Knowledge is Power

10:44

A recipe for all you witches, would-be witches, hedge wizards, tree huggers, or whatever you might call yourselves.

Insect Repelling Diffuser Blend

A simple but bright, energetic and fresh blend. Repels mosquitoes, black flies, no-seeums and other flying bugs as well as fleas.
5 parts Citronella Oil
5 parts Eucalyptus Oil
5 parts Tea Tree Oil
Combine essential oils in a small glass vial or bottle, shake gently to mix. Use this blend in a nebulizing or candle style diffuser or by placing a few drops on a cotton pad for passive diffusion. You can diffuse the blend outdoors or add some to a soy candle (extinguish the flame; add 2-3 drops of your blend to the wax pool; ignite again).

Works like magic, really.


What else can I do naturally to keep bugs away?
(Stay indoors! BWAHAHAHA!)

• Insects are attracted to standing water, change any birdbaths, or kid’s pools at least once a week.
• Clean your rain gutters periodically as well as flowerpots, pet dishes and garbage cans, which can all be breeding grounds for insects.
• Mosquitoes love shady areas, so keep the lawn cut short and trim trees and hedges.
• When sitting outdoors, pick a slightly breezy spot. Mosquitoes have a hard time moving in the wind.
• Wear light-coloured clothing; mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours.
• Don’t wear heavy, synthetic perfumes; bugs are attracted to heavy scents.
• Limit your outdoor activities during the dawn or dusk when bugs generally feed.

Don't say I never do anything useful for you.

Spot is driving me up the wall. He wants outside and I won't take him yet. It's still a bit cool out there and I ahve to go out with him on the balcony. Not that I'm very worried he'll jump off. I doubt that he will. (Which doesn't mean he won't.) But we've a tremendous number of red-tail hawks around here and at least one golden eagle and one bald eagle have been sighted. So you have to make sure the cats don't become unwilling hitch-hikers that get invited out to dinner.

May 9, 2007 - 10:45

Oops, didn't come back to this as soon as I thought I would. I got caught up in adding more poeple to the family tree program again. I'm past the 2500 point. I think I added almost two hundred people yesterday ... and I still have, at least, a generation and a half to go!! @_@;

Speaking of family, my brother is on his way to attempting to become a police officer. This decision kinda surprised the rest of the family, but I'm sure he'll be a damn good one. He likes to be in charge of things, especially during a situation, and I know he'll remain fair minded in regards to other "situations". You'll never catch MY brother on the take. He takes his first aid course this weekend and I've asked him to grab me one of the "mouth-to-mouth" kits. They're only $5, so it won't break him. The training might though. I'm cheering for you, Michael.

Wonder what Lynne would do for a pic of him in uniform? Hmmm ... guess we'll have to wait and see.

Not a whole lot happening right now. The in-laws are keeping themselves busy with yard stuff and errands. They got their cat shaved. Now it's a funny looking useless lump instead of just a useless lump.

Damn, I have to learn to close my chip bags ... stale rice cakes are not the best things, diet or no.

Shorty has been imitating Lindsey Lohan's "ew" noise. Why? I don't know. I don't try to pretend to understand. Those little girl pop-star wanna-be's don't do anything for me. Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan ... whatever; they all look the same and sound the same to me. You show me one that is successful and doesn't need rehab, and then I'll be impressed. Meanwhile, I worry about Shorty. Dude, are you sure you're not gay? (teasing.)

We missed Spot's birthday ... He's 11 years old now and I'm getting nervous. I lost Pepper when she was 12. Granted, she was very sick with a liver diease and Spot is healthy for his age, but I'm still nervous. That wart, or whatever it is, still hasn't left his chin, so the theory that he's allergic to his dishes is out the window. Stupidest thing I ever heard, though I can see the plausibility of it. Anyway, Whiskers lasted until he was 16 and he was just as energetic as my baby here. He died of luekemia, I think.

I'll know when it's time. I've never bought a cat in my life. When one leaves, another shows up on the doorstep. Always a younger cat. We'll see. I told Jade that I hoped the next cat wouldn't be black and white ... the last four have been black and white. The last two have had places by my pillow. I keep seeing a graduating process with my cats. My "bestest"experiences are with the ones that have chosen me for themselves though.

We'll see. Life has a way of showing you things when you most see to see them. I'm sure that everything will be all right. (Bonus points to anybody who can tell me who that spell belongs to and what it's called.)

Today, I go shopping and then to Curves. I'll work on my tree some more and hopefully get some writing done. If there's still time left in the day, I'll work some more on my stitching and stare my seedinglings into sprouting. ;)

Sweet Dreams!