How to avoid pests in your home

Free photo 116611687 © Publicdomainphotos - Dreamstime.com

1. Spray spider webs and wasp nests around your home and remove when clear and safe.

2. Seal up any cracks, holes, or gaps around windows, doors, walls, or foundations.

3. Relocate trash outside as soon as possible.

4. For inside your home, use a garbage container with a lid to prevent pest and rodents from getting in the trash. Make sure take out the trash frequently and always keep the lid to outside receptacle closed.

5. Store dry goods like flour and sugar in airtight containers. For more frequently used items like cereal or pasta, store containers that are fully resealable.

6. Use insect and pest control products on your lawn and around the perimeter of your home.

7. Tip and turn over anything in your yard that can hold water to reduce mosquitoes. This includes toys, plants saucers and dog bowls.

8. Trim any tree branches or shrubbery growing close to your home and keep a 3- to 6- inches clearance. This reduce easy access for pest to enter your home.

9. Store fire wood in a dry and breezy area. Make sure your stack is at least 10 feet away from your home and elevated 6- plus inches off the ground.

by Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group

Three phases of Spinal Degeneration - photos 

Jabuticaba, taking care of a bonsai. 

Real Food Daily restaurant in California

Beneficial plants for your home

Did you know?

Plants, especially the plants pictured, purify the air by reducing levels of carbon dioxide, benzene, nitrogen dioxide, and airborne dust.

 

Plants also increase humidity in the home while keeping air temperatures down.

 

Chinese evergreen, ficus (fig), spider plant, peace lily, aloe, dracaena, pothos, indoor palm are some you can see above.


Brazil: Tipping & Etiquette

Looking for unique things to do in Minas Gerais?

Two cities, two Brazilian restaurants one great food!

Best keto bread ever!

When I used to cook for fun I've never have a lot of success baking bread. Of course, the situation got worse after going gluten, dairy, sugar, and yum free.

 

Eventually I buy an Udi's gluten free bread from those freezers we find at any healthier grocery store in the US. They are fine, don't get me wrong, but they have a few ingredients I'm not sure if they are good for me. For example the xantham gum, and the canola oil I supposed to avoid eating.

 

Today I'll share the gluten, dairy, soy, corn, sugar free recipe that made me keto bread-happy again. Let's start with dry ingredients:

 

1 1/4 cup almond flour

5 tablespoons psyllium husks powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

herbs to - I didn't use them, but you can try some

 

Mix all above. Pre heat the conventional oven to 350' F (180' C). Prepare the baking sheet. I used a lite bit of avocado oil on it. Add in the order below all the wet ingredients.

 

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar - you can try white vinegar too

1 1/4 boiling water - still don't know how to hand mix it without burning my hands...

3 egg whites

 

The consistency seams great before you add the egg whites, but keep mixing them softly until you get a nice play-doh (It's a bit sticky for me). Moist you hands, or not (I don't) to make 8-12 balls. Other shapes can be done - hot dog, or a traditional French bread.

 

Now is time to sprinkle some herbs, sesame, papule seeds, etc.

 

Bake on lower rack for 50-60 minutes (I did 50, but left in there until it cool down a little). No need to leave the bread to rest before it goes to oven.

 

When you hear a hollow sound of them tapping the bottom of the bun they are done.

 

Serve with butter, or other yummy stuffing from your preference. Store the bread in the fridge or freezer.

Let me know in the comments if it worked for you too.

Hubby has no problem with butter, so that's his suggestion.
Spicy pepper, butter, olive oil, and salt. Yumm =9

 

Make sure your home is ready for the winter

A snow day in South Carolina is like this.

Have your heating system inspected. For a small fee, you can hire a technician to inspect your heat pump or furnace to make sure it's ready for the winter.

 

Before you turn on your fire place, make sure that the chimney and vents are cleaned and any damage is repaired.

 

If your house is prone to icicles, have a professional detect and fix air leaks and insulation issues. This will prevent ice dams, which can cause icicles.

Does your ceiling han have a reverse switch? If so, flip it so that you turn on your heat, your fans will create an updraft to push down warm air from the ceiling.

Make sure your gutters are clean. You can clean them yourself or hire someone to clean them. Be sure to check for damage or missing gutters.

Make sure exterior faucets are empty so that the water doesn't freeze in the pipes. If they freeze, the pipes may burst.

 

Check your roof for damage or decay that may cause leaks.

 

by Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group

Three phases of Spinal Degeneration - photos

Jabuticaba, taking care of a bonsai.

Real Food Daily restaurant in California

DYI all-natural home cleaning products

By Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group

All-purpose cleaner

1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 gallon water

Great for bathrooms, kitchens, etc.

Mold Spray

1 part hydrogen peroxide
2 parts water

Put mixture in a spray bottle for easy application.

Carpet Stain Remover

1 part vinegar

1 part water

Spray on stain and let sit. Scrub with sponge or brush.

Rust Remover

Salt

Lime

Salt directly on rust and squeeze lime until soaked. Let sit for 2-3 hours. Scrub.


Odor Neutralizer Spray

1 3/4 cups distilled water

1 tbs of baking soda

1 tbs of lemon juice

Pour mixture into a clean spray bottle and shake well before use.



More you will like below.

Zika virus awareness

These things only exist in Brazil, but they have international names.

Frozen shoulder update and ideas for exercises.

New uses for everyday items

Eliminate harmful chemicals found in most household cleaning products and go green using items you already have by Atlantic Bay.

Lemons

- Freshen the garbage disposal by grinding up lemon rinds after use.

- Clean and sanitize chopping blocks by running a slice of lemon over the surface.

- Bleach laundry whites by adding half a cup of lemon juice to a load.

Vinegar

- Clean mirrors and windows by spritzing a mixture of vinegar with water and wiping clean.

- Get rid of mineral deposits from faucets and shower heads by soaking overnight.

- Remove grass stains by pouring over area affected before washing.

Salt

- Clean coffee and tea from mugs with a gentle cloth and mixing with water.

- Stop overflowing soap suds from a washing machine by pouring directly into the suds.

- Clean drains by mixing with a continuous flow of boiling hot water.

Olive Oil

- Remove sticky labels by letting soak in the oil, then rubbing off.

- Lift scuff-marks from floors by applying oil to a cloth and rubbing clean.

- Moisturize and clean leather by rubbing in a circular motion over the surface.

Baking soda

- Remove scuffs, crayon pencil, and ink from painted surfaces by sprinkling on a damp sponge and rubbing clean.

- Clean showers walls and doors, sinks, and counters by mixing with water and scrubbing clean.

More you will like below.

Jabuticaba, taking care of a bonsai.

Brazil: Tipping & Etiquette

Looking for unique things to do in Minas Gerais?

Jabuticaba, taking care of a bonsai.

 Curious and fun facts about Brazil

This tree is in located in the Serra Negra Farm Fanpage here.

#15 (see the 14th subject here)

Last weekend I was invited to see my neighbor's bonsais. For my surprise he has one jabuticaba tree (jabuticabeira) among many other beautiful plants. Each one was perfectly prune and placed in handcrafted pots.

Although he was very proud of showing me his beautiful "jabuticabeira", he couldn't stop talking about his frustration of not having seeing any flower or fruit since he bought it, 10 years ago.

So, as Brazilian who was born and raised in Minas - one of the states where you see the most jabuticabeiras in the country - I left his garden decided to help. I didn't have a jabuticabeira where I used to live, neither I know how to make bonsais. So, the best way for me to help him is finding a good Brazilian bonsai website where I could read more about this intriguing plant.

All that said, I spend a few hours to find reliable information to translate to my friend, and that's what I'll post in here today.

Buckle it up, and let's go!

This tree is in located in the Serra Negra Farm Fanpage here.

The basics about jabuticaba you might already know...

Note: Although the correct spelling is jabOticaba, the popular name you'll find more information is jabUticaba.

Transplant – annually

Minimum sunlight a day – 4 hours

When to start framing – Spring

How long (framing) – 2/3 months (easily makes scars from framing) 

Don’t like shallow pots, but it's fine with cold winds

Leaves are always green

Grow fast, loves heat

Max height (tree) 49 ft, it could live for 100 years

It’s a tree from Brazil (Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais states) - It has the sweetest fruits we know. They are small black balls and they grow attached to the trunk and branches. Its trunk has a beautiful peeling effect.

It's the end of Winter in Brazil (August/September) and the Jabuticabeira's trunk is full of white, delicate flowers.
Photo from my parents backyard in Minas Gerais you see better here.

Sunlight
The jabuticaba tree is sensitive to cold, and it has low grow in low temperatures.

We should protect it from the wind if the temperature is below 50F.

During spring we should let it get direct sunlight, usually before 10am or after 4pm. It can be done if you have a porch, or under other trees. Sunlight is a must for its flowers and fruits.

Water

There are two things we need to know before we water a jabuticaba bonsai: how and how often.
Watering a bonsai is watering all the soil that's inside the pot. Place water over the top of the surface until it begins to come out from under the holes in the pot.
During warm day one can also wet the crown and the branches.
The frequency will depend mainly on the size of the pot and the weather such as temperature and humidity of the air. Usually pots up to 11” in length and / or very shallow vessels should be watered every day when the air humidity is low and the temperature above 68° F.
Beware of extremes: On hot days (above 89° F) we recommend water twice a day. On very cold days (below 59° F) water every two days.
Pots larger than 11”, usually need less frequent water, but be very careful, usually a bonsai does not remain more than two days without water.
Trees in the general DO NOT like a lot of moisture on their roots. Therefore we should generally water the bonsai only when the potting soil is almost dry.
Our  "constant observation" of both the climate and the humidity of the earth is worth a lot. Checking the soil moisture can be done easily by touching the earth with your fingers.
Vaporization of the leaves is only necessary when the air humidity is low. In this situation it is convenient that we make a light vaporization only on the leaves preferably the shade with drinking water, at least three times a day. Another important function of Vaporization is when done on thin roots exposed in certain particular styles (example "Root Exposed", "Root on Stone" and others). It is also important in moss cultivation that, if used, should not occupy more than half the surface of the bonsai land, so that it can "breathe". Moss should be sprayed lightly about three times a day without the bonsai soil becoming moist.
From spring to autumn the growth of Jabuticaba tree is very intense and this makes the consumption of water in this period abundant. In winter consumption is moderate. Jabuticaba tree likes soggy soils, but only in summer. Constant humidity in the trunk and roots favors the appearance of fungi (White Powder), these can even cause their death if they are not treated. To avoid problems with high humidity, outside the summer, it is recommended to wet its soil only when it is already dry.

End of September, the beginning of the Brazilian Spring and we start see its fruits.

Yes, they are vivid green before they turn deep purple, almost black. When they are black, they are ready for you!

This tree is in located in the Serra Negra Farm Fanpage here.

Fertilizer

Plants feed on the nutritive salts they extract from the soil. As bonsai live in small pots, the tree can consume all the nutrients of the soil after a time, we will have to go replacing these nutrients with fertilizers. It is necessary to fertilize mainly in the times of great growth of the plants and this fertilization must be done without exaggeration. It is much better to fertilize in small amounts more frequently than to do so sporadically in large quantities. We recommend the use of products of excellent origin and with clear instructions of use.
For beginners we suggest a very simple fertilization using castor cake and bone meal, which are easily found in grocery stores. These can always be used separately every other month, ie if you use one in *January* (Brazil winter), I will use bone meal in March. So we will have 6 applications per year.
Always use recommended dosages. If there is no dosage indication for bonsai use half the recommended dose for small pots. Use only good quality products from specialized stores. Always follow a professional orientation.
In periods of growth (when it is sprouting a lot) it tolerates and requires some type of fertilizer. The most indicated fertilizers are the organic ones rich in Phosphorus (P), and can be liquid fertilizers by foliar route or solids in the earth. As a suggestion, choose trace amounts of N-P-K (Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Potassium) in the order of 04-14-08. Don’t forget the micro nutrients as (Ca {Calcium}, Mg {Magnesium}, S {Sulfur}, B {Boro}, Cl, Cu, Co, Fe, etc) are also required. Don’t use fertilizers within one month after transplant. Best times for fertilizing the Jabuticaba tree is spring. Never nurse diseased or newly transplanted plants. 
.
Their suggestion of fertilization agenda for the Jabuticabeira:

Transplantation
Pot Transformation (Transplantation):  In the natural development of the trees the roots grow in search of water, air and food. The roots of a bonsai grow and can occupy the entire space of the pot, slowly expelling the soil that existed there. Therefore periodically we must reduce the root volume inside the vessel by pruning. In this same process we also take advantage of the fact that we can change part of the soil that no longer offers all the characteristics for a good development of the plant. Jabuticabeira needs a soil with good drainage. The recommended mixture is 40% sifted sand (2 to 5 mm) and 40% industrial soil conditioner and 20% refractory clay of good sifted origin (2 to 5 mm). In the exchange of land, prune at most 50% of the roots. Jabuticabeira soil must be changed annually or every two years, usually in early spring when it begins its intense budding. Never nurse diseased or newly transplanted plants. To get a detailed how to do the land exchange click on: Learn more about Transplantation.

This tree is in located in the Serra Negra Farm Fanpage here.

Pruning
Bonsai Art seeks, as inspiration, to seek forms existing in nature. This search takes us to a rich spectrum of textures, shapes and colors, making our hobby one of the most interesting and creative. The purpose of bonsai (vase tree) practice is not just to keep them alive and healthy, but increasingly beautiful. For this it is necessary to make regular pruning to maintain the form of "mini tree". Pruning is stylizing the formation of a tree. With the pruning, we eliminate the branches that leave the silhouette of the bonsai, branches defective, dry or unnecessary. For pruning we must use appropriate tools such as sharp scissors. For larger concave-cut pliers, they make clean, precise cuts and easy healing. When pruning wounds are large in size (larger than the size of a cigarette's diameter) it is convenient to cover them with sealing paste to ensure their perfect healing. You can use egg white or PVA ink.
Jabuticabeira pruning can be easily done with sharp scissors by cutting the twigs that leave the unwanted area of ​​the trunk or canopy, whose best shape is the shape of the triangular canopy. The most drastic Pruning should be done at the end of winter. The Jabuticabeira sprouts easily in old wood and it does very well there. Cleaning dried leaves is very important. Cutting new shoots that appear near new roots or branches are also desirable, they are in competition with existing larger branches. One can prune several times a year, but during winter to keep its original shape.

See the first post about jabuticaba below.

The trunk grape which last one day only, the jabuticaba

Want to know more curious facts about Brazil? Go here and scroll down the mouse.

Brazil: Tipping & Etiquette

Zika virus awareness

Two cities, two Brazilian restaurants one great food!

Corn in a Publix walnut, how is it possible?

Clearwater beach at Tampa Bay.

Spring is around the corner and I've decided to go see Tampa bay before a longer trip to Florida. It was good, but my issues with food were there as well.

As always, I read the label before eating anything. Mainly in a trip. Even if I'm traveling for work. Why? I don't want to get any reaction that will make me miss a flight for example. Back to the point I was talking, a great light come to my mind about previous reactions eating nuts in many salads.

Why walnuts need corn oil? Freshness and allergy.

I'm pretty and dangerous.

Too bad for me!

But at least, now I know why I reacted.

It was all white on the eggs' shelves, wait, look again...

3 ingredients American brownie, gluten and dairy free, uhu!

Buying local, helping the family of farmers.

It was all white on the eggs' shelves, wait, look again...

It's all white on the eggs' shelf world until a great idea came! What idea? Look again.

They are pasture-raised hens, living on 108 sq ft minimum per bird. Seriously? I'm from a country where many people are used to live in small houses, much smaller than these 10 square meters that those chickens have there. Also they are tended by hand and raised with respect. Ok, now I will keep my mouth shut now. lol

Now, you'll find those human raised eggs at Walmart too!

"We believe that everyone should have access to humanely raised foods. We’re pleased to announce that our Alfresco Eggs are now available at Walmart! Just Texas and Louisiana for now - but plan on growing steadily! Remember, a higher demand for ethical eggs = more farmers and flocks to add to the Vital Crew." From it's fanpage.

My gluten free experience during an international Delta flight

Higher vitamin D, how to do it?

Gluten, dairy, corn FREE, and vegetarian pancake.

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DISCLAIMER

All material on this CORN FREE session is intended for reference only and should not take place of medical advice from a licensed practitioner. Please use common sense, do your own research, and consult your physician when making decisions about your health.