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Earth Day 2010

April 24, 2010 By Laura 4 Comments

earth-day-activity-ideas-17 A few years back, we decided to invest some ‘extra’ personal efforts of our own, on Earth Day, to help preserve and protect our environment.

 It has become a tradition of ours, every year since.  Somehow, we’ve been blessed with perfect weather to revel in every year on April 22, as well.   This year was no exception.


earth day ideas

Typically, our Earth Day starts with heading out into our neighborhood in the late morning, with our poke sticks and big trash barrel on wheels, to clean up all of the litter we can find.

As we work our way down the side roads, people drive slowly by, and smile at us, through their puzzled expressions.  As if they are thinking, “What on earth, are they all doing?” (No pun intended. lol).  Some actually roll down their windows, and ask us out loud.  Others get it right away and already know and say, “Are you cleaning up because it is Earth Day?”….to which all the kids say in unison, “Yesssss.”  And they usually say something like, “That’s so niiiiice.  Thank you.”  And again in unison they say, “You’re welcommmme.”

earth day ideas It’s downright sad, to easily find all we do.

We know some escaped the back of a truck on the way to the dump, or blew off someone’s deck by accident, etc.

earth day ideas

We also know how many people just carelessly toss out their vehicle window, anything they are done with.

earth day ideas

We love the part where we get to our beach.

earth day ideas

We don’t find a whole lot of trash on the shore, but some.  There are often adults, settled with their chairs and blankets at the beach, on (school) days as warm and fine as these.  So most of them strike up a conversation with us.  They first group thought we were a real crew, hired to clean up the beach, because of their colored shirts.  But the kids explained, they were trying to wear “Earth Day colors”.  Then they got it…”Ohhhh.  It’s Earth Day….that’s right.”

I know the awareness of Earth Day has slowly grown since the 1960’s.  But it seems we have a ways to go!  For ALL to be aware not only of Earth Day, it’s history and purpose, but to contribute to it’s success every day of the year, through our daily habits.  That’s the goal.

earth day ideas

earth day ideas

For us, our rituals of global love include not only cleaning up, to beautify our environment….

earth day ideas

….but appreciating the beauty and Creation by God already all around us.  Like this huge sea snail I spotted in the rocks, left behind by the receding tide,  as we made or way down the shoreline.  O.k., ‘beauty’ may be a stretch, for a sea snail.  Sure, in it’s shell, it verges on pretty.

earth day ideas

But I am quite sure, out of it’s shell, it’s about as ugly and nasty as the dickens.

earth day ideas The kids studied the sea snail meticulously….

earth day ideas

…and had lengthy discussions about how interesting it was. And big!  Then they decided it would be kind, to return the snail to it’s safe-haven home:  the sea.

earth day ideas

So that’s just what they did, even though it was a bit of a hike to the water line, as the tide was going out.

earth day ideas

But the sea snail seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, or perhaps a thank you, as bubbles quickly rose from it’s shell, to the surface of the water.

earth day ideas

Like any gorgeous weathered day around here by the shore, it’s hard not to feel so blessed, and amazed, at all God has created, for us.  We sure do love it.

Soon, we headed home, ate some lunch, and later on, baked some Earth Day treats!  Cupcakes.

earth day ideas

The cupcakes were deviled food cake mix, aiming for an earthy color.   Then we colored ‘whipped’ vanilla frosting from a can, and got creative.  Going with the whipped was a wise choice.  It was so easier to work with.

I do love the “EARTH” ones, that Michael/Daddy did.

earth day ideas

Michael, {A} and I designed the rest.

earth day ideas

earth day ideas

These 2 were a couple of my favorites.   By sight, and bite.   : )

earth day ideas

Our Earth Day has been  as simple as this, but I have some bigger ideas for the future.  We know many others do special things on Earth Day, and still others do nothing special, but are just good “earthlings” all year long.  (And we appreciate that!)   Did YOU or your kids do anything in particular, at home or at school, for more global awareness, appreciation or nurturing, on Earth Day?

Year round, we try to recycle, conserve energy (for our bills too, lol),  reuse materials, and do other clean-ups on our street now and then, and we never, ever litter!  (We also let anyone we see littering, really ‘have it’.  “Excuse me. Pick that back up, please. NOW!!! <throat clear>. Thank you.”)   Michael wants to put a rain barrel in the ground, to use for watering our gardens.

We hope you had a wonderful EARTH DAY!!  Feel free to share with us anything about your day this year, or any and all tips or habits you use throughout the year, that benefits us all, as we preserve and protect the beauty of our world, together.

(P.S.   After commenting, don’t forget to visit the Home Page!  XO)

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Filed Under: Elementary Homeschooling, Field Trips, Homeschooling, Life In General, The Big Picture, Traditions Tagged With: don't-litter, Earth Day, earth-day-activity-ideas, earth-day-cupcakes, Earth-Day-neighborhood-clean-up, earth-day-snacks, homeschooling, homeschooling-earth-day

Comments

  1. 1
    michelle manteiga says:
    April 26, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    Love, love, love each time I visit OHOJN!! I just love all that you do, so inspiring and beautiful!!

    Reply
  2. 0
    Cher says:
    April 26, 2010 at 10:52 am

    Wow! I love you and your family!
    You and M are the coolest, most awesomest parents I know!
    Ya’ll amaze me! I wish I had done things like this with my children as they grew up.
    Fabulous job Laura!
    Your blog always brings tears to my eyes!

    XOXO

    Reply
  3. -1
    Nori Coleman says:
    April 25, 2010 at 7:15 pm

    Great cupcakes and a just deserved reward for all of the clean up you all did. Good job!

    Reply
  4. -2
    Samantha says:
    April 25, 2010 at 7:54 am

    Wow Laura I’m really impressed! Your family is doing a great job on keeping your community clean : ) We are trying to do our ‘small’ part here by composting, recycling, reusing and generally lower consumption of materials that we don’t need. I also think that switching over to cloth diapers has also helped. I feel guilty that I contributed several thousand of them already to the landfill with Marie & Therese. Luckily we reduced the number with Hannah and almost entirely with Nicholas.

    Reply

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