Now is the time to get involved! We have been talking for months about the City of Buffalo's overhaul of the current zoning code. The public participation meetings are happening this week!
You can attend any of the three meetings - doesn't matter where you live - just go to the one that fits best with your schedule.
HKHC has prepared a flyer that helps to explain a bit about the Green Code process. Click here and you can download the flyer!
Showing posts with label Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Week. Show all posts
Friday, August 5, 2011
Red - The Summer of Color (Week 6)
I can't believe this is already Week 6 of The Summer of Color challenge. This week's color is red; and I did a couple of things with this color.
First, I made two red window stars. They are made from translucent paper that lets the light shine through so the pattern of the star is revealed.
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The 8-pointed star with the sharp points is folded 9 times per point. With eight points, it is folded 72 times before it is glued together.
The other star I made is folded 19 times per point. With 8 points, it is folded 152 times before being glued together.
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I also made two quilt squares this week. There are twelve squares now...the quilt is coming along.
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As I mentioned last week, I'm using only fabric that I have on hand for the quilt. I'm not purchasing anything new. It's definitely one of the most resouceful, "make do" quilts I've made. Only four more weeks left - or eight quilt squares - before I'm able to start arranging them and laying out the quilt top.
Although the red isn't as vivid on this little bird as it is on adult robins, it fits the challenge of incorporating something winged into your work (in this case, a quick photo).
I was walking to the garden on Friday afternoon, and a ball of feathers moved on the ground. A baby robin had fallen from its nest.
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It was quiet for a while, but very curious and eager to be fed.
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First, I made two red window stars. They are made from translucent paper that lets the light shine through so the pattern of the star is revealed.
Two red origami window stars.
The 8-pointed star with the sharp points is folded 9 times per point. With eight points, it is folded 72 times before it is glued together.
The other star I made is folded 19 times per point. With 8 points, it is folded 152 times before being glued together.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I also made two quilt squares this week. There are twelve squares now...the quilt is coming along.
Two red quilt squares. Seven different fabrics are used for each square
to represent seven days in the week.
As I mentioned last week, I'm using only fabric that I have on hand for the quilt. I'm not purchasing anything new. It's definitely one of the most resouceful, "make do" quilts I've made. Only four more weeks left - or eight quilt squares - before I'm able to start arranging them and laying out the quilt top.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Although the red isn't as vivid on this little bird as it is on adult robins, it fits the challenge of incorporating something winged into your work (in this case, a quick photo).
I was walking to the garden on Friday afternoon, and a ball of feathers moved on the ground. A baby robin had fallen from its nest.
Baby robin on the ground.
When I moved the camera a bit closer,
it opened its mouth slowly to be fed.
After a call to the wildlife rehabilitation center, they said that it would be fine to pick up the bird and put it back in the nest if it had not already flown back up to the nest. Birds have a very weak sense of smell, so there's not a problem with the mother rejecting the baby.
By the time I went back outside, the baby bird had flown back into the nest. I felt so lucky to have been able to see the young bird at this stage of its life. Normally, the robin nests are so high and well-protected that the young ones are not visible until they are fully-grown.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 29 - When We Were Friends
For the 29th book that I'm reading this year as part of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, I chose When We Were Friends by Elizabeth Joy Arnold.
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I just started reading the book on Friday, and can tell it is a book that I'm going to like it. The writing style is easy to read, and the characters are well-developed and seem like "everyday" people - they could be one's friends, neighbors, or colleagues.
The book is best described on the back cover:
Lainey Carson and Sydney Beaumont were the closest of friends -- until they reached high school and Sydney's burgeoning popularity made it easy for her to leave the contemplative, ungainly Lainey behind.
Eighteen years later, Lainey, who lives at home caring for her mother, is an artist who's never found the courage to live her dreams. When Sydney shows up on her doorstep with her infant daughter, insisting that Lainey is the only friend she can trust, Lainey reluctantly agrees to take temporary custody of the baby to protect her from an abusive father.
But that very night, Sydney appears on the evening news -- claiming that her daughter has been kidnapped. Unsure of whom she can trust, Lainey is forced to go on the run with a child who is not her own -- but whose bond with her grows stronger every day they spend together.
In search of a safe place to stay, Lainey befriends a man who, concerned for their welfare, offers them a home. But as the two grow closer she starts to realize that he may be harboring his own secrets.
An utterly riveting story that will keep you turning the pages, When We Were Friends asks how we define motherhood and family, whether we ever truly overcome our pasts, and what friendship really means.
From some of the reviews I read about the book, the plot is unrealistic and a bit far-fetched. However, if you know that going in you can adjust your expectations. For the most part, the reviews of this book are positive and it comes highly recommended.
I just started reading the book on Friday, and can tell it is a book that I'm going to like it. The writing style is easy to read, and the characters are well-developed and seem like "everyday" people - they could be one's friends, neighbors, or colleagues.
The book is best described on the back cover:
Lainey Carson and Sydney Beaumont were the closest of friends -- until they reached high school and Sydney's burgeoning popularity made it easy for her to leave the contemplative, ungainly Lainey behind.
Eighteen years later, Lainey, who lives at home caring for her mother, is an artist who's never found the courage to live her dreams. When Sydney shows up on her doorstep with her infant daughter, insisting that Lainey is the only friend she can trust, Lainey reluctantly agrees to take temporary custody of the baby to protect her from an abusive father.
But that very night, Sydney appears on the evening news -- claiming that her daughter has been kidnapped. Unsure of whom she can trust, Lainey is forced to go on the run with a child who is not her own -- but whose bond with her grows stronger every day they spend together.
In search of a safe place to stay, Lainey befriends a man who, concerned for their welfare, offers them a home. But as the two grow closer she starts to realize that he may be harboring his own secrets.
An utterly riveting story that will keep you turning the pages, When We Were Friends asks how we define motherhood and family, whether we ever truly overcome our pasts, and what friendship really means.
From some of the reviews I read about the book, the plot is unrealistic and a bit far-fetched. However, if you know that going in you can adjust your expectations. For the most part, the reviews of this book are positive and it comes highly recommended.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Purple - The Summer of Color (Week 7)
Here it is Week 7 of The Summer of Color challenge. This week's color is one of my favorite ones: purple (another favorite color of mine is green).
When I was growing up, my bedroom was all purple - the walls, the carpet, and even the decorative stenciling at the top of the walls near the ceiling. Anything I made for the room - a quilt, a picture, a pillow - had something purple in it.
Needless to say, I was excited to work with purple this week, and made some window stars. Two of the stars are created from patterns that I have used regularly.
The third pattern (the star on the bottom in the picture above) is one that I designed a couple weeks ago. I've been playing around with the pattern in different colors (solo and color combinations).
A bit about the window stars: the translucent paper is cut into small pieces for each of the points. I hand-fold each of the points multiple times and then glue the points together. Once all of the points are attached, the pattern of the star is revealed.
Some of the stars are easy. For example, the star on the upper right has only five folds per point (with ten points, that's 50 folds to make the star).
Other stars are a bit more complicated. The star on the upper left in the picture above has 10 folds per point. It has 8 points, so that's 80 folds to make the star.
The most complicated star I make has 26 folds per point and 8 points. That's 208 folds to make one window star.
The other project I've been working on for The Summer of Color challenge is a quilt. As I've mentioned before, each week I make two quilt squares that feature the color of the week. Each square has seven strips of fabric of varying widths to represent a 7-day week.
All the fabric I'm using is from what I have on hand. I am committed to not purchasing any new supplies or materials to make the quilt. I think of all the quilts that my grandma and mom made using fabric that was available. They made do with what they had rather than always purchasing new supplies.
Thought this would be a good time to challenge myself to make do with what I have rather than acquiring new fabric (however much I would enjoy going to a fabric store and picking beautiful material that is all color- and pattern-coordinated).
When I was growing up, my bedroom was all purple - the walls, the carpet, and even the decorative stenciling at the top of the walls near the ceiling. Anything I made for the room - a quilt, a picture, a pillow - had something purple in it.
Needless to say, I was excited to work with purple this week, and made some window stars. Two of the stars are created from patterns that I have used regularly.
The sun was so bright in the afternoon
which revealed the patterns in each of the window stars.
This is the newest pattern that I created.
A bit about the window stars: the translucent paper is cut into small pieces for each of the points. I hand-fold each of the points multiple times and then glue the points together. Once all of the points are attached, the pattern of the star is revealed.
Some of the stars are easy. For example, the star on the upper right has only five folds per point (with ten points, that's 50 folds to make the star).
It took 50 folds to make this star.
The most complicated star I make has 26 folds per point and 8 points. That's 208 folds to make one window star.
The other project I've been working on for The Summer of Color challenge is a quilt. As I've mentioned before, each week I make two quilt squares that feature the color of the week. Each square has seven strips of fabric of varying widths to represent a 7-day week.
Two quilt squares done in 7 different patterns and shades of purple.
Two of the fabrics have "glittery" and "sparkly" elements -
the bonus challenge of the week.
Thought this would be a good time to challenge myself to make do with what I have rather than acquiring new fabric (however much I would enjoy going to a fabric store and picking beautiful material that is all color- and pattern-coordinated).
14 squares done...2 more to go!
Eenie (the cat) watched me lay out the squares.
I know he wanted to jump on them and mess them up.
He was a good cat...he showed some restraint....at least this time.
52 Weeks of Giving - Week 25 - Write Thank You Notes
We fell a bit behind with doing a project or activity each week that involved giving of oneself, volunteering, or making a donation.
When we started this challenge at the beginning of the year, we were able to do an activity each week. At the end of June, we fell a bit behind so we are doing some "catch up" with this challenge.
For the 25th week of the 52 Weeks of Giving, the girls each wrote a note to an adult who has positively impacted their lives in some way.
When we started this challenge at the beginning of the year, we were able to do an activity each week. At the end of June, we fell a bit behind so we are doing some "catch up" with this challenge.
For the 25th week of the 52 Weeks of Giving, the girls each wrote a note to an adult who has positively impacted their lives in some way.
Sophia writing a note to Rosanne.
Sophia wrote a note to Rosanne, a woman who was her Hidden Hero during the past school year. Rosanne was matched with Sophia in November 2010. Rosanne mailed and emailed her letters and gifts each month. This program was through the Youth Service Bureau and targets youth who may be going through a challenging time in their life.
Every time that Rosanne would write, Sophia was so excited to hear from her. The encouragement she received from an adult who was not a family member was so uplifting and made such a positive difference to Sophia.
Olivia chose to write to Mr. Neil (Neil is is first name). He has given Olivia and Sophia a lot of guidance and encouragement through the children's choir. As the choir director, he has chosen a variety of songs that the children have been performed at church and nursing homes.
He also was the director for the first community play that Olivia did; and Neil gave Olivia an opportunity to memorize 50 lines - plus participate in a number of songs - when she was 6 years old.
She is looking forward to going back to choir in September, and wanted to let him know that.
Olivia writing a letter to Mr. Neil.
Orange - The Summer of Color (Week 8)
For those of you who also have been participating in The Summer of Color and/or who are following along each week, thank you for all the positive comments about what I've made each week. Thanks to
During the challenge, I've enjoyed creating a variety of window stars and quilt squares in each of the featured colors. The encouraging and uplifting comments have been such day-brighteners for me! Thank you!
I've been enjoying seeing the creativity and beautiful items that the participants create each week. It's amazing how diverse all the items are even though we are all using the same color.
For this week, Kristin assigned the color orange. So, I made two orange window stars that have 16 points each. Each star is made with a special translucent paper that lets the sun's light shine through and illuminate the pattern.
This past week I had an interesting thing happen: a hummingbird visited one of the window stars I made that had four colors in it: red, orange, yellow, and pink.
It hovered around the window star for quite a while which was such a treat to see!
I added a couple more orange stars on August 2nd:
I finished two more quilt squares so there are now 16 squares ready to be made into a quilt.
I'm beginning to think about how to put all the squares together into The Summer of Color Quilt. I'm committed to only using what I have on hand, and it looks like white is the color of fabric that I have the most of - so that will (most likely) be the background of the front of the quilt (in between each of the squares).
The back side of the quilt will be the twin sheet that my daughter no longer uses. It's a very soft cotton with a high thread count.
It has images of lavender pale lavender violets with a plum- and yellow-color center. There are 1-2 leaves behind each flower.
With purple and green as my favorite colors, this seemed to be the best piece of fabric for the backing.
During the challenge, I've enjoyed creating a variety of window stars and quilt squares in each of the featured colors. The encouraging and uplifting comments have been such day-brighteners for me! Thank you!
I've been enjoying seeing the creativity and beautiful items that the participants create each week. It's amazing how diverse all the items are even though we are all using the same color.
For this week, Kristin assigned the color orange. So, I made two orange window stars that have 16 points each. Each star is made with a special translucent paper that lets the sun's light shine through and illuminate the pattern.
Orange window star to brighten a room.
This past week I had an interesting thing happen: a hummingbird visited one of the window stars I made that had four colors in it: red, orange, yellow, and pink.
It hovered around the window star for quite a while which was such a treat to see!
I'm wondering if the hummingbird will come back
this week and visit the window stars.
I added a couple more orange stars on August 2nd:
I usually don't make a lot of orange window stars,
but the summer sun seems to make the patterns more defined.
I finished two more quilt squares so there are now 16 squares ready to be made into a quilt.
Two quilt squares in orange-patterned fabric.
The back side of the quilt will be the twin sheet that my daughter no longer uses. It's a very soft cotton with a high thread count.
It has images of lavender pale lavender violets with a plum- and yellow-color center. There are 1-2 leaves behind each flower.
With purple and green as my favorite colors, this seemed to be the best piece of fabric for the backing.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Menu Plan - Week August 1 to August 7
I've decided to give get back into a normal routine here because I've literally unplugged from the internet for a little. I needed some time away to think things through etc, you can read more on my main blog.
One of the things I'm definitely bringing back are my Menu Plans, just like I used to post before :)
MONDAY 1st
BREAKFAST: Cinnamon Toast
LUNCH: Mac & Cheese, Fruit, Juice
DINNER: Jambalaya
TUESDAY 2nd
BREAKFAST: Stir-Abouts (recipe to come)
LUNCH: Cheese and Ham Quesadillas
DINNER: King Ranch Chicken Casserole
WEDNESDAY 30th
BREAKFAST: Cereal, Milk, Fruit
LUNCH: Totino's Pizza
DINNER: Beef Pot Pie with Beer Biscuits
THURSDAY 4th
BREAKFAST: French toast, juice, milk
LUNCH: Tuna Salad
DINNER: Turkey a la King w/ rice
FRIDAY 5TH
BREAKFAST: Muffins and Warm Spiced Milk
LUNCH: Hot and Spicy Chicken Tenders
DINNER: Chicken Pepper Pasta
SATURDAY 6th
BREAKFAST: Mile High Buttermilk Biscuits w/ Gravy
LUNCH: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Celery & Carrot Sticks
DINNER: Meatloaf, Mashed potatoes and Green Beans
SUNDAY 7TH
BREAKFAST: Waffles w/ Vanilla Custard
LUNCH: Corned Beef Hash
DINNER: Beef Stroganoff w/ homemade noodles
One of the things I'm definitely bringing back are my Menu Plans, just like I used to post before :)
MONDAY 1st
BREAKFAST: Cinnamon Toast
LUNCH: Mac & Cheese, Fruit, Juice
DINNER: Jambalaya
TUESDAY 2nd
BREAKFAST: Stir-Abouts (recipe to come)
LUNCH: Cheese and Ham Quesadillas
DINNER: King Ranch Chicken Casserole
WEDNESDAY 30th
BREAKFAST: Cereal, Milk, Fruit
LUNCH: Totino's Pizza
DINNER: Beef Pot Pie with Beer Biscuits
THURSDAY 4th
BREAKFAST: French toast, juice, milk
LUNCH: Tuna Salad
DINNER: Turkey a la King w/ rice
FRIDAY 5TH
BREAKFAST: Muffins and Warm Spiced Milk
LUNCH: Hot and Spicy Chicken Tenders
DINNER: Chicken Pepper Pasta
SATURDAY 6th
BREAKFAST: Mile High Buttermilk Biscuits w/ Gravy
LUNCH: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Celery & Carrot Sticks
DINNER: Meatloaf, Mashed potatoes and Green Beans
SUNDAY 7TH
BREAKFAST: Waffles w/ Vanilla Custard
LUNCH: Corned Beef Hash
DINNER: Beef Stroganoff w/ homemade noodles
Sunday, July 31, 2011
52 Weeks of Giving - Week 26 - Pick up Litter
For Week 26 of the 52 Weeks of Giving challenge, the girls cleaned along the road and in the ditch right by our home. They found a coffee cup, pop cans, small pieces of paper and garbage, firecracker debris, and a small piece of plastic tubing.
Sophia found perhaps the largest and most unexpected piece of garbage along the road: a piece of metal siding slightly buried under the tall grass and tiger lilies.
With the exception of the huge piece of siding, the ditch and side of the road were not as littered as anticipated which was good. We were happy that the wildlife that lives here has a clean environment in which to make their home.
Sophia found perhaps the largest and most unexpected piece of garbage along the road: a piece of metal siding slightly buried under the tall grass and tiger lilies.
Sophia found and uncovered this piece of siding
along the side of the road.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 30 - Golden Sun
For the 30th book that I read this year as part of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, I chose Golden Sun by Ruth Sanderson. This is actually a youth fiction book that I read to Olivia, but it fits the goals of the challenge (e.g., over 100 pages, has a plot).
The book is the fifth one in the Horse Diaries series, and is a wonderful story that combines history, Native American life, and horses.
Much like how the book Black Beauty is narrated by Black Beauty (the horse) himself, Golden Sun is written in a conversational tone and told from the perspective of the horse (also named Golden Sun).
Golden Sun is a chestnut snowflake Appaloosa. During the summer, he treks through the mountains with his rider, a Nez Perce boy named Little Turtle who collects healing plants. He accompanies Little Turtle on his Vision Quest where both realize their true calling.
Golden Sun intersperses words used by the Nez Perce which Olivia and I knew because we had read the Kaya books (an American Girl series about a Nez Perce girl).
The Kaya books had a translation/dictionary in the back to explain what the Nez Perce words meant which was helpful. Having read that series first, we had a greater appreciation and understanding of Golden Sun.
Golden Sun has realistic, beautiful illustrations by Ruth Sanderson. Her ability to capture the detail and beauty of horses is consistent throughout the entire Horse Diaries series.
There is a sixth book in the series that will be released (hopefully) soon. Both Olivia and Sophia are looking forward to reading it.
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