Devou Park: The Ludlow Icinerator

Last year when Jazz visited over Easter weekend, the weather was kind of yucky so we kept the adventuring to the minimum. She always does a great job finding off-the-beaten-path things to do and this adventure was no exception. 

She requested we go to the Ludlow incinerator. We drove around the park a bit and stopped by the Mr Red bench (Ida was not a fan) then searched for the incinerator. 

We weren't super clear about where the incinerator was, so it took us a bit to find the right trail. It was drizzling and we weren't sure how far down the path we'd have to go (the incinerator trail is 1.2 miles) so we decided we'd suck it up, make it an adventure, and see how far we could make it before one of my kids has a meltdown. The girls were busy squishing around in the mud and doing a bit of whining, so Jazz went ahead of us and found that the incinerator wasn't too far.

We took our time making it up there so she would be able to get pictures without us in it. The girls liked walking around and finding our favorite little graffiti spots.

Compost 101

I started to compost about a year ago and I've learned so much since I started. Every time I share about compost I get messages asking me how they should start, so I thought I'd share a couple basics to get people started and some resources if you want to dig deeper.

WHERE DO I GET STARTED? Composting can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. I always tell me friends to grab a small bin for your kitchen and identify an outdoor spot that you'll dump the food waste.

WHAT CAN I COMPOST? This is where it can get complex if you really want to get into it and different sources say different things. There are many different ratios of Green vs Brown compost, but if there are too many 'browns' then it will decompose at a much slower rate, and if there is too many 'greens' the compost will be too acidic.

I am on the more simple composting end of the spectrum. I looked at a list of green and brown materials and made sure I'm adding things from both sides and hope the ratio works itself out in the end. Right now, we only compost veggie scraps (green), eggshells (green), grass clippings (green), paper (brown), and leaves (brown).

DOES IT SMELL OR ATTRACT CRITTERS? Mostly no. Sometimes the bin in our kitchen will smell when I open it if I haven't emptied it enough... if that happens, I empty, clean it out and it is back to normal. Sidenote: I have seen people put their compost in a ziploc in their freezer if they can't empty it often enough or if they use a composting service.

The outdoor bin never smells. If you don't already have critters, this will not attract them... If you do already have critters, then you should build a more enclosed outdoor bin.

WHAT PRODUCTS DO I NEED? The great thing about compost is you can start with what you already have! We use an old butter tub in the kitchen for scraps and started out just making a pile in our backyard. I currently have a wire compost bin that I fill up for a couple months then move it over to let the pile really decompose. I've also been keeping my eye out for good deals on a tumbling composter or a cuter countertop compost bin, but I 100% encourage trying out compost with no upfront costs to really figure out if it's something you'll be able to keep with.

I'll continue to add to the post as I learn more information, but really my biggest tip is just get started where you are and build on your knowledge and setup from there.

What I've Been Reading... 2019 Edition

A couple years ago, I realized I had only read one book for the entire year... ONE BOOK! I was always a bookworm growing up so only reading one book in an entire year is kind of sad for me. So the following year my goal was to read at least one book each month. I barely squeezed in 12 books that year, but it reminded me how much I loved to read. This year, my goal was to read more than 12 books in the year. I barely squeaked by with 13 books, but found that reading before bedtime was a great way to wind down my day... and I'm well on my way to doubling my books read this coming year. I love to see what people are reading (and recently obsessed with Goodreads), but I thought I'd share what I've been reading throughout the year and what I loved.

I'm Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi - I have been following Luvvie on Instagram for years. Her book is described perfectly as " humorous essays that dissect our cultural obsessions and calls out bad behavior in our increasingly digital, connected lives". This was a quick read and had me laughing out loud frequently.

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines - I'm no Fixer Upper super fan, but I've watched the show and I'm familiar with Chip and Jo. This was another quick read and fun to see some background of how they got to where they are.

Becoming by Michelle Obama - Great read!  I loved learning more about Michelle Obama and her upbringing. As a working mom, it was interesting to read how she balanced that and the different struggles she went through.

Educated by Tara Westover - Ohhh myyy gosshh! This is a MUST READ! This is a memoir about how Tara grew up basically in isolation. Her parents didn't believe in the government, schools, or modern day medicine. Every single chapter had something that would make me say "what the heck?!" out loud. 

My Notorious Life by Kate Manning - Another book that blew me away! Quote a few twists and turns happened in Axie's young life and she ends up living with a doctor and becoming an apprentice. Eventually, she becomes a midwife and is willing to take care of issues many other midwives aren't.

Fin & Lady by Cathleen Schine - A young boy loses both his parents and moves in with his half sister that is really not prepared to be a parent. The book follows their first couple years together and how they learn to take care of each other. 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Another good one! A cranky old man slowly melts his icy exterior and builds relationships with his neighbors. Ove was equally frustrating and relatable throughout the book and it was hard to put down.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone the Illustrated Edition by JK Rowling - I've always loved reading Harry Potter and the illustrated version makes it easier to read with the girls (mostly Cora).

Real American a Memoir by Julie Lythcott-Haims - A memoir about growing up mixed race in America. I loved the style this was written in with some shorter one page snippets and longer couple page chapters. This was sent to me through Foxed Box (a personalized subscription service) and it was a perfect fit. 

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - A swanky birthday party turns into a hostage situation and the book follows along as relationships between complete strangers develop despite many language barriers. When I first read the description, I wasn't really sure if I'd like this, but it was hard to put down.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - The main character, Starr, is the passenger and only witness when her friend is murdered by a cop. The book follows along as the aftermath of this unfolds. This book was very emotional, but also hard to put down at the same time. 

So... this year I learned I love memoirs and basically anything that is super popular right now. I have a stack of books to read, but knowing what kind of books I like to read now is leading me in the right direction.