EnviroBits: Greening schools and other updates

I'm having one of those days where my brain just feels scattered, so you'll have to suffer though an EnviroBits  (AKA 'braindump') post today:

• I can safely say I'll never attempt to make Barbie/Ken doll clothes again. Whoo-boy. Glad they are clothed now, but honestly, never again!
• My kids took the news of Pumpkin's death about how I expected. Lots of tears and mourning, but good growth. What surprised me was how differently they process grief. One wants to know all the details and talks of it frequently. The other's emotions are still too raw, and wants to hush it up. I'm grateful for all the wonderful book suggestions, and will check them out from our library. I'm also glad to have saved some of Pumpkin's red feathers that the kids have crafted into a small memorial.
• There was a great article in today's paper about the Eco-School Network and how several Portland area schools are amping up their reduce / reuse / recycle efforts. I love how some are donating food that would otherwise be trashed to local chickens and pigs! Nice info also on some serious money savings via these efforts. If you're in Portland or thereabouts, there's an informational meeting on the Eco-School Network coming up on January 28 in downtown Portland.
• An article in last week's paper about a Guatemalan school's walls being built with plastic bag stuffed plastic bottles was pretty dang cool. My kids were fighting me to read that story first!
• My baby lemon tree is dropping leaves like crazy! I've read it could be from low humidity, so it's been moved to our bathroom in hope that the humidity from showering will help. Ack! If anyone's got advice, please let me know. Unexplicably, the lime is doing fine in the living room. 
• I never put a New Year's Resolution out there for myself, but I do have one: To walk/bike more and to be more healthy, which dovetail quite nicely. I still haven't been on a bike, but I've been walking about every day since the new year began -- through wind and rain and cold. But you know what? It feels good. Just to get the blood flowing. Fresh air. A small daily dose of endorphins. All you need is a good raincoat and towel to dry off once you get home. The worst part is looking outside when you're warm and dry, trying to find excuses not to go. 

OK. Brain is fully dumped. Happy Friday everyone, and have a good weekend.