Learn to Use Gutter Guards and Clean Gutters

Installing gutter guards on your house or building helps cut down on the time it takes to clean gutters and the risks involved being up on a roof. An onerous and time consuming chore, cleaning gutters can be hazardous on some buildings and many people are unable to manage this chore easily. Once clean, it is a simple job to have gutter guards placed on all gutters around the house, preventing leaves and other debris from clogging them in the future. If you must get on the roof to clean gutters here's how to do it safely.

1. Wear appropriate clothing. Old clothes you don't care about and running shoes or other rubber soled shoes with good grips are best.

2. Prepare to clean gutters twice a year to keep them free of leaves and debris if you don't install gutter guards. Full gutters can pool water, overflow, rot or rust, and even pull free and fall.

3. Start at the bottom the down spout and scoop out debris with a trowel. Put debris in a plastic garbage bag to minimize mess. It is best to do this when the leaves and debris are slightly damp because they are easier to remove than when dry, dusty and encrusted or sopping wet and dripping with water.

4. Place a high step ladder firmly on a flat surface and wear eye protection and heavy gloves to prevent cutting yourself on screws, nails or sharp edges. When climbing onto the roof to clean gutters, be sure you have firm footing on ladder and roof shingles.

5. Using a high pressure spray nozzle, hose out length of gutter working towards the down spout. Avoid spraying mud and water on the house if possible. If plastic gutter guards have been installed there may be small bits of debris collected underneath. Angle spray under gutter guards to remove residue.

6. For stubborn spots, use a plumbers snake to break out any blockages if water and debris do not wash down the drain spout easily. Then continue with the hose.

7. Collect garbage and soggy leaves in the garbage bag and gently hose off any mess on the house or patio.

8. If you decide to install gutter guards, consider using ones made from micromesh screen. If installed properly they do not allow small leaves to enter gutters at all, eliminating the need to clean gutters.

9. Get several estimates from experienced companies and check references carefully. The micro-mesh gutter guards must be installed in the same plane as the roof for optimal effect. This means the gutters have to be lowered on the house. Lowering the gutters is not an easy job and one that is best performed by a professional.

10. When having the gutter guards installed, discuss in advance with the professional and be sure to confirm that the wind seal on the existing shingles is not broken when the gutters are lowered so the gutter guards can be put in place.

11. Check the warranty on your roof and gutters to be sure installing gutter guards will not void the terms in any way. Once high quality micro-mesh gutter guards have been installed, cleaning gutters will be a thing of the past.

12. Use a tall ladder that reaches all the way to the edge of the roof for safety climbing on and off when cleaning gutters. When installing gutter guards be sure to have a written contract from the professional and ask about the warranty.

Do you have gutter guards on your house? I'd love to hear about it and how they have helped save you time and money on cleaning the gutters or maintaining your home.

How to Make Emergency Lighting Glow Sticks with Mountain Dew

Whether during a winter storm or a climbing expedition, it is always good to have an emergency lighting source available. There is nothing scarier than being caught in the middle of a black out and finding your flash light does not work as your knock your shins on the furniture or trip over the dog. Simple emergency lighting similar to glow sticks, can be made quickly and easily from three common products found on grocery shelves and easily stored for long periods of time in your pantry. As an aside, I am not sure why this emergency lighting works only with Mountain Dew soda, but these glow sticks made are very effective and worth remembering in a black out.

• Open a small bottle of Mountain Dew soda and pour equal parts into several empty small soda or water bottles to start setting up emergency lighting glow sticks. There should be approximately ¼ to ½ inches of soda in each bottle. This is the equivalent of about one ounce of soda.
• Mix with the soda, three capfuls of common hydrogen peroxide found in pharmacies and on grocery store shelves. Mix this amount with soda in each of the bottles to which you have previously added the soda.
• Add to each emergency lighting bottle, a pinch of baking soda. A pinch is approximately 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon.
• Cover bottles with a cap and shake well. Voila! The chemical reaction formed by mixing the three ingredients will create a nice glow and turn your soda bottles into emergency lighting that will scare away the demons during the black out.

Tips

This recipe is for small sized soda bottles. If using the large bottles, experiment with the amount of ingredients necessary to emit enough emergency lighting that will be helpful.

Keep empty soda bottles in a box in your garage or basement so you have plenty for emergency lighting when the need arises.

Warning

Do not let young children make this mixture and be sure no one drinks it. Although none of these ingredients or emergency lighting are dangerous by themselves, the mixture is not meant for internal consumption.

What you need

• Small bottles of Mountain Dew Soda
• Small empty soda bottles
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Baking soda
• Measuring spoons

Have you tried this cool experiment? Please let me know your results.

Make Gazing Balls with Mosaic Art Supplies

A wide variety of mosaic art supplies and glass mosaic tiles can be used to create beautiful personalized outdoor ornaments and gazing balls. When flower blossoms have fallen and trees have lost leaves, sparkling gazing balls can keep a winter garden lively and fresh throughout the season. Mosaic art supplies, found in hobby shops and online, can be artfully used to create table tops, stepping stones, chair seats, wall decor as well as decorative gazing balls. Use glass mosaic tiles in original designs to bring light and color during any season to an indoor or outdoor decorative space. Follow the steps below to create a glass mosaic gazing ball.

Step 1.  If using a custom design for the gazing ball rather than an overall pattern, draw it out first on paper to scale.

Step 2.  Buy precut, tumbled glass mosaic tiles from a place that sells a wide variety of mosaic art supplies or make them yourself. To make your own mosaic tiles, place decorative glass or ceramic pieces in a paper bag and gently hit with a hammer to break into smaller pieces ranging from ½” -1” in size.

Step 3.  Place glass mosaic tiles onto the paper stencil to be sure they fit in a pleasing pattern. Choose a variety of colors and textures from the mosaic art supplies center where you can mix and match to find a look that is pleasing to the eye.

Step 4.  Mix putty per directions on the package in a disposable loaf pan with a plastic spoon for easy clean-up.

Step 5.  Fill holes of the bowling ball halfway with crumpled aluminum foil, then top with the putty mixture. Smooth putty across opening as much as possible and allow to dry for several days. Then sand smooth.

Step 6.  Transfer the pattern from the paper to the gazing ball with a sharpie marker or tracing paper. The glass mosaic tiles and grout will cover the pattern so it does not have to be perfect.

Step 7.  Apply a bit of glue to the back of mosaic tile pieces and attach to the ball in the area you have designated. Do a small section at a time. Leave a 1/8" space between the glass tiles for grout. Use the bamboo skewer stick or a mosaic tool as a guide in between tiles to be sure the grout lines are even.

Step 8.  Let the glass tiles set for half an hour and then move to decorate the next area repeating application process until the visible area of the gazing ball is covered with glass mosaic tiles. Allow to set for a minimum of 30 minutes and then turn the gazing ball over and complete the design on the other side. Use the stand to support the gazing ball as you are working.

Step 9.  Once all glass tiles have been applied, allow 36 hours to for glue to fully dry and set.

Step 10.  Mix grout with waterto the consistency of peanut butter in another disposable pan. Grout may be tinted from a wide range of colors available at the same store where mosaic art supplies are purchased.

Step 11.  Using the medium stiff brush apply grout to the surface of the entire gazing ball a section at a time. Make sure there are no air bubbles. Grout should cover every nick and cranny on the ball and if it gets on the glass mosaic tiles, it can be removed at the end of the process.

Step 12.  Let grout dry until it flakes off easily. Depending on the time of year and the weather it can take up to several days for the grout to dry completely. Keep the ball under a covered area if outdoors, while drying. Once grout is thoroughly dry, polish the gazing ball with the Scotch-Brite pad to remove grout from glass tiles to bring out their color and shine.

Step 13.  Allow ball to dry 24-36 hours before applying sealant. Purchase sealant from the mosaic art supplies center and apply as directed. Allow to dry thoroughly. If the gazing ball is placed outside, reapply sealant at least every six months.

Tip
Buy a sturdy stand for your mosaic gazing ball in either heavy metal or cement to display in the garden.

Warning

• If using home made glass mosaic tiles, be very careful as edges are extremely sharp. Mosaic art supplies stores sell tumbled tiles whose edges are smoothed and safer to use.

Things You'll Need

• Bowling ball
• Durham’s Rock Hard Water Putty
• Mosaic art supplies and tools
• Glass mosaic tiles
• Weld Bond or E6000 glue
• Grout plus color tint if desired
• Medium Stuff Brush
• Scotch-Brite scrubbin pad

This is such a fun project and makes a great gift idea. Have you ever made a gazing ball with mosaic tiles?

Learn to Buy and Use Home Blood Pressure Monitors

Checking blood pressure regularly with home blood pressure monitors is important for people who are on medication or alternative treatments who want to be proactive in helping to manage their health care. The American Heart Association recommends people with high blood pressure include using home blood pressure monitors in daily routines to be certain medications and other treatments are working, giving the patient the chance to alert health care practitioners to potential problems.

Using a home blood pressure monitor can help patients be aware of early diagnoses for other related diseases involving high blood pressure, motivates people to self-track their treatment and stay proactively involved in personal care, cuts health costs from frequent doctor visits, and gives a birds-eye-view if a person’s blood pressure differs in an environment other than a doctor’s office.

Speak with your health care practitioner or doctor to find out if using a home blood pressure monitor is the right choice for you. If so, here are some guidelines for purchasing and using one.

• Investigate which kind of home blood pressure monitor is best for your situation. There are different types of home blood pressure monitors. The traditional cuff that wraps around the arm and blood pressure is measured by listening with a stethoscope is cumbersome and requires the participation of a second person for measuring. Wrist cuffs which are attached to a free standing meter are available and can be easily wrapped around the wrist by the individual. Buttons on the meter can be pushed to measure blood pressure. One hand operation is usually the norm. These are reasonably priced and convenient for people who can take their own blood pressure.

-Be sure wrist sizes are adequate. Check to see if the display is easily readable and a large enough for you to see.

-After buying a new home blood pressure monitor, take it to the doctor or practitioner’s office to compare the accuracy of its measurement to readings from his blood pressure cuff. Be sure the new machine is validated which means it can be relied on for accuracy and those results can be consistently repeated.

-Contact the Dabl Educational Trust and the British Hypertension Society for a list of tested home blood pressure monitors that have been shown to be accurate in repeated uses. These are excellent resources for meters if you don’t have one already.

-Shop around for prices. Many online stores offer lower prices than might be found in local pharmacies. There is a wide range to choose from.

-Avoid public blood pressure machines often found in many larger pharmacies. These machines may not be properly maintained and may measure blood pressure inaccurately and are not recommended.

-Proper use of a home blood pressure monitor is easy but may take a few practice sessions to master. Take the machine to the doctor or practitioner to be sure it is properly calibrated and for her to demonstrate the proper use and fit for accurate readings.

-Measure blood pressure two or three times daily, the first being in the morning before medication has been taken. Always take blood pressure in the left arm. Write down the readings in a log or journal. Many home blood pressure monitors also give readings for pulse rate. Add that to the journal entries.

-When taking a blood pressure reading sit calmly for a few minutes before starting. Make sure legs are uncrossed and feet are flat on the floor. Access to a table, chair arm or other support is important so the arm can be held comfortably at heart level when the blood pressure measurement is taken.

-Wrap the cuff around the portion of the arm where it is meant to be and on bare skin. The cuff should fit firmly when in place before starting the reading. Avoid talking or any movement while taking the reading. Take a second reading several minutes after the first to confirm the accuracy of the monitor.

-Contact the doctor if readings vary greatly from one another. Blood pressure measurements vary slightly throughout the day and readings can be slightly higher in the mornings. Ask what level a normal reading is for your condition and what level would trigger an immediate call to the doctor. Write these at the beginning of the log in case you forget.

Tips
Always have home blood pressure monitors checked by a practitioner for calibration when new. Continue to have the machine rechecked several times a year to ensure its accuracy.

Warning
When taking measurements with a home blood pressure monitor, call the doctor or healthcare practitioner if unusual readings occur regularly.
The information offered here is for educational purposes and is not meant to take the place of medical advice.

Do you own a blood pressure monitor? Questions or concerns about buying a home blood pressure monitor?

How to Maintain Privacy and Security on Halloween

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For those who prefer not to participate in Halloween festivities, achieving privacy and security during the boisterous holiday has become somewhat of an obsession. Because Halloween is so widely celebrated across the country, the many who choose to “opt out” of those celebrations are left having to often create elaborate schemes to avoid being bothered which can sometimes affect the privacy and security of family members and pets. If you’d like to be left alone on Halloween to enjoy your privacy and security, read below for some ideas that will help with safety issues and bring you peace of mind.

1. Do not leave your home unattended during Halloween especially if you have a house in a neighborhood that is highly populated with revelers or lots of teenagers. To maintain privacy and security, have a friend or family member spend time at your house with you that evening. Single women, do not stay home alone on Halloween.

Pull all drapes and blinds earlier in the day to prevent people outside from seeing in to the house. Although you want to leave someone in the house for safety, the impression to give is that no one is home so you won’t be bothered, protecting your privacy.

2. Keep all lights off outside the house when darkness falls to assure privacy and security during busiest hours later that evening. Often people who go door to door look for houses that are well lit as a signal that there is someone home. Do keep lights on in the back of the house but you may want to turn them off in the front room near the door to give the impression no one is home.

3. Park the car in the garage or at a friend’s house so passersby don’t get the idea that someone is home. You will not have to worry about having your car vandalized if there are people going around the neighborhood throwing eggs or committing other harassing actions.

4. Watch a movie or play music softly to muffle outside noise but keep the volume low so anyone that comes to the door will not realize someone is home. Maintaining privacy and security can be accomplished with a little creativity.

5. If possible, spend the evening in the back part of the house off the road and away from the door so you can continue to do whatever activities you enjoy without being disturbed by Halloween revelers.

6. Do not put anything outside the door that might indicate you are available to answer the door on Halloween night. This includes pumpkins or other “autumnal” displays. Save them for after Halloween.

7.Keep all pets inside even if they are indoor-outdoor pets, especially cats. Cats are notoriously targeted during Halloween for a script of horrors perpetrated on them. So keep them in and keep them safe.

8. If you experience any kind of disturbance that might indicate your house or property is being vandalized or at attempted break-in, call police immediately. Don’t try to handle things yourself.

9. Resist the urge to get upset or aggravated if someone does ring the doorbell. Sit quietly and continue what you are doing and wait for the caller to leave. Oftentimes, if you’re in a busy neighborhood the word will be passed around that no one is home at your house and you’ll be passed over by partiers and able to assure yourself of privacy and security throughout the night.

Tip
Turn on a porch light and place a bowl half filled with candy outside the front door with a sign telling kids to take one and leave some for the next person. This will satisfy visitors as well as keep them from disturbing you assuring continued privacy and security. Sometimes older kids get annoyed when they can’t have their way and this method keeps them mollified and goes a long way toward preventing vandalism to your property. Refill the bowl periodically.

Not everyone enjoys celebrating Halloween. How do you like to spend your time on Halloween if you are not going to particpiate in the festivities?

How to Care for Cat with Aids and Leukemia in a Multiple Cat Household

Here's an excellent article by Susan Golis from eHow on how to responsbily help your Feline Aids or Feline Leukemia stricken cat and protect the other cats in your household.


I rescued an abandoned Siamese cat three months ago. He was thin but very active. I kept him in my office away from my other cats. Sam needed to go to the veterinarian's office to have a physical and to get his shots. Sam had the Elisa blood test and the veterinarian told us he tested positive for feline FIV Aids and FeLV, or Feline Leukemia Virus.

The veterinarian recommended that we put Sam down. He had no symptoms of either disease, other than being skinny. I took Sam for a second opinion and contrary to the advice I was given I choose to keep Sam, however I needed to make some major household changes. Here are some tips on how to care for a cat with aids and leukemia in a multiple cat household.

Read the full article HERE!

Ultimate Anti-Aging Treatment Discovered …the Elixir of Life!

Is it a cream? Is it a mud bath? Is it dermabraision or collagen, Botox or milk baths? Anti-aging enthusiasts have searched for the fountain of youth since the beginning of time never seeing the answer to their eternal quest right in front of their noses. Enthusiasts of eternal youth and anti-aging have know about the elixir of eternal youth forever and yes, the secret is crystal clear, thirst quenching water that keeps wrinkles at bay, waistlines whittled, backsides taut and spines straight and limber.

Water, the great rejuvenator for anti-aging, plumps cells, hydrates spinal for flexible movement, keeps brains bright and alert and smoothes the skin of wrinkles and worry lines. No more crepe-like dry skin on arms, less uric acid deposits in the joints causing painful gouty arthritis. Cellulite disappears from lumpy thighs, nails grow strong and hair glistens with health.


It’s not a myth. Human bodies are predominantly water. Being thirsty is evidence of being dehydrated. As cells shrink from dehydration, free radicals form racing around the body wrecking havoc, making organs and systems more vulnerable to disease and injury. Toxins form and are transmitted throughout the blood to organs, joints, skin and brain where they are left as deposits causing disharmony and disease all which contribute to aging.

Drink some water every day. As a matter of fact, drink a lot of water, at least ½ ounce for every pound of body weight. Drinking healthy clean water is the insider’s secret to anti-aging. Adding fresh lemon juice or a splash of fruit juice boosts flavor and adds variety. Brew light herbal green teas with fresh water for relaxation and their anti-cancer properties. Drink water between meals so as not to dilute the fire of digestive juices. Enjoy sparkling waters instead of alcohol after work and always have a bottle of water tucked in the car, at the office and when exercise demands the most from an overheated body.


Water is life’s little elixir, providing anti-aging benefits for the body and mind, revitalizing slumped energy and sagging spirits. It adds years to our lives and is readily available almost everywhere.