In regards to Louisiana_botanist and anyone else interested in the effectiveness of Mosquito Barrier... I purchased two bottles of this to help combat the army of mosquitos that we had just in our backyard. The first application I added a little more of the product than needed but we had severe mosquitos. The product claims to also repel fleas and ticks which is a plus since we have two dogs. I applied the stuff with a sprayer following instructions and sprayed entire yard and some of the tree near our patio. Once you apply it, your yard will smell like garlic for an hour or two so be sure to spray it in a way so you don't step on the grass that was just sprayed (I sprayed it walking backwards) so I didn't track the smell in the house. The next night we went to see how well it did, surprisingly enough it worked well. Instead of getting bit 8 times while constantly moving around for 2-3 minutes, I didn't get bit at all for 5 minutes while even standing still but I did see at least one mosqutio while out. It lasts for a good while so long as there isn't a heavy rain or you water the lawn more than once a week. General application would typically last 2-3 weeks for me due to needing to water at least twice a week and/or rain. The "barrier" tends to be breached by a few mosquitos as each day passes until they increase in numbers where you notice them again and need to spray a second application. Since I used to live in New Orleans I know how bad mosquitos can be there but I would say you will definately see a difference after using this. The cause of my mosquito problem was due to a neighbor with a water fountain in the backyard that had lots of standing water. Now that they have let it just dry out, I have 1/10 the mosquitos I had before and haven't needed to spray anything in over a month.

Hi I recently moved from Northern CA to Southern CA and the mosquitoes in the San Diego area are relentless (to our shock and surprise). They are the aedes aegypti mosquito which are commonly known as "ankle biters" but they will bite anywhere they can. The first month in San Diego I received no less than 40 mosquito bites nearly all on my ankles. They are small...but if you touch / scratch them they get larger and then the itching begins. I've learned not "do not touch under all circumstances" and they they go away in about 72 hours. The weather is getting cooler here but they are still out and about. Now to the Dynatrap device. I read good reviews from a lot of people but with mixed advice. People who live on farms or places with wide open space, rivers, ponds, places water could stand anywhere near a house...had the most problems. We did have a small fountain pond which we quickly removed. That helped. I hung the device about 30 feet away from where our outdoor sitting area is. The device should be 20-50 feet away from where the majority of your activity is based. You have to leave the machine running constantly, 24/7....and you have to be vigilant about that. Also the machine is greatly helped by a small packet of horridly smelling mosquito bait (small soaked pad with what smells like the worst animal urine on the planet). Don't worry you can only smell it when you open the package and after that....you can't smell it outdoors. But the mosquitos can find it and they most certainly do. The instruction say that you have to leave this device going non stop 24/7 never turning it off for a minimum of 30 days to see relief. After 30 days you continue to leave it on BUT the mosquitos are now trained to go THERE instead of YOU. They think the device is a living breathing animal. I will say, after 30 days...we do have a great deal of relief and I was outside for two nights and ZERO mosquito bites. It has gotten cooler now that it's November in San Diego but not that cool (maybe mid 50's?) But no bites. The 10 bites a week is now down to more like maybe 1 a week if that. The cost on this is that you have to replace the bulb light every 60-90 days and you also have to replace the stinky bait as well as that loses attractiveness over time. The bottom of the container catches all sorts of bugs too, oddly moths are VERY attracted to this device and we have a TON of moths around here. So that's been helpful too. At this point I would give two thumbs up to using a Dynatrap machine. It's not even noticeable outside, just the glowing purple blue light at night, that's it. I will continue using this device as long as I live in this somewhat infested urban neighborhood.

Jim: Trader Joe is a local store, that's where I get my RAW nuts to roast. RAW cashew roast at 300 for 15 min. is great snack. Folks who eat more nuts have smaller waist line. Google MUFA and belly fat loss, you'll see plenty of studies backing that up. MUFA is mono-saturated fat in nuts, olive oil, and avocado. Still feel bad that my Dad died of a stroke when he was 85, that could had been prevented if there's a Trader Joe back then. My Dad loved nuts, but all the nuts were salty back then. Now I buy RAW nuts and roast them to avoid the salt. Eating nuts cut down the risk of stroke by 30%, if there's no salt. Carol: Losing weight is easier than taking care for my kid. Hopefully she likes salad. ANYONE know of a tasty salad-dressing for kids? Full-fat is OK, I need to get her to like salads. Here's a link "6-salad ingredients that help to lose weight": Hemp Seeds "These trendy seeds are a great source of satiating protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber," says Kohn. Also, because they're slightly sweet, they satisfy your sweet tooth without added sugar. You can add a tablespoon to your salad for a reasonable 40 calories. Avocado Half an avocado (160 calories) is loaded with heart-healthy vitamins, minerals, and fats, says Kohn. Plus, the fruit is so creamy and smooth, it can also function as dressing—so you can subtract the 100 or so calories you'd normally take in from ranch, Italian, or even oil and vinegar. MORE: 5 New Ways to Use Avocado Apple Cider Vinegar Using just two tablespoons as part of your salad dressing could contribute to weight loss. "The vinegar may suppress appetite, stimulate the metabolism, and reduce water retention and bloating," says Kohn. And at five calories." http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/best-salad-ingredients-for-weight-loss *** From Straw: I agree with apple cider for weight loss, the acid helps with digestion of starch. Ever since I squeeze fresh lime into my water, I eat much less. Before this the sugar in commercial juice really stimulate my appetite. What's your favorite salad dressing, or bottled salad dressing? Thanks. I checked Pinterest and the most popular salad dressing recipe, is also the most simple: Copycat Babe's salad: http://www.sugarandgrace.com/2013/06/15/copycat-babes-salad/ INGREDIENTS: 2 TBS sugar 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper 1/4 c apple cider vinegar 2 Tbs canola oil (I usually use olive oil in salads, but here I feel it is just too strong) 1 head iceberg lettuce

For some reason I am no longer able to add photos, nor can I edit old posts; that kind of stinks. Winter doesn't get very cold here, there is rarely some frost or a little snow, but it's not common, nor does it last long. I'm not planning to do anything to winterize this pond. A large part of its appeal is the adaptation and evolution of the system; from that perspective, the only reasonable winter plan is to let anything that can't stand the conditions die, and something else grow in to fill the niche. I think the overall oxygen level is slowly but steadily improving. It's been a long while since I've found a fish corpse. Not only that, the minnows (adults and fry both) are cruising lower in the water, they aren't skimming just below the surface all the time anymore. I suspect adding the sand and gravel is helping that, in two ways: the decomposition cycle is starting to find a stable balance point, no longer robbing oxygen in big bursts; and some of the anacharis has anchored itself to the bottom, where any oxygen produced by photosynthesis must be exchanged into the water, not the air.