Living Rural In Edens Garden

• a warm home shared with family
• good food to eat
• warm, clean clothes to wear
• wonderful friends
• an active mind
• laughter
• tears
• healthy husband and 4 daughters
• lots of pets! our very own ZOO … 2 horses, 6 cats, 12 dogs
• leaves changing color
• planning Thanksgiving meal
• wishing all my girls could be here
• a chill in the air
• prayer
• a gracious, generous, caring Lord and Savior

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, take time to list why you are thankful. Be sure to share your list with your family and/or friends.

Give thanks to the One responsible for the many blessings He has given to each of us.

Today, September 11th, is a day Americans will never forget - eight years ago on this date, the Twin Towers were hit by two hijacked airplanes, causing them tom implode killing men, women, and children.Many people watched on TV in horror as the second plane hit the Tower!It was a sad, tragic day in our history. It changed our country, it changed Americans; it caused ALL Americans: white, black, brown, and all colors in-between to pull togetherand give support to one another.Julianni did an excellent job as mayor of New York - leading NYC and the rest of us on how to get through September 11, 2009. Today is a day to mourn the loss of those who died and a day to celebrate those who lived.Cherish each day as though it was your last!God Bless AmericRemember… DIGGING IN THE DIRT IS FUN!  GardenAngel008 

It is, isn’t it?

The Stimulus Package of President Obama has passed both the House and the Senate… President Obama will sign the bill into law on Tuesday,February 17, 2009, in Denver, CO.  The timing of the passing and signing is tied in with great moments in our history … this will be remembered in history in the same way. Let us pray it will provide the economy what it needs to ‘jump start’ itself.

Not much about gardening today… but lots about God’s beautiful world. Also, a chance to see what WE DO to keep it wonderful.

As always, remember… “Diggin’ in the DIRT is FUN!”

gardenangel08

T. G. I. F. !

The week has been the l.o.n.g.e.s.t one in quite sometime! Ending a class at AIU. Trying to finish a huge project, 20+ pages for the class, and getting ready for the next one, Statistics. I need a tutor! Any volunteers? We could Skype the sessions… reply to this post if you are a wiz in Statistics!

What else is happening at living rural. .. hubby has been working on ‘projects’ this week - he dropped the utility trailer on his finger! It looks awful, but he will not see anyone about it. You can tell he’s in pain. Men, why do you put yourselves through this agony? It is not “manly” - it is “stupid.” I love you and your hurt finger, hubby-of-mine!

Not much else going on. The movie “New in Town” is so very funny, do not miss it! As is, “He’s Just Not Into You.”

The beach has been beautiful… sad to go home.

  gardenangel08

UPDATE

Received an A in Organizational Behavior!

 Remember… “digging in  DIRT is FUN!”

Garden Angel 08

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, SAFE, and BLESSED YEAR!

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest . . .

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!”

 William Arthur Ward quotes (American dedicated scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher)

Remember… “digging in tne DIRT is FUN!”

Garden Angel 08

Winter can bring on colds, sinus pain, cold sores, and sore throats. Below are the do’s and don’t for these and other common ailments that can plague each of us during the long, cold winter. 

• FEVER:

DO… take acetaminophen (in Tylenol); drink plenty of fluids

DON’T… try to work through it; cool your skin with ice packs (use a cool wash cloth, instead)

CALL DOCTOR IF… fever over 101degrees; headache and neck pain; fever remains after 2 days

• SINUS PAIN:

DO… use a saline spray or rinse; take a decongestant with pseudo-ephedrine (found in Sudafed); take ibuprofen (found in Advil)

DON’T… rely on antibiotic or steroid sprays

CALL DOCTOR IF… symptoms for seven or more days; severe pain; fever above 100 degrees

• COLD SORES:

DO… apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline); use RX of Valtrex or Acyclovir; be patient

DON’T… use peroxide, alcohol, or witch hazel; pick at it; kiss anyone (VERY CONTAGIOUS); cover with concealer

CALL DOCTOR IF… sore remains week or more; severe pain

• SORE THROAT:

DO… gargle with warm salt water, repeat as needed; sip herbal tea; suck on cough drops, Popsicles; use antiseptic spray

DON’T… ask for antibiotics

CALL DOCTOR IF… you or family member feel worse after a day or two; have white spots on back of throat(sign of possible strep throat); recurs frequently

• STOMACH BUG:

DO… sip ginger tea; drink clear liquids; eat bland foods

DON’T… drink fruit juice or coffee; eat protein first, salads, or whole fruits

CALL DOCTOR IF… symptoms get worse or last longer than 24 hours; vomiting; stomach pain; diarrhea

• CUTS AND SCRAPES:

DO… clean with warm, soapy water; keep cut moist with THIN layer of antibiotic ointment

DON’T… use peroxide or alcohol; pick at it

CALL DOCTOR IF… cut is deep; wound is jagged; discharge or red streaks; skin feels hot

• MINOR BURN:

DO… apply a cold compress; apply an ointment with petroleum, cover; wash with cool water twice a day, pat dry, and reapply ointment

DON’T… put butter on any burn; use peroxide, alcohol, or witch hazel

CALL DOCTOR IF… pain worsens; swelling; bloody discharge or pus

• PULLED OR SORE MUSCLE:

DO… follow acronym… R.I.C.E. = Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation; gently stretch; take ibuprofen for pain for 2 to 5 days; try topical analgesic cream; soak in a hot tub for 3 to 4 days

DON’T… put heat on a muscle right away; get a vigorous massage

CALL DOCTOR IF… walking is painful; soreness remains for week or longer

TRY THESE:

Chicken soup for a cold

Cucumber compress for a headache

Green tea for bad breath

Let me know what works and what doesn’t work, OK?

Have a safe, happy, and healthy New Year!

These are common sense remedies, check with your doctor before trying anything involving over the counter drugs or prescription medicine.

Garden Angel 08

Well not much fuss…

TERRARIUMS …

Take Care of Themselves

Giving You Low-maintenance

beauty, all winter

LONG!

…  a clear container encasing a plant or a collection of plants that thrive under the same conditions. It creates its own ecosystem: plants release moisture, which condenses inside the vessel (usually glass) and trickles back into the soil  This “rain effect” allows the plants inside to go month’s without watering.

Implements you will need to assemble your creation…

1. Rake and shovel: use a piece of string to tie a pickle or dessert fork to one chopstick and a demitasse or ice teaspoon to another
2. Tamping tool: stick a wine cork onto the end of a grilling skewer, for pressing plant and soil
3. Narrow bulb trowel: find in garden shop, planting, preparing soil
4. Pruners: find in a garden shop, trim dead leaves
5. Mister: any fine mister bottle will do, clean thoroughly,  hydrate terrarium with fine mist

Basics:

• Place terrarium in indirect light
• Usually will not need watering for 4 - 6 months - water when plants begin to wilt or condensation stops on container
• Mist sides of terrarium with ounce or two of distilled water, instead of leaves of plants
• If sides of vessel are foggy or large droplets form on top - a sign of to much moisture, remove top for a day or two to dehumidify

One Plant:

Simple … container and just one plant

1. Pick a vessel - a large cloche with saucer (13 1/4 inches high by 13 3/4 inches in diameter), $69, www..smithandhawken.com
2. Make it pretty - a maidenhair fern in a modest unadorned pot, so plant is focus
3. Position the pot - place plant in center, prune its leaves, so none are touching sides or top of container

You will need:

• A glass cloche (a bell-shaped cover) and a saucer, or a large-mouthed apothecary or cookie jar
• Pebbles for drainage
• Sterilized soilless potting mix
• A mister with distilled water
• Small scissors
• A flower pot
• Humidity loving houseplant (tropical, like a Boston fern, Flame Violet, Maiden Fern), compact, slow growing

How to set it up:

• Arrange a one inch layer of pebbles in base
• Transfer the plant from original plastic pot to a ceramic or clay pot
• Add potting mix to fill
• Use scissors to trim yellow or brown leaves
• Mist soil
• Cover

Find out more about TERRARIUMS at:  www.realsimple.com/terrarium

Remember… “Diggin’ in the DIRT is FUN!”

Garden Angel 08

 Merry Christmas! 

Today is December 24, 2008, Christmas Eve!

If your family is like mine, they are very excited for

this night and celebrating the birth of baby Jesus.

.

The Christmas Story can be found in the New International Bible, LUKE 1: 26 -38 and LUKE 2.

An animated version which is wonderful for anyone, but especially for children can be found by clicking here The Christmas Story.

A wonderful Christmas quote is …

Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given–when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.”
~ Joan Winmill Brown, American author and editor.

A wonderful Christmas recipe from my mom follows … try it, you’ll love it … and so will SANTA!
PECAN TARTS
Dough

• 3/4 stick margarine or butter
•   3 oz. cream cheese
•   1 C plain flour

         Blend together, roll into a ball, pinch enough dough for each tart cup (small muffin tins, makes 24 tarts, 2 tins), spray or use paper liners.
Filling

•  2/3 C light brown sugar
•  1/2 C chopped nuts
•  1/4 stick margarine or butter
•   1 egg

Mix together, drop by teaspoon into dough in tin
Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes

Makes 24

ENJOY…  and remember … “Diggin’ the DIRT is FUN!”
Garden Angel 08

YARD TOOLS.

This may be late for those under a foot of snow, but…  print it, keep it…  for next FALL.

Yard tools will benefit from some upkeep before you put them away for the winter. Here are some helpful tips before putting your yard tools away…

1. Drain the oil, take used oil to your town’s recycling facility or visit earth911.org
2. Replace worn parts, inspect and replace missing nuts and screws, make sure gas caps have O-rings to keep moisture and dust out.
3. Replace fuel filters how to: curve a 6″ length of metal coat hanger into a hook - reach into gas tank & fish out the fuel line, the filter dangles from the end - pull it off and install the new one.
4. Clean the plugs how to remove plugs from gas powered tools spray with brake spray cleaner - scrape off black bits with stiff wire brush or replace plugs
5. Preserve the gas - add fuel stabilizer (follow directions, keeps gas fresh for 6 months) OR drain gas excess in clean pan - run engine with choke on, pressing the prime button until engine quits.
6. Get the GUNK off - can trap moisture and cause rust - for safety… disconnect the spark plug and remove the blade.
7. Change the air filter - replace torn filters - remove trapped debris often.
8. Lubricate - spray hinges and moving parts with lubricant before storing - wipe tung oil on wooden handles to keep them from cracking.

These tips do take time to complete, but you and your garden tools will be happy you took the time when Spring pops in! Thanks to Sal Vaglica, This Old House, (11, 2008 p. 24)

Don’t forget… “Digging in the DIRT is FUN!”

Garden Angel 08