Friday, March 27, 2020
About Sam Monaco
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Review of Facts and Photos of the American Robin
Robin after a Bath |
To celebrate the start of spring, I thought I'd share a bit of information and some photos on one of my favorite birds, the Robin. Here is a poem that I found that celebrates the Robin and the start of spring.
Robin Poem by William Warner Caldwell
Of the winter we are weary, Weary of the frost and snow; Longing for the sunshine cheery, And the brooklet's gurgling flow; Gladly then we hear thee sing The reveille of spring: Robin's come!
Ring it out o er hill and plain, Through the garden's lonely bowers, Till the green leaves dance again, Till the air is sweet with flowers! Wake the cowslips by the rill, Wake the yellow daffodil; Robin's come!
Then, as thou wert wont of yore, Build thy nest and rear thy young, Close beside our cottage door, In the woodbine leaves among; Hurt or harm thou need'st not fear, Nothing rude shall venture near: Robin's come!
Swinging still o'er yonder lane Robin answers merrily; Ravished by the sweet refrain, Alice claps her hands in glee, Calling from the open door, With her soft voice, o'er and o'er, Robin's come!
Robins and Bird Bath
Robins Features
- Pot Bellied look
- Brick Red Underparts
- Yellow Bill
- White Chin
- White Eye Arcs
- Male has darker head and deeper red underparts than female
Robins in our area Year-round
My Photos on Zazzle Products
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Puracy Natural Dish Soap: Eco-Friendly, Effective, Made in the USA
Looking For a Safer, More Environmentally Friendly, Yet Effective Plant-Based Dish Soap
Several years ago, my husband and I started hand-washing our dishes, pots and pans more often and using our dishwasher less frequently, as part of our effort to be more environmentally responsible and less wasteful. I also wanted to find a safer, “greener” dish soap, a plant-based cleaner that could cut through grease effectively on our dishes, pots and pans without the harsh chemicals used in most popular dishwashing liquid brands, such as Palmolive, Dawn and Ajax. Many of those chemicals may be not only harmful to humans, animals and plants, but also cause chronic aquatic toxicity, poisoning our rivers, seas, oceans and water supply.Not So Green "Green Cleaners"
The two best-known brands of plant-based cleaners at the time were Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Generation. I tried Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap, which was a Whole Foods Market Eco-Scale certified green cleaning product, but stopped using it after only a week or two. In addition to the overpowering scent, which gave me a headache every time I washed the dishes, I found out that the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment, had given it an “D” rating, which EWG defines as “HIGH CONCERN - Likely hazards to health or the environment.”Next, I looked into Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid, Free & Clear, since I was familiar with the brand name and had seen numerous ads for the company's plant-powered cleaning products. The marketing was excellent and I was optimistic. Having learned my lesson, however, I decided to check out their EWG rating before trying out their product myself. The good news was that my caution paid off. The bad news was that EWG gave it a "C" rating, defined as "MODERATE CONCERN - Some potential for hazards to health or the environment. At least some ingredient disclosure."
Back to the Drawing Board
Unfortunately, neither Amazon nor any of our local stores sold the only dishwashing liquid with an earned the EWG Verified rating, the organization's highest endorsement. So, I switched my focus to dish soaps EWG-rated “A," defined as “LOWEST CONCERN - Few/no known or suspected hazards to health or the environment. Good ingredient disclosure." Once I eliminated any product that wasn't carried by our favorite stores and or on Amazon, only a handful of potential candidates remained in the running.After trying to learn as much as I could about the products and the companies that made them, I felt confident about my final choice.
Puracy Natural Dish Soap Checked All the Boxes
Puracy Natural Dish Soap is safe and gentle enough to use as an alternative to liquid hand soap, if needed. (Don't use traditional dishwashing liquid to wash your hands!) |
Highly Recommended by EWG, Business Insider and Consumers
- Rated "A” for safety and environmental impact by EWG
- Chosen as the best dish soap overall by Business Insider: "Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap is our top pick because it's effective on grease, safe for the environment, and gentle on your hands."
- Thousands of 4- and 5-star customer reviews on their website and on Amazon
Safe for Families, Pets, and The Environment
- No harsh chemicals, sulfates (SLS, SLES, SCS), triclosan, formaldehyde, parabens, phosphates, MEA, DEA, TEA, chlorine, bleach, petrochemicals, animal by-products, allergens, perfumes, dyes, or caustics
- Hypoallergenic, non-toxic, gluten-free, vegan
- BPA-free, recyclable packaging
- Concentrated formula that requires less soap to clean more dishes
- Cleans effectively even in areas with hard water
- 99.5% natural ingredients, only 0.5% synthetic ingredients
- Naturally-derived scents that, to me, smell better and are much subtler compared to other plant-based cleaners I have used
- The Green Tea & Lime scent is my favorite, and I also love smell of the Citrus & Sea Salt. I’m looking forward to trying the Organic Lemongrass as well.
Made in the USA
- All Puracy products are American made by a family-owned small business based in Austin, Texas
Trustworthy, Socially and Environmentally Responsible Company
- Transparent marketing and product labeling
- Every ingredient for every product and its function in the product formula is listed, described and explained
- Provides a clear, straightforward explanation of what Puracy means by "natural" ingredients and products
- Manufacturers frequently use the word "natural" in very misleading ways in their product marketing and labeling. Unfortunately, doing so is not against the law because, so far, the FDA has not provided a definition of "natural." So, the word "natural" can be used to mean almost anything the brand wants it to, unless the company is honest enough to spell out exactly what they mean by it.
- Gives back to the local community
- Puracy donates a portion of the proceeds from every purchased to local families in need
- Puracy’s packaging features original hand-drawn artwork that helps support local artists
- Cruelty-free
- No animal testing, certified cruelty-free by PETA and Leaping Bunny
- 100% biodegradable formula, easy to recycle packaging
- Bottles, pumps, sprayers, and caps made from PET(E), an inert, BPA-free plastic and the most widely recycled plastic worldwide (recycling logo #1)
- Liquid dish soap refills packaged in eco-friendly pouches
Superb Customer Service
-
100% money-back guarantee if you are dissatisfied with a Puracy product
for any reason—no hassle, no return required, no questions asked
- Superb, responsive, friendly customer service
- Questions answered promptly, helpfully and courteously
-
One of the co-founders, Sean, often responds personally to customer
questions on Amazon
I feel good that my purchases of Puracy's natural and safe cleaning products
support a family-owned, American small business whose values are aligned with
mine, and whose owners are proud and confident enough in the quality of their
products to stand behind them with a no-hassle, 100% money-back guarantee if a
customer isn’t a fan of one of their products, for whatever reason.- Questions answered promptly, helpfully and courteously
- One of the co-founders, Sean, often responds personally to customer questions on Amazon
Puracy's Safe, Eco-Friendly Dish Soap Worked BETTER Than My Old Dishwashing Liquid - Without the Harsh, Toxic Chemicals!
A Safer, Gentler, Greener Cleaner
Puracy Natural Dish Soap’s formula is concentrated, so you need less of it compared to traditional dishwashing liquid. In my experience, it cuts through grease as well as, and maybe better than, the products with harsh, chemical-laden formulas I used years ago. And, while the lack of those harsh chemicals means it isn’t as effective at removing stubborn, burnt-on food from pots and pans, I find that adding a small squirt of Puracy liquid dish soap to the pans, filling them with very hot water and leaving them for 30-60 minutes usually is enough to loosen the food without needing to use a lot of elbow grease.For decades, manufacturers of soaps and other cleaning products have been successfully brainwashing us that the more lather a soap produces, the more effectively it cleans. But the notion that more lather means more cleaning power simply isn’t true! If it were, how could dishwasher detergent and laundry detergent clean our dishes and clothes effectively, since both are specifically formulated not to produce lather or suds?
Yet, over many decades of misleading ad campaigns, manufacturers have psychologically manipulated consumers into believing that they can only get their dishes, pots, pans and even their hands and hair really clean by using soaps or shampoos that produce lots of lather. Of course, they fail to mention that the chemicals used to make these products lather abundantly are harsh, irritating and potentially harmful to people and animals, and potentially toxic to aquatic life.
It pains me when a reviewer occasionally complains about needing to use more Puracy Natural Dish Soap, compared to conventional brands, to produce the same amount of lather. My hope is that more consumers can become more knowledgeable about the effectiveness and safety of the ingredients in their cleaning products, as well as their effects on the environment and global ecosystem for current and future generations.
Save Money and Help Protect the Environment With Convenient 64-Ounce Refill Pouches
Puracy Dish Soap Refills: Easy on the wallet, easy on the environment |
I bought the Puracy dishwashing liquid in a squirt bottle only once. Since then, I’ve been buying only the 64 oz. Puracy Natural Dish Soap Refills, which contain four times as much product as the 16 oz. bottles.
I really appreciate Puracy's decision to offer these large, money-saving, eco-friendly refill pouches for most of the products they make. By purchasing them and refilling my own, recycled bottle and the built-in soap dispenser at the back of the kitchen sink, my husband and I save more than 20% per ounce. Each refill pouch also saves 90% more plastic, water, and energy, compared to the equivalent amount of bottled soap (four 16-oz. bottles)!
And at a time when we're being urged to stay home as much as possible, avoid unnecessary trips to the store, and consolidate purchases as much as possible, being able to order these large refill pouches online, with free shipping for Amazon Prime members, is a great option. You can save even more with Amazon's Subscribe & Save option!
*Note: At the time of writing, the price of the 16-ounce bottles on Amazon was temporarily reduced, making the price per ounce the same for the individual bottles and the refills.
Refill Your Favorite Liquid Dish Soap Bottle or Dispenser
Like nearly all dishwashing liquids, Puracy Natural Dish Soap bottles have a squirt-type cap that must be pulled up before it will dispense the contents. Although the cap gets easier to pull up over time, both my husband and I prefer product containers that require less effort, like the pump bottles for liquid hand soap. So, after using up the squirt bottle of dish soap I bought initially, we now use the refill pouches for the built-in soap dispenser next to the kitchen sink faucet as well as a repurposed liquid soap pump bottle, since it's nice to be able to do dishes side-by-side without having to take turns accessing the dish soap.If you're not a fan of squirt bottles, either, and don't happen to have kept an empty pump bottle you can reuse for this purpose, I suggest picking out an attractive glass soap dispenser bottle, preferably with a rust-proof or rust-resistant pump top, that you can fill with Puracy Natural Dish Soap from the 64-ounce refill pouches. I like this reasonably priced, textured glass liquid soap dispenser with a brushed nickel pump and a generous 16-ounce capacity, whose elegant but unpretentious design could complement nearly any style of kitchen decor, from contemporary to traditional, casual to formal.
Another option is a hands-free, automatic liquid soap dispenser. Most brands and models get mixed reviews and need to be used regularly and unclogged periodically, but if you're looking to take extra precautions to avoid spreading germs to other family members, you may want to consider something like the simplehuman 9 oz Liquid Soap Pump, Brushed Stainless Steel Touch-Free Sensor Dispenser, one of the better rated and more reasonably priced models from this well known, innovative product brand.
It's important to use Puracy Natural Dish Soap only in a dispenser designed for regular liquid soap, rather than in one made for foaming liquid soap formulas, which contain more water and are more dilute.
Puracy Natural Dish Soap: A Safe, Effective and Green Dishwashing Liquid Made in the USA reviewed by Margaret Schindel
Looking for more product reviews? You'll find many more on a wide range of topics from our Review This Reviews contributors at ReviewThisProducts.com.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Reviewing The Love Of A Friend
Honoring Friendship
There is nothing like the love of a friend image courtesy of pixabay.com |
Friends hold your hand through life image courtesy of pixabay.com |
It is pretty special to have a friend that loves you through it all. They know all your faults and love you anyway. Her friendship was special like that, it is something I have always treasured and been in awe of. I've had many friends throughout my life but none quite like her. She was special.
Monday, March 23, 2020
How to Open Fire TV Remote Reviewed
The version of the Fire Stick I was installing on multiple televisions had a remote control case that I absolutely could not open. No open = no batteries= no fire stick! Frustrating. When it became evident I was close to using a tool to pry the case open, not recommended and not wise, I headed to the internet and a quick search revealed that I was not the only one with issues.
The problem with sliding the remote open to insert the batteries is smoothness of the remote. The directions give a nice tutorial on how to open the two piece remote by sliding the remote apart. Except I and judging from the amount of results on the internet search and many others had issues.
I found this DIY tutorial and problem solved. Using gloves or tape works in a flash to provide the grip needed to open the remote so it easily slides apart to insert the batteries. Sometimes nothing is easy in the quest to cut the cable!
My Favorite Free Services To Cut The Cord
One of the main reasons to cut the cord is cost. My cable-internet bill decreased by over 100 percent by eliminating the cable tv charges. So much of the monthly bill was fees, franchise fees and more fees combined with what seemed a zillion channels I do not watch (and that was the basic cable package!)
I found a wealth of free services to stream entertainment through membership at my local library. The online offerings from your library should be your first stop for free entertainment with the caveat your library must first belong to the services to pass along the membership to you.
Most of the free services do have a monthly limit of downloads; but I have found the limit to be very reasonable. The limit does differ per library.
Kanopy For Indie Films
Hoopla For TV Shows & Movies
Freegal For Music
Freegal
Sunday, March 22, 2020
15 Additional Distracting and Calming Things to Do During Quarantine
15 Distracting Things to Do During Quarantine |
Last week I wrote about ten calming and distracting things you can do during these crazy quarantine times.
This week I'll add another 15 suggestions for you.
1. 5000 Piece Puzzles
Ok, maybe just 1000 pieces will do. Family members of mine have tackled this one already.
2. Read the Hilarious Twitter Hashtag #QuarantineLife
The top tweets will crack you up. My mom and I were in stitches reading them!
3. Crossword Puzzles
Do you love to do crossword puzzles? If so, get out the book.
4. Redecorate a Room
That may involve trips to the store, so you may be restricted on what you can actually do. But hey, if you can even tackle one or two aspects of a redecorating project, good for you! Here's a brief helpful video on how to mix patterns in home decor:
5. Reorganize Your Cupboards and Closets
To some people, this is therapy, to others torture. Either way, get it done! If you've been putting off dealing with the disaster behind your closet door, now is a good time to get 'er done.
6. Learn a New Language
There are several common APPs you can use to learn a new language. Here are a few you can check out: Babbel, DuoLingo, and MemRise.
7. Learn to Play Piano Via an App
Yes, there's an APP for that. Here are two Apple Apps you can check out - Flowkey and Note Quest.
8. Assemble All Those Poems You've Written, And Self-Publish Your Book
Do you have a box of personally written poems that need a permanent place? How about writing that poetry book you've always wanted to write. I crossed that one off my bucket list last year and self-published my first book. I've since published five more and am working on my sixth. Here are some things I've learned along the way that may help you get started.
9. Crafts - DIY Crafting
I know, this is obvious. Knit, sew, or crochet those virus blobs. If you have friends who also enjoy crafts, turn it into a game. Tackle the same project and whoever finishes first gets a prize - maybe a book.
10. Learn Calligraphy
Family members of mine did this one the other day. You can get multiple tutorials on YouTube.
11. Coloring Books are Fun, Even for Adults
This is one I plan to do to relax. Coloring can be utterly satisfying. Color with the kids or you can always buy grown-up coloring books online.
12. Turn Your Life Into a Reality Show
If you're bold, go for it. Vlog your life and upload your daily routine to your social media audience. If you don't have an audience, you could end up with one fast lol - be careful!
13. Take Cooking Lessons Online
Head over to Youtube and start watching all those addictive cooking videos! Have you always wanted to learn French Cooking? Now's your chance.
14. Assemble and Sort All Your Photos on Your Laptop & Phone
Sort all your photos and store them on a USB or in the cloud. Or create a family wall of photos - finally frame and display all those family favorites.
15. Handwrite Letters to Your Family
Handwrite a letter. Don't type it. Handwrite it and mail it to mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or the kids. Include the kid's drawings or photos as well. Yes, you can do this online, but there's something very special about getting something like this in the mail.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Reviewing Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders Mini-Series
Yes, that's a grown up Ron Weasley playing a Scotland Yard dectective |
Adapting a book to a mini-series always presents challenges in keeping true to the author for their fans while also ensuring it works well for today's audiences. I feel that when they adapted And Then There Were None they really captured that well. In this case I feel conflicted.
As I said I enjoyed this book immensely, but having finished the three part mini-series I'm not sure if I liked it or not! I was intrigued with the casting of John Malkovich in the role of Hercule Poirot and I think he makes a surprisingly refreshing change to David Suchet or Peter Ustinov.
The problem for me was that key elements of the story was changed, one of the key players wasn't in the mini-series and two of the other players had totally different roles, in fact I was very surprised by a certain death that occurred.
While watching it the thing that I really didn't find added anything to the mini-series was flashbacks that Poirot was having to his time before arriving in the UK and at the end you see what role he supposedly had before leaving Belgium which is completely at odds with the character Dame Christie created.
If I wasn't as familiar with Hercule Poirot I might not have minded the liberties taken and it may have added something, but I'm not sure. It has left me feeling very conflicted about whether or not to recommend this series.
When it comes to one of the main characters lodgings in London, the series certainly makes them a lot seedier than my imagination created in my mind as I read the book.
I was grateful that they didn't change who the killer was because at one point I thought they were going to make it a different person which would've been insane (in my opinion). I did like the reveal after the murderer was revealed. Instead of the almost iconic Poirot gathering of the characters for his big reveal they went with the power of television to give flashbacks of key scenes.
Do I recommend this series? I really am conflicted so I will just say if you are an Agatha Christie purist absolutely not. If you haven't read the book then I think you might enjoy this. I would be intrigued to know your thoughts if you do decide to check this miniseries out.
If you've not heard of the ABC Murders before then it basically starts with Hercule Poirot getting letters from someone who signs himself ABC ..... and then the murders begin.
The first is Alice Asher in Andover, the second is Betty Barnard in Bexhill, you get the idea. Next to each murder victim a copy of London's ABC (the famous railway guide) is left opened at the appropriate letter. Each destination is one that has a connection with Poirot and the letters are addressed to him almost taunting him to participate in the murderer's 'game'.
The story is set in 1930s London and the backdrop shows the rising fascist movement and anti-immigrants movement which adds to the bleakness that accompanies Poirot's traumatic flashbacks.
Click here to get the ABC Murders on Prime Video |
Now I watched this on the ABC channel in Australia (which I thought was kind of ironic!), but I could've watched it on Amazon Prime. I do love Amazon Prime and have enjoyed watching shows such as Jack Ryan and Good Omens on there.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Make Your Own Public Restroom Survival Kit Reviewed
Protect Yourself in Public Restrooms!
My husband and I enjoy making day trips as well as traveling. What I hate most about traveling whether for a day, or even a week, is the necessity to use public restrooms.
By now, we have all heard that you should use a paper towel to open the bathroom doors since so many people do not wash their hands before touching the door knobs. As if that is not enough to make you cringe, I was recently told that drug addicts will clean their needles by poking them in the toilet paper in the restroom stall. This takes things to a whole new level of contamination concern.
To be fair, I did check Snopes to determine if needle cleaning in public restrooms is a valid concern and found that none of the health services questioned had ever heard of that happening. Still, it made me hesitate to trust the provided toilet paper in public restrooms.
For me and my family, I have decided better safe than sorry. After all, we know there are germs in any restroom. With the flu, a multitude of viruses, and the concern for cleanliness, why take the risk if not absolutely necessary?
Some might consider this an extreme and unnecessary precaution. Perhaps it is. But, like any other precautionary measure, if it gives you peace of mind, why not. You are certainly not hurting anyone else by carrying your own public restroom survival kit.
Items Needed for Your Public Restroom Survival Kit
I assemble my own public restroom survival kit. I include individually wrapped toilet seat covers, my own toilet paper in a sandwich bag, flushable single pack wet wipes, camp soap sheets, and a few of my own paper towels.I carry two different types of toilet seat covers. One is the typical paper cover that you see in many public restrooms. The other is a plastic toilet seat cover. The plastic seat cover is not flushable, but I find it required in some public rest stops. Even though it is made to encase the seat cover, I simply lay it on the seat. If I won't sit on it, I certainly will not lift that seat to "gift wrap" it.
You all can stop laughing now! No, I am not a germaphobe, but over the years I have truly seen some pretty nasty things in public restrooms. I won't go into the graphic details and descriptions. Suffice it to say, I've seen enough to know I believe in the proverbial "ounce of prevention". In this case, I would alter that saying slightly to state an ounce of protection.
If you think I am alone in this concern, allow me to point out that Amazon.com even offers a pre-assembled public toilet kit.
In a pinch, I would totally invest in that "go bag"! Because I have time to prepare my own survival kits packed with my preferred supplies, I don't mind putting them together myself.
If you plan on traveling by plane, you may prefer a clear bag for supplies in your carry-on. There are no liquids in my public restroom survival kit, but a clear bag might keep baggage inspectors from opening it and touching everything. Hand sanitizer would need to go in your clear liquid carry-on bag. If you are traveling by car, you can choose any tote bag.
I prefer a tote bag that will clip to my jeans belt loops or my camera backpack loops. This is a nice inexpensive trio that I found. I only need the medium sized bag in this set for my restroom survival kit, but I can always find different uses for the other two.
50PCS Travel Disposable Toilet Seat CoversCheck Price Charmin Ultra Soft Cushiony Touch Toilet PaperCheck Price Simpleaf Flushable Single Pack Wet Wipes | Eco- FriendlyCheck Price Coleman Camp Soap Sheets, Travel Soap Sheets - 50 countCheck Price
How Do I Know I Am Not a Complete Germaphobe?
A real germaphobe would recommend two more items! After all, the dirtiest places in a public restroom are the floors, the toilet handle, and the faucet.
Eek! Perhaps I should rethink this! After all, I do wear my shoes in the car and in my home! And, those gloves and shoe covers are disposable.
Dealmed Medical Exam Gloves – 200 Count Small Nitrile Gloves, Disposable GlovesCheck Price Blue Shoe Guys Professional Grade Disposable Boot & Shoe Covers BootiesCheck Price
And if you really want to do things right, be sure to include your Poo-Pourri! It was previously reviewed by Dawn Rae and would make a fabulous addition to your public restroom survival kit.
When you are out and about, be sure to be prepared, stay safe, and "rest" protected in those public restrooms!
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Wednesday, March 18, 2020
A Time to Grow, Now is the Time! A Garden Review!
If there ever was a time to look forward, it is now.
To that end, I am offering you some "jobs" that need to be done before the growing part can start!
My Spring To Do List!
- Clean out the pots! Seedlings for this year are coming up.
- Trim Bushes
- Check Foundation Beds
- Select the flowers and vegetables that I want to grow this year.
- Make sure I have all the necessities (to avoid frustration)
- Plant, Mark and Place in the Sun
- Watch patiently as Mother Nature does her magic!
This is Just the Beginning, Now Let's Get Started!
While your pots are air drying, get outside and check out how the garden fared through the winter months. It's a good time to pull back any debris that you did not remove in the fall.(See #3) Now BEWARE, you should check your own climate to make sure that no further hard frosts will happen. Be ready to cover young growth in case of really cold nights that might still happen.
2. Before the weather gets really warm, you can trim some of your flowering bushes! Again, be knowledgeable you don't want to trim those bushes that will flower early in the spring, especially lilacs and forsythias. If you trim these in the spring, you will likely lose all the flowers for that year. A rule of thumb to follow for good results is this: If it flowers in early spring (lilacs, forsythia, azaleas and such) do not prune until after they have flowered for this year. If the bushes flower later in the year, early spring is a good time to trim and resize. These bushes will have plenty of time to set buds for this coming 2020 season. The Farmer's Almanac is a good guide just click on the link: When to Prune Shrubs
3. Your pots are drying and you are doing a foundation check. It's a great time to look at the flower beds, see what is sprouting already and gently pulling back on the ground cover (leaves) that you put there in the fall. Look for bees that are coming out of dormancy and leave them some mulch to use as blankets at night when it's still cool.
4. When you have done all this cleaning and spotting what's new in the garden, you just might need a little rest. All work and no fun is not a good way to garden. The Fun comes from checking out all the seed catalogs for new and exciting plants you want to try to grow for this year.
There are numerous garden centers that offer seeds and you should check out your local growers/suppliers for their catalog. If you don't have any local suppliers, you can try Veseys, Dominion Seed House and many, many more. The Spruce offers 60 free seed catalogs where you can either get a hard copy catalog or view it online.
5. What are the necessities? Well, you are going to need fresh garden or potting soil. If you are doing seeds, then a good seeding mix would be a good idea. You have your clean pots and hopefully you have some old saucers or containers to use for catch trays (please make sure these are clean as well)
You need the seeds, so hopefully you have had some time to check out what's new for the gardens this year. Or maybe you have kept seeds from last years harvest. Good for you!
Clean tools are also needed. You don't want to spoil all the hard work you have done, by plunging a dirty trowel into your newly cleaned pots.
6. Plant markers, unless you are a master gardener and can spot a bean sprout from a pepper sprout, then marking your seedlings is a must. Maybe you are trying a new variety and want to log it's growth and more, then plant markers are a must! Even for flowers, I find that I can't rely on my memory to tell me what I planted in which pot. (Brain Fog comes to me naturally, so I rely on my markers) These can be home made by cutting up white plastic and using a waterproof marker to label the pots. If you are creative there are many other ways to make some really nice markers. I've included a video here! Making Garden Markers
7. Now you can sit back and relax, watch a video or two, and dream. Hopefully there are some nice sunny days coming your way. Find a nice little sheltered spot where the sun shines and just sit back and let your body get it's quota of Vitamin D.
Now it's time to order whatever it is you still need to get those seedlings started. New soil is the Number 1 item that should be on your list and if you are a Prime Member, you will get it tomorrow.....
This is my favorite potting medium and I get free shipping with my Prime Membership. Miracle Gro has been around for years and it has a 5 star rating, do I know it's a good choice. I still don't like having to lug these bags of soil around, so shopping online is the way I get mine. It comes to my door and that makes me very happy. My garden this year will be off to a great start. Join me!
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
DIY Hand Sanitizer Reviewed
Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
DIY Hand Sanitizer image courtesy of pixabay.com |
We are all in the same boat with the flu & various viruses that terrorize the world. The importance of keeping our hands clean and the surfaces around us goes without saying. When it comes to being able to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with us on those occasions that we have to go out for supplies is pretty much impossible. The hoarders and the opportunists have cleared the shelves across the nation. Not to worry, you can actually make your own.
What You Will Need:
- 1 empty hand soap or sanitizer dispenser
- Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) 99% alcohol volume
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Essential Oil or lemon juice to make it smell nice (optional)
- Large measuring cup with spout to mix and pour from
Hand Sanitizer Recipe:
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