Sunday Dinner Idea

How about a whole roasted chicken, for a Sunday dinner. Roaster chickens can also be a inexpensive choice also. A roasted chicken is good not only for a Sunday dinner, but for any occasion. So I wanted to share my recipe with you, yes I can cook.

The first thing I look for is a good fresh whole chicken around five pounds. Then I bring it home and remove all the insides, like the gizzards, and livers. Then I rinse my chicken thoroughly inside and out, and pat it dry with paper towels.

Next get the oven ready at 350 degrees. While waiting for it to warm up, I rub my chicken with olive oil or butter what ever you prefer. Then with my favorite seasonings I sprinkle them all over the chicken. I love some garlic powder, onion powder, poultry season, and others. Use what ever taste you want to create. If you like lemon chicken, use lemon pepper, some lemon grind and garlic. You can also squeeze lemon wedges inside the chicken. Salt and rosemary is another great option.

You want to tie the legs with some twine, tie them together to hold the chicken in shape.

After that you place the chicken breast side up in your roasting pan. I like to place my roasting pan on a baking sheet. This makes it easier to get the roaster pan in and out of the oven. And if there are any spills, the baking sheet will catch them.

I then cook my chicken twenty minute for every pound. You could also use a pop up meat thermometer placed in the thick part of the chicken.

It's a simple recipe that packs a burst of flavor.

Your home v Tornado

Every year there are at least one thousand tornadoes reported, some reaching as high as three hundred miles per hour. And lately on the news we have watched these storms hit hard. So here are some tips on how to prepare your home.

First it is wise to understand the dangers involved, and to make sure you and your family take them seriously. In 1925 a tornado hit Illinois and killed 606 people. They say this was the worst tornado in our history.

The safest place for you and your loved ones is inside. Find a safe spot in your home, that will give you cover, if need be. Because the basements of our homes are underground, these are the best choice. If your home does not have a basement, use a closet, a bathroom or even a hallway on your home's first floor. Always make sure you stay clear of any windows.

It is also important that you have insurance on your home, in the event of any damage.

If you have a vehicle, you can protect it by parking in a garage or under a carport, this may keep it safe from any hail or flying material.

If time allows, bring your outdoor furniture and any yard equipment into a garage or home. You may prevent someone from getting hurt by your flying debris.

Do you know your community warning signals for a tornado, if not, you will need to find out. This may save your life.

Be prepared for a tornado, have your family practice a drill, make a plan to find each other afterwards if you get separated.

You may want to help make a plan to help the Seniors in your neighborhood, and educate other neighbors about safety procedures.

Have a safe kit for your home, with candles, matches and a battery radio, keep them in a water proof container just to be on the safe side. You may also want to keep important document copies in a safe water proof container also.

If you are rebuilding from already being hit by a tornado, you should consider a safe room. A room built below the ground, made of reinforced concrete with steel walls, usually anchored by concrete slabbed foundations.

Your Fence and Your Pet

If you have a pet and live in a house, you know how important it is to have a proper fence. This not only gives your dog freedom to run, but provides mental and physical stimulation. This is most important, for their health. But to do this, your yard must be safe and secure with the proper fence. This will also let your dog attend the yard when you are not home. To choose the right fence you must analyze your yard and your dogs behavior.

 

When choosing a wrought iron fence, remember these are not good for small dogs, they will fit right through them. This type of fence does not go into the ground either, only at the posts, which gives them wiggle room at their bottom part.

Chain link can also be escaped from, by digging under the bottom, or pulling them up.

Electronic fences give our dogs shocks, that some pet owners do not like. They also require our dogs to wear special collars when they are outside.





The cute picket fence is not good for any size dog, they are not high enough and have spaces between that dogs can get out from.

The wooded fences that no slats are safe. But beware dogs can dig under these types also, and can also chew the wood.

When choosing a fence, take your dog's size into consideration first. Small dogs will go through open slats, and large dogs can go over some fences.

For the digger in the family you will want a fence that goes into the ground not just at the post. Laying a concrete foundation or chain link under the fence will prevent digging.

For the jumper, get a six foot tall fence.



   

For the barker or aggressive dog, he should be shielded from everything beyond your yard, with a wood fence that has no spaces.

Short open fences give children the chance to pet your dog, but also gives someone the chance to taunt your pet. So determine how your dog would handle these situations.





Take your personal preference into consideration, but your pet's safety as well. Some area's even let you have a concrete wall around your yard, which is the safest yet.

Cost is another factor, some fence's are more expensive than others, but overall, most homeowners do choose wooden.

Renewable Energy Facts

Today I would like to chat about Renewable Energy. Today many homes on the market are being built using the decision to use renewable energy resources. Builders are constructing homes, using sustainable designs, using more energy efficient ways to operate, that yields in reduction of pollution, and less carbon outcome's.

A green home is not only good for our environment, they are packing a rise in home value's. The home increases $20 for every $1 in annual energy savings. Several renewable alternative energy sources are available to incorporate into your home.

A product that is silent, and has clean power, which results in savings and is advantageous for our environment is solar panels. They offset harmful effects which are caused by carbon dioxide, and at the same time provide our homes with renewable sources, of heat and electric. Solar panels photovoltaic devices are analogous. With the ability to create electrical energy, when they are exposed to light. Powering our home appliances using photovoltaic devices are a renewable means.

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There are also energy systems that use geothermal energy, which can be installed in our homes, they monitor our heating and our cooling. Cogeneration is a combined heat and power system, that generates power and energy from a single fuel source. The most common of these are gas turbines or engines with steam recovery units and steam boilers that have turbines. They are available from geothermal power plants.

Windows are a natural energy source that is often overlooked. Windows bring in sunlight, reducing the need for electricity. Our windows and our glass doors also provide us with borrowed light, which reduces or even eliminates the need for us to run fans or our ac. If you open your windows you improve the indoor air quality in your home, and also reduce any unsafe volatile organic compounds, or carbon monoxide levels there might be.

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Installing solar water heaters known as solar domestic hot water systems are very cost effective. They are also a great way to generate hot water in your home, more energy renewable. They can be used in any type of climate. Having a back up system is highly recommended, for those cloudy days. They work with harnessing the sunlight via solar collectors, so cloudy days may hinder this.  

Mowing the lawn tips

There is more to mowing the lawn, than just grabbing the mower, and cutting. Proper mowing gives you a dense lawn that has a good stress tolerance, with less thatch and less weeds. You must take into consideration the height, blade sharpness and your pattern. Not knowing when to mow is also important.















The height of your grass will depend on photosynthesis, the sugars it needs to grow into a good quality lawn. If you cut to short, the grass does not have enough leaf surface, which is needed for photosynthesis. If you have short grass, you have short roots, and they can not tolerate stress in the dry periods. Your height should be two to two and a half inches in spring, and two and a half to three inches in summer. If you have fescue, your height should be two and a half to three inches all year round.














There is a one third rule you should follow. This means mow enough that you don't have to remove one third of the length. If you do this you don't need to worry about the small grass clippings that are left behind. If your grass gets to tall than mow more, and gradually lower the height.














For shady areas, mow higher and less than sunny areas. The longer the grass the more surface for photosynthesis, and this will compensate for low light levels in your area.














You must also keep your blade sharp, if not you will rip and tear your grass, leaving it bruised also. If you have a dull blade and cut your grass, you are leaving your lawn open to get diseased faster. Also this creates brown spots on your lawn. If your lawn is fescue or zoysia even rye, these definitely need a sharp blade on your mower when cutting. The tougher the grass the sharper the blades need to be. Sticks and rocks that you may mow over will also dull your mowers blade. If you inspect your blade after every mowing, you will never run into having a dull blade.














Mowing patterns are also important. Having a pattern each time you mow that is different will prevent wear and compaction on your lawn. Grass will start to lean in the direction of your cut, varying on the pattern will allow you to cut in these directions. Cutting with as few turns as possible will also help with wear.














There are also times when you should not mow your lawn. Never mow when wet, this will cause clumps under your mower, and is also dangerous. Wet grass does stain. Never mow when there is a drought. If this is the case, water your lawn deeply and then allow your lawn to dry before you mow.

Radon Be Gone

When uranium breaks down in the soil and rocks and even water you get radon gas. This gas can be found in the US, in the air, and can cause lung cancer.

If your home does not have good ventilation, this gas can build. But the good news is, it can be removed easily.

The most common method is soil suction. Removing the gas from the soil, with suction pipes. The pipes go beneath your concrete slabs of your home, by drilling through the basement floor. Then a fan is connected to your pipes, and this sucks the radon from your soil, this is the most reliable method.

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Then there is the pressurization method, which a fan blows air from your upstairs or outside into your basement. This idea is to produce enough air pressure in your basement so that the radon will not seep in. The only downfall is that the construction of your home may limit the effectiveness. Also letting the outside air in can lead to moisture problems and increase heating and cooling costs.

You can also seal and ventilate your home from radon gas. If you have cracks in your foundation, you want to tackle those by sealing them up. Also you will want to ventilate your basement with a fan, drawing the radon through a duct and out your home where it's released.

Planting your Easter Lilies

The arrival of Easter usually brings flower gifts of Easter Lilies. So I wanted to share with you how to plant them when Easter is done, so you can continue to enjoy them.

The Easter Lily is a vibrant trumpet shaped flower, with a sweet smell. And it is a perennial, so you can enjoy it year after year. They will come back every spring and summer as well.

So let me show you how to plant them. You will start by tilling your soil to 10 inches in your garden area that gets at least six hours of full sun.

Tilling helps to freshen your soil, and breaks up any roots or weeds you may have.

When you have finished tilling, you will want to add two to three inches of peat moss, and two to three inches of perlite, before planting. Then you will till again to mix it all together. You want to try and till to create a raised flower bed for your lilies, so they have good drainage. Lilies can get root damage from any excess moisture.

Being careful, dig your hole three inches deep and about one inch wider than your lilies bulb. You want to make sure you bury the bulb and backfill your hole. Making sure to pile the soil an additional three inches over your bulb. If you are planning to plant more than one bulb make sure they are 12 inches from each other, so the roots can spread.

You will then water your soil, right after planting. Your soil may shift, but that is okay. Just water until the soil is soaked, but before you get any puddles.

Also spread some mulch two to three inches thick around your lilies, making sure two inches are from the base. If to close the plant will burn. Placing mulch will keep weeds from growing and will also insulate your soil, and retain water.

When old flowers begin to die, make sure you cut them off. Cutting should be one to two inches from the flowers head. Making room for a second bloom to grow. Think about adding one teaspoon of slow release fertilizer to your water about every six weeks, to help promote summer blooming. Lilies blooming before Easter are doing so under artificial conditions. Cut your bloom back after the first one, to get new blooms in about three months later in the summer.

If you have a bed of lilies, cut them to the ground in the fall, before any frost. You can cover your soil with organic mulch to insulate for the winter. Doing this will let lilies to enter dormancy, and be protected at the same time. You will remove the mulch come spring, before shoots start to show. This will also let the soil warm up, and you will then start to water and fertilize again.

 

 

  

Dwarf Nandina Bush Product Review

Some DIY facts for dwarf nandina bushes also known as heavenly bamboo. This is a sturdy little shrub, that will live a long time and with a little care. The dwarf nandina grows five feet, and has red foliage in the fall.

If you want your plant to grow red colored foliage in the winter you must grow your nandina in full sunlight. It will tolerate partial shade, but your color will not be as brilliant. You will want to water your dwarf nandina until the top five inches of the soil is damp, usually about once a week. If you are growing your plant in a more hot climate area, you may have to water more.

Also you will need to fertilize your nandina in spring with 10 10 10 fertilizer. Place the fertilizer on the soil under your shrub and water it until it is soaked down to the roots of the shrub.

Prune in the spring, thin out old and dead stems. Cutting the old stems to different heights gives it a more natural look, and the shrub will grow thicker. Some of the shrubs canes can be cut back to ground level. You can actually remove one third of your plants old growth, this will help it to rejuvenate.

  

  

Clean Moss of your Spanish Tiles

Clay tiles also known as Spanish style roofs, go all the way back to 10,000 BC. They are durable and require little maintenance after they are installed. But being organic in nature does make them prone to moss. This moss does require cleaning or it will cause moisture damage to the tile roof.

You can clean your Spanish style tiles after a few warm dry days. The moss can not cling under these conditions, and this makes it easier to remove. Sometimes under these conditions you can pull the moss off the tile with your hands.

Always practice safety first, especially on Spanish roof tiles. Have a sturdy ladder and shoes with good treads. Always wear gloves, don't touch the moss with bare hands. And you may want a mask for the dust.

Make sure when you set your ladder against the house it is on level ground. After getting up to the area where the moss is, you can brush the moss away with a wire brush. Always work from the bottom up, this will help you keep your footing. The moss should just flake away.

You can then remove the loose moss with a stiff broom. Sweep it off onto the ground. Repeat the process until all the moss is gone.

  

  

Patio Roofs DIY

With summer just around the corner, building a patio roof is a great addition to your home. Not only does it give you additional space, it's great to just use to relax. But with it being a out door space you must take the elements into consideration. Over head canopies are a great choice with some lattice for details. Or build your own, joining it to your existing roof. Any outside roof is the most dependable application to keep you from rain or snow, during any activity.

Let's do a DIY patio roof, its not that hard if you are handy around the house. The first thing you will need is a local permit, since the roof will attach to your home.

The first step after that is measure and do a diagram for the area the patio roof will then cover. Details of the slope and your extension for your new patio roof is important.

Next step is to dig a hole to pour the concrete for your footing, this holds your roof supports. The hole should be 3 x 8 inches wide.

Then with your premixed concrete pour it into the hole. Your anchor bolt is then inserted 7 inches deep and you will hold it in place until your concrete sets. Use two of these at each end.

You will want to place a galvanized column for the base with one foot support at the top of your concrete footing. Make sure to separate the support beam for your roof and the concrete.

You want to anchor your support beam, make sure you used treated wood. Your support beam should be 6 x 8 inches in height.

Then take any laminate or brick off at the top, under your existing roof.

You want to than attach a ledger lag blot having it penetrate the existing top plate or your studs.

Next attach galvanized metal joists/rafter hangers to your ledger.

You want to extend your roof with 2 x 4 boards, to your new support beams at the end of your concrete slab.

Make sure you create a slope to allow rain to drain off. Not letting your over hang for the new roof to be any closer than two feet from the edge of your property.

Use support beams with galvanized brackets for every ten to twelve inches.

You will cover your support beams with a 3/4 inch treated plywood.

Next covering your underlayment and then extend it to 18 inches from your new roof to your existing roof.

You can then cover with the roofing material you like.


 

    

Cleaning your dark wood floors

Many homes today, no longer use carpet, they choose from different style wood floors. Wood floors are very elegant, and go in just about any room. But dark wood floors need to be cleaned on a regular basis. All the elements being tracked across the floor can make it a unsightly scene. Any dirt left on the floor can also cause scratches. To clean your dark wood floors, you need other products you may not have on hand.

To clean you will want to use a dust mop or vacuum, to remove all the loose dirt.

Then take a bucket and fill it with warm water, adding a few drops of dish soap and mix.

You will then take a sponge mop and soak it in the water, wring it out and start wiping the floor.

Make sure when mopping you work in the woods grain direction, with a back and forth motion.

After mopping wipe down the floor with a dry rag gently, moving in a circular motion.

For really dirty wood floors, use white vinegar, 1/4 cup in a spray bottle with 30oz of warm water.

 Use white vinegar if the floor is really dirty and in need of a deep cleaning. Mix ¼ cup white vinegar into a spray bottle with 30 oz. warm water.

Spray this solution on a soft rag, and use circular motions again to clean. 

Always make sure not to use excessive water, this will cause the wood to warp. 

You will not need to rinse any of these solutions after cleaning your floor.

 

Lemon Tree's from Seeds DIY

Just about everyone loves lemons, be it for lemonade, on fish, even ice tea. So why not grow your own trees by saving the seeds. You can do this your self, any where by growing them in doors. It's not to hard and I will show you how.

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Let's get started. First when you are done with your lemons save your seeds, wash them in plain water. Then just in a paper cup, place your seeds in sterile soil. After planting keep the seeds watered and covered with plastic to hold in the moisture. You can use a plastic cup also, but make sure to put holes in the bottom of the cup for drainage.

 

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Also if you want you can germinate your seeds in a paper towel. Take three paper towels and place on top of each other and moisten them. Then you want to fold them in half, and in half again. Put your seeds in the middle and keep folding for maximum coverage.

Always keep your paper towels moist, by putting them on a plate that will let you add additional water to it. Or put your paper towels in a baggie, this will also keep them moist. If you do use the paper towel method make sure you keep the towels away from sunlight, but yet keep them in a warm spot. You don't want them near a heat source of any kind, for the paper towels will dry out.

You can transplant your seeds to a paper cup with soil when you see small roots and leaves starting to form. When you transfer them make sure you keep the leaves just below the soil. Then you can put your plant in sunlight. You don't have to worry it will take some time before your new plant out grows it's paper cup. When it has you want to get a container twice the size before transplanting. Make sure after that, you do not over water.

Just sit back and watch your lemons grow.

Remodel your house ideas

Most of the time it is a good idea to remodel, every three to five years in order to keep up with the market value. If improvements are not done periodically a home can go downhill fast. Inspection of your home can keep all improvements on track.

Start with making a list and go over every room to see what needs to be improved. Most remodeling can be done your self. Just by removing carpet can add value if you have great hardwood floors or tile floors. If your are planning to sell your home, get your home inspected. Have him inspect your crawlspace and attic especially. It is important to also address any front curbside matters. Any time you invest in a new roof, adds value. Also fix those cracks in your foundation. For plumbing, up about updating what ever you can afford. A little paint on the shutters wouldn't hurt either. Any time you add to your landscaping will also be a wise expenditure. Any curbside appeal will make potential buyers want to see more inside. It doesn't cost much for paint, and putting some new colors on a few walls will update any old look. If you can why not try and paint the exterior as well, bring the colors up to date. If you have a small room you can make it look bigger with a bright lime green color, or yellow. Adding shelving will also make a small space look bigger. Any dark colors in the kitchen should be lightened up to. For small kitchens how about making it look bigger with half the room painted a lighter color. A good example is to install antique white cabinets on upper walls and darker ones for the base. If you can afford windows, adding one over the sink will surely bring up the selling appeal. If you have a deck off the kitchen, how about installing French doors leading out.

Removing clutter around the home is another place to start. For a large family room, how about adding a large walk in closet to off set one side. Just by replacing a sofa with a sofa and several chairs will add appeal in the family room. Clutter in the bedroom can be fixed by adding a chest of drawers.

When updating think about what you want to do in case you sell your home.

  

Toothpick treat, who knew

With entertaining for Easter I have a neat trick, flavored tooth picks. Using these to turn to instead of a cigarette isn't a bad idea either. You can buy flavored toothpicks at the store, but why when you can do it yourself. These are great to stick into fruit on your fruit platter, with some cheese.




For one idea, dip them in some melted white or dark chocolate to use in strawberries. Or get some flavored oil, and pour into a jar, then add your toothpicks and soak over night. In the morning take the toothpicks out and spread on a cookie sheet to dry. These flavored toothpicks in oil are great for sticking into olives and pickles.

Your fruit and cheese platter will be the hit of the party.

 

  

Termites and your wood Home

Termites, every home owner fears them. They are tiny insects living in colonies, and eating the cellulose in wood. So if your home has a wood exterior, you should keep on the out look for them. Termites can destroy your wood from the inside out. Before they do real damage get a exterminator to check for you.




Signs that you have termites are mud tubes, this is their traveling method. Poking around your home any place you suspect termites is a good idea. Tubes the size of a pencils leading from the ground to your wood exterior of your home is not a good sign. 

When ever you are doing remodeling, that is a good time to check for termites. They are light colored, and soft, and the same size as a grain of rice.




If you find tubes, but no termites, you need to keep looking because somewhere there are a colony. Check for any discarded termite wings. The mature termite will grow wings and fly to form a new colony. So finding any wings are a sign you have additional residents living in your home. Also check your window sills, for any termite signs. Be on the look out for swarmers also.




Termites also leave droppings, they are small fecal mounds, near where the termites will be holding out. Also the biggest sign will be wood damage. If tapping on wood and getting a hollow sound, tear some open to see if it is damaged inside. Also termites feed along the grain of wood, so see if there are any honeycomb patterns.

 

RV Roofs and Sun Damage

If you travel alot in a RV, you need to take care of the roof on it. Your RV is exposed to different elements due to different areas you may be traveling. The roof is exposed to the sun 90 percent of the time. Over long periods your RV roof will begin to break down, due to the suns UV rays.



You will first need to check the roof of your RV and make sure it can be fixed, or really needs to be replaced. One that is not to damaged can be fixed by you. You surely don't want the RV roof leaking this can cause major damage, causing wood to start rotting in the ceiling. Some things to do to protect your RV roof, are to keep it as clean as possible. It will really help it alot, and it will last longer. Dirt contains acid from pollution and this left on the RV roof will start to cause the rubberized material to crack.





By cleaning your RV roof with a mild soap as armor all car wash, and a soft brush, will clean the residue off. When your cleaning your RV roof make sure you get in the cracks, and the caulking that is around your roof vents, and any skylights you may have. Always be careful walking on your RV roof, making sure you do not step on any fragile plastic skylights.




After you have cleaned the RV roof, and it has dried completely, now you can seal it. You want to apply a silicone base sealer. The best product for this is RV roof cleaner and sealer, like Protect All. When buying it you will want one that has a high silicone content, this will give you the most UV protection.





Remember a good clean and sealed RV roof will last for many years to come.

    

 

  

Get out Mouse

Mice, we have all had them, and we have all got rid of them. Small, short, hairy little rodents, that we find often in our homes. These are house mice, deer mice or even white footed mice, but unwanted period the end.





The most common house mouse is the white mice, they are rare but they will invade your home. They especially love our kitchens and pantries, in our homes. They are always on the hunt for sweet crumbs we leave behind. Your home can become infested with these little white creatures, but can be managed with help of a professional.

There are also steps as homeowners, that we can take. Start by sealing any holes, or crevices you may have that lead from the outside into your home. You can fill the hole in with some scrap wood, and caulk for the crevices. Cutting overgrowth around the home will also be beneficial. Get rid of high weeds or any thick areas of grass, these things give shelter for the mouse.  If you have a problem try keeping your food in tight containers after opening. Including pet food, mice love pet food for some reason. Make sure you tie your trash bags tight when placing them out side also. You can also check to see if you cans have any cracks or hole, this gives mice an entrance to your trash. Believe it or not mice do not like cheese, if you set traps bait them with peanut butter, or dried fruit. If you are noticing droppings, or chew marks, this means you have mice activity and this is where you should place any traps. Rodenticide can be used for entryways, but do not use this product if you have pets, or small children.
If you do trap a mouse, dispose of it by placing it in a plastic bag, place that bag in another tight fitting container, then dispose into the trash. You will also want to disinfect any area that there was mouse activity. Use one part bleach and one part how water. A deceased mouse can leave a unpleasant odor. You can also spray the dead mouse with the same solution before bagging it for the trash. Of course if your problem is more than you can handle, you will want to call a professional.

Let me hear what you have to say

Do you have a tip or idea you would like to share. Well today is the day to share it. So let's hear whay you have to say, I am looking forward to your tip or idea. Thanks

Brick Homes and Charm

Usually brick home's feature a more traditional conservative look. So I wanted to share some landscaping tips for your brick home. I feel the home should be influenced by different colors and textures, in accordance to the style of the brick home. Natural earthy tones go great with red brick, it gives it a nice complement. Features in the landscaping like green foliage and large white or pale color blossoms.

 

To achieve this look, it will not kill your budget. Always start with a sketch, using your home, and driveway in it.

 

 

 

Then do some walking around your yard, take some notes on different things. You'll want to know what are gets the most sun, the front or the back yard. What area has the best drainage, and what type of soil do you have. The soil is the most important, you can get your self a testing kit and it will let you know the pH levels and nutrient contents.

 

Now that you are ready, start by adding some hardscapes. Try adding a pea gravel or flagstone walkway. These types of walkways add a natural transition to your brick home.

 

 

 

Planting ivy or flowering vines along your fence line will add to your privacy and also give your yard a lush look. Add some low growing perennials along your walkways, this will add some color to your lawn. Some nice Hosta's or Impatiens will give your walkways a nice polished feel.

 

 

 

 

If you have any trees, you can build some circular borders around them to give them a curve look. Try to remove the grass around them also and add some gravel for a base.

 

Hedges, or trees along your property line will also give you privacy and depth for your landscaping. Spacing your trees according to their size. The great thing about hedges is, you can trim them as they grow to reflect the style of your landscape.

 

 

 

 

For a soft feel, try installing some functional lighting, this gives you a warm welcoming feeling. Lanterns on each side of your front door, or a lamp post work wonderfully. Also some lighting along the pathways add charm also.