Ultimate Home & Garden Guide by Roger Keyserling (free novels to read .txt) 📖

flower and is an excellent low maintenance plant, perfect for beginners and experienced gardeners alike

Peonies flower with Roses and Clematis and are lovely with many other perennials

How to Cut Peonies for Bouquets

Timing is key. Buds should be at the “soft marshmallow” stage, meaning if you squeeze an unopened bud, it should feel about as firm as a soft marshmallow. Another way to tell when to cut is to look at the coloring on the buds. Most of the outside of the bud should be green, but you should be able to see about 1/2 inch of colorful petals peeking through. Cutting at this stage reduces the chance of bringing ants inside with the flowers, but it’s still wise to check the flowers before taking them into the house. Place stems in a vase of water and allow plants to open. Change the water every few days, and add Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers so the blooms will last longer (vs. water only).

Peonies make wonderful cut flowers, lasting more than a week in a vase. For best results, cut long stems in the morning when the buds are still fairly tight.

You can wrap freshly cut peony stems in damp paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them. When removing the peonies from the refrigerator give the stems a fresh cut and place them in lukewarm water to wake them up.

What are tree peonies?
Although tree peonies are related to regular (herbaceous) peonies, they are much larger, reaching up to 6 feet. Their form is actually more like a shrub than a tree. In colder zones, they will not grow as tall — 3 or 4 feet is typical. Plants bloom just before the regular peonies; flowers are equally fragrant.

When the peonies wilt, I deadhead them. Deadheading is when you cut off a bloom that has run its course. By cutting it off, you encourage the other blooms on that stem to open because the plant is no longer trying to support the wilting flower. Deadheading isn’t necessary, but it promotes root growth.

Peony petals are edible. Add to summer salads or use as garnish for lemonade and ice tea. Read more about edible flowers! By Farmers Almanac.

 

Raising Chickens For Eggs With Helpful Tips

Backyard chicken keeping is increasing in popularity. There are many reasons for this. Perhaps it is to have a ready source of eggs and meat, or as a backyard help in pest control, or perhaps it is just because they are fun to watch. For me, it is all these reasons. Whatever the reason, chickens can be a great source of enjoyment if properly managed and given appropriate care.

This article is all about raising chickens

Crafts

There's no boredom buster quite like a good craft project. There's so much satisfaction in making something with your own hands

Arts & Crafts

Sewing. Scrapbooking. Photography. Painting. Knitting. Kid Crafts. Crocheting. Recycle Creative

Many children enjoy working on craft projects because they have something they can offer to others or even give up at the end of the process. While craft tools provide children with the supplies they need in pre-cut formats with product-oriented coordination and consistent colors, and this limits children's creativity. The following skills can be transferred to any number of craft projects. It also shares the benefit of using inexpensive materials that can be used in multiple projects.

 

Use scissors
Show your child how to put scissors on her fingers. Offer to cut straight bars and round or angled shapes. Draw shapes or lines on a color picture or construction paper and have the children follow the lines.

 

One thing we should point out to children is that they can move the paper while cutting it. Many children move their bodies while using scissors, as it does not make them flip the paper while cutting its shape. Start with basic shapes like circles, triangles, and squares before applying to more complex silhouettes.

Follow the ways
At a craft store, you will find paper, wood, hand foam, and other materials in pre-cut shapes. Why are you interested in teaching your kids to keep track of the shapes they will have to cut later, especially since they won't look as stylish as a robot?

This process develops excellent mind skills and hand-eye coordination. It also allows kids to create their designs or keep them from waiting to go to the craft store to buy supplies, and it prevents you from hearing a request for a ride to the store dozens of times. Use cardboard, plastic, or even cookie cutters as the basis for your shapes.

Another useful tip to share is saving paper. When your child has comfortable pieces of paper, challenge her to work near the edge of the paper or where she has just cut its shape. Children will see a sheet as a monochromatic line, so teach them how to get the most shapes out of the sheet.

Paper flowers use a leftover roll of party streamers, and you can make an entire bouquet while you watch tv.

Get it at: Three Ways to Make Easy Paper Flowers

Everyone loves coloring. You can download these free, printable coloring card templates 

Recycle those paper towel rolls to make this easy, colorful castle your kids will love.

Get it at: 5 Paper Towel Roll Crafts for Kids

Timestamps 00:09 Amazing coloring ideas 00:39 Hand molding 01:32 DIY homemade chalk 02:50 Awesome art ideas 07:28 Awesome cardboard ideas for fun 12:03 “Put a Ring on It” hacks

Are you looking for craft activities inspired by nature to do with your children? Do you want something different from everyday indoor craft activities and outdoor play? These are some of the best nature-friendly craft activities that will help your child during this time.

Paint a paper bag
The most natural craft is to print a daisy paper bag. It is something you need from time to time to give gifts. Ordinary cloth bags can easily be found at gift or craft stores, or you can buy one online. Decorate with beautiful designs and make it as attractive as possible.

 

Owl family with pebbles
It is an impulsive family of owls that inspires the creativity of the child to the climax. Buy brushes, which may be used in small spaces because the gravel doesn't provide much room for painting. However, brushes and acrylic paint work best for this. Pick up gravel with flat bottoms, so they don't fall off and stand for a long time.

 

Eggs print sheets
Children love to collect stones and leaves. This is the best craft to teach them different shapes of leaves where you can draw on shells then decorate them. You can also try drawing different shapes of leaves in a wrapper to give them a new look. The eggshell is usually painted with food coloring.
Solar plate
Have your child collect various types of grass that she can find in the garden. You will be surprised to see the number already there. Please choose what you like best and use it to create aboard. Please give her a smiley face to make it more fun. It looks fantastic, especially in the game room, or you can try it on your balcony.
Letters with twigs
Create letters for your kids' names with twigs and color them using ribbons. Place the letters in sequence on your child's bed above her head to personalize her room. You can also ask him to make his name once you are done. Adding the recipient's name to a gift box, in the same way, is also a great way to decorate a gift box.

Upcycle odd bits of fabric into a cute rag wreath. This no-sew wreath can be a beautiful accent for any occasion — just choose colorful fabrics and get started.

Get it at Kids' Craft: Make an Easy Rag Wreath

Chalkboard Kitchen Canisters

Chalkboard paint and easy-to-apply stenciled details transform basic glass jars into customized countertop accessories. Learn how to paint your own chalkboard labels.

Get it at Chalkboard Kitchen Canisters

Vintage Book Planter

Turn an old book into a one-of-a-kind succulent planter with our easy how-to instructions.

Get it at: How to Make a Vintage Book Planter

Polka-Dotted Vases

Give a dollar-store glass vase a DIY makeover with a painters' tape design and a coat of frosted glass spray. See the how-to instructions here, from HGTV Magazine. Step-by-Step: Frosted Polka-Dot Vases

Peeps Candy Slime

Grab some Peeps candy and a few household pantry items to make super easy slime the kids will love —no glue needed.

Get it at Use This Easter Peeps Hack to Make Slime Without Glue

Art and craft do not only entail drawing. It also involves keeping your craft equipment. If you are looking for a storage solution for your craft pads, use this handy guide to find the storage method that best suits your needs. There are many ways to store ink pads, so the first thing to do is take out your kit and take out exactly what you have. This way, you will be sure to buy a correct size container, and you will be able to sort the ink pads. Managing your ink pool helps distinguish between different functions.
Here are some craft tips to help you organize your craft kit:
Commercial brand
If you are a literal person who wants to buy coordinated packages from the same manufacturer, this method may be for you. You'll be able to match your ink to individual papers and accents easily.
Size
Sorting your craft gadgets by size is a good option if you have limited space or prefer similar things to be arranged. This method works exceptionally well if your pool contains many bulky inks. Single-size napkins can be grouped and placed in one section in a container.
The color
If you primarily use your letters in your stamp records, start sorting by color group. Additional sections must be created for neutral or rainbow colors. You can easily choose the right ink for your current project, regardless of ink size or type, if organized by color.
Function
Sorting by type