July 24, 2011

Growing BlackberriesThis is a page about growing blackberries. In many areas blackberries grow profusely with no help from us. However, if you are thinking of planting some berry bushes in your garden, then this information can be helpful for providing you with a bumper crop.

 

Ripening an AvocadoWhen shopping for an avocado we often find that they are either too ripe or very hard. There are ways to easily ripen an avocado at home after you bring it back from the market. This is a page about ripening an avocado.

 

Storing BlackberriesThis is a page for the best ways to store blackberries. Summer means sweet, tangy blackberries are available in abundance. If you are lucky there are some growing right down the road. Like raspberries, blackberries can be delicate, and need to be stored carefully to prevent crushing.

 

Basil Salad DressingI received this recipe from my niece, and it has been a favorite with family and friends. When I serve it for guests, they usually ask for the recipe. I like it because it's easy, healthy, and tasty.

 

Easy Sweet and Sour ChickenWhen your family eats this, they'll never know how quick and easy it is.

 

Patching Nail HolesWhen you want/ need to cover up a nail hole on your wall, use white toothpaste. Put a little bit on the tip of your finger spread it smoothly over the nail hole. When it dries you can paint over it or leave as is.

 

Buy Yarn For Specific ProjectsI tried to keep my yarn organized and finally after trying umpteen different methods, decided "forget it!" I donated 5 large leaf bags full and still had lots of yarn left. Now the only time I buy yarn is if I have something specific in mind to make.

 

Five Ways to Groom Your Flower GardenWhether your grow annuals or perennials, grooming techniques like thinning, pinching, and deadheading are quick and easy ways to keep your plants looking their best and producing flowers all season long.

 

Make a Master Supply List for CampingOnce you have developed a "standard" camping equipment list, put it on your computer in either a Word file or an Excel file. I put several columns in front of each item - How many? Have it? Find it? Buy it? and print it out for each trip.

 

Getting Kids to Keep Their Rooms CleanWhen my oldest daughter was in grade school I couldn't get her to keep her room cleaned. One day when she was in school I taped a notice on her bedroom door that said "Condemned by the Health Department".

 

Buy Used Jewelry Instead Of NewMy husband always wanted to upgrade my engagement ring to something nicer. A good friend introduced him to a local jeweler. They also buy back jewelry from people. Because they can buy it back cheaper, they can sell it cheaper.

 

Trimming Your Dog's NailsI have used this method all my life with success. You need two people to comfort the dog. All animals like a "tummy rub" and will lay on their side for the nail cutting.

 

Painting Left For The "Secret" Path GardenI heard voices in the garden and opened the gate to find a little girl signing my guest book. She had brought the painting to the garden with her dad. She had set it on the ground near a big rock.

 

Sharpening ScissorsI sharpen my scissors with my knife steel. It clears any burrs and gives me a clean edge. I also make sure the screws are well tightened.

 

Bashful (English Bulldog)Bashful is a 10 month old English Bulldog. After weeks of looking for the right puppy, Bashful came to us through a fellow friend. It was one of those rare but special coincidences.

 

Caring for Baby Moles?My grandson found a mole that is about 3 inches in length, but has no fur. We know what you feed a full grown mole, but how do we know if this is a small one or an older one?

 

Freezing Green Beans?How do I freeze green beans from the garden?

 

Starting a Weeping Willow from a Cutting?My daughter had to cut down her weeping willow after it was destroyed in a storm. We noticed that the cut logs and branches were starting to sprout. Can a new tree be started from these and, if so, how?

 

Trouble Shooting an Electrical Switch Problem?I have a light pole near my dock with one plug outlet near the top. The switch for that light pole is on the outside wall of my pool deck. On the house that is near my backdoor, there are 2 switches in that box and one is for that pole and the other for the pool lights that change colors.

 

Buying Metal Funnels for Making a Tin Man?Where can I buy tin funnels to make a tin man? I live in the Vancouver area in BC. All I can find here are plastic ones. Thanks!

 

Mango Sorbet Recipe?Does anybody have a recipe for mango sorbet? Thanks.

 

Can I Freeze Cucumbers?Can you freeze cucumbers?

 

Growing Lupines from Seed?I know lupines are an aggressive flower, but that is what I want for a large area. If I just throw lupine seeds around this area where there is also weeds and some grass, will they take hold and sprout without putting dirt over them?

 

What is This Plant? Creeping CharlieThis plant is taking over my back yard. I was wondering if it was pennyroyal. It has purple flowers in the spring and grows by spreading of the root system.

 

Decorating an Older Home on a Very Tight Budget?I am moving into an older home and would like some ideas for decorating using my things. I would also like, maybe, a cheap way of working new ideas into the house? I need to put a touch of home into my new house.

 

Planning an October Military Ball?I have volunteered to help plan the military ball for my husband's Army unit. The ball is going to be in October, so I was wondering what people have done for October balls. What would be a good theme for that time of year?

 

Removing Candle Wax from Carpet?My son spilled a melted blue candle on our new tan carpet. How do I remove the wax stain?

 

Juicing Grapes for Making Jelly?I have buckets of wild mustang grapes on my new property, but do not know how to keep, prepare, or juice them for marking grape jelly. Can you help me?

 

Birds Eating Sunflower Seeds Before They Sprout?Twice now I planted sunflower seeds and twice the birds have eaten the seeds before they've had a chance to sprout. I don't mind if they eat the sunflowers once they've had a chance to grow and bloom, but it would be nice if they had a chance to grow and bloom first. Any suggestions for next year?

 

What Kind of Plant is This?What kind of plant is this? It comes up in the first week of June and grows 2 1/2 feet a day. It is now around 18 ft tall. It is supposed to have purple flowers and long beans. I have had it 15 years and it has never bloomed. I guess it is a male or needs another plant to make it bloom.

 

Painting Over Wallpaper?Can I paint sheetrock with wallpaper already on it?

 

Peony Bushes Not Blooming?I live in Ohio (zone 5) and my peony bush is not blooming. Someone else I know is having the same problem. I water it regularly and it is in direct sun. Any thoughts on this? It looks healthy, nice and green and sturdy, but no buds or blooms.

 

Wording for a Family Reunion Announcement?We are planning a family reunion and I need to know how to write the first letter, not in full details, but to say we are having one and when. I don't know what else to say after that. Can you give me the format on what to say?

 

Adding Protective Inserts to Window Boxes?I always enjoy Ellen's gardening contributions to the Thriftyfun column and just subscribed to the newsletter. Is there an advantage or disadvantage to having the window boxes built to hold a purchased porch/window box as an insert?

 

Dog Chewing on Shoes?How can I get my 6 month old male Pitbull pup to stop shredding my sandals? He seems to really only want to eat my black ones. I have had him since he was 7 weeks old, and he started doing this about 4 weeks ago.

 

Thrifty Options to Replacement Pads for SM50 Mopheads?What are some thrifty options for replacing the cloth pads on the mophead for a model: SM50 RN electric steam cleaner?

 

Clothing Dye Transferred in the Wash?A white blouse got washed with a red one. How do you get the pink out?

 

When Is a Green Varietal Heirloom Tomato Ripe?For the first time, I am growing heirloom tomatoes. Some are supposed to be green even though fully ripened. So, my question is, if they are green when fully ripened, how do I tell when they're ripe?

 

Painting Laminate Counters with Metal Edges and Joints?I see lots of posts here and elsewhere on the web about painting laminate, but none of the photos I've seen show laminate counters with the metal edges, and metal joints between the counter tops and backsplashes.

 

Growing Raspberries from Seed?I purchased some raspberries from the grocery store. They had a delightful taste and were a great size. Can you plant the seeds to start your own raspberry plants?

 

Stain Remover Left Stains on Clothes?How do you remove set-in stain remover stains from clothes?