Q: Can cats and dogs breed with each other? A: No. Their anatomy, physiology and breeding behaviors are too different. However, interspecies breeding does occur in some other animals. Surprisingly, there are more than 40 examples of crosses involving different species of wild cats, such as lions and tigers, or domestic cats and wild cats….
Physical and Emotional Clutter
Not long ago, a Realtor dropped off the flier announcing plans for the annual neighborhood garage sale. “Join us to make this the biggest sale ever!” the flyer read. Since making our move to Colorado, we have never participated in this annual ritual. This year would be no exception. I’ve learned the hard way that…
‘White Glove’ Clean: Secrets to a Dust-Free Home
You can place a coffee table over a spot in the rug or hang a painting over a dent in the wall, but there’s no way to hide dust. This is actually a very good thing, as dust is made up of dead skin cells, dust mites, pollen, animal dander, fungi, and bacteria—things we want…
Reality vs. Perception Makes My Head Hurt
Had it not been required to graduate, I would never have taken the class titled simply: Philosophy. Abstract thinking makes my head hurt. That’s why I felt a headache coming on when I heard television psychologist Dr. Phil say on his show, “There is no reality, only perception.” In a flash I was back in…
Social Security COLA for 2023
In mid-October every year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its much-anticipated report on changes (usually increases) to the Consumer Price Index over the past 12 months. Why is this little, esoteric government report—actually called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers—so popular? Because for the past 48 years, it’s the…
Pesticide Resistance
Q: I sprayed for weeds in my yard and aphids on my roses, and neither treatment seemed to work. Do you think my two biggest pest problems have developed resistance to pesticides? A: Pesticide resistance is a serious worldwide problem, but there are other possible reasons your sprays did not work. It would take genetic…
Homegrown Tomatoes: $37 Each
I don’t know what I was thinking the year that I bought three dozen tomato plants (they were small), plus enough planting mix to cover a small farm. And as long as I was there, I picked up mulch, root stimulator, liquid fertilizer, time-release fertilizer, pest control, slug and snail bait, metal cages (one per…
For Sale by Owner Asked for Photo ID Before Showing. Why?
Dear Monty: We went to look at a home that was for sale by the owner. When we arrived, the owner greeted us at the door and asked to see my driver’s license. I was surprised, but I complied. My wife and I are wondering if this practice is something new. We saw a home…
Great Reader Tips
Cheap Cold-Water Wash I wash my wool sweaters, skirts and blankets in cold water (either by hand or in the washing machine depending on how delicate the item is) with sudsy household ammonia, which I buy at my grocery store. I use an amount similar to the amount of laundry detergent I would use for…
How to Grow Your Own Mushrooms at Home
There’s an old joke by the iconic comedian Henny Youngman that goes: There’s a man going to the electric chair. The warden says, “You can have anything you want to eat, anything you desire.” So he says, “I want mushrooms.” The warden asks, “Mushrooms?” And he replies, “Yeah, I was always afraid to eat them.”…
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