Homemade Cherry Coke?
If you dont want to buy the jar of cherries, you can just buy a bottle of grenadine, which is just the cherry syrup. We use it for Shirley Temples here- Sprite and grenadine- Mmmm!! Its sold in the same aisle at the grocery store as regular mixers, like bloody...
Outside Faucet Cover for Freezing Weather
Another way to prevent the pipe from freezing is to find the shutoff valve. We were terrified that our outdoor faucet was going to blow because it seemed to have sprung a leak that left us with a small glacier attached to the back of our house after the first...
Keeping Chrysanthemums from Falling Over?
I pinch mine back every summer when they get to be about a foot tall, to about 4 inches. Its pretty extreme, but they recover nicely and dont tend to flop. If you wait to pinch them after that, youll lose your flowers. (Ive heard that you never should pinch...
Using Gray Paint as Primer?
Yes, gray is definitely the best primer for red. My husband and I found that out after 6 coats of paint in one room! Ill always remember to use gray from now on... Good luck!
Making a Sphere with Christmas Cards?
Oddly enough, the directions for making one of these was posted on here last year. I even bookmarked it, but never got to it. See if this link works: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88387830.tip.html I hope it does. Otherwise, you should be able to search for it...
Hydrangea Flowers Have No Color?
Hydrangea flowers fade after blooming if left on the bush. Thats just what happens, no matter how bright they were in the spring. If you want to preserve the blue color, then snip them off at their peak bloom and dry them. Otherwise, theyll fade- which is completely...
Keeping My Elderly Mother from Driving?
Hi there guys, thank you SO much for all the suggestions. Were going to try taking the tags off of the car next. We have no way of knowing how many copies of the car keys she had made, and until we can get her insurance to drop her, were hoping that shell get...
Planting Rooted Willow Tree Branches?
You should go ahead and plant them in the ground. You still have plenty of time before the ground freezes completely, and the roots will get a good head start on the spring. This is the best time to plant, really. You dont have to worry about them drying out...
Pests Eating a Sweet Potato Plant?
The most common pest for the decorative potato vine is the very tiny tortoise beetle. Theyre hard to catch eating the plant, since they prefer to hang out on the undersides of the leaves. Theyll destroy them pretty quick if left alone. Id give the vines a good...
Using Loamy Soil When Planting In Sandy Soil?
When planting trees, its widely believed that amending the soil is a bad idea. What tends to happen is that the tree roots will only grow so far as the amended soil, giving it a very limited and unstable root system. Even as much as one ton of loam will not...
Frugal Gifts For Neighbors?
Something I like to do is save up dried flowers and fruits and make simple holiday wreaths. You can make the ring for it out of an old wire coat hanger, and use evergreen branches as the bulk, then embellish it with fruits, berries, pine cones, and dried flowers...
Halloween Yard Decorations
These are really cute! I dont know how many coconuts or how much bamboo I can rustle up here in MA, but Ill definitely try this with gourds. And its easy enough to do with the family. Thanks for the idea!
Trimming Amaryllis Leaves?
Dont cut the leaves back at all. Thats how the bulb is storing up the energy for the blooms. Theyre like daffodils that way- just let them die back on their own. If theyre getting on your nerves, plant something seasonal around them to hide the leaves until...
Something Is Eating The Leaves On Weeping Cherry
Japanese Beetles love cherry trees. But it could be a lot of things- There are tons of hungry critters this time of year! Try spraying all of the branches with Sevin. It kills everything. Good luck.
Prenatal Vitamins For Hair Growth?
I dont think its the prenatals that make your hair grow so well. I think its actually the pregnancy hormones that do it. The reason I think that is because I started taking them about 2 months before I got pregnant, and now, 4 months into my pregnancy, Im still...
Reusing Trampoline Mesh?
I used ours to kill off weeds. Its been down for this past year and its doing a great job, even against Japanese Knotweed. Its a bit of an eyesore, but its not really anywhere anyone other then us can see it, although I guess you could always cover it with...
Warning About Morning Glories
Im going to agree as well. As an added insult, they never come back true to the parents. So if you absolutely LOVE the Heavenly Blue or another particular hybrid and have your hopes up on getting tons of those seedlings the following year, well, youre going...
Will a Lilac Bloom After Pruning?
Lilacs need to bloom on old wood, so they wont bloom next year, but the year after that, they will do just fine. Dont worry! Lilacs can take tons of abuse and recover nicely.
Alternative Scents for Rainbow Vacuum?
My husband is a huge fan of our rainbow vac. (Its his big chore, and always looks for ways to make it more fun) He buys herbal extracts from the grocery store (Whole Foods would have tons) like peppermint, vanilla, eucalyptus, etc. He says it only takes two...
Is Black Walnut Tree Toxic To Sweetspire Plant?
Hi there! Black walnuts are a real pain this way... I googled juglone poisoning and didnt get much. Ive never really been able to get much from online articles on this. If you do find a website that seems to have definitive answers on what is tolerant and what...
Keeping Ants Off a Snowball Bush?
You can also smear a ring of vaseline around the base of the bush to keep the ants from climbing up, assuming they dont have access from neighboring plants. This works for me. Good luck!
Mammoth Sunflower Leaves Turning Yellow?
Hi there, mine do that too. Happens every year. It doesnt bother me. Once they get really gross looking, I trim them off. The sunflowers dont seem to mind at all! Hope that makes you feel a bit better :)
Keeping Your Sanity With Chiggers
So do you use the Rid to treat the bites or as a preventative? And the vinegar (white or apple cider?) will prevent them? Should you just spray your ankles, or from the waist down (where they LOVE to go...)? More information, please!
Getting Rid Of Milkweed?
Ive had luck pulling it up. You have to be consistent, because of you leave a bit of the root, it will re-sprout. Just keep pulling the shoots (theyll come back smaller and smaller each time) until its gone. It might take a few months, but itll be gone for...
Can I Plant Different Colored Daylilies Close to Orange Ones?
The reason people say that all of the daylilies will turn orange is because the wild orange ones are very aggressive. They dont turn the others orange, they choke them out. So you can plant other colors with the orange, but you need to be watchful and make...
Keeping Garage Cool In The Summer?
Do you have an attic hatch in your garage? If you do, you could try leaving it open. Thats what my relatives in TX do. Lord knows they need help keeping anything and everything cool there in the summer! Good luck!
Making Great Iced Coffee?
A friend of mine always freezes coffee in ice cube trays for the iced coffee so that as they melt, the coffee doesnt get all diluted and weak. I thought that was genius!
What Is This Plant? (Deadnettle Lamium)
Its a deadnettle, aka archangel, and the variety is called Hermans Pride. Its a great little groundcover, but doesnt spread nearly as rapidly as most other lamiums. Enjoy!
What Is This Plant? (Mint And Tomatoes)
I feel sure enough to say that not a single one of those is a vegetable of any sort. The grass looks like crab grass, the pale, whitish weed is lambs quarters, and the larger, broadleaf one is some sort of false nettle. I have tons of all of these. Its definitely...
Spell Checking Your Tips
Amen. Personally, Im mortified by spelling errors... Sadly that seems to be a fading trend these days.
Pruned Maple Tree is Dripping Sap?
As a New Englander living in the height of Sugar Season, I can tell you that the sapping is very normal this time of year! I also think that it was a good thing to stop pruning. The best time of the year to prune trees and shrubs is the fall. If the tree needs...
Knit Therapy Bags
In our area, we have knitting circles where people will knit hats for newborns, or winter wear for the homeless and less fortunate. When youre between projects, its nice to do something simple and quick for others.
What to Plant Under Black Walnut Trees
I had no idea! This was a very informative post. I have a black walnut and an English walnut. Ive had some trouble under the black walnut- This could be why. Thank you!
Using OFF To Remove Nail Polish From Fabric?
Oh my god, if you are thinking of Easy Off oven cleaner, DO NOT use that. Wow. Itll dissolve your entire dress. I know that Off the bug spray will dissolve nail polish (or anything plastic-like, honestly!) but I dont know that Id ever use it on clothing with...
Removing Furniture Marks From Rugs?
I dont remember where I heard this, but if you put an ice cube in the divot left from the furniture leg, as it melts it should lift up the pile and dry as good as new. If that doesnt work, then Id try the ironing idea. Just dont push down, because thatd just...
Widening Windowsills For Cat?
The window sills that the pet stores sell have, ahem, weight limits. If your cat really does have a fat butt (both of mine do too!) then you might exceed the weight limit. It would be easy enough to get a wider piece of wood and a couple shelf brackets to extend...
What Is This Flower? (Peruvian Lily)
The blue one is a peruvian lily. Theyre gorgeous, but smell like cat urine if any part of the plant is bruised.
Decorating A Sun Room?
Honestly, Id recover the furniture and paint the computer desk something other than black. It sounds like you have a wonderful color scheme otherwise. Any other color would compliment the blues and tans, especially in a sun room. If it were me, Id pull in greens...
Storing Used Coffee Grounds Until Spring?
I have an old rubbermaid garbage can that I keep in the garage that I put all of my compostable waste in over the winter. It has a snap-lock lid so critters cant get into it. By the spring, its mostly full of ready-to-compost scraps. It doesnt decompose much...
Getting Rid Of Iris Flowers?
Or, if you cant dig them all up, try putting something like a thick tarp over the top of them to block out all the sunlight. This should kill them by next year. Digging them up should be pretty easy, though. Irises like to grow near the surface, almost with...
Registering For Wedding Gifts When You Don't Need Anything?
This is a tough one. You dont want to look tacky by asking for money outright. The simplest thing would be to set up a standard registry at a big, easily accessible store, like Target, Macys, or even Wal Mart. You can use the registry to ask for upgraded versions...
Losing a Bedroom When Renovating?
We bought our house after it had been on the market for over a year with 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. The first thing we did when we moved in was turn one of those bedrooms into a new bathroom, saving a little space to one side to expand a master bath. It has paid...
Should I Get A Mohawk?
All mohawks arent very time consuming. If you go for a shorter one, all youll need is some gel and youre good to go. (When I was in college w/dyed hair, I swore by this method) The taller the mohawk, the more devoted youll have to be. But you know this already...
Plants That Produce Unusual, Distinctive Seed Pods?
Chinese Lanterns are awesome, but here in zone 5, they can be invasive. Echinacea has neat cones after it dies for the winter. Okra is pretty dried- Ive even seen it painted gold or silver for arrangements. Honesty, or Money Plant, has pretty silver coin-shaped...
Candy Sharing
Also, local Childrens charities are often looking for Easter basket donations. You can call your local newspaper or Chamber of Commerce to find out where they are. My mom and I have a tradition of making a couple dozen simple baskets, full of candy and toys...
Baseboards in a Red Room?
Id go with a stained wood. My home office has the same red walls (I know what you went through with the paint. Wow.) I got some plain old knotty pine (its right cheap) and stained it a medium/dark stain with a polyurethane topcoat. It looks great. FYI, when...
No Gardening Yet in Maine!
Oh, hang in there! Were up to our knees here in MA with mud season. Theres still plenty of snow, too though. Its melting quicker ever day- My snowdrops just bloomed yesterday! Nothing else is even thinking about turning green, but that was a nice little cure...
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser For The Kitchen
Im with you- Im a HUGE fan. I have a glass stovetop, and hate using chemicals on it (thats the worst smell ever- burning chemicals!) and this sponge just wipes everything right off. Everything I thought was stained- for example, have you ever noticed how your...
Wood Banister Cleaning?
Yeah, I would suggest anything citrus-based. Itll make the wood super shiny, too!
Oval Baking Dish with Lid?
Have you seen the products from Le Creuset? Theyre fairly popular and come with lids. Ive seen them at discount stores like Marshalls, too. (Theyre a bit pricey, so look for sales!)
Summer Class Suggestions for Twelve Year Olds?
Hey there! When I was your age (sorry) I used to apply to local colleges and take classes. They usually have summer programs for younger kids (I think I started in 7th or 8th grade), and a lot of the classes were awesome. I remember taking entomology, pottery...
Summer Class Suggestions for Twelve Year Olds?
I forgot to mention that you can also ask your teachers at school- They have access to a lot of extracurricular activities like the summer programs I mentioned in my other post.
Displaying Award Ribbons?
I have seen them made into quilts- then either hung on the wall or used on a bed. Im sure you can find patterns online. Good luck!
Sir Eeagads (Giant Green Iguana)
WOW! That is THE coolest iguana I have ever seen. What a great pet! Ive never seen one so big- What a beautiful boy!
Sir Eeagads (Giant Green Iguana)
Do you have any more picture of him? I still think hes the coolest iguana EVER.
My Dog Smells But I Can't Give Him a Bath?
Theres also a product on the market that says its a dry bath- meaning its a powder that you shake all over your dog/cat and then brush it out. I have no idea what it is- maybe its only baking soda like the previous persons suggestion, but it wouldnt hurt to...
Making Needlepoint Heirlooms?
I love that youre making these gifts for your relatives. Every year, my grandmother-in-law always makes my husband and me a needlepointed Christmas ornament of her own design. Apart from sheer sentimental value, I would think that noncommercial designs would...
How Do I Make Earrings?
The best glue I have ever used for jewelry is called E6000. Its in a metal tube, and its fantastic. You can get it at most craft stores.
Ideas for Decorating Bedroom in Tool Theme?
Is he too old for Bob The Builder? Thats a popular cartoon for kids.
Repairing the Underside of Furniture?
If youre handy with a jigsaw and want it really hard to re-shred, then try luon (sp?), a very thin plywood. Its cheap and easy enough to cut with a jigsaw. You can get it at any sort of home improvement store.
Sparkle Ball Hanger?
At a hardware store, you can get little rings that have a screw on the end. I dont know what theyre called, but you can find them with the picture hanging stuff. Just screw it into the ball, and you can hook an s- hook into it!
Removing Candy from Cooking Pot?
Ive always had luck with filling the pot with hot water and letting it sit overnight. Good luck!
Easy Snowman Ornaments
These are great! They could easily be personalized for party favors or teachers gifts. Thanks for sharing the idea!
Breads and Pasta in Compost?
Just to stir the pot a little, I saw a while back on the show Dirty Jobs about how a worm farmer feeds pieces of loaf bread to the worms. Apparently they thrive on the simple carbohydrates- it gives them more energy to munch on all the vegetation. It was pretty...
Hardwood vs Laminate with Children?
Our house was built in 1840 and has its original hardwood floors. There are some scratches and dings, but theyre charming. Like the other person said- with hardwood, if you get the good, thick stuff, you can always sand it down. (Weve done that, too- One room...
How to Talk to Mother About Shaving Legs?
The most terrifying part is asking. But I agree with the other posters- A lot of moms wait for their daughters to bring it up out of fear of embarassing them. Honestly, would you want your mom to mention it to you? When I asked my mom about shaving, she took...
Getting Rid of Underground Bumble Bee Nest?
Personally, I like pouring in a bit of diesel fuel and then lighting it with a long stick. Ive heard other people use boiling water, but wheres the fun in that? It doesnt burn too long, and its like having a little eternal flame in your yard! Just be sure to...
Planting a Boston Fern?
I googled Boston Fern and apparently its only hardy on zones 9-10. If youre sure its a Boston fern and not a Christmas fern (they look similar), Id keep it indoors. If it were a Christmas fern, you could put it out. Those are very hardy.
Severe Itching Caused by Okra Plants?
It seems like the itching would be caused by the little hairs all over the plants... Could you try hosing them down to wash off the loose hairs? The water might also keep the remaining hairs from coming off so easily and keep them from flying up in the air...
Pumpkins Turning Orange Early?
The same thing happened to me last year. I left them alone (it was really hard!) and they made it. I think that as long as theyre kept dryish so they cant rot, theyll be fine. You could prop them up on something so theyre up off the ground a bit. Im trying...
Use Same Colored Primer For Painting Dark Walls
Something we learned te very hard way (5 coats of paint later) is that when you are painting a room a deep red color, use a gray primer. We thought we were being clever by mixing some of the red in with a white primer (holy pepto-bismol!) but it didnt work...
What Breed Is My Dog? (Dachshund and...
A Shnaushund! Ha! How cute- He must get lots of second glances. Very unique looking. :)
Care Advice For Moss?
Ive never heard of doing that, but it seems like a good idea- Like creating a little mini-greenhouse while it gets started. The only thing I would worry about is fermentation... I wouldnt wrap them tightly, but leave a way for air to circulate while still reatining...
Removing Grubs in Lawn?
I know of two ways, but both take a couple years to really take effect- Milky spore and beneficial nematodes. You can buy both at a garden center. Both are safe for pets and children, and are completely natural. Milky spore is a disease that infects the grubs...
Bedroom Painting Advice For Red Carpet And Dark Furniture?
I think a dark tan would look lovely- Think coffee with milk-kind of color... You can always use rugs over the carpet to tone it down a notch, too. (If its bothering you)
Window Treatment Ideas For French Doors?
At Home Depot, they have static-cling plastic stained glass that you cut to size for your windows (or french door panels) They have a few different patterns- from flowers to geometric to frosted. I use a flower pattern for complete privacy in our bathroom. The...
Empty Milk Carton for Watering Plants
I have another question: What kind of plants like to have diluted milk as fertilizer?
Tracy's Delphiniums
Those are amazing! Ive never seen that variety- Now I have to look for it! Thanks for posting your photo, it made my day, too.
Dyeing Your Hair With Jell-O?
Hey there! Its jell-o nowadays, huh? When I was in high school, it was kool-ade... And that didnt really work, either. Unless you have light blonde hair, it wont take at all... That means youll have to bleach it first. But all you do is add hot water (not boiling...
Moving Gladiolus?
If theyve died back all the way, it doesnt seem like itd hurt them. Id wait if you can, though. They might be tempted to re-sprout if its still warm out.
Stuggling Rhubarb?
Keep it nice and moist, watering it thoroughly every other day. Rhubarbs have heavy leaves, and its asking a lot for a transplant to hold up as if everythings a-ok. Just pamper it this year, and itll come back better than ever next year. Dont give up- theyre...
Mixing Sand Into Floor Paint For Better Traction?
In the paint aisle, they tend to have sand additives for the paint, and will mix them right in for you at the counter. I dont recommend this, though- The first time we painted a wooden walkway with this, it was way too fine to make any difference. So we got...
What's Growing in the Compost Pile?
Ha ha! The same thing happened to me, too. I spread out my compost throughout my flower beds earlier this year, and now I have pumpkins growing everywhere! Hardy little boogers, they are... It works out well, though, because I tend to grow a bunch of them every...
Fixing Paint Blisters?
Ive had that happen to me recently. I dont know exactly why it happened, but I poked it with a needle and pushed it down. It seemed to stick just fine. If it doesnt, you can always slap a little more on top of it. I usually leave a bit of paint out in a plastic...
What are my dog's chances?
Im with Jwagner. Raise hell. How would you behave if it was your child recieving treatment? Demand action and answers. Dont let them dodge questions, and most importantly, be around. I used to work at a vet, and sometimes it can be hard to get ahold of owners...
Getting Rid of Tobacco Worms?
My mom hand-picks them off of her plants with tweezers and squishes them. According to her, its very rewarding. :)
