Sustainable Wedding

Sustainably Sadie

Sustainable Wedding

It was an amazing thing to attend the wedding of a lifelong friend this past weekend.  “Family friends”, people who we choose to love and care for and who love us in return are a blessing.  “Friends are family you choose.”  I love those moments of being there at friends’ weddings, being able to pitch in and help with food or decorations or family wrangling.  I am so proud to brag about the Denson-Pigott wedding and all the ways they practiced sustainability.

Abby Shea (Denson) Pigott is the charismatic daughter of Janice and Doug Denson—accomplished champions of the Twin Bridges School and community.  Her wedding was a reflection of her passion, down to earth nature, skillfulness and expertise.  She is a Hairstylist at Studio a collective of stylists in Denver, Co.  This fashionista, like many of our generation, cares for the environment and made wedding decisions with sustainability in mind.

There were very few disposable products at this event.  Bottled water was an exception but at a wedding I think it is important to provide hydration with all the running around and celebrating.  Selfishly, I preferred bottled water to the chlorine taste out of the tap, and airlines don’t make it very easy to bring a reusable water bottle when you travel—why waste the empty space when trying to save money by not checking bags?  The bottled water is easily cancelled out as all the décor was intended to be reused.

New home owners, Abby and Sean Pigott, are incorporating the wedding decorations into their home décor.  The colors and patterns of the wedding match the style and design of their home.  Cloth banners, sewn by mother Janice, went from the banister of the historic mansion where they were wed to their bedroom walls along with framed Beatles lyrics that marked the dinner tables.   Trees were the backdrop of their altar and then planted at their home on Earth Day.  Ambiance was created with candles in mason jars, and those jars are back on the shelf in their new kitchen.  Candles are stored for later use. 

A CD of their wedding music and favorite love songs was the thoughtful favor that could be used and enjoyed not tossed away.  RSVP was only available online; invitation waste was minimal.  The suggested hotel was within walking distance of venue; wedding and reception all in one beautiful space so there was very little vehicle pollution. 

Their altar was also decorated with photos from their parents’ weddings and other family photos.  They are the rare, lucky couple as both sets of parents are still married—no divorce.  Their environmental and budget conscious choices along with the solid foundation provided by their parents will prove to be the best type of sustainability—a marriage that endures.  Many congratulations to my friends!

Your stories are worth sharing!  Post comments at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or sustainablysadie@hotmail.com

Twin Bits

Next TBCA meeting is Friday April 27 at 8:30 am at The Old Hotel in TB.

Next GRVCCA meeting is Tuesday, May 1^st @ Noon, The Shack in TB.

Looking Ahead:  Garage-A-Rama is scheduled for Saturday June 9^th at Madison County Fairgrounds, contact Twin Bridges Public Library or Cynthia Osborne. 

The GRVCCA Local Business Expo will May 12^th, 2012 at the Multi-Purpose Gym at Twin Bridges School.  The event will run from 10 am to 3 pm.  This is a kid-friendly, free event, open to the public.  Please contact Sarah Miller, 684-5222 or jumping_rainbow@hotmail.com if interested in having a booth at this year’s Expo or with any questions.

Starting April 22^nd, Mass at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Twin Bridges will begin at 11:15 a.m. 

From TBS Calendar:

April 26-27:  5^th/ 6^th Grade Field Trip to Havre

Friday April 27:  JrHi Track Meet @ Manhattan; Spring Dance Recital, MP Gym

Sat. April 28:  Jr Hi Track Meet @ Belgrarde, Manhattan Christian Track Meet @ Bozeman HS

Tues May 1:  National Honor Society Induction/ Dinner (MT Room & Lunchroom) 5:30 pm

Wed. May 2:  Booster Club mtg @ MT Room, 6 pm

Thurs. May 3:  Top 8 Track Meet; Veterans Mts (MT Room) 3 -5 pm

May 4-5:  State Music Festival @ Helena; Jr Hi Track Meet @ Townsend

Sat. May 5:  Anaconda Invite Track Meet; Jr Hi Lions Track Meet @ Bozeman

Reusable Grocery Bags

Sustainably Sadie

Reusable Grocery Bags

Reusable v. Disposable: Plastic grocery sacks have, for a while now, been condemned as wasteful and harmful to the environment.  They only exist for convenience sake, cheap to make and easy to have next to the cash register.  From thegoodhuman.com, plastic bags can break down if exposed to light in 10 to 100 years.  The polyethylene polymers eventually become synthetic granules that may never degrade. 

Bringing your own reusable bags to the store has to become a habit.  It is so easy to forget the bags as you head out to the store.  I have no excuse…I have about 40 reusable grocery bags at home.  Leaving a stash in the car is an important step.  Keep a few bags by the front door to grab on your way to the store.  Most stores offer them for sale.  I’ve made them from scrap fabric and old shirts.  Imagine the impact on the environment, hundreds of plastic grocery sacks a year—just from your purchasing power, that don’t end up in a landfill. 

Some stores (like Safeway) offer a discount for using your own bag—feel free to ask.  Reusable bags are the sustainable choice.  Cloth will eventually break down. Reusing natural fiber bags reduces amount of waste accumulated on the planet.  Reusing the plastic bags you do amass is also another great way to help the environment.   They make great garbage can liners.  You can reuse them for your groceries.  I came across a tip suggesting disposable wipe containers to store the bags away in an orderly fashion. 

There are biodegradable bags made from plants (like corn and sugar) that will biodegrade, will break down, will eventually disappear.  Opt for paper instead of plastic.  Daily, we have to make choices that will affect future generations.   Every little bit we can do to help will benefit our planet.  Your contribution of making the earth-friendly, sustainable choice a regular habit will make a difference.

Leave comments, post suggestions at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or sustatinablysadie@hotmail.com. 

Twin Bits

Next TBCA meeting is Friday April 27 at 8:30 am at The Old Hotel in TB.

Next GRVCCA meeting is Tuesday, May 1^st @ Noon, The Shack in TB.

Looking Ahead:  Garage-A-Rama is scheduled for Saturday June 9^th at Madison County Fairgrounds, contact Twin Bridges Public Library or Cynthia Osborne. 

The GRVCCA Local Business Expo will May 12^th, 2012 at the Multi-Purpose Gym at Twin Bridges School.  The event will run from 10 am to 3 pm.  This is a kid-friendly, free event, open to the public.  Please contact Sarah Miller, 684-5222 or jumping_rainbow@hotmail.com if interested in having a booth at this year’s Expo or with any questions.

Starting April 22^nd, Mass at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Twin Bridges will begin at 11:15 a.m. 

From TBS Calendar:

Thursday April 19:  JrHi Track Meet @ Manhattan

Sat. April 21:  Seeley Track Meet @ Missoula

April 20- 22:  Senior Trip to Salt Lake City, UT

Tuesday April 24:  Top 10 Track Meet @ Missoula

Wed. April 25:  Community Blood Drive @ MT Room, 11 am to 3 pm

April 26-27:  5^th/ 6^th Grade Field Trip to Havre

Friday April 27:  JrHi Track Meet @ Manhattan; Spring Dance Recital, MP Gym

Sat. April 28:  Jr Hi Track Meet @ Belgrarde, Manhattan Christian Track Meet @ Bozeman HS

Contact me with Ruby Valley event and community information, 406-531-1422 or P.O. Box 491, TB  59754

Sustainable Savings

Sustainably Sadie

Sustainable Savings

My suggestions are, of course, not an alternative to expert opinion from a professional banker, investor or savings specialist. 

Saving money, stashing it away for a rainy day, or when you need it sure can be tough.  What always happens?  You spend the saved amount on groceries or fixing the car.  If you’re stashing cash away, you have to hide it from yourself.  Not so you can’t ever find it but so you don’t see it on a day to day basis.    

Someone pinned on Pinterest.com a suggestion to stash away every 5 dollar bill you come across.  I save for Christmas in a similar fashion.  However, these modern times are not always conducive to stashing away cash.  I have another suggestion that still involves hiding money from yourself; you have to play forgetful but also be resolute in checking your bank statements. 

You have to make sure that transactions happening in your accounts are all generated with your knowledge and permission.  When writing transactions in your check register, round up to the nearest dollar or two.  Your register will read less than your bank statement; check to make sure the transactions are consistent and by the end of the year, you may have a little cushion saved.  This also helps to keep from overdrawing, which can easily happen when using a debit card all the time.  It is so easy to forget to write down a stop at the gas station in your register.  Depending on what you’re driving, one to three of these forgotten gas station transactions can overdraw your bank account and then warrant overdraft fees, which can be avoided with steadfast attention.     

Convenience and instant-gratification (two attributes of consumer culture) can be hard to avoid.  It’s never too late to start saving for college, vacation, date night, new shoes, ATV, safer car, etc.  Saving for a big purchase is a more sustainable option than paying on credit.  Avoid debt.  Share your successes at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or sustainablysadie@hotmail.com.

Twin Bits:

The Sheridan Library Tax Relief Wine Tasting Fundraiser is Friday April 13^th, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Sheridan Public Library.  Tickets are $10 each (that is an amazing price) and all attendees become eligible for Wine Basket Raffle. 

There is a gathering honoring the memory of Bill White Sunday April 15^th, 2 pm to 4 pm at the Twin Bridges Bike Camp at Jessen Park in TB.

Next TBCA meeting is Friday April 27 at 8:30 am at The Old Hotel in TB.

Next GRVCCA meeting is Tuesday, May 1^st @ Noon, TB branch of RVNB.

Looking Ahead:  Garage-A-Rama is scheduled for Saturday June 9^th at Madison County Fairgrounds, contact Twin Bridges Public Library or Cynthia Osborne. 

The GRVCCA Local Business Expo will May 12^th, 2012 at the Multi-Purpose Gym at Twin Bridges School.  The event will run from 10 am to 3 pm.  This is a kid-friendly, free event, open to the public.  Please contact Sarah Miller, 684-5222 or jumping_rainbow@hotmail.com if interested in having a booth at this year’s Expo or with any questions.

Starting April 22^nd, Mass at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Twin Bridges will begin at 11:15 a.m. 

From TBS Calendar:

April 12 – 14:  District Music Festival @ Butte

Sat. April 14:  JrHi Track Meet @ Belgrade; Manhattan Track Meet

Monday April 16:  7 pm – 8 pm, Trailblazers 4-H @ Lunchroom

Tuesday April 17:  7 pm School Board Mtg @ MT Room; HS Track @ Dillon

Thursday April 19:  JrHi Track Meet @ Manhattan

Sat. April 21:  Belgrade Invitational Track Meet

April 20- 22:  Senior Trip to Salt Lake City, UT

Wed. April 25:  Community Blood Drive @ MT Room, 11 am to 3 pm

April 26-27:  5^th/ 6^th Grade Field Trip to Havre

Friday April 27:  7 pm, Spring Dance Recital, MP Gym

Sat. April 28:  Jr Hi Track Meet @ Belgrarde, Manhattan Christian Track Meet @ Bozeman HS

Contact me with Ruby Valley event and community information, 406-531-1422 or P.O. Box 491, TB  59754

Sustainable Easter

Sustainably Sadie

Sustainable Easter

Easter is another one of my favorite holidays; it’s similar to Thanksgiving in family and food.   It is a celebration of Pastels and baby animal cuteness, as well as a religious holiday.  I’ve been researching ways to make this Easter practical and budget-friendly. 

Many of you have back yard chickens, but those brown eggs can be hard to peel after you’ve decorated and hunted ‘em down.  Why is the healthy, delicious, sustainable option more difficult to prepare for Deviled Eggs?  They’re too fresh! 

There are many suggestions for the best way to hard boil an egg—this year I will be putting my eggs into cold water, bring to a hard boil, let boil 1 minute then cover with a lid and turn off heat, wait 10 to 15 minutes then run cold water over them.  I will eventually add ice cubes to the water.  I was told to let the eggs soak in ice cold water for 45 minutes then let rest in the fridge for 24 hours.  I’ve also come across tips for boiling brown eggs that involve adding vinegar or salt to the water. 

And decorating brown eggs doesn’t have to be limited to the PAAS kits, some people are using Kool-Aid to dye eggs, wrapping yarn around dyed eggs, or using old silk scarves or ties to transfer intricate designs onto eggs.  There are so many ideas online.  You could make this Easter truly unique. 

Skip the plastic, ‘Made in China’ grass.  Almost everyone has a paper shredder at home to protect from identity theft; shred colorful paper scraps to make your own Easter basket grass.  I took my son’s watercolor art paintings (as there are over 20 from one sitting) and shred the pastel pages for our Easter baskets. 

You could plant wheat grass into an appropriate material, and grow natural
Easter grass that you could later throw in your juicer for a totally sustainable option.  Share your stories and sustainable successes at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com  or sustainablysadie@hotmail.com and have a Happy Easter!

Twin Bits

Twin Bridges Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday April 7^th at 11 am at the Madison County Fairgrounds.  This event is sponsored by the Trailblazers 4-H club; there are 3 catergories:  0-5, 6-8, and 9 – 11 years old. 

Ruby Valley Holy Week Services

Bethel Methodist Church (Sheridan) will have Palm Sunday, Apr. 1, and Easter Sunday, Apr.8, Services at 9 a.m.  The Ruby Valley Chorale will present “Whispers of the Passion” by Joseph M. Martin at 2:30 p.m. on Palm Sunday.

The Ruby Valley Episcopal Churches will celebrate Palm Sunday, at Christ Church (Sheridan) at 10 a.m. On Apr. 5, the ceremony at St. Paul’s at 5:30 p.m. will include an Agape meal, followed by the Maundy Thursday Service at 7 p.m. On Good Friday, Apr.6, 10:30 a.m., those who wish to participate in the Ecumenical Stations of the Cross will meet at Christ Church, Main and Poppleton, and procession through Sheridan. The procession will end at Christ Church for a noon service.  On Easter Sunday, the Service will be at 10 a.m..  

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship (Sheridan) will have an Easter Egg Scramble for children ages toddler through 6^th grade on Holy Saturday at 1 p.m. and Easter service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. 

The Church of the Valley (Twin Bridges) will have Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Services at 11 a.m. The Ruby Valley Chorale will present “Whispers of the Passion” by Joseph M. Martin at 7 p.m. Palm Sunday.

 The Dayspring Church (3648 Hwy 287) Easter Service will be at 10 a.m.

St. Patrick’s (Ennis) will celebrate Palm Sunday at 11a.m. Holy Thursday Mass will be at 7:30 p.m. Good Friday Service will be at 5:15 p.m. Easter Vigil, Holy Saturday, will be at 8:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s, (Laurin) will have Palm Sunday Mass at 9 a.m.; Holy Thursday Mass at 5:30 p.m. Good Friday Service will be at 3 p.m. Easter Sunday Mass will be at 9 a.m.

          Notre Dame (Twin Bridges) will celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday Mass at Noon -correction.

          Please know that you are welcome to attend any of these services. If you are hosting a service(s), and it is not included, please contact Paula Gilman, 684-5636, or The Madisonian for inclusion in the next issue.

Paula Gilman passed on to me sad news from our community, the passing of Bill White, last Friday, March 30^th.  Bill and his smile will be greatly missed.  He helped our community in many ways, including spearheading the Twin Bridges Bike Camp which is a triumphant symbol of our community’s goodwill.  Visitors who stay at the camp not only bring revenue into our community, but they are so happy to have the opportunity to stay here and have that convenience.  If you didn’t get to thank Bill for his hard work and generosity while he was still with us, I’m sure his spirit would appreciate you taking a moment to say a friendly word to the cyclists who come through Twin Bridges. 

Time for baseball:  Ken Walsh (684-5624) is heading up the Twin Bridges Little League teams.  Children 5 to 14 can participate.  Registration forms are available at TB School and at the Ruby Valley National Bank.  Forms must be turned in by April 12^th. 

Looking Ahead:  Garage-A-Rama is scheduled for Saturday June 9^th, contact Twin Bridges Public Library or Cynthia Osborne. 

The GRVCCA Local Business Expo will May 12^th, 2012 at the Multi-Purpose Gym at Twin Bridges School.  The event will run from 10 am to 3 pm.  This is a kid-friendly, free event, open to the public.  Please contact Sarah Miller, 684-5222 or jumping_rainbow@hotmail.com if interested in having a booth at this year’s Expo or with any questions.

From TBS Calendar:

Thursday April 5 – April 9:  Easter Vacation, No School April 5,6, 9

April 12 – 14:  District Music Festival @ Butte

Sat. April 14:  JrHi Track Meet @ Belgrade; Manhattan Track Meet

Monday April 16:  7 pm – 8 pm, Trailblazers 4-H @ Lunchroom

Tuesday April 17:  7 pm School Board Mtg @ MT Room

Thursday April 19:  JrHi Track Meet @ Manhattan

April 20- 22:  Senior Trip to Salt Lake City, UT

April 26-27:  5^th/ 6^th Grade Field Trip to Havre

Saturday April 28:  Track Meet @ Bozeman HS