You will be missed...

My friend Laura passed away last night. She fought a hard core battle against pancreatic cancer. She went through many rounds of chemo, lost her hair multiple times and still managed to keep her sense of humor.

When I didn't recognize her one afternoon when we met for lunch -- she blamed it on a "bad wig day".  :)

I originally met her through a local group of handmakers. She was a lovely person with an easy smile and a wicked sense of humor. She designed and sewed beautiful quilts that made people happy. She did lots of custom orders and always had a quilt going.

Her dogs (Daisy and Jess, pictured) were truly her furry babies and they were recently rehomed in South Dallas with the right humans. I know she was so incredibly relieved to find the right next home for them.

You will be missed, Laura. May you always have a full bobbin.

Start 2013 Green

It's a new year with a clean slate and time to do the green thing. Here are a few thoughts to start your year off right;

Mulch Your Christmas Tree
Yes, it's still January and many of us still have our trees up. It's ok, I know a couple families who wait  until Valentine's Day to take 'em down. Whenever you take down the tree, be sure to check with your city to see where you can mulch it. Many cities then use the mulch in their parks and community areas.

Re-examine Your Eating
In the new year, we all want to try new things. Take a look at what you've been eating. Do you grow it? Is it grown locally? Although it's difficult to grow everything we may need, Farmer's Markets are a great way to fill the void. The majority of farmer's markets have a nice variety of fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs, bread and natural home goods. Find one near you with your zip code here.

Recycle Your Electronics
So many people got new electronic gadgets for the holidays. What will you do with your old gadgets? If they are in working order, passing the on to a family member or friend that would enjoy them. If they are no longer working, check with your city to see where you can dispose of the safely.