WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER

I was with a couple the other day and the conversation turned to men and women being equal  and being treated that way both in the business world and in the private sector. At one point the man turned to the gal and said, “I want you to be by my side, not in front of me or behind me.” I like this idea although it isn’t always true.

 Sadly, when a woman tries to do something in a man’s world, she can still be taken advantage of, usually financially. Now, don’t get me wrong, most of the businesses out there treat women with respect 99.99999999999999% of the time but it is that .000000000000001% that is frustrating and sticks in my craw.

A visit to a hardware store the other day actually prodded me to bring this subject up and, hopefully, make us unsuspecting victims a little smarter. As I got ready to check out, I noticed their featured item displayed behind the cashier’s counter. It was a picture of an adjustable wrench and, instead of it having an adjustable head on just one end and handle on the other, both ends of the wrench were adjustable. The wording above it proclaimed that one end was metric and one was standard, a wrench for us gals so we wouldn’t have to figure out if the nuts we were tightening or loosening were standard or metric.

  Really? Isn’t the idea of an adjustable wrench is that it is adjustable, made to fit any size nut regardless of it being metric or not? What an insult to us! I wonder how many of us women almost fell for the gimmick.

This just goes to show that we gals have a stigma that we can’t hold our own when it comes to tools. I don’t know how many times that I was the “gopher” and asked to bring a pair of channel locks and I showed up with vise grips. Did I grab the wrong tool? Well, yes and no. Vise grips are owned by Irwin Tools which makes a groove joint pliers that look and work like the Channel Lock’s tongue and groove pliers.

Different folks call different tools by different names. If asked for a simple pair of pliers it could mean diagonal pliers, diagonal wire cutters, cutting pliers, diags or dikes. Five different names for essentially the same tool. Not our faul

Take the simple hammer. A hammer is a hammer, right? Well, not exactly. There are over 40 different kinds of hammers including the most popular ones like claw, sledge, framing and Ball peen. The most common is the claw so when asked for a hammer, picking up a claw hammer is a pretty safe bet, right?

Well, no because there is the straight claw and the curved claw. The curved claw is for pulling small finish nails with minimal damage to the material. A straight claw is for prying and gives more power for the punch. I rest my case.

OK, this is just simple stuff, knowing the difference in hand tools. What about the big stuff that can get into our pocketbooks because a business suspects that we females don’t know our stuff. I ran into a situation like this a couple years ago.

OK, I talk about being smart on these things, but accidents still happen. I turned a little too short with the truck and scraped the side of it. The scratches weren’t deep but they did run the full length of the truck. I checked with a local body shop who provided me with an estimate of a little over $1000. He went on to explain that the estimate was a little higher because they would need to pull off all the chrome to do the work.

I checked a couple more places out and their estimates were just a bit lower.  Eventually, I found one who was straight up with me, told me there was no need to remove the chrome and his final bill was $350. Really? That is a $650 difference! So, did the others think that, because I was a gal alone, I was that gullible?

Apparently so because I ran into the same scenario last year when I had to buy tires for the car. The same GM repair facility that had serviced my car ever since I bought it there priced them to me for $850. The local repair place in town gave me a quote of $559 for the same tires with the same warranty. To be sure, I even asked if that quote was for all four tires. Yep, sure enough it was.

This assumption that women don’t know anything when it comes to “guy stuff” wouldn’t be quite so bad if it worked the other way too. Recently, I walked into a quilt shop for some material when I noticed a man and woman ahead of me and both were picking out material. After talking with them, I learned that the guy also quilted and they did it together. How nice! I’ll bet he never had a problem with being overcharged just because he was a guy buying “woman things.” 

No one should assume that a person knows nothing about a certain subject based on what sex you are. Information is not gender specific.

 So, what can a person, specifically a gal, do to not be a victim of this inequality? Even though it is the 21^st century, old habits die hard with some folks.

I have learned that, before I go to make a new purchase or to get something repaired, I consult my best friend…Google. Google literally does know everything. You can find info on any subject so you can converse intelligently about any subject. If you still don’t understand without visuals, Youtube videos are great.

Even if I don’t really know all the facts, I try to sound like I do. I used to be guilty of going into a repair shop and telling the mechanic, “Well, it is making a little squeaky sound down there.” Really, how lame is that!

Now, I say something like “I think it is the rotor on the left front brake” even if I don’t really have a clue. As long as I mention something in the general area of where the problem is, I am good. Instead of the mechanic rolling his eyes and thinking he has another female customer without a clue, he sits up and takes notice and says he will check it out. Mission accomplished.

Of course, it still adds insult to injury when you take your vehicle in for repairs and it doesn’t make the noise or do what it has been doing when you get it in the shop. I don’t know how many times I have wanted to hang my head and cry but instead, now I just say, “I realize that the noise is intermittent, but I would still like it checked out.”

You have to take control. Of course, you can still grab your hubby, grab your brother or any male to go with you and that will ensure that you get an honest answer. But, I am learning not to, I sort of like the independence of doing it on my own.

Now when Ron asks for a boxed-end ½ inch wrench and I hand him an open-ended one by mistake, I just smile and say, “Just checking to make sure you were paying attention!” Yep, what is good for the goose is good for the gander!

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!