That’s what an envelope says in our house. It’s our family’s leap day time capsule.

We started it two leap years ago – back in 2000—8 years ago.

It’s moved two times. It’s been lost once, but thank goodness found.

It’s nothing fancy but inside this sealed envelope we wrote things like what our favorite food, TV show, color, hobbies, movies, and a few more that I can’t remember and since it’s the day before leap day, I won’t know until tomorrow. It’s a fun thing to do and something my children look forward to.

Four years is a long time when you’re a kid, and I’m sure what they liked four years ago is a lot different than what they like now.

We will add the answers to this time capsule and then seal it up and then write do not open until February 29, 2012. It’s a fun way to save time and look forward to leap years. Give it a try!

Technorati Tags:
february 29 2008, leap day traditions, leap day time capsule, time capsule, family fun

by sduncan
No Comments »

Can you imagine seeing over 400 frogs and salamanders trying to cross your road? Can you imagine the massacre that might happen if your road is busy? In my local paper the other day, there was a story about a township in New Jersey that is actually closing one of its roads during a time when hundreds of frogs and salamanders have been known to cross this street.

The crossing is habitual, occurring usually on the first warm, rainy night in Mid-March. The amphibians cross the road from where they hatched to better swamps and ponds across the street. Local volunteers and the wildlife associations have stepped in to try to help these creatures cross the road, but they can’t keep up with the masses. By the time they get back from carrying some of the frogs and salamanders, traffic has taken its toll on hundreds more.

The article also reported that in another area in NJ, traffic has wiped out the local population of blue spotted salamanders, an endangered species.

So this year, this nature-oriented town has decided to close the road (for a night or few hours) and save the amphibians! Our kudos go out to this town and I felt the need to share with you. With some much bad news out there, isn’t it nice to know that some people are paying attention to the little guys, the amphibians that need a little help crossing the street?

As more and more of us live in rural areas, we all need to take the time to consider the natural residents of our towns and figure out how we can protect them or at least live in harmony with them. Our hats are off to this township in NJ! Way to go!

Technorati Tags:
save frogs, living in harmony with nature, frogs and salamanders, stop the traffic, farmers almanac

by sduncan
No Comments »

. . . that really counts.

Over the holidays my mom had Christmas Eve at her house. It was crazy - 9 kids ranging from 2 to 13, 10 adults, and lots of food. While good times were had and memories made, a few days later when she was sweeping up the “garbage” left behind, she looked down and found a pile of stuff that made her grateful.

No, she’s not a dumpster diver or a garbage freak, but it was within this pile of refuge — a broken balloon, pieces of ribbons, crumbs of candy canes…garbage, but to my mom this garbage had a special meaning.

It was proof that we had a good time, that kids and parents alike were able to get together to celebrate a special holiday and share in good times. It was in looking at this pile that she was reminded of how grateful she was for her life, family, and health.

Fast Forward to Today

Are Valentine’s wrappers left behind from yesterday’s activities?

Are your kids’ toys “decorating” the living room?

Is the snow outside pure and white?

Before you tackle any clean up or shoveling, take a few minutes to look at what has been left behind to see if there’s another message in this mess. Sure the wrappers should be in the garbage, but savor the fact Valentine’s Day is a special time to appreciate loved ones.

Toys everywhere may be annoying, but one day there won’t be any toys and instead they’ll be driving around in cars.

Yes, that snow needs to be shoveled, but is the sunshine making the snow look like there are diamonds shining on your lawn?

Sometimes it is what’s left behind that counts. This also goes for the environment. Sometimes what a package or garbage leaves behind is what really matters.

My thought for the weekend ahead. Oh and yes, my mom did sweep up her pile and put it in the trash, but not until she took a picture of it.

Technorati Tags:
garbage, thought that counts, mess, valentine’s , farmers almanac thoughts

by sduncan
No Comments »