Thursday, March 27, 2014

Recycling now picked up at the street --Hooray!

~~Van Gogh, from Facebook~~
 
 
             Saline County AR—or parts of it—can now recycle. Some of us can do it with less effort. What’s easier than throwing papers and clean plastic, # 1-7, into a large bin clearly labeled RECYCLABLES? Now, I don’t have to drag a heavy newspaper-filled bag to the back porch for Daughter to carry to the Benton facility once a month. Or large sacks full of plastics.

            And “for promotional purposes,” the price for both trash pickup and recycling remains the same. For now.

            Eureka Springs and Arkadelphia have had curbside recycling service for some time. Well, since the late 1990s in Arkadelphia when Kid Billy and I lived there. And when I began going to the Writers Colony in the Ozarks—about 6-7 years ago—that service was already available.

            Republic Services—Allied Waste—is the new hero. I’m told that Terry’s Waste Management in Benton is also beginning that service. Hooray for all companies who are answering the grassroots’ hue and cry for a “greener” earth.

About 2:30 one morning last week, I experienced a severe itching on my front side. Finally, I had to get up and apply lotion, which helped. Couldn't go back to sleep, so I got back up and wrote a 16-line poem due last Saturday at the local poets' meeting.

 I got to see from which direction the paper carrier comes (south to north)—at 3 a.m.  When I needed the wastebasket by my desk, it wasn't there. I retraced my steps, thought a minute and remembered: I took it with its loose trash and a big box of other stuff out to the bin for collection the next morning. Unthinking, I heaved the entire burden into the container and schlepped it streetside.

So at four in the morning, I took my flashlight out to the street, and sure enough, there it sat--upright with its trash still in it. Whew!  

 At 4:50, with a Tums, Vicks in my nostrils and a short slug of cough med, I went back to bed. Awoke at 9. Delicious.

My neighbors on the south have a Doberman and a smaller, furry, yappy dog named Harley. Somehow, they’ve found a gap in the fence and three times lately, have surprised me in my own backyard. The big dog runs up to me, but I yell and she turns and returns. Harley merely stands his ground and barks. One Facebook friend said to befriend the big dog. Un-uh!

The wind continues to blow—as it will during March—and night temps are warming from the usual 32 degrees and below. The plants that I took outside and lined against the house will just have to take it—like the outside cats do—or not.

The Norfolk Pine, the huge schefflera, Mom’s split-leafed philodendron, my wedding-gift begonia, the jade plant and a newish pencil cactus remain inside against any cause of death. I hope the inside cats pay attention to this.  So far, they only rub the sides of their faces against one low limb.

Spring is such a tease: here today and gone tomorrow. How'bout those folks on the upper east coast?  Brrrr!
Soon, though and it will get warm.
Let’s remember NOT to complain when it gets too hot.
 
PL, dba lovepat press, c 2014

4 comments:

Grace Grits and Gardening said...

I just returned from walking Lucy and Annabelle. I stopped to speak to my 82-year-old neighbor, Harry, and complained to him that it is already too hot in Dallas. 82 degrees today, no breeze, high humidity. I dread summer. Glad you saved your wastepaper basket!

pat couch laster said...

What does Mother Nature have against folks in Dallas? Or Texas? Or wherever it is already 82 in late March. Geez! xoxo

Dorothy Johnson said...

Navarre doesn't know it's spring yet either. We had sunshine, but temps in the low 60s feel mighty cold with Red-flag wind. Today we're having thunder storms. Oh, well, it gave me time to write a blog post after our guests left. Glad you rescued your waste basket.

pat couch laster said...

Yep, those wastebaskets are definitely an important part of a writer's supplies. Thanks for visiting. xoxo