Tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day so far this year at close to 100. I work midnights and sleep mornings if I'm not babysitting the grandson. I usually go out once I wake up and have a caffine shot for energy. Today was so hot that I waited until after 4 pm before I could make myself go out. I roll up a bandanna,wet it, and tie it up around my face and slide it up into the edge of my hair to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I sometimes roll one up, wet it, and tie it around my neck also to help keep me cooler. I want to plant more trees closer to the house to help lower the temp. The drought is really hurting everything. The grass is crispy; the veggie garden is hanging on with soaker hoses; the trees, flowers, and shrubs are hanging in with hand watering. Since we just moved to this place last April (to be closer to the grandkids) most everything is brand new and isn't deep rooted enough to handle such prolonged drought without extra watering. DH is starting to worry about the well since rain has been almost nonexistent this summer. But, I can't bear to see everything drooping. So I water and pray at the same time. We are going on vacation next week and I intend to drive home midweek to water. We are going to mulch deeply and give everything a deep watering the day we leave. Before next year I want to lay soaker hoses and put them on timers. But, I still handle the heat better than I can deal with the bugs. They eat me alive. I even had a fly worry me to death while I was trying to water tonight for Pete's sake!! Can't use bug repellant due to allergies. Still, all things considered, I'm a blessed person and love love love my garden. It is worth all of the blood,sweat, and tears!! Ah, the dreams I have. So many of y'all have such awesome gardens and I drool all over the screen while I'm dreaming and planning. Thanks for posting all of those before,during,and finished pics. That's what keeps me going. Betty

Scentsy sells (or at least used to) little "liners" that lay on the bottom of the dish with tabs that stick out to the sides. When the wax is cooled, simply lift out the liner with the tab. I don't use them. It's a waste of money imo. I do it one of two ways. Let the wax cool and then with a butter knife, slice the wax down the middle and start to go around the edge with the knife. Each side will pop out effortlessly. Or, holding the base of the plug-in warmer, dump the hot wax in the trash and use a paper towel to wipe out the dish. Both are extremely simple. But, this is Scensty wax. Not all waxes are created equal. In the beginning when I was trying to go the cheap route, I bought WM (Better Homes and Garden) wax cubes. They don't come out as easy. You have to chip them out. ps...did you pay $33 for that plug in warmer? :o A much superior product, with life time warranty, is $20.

I bought a warmer from Michael's which has the base and a removable bowl. I use scented jar candles on it, which will last for a long time, or the little wax cubes or votive style scented candles in the bowl. I have a couple of small glass custard cups that I also use, so that I can switch scents without cleaning the bowl. I will also add drops of the scented oils that were/are meant for potpourri or lightbulb rings to melted wax when the original scent is gone. I rarely keep it on for a whole day -- a little goes a long way with me, so I don't mind inexpensive melts that are good only for several hours. When it is time to clean the bowls, I just put the bowl into the freezer for a short time, then the wax pops right out. I have a neighbor who take the used wax to make her own candles. I actually like very few scents - I really don't like most florals, and many others are too artificial to me (like, "clean linen", or "fresh water" . My favorites are fresh apple (not apple pie), and balsam/pine. I like grapefruit, pear, lemon (if it is not too strong or artificial), gingerbread and some pumpkin spice scents. I usually find a Christmas blend at Macy's that I like, too. I'm fond of the Woodwick candles' Jolly Gingerbread and Cinnamon Cheer. Crabtree & Evelyn used to have a scent called "American Harvest" that I loved. I would be so happy if someone would make a "fresh quince" scent that really smelled like a fresh, cut quince.

Texas_Gem -- Hawaii temps are very 'local'. People planning to visit post on the Trip Advisor forums in tears, "Oh it's going to rain for our whole week on Maui." No, it's going to rain *somewhere* on Maui -- West Maui Mountains, Wailuku, Upcountry, Hana. Maui has many different micro-climates. It can be raining at one beach and dry at another only a few miles away. Same with swimming/surfing conditions. Annual averages in South Maui are a ten degree swing from low-70's at night to mid-80's in the day. When we arrive in January, it can be 60 and breezy overnight. West Maui is the same; a little cooler far NW at Kapalua. Hana (SE) is warm and wet; lots of rain there. At the crater (Haleakala), you need warm coats, hats and gloves when it's dark, then sun hats, sunscreen and lots of water once the sun comes up. Sunrise has become so popular there that you have to make a (free) reservation with the National Park Service. The Hawaiian islands are all old volcanoes. The older islands, Kauai and Oahu, have the most eroded lava, hence the most vegetation. Peaks on Kauai have rain almost every day -- 400 inches a year. Most of leeward Maui is dry, with the bulk of the island taken up by Halekala. Big Island of Hawaii is newest -- still expanding with new lava. It's still bare lava westvegetation on the windward sides. Mauna Kea often has snow in winter while SE Hilo is hot and humid. Sorry for the 'lesson'. Come see for yourselves!