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    “Dry Clean Only” (Don’t Believe Everything You Read)

    ByElizabeth

    As I was doing my laundry yesterday, most of which I line-dried, I thought about the fact that I have not been to the dry cleaner in nearly a decade. This is one of the small things I have chosen in order to be a little kinder to the environment.

    Some of my clothes, especially things I bought several years ago, say “dry clean only.”  This includes knits made of wool, tencel, modal, or rayon (all of which are natural fibers) and linen and silk unconstructed clothing.  All of these do fine with hand washing (or on the gentle cycle in the washing machine) and being hung up to dry (this also applies to cotton, button-down shirts).   Of course, if it doesn’t say to dry clean then you definitely don’t need to dry clean.

    Always believed the label?  How was clothing made of natural fibers cleaned before there was such a thing as a dry cleaner?  Think they look better or it is easier to get them dry cleaned?  Think about the solvents, the plastic, the energy for the cleaning method, and whether you drive to the dry cleaners.  Then make a decision.

    Most things do not need to be cleaned by use of poisonous solvents (just because a solvent is “organic” or “natural” doesn’t mean it is good for the environment) and then wrapped in non-recyclable plastic to take home (many dry cleaners will take back the hangers, but will say they need to use the plastic wrap because their premises are too dusty for your clothes to stay clean outside the plastic wrapper).

    So look for clothes that say “gentle wash, line dry” instead of “dry clean only.”  If it says “dry clean only” think about whether it really applies.  It will not apply for a wool sweater, most knits, or unlined clothes.  A business suit — yes, it won’t keep its shape unless you dry clean.  Do you really need to wear a business suit?  Will a choice not to wear a suit impact whether some people think you are truly “professional”?  Possibly.  If you decide you need to wear a suit regularly, how many times can you wear it before taking it to the dry cleaners?

    PS.  Don’t experiment with things that are new and expensive.  Try it on older clothes and discover whether you need to believe everything you read.

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    Winter Gardening Fun

    ByElizabeth

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    It was a day of meetings and conversations and emails.  I’m in the middle of a major project, and it feels demanding.  I’m being careful to take good care of myself.

    On the walk home, just as the last glimmers of daylight were fading, I could feel the temperature dropping.  Any last warmth was being blown away by the wind.  I was bundled up and had my computer with me with the intention of working from home.  The sky was like a black opal–dark blue-grays with fiery orange streaks.  The walk (chanting the Maha mrityunjaya mantra for some of the way) shifted me out of work mode.

    I came home to my newest gardening venture. The worms will arrive separately; they will be held for me at the post office to keep them out of the cold.

    Experienced vermicomposters, please feel freee to post your favorite tips for happy, healthy, hungry worms.

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    Cherry Blossoms at the Japanese Memorial (and Abhuta)

    ByElizabeth

    When I was walking home in the gray chilly day, astonished and awed by the beauty and effulgence of the cherry blossoms as if experiencing them for the first time though I have been witnessing them blossom here for over 25 years, I thought about the principle of abhuta.

    Abhuta, which means wonder, is one of my favorite sanskrit words. It is one of the important aspects of the Anusara alignment principle of “opening to grace.” When we approach things freshly and with wonder, then we will not only experience more delight in our daily lives, but we will be more open to learning something new from what we experience over and over again, both on and off of our mat.

    Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.

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    Train Ride Home

    ByElizabeth

    It is hard to believe that having arrived home only two weeks ago from my trip to India that I have already gone on and returned home from another trip.  As I looked out the train window at the landscape that still holds my interest though I have seen it hundreds of time, but yet is restful in its very familiarity, I thought about how strange and wondrous it would seem to one newly visiting from a place like Tamil Nadu, especially the rural areas.

     

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