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During a recent stroll through the garden, I noticed the leaves on some of my lovely flowers were being eaten away!  The poor leaves on some of my Zinnias were beginning to look like lace instead of leaves.  What to do?  After careful examination, I discovered the blasted Japanese Beetle having lunch on my plants.

japanese beetle

This beetle, having an almost neon greenish head and copper colored wings, is not hard to identify. And, these beetles  can be disastrous for ones garden.   Never having to deal with these invaders before, I researched for several hours on how to rid my garden of these nasty, destructive insects.

Some sources advised to get beetle traps.  These traps, hang several feet away from the garden, contain pheromone, to attract the beetles into a trap where they cannot escape.  That sounded like a good idea, but further reading gave me reason to seek other advise.  These traps, although pretty convenient, have been known to attract more beetles than the garden actually has because of the pheromone.  A hormone like substance that is like that of the female beetle and attracts the male beetles.

Other sources advised to eliminate the plants the beetles are munching on.  These horrid insects are munching on the Echinacea, Zinnias, Sunflowers, and the Salvia!  Destroying these plants is not an option I want to make.  And, I am not one to want to use strong pesticides in my gardens.  Still other sources suggested capture the insects and destroy them.  Fantastic idea I thought!

How to do that?  Further reading gave me some ideas how to fashion a contraption to capture the bugs in.  Although I did not follow the precise instructions, I made my own death trap for the Japanese Beetle!  Being one who recycles as much as possible, I headed to the basement.  I knew I had a bag of litre size soda bottles down there that had been rinsed and bagged for a project my granddaughter had been working on.  Sure enough, the bag was still there, so I removed 2 bottles and cut the top end of one bottle long enough to serve as crude funnel, and left the other bottle in tact.  Not having the duct tape handy, I used electrical tape and taped the funnel portion on top of the threaded portion of the in tact bottle.  (see photo) Not the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, but you know what, it works! 

The first day, I filled my trap with about a cup of water and headed to the gardens.  Examining each plant for the intruders, as I saw one, I would place the funnel under the leaf or flower and shake it until the bug fell into the funnel.  Then I would give the bottle a shake so the garden pest would fall into the larger bottle hitting the water.  I was able to capture every bug I saw, which amounted to about 100 beetles.  That evening, I strolled the garden again, and captured about 20 more of these insects, then folded and rolled a paper towel to serve as a plug for the funnel and left it sit over night so as to make sure my prisoners were dead.  The next day, I dumped the dead beetles and started over with fresh water.

So far, this is working!  I take a stroll each day and have only seen a few each day,  which I send to their death.

Declaration of Independence

The 4^th of July, Independence Day, honors the birthday of the United States of America!  July 4, 1976 – this is day when all 13 original colonies proclaimed their freedom from the British Crown.  From the Declaration of Independence:   “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

The list of reasons for this independence can be read in the original document, but some of these reasons are posted below:

• He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
•  He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Recordsfor the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
• He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
• For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent
• For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments

It is understood why these colonists felt compelled to establish this separation.   Over the years, Americans have shed blood, sweat, and tears to keep our country’s independence free from this kind tyranny. 

Gatherings of all sorts will abound, and fireworks will be displayed, in celebration of our nation’s birthday.  Please take just a moment during your festivities to remember those who have gone before us, and those that continue daily on that long road to indepence!

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dandelion

Often, when one thinks of weeds, the dandelion comes to mind.  This lacey leafed plant with its bright yellow flower springs up in most everyone’s yard at some time or another.  For years, children have gathered these bright buttery flowers and given them to mom as a token of love and affection.  But, for some, the dandelion is considered nothing but a pesky weed, think again!  The dandelion, when harvested without conditions of being sprayed with weed killers, can be a healthy, nutritious, addition to ones diet.

Offering many healthy benefits, including high in vitamins and minerals, this “weed” can be incorporated into your salad greens, made into pasta noodles, or even made into wine.

I hear so many people say the reason they don’t eat healthier, or purchase organic foods, is because it is more expensive to do so.   The dandelion is free; another gift of nature that takes only a little physical effort to harvest. 

For further herb reading about the benefits of dandelion:

University of Maryland Medical Center:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm

Herbalist Isabell Shipard (Austrailia):
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/free-herb-information/dandelion.html

Susan Weed Backyard Medicine Chest:
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/september03/herbalmedicine.htm

Herbal Book Reviews:
http://www.thegreenwoman.com/bookreviews.html
Dandelion Recipes to Make with Kids:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23788-Mankato-Attachment-Parenting-Examiner~y2010m5d12-Ten-more-dandelion-recipes-to-make-with-kids

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Over the years, mom has bandaged my wounds, dried my tears; and so many times, she was the only one who understood, and the only one who could help.  Mom has been my confidant, my friend, my cheerleader, my support system.

Mom has given so much of herself, without ever expecting anything in return.  Her examples and sacrifices have given me direction and strength in becoming the woman, the mother,  I am today.   Thank you mom!  

Mother’s Day is just around the corner – no matter what you do for her on her special day, make it show your mom she is loved and appreciated! 

Mom

Toxic chemicals surround us and contribute to allergy issues, breathing problems, pollution of lakes and streams, and general overall health of our planet.  One contributor of these toxic chemicals is household cleaners.  Have you ever wanted to know what’s in the cleaner you are using?  That should be an easy thing to find out, right?  Read the ingredients label, right?  Wrong.

The ingredients label for most commercially available cleaning products does not contain a listing of what is actually in the product.  Thanks to Earthjustice, a  non-profit public interest law firm, some of this information is becoming available.  Actually, one of the Earthjustice lawyers recently came upon a law in the state of New York.  Since 1976, the state regulations authorizes the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to require disclosure of the chemical ingredients and health risks, in manufactured household products.  Read more about the New York Supreme Court Case here:  http://www.earthjustice.org/news/press/2010/environmental-and-health-groups-face-off-against-household-cleaner-giants-in-court.html

Some companies, the SC Johnson Company, makers of many household products, including some well-known products as “Pledge” and “Windex”, have created a web site with detailed information regarding product ingredients.  http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/

Another maker of household products, Simple Green, has filed a disclosure report:  http://www.earthjustice.org/library/legaldocs/simple-green-cleaning-products-report.pdf

Proctor & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Church and Dwight, and Reckitt-Bensicker have refused to disclose their ingredients. 

Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and handcrafted liquid soaps make fantastic household cleaners!  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.naturalhomemagazine.com%2FLeafy-Greens%2FMake-Your-Own-Nontoxic-Natural-Cleaners.aspx&h=5bb26ae51b10d6206dd219cfe68791c8

But, if you find you just have to purchase a bottle of household cleaner from the grocery store shelf, please visit one of the previous listed links and consider a product from a company that is willing to reveal its ingredients listing.  

Christmas day is fast approaching.  Some of us are still scrambling to complete our gift shopping, and others have all the gifts wrapped and smartly placed under the tree.

 Christmas is one of my favorite holidays.  The loving spirit that comes with Christmas is unmatched to other holidays.  But, for some, it is also a very depressing, or sad, time.

 Why is that?  Is it because it brings back memories that are rather forgotten?  Is it because they have no one to share the joy and spirit of Christmas?  Is it because they choose to look at Christmas as a time when they have to spend money?

 Some of us have had experiences that we would rather not resurrect.  Some have experienced abusive family members.  Some have experienced the loneliness and pain from a death of someone very close to us.  Some have known the loneliness of being separated from the ones we love due to war, divorce, abandonment, or various other ways that we alone had no control over.  These experiences are painful and when they happen near a holiday like Christmas, they can overshadow the pleasures of future Christmas times, if we allow that to happen.

 The pain, the sadness, the loneliness, are real.  But, they can be lessened with peace, love, and kindness!  This Christmas, try reaching out to others in a kind and generous way.  Bake some cookies or bread and take them to your neighbor that seldom has any visitors.  Volunteer at a local hospital, nursing home, church, or other civic community offering.  Visit a local church, or community group, that collects names of those in need.  Choose just one family, one child, or a whole slew of them, if you are so inclined!  When you are in the grocery, or other retail establishment, smile at other shoppers.  Smile at the checkout person, thank them, and wish them well – doesn’t cost a thing!  Go to your local dollar store, or other discount outlet.  Purchase some coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, or puzzles; donate these items to a local day care provider or Sunday school group.  Donate some kitty litter, paper goods, dog or cat food to your local animal shelter.  Give the gift of the season – share yourself, your love, your compassion, and your empathy!

 Merry Christmas!  

Today is Veteran’s Day, the day set aside to honor our men and woman who have served, or are currently serving in our armed forces.  These men and women help to protect our freedoms and many have given all, their lives.  Let us not forget this day is something more than a day off from school or work.  Let’s remember their bravery, sacrifices, and dedication!   Thank you to all who serve, or have served!!

Here is a link to a slideshow that says it all:  http://www.cpmsglife.org/pres/vday.html

A stainless crock pot with a removable ceramic liner and 2 large stainless steel stock pots are my mainstays for the liquid soap making process. (Fig 1) 

Fiq 1 - Mainstay pots for liquid soap making

Using my favorite recipe, which has been carefully calculated for the proper amount of distilled water, lye (potassium hydroxide), and hard/soft oils I weigh out the distilled water and lye first.  Don’t be alarmed, all soap making requires a type of lye in order to produce soap, but the finished product does not contain any active lye. The lye is sprinkled over the water and allowed to dissolve while I measure out the hard/soft oils required and add the oils to the crock pot. The oils are heated to melt temperature and the lye water is added to the oils and mixed. 

The water/oil mixture will begin to “trace” and thicken. It will begin to look like what is often called vanilla pudding. The next stage the mixture will move into is what looks like applesauce and is commonly referred to as the “applesauce stage”.  As the mixture continues to cook, it will begin to look like you are making mashed potatoes. The final stage of the cooking process, which may take several hours, is what is referred to in the soaping world as the “Vaseline” stage because it actually resembles gooey Vaseline.

Figure 2 - the vaseline transparent stage

 

As the pots are heating, I measure out the dilution water and heat it separately. To the heated dilution water, I add Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) and vegetable glycerin, then mix until the heated water and HEC become a clear gel. This clear gel is added to the smaller stainless pot and the transparent soap paste is then added (Fig 2).  I choose to use HEC, which is a thickener widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, because each batch of liquid soap will consistently remain the same thickness, or viscosity.

Figure 2 - transparent soap paste in gel

The smaller stainless pot is covered and when the water inside the larger pot has heated to almost boiling, the heat is reduced or shut off under the larger pot. I check the inside pot regularly and give it a little stir now and then. The dilution phase will take several hours to complete.  When the soap paste has completely dissolved, (Fig 3) I will then add a preservative, and/or coloring, and scents.

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