There is more to be said on yesterday’s subject about reusing, repurposing, and recycling. The throw away mentalities that have become prevalent, will no longer work as we face the possibility of economic and cultural collapse. I have recycled for years so my consternation at the town I am living in, for closing down its recycling facility, has not abated. Creativity is often born out of need and I have spent a lifetime coming up with innovative solutions of all kinds in and around my home. I can make even the nastiest places feel homey and inviting without spending a dime. Most times it takes a great deal of scrubbing and cleaning, but the challenges open me up to ideas and the ability to see order through the chaos.The same is true for my outdoor spaces. Creating a design beforehand on paper and then trying to implement it, never works for me. It is usually while I am working in the garden that inspiration alights. Sometimes I just wait, when I am unsure about where a plant should go or what to do with a space. The right answer emerges on its own, once I have let go of trying to solve the problem area.
I am only renting this place for a brief period and I am reluctant to sink much of my own money into it. My landlord clearly does not care to invest anything either, wishing only to collect his monthly rent on it. Unfortunately, this is all too common and quite saddening because so many places are in dire need of TLC. Their dilapidated demeanor is a reflection of the actual neglect, as well as the emotional neglect of the people owning and living in them. I think that places respond to love in the same way that humans and animals do. I have uplifted the aura surrounding this space in which I am living; and that keeps my spirits lifted as well,
One of the challenges I faced was the bathroom window. It would not open because someone had screwed it closed. When I removed the screws, I discovered there was no screen and the window would not close properly, leaving a gap at the top of more than an inch. I had moved in here in January and the cold winds blew fiercely through it. I stuffed foam that I had around the edges and covered it with a towel for the coldest months; but it did little to stop the brisk drafts from coming in. It was frustrating not being able to open the window when the weather finally warmed, but without a screen, it would have been an open invitation to all kinds of critters. I have a surplus of bubble wrap from things that have been shipped to me. It takes up room to store it and I am not willing to throw it away, so I used it to seal around the window. It creates privacy and lets in light at the same time. Before the really cold weather arrives, I will cover the outside of the window with more of the bubble wrap, or other plastic, so the wind will not blow it out. A friend had recently given me some screen that he was going to throw away, so if I am still here next summer, I can replace the plastic with the screen – and be able to open the window. Sometimes we have to make do. It is what our ancestors did. It is what we will all do, if we are to survive.
