Sidewalk stories year 2

The chalk box is under our community bench again this year,
 and I've been enjoying the art that people have left on our sidewalk. 
Here's some of my own:

Chalk artist Julianne has stopped by a few times too.

This version flummoxed a young reader...

So I translated.

Maybe I should offer 

a sidewalk chalk cursive writing course

this summer?

I'm hoping for more sidewalk art 

once this heat wave abates.

Stay tuned for more neighbourhood

sidewalk stories.

And if you want to see last year's,

click here.

Don't you just love summer?

Sidewalk stories

In April I discovered 
a box of unused sidewalk chalk in a cupboard, 
and decided it needed to be used. 

So I put some pieces 
into a pretty chocolate tin marked CHALK, 
and went out to encourage people to draw on my sidewalk.

The first artist 
to participate
drew her own flower, 
wrote that she liked my garden,
and signed her work
Julianne.

Someone else

(a good neighbour, I think)

wrote "Hello Friends!"

in beautiful flowing cursive.

I didn't see all this happen,

and it rained before I took a picture.

A few days later,

a couple stopped

and left me 

a shamrock

and a smiling cat.

Last week,

I caught my first glimpse 

of Julianne when she and three friends

drew moon cakes and happy faces.

Again, 

Julianne signed her work.

I like that she does that.

Of course,

rain washed everything away.

On Tuesday I went out

and chalked

CHALK 

with an arrow pointing to the box

like I always do.

Then I thanked

Julianne and friends

for their efforts.

I happened to be sitting in our front room

with my windows open

when Julianne and a friend came by 

and she read my message.

"Thanks for the art,

JuliANNE AND FRIENDS!" 

she squealed with delight.

They left more art for me.

I'll be sad when school ends

and Julianne 

doesn't walk past 

as often.

But there might be

a few more

willing participants,

like the couple last night

who gave me 

this garden scene

and high-fived as they walked on.

Thanks, 

neighbours,

for sharing your art

with me!

Simple Suggestion #177... Trade

In the spring, I grew more tomato plants

than I needed... so I gave some to Nicola,

who wanted to pay me for them... 

but knowing that our little apple tree probably wouldn't produce

enough apples for pies this year, 

I asked if she had any... 

and she dropped them off on Saturday night.

Sunday was pear day. 

We picked at least 54 gallons from one tree

(a few gallons have disappeared thanks to friends).

Sunday afternoon, I took a walk to the French Lady's house, 

and gave her some, as promised, for our échange fruits.

Then I walked to Ralph and Lidia's house. 

I have been admiring the fruit on their plum tree for weeks.

Lidia invited me in for a glass of orange juice and a visit, 

and Ralph gave me these beauties in exchange for another pail of our pears.

He says he'll give me some grape shoots in the spring, 

a trade for a graft from our pear tree.

Trading things is a great way to get things we otherwise wouldn't have

without taxing the planet through consumerism and materialism.

It can also have the added benefit of reducing our waste stream, 

and it puts us in touch with others in our communities,

building relationships and networks of friends.

And there are so many things and services we can trade! 

Right now I'd like to figure out a trade of some sort

in exchange for someone's tree pruning talents. 

I'm sure we could come up with something good...

I love the idea of trade, barter, and straight-out share.

Not to mention plum jam, 

snacks for my family, 

and apple pies!

P.S. Looking for more Simple Suggestions? Click here.