Favorite Tech-Free Summer Activities

Inexpensive, yet fun 👍 activities with your children during these dog days of Summer 2022 (by Rachel Cruze):

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.( John 16:33)

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3 Year Old Ficus Lyrata or Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant 💚

 

How much taller my Fiddle Leaf plant 💚 has grown! I am very happy 😀😄

 I hope it continues to thrive.  If there's any "secret" it would be my parking it and leaving it in front of a large window which allows bright, but not hot, natural sunlight.  Plus fertilizer, of course.

A commonly tricky houseplant despite its popularity, the fiddle-leaf fig does not respond well to being moved, especially from a spot where it is thriving. Being a tropical plant, it does not tolerate cold temperatures well or survive prolonged freezes. Proper drainage, adequate sunlight (direct but not harsh), and misting with water will help keep your fiddle-leaf fig bright green with its signature glossy finish. -- wikipedia

...in the beginning (early Yr 2019):

pc: Amazon

end of December 2019

June 2022

Fiddle-leaf fig

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Rachel Cruze: Chic fil-A Hacks to Save Money $ at the Drive-thru

George Kamel, wikipedia

It's Summertime!  

Treat your kids at Chic fil-A once in a while and not feel so poor $$ afterward. 

Below are good, easy money-saving ideas from Dave Ramsey's daughter, Rachel Cruze, and Dave Ramsey co-host, George Kamel.  Watch their facebook video about this with the link below:

We went to Chick-fil-A to test some money-saving drive thru hacks! Try these hacks and let us know what you think! 👇

🔴 BLT: Just order a toasted bun with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. A great sandwich for about $2!

🔴 KID YOURSELF: Order a kids meal, and swap the toy for an Ice Dream in cup or cone. Food, drink, and dessert for under 6 dollars!

🔴 TWO SANDWICH HACK: Get two sandwiches on the cheap by getting an order of 4 count chicken strips and two buttered buns. Should save you about $2!

📍*exact prices will vary depending on your location

🠊Link to Rachel Cruze's  Facebook video 🠈

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Nail Art: Part 5, New York State of Mind

Wow nails from Mrs Waxman of NJ.  Can you tell that she  and family are die-hard MacKenzie-Childs fans who show up at their Barn Sales in July year after year?!!

my nails for niece's wedding: blue & rhinestones

my Parchment Check-themed nails

Nail Art, Part 4

Nail Art, Part 3

Nail Art, Part 2

Nail Art, Part 1

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Top 10 Trees to Grow in Containers

Ficus lyrata, commonly known as
the fiddle-leaf fig

I once had a thriving little Citrus tree. It got so cute that my green-thumbed late Mom - who gave us the plant - noticed it. However, it also attracted thieves' eyes as it was soon stolen off of my very own home's front porch in Evanston, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 😠😟😲  

I currently have a Fig (Fiddle-leaf)  bought on sale; and a dwarf Citrus tree. Both are from Costco.  I keep the Fig indoors, by a sunny window. It's beautiful. 

Admiring and watching my newly-arrived Citrus. I don't know its "mood" as of yet. It's situated outdoors on my sunny deck. I hope both (all) of my potted plants last a while and thrive.

There are plenty of reasons to grow a tree in a large container. For urban gardens and those with little outdoor space, a potted tree can make a small terrace feel more like a garden and, if you plant a fig or lemon, provide you with fruit as well. In larger gardens, potted trees add drama with their stature and act as striking focal points on the patio or when placed on either side of an entryway. 
When choosing your tree, use the same criteria as you would for choosing any other plant: Select a variety that will thrive in your climate and with the light exposure and moisture of your site. However, growing trees in large pots comes with a few special considerations — not all trees are happy to grow in containers. There are plenty that tolerate it just fine, though. Read on for our top 10 choices.  -- Lauren Dunec Design


A.  Citrus

Photo by Shades Of Green Landscape Architecture -

B. Conifers

Photo by Wettling Architects -

C.  Edible Fig

Photo by Margot Hartford Photography -

D.  Japanese Maple

Photo by Glenna Partridge Garden Design -

E.  Olive

Photo by Harrison's Landscaping -

F.  Sweet Bay

Photo by Monrovia -

See full list of trees, and read full Houzz article H E R E

10 Top Trees to Grow in Containers

... Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep,

 and seek them out.

Container Trees

Citrus

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Great Sea Story for New Year 2019

The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia.

The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought Captain John DS. Phillips, the result.
The Warrimoo's position was LAT 0º 31' N and LONG 179 30' W. The date was 31 December 1899.

"Know what this means?" First Mate Payton broke in, "We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line". Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of the opportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime. He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check the ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark. Then he adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather & clear night worked in his favor. At mid-night the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line! The consequences of this bizarre position were many:

The forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere & in the middle of summer.

The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle of winter.

The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899.

In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900.


This ship was therefore not only in:

Two different days,

Two different months,

Two different years,

Two different seasons

But in two different centuries - all at the same time!

Good to know daily
and all through Yr 2019

SS Warrimoo

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British Author Jane Austen's Death

The month of July 2018 marks two hundred and one years since the death of Jane Austen ( 07.18.1817).  Her memory lives on thru her words and books. If anything, Jane has taught us girls that the right man is out there for the finding.

(I often encourage my single son -- who was dumped by a girl recently -- of the many fine, single women in the world who are available).

pc: bookbub

pc: bookbub

It is Summertime! The muggy, hot weather

 is uppermost in my thoughts - RRE

a wise woman!

Jane Austen

Finding the Right Man per Jane Austen

10.09.2020

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LIST: Smart Ways to Keep Cool in Hot Weather

We were in a heat-wave in our area a few days ago. Our newly-installed Rheem AC; plus additional mushroom-vents, functioning attic fan, and brand new lighter-colored roof shingles ---   voilà, we were very comfortable! Thank you, Lord!

A recent article by Domino Magazine lists 20 ways readers keep cool:

1. Use the 1-2 Punch of a Fan + Spray Bottle

When I was younger my bedroom was in the unfinished upstairs of our cape cod style house. No heat in winter, no A/C in summer, but I loved the privacy! On the hottest nights I would employ window fans, and a spray bottle, set to the finest mist. When I got hot, I'd spray myself with some cool water and let the air from the fan chill me. - BrandeMT

 2. Get a Solar Attic Fan

We like our house really cool (67-69 degrees). We recently had two solar attic fans installed. The past few days, we've noticed it is cooler in the house and the AC has been off the past 2-3 days. That should save on our light bill and makes the installation costs seem not so bad. - williamsweyr

3.  Make Small, Smart Choices All Day

I grew up in Fresno, CA in an old farmhouse without A/C—now totally unimaginable. I completely agree with the daytime clamp-down... that is the best way to keep the temp from spiking beyond what you can control with fans. Room darkening drapes or thermal shades really make a huge difference. Also, I am a big fan (ha!) of reversing the fans to move hot air out when inside temp is above outside temp. I also would suggest sleeping low... hot air rises, so getting as close to the floor as possible/comfortable makes a good bit of difference. Ideally—a hammock is the ultimate summer sleep vehicle, plenty of airflow—but not always an option inside! - Barbieq

The key isn't what you do at night, it is how you regulate the temperature all the time. Always shut up your apartment during the day and turn on ceiling fans (if you have them) to circulate air. Then at night, switch to window fans. If you mess it up you will have to wait 'til a 60 degree night to get things back to normal. - Rahskolnikov

4. Make "Ice Babies" out of Bottles of Water

Freeze a 2-litre bottle with water. Put in a pillowcase and hold to your chest like a teddy. Cooling down the central core will cool down all extremities as a result. My roomie calls them "ice babies." - Novalis

I have a couple of old plastic water bottles in the freezer ¾ filled with water. When it's really warm I fill the remainder of the bottle with tap water and take them to bed with me, creating a "hot water bottle" in reverse. I tuck one behind my back and roll the other one in a towel for the front side and I'm pretty good to go. - Hawaiinei

Read the full Domino Magazine article H E R E

my favourite ways to cool-off:

iced drink + personal mini-fan

soak in a tub

singin' in the rain

Stay Cool

I Love Rain




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Illustrated Guide: List Identifying Insects by Their Bites

Bright Side created a little guide that will help you identify which insect attacked you.

HORNET

The area that was stung by a  HORNET  becomes red and seriously swollen. Blisters might appear. The victim feels very bad pain, even worse than the pain from a wasp sting. The hornet’s poison is even more toxic because the insect itself is bigger in size. The poison contains histamine and acetylcholine.

If the  victim feels cold in the limbs, his or her ears and lips go blue, or breathing problems start, the victim must see a doctor.

Bee

You need to remove the sting that might still be in the attacked spot. The skin usually gets red and swollen. A person feels burning, a sharp pain, and a severe itch appears a little later. If you are not allergic, this is where your troubles end. However, if a person is allergic to bee poison, he or she might have breathing problems, which is a serious concern

Wasp

The symptoms of a wasp   sting are like those after a bee attack. The stung area becomes red and swollen, the victim feels pain and burning, and terrible itching comes later. There might even be a hemorrhage on the skin. A wasp can sting multiple times. Just like with a bee attack, it’s very important to know if you are allergic as there may be an anaphylactic shock.

Mosquito

Mosquito bites look like swollen red spots the size of a berry. Most often they appear in open areas of the body. Mosquitoes bite the spots where the skin is very thin and it’s easy to get to the blood vessels. When they bite, they inject their saliva into the wound. The saliva contains  anticoagulants that make the blood thinner. They cause the skin to become red, to itch, and to swell.

Tick

The body’s reaction to a tick bite is a red spot. The insect can be in the victim for a long time, growing bigger and drinking blood.

The worst thing is that ticks  infect people  with encephalitis, borreliosis, and many other diseases. If you remove the insect from your body but the red spot doesn’t go away and continues to grow, you have to see a doctor as quickly as possible.

Flea

 Flea bites can easily be mistaken for allergies or mosquito bites because the bitten spots also look red and swollen. However, unlike mosquitoes, these insect bites are very painful, and the itch is much worse.

Fleas usually attack the legs, and only a sleeping person can be a victim. One insect can bite several times, so the distance between the red spots is usually from 0.5 to 1 inch (1 to 2 cm). Fleas transmit many serious infections.

Ant

Most  ants don’t present any danger to humans. However, the red fire ant can cause a lot of trouble. Pustules appear on the bitten spots that will later turn into scars. The ants’ poison contains toxins, so the victim might have an allergic reaction or an anaphylactic shock. A thatching ant’s bite is less dangerous. It looks a lot like a mosquito bite. A pink spot appears in the bitten area that itches for a long time. At the moment of the bite, the victim feels a burning pain as though some boiling water was poured on the skin.

Cleg

A  cleg  looks like a big fat fly. Unlike flies, clegs bite very painfully and drink human blood. At first, a small red spot appears not more than 0.03 inches wide (1 mm). Then it gets swollen and starts to itch. Clegs transmit different diseases like tularemia and anthrax, but most of the time they attack cattle rather than people.

Louse

If you notice small red dots that look like mosquito bites in the places where hair grows — on your head, your neck, and behind your ears — it means that you have been bitten by head   lice or pubic lice. If such dots appear on your back, belly, hands, or legs, they must have been cooties. The   bites are a few inches away from each other, and the skin looks like it was pierced.

Lice transmit very serious diseases like trench-fever and typhoid.

Bed Bug

At first sight,   bed bug bites look like flea or mosquito bites or an allergic reaction. The skin becomes red, swollen, and starts to itch. However, there is a way to recognize the bed bugs’ "work." The bites are very close to each other and look like little roads on the skin. Bed bugs’ bites are more painful than mosquitoes’. The numerous roads can be noticed in the morning as bed bugs hunt at night.

Link to Bright Side article H E R E

She Was Paralyzed from a Bug Bite

Identifying Bug Bites

A Cure for Malaria




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