Go Naturale

I rarely update my doll blog (www.pattersoncrow.blogspot.com), so why did I create this one?  For now, I’ve convinced myself that this blog can satisfy all my interests since they all share common goals–a lean towards self-sufficiency and a genuine desire to preserve the environment.

I intend to sing the praises of timber frame homes–regardless of whether or not my husband and I are actually able to build one on our property (the builder wants waaaaaayy more than we expected).  They are absolutely stunning in person, with such a warm, old-world feeling about them.  And the fact that they are crafted by hand (yes, the framer cuts, shapes and fits each beam by hand) makes them so much more personalized than a modular home.  There are no nails involved, yet a timber frame can last centuries beyond a conventional stick frame house.  When paired with SIPS (foam-cored panels made of purely recycled material) a house’s efficiency dramatically increases and can save you up to 70% off your energy bills.  Check out my links and suggested reading–seriously, if you’re thinking of building, give timber frame construction a thought.

Anyone who has visited my Flickr album knows I’m a shoe whore…a big one.  Whenever I go into work, my coworkers say hi and instantly look down at my feet.  My husband says I’m sick; my mom (a former shoe whore) drops comments (“another pair of shoes??”).  Buy I am not a payless girl.  My high arches and narrow heels call for support, and if possible, eco-friendly support.  I like giving my business to companies who use recycled materials in both their products and packaging, and if they support environmental charities, all the better.  You will often hear me rave about:

Keen

Dansko

Chaco

and my new obsession, El Naturalista

I’ll be happy to waste precious time reviewing shoes from these companies in an attempt to share the love with others who care about their feet!

Much more to come.  Cheers y’all