Collectors of Disney memorabilia

Click on the 1st Disneyana Convention
Mickey Mouse Christmas Ornament to go to my eBay store . . .
I've just begun listing my collection of collectible Disney stuff.

There are hundreds of items in my collection that I am ready to let go of . . .
I've been collecting this stuff since Disney World first opened!

Where did the summer go?

It didn't hit me until today that summer is over. Labor Day crept up on me like all the other holidays and special events that have come and go.

Since my husband passed away, I've found it difficult for anything to seem normal. Even my biggest passion, gardening in my Paradise, has been a dreaded reminder of my happy past. But you know, circumstances don't go away if you ignore them, and untended gardens turn to jungles. My biggest promise to myself has been to get my Paradise back to where I can enjoy it again. Summer marked its beginning which never really started. My Paradise was not to be the jumping off point to my new "normal". An overwhelming task that needs professional help . . . and lots of money!

All is not lost though . . . it seems like this summer has marked my way back to "normal" in many different positive ways. My other blogs have chronicled these incremental changes that have brought me to this place in life that feels like the beginning of many new changes.

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know I'm still around, but have not been very active in the garden and have not gotten out to enjoy the Florida sunshine like I will be doing very soon. I've spent most of the summer getting my online stores going again and getting myself ready to get back into the "real world" and getting another job. I haven't worked since April and I miss getting out . . . it is time!

Don't most hermits hibernate during the winter?

:) Happy Labor Day!

Organic pest control

Someone left a comment on one of my posts asking the question . . .
"how do I keep bugs from eating my basil?"

I'm an organic gardener and don't use chemicals in my garden, especially on herbs and vegetables.

There are several recipes that I've used to control pests, but the one that is very simple . . . a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water (do not use Dawn or any other grease cutting dishwashing liquid). You can also add a teaspoon of cooking oil to make it stick to the leaves of the plant.

Something else I have learned is spray the plant with plain water with the spray nozzle on the hose . . . the spray of water will knock the bugs off the plant.

The key is to keep the leaves clean and check your plants often.