Content related to Home Repairs, Projects, and Crafts
Nearly two years ago Christian patched a roof leak to give me enough time to research options for our new roof. In classic fashion, I made very little progress until the end of 2020 when the leak began again. This time things were serious, and a decision had to be made. I spent the subsequent weeks analyzing financial and environmental considerations of our options.
Traditions bind families together but also contribute to stress that can tear them apart. 2020 was anything but ordinary, requiring flexibility and patience from all of us. Working and learning from home pulled back the curtain to reveal how much really happens behind-the-scenes, making many moms feel more seen, especially during the holidays. In this two-parter, we will look at finding balance in an unbalanced year.
‘Tis the season for decorations, cookies, and warm greetings extended around the globe. What is the most environmentally responsible way to share those warm wishes? Is going paperless really the best option or should we switch over to electronic communications? It’s time for some holiday SWAGs (Scientific Wild-Ass Guesses) to give us a sense of our holiday card options and their related impacts.
Over the past three weeks, we’ve looked at the story of DuPont’s production of the chemical compound C8 despite studies that indicated danger to humans. It appears their replacement chemical Gen-X may cause some of the same problems that C8 did. Additionally although C8 can no longer be produced, it is still present in pre-2015 cookware and other products. So what do we do?
I once heard someone say that turning on your faucet is the biggest act of blind faith you can imagine. Perfluorinated compounds, like those used in the production of Teflon and other non-stick, water-resistant, and grease-resistant products have shown up in drinking water all over the country (not just near DuPont plants) and in materials in every country on the planet.
When I mentioned to my dad that I was researching DuPont, Teflon, and impacts on health, he told me that when he was a kid, he lived next to their Louisville works. I was horrified as he told me how he and his friends would sneak onto the dumping grounds for fun… and how many of those friends have now died from brain cancer.
Over the summer, Christian and I watched a fantastic documentary on Netflix called “The Devil We Know” about a chemical compound used in the production of Teflon and DuPont’s role in covering up potential negative health impacts. With the release of the movie “Dark Waters” in theaters this coming weekend, it seemed like a good time to dive into the details around the subject.
A few years ago, a friend told me she was trying a “no-shampoo” challenge because shampoo can strip your hair and scalp of the natural oils that keep it healthy. While the idea may be unpleasant to some, I’ve been slowly cutting back on my shampoo use for a couple years and thought it was time to examine the merits of this challenge.
Fall is here (officially tomorrow), meaning scarf weather is on the way… eventually. Eight of the hottest years on record have happened in the last decade, and knitters are taking action to present climate data in a new medium. This post illustrates trends in global temperatures and artistic displays of that data, some of which have inspired new lines of craft projects and merchandise.
Everything is connected on this blog, and this week’s topics are no exception. In order to maintain my pollinator garden cheaply and sustainably, I wanted to set up a greywater reclamation system to use wastewater from my laundry, and in order to ensure that only plant-safe compounds were winding up in my garden, I had to do some research on biodegradable laundry detergents.