Archive for the ‘do it’ Category

What do you do when those old boots start leakin’?   Shed a tear and say goodbye…

No way!  Not when you are “Making it Do.”  It would cost a pretty penny to replace these old boots!  And besides new boots are darn hard to break in.  My husband’s old boots are well loved and fit him like a glove.  Throwing them out is like throwing the baby out with the bath.

Time for a visit to the Village Cobbler in Salt Lake City.

The Village Cobbler has been owned by one or another of my Uncles for almost 40 years, and over the years almost every kid in my family has worked there, including me.  We shined shoes, helped customers and learned to work hard.  But it wasn’t all hard work… my Uncles are funny guys and we had a blast hanging out with our cousins.

Owned by my Uncle Robbie, the Village Cobbler is the best place to get your shoes repaired in Utah.  He is a master cobbler and can fix anything you bring him… from dyeing delicate shoes just the right color for your wedding… to re-soling and repairing old boots.

Here’s a few pictures from my visit to the shop:

Uncle Robbie stitching a sole.  That is one powerful sewing machine… (did I mention I love old sewing machines?  Even if they are meant for leather!)

Buffing and polishing those old boots until they look like new.

One down and one to go.  Wow, are those really a pair?

While Uncle Robbie’s working I wander around the shop… oh look, another wonderful old sewing machine!  I wish I had this one when I’m working on heavy costume fabrics at Halloween.

I love seeing the shoes lined up and ready to go.

The Village Cobbler has a lot of soul… I mean soles. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!)

And will you look at that, they look awesome.  You can saddle up the horses darlin’, ’cause these boots are ready to ride.

Taking a trip to the Village Cobbler was a good reminder to take care of what I have instead of simply wanting something new.

My generation has grown up with a disposible mentality.  We tend to throw things away when it shows any signs of wear.  But in a world of limited resources those attitudes aren’t good for the environment or our pocket books.  Plus, it just feels good to give new life to something old and loved.  Find a good shoe repair in your neighborhood and give your favorite shoes another 10,000 miles.

Laziness may appear attractive but work gives satisfaction. -Anne Frank

This morning 18 yards of what my kids affectionately call “Poo Dirt” was delivered to my driveway.  It came from the Central Valley Water Conservancy.  And it is the ultimate in “recycling.”

Here’s the dirty truth: it’s actually recycled sewage waste.  A fact which I try really hard not to think about.

What I do try to think about is how well it has been composted… so that it no longer remotely resembles sewage.  It’s now just awesome and very cheap mulch for my yard.

Since I mentioned it… have you ever wondered the difference between compost and mulch?  The main difference is where you put it.  Compost is something you turn into the soil.  Mulch is something you put on top of the soil to retain moisture and hold down weeds.  It’s the weed part I am most anxious about.  My battle with the weeds has been an epic struggle… and most of the time they seem to get the better of me.  But every year hope springs eternal.

Unfortunately, a few days ago my husband Drew injured his shoulder.  Here’s our conversation:  “There is no way I can spread the mulch this week, you need to reschedule.” But the weeds are already growing and I am a stubborn woman.  “I can do it” I tell him.  “Do you have any idea how much 18 yards of mulch is?  You need to reschedule.” he says.  “It may take me three days, but I can do it,” I thought.

So, I didn’t cancel the mulch today.  And from morning til night, I have been spreading it.   Can I admit to you honestly?  My husband was right.  I really had no idea how much 18 yards really was.  If you look at the picture above, keep in mind that shovel is 5′ high.  That pile was taller than me!

I am grateful to admit, I did get some help from my neighbors… Eric watched me loading and dumping my wheel barrow from his office window across the street, and I think he felt sorry for me.  He and his wife, Wendy generously came over and helped me for a while this morning.

In the end, I did a lot of the work myself and well over 12 yards of the mulch has been spread.  And at the end of the day, I am certain that nothing satisfies like hard work.  What could I possibly like you might ask.  I get to spend the day outside, enjoying some amazing Spring weather.  It counted for today’s workout.  I love how good my flowers beds look.  There was just something satisfying about seeing that big pile shrink.

It’s now 8:00 pm, I’ve had a long hot shower, I am in my pj’s, and I am thinking of popping some popcorn and reading my book.  Aaahhh…..

But first, I think I’m going to take some Aleve right now, and then I can be really happy.

Find out if your local waste treatment is composting.  It is the best bargain out there on mulch… and I really shop around.  Plus it works incredibly well at improving your soil and makes your gardens look great.  You can be “green” and “Make it Do” too.