Are they Sweet Potatoes or Yams?

It doesn't matter in these delicious recipes!

Sweet Potato Bean Soup

Sweet Potato Crunch

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Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Smear peanut butter all over a pinecone and then roll the messy cone into some bird seed.  Tie a string or wire around the top of cone and hang from a tree branch or shepherd's hook.  The winter birds will chirp with delight!  Make several feeders and store them in the freezer until you are ready to hang them outside.

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A picture is worth a thousand.

Help make your yard look 'picture perfect' by  keeping your curb clean.  Clean out that tiny space between the road and the curb.  You know the one... that place that can hold all sorts of debris and can grow a vast variety of plant life.  An unkempt curb can tarnish the beautiful appearance of any well-groomed yard.  A clean curb adds 'curb appeal'  to your property and can increase your property's value! 

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Now is the time to start taking care of your Hardy Mums.  As of the beginning of April your mums should be about 4-12 inches high.  If you would like to make sure they do not get 'leggy' or bloom early you should pinch the stems down to about 4-6 inches.  Just pinch or cut the stems above a leaf point(where the leaf comes out of the stem).  Do this to your mum every now and then until about July 4th.  After the 4th you should let your mum grow and get strong so it can produce some great blossoms for you. 

For more information on chrysanthemums click on : Chrysanthemum Information

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Repelled by Repellents? 

Try a 'natural' alternative.

Natural Insect Repellent Recipe:

• 10-25 drops (total) of essential oils*
• 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil or alcohol

• cinnamon oil (mosquitoes)
• lemon eucalyptus or regular eucalyptus oil (mosquitoes, ticks, and lice)
• citronella oil (mosquitoes and biting flies)
• castor oil (mosquitoes)
• orange oil (fleas)
• rose geranium (ticks and lice)

• olive oil
• sunflower oil
• any other cooking oil
• witch hazel
• vodka

Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil or alcohol. Rub or spray the natural insect repellent onto skin or clothing, using care to avoid the sensitive eye area. You'll need to re-apply the natural product after about an hour or after swimming or exercise. Unused natural insect repellent may be stored in a dark bottle, away from heat or sunlight. If you wish, you may combine the oil with aloe vera gel to change the consistency of the product.

(If you are making large amounts of insect repellent, a good rule of thumb is to mix the repellent so it's 5-10% essential oil, so mix 1 part essential oil with 10-20 parts carrier oil or alcohol.)

*The oils don't mix with water, so you'll need to add them to other oils or to alcohol. It's important to use an oil or alcohol that is safe for your skin. Also, don't go overboard with the essential oils. The oils are potent and could cause skin irritation or another reaction if you use too much. If you are pregnant or nursing, do not apply an insect repellent, natural or otherwise, until after you've gotten it cleared by your physician. 

This information was copied from About.com:Chemistry

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide