Now We're Ready....

10/12/12

... to take a trip to the recycling center!!!

Here's our stash right now in our driveway {near the garage and end of the driveway}. Trav thinks this makes our house look like we are hillbillies....I'm not sure that's true! LOL! 

We are getting more and more cans, which is GOOD and BAD. Good because we can collect more money for our church's building campaign. Bad because we are running out of room in the truck bed to carry all of the bags/cans in one trip. **NOTE:: We live about 10 miles from the recycling center. So we try to take everything at once.

Trav has been thinking we should make side boards for our truck bed. If we had boards on the side that were as high as the cab, this would add way more room for bags and cans, and more metal findings!! Here's a picture of him talking about this idea--LOVE it! Now we just need to figure out how to make them and a way to do it too:)

Until then, we have decided to continue strapping the bags in place. But this trip we had one too many bags for the truck bed. So I suggested we tie the bag to the straps using heavy duty string (or the heaviest string we had on hand!).

Looks like it will work:) 

But what about the other bags.... well, inside the truck they go! Plus, we had a bin full of random metals to take along {you can see them behind Trav in the photo}. ***NOTE:: this probably wasn't a good idea--it never is! The smell associated with the cans.....just doesn't leave the truck when the bags are gone! 

We weighed the random metals first. Doesn't look like much, but check out what we took in! 

We had a total of 

• 9 lbs of extruded metals
• 6 lbs of yellow brass
• 2 lbs of cast aluminum
• 1 lb of #2 copper. 

Total pounds recycled today: 20

Total pounds of "random metals" recycled for C4C as of 10/12: 60 pounds!!!!

Now it was time to weigh the cans.

Total pounds recycled today: 187--- HOOOOORAY! That's A LOT!!! 

Total pounds recycled for C4C as of 10/12: 1,772 pounds!!!!!

That's amazing and makes us so excited!! Keep turning in your cans! Keep sending in your random metals too!!! 

Crushing Tends To Lead To....

10/11/12

... a trip to the recycling center. Yesterday we had a crushing party {read about it HERE}. But we had one and a half more days of regular routes before heading to the center! 

Olsen came along with us again for our Thursday night route. Kates got some pretty fun pictures of him-- I love this one of him hanging out the window:) 

And she even snapped one of me. Of course, I was so focused on driving that I wasn't looking (read THIS post for more of what I'm focused on while canning). 

This route--successful with cans and laughter:) 

Crushing, Containers, and Pizza

10/10/12

Looks like it's time again to have a crushing party!!! 

In the photo above, you might see some large containers. Canning President Kates called us one day saying her workplace was getting rid of them. We knew we would and could use them....so we loaded them up and brought them home. They probably sat in our driveway for three weeks, but  tonight we are going to use them!!!

First we crushed some cans.

And then we loaded them in a bin and dumped them into the new containers! PERFECT!! This container holds WAY more cans than we normally can get into a bag. This is a HUGE help! 

And afterwards....PIZZA:) We always have to have something to eat after working out and crushing so many cans. Too bad we didn't have some Pepsi (in cans of course!!!) to go along with our dinner! Next time:)

Only Two Photos????

10/08/12

I have to apologize for not taking many photos today! I admit that I get very distracted while canning sometimes:) I'm focused on:

• driving-- I have to make sure we are safe! LOL!
• the canning route-- you would think I have the route memorized....and I do, but sometimes we see cans alongside the road or more cans in someone's bin which causes us to stop and ask for permission. This could lead to me getting offtrack or away from the route
• light-- it's getting darker sooner so I'm focused on making sure we get done in time and with enough light source!
• and most importantly--chit chatting! I can't help but chat with my best friend, Kates:) This also includes laughing! 

I did get two photos from tonight. Both are of Kates getting cans along the road and at one of our friend's house. 

 

I wish everyone could come along with us on our routes--we really do have a TON of fun! I just don't have proof of it tonight! LOL!

Another regular Friday

10/05/12

Canning has become the regular routine on Friday....esp. for Olsen. I don't have to say anything or do much more than put on my shoes, and Olsen is whimpering and begging to go with me:) 

Normally Olsen is in my seat making it hard to get into the truck. For this shot he wanted to kiss me and was all over the place! I'm beginning to wonder if he enjoys the ride more than canning! He doesn't really help with canning--LOL! 

It was another regular Friday for us.... Olsen was jumping back and forth between the seats and in my way while canning (making it hard for me to drive! And I'm already a HORRIBLE driver!). Nothing unusual today-- just a regular Friday morning route!

Here's what we collected!! Not bad for a dog and one person:) 

A Dirty Job...

10/02/12

***OOPS! I forgot to add this photo in two weeks ago! 

Canning (collecting and bagging aluminum cans) is not a dream job! Nor is it easy!! The Cans4Christ Canning Crew does have fun....but sometimes it's a gross job and it definitely smells horrible!!! 

Sometimes the cans we collect have leftover liquids or cigarette butts stuffed inside. We cannot leave the cans like this (the recycling center would have skewed numbers for our pounds--only empty cans are allowed to be recycled). 

Normally we just empty the cans into a bucket and dump it in the woods. And recently, I have decided that I can't handle the smell, so I wear a mask. 

It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it! 

Monday Canning and Rethinking

10/01/12

Canning Route day!!! I get so pumped when Cans4Christ goes on Monday Night Routes. I don't think I've ever shared how many houses we visit on Monday nights... 15!!! This means so many cans are collected each week. Exhilarated??? I think so!!!!!!!!!

Today was a normal collection day for C4C. However, Olsen made it interesting. I've said it before that he enjoys "canning" with us {click HERE to see the video}, but he especially loves going canning when Kates goes. Here are some pictures that I snapped while out and about tonight. 

Olsen loves to watch us...wish he could help us more!

This is what I see when I try to get into the truck. Olsen doesn't like to stay in the back. LOL!

My phone camera isn't that great with a quick moving dog! LOL! 

 Olsen's favorite--Kates:}

I have to admit that Cans4Christ needs to rethink some things. Right now we need to rethink or come up with a better way to collect cans because of Daylights Saving time. It's getting darker and darker!!! We've come up with the idea of sending a letter to our friends/family/neighbors who allow us to collect asking them to bag their cans and set the bag near their mailbox. This would help us a TON because then we wouldn't be standing near the road searching their bins for cans in the dark. 

If you have any suggestions, please let us know! Send us an email at {Cans4Christ at gmail dot com}. 

Recycling Day part3

9/28/12 continued again

Recap--- Cans4Christ went to the recycling center twice on 9/28 {HERE and HERE}. We were excited with a total amount of 208 pounds of aluminum recycled!!

But that wasn't all we turned in!! We're branching out! 

We also took in a bed frame that Tami and Kates found while doing a Monday route.

We weren't sure if we could recycle this, but the guys said as long as it is magnetic we could! Well....this opens up so many doors for Cans4Christ!!! We also had a bag of random metal that we turned in for our second round. It was also accepted for recycling!!! 

Total pounds of "random metals" recycled for C4C as of 9/28: 40 pounds!!!!! 

Cans4Christ is thinking of having a recycling day at FAC quarterly. We would be recycling anything metal (that's accepted at the recycling center). More details to come!!! 

Recycling Day part2

9/28/12 continued

Yesterday's post {HERE} was our first load for the day. WOW! 138 pounds recycled!! This gave us a recycling "high", and we headed back to the church to collect from the Cans4Christ trailer. 

Upon driving up to the trailer, we saw 5 HUGE HUGE HUGE bags full of cans!! Our excitement level grew about 25%!

Then we opened the trailer.....50% more excited!!! Look at how full the C4C trailer is!!! HOOOOOOORAY! 

Normally we drive to the FAC office to check their can bin. We drove over there and found two friends who wanted to join in the guessing game. **I think they only wanted to play along with us because of the potato skins! LOL! 

Here are the guesses again with the new players amounts: 
Jared: 85
Trav: 117 first round; 86 second round
Sav: 134 first round *winner*; 80 second round
Kates: 185 {Her comment on text was "Fingers crossed for an extra skin!"}
Ken Hall: 85 second round
Tony Huffer: 167 total

I was shocked at how little this load ended up being, but the total amount of cans recycled for this round was more than I thought. So overall, GOOD day:)

Total pounds recycled today (second round): 70

Total pounds recycled for C4C as of 9/28: 1,585 pounds!!!!! 

Total pounds recycled today 9/28: 208
Winner of the potato skins: Trav!! But we don't really count- so we crowned KATES as the winner!!!!!!! Thanks to all who played along!!!! 

Recycling Day part1

9/28/12

Trav and I have a busy day for Cans4Christ today--first we are picking up our Friday morning regular routes, bagging, and heading to the recycling center. 

We had several bags and aluminum to take in {read about it HERE}. We loaded up after bagging our route collection. And look at how full our truck bed is!!!!!

I get scared when Trav does this--I don't want him to get hurt trying to secure the bags in. 

This load made me excited about our guessing game, so I quickly texted the Canning Crew members for amounts. The prize this time: potato skins (they were a HIT at the crushing party)!!!! Here's what I recorded: 

Jared: 10 85 total (I had him down for 10 since that's his fav number, but he texted back with a higher number!)

Trav: 117 first load {I actually had to course him to play along. He said he wasn't playing because he didn't get a text from me. The reason was because he was DRIVING! LOL!}

Sav: 134 first load

Kates: 185 total

Tami: 86 total

We've been visiting the recycling center for awhile now, and the workers know who we are:) It's fun because they are a part of C4C too (they just don't know it!)!!! This time I handed out our C4C flyers and let them know exactly what we are doing with our collection. They really liked the idea, but I think they liked the idea of being on our blog more:) LOL! 

Total pounds recycled today: 138

Total pounds recycled for C4C as of 9/28: 1,515 pounds!!!!! 

Winner for first round: SAV!!! But I don't really count- LOL! 

Olsen Canning

9/28/12

Trav and I were by ourselves today for Friday morning canning....so we decided to take Olsen with us.

He gets SUPER excited when he rides in the truck! I thought it would be funny to try and get a video of his excitement. HUGE failure--he wasn't cooperating! He was a bit too excited and I had to rerecord, which caused his excitement to not really show in the video. 

When he is excited or knows he gets to go for a "ride", he runs from the front door to the living room super fast several times. It's the funniest! His face gets all windblown and he has one mission-- to run fast back and forth until he gets in the truck. LOL! 

Here's the second video of Olsen Canning. I'm going to try and get a better video of him someday:}

Nothing Really.... Unless You Want To Join In the Fun:}

9/27/12 continued

Another Thursday night regular route...nothing new...just two friends having a GREAT time collecting cans! 

I wish everyone could come with us on our routes with us-- it's literally a TON of fun!! If you are in the North Port area and want to join in on the fun, just email us {Cans4Christ at gmail dot com}!!

Amendment To Yesterday's Post

9/27/12 continued

Yesterday's post said that it was a "great day all around" {click HERE to read about it}. And it was a fun ride and great day....except we had a small injury while biking/canning. 

The GOOD NEWS is that Trav and I were not injured during our trip. So who/what was injured??? 

My bike fell over when we stopped to get a can that was stuck in some high weeds. Sometimes I forget that my bike is "front" heavy. I thought I had propped it up good enough, but as soon as I turned around to find the can, I heard the horrible noise of the bike wheel moving. I quickly looked back and in slow-motion my bike fell over. 

This is the third or fourth time my basket has been damaged from my bike falling over :( 

Thank goodness I have a handy husband! He said it would be ok and that he would fix it when we got home. Until then, I had to ride with my basket crooked and banged up. 

AMENDMENT--- We had a great ride and collection today, except for when my bike fell over. Luckily, Trav was able to fix it quickly:} 

Miles: 9.86

Bags: 1

A Fun Ride

9/27/12

We didn't really have any plans for this morning. So I asked Trav if he wanted to go on a bike ride. This turned into a trip to the local Walgreens to pick up some things for Trav's store....which turned into a biking/canning trip! **NOTE:: We live near three Walgreens. Two stores are about 5 miles from our house... making this trip about 10 miles.

We started off by just seeing a couple of cans along side the road.

Then we saw them near the first bridge.

And the second bridge.

We would sometimes catch a glimpse of silver across the road, and of course we would have to stop!! Most of the time it was a can:)

You would think if we stopped all along the way to the store the trip back would be easy and quick. Not so in our case!! It took us about 45 minutes to get home! We found more cans going back--they must have been "fresh" cans {new litter from someone}. Cans EVERYWHERE! 

On our way home, I noticed it was near a time that Canning President Kates would be driving home for lunch. And sure enough, I heard some beeping behind us! It was Kates driving by!! 

I tried to get a pic of Kates driving by, but she was too fast for me:)

It was an awesome ride and collection for us today! We rode all over the neighborhood and to a store to get these cans, got some exercise, and saw a friend while riding home! Great day all around:)

Miles: 9.86
Bags: 1

Crushing Party and a New Friend

9/26/12 continued

CANNING PARTY day!!!!!!!!!!! We had quite the collection of cans this week, and it was time we had a party. 

Canning King, Jared, and Canning President, Kates, came over for crushing tonight. We were a bit rusty on our technique but it didn't take long before we got back in the swing of things;) We were also missing Trav since he had to work...so it took a bit longer to crush. 

Olsen was even helping--he is such a good boy:)

We were halfway through the crushing when it started to rain. We ended up stopping and starting dinner (a regular event after a crushing). We also moved from our house to Jared/Kates' house for dinner because they had a new little friend to show us (more details below)! Dinner was AMAZING!!! Great food and dessert!  

Since we finished dinner a few minutes before Trav got off work, we decided to rest and play a bit of bible trivia. OH MY! This was super fun! Kates was in the lead with 5 points, then Jared with 3, and I had -1/2 point (I didn't get any points....hm....I think I need to talk to Jared/Kates about this!). 

And the best part was when Trav came over to join in the fun. He was greeted by our new little friend, Matti! Jared/Kates adopted this little pup on Tuesday this week. I can't wait for Swisher and Matti to join in the Crushing Party madness! 

Matti is just the CUTEST! She climbs all over you and loves to give kisses! She also plays well with Swishie:) Now we just need Olsen to meet his new girlfriend!