it's the season

red aphids on my tomato plant

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

all at a sudden this strange red bugs were sitting on the screen close to this tomato leave  - not moving much over the few days they emerged from some unknown source - first time ever I saw these little "devil bugs"

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

after torturing google those bugs turned out to be red aphids:

Red Aphids - Organic Gardening Articles

By Patricia Wainwright

The beginning of Spring usually signals warm weather and an urge to spend some time in the garden admiring our plants and their fragrant flowers. This enthusiasm can be dampened, however, if we happen to find colonies of red aphids on our carefully looked after plants. If this is the case, don’t worry, there are quite a few things you can do to save your plants.

Red aphids are small insects that multiply in the spring, with the advent of warmer days. They form colonies at the ends of the greenest and most tender shoots. The reason for this is that they feed on the plant’s sap by introducing their long and thin suckers into the tender parts of the plant. Their constant feeding depletes our plants of energy and they become weak, their leaves curl up, and the flowers can drop. They could also transmit viruses and other diseases from other plants in the area, so it is extremely important to get rid of them as soon as we notice their presence.

Fortunately, it is quite easy to get rid of red aphids, and there are many ways of doing so. Maybe the most natural way of disposing of red aphids is to use a jet of water directly from the hose in order to make them fall off, in which case they will most likely get stuck to the mud under the plant. This method can be very effective, but you must always remember to check every week to see if the aphids have reappeared. If they have, you could always try another method.

To drastically reduce the number of red aphids in your plants, you should prune the tips of the branches, where aphids gather. Of course, this is not possible if your plants are in bloom, but if not, this is a quick way of getting rid of great numbers of aphids naturally. Another organic and natural way of controlling red aphids is to introduce into our garden the species of insects that feed on red aphids. The most beloved of these insects is sure to be the ladybug, but there are others, like the lacewing fly and the praying mantis. These beneficial insects can eat large quantities of aphids, assuring our plants’ survival by keeping aphids under control.

If this solution does not appeal to you, you can try making mixes with a variety of ingredients that are sure to keep them at bay. A possible option is to mix alcohol and water, and add to it about five crushed cloves of garlic. Soapy water will also do the trick. Spray any of these on your plants once a week and you will have no more problems with red aphids.

If none of the previous suggestions work, you can always resort to pesticides. Try to use a systemic pesticide to control aphids, so that you do not kill beneficial insects as well. Be careful not to use systemic pesticides on plants or fruits that you will later want to eat. Follow these suggestions and your problems with red aphids will be solved for good.

Author Patricia Wainwright Resource: Get all the facts about pest and disease and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
Article Source: Red Aphids
Article From: Organic Gardening Articles

just a little earthquake

amazing - a little earthquake pretty close to where I'm at - this morning at 10:44 a.m. EDT in New Jersey... not much, just 2.8...

not sure if this link will keep:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/events/ld/1024312/us/index.html

some statistics about earthquakes in Delaware:

New Jersey - Delaware border

1871 10 09 14:40 UTC

Intensity VII

Largest Earthquake in Delaware

Chimneys toppled and windows broke in northern Delaware at Wilmington. Damage also was reported at New Castle (10 kilometers south of Wilmington) and at Oxford, Pennsylvania, (about 40 kilometers west of Wilmington). Also reported felt in New Jersey.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/events/1871_10_09.php

and:

Earthquake History

One of the 13 original States, Delaware entered the Union in 1787. But its residents had noted effects from two earthquakes before that time, a strong New York shock a half-century earlier and another in 1755 off the Massachusetts coast. Neither caused damage in Delaware, but the first knocked chimneys over in the New York City area; the second downed walls and chimneys in the Boston vicinity, broke gable ends and vanes on buildings, and opened small ground cracks, an undually severe shock for that area.

The only earthquake to center in Delaware and cause severe property damage occurred on October 9, 1871. At Wilmington, Delaware's largest city, chimneys toppled, windows broke, and residents were quite bewildered by the unusual event. Lighter damage was sustained in northern Delaware at Newport, New Castle, and Oxford. Earth noises, variously described as "rumbling" and "explosive," accompanied the shock in several areas.

A tremor in March 1879 on the Delaware River, not far from Dover, was felt "strongly" in that area according to old seismic records. The records, however, do not describe the "strong" effects.

The last shock to center in Delaware and cause minor effects occurred on May 8, 1906, just three weeks after the noted San Francisco earthquake in California. Records state this shock was strong at Seaford, in southwest Delaware, but list no details concerning the event.

Two tremors in recent years, both below intensity V, occurred in Delaware, one on the Lower Delaware in December 1937, and one near Wilmington in January 1944.

Nine earthquakes centered outside Delaware have been felt within the state. These include the two previously described in New York and Massachusetts, four minor New Jersey, and three major earthquakes - two in Canada and one in South Carolina. The South Carolina quake, the strongest in Eastern U.S. history, destroyed much of Charleston in August 1886, and shook up a region from Boston and Milwaukee in the north to Bermuda and Cuba in the south.

The most recent earthquake to be "felt" in Delaware occurred in southern New Jersey in December 1968. Wilmington residents noted slight effects of the Richter magnitude 2.5 tremor, which caused no damage as it rumbled through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Abridged from Earthquake Information Bulletin, May - June 1971, Volume 3, Number 3.

For a list of earthquakes that have occurred since this article was written, use the Earthquake Search.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states/delaware/history.php

Eastern Tent Bugs

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

I discovered these on Sunday last - that's what Wiki tells about them:

Eastern tent caterpillar

"""The Eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) is a univoltine, social species that forms communal nest in the branches of trees. It is sometimes confused with the gypsy moth, or the fall webworm and may be erroneously referred to as a bagworm which is the common name applied to unrelated caterpillars in the family Psychidae. The moths oviposit almost exclusively on trees in the plant family Rosaceae, particularly cherries (Prunus) and apple (Malus). The caterpillars are hairy with areas of blue, white, black and orange. The blue and white colors are structural colors created by the selective filtering of light by microtubules that arise on the cuticle.

In terms of complexity of interactions, the Tent Caterpillar stands near the pinnacle of caterpillar sociality. The adult moth lays her eggs in a single batch in late spring or early summer. The egg masses contain on average 200-300 eggs. Embryogenesis proceeds rapidly and within three weeks fully formed caterpillars can be found within the eggs. But the small caterpillars lie quiescent until the following spring, chewing their way through the shells of their eggs just as the buds of the host tree begin to expand.

The newly hatched caterpillars initiate the construction of a silk tent soon after emerging. They typically aggregate at the tent site for the whole of their larval life, expanding the tent each day to accommodate their increasing size. Under field conditions, the caterpillars feed three times each day, just before dawn, at mid-afternoon, and in the evening after sunset. During each bout of feeding the caterpillars emerge from the tent, add silk to the structure, move to distant feeding sites en masse, feed, then return immediately to the tent where they rest until the next activity period. The exception to this pattern occurs in the last instar when the caterpillars feed only at night. The caterpillars lay down pheromone trails to guide their movements between the tent and feeding sites. The insect has six larval instars. When fully grown, the caterpillars disperse and constructcocoons in protected places. The adults (imago) emerge about two weeks later. They are rather strictly nocturnal, they start flying after nightfall, and possibly stop some hours before dawn already (Fullard & Napoleone 2001). Mating and oviposition typically occur on the same day as the moths emerge from their cocoons; the females die soon thereafter.

The tent of the eastern tent caterpillar is among the largest built by any tent caterpillar. The tents are constructed in the crotch of the host tree and are typically oriented so that the broadest face of the structure faces the southeast, taking advantage of the morning sun. The caterpillars typically add silk to the structure at the onset of each of their daily activity periods. Silk is added directly to the surface of the tent as the caterpillars walk back and forth over the structure. The silk is laid down under slight tension and it eventually contracts, causing the newly spun layer of silk to separate from the previously spun layer. The tent thus consists of discrete layers separated by gaps within which the caterpillars rest. The tent has openings that allow the caterpillars to enter and exit the structure. Openings are formed where branches jut from the structure but are most common at the apex of the tent.

Light has a great effect on the caterpillars while they are spinning and they always spin the majority of their silk on the most illuminated face of the tent. Indeed, if under experimental conditions the dominant light source is directed at the tent from below, the caterpillars will build their tent upside down. Caterpillars continue to expand their tent until they enter the last phase of their larval life. The sixth-instar caterpillar conserves its silk for cocoon construction and adds nothing to the tent. The tents are multifunctional. They facilitate basking, offer some protection from enemies, provide for secure purchase, and act as a staging site from which the caterpillars launch en masse forays to distant feeding sites. The elevated humidity inside the tent may facilitate molting.

Eastern tent caterpillars are among the earliest of caterpillars to appear in the spring. Because the early spring weather is often cold, the caterpillars rely on the heat of the sun to elevate their body temperatures to levels that allow them to digest their food. Studies show that below 15 °C (59 °F) the caterpillars are unable to process the food in their guts. Early instars of the tent caterpillar are black and their bodies readily absorb the rays of the sun. When basking, the caterpillars typically pack together tightly, reducing heat loss due to convective currents. The long setae that occur on the caterpillars also serve to stem convective heat loss. The caterpillars may aggregate on the surface of the tent or within the structure. The tents act as miniature glass houses, trapping the heat of the morning sun and allowing the caterpillars to warm more quickly than they would if they remained outside the tent. Studies have shown that basking, aggregated caterpillars can achieve temperature excesses (Tbody-Tambient) of as much as 44 °C. Indeed, the caterpillars can easily overheat and they must take evasive action when they become too hot.

Because of its layered structure, the tent is thermally heterogeneous and the caterpillars can adjust their temperature by moving from layer to layer. The caterpillars may also aggregate on the outside of the shaded side of the tent and hang from the tips of their abdomens to enhance convective heat loss and cooling.

As shown for some other caterpillars, eastern tent caterpillars are capable of generating a small amount of metabolic heat while they digest their meals. When recently fed caterpillars pack tightly together, the temperature of the caterpillars in the interior of the mass may be several degrees Celsius above ambient temperature even in the absence of a radiant heat source. It is unclear whether this small heat gain has a significant effect on the rate of caterpillar growth.

Tent caterpillars, like many other species of social caterpillars, vigorously thrash the anterior part of their bodies when they detect predators and parasitoids. Such bouts of thrashing, which may be initiated by a single caterpillar, radiate rapidly though the colony and may result in group displays involving dozens of caterpillars. Such displays create a moving target for tachinid flies, wasps and other small parasitoids that lay their eggs on or in the body of the caterpillar. They also clearly deter stink bugs and other timid predators. Groups of caterpillars resting on the surface of the tent constitute aposematic displays. Few birds other than the cuckoo find the hairy caterpillars palatable. The leaves of the cherry tree are cyanogenic and the caterpillars regurgitate cyanide ladened juices when disturbed.

Tent caterpillars secrete silk from a spinneret wherever they go and frequently used pathways soon bear conspicuous silk trails. As the caterpillars move about the tree, they largely confine their movements to these trails. Curiously, it is not the silk that they follow but a trail pheromone secreted from the posterior tip of their abdomen. Caterpillars deposit exploratory trails by dragging the tip of their abdomen as they move over the tree in search of food. Caterpillars that find food and feed overmark the exploratory trails they follow back to the tent, creating recruitment trails. Recruitment trails are much more attractive to the caterpillars than exploratory trails and they serve to lead hungry caterpillars directly to the newest food finds. It is possible for a single successful forager to recruit the entire colony to its food find.

The exact identity of the trail pheromone of the eastern tent caterpillar has not yet been determined but the chemical 5ß-cholestane-3-one has been shown to be fully competitive with the authentic trail pheromone. Caterpillars readily follow trails of this chemical, even abandoning their own trails in favor of artificial trails prepared with the compound.

The eastern tent caterpillar is of some importance as a plant pest since it may defoliate ornamental trees. Defoliated trees, however, rarely suffer significant damage and typically refoliate within several weeks. More seriously, the caterpillar has been implicated in Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome (MRLS), but the exact mechanism by which the caterpillar triggers abortion in horses has yet to be determined. Many different theories have been proposed, but many scientists now believe that the hairs of the caterpillar act as tubes that, once puncturing the digestive tract, allow bacteria to escape into the uterus."""

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_tent_caterpillar

flooding June-19-2009

Europeana

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

Common Name:...........Europeana

Classification:........Floribunda

"born":................Netherlands 1963

Color:.................dark crimson

Average Height:........2' - 5'

Average Width:.........2' - 4'

Number of Petals:......5-30+ (single- to fully double-petalled)

Cold Hardiness:........zones 4 - 9

Resistance to disease: watch for black spot and mildew

Fragrance:.............yes!!!

Foliage:...............finely toothed edges, glossy, medium to dark green, new growth bronce-green

Growth:................vigorous, upright, bushy and tall

Bloom:.................blooms from spring to frost in large clusters

History:...............breeder: de Reuiter, Ruth Leuwerik x Rosemary Rose

and:...................edible flowers

ordered bareroot from David Austin roses (VERY strong plants you get there!)

Marine Litter A Global Challenge

Report Brings to the Surface the Growing Global Problem of Marine Litter

UNEP Head Calls for World-Wide Ban on Pointless Thin Film Plastic Bags

Washington DC/Nairobi, 8 June 2009 - From discarded fishing gear to plastic bags to cigarette butts, a growing tide of marine litter is harming oceans and beaches worldwide, says a new report.

The report, the first-ever attempt to take stock of the marine litter situation in the 12 major regional seas around the world, was launched on World Oceans Day by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Ocean Conservancy.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, said:

"Marine litter is symptomatic of a wider malaise: namely the wasteful use and persistent poor management of natural resources. The plastic bags, bottles and other debris piling up in the oceans and seas could be dramatically reduced by improved waste reduction, waste management and recycling initiatives".

"Some of the litter, like thin film single use plastic bags which choke marine life, should be banned or phased-out rapidly everywhere-there is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere. Other waste can be cut by boosting public awareness, and proposing an array of economic incentives and smart market mechanisms that tip the balance in favor of recycling, reducing or re-use rather than dumping into the sea," he said.

The report's findings indicate that despite several international, regional and national efforts to reverse marine pollution, alarming quantities of rubbish thrown out to sea continue to endanger people's safety and health, entrap wildlife, damage nautical equipment and deface coastal areas around the world.

"This report is a reminder that carelessness and indifference is proving deadly for our oceans and its inhabitants," says Philippe Cousteau, CEO of EarthEcho International and Ocean Conservancy board member. "Offered here are more than mere facts and figures. The time for action is now, and true change will require taking a bold and courageous stand. There are solutions that everyone, everywhere in the world, can adopt to make a positive difference for our water planet."

Plastics and cigarettes top the "Top Ten" of marine debris
Plastic - especially plastic bags and PET bottles - is the most pervasive type of marine litter around the world, accounting for over 80 per cent of all rubbish collected in several of the regional seas assessed.

Plastic debris is accumulating in terrestrial and marine environments worldwide, slowly breaking down into tinier and tinier pieces that can be consumed by the smallest marine life at the base of the food web. Plastics collect toxic compounds that then can get into the bodies of organisms that eat the plastic. Global plastic production is now estimated at 225 million tons per year.

Plastics can be mistaken as food by numerous animals, including marine mammals, birds, fish and turtles. Sea turtles in particular may confuse floating plastic bags with jellyfish, one of their favorite treats.

A five-year survey of fulmars found in the North Sea region found that 95 percent of these seabirds contained plastic in their stomachs. Studies of the Northeast Atlantic plankton have found plastic in samples dating back to the 1960s, with a significant increase in abundance in time.

Smoking-related activities also receive top rankings when it comes to sources of marine litter. Cigarette filters, tobacco packets and cigar tips make up 40 per cent of all marine litter in the Mediterranean, while in Ecuador smoking-related rubbish accounted for over half of the total coastal litter 'catch' in 2005.

"The ocean is our life support system - it provides much of the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat and climate we need to survive - yet trash continues to threaten its health," said Vikki Spruill President and CEO of Ocean Conservancy. "The impact of marine debris is clear and dramatic; dead and injured wildlife, littered beaches that discourage tourism and choked ocean ecosystems. Marine debris is one of the most widespread pollution threats facing our ocean and it is completely preventable."

The two sides of tourism
The tourism and recreation sector has a significant impact on the state of seas and coastlines around the world:

• In some tourist areas of the Mediterranean, more than 75 per cent of the annual waste production is generated during the summer season.
• In Thailand, it is recognized that marine litter affects tourism - a high-value industry for the entire region.
• Shoreline activities account for 58 per cent of the marine litter in the Baltic Sea region, and almost half in Japan and the Republic of Korea.
• In Jordan, the major source of marine litter is recreational and leisure usage contributing up to 67 per cent of the total discharge, while shipping and port activities contribute around 30 per cent and the fishing industry three per cent only.
• Tourism is the third most important source of revenue in Egypt, while one-fifth of the country's hotels are located along the Red Sea coast.

If well-managed, tourism can contribute to maintaining the pristine appearance of beaches and waters, as demonstrated by Seychelles and Mauritius which contribute almost nothing to the marine litter load in the Western Indian Ocean despite being popular tourism destinations.

However, ocean winds and currents may carry unwanted marine rubbish far from its point of origin. For instance, Seychelles have reported an accumulation of rubbish on the east coast of the Mahé Island during the southeast monsoon, while items dumped off the west Australian coast have been retrieved on the east coast of South Africa.

From source to sea
Land-based activities are the largest source of marine litter. In Australia, surveys near cities indicate up to 80 percent of marine litter originating from land-based sources, with sea-based sources in the lead in more remote areas.

The problem of marine litter is likely to be particularly severe in the East Asian Seas region -home to 1.8 billion people, 60 per cent of who live in coastal areas - which is experiencing simultaneous growth in both shipping activity and industrial and urban development.

Oil-based economics and an associated construction boom in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea have made marine litter a new and emerging concern in the littoral states, particularly Iran and Azerbaijan.

In South Asia, the growing ship-breaking industry has become a major source of marine debris and heavy metal pollution to the adjoining coastal areas.

In Gujarat, India - one of the largest and busiest ship-breaking yards in the world - operations are carried out on a 10-kilometer stretch on the beaches of Alang, generating peeled-off paint chips, iron scrap and other types of non-degradable solid waste often making its way into the sea.

The Southeast Pacific has important ports and intense maritime traffic. In the five littoral countries, wastes from marine-based sources have been reported, but there is very little information regarding the origin and volume of these wastes. According to one estimate, the Colombian fishing fleet generates approximately 273 tons of marine litter each year.

The lack of adequate solid waste management facilities results in hazardous wastes entering the waters of the Western Indian Ocean, South Asian Seas and southern Black Sea, among others.

The cost of rubbish
Unsightly and unsafe, marine litter can cause serious economic losses through damaged boats, fishing gear, contamination of tourism and agriculture facilities. For example:

• The cost of cleaning the beaches in Bohuslän on the west coast of Sweden in just one year was at least 10 million SEK or $1,550,200.
• In the UK, Shetland fishermen had reported that 92 per cent of them had recurring problems with debris in nets, and it has been estimated that each boat could lose between $10,500 and $53,300 per year due to the presence of marine litter. The cost to the local industry could then be as high as $4,300,000.
• The municipality of Ventanillas in Peru has calculated that it would have to invest around US$400,000 a year in order to clean its coastline, while its annual budget for cleaning all public areas is only half that amount.

At the same time, flexible and economic incentives and deterrents need to be put in place to address the growing problem of marine litter.

At the moment, port authorities sometimes unwillingly discourage ships from bringing their galley waste back to shore - as seen in the East Asian Seas region where ships are charged on a fee-for-service (user pays) basis. Some vessel operators therefore opt to dispose of their garbage at sea - at no cost.

Adopting a 'no special fee' approach to port waste reception facilities, as pioneered in the Baltic Sea region, can substantially decrease the number of operational and illegal discharges and help prevent pollution from ships to the marine environment.

The level of fines for ocean dumping also needs to be reviewed to make them a sufficient deterrent. For example in the US the cruise ship Regal Princess was fined US$500,000 (about ?336,600 or £268,719) in 1993 for dumping 20 bags of garbage in to the sea. Fines of this level would act as a genuine deterrent to dumping of marine litter.

Finally, income-generating opportunities linked to collecting and recycling marine litter can make a big difference in some of the world's poorer regions. For instance, in East Africa small-scale projects that create jobs and reduce the levels of marine rubbish need to be further promoted.

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=589&ArticleID=6214&l=en&t=long

Marine Litter: A Global Challenge

http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/publications/docs/Marine_Litter_A_Global_Challenge.pdf

and I thought I got rid of them

fool I was - I thought I got rid of those twisters when moving from SW-OH (Montgomery County) to Delware (Kent County)... NOAA's site tells I was right out wrong:
18 TORNADO(s) were reported in Kent County, Delaware between 01/01/1950 and 02/28/2009.
versus
8 TORNADO(s) were reported in Montgomery County, Ohio between 01/01/1950 and 02/28/2009.
ok, let's cross fingers they (twisters) never fly over/ touch down where I'm at, or my cute ole trailer might go Wizard of Oz...

Green Ice

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

Common Name:...........Green Ice
Classification:........Miniature Rose
"born":................1971
Color:.................(slightly pink)white to soft green
Average Height:........18" - 24"
Average Width:.........12" - 16"
Number of Petals:......30-35
Cold Hardiness:........zones 6 - 10
Resistance to disease:.yes
Fragrance:.............slight
Foliage:...............small-glossy-leathery
Growth:................vigorous-bushy
Bloom:.................blooms early spring till frost
.......................(starts blooming under snow)
History:.............. hybridized by Ralph Moore
.......................(R.wichuraiana x Floradora)x Jet Trail
and:...................buds are pastel pink, blooms white if hot and pink of cooler, changes to light green when fading

ordered from NorEast Miniroses, my favorite Minirose nursery, which unfortunately will stop all personal orders by end of June 2009

Cinderella

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

Common Name:...............Cinderella

Classification:............Miniature Rose

"born":....................1953

Color:.....................flesh pink - white

Average Height:............10" - 12"

Average Width:.............10"- 12"

Number of Petals:..........about 55

Cold Hardiness:............zones 6 - 11

Resistance to disease:.....yes

Fragrance:.................yes

Foliage:...................small-ferny

Growth:....................rounded

Bloom:.....................blooms all summer

History:...................'Cecile Brunner' x 'Tom Thumb'

and:.......................tolerates some shade and container-planting

ordered from NorEast Miniroses, my favorite Minirose nursery, which unfortunately will stop all personal orders by end of June 2009

Iceberg

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

Common Name:............Iceberg

Classification:.........Floribunda

"born":.................1958

Color:..................pure white

Average Height:.........3' - 5'

Average Width:..........3' - 5'

Number of Petals:.......24-26

Cold Hardiness:.........zones 4 - 9

Resistance to disease:..watch for black spot and mildew

Fragrance:..............yes!!!

Foliage:................light-green, glossy, shiny

Growth:.................vigorous, upright, bushy and tall

Bloom:..................large clusters from spring to frost

History:................'Robin Hood' x 'Virgo'

and:....................tolerates some shade, also goes by the name of Schneewittchen (in Germany)

ordered bareroot from David Austin roses (VERY strong plants you get there!) - I ordered the not climbing Iceberg

easy cleaner recipes

DIY Household Cleaner

By Paul McRandle
May 3, 2007
The healthiest, least-toxic cleaners you can find are the ones you make yourself. They're effective too: According to a study at Virginia Tech, spraying hydrogen peroxide and vinegar right after one another is just as effective at killing germs as lung-irritating, stream-polluting chlorine bleach. Here are a few easy cleaner recipes to kick-start your Saturday chores.

EIGHT ESSENTIALS
These eight items make up the basic ingredients for nearly every do-it-yourself cleaning recipe.

• Baking soda: provides grit for scrubbing and reacts with water, vinegar or lemon by fizzing, which speeds up cleaning times
• Borax: disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes; very handy in laundry mixes
• Distilled white vinegar: disinfects and breaks up dirt; choose white vinegar over apple cider or red vinegars, as these might stain surfaces
• Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfects and bleaches
• Lemons: cut grease; bottled lemon juice also works well, although you might need to use bit more to get the same results
• Olive oil: picks up dirt and polishes wood; cheaper grades work well
• Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap: non-petroleum all-purpose cleaners
• Washing soda: stain remover, general cleaner, helps unblock pipes; should be handled with gloves due to its caustic nature. Washing soda is usually found in the laundry aisle of grocery and drug stores.

Don't forget to pick up an empty spray bottle at the hardware store, and keep those old rags and used toothbrushes for wiping up and scrubbing.

WHOLE HOUSE
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 cup borax
1 gallon hot water
Mix in pail (or use smaller amounts in a spray bottle: 1/8 cup borax to 1 quart of hot water) dissolving the borax completely; wipe clean with rag.

Floors
Wood
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Linoleum
1 cup white vinegar
2 gallons warm water
Mix in mop bucket, rinse afterwards.

Furniture Polish
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
Mix and apply with a clean rag to dust and polish. Reduce the olive oil if wood looks too oily.

Metal Polish
Copper and Brass
2 Tbsps salt
White vinegar
Add vinegar to salt until you've created a paste. Adding flour will reduce abrasiveness. Apply with a rag and rub clean.
Stainless Steel
Baking soda
White vinegar
Apply baking soda with a damp cloth, using the vinegar to eliminate spots.

BATHROOM
Toilet Bowl
Baking soda
White vinegar
To clean and deodorize, sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, add white vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush.
Tub and Tile
1/2 lemon
Borax
Dip the face of the lemon half in borax to create a hand-held scrubber for dirty areas. Rinse and dry the surface afterwards.

KITCHEN
Countertops
Marble: Mix one Tbsp castile soap with a quart of warm water, rinse well, then dry with a warm cloth.
Other surfaces: half a lemon and dip the face in baking soda to scrub off residues. Follow up by spraying with glass cleaner mix (below).
Drains
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
Add baking soda and vinegar to a pot of boiled water and pour down the drain, then flush with tap water. For more stubborn clogs, use a "snake" plumbing tool to manually remove blockage, or try suction removal with a plunger. To prevent clogs, install inexpensive mesh screen, available at home improvement and hardware stores.
Glass
1/4 cup vinegar or 1 Tbsp lemon juice
2+ cups water
Fill a clean spray bottle with water and either white vinegar or lemon juice; wipe with a rag or old newspaper.
Oven
Baking soda
Water
Sprinkle baking soda on surfaces, spray water, then let soak several hours or overnight. Rinse with water.
Stovetop and Oven Grease Remover
1/2 tsp washing soda
1/4 tsp liquid soap
2 cups hot water
Add washing soda and soap to hot water in spray bottle. Since washing soda is caustic, wear gloves.

LAUNDRY ROOM
Bleach alternative
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

"real winter" for a change

about 9 inches of powdery fresh snow this morning and some more added throughout the day... now drifting and blowing snow atop... .. ...

Statement as of 2:41 PM EST on March 2, 2009

Location storm total time/date comments

snowfall of (inches) measurement

• in Kent County:
  
• Houston 9.0 655 am 3/2
  
• Viola 8.8 1025 am 3/2
  
• Hartly 8.5 835 am 3/2
  
• Harrington 8.2 800 am 3/2
  
• Magnolia 6.3 1100 am 3/2
  
• Dover 5.1 800 am 3/2

Frost Pattern Art

in between our windows - looks like ferns or fractals, doesn't it?

sunset Jan-13-2009