Garden and Home

Don't throw it away if you can give it a second chance! Take a look at some of the ways you can re-use some common household items.

Empty Tin Cans:

1.Wash them out thoroughly. Cut out both the top and bottom ends and use to protect young seedlings from animals.

2. Paint and hang in trees to discourage birds from eating your ripening fruit.

If you are a lover of the outdoors like I am, it is certain that you will come in contact with bees and wasps at some point in time. Just working in your yard will bring you in contact with these little flying creatures. I don't have a problem with that except the occasional experience of being stung by one of them!

These crispy, spicy hot wings make an excellent appetizer, snack or even a full meal!

1-1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 pounds chicken wings, cut into drumettes.*

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine the cayenne pepper, oregano, curry powder, paprika and thyme; mix well.

This rich and delicious pecan pie is a family favorite at my house.

3 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1-1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups chopped pecans*
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

In a large bowl, combine eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Stir in chopped pecans; blend well.

If you have a pond with floating plants you probably already know that the plants tend to move around with the water flow and often get stuck in skimmers, corners or hung up in other stationary plants in the pond.  For example, in our pond we have water lilies in the back portion as well as several potted plants on the edges.  The floating water lettuce and water hyacinth plants are pushed around the pond from the movement made by the fountain and spitter and almost always end up tangled in the lilies or stuck in a corner, or worse yet, sucked into the skimmer.  We wanted our floating plants t

Mother's Day is upon us and you want to make something special for Mom, rather than buying  an ordinary pre-made card.  So make your own creation!  You don't have to be crafty or a scrapbook pro to make a cute, simple Mother's Day card.  With a few supplies you can quickly and easily make a wonderful card Mom will love.  Keep reading and I will tell you how to make this card:

Garden & Home is a new blog created for tips on household crafts, indoor and outdoor gardening and backyard habitats.  Each blog entry will provide helpful tips or step-by-step instructions for the topic at hand.  Some topics we have planned include: building birdhouse gourdes, glass vase etching, flower planting tips and much more!