How to Recycle Halloween Pumpkins for Wildlife



One of my favorite parts of Halloween, is carving pumpkins.

My evening walks through the neighborhood are even better with the bright orange pumpkins, highlighting the colors of autumn, and showing off creative designs.

After the trick-or-treaters clear away, and Halloween is officially over, don’t trash your pumpkins! There are several ways to recycle them with wildlife and your garden in mind. How do you reuse pumpkins in your yard?

Compost Your Pumpkins

If you’ve carved a jack-o-lantern, it may already be decomposing. Pumpkins are 90% water, which means they easily and quickly break down. This makes them a great addition to your compost pile. Prevent unwanted pumpkin plants by removing the seeds first (set seeds aside for #3 and #5). If you don’t have a compost bin or pile, check your local government, nearby farms, or community gardens to see if they collect old pumpkins.

Make a Snack-o-Lantern

This is one of the most creative ideas I’ve seen to recycle pumpkins. You can turn your jack-o-lantern into a snack-o-lantern for wildlife! It’s fairly easy to make, and the squirrels and birds will love it.

Leave Seeds for Wildlife

Large birds and small mammals will eat pumpkin seeds if you offer them in your yard. Collect seeds from your pumpkins, before composting them, and let the seeds dry. Please don’t add salt or seasoning. Place seeds on a flat surface, tray, shallow bowl, or mix in with existing bird seed in your garden.

Plant Pumpkin Seeds

The squash bee is one of many insects to pollinate pumpkin flowers. If you have room in your yard, you can save seeds for a harvest of pumpkins next year



Major Fall Garden Clean Up

Life has been just a little crazy lately, so this post is slightly late...

I started a MAJOR garden Clean and Prune the beginning of October. Thinking I'd be done by November 1st when the city comes around and starts to pick up piles of garden waste you've put in the street.



I started in the backyard,

hauling the debris to the street.

As you can see the pile grows

and grows!

And that's just the backyard!

I thought I'd never say this but I did a Dad Prune on the whole garden!  A Dad Prune is when there's maybe about a foot of the plant/Roses left afterwards.

I usually just shape the plant back to a desired size

but not make it naked! LOL

But after 20 years, it was due.

I removed a lot of dead wood, the plants I lost from the drought last Winter, and removed all fallen leaves on the ground that were left from the last 20 years.

I have to say, the soil underneath the leaves was BEAUTIFUL!! Loamy and full of worms.

Back Garden Before

I removed a few small trees,

Pruned the Cherry back into shape and

limbed the Podocarpus way up

so the Apple and Rose of Sharon could get more sun.

There's a water fall in there some where :/

A Tangle of Grapes, Heavenly Bamboo, Roses and Buddleia

The gazebo was swallowed by the Honeysuckle

and climbing Cecil Brunner

Really, it's in there somewhere!



 After

Clean as a whistle!

Tamed!

Moving all birdhouses and related items to side fence for a dry garden...darn drought.

Bunny Lane will be there too :)

The one thing we had left to do was trim the neighbors Weeping Willow, which we did the other day :)

Front Before

Lavender out of control!

Roses, Pomegranate and Rosemary taking over

Lambs Ears has gone wild!

Bike being engulfed by Rosemary

Front After

It's all cleaned up!

See what I mean by a Dad Prune?

But you can see my Spring Bulbs popping up,

nothing to get in their way.

All 20 years of leaves raked down to a

beautiful healthy soil with lots of Leaf Mold

Now I just need it to rain and all the trees drop their

leaves so my gardens can start it's next 20 years of compost.

 My pile is now double parked!

We still need to take down another tree and 

prune the big front Tree, then we'll be done.

The City finally showed up about the 15th to clear this pile.

But I have another started. he he! 

   

Review ~#Ozeri #Curva Artisan Double Wall Glasses

Some people like to have a cocktail after work or on the weekend.

I say "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere"

Thank so much JB for that wonderful lyric!

Orange Cinnamon Cocktail

I was so excited to be chosen to try out this innovative glassware.

Not only are they unique and gorgeous in their own right,

they are so practical for any type of beverage.

Love their shape that proves easy to pick up and hold.

 

They are made of durable, heat resistant, mouth-blown borosilicate glass of the finest quality, the CURVA is the latest addition to the Ozeri Artisan Series of award-winning handcrafted drink ware.

  

Ok, just what is borosilicate glass?

An unfamiliar term to me -

Borosilicate glass is stronger than common glass, shatter-resistant, and with the CURVA's double-walled design, it offers the ultimate insulation to maintain drinks at their ideal temperature.

Stronger than common glass? COOL!

We go through a lot of glasses around here

(yes, we are one of those clumsy families) ;)

No more worries about making sure everyone has a coaster or finding unsightly water rings on your furniture.

The double wall with each glass keeps it free of condensation

with your chilled beverages! No more slippery glasses either.

Great for iced teas, cocktails, frozen beverages and much more.

Cubra Libra with ice

It also keeps your hands cool even with your hottest drinks!

  CURVA is great for coffee, cappuccinos, hot teas,

and other hot drinks.

Baileys Irish Cream and HOT Coffee

Such a pretty glass that does it all!

I'm impressed!

  

  The CURVA's unique double wall design suspends drinks within an inner wall for an attention-grabbing optical effect. Each of the 4 Glasses has a Unique Shaped Inside wall

I really like the look of the glasses. The dual wall makes the liquid almost look suspended in thin air! It adds a great effect and offers something really different to a standard glass.

My main concern was the fragility of the glass.

Firmly gripping the glassware indicated to me that the glasses were of a sturdy construction.  They  have a considerable weight to them. Not so weighty that I found them heavy, but enough to prove that one does not have to be dainty when enjoying these glasses.

That's a good 2 thumbs up in this home!

CURVA is completely dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe.

Although dishwasher safe, I believe elegant glasses like these deserve to be hand washed, so that is what I have been doing. 

Each set contains four unique, handmade glasses designed for lifetime use and are available at Amazon.

Final opinion:

Love the glasses - the shape, weight, and insulating properties.

Great gift too!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Happy Thanksgiving to All of You on MY Train!



I received this and it is so touching I needed to share ♥

 

~♥~♥~♥~♥

 

THIS IS VERY BEAUTIFUL AND I AM HONORED TO HAVE RECEIVED IT.  I'm SENDING IT ON TO YOU, MY FRIENDS!

 

At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel on our side. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life. Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love. More importantly, thank God for the journey.

Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train.

 

 

         Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Wintery Cold Season Readiness



A New Blend just in time for Winter!

Whether doing a Fall Clean Up in the garden, raking leaves, shoveling snow or just those aches and pains that come with the Season, Amend+ is ready for to help you through it.

Amend+ is a high-strength, clear-colored warming blend with Birch and other essential oils to support muscle and joint pain relief.  With no added carrier oil, Amend+ is incredibly potent, allowing you to dilute it for your skin needs and preference.  It is designed for topical use and is not recommended for children, pregnant women or anyone who is allergic to aspirin products.
This week Amend+ was launched with an introductory low price for the Item of the Week deal!

You can check it out and order here

I know it sure helped me out. I did a major , and I mean MAJOR yard clean up and pruning this year. I discovered muscles I forgot I had! I'd come in from working, shower and add a few drops to my fingers and work it into the muscles and joints that were aching. A soothing warmth came over the area and I was able to relax and sleep at night.

My daughter has been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, with the change of Seasons and cooler weather, the pain is starting in her back and joints. She used to use another product but it has since for some reason, quit easing the pain.  Amend+ is helping her greatly. So greatly in fact she has reduced her pain pills. A BIG + !

Remember to use this link and enter DragonflyTreasure at check out for an added 10% discount. Every penny helps these days!Wishing you a warm and safe Winter Season ♥



USS NEW YORK!



IN GOD WE TRUST

 

USS 
New York 

 

Here SHE is,  

the USS New York, 

made from the
World
Trade 
Center! 

 

USS 
New York 

It was built with 24 tons of
scrap steel from the 
World
Trade 
Center
It is the 

fifth in a new class of warship -
designed for missions that include 

special operations against terrorists. 

It will carry a crew of 360 sailors 

and 700 combat-ready Marines
to be delivered ashore 

by helicopters and assault craft.

 

Steel from the
World
Trade
Center 

was melted down in a foundry 

in Amite, LA,

to cast the ship's bow section. 

 

When it was poured
into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 

'those big rough steelworkers 

treated it with total reverence,'
recalled Navy Capt.Kevin Wensing, 

who was there.
'It  was a  spiritual moment 

for everybody there.' 
Junior Chavers, 

foundry operations manager, 

said that when the trade center steel 

first arrived, 

he touched it with his hand 

and the 'hair on my neck stood up.'

 'It had a big meaning to it for  
all of us,' he said. 

'They knocked us down. 

They can't keep us down. 

We're going to be back.' 

The ship's motto? 

'Never Forget'