I've had a great weekend. Making the decision to turn off my computer Friday night and to leave it off until Sunday, as an extension of my earth day activities worked out great. I also decided not to turn on my TV Saturday either.
Saturday morning, I found myself falling back into the old rhythm I had for decades, prior to my habit of starting off the day online. I've had internet access since the mid 1990s but it's only been the past three years that I've started spending so much of my leisure time and work breaks online. It was a rainy day so after I read my newspaper and wrote in my paper journal (something I almost never do anymore), I finally started trying to make some progress towards cleaning my house which is long over due. You can see in the shot above how clean my bathroom is. Just kidding. That's one good thing about earth hour. My house looked much cleaner by candle light. Even the rooms I didn't clean yet.
The first job I tackled prior to Earth Hour on Saturday was to get rid of some of the piles of paper (mail, papers to file, etc.) which collect on all of my table tops. Even though I used candles which were in containers, I am very fearful of fire. We have been getting a little rain this weekend. However, due to the long drought we've been in, the fire warnings are frequently going out. No outdoor burning, including barbecues are allowed for much of the time.
Although I did turn my computer on this morning, I found myself reading my newspaper with my morning coffee as well as writing in my paper journal again this morning. Although there is a lot of news available on the internet, I find myself skimming so much when I read newpapers via bloglines. I have several major newspapers in my bloglines reader as well as some of the blogs I read. I'm not sure why but I think when I read the news in paper form, I focus more on the details and take in more. I think spending a little less time at the computer will be good for me.Weekend Snapshot
Weekend Snapshot
29 comments:
Hi Carver! I'm glad that you had a good weekend! and I admire you for being able to do the earth hour, I wasn't.
Our home also looks cleaner by candle light ha ha!
a fine week ahead to you!
Hi Carver, I'm back but see you didn't do Photo Hunt this week. Good for you for observing Earth Hour. I put my name in Mr Linky by mistake. I hope no one from there comes looking for the weekend snapshot at my "house". Have a good week Carver.
Glad to hear that you had a great weekend! I'm impressed with your Saturday!
we joined the earth hour too. have a great week ahead.
After all the excitment, I didn't do the hour of no electricity! I had 50+ ppl here to celebrate my husband's 40th! My hubby made me swear that I wouldn't do it! He was afraid everyone would leave....
After everything that went on this week with him, I decided to go with his wishes!
NEXT YEAR!
I am soo glad that you did it!
Hey, but I had 50 ppl at my house, so that means 50 homes were dark thanks to ME! ;))
Too bad I was out on the road so I wasn't able to participate in the earh hour.
Thanks for dropping by my site.
i have been trying to 'wean' myself from the computer, too ... and it does feel good (more sleep). :)
we observed the earth hour, too. i believe that nature deserves the rest! :)
Hello Carv,
Thats a good shot of candle lighting!
I love it all!
Happy WS!
Thanks to everyone for visiting my WS and JMB good to see you made it home safely.
We turned the lights out for Earth Hour, too. We quite enjoyed it and felt good about taking a decision to use less and enjoy ourselves together (rather than each person stationed in front of a computer) more. It was a blessing. God bless.
I can do without the TV but the internet hummm let me think... no way!
Hats off to you been able to observe the Earth Hour. Your place lit with candles has got a pretty romantic feel to it :) Have a good week ahead Carver!!
During our Campus Carbon Challenge, which ran at OSU through the month of February, I said that I would try to use less paper. I wasn't successful! I find that I can concentrate so much better if I have a hard copy in my hands then when I try to edit on the computer.
Blogging and using the internet is addictive, so I admire your ability to turn it all off for at least a day or so. I actually didn't use a computer for over two days! It was nice, although my week-end away probably resulted in a greater use of energy! My sister and her family and my son and partner and I went to this place called the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington. It's a mecca for kids and families - with an arcade room with over 100 games that spit out tickets - lots of lights, bells, whistles, and sounds! And, the indoor waterpark is huge! Here in the Pacific Northwest - more specifically, west of the Cascades, we tend not to worry about water that much. However, I think that huge waterpark probably overdoes the water use for each person! And, the energy needed to keep that place warm enough for people in swimsuits is probably a lot. So, I am guilty for NOT observing Earth Day as much as I might, although I did turn off a lot of electricity and my gas furnace for the week-end. So, congratulations, Carver!
This is good advice for all of us. Writig in paper journals is something I miss too. I am duly impressed. Your day without power looked lovely.
Great post! I love earth hour. I also really like your candle light phots, very nice. :D
Summer time has the disadvantage that dinner guests can see everything as opposed to winter time when cozy lights can hide all those dusty spots, lol. I am also spending less time in front of the pc...for the sake of my hands. And reading a "real" paper is a treat!!
Love the shots of your candles!
Thanks to everyone for visiting and commenting. I want to mention that although I do what I can, I'm no saint, that's for sure. I have been to water parks when my daughter was growing up and enjoyed myself. I also have trouble proofing work on the screen and if I'm going to be the last eyes on something I usually print out a copy and proof it with paper in my hand. I am trying to do the little things I can but I keep my computer on from when I get up to when I got to bed, most days. I may try to do less of that on weekends when I'm not working but there are many people who do more than I do.
How wonderful to know about you being away from the computer for the weekend!
Have a great week, Carver!
How wonderful to know about you being away from the computer for the weekend!
Have a great week, Carver!
hello carver,
It is always wonderful to see the shining light in the middle of the dark....
bless you and thanks for dropping by!
Great idea, Carver! The house in candle light looks beautiful and quite clean! :D
it's always nice to go back to old school.
hats off to you for taking part in and extending the earth hour. I was at work then (8:00 PM here) I wish I could have switched off the office lights too.
you place looks neat. hmmm I must try lighting candles in my room too. LOL
Morning Sniffles
we left our house from 7-10pm, making sure everything (except the fridge) was turned off, and just dined out. defeated the purpose? oh well, at least we light-pooled. :D happy ws!
Love the Candles, Carver! We did our part Saturday morning, as the power went out in our entire neighborhood for about an hour. Our lights are usually out by 8PM every night! We all go to be about 7:30-8:00PM.
Should I feel guilty about leaving the 4watt night lights on? No, my parents are 73 and 79, I wouldn't want them breaking a hip on their way to the bathroom!
Sounds like you had a very enjoyable weekend. It is nice to get out of the rut.
Thanks to everyone for visiting my weekend snapshot and Willthink4wine, I'm glad you left a light on for your parents.
Thank you for the birthday greetings. I appreciate it.
I admire you for taking active part on Earth Hour.
Congrats for being able to observed Earthday. Love the candles. It has romantic feel to it around the house.
you took a good photo of the cloud formation...honestly the trees added to the beauty of the shot.
have a fruitful week ahead Carver!
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