raspberry bars

2 and 1/4 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
10 oz (3/4 cup) raspberry preserves (or any other flavor you wish)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine everything except for the preserves in a bowl. Mix till well combined. Reserve 1 and 1/2 cups of the mixture and set it aside. Press the remaining mixture into a greased 8" square baking pan. Spread jam over pressed mixture, but stay away from the edges, or it tends to burn. Crumble the rest of the mixture over the preserves (this part takes the longest because the dough itself isn't very crumbly, so you'll have to pull it off into little pieces). Bake for 40-50 min until lightly browned. Cool and cut into bars.


~ This is a great recipe to make when your getting company or have an event to go to last minute. I always have these ingredients on hand.

coleslaw

8 cups of cabbage (approximately 1 head, shredded)
2 tablespoons minced onions
1/4 cup carrots (shredded)
1/4 cup milk (I use 2%)
1/2 cup mayonnaise 
1/3 cup sugar 
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup buttermilk 
2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar


Take the carrots and cabbage and shredded them. It is important for this recipe that you have very small pieces.
Get a large bowl and place the diced cabbage and carrots in it.
Add the minced onions to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
In another bowl mix the sugar, salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, and lemon juice together to create the dressing. Keep mixing until it becomes smooth and creamy.
Take the dressing and pour it into the bowl with the cabbage and carrots and mix it thoroughly.
Cover and place the bowl in the refrigerator for several hours before serving.


 ~Great recipe for a picnic, cook out or a nice side dish.

keep dogs out of the garden

Some people swear by putting water-filled soft-drink bottles in their gardens to keep dogs out.  Just take an empty 1 1/2 liter or 2 liter soft drink bottle (clear plastic) take off any wrappers and fill it with water. Put it in the garden/flower bed and lay it on its side.

rubber tree plant

The rubber tree plant, also known by its Latin name 'ficus elastica', is a popular indoor houseplant grown for its attractive foliage and ease of care. The plant adapts to typical household conditions and even tolerates periods of neglect and low light. The common rubber tree plant features dark green leaves, but some varieties have burgundy or variegated foliage. Regardless of type, all rubber trees require similar care and thrive indoors with very little maintenance.
Plant owners can determine if they are watering their plant too much by checking the soil conditions.  Even if the soil is dry its ok because the plant thrives off dry soil.

The rubber tree plant loves light and shaded areas. This plant likes light but not the heat of sunlight. Keep it in a corner of the home where it will receive enough sunlight but in the shade.  It is wise to keep your rubber tree plant out of direct wind zones and draftee areas to as these conditions are not suitable for this type of tree plant.

If the plant is getting out of control then it is advised that the leaves and stems should be pruned or trimmed back. The freshly cut areas will grow healthily. If leaves are dying then they should be cut off to allow for new growth to appear. 

no need to rake

Leave grass clippings after you mow. As they decompose, they add nitrogen to the soil, which is what most of us want to add when we use environmentally friendly fertilizers. Leaving the grass clippings will also stimulate earthworm activity.

manual mowing - easier than you think

Manual mowers require no gasoline, emit no loud noise or pollution, and coincidentally provide a great way to stay in shape.

The old-fashioned machines are making a quiet comeback thanks to the current emphasis on energy conservation and personal health.

About 350,000 manual mowers are sold annually in the United States and carried by hardware stores and lawn care centers from coast to coast.

 The average cost of a reel mower is about $100 and the machine doesn't require fuel, and seldom needs repairs other than blade sharpening every few years. Today's models weigh from 16 to 32 pounds, compared with the cast-iron mowers of yesteryear that ranged from 40 to 60 pounds.

In addition to environmental and fitness concerns, smaller suburban yards are helping fuel the use of push mowers. Most people with smaller lawns who try them, stay with them.   If you have a larger yard, be inventive!!!

african violet

The African Violet originates in Africa and isn’t a violet at all, but belongs to the family of Gesneriaceae. The common name comes from the primary flower color, although you can find the “violets” in pink, blue and white flowers.
This low-growing, hairy-leafed plant hold leaves roughly oval in shape and dark green. There are hundred of varieties of Saintpaulia whose blossoms range from pink to blue to violet. The flowers, sometimes run up to as much as an inch and a half across but usually smaller, some miniature varieties also exist.
Overall african violets adapt very well to home-growing conditions. They will thrive in a an environment of 70° to 75° temperatures during the day and not below 60° at night.
In the winter if the temperature gets down much below below 60° the plant should be moved away from the windows for the night. In nature african violets live in a moist, humid African jungle, it needs even more humidifying than most plants.
The best way to “create” this growing condition is to set plants in a deep pan or saucer on an inch layer of pebbles filled with water to just below the pot.
The best practice in growing African Violets should be self watering system that waters from below, or from above with a watering can with a long spout.
The long spout lets you reach inside the foliage and wet the soil without splashing the leaves. One of the major troubles the home gardener runs into with Saintpaulia is the problem of white spots forming on the leaves. This is usually caused by cold water splashing on the leaves. Always use room temperature water or warmer. You can also use the wick-type watering system.

One of the reasons these little plants have been enjoyed for decades is they don’t require, great deal of sun. An east or west window is best, although many African Violets can grow well in a northern exposure but usually only in the summer time. To keep the leaves of your African Violets free of dust, clean them with a soft brush — a small soft paint brush will do the trick.
African Violets like a rich soil, an african violet soil which is a special soil mix designed for them and can be purchased in the garden center. As with other commercially packaged soils, this mixture has been scientifically prepared to the exact specifications for Saintpaulia for maximum growth. When potting or transplanting an African Violet, be sure the soil is not packed too tightly as they like a well aerated soil and thrive in a more roomy pot.
The most common way of propagating African Violets is by the leaf-cuttings, preferably in the spring. This way new plants can benefit from summer weather to grow. It will generally take about ten or twelve weeks for the first new leaves to appear. A successful new plant will flower after four to six weeks. That’s why you start the process in the early spring and should have a grown and flowering Saintpaulia by fall.

flea help for dogs

Ectopamine™ Spray is a mixture of essential oils designed to repel fleas, according to All About Pets Holistic Veterinary Medicine in Travelers' Rest, S.C.  It's a spray on product that needs to be applied at least once a month when there's a threat of fleas. The spray can be applied as needed because it's non-toxic and all natural. It works by attacking the insects' central nervous systems by blocking the ectopamine neurotransmitter, a receptor only found in insects. So it's safe for humans and doesn't cause the damage that synthetic flea and tick medicines may cause. It also works on mosquitoes.