One method for getting the windshield washer mix into the tires is how a friend of mine does it. He blocks up the axle so the tire is off the ground a bit. He then removes the valve core from the valve stem and positions the valve stem at 12 o'clock. He modified a 2-gallon garden pump sprayer spray wand by adding a 2 foot length of plastic "spaghetti tubing"to the spray wand. This is the tiny, 1/8" diameter stuff, get it at automotive parts stores. He puts the WW fluid in the pump container, pumps up the pressure, and inserts the open end of tubing about a foot into the valve stem. Then he locks the spray valve and the fluid runs into the tire, air escapes around the spaghetti tubing as it is displaced by the fluid. When fluid begins to run out around the tubing, the tire is as full as this technique will get it. He then shuts the spray valve, withdraws the tubing and installs the tire valve core. Inflate to normally recommended tire pressure.

I used to live in tropical asia and we had these ferns in the garden. I have to say that these things require high humidity. They can be planted in full sun but it's the tropical sun that I'm talking about. The high humidity in the air helps to cut down on harmful UV rays. Over here, we have to deal with recreating that humidity. Do you have a greenhouse or a sunroom where you can place these things during winter? And by the way, these plants are watered from the top and not the bottom. The bottom part which is the trunk is basically dead. The living portion is the top. They probably won't be able to handle the full hot sun outdoors here without the humidty 'curtain'. They can probably deal with full sun while under the glass. Perhaps you should consult the master gardeners at the Toronto Botanical Gardens or the Royal Botanical Gardens on ways to maintain these plants.

The mats are maybe a half inch thick. I know nothing about jigsaw blades--I used the blade that came with an inexpensive saw.I have a few mats under young crabapple trees and they are working very well. I stil have mats that need to be placed for the first time on larger trees. And--I will eventually have to increase the size of the holes on all the trees.

Been a crazy and hectic week....managed to lose 2 of the lbs that I regained in the last several weeks. I am going to the grocery store today to prepare for tomorrow....I am restarting Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. I need to lose 5.8 lbs just to get back to my lowest point (which was a loss of 16.4 lbs) when I was doing SBD responsibly. I am not looking forward to the first few days as I felt terrible the last time I went through Phase 1....but I NEED to do it. But the good thing was after I made it through the first few days, I felt so much better...high energy level, slept really good and my GERD stopped acting up. I also was reading an article about how your body stops responding when you keep doing the same workout over and over again because it becomes very efficient at doing it. So I am making a schedule of a variety of things to alternate during the week. My son is doing well....he's become very accustomed to functioning with the cast so that will allow me to have some of my evening time back to focus on working out. It comes off 2 weeks from this Monday...yeah!