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Getting Rid of Wasps

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I use a flyswatter. Sometimes I use the bottom of a shoe if the wasp it walking around on the floor.  However, Tipnut has another suggestion for getting rid of wasps,

Here’s a quick DIY I saw on my local news (tv) using an empty jar, orange juice and a bit of jam (you’ll find the soda pop bottle versions I published previously underneath):

  • Punch a hole into the jar lid that’s about as wide in diameter as the base of your pinky finger (you want the wasps to crawl in but not be able to fly out easily).
  • Fill jar about 1/2 full with orange juice (can also use orange soda or some sweet & fruity smelling liquid).
  • Smear raspberry or strawberry jam underneath the lid.

What’s really great about this article? The comment section. Go read them…

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“Clark+Kensington Paint+Primer in One”

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Ace Hardware recently contacted us at Shak asking us to give a review of their paint, Clark+Kensington™. It is a new premium line of paint+primer in one, available exclusively at Ace Hardware. As my 2 girls were clamoring for room makeovers for months I accepted the offer to try the paint and report the results.

This new line of paint eliminates the need to prime and paint surfaces separately for the vast majority of paint projects. Recently, this brand was rated #1 by Consumer Reports,  It was cited as being, “impressive at hiding and leaving a smooth finish that resisted stains.” I liked how this paint has low VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels, which causes minimal odor and has environmentally safe ingredients.

 

 

[Read more…]

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Repurposing for Raised Bed

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Happy 1,000th post, Shakyard!

Two years ago, we all pitched in for Mother’s Day and gave my Mom and raised vegetable garden.  It was nice in that she is able to sit on the edge and pull weeds, water, and give her plants some TLC.  It cost us about $300 in all after putting in bag after bag of soil, buying plants, and more.

However, Barb Rosen with Hometalk was able to build one for a whole lot less by using her neighbor’s old window shutters,

You could do other configurations, but I used two shutters on each side and one-half a shutter for the ends. That used up all ten of the free shutters. Odds and ends of lumber stored in the garage rafters came down and became corner, end and middle supports. I even had enough wood screws from another project to use for this one!

Very nicely done for $0 cost!

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Carpet Stains Can be Removed

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I’ve had the worst problems with cleaning carpets. I have shampooed them, scrubbed them, soaped them down and still stains pop back up.  But the key to permanently removing stains is to attack them early.

Hometalk simply advised soapy water and do it quickly,

Remove carpet stains easily by treating them soon after they happen. I removed red spaghetti sauce from my carpet using this technique. Check out the detailed instructions in the blog post.

I tried this method with a child’s spilled orange drink once. That carpet stayed orange for six years before we finally replaced it.

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Indoor Hyacinths

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Hyacinths are probably my very favorite flowers with that out-of-this-world, beautiful smell.  When I see a hyacinth and just want to stand next to it and inhale deeply so the smell stays with me.  Forget receiving roses or other bouquets at work!! Send hyacinths!

That said, this is a terrific tip in growing your own!  From Learn2Grow.com,

Try forcing hyacinths in a hyacinth glass – a narrow-necked vase that allows one bulb to rest on top. Seat the bulb in the glass, pointed end up. Note where the bulb’s bottom rests, then fill the glass with water to a point just below that base. Replace the bulb. Store in a dark, well-ventilated spot (refrigerator, basement or garage) at 40-50 degrees F. Avoid freezing temps. Check the water level every few days, adding more when needed. In about 12 weeks, the bulb will fill the glass with roots and develop a shoot. Bring it to a warm spot with indirect sunlight (72 degrees F). After the leaves expand, it should be moved to a warmer location until growth accelerates. When foliage turns green, place in full sun.

Click through for pictorial instructions!  And grow grow grow!

Photo by kaybee07.

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Growing Pineapples at Home

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Most of us do not live in a tropical paradise, so growing pineapples would be challenging and even a bit scary to most of us.  However, they are incredibly easy to grow yourself.  Here from You Grow Girl are some pineapple growing tips,

At home, slice the crown (that’s the leafy top part) off the fruit. Be sure to remove all the flesh. If you don’t remove this material it may rot in the soil. Carefully slice small, horizontal sections from the crown until you see root buds that appear as small dots or circles on the cut surface.  The root buds are where the roots will eventually emerge and exposing them will facilitate quicker root formation. My pineapple top already had small roots formed as well. Strip off about an inch of lower leaves from the base to provide a stem for planting in the soil. Then set the plant top aside for a minimum of seven days in a dry place, out of full sun. The cut end must be allowed to heal and dry before planting, otherwise the plant will rot in the soil.

I may have to give this a whirl!

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Pot-tem Poles

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Just 10 years ago, these fabulous ideas for landscaping could only have been found in three places: 1) Fancy gardens of rich people, 2) Home and Garden magazines, or 3) In your own imagination.  Now we can find them everywhere thanks to great people who share their ideas online.  How about this?  A totem pole made from flower pots?

From hometalk.com,

 I collected beautiful pots and plates from Goodwill and garage sales. I dug a hole 12″ deep intserted a piece of rebar, which can be purchased at a hardware store in any length of your choice. Fill the hole with concrete. Level the rebar to make it straight. Once the concrete dries..overnight is good, start putting the pots and plates onto the rebar in an artistic order, gluing them as you go…

Beautiful!

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Walking a Gorgeous Path

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Last week we looked at a video of gorgeous steps, so this week we’ll take a look at lovely pathways to your house (or around the garden).  From houzz,

A long, straight path instantly makes your house the focal point, adding a sense of grandeur. Brick and slate are both great choices for complementing a white exterior, and the two materials pair well together.

The link has TONS of great suggestions and why you would pick which material for your sidewalk.  My favorite:

 

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Garage Storage Ideas

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My garage is an absolute disaster.  I still have girl scout camping stuff from three years ago that hasn’t been sorted.  Maybe this site can inspire me!  From Be Different, Act Normal,

… a great way to use studs to create handy and inexpensive storage in her garage.  I especially love the bungee cord idea to keep all of the balls in place.  So clever and something I will definitely figure out how to use in our next garage.

She links to Designed to Dwell, another great site!

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