My first award

I was given my first blog award by Elda at http://eldasworld.blogspot.com/. It really came as a big surprise and I really want to thank you, my dear:) 

I am only posting this so late, because I was waiting for the award to be somehow "delivered" but I guess it doesn't work that way, silly me:)Since this award calls to list ten unknown facts about the recipient, here are mine. 

1. I love love cherries  - it's too bad their season is so short.
2. I am a huge sci-fi fan.
3. I have never eaten sushi and even if I am curious about it, I don't think I could have any
4. Grasshoppers terrify me.
5. I have no artistic talents whatsoever.
6. I sang in the school choir for 8 years.
7. I don't wear dresses, skirts, high heels, jewelry (most of the time) but I do wear make up
8. My first car was a Volkswagen Golf III - my Dad bought it 4 me when I achieved my university degree.
9. I don't have any siblings.
10. I believe you can find best friends at any age.

This award also asks to pass it on to a number of blogger friends. I definitely want to pass it back to Elda as her blog is so sincere and captivating. Melody at http://onionpatchfarm.blogspot.com/ is inspiring and charming. Many of the blogs I follow are award free so I don' think they'd approve of me passing on the award. You can find them in my blogroll. 

Let's clean up Slovenia in one day - April 17, 2010

Today was a really special day in my country, Slovenia. It was dedicated to the rehabilitation of illegal waste dumps throughout the country: in the cities, villages, forests, rivers, lakes, the sea... The aim of the project was to remove 20,000 tonnes of municipal and bulk waste from the environment. While illegal dumps were in the focus of the project, some volunteers were in charge of clearing the surroundings of schools, kindergartens and other institutions. Over 250.000 people attended which actually represents more than 12% of the population!!! We are not the first country to do it. Estonia was a pioneer in 2008 and this was later repeated in Lithuania, Latvia, Portugal and partly in India, while it is being planned in several more countries. We can thank you a few eco enthusiasts in Slovenia for building up such a great project. I entered as a volunteer back in February, but due to my thyroid going crazy, I couldn't attend:(. I didn't really think this initiative would be so successful. This was the biggest team of volunteers, experts and members of non-governmental organizations, business enterprises, clubs and others as part of the Slovene society - even the political top joined in and our prime minister with his ministers, the army, public figures put on gloves and filled the black bags with waste. The British embassy staff gave a hand as well:). Bicycles and even cars were pulled out of the rivers, kitchen cabinets and appliances removed from the forests hazardous waste will be dealt with...  The initiative started in October 2009 because all of the illegal dumps had to be cataloged, they had to gather the volunteers, transportation for the garbage... and they did it!!!By now, at least 38.000 cubic  meters of waste was gathered!!

As Slovenians generate an average of 454 kg of municipal waste per person each year, the Statistics Office said this week quoting data for 2008. Nearly three-quarters of it is landfilled and the rest recycled, putting Slovenia in the bottom half of the EU in terms of recycling. I hope this well planned adventure makes people appreciate the environment more.

I couldn't be more prouder...

And there is a plan for the future, too: it is called let's clean the world and it is scheduled for 2012. I hope that comes true, too...

Ginger and Fred

Ginger and Fred are my baby land turtles (tortoises). A friend of mine mentioned, they were giving away baby turtles as they had too many in their garden and I agreed to help them find new homes for them. But.... when I saw the tiniest one, it was love at first sight, so I kept  one, and later on adopted another one from the same garden. I couldn't wait for them to wake up in the mornings. They don't play with me or anything, but spending time with them relaxes me. They take the time to wake up, to come out, to feel and smell the air, to look for a shiny spot in the morning... and I think I can learn a great deal from them... slowing down will be my motto for 2010. I was like "ok, now we won't need to mow the lawn" as we have 2 turtles. I still don't have to as this is hubby's job, but boy, was I wrong all the way! You see, these turtles don't eat  the ordinary, manicured grass so I feed them dandelion leaves, plantain leaves, wild ruccola, hibiscus flowers, salad, radicchio, tomatoes, some fruit form time to time and some tortoise complete food with the proper ration between fiber and protein. I also add some calcium powder to their food for the healthy growth of the shell. I got them in 2007, while I was studying for the State law exam and they helped me stay sane! Pupa (cat) is not even slightly interested in them as they are too slow for her, but you wouldn't believe it how fast can they go! I often let them roam freely in the small park just on the other side of our street but I watch over them as they can be gone in 15 minutes. They just keep going, they have their home with them and if I let them out of my sight they'd never return home. In the first year I was afraid that some bigger bird might get them so I was extra careful. They are both bigger now (i think both are girls) but I still keep them inside over night. They hibernated throughout the winter and woke up in March. I missed you girls:))

June 2007

 

August 2007

June 2008

October 2009

April 2010

Happy Birthday Scott!

Wishing you an unforgettable birthday, good health, happiness, joy, love, creativity, never-ending passion for the animals and what you do  ..... Have fun at the dinner tonight:))

Tulips ...

...in my garden....

What to read?

I got them!! I cannot wait to start reading the first book (I do have a borrowed book to finish - I'll strain my patience!). Did you know that there is a 5th book, which is actually the first book told by Edward instead of Bella? It's just a draft for now but you can find it (and read it) on Stephenie Meyer's official website (click here). Its title is Midnight Sun.

The Twilight Saga

I gave in. I saw the first Twilight movie and if today wasn't a bank holiday, I'd already have all the books and be half done with the first one. Oh my gosh, why did I wait so long? I am totally in love with Edward:) I really feel like a teenager (those were good times) all over again. I am going to watch the second movie tonight. The expectations..

(source)

Elda, love cannot be explained:) Everybody I talked to, fell in love, be it Edward or Jacob. I love the idea of unconditional and all consuming love, the "love you every moment and forever", the sacrifice both are willing to make,... Who knew, I am a romantic deep down:) 

Seen the second movie... I  now like Jacob, too!! But I am in the Edward team! Can't wait for the new movie! 

The Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary

There's a ranch in Montana, USA, The Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary = blog, where disabled animals find shelter and get another chance to have a loving home. Their residents include blind dogs, blind horses, deaf dogs, blind cats, and animals with other neurological and orthopedic disabilities (source). I love to read news about the animals and the ranch and Steve & Alayne are my heroes. I read their blog regularly and they keep me amazed as I had no idea disabled animals could live such full lives.

Wouldn't it be great if each of us could help them? There is an easy way and it's free! There are two ways you can do that: 

1.  go to their blog page and go to the bottom of every post - there's a link to the "Vote in the Shelter Challenge here"

2. or you can go to this website, The Animal Rescue Site, you can click on the purple button that says: Click here to give - it's free. By doing that you contribute do the donation of pet food to shelter animals. After you click, you get to the next webpage and on the top of it you'll see a Vote Today button with a doggie house drawing. Click that button. Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and the state postal code, MT, for Montana, and it will bring up their listing. Than click on "vote" There is a word verification and after that your vote has been counted.

Don't forget to click every day!

pen FRIENDS

I love writing letters (receiving them is even better!). I love having friends all over the globe. I don't consider it a hobby, it is so much more! Sometimes you click with another person right from the beginning - an intro message or e-mail -  it's like catching up with an old friend. With some it never happens, no matter how much of yourself you put into writing and those friendship don't last, which eventually is for the best. Having great pen friends is not something that happens overnight... it took me years to find some of the most amazing ladies out there. So many trials and errors. When a pen pal would dropped me I wasn't really surprised. I've done my share of droppings, too. Letter writing is fun, but it takes hours to write a proper letter, even days and receiving a 2 page letter in return is just not my thing. Letters should also be a dialogue, not a monologue - sometimes it's really hard to stop writing, but you want to mail the letter eventually:) Some of my pen friends are really my best friends as writing to me comes easier than talking. I have reduced the number of my pen friends as I prefer quality over quantity and I really like my bunch of ladies. On the pic there are some of the letters I have to get back to... because of my health problems I fell behind and it bothers me a bit as I like to be regular. I love sending photos and postcards with my letters, the bigger and fatter, the better... it's a shame that only applies to letters:) I love to learn about life in other countries, about traditions, customs, every day life - some things are the same all over the globe, but so many differ and I am enriched by learning first hand from someone "over there". It is so much better than tourist guides, so much more genuine. Whenever I hear news about a country where one of my pen friends lives, I pay more attention than I otherwise would. It's funny, my pen friends are so far away, but yet so close....