We now PAWS to bring you this Public Service Reminder

~ Kana Smith ~ 18 Comments

Fourth of July, U.S. Independence Day...   Our guest this afternoon has been a frisky and friendly German Shepherd, who arrived in our yard trailing a broken leash. Given that the leash was attached to a choke collar with metal prongs, he must have really wanted to get away. We figured it had been a frightened-by-fireworks … Continue reading We now PAWS to bring you this Public Service Reminder

Boundaries (or… “This Righting Isn’t Write!”)

~ Kana Smith ~ 42 Comments

She calls herself an editor. In actual fact she's a person with terrible written communication skills (as well as terrible manners) and a dubious grasp of the English language. She pays well, though---more than twice what I used to make per article---so maybe the practice of regularly having to advocate for myself is just part … Continue reading Boundaries (or… “This Righting Isn’t Write!”)

Kitchen Chemistry #3: PEOPLE-Cleaners

~ Kana Smith ~ 23 Comments

Well, here we are with the third installment of Kitchen-Chemistry do-it-yourself cleaners---doing positive things for both our wallet and our well-being! If you're just joining, the previous installment covered household cleaners made from kitchen ingredients... They're doing a great job of cleaning the house, they cost next-to-nothing to make, and we know they're better for … Continue reading Kitchen Chemistry #3: PEOPLE-Cleaners

Barter ECOnomics & the Much-Maligned Art of Packrat-ism

~ Kana Smith ~ 26 Comments

I'm a little embarrassed. One of the lovely side-effects of living below the poverty-line  is the realization that most money-saving behaviors are thoroughly environmentally friendly. I'm embarrassed because it shouldn't have taken a detour into destitution for us to put this type of lifestyle into practice. A matter of putting my money where my mouth … Continue reading Barter ECOnomics & the Much-Maligned Art of Packrat-ism

Shakespeare with a Pre-Teen (& a dab of Kitchen Chemistry)

~ Kana Smith ~ 20 Comments

The warm-up "Green Show" before last night's production of Romeo & Juliet let slip a spoiler about the ending: Romeo & Juliet end up dead.  "Oops," the Fool-Squad fool exclaimed. "If there's anyone here who didn't pass ninth grade English, we just ruined the surprise." I had a laugh at that, given that I was … Continue reading Shakespeare with a Pre-Teen (& a dab of Kitchen Chemistry)

Something to Prove (or… “MOMMY can change a tire!”)

~ Kana Smith ~ 20 Comments

My hubby and I were having a thought-provoking conversation the other day, about the (sometimes) delicate balance between care-taking and independence.  He knows me well enough to understand that I have a sort of fierce pride in the knowledge that I can take care of myself.  In the year that I was single, I bought … Continue reading Something to Prove (or… “MOMMY can change a tire!”)