The Resurrection of Ziggy

 When I was around twelve, my aunt took me to Sears to pick out my bedroom suite.  That was my first design experience. But even before that, I was constantly busy with my hands. I remember making colored paper chains out of chewing gum wrappers that draped and zig zagged  across the ceiling of my room! I was born an artist but I didn't realize it at the time. As an adult, world travels fueled my vision of things, adding layers and layers to my aesthetic vocabulary. When I put that with having grown up working class, making do, there was no waste in our house. We were recycling when it wasn't a "green" thing, but the way we lived, period! Today my entire lifestyle including my work and passion  as a landscape designer is about restoration, giving life to things, living spaces and outdoor environments.

Back in November of 09 I crossed paths with a salvage truck on it's way to the dump. I flagged him down to get a better look at a gnarly looking rust bucket perched on top. Since completing my black belt in martial arts, I was looking for a new challenge. Some of my dojo mates had motorcycles and often rode to class, or were engaged in conversation about their various motorcycle experiences.Owning a motorcycle was a long shot of a reality for me until I met Ziggy on the top of that truck. I don't need to tell you that everybody and their mama thought I had lost my mind when I told them I bought a motorcycle, not to mention the way the bike looked! I first saw it as a restoration project, I had no expectation about the experience except that I would learn something new!

I decided to study for the written motorcycle exam at DMV since it coincided with having to renew my drivers license. Passing the test was affirmation that I still had some kind of intelligence left , and just maybe I stood a good chance of taking the CHP motorcycle training course and doing reasonably well.

Now you need to know that I never rode a motorcycle in my life, and those motorcycles you learn on are no joke! Let me tell you now, you can do anything if you want it bad enough. There was no way in hell that I wasn't going to pass that course! I had to represent for the sista's because I was the only woman in the class, and those guys were not cutting me any slack!

I felt like superwoman after passing that course! Couldn't talk to me for a week! I was a BADASS! BOO YA! I now have a M-1 motorcycle license! In the spirit of Bessie Springfield, cheers!!!!

Anyway, back to the restoration. I found a vintage helmet to create a custom image. I love the work of Kara Walker, so I adapted one of her pieces for my  helmet.  It's been a huge learning curve on so many levels.

I have an intimate relationship with my bike in the slow process of putting her back together.  I don't take her power for granted, even though she's a a small bike. Quite humbling and so freeing at the same time. It is a totally different experience being on two wheels with power! The name Ziggy came to me after riding her a few times, it's kinda the way she she sounds! So people,  the moral of this story is...step out of your comfort zone, you have everything to gain and it feels so good when you conquer your fears! Don't be afraid to be a BADASS for something you are passionate about! Give me a shout out when your see the BRONZE BOMBER on the road!! PEACE!

The Lavanderia

We had five days of rain about two weeks ago which is not unusual for desert climates like California.
My gardens got a good drink that will last until the middle of summer. The only drawback is that I couldn't hang my laundry out to dry, and due to the moisture in the air, drying them in the house took forever!!!
I decided to check out my local lavanderia about two blocks away. I can't remember the last time I used the services of a public lavanderia. Early in the mornings on weekends my latina neighbors are pushing laundry carts piled high with laundry most visably, blankets. There are often children following the train of push carts carrying a bottle of commercial laundry detergent and or bleach.Upon my arrival, I noticed the vending
machines carried only Latin brand soaps. Hmm, I pictured Old School Brand in those vending slots!          The lavanderia was clean,and  not too busy as I had a  choice of machines depending on the size of my load. Two dollars and  fifty cents  buys you a slightly larger than standard machine. Drying costs about twenty five cents for 10 minutes. I brought  a couple of loads.  I got  my change in quarters from the change machine, put the quarters in the machine, followed the directions for adding soap, then pushed the temperature buttons  start.

The slots for the soap held about one half  cup of soap  each. There were two slots,and  a slot for a rinse liquid. A bit confusing in my opinion, anyway I put 2 tablespoons in two slots,(prewash, and regular)  wash since I was washing a large load of comforters.

Now I had about 30 minutes on my hands, so I sat and imagined the stories behind the faces I saw, listened to Latin music over the speakers and watched a young father become engrossed in a Latin soap opera on T.V. while his young toddler ran around the lavanderia.

I wondered what the difference would be to my laundry using the commercial machines, my measured amount of soap and the hot commercial dryers. My blankets were fluffy and fresh! I love the option of the lavanderia.

I can talk with my neighbors, experience diversity in a micro environment, and be productive! I love the scent of my  air dried laundry, the crunchy towels which are wonderful for exfoliating the skin, and the experience of being in my garden. I would have to say though, the lavanderia  offers something very special as well.

I appreciate the option! Well, I must buzz off, I'm working on a VERY cool project that I'll share with you all later. In the mean time, be well, productive in your lives and above all, GRATEFUL.

NAMASTE

The Ritual of Bathing

2010 the first year of a new decade. A lot happened in my life this past year. I learned more about myself, my strengths, and my resolve to live fully. No resolutions, no promises, no expectations. I have more clarity and know what feels right in my life, the choices I make in what I do on a daily basis, the people I surround myself with, the things that matter. Enjoying the flutter of a hummingbirds wings while sipping nectar in the garden matters. Contemplating the wondrous balance in nature that surrounds me matters.Having the ability to create sumptuous gardens that will out live me matters.Slowing down to appreciate rituals of life matters!

We are living in a technological age where the entire world is connected through space 24 hours a day.

I went to a restaurant recently and sat across from a couple who were both texting, not speaking a word to each other! On another occasion a young mom was dropping her toddler off to school while talking on the phone. What kind of  message is being sent to the young child?

Bountiful!

 

Christmas or what ever holiday you celebrate today has it's roots based in your childhood. At least that's how it is for me. I can remember how utterly excited we were to try and figure out what was in the various boxes under the tree!

There was mounting guesswork when a new present would mysteriously appear.  By the way the tree was this amazing aluminum perfectly A frame wonder that had a fold back pom pom at the end of each branch. The tree came in a box with numbered paper tubes that held different lengths of Mylar colored branches. The shorter ones started at the top with the longer ones at the bottom forming this Step ford like Xmas tree. The center of the tree looked like a tublar tripod with holes. Once the tree was completed assembly line style, my aunt would plug in the revolving red, blue, green and yellow wheel that changed the color of the tree every 5 seconds. The hard part was putting the tree away making sure to put the right branches in the right paper tubes. Otherwise there would be drama the next year, finger pointing  and who did it! Another memory was when I got my very own snub nose thirty eight with a Peter Gunn holster! OMG, I was the smoothest detective on the block! I must have been about 5 or 6! Oh yes, I got a Nun doll with a black and white habit the same Christmas. I LOVED that doll so much that I carried her everywhere. Imagine, wearing my snub nose under my jacket while carrying my nunn doll. That thought reveals a bit of my present personality. hmmm. Anyway, Christmas is for sharing, being with family, gratitude, forgiveness and many other wonderful times..

My question is, why not celebrate these values everyday? The reality is that it's not about buying stuff, guilt, angst, and family drama, you can get that all year round too! I say flip the switch, take 365 days and celebrate the people you love, the friendships you cherish, the gifts you were born with, your health, your freedom to choose! Take time for yourselves, be in your moment! If things are a little funky, take it one moment at a time until you can take it one day at a time. When you're done with the funky bit, cross it off your list and move on.

 

Thank you all for your support, your willingness to try something "NEW and Improved" and earth friendly!

I appreciate all the wonderful feed back and heart warming stories of blankets getting white again!

I'm looking forward to 20010 and all that awaits!

Feel free to drop me an email, let me know about the things that are of interest or thought provoking you would like to share. 

I wish for you all a BOUNTIFUL NEW YEAR!

Namaste

Luxury for the Laundress........

 

Maytag

Washer Wheel

 

Laundry  in a ghost town

Weighted Iron

The Passing of a Matriarch

Janie Jefferson Porter

My Great aunt was the youngest of 22 children born in 1922  to Sussex and Louvenia Jefferson.

Our family name Jefferson originates from the Thomas Jefferson plantation in Virginia.Some of the Jefferson children left the south in search of better opportunities, aunt Janie settled in Chicago as a domestic until her retirement in 1977. Now you're beginning to see the tradition I speak of relating to Old School Brand Laundry Soap. You could eat off Aunt Janie's floors! She took great pride in her work much to the dismay of her children. When Aunt Janie would start to hum old negro spirituals, it was a sign that it was cleaning day! Just in case you didn't get the message that she meant business, the humming would escalate, then she would be standing outside your bedroom door announcing in the tone of a preacher that it was time to get up and get busy. You know the term, cleanliness is next to godliness! Aunt Janie was the queen of clean and mean! I think her furniture is still covered in plastic.I never understood that, because the covers never came off even for "company"! There were the good set of dishes and the everyday set? Then there was the  voice she used in the presence of company and the voice she used when we were alone. I could always tell who was on the phone by the tone of voice my aunt used.  The tone would be an octave higher for strangers like teachers or bill collectors. We kids knew when to take advantage of "company" being over by asking for something which under normal circumstances would be a "NO"! Asking in front of company would get an under the breath yes, just to get rid of us! Later we would pay dearly for the interruption.

Aunt Janie and her famous collard's

Aunt Janie lived fully her 97 years and had the privilege to vote for the first African American President in her lifetime. I can only imagine the world aunt Janie saw and experienced through Jim crow, and the civil rights movement.

The tradition continues through our sharing stories with each other and our children. Aunt Janie would approve of Old School Brand, it's all about the clean!! By the way, my aunt hung her clothes out on the line! I appreciate Aunt Janies wisdom, nurturing, and putting the fear of God in us! I think we turned out just fine!

I believe she's setting up housekeeping in heaven!

The “One Best Way” to Wash: A Home Economist Explains

In the early 20th century, new household technology was both accomplished and inspired by the tremendous increase in American industrial production. As in industry, mechanization and scientific management were part of a larger reorganization of work. And as in industry, efficient housekeeping was partially a response to labor unrest—both the “servant problem” and the growing disquiet of middle-class wives. A major proponent of the new housekeeping, Christine Frederick was consulting household editor for Ladies Home Journal from 1912 to 1919 and the author of numerous books and pamphlets on scientific management in the home. Frederick’s pamphlet, You and Your Laundry (1922), instructed women in the daunting complexities of washing clothes—a process comprising fifteen different steps. You and Your Laundry also illustrated the close alliance between scientific housework and consumption. Written under the sponsorship of the Hurley Machine Company, Frederick’s pamphlet frequently invoked its brand name and products. The pamphlet ended with a pitch for buying on installment, a payment plan that helped to spur consumption. Read the full article by clicking the link.

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5050

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