Beetle Mystery Solved

The Beetle mystery has been solved! Seems the beetle I was asking about is called a "Eastern Hercules Beetle". I can thank Scott from PA for the identification.


This beetle was on my back porch a few different times. He would hang out on one of my chairs for a day and leave only to show up again. This happened a few times. I took pictures the second time. He really is huge.
I havent seen it lately, so hopefully he found a better home than my porch chairs.
Here is a site with some great pics http://bugguide.net/node/view/4461
And here is some general info http://centralpets.com/animals/insects/beetles/btl6044.html
Enjoy!!!

Today we Saved a Turtle

Greetings,
Today we saved a Eastern Box Turtle. Hailey and I went shopping for some new shoes and school supplies. When on the way back home , there was a brown and tan lump in the middle of the right lane. As soon as I saw it I just knew it was a turtle. I keep on driving as there was a lot of traffic behind me. But I just couldn’t leave it there. I had to turn around and try to save it. So, that is just what we did.
I turned around about 1/2 mile down the road or more and just hoped we wouldn’t be too late. And low and behold, that little turtle was ok and on the move again. He made it over to the middle of the left lane and he was on the move. It was perfect where he was, as there was a left turn lane where I could pull over safety, and scooped him up. In the nick of time I believe as a rush of traffic was coming.
I put him on the floor of the passenger seat and brought him home. Needless to say Hailey thought this was so cool that we could save this little turtle. We took a few pictures of him and she named him Thomas the Turtle. Then we walked out back, went down into the forest and set him free.
According to the quick research we did on the net, he will be very happy there and have plenty of things to eat.
Regretfully hundreds if not thousand of turtles lose their life on our highways. So , if you ever have a chance, please help a turtle out. Get them to the other side of the road or drop them off in a local wooded area or field where they will be safe.
Long live the Turtles!!!
To learn more about this turtle http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/research/Contribute/box%20turtle/boxinfo.htm

Homemade Playdough Recipes

Kool-Aid Playdough
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
2 cups boiling water with 1 package Kool-aid (any flavor)
3 tablespoons corn oil
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon alum

Mix ingredients and knead with flour (may take up to 1 extra cup). Use more if the dough draws moisture in high humidity. Keeps well, has a nice fragrance and is very colorful and very flexible.


Salt Playdough

•1 cup salt
•1 cup water
•1/2 cup flour plus additional flour
•Saucepan
Directions

1.Mix salt, water, and flour in saucepan and cook over medium heat.
2.Remove from heat when mixture is thick and rubbery.
3.As the mixture cools, knead in enough flour to make the dough workable.


Easy Play Dough

2 cups flour
1 cup water

Mix together well. You can put dry Kool-Aid or Jell-O in the mix if you want colored dough.

Enjoy!!!

Soap of the Week

We are so proud of our new soap creation "Ocean Storm Warnings" . This was our first attempt at layered/swirled soaps and we couldn't be happier. We scented it our Ocean Storm fragrance and it is perfect. We have decided to keep this in our lineup under Specialty soaps.
Our inspiration for the name came from the TV show Deadliest Catch. Mike Rowe was talking about a huge storm coming in and the sky was so many different colors, and this was our interpretation.
Enjoy!

Homemade Skin care

We all need to save some money, so here are some ideas for homemade face masks.

For oily skin use some plain Milk of Magnesia, rub it on and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water. It absorbs oil wonderfully!

For Normal/combination skin mix one egg and 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and a teaspoon olive oil until smooth. Spread on your face and leave 15 minutes then rinse.

For dry skin, mix one egg yolk, one teaspoon honey and a teaspoon olive oil and some vitamin E oil if you have it. Smooth on and leave on for 15 minutes then rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry.

And if you rather use a clay mask, we carry them for all skin types.

Take care
The Staff

Birthday Specials

My son Mike and his very best friend Jake (my other son) will be celebrating their birthday's this month (See our calendar on the web site for all our fun events and specials) So, it got me thinking, first, what to get the boys and then how can I share the fun with all my customers? A sale, of course! So to celebrate, we are going to offer FREE SHIPPING, no minimum for one week. This special will run from July 21st to July 28th only. So shop til you drop and save some money in the meantime!
Enjoy!
The Staff

Playing Gardener Today

Today was a beautiful day out. The sun was shining and the breeze was blowing. It was just too nice to sit inside on the computer all day. So, we decided to do some replanting of our porch plants.

First we went to Lowe's and got some Miracle Grow potting soil and rescued a few discount plants, including a potted rose bush.

Next, we have never grown roses, especially in a pot, so we did a little research about it and found a great site.
http://www.rosemagazine.com/pages/containers.asp

Lastly, we upgraded each plant we have to a larger pot. There is just something about playing in the dirt that I just love. Then cleaned up the mess, sweep off the porch and sat back to enjoy our labors. All the plants look very happy now! LOL

Dog Treats

Homemade Dog Treats


Note: Before you cook for your dog, it’s recommended that you seek advice from your veterinarian as to what food/ingredients are appropriate for your dog. If you are doubtful about any ingredient, replace it or simply leave it out.


An Apple a Day Dog Treat



2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 apple -- chopped or grated
1 egg -- beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
3/8 cup water


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with vegetable oil spray. Lightly
dust work surface with flour. Blend flours and cornmeal in large mixing bowl. Add
apple, egg, oil, brown sugar and water; mix until well blended.
Roll dough out to 7/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters of
desired shape and size.
Bake in preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave door closed 1 hour
to crisp treats. Remove treats from oven.Store baked treats in airtight container or plastic bag
and place in refrigerator or freezer.


Visit our Pet Corner and see all the new toys we have added!

Benefits of Handmade Soap

Conventional soaps available in stores today are not really soaps at all, but detergents. Detergents are petroleum-based products that tend to leave your skin feeling dry, itchy and tight. Thankfully there is an alternative soap that offers multiple benefits when used. Because handmade soap has become affordable, its popularity is growing rapidly as a chemical free alternative to conventional soaps.

Get Back to Nature

Handmade soaps are made with natural ingredients instead of cheap imitations which may cause irritation. Coconut, olive, and palm oils are carefully blended to create a skin smoothing concoction that cleanses the skin without drying it out. A variety of natural fragrance oils can also be added to the handmade soap for additional moisture locking effects. An example of the types of fragrance oils used include: orange, vanilla rose petals, almond, avocado, jojoba, cottonseed, etc. Most importantly, homemade soaps are respectful of nature by not testing their products on animals.

Quality Supersedes Quantity

Handmade soap manufacturers take pride in the quality of their products. Most ingredients are hand-picked, sorted, and manufactured to produce a top quality product. Unlike conventional soap, it is said that homemade soap may even contain healing properties due to the lack of chemicals in the ingredients. People who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema can find relief by switching to an all-natural and chemical free handmade soap.

Handmade Soap Does a Body Good

The skin is the largest human organ as well as the body’s first line of defense against dehydration, temperature, infection and harmful substances. Handmade soaps give your skin the care it deserves by gently cleansing and locking in moisture. The fragrances used in these products can also stimulate health. Cinnamon, for example, has the ability to increase blood flow.

Spa-like Luxury

Life can be hectic at times and a humble luxury like a special bar of soap can be rewarding. A fragrant, handmade bar of soap is a simple indulgence that fosters a feeling of relaxation as well as the ever important feeling of being pampered. Handmade soap is a luxurious tool in keeping your skin healthy. With its creamy lather, wonderful fragrances, and now affordable prices, pampering yourself has never felt so good.


Creative Works of Art

Perhaps the most appealing factor about homemade soaps is that they allow the soap manufacturer to be creative and experimental with different natural products. Adding oils, essences, natural exfoliates, and creating new and exciting designs and shapes. Nowadays, homemade soaps are able to have a variety of looks and the possibilities of ingredients are endless. Bars of soap can appear to have glass swirls or can even be embedded with chunks of oatmeal.

Homemade soap is nothing like the chalky bars of the days of yore. Modern soap manufacturers have turned making soap into a marketable hobby that produces the finest, silkiest bars that look and feel luxurious. The secret ingredient to handmade soap is imagination. From intricate designs to beautiful aromas, handmade soaps are a simple luxury that nobody should do without.

Found on Article Base

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Humidity Kills

Yes, I too make some mistakes. I don't normal tell the world, but I just have to share this with you.

I was cleaning out a picture folder today, trying to get rid of any old product photos or photos I no longer need and I ran across this.




The humidity must have been higher than I thought one day that I decided to make some bath bombs. (I know, you never make bombs when its humid, I know ) This was my first try. They puffed up like yeast bread rising. They really had a mind of their own. The picture above was only taken to share with a friend of mine as it was just too funny, but what the heck. Learn from my mistakes. Never, but never try to make bath bombs when its raining or humid out.

Good luck!

Im back

Ok, I never did find those notes, so Im starting again. This time I promise to keep up with it better ( My promise to all my facebook friends who keep hounding me).