Compost 101

“Equal parts of green and brown help to break the compost down.”  Compost is a simple, frugal way to improve the soil that most of us are faced with when we step out the door.  The best part is that it can be inexpensively improved by simply adding compost.
Compost is made from yard and kitchen debris [...]

Recycle E-Waste

We all have the quirky exceptions to our local recycling programs.  Each municipality makes choices from the menu of options available.  Understandable.  Cost vs benefit.  My local municipality, for example, does not include plastic in our curbside pick-ups.  Clear plastic has been easy to re-cycle elsewhere, but the solid color #2 Plastic (HDPE Colored) used in laundry detergent, shampoo bottles, containers for cat litter, [...]

Wedding Soup

Wedding Soup is chicken broth based.  Make the meatballs as small as your patience will allow.  A little meatball or two in every spoonful is absolutely ”Marvelous, Darling.” 
1 1/2 lb. meat loaf mix (equal parts ground beef, ground pork, ground veal).  Season to taste with onion powder, garlic salt, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce and approximately [...]

Brainteaser

Question:  If a month begins and ends on a Friday, what month is it?
Answer:  From Friday the 1st to Thursday the 7th is seven days, then 14 to the next Thursday, then 21 and 28.  One more day to the 5th Friday totals 29 days, so this would have to be February of a leap [...]

Disposing of Drugs and Medications

As the world becomes more crowded and more environmentally savvy, the long term effects of what was once seen as a simple common sense solution to the disposal of old pills and other medicines is now recognized as creating issues all of us need to heed.   Drugs that weren’t available two or three generations ago are now part of everyday [...]

Rose Cabinet Inserts

         
Amazing how things work out.  Haven’t made a rose panel in a very long time, yet the last two customers in a row wanted roses.  The first more stylized than the latter–each fitting the personality of the person who ordered each. 
See how easy it is to adapt a pattern to suit–changing out the color of the [...]

Curb Appeal???

      
What can one say that would be the perfect caption ?  

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 
Designed to Sell to a very specific customer. 
Winning entry in the Ugliest House contest.
Craziest Sports Fan in America. 
Definitely a Two-Bagger–one for your head and one for mine.
Exactly when did you stop taking your meds?
Top Ten (Un)common Landscaping Mistakes

Any ideas out [...]

Not All Mulch is Created Equal

Technically, mulch can be any product applied to the soil surface that is used to inhibit the growth of weeds, moderate soil temperatures, reserve water and improve curb appeal.  Big benefits are derived from lowly beginnings as rocks, grass clippings or pine needles.  Commonly though, the term mulch is usually applied to describe a shredded bark [...]

Earth Day and Election Day

Earth Day has coincided with Election Day in Pennsylvania.  A reminder to take better care of our planet and to choose our leaders wisely.  The two events are actually intertwined, as our choice in leadership will ultimately *affect our planet, and, our planet’s existing environmental problems will *effect what becomes important on the national agenda.
On this Earth Day, [...]

Black Bean and Pumpkin Soup

Start to finish, about 50 minutes.  Fast enough to serve 8 at a mid-week after-work soire.
In a blender or food processor, puree 3 (three) 15-1/2 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained, and, 1 (one) 10-oz can whole tomatoes, roughly chopped and drained.  Melt 4 tablespoons butter and saute 2 medium chopped onions until soft.  Add 3 [...]