought of Valentine's Day and wore a pink shirt for the occasion!)

Joe’s just published The ‘GREEN’ Gardener’s Guide features practical information and quick ideas for eco-friendly gardens. Get started by visiting www.joegardener.com to learn more about environmental stewardship through gardening and beyond!

SHAKE IT UP BABY
While you may not be able to get off the grid with these new motion and sun-powered products from Gaiam, even small efforts can yield big rewards.
Give the Shake Light a few jiggles of the wrist and it charges up instantly. Ten seconds of shaking delivers about two minutes of light.
At just 2.5 oz., the SideWinder is the smallest, lightest and most powerful portable cell phone charger made. Two minutes of cranking delivers 5-6 minutes of talk time, or up to 30 minutes standby.
A built-in solar panel, hand crank and AC adapter give you charging versatility with this Solar Radio. Only 30 seconds of cranking powers the internal NiMH battery for 35 minutes of AM and FM broadcasts.

THE POWER OF PINK
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Doesn’t this Scarlet Ibis remind you of a big pink feathery heart? I photographed her (him?) in Barbados several years ago. I’ve knicknamed her Scarlet. Yes, I really do\ have a thing for birds!
Just in case you didn’t receive flowers this year (or even if you did!), these are for you.

I’m off to NYC for my annual Flamenco Festival fix. See you all next week.

*** BLOG DU JOUR ***
For someone who loves to cook – and bake—like I do, a little less cream in the chowder, a little more veggies in the empanadas are my ideas of healthier living. Since Valentine’s Day is all about chocolate, wait until tomorrow to visit Kavit’s Wellness Junction blog. www.wellness-junction.com