Old School Brand Mercantile

Living life one moment at a time................

2012-01-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

I've been so full in life that documenting my learning experiences seem daunting, I hadn't realized that it had been three months since I sat down to share on my blog.
We are embarking on a new year, the Chinese year of the Dragon 2012.
I was born in the year of the dragon and I anticipate that it will be a powerful year of changes and growth. I've learned a lot about myself this past year through my interactions with people and the events that caught my attention,so indulge me while I share and forgive me if I digress...comes with age..ah hem, I meant to say wisdom.
I've learned that It is as difficult to be a teen as it is for me being a parent of a teen. Being human is complicated, being a Human Being is not. I love the light of dusk when everything seems so clean and magical in that golden light. It's an interesting process this thing called aging no matter how graceful.Ha!
Discovering that my once full supple ass left the camp is sobering at best, add that to the one grey hair in my pubis! How rude!! I feel the same in my mind from 20 years earlier, but my body say's otherwise.!! If it were not for the fact that I possess a coolness factor in my being, I'd join the ranks of the invisible for folks like me of a certain age. See, I'm digressing..on and on about aging..anyway..I've learned that I love living life in the moment and my goal is to string those moments together to create wisdom and living life to the fullest. I'm discovering what really matters in relationships, the acquisition of "things", how my clothes feel on my body, how grateful I am for my perspective and ultimately my life. I have no goals except to do more of what I'm doing, creating sustainable living spaces, restoring things, traveling and sharing and loving.

This year I'd like to laugh more, dance more, stay healthy, ride my motorcycle more, learn motorcycle and truck maintenance, meet some really cool and interesting folks, have all that I need and more with enough to share, inspire and to keep learning! I'd also like to enjoy the moment when my son and daughter realize how magnificent they are and to harness their power in ways beyond their wildest imagination!

Bountiful New Year!!

Old School Brand Laundry Soap..a star is born!!

2011-10-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you Ruthie and your awesome team of artisans for making this happen! Cordelia you are the sweetest angel, thank you for your sweet spirit. Starfish..what can I say, you are a girls best friend!

"Go where the love is"

2011-10-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple of months since I shared on my blog...I guess I've been so busy living that I've haven't had the inclination to document in words my observations. Since then, my firstborn turned 21 and is attending culinary school in Napa. My second born got two new tattoo's, three more piercings, is artfully sporting blue hair, has survived a break-up with her boyfriend, got on and off the water polo team, tricked me into buying an eye-cam (for french class, yea right) so that she can hang out more on her computer. Nuff said regarding the roller coaster ride of mother daughter relationships!

As for me, I've been creating some artful gardens, meeting new people and finding joy in small things. Oh yes, that includes riding my motorcycle! Hell yea, which brings me to the essence of this post, going where the love is.
I read a post on Dominique Browning's blog, Slow Love Life that expresses my sentiment so well. Allow me to share an excerpt with you here:

Go where the love is.
Don't try to make people love you. It can't happen.

Don't beat your head against closed doors behind which sit people who don't understand, or can't see, or won't see, what you have to offer.

Don't waste energy trying to convince people of your worth, when they can't see it in your work; they don't want to see it, either because they're intimidated, or have a conflicting agenda.

Don't bury your star--and we all have stars, and all of our stars sparkle with so many different talents, abilities, traits, qualities--don't bury yours among dark-minded people, where it will only tarnish.

Don't keep trying to detoxify poisonous situations. That's my big problem. I'm always the Pollyana, always believing that better is just around the corner, and always willing to fight to get there.

Sometimes better isn't around the corner--and the fight only depletes precious inner resources. Sometimes the only way to end a bad situation is to walk away.

And go where the love is.

That means not only doing what you love, but being where people love you--where they understand what you do, and, more important, where they have an affinity for who you are. Where the wellspring of creativity can be nurtured.

I know. Many people have jobs they loathe, and they can't afford to move on. Many people have bosses and colleagues who bear them ill will. To you, I offer only the hope that you can keep an eye out for something better, that you might someday be able to move on.

And in the meantime, shield your heart from the pain of not being appreciated--and figure out how to go where the love is in the rest of your life. Go home and make music. Go into the garden and paint pictures.

And to those just starting out in the world, wondering where you should start? Same thing. Go where the love is.

And don't be surprised if you find yourself learning the same life lessons over and over again.

Find the love. And go there.
PEACE

SIX DEGREES

2011-08-01T01:22:00.000-07:00

When Steve an Marina asked me to create a drought tolerant garden for their Craftsman home, I was a bit reluctant. I was slowly recovering from
an excruciating experience with a previous client that shook my creative core. The other fact was that Steve and Marina were my friends, what if something went wrong? Clearly, I was a bit wobbly at the thought.

A year later my garden was voted garden of the year by the West Adams Heritage Association and was the subject of an L.A Times article written by Emily Green
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/07/west-adams-garden-renee-gunter.html


92nd Street House

The year is 1942.
Lee Loften( Pat’s father) is a defendant in a case that would go all the way to the supreme court in an effort to save his home in Los Angeles. A non- Caucasian covenant was implemented which forbade negroes from owning property in his tract. A judgment was rendered by the court which forced Mr. Loften from his home.
http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=797582255428654665&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr

Pat Lofton shares the following in her own words:

My mother was the instrumental part of the whole process. During those times, the woman was not "in charge", so my father's name was upfront.
My parents purchased the house on 92nd street in the late 30's. They later moved into the house. They had friends, the Owens that lived across the street. They later found out about the covenance. They started trying to fight it. They went to the NAACP, but they would not take my parents case. My mother then began to fight on her own. In the middle of the fight, she became pregnant with me. She already had two sons, 9 and 10 and here she was in the middle of everything...pregnant. It was too much for her and she broke under the pressure. She went to stay with the mother in Fresno, for support. My grandmother was a very strong woman. She borne 11 children, 10 were girls, two (twins) died when they were young, so she raised these warrior women. My mother regained her strength and continued the fight.

I was born in 1942, at home, by an African American female doctor who came to our house with her nurse and finished cooking my mother's beans that she started for dinner! Two years later, in 1944, we lost the case and found 30th street.

During that time, there was a very popular movie called, "The House on 92nd Street" and the newspapers ran an article about the law case with the title,"The House on 92nd Street".

We moved into the house on 30th Street in 1944, it was really in good shape. It wasn't a fixer upper. My mother and brothers changed the kitchen flooring and painted the interior wood. My mother thought all of that dark wood was too much. They did some other cosmetic type changes like most people. My father was into the garden, so he did a lot of planting, etc.

It was wonderful growing up in such a diverse neighborhood. We never had to lock doors, we could sleep with our windows open. I would visit our neighbors that lived on our street at the early age of four and my parents didn't have to worry. I remember the freedom of it all.

She adds, "Thank you for your interest and your work and for coming into my life.

Pat Lofton Brown

Patricia Lofton age 4 with a neighbor

June /2011, Patricia Lofton receives an email from a friend about the West Adams Garden. Pat says she was so surprised to see her childhood home in the paper!! It brought back so many memories which she wanted to share with Steve and Marina (current owners) and myself! After a flurry of emails and phone conversations a tentative plan was set for all of us to meet for lunch! This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of sharing a delightful lunch with Ms. Lofton, one of her childhood friends and my dear friends Steve and Marina. I mean, how cool is that?

I feel as though I’ve met a kindred spirit, and master gardener! Pat has a small herb farm in Sacramento! You see how life works??

Gardening for the war

2011-04-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

During world war one and two citizens expressed their patriotic duty by planting Victory Gardens.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_garden Food production was vital because our troops had to eat!.
The Department of Agriculture sponsored a poster campaign promoting conservation of resources. Interesting how we have come full circle to see the value of conservation. War is costly for everyone, and the sad truth is that nobody wins.

Interesting perspective when one thinks about the state of our affairs today.Just sayin........

Taking back our green spaces............

2011-03-10T09:10:00.000-08:00


We're on a mission

I'm on a mission to take back open spaces that resembles a smile with missing teeth.
Withing a two block stretch in my community I counted four vacant lots that have blighted our main corridors for years?

Blight in any neighborhood signals that folks don't care which leads to unhealthy consequences on many levels in my experience. Apathy is a horrible thing and as a landscape designer I've been thinking of ways I could inspire a movement for change!

I suppose it started with a pocket park I helped to create around the corner from my house. The vacant space was a haven for illicit activity, dumping, graffiti and a general sense of hopelessness.

Working with the owners of the property, City Council Office and the City Planning Office, I designed a garden that represents pride of ownership in the neighborhood!

So I'm thinking how can I create a movement to green up more vacant lots??? It will take a showing of hands, literally! Set to launch for Earth Day 2011, I will launch Operation Reconstruction which plans an all out assault on vacant open spaces starting with my community! I'll keep you all posted...We've got work to do!

The Turtle and The Mountain

2011-03-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

I ventured off my usual course while walking Willow today. I recalled a street in my neighborhood where there were a number of houses that time stood still, a kind of authentic Old School way of beingness. I made that word up because it just fits the visual and the essence of one of my neighbors, Mr. Kameyama. He shares that Kame means turtle and Yama means mountain.
Sr. Kameyama arrived on mainland Hawaii in the later part of the eighteenth century from Japan and ultimately moved Concord California where the Sr. Kameyama was employed by wealthy landowners.
My neighbor Mr. Kameyama grew up in special quarters for hired help with his own daily responsibilities.
He told me that he would help with the breakfast in the mornings by milking the cows and gathering the eggs.

He attended what he described as a three room school house in the afternoons and in the evening after chores one of the mistresses of the house would teach him english.

Today he laments he has little time for the garden since his wife passed away last October. They were married 66 years. The couple moved to his home in Jefferson Park in 1948 from Concord California.
No doubt he will share more of his life with me on future walks. I look forward to it.
A sturdy man of 93, Mr. Kameyama walks three miles a day, changing routes on certain days.
He says he looks forward to visits from his grandson who cheers him up!

You never know when you wake up each day what's going to happen that will change your perspective in a good way.

Mr. Kameyama shows me another layer of the wonders of culture and human nature, right here in my own neighborhood! Oh, he thought Willow as pretty cool, he thought she was a Beagle, I shared that she is a Tri-colored Coon Hound.

American Gothic.....................................

2011-02-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

American Gothic- "I had experienced a kind of bigotry and discrimination here that I never expected to experience..At first, I asked her about her life, what it was like. and so disastrous that I felt that I must photograph this woman in a way that would make me feel or make the public feel about what Washington,D.C. was in 1942. So I put her before the American flag with a broom in one hand and a mop in another. And I said, "American Gothic"-that's how I felt at the moment. I didn't care about what anybody else felt. That's what I felt about America and Ella Watson's position inside America."
- Photographer Gordon Parks

YOU GOT TIRES?

2011-02-05T21:55:00.000-08:00

In the process of restoring my 1962 Corvair Rampside suitably named Roscoe, it would have to
have 4 new tires. You need tires?, you go to Bobs Tire Town Bob's has been a fixture in Los Angeles, the corner of Washington and Arlington for more than thirty years. It's been there so long that you almost don't see it anymore, you know what I mean? Anyway, back to the tires. Bob's carried the size tire that would fit my vintage truck which was not the case with the big chain stores. I borrowed a car and took my rims over to Bob's. Edwin, Bob's manager had already pulled the tires I would need, and within a half hour I was out the door; but not before I made Bob an offer he couldn't refuse.I said,"Bob, your place looks like shit!, let me create a garden for you!" He was already tuning up his mouth to say no because he didn't want to spend any money. I said, no really, all I need from you are tires! He couldn't quite wrap his mind around what I was saying because he had no point of reference. The place always looked like shit, people just stood around waiting for their cars. Most people used their time to make calls or went across the street to the mini market just for something to do.

I asked Bob if he could get me some tires, about two hundred of them? He said,"Tires, sure!, I got tires, I'll get you the tires, when do you want them?" You can tell by his excitement that he bought my idea for the tires.
I think I had him at, FREE! Anyway, I set about gathering recycled plants while my helper cleaned the space, stacked the tires per my layout, then filled the stacks with soil. I did a first layer of plantings with what would be the bones of the garden. The larger Agaves, Salvias and grasses.

We had a good two weeks of rain
after which I planted another layer with Aloes, Sages, and Succulents. I've got some weeding to do which is fine,because it's sort of therapy. This garden is gonna rock in another year or so; right now it's causing quite a stir in the neighborhood. When folks walk by when I'm working they can't help but give me an old story about Bob's Tire, or ask me about the Agave's. Isn't that the plant you can make Tequila?
The cool thing is that Bob let me run with it and the community gets a garden! It feels good giving back to community! So now you know what you can do with used tires! If you have an eyesore in your community, or if you would like a community garden or a garden of your own, go ahead..do it! Maybe that's all it'll take is for someone to get the ball rolling and that someone could be you! Get your hands a little dirty, it feels good, kinda naughty but nice! We've always been told to keep our hands clean. I now give you permission to get them dirty and grow something! It's rewarding in so many ways! secret..it's kinda sensual!! shhhh!
Have fun!

It's Not a Contest.................

2011-01-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about what I wanted to write about for a few weeks now. Christmas has come and gone.The year 2011 is new and old already if your routine hasn't changed. A lot is going on in the world these days. Precedents are standard fair..sort of a societal Shock and Awe

In the midst of all this I am compelled to stand my ground. Stand in the realization that, I am enough! My contribution to society is self!... yea.. I didn't come to the planet to sign up for the race of who's got the most, I am enough! It took me more than half of my lifetime so far to come to this conclusion, and I can tell you, it's a deeply satisfying perspective.

What's on my mind is that I believe we all contribute something special, some of us are the teachers, but all of us are learning. I'm learning that less is so much more! I embrace slow living lovingly. Fresh baked bread, line drying my laundry, truck restoration my landscape design projects, living low on the radar is so much more peaceful. I appreciate enjoying breakfast on the front porch and hanging out with my dogs in the garden. I'm humbled by light that creates sculpture is unexpected places I am dazzled by the dance of the humming birds.

I'm even more humbled by the ability to "SEE". I see the world in paintings and still life sculptures..how grateful I am for this artistry. I digress. With the advancements in technology it is easy to get caught up in the contest of what's new and improved. I hope you will find your rhythm of slow....keep something for yourself. I dare ya!

Stanley's Umbrella Wisdom

2010-12-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

Stanley lives across the street from me, he's half of fraternal twins, a robust man of color in his late sixty's. Stanley's gate is painfully tentative, he walks as though he was chained at the ankles, the results of a stroke brought on from 3 gun shots to his chest. He manages conversation with his staccato lisp, when he calls me over,I go armed with patience and attentiveness because he is relentless to share whatever is on his mind.
One day not unlike any other, he calls me over because he had something for me. I was working in the garden and needed a couple of minutes to take off my gloves and wash my hands. When I got to his house, he leaned forward from his steps and handed me an umbrella. Stanley stutters, "take it,you might need it one day". I'm thinking, yea right, it's one of those spring like sunny afternoon's easterners dream about during bitter storms. I thank him and reluctantly took the umbrella, It was one of those .99 cent cheapies but still to good to throw into the trash. Besides, Stanley gave it to me in such a protective caring way.(guilt) I would later throw it in the trunk of my car.
Several months later I was having some sensitivity to the sun, feeling faint from it's radiating hot glare, it felt as if it was pounding me into the asphalt. It was an otherwise lovely outing and I didn't want to be forced to go home. It was then remembered that Stanly's umbrella was in the trunk of my car! Thank you Stanley!
I'm realizing that there is purpose in all things, I may not see it at that moment, but time and time again I realize that there is an evolved wisdom that sustains me.The trick is to remember this wisdom when shit hits the fan....FAITH! ~Happy New Year!~
Shalom

A Season for Sharing

2010-12-14T16:31:00.000-08:00

The last couple of months have gone by in a blur..I suppose my attention was divided between the two gardens that I've recently completed .I never look forward to down time, but the truth of the matter is that I need to replenish my creative energy and dawn my Domestic Diva cap around my own household!
My garden is flush with layers of color and texture, appreciating the recent precipitation since it depends on natural rainfall. My navel oranges beckon to be picked creating a bounty to be shared.

The cool weather summons a fire in the hearth and fresh baked bread. I'm thinking that my bread would be a wonderful gift to share over the holidays. I find that baking bread is nurturing on so many levels, the coolness and texture of the flour is delightfully sensual.
The warmth of the oven,and the scent of the flour and yeast baking is difficult to describe other that it is soulfully mouth watering.

I haven't been bombarded with the usual Christmas frenzy since I do not watch television, and I can't tell you when was the last time I stepped foot in a mall. I use my down time to make goodies for friends, chop a supply of wood for the fire and listen to the classic sounds of Ella, Carmen, Sara, Miles, Coltrane on my turntable!
That's what I call slow living! I appreciate the slower pace I manage to create in my household, well, as slow as you can get with a rambunctious teenager a foot! Giving back to self is the foundation for sharing in my humble opinion. The gift of time well spent with loved ones, breaking bread and sharing conversation are what memories are made of. When Last I checked, you couldn't find that kind of gift on store shelves and you
won't find that kind of gift on the markdown isle or the "as is"
section of the store. Giving or sharing is not an all or nothing proposition for one day that happens to fall on December 25th. I say, everyday one can share something even if it's no more than a kind word or gesture. However you spend your holiday, make it MEMORABLE, make it BOUNTIFUL make it SOULFUL.
Peace~

On the road again with Roscoe

2010-10-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

About Eight months ago I decided to sell my,"mommy car". For years I chauffeured my kids around in what boasts to be one of the safest cars on the road. Volvo, you know ,"Volvo for Life"! Premium sound, leather seats with warmers, surround air bags, you know, all the extra's to keep you alive in the event of an accident. I'm thinking that the car's price tag is nothing compared to the value of my kids lives!Right? Well, I value my kids lives, but it's time for them to take the bus! Years of no gratitude, just attitude revealed that it was time to do something for myself. I sold the Volvo to another starry eyed mom wanting to protect her kid's lives with one of the safest cars on the road! (until they reach 15 or so) I set out to find something special. It had to be a truck with a little something special going on. I can't drive around in an anonymous half-ton..my truck would be a cool vintage work-truck!Daily I checked the adds in the paper, always on the lookout for something that called out to me! My kids thought I had lost my mind, why would I sell our perfectly comfortable XC90 for a rickety old beater?? You can visualize the rolllllll of the eyes with the exasperated, MOMMMMMM!!! My reply, "take the bus!" BUT, MOM!!!!!

Imagine the look on their faces when the tow truck pulled up to the house with this! Three flats, a non-operative engine, rust, and the remnants of a sign which gave me a clue to it's previous incarnation,"No Butt crack Plumbing"! This my friends is a Corvair Rampside pick-up or known as Corvair 95. There were about ten thousand made between 1961 to 1963. This is a sixty two. It would take some work, but since when have I been afraid of a challenge?

The truck had been sitting on the storage lot for more than 7 years, this I now know because of the back fees I had to cough up! I got the usual, "Do you know what you're getting into?" Have you lost your mind?

This is what I call recycling!! Anyone can buy a new truck! How many folks are going to take the time to restore anything? This is one truck the landfill would not get! I found an amazing mechanic that specializes in Corvair's with a mobile service that comes to your house! For the next 6 months we would schedule work days on the truck. I was the handy assistant, learning about my truck and taking care of the smaller details and research. I worked on my gardens in between working on the truck which helped to finance the restoration. I felt certain that the truck would generate additional business just for the cool factor!

I have a new vocabulary as it relates to truck parts! It has definitely generated a new learning curve of which I'm grateful!! It is a work in progress and totally sound! It squeaks, rumbles, and bounces to it's destination! Along the way, I get high signs, shout outs like, "cool truck!", "nice ride"! When I pulled up to the nursery the other day the truck created quite the buzz! The guys swapped stories about the classics they've had, wanted to take pictures with the truck,

There was even a bit of jockeying as to who would load my order on the truck! Roscoe brought such a high energy to the nursery! When I pulled off the guys sort of lined up to get a parting look all waving simultaneously ! It really made the day! Who knew how restoring this cool truck would affect the lives of so many folks out there!

Jesse is one of the nurserymen who has helped me with my orders for more that15 years! Roscoe is now another member of the family, making the rounds, being cool...and just having fun!
Someone's abandoned trash is now my treasure. Recycling takes many forms, nothing preachy..have some fun, create something, but by all means step out of your comfort zone and do SOMETHING!! In the meantime, I'll see you on the road!
Toot toot for now!

A place of one's own

2010-09-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

It seems that I've taken a random pause from my blog for the past month. I've been so busy living life that there hasn't been the time or the urge to write. Then there are my thoughts on this blogging thing..I mean, is anyone really reading these posts? Does any one really care about laundry, living sustainably, or my thoughts about these concepts? Anyway, life and random thoughts and realizations have been swirling in my head..like this construct called a Bedroom. I'm thinking, why does a bed have to be in the bedroom? What's up with this idea that one sleeps on this mattress with a headboard and foot board in a bedroom??? My queen sized bed took two thirds of the space in my "bedroom"! I thought, I want a Salon! So I retired my queen sized turn century cast iron bed to the garage until I can find it a new home. I gave away my Deluxe Pillow-Top and took back my space!! A room of my own! My Salon! I bought the most sensual 60's periwinkle 7 foot couch ode to Grace Kelley, found the most sumptuous chaise with down cushions! My new bed is a Japanese futon which is my daily reminder of the simplicity of rest. I love the space I've created..moving around my room, sampling the different views and energy, sitting, lounging, sleeping, dancing! I appreciate the ritual of laying out my bed in the evening, a signal that it's the end of the day and it's quite time, a settling of the mind and body. When I awake, I take a deep stretch, then fold the bedding in a sequence that respects the bedding down in the evening. So simply elegant in purely functional way. Honoring my self...taking naps when I need them, walking, sharing, taking my time to enjoy the bath, showering in the garden, working in the garden, being around people that interest me staying in the moment. I guess it takes honest living to come to life altering realizations , ah ha moments are pretty cool! It's kinda like the puzzle pieces are starting to fit together and you are starting to get the picture. Get your Ah Ha On! If anything in my post resonates with you, then I am pleased, I want your lives and moments to be fulfilling and thought provoking as mine are at times.
Be daring, write your own scrips, lay in the voluptuous beds you make, create a room of your own! Shake it up people, let em know you were there!!!
Aloha

West Adams Historical District 100 years and counting....

2010-07-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

A rarity these days, I was born in Los Angeles in an area now called the West Adams Historical District.
http://www.westadamsheightssugarhill.com/HistoricWestAdams.html These were the days when street lights
told us when it was time to come in from riotous play. Neighbors were our surrogate parents, and believe me they took their jobs seriously! If you "acted up" at their house, you were in for double trouble when you got home! I didn't realize it at the time but Marvin Gaye was my neighbor about seven doors down!
It was home, and that's all we knew. I never imagined that I would find myself back in the "HOOD", raising my youngest, riding bikes down the very streets I rode my bike at about the same age..so amazing!
I brought with me my lifes experience of creating art through Landscape Design, Restoration, Community Activism, and diplomacy. My neighborhood is culturally diverse and architecturally stunning! I am inspired
by the building techniques, creative use of materials,use of light and natural resources.
It makes total sense to live simply and sustainably when the old ways are laid out for you with built-ins, basements, attics, clothes-lines, carriage houses!

Anyway, one of my neighbors wanted to remove their hundred year old lawn and replace it with a drought tolerant garden! They were just in time to qualify for a $'s for Lawn rebate program offered by The Dept. of Water and Power. The homeowners did not want an irrigation system and plantings could not be more than three feet high, low maintenance and of course compliment the architecture, whew!
My inspiration came from the Caribbean sea. If you squint, you might imagine what the bottom of a healthy sea looks like. The colors and textures will touch one another as the succulents mature.
This garden is totally sustainable, very little if any water is needed. When the garden was completed, my neighbors were refunded almost $1,000! Oh, and the coolest thing is that this garden was nominated and won West Adams Heritage Association's Best Garden for 2010! I say, who needs just plain old grass when you can have a garden that conserves water and refreshing to look at?
These are the kind of ideas and solutions I bring to my community, the community that watched over me when I walked to school. The village we call neighbors that kept an eagle eye out for shenanigans. It's a good feeling to be a part of what's good about community! I want to continue to share by launching my General Store for Sustainable Living and creating spaces for gardens while inspiring positive change.

It feels good to be home!OOPS Gotta go, I've got some laundry to take off the line and hang another load up!
Be good to yourselves, thank you for checkin in!
Peace Out!

RECONSTRUCTION

2010-05-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Time flies when you're knee deep in a project. It's been a flash of nine months since I've started this renovation and there is so much yet to do! ugh! The short of the story is that I've been given an amazing opportunity to create change...and let me tell you change in every sense of the word! What was once a Japanese nursery in the forty's, morphed into an open air thrift store serving the community for the past twenty plus years. One could find just about anything on this corner lot of 6,500 square feet, and I mean anything!!!
The original brick paths and flower beds have been covered in alternating layers of carpet,plastic tarp,plywood, roots and whatever was caught between the 6 to 8 layers. This was an effort to create a "dust-free"environment to sell clothes, couches, records,lamps and whatever came through as donated items.
Generations have shopped the thrift store through demographic changes, riots, earthquakes and the introduction of crack. Through it all a wonderful salt of the earth woman serviced the needs of the community by supplying an ever changing client base with a treasure hunt of a space. We met about 4 or 5 years ago when I would stop in to see what treasure had my name on it. September of last year she asked if I would partner with her as she was growing tired and wanted to have time for herself before she met her maker.
I took on the project with the intention of organizing, merchandising, throwing out stuff, donating stuff, selling stuff and whatever it took to create paths between the mounds of stuff collected over the twenty years!
I have since been given full reign to transform the entire space into what will be a general store for sustainable living! URBANSCAPES I thought to myself, this is what this community needs, a resource for living fully, healthy, environmentally! These kinds of concepts exist on the west side of town, but nothing in perceived marginalized mid-L.A.
So! That's what I've been working on. It is a monumental task, and at times I wonder what the hell was I thinking??? The reality is, it's bigger than me, and it's not about me although I am the messenger of creativity. It's really about standing up for positive revitalization! This corner lot has the ability to transform an entire community of apathy. The street does not need another liquor store, lawnmower shop, car repair shop, vacant lot, adult care facility, pawn shop and the list goes on. I guess someone had to be the change, create the change for what is sustainable in the big picture. Living not just surviving.. I will offer recycled, repurposed, goods for sustainable living. Workshops on saving and protecting natural resources (including $'s), drought tolerant plants, goodies for the garden and outdoor living including a demonstration vegetable garden! It will be a welcoming green-space in the heart of the city, with fruit trees for shade!!!!!
I will keep you all posted on the progress..in the meantime this project has tested me on so many levels.
I will not give up as some have hoped, it has tested my resourcefulness, patience, finances, belief in mankind, but I won't give up! It's not about me, it's about community in the fullest sense of the word.
By the way, I found the stools and typewriter buried under 6 feet of debris.
Anyone out there want to offer support, ideas, contributions to the cause, by all means, please drop me an email! We are a village!!

A Timeless Treasure.................

2010-05-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2rdUm_vHHg&feature=player_embedded

I am creating a waterwise garden in a depressed part of Los Angeles which has kept me busy..
I will share more with you all soon, in the meantime I wanted to share this Timeless Treasure from
Tuck and Patty!
Sending you all Clarity and Peace!

A New Perspective on slowing down....

2010-04-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I decided to sell my, "mommy car". It was a Volvo XC90. When I bought it my concerns were safety and reliability for my family and of course for work. We all enjoyed the plush leather seats, premium sound and the, "butt warmers" as the kids called them, especially on cold mornings on the way to school. I'm realizing that my kids are more independent now, in fact, my son is driving (omg) and my daughter is comfortable on the school bus or public transportation to get around.
In the near future, (three years) I may be an Empty Nester, and I didn't see it coming! Damn, time really does fly! Anyway, I'm thinking, why am I spending all this money on payments, insurance, registration, gas, upkeep and whatever parking tickets for a car that sits in my driveway 75% of the time? Duh!!! I've cut my monthly overhead by almost $1,000 by re-thinking the need for this money guzzler! My carbon footprint just got smaller and my wallet fatter!! I have been riding my bicycle to work or walking. You all know that I have a motorcycle, but Ziggy has been in the shop, so I've really had to reevaluate my means of transportation.I have had an up close and personal view of my neighborhood! The interesting thing is that I'm keenly aware now of how few healthy food options are within walking distance. Buy locally? The grid was laid out to encourage driving, which supports the auto industry, not community. I did find a new farmers market about 20 minutes bike ride from my house which is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood! Hopefully there will be more options like this in the future. I had to be conscious of my purchases as there is just so much one can fit in a bicycle basket. This is a good thing because I need to plan a menu around what I can carry! Hmmm, no waste there! Slow living is a good thing, I get more exercise, buy less, consume less and have an opportunity to interact with local artisans and markets!
Now this is a beautiful thing!! Life is sweet if you really stop and count the small potatoes!!

The Resurrection of Ziggy

2010-03-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

When I was around twelve, my aunt took me to Sears to pick out my bedroom suite. That was my first design experience. But even before that, I was constantly busy with my hands. I remember making colored paper chains out of chewing gum wrappers that draped and zig zagged across the ceiling of my room! I was born an artist but I didn't realize it at the time. As an adult, world travels fueled my vision of things, adding layers and layers to my aesthetic vocabulary. When I put that with having grown up working class, making do, there was no waste in our house. We were recycling when it wasn't a "green" thing, but the way we lived, period! Today my entire lifestyle including my work and passion as a landscape designer is about restoration, giving life to things, living spaces and outdoor environments.

Back in November of 09 I crossed paths with a salvage truck on it's way to the dump. I flagged him down to get a better look at a gnarly looking rust bucket perched on top. Since completing my black belt in martial arts, I was looking for a new challenge. Some of my dojo mates had motorcycles and often rode to class, or were engaged in conversation about their various motorcycle experiences.Owning a motorcycle was a long shot of a reality for me until I met Ziggy on the top of that truck. I don't need to tell you that everybody and their mama thought I had lost my mind when I told them I bought a motorcycle, not to mention the way the bike looked! I first saw it as a restoration project, I had no expectation about the experience except that I would learn something new!

I decided to study for the written motorcycle exam at DMV since it coincided with having to renew my drivers license. Passing the test was affirmation that I still had some kind of intelligence left , and just maybe I stood a good chance of taking the CHP motorcycle training course and doing reasonably well.

Now you need to know that I never rode a motorcycle in my life, and those motorcycles you learn on are no joke! Let me tell you now, you can do anything if you want it bad enough. There was no way in hell that I wasn't going to pass that course! I had to represent for the sista's because I was the only woman in the class, and those guys were not cutting me any slack!

I felt like superwoman after passing that course! Couldn't talk to me for a week! I was a BADASS! BOO YA! I now have a M-1 motorcycle license! In the spirit of Bessie Springfield, cheers!!!!

Anyway, back to the restoration. I found a vintage helmet to create a custom image. I love the work of Kara Walker, so I adapted one of her pieces for my helmet. It's been a huge learning curve on so many levels.

I have an intimate relationship with my bike in the slow process of putting her back together. I don't take her power for granted, even though she's a a small bike. Quite humbling and so freeing at the same time. It is a totally different experience being on two wheels with power! The name Ziggy came to me after riding her a few times, it's kinda the way she she sounds! So people, the moral of this story is...step out of your comfort zone, you have everything to gain and it feels so good when you conquer your fears! Don't be afraid to be a BADASS for something you are passionate about! Give me a shout out when your see the BRONZE BOMBER on the road!! PEACE!

The Lavanderia

2010-02-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

We had five days of rain about two weeks ago which is not unusual for desert climates like California.
My gardens got a good drink that will last until the middle of summer. The only drawback is that I couldn't hang my laundry out to dry, and due to the moisture in the air, drying them in the house took forever!!!
I decided to check out my local lavanderia about two blocks away. I can't remember the last time I used the services of a public lavanderia. Early in the mornings on weekends my latina neighbors are pushing laundry carts piled high with laundry most visably, blankets. There are often children following the train of push carts carrying a bottle of commercial laundry detergent and or bleach.Upon my arrival, I noticed the vending
machines carried only Latin brand soaps. Hmm, I pictured Old School Brand in those vending slots! The lavanderia was clean,and not too busy as I had a choice of machines depending on the size of my load. Two dollars and fifty cents buys you a slightly larger than standard machine. Drying costs about twenty five cents for 10 minutes. I brought a couple of loads. I got my change in quarters from the change machine, put the quarters in the machine, followed the directions for adding soap, then pushed the temperature buttons start.

The slots for the soap held about one half cup of soap each. There were two slots,and a slot for a rinse liquid. A bit confusing in my opinion, anyway I put 2 tablespoons in two slots,(prewash, and regular) wash since I was washing a large load of comforters.

Now I had about 30 minutes on my hands, so I sat and imagined the stories behind the faces I saw, listened to Latin music over the speakers and watched a young father become engrossed in a Latin soap opera on T.V. while his young toddler ran around the lavanderia.

I wondered what the difference would be to my laundry using the commercial machines, my measured amount of soap and the hot commercial dryers. My blankets were fluffy and fresh! I love the option of the lavanderia.

I can talk with my neighbors, experience diversity in a micro environment, and be productive! I love the scent of my air dried laundry, the crunchy towels which are wonderful for exfoliating the skin, and the experience of being in my garden. I would have to say though, the lavanderia offers something very special as well.

I appreciate the option! Well, I must buzz off, I'm working on a VERY cool project that I'll share with you all later. In the mean time, be well, productive in your lives and above all, GRATEFUL.

NAMASTE

The Ritual of Bathing

2010-01-08T22:15:00.000-08:00

2010 the first year of a new decade. A lot happened in my life this past year. I learned more about myself, my strengths, and my resolve to live fully. No resolutions, no promises, no expectations. I have more clarity and know what feels right in my life, the choices I make in what I do on a daily basis, the people I surround myself with, the things that matter. Enjoying the flutter of a hummingbirds wings while sipping nectar in the garden matters. Contemplating the wondrous balance in nature that surrounds me matters.Having the ability to create sumptuous gardens that will out live me matters.Slowing down to appreciate rituals of life matters!

We are living in a technological age where the entire world is connected through space 24 hours a day.

I went to a restaurant recently and sat across from a couple who were both texting, not speaking a word to each other! On another occasion a young mom was dropping her toddler off to school while talking on the phone. What kind of message is being sent to the young child?

When was the last time your sent or received a hand written letter? When was the last time you sat down to a meal with a friend or family member that was cooked on your stove? When was the last time you took a soothing bath by candle light?I would like to suggest that you take some time for yourself, slow down, smell the roses as it's said. All this connectivity is spinning out of control! So here is what I want you to do.

Find some scented candles, as many as you like, vanilla is always nice. Draw a warm bath, add lavender essential oil if you have some. Prepare your drying towels, and change of fresh lounge wear in advance.

If you have a pitcher or some kind of container, a small pot will do. You can pour the warm scented water on you neck while soaking, it feels so good! leave the lights off, I assume you know where all your body parts are by now, just relax, take in the ritual of bathing, honor your body, take this time for yourself.

Allow the steam to fill the space, creating a warm mist, just relax. place a warm towel on your forehead and sit back. This is your time, find your inner peace.I wish you all a bountiful new year.

Bountiful!

2009-12-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas or what ever holiday you celebrate today has it's roots based in your childhood. At least that's how it is for me. I can remember how utterly excited we were to try and figure out what was in the various boxes under the tree!

There was mounting guesswork when a new present would mysteriously appear. By the way the tree was this amazing aluminum perfectly A frame wonder that had a fold back pom pom at the end of each branch. The tree came in a box with numbered paper tubes that held different lengths of Mylar colored branches. The shorter ones started at the top with the longer ones at the bottom forming this Step ford like Xmas tree. The center of the tree looked like a tublar tripod with holes. Once the tree was completed assembly line style, my aunt would plug in the revolving red, blue, green and yellow wheel that changed the color of the tree every 5 seconds. The hard part was putting the tree away making sure to put the right branches in the right paper tubes. Otherwise there would be drama the next year, finger pointing and who did it! Another memory was when I got my very own snub nose thirty eight with a Peter Gunn holster! OMG, I was the smoothest detective on the block! I must have been about 5 or 6! Oh yes, I got a Nun doll with a black and white habit the same Christmas. I LOVED that doll so much that I carried her everywhere. Imagine, wearing my snub nose under my jacket while carrying my nunn doll. That thought reveals a bit of my present personality. hmmm. Anyway, Christmas is for sharing, being with family, gratitude, forgiveness and many other wonderful times..

My question is, why not celebrate these values everyday? The reality is that it's not about buying stuff, guilt, angst, and family drama, you can get that all year round too! I say flip the switch, take 365 days and celebrate the people you love, the friendships you cherish, the gifts you were born with, your health, your freedom to choose! Take time for yourselves, be in your moment! If things are a little funky, take it one moment at a time until you can take it one day at a time. When you're done with the funky bit, cross it off your list and move on.

Thank you all for your support, your willingness to try something "NEW and Improved" and earth friendly!

I appreciate all the wonderful feed back and heart warming stories of blankets getting white again!

I'm looking forward to 20010 and all that awaits!

Feel free to drop me an email, let me know about the things that are of interest or thought provoking you would like to share.

I wish for you all a BOUNTIFUL NEW YEAR!

Namaste

Luxury for the Laundress........

2009-12-08T22:09:00.000-08:00

Maytag

Washer Wheel

Laundry in a ghost town

Weighted Iron

The Passing of a Matriarch

2009-12-06T15:11:00.001-08:00

Janie Jefferson Porter

My Great aunt was the youngest of 22 children born in 1922 to Sussex and Louvenia Jefferson.

Our family name Jefferson originates from the Thomas Jefferson plantation in Virginia.Some of the Jefferson children left the south in search of better opportunities, aunt Janie settled in Chicago as a domestic until her retirement in 1977. Now you're beginning to see the tradition I speak of relating to Old School Brand Laundry Soap. You could eat off Aunt Janie's floors! She took great pride in her work much to the dismay of her children. When Aunt Janie would start to hum old negro spirituals, it was a sign that it was cleaning day! Just in case you didn't get the message that she meant business, the humming would escalate, then she would be standing outside your bedroom door announcing in the tone of a preacher that it was time to get up and get busy. You know the term, cleanliness is next to godliness! Aunt Janie was the queen of clean and mean! I think her furniture is still covered in plastic.I never understood that, because the covers never came off even for "company"! There were the good set of dishes and the everyday set? Then there was the voice she used in the presence of company and the voice she used when we were alone. I could always tell who was on the phone by the tone of voice my aunt used. The tone would be an octave higher for strangers like teachers or bill collectors. We kids knew when to take advantage of "company" being over by asking for something which under normal circumstances would be a "NO"! Asking in front of company would get an under the breath yes, just to get rid of us! Later we would pay dearly for the interruption.

Aunt Janie and her famous collard's

Aunt Janie lived fully her 97 years and had the privilege to vote for the first African American President in her lifetime. I can only imagine the world aunt Janie saw and experienced through Jim crow, and the civil rights movement.

The tradition continues through our sharing stories with each other and our children. Aunt Janie would approve of Old School Brand, it's all about the clean!! By the way, my aunt hung her clothes out on the line! I appreciate Aunt Janies wisdom, nurturing, and putting the fear of God in us! I think we turned out just fine!

I believe she's setting up housekeeping in heaven!

The “One Best Way” to Wash: A Home Economist Explains

2009-11-30T21:14:00.000-08:00

In the early 20th century, new household technology was both accomplished and inspired by the tremendous increase in American industrial production. As in industry, mechanization and scientific management were part of a larger reorganization of work. And as in industry, efficient housekeeping was partially a response to labor unrest—both the “servant problem” and the growing disquiet of middle-class wives. A major proponent of the new housekeeping, Christine Frederick was consulting household editor for Ladies Home Journal from 1912 to 1919 and the author of numerous books and pamphlets on scientific management in the home. Frederick’s pamphlet, You and Your Laundry (1922), instructed women in the daunting complexities of washing clothes—a process comprising fifteen different steps. You and Your Laundry also illustrated the close alliance between scientific housework and consumption. Written under the sponsorship of the Hurley Machine Company, Frederick’s pamphlet frequently invoked its brand name and products. The pamphlet ended with a pitch for buying on installment, a payment plan that helped to spur consumption. Read the full article by clicking the link.

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5050

Outdoor Afro talks about Old School

2009-11-17T06:42:00.000-08:00

It All Comes Out in the Wash

November 10, 2009 | Children, Education, Environment, History, Ideas, Outdoors, Water, Women

Clothesline Photo: Renee Gunter

I was going to write about sustainable landscaping – and I still will, but something else came up:
The Laundry.
Washing clothes is actually my least favorite chore right along with mopping the floor, taking out dripping trash, and investigating that “noise” in the middle of the night. Thus, I view the laundry task through a ‘necessary evil’ lens. But I like when it’s done. The problem is, it’s never done! I think I handle laundry fairly well for a household of four, but every time I get the last bit folded and put away on a Sunday night, the basket is already nearly half full with a new load, which is a real buzz kill.
Can’t you tell I could use some excitement in the laundry department?

Photo: Roy Montgomery

So imagine my delight to stumble upon some countryfied laundry soap, made with old-school attitude by a sustainable minded sister from Los Angeles. And before you go glossy eyed on me: No, this is not an ad…in fact, she doesn’t even know how sprung I am on her mission. Yet.

Renee Gunter

I actually heard about Renee Gunter and her sustainable landscaping and water saving from Outdoor Afro community member, birder, and backyard innovator Cindy Hopkins, but when I dug deeper, I found her Old School Brand blog, which is an adventure that takes us back to the days before the soap opera of TIDE improvements to a place I had completely forgotten existed. I admit that I had long ago bought into the jingle’s message that “Tide gets it clean“, but lately I have wondered to myself: at what cost?
Laundry might have taken all day in the basement, or in the backyard back in “Big Mama’s” youth because of the contemporary technology and orthodox methods needed to produce no less than perfectly starched, white collars. But in spite of the toil, it was sustainably done without health and environmental consequences.

Tools of the Trade

How did our grandmothers produce sparkling laundry without chemicals leeching into our water systems? Or without irritating delicate skin? I have a hunch Ms. Gunter has captured their solution in her soap. She makes the soap in small batches with kind ingredients for use with the modern convenience of a machine.

best friends forever

After reading her blog, I have to admit I felt like a laundry wimp who has conveniently avoided the real deal of laundry duty experienced by the women of my heritage. Her blog chronicles the presence and skill of African American women in the activity of cleaning laundry, and hanging it to dry outside, with some gorgeous historic photos. She writes about the matriarchs of her family, all of whom were maids who migrated from Arkansas to the Los Angeles area, and recalls sitting and watching the meticulous cleaning her mom and aunts did for wealthy whites that relied more on skills and sweat equity than on products.

Laundry in the Sunshine

So to gain some laundry cred, I am ordering Old School Brand soap this week! And when I get it, maybe I’ll go a bit further to save quarters, reduce my household footprint on the environment, and let the unmentionables hang outdoors for the sun to bleach, and all the neighbors to see, as one more way to help make the world healthier.

For more information: Old School Laundry Soap

Click Picture to Order

Old School Laundry Soap
Comments:
. Bar B said: Sounds like a wonderful product. This post took my mind back to my own days of going with my great-grandmother, and sitting and watching her clean and work for a wealthy white woman out in San Rafael. Interesting times, partly growing up and considering this woman and her family extended family. Anyway… my grandmother still hangs her unmentionables out on the clothes line today. As you pointed out, it saves those quarters and, in a way, brings the great outdoors, in.

# 11 November 2009

Rue (author) said: Barbara — your last statement was right on point — thanks!

# 11 November 2009

DNLee said: Interesting. When I was in Guyana for a field course in tropical biology, there was only one way to do laundry – the old-fashioned way. I got a very quite tutorial from Aunt Gloria – the caretaker of the field station – a little ration of soap and whitening square. The tub, washboard, stiff brush, and tank of water were there for my use – or I could walk down to the creek. After numerous rinsings and endless ringing, close werehund out to dry – if they ever became dry (it was the tropics and it was humid and rained several times a day). Laundry was a day long task and I certainly thought of my grandmothers as I whiled away the day. But I loved it. I actually found it to be soothing and relaxing. I also learned some important facts about fabric, textiles, and what makes a quality garment in a tropical climate. I love cotton, but soon realized knit fabrics are a no-no for keeping shape, and easily become tattered or looking worn with hand washing.
It was fun. I have some pictures of me – on film – doing the laundry. I’ll have to share some day.

# 16 November 2009

Courtney said: I’ve read and heard that the clothes dryer is really VERY inefficient from an energy standpoint. I haven’t been able to take advantage of the sun to dry my clothes yet but I am thinking of how I might be able to do it in the future.

# 16 November 2009

Rue (author) said: Yes — imagine laundry as a craft — don’t get me wrong, I love that we have modern conveniences. I have kids, and there is no way I could be scrubbing all day, but I don’t mind the idea of slowing down a bit and letting nature take on part of the process.

# 16 November 2009

Rue (author) said: Courtney — let’s make a commitment to hang clothes out to dry before Thanksgiving…wanna swap pictures too?

Following in the footsteps of Bessie Stringfield

2009-10-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

I've had motorcycles on the back burner for years. In the seventies I lived a year in New York. One of my friends road a motorcycle, I can't remember what kind of bike, but it felt exciting in a romantic kind of way.
I rode on the back of his bike with my arms tight around his waist as if we were one carving the road with this powerful machine. It was exhilarating feeling the open road with no expectation but to be in the moment!
I've been looking at bikes on Craigs list for the last several months, just seeing what is out there. I've talked to people, gone to bike shops and tried on helmets and jackets. many have told tell me of the dangers of the road and to stick with a car, "it's safer". I read a post on one of my favorite blogs called, "The Selvedge Yard", where I read an article about this amazing woman named Bessie Stringfield, story to follow. I said all this to share with you all that I took and passed my motorcycle license test today!!! Woo Hoo!!! I'm closer to two wheels!! I want the choice of leaving my "mommy car" at home and reduce my carbon footprint even further!! Bessie is an inspiration! I'll keep you posted when I get my bike!!
The life and times of African-American motorcycling pioneer Bessie B. Stringfield seem like the stuff of which legends are made. Bessie has been written about in books, magazines and newspapers. She has been mentioned in television documentaries, and someday there may be a film dramatization based on her life story. In 1990, when the AMA opened the first Motorcycle Heritage Museum, Bessie was featured in its inaugural exhibit on Women in Motorcycling. A decade later, the AMA instituted the Bessie Stringfield Award to honor women who are leaders in motorcycling. And in 2002, she was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.Bessie – BB as she was known among friends – would probably be amused and yet proud of all the attention. Referring to her adventures and her 60-plus years of riding, she once quipped: "I was somethin'! What I did was fun and I loved it."
In the 1930s and 1940s, Bessie took eight long-distance, solo rides across the United States. Speaking to a reporter, she dismissed the notion that "nice girls didn’t go around riding motorcycles in those days." Further, she was apparently fearless at riding through the Deep South when racial prejudice was a tangible threat. Was Bessie consciously championing the rights of women and African-Americans? Bessie would most likely have said she was simply living her life in her own way.
In interviews with author Ann Ferrar, Bessie revealed how she drew courage from two things: Her Catholic faith in Jesus Christ, whom she called "The Man Upstairs," and the values she learned from her adoptive mother.
Early on, Bessie had to steel herself against life’s disappointments. Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1911, as a child she was brought to Boston but was orphaned by age 5.
"An Irish lady raised me," she recalled. "I’m not allowed to use her name. She gave me whatever I wanted. When I was in high school I wanted a motorcycle. And even though good girls didn’t ride motorcycles, I got one."
She was 16 when she climbed aboard her first bike, a 1928 Indian Scout. With no prior knowledge of how to operate the controls, Bessie proved to be a natural. She insisted that the Man Upstairs gave her the skills.
"My [Irish] mother said if I wanted anything I had to ask Our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I did," she said. "He taught me and He’s with me at all times, even now. When I get on the motorcycle I put the Man Upstairs on the front. I’m very happy on two wheels."
She was especially happy on Milwaukee iron. Her one Indian notwithstanding, Bessie said of the 27 Harleys she owned in her lifetime, "To me, a Harley is the only motorcycle ever made."
At 19, she began tossing a penny over a map and riding to wherever it landed. Bessie covered the 48 lower states. Using her natural skills and can-do attitude, she did hill climbing and trick riding in carnival stunt shows. But it was her faith that got her through many nights.
"If you had black skin you couldn’t get a place to stay," she said. "I knew the Lord would take care of me and He did. If I found black folks, I’d stay with them. If not, I’d sleep at filling stations on my motorcycle." She laid her jacket on the handlebars as a pillow and rested her feet on the rear fender.
In between her travels, Bessie wed and divorced six times, declaring, "If you kissed, you got married." After she and her first husband were deeply saddened by the loss of three babies, Bessie had no more children. Upon divorcing her third husband, Arthur Stringfield, she said, "He asked me to keep his name because I’d made it famous!"
During World War II, Bessie worked for the army as a civilian motorcycle dispatch rider. The only woman in her unit, she completed rigorous training maneuvers. She learned how to weave a makeshift bridge from rope and tree limbs to cross swamps, though she never had to do so in the line of duty. With a military crest on the front of her own blue Harley, a "61," she carried documents between domestic bases.
Bessie encountered racial prejudice on the road. One time she was followed by a man in a pickup truck who ran her off the road, knocking her off her bike. She downplayed her courage in coping with such incidents. "I had my ups and downs," she shrugged.
In the 1950s, Bessie bought a house in a Miami, Florida suburb. She became a licensed practical nurse and founded the Iron Horse Motorcycle Club. Disguised as a man, Bessie won a flat track race but was denied the prize money when she took off her helmet. Her other antics – such as riding while standing in the saddle of her Harley – attracted the local press. Reporters called her the "Negro Motorcycle Queen" and later the "Motorcycle Queen of Miami." In the absence of children, Bessie found joy in her pet dogs, some of whom paraded with her on her motorcycle.
Late in life, Bessie suffered from symptoms caused by an enlarged heart. "Years ago the doctor wanted to stop me from riding," she recalled. "I told him if I don’t ride, I won’t live long. And so I never did quit."
Before she died in 1993 at the age of 82, Bessie said, "They tell me my heart is three times the size it’s supposed to be." An apt metaphor for this unconventional woman whose heart and spirited determination have touched so many lives.

What they're saying about Old School Brand!

2009-10-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

I needed a non allergenic laundry soap and yours seems to fit the bill!- Michael Barnard

I love the detergent! It gave a really clean wash and left a wonderful smell. -J. Gayle

Hi Renee- I love 'Old School', I like how it cleans, how little I use, which is a water savings and the best part, NO PLASTIC!!!! Plus I can send back the package to you for a refill. Best Regards-Janet

I LOVE the detergent. I usually hate scented anything, but the scent of that stuff is very understated (like myself) and pleasant. David really liked it too. I will have to get some more.-C. Bradshaw

I Love your soap! do you have a bigger size? -E. Green

Thank you all for your continued support, it's really a lot of fun bringing community together over clean laundry! I have a following in my neighborhood that knock on my door for refills. It's like a scene out of a movie. A neighbor knocks on the door, I crack the door open peering out, she whispers,"you got any more of that soap?, I'm runnin a little low, front me a bag until Friday". They're hooked! She walks away smelling the bag of soap! LOL!! So cool!
Listen, you all need to indulge yourselves if you can by hanging your laundy out on a line. Hang it on a tree even.The fresh smell of clean laundry on the line is indeed divine!! We have NO dryer at our house and the electric bill has been cut in half!! Really! You would be amazed at how much power a dryer consumes!
My teenage kids are now timing their wash to be lined dry! Now that is a major accomplishment!
Wishing you all a great week...keep in touch!

Old School Brand Laundry Soap is ready for her close-up!!!

2009-10-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

We have been very busy at Old School Brand. On the 20th of September our soap was included in the goodie bags at the Emmy's and at the end of the month our soap was featured in the gift bags at Andre Agassi's 14th Annual Grand Slam Children's Charity Event in Las Vegas! Sending out a big thank you to Dina Rezvanipour of Distinctive Assets for making this all possible! Old School has a celebrity following and everyone needs clean clothes, even if it's your house keeper that does the laundry!

This weekend we are participating in Mar Vista's Green Event, spreading the word about Old School Brand Laundry Soap.
We are changing old habits one load at a time!
We've been getting feed back on our laundry soap from as far as Amsterdam and Japan!
Thank you all for the amazing support! We are growing and appreciate all the feed back and the constant flow of regular orders! There are neighbors that knock on my door for their fix of Old School Brand for the month!! You know who you are, and I love you!!! Alright, I've got to get back to my chores.. stay in touch and I'll keep you blogged on what's going on at Old School Brand!

THE ROMANCE OF IRONING?

2009-09-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

Degas 1887

Picasso 1904

Take care of your body mind and spirit.

2009-09-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

I've been reading articles on the state of our health care policy's. There is so much debate about how to create a standard of care for America's constituents. I believe that it's a hotbed issue because there are too many players in the game making huge amounts of money on health care. Reform of current policy's are intricate and politically charged. Million's are holding onto jobs that are not fulfilling just for the medical coverage. When one finds themselves in need of medical treatment or hospitalization there seems to be a loophole that dis-allows a particular procedure or medication. How many times have you gone to the doctor and he or she comes into the room holding a clipboard with your file, looks down at the file simultaneously asking you "what seems to be the problem"? I am a huge advocate of preventive health practices. I strongly believe that you can eat everything and anything, only in moderation. Think about what you're putting in your body. You don't really have to eat the whole box of chocolate, save some for later!
Get that body off the couch and AWAY from the T.V., get a good walk in at least two to three times a week.
Walk with a buddy, it's a lot easier and so much fun! Create a disco night, move the furniture and put on your favorite old school jam from the 70's. Be bold, get out your hair brush (microphone), and lip sync your favorite tune!! Who cares if your teenager rolls their eyes, move that body! You would be amazed at how good you'll feel after a good workout! the best part is that it's free! I dare you to learn the "Single Ladies" dance by Beyonce! Take time to give thanks. In the grand scheme of things you live in abundance. Give back in some way, even if it is to buy a cup of coffee for the person in line ahead of you at Starbucks. Take time for yourself and slow down. Seriously, there is only ONE of you and only you can love yourself unconditionally!
Remember this if nothing else, "If you think you can or you can't, then you're probably right" -Henry Ford

I am honored by the wisdom of the powerful matriarcs before me.

2009-09-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

As I live longer the seeds of wisdom my ancestors planted have taken root and have broken the soil. In an ever changing world this wisdom is my guide in so many ways. I'm finding that there is a foundation in the basics. Tried and true as they say.I want to share some laundry tips with you that have worked for me over the years.

I think it has been commercially assumed that everyone knows how to do laundry efficiently.

I mean, do you really follow the directions on the side of the box? Now the question remains to who's advantage is it to use 1/2 cup of detergent when a teaspoon will do the same if not better job? Just a thought..anyway, back to the tips...

Top Loaders: Allow your machine to fill with a little water in the bottom of the tub. Add the measured amount of soap, swish the water around, then add your laundry.

Front Loaders: Dissolve your measured amount in a cup of warm water. Add the liquid soap to your dispenser, then add your laundry.

Tough Stains: Moisten the stain with water, add a half teaspoon of Old School Brand to the spot. Scrub the area by hand or with a brush. For extra challenging stains, soak for fifteen minutes not longer. After treating, add to your regular wash.

Line dry your laundry if it's possible, even indoors! Air drying will brighten your whites and your clothes will smell wonderfully fresh! Just a thought, to keep dark's dark, wash and dry them inside out!! You will definitely save energy and dollars by giving your dryer a vacation.

You do not need bleach with Old School Brand Laundry Soap! After a few washes & line dry's your whites should get brighter.

Finally, if your clothes feel a little crunchy after being lined dry, add a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle. Trust me, your clothes will not smell like vinegar, but they will be softer without using perfumed dryer sheets!

These are just a few tips I wanted to share for now. When something else comes to me, I'll post it for you. This blog thing is a new experience for me, but I thought it was a little faster than the underground railroad and I can reach more people with whatever thoughts or wisdom I can share.

I wish you all peace and clarity. Most of all, thank you for having the interest to read my blog.

Old School Brand Laundry Soap..the beginning

2009-08-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

The inspiration for Old School Laundry Soap was the constant dirt and stain challenges my now teenage kids brought home from school. Once a teacher sent home a note apologizing for my daughter's dirty clothes! No worries, I had a history of getting clothes clean behind me. I had the matriarch's in my family's collective housekeeping skills as maids over the last two century's.
As a child, I was often given the task of ironing the dinner napkins, later graduating to collars and cuffs of men's shirts.

There is just something wonderful about crisp fresh smelling laundry from the clothes line! Many times I was reprimanded for twirling amongst the laundered sheets!! Ohhh..so airy and fresh! I've never forgotten the scent and the luxury of sun dried sheets to this day!!
I challenge you to air dry your laundry! You will not only love the freshness, but the dollars you'll save on energy costs!!
I've used many commercial brands over the years and have not been impressed. I knew what I needed, and it wasn't more perfumes, dyes, fillers,or colorful boxes offering something new and improved! I just wanted clean, fresh and no junk!!

With Old School Laundry Soap, I am sharing a family tradition of clean fresh laundry! Hard working laundry soap that gets the job done without bleach or additives. I hand mill our soap in small batches in Los Angeles. We have inspired a following that appreciates the cut to the clean of our soap, as well as the fresh scent created with a spcial blend of essential oils.

All you need is one tablespoon of our laundry soap for a small load! Yep, I said one tablespoon!
Our soap is great for all colors in cold or warm water, and is junk free!!