GARDEN TIP: Use Faux Plants to Protect Seedlings

 

This is an easy garden tip I learned by accident.   I had tried and tried to grow plants from seeds on my back porch when I was living in an apartment, but time and again the hot Texas sun fried the seedlings before they could grow.   So, in frustration one day I just stuck a bunch of fake flowers in the pot, strait down into the soil I had planned for real flowers.

And then, two weeks later, I noticed some new leaves pushing up through the faux plants.   REAL petunia seeds had sprouted under the shade of the fake flowers and were now inching their way past them to the sunlight.

Even when we moved to a house in Waco with a real yard, I used this technique.   I'd buy dollar store fake flowers, and stick them in the ground over my rows of carrots, beans, peppers, etc. until the plants were strong and hardy enough to do without the shade. 

Above you can see a young green been being protected by some of these dollar store flowers.  

Yes, you can also start seedlings inside and transfer them once they're stronger...but that doesn't work with all types of plants, and it's an extra step you can skip if you use fake flowers or something else to shade them.   And the fake flowers are easy to use and look pretty in the meantime. 

Tips for Dealing With Snow

Below you will find some tips for dressing for freak winter snowstorms, and below that, how to de-ice a car.

TIPS FOR DRESSING FOR UNEXPECTED SNOW

If you can't find gloves, several layers of socks work like mittens (although, like mittens, they become freezing soggy wet after being used to make a few snowballs).

Dish gloves, though not as warm, keep out the wet.  If you are willing to sacrifice a sock, you can cut off the end of the sock to make it fingerless, and layer it under a dish glove to keep the cold off your palm at least.  You can also put dish gloves on under sock mittens.   Thin knit gloves can sometimes be used underneath large dish gloves as well, providing warmth and waterproofing.

 

No snow boots?   No problem.   While regular tennis-shoes get soaked pretty quick in even mildly deep snow, there's a solution.  PLASTIC WRAP!   Before going out in the snow wrap plastic wrap over your socks sort of like you would wrap a cast to protect it when taking a bath, then put on your shoes over it.  It really works...I have TESTED this one in snow deeper than we're ever likely to get in most of Texas.

In this picture (left...which is obviously NOT in Texas), I am actually wearing ONE snow boot and ONE thin canvas shoe with plastic wrap (cause I left a boot at home when we left for the mountains...doh).  But because of the plastic wrap, both my feet were equally warm and cozy. 

Slipperyness is a whole 'nother issue....and I don't have a good make-shift solution for that one, save for scattering salt and kitty litter on your walk.   If your kids are on a sports team and have shoes with cleats that would work too.

If you can't find any warm hats, try rummaging through your Christmas decorations.  A Santa hat will do in a pinch.  No Santa hats?   You can also wrap a scarf around your head (see picture above).  Baseball caps are also better than nothing.  

How To De-Ice Your Car

Having grown up in the California mountains, I know a thing or two about getting ice off a car...I was helping my mom de-ice the car before I could even drive. So, for those who've never had to do that...here's some tips:

1. If the snow is nice and powdery its easy to brush off.  If it's wet those dish gloves may come in handy.  You only will have a problem if it's snow that's gotten wet and then frozen.  Then the tips below will help.
   
   
2. If your car is covered in ice, it pays to sit in your car for a while with the engine running to warm it up--your car will drive better and it may make de-icing your car easier.  Or you can leave your car running while you set at trying to tackle the ice.
   
   
3. If you don't have a car ice scraper, you can use a credit card to scrape frost off your window and rear-view mirrors.  A plastic spatula works too.   If it's a thick layer you may need to do some hacking (A credit card won't help too much here.  The edge of a plastic ice scraper is ideal, but the edge of a hairbrush can sometimes work too.  Sometimes all it takes is a firm pound of your fist to break it up.  But if you're getting nowhere with these, refer to step 2.).
   
   
4. DO NOT just clear off the window and drive with a big slab of ice on top of your roof...because at some point your car is going to warm up and it will start to melt and that big ole slab will either go crashing into the car behind you, or come crashing down your windshield when you stop, blocking your view. 

Of course, taking that car out on the road is another matter.  For best practices for driving in snow, this page by Car and Drive will help.  Of course, if possible just stay home!   And enjoy the snow while it lasts! 


(Thanks to Tamari 09 on Flickr for the use of the Santa hat.  I couldn't find the picture of my kiddo decked in a Santa hat in the snow so was very grateful for the substitute.)

Shared on Throwback Thursday

Kitchen Tip

So, this is super simple...but if you get the large jars of peanut butter, and you can find a knife that's short enough, you can just keep the knife in the jar. 

Shared on Throwback Thursday