- BAKING SODA - Sprinkle it on the surface of your soil to make your geraniums, coneflowers, daylilies, and clematis bloom like crazy. That’s because baking soda is alkaline, and those flowers thrive on alkaline soil. Also makes your tomatoes sweeter. You can use it to prevent fungus because its alkalinity creates an environment hostile to fungal growth. Simply stir a teaspoon of baking soda into a liter of water and spray the leaves of your fungus-prone plants (these include tomatoes and lilacs).
- CREAM OF TARTAR - makes a great ant repellant, simply sprinkle a bit on the perimeter of the table or wherever you want to dust their trail.
- CAYENNE PEPPER - Repel squirrels, these little buggers like to dig flower bulbs. To deter them, sprinkle cayenne pepper around your bulb gardens. Reapply when you see the squirrels returned.
- WHITE VINEGAR - Gets rid of algae. Just spray it with full-strength distilled white vinegar on your patio and voila it's gone!! You can also turn your pink hydrangeas blue with vinegar. Vinegar also enhances the soil of acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and gardenias. Use a cup of white distilled vinegar to a gallon of tap water.
- OLIVE OIL - Rub olive oil onto the cutting and digging surfaces of your garden tools, as well as on your lawn mower blades. This will repel dirt and rust and make it easier to clean them next time.
- DISH SOAP - Get rid of those pesky bugs eating your flowers and veggies. Combine liquid dish soap with water at a ratio of 2 tablespoons per gallon to create a mixture of slightly less than 1 percent soap. Mix together well. Pour the mixture into a garden sprayer or spray bottle if you prepared it in a different container. Repeat the application every four to seven days until the pests are sufficiently controlled. Use only a mild liquid dish soap that does not contain a degreaser and is not intended for use with a dishwashing machine.
- COFFEE GROUNDS - Attracts earthworms and other microorganisms. They are naturally acidic and high in nutrients plants need like nitrogen and potassium, which can be very beneficial – a great way to neutralize alkaline soils or enrich nutrient-poor gardens.
**CANOLA OIL AND IVORY SOAP - Help rid mites, aphids and mealy bugs. Mix one tablespoon of canola oil and a few drops of Ivory soap into a quart of water. Shake well and pour into a spray bottle. Spray plants from above down, and from below up to get the underside of the leaves. The oil smothers the insects.
- **EGGS - For Deer control: Mix one whole egg with a quarter cup of water and mix well. Pour the mixture into a pump bottle and spray it on your plants. This deterrent will withstand light rains because the egg sticks to the leaves.
- **BANANAS - Chop up banana peels, then bury them in the soil when you plant tomatoes, rosebushes, or green pepper plants. The potash and phosphorous content in the peels will enrich the soil and strengthen your plants.
Cathy, Rhonda and Kelly are SASSY, SILVER and SISTERS giving opinions and reviews on a little bit of everything with a sense of humor!
Saturday, June 12, 2021
10 Household Ingredients to Help Your Garden & Natural Pest Repellants
Monday, June 7, 2021
Easy Ice Tea Recipes for National Ice Tea Month
It’s National Ice Tea Month and I love iced tea. Typically if I’m going through the drive thru at CFA or MCDs I get a sweet tea half cut, meaning the tea is way to sweet to order it full strength so I order a blend of sweet and unsweetened. Can you relate?
I make iced tea on occasion with a tea maker using simple syrup I’ve made. Normally it’s just family size tea bags with no other flavors. Sometimes, making flavored tea is on the agenda, like strawberry or mango flavors are delicious.
Below are a some thirst quenching sweet tea recipes you’ll have to try.
How To Make Southern Sweet Tea
How To Make Southern Sweet Tea |
INGREDIENTS
- 3 family-sized black tea bags (or 12 individual tea bags), such as Lipton or Luzianne
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Ice
- Fresh mint leaves or lemon slices (optional)
EQUIPMENT
- Small saucepan
- Long-handled spoon
- 1-gallon pitcher, or multiple smaller pitchers
INSTRUCTIONS
Boil the water. Bring 4 cups of the water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat.
Steep the tea for 5 minutes. Dunk the tea bags a few times in the water to fully hydrate, then leave submerged with the strings hanging over the side of the pot. After 5 minutes, remove the bags and discard.
Add the sugar to the tea. Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
Pour the tea base into the pitcher. If using multiple pitchers, divide the tea evenly between them.
Top off the pitchers with water. Add 3 more quarts of water to the tea base to make a gallon of sweet tea and stir to combine.
Refrigerate until very cold. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or, ideally, overnight.
Serve over ice. Pour the sweet tea into ice-filled glasses. Add a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon to each, if desired!
Pineapple Iced Tea |
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 7 tea bags
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- Optional: Pineapple wedges, lemon slices and fresh mint leaves
Directions
- 1. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, covered, 3-5 minutes according to taste. Discard tea bags. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Transfer to a pitcher; cool slightly. Stir in fruit juices.
- 2. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. Serve over ice. Garnish as desired.
- Cherry Limeade Sweet Tea
Cherry Limeade Sweet Tea Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 6 tea bags
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 can (12 ounces) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
- 1 cup chilled cherry juice blend
- Ice cubes
- Lime wedges and pitted dark sweet cherries
Directions
- 1. In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, covered, 10 minutes. Discard tea bags. Stir in sugar until dissolved; cool slightly. Transfer to a pitcher; cool completely.
- 2. Add limeade concentrate and cherry juice to tea. Serve over ice with lime wedges and cherries.
- Raspberry Iced Tea
Raspberry Iced Tea Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 1-3/4 cups sugar
- 8 tea bags
- 3/4 cup frozen apple-raspberry juice concentrate
- 8 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh raspberries, optional
Directions
- 1. In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water and sugar to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, covered, 3-5 minutes according to taste. Discard tea bags. Add juice concentrate; stir in cold water. Serve over ice, with raspberries if desired.
Blueberry Iced Tea
Blueberry Iced Tea |
Blueberry Iced Tea
Servings: 6
Equipment
- Glass pitcher
Ingredients
- 6 Black tea bags
- 8 cups Filtered water, divided
- 3/4 cup Blueberry syrup see link below for recipe
- Lemon slices, mint for garnish
Instructions
- Bring 5 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Steep 10 minutes.
- Discard tea bags. Pour the tea into a pitcher. Add the blueberry syrup, stirring until totally incorporated. Add the remaining 3 cups of water.
- Chill for a minimum of one hour. Serve with lemon slices and mint leaves.
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Sassy Silver Sisters Discuss --- You Know You're An Adult If...
The Sassy Silver Sisters
Monday, May 31, 2021
Memorial Day Tribute
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.
Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C.
GY SGT Walter I. Arnold |
We would like to introduce you to our father GY SGT Walter I. Arnold. He was a U.S. Marine and a very proud one at that, "OORAH". He served for 19 years and in two wars, Korean and Vietnam. He was wounded in Korea and received a purple heart.
Presented with Purple Heart |
His life was short-lived, as he passed away not too long after retiring. He had a massive heart attack due to Arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries. Stress was the major factor in this and the US Government declared him to be a casualty of war.
Arlington National Cemetary |
Mom and Dad |
To those in uniform serving today and to those who have served in the past, we honor you today and every day.
The Sassy Silver Sisters
Saturday, May 29, 2021
No-Bake Cookie Recipes -- So Easy and Addicting !
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 – 3/12 cup quick-cooking oats
***************************************************************************
Would you like to help us do reviews? Here's a link to ourwishlist on Amazon.com. We have items starting as low as $6.
***************************************************************************
- ½ cup milk
- 2 cups white sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 3 cups quick oats
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
5 Ingredient Recipes Featuring Chicken
Looking for a quick and easy meal idea? Look no further than these delicious 5 ingredient recipes featuring chicken as the star ingredient. ...
-
***UPDATED 1/27/24*** I stumbled upon this Birthday Cake Box for the needy on Pinterest and thought what a fabulous idea. It’s super quick ...
-
I don't know about you, but I get excited about fall decorating. T he change of colors is always so pretty and fall just feels like such...
-
National Pancake Week (February 19-25, 2024) is a celebration of one of the most beloved breakfast foods around the world – pancakes! This a...