My report card

After posting all the articles on what others are doing and suggestions for what each of us and our churches can do to conserve resources, I thought it was time to do my own check in.

I continue to drive 55 on our 65 mph Wyoming highways - earning the wrath of some who want to drive the speed limit. Nothing quite like having someone riding my bumper so closely that I can read the label on their t-shirt!. The 4-6 mpg savings of gas keeps me poking along. When driving across South Pass - one of the main immigrant trails - I think of my great-grandmother at age 12 in a covered wagon or perhaps walking, as children usually did, at the 10 miles per day average.

Walking or biking to town has slacked off due to the heat (105F high) and West Nile disease bearing mosquitoes at dawn and dusk. Mostly I just don't go to town. Not sure how that is balancing out.

The biggest savings came unintentionally. Just before 2 of our 3 kids and family arrived our dryer went out. We could not get a new one due to the 4th of July holiday. We strung up clothesline and began to air dry. I have a new dryer but as long at it is warm enough - I will continue to hang things out. I had forgotten how great the clothes smell after drying outside - of course one has to contend with dive bombing birds. The energy saving payoff is great.

I finished reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I recommend it for the writing if nothing else. What other author can entertain wit a whole chapter on asparagus. I don't agree with all her premises - mainly we don't eat as much red meat and cheese as they do - but have been converted to seeking locally grown vegetables and fruits if at all possible and buying organic fair trade products. I am intrigued to make our own mozzarella cheese, though. The web site for the book with ideas and recipes is here