We welcomed the first day of Spring with temperatures in the 30’s. No surprise there. At least the sun is out. However, I know all too well the temperature fluctuations that occur this time of year, especially up North. We tend to get a lot of rain, especially in April – which, unbelievably, starts in less than 2 weeks. So, if April showers get you down, cheer yourself up with our fun Rain Boots. Even if it’s raining cats and dogs, you’ll be in style.
Until next time… Ann 
“May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.”
-Irish Blessing
Filed under: Cleanup & Compost, Garden, Lawn | Tags: lawn care, news, spring, summer, western new york, yard
There has been so much talk on the news channels (take your pick of Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc.) of how the war in Iraq has lasted 5 full years, the economy may or may not plunge, and the ongoing presidential debate between Hillary and Obama. It’s pretty much been the same recycled stories for the past few weeks. I’m starting to tire of it, possibly much out of boredom.
Then, Spring suddenly arrived. I know here in Western New York the first day of Spring brought more snow. Soon, the leaves will bud and not long after April showers we start seeing beautiful blooms.
Summer really does make you seem care free, even if the worries are still there, a long quiet walk on a nice starry night might do the trick.
There is a bit of prep work to do as spring starts to usher in better weather. I know the lawn is always an issue, trim, and any general yard clean up. Somehow after the snow melts we find lots of strange debris resting all over the yard. Get it cleaned up early and there won’t be any bare spots. If it’s already too late, you can try Velocity Lawn Patch Plus.
It’s one of the best products to date.
So here’s to the kick off of Spring!
As Always, Art.
Spring starts this week (Thursday to be exact). I saw my local town’s garden center is back open for the season so that is a good sign. Although around here, you can’t be safe planting til around Memorial Day. So, in the meantime, I have been tending to my indoor plants. I read a good tip recently on watering these plants. They suggest dropping a few ice cubes into the pot. As the ice melts, it waters your plant. How clever! If you want long term watering solutions, click HERE.
Until next time… Ann
“It’s spring fever…. You don’t quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” – Mark Twain
That’s right, winter is slowly receding. There are plenty of us who are more than rejoicing at that fact. It’s time to put away your skis and take out the golf clubs. Well, maybe were not quite ready for that, yet.
Some of you may remember that I had started digging a garden pond at camp during the January thaw. That turned out to be a pretty bad idea. Now, the spring is practically here. I am ready to get back down to camp soon (probably after Easter with family and friends) and get my project back up and running.
Now that most of the digging is done I can start focusing on cleaning and decorating. There are quite a number of way to go about both. Click here if you would like a little more information on getting your garden pond crystal clear. Or click here if you want a few ideas for decorating and personalization.
As Always, Art.
Filed under: Home improvement, solar power | Tags: closing costs, going green, home, mortgage, owners, purchase, savings
How can a mortgage be green? Is it printed on green paper? Or is the ink green?
There is a new way to help buy and save on your new home purchase. This might be a great way for first time homeowners to save some money and have an excellent angle on getting that first mortgage. By purchasing an energy efficient home many companies are helping you save, figuring that the money saved on long term utility bills should be applied to mortgage costs.
Bank of America, Citi-group, and JP Morgan Chase are all offering discounts on closing costs for energy efficient homes. These are homes built to Energy Star Standards. There are many appliances that meet Energy Star Standards, as well as insulation, windows, and heating and cooling systems. This can help the homeowner save on buying an old home.
If you are looking to buy a home, you can go to www.naseo.org and find the contact information for your closest state energy office. You can contact them for the specifics on efficient renovations and low-interest loans.
Green ideals are popping up everywhere. They are becoming integrated into every aspect of our life. To the car we drive, to the way we heat our homes, to the way we buy our home, to our schools and jobs.
As always, Art.
Filed under: Winter | Tags: daylight, energy act, policy, president, saving, spring, study, summer, U.S.
Yes, it is time once again to set the clocks ahead. We are springing forward time, for darker mornings, and lighter late afternoons. This is the true vision of summer months to come. And if you live in the northern half of the U.S. you know what I’m saying, loud and clear.
Does it seem that daylight saving time has gotten shorter? I mean, does it seem like the time between “Fall”ing back and “Spring”ing forward has gotten a lot shorter?
If you think it has, then you’re right. On August 8th, 2005 President George Bush signed the Energy Policy Act that actually changed the dates on which we change our clocks. This is supposed to help save energy for Americans. The data is being tracked by The Secretary of Energy. After the study is completed, congress has the right to keep the new DST hours. In 2004 DST started April 4th and ended October 30th, this year it starts March 9th and ends November 2nd. Daylight Saving Time has actually gotten longer, but the time in between has gotten shorter.
So don’t forget to set those clocks ahead at 2am Sunday morning. Lose an hour of sleep to gain an hour of sunshine. Seems a fair trade.
Don’t want to set your clocks ahead or back? No problem. Get one of these:
and you won’t have to. Unless you can find a way to. If you do, let me be the first to know.
As always, Art.
Filed under: Links
I know we have been talking a lot about the whole green cause lately. It can leave you feeling overwhelmed, thinking “what can I do, I’m just one person?” Well, every little bit of action helps. If everyone would just do one small thing, think how far we could come. My suggestion for those of you who want to help save the earth and save on your budget is to start by replacing your light bulbs. Every time one goes, replace it with a compact fluorescent bulb. These bulbs have come a long way. In the past, they were not very bright. Technology has improved and they give off the equivalent that regular bulbs do. And, over time, they save you money. They can last up to 5x longer than regular bulbs and cost less to use. They also come in more shapes and sizes for every kind of lamp or fixture.
Two you might want to start out with:The Mini Twist – these compact bulbs fit all types of fixtures and you get a set of 4! Natural Bulb - I love this one because it simulates sunlight.Start small and remember – little changes add up to big ones! Until next time… Ann
Filed under: Links, Outdoor Enthusiasts, solar power | Tags: alabama, auburn university, environmentalism, global warming, green, preserve, solar
I would like to take the time to bring attention to the efforts of Karni R. Perez, a dedicated volunteer with The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve, an outreach program of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, and coordinator of an exciting upcoming event in Auburn, AL. The Preserve offers 110 acres of beautiful wooded hiking trails and other special features such as learning stations, providing surrounding communities with a wealth of nature and native ecosystems to discover, learn from, and enjoy. You can click here to view their home page and pictures.
There is an event taking place there on Saturday, April 5 called GrOw GREEN. The event is designed to draw attention to the positive aspects of going green. The fun and information-filled event offers those who attend “a chance to better understand some current resource and environmental issues”. Not only will the attendees get a chance to “enjoy a day in the woods” but they will also be able to learn tips to meet the daily challenges of being Green Minded.
The staff at Picket Fence, as well as everyone in the office of our parent company QCI Direct, would like to acknowledge Ms. Perez and the members of The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve for their continuing efforts to bring awareness to the public. We have always done all we can here to be as green as possible and to try and spread the word. Lately my blog efforts have been about the benefits of solar power, the celebrities who have become involved, and all the small ways we (as the general public) can do our part to conserve energy and be less wasteful. The responses have been vast and overwhelming. There are so many people out there with a voice and opinion, in both directions, about the US becoming a fore runner in environmentalism. This is an extremely hot button issue all around the world. Many countries have spent innumerable hours and capital on developing perpetual resources to be used. But, for most of us, without thousands of dollars to spend on solar paneling, there are plenty of small ways to think green.
We have been developing our solar powered products category and released it last week. You can view that by clicking here. We will also by teaming up with Ms. Perez by donating our greenest products to be given away at the GrOw GREEN event on April 5th. It truly is the little things that make the biggest differences and this is just the start to a long line of “little things” that we plan to do to bring more attention to the growing environmental problems. Going green may be the one way to improve on global warming. Is that enough? Is global warming a serious enough problem to change our lifestyle?
As always, Art.
P.S. Thanks Alicia!
Filed under: Links, Outdoor Enthusiasts | Tags: absorb, kayaking, outdoor, water
I came across another blog today that mentioned Picket Fence. It’s a blog about Kayaking and it mentioned a specific product we have been carrying for years in a brand new light. I have kayaked before, but only for recreation. This blog has shown a new way to use the water absorber that I would have never thought of.
The absorber soaks up 1,000 times it’s weight in water, oil, or any spill. I never thought of how useful it could be in other situations outside the home, such as kayaking. It would also work well if you spilled some oil when you were fixing a car, a snowmobile, ATV, etc.
There aren’t too many spots to get this product in a 4 pack. A very unique item that has so many purposes.
As always, Art.
Filed under: Home improvement, solar power | Tags: acceptance, chicago city hall, children, future, green, quotes
I came across something over the weekend that I wanted to share with you. Ever since I became interested in “green” philosophies and writing about it, the response has been overwhelming. There are so many people out there, of all ages, that are interested in this topic. I read a quote yesterday from Home Furnishings Business Magazine. It was in an article about an opinion poll called “Going Green”. Names were not given in the poll. One response said,
“Nowadays there are a lot of energy efficient products. I must admit that I had to swallow hard the first time I spent the money to buy new light bulbs…I will save money over the life of the bulbs…Ten years ago, I didn’t have the option to chose ‘green’ lighting, so maybe I appreciate it more now.”
I can’t be certain, but I think many people around the U.S. are starting to feel this exact way. The popularity of green lighting, solar power, and other energy efficient tactics has become less debatable and more accepted. That could mean a brighter future for generations to come. If more children see this type of behavior, they will carry into their adult years as the “norm” instead of a new idea. Any one with me?
For energy efficient and solar products click here.
As always, Art.
How’s that for going green? Chicago City Hall’s rooftop has saved in energy costs and reduced water runoff. Read more about it here.
