FINDING NEW HOMES FOR YOUR PET ANTIQUES

Antiques. They are in a league all their own. Most of the time it is a love/hate relationship; you either can’t get enough of them or you want nothing to do with them.

Sometimes you mention the word “antique” and folks think you have the greatest treasure in the world. Maybe I am of a different breed, but I have always gone with the theory that if I like something, I like it. It makes no difference if it is 100 years old or if it was made yesterday. Let’s face it, we have all seen antiques that would never win a beauty prize.

There is also the issue of how relevant an antique is. It has been said that future generations will not appreciate them so much because they won’t remember the older items being used during their lifetime. Thus, their value may be going down.

I guess my generation has the best of both worlds. I am old enough (just barely) to know what most antiques are and have even used some of them. Even if I didn’t use them, I can remember my parents and grandparents talking about using them. By the same token, I am also young enough to realize that sometimes it is pointless to hang onto all of them for future generations who will only regard them as “stuff.”

So, on that note, how do you find new homes for some antiques that have outlived their usefulness or maybe you have never really cared for them but were expected to keep them because they were your great, great, great grandfather’s whatever?

Going through this lately, I have found that there are a few different ways. If you do it right, it will take some time to find the right home for yesterday’s treasures. The first thing is to know what you have. This is no simple task. A dish isn’t just a dish, a milk can isn’t just a milk can and this is true with just about any item.

Go over your item with a fine-tooth comb. Jot down any names, dates or other markings that will help to identify it. Make note of the condition. Then go to the great marketplace, Ebay, and use as many descriptive words as you can to find an item as close to yours as you can. You will be amazed at how many variations there are for all items.

Prices will also be all over the board. The best way I have found is to find the highest and lowest and, unless mine is in mint condition, go for an average of the high and low prices.  Also, look for the price of the sold items rather than just the items that are for sale. Finding out what you have and how much it is worth is half the battle.

I have had a lot of luck selling antiques on Marketplace on Facebook. It’s a great way to connect buyers and sellers without putting too much personal information out there. You can communicate with potential buyers through Messenger and you are in control of how much personal info you give them. This is a great way to exchange photos and info about the item.

For the most part, when I sell an item on Marketplace, I choose to meet in town by my local fire station. It is safer for the buyer and for myself. If, by chance, I know the buyer I let them come to my place to pick up the item.

I also like the specialized groups that you can join through Marketplace. You can choose certain areas where you would like to sell and there are specialized groups such as Antique Farm Machinery for Sale if your item falls in that category. You know that folks on that site are looking for particular items rather than sorting through general stuff.

There are also other forums that are designed specifically to move antiques such as Antique Weekly and other publications. Believe it or not, in this digital age, people still read classifieds. There is just something about grabbing the paper and a cup of coffee and sitting down to browse. On this note, don’t discount your local shopper that usually is printed weekly. Some people still read these religiously.

Online forums are also great ways to get the word out. Google online sites to place classifieds that specialize such as antique toys, china and other specialty items. Be sure and think outside the box. I used to think that AgTalk was just for farmers. I have discovered there are a lot of things for us gals on there too, including a classified section that anyone can post in for free.

Auctions have spread their wings too. There are still auction houses scattered around but many now offer online bidding. Here, you are at the mercy of lady luck. It just depends who is bidding against who and you may not always get the real value for your item unless you can put a reserve amount on it, meaning that you can put a reserve price on it and if bidding doesn’t reach that, it won’t sell. The downside to this is that you may still have to pay the auctioneer’s commission.

Of course, there is always E-bay. The upside here is that it reaches folks all over the world. However, the downside is that there are so many charges associated with it that you have to inflate the price of your item to get the amount you initially wanted. There are E-bay and Paypal charges and you also have to deal with shipping costs and packaging.

Craig’s List is another option that offers posts for free. However, it has gotten some bad reviews lately as  scammers are a part of any online site.

I recently had it happen to me. The usual drift is that someone will message you and offer to send a check and pick up the item later. They send the check, pick up the item and then stop payment on the check. That’s one way. The other is that they bait you on, with no intention of buying, only to gain your personal info….sad, but true.

The biggest thing about selling antiques is to make sure you know their real value before listing them and also deciding what your absolute bottom line is in reference to price and stick to it. Remember, an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Secondly, once you have decided to part with an item, don’t let guilt creep in. If you are sentimentally attached to an item, then don’t even entertain the idea of selling it. However, if it has no sentimental value, you are better off selling and using the money to put toward something that you will treasure, perhaps a family portrait that you have been putting off.

Antiques are in a class all by themselves. Either you love ‘em or you don’t! Each of your antique “pets” have a life and a history of their own. If you have a fondness for them, that is great but if you don’t, just like fur babies, they have a right to a good home.

HOMEMADE PLANT FOOD, THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Plants and animals are more alike than different. The biggest likeness is that we all like to eat and receive good nourishment and so do plants. Fertilizing is feeding plants, whether it be natural or chemical.

I like to use the word natural instead of organic when referring to fertilizer because, in this department, organic often gets a bad rap. Folks tend to think that feeding plants organically means dealing with weeds and insects and that it plain won’t work. On the other hand, assuming that just because it is natural it will always work is wrong too. There is a place for both natural and chemical fertilizers in our gardens.

Both synthetic and natural fertilizers supply plants with the nutrients that they need to grow healthy, strong and disease-free. However, they supply those nutrients in different ways.

When buying commercial fertilizer, you notice three numbers written on the bag that refer to the ratios of the big three nutrients that make up fertilizer; N for nitrogen, P for phosphorous and K for potassium or potash. These are the macro nutrients and in lesser amounts, most fertilizers contain calcium, magnesium and sulfur.

Nitrogen helps plants grow large and lush whereas phosphorous helps develop strong, healthy root systems. Potassium helps with plant growth, protein production, plant hardiness, disease and insect resistance and efficient water use.

Synthetic and natural fertilizers both have these nutrients, the difference is from where they are sourced. Chemical, or inorganic, fertilizers are manufactured artificially and contain minerals or synthetic chemicals typically made from petroleum or natural gas. Natural fertilizers contain only plant or animal-based materials that are by-products or end products of naturally occurring processes like leaves, manure and compost.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both kinds, so deciding on your method of plant nutrition has to do with your long-term goals. Synthetic fertilizer is like the fast food of plant nourishment. It is like steroids for plants. Plants look great, grow fast and have enhanced colors but are less healthy. This rapid release of highly concentrated nutrients increases the risk of burning the plants and the excess may leach into the soil. It also contains no micronutrients.

Natural fertilizers rely on soil organisms to break down the organic matter so nutrients are released slower to the plants. Natural also contains micronutrients for plants which are like vitamins and minerals for people. Plants, like us, need these in small amounts and without them our bodies and plants can shut down.

This pairing of macro and micro nutrients means better nutrition for plants and soil. Also, the slow release method means less chance of nutrient leaching and over time, it improves the texture of the soil and the amount of beneficial bacteria.

Besides taking longer for plants to be able to utilize natural fertilizer, the other down side is you don’t know exactly how much of each nutrient you are providing like you do with commercial fertilizers. It is a by guess and by golly method until you learn by trial and error.

To get the three macronutrients, natural fertilizers often make use of alfalfa and cottonseed meal and fish emulsion for nitrogen, bone meal or rock phosphate for the phosphorous and kelp or granite meal for the potassium.

Natural fertilizers are can be purchased in select places but you can also make your own. The best part about this is you can utilize things that you probably already toss anyway. Here is a list of the most common household all-purpose natural fertilizers:

AQUARIUM WATER:  Fish waste makes good fertilizer, however only use from fresh water, not salt water.

BANANAS: Planting the peel alongside plants adds potassium. These are especially good for roses and tomatoes.

BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES:  This gooey liquid is an excellent source of many different nutrients that plants need including carbon, iron, sulfur, potash, calcium, manganese, potassium, copper and magnesium. It feeds the beneficial bacteria which keep the plants and soil healthy. It can be mixed with other all-purpose fertilizers. A good mixture is 1 cup Epsom salts, 1 cup alfalfa meal put in four gallons of water and then add 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses.

COFFEE GROUNDS:  Used grounds contain nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Use this on plants that like more acidic environments like blueberries, evergreens, azaleas, roses, avocados and fruit trees. Be sure and let it dry then scatter as a mulch. Avoid using them wet as this could lead to mold.

COOKING WATER:  When you cook food, nutrients are released in the water. Boil potatoes, vegetables, eggs…even pasta and let the water cool and use for plants.

CORN GLUTEN MEAL:  This is a by-product of the wet milling process for corn. It is used as an organic pre-emergent herbicide and also as a natural fertilizer that is 10% nitrogen. It only works as a herbicide before seeds germinate, it won’t harm the plants after they have sprouted. Spread a thin layer, then scratch it into the top one inch of the soil and then plant veggie starts inside the treated area for optimum nitrogen benefit.

EGG SHELLS:  These are a great source of calcium which plants need for cell and root growth and plant growth removes large quantities from the soil. Simply crush them into a powder and then sprinkle around your plants, especially tomato plants.

EPSOM SALTS:  Mix one tablespoon in one gallon of water and spray directly on the foliage once a month to add magnesium and sulfur. You will be rewarded with larger flowers and fruits since magnesium helps plants take in nutrients.

WOOD ASH:  Hardwood ashes are best and be sure there is no charcoal or lighter fluid in them. They provide potassium and calcium carbonate but they are alkaline so don’t place them where you want acidic soil.

GELATIN:  Yep, you read that right. A great source of nitrogen, simply put one package (unflavored) in one cup hot water and then add three cups cold water. When it is cool, pour on the soil directly around plants once a month. This is great for houseplants.

GREEN TEA:  Make a weak solution by placing one tea bag in two gallons of water and using it every four weeks.

HORSE FEED:  The magical ingredient here is molasses. Either sprinkle it on top of the soil or combine it with water or other organic fertilizer.

MATCHES:  Use the old fashioned, easy strike kind to get a good dose of magnesium. Either place the whole match in the hole with the plant or soak the matches in water since the magnesium will dissolve in the water.

POWDERED MILK:  Another good source of calcium, just place in the hole before planting.

These natural items all work wonders but, if you want to make a “quick fix fertilizer,” take a one gallon milk jug and add one teaspoon baking powder, one teaspoon ammonia, 3 teaspoons instant iced tea mix, three teaspoons blackstrap molasses, three tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup bone scraps (any bones, fish, chicken, etc.), and one crushed egg shell or one-half dried banana peel. Fill the jug with water, rain water if you have it, and let it set in the sun one hour. Use it full strength.

The main thing to remember whether using homemade or commercial fertilizers is that less is more. If you use too much or too strong of an application, you can do more harm than good by harming the plants’ roots. Leaves will curl and fall from the stem. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take away.

With any fertilizer, the goal is to help plants be as healthy as they can be and healthy soil equals healthy and happy plants!

CAN'T LIVE WITH 'EM, CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT 'EM

If you have followed my blog at all, you know that I have had quite a love/hate relationship with critters over the last couple years. All sorts of them, deer, mice, ground squirrels and birds decided that they owned the place and that I was the intruder.

Taking a stand, standing up and showing them who was boss has made a difference. I really do like animals, but I like them to know their place. So, with a little ingenuity we have come to co-exist. And, with co-existence, comes appreciation for their intelligence and ingenuity, however irritating it is at times.

Deer trampling my garden was the biggest problem. Finally, last year I found something so crazy that I thought it just may work and…it did! I read where putting up steel fence posts and stringing 30-weight fishing line between them would keep them out. I know, it sounded radical, but I was at the point where I would give anything a try. Lo and behold, when they run into the line, it scares them because they can’t see it and they turn away.

This just proves that there are ways to co-exist with wildlife without completely eradicating them. I have also discovered how interesting they are to watch as they “learn” different behavior.

Birds seem to be the most annoying, after the deer that is. First on my list was the woodpecker. I’m not real sure what species he is, he is a small little guy, barely five inches long. But he certainly makes his presence known, or should I say, he used to.

I heard this awful racket in the garage one day in early spring. At first, I thought something was drastically wrong with my car that I had just pulled in. Then, I walked outside and the noise got louder. There was this little guy pecking his heart out on the trim of my garage. At first, I thought it was just a fluke so I chased him off. After all, at last count, I had 63 trees on my property around the buildings, so why would he choose my garage to peck apart.

Apparently, this little guy’s will was as strong as his beak. He kept coming back to the same spot on my garage. He was determined, but then, so was I. I went to the hardware store and got some spray that is used to keep horses from chewing on things. I sprayed all my trim boards and was so pleased when he came back and pecked a couple times then flew off.

I had prevailed…at least for the meantime. He decided that he could shake it off and come back, withstand a couple awful tasting pecks and the he would be into fresh wood that tasted better. Refusing to be defeated by a critter that was about one fiftieth my size, I went for the red pepper flakes.

I made a paste of red pepper and water and stuffed it into all his holes which, by the way, were all about an inch in diameter. If his beak could withstand this heat, then I figured that he deserved to win. It was actually rather funny to watch him peck into the hot pepper, shake his head and then fly off. Each time he tried, the result was the same.

Then it rained, and rained and rained and washed it away again and again and again. Not to be defeated, I resorted to “the gun.” I despise guns but I also despise being defeated. No worries, I only shot to scare the little booger, I really couldn’t have hit him if I had tried! Whatever the case, it worked. He decided that I just wasn’t worth the hassle and took up residence somewhere else. Some tree is much better for him anyway.

Now, for my pair of cardinals. For the last two years, they have been nothing but a pain in my…well, you know what. They are stunning birds to watch. This pair, however, insisted on some weird behavior. Every time Ron parked his black Chevy Silverado by the garage, they would take turns sitting on the mirror, pecking at the mirror because they thought the image they saw was a rival, and simultaneously pooping down the side of the truck.

For some reason, they preferred his truck. Occasionally, they would do the same to any other vehicle that was parked in the yard but would leave my vehicles alone for the most part. How embarrassing to explain this quirky behavior to anyone who visited.

We tried chasing them off and putting grocery bags over the mirror but nothing worked. Then, one day about a month ago, unbeknownst to me, they flew into the garage and Ron shut the doors. After being in “bird time out” for a little over a day they never bothered the vehicles again. Amazing how they associated the punishment with the crime!

The cutest behavior was my oriole a couple days ago. We have had a pair nesting in our backyard…lucky us! The female noticed one of the fishing lines that had broken loose from the post. She picked the loose end up and tried to fly off with it, apparently trying to take it for nesting material. Of course, when she pulled it tight, it flung her on the ground since the other end was still attached to the post.

She would pick herself up, dust herself off and try again. She would perch herself on the string above the loose one and survey the situation and repeatedly try to pull it loose. This went on for nearly 45 minutes until she finally decided that it just wasn’t worth it. She sure was entertaining though!

My Aunt Sharlene feeds the birds, loves the birds and has been keeping track of how many different species she has seen this year. At last count, she was up to 23. Apparently, they and her have a far better relationship than I do with them!

Just when I thought I had seen it all, I really hadn’t. After all, with all the other critter problems, I had a skunk living in my barn last year. I only saw him/her a couple times. I kept my distance and he/she did not destroy anything so we lived in harmony. Apparently, this year he/she took up residence in greener pastures.

Then I opened the side burner of my grill the other day and a family of three tree frogs had taken up residence. I gently moved them out to a new home and they were back the next day. I have shooed them away, left the lid up so they were exposed, hollered at them, removed them and they always return. Even when we use the regular part of the grill, they just scooch to the outer side away from the heat. Why do critters love to annoy me so?

After all I have endured with critters, how do I resolve myself to the fact that the ones that probably will prevail over me are the tree frogs, the tiniest ones that are only about an inch long? Perhaps I should just throw in the towel because critters, you can’t live with ‘em and you can’t live without ‘em!