Home And Family

The cucumber beetle can be a real problem in your garden. There are organic methods that can be used to control them before they attacking and destroying your garden.

Cucumber beetles are about 1/4 inch in length and are yellowish-green in color with either black spots or black strips and a black head. It’s larvae is 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in length, white to beige in color with a brown head and a brown spot on it’s tail end.

The larvae attacks plants early in the season from the first two to six weeks. Some of the plants that they will attack are asparagus, beans, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, potatoes, tomatoes and melons. There are over two hundred and fifty plants from twenty nine families of plants that the cucumber beetle will attack, including flower and ornamental plants.

The adult cucumber beetle transmits bacterial mosaic and wilts. It is overwintered in the intestines of the beetle and when they start to feed again in the spring the disease gets transmitted to the plants.

Cucumber beetles like shade. It is important to check the underside if leaves to detect the presents of them and there eggs.

Mulching plants with organic matter to create an environment to attract arthropods and other beneficial insects to defend against the cucumber beetle.

Predators that are beneficial in the control of cucumber beetles are lacewings and ladybugs. They eat the eggs of the cucumber beetle. Other predators that help control the cucumber beetle are tachinid flies, soldier beetles, parasitic nematodes and braconid wasps.

Bats are also a great defense against cucumber beetles and other insects.

Do you beam with excitement when you think about hosting a baby shower for an expectant friend or relative but then cringe at the thought of all the party planning details that are involved? Not everyone feels they are a natural hostess when it comes to throwing a baby shower party; however, if you put these basic components together, you will not fail and the mom-to-be will be sure to appreciate all your efforts!

There is no set way to throw a baby shower. With that in mind, if you account for these key components you will, without a doubt, have thrown a successful baby shower.

1) Location — This isn’t something to sweat about. Ask yourself what resources you have at your disposal. Do you belong to a local church? Are you a member of any organizations that have banquet rooms available to rent? Or, just consider hosting the party at your house or even the mom-to-be’s house. Keep the distance within reason if you’re not hosting the shower in the home so the expectant mother doesn’t have to travel very far. Don’t be afraid to ask the expectant mother how she would feel about having the shower in her home (if it’s not a surprise shower, that is).

2) Decorations — Most every type of party includes decorations, whether general and colorful or tailored towards a specific theme. If the parents-to-be have chosen not to find out the gender of the baby then your shower decorations will most likely use varied pastels without sticking to mainly pink or blue as with known gender showers. Many stores and sites sell baby shower decorations so you’ll never be at a loss as to how to transform your location into a decorated baby haven; however, every good baby shower deserves a great centerpiece for the main food or gift table and a baby diaper cake will make a great conversation piece and will serve as a gift for the expectant mom when the shower is over.

3) Food — Ah, the food. Again, this is not something to sweat about. If you’re hosting the shower, I can only assume that you know the expectant mom well enough to know what some of her likes and dislikes are when it comes to food. You can go as simple as finger foods or as lavish as a hot meal. Keep in mind what would work best with the length of time you plan on having the shower. And of course, don’t forget the baby shower cake! Whether you make a cake yourself or order one through a local bakery, every baby shower wouldn’t be complete without a cake.

4) Games — It seems to be a long standing tradition to play fun and silly games at a baby shower. There are a multitude of game ideas out there to choose from and some may fit your theme if your shower is centered around one. Keep the number of games limited for time sake and encourage everyone to participate, even the expectant mom. By the time you are done playing games, everyone will be in such a great mood, that the last component will help with winding down the baby shower before everyone goes home.

5) Gifts — Probably the most important component and main reason people throw a baby shower is to give the expectant mom gifts for the baby and even to her. Shopping for a unique and creative baby gift to give at a baby shower can be stressful for some people. Depending on how many baby showers you’ve attended before, you may have seen many people give a lot of similar gifts and you want to get a little more creative. Most moms-to-be will have created a baby registry at a local store or two so you can always check out her wish list and try to put a unique spin on some of the things she will need or would like to have for the baby. A great way to do this is with a new baby gift basket that showcases practical and fun items that mom and baby can use together. I assure you that this type of newborn gift will be a hit at a baby shower.

Now that you know what you need to consider, I hope you enjoy the planning process for hosting a baby shower and more importantly, the baby shower when it occurs. Best of luck and remember, as long as you combine the components from above, no matter the cost, time, or effort involved in planning a baby shower, the reward is seeing how happy your expectant friend or relative will be knowing how much you care!

The definition of organic gardening is a garden that does not use pesticides to kill pests. This method can be used in either vegetable or flower gardens. In vegetable gardens organic is the safest for you since you will be consuming what you have grown. But, if you utilize it in flower gardening also, it is safest for the environment.

Raising an organic garden has many sound reasons to encourage gardeners to go this route. As mentioned above all of your vegetables will be pesticide free, which means no poison on the food you are growing. While in flower gardening, many people plant flowers that will attract butterflies or bees which you won’t attract if you use pesticides. You especially want to remain pesticide free if you have small children or pets because chemicals could be harmful for them.

Your organic garden will be anything but simple gardening. Every garden takes effort and research and your organic garden is no exception. As with all gardens you must start with a plan. Research the plants you wish to grow. Find out what their needs are when it comes to light, fertilizer, PH in the soil and drainage. Be diligent in picking a spot that is well suited to your plants. If you are planting an herb garden select a site that is close to your kitchen door for easy harvesting. Find out if there are companion plants and if there are, consider using them.

When planting an organic garden you will need some really good compost. You can make your compost out of soil and organic matter. Organic matter includes leaves, manure, vegetable refuse, coffee grinds and eggshells. You can include peels from fruits and vegetables. (Potato skins, apple skins, orange rinds, etc.) Start your compost early, find a place to put your compost and work it frequently. By working it I mean turn it with a shovel so the organic material will break down. When you are ready to start planting work your compost into the garden beds before you plant.

Your garden location is very important. You need to pick a spot that gets lots of light and drains well. If it is a very windy spot you will have to figure out some way of sheltering. Don’t pick a low spot on your property since that might flood during heavy rains. You really want to put the garden in a place that has easy access for you and for watering with your hose.

Mentioned above were companion plants. Companion plants are plants that repel unwanted pests. If you plant roses, plant some garlic. It is said that garlic will repel rose’s nemesis, aphids. Cucumber beetles will not be a worry if you plant oregano. Marigolds will also repel many pests. For a good natural pesticide follow this recipe:

In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

If you come up with a good plan you can have flowers and vegetables mixed together. Make sure that you know your zone and the conditions that apply in your area. Flower and vegetable gardens will be very different in Alaska than in Florida.

Your organic garden will take some work, but it will not be in vain when you can sit back and enjoy your beautiful blooms or make some culinary delights from the vegetables and herbs you have grown.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright ?Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Toddlers throw tantrums as a way of expressing anger and frustration. Learning to deal with temper tantrums takes patience, yelling and screaming will only cause the child to respond negatively. What causes a tantrum to form, how to deal with temper tantrums, to how to avoid a tantrum all together. This article will help answer your questions and help you and your toddler get past this phase.

Tantrums are evenly common among both boys and girls. Learning what causes tantrums can help you to deal with tantrums. Toddlers want a sense of independence, when they can’t reach that goal, frustration and anger begin. They start to yell and scream, hit, or even throw themselves on the floor in fits of anger. Tantrums are a normal part of development and dealing with them is not difficult.

When you deal with temper tantrums always remain calm. Don’t try to reason with a child who is having a fit, she is unlikely to listen to reason. Instead make sure she is in a safe place and allow her to kick and scream all she wants. Ignoring the behavior is one of the best ways to deal with tantrums. If a tantrum can be avoided please do so.

Preventing a tantrum from happening is the easiest way to deal with temper tantrums. A tired, hungry, or even bored child can be a big contributor to a tantrum. Avoid taking a trip to a friends house if your child has missed a nap or it’s close to nap time. Schedule activities accordingly. Also, choose your battles with your toddler. Once you choose a battle stick to it though. Giving in will only make things worse.

An important thing to remember when you deal with temper tantrums is to stay calm and ignore the behavior. Don’t punish the child, but don’t reward the behavior either. They are just trying to learn how to express their feelings. They will grow out of this as they get older and learn to control their emotions.

Retirement is a happy time of life, and active assisted living neighborhoods give retirees the chance to be around same-minded people. As I am quickly gaining on my retirement time of life, my thoughts keep turning to just these kinds of neighborhoods. But where do I start looking to find the right one to suit my wants and desires?

My search initially began on the internet to check out the most sought after areas of the country to retire to. However, I found that my hunt didn’t have to be concentrated only to the continental United States, since there are many very nice active retirement neighborhoods in more tropical areas like Mexico and Hawaii And if I did want to retire within the boundaries of my home state, there are neighborhoods all over that cater only to retired people. It’s neat to have the option of looking for the perfect community in any area around the globe right from the comfort of home.

One of the most chosen types of active retirement neighborhoods is the golf course living community. These private access places are usually located in beautiful landscapes with lush green fairways and even wildlife in some areas. The golfers community is quite often located in the warmer southern states, but a few states in the north have some nice choices as well.

Another added benefit of many active retirement communities is the availability of maintained for you homes. Let’s face it: the golden years are not the time to be pushing a lawnmower around, so I want a place where someone else will do the mowing for me. The cost of these services are generally included in the homeowners’ fees for the community. Why do that when you can spend your golden years doing what you like to do instead of what you have to do.

Most retired people also want to be in a location that offers plenty of choices in terms of stuff to do since the years after a exhaustive career are the ones you want to spend sitting back and enjoying. Many communities will offer their share of perks like hot tubs, clubhouses, and areas to shop to keep everyone busy doing the activities they love most.

One of the things I am really looking forward to about retirement is eating out regularly, so I am searching for active adult neighborhoods that will be surrounded by plenty of gourmet restaurants. Searching for communities online will allow me to simply find places that fit all the requirements I’ve laid out here.

Your golden years are a perfect time to sit back and enjoy the roses, enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee whenever you choose, and indulge in activities that you truly enjoy. The right active retirement communities can help you enjoy your golden years in total rest and relaxation, so get online and seek your new home now!

Note on the armhole or scye depth measurement

It is noted that the armhole or scye depth which is an important measurement is a measurement above all that must be gauged. This is the measurement from the nape to a line that intersects the underarm. What is the aim of this measurement? If one discovers what exactly one is aiming to do when measuring this, then one can perhaps understand how important it is and how this measurement above all depends on style. Maybe one can say that one wants to just measure the body. Can one get a measurement for the scye depth? Of course one can but you can imagine that this was a measurement that was more important in times past such as the nineteenth century

If one asks ‘but can a measurement be taken of the scye depth’ one is asking the wrong question. Yes, of course a measurement is taken and for the basic bodice block, this is an important measurement. It must be measured correctly so that the armhole is drawn properly.

The scye depth measurement besides its dependence on fashion or style is a difficult measurement to take. You are measuring from the nape to a line which just goes below the armhole. In other words, the arm comes into the body at the socket. It ‘falls’ into the body. See the upper-arm or bicep measurement which is the first arm circumference measurement and then see how above the bicep area, the arm ‘falls’ into the socket. It falls into the body. One is asking what is the depth of this armhole and this armhole depth is measured from the nape to a horizontal line known as the across-back line or in the front the chest line.

Note how the term ‘depth’ is used for this measurement. And this ‘depth’ is measured as a straight line from nape downwards. The aim is to get a measurement for the depth of the armhole and it is akin to getting a measurement from a shoulder point to an underarm point but how can you do this measurement. Obviously through long practice, a suitable arm depth or depth of scye measurement was taken in a straight line from the nape and this is a measurement well tried and tested for creating basic bodice as well as other patterns.

Growing your own bonsai tree can be extremely rewarding. Sure, it will take time, dedication and patience, but just one look at the amazing work of art that you’ve created will make it all worth your while.

Bonsai gardening originated from China, where it was considered more than just gardening – it was an art form. In those days, all the intricacies of pruning, pinching and cutting could take a lifetime to master. But today, this, once secret, knowledge has become freely available to the public and bonsai growing has spread all over the world.

If you want to start your own bonsai garden then you’ll first have to decide on a kind of bonsai that you want to grow. To help you with this, I have compiled a list of some of the most popular types of bonsai tress. Here it goes.
?br>Slant Bonsai Tree
This is probably the most admired type of bonsai tree. The idea is that the tree ‘slants’ to one side, while at the same time its main branch is growing in the opposite direction. The challenge here is that you’ll need to create a well balanced look and feel to the tree. If done correctly, the effect will be quite stunning. If done incorrectly, your bonsai will look like it’s about to fall over. And if you really mess thinks up, that’s exactly what will happen.
?br>The Cascade Type
?br>This one has a very interesting and unique look to it. Here’s the basic idea – the trunk of the tree starts growing upwards (as always), but then quickly turns and proceed to grow in a horizontal direction. It can go right over the edge of the pot, with its branches extending even below the pot surface. This type of growth will be too unstable for most of tree types. So choose one that has deep and strong roots and use a large pot with lots of soil. If you don’t, the whole tree might tip over. Junipers, Jasmine and Wisteria are some of the best plants that can be used for the cascade type bonsai tree.
?br>Formal and Informal Upright Bonsai Types
?br>These are the most basic types of bonsai trees you can choose. They are great for beginners who are still trying to find the right touch or learning the basic bonsai growing techniques. The formal upright is basically an upright growing tree, with nothing much going on. The trunk of the tree must grow straight up in a vertical line. The lowest branch should be the longest, with each next branch being slightly shorter than the one before it. Branches should alternate from left to right. That means that if the first branch points to the left, the second one should point to the right, the third one to the left again and so on. This will create a nicely balanced and visually appealing tree.

The only difference to the informal upright type of the tree is that the top branch of the tree isn’t growing vertically, but is instead tipping a little bit to the front. This gives a slight slant to the tree giving it a more organic look and feel.
?br>Windswept Bonsai
?br>I saved this one till last as it is my favorite type of bonsai tree. As the name indicates, the tree should look as if a strong wind is blowing through its branches. This effect is very hard to achieve, but if done properly it is nothing short of stunning. You will only need to see one windswept bonsai and you’ll understand just how demanding of an art form bonsai growing truly is.
?br>Conclusion
?br>These are some of the most popular types of bonsai trees, but many slight (and not so slight) variations to the basic form also exist. Bonsai growing is after all and art form and even though there are many rules that you can follow, you should never follow them blindly. Try to find something that works for you and, above all, have fun.

Traveling with baby in tow need not be a nightmare. Although, we have
all been on aircraft where there is a fractious baby howling for hours
on end, much to it’s parents embarrassment. Remember most of the people
around you are either parents or grand parents so they are probably
sympathising with you. You can try to minimise the possibility of
problems and help your baby to be happy and comfortable. This will make
the flight better for baby, parents and all others in the vicinity.

Of course there really is not much you can do if a baby is ill, teething or
just plain grumpy other than use whatever product your family
practitioner has prescribed or recommended. But you can try to
minimize the tears. A late flight could mean baby sleeps through the
whole process. Make sure junior is clean, comfortable and well fed
before boarding. Get baby well settled before take off and give him
something to chew so the change in pressure does not hurt his/her ears.
Settle yourself down and relax. Babies pick up on tension. If possible
before your meal see baby has a bottle of milk or juice whatever is
usual before sleep and then get him settled down. Remember to take
plenty of diapers/nappies, wet wipes and something to put the rubbish
in. You don’t want to hand the stewardess a wet diaper or worse!!
Remember favourite toys, teddies or comfort blankets. If your baby
will be quiet sucking a dummy/pacifier then for goodness sake and
everyone else’s let him have one. Now is not the time to worry about
his misshapen teeth. Remember just because you think letting a child
cry is good for him, it is not good for the other passengers nerves or
the happy spirit of the crew. Pick him up or rock him don’t let him
howl, ward off the truly terrible screams early.

At your destination remember babies don’t know where they are or that
this is the happy holiday Daddy has worked and saved for all year. Pack
some familiar things. His own pillow and blanket, familiar toys and
familiar food just in case you can’t buy the usual wherever you end up.
Also this next advice is particularly needed by babies from northern
countries. Sunshine may be a rather unfamiliar thing to junior
especially if you are from the UK. Hats with a neck and eye shade are
practical, plenty of sun screen applied frequently not once a day, and
even when being jiggled up and down in the sea keep at least a t shirt
on him. Babies soon burn and also have trouble with extremes of heat.
They don’t like to lie in the sun baking. A nice shady spot, cotton t
and diapers/nappies and frequent drinks of water. Someone beautiful
waving a fan would be nice too or is that for Daddy?

So you see traveling with baby is not so difficult. Relax and enjoy
the holiday with your little tyrant and have a great time.

The 損layground?of the game of poker梡oker tabletops梐re constructed with sheets plywood. Usually, the tabletops are covered with poker cloth or billiard felt. However, some tabletops use faux suede or velveteen. The quality and type of material used varies with price. Wealthy poker enthusiasts can have their poker tabletops made of costly premium wood and leather.

Poker tabletops, unsurprisingly, assume the shape of the table, which are generally of three shapes: round, oval, and octagonal. A standard, full-size Texas Hold’em eight-player poker table comes with dimensions of 91″” ?46.”" Poker table manufacturers make tables built to order with the colors and graphics preferred by the client. These are as popular as readymade poker tables. Pokercats, a major poker table manufacturer, also sells poker table building supplies, including poker tabletops. Royal Gaming Products sells high-quality, fully customizable poker tables, with tabletops selected by the buyers.

Online poker game sites offer an entirely different display. Dynamic table backgrounds are the most noticeable peculiarity of online poker game sites. The tabletop changes with changing rounds. A player who makes it to the final table of a tournament could have gone through a number of tabletops. A player can play on WSOP tables by playing in a WSOP satellite. Custom-designed poker tabletops are not far away. Players will eventually have the right to design their own custom table backgrounds and use them in custom tournaments. Thus, uninteresting, commonplace tables that look the same can be changed into custom-made tables that reflect the player抯 individuality.

Infant adoption, though perpetually controversial, is a practice that has endured through the ages, dating way back into the time of the Roman Empire, where adopting young men in order to serve as heirs to dynasties was not an uncommon practice. This carried well into the Middle Ages, also as a means to produce heirs for a certain bloodline, and well into the Civil War and immigration eras, where it was utilized in order to complete (and sometimes, create) families torn by all sorts of misfortune. Today, even though the procedures may be different and a little more legally founded, the principle remains the same: to care for a child that has either lost his parents or does not have parents available, in order that he may still grow up with a family, considered to be the most basic unit of a human community.

There are many reasons nowadays that back up the idea of adoption. Intra-family adoptions are allowed when one or both parents of the child have died, resulting in a relation of either parent stepping in to be a stepmother or stepfather for the child, in order to re-create a family for the child. Many other reasons for intra-family adoptions exist: wanting to stop the spread of a hereditary disease, avoidance of contributing to overpopulation, complications with pregnancy and childbirth and the like are just a few of them. In fact, intra-family adoptions, believe it or not, happen way more often than adoptions between unrelated families, though the latter are the more publicized ones. Similar reasons, nevertheless, also account for unrelated adoptions.

Adoptions come in two forms: open and closed. In an open adoption, information between adoptive and biological parents is freely communicated, allowing the individual involved in the infant adoption access to information regarding his adoption, which includes unaltered birth certificates and adoption records. Any binding agreements made between the adoptive and biological parents of the child are also kept in the open, though with limited access to avoid abuse. Closed adoptions are a different story altogether. In a closed adoption, the records of the adoption and other similar materials are kept confidential, usually by a hired lawyer. This means that information linking the adopted child to his biological parents, people related biologically to the child, and other such information regarding the adoptee’s biological identity are withheld and kept a secret.