Barbara Raskauskas
Barbara Raskauskas is a writer, photographer, and gardener with over 40 years experience growing vegetables and flowers. Her writing or photography appears on Yahoo US Homes, Shine, Finance, and Contributor Network websites, as well as other content websites such as DIY Network, Garden Guides, SASS Magazine, Verdeesvida Magazine, and eHow.
Barbara worked over 20 years for defense contractors where, among other duties, she wrote intranet web content, administered the company’s HR database, prepared HR compliance material, created HR forms, developed training material, processed classified material, and administered an e-learning program to thousands of employees worldwide. Barbara is a certified e-learning specialist and is certified in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, which she taught for several years.
Having left the workforce, Barbara focuses her time on her favorite pursuits: photography, home improvement, decorating, crafts, landscape design, gardening, and writing about those pursuits.
Barbara has provided volunteer support to her hometown Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, and Halloween and Christmas parade committees. Barbara is also active in the small business she and her husband have owned since 2000. The business provides bookkeeping and payroll services, public notary acknowledgements, income tax preparation, and apostille services to Hague Convention member countries.
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Barbara worked over 20 years for defense contractors where, among other duties, she wrote intranet web content, administered the company’s HR database, prepared HR compliance material, created HR forms, developed training material, processed classified material, and administered an e-learning program to thousands of employees worldwide. Barbara is a certified e-learning specialist and is certified in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, which she taught for several years.
Having left the workforce, Barbara focuses her time on her favorite pursuits: photography, home improvement, decorating, crafts, landscape design, gardening, and writing about those pursuits.
Barbara has provided volunteer support to her hometown Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, and Halloween and Christmas parade committees. Barbara is also active in the small business she and her husband have owned since 2000. The business provides bookkeeping and payroll services, public notary acknowledgements, income tax preparation, and apostille services to Hague Convention member countries.
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The Well-stocked Garden ShedA garden shed may be a small, standalone shed or shared part of another building, like a barn or garage. Read on for tips on what to put into a garden shed and how to store it. -
My Medical Misdiagnosis Cost Thousands of Dollars and Deteriorating HealthAfter thousands of dollars in medical bills, deteriorating health, and much anxiety, I was the one who discovered the cause of my medical ailment. -
3 Uses for CompostHomemade compost can save you money since you will not need to purchase soil-enhancing products from your local garden center. I have found three common uses around the yard for aged compost. -
Recognizing My Memory LossMy journey with memory loss includes help from my husband. -
What You May Not Know About Watering Vegetable PlantsConservation is critical to ensure a continuous supply of fresh water. Home gardeners should consider the future of the water sources in their area by carefully choosing what vegetables to plant and by watering plants conservatively. -
Basics of Landscape MaintenanceLandscape maintenance is part of the package that comes with living in a house that has a yard, shrubs, trees, or flowers. Knowing the basics of landscape maintenance will help with the decision to hire someone or do the work yourself. -
Landscaping Dilemma: Remove or Keep Current PlantsLearn how to tell what trees, shrubs, flowers, or other gardening plants should stay where they are, be removed and planted elsewhere, or be removed and tossed. -
Ready to Start Your First Garden?Do you have a suitable location for a garden? Are you aware of how much time it takes to garden? What about the best size of garden? -
Home Purchase Trends for the Outdoor-orientedHome buyers look for key features in a house such as updated kitchen and bathrooms. Demands in outdoor features are growing in the real estate search. -
Dealing with Drooping Garden FlowersWhen flower stems of garden plants are bending from the weight of their blooms, it is time to give the flowering plant some support. Choose from almost hidden to colorful, eye-catching support for drooping flowers. -
Seaside Garden PlantsPlants located near the sea must withstand salty sea spray and high winds. Heat and humidity may also play a part in the type of plants suitable for creating a seaside garden. These plants are also good for inland gardeners. -
Delaware State Parks Hiking Trails Suitable for WheelchairThe hiking trails in Delaware State Parks may be paved or comprised of compacted crushed stone. Hiking trails wind through forests, past ponds and streams, across open fields, or near the beach. Many of the trails are suitable for wheelchair-bound hikers. -
Kitchen Window Treatments Available at Your Local Home Improvement CenterSometimes the view out a kitchen window is not pleasant or the view looks directly into a neighbor's window. Window treatments on your kitchen windows can provide needed privacy and block sunlight. -
Evergreen Plants to Grow Instead of GrassConsider replacing the grass in a small yard or a portion of a large yard with low growing evergreen plants. Plants help reduce erosion and require little to no maintenance compared to grass. -
5 Edible Plants Suitable for Window Flower BoxLimited space for a garden? Try window flower boxes either secured to the house or placed on the balcony, patio, fence, deck railing, or directly on the ground. Choose some of these shallow-rooted edible plants. -
Winter Vegetable Garden Tasks Before and After the Ground FreezesIt may take several repeated days of below freezing air temperature to cause the water in the soil to freeze. Before and after the ground freezes, complete these vegetable garden tasks.
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Easy Landscaping Ideas: Corner of the HouseYou do not have to hire a professional landscape designer to create a landscaping plan for the corner of your house. With shovels and plants from your local garden center, you can transform your landscape design beyond ordinary.
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Our one-week DIY kitchen renovation for under $10,000When touring a 1940s house with our realtor, "outdated" did not adequately describe the kitchen. My husband and I had a vision for the kitchen and bought the house knowing we would be facing a renovation.
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Christmas Decoration Ideas for Kids' BedroomsDecorating the house for Christmas helps set the mood for this joyous time of year. You are sure to put a smile on your kids' faces when you add Christmas decorations to their bedrooms.
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Ways to Position Twin Beds in a Small BedroomRoom design ideas for twin beds to provide a comfortable way to place two children in the same small room.
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7 Garden Flowers with Long Bloom PeriodsChoosing flowering plants that bloom in stages is one way to keep flowers blooming for long periods in your landscape design project. Alternatively, you could choose flowers with long bloom periods.
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3 Unexpected Plants to Use as Evergreen HedgesStep away from the customary evergreen hedge plants like boxwood or holly. Consider one of these unexpected plants to use as an evergreen hedge in your landscape design.
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Using Oriental Lily Stargazer in Landscape DesignLilies are a lovely, scented flower. When planting in your flower garden, choose companion plants to surround stargazer lily to hide the bulb-nourishing stem and leaves once the bloom dies.
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4 Must-Have Vegetables for the Home GardenThe best vegetables to plant are items used often in dinner menus, making it worthwhile to have an abundance to last through the winter and spring, and into the next harvest season. To me, the perfect vegetable garden has three characteristics.
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Cost-Saving Landscape Flower Garden StrategyAfter a little research online and some practice, I discovered that I could inexpensively create professional-looking flower beds. For added cost-saving, this garden design strategy includes perennial flowers that can be divided every two years and annual
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Fall Flowers Landscaping PlanIncorporating perennial flowers, like mums, in landscape design is an expensive way to add fall color to your yard. This simple landscape design uses four flowers. Choose all four flower varieties or just use your favorites.
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Easy Care White Flowers for Home Garden LandscapingAdding plants around your house is a home improvement project that gives your house curb appeal. The best part about these white flowering plants is that they require little to no care.
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Vegetable Garden Designed to Beat DroughtFearing the return severe drought growing seasons, I setout to find a way to grow vegetable plants using less water. In my research, one thing I learned about growing vegetables in drought conditions surprised me.
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How to Care for Potted Macrophylla HydrangeaAdd a focal point, color, even privacy to your outdoor seating area using hydrangea shrubs in pots. Choose one shrub or a series of shrubs in your landscape design project. Through this how-to, from pot selection to shrub care, you will discover how easy
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Basics of Organic Vegetable GardeningOrganic gardening may sound new, but organic gardening is the old fashion method of growing vegetables for market or the home table. Read how I keep my organic vegetable garden chemical-free.
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Eggplant: Planting, Growing, HarvestingEggplant is an easy-to-grow vegetables that takes eight to 11 weeks to produce mature fruit. This gardener likes all varities and offers this tip to the first-time eggplant grower: eggplant tops are thorny! Learn more.
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Cottage Garden Plants for Shady Landscape DesignA cottage garden is often viewed as a sunny location, filled with annual flowers, perennial flowers, shrubs, vines or herbs. Read how one gardener blended her sunny cottage garden into shady cottage garden.
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Blank Wall Landscaping IdeasLike a blank artist canvas, an unadorned blank wall in your yard is waiting for adornment. The objective is to use landscape design techniques to create a pleasant view that adds to the allure of sitting outdoors.
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How Do I Know If I Have Well Drained Soil?Before setting out landscaping plants or before planting a vegetable garden, follow common planting directions. Those planting instructions may include “plant in a well-drained location.” Learn what “well drained” means.
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Simple, Low-Maintenance Landscaping IdeasLandscaping plants can increase the curb appeal and subsequently real estate value. Follow these simple landscaping ideas to turn your anxiety about landscaping from scratch into a successful curb appeal design.
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What is Eating My Vegetable Plants?You should be aware of pests that could harm your vegetable plants. Understanding the types of garden pests is the first step toward controlling them.
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Repurpose Household Items to Carry Yard and Garden DebrisThese repurposed household items work perfectly for yard and garden debris such as pruned flower stems, small limbs from shrubs or trees, and weeds.
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Growing Filler Plants for Flower BouquetsYou may have the perfect flowers in your garden to create a bouquet, but do you have enough to make a full, eye-appealing floral arrangement? Consider these easy to grow plants to use as filler for your flower bouquets.
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Take the Guesswork Out of Grouping Garden FlowersYou can take the guesswork out of grouping garden flowers by limiting your selection to a single plant variety. Get ideas here on flowers that look great planted in abundance in your flowerbed.
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Living with Macular DegenerationMy optometrist told me I had dry macular degeneration. I scheduled a visit with an ophthalmologist for a second opinion.
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Garden Advice for the New GardenerMost any new gardener can grow a vegetable garden when equipped with advice passed down through the ages. I received great advice from my father to share with you.
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First Person: The 3 Types of EmployeesEmployees are the customers of the human resources department and that may mean going out of the way to keep the employee-customer happy. Knowing the three common employee attitudes about information from HR helps to determine a course of action.
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Avoiding 6 holiday decorating mistakesNot all of us were born with the Martha Stewart decorating gene. We will make mistakes when decorating for the holidays. I am sharing some holiday decorating mistakes that I made and how I learned to fix the mistakes.
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First Person: The 3 Types of Work ReferencesWorking in HR, I had the opportunity to call work references. References I spoke with offered comments ranging from a read script to hilarious responses to clearly someone who cares about the professional future of their job-seeking friend.
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6 Decorating Ideas Using RugsRugs aren’t just for the floor. Small, inexpensive rugs become a decorating tool to create a focal point or add comfort to everyday living.
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First Person: Accommodating the Hearing Impaired at Our Small BusinessHow we adjusted the work place with special equipment and visual alerts to accommodate a hearing impaired employee.
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Turmeric for Chronic Inflammatory PainNSAIDs may be prescribed to manage chronic pain. The potential side effects of an NSAID like Aleve (naproxen) make them undesirable for long-term use. Might turmeric help relieve your chronic pain so you don’t have to take NSAIDs?
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Create a globe-shaped flower theme gardenCreate a unique garden of just globe-shaped flowers or plant these sun-loving landscape flowers in with other flowers in your garden.
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5 Ways to Display a Christmas Wreath IndoorsDecorating inside your house using wreaths is a festive way to celebrate the Christmas holiday season. Use any or all of these wreath-hanging ideas inside your home.
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Choosing Plants for Winter Container GardeningLet the beauty of outdoor container gardening continue through winter by choosing landscaping plants suitable for cold climates. Choose a single plant for each container or choose a combination of plants like a tall shrub surrounded by ground cover.
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Choosing Cell Phones for SeniorsMany seniors look at a cell phone as an easy way to keep in touch with family and to offer a certain level of security that help is just a phone call away.
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6 weeds with beautiful flowersThis list of six weeds with beautiful flowers includes one that I used in my landscape design.
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3 ways to make Christmas decorating easy year after yearAn organized person by nature, I came up with a plan to make recreating my holiday decorating themes easier. This approach works equally well for both inside and outside decorations.
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First Person: Showing a Child How to Live Within Their MeansMy parents began teaching me the value of living within financial means starting when I was a young child. That early financial tutoring made it easier for me to live within my means throughout my adult life.
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First Person: The Reality of Renting Out My HomeI decided to rent my home, but only because it would not sell. With no experience as a landlady, I quickly found myself regretting the decision.
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Make Your Own Christmas Twinkle Light ReflectorsReflectors on Christmas tree lights help to brighten a room. With aluminum foil, you can make your own Christmas light reflectors for mini, twinkle light string bulbs.
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Surprisingly Easy Way to Adjust the Oven Temperature on a Kitchen Gas StoveOne can only blame the oven for burned or undercooked food so many times before taking action. Who says it’s the cook’s fault? Why couldn’t it be the oven temperature that’s wrong? Check out this easy fix.
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Hanging Christmas Stockings Without a Fireplace MantelIf your home lacks a fireplace mantel from which to hang a stocking, consider one of these following locations as a place to hang Christmas stockings.
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Difference Between a Stove and OvenYes, there is a difference between a stove and an oven.
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Winter Decorating Ideas for the Porch that Delight the SensesSimple touches like a welcome mat is nice, but just a little more decorating can create an enticing and welcoming entrance. When decorating your home’s porch, consider some of these winter decorating ideas that delight the five senses.
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Tips to Brighten Dark Areas in Landscape DesignReflective items bring light and interest into landscape design. Learn what reflective objects to use and how to use them in your landscape design project.
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Living Room Winter Makeover How-ToWhy not makeover your living room to create a winter retreat for family and visitors? These inexpensive living room winter makeover tips fit most design styles including country, traditional, modern, casual and eclectic.
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6 Ways to Refinish or Replace the Top of a Bedroom Night StandA bedroom night stand may need a facelift. Or you may choose to make changes while redecorating your bedroom. Consider one of these six decorating ideas with estimated pricing included.
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Why is my purple coneflower black?Diagnose the problem with your purple coneflower to determine why the plant has turned black.
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5 uses for garden mums around your houseGarden mums are a versatile plant, blooming in the fall while other flowering plants are fading. Pickup five tips here on using garden mums around your house.
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Using Corsican mint in landscape designInclude Corsican mint in your landscape design by following these simple guidelines.
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Dish Garden LandscapingGrowing plants in a shallow container, also known as a dish garden, is a form of indoor landscaping but on a small scale. The process involves placing one or more varieties of plants in the container to create an esthetically pleasing miniature garden.
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Welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift ideas on the cheapPresenting a gift is a way to introduce yourself to new neighbors. Consider some of these no-cost to low-cost gift ideas to welcome newcomers to your neighborhood.
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Landscaping ideas around treesLandscaping around trees, especially if there is only one tree in the landscape, is a way to incorporate additional plants in the yard or garden.
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Rare East Coast Earthquake Rumbles in DelawareLike most East Coast states, Delaware got a taste of Tuesday's 5.9 quake.Also published on:
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Cheap Decorating Ideas Using Paint to Add a Touch of ColorPaint is a versatile decorating tool. Even painting small areas of a room can provide dramatic results. Try some of these suggestions.
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Creative spaces for vegetable and herb gardeningThink your yard is too small for a vegetable garden? Time to reevaluate the purpose of the landscaping to create several small vegetable gardening areas. Small areas of the landscape, including the front yard, are potential vegetable garden areas.
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Salonpas Pain Relief Patch Product ReviewSalonpas are advertised on television as a seemingly miracle pain reliever. At less than four dollars for a package of 40 patches, I decided to try Salonpas. Tip: it is helpful to know what 'minor pain' is.
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Outdoor Potted Plants for a Beach CottagePotted plants add color and interest to a beach cottage landscape design project. When selecting shrubs, ornamental grass or perennial flowers for a beach cottage, look for plants that can withstand salty air.
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U.S. drought levels may indicate greater need for drought tolerant landscaping flowersWhen living in drought prone areas, drought tolerant plants are more water efficient. Learn characteristics of drought tolerant plants and varieties of annual and perennial flowers that can survive extended periods without water.
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4 tips for a beautifully mowed lawnKeeping the grass mowed to a certain height helps to maintain a healthy lawn. Learn more grass cutting facts toward a beautiful lawn.
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Get Rid of White Fuzzy Spots on Zucchini Plant Leaves with Homemade FungicideWhat works best for powdery mildew on vegetable leaves, milk or baking soda with dish detergent? Homemade fungicide can rid your plants mildew.
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Needle Evergreen Shrubs in Containers Add a Touch of Sophistication to Your Landscape DesignNeedle evergreen shrubs, like pine or spruce, offer a level of sophistication to the landscape when planted in containers. Gather suggestions on suitable evergreen varieties. Learn the difference between a tree and shrub.
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Ways to Rejuvenate a Sectional Sofa Without Spending Much MoneyYour interior design choice may center on the sectional sofa with no need for additional seating, like traditional side chairs. After years of use, you may welcome a fresh view without spending a lot of money
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3 Easy to Grow Perennial Flowers That Go Well TogetherSometimes, the most difficult part of gardening is deciding what plants go well together. Choose these pastel perennials as part of your sunny flower garden.Also published on:
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A living fence is more than an evergreen hedgeWhen you hear the phrase 'living fence,' do you think of an evergreen hedge? Don't rule out other plants for a living fence, which can also do more than block a view.
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Autumn Blaze Maple Tree Planting and CareThe Autumn Blaze maple tree helps to reduce home heating and cooling costs by shading the house in the summer and allowing needed solar heat to hit the house in winter.
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Create privacy to revitalize your front porchRecapture the usefulness of your home's front porch with trend-setting design techniques to create a haven of privacy.
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Dogwood Trees for the Landscape: Florida Versus Kousa VarietiesFlowering dogwood or the slighter shorter kousa dogwood are often requested in landscape design when a small tree, and especially a tree with flowers, is desired. What's the difference between the two dogwood tree varieties?
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What is wrong with my tomato plants?Even with the best care, some tomato plant problems may occur in the home vegetable garden.
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What to Take with You when Boarding Your Dog at a KennelLeaving your pet at a kennel can be a traumatic experience. To make the stay as comfortable as possible for your dog, and to ease your anxieties, gather together items to take with you when boarding your dog at a kennel.
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Curb Appeal Looking Out from the HouseLandscaping and interior design join forces to create curb appeal looking out from the house.
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Container Garden Secrets to a Beautiful LandscapeContainer gardening is a way to display flowers, trees, shrubs, vines or ornamental grass in decorative containers. However, putting plants in containers is just the beginning.
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Enjoy a Beach House Landscape No Matter Where You LiveMost plant selections suitable for houses at the beach will capture the allure of a seashore landscape at any home within the recommended USDA planting zones.
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Shrubs, Trees and Vines for a Country Cottage GardenCottage garden landscape design is not limited to just flowers. Shrubs, trees or vines give cottage gardens bulk or height.
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Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Remodel: Choosing Colors for Flooring, Cabinet and CountertopTackling a home improvement project, like remodeling the kitchen, may have you stressing over the best color choices for flooring, cabinets and countertops. Start by choosing the most important item.
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Green ways to tackle weeds in a flower or vegetable gardenEstablished weeds can bloom, creating seeds to further populate your garden. Skip the chemical weed killers. Choose one or more of these environmentally green weed weapon whackers.
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Growing Unscented Annual and Perennial FlowersPlanting unscented flowers near dining areas where the flower's beauty is enjoyed without interfering with the aroma of the meal is a good landscaping choice.
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Never Skip Company-Sponsored TrainingThe need to learn continues into adulthood. Keeping skills and knowledge current with technology is vital to the career growth of employees and to the survival of the employer.
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How to Use Landsaping Trees to Shade WindowsShade from trees is one of nature's free sources for energy conservation.
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Keeping Your Small Condo Squeaky CleanSufficient storage options, often an issue in a small condo, and the right cleaning tools can help even the most reluctant housekeepers maintain a squeaky clean condo.
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3 Seldom Mentioned Critical Vegetable Garden MistakesThese three less often mentioned vegetable gardening mistakes may reduce successful transplanting of seedlings, cause potential harm to pets or young children, or impact pollination as well as the moisture level needed to produce a robust harvest.
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Kitchen Cabinets Harbor Hidden Decorating SecretsSmall decorating changes in the kitchen can add pizzazz, charm or functionality to seemingly hidden areas. To top it off, these decorating changes are do-it-yourself!
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How to Avoid Money Fights with Your SpouseMy husband and I fall into a small minority for whom money does not promote relationship stress. The importance of knowing each other's finances should rank high in marriage.
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My No Fears, First Organic Vegetable GardenMy father bought me a shovel, garden rake and hoe. With those few tools, seeds packets and an idea of the dimensions for the garden, I began to till the soil to plant what I envisioned would be a great bounty.
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Job Options for Gardening EnthusiastsYour knowledge of garden pest management, beneficial insects, and plants indigenous to your area such as herbs, perennial and annual flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs, could land you a job in the gardening industry.
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Use Email Features to Attract Customers and Website VisitorsLike the cover of a book, effective email marketing benefits from eye-catching gimmicks that could draw potential customers to read your email message or visit your website.
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First Person: The Home Features That Will Attract Elderly BuyersThe 55+ home buyer leans toward homes that will accommodate restricted physical abilities in their older years.
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How to Plant and Propagate Creeping PhloxGround cover like creeping phlox with its small flowers looks spectacular growing around tall thin flowers like tulips. Creeping phlox and tulips both bloom in early spring.
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Decorating a Small Porch or Small Balcony on a BudgetTurn your small porch or balcony into a comfortable outdoor retreat for two with inexpensive outdoor furniture and extras that reflect your style.
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Organizing a Narrow, but Deep Kitchen PantryCreative storage ideas come into play when stocking an 18 inch wide and 24 inch deep floor to ceiling pantry with fixed wooden shelves.
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How and when to Prune Crape Myrtle TreesPruned at the wrong time of year can impact the array of bright blooms of crape myrtle.
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9 Self-Seeding Perennial FlowersPerennials will provide bloom color year after year. Before you finalize your list of perennial flowers to purchase, consider perennial flowers that reseed, or self-seed or self-sow, increasing your flower power without additional labor.
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Tips to Make a Very Small Bathroom Seem BiggerBathroom envy may develop when watching TV shows or flipping through magazines showcasing bathrooms. When you cannot make your very small bathroom larger, try some of these tips to make your bathroom seem bigger.
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Perennial Flowers that Will Grow in USDA Zone 4USDA plant hardiness zone 4, which is divided into zones 4a and 4b, has extended days of deep cold that not all perennials can survive. These flowering perennials, grouped by height, are suitable for USDA zone 4.
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Rain Gutter Cleaning, Complicating a Simple TaskCleaning mildew from the porch rain gutter was the task of the day. I decided I'm going to do it'"pull out the power washer and shoot a blast of water at the gutter to send that mildew to mildew heaven. But then I got to thinking.
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First Person: Shelter-in-Place Basics for Small BusinessThere is the potential of biological, chemical or other forms of air contamination in any part of the U.S. Plan ahead and identify a safe room in your business to shelter-in-place.
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No Green Thumb? Try These No-Fail Vegetables in Your Organic GardenWith a good soil base, you are on your way to growing vegetables for cooking, freezing, canning, or eating fresh. Try one or more of these no-fail vegetables in your organic garden.
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How I Am Prepared for a Natural Disaster in DelawareI have the typical emergency preparedness kit with cash, flashlight, and other recommended items, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when comes to being prepared for natural disasters if you are planning on, or are forced to, stay at home.
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Ideas to Cover a Window Over a Bathtub ShowerConsider these bathroom window treatments to cover a window in a shower to provide needed privacy.
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Spring Cleaning Your PorchBeyond curb appeal, giving your front porch at least an annual cleaning conveys a good impression to your visitors and creates a welcoming location for your own enjoyment.
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Growing Tomatoes: Best Tomato Plants for Sauces, Sandwiches, SaladsChoosing varieties of tomatoes to plant that meet your dining needs, like for tomato sauce or paste, or for a salad or a sandwich, can better utilize your garden space and fill your tomato requirements.
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Landscaping Plants for Italianate Design HomesYou can create period-specific landscape designs for your Italianate-style home using many of the same varieties of plants, shrubs and trees available when Italianate architecture was popular in the 1800's.
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What to Expect During a Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Performed in a Doctor's OfficeAfter eight weeks of physical therapy proved unable to relieve the pain of bulging discs, I was referred to a pain management specialist who recommended epidural steroid injections.
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Decorating Ideas for a Wide HallwayLarge homes are often graced with a spectacular interior design'"wide hallways, 4 to 6 feet wide. Consider these decorating ideas as inspiration for your home's wide hallway.
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Beneficial Flowers for a Vegetable Garden to Deter PestsFlowers surrounding a vegetable garden and dispersed periodically throughout the garden can create a natural approach to bug control that can also attract beneficial insects.
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Vegetable Plants to Grow in ContainersSmall yard or no yard, growing vegetables in pots could be the way to cut grocery prices or just have fun growing plants!
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Fibromyalgia Pain Treatment with GabapentinGabapentin (Neurontin) works for some to relieve the relentless pain of fibromyalgia. Could gabapentin relieve your fibromyalgia pain? Here's what it did for me.
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Fixed Income Tips on Budgeting, Saving and SpendingLiving on a fixed income, especially at retirement, can be challenging. Wise spending practices may take time to develop, so begin spending on a tight budget before you retire.
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How to Plan for an Outdoor DeckWhen planning your outdoor living space, you might start by envisioning a deck and the location of new outdoor furniture. Before you start designing the deck though, there are important considerations to investigate.
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Seeing the Potential in a Noisy Real Estate LocationInstead of overlooking a potential house purchase just because it's in a noisy area, look to ways to block the noise.
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How to Plan a Simple Annual Flower GardenThe simplest approach for novice flower gardeners is to use low growing annual flowers available from a local plant nursery since those have been chosen specifically for climate in that area.
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6 Annual Flowers for Cutting, with Best Cultivar and HeightTry some or all of these annual flowers for your flower garden. All these annual flowers will grow in a full sun garden and can be planted from seed directly outdoors in the spring after danger of frost.
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How to Measure Sunlight for Garden Flowers or VegetablesBy knowing how much sun the planting area receives, you can check the plant tags at the nursery to select flowers more likely to thrive in your landscape.
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Using an Employee Referral Program as Part of Your Small BusinessFinding qualified workers result from referrals of employees' friends. Create an Employee Referral Program to alert employees of job vacancies and how a success referral may generate a monetary award.
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How to Start an Ombudsman Program for Your Small BusinessDespite an open door policy, some employees may be reluctant to voice concerns. Having an ombudsman program in place through which employees can take their grievances may lead to happier employees and reduced turnover.
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7 Stages of Gardening GriefEven the most skilled gardener will occasionally lose one or more plants. For the most avid gardeners among us, here are the stages with progress through in our angst.
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How to Choose Garden Flowers that Go TogetherLearn how to choose flowers for the garden by their color and height. Pickup some ideas on flower combinations that will work well in your flower garden.
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Refinishing Wood Furniture for a French Provincial LookUsing white or off-white paint, you can turn wood furniture into French provincial style, giving the furniture a new design purpose. And French provincial decor isn't limited to bedroom furniture; use the design throughout the house!
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Turn a Sloping Yard into an Array of Colorful FlowersWe've all seen them; those sloping landscapes that are difficult to mow and not designed for playing. Planting flowers on a hill helps to prevent erosion as the flowers add beauty to the landscape.
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First Person: Small Business Marketing Gets CreativeSmall business owners expect their customer base to increase, or at least remain the same. Panic can set in when the number of customers decreases. Maybe it's time for a new angle on marketing.
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Free or Low Cost Ways to Keep Employees HappyEmployee pay is not the only incentive for performing well. Free or low cost ways to keep employees happy can lead to retaining good workers.
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New Employees and IT ResourcesSometimes, "I didn't know" is a legitimate excuse from an employee caught abusing company software services.
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First Person: Dealing With Sexual Harassment at a Small BusinessAs a small business owner, I didn't think we would ever have to worry about sexual harassment in the workplace. Only recently did I discover that sexual harassment can come from an outside source, like a delivery person.
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What to Include in a Terminating Employee Exit SurveyAn exit survey for a terminating employee would replace the face-to-face exit interview and perhaps allow the employee to be more candid, especially when they have more time to think about their responses.
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First Person: 5 Details to Investigate Before Starting a Small BusinessPreparing a business plan and obtaining financing are two key steps toward starting a small business. There's more to building a successful business. I discovered these aspects of starting a new business that other new business owners may confront.
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Older Women, Keep Your Long HairWomen, hear me! Long hair is okay no matter what your age. Don't let some hairdresser convince you otherwise just because you are growing older.
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First Person: How I Keep My Small Business AfloatThat first month your small business income exceeds all expenses is a day for celebration--maybe. Additional belt tightening or other avenues may need pursuing to maintain a positive net income.
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How to Create Rich Looking Bedroom Without Spending Much MoneyExpensive furniture and lavish linens and draperies may come to mind when envisioning a rich looking bedroom, but creating a beautiful bedroom doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
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Simple Ideas to Liven-up Plain CurtainsWhether you call your window treatments curtains or drapes, use any of these simple ideas to liven-up the fabric to enhance the room decor.
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First Person: Managing the Disclosure of Private Business Information to EmployeesSharing private business or employee information with a co-worker, even in the same department, should only be done on a need-to-know basis.
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First Person: A Baby Boomer Looks at RetirementThe U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there were 77.9 million baby boomers in the U.S. in 2006, and I am one of them. I'll do okay in retirement, and here's why.
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4 No Cost Decorating Ideas for Living RoomsWhen a tight budget and the desire to do some decorating clash, consider items you already have that can be re-purposed or pulled from storage. These decorating ideas for living rooms not only cost nothing, they can be used in other rooms of the house.
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Preparing for Overnight Guests with ChildrenAs host or hostess, your primary goal is to provide them with a comfortable place to sleep and perhaps breakfast. Opening your house to overnight guests does not mean you have to convert your home into a high-end hotel.
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First Person: Saving Money on a Home RemodelHandling all or even part of the chore of clearing out of the contents of a home remodeling area can save you money with your home improvement project. If remodeling a kitchen, you may even make money during the de-construction process.
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Outrageous Fees Charged by Income Tax PreparersIncome tax season is often a trying time for tax payers. When utilizing a tax preparation service, including the three big chain tax services of H&R Block, Liberty, and Jackson-Hewitt, ask for a copy of their price before you sign anything.
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Easy Way to Frame a Bathroom MirrorThis easy, no-fuss approach to frame a mirror skips the task of creating mitered corners. You can frame any square or rectangle mirror glued to the wall or suspended from a wire.
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Resurgence of Coal as an Energy SourceSome homeowners may find it cheaper to use coal over other home heating options, but burning coal in general has been bad news for the environment. Will advancements in the cleaner burning of coal bring coal back as a leading source of energy in the U.S.?
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First Person: Utilizing HR Metrics to Evaluate Employee TurnoverBusinesses can feel the negative impact of voluntary turnovers of their human capital, mostly from the cost of rehiring and retraining employees to fill job vacancies. Use HR metrics to evaluate turnover.
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3 Controllable Interruptions of Human Resources StaffHR staff is expected to support to employees in a timely manner, which can be challenging as a company grows. If you find yourself purposely using back hallways to avoid running into employees, it's time to evaluate interruptions that can be controlled.
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First Person: Managing Telecommute WorkersA telecommuting arrangement can benefit an employee and an employer from a cost savings perspective, but it takes some planning to avoid the "out of sight, out of mind" management syndrome.
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What to Look for when Buying Landscape Pine TreesChoose pine trees for year-round evergreen interest, as a wind break, or to block an undesirable view. Learn the terms and your purchasing options before heading to the nursery so you know what to look for when buying pine trees for your landscape design.
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How to Hang a Hanging Flower Basket from a TreeWrapping a cord or wire over a limb to hang a planter can damage the tree limb. There is a proper way to hang a basket from a tree that won't damage the tree limb.
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Landscaping Tips for the Desert SouthwestWhen choosing landscape plants, go with all water wise plants or create a combination of plants needing irrigation and some water wise, drought tolerant plants that can get by on less frequent watering.
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Chocolate Cookies with Peanut Butter Frosting RecipeServe cold milk with these cake-like chocolate cookies covered with peanut butter frosting. This recipe makes 24 to 36 cookies.
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How to Decorate a Kid's Tree HouseBuilding a tree house, a small outdoor wooden structure, is the ultimate hideaway for children. Work with the child to prepare an interior decorating motif for the tree house that best matches the child's personality.
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English Walnut Tree Planting GuideEnglish walnuts can be used in recipes or eaten as a snack. Imagine growing your own English walnut trees for homemade treats or to sell at a roadside stand.
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Christmas Decoration Ideas for a Picket FenceThe must-have Christmas decorated item every year at my house is lights and bows or wreaths on the picket fence. Give your landscape some Christmas cheer with these festive picket fence Christmas decoration ideas.
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Transplanting a Root Bound Potted Tree or ShrubTrees and shrubs grown in containers, unlike those grown in the ground, can become root bound, which can impact height, width, foliage, blooms or fruit growth. The best way to ascertain if a potted tree or shrub is root bound is to examine the root ball.
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How to Make Your Outdoor Retreat a Stress-Releasing ZoneAn outdoor retreat, like a patio, gazebo or deck, is a place where you can go to get away from the hubbub of a harried life. You can transform your retreat into a stress-releasing zone with inviting sights, sounds, scents and personal touches.
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7 Christmas Tree Topper Decoration IdeasDecorating Christmas trees is a tradition pulled from German culture. A Christmas tree topper, the decoration that sets at the highest point on the tree, was made to look unique, like no other ornament on the tree.
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Choosing the Best Location for Your Small BusinessSearching for a new location to set up your small business is similar to looking for a new home. Do you know one real estate aspect that the small business owner considers a plus but the home owner considers a flaw?
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Interior Design Ideas for the Main Entrance of a Small BusinessThink of your office of your small business as the corporate office or world headquarters of your business. Invest in good furniture, leased or purchased, to exude an appearance of success.
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Artful Ways to Grow Ornamental Vines in the LandscapeOrnamental vines may include blooming vines, like clematis, or instead of flowers, the vine may show off uniquely colored leaves, like sweet potato vine. Consider these artful ways to grow ornamental vines in your landscape.
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Landscaping a Backyard for a DogDogs enjoy being outdoors, even if they are house pets and sleep indoors at night. Incorporate some of these features in your backyard landscaping plan for the dogs and you will have one happy puppy.
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7 Hardy Annual Flowers that Tolerate FrostMany flowers bloom for a few weeks and then fade away. These seven hardy annual flowering plants will keep on blooming deep into the chilly nights of autumn. Pick different bloom colors and plant heights for the ultimate color display.
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Landscaping Ideas to Hide Utility BoxesWe've all seen them, those unsightly, large green metal boxes or cylindrical bullets set in the landscape by utility companies. Gather some landscape ideas here on how to hide those eyesores in your yard.
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How to Choose an Office Supply Vendor when Buying in BulkBig businesses may put out bids to office supply stores to garner discount pricing for buying in bulk. These tips can prepare you for meeting with office supply sales people to discuss your company's office supply needs.
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Christine O'Donnell, You Are NOT like Me!It was a sad day when Christine O'Donnell won the primary, ousting Mike Castle as the 2010 Republican candidate from Delaware for the U.S. Senate. I'm not buying O'Donnell's "I'm you" claims and here's why.
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7 Sins of Home ImprovementSome homeowners are do-it-yourselfers when it comes to maintaining their house or making improvements. The processes used to complete the project can lead to successful completion or may lead to disastrous results. Avoid these sins of home improvement.Also published on:
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Landscaping Tips for a House on a Small LotLandscaping a house on a small lot is something a homeowner can do economically at through a local home and garden center. Let these tips and ideas jump-start your landscape design.
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How to Introduce New Telephones for All Employees in Your BusinessWhen a new employee joins the company, a coworker may explain how to use the telephone. But what happens if the company changes from one business phone system to another, requiring replacement of all employee telephones on the same day?
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Landscaping Tips for a BackyardA backyard can be looked upon like another room of the house. When gathering ideas for landscaping your backyard, determine the functions the yard needs to perform, like a place for kids to play, or a place for adults to garden or to entertain friends.
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Landscaping Plants for Mid-Atlantic to South Atlantic Coastal AreasPlants along the coastal mid-Atlantic states from Delaware south to Florida need tolerance to salt water mist and sandy soil conditions. Choose plants like those listed in this article that meet the USDA plant hardiness zone map for your area.
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6 Tips for the Small Business Owner Working from HomeSuccessfully operating a small business at home requires more than dedicated office space filled with the best furniture and equipment. Follow these business-savvy tips to help keep your home-based small business on track.
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Cleaning Checklist for a BedroomVacuuming the floor and pushing dust off the bedside tables and chest of drawers is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cleaning a bedroom. Create a cleaning checklist from these suggestions.
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Top 5 Weekend Cleaning ProjectsWeekend cleaning projects are those tasks that take too much time to tackle after work during the week. These five cleaning projects can be accomplished alone, but why not bring in friends or family members for the camaraderie?
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Authentic Country Decorating for the Living RoomHire an interior decorator to design a country living room and cutesy items, like a wooden chair with a heart shape cut-out, would most likely not be included. Authentic country decorating builds from antiques and vintage pieces.
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Fun November Events in Southern DelawareBy November, the fields of soy beans and corn have been harvested, giving Sussex County, Delaware an open country look. Come to southern Delaware this November for these fun events.
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Venous Doppler Ultrasound of the LegWhat to expect when undergoing venous Doppler ultrasound of the leg, including preparation, the actual procedure and follow-up.
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First Mason Dixon Crownstone Boundary Monument, Maryland-DelawareSlideshow: The first limestone marker of the Mason-Dixon line was set at the southwest corner of Delaware. This location, confirmed by astronomer Charles Mason and surveyor Jeremiah Dixon in 1763, marks the middle (east-west) of the Delmarva peninsula.
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Vintage Interior Design Ideas for a Farm House or BungalowThink simple, uncluttered and worn as you bring back a vintage interior design look to a farm house or bungalow.
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Child-Friendly Landscape Design IdeasIncorporating kid-friendly features into backyard landscaping may provide the enticement children need to return to the outdoors to improve their health as they learn about nature.
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Using Herbs in the LandscapeHerbs, like parsley and basil that we enjoy growing for culinary purposes, can be used in landscape design. And for the herb-aficionado, growing herbs in the landscape can provide a convenient source of medicinal products.
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Five Websites Where You Can Advertise Your Business for FreeA website will place your business name on the internet, but that doesn't guarantee that your website will rank high or even display in internet search results. An internet website displaying your credentials for free may improve you internet standings.
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How to Care for and Wash Feather PillowsFeather bed pillows, which usually contain down, can last 15 or more years with proper care, including washing them.
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Compression Stockings Size, Use, and CareCompression stockings may reduce swelling in the lower legs by applying pressure that can help to prevent the tissues from absorbing fluid. With proper use and care, the stockings may last up to six months of daily use.
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Small Business Milestones as Growth Markers and Feel-Good MomentsOnce officially a business, small business owners will pass many milestones as their business matures. Some milestones mark business successes; other mark personal feel-good moments.
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Where to Find Retro, Antique Kitchen AppliancesKitchen decor from the mid 20th century continues to attract homeowners. Find out where to get old refrigerators and stoves that can be restored, or new refrigerators and stoves made to mimic the vintage designs of the 1940's to the 1960's.
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Top Employment Benefits to Attract and Retain EmployeesBusinesses that offer benefits to all employees may attract higher caliber candidates to fill job vacancies and retain good workers longer. Employment benefits offered by the company can play as great a role as salary to a job seeker.
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Cheap Family Fun, at Home or AwayCheap family fun, whether at home or a short drive away, are there for the taking when you know where to look. Check out these free or low-cost family-fun activities.
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Make Halloween Pumpkin Decorations from Tissue PaperTissue paper, like that used with gift wrapping, can be folded to create decorative paper Halloween pumpkins.
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Why, How and when to PrayPrayer can be described as communication with the power within and around us. There is a belief that prayer, coupled with life-changing improvements, can positively affect our lives.
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Easy Homemade Christmas Gift: Instant Noodle SoupPut a homemade instant soup mixture into a container like a mason jar, soup tureen or an airtight plastic container, and then add a Christmas (or other holiday) theme lid cover. Instant soup recipe and container topper ideas included.
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Ideas for Decorating Outdoor Trees for Birds at ChristmasChristmas is a time for festive decorations, inside and outside the house. White or colored lights can be used to decorate outdoor evergreen or deciduous trees for Christmas, but how about decorating an outdoor tree to feed the birds at Christmas?