Antelope Valley Project Update: Fall 2008

Everyday I walk my dog near a park and a construction site that slowly transforming the neighborhood where I live. It's exciting to watch the changes of the Antelope Valley Project on a day to day basis. Over the past few weeks some of the most dramatic changes have been taking place as trucks line up to haul away the dirt excavated for new stream bed for Antelope Creek and for a premium new park for Lincoln, to be called Union Plaza. Watch the video below to get the details!

Drop Off the HH Haz Waste

I know its tempting just to pour it down the drain or hide it in a bag at the bottom of the trash, but if the label says danger, poison, toxic, flammable, corrosive, warning or caution, you have another option that you should seriously consider. For Lincoln and Lancaster county, the Health Department has collection days at different sites in Lincoln and around the county. Upcoming collection dates and locations are:

• October 17th, Waverly County Shop 11251 N. 141st
• October 18th, 600 West "E" (Lincoln Industries)
• November 15th, State Fair Park 4-H Youth complex

Return of the Clothesline?

Clotheslines have become increasingly rare. Is it time for that to change? Air drying is a fairly simple and practical way to save energy. A clothes dryer is likely the second biggest energy user in your home (the refrigerator is #1). Drying clothes on a line is not always possible in a place where anything can happen with the weather, but on a beautiful spring day it can make clothes hung outdoors smell wonderful.

In some neighborhoods, hanging clothes out to dry is not an option. In an effort to make neighborhoods more attractive some Homeowners Associations have banned clotheslines. Traditionally homeowners appreciate and choose to live with agreed upon neighborhood standards to keep values up and neighborhoods looking good. However the desire to go green is causing a backlash against those who say no to clotheslines. Project Laundry List provides netizens with a plan of action and there is even an online petition for those who want to exert their right to hang them out dry! Neighborhood Associations are typically governed by people in the neighborhood, perhaps now is the time for them to reconsider whether their residents should have the right to dry outdoors.

Bathroom Art

Its tempting to use the new tile job in the bathroom to make one's foray into art, however the results are going to be there for a long time. Even an accomplished artist like Christoph Niemann has to approach the project cautiously. In his blog at the NY Times Mr. Niemann talks about his process, but more importantly, shows some possible outcomes and the ultimate decision. He's happy with it and the comments are mostly positive. Its great to personalize a home but it is a project to live with and enjoy rather than one to do if your plan is to put the house on the market! But you don't have to be an artist or a professional tiler to do your own bathroom art project.

Good Mouse Hunting

As Dick Cheney might say "get them there so you don't have to get them here," or as Tom the Cartoon Cat Mr. Jinks is known to intone "I HATE MEECES TO PIECES!!!!!"

Over the years I've learned that if I go on the attack early and often I can keep mice out of my house. I have a little old fashioned garage (built for the Model T) that I use as a storage shed. Late in the summer its not unusual to see signs of the little creatures. Some dirt dug up, little mouse turds on an old rag and its time to set the traps. I prefer the victor traps with the plastic "cheese pad" and a dollop of peanut butter. Some mice are crafty and can eat the peanut butter with out setting off the trap, so I'll switch traps until I get them. Of all the traps I've tried, these have proven the most reliable. Once caught I throw the whole thing away. Disposable gloves are a good idea as mice can carry disease.

I don't like to do poison because the mice can die in a hidden spot ... hidden from sight but not from smell. A good guide for dealing with mice is available from Lancaster County Cooperative Extension they also have lots of other valuable info for dealing with pests.

Listen to your pet!

Just the other day, late in the evening, my dog Buddy woofed and pointed to the back ... something was up. I looked out the kitchen window and saw flames in the alley. A fire! A quick investigation showed that the neighbors dumpster was on fire. Immediately I called 911 and in a few minutes the firetruck arrived. Fortunately the fire was contained by the dumpster. The nearby garage had some paint melt, but it did not catch on fire. Nevertheless, Buddy was a hero at my house. He sensed the fire first. He let me know something was not right. I was proud, grateful and comforted by the fact that my dog could sense things that I didn't and he would let me know when something was wrong.

Buddy is not alone in this special talent. A friend whose home was seriously damaged by a devastating fire got her first warning from her pet bird. The house was damaged, precious things were lost, but the humans and the animals were all alright, and that's what matters.

What to do when the Mall is worn out

On a recent trip to Denver we went to meet a friend as he got off of work. We parked near his office and went in through a back entrance from the parking garage. After touring the office we went out the front and on to an intriguing street of shops, restaurants, offices and places to live. We browsed through books and played catch with the dog in a design oriented store store and left with a fun book of obscure postcards. We then went around the corner to gaze in the window of the shop that our Christmas presents came from. Across the street, were attractive rowhouses we then went to eat sushi in a lovely restaurant next to an open courtyard. On our way back to the care we grabbed a flyer from the info box of an innovative museum/theater called The Lab.

Apparently that part of Lakewood Colorado had been the home of a Mall. I really know nothing about it other than the mall is no longer there. Replaced by this New Urbanism style development called Belmar.
It was a walkable and attractive place to work, live, shop, eat or just to visit.