Perhaps you already have a particular type of wood in mind for your new guitar. Whether that wood is solid or laminated will make a tremendous difference in the sound that you will hear. Solid wood is exactly what the words imply. Pieces of solid wood are carved into the necessary shape for a guitar. A laminate is created by shaving thin strips of wood … Continue reading Pros and Cons of Laminated Woods for Guitarists
Here’s a fun gadget every flatpicking guitarist will love! The Pick Punch lets you make your very own guitar picks out of any suitable plastic. Put those old credit cards and gift cards to use to make one-of-a-kind picks! Using the sturdy Pick Punch is super easy: Feed your plastic into the punch. Punch out a pick. Smooth the edges of the pick with the … Continue reading Pick Punch
Attracting hummingbirds to your backyard doesn’t have to be complicated! If you want to enjoy the beautiful sight of these tiny creatures hovering outside, there are two incredibly simple ways to put out the welcome mat. One requires a little advanced planning, and one can be implemented today. Plant Hummingbird-Friendly Flowers A diverse display of flowers is a sight few hummingbirds can resist. And … Continue reading The Two Easiest Ways to Attract Hummingbirds
Homegrown vegetables are good for you, but they are frequently dirty. Veggie Wash is an all-natural cleaning spray that seems to do a good job getting the produce clean and ready to eat. For things like tomatoes, apples, and peaches, just spray the fruit and rub it clean under running water. For berries and lettuce, fill the sink with cold water, add the produce, and … Continue reading Veggie Wash
Pick up any slow cooker cookbook, and you’ll be amazed at the versatility of this simple appliance. With a slow cooker, you can combine the ingredients for anything from stew to oatmeal to cobbler within minutes, then just walk away until it’s time to serve and eat. Are there other advantages to slow cooking? Are there any hidden disadvantages? And is slow cooking safe? Let’s … Continue reading Pros and Cons of Slow Cookers
Knowing the state of your garden soil is handy, but if your garden is for personal family use only, you probably don’t feel justified in ordering a professional lab analysis. Fortunately, inexpensive test kits are available online. This kit by Luster Leaf seems to do a fair job. It tests: pH. Nitrogen. Phosphorus. Potassium. As you can see, only the bare basics are included. The … Continue reading Luster Leaf Rapitest Soil Test Kit
Withers Yoke The withers yoke is only used with humped zebu-type cattle, such as Brahmans. The yoke is a wooden pole resting on the hump of the animal and is held in place by a rope or leather strap around the neck. Note that the rope does not take any of the weight of the load. Sometimes wooden staves projecting downward from the pole add … Continue reading Ox Yokes and Collars: Withers Yokes and Ox Collars
When most of us think of an ox yoke, we tend to envision the long, gracefully bowed piece of wood resting on the necks of a pair of oxen. This traditional neck or bow yoke certainly has had an important place in American history, but it is not the only option for aspiring teamsters today. In fact, it may not even be the best yoke … Continue reading Ox Yokes and Collars: Neck Yokes and Head Yokes
It’s already that time of year again—time to celebrate the birth of Christ and enjoy the company of our family members! Cold weather and snow mean that it is also time to find a cozy seat and catch up on some research and reading. Please enjoy this year’s lineup of our best content. We’re looking forward to serving you again in 2017. Merry Christmas! … Continue reading Merry Christmas 2016
Is there a special birdwatcher in your life? You know, that person who never travels without binoculars and who remembers a location by that rare bird he added to his life list while visiting? Here are a few ways to bring a smile to his face this Christmas: Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible: Every birdwatcher needs a copy of this handy guide to species, seeds, flowers, … Continue reading 5 Gifts for Birdwatchers
