10 things to do before summer ends

Today is July 31. If you consider Labor Day the end of summer, you have 6 weekends to cram in all the summery things you didn't do because every weekend thus far was too hot/cold/wet/dry/busy. Thank goodness August has 5 weekends this year! Here's your list for living it up and accomplishing a few things.

1. Pack a huge picnic lunch and spend a whole day at the beach. Remember the SPF 40.

2. Vacuum the inside of the car, but wait until you've gone to the beach.

3. Seal your asphalt driveway. Scrub stains and patch holes one day, and spread the sealer the next. By the way, if stones come loose when you scrub a stain, the asphalt there is shot — stop scrubbing and start patching. For more detailed directions, see Seal coat an asphalt driveway in our Project Center.

4. One weeknight after dinner, while it's still light out, drive to a town you've never been to within 20 miles of your house. Get ice cream and then walk around the neighborhood just as people begin turning their lights on. It's a great way to get real-life decorating ideas under cover of darkness.

5. Scrape, prime and paint spots where the exterior paint is peeling. It should only take about few hours, not including finding the paint in the corner of the basement, stirring it and allowing drying time between priming and painting. If it's going to take more than that, you need to paint the house. Next summer. To learn how, check out Paint your house's exterior in our Project Center.

6. Visit a public garden. For a list of gardens nationwide, visit the gardenweb.com garden directory.

7. Clean out the garage. Come winter, you might want to park in there. Even though you're not relocating, you can find tips in Pack your garage in our Project Center.

8. Go to one of the jazz in the park, blues on the green, or family movie nights on the town square that just about every town (or shopping mall) hosts during the summer.

9. Volunteer to help with a park cleanup, food drive or other event that benefits your community. For volunteer opportunities in your area, visit allforgood.org.

10. Get a bottle of wine and show up one evening at the backdoor of the neighbor whose been saying "We should get together for a glass of wine one of these evenings" all summer. Better bring some crackers and cheese too, since everyone has to go to work the next morning.

-Erin, The Editor

Green Home Insurance

Another good find from the folks at Green Inc. The Houston Chronicle reports on insurance companies in Texas that offer home policies that will pay for green rebuilding if the home is damaged.  Unlike traditional policies that will only pay for equivalent replacements, the green policies will pay for debris recycling, sustainable materials, and energy efficient appliances. The premiums are about 2% higher than those for standard policies.

Skeptics point out that the policy will only upgrade homes that are damaged or destroyed, without any progress in the near term. I agree that it's perverse to hope a hurricane hits your home so you can get a new energy efficient kitchen, but overall I think it's a good idea.

Homeowners looking to upgrade right now can take advantage of tax credits, while owners of green policies know there may be a silver lining in the event of a disaster.

-Chris, Green

Lipstick and dryers don't mix

Late the other night I dragged myself from beneath the warmth of this very laptop and descended into the basement to pull the final load from the dryer. I was greatly looking forward to sleep, so you can imagine my disappointment at discovering that my brand-new tube of MAC lipstick ("Mystic," to be precise) had gone through the dryer, and not unharmed.

The worst casualties were two pairs of Land's End UltraFit Side-Zip No-waist Slim Leg Pants (one brown, one black), which are staples in my work wardrobe and which I love for their Mary Tyler Moore vibe (they look way better in real life than in the photo).

The still-warm lipstick wiped easily from the inside of my Kenmore dryer, but what to do about all the Mystic pink spots on my clothing? It was too late to call any older sister or laundry hotline, so I was on my own.

Drawing upon my limited supply of laundry products and even more limited domestic skills, I drenched the Land's End pants and assorted other casualties in Spray 'N Wash (thank goodness I had a gallon of it, which I bought at one of those places that sells everything by the gallon, case or ton) and washed them in hot water.

Four times.

And that did the trick! Which is why I am at this moment wearing the black UltraFit Side-Zip No-waist Slim Leg Pants, reeking of Spray 'N Wash and feeling very Mary Tyler Moore.

-Erin, The Editor

To Replace or Not To Replace, That Is The Question

My energy meter revealed a great deal of information and highlighted one appliance in my home that is the prime energy user. My fridge. Since it is on every hour of every day it makes sense that it's a big energy consumer. In researching this topic I did feel a bit relieved to read that refrigerators, although turned "on" all the time, actually cycle on and off as needed to maintain interior temperatures.

My refrigerator — which was purchased in 2000 and probably doesn't have an Energy Star label — use 40% more energy than the Energy Star models sold after 2001. This information I got from the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

Knowing this I started pondering the fridge issue further. We recently had water leaking out of our refrigerator for the second time in six months. We had the repair folks take another stab at it. They secured a part and assured me this wouldn't happen again. Since we invested in the new part (and his labor time) I feel the need to wait it out.

Or is it time to retire this refrigerator? Here goes the conscience again — land fill for the old fridge that might not be so energy efficient and has some leak issues vs. energy and transportation used to create new energy efficient refrigerator.

Knowing this I started to think about other refrigerators such as the one my mom has and the one in my friend's basement. Energy Star reports that these even older models, made before 1993, could be costing over $100 each year to operate and emitting unnecessary amounts of Co2.

Plus, I just read Erin’s blog about the Department of Energy's recent announcement. They have made nearly $300 million available to states to fund rebate programs for new Energy Star qualified home appliances such as refrigerators. For those interested, here is the rebate locator.

I am not so sure about this dilemma. Any thoughts out there?

Treading Lighter debating the 'aint broke don't fix it' theory,
-Phyllis, Green Expert

Ways to Beat the Heat in the Garden

It's summer and it's hot! While certain plants, such as lantana, crape myrtle, basil, sweet corn, and watermelons, may love the heat, most people should be wary of high temperatures. Working in the garden and yard this time of year should be done with caution so not to expose yourself to the chance of getting heat stroke, nasty sunburns, and other heat-related illnesses. Here are some tips for working outside in the heat.

• Time of Day- Work in the garden in the early morning or later afternoon and evening when the summer sun is not as strong and temperatures are lower. Avoid the middle of the day.
• Clothing- Wear loose fitting, light colored clothing in the garden. Light colors don't absorb as much heat and the loose fitting clothes let air flow near your body keeping you cool. Wear a wide brimmed hat. A baseball cap doesn't offer any protection to the back of your neck.
• Sun & Body Protection- Use sun screen on exposed parts of your body. Keep your body hydrated with frequent water breaks. Use mosquito repellents to keep bugs at bay.
• Gardening Tasks- Leave heavy duty gardening tasks such as digging holes, cultivating the garden, and mowing the lawn with a push mower for a cooler day. Concentrate on easier tasks, such as spot weeding, harvesting,  deadheading, and light pruning, instead. 

With a little forethought, gardening in midsummer doesn't have to be a risky proposition. You just need to take it slower and stay cooler.

-Charlie, Lawn & Garden

My Thirsty Grass

In my area of the Midwest, summer has been cooler and dry. Despite some rain over the past week, my lawn is brownish and prickly to bare feet. I am engaged in my annual watering game with the grass, offering enough water to keep it alive while trying to limit watering to keep costs down and conserve groundwater. It's a strict anti-grass bias, though. My vegetable garden and trees get plenty of water.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a long article on lawn watering and water availability. The reporters interviewed suburban residents, city officials, and state water managers. Minnesota is blessed with lakes, rivers, and plentiful groundwater, so the consensus is that the state has plenty of water (but there is no reason to waste it). The experts recommend regular watering of perennials, trees, and new turf.

Many cities use an even/odd day watering scheme, but the purpose is to even out use to preclude the need for additional wells (and expense to the city). Any resulting conservation is a side benefit.

Other regions of the country are not as lucky as mine. Water availability in Atlanta is a big enough issue that there is a blog that exists solely to update readers on potential water issues. Los Angeles instituted new water rates on June 1 to push water use down by 15%. A quick Google search will show other examples.

What can a homeowner do to save watering costs and keep the lawn alive? Manage My Home offers a few tips.

-Chris, Green

You've graduated...shouldn't your furniture?

I find myself at an age where the majority of my friends are similar to me in having graduated from college some years ago. Whether these friends rent or are buying their first homes or condos, we are at the age where we prefer entertaining at home versus another endless bar crawl. While I agree with the dinner/cocktail party, I do not agree with having to sit once again on the same beer stained futon from 1997! You've graduated...shouldn't your furniture!

I apologize if my futon comment offended any readers. I do understand that as we grow into our adult lives the tasks of decorating our first “grown up” spaces can be overwhelming, if given any thoughts at all.

No matter what budget you have to work with, there is no reason not to have “grown up” furniture. Today, options are practically being handed to you. Here are just a few of the choices...

1. Hire a non-traditional design company such as c&d designs, ltd. We are here for you to alleviate stress while providing and teaching you to achieve a high quality of design within a tight budget.

2. Shop the various classified websites. You might not find the exact piece you are searching for but one close enough that you could re-finish or re-upholster to achieve the look you want. Better yet...you can haggle over the price. I never pay the asking price!

3. We are all familiar with the Swedish furniture company where you can furnish an entire room for under $500. Though they originally received a bad wrap for cheap quality they have come along way and I would suggest anyone give them a second chance. I am proud to say I have purchased several pieces for my home and on more than one occasion they have received compliments over the few pricey collectibles I own.

4. Lets not forget the network that cranks out nothing but “how to” home and garden programs. Spend on full day viewing the networks never ending thirty minute programs and you should be equipped with the knowledge to add a designer touch to any room.

If you want to achieve a designer look and feel to any room in your house, never walk out of a furniture showroom having bought the display vignette. Remember, decorating your home is half the fun. There is no rush so take you time, keep your eyes open and shop for bargains.

-Jason, Interior Design

Edible Flowers

My flower garden is beautiful this year. I think I'll eat it! Those probably aren't the words you'd think I'd say about a beautiful flower garden, but they are true. Many of the most attractive flowers in the summer garden are edible. You just have to know which ones to pick and how to do it.

Favorite Edible Flowers
Not all flowers are edible so you have to be careful which ones your choose. It's best to get familiar with a handful of flowers and stick with those. Here are my top 5.

• Daylilies- These perennial babies are in full bloom in my garden right now. The flower bud and petals are delicious. They have a slight crunch and summer squash-like flavor. They're great in salads. The dried buds are often used in Chinese stir fries. If you have too many of those tawny orange colored, wild daylilies in your neighborhood, go on a hunt and invite your friends. 
• Nasturtiums- This annual flower either mounds or climbs depending on the variety. The flower colors range from white to red and the leaves and flowers are edible. They have a peppery, hot flavor. It's a great way to perk up a salad.
• Pansies/Violas- Although not in bloom in mid summer, these flowers are still a treat in spring and fall. They are colorful, small, and easy to use. The flavor is sweet.
• Bee balm- Monarda flowers are used to make tea, but they are edible in their own right. This perennial has white, pink, or red flowers depending on the variety and has a citrusy flavor.
• Calendula- This annual flower has white or yellow flowers depending on the variety. The petals break apart and can be used to decorate a salad or cake. The flavor is tangy and the plants floriferous.

Gathering flowers
Here's a few tips on gathering flowers. Pick them in the morning or late afternoon when the flavor is most intense. Pick unopenend buds or newly opened flowers for the best flavor. Never pick from plants that have been sprayed with pesticides. The perennials I mentioned are prolific so have many flowers and you won't miss a few if you pick them. The annuals produce more flowers when picked, so munch away.

-Charlie, Lawn & Garden

Save Money and Co2 By Measuring Your kWh Usage

Do you remember the energy meters I mentioned in a previous blog? Well I finally borrowed one from our town library and started charting and plotting our home energy usage.

Gaining a better understanding of how I use electricity in my home, is a great first step to reducing usage. You can't manage what you haven't measure, right?

This device enables me to measure the electricity (watts and/or kWh) used. I simply plugged the Kill-A-Watt meter into a three pronged outlet and then plugged the appliance I was testing into the meter. I left the device plugged in for a few hours (or a few days for a cycling appliance such as a refrigerator; or for the duration of use for something like an iron). I then pushed the kWh button to read the total usage and then pushed the button again to read the elapsed time in hours. Before I unplugged the device I recorded the kWh and hour readouts. Then after all devices in the house were recorded, I simply used Excel to determine hourly kilo watts used per appliance with this formula: kWh/hour. Since my bills are in kWh it was easy to determine the cost to run each appliance.

Don't forget to test for phantom loads as well. This is when the device is at “rest” (i.e. plugged in but not in use). Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off such as TVs, garage door openers, stereos, computers as well as kitchen and laundry appliances. The Department of Energy reports that 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using smart powerstrips and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance. Power strips many times pay for themselves in energy cost savings in as little as a few weeks.

Monitoring and charting the energy use in our home showed me that one of my window A/C units is very inefficient. I was also surprised to find out that one appliance is more energy efficient than I would have ever imagined. The family joke was that since the iron uses so much energy, I should just stop ironing altogether. But overall, we are all now more mindful of the energy we are using and thus the CO2 we are emitting.

If you can't get your hands on your own, or a borrowed meter, here is a list of wattage's for various household appliances that can help you reconsider your appliance usage.

Treading Lighter charting kWh,
-Phyllis, Green Expert

Controlling pesky mosquitoes

If you live where there's been a lot of rain this summer you know there are a bevy of mosquitoes lurking in the yard and garden. Most mosquitoes need moisture to reproduce and this summer has been perfect for them so far. With a little heat, they are out flying and looking for a good meal. That means you and me! Not only are they a nuisance, mosquitoes can also spread disease such as the West Nile virus.

Actually, it’s only the female mosquito that bites and they do so to reproduce. There are many mosquito control devices and ideas out on the market, here are some ways to lessen the number of mosquitoes in your yard and hopefully make for a more pleasant summer outdoors.

Repellents
There are many home and commercial remedies available that claim to repel mosquitoes. Some of the home remedies include vanilla oil, lemon oil, or citronella oil dabbed on your neck, Listerine sprayed on your clothes and body, and dryer fabric softener sheets hung on your hat or neck. Commercial repellents include DEET-based (there are some precautions using DEET-based repellents for pregnant women and children), natural oil-based sprays, and citronella candles. They are worth a try to see what works for you. However, don’t get fooled into buying “mosquito-repellent” plants. These geraniums are great if you sit right next to them or pick the leaves and run them on your body to repel mosquitoes. However, like all repellents their effectiveness wears off over time.

Traps
There are also many mosquito traps available as well. The most recent are carbon dioxide traps. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat, scent, and CO2. These traps exude CO2, drawing the mosquitoes in to be killed. However, they are expensive and their claims of keeping your whole yard mosquito-free are exaggerated. One product to avoid is bug zappers. These lights draw mosquitoes in to be “zapped” by an electrical current. However, they mostly are zapping harmless bugs and don’t kill many mosquitoes.

Long-Term Control
Here are some controls that definitely work. Any sources of standing, stagnant water such as bird baths, gutters, and buckets should be drained. Mosquitoes love to lay eggs in these sources of water. If you have a pond, water garden, or slow moving stream, try adding mosquito dunks. This biological control looks like a little donut. It contains Bacillus thuringensis israeliensis. This form of B.t. kills the mosquito larvae in the water before it hatches into a biting adult. They last for weeks and are safe for the pond, fish, beneficial insects, wildlife, and people.Also, erect bat and bird houses so these creatures can be around to eat your mosquitoes.

So with a little thought, you can reduce the number of pesky mosquitoes in your yard and enjoy the summer a little better.

-Charlie, Lawn & Garden