So today is the 3rd year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and it looks like we possibly have another storm on its way.

Everyone around here has their eyes on Gustav, but it’s still a bit early to tell. Nevertheless, preparations are definitely underway. I’ve already spent the last 3 days at work dealing with advanced just-in-case preparations and now that it’s become a weekend of wait-and-see, I’m working on making a checklist of what to grab if we need to evacuate New Orleans.

I’ve gotta say, as much as I’ve been trying to reduce clutter and simplify my life over the last few months, there’s still quite a bit of stuff around. One of the things that Katrina taught so many of us is what is truly important in life are the intangibles - friends, family, a sense of place, a feeling of home. That is why so many of us have chosen to stay here and why so many of us are possibly dealing with this all over again. That said, it also makes me realize how few possessions I would really care about if they were washed away. Most things are replaceable, and while replacement incurs expense, it’s not unmanageable in the long run. The what ifs that really scare me about this scenario are the possibilities of losing friends and family all over again, scattering us around like leaves in the wind.

Pray for the best, prepare for the worst. Like I said, it’s still too early to tell, but I think that’s what most of us are doing, anyway. Hopefully this will all blow over (pardon the pun), but the timing certainly makes for an eerie feeling.

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A week or so ago I was in a doctor’s waiting room back at home in Gulfport, Mississippi and I spotted the most amazing handmade mirrors hanging on the wall near the receptionist. It took me a minute to figure out what the designs around the mirrors were made of… then it dawned on me that these were small squares cut from old soda cans and nailed together to form these beautiful patterns. I fell in love immediately. They would have been beautiful either way, but the fact that they were made from recycled cans made me love them even more. Luckily, there was a business card for the artist on the receptionist’s desk and I picked it up and checked out the artist’s Etsy shop when I got home.

Kathy Taylor Gray creates jewelry from rusty keys and other recycled components in addition to her beautiful mirrors. There is only one mirror currently in her Etsy shop, but I asked her to send me some images of more of her mirrors so I could show them off to you guys. She does such great work, I just had to share!

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I just got an email from the America’s Wetland organization informing me of a recent veto by President Bush on a bill of extreme importance to those of us here in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. I’m going to copy & paste the email I received below… for those of you in the U.S., please consider contacting your representatives as soon as possible if you feel as strongly about this issue as I do. (You can find quick links to contact them by entering your zip code here.)

Dear Friends of the America’s WETLAND Campaign,

On Friday, President Bush vetoed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and, in doing so, vetoed $3.6 billion dollars in projects critical to Louisiana’s coastal restoration and hurricane protection and up to $7 billion in projects to reconstruct Louisiana’s infrastructure. Especially after the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana is depending on the flood protection, navigation, and levee repair provided by the Bill.

Congress must rally a 2/3 majority vote to override the veto, and we urge you to let your voice be heard on this important matter. To contact your Representatives, please click here and enter your zip code. Please draft your own letter or insert the text below, asking your Senators and Congressmen to vote to pass WRDA this week.

We thank you for your help, and we ask that you spread the word. We encourage all of America’s WETLAND’s supporters across the nation to help ensure the passage of WRDA and other acts that recognize the importance of coastal Louisiana.

Please insert the following text in your emails to your Representatives before tomorrow’s vote:
I ask that you vote to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The measure authorizes projects critical to Louisiana’s coastal restoration and hurricane protection. Our eroding coast and urgent need for protection against storms like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will not wait for another bill, so I ask that you vote to override the veto, as this is an American problem that requires an American solution.

The America’s WETLAND Foundation runs the largest, most comprehensive public education campaign in Louisiana history. The Campaign was launched to raise public awareness of the impact of Louisiana’s wetland loss on the state, nation and world. The initiative is supported by a growing coalition of world, national and state conservation and environmental organizations and has drawn private support from businesses that see wetlands protection as a key to economic growth.

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I did a random drawing the other night to decide who would get my copy of The Wal-Mart Effect, and I’ll be passing it on to Ann from Beadiful Things. She’s promised to do a similar drawing on her own blog once she’s done reading it.

Again, I know I haven’t been doing much posting as of late. I’ve been kind of down the last couple of days…Today is the 2 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. That probably has a little something to do with it. I just made a post on Blogging New Orleans about how strange today has been (a weird twist at work had me working with Katrina archives all day).

Anyway… I would like to say a huge thank you once again to all of the members of the online DIY/indie craft community who offered up so much support in the aftermath of Katrina. (The fundraisers sponsored by Craft Revolution alone raised nearly $25,000 for Katrina relief.) It really meant a lot to me, and I know it was one of the things that helped me get through that time… This community is so amazingly giving, no matter what the cause.

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Today has been officially declared America’s Wetlands Day.

Growing up around coastal Mississippi and Louisiana, I’ve always been aware of how important the wetlands are to us. The affects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have made the issues of wetland conservation and restoration more important than ever. Just check out these facts from the America’s Wetlands website:

Louisiana’s coast is disappearing at a rate of 25 square miles per year, that is equivalent to losing over a football field every 38 minutes. In the past 70 years more than 1,900 square miles of coastal Louisiana have been lost. The Effect of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - Before the storms, scientists predicted that this area might lose 60 square miles of vegetated wetlands by 2050. In just two days, when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita passed through, 218 square miles of vegetated marsh turned to open water.

Another issue affecting the wetlands in this area is the widespread clear cutting of cypress forests for use in cypress mulch. These cypress forests act as natural buffers against storm surges from hurricanes, not to mention the habitat they provide for many threatened and endangered species of local wildlife.

Click on the following links to learn more about the dangers affecting our coastal wetlands and what can be done to help:

America’s Wetlands