Organizing Legos - Or Not

Professional Organizers were chatting recently (NAPO chat - National Association of Professional Organizers) about Legos. Even though those involved in the chat had tried sorting and organizing their kids' Legos, the consensus was that their kids liked to be able to "dig" for their Lego pieces. So why bother?

Some valuable tips from the discussion:

- Any large bin with a tight fitting cover should keep Legos contained while not in use, and safe from younger siblings.

- Or, instead of one large bin, use several medium-sized bins and tackle or tool boxes to hold special projects. Tool boxes with a few compartments on the top save special pieces along with the project the kids are working on.




- Low-to-the-ground train tables allow kids to leave their projects out between play sessions. Here's one that was recommended:




- Spread a flat bed sheet on the floor on which your children can play with their Legos. When it's time to clean up, you can pick up the sheet and funnel the pieces into your container. This eliminates discovering little tiny pieces with your bare feet!

How do you manage your kids' Legos? Email subscribers click here to comment on the original blog.

Similar topics:
Organizing "Messy" Toys
Get Organized Month 2009 - Family Five Minute Challenge
Downsizing Toys before Christmas,

Peace-of-Mind Vacation Check List - What to Do Before You Leave

Good Morning! It has been crazy busy at our house. Last night we had a celebration dinner for our high school graduate! I made her a college survival kit with a bunch of items she'll need for college (first aid kit, sewing kit, super glue, glue sticks, laundry bag, scissors, screwdriver sets, and lots more) plus my Hassle Free Dinners, Three Steps to Time Management for the college student, and My Favorite Recipes. She seems to think she is going to do a lot of cooking while living in a dorm. :)

I'm reposting a blog I did last summer ...

Peace-of-Mind Vacation Check List - What to Do Before You Leave

In order to insure that your time away on vacation is relaxing and refreshing, make sure to take care of a few things before you leave.

- Make arrangements for your mail and packages. One option is to stop your mail through the post office (you can do it online at www.usps.com). If you do this, you may want to ask a neighbor to watch for packages, as well. We have a weekly paper that is delivered whether we want it or not - it's a sure sign that we're not home if it's sitting on our front porch for days.

Another option is to get a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail and watch for packages. Sometimes we hire a neighbor kid to pick up the mail and walk around the house to look for packages. UPS sometimes delivers to our front porch and sometimes to our back porch!

- Put your lights on timers. We have some that are programmable to go on at different times each night. It makes it look like you are home and there is activity in different parts of the house. We actually leave them on all the time, so if we're out for the evening, it doesn't look like it.

- Stop your newspapers. Most newspapers give you the option to donate your unused days to schools, etc. It's still helpful to have someone watch, though, as we've had newspapers delivered even when we've requested a stop.

- Make arrangements for your pets - a kennel, someone to come over and feed and play with your cat, feed your fish or birds, etc. There are all sorts of pet-sitting services these days, too.

- Make arrangements for your plants - either have someone water them or use a long-term watering system.

- Make arrangements for your lawn. A shaggy yard with yellow newspapers sitting around is an invitation to thieves.

- Pay your bills that will be due while you are gone and soon after you arrive home. You don't want to have to face bills as soon as you come home!

- Remove perishable items from your fridge and pantry. You may want to make a list of items you'll need when you return while it's fresh on your mind, so you don't have to think about it when you come home. Both milk and bread are freezable - just remember to buy milk with the screw-on lids and empty a little so it doesn't explode all over your freezer!

- Adjust your thermostats to save energy while you're away. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to reflect your absence.

- Give a neighbor your cell phone number or contact number - just in case they notice water pouring out of your house, or some other such emergency!

- Look back at your house as you leave. We almost left our front door open once. And you certainly don't want to be wondering if you left your garage door open!

- While you're away, you may want to pick up a souvenir or gift for anyone watching your house, pets, or plants.

With all these details taken care of, you'll have peace of mind while you're away and can enjoy being refreshed and rejuvenated!

If you'd like to comment on the original blog and you receive this via email, click here.

Similar topics:
Why Time Off Is Well Spent
Christmas in July
Redeeming Your Travel Time

Garage/Yard Sale Tips

Good Morning! Today's the last day of school for our girls. I'm looking forward to a little more relaxed schedule in one sense. But it will be a little more intense, too! As I promised here are some garage/yard sale tips:

The following tips for having a successful garage/yard sale are gleanings from a NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) chat.

- The best thing you can do to ensure good profits at a garage sale is make sure all the items are clean, clean, clean.

- Put tablecloths on tables, even if they're just plastic ones.

- Group like with like, just as you'd find in a store.

- Hang clothing, don't pile it on tables or leave it in boxes. Try to organize by type (boys, girls, men, women) and even further by size.

- For pricing, it all depends on quality. If it's nearly new, mark it slightly above half of retail. If it's slightly used or worn, then just below half of retail and so on.

- If items are new, leave the price tags on so people can see what a bargain they're getting. If you can find pictures of items in Sunday newspaper ads, attach those, too.

You can use Salvation Army or Goodwill prices as a guideline. Theirs are pretty close to garage sale prices.

- Another key is good signage with big fat lettering that can readily be seen from a passing car.

What are your best garage sale tips? Email subscribers, click here to comment.

Similar topics:
Garage sale time!
Cash from your Clutter
Recycling Computer Components

Before and After Pictures - Organizing a Bedroom

I spent some time last week helping a client organize a bedroom. I took some pictures so you can see the progress, too. The before pictures are on the left and the after pictures are on the right.

Thankfully, my client is going to have a garage sale soon, so most of our unwanted items were removed from the room, awaiting that event. But they could have been donated just as easily.

We emptied four pieces of furniture, which will be sold in the garage sale. One bookcase was able to go into another room, but the three matching cream-colored pieces had to stay in the room because there was nowhere else to put them. But once they are sold, the bedroom will be roomy and uncluttered!




Now my client has a functional, quiet refuge where she can read, watch a movie or spend some time to herself!


When you rid yourself of unnecessary clutter, not only is your house lighter but you feel lighter yourself, as you are not carrying the burden of owning so many possessions! My client expressed her relief at getting rid of so much stuff! She did a great job of making decisions and not holding on to things she no longer needs!

I'll have some garage sale tips tomorrow.

What room do you need to declutter and reorganize? Email subscribers click here to comment on the original blog.

Some similar topics:
Spring Cleaning Bedrooms
Get Organized Month 2009 - Some Words from Peter Walsh, Organizing Guru
Organizing Drawers
Get Oranized Month 2009 - Organizing Your Clothes Closet

Mouthwash and Mosquitoes

Happy Friday!. We received a house of girls yesterday - what a crazy schedule - one is a senior and out of school already, another is taking finals and has an erratic schedule, and the other is in middle school and wants one of us to go on a field trip with her next week! It didn't occur to me that it was finals week and I scheduled an organizing appointment today! I think I've figured out how we can cover all the bases, though. :) On to our unusual blog ...

Mouthwash and Mosquitoes

I recently received this information about Listerine and mosquitoes. I haven't tried it, and the source was not given. But I thought it sounded interesting and worth a try if it makes spending time outdoors mosquito-proof! Here are two comments on the subject:

"I was at a deck party awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone. A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the food table, the children's swing area, and the standing water nearby. During the summer, I don't leave home without it."

"I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works - in fact, it killed them instantly. ... It will last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog house."

Have any of you tried this? Email subscribers click here to comment on the original blog.

More Outdoor Tips:
Cooler Safety 101
A Dozen Helpful Hints to Simplify Your Life
Foil - A Griller's Friend

Organizing Your Keepsakes into Bins

I wanted to pass along this suggestion of keepsake bins from Lisa Mark as discussed in one of the NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) chats:

"Each of my kids (as well as my husband and I) has a keepsake bin in the garage into which they (and I) can put special things--beloved toys, outgrown clothing, special artwork. We're pretty picky about what goes in there but it does allow us to keep those things that are really special.

Each child gets one bin. Period. This is the hardest part, but we stick to it. I have letters and toys in my bin from my childhood, notes from beloved grandparents who have passed away, and small keepsakes from my elementary school years.

My oldest occasionally flings something into her bin; my youngest takes great care with what she chooses to include in hers. One of her choices--an inexpensive tee shirt with a picture of a cat on it that she wore when she was four years old. The cat took on a life of it's own--it had a name, a personality, a whole existence created by my daughter. She loved that shirt to pieces, literally, and she was heartbroken when she outgrew it.

Binning it was a way for us to hold on to those wonderful memories and a way for her to release that closet space to something more useful. The keepsake bins are a great way to ensure that we have a place to keep meaningful items without cluttering up our small space.

Every few years we go through these bins and take out items that have lost their meaning over time. I try to encourage my clients to do the same. Often after a house clean-out, clients end up with several bins of keepsakes in the garage or in a storage closet. This allows them to honor their memories and keep their treasures without impacting their living space."

What do you do with your keepsakes? Email subscribers, click here to comment.

Similar topics:
What to do with those trophies?!
Chopping Big Chores down into Bite-Sized Chunks
Decluttering Tips

Score: Herbs 1, Squirrels 0 ... So Far

As you know, I'm carrying on a never-ending battle with our squirrels. As long as I'm diligent to sprinkle dried red pepper flakes in everything, the squirrels don't bother my planters. But if it rains (like today), I have to remember to reapply the pepper flakes. So far, I'm doing pretty well. But as you can see, I caught one of the squirrels sunning himself next to my mesculun planter, just waiting for me to mess up! Sunscreen anyone?

More Herb Stuff

I spoke with Rose about my "perennial herbs." Rose is a 30+ year member of the Evening Herb Guild in Portage County, Ohio. She said that most herbs are not perennials other than chives, mint and some oregano. My parsley and cilantro came back this year, but they only last for a short time and are already waning.

So all that careful planning of my herb garden last year was for naught! I don't know where I googled my herb information last year, but my experience and Rose's expertise has proved them wrong!

Rose also mentioned that you should remove the purple blossoms from chives in order to keep them growing from year to year. She suggested putting the blossoms in vinegar to flavor it!

What a wealth of knowledge I have discovered in my aquatics class! First a master gardener and now an herb specialist! How enlightening!

Do you have some enlightening herb and garden tips? Email subscribers click here to comment on the original blog.

More on herbs and garden:
Score: Squirrels 1, Bev 0
So Much for Organizing My Herb Garden!
Tips from a Master Gardener - Watering, Mulch

Reorganizing the Office

As you may recall, I recently got a new laptop for my business. I was hoping to rid myself of my desktop computer, but have found that there are some files on that computer that didn't translate well onto my mac. So I'm going to have to keep both.

It has been bothering me for some time, as things were messy - my desk had been set up with everything at my fingertips. But my laptop doesn't fit on my desk. So I got a little laptop desk and used it at one of the comfortable chairs in my office.

However, nothing was at my fingertips as the chair was across the room. So things got messy, as they were harder to put away and I had no place for work in progress. But I couldn't come up with a good plan for rearranging my office, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on it.

So, I just left it, and one day an idea hit me. Haven't you had that happen? You stop thinking about a problem and the solution comes to you when you least expect it! Even though I was frustrated to leave the problem unsolved, I knew the answer would pop up some time.

We rearranged the office furniture a little and my laptop desk could fit at right angles at one end of my desk. It's a tight squeeze, but it's acceptable. Not worthy of HGTV, but acceptable. Once again I have everything at my fingertips with both computers within reach. It's so much easier to be organized when everything I need is close at hand.

How do you keep your office organized? Email subscribers, click here to comment on the original blog.

Similar topics:
Get Organized Month 2009 - Rethink Your Desk
Visual or ADD Organizers - Keeping Your Desk Organized
Clutter in Your House or Office Means Clutter in Your Mind

If you need help organizing your office, Three Steps to Organizing Your Office is a simple solution!

An Unusual, Time-Saving Painting-Prep Tool

How was your weekend? We had some friends over for dinner on Friday night, did some house projects and gardening, and I helped a client organize her bedroom, which I'll tell you about later this week. One of the house projects we did:

On Saturday I decided to touch up the red railing on the steps up to our front door. But first I needed to protect the cement steps. There is still a red dot of paint on a step from the last time I painted the railing - hmph!.

It took FOREVER to cover the steps last time - taping down newspaper. But this time, I decided to try Glad Press and Seal. I use it on our craft table for easy clean up and to protect the table. Why not try it on the steps?

I cut off strips in appropriate sizes. It was flexible enough to wrap around the footings at the bottoms of the posts. It took a fraction of the time as it did last time! I placed rocks on top of the wrap to protect it from gusts. Fabulous! My husband volunteered to do the sanding, so we finished the job in no time!

We still need to do some additional coats, so we left the wrap on the steps and it has stayed in tact so far.

What are your painting tricks? Email subscribers, click here to comment on the original blog.

Similar topics:
Saving Time by Cutting Out Craft Clean Up
Scheduling in Clean-Up Time after Projects
A Dozen Helpful Hints to Simplify Your Life

My Ongoing Quest: Not to Go to the Grocery Store

So ... to continue with my quest to prepare balanced meals without going to the grocery store in order to use up some of the food in my fridge, freezer and pantry ...

I was delighted to come across a recipe for Strawberry Snap Pea Salad the other day because ... you guessed it ... I had strawberries and sugar snap peas I needed to use up. When I first looked at the recipe, I was skeptical about whether the ingredients would go well together. As I was talking to one of my daughters on the phone while preparing it, she was convinced it would be disgusting. But it wasn't!

So here's the recipe:
equal amounts of sugar snap peas and strawberries, cut into bite-size pieces
red or white onion according to your taste, cut into small pieces
mint leaves, coursely chopped - I used about 1 tablespoon for four servings

Dressing (this made enough for my four servings with some left over):
1 T. mint leaves
1/4 c. sugar
1/8 c. balsamic vinegar
1/8 t. pepper
1 t. cornstarch
1/4 c. plus 1 t. water

In a small saucepan, bring to boil 1/4 c. water, 1 T. mint leaves, balsamic vinegar, and pepper. Lower heat, simmer for 5 minutes. In cup, stir cornstarch and 1 t. water to make a paste, then stir paste into saucepan. Bring to full boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool 10 minutes. Strain the cooked mint from dressing. Use just enough dressing to lightly coat salad. Serve immediately or chill. (Adapted from a recipe in the March/April 2009 Ohio magazine, p. 29.)

I was pleasantly surprised at the bright, fresh flavor of this salad. I'm not a big fan of mint in my food, but this was good! And I was happy to use up some of my mint!

Yesterday for lunch my husband sauteed some baby spinach in olive oil with some garlic, salt and pepper. I like to buy the large containers of baby spinach at Sam's because it is so reasonably priced. But we often ended up with it spoiling before we could use it all. We have begun to sautee it - it's quick, healthy, and it uses up a lot of spinach! So, we finished off our baby spinach and had a healthy and interesting green vegetable.

My fruit compote turned out well - raspberries, cranberries, dried apricots (diced), and strawberries with sugar to taste. I brought the ingredients to a boil and simmered until it was thickened. I made so much of it that we're going to serve it warmed over vanilla ice cream tonight when guests comes to dinner. We tested it out last night. :)

Last night my husband grilled veal and red peppers with a basil/parsley/lime/garlic rub on both. Love using my herbs!

I'm really enjoying being creative as I try to use up food we have before going to the grocery store. It's a fun challenge plus we're eating very interesting meals. :)

What have you been cooking lately? Email subscribers comment by clicking here which will take you to the original blog.

Similar topics:
Six Ways to Save Money on Food by Planning Ahead
Getting Organized for School - Planning Dinner
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9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized

Good Morning! I mentioned yesterday that I'm on a quest to eat balanced meals without going to the grocery store, thereby using up things in my fridge, freezer and pantry. I came across a salad recipe yesterday that used up my snap peas and strawberries and calls for mint from my garden. I'll share it tomorrow. Now on to our blog ...

9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized

Being organized and good health (physical, emotional and mental) - are they related? My vote is yes! Your life is enriched in many ways by organizing your time and your space.

Time

When your time is well organized, you are intentional about scheduling in those things that contribute toward your total health:

1. Sleep. Sleep deprivation causes roller-coaster emotions, inferior frontal lobe function (decision-making), weight gain, slow reaction time, a disrupted immune system, inability to cope with stress, depression, heart disease, hypertension, slurred speech and tremors. See my blog entitled Sleep is Non-Negotiable! for more details and sources.

2. Exercise. Besides the obvious benefits of exercise (building muscles, exercising your heart and lungs, burning calories, enhancing flexibility, etc.), exercise boosts your mood and helps you sleep, if you don't exercise right before bedtime. It also does great things for your skin, as sweat cleanses your pores.

3. Planning meals. By taking the time to plan meals, you are likely to eat more healthily. You're not as likely to opt for whatever is easiest because you're tired. You have a plan, you have the food in your fridge, you've knocked down those hurdles that stand in the way of good eating! By shopping only once a week (instead of every afternoon and picking up whatever looks good and is easy!), you're saving time and money in addition to your health!

4. Doing what matters. By identifying and guarding your priorities, stress decreases because you know when to say yes and when to say no to new opportunities. You are less likely to become overcommitted, overscheduled, and burned out.

5. Growing. By taking time to learn new things, pursue hobbies, and feed yourself, your brain remains flexible and young. You are less likely to develop Alzheimer's.

6. Cleaning. When you plan in time to clean on a regular basis, your home doesn't harbor germs, mold, and other irritants.

Space

When your space is organized and free of clutter:

7. Your mind is able to focus because you are not distracted by visual clutter.

8. Stress decreases.
- You know where your bills are and you pay them on time.
- You don't lose important items.
- When your home is clutter-free, it removes the emotional heaviness of visual clutter. - You don't lose sleep over lost or forgotten items.
- You can entertain without panic because your home is in order and clean!

9. You are less likely to fall or trip over clutter.

Who knew organization and health were so intertwined? If you are overwhelmed, start small and see what a positive impact it makes!

Have you discovered health benefits from being organized? Email subscribers, click here to comment on the original blog.

The 1-2-3...Get Organized series can help you get started, one area at a time.

Similar topics:
Interesting Clutter and Organization Statistics
Reduce Your Stress - Say No
The "Do It Now" Mindset

Organizing the Pantry

I organized my pantry the other day. Every once in a while it's nice to go through things, see what's there, and reorganize it.

I organize foods according to category - soups, vegetables, fruits, spices and condiments, canned meat, dessert/baking ingredients, crackers, cookies, drinks, etc.

Canned vegetables and sauces (spaghetti, tomato, etc.) go according to color to make it easy to find what I need. And I put the newest items in the back and the oldest items in the front. There were several items that were either outdated or I knew I would never use, so out they'll go.

Things I use least often go in less accessible places, while those with a higher turnover rate are in more accessible places.

I also identified problem areas which keep my pantry from staying nice. One is empty canning jars. I make apple butter every year, and when we finish a jar, it doesn't have a home. Their old home in the pantry got used for something else, creating the mess. I keep my boxes of canning jars in the garage, but I don't want to have to take them out there one by one, get the box down, etc. each time. So I created a new home for them, so they won't be accumulating haphazardly, being moved from place to place.

That's probably way more information than you ever wanted to know about my canning jars! :) But those problem areas are what create the chaos - things without a home.


While we're off this week, I've made it my goal to try to use up older things in my freezer and pantry rather than go to the grocery store.

So we've had pumpkin that I had cooked, pureed, and froze around Halloween. I usually use it for pumpkin bread or pumpkin pie, but it's good just heated up. Or you can sprinkle a little brown sugar on it.

I'm going to use some frozen fruit along with some dried fruit to make fruit compote. We're going to have pork chops tomorrow and the fruit compote will go nicely with it.

When I've used up a few more things, I'll dig down to the bottom of the freezer and see what's there. Then I'll decide what to keep and what to toss. I try to place those things that are extras in the bottom of the freezer - tea, coffee and other things that don't go bad easily.

It's refreshing to clear things out and take stock of what I have! And fun to see how long we can eat balanced meals without having to go grocery shopping! :)

What do you have in your pantry? Email subscribers comment here.

Similar topics:
Get Organized Month - Organize Your Refrigerator Freezer
Get Organized Month - Declutter Your Pantry
Get Organized Month 2009 - Organizing Your Fridge to Keep Foods Fresh
Demystifying Food Expiration Dates

A Mom-Invented Time and Money Saver!

Good morning! Today I thought I'd share with you a mom-invented product that saves time and money and sanity! Skyoozmee is sponsoring today's MomAudience.com email, and I wanted you to hear about it, too.

After numerous spit-up encounters with her two children, M is for mommy Founder Emily Daigle, was determined to design a new and much improved burp cloth.

“With messy feedings and constant spit-up, I needed something that would stay in place at all times and cover both shoulders,” she recalls. “There was nothing worse than having to fight with a burp cloth while trying to care for my baby. Not to mention all the times I had to change my clothes!”

The skyoozmee exhibits three main design features to keep clothes clean and dry:
- two layers of absorption
- easy-to-fasten Velcro closure to keep the cloth from shifting
- unique shape to wrap around the neck and offer protection to the chest, back and both shoulders simultaneously.

The skyoozmee is available starting at $15 in various styles that can be viewed on the website. Three-cloth packs of each style are also available.

For more information, visit Skyoozmee.

Emily sent me a sample of her Skyoozmee - what a clever idea! It velcros nicely at the back of the neck and stays in place, covering your clothing, front and back. Em would like to offer a 10% discount to MomAudience.com readers who wish to make a purchase. Please use promotional code “MAM10”.

- Bev


Email subscribers, comment here.

Herb Recipes

Hope you're having a nice holiday weekend. Ours has been very relaxing. Went out to eat, did some gardening, played Settlers of Catan, caught up on sleep, worked around the house a bit, and I got my MomAudience.com email ready to send out tomorrow. But that's not work to me - I love it!

Last week I told you I'd post some recipes using herbs. I haven't tried the herb vinaigrette, but the others are among my favorites. We made our first batch of mint tea last night - unbelievably refreshing! Let the summer begin!

Herb Vinaigrette

"Fill cruet one-third full of olive oil. Add an equal amount of vinegar (red or white wine vinegar). Gently bruise a two-inch herb sprig of thyme, oregano, or basil. Salt and pepper to taste. Close container and shake vigorously to meld flavors. Since herbs vary in strength, taste before serving and add additional sprigs as needed." (from Better Homes and Gardens, March 2009, p 20.)

Mint Tea (with no tea)

I know I shared this recipe before, but it's worth repeating. I collect a generous handful comprised of both spearmint and peppermint leaves. After rinsing off the leaves, I pour boiling water over them in a mug. Or microwave leaves in a mug of water for a minute. I let it steep - the longer the better - and add about 3/8 to 1/2 cup of sugar for 1/2 gallon. It's so refreshing in hot weather! We take it to drink when we play tennis - far more refreshing than water.

Salsa (from my friend Julie Bethea Stoll)

8 c. tomatoes, chopped, seeded (I use grape tomatoes)
1 1/2 t. chili powder
1 1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 t. cumin
handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
3 t. chopped garlic (from jar)
juice from 1/2 lime

Put onion and cilantro in small chopper. Mix with tomatoes, juice and spices. Serve with tortilla chips or with Mexican food. For a little more heat, add dried red pepper flakes - carefully - they pack a lot of heat!

Bruschetta
(adapted from recipe from Sweet’est Grape Tomatoes package)

1 pint grape tomatoes cut in quarters
¼ cup black pitted olives, slices
1/3 cup stuffed green olives, sliced
¼ cup minced parsley
1 t. minced garlic (from jar)
1/3 sweet onion, finely minced
1 T. virgin olive oil
½ T. balsamic vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Taste and correct seasoning if needed. Let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes. Serve over grilled sliced Italian or French bread. Slice bread about ¾ inches thick.

The last three recipes are included in the Three Steps to Planning Dinner workbook, which includes my favorite recipes.

Other Herb Recipes:
Organizing Your Herb Garden, Part 3 - Using Your Herbs
Dinner in 10 - Herbed Tilapia
Papaya salsa with swordfish
Cook a turkey!

Email readers comment here.

So Much for Organizing My Herb Garden!

Happy Friday! Hope you have a relaxing Memorial Day weekend. Our town actually has a Memorial Day parade. We went last year for the first time and it was inspiring! Thanks to all who have made and continue to make our country free!


If you remember, I went to great lengths to organize my herb garden last year. Perennials in one area and annuals in another. I had massive quantities of herbs and dried many of them - so much so that I still have some after giving them out to family and friends.

Well ... so far the only perennial herbs that have come back are mint and chives (which even I can't kill!) and parsley and cilantro, neither of which are really perennials. They will come back for one season. No sign of my rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender and others!

I'm not terribly sad, though, as the ones I use the most are basil, dill, chives, parsley and cilantro. So that's what I'm growing this year. I think I'll try a little mesculan, planting some every week or so, in order to have a steady supply. We'll see if I can get it past the squirrels.

They have already been digging around my daisies in my two planters on my front porch. As often as I can remember I try to sprinkle them with dried red pepper flakes, which seems to ward them off ... until it rains. If I do the same for my mesculan, will have a little kick? :)

My husband is trying out topsy-turvy tomatoes this year. So if they work, we should have ingredients for salsa!!

Next week I'll post some of my favorite recipes using herbs.

Have some great herb recipes to share? Bring it on! Email subcribers comment here.

Some of my other gardening blog posts:
Organizing Your Herb Garden
Feed the Squirrels? - Hah!
Organizing your garden