the empty closet

So, my friend Lisa and I have been developing a clothes closet type of ministry at Parkrose.  Lisa (who is very cool and peppery) works with homeless youth in Clackamas county and has experience in such things.  We’ve gathered bags and bags of gently-used clothing and blankets, painted the designated room with hip, happy colors and are waiting for racks and shelves to be installed.

We are good to go–except for the fact that we gave away ALL of the clothes and blankets this week!

My Native friend, Chief, told me on Sunday that a fire swept through his reservation that weekend, destroying at least 20 homes.  Without a second thought, I offered him our entire inventory.  Chief gratefully accepted and emptied out our closet.

The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord!  How awesome that we were able to bless others in their time of need!  But now we need to restock . . .

If you live in the area, could you take a moment and go through your closets–and pull out the clothes/blankets/shoes you don’t need or wear?   Your donations could wind up blessing a local high school student or family–or folks from the White Swan reservation!

We also need a name for this outreach.  We are open to all suggestions!  Email me or leave a comment if you have clothes to donate or ideas for a name!

shawnalyne@gmail.com

Tub ‘O Grub

So, in the short space of a week, I gutted our old broken hot tub, drilled holes through the shell for drainage, sucked all the water left in the jets and hoses, moved the monstrous thing, prepped it for planting and filled it with dirt!
Gutting and moving the hot tub proved to be the most challenging steps. But Greg and I removed everything but the hoses in just a few hours time. Then Greg figured out how to move the thing using 2″ PVC pipes and a lever (and Josh and Krispin). We were amazed at how easily the tub rolled into its final resting place–the sunny side of our back deck. Now we understand a smidge better how the pyramids were built!
The next day, I prepped the tub for the dirt. I filled the bottom area with emtpy buckets, planters, and other plastic containers and then covered it with wire mesh garden fencing. Then I laid strips of landscape cloth over it all, duct-taping it in place.
Then the dirt arrived–thanks to the Abrahamson family and NW Organic Farms. It took two truck loads to fill the thing–with rich, composted soil mixed with organic manure. Yumm!
It’s not too pretty to look at yet, but I think the Tub ‘O Grub will be an object of beauty in a few months. I’m building a “waddle” fence around the edge of the garden area. Then I’ll plant trailing edibles around the perimeter so they will eventually cover the black landscape fabric and sides of the hot tub–which I shall paint red on the next sunny day.
I will upload pics as I plant. I can’t believe how much fun this is–and that I waited 52 years to try growing the food I eat!

Guess you could call me a “late bloomer”!