New Orleans ACE Show, 2013

ACE holds corporate events and tradeshows every few months - and a lucky group of us got to enjoy the Spring show (where you're actually buying for the Holidays) in NoLA (that's New Orleans, Louisanna, dontcha know?)

It was raining most of the time we were there, but we managed to do the requisite breakfast at Cafe du Monde, stroll along the Mississippi and enjoy Bourbon Street at night:

Dr. Earth All Natural Garden Products

Introducing: Dr. Earth natural garden products, coming to our Willow Glen store on March 11, 2013!

Dr. Earth products are 100% NATURAL, ORGANIC, PEOPLE AND PET SAFE and include soils, fertilizers, weed killer, insecticides, fungicides, and snail and slug spray.

Dr Earth-soils are infused with Probiotic - living organisms like beneficial microbes and mycorrhizae. The microbes break down organic materials into forms more readily absorbed by growing plants. The soil can rebuild food reserves - a self regulating cycle that has occurred for millions of years as part of the wisdom of nature. Bigger, healthier and more abundant plants, fruits and flowers, that's the promise with Dr. Earth.

Made in America.

Repair Cafe, Palo Alto, Feb. 24, 2013

We just finished our second Repair Cafe at the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto this weekend and it was a fabulous success!

We had over 100 people in line by 11:30am, just a half-hour after the Cafe opened!



Our nearly 40 volunteers saw less lamps, toasters and vacuums this time and many more small appliances, computers and other electronics. We also fixed several sentimental or heirloom pieces.

I'll update this post with more details when I get the full report from the Repair Cafe folks, but by my estimation, we had about 200 community members show up with all manner of broken items, from heirloom and sentimental pieces, to newer retro-remakes of 1950 toasters, to hedge trimmers to rolling hand carts to puppets. Thanks for coming and volunteering or bringing your broken items - this event is so much fun and is only possible because everyone shows up!

The next Repair Cafe will be held on April 21, from 11am to 3pm at the Museum.

Cub Scouts Make Pinewood Derby Cars at ACE

We had the fun privilege of hosting Cub Scout pack 236 and helping them cut out their Pinewood Derby cars! We also got to go watch them race those cars last weekend at their Pinewood Derby in Half Moon Bay.

We are hosting more car-cutting events. The next one is schedule for February 10, 2013.

At our Palo Alto store: 10am - 12pm at 875 Alma St.

At our San Mateo store: 10am - 12pm at 545 First Ave.

At our Half Moon Bay store: from 12pm - 4pm at 111 Main St.

We've got all the tools, supplies and accessories the Scouts need - even the cars!

Here are some photos from the last Pinewood car-cutting event and from the Derby itself!

Spare the Air Day, Friday, January 25, 2013

A Winter Spare the Air Alert has been issued for Friday, January 25, 2013, in the Bay Area.

Wood burning is banned both indoors and outdoors on January 25, 2013, for the full 24 hours.

Gratitude Poem

Thank you sun, for the warmth on my shoulders
Thank you birds, for your soft, warbly presence

The power to forgive
And set ourselves free
Lies in our own hands

But knowing others forgive
Much graver transgressions
Than most will ever know
Helps me forgive
The little things

And instead of dwelling where there is anger or fear
I can sit, clear and still

And say thank you
To the sun that warms my skin
To the songbirds and their quiet, gentle life
To the wondrous world, for teaching me everyday
What it is to be human

Spare The Air Day, Jan 8, 2013

[caption id="attachment_816" align="aligncenter" width="529"] Image © Josiah Mackenzie[/caption]

A Winter Spare the Air Alert has been issued for Tuesday, January 8, 2013, in the Bay Area.

Wood burning is banned both indoors and outdoors on January 8, 2013, for the full 24 hours.