I guess it depends on when you ask. [g] As others have pointed out, in the spring, very little seems like a chore. When it's hot, staying inside in the A/C is where I want to be. As long as I pace myself and keep doing a little bit every day, most jobs are a pleasant distraction. I don't mind digging and planting and I enjoy watering by hand, and deadheading up to a point. For some odd reason, I don't want to fertilize. I find that tedious, I don't know why. And I don't look forward to 'bug patrol'. Actually, right now is not a good time to answer that question either because by July, I am ready for a break from gardening. I seem to be out there focused and intense, putting in a lot of time in Apr/May/June and my goal is always to have the yard 'ready' for the summer by Memorial Day, which never happens. [g] I want to have just routine maintenance to do and just enjoy the garden during the hot weather. Then when it gets cooler in the fall, I am ready to start a few projects.

I found this on line: There are several reasons why I donâÂÂt think using hydroquinone is a good idea: It whitens skin by killing��"yes, KILLING��"your skinâÂÂs pigment cells. I donâÂÂt know about you, but I donâÂÂt really want to intentionally off my own cells. It can cause irritation and contact dermatitis. It degenerates collagen and elastin fibres (which, uh, weâÂÂre supposed to be *strengthening* to keep ourselves looking young and fresh). In darker-skinned individuals, it may cause ochronisis, which is a skin disorder characterized by âÂÂprogressive sooty darkening.â Right. ItâÂÂs known to cause DNA damage and mutations. Most scary of all, itâÂÂs linked to cancers in humans such as leukemia. Now, all of these things are associated with large doses over extended periods of time, which is why youâÂÂre not supposed to use products with hydroquinone any longer than six months. Probably youâÂÂll be okay if youâÂÂre using only a 2 percent formula for a few weeks at a time. http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/10/27/why-hydroquinone-is-bad-for-you-albeit-effective-and-the-whiteningbrightening-line-i-recommend-instead/

I've tried LOTS of green detergents. They could do an episode of Hoarders in my laundry room. Moderately hard midwestern water.. fairly sensitive to artificial scents. I do often use a small amount of STPP and sodium percarbonate or hydrogen peroxide bleach. One thing I noitce is that scents RARELY make it through the dryer cycle. Green detergents seem to vary by person/water much more than the 'Petro' products. Here's my experience: Great: Ecover: Zero powder (Very effective, but likes 2 rinses), liquid 2x (Alpine mint and zero) Charlie's- My old standby, powder for most anything; liquid for fleece and sportswear. Has removed garage floor black grease/dirt covered jeans for me Biokleen Premium Plus - Light citrus, works well Puracy - Good ingredients, ultra concentrated with a pump, good results ECOS with enzymes (Sam's Club) has done well for me after a few uses. Very economical Win Green. My best results on fleece/sportswear (with H202) Good: Biokleen: free and clear powder, liquid, coldwater, sports liquid. Ok cleaning. I like the scents in bottle, sport has a eucalyptus bite, doesn't seem any more effective than others from the brand Nellies. I know it's supposed to be similar to Charlie's, but hasn't worked quite as well for me OK: Caldrea Lavender Pine. $$$$$ Average cleaning, Smells decent, similar to Mrs Meyers (They're siblings) with the ingredients, but easier to use Method. Lavender Cedar. Works well, but has optical brighteners (yuck) Zum: Soap, not detergent. Makes it to OK mostly for the unique scents (discovered on my quest for a masculine laundry detergent..Cedar, pine mint, rosemary tea tree, patchouli, frankincense and Myrrh....). Not an exceptional cleaner with hard water..I like it for bed linen duty as a touch of the scent remains if you don't overdry. Meh: Mrs Meyers. Way too thick, terrible dribbling packaging. Lemon Verbena smell gives me a headache, average cleaning. Lots of strange ingredients in it Seventh Generation Ultra Powder Mandarin Sandalwood. Smells good in jar, like the ingredients, but doesn't smell clean out of washer. Vaska. Wanted to like this one..but still suds after 3 rinses and so-so cleaning. Green Fabric Softeners. Occasionally use for sheets. All work about the same, scent doesn't usually make it out of the dryer Vaska Lavender Caldrea Lavender Seventh Gen (free and clear and blue eucalyptus) Ecover Sunny Day. might work the best, but a headache scent for me

Lars I hope you get to try true chestnuts. They are a pain to shell but then the delicious flesh can be used in many ways. Using them for savoury dishes including chestnut soup and chestnut stuffing for chicken. Using them for sweets is my favourite and are mainly French based. With sweets you can use the cans of slightly sweetened puree… French Imported are the best. There is Mont Blanc which is a delicious slightly sweetened chestnut puree formed like vermicelli. Also chestnut mousse. My favourite are the Marron Glace - candied chestnuts. The imported from France boxed ones are better than the ones in a jar. Also adding that you can buy Unsweetened cans of chestnut puree as well and the trick is to read the french label and not buy the wrong one. Hah! ask me how I know.