Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal

I didn't really intend to go into routine maintenance and the defrag is a good maintenance item to do occasionally and should be done after a disk check. If you have bad sectors on your hard drive it will complicate the defrag and it'll cause performance problems too. Other maintenance, clean out old files, sort so you can find things, organize your computer, wipe the dust off it, and other stuff! Jodi, that's a great analogy on defrag. I'm gonna "Berle" it! ;) alisande, static electricity is way over-hyped. If you're in a dry climate and walk on the carpet, yes you can get some static sparks. And yes, you need to be careful when in the computer. There are static leashes that some swear by, but I never use them. If you know what you're doing, you're fine and the leash won't prevent other problems. When you open the computer UNPLUG IT FIRST. This should be a no-brainer, but... Then pull the screws if so equipped and open it up. If you've walked around a dry room on carpet, touch the metal case or the back of the power supply before sticking your hand in there to discharge yourself. Using a vacuum won't generate static electricity. Incidently, when using the vacuum, get the big chunks out first then turn it to blow to loosen up underneath the board and in the power supply. If your computer is really packed with lint you should use compressed air or else open the power supply. Be careful of the capacitors in there... FWIW, I don't recommend keyboard covers except in rare situations. Do you REALLY HAVE to eat cookies and crackers like a slob, right over the keyboard? The occasional lint, dust, dirt and crumbs can be removed by turning it over, tapping gently and a spurt of compressed air occasionally. Keyboard covers break, crack, get hard and somehow spending $30 on a $5 keyboard doesn't seem to make much sense to me. I even know people who put plastic bags over the keyboard because they insist on using them as a plate. Considering how full of bacteria a keyboard is to start with and people having to have food on it on top of it... eeewwwwwww... I find that disgusting! LOL Set the computer aside and eat for 5-10 minutes. And wipe the keyboard occasionally and do your phone too. They're dirtier than your toilet seat, did you realize that? Now go wash your hands and enjoy your computer! :)

I use 1/2 gallon and gallon plastic milk jugs as a slow watering system for gardening. Just poke a hole or two in the bottom of the jug...fill it with water (in place) and it drip irrigates whatever plant it is sitting near. It works really well as there is no runoff or soil erosion problem. The plant leaves camouflage the jug :^) I use it most in big pots or raised flower beds. Another idea that works great for us, but makes our visitors scratch their heads....I put all of my kitchen utensils in the drawer next to the stove.....upside down! That way, they don't hang and get jounced around as the drawer is opened and closed. I also put the wax paper/tinfoil/clingwrap boxes in the drawer upside down...the lids don't hang as the drawer opens. I use the cheapy dollar store clear plastic showercaps (12 for 1 $) to cover dishes/plates of left over food that are going into the refrig. I wash them after each use with dish soap and hot water and hang them over a hook to dry. They last about a year.

Quick and dirty lesson: Water based finishes add no color. Most go on milky looking before drying clear. Oil based finishes add an amber tint. This shade is so common many folks miss it when water based finishes are used. Polyurethane is a form of liquid plastic and chips easily. Very difficult to repair (refinish) when chipped. Shellac and lacquer are terrible finishes for kitchen cabinets as they are very susceptible to water stains. That leaves varnish. The elephant in the room with varnishes is most water based varnishes are polyurethane. The oil based varieties add that amber tone, but are much easier to apply and repair. So, water based poly varnish seems to fit your conditions best. There are many brands and several methods of application. Wiping varnish is available, as is brush on, roll on, and spray on. Wiping varnish usually takes six or more applications to provide the same protection as two applications of brush/roll/spray on types. And wipe on is difficult to use on moldings. The major thing to do when buying wood finishes is to buy from a real paint store or a wood working supply store, not a home improvement or even hardware store. You will get a fresher product and better advice. You can get MinWax products at Sherwin Williams paint stores, but SW has a better product, in my experience. And, read up on applications methods, like grain raising before finishing and when to sand and what sandpaper to use. Lastly, practice, practice, practice. Best way is to buy some boards(lumber yard) of the same species as the cabinets. Ok, insides. Using a water based finish on the insides of the drawers is fine. Using an oil based finish is a really smelly for a long time mistake. Insides of the boxes is not necessary. Iron on tape---go to a woodworking store(or on line). They will have several kinds, iron on and self adhesive.