rosemary shortbread cookies

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large tablespoon of chopped fresh or dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the vanilla, and the rosemary. Then slowly add the flour until the mixture forms a crumbly ball when you knead it.


Roll the mixture out on a floured board until it’s about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick, and cut into squares or use a cookie cutter to make shapes. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the top just starts to turn a light golden brown.


Remove the cookies from the baking sheet, and let them cool on a cooling rack.

fruit flies

Put a piece of fruit like a banana peel into a plastic container,  put the lid on the container and punch small holes in it.  The fruit flies are attracted to the fruit so they go into the container but they can’t come out. 

planting strawberries

1. Check your soil. Strawberries like well-drained, fertile soil that is slightly acidic. The best soil for strawberries tends to be compost-enriched, sandy soil. Strawberries grown in this type of soil will yield more and be sweeter.

2. Use raised beds. Raised beds tend to drain better and that along with good soil will ensure a sweeter fruit. Container planting is also a good option.

3. Check your location. Strawberries should be planted where they will get at least eight hours of full sunlight. Getting enough heat and light is crucial to sweet fruit production.

4. Give them space. Strawberries like to have enough space to grow and spread out. They should have at least 12 inches (30 cm) in between each plant. If strawberries get overcrowded, they tend to produce smaller, sour fruit.

5. Plant in the fall. If you can, plant your strawberry beds in the fall rather than the spring. That way they will have time to get a good root system in place before they start the large task of growing and producing fruit. If you live in a cold weather climate, just make sure to liberally mulch your strawberry plants so they can withstand the winter successfully.

6. Make sure you plants are healthy. Another cause for sour strawberries is disease. Mildew, rot, and other problems will be a drain on energy resources and the plant can't keep up properly.

rotate your garden

Rotate your vegetable crops. Next season, plant the same vegetables but in different areas because each one depletes the soil of something different. This gives each area of soil a chance to rebuild its nutrients.

at the office

Ask co-workers to bring their unwanted cups, mugs, plates, cloth napkins, and silverware to work to replace disposable items in the break room.  Everyone was your own after use!

clean up your environment

When you are out walking or hiking, pick up trash along the way.  When you get home, recycle whatever possible.

the sun and outdoor lights

The world is constantly looking for alternative energy sources. But thanks to solar technology  all you need to do is look to the sun.  By utilizing fixtures that are solar powered you can harness the sun’s energy during the day and enjoy the light at night.  Outdoor solar lights are available in stores and online in may shapes and sizes.  They are easy to install and don't require electric outlets so they can be used anywhere.