Oct
26
Fun Things Coming Up at the Cafe
Filed Under Home Decorating | Leave a Comment
I have some fun things coming up here at The Home and Garden Cafe.
I’ll be having a giveaway next week for the Bloggy Giveaways, so check back to see what’s up for grabs the first of the week.
I’ll also be having some holiday decorating tips from Julie at Ed’s in Tipp City. She has some beautiful holiday decorations, and throws a wonderful Christmas party for all the Ed’s Heating and Cooling (they’re in the Dayton Ohio area) employees every year. I’ve talked her into sharing some of her entertaining secrets, and I can’t wait to share them with all of you.
I also have a few holiday home decorating ideas of my own, and some holiday recipes coming up in the next few weeks.
I’ve come up with some fun gift guides, and gifts you can make yourself to share with all of you.
Stay tuned! If you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe to The Home and Garden rss feeds so you don’t miss a thing.
Oct
11
Painted Pumpkins
Filed Under Decorating with Nature, Holidays | Leave a Comment
Painting pumpkins is my favorite way to decorate them. Less mess, and if you want to use the insides of the pumpkin for something else later you can still make some pumpkin pies, or pumpkin butter.
If you’re looking for ideas to paint your own pumpkin, check out these painted pumpkins from our local pumpkin show. The gourds and vegetables couldn’t be left out either. They were along to cheer the pumpkins.
Oct
9
Cleaning Quick Tip
Filed Under Quick Tips | Leave a Comment
Recycle mesh onion and potato bags by using them as scrubbers. To make them even more effective wrap them around a sponge.
You can also use mesh bags as body scrubbers by wrapping them in several layers, and putting liquid body wash on them. Or wrapping them around your favorite homemade bar of soap.
Oct
2
Are you familiar with hedge apples? They’re a bumpy, green, grapefruit sized fruit that grows on the Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) tree.
While they’re not edible, they’re also not poisonous.
I put hedge apples all around my house every fall to help repel spiders. I’m not sure there is any scientific proof out there that they help, but they seem to. I’m all for natural bug repellents. Since we have three hedge apple trees on our property I gather a couple bags of them this time of year and drop them around the foundation of our house.
Our house was built in the late 1800’s, so it has many small cracks and places to let the spiders in. Before I put the hedge apples around the foundation we get a ton of big black hairy wolf spiders. Don’t get me wrong, I love spiders, but as long as they’re out in the garden. I hate going into the bathroom, flipping on the lights and seeing a spider run across my foot. Yikes!
I’m a believer in the spider repelling powers of hedge apples. After we put the hedge apples around the foundation, I see very few spiders in the house. I usually remember to gather them because of the number of spiders I see when the weather starts to cool.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence? I heard they repel insects several years ago, and I’ve gathered up the hedge apples every year since. We have several Osage-orange trees, and it’s great to have my own supply.
If you’re looking for more information on hedge apples check out hedgeapple.com. The site shows how to use hedge apples for decorating, and drying.