I’ve been talking about blackberries so much on the blog lately because I’ve been enjoying picking them along the trail behind our office. There’s one drawback to picking blackberries, though: THORNS. The vines are covered with nasty, vicious, hooked thorns that seem intent on drawing blood in their zeal to guard the precious fruit. It’s virtually impossible to pick a fair amount of berries without getting “picked,” yourself (wear gloves and you usually wind up squashing the fruit).

Continue Reading Jenn’s Blackberrying Tips

Flies! These germ-carrying insects definitely put a damper on summer fun – but you can keep them under control without exposing your family, pets and the environment to harmful chemicals. Here are some tips for quelling these pests with effective, all-natural remedies.

1. Sachet them away. Mint deters flies, is easy to grow and comes in many varieties. Harvest some of the fresh leaves, crush them, and tie them up in small squares of cheesecloth. Place these sachets around your outdoor sitting areas (as well as inside the house) to discourage flies from hanging around. Bay leaves and cloves work well, too.
2. Essential oils. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a scrap of cloth and leave it in an area where flies are a problem.
3. Outdoor dining. When setting a picnic or umbrella table for a meal, use a small bowl filled with sweet basil and clover as a centerpiece. Keep an open container of the mixture near your pet’s food dish, too.
4. Stick ‘em up. Flypaper may not be pretty, but it works! To make your own, dip strips of brown paper in a mixture made from ¼ cup corn syrup, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Let the strips dry overnight, then hang them with thread around your porch or deck.
5. Shoo them out. Flies in the house? Once it’s dark, turn off all the lights and open a single door to the outside. Turn on an outside light – the flies will be attracted to the light and fly out of the house within a few minutes.

Keep flies under control with our best-selling pest problem-solvers!

80678 Flies Be Gone: Hang this handy fly trap about 30 feet away from the outdoor area where people gather—it protects an area about half the size of a football field.

86864 Mosquito Net for 9’ Umbrella: Drape this fine mesh net over your patio umbrella so pesky flies, mosquitoes and bees can’t bug you or your food!

64234 Instant Bug Screen: Keep bugs out with this instant screen door—no need for tools or drilling holes in your wall!

5202 Buhach Insect Powder: Mother Nature’s organic insecticide! Repels spiders, ants, fleas, roaches, flies and mosquitoes without harsh chemicals.

82767 Racquet Bug Zapper: Battery power “zaps” flying pests—no sprays, no chemicals!

• Get your dog used to the car by letting him sit in it with you without leaving the driveway, and then going for short rides.
• Avoid carsickness by letting your dog travel on an empty stomach. However, make sure he has plenty of water at all times.
• Keep the car well ventilated. If the dog is in a crate, make sure that fresh air can flow into the crate.
• Don’t let your dog ride with his head sticking out of an open window (this can lead to eye injuries).
• Never let your dog ride in the back of an open truck. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe injuries or death.
• Stop frequently for exercise and potty breaks. Be sure to clean up after your dog.
• Never leave your dog unattended in a closed vehicle, particularly in the summer.

Perk up a traditional picnic favorite with fresh herbs from your garden!

Continue Reading Herbed Deviled Eggs

Silk flowers need watering, too! When dust makes them droop, use the hose (mist setting) to perk them up. Don’t want to take an arrangement outdoors? Blow the dust away with a hair dryer. A lamb’s wool duster also works well to sweep dust from large silk leaves.

1. Watch what you eat. If you are having hot flashes and night sweats, avoid spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol. Maintain a balanced diet low in carbohydrates and fat and rich in vegetables (especially legumes), fruits, lean meats, poultry and fish.

2. Avoid getting overheated. Warm weather can trigger hot flashes, so keep a fan in your office or work environment to cool the temperature around you. Dress in layers when the weather is cool so that you can remove them if you experience a hot flash.

3. Get a good night’s sleep. Keep fresh, dry towels near your bed in case you have night sweats – keeping an extra pair of pajamas nearby is a good idea, too. Use your bedroom only for relaxing and sleeping – this means no work or watching television in bed! Avoid exercising less that four hours before bedtime so your heart rate and metabolism will not be elevated. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day.

4. Stay fit and active. Try to keep up a routine of light aerobic exercise at least 4 days a week. Strength training a minimum of two days a week is very beneficial, too.

Copper and brass fixtures looking dull? Half a lemon with salt sprinkled over the cut side is a fast, all-natural polisher! Just rub it over the metal and rinse thoroughly. Note: use this method on SOLID brass fixtures only, and be sure to test it in an inconspicuous spot first (a good idea with any polisher).

Never forget the odds and ends in your travel packing with this travel packing checklist.

Travel Planning Checklist