What I've been up to recently

So first of all, I started high school! All of us who wrote on this blog did. We all went to different schools which makes a variety of things difficult, least of all, blogging. Not that we were particularly good at posting regularly before or anything.
Anyway, high school is great. I absolutely loved my middle school, and high school is different in many ways but also pleasantly similar. One thing I like about my high school is that there is a well established environmental program, so there is a huge amount of recycling and composting going on compared to the throwing things away to be sent to a landfill.
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy making friends has been. That was what I was most nervous about, but really people are extremely open to meeting new people. It is because of those people that the first month or so went by way too fast, as I am sure the rest of high school will go.
p.s. something that I've been meaning to do for a really long time is edit my tutorial on how to make a lined bag out of upholstery samples, because the way I put the handles in isn't really very good, so I will do that sometime soon!

This is part of some seat cushions I'm making my aunt out of plastic bags

Two years ago...

We started this blog. That was the end of sixth grade. Two years later, we're at the end of eighth grade, the end of middle school, the end of being at the same school.

I have no idea what is in store for our little blog, but I hope we keep posting. Or recruit current students at our school who aren't graduating. That could potentially be fun.

Anyway, we just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been with us since the beginning, all the encouraging comments and emails, and really to anyone who has visited our blog, any time in the past two years. Thank you.

Relay for Life

Hi guys!
Anna and T.Y. here!
Yesterday, we participated in Relay for Life.  Relay for life is many things: fun, sad, and tiring.  It's a fundraiser for cancer research by the American Cancer Society.  One in every 100 Americans participates in Relay. 
 
The one we went to was at Memorial Stadium by Seattle Center.  It began at 2pm with an opening ceremony followed by a survivor lap where everybody who beat or is still fighting cancer walks around the track.  Meanwhile, people arrive with tents and play games in the field.  Each person is part of a team usually in memory of or to support someone with cancer.  The event ends at 8:00 am the next morning.  At all times someone must be walking around the track with your team baton. 


http://www.keweenawnow.com/happenings/relay_life_03_06/images/rfl02_hope_lumin.jpg
It's a fun event with sad moments such as the Luminaria ceremony.  You decorate a paper bag with someone's name and a message which they fill with sand and a candles.  Last night they spelled HOPE on the bleachers, but in previous years they make a ring around the track.  It's a sad hour but hopeful at the same time.  Go to the American Cancer Society' website (http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/) to find out when the next Relay for Life is in your area!

SEATTLE GREEN FESTIVAL

Next Saturday and Sunday (21, 22 of May) is the Seattle Green Festival at the Qwest Event Center. It's a weekend of family fun, environmental and socially responsible businesses and organizations, and inspiring speakers. Check it out at http://www.greenfestivals.org/sea/updates/

Sadly I and my fellow eighth grade authors will not be able to go to the festival on Saturday because we will be doing our eighth grade play but if you do go, post a comment on the post to tell us how it was!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all know that a hard-working mother loves a nice bouquet of flowers on Mother's Day, but how about finding a more thoughtful and eco friendly way of doing it? Instead of stopping by the nearest QFC, Safeway, etc. you could go to your nearest farmers market and pick up a bouquet. They're much larger, cheaper, more beautiful, and weren't shipped across the country in refrigerated trucks. You would also be supporting you local farmers. Even closer to home would be to pick flower's from you garden or if you are like me, take a stroll around your neighborhood with a pair of snippers and help your neighbors use their surplus flowers! :)

What ever you do, don't forget to thank you mom for all of the hard work she does!

Eco Company

So I was flipping channels this morning while my mom slept in for Mother's Day when I found this really awesome television show. It's called Eco Company. It's hosted by a group of eco-concious (not hippie) teens who report on the latest finds in the green community as well as other teens making a difference. For example, today they reported on a "renegade lunch-lady" who makes everything from scratch in addition to another stroy on a women who make really awsome cloths out of candy wrappers (shown above.) From what I saw, the stories are mostly in California, but you could learn a couple of interesting things. Go to there website, http://www.eco-company.tv/ to find out more. In the Seattle area, it broadcasts on channel 13 Fox at 9:30 am. Check it out!

International viewers

This is a bit random, but exciting: in the last month we've had viewers from Canada, Moldova, Indonesia,  India, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia and the United States!