Archive   |   June, 2011

help! how do i keep pesky squirrels out of my garden?

Posted by in fixing, gardening

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Hello Shelterrific readers! I am hoping you can help me discover some simple NON-cruel ways to discourage squirrels from rummaging around in our porch flower containers. You see, we have a big old oak tree in the front yard which produces a ton of acorns. Lots of acorns = lots of squirrels! Mostly we don’t mind them, but just recently they’ve taken to digging up our recently planted impatiens in two container beds. Every morning we wake to find holes in the beds, and soil scattered all over the porch. My guess is that they think they have some buried in treasure in there, so they dig, dig, dig!

Any suggestions on how to deter them from the porch? This thread on Garden Web suggests getting a dog (something our 10-month old kitten would mind — even if our three year old daughter would love!) or setting up traps. Our neighbor up the road makes a hobby out of capturing yard squirrels and then releasing them in the nearby forest reserve. Seems like a lot of work! I was thinking a little cayenne pepper in the soil might turn them off. What do you think? All ideas welcome! — Angela M.

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strangely appealing: skin collection by pepe heykoop

Posted by in decorating, living green

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If Buffalo Bill from “The Silence of the Lambs” made furniture, it might look like the Skin collection by designer Pepe Heykoop. By finding a use for the scraps of leather left over from furniture making, Heykoop is helping to offset the staggeringly large amount of waste produced by the industry. Each eerily-fantastic piece is unique — hand-stitched and patched leather over salvaged frames. I love the idea, but the look, though cool, might just be a bit too creepy for my home. Do they make your flesh crawl? Sound off in the comments! — Megan B.
via boingboing

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real life test kitchen: chris kimball’s rhubarb fool

Posted by in cooking

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One of my must have cookbooks? The Classic Cookbook by Christopher Kimball (of Cooks Illustrated/America’s Test Kitchen fame). I scored my copy years ago at the bargain book table, and I’m so glad I did. This book is like a giant hard-bound issue of C.I., with product reviews, ingredient suggestions and tons of well-tested recipes for everything from roast chicken to lemon curd creme brulee. It seems like every time I thumb through it I discover a new recipe to try.

This time, I bookmarked a recipe for a rhubarb fool — simply whipped cream folded with a quickly composed rhubarb compote. Since rhubarb is just about the only thing we’ve got that even resembles fresh local fruit for a few more weeks here in the Northwest, I thought it would be the *perfect* seasonal dessert for an impromptu lunch with an old friend. And it was — simultaneously light and creamy, with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. And the leftovers were pretty amazing as breakfast the next day topped with some lavender granola. Best part? This recipe will work with any summer fruit, so this refreshing no-bake winner will be on my menus all summer long! — Megan B.
Click for the recipe, after the jump!

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summer garden find: inexpensive solar lights

Posted by in decorating

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Chicago’s temperatures still aren’t cooperating with those of us who want to get outside, but we can get ready for the nice weather to show up anyhow! This past weekend I found great small solar lamps that will work perfectly in my yard. At just $3 each, I picked up six without breaking the bank, and if they work out, it’s easy enough to pick up a few more. Their compact size make them perfect for my awkward outdoor spaces (the two dark stairs leading to my garage door, the step-down at the end of my walkway, etc.), and also dim enough to not call attention away from my patio at evening events. They even come in several finishes to compliment other outdoor accents. Thanks, Target! Now, if it would just warm up enough to enjoy them outside! Do you have a space that could use these too? — Rebecca F.

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