How to Keep the Sandbox Clean?

It’s quite simple really - put a lid on it!

Roaming neighborhood cats and other prowling critters will use a sandbox as their own personal litterbox. Unless you expect your child to wear gloves while playing in his/her sandbox, keep it covered when not in use. No child should have to play in a dirty sandbox when putting a lid on it is so easy to do.

To keep the sand in our sandbox clean, Connor and I cover it with a tarp. Bungee cords laced through grommets on the tarp are stretched over metal hooks along two sides of the sandbox. This holds the tarp firmly in place.

Metal brackets with lengths of 2″ lattice strips raise the tarp so rain water runs right off.

It sort of resembles a covered wagon.

We remove the tarp when it’s time to play and put it back on when we’re done.

Our sandbox is situated under a tree to take advantage of shade on a hot summer day. The birds in our backyard spend a lot of time in that tree. The tarp not only prevents cats and other critters from pooping in the sand, but it takes care of bird droppings too.

For the sake of your child’s health, I urge you to cover your sandbox too!

For those looking to purchase a new garden shed, here are some modern shed pictures. It’s not hard to tell that my latest issue of Dwell has arrived! My mind is full of thoughts on how I could use a funky little modern shed in my backyard……a private sanctuary, a real office or studio, and of course for storing garden tools and other miscellaneous garden paraphernalia.

I recently received an email that included this picture.

It looks like some sort of weapon of mass destruction, however, after scrolling further down in my email message, I came to discover that it is more of a tool for mass relaxation. Well maybe not mass, but it will certainly seat a group of four.

continue reading "Weapon, Art or Patio Furniture?"

Well, I was busily attending to those essential fall yard & garden maintenance items, but I hit a few kinks in the proverbial hose. While attempting to clean the gutters and downspouts I discovered blockages. Blockages! A lovely build-up of leaves and roof gunk in the elbows of the downspouts. The search for a wire coat hanger to use for unplugging the downspouts proved fruitless. No wire coat hangers in my house! Does anyone else think of Joan Crawford when they hear ‘wire hangers‘ or is it just me? Sorry, a little off topic there. Long story short, my neighbor was kind enough to loan me a snake which I immediately put to work. Blockages gone!

continue reading "Fall Yard & Garden Chores - A Few Kinks in the Hose"

The weather this past weekend has been perfect for working on outside chores. Nine large leaf bags later and the yard is free of leaves (at least until more blow in). Any leaves that come into the yard from this point on will be raked onto the garden beds to act as mulch, compost and insulation for the long, cold winter to come.

Now that the leaves are raked its time to turn my attention to the remaining fall yard and garden maintenance. The list doesn’t look terribly long, but each item on the list is a process unto itself.

continue reading "Essential Fall Yard & Garden Maintenance"

October 2007 has proven to be a month of contradictions in the yard and garden. The Canadian Thanksgiving weekend was balmy and unseasonably warm. Many of us northerners took full advantage by enjoying it in shorts and T-shirts instead of jeans and sweaters. Weeks later we’ve had another last shot of summer. This past Sunday, I was once again in shorts soaking up some sun and attending to a few end of season garden chores. Some hostas had outgrown their positions and required dividing. With the beautiful weather, it felt more like spring gardening than fall clean up. If all goes well, there will be nine new hosta clumps poking up when next spring does arrive. The string of contradictions continued with the stringing of new LED Christmas lights in the trees/shrubs at the front porch. Stringing the lights is something I like to get looked after early - before it’s too cold and blustery, but I’ve never done it while wearing shorts before!

Since skunk traffic in the yard and garden seems to be at an all time high in the fall (so my nose tells me), I thought I’d do a short recap of this skunk smell removal recipe for dogs.

continue reading "De-Skunk Your Dog With 3 Common Household Ingredients"

The days are still warm, but the evenings are cooling down. Add a little warmth to your backyard and extend the amount of time in which you can enjoy it this fall by adding an outdoor fire pit or outdoor fireplace to your patio or deck. Indulge in a romantic fire-lit evening for two or go to the other extreme and have a marshmallow roast with the kids. Can you say S’mores? I was doing a little checking around and was surprised by the myriad of styles and options available for outdoor fire pits and fireplaces. From natural and rustic in appearance to sleek and modern, there seems to be something to suit everyone’s taste. You also have the choice of wood-burning, natural gas, or jel fuel. The Aspen Outdoor Fireplaceshown above, is a relatively large and very sturdy, wood-burning model with a removable ash drawer.

Then there’s the Big Sky Outdoor Fireplace. It’s also a wood-burning model, but its style is vastly different - definitely more suited to marshmallows and hotdogs. The kids will love seeing the fire through the whimsical star and moon cut outs. No need to worry about wayward sparks as those cut outs are screened. It comes in two colors - black and clay. Because of its smaller size, you can easily move it to different locations in your backyard.

I think the piece de resistance however, is the Outdoor Gas Fireplace. Wood-burning outdoor fireplaces are limited for use in certain areas only, but with the Outdoor Gas Fireplace the exterior doesn’t get hot, so it can be used on any surface and against any wall. Plus, it has an auto-ignite button and you can adjust the flame for instant ambiance.

Now this would be a beautiful focal point on any deck or patio. You might even be inspired to create an entire outdoor room that centers around this showpiece. I can see it now…..two deep, comfy chairs (perfect for curling up in), strategically placed in front of the fireplace, a small table that provides a spot for your wine and glasses, a little music flowing from discreet outdoor speakers….. This one is going on my wish list!

No matter which type of outdoor fireplace or fire pit you choose, it’s important to remember to check your local bylaws and obtain a burning permit if required. Look after the legalities first, then you can sit back and relax by the warmth of the fire.

I first saw this Canopy Pergolain Canadian Tire’s Spring Book of Inspiration. Let me tell you, I was inspired! It is such a different twist on the sun shades and screen rooms we’ve seen flooding the marketplace in the past few years. This one would work for the modernist or the traditionalist.

It has a very simple design, is manufactured with a durable steel frame and sports a retractable canopy that’s made with water-resistant fabric. The retractable canopy is a brilliant feature. I tried it out the store - it works great! I could have stood there all day sliding it back and forth. I definitely give this product 2GreenThumbsUp!