Brilliance in Recycling - Just in Time for Earth Day!

I love getting new toothbrushes -- it's like the equivalent of new pencils on the first day of school - a chance to start over.

Honestly, I have never thought twice about tossing the dated toothbrushes--in the trash they go!

Until I saw this new toothbrush. I spotted it in the toothbrush aisle and was instantly drawn in. A toothbrush made from recycled yogurt cups (not to worry, the bristles are new!)! How cool is that? The only thing cooler is that the very minimalist packaging serves double-time as a postage-paid envelope for returning your toothbrush to the company for recycling. Cool, huh?

{This Moment}

Inspired by SouleMama, {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see

Heaven. Or, is it the devil?

My dear friend and author of SupperbySix is a fellow Etsy-a-holic and she turned me onto this deliciously dangerous temptation. Heartsy. It's what happens when Etsy (handmade marketplace) and Groupon get together. Holy moly. Check it out.

April Planner

April is here. It started with a big snow storm...I wonder how it will end? Time will tell. In the meantime, I've got a busy month planned...

• Plant easter grass. Yea, I was supposed to do that last month. Didn't get to it. Is there still time?
• Attend the Maine Fiddler's Concert. This concert (now in its 11th year) takes place at The Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath, Maine and is, in part, a fundraiser for Maine Fiddle Camp. It is a ball...and always makes me want to re-engage in learning to play my fiddle.
• A Psyanky date with my husband. I know, sounds kinky, huh? Not to worry, Maine-ly Home remains a family-friendly blogsite. But, I've been dying to give this wonderful craft another try since my friend Jeanne graciously taught me last April. And, my husband has agreed to do it with me.
• Visit some baby lambs. I must take my lamb-lovin' toddler to see some baby lambs. Oh, how I can't wait!
• Find some forsythia for a little spring forcin'. 
• Make a birthday crown for my baby who is turning 2!?! 
• Start thinking about a yard sale for MayFair Weekend.
• Find some new mud boots. Cause it's clear it's going to be a very muddy season. Maybe the muddiest yet.

What's on your planner?

Signs of Spring Continued

As I mentioned the other day, it feels ever so important (and, today, this very foggy, wet day is no exception) to capture and share signs of Spring. This is a shot I captured the other day. Yea, I'm thinking it's going to be a messy Spring.

Oh, hello April!

Okay, how did that happen? It was just March...and, today I turned on my computer and realized it was April 4th.

The good news? We missed April Fools. In our house, we have discovered that with young children who learn of April Fools, the bad jokes and pranks continue well beyond the 1st. It's a nightmare, really.

I think the problem is that on Friday, April 1st, in the wee hours of the night I got a text message.

It read: School cancelled.

Snow day.

Yup. Just when we thought we were in the clear, a Nor'easter (that's what we New Englanders call a nasty storm with wind and wet stuff that comes at us from the Northeast) blanketed this great state with a whole bunch more of that white fluffy stuff.

Only this time, it wasn't so light and fluffy. Heavy and wet. So heavy and wet that it through those just waking up branches for a loop, or rather a tumble. Power outages were widespread. No foolin'.

I must admit I was rather grumpy about the whole thing the minute I heard that text beep on my phone. I had an ambitious day planned - one that wouldn't come to fruition with two girls in tow.

But, when I looked out my window and saw that beautiful blanket on what can be a pretty ugly time of year, I found a better attitude. Mostly. We played in the snow. Contemplated snow bunnies. Baked. Painted. And, then welcomed in a busy, sunny weekend.

April: John Updike's take

In keeping with tradition at Maine-ly Home, here's John Updike's take on April. Have you gotten your copy of A Child's Calendar? It really is such a wonderful book with a monthly poem by Updike and beautiful illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

April
It's Spring! Farewell
To chills and colds!
The blushing, girlish
World unfolds

Each flower, leaf,
And blade of turf--
Small love-notes sent
From air to earth.

The sky's a hear
Of prancing sheep,
The birds and fields
Abandon sleep,

And jonquils, tulips,
Daffodils
Bloom bright upon
The wide-eyed hills.

All things renew.
All things begin.
At church, they bring
The lilies in.