Bear at Home

If you have had enough of snow and ice? One sure fire way to shake off those winter blues is start planning this year’s garden.  To help – we’ve pulled together some helpful Bay Area resources -

• Golden Gate Gardening -  the complete guide to year-round food gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area & Coastal California.

• How to grow vegetables – Sunset’s guide to choosing, planting, and growing fruit and vegetables at home.

• PBS’ Victory Garden - television’s longest running gardening show.

• San Francisco Botanical Gardens at Strybing Arboretum – Sometimes its nice to let others do all the work, bring your camera!
  

• The Rodale Book of Composting – The science of composting is explained in easy to understand terms and graphics. There are plenty of compost bin configurations and methods, which can be applied to any garden and home size.

As the clouds broke, I ventured out into the yard.  We’ve had a fair amount of rain (El Nino?) and I wanted to get a sense of what I was facing clean up wise.  The good thing is all the trees and plants have been loving the rain, but so have the weeds.  If you’ve had a lot of rain – or the snow is melting – make sure your plants have adequate drainage to avoid root rot and the potential for mold.  And if you haven’t been down in the basement in awhile, it’s a good time to make sure the sump pump is doing its job.

The plum tree is sprouting little white blossoms, which look like snow flakes when the wind blows them loose.

Now is a good time to access the garden and plan for spring flowers.  Also, it time to start to pull winter weeds while the soil is damp and before their roots systems take hold.  A little work now will save a lot of time later.

This little bear let’s them know what kind of mood your in.  Whether you want to be left alone – or if its already too late!

Do not Disturb/Already Disturbed Mini Bear

Are your counter tops overloaded leaving you no place to prep your food?

• Start by putting like things together – vitamins/daily medications; bills to pay; mail; keys, business cards; receipts etc.

• NOW is the time to put those items where they belong – bills to pay/mail/receipts go to your desk to be acted on; vitamins/daily medications get put into a decorative basket; keys should be kept near the entry door either on hooks or in a bowl/basket.

• If any food is on your counter, try limiting the amount to just fruit and any bottle of oil/vinegar that is too tall for your spice cabinet.

• All other food items/spices and such should have a dedicated space in your pantry or cabinets.

• If you must keep important papers for your children’s school, purchase a decorative ‘hot pocket’ from your favorite office supply or organizing store. Use different colored folders for each child/person.

• Should you have other items that don’t belong on the counters – find them a home elsewhere so you can use the counters for their intended purpose.

For all of your moving/relocation/home staging and organizing needs call Peggy at 415.846.0569

from boxes to dinner parties in 48 hours! PHA wants you to be moved….!

www.peggyhughes.com

peggy@pha415.com • PHA / Peggy Hughes Associates

The Froggy Coat is just the cutest little froggy coat you’ll ever see. This hooded jacket features unbelievably soft swirly fabric and is lined in beautiful satin with a snap front.

Machine washable.

The Froggy Series is the latest from the Bearington Collection – plush toys, blankets, coats and more.

Froggy Coat (6-12 months)

Froggy Coat (12-24 months)

Add a little rustic touch to your office.  This friendly little bear is happy to greet your clients and keep your business cards in order.

Bearfoots Barney Business Card Holder measures 6.25 inches long x 3 inches wide x 3.25 inches high.

He will make sure everyone picks up that all important business card.

Bearfoots Barney Business Card Holder

Brushwerks – Moose for the Tabletop & Kitchen. These moose visitors capture the outdoor for you to enjoy at every meal.

“Brushwerks” moose dinner plates – set of 4.

• Stoneware
• 10.5L x 10.5W
• Food safe, dishwasher safe, microwave safe.

Brushwerks Moose Dinner Plates – Set of 4

The Marylynn Mason Bear/Lodge collection has four unique designs and the ceramic tableware is microwavable, dishwasher safe and lead free. The dinnerware looks great as a set or when used separately as serving dishes or dessert dishware.

Marilynn Mason Bear Dinner Plates – Set of 4

• Ceramic
• 10.75L x 10.75W
• Food safe, dishwasher safe, microwave safe.

Marilynn Mason Dinnerware

Maskwa is the Cree word for bear. In the Cree tradition the bear, the most intelligent and powerful of land animals, is also a symbol of healing. These are a deep brown with bear paw print impression.

Switch on socket, collapsible linen shade. Takes (1) 3-way 100W or smaller Type A bulb.

• Ceramic, linen
• 14L x 14W x 27.5H

The collection includes serving bowls, cookie jar, mugs, salt and pepper set and spoon rest. There are also items for the bath.

Maskwa Ridge Table Lamp

Don’t flush you old medications down the toilet – they end up in our environment.

Last year, the AP reported that trace amounts of a wide range of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in American drinking water supplies.

Where do I properly dispose of my old or expired medications?

The FDA recommends – take advantage of community drug take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Call your city or county government’s household trash and recycling service (see blue pages in phone book) to see if a take-back program is available in your community.