The Editors of Yankee Magazine – New England

Summer 2024 Family Fun | Best Things to Do in New England

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Tue, 07 May 2024 16:13:33 +0000

Begins JUNE 1

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Prescott Park Arts Festival

Portsmouth’s annual party by the Piscataqua kicks off with a chowder fest—just a taste of what’s to come between now and September in an unforgettable 50th anniversary season of concerts, movies, live theater, and more. Portsmouth, NH

Begins JUNE 1

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Newport International Polo Series

Held on Saturdays through September, this horsey tradition hits the family trifecta: affordable (free lawn seating for kids under 15); dog-friendly (leashed, please); and fun (let the divot stomping commence!). Newport, RI

JUNE 4-6

Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl

Grab a spoon and get your game face on for the nation’s largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival. The cherry on top: Proceeds go to cancer care and research. Boston, MA

JUNE 8

“What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine”

Hello, Neuman…and Fonebone, Kaputnik, and all the rest from MAD’s seven silly, subversive decades.
With 150 original cartoons and illustrations, the Norman Rockwell Museum hosts this dive into a visual kiddie pool with grown-up depth. Opening weekend 6/8–6/9; runs through 10/27. Stockbridge, MA

Alfred E. Neuman and Norman Rockwell, 2002, by Richard Williams.
Photo Credit : James Halperin Collection; courtesy of Heritage Auctions. MAD & © E.C. Publications; courtesy of DC. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

JUNE 8-9

Vermont Days

It’s a free-for-all weekend in the Green Mountain State, with 60-plus state parks and historic sites open sans admission. (Casting around for more deals? Free Fishing Day is June 8.)

JUNE 9

Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

Watch some 2,000 paddlers at the oldest dragon boat festival in the nation. Soak up some culture, too, from classical Chinese music to martial arts demonstrations and origami-making. Boston, MA

JUNE 22-23

NASCAR Weekend

Radio-controlled cars, kid-size electric cars, DIY Lego cars, and video-game cars will keep youngsters plenty revved up for Sunday’s big NASCAR Cup Series race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Loudon, NH

JUNE 23-29

Windjammer Days

Maine’s historic sailing fleet inspires a packed-to-the-gills schedule that includes pirate antics, a cod relay race, fireworks, and a harbor-spanning tug-of-war. Boothbay Harbor, ME

Newport (RI) International Polo Series
Photo Credit : John Lincourt

JULY 4

Bristol Fourth of July Parade

“America’s most patriotic town” shows off its star-spangled bona fides with a parade that draws some 200,000 spectators and caps off the nation’s oldest Independence Day celebration (est. 1785). Bristol, RI;

JULY 13-21

Potato Blossom Festival

Potato sack race, check. Potato picking contest, yep. Mashed potato wrestling? We did not have that on our bingo card, but it’s here, along with dozens more events that make up this nine-day spud-tastic party in the heart of Aroostook County. Fort Fairfield, ME

JULY 26-28

Lowell Folk Festival

Take your kids on a world vacation at the country’s longest-running free folk festival, where the music, dancing, crafts, and food might hail from any of the seven continents except one. Sorry, Antarctica. Lowell, MA

JULY 26-AUG. 4

Vermont Blueberry Festival

The Deerfield Valley’s annual fruit-palooza is filled with so many all-ages activities, families will be left feeling positively (blueberry-) glazed over. See website for locations

JULY 31-AUG. 4

Maine Lobster Festival

More than 10 tons of lobster is claws for celebration in Rockland, where the feasting is punctuated by such events as the lobster crate race, downtown parade, and sea goddess coronation. Rockland, ME

AUG. 2-4

Festival of Fools

Street performances of circus arts, music, and comedy run nonstop in downtown Burlington. Worried that you’ve missed seeing a knockout act? The grand finale has ’em all. Burlington, VT

AUG. 3-4

Redcoats & Rebels

Back-in-time goes over the top as hundreds of folks in Revolutionary War costume descend on Old Sturbridge Village for the largest military re-enactment in New England. Sturbridge, MA

AUG. 12-16

Hampton Beach Children’s Festival

New Hampshire’s iconic beach town invites waves of youngsters with free magic shows, mini golf, storytelling, ice cream, and a huge costume parade where everyone gets a prize. Hampton Beach, NH

AUG. 24-25

Schemitzun

Be welcomed into sights, sounds, and flavors of indigenous culture at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s annual harvest celebration, as one of America’s oldest Indian reservations showcases the talents of today’s native performers, artists, and craftspeople. Mashantucket, CT

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Get Rid of Skunk Odor | Methods to Deskunk Your Dog

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Tomato juice isn’t the only (or best) old-time remedy to get rid of skunk odor from a dog. Keep these common household ingredients on hand and never live with the stink of skunk again!

Get Rid of Skunk Odor | Methods to Deskunk Your Dog

How to Get Rid of Skunk Odor

Everyone knows that tomato juice is handy for deskunking a dog, but it’s not the only old-time remedy that works to get rid of skunk odor from your dog. Some other ingredients to keep on hand in quantity in case of emergency include vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide. Try dousing a skunked dog with about a cup of vanilla extract mixed in a gallon of water to get rid of skunk odor, says Hazel Christiansen, a longtime professional groomer and former president of the American Grooming Shop Association, in Lewiston, Idaho. Let the dog soak in the solution for about 10 minutes before applying dog shampoo and rinsing. For the vinegar remedy, mix 2 parts water with 1 part apple cider vinegar, and set the solution aside (the total amount you’ll need to mix depends on the size of your dog). Thoroughly wet your smelly dog’s coat with water. Now, work the vinegar solution through the fur. Let the solution sit for about 5 minutes; then rinse thoroughly. Work carefully and be sure the solution doesn’t drip into your dog’s eyes (it would sting). [text_ad] If neither of the concoctions above seems to work, here’s one last skunk-odor removing remedy that’s been passed on from one generation of dog lovers to the next. Mix 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon dish-washing liquid. Apply this mixture in the same way you would the vinegar solution. The quantities listed should make enough deskunking solution for a medium-size dog (30 to 50 pounds), so use less or more as needed for the size of your dog. The best way to eliminate skunk odor is to avoid it altogether. Believe it or not, skunks hate strong odors. You can keep them out of your woodshed or other outbuildings by hanging a bar of strong disinfectant or room deodorizer in the space. Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints, written by the editors of Yankee Magazine and brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing. This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated.

See More: How to Keep Squirrels Out of Bird Feeders How to Keep Raccoons Out of Garbage Cans How to Free a Stuck Skunk

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Poison Ivy and Oak Treatment

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Poison ivy and oak are members of a plant family that includes poison wood (an itch-causing plant found in Florida) and poison sumac, according to W. Hardy Eshbaugh, Ph.D., a retired botanist in Oxford, Ohio. “Some other members of the same plant family can cause a rash in some people,” Dr. Eshbaugh says. “The skin of a mango can be irritating to sensitive skin. And Chinese lacquerware boxes can cause a poison-ivy-like rash.” When the itchy rash sets in, you want to know how to treat poison ivy and oak fast. But it’s also important to understand the cause and how to prevent it. “You can get the same kind of dermatitis from the shells of raw cashews,” notes Kathryn A. Zug, M.D., a dermatologist at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The culprit in all these plants is a potent chemical called urushiol. Seven out of 10 people are allergic to it, you can get a rash from just one-billionth gram of the stuff, and it remains potent on garden tools and other surfaces for up to five years. No wonder urushiol is the champion of all allergens — the cause of more allergies than any other known substance. You needn’t stay out of the fields and woods, though. Here are some remedies to help you cure poison ivy and oak.

POISON OAK & POISON IVY TREATMENT TIPS

Get the Poison Off Fast

“The best treatment for poison ivy or oak is to wash with soap in the shower within 5 to 15 minutes of exposure to the plant,” Dr. Zug says. In other words, you need to wash off the urushiol long before you see a rash. This is possible, of course, only if you realize your mistake while you’re in the woods. Rubbing alcohol also might work. “Rubbing alcohol is a solvent that, in order to be effective, must be applied and washed off with a washcloth soon after contact with the plant,” Dr. Zug says.

Put Yourself in the Pink

One long-preferred poison ivy treatment is Calamine lotion. “Calamine lotion is still one of the best treatments for moderate cases of a poison ivy rash,” says Robert Averill, M.D., a dermatologist in western Massachusetts and northern New Hampshire. “It’s the classic treatment for poison ivy,” Dr. Zug agrees. “Calamine dries up blisters, it is soothing and cooling, and it relieves the itch.”

Vinegar Works, Too

Wondering about a poison ivy treatment using common household items? A vinegar compress is good for drying the poison ivy rash and soothing the itching, says Robert Sommer, M.D., a dermatologist in Portland, Maine. “Use half a cup of white vinegar. Pour it into a pint container and add water up to the pint mark. Put it in the refrigerator; it works best cold.” Dampen a cloth or gauze with the cold vinegar solution and apply it to the poison ivy rash, Dr. Sommer says. [text_ad]

Use Milk to Shake the Itch

Dr. Sommer also recommends a cold milk compress, especially if you have a poison ivy rash on your face, which can be irritated by vinegar. “You take a clean rag and soak it in whole milk. You need whole milk for the fat,” he says. “Place the damp rag — damp, not runny — on the rash. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. The cold stops the itch, while the fat lubricates the skin.” Dr. Sommer says to rinse off the milk with warm water.

Listen to the Camp Nurse

The camp nurse if often the first call for getting tips on poison ivy treatment. “When the kids get poison ivy rashes, I make a mixture of Domeboro and water and apply it to the rash with gauze pads,” reports Tricia Barr, R.N., a nurse at Camp Walt Whitman in Pike, New Hampshire. Domeboro is an over-the-counter astringent that comes in tablet or powder form. “It’s a good drying agent,” Barr says.

Poison Ivy and Oak Treatment Tips

This Weed Is a Jewel

Ever wonder about an herbal poison ivy treatment? Corinne Martin, a certified clinical herbalist in Bridgton, Maine, likes to use jewelweed to soothe a poison ivy rash. A common plant found throughout the Northeast, jewelweed has a watery stem that contains juice good for stopping the itch. You can collect it in meadows during late summer. “Just crush the stems in your hands and rub the juice right on the rash,”Martin says. She notes that Euell Gibbons, the famous natural food and remedy author, would process jewelweed stems and water in a blender and freeze the mixture in ice cube trays. “Jewelweed ice cubes are great against an itch because of the combination of the jewelweed and the cold,” Martin says.

Use the Ocean as a Lotion

How about how a salt water poison ivy treatment? Peter Brassard,M.D., a family doctor on Block Island, Rhode Island, says that a good sea bath can work. “Just the act of wading in the ocean will wash your sores,” he says. “And the salt water will help dry them out.”

Make Your Own Salty Sea

“Epsom salts dry things out,” Dr. Zug says. “They are especially good for poison ivy rashes and other oozy dermatitis. Just follow the directions on the box and sprinkle some into a lukewarm bath.” You can get Epsom salts at your pharmacy or supermarket.

Feel Your Oats

“If you have itchy skin, try taking an oatmeal bath,” says Donald Dickson, R.Ph., the owner of Dickson’s Pharmacy in Colebrook, New Hampshire. Colloidal oatmeal, such as Aveeno, is made for bathing. You can buy Aveeno over the counter.

A Plant Man Picks Tecnu

As a botanist, Dr. Eshbaugh has spent years getting up close and personal with itch-causing plants and knows a thing or two about poison ivy treatment. His favorite remedy for how to treat poison ivy and poison oak? Tecnu Oak-n-Ivy, available over the counter at drugstores. “Tecnu works on anything in the Anacardiaceae family — the family poison ivy and oak belong to,” Dr. Eshbaugh says. “You can wash with Tecnu immediately after contact with poison ivy, or you can put it on before you go out into the field. You can even use it after you have already broken out with a rash. Each way seems to work.”

Pump Up with Steroids

If other home remedies for poison ivy treatment fail, a good fallback is a steroid such as over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, Dr. Brassard says. Excerpt from Home Remedies from a Country Doctor, brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing. Do you have tips for poison oak and poison ivy treatment? Let us know below! This post was first published in 2013 and has been updated.

SEE MORE: How to Get Rid of Poison Ivy | Ask the Expert Treat Bee Stings and Other Bug Bites How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs & Cats | Natural Remedies Hive Cures | What Causes Hives, Hives Treatment & More

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How to Make a Tomato Trellis

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Tomato plants are one of the easier crops to grow in your home garden, but once they start to mature, they get top-heavy and have a tendency to flop over. Tomato cages work well for supporting large tomato plants, but they’re bulky and can be expensive. If you don’t have time to make tomato cages, money to buy them, or space to store them, you need an easy alternative. Try this simple method to make a tomato trellis.

Make a tomato plant trellis using this easy method.

How to Make a Tomato Trellis

Materials

Sturdy posts or stakes
Ball of twine

Tomato Trellis Steps

Plant a row of tomato plants, spacing them 2 feet apart.
Pound in a stake or post at each end of the row and also at about 5-foot intervals along the row. (Set them equidistant from neighboring plants.)
Allow the plants to grow, watching for signs of floppiness. If they look ready to flop, or when they reach about 2 feet tall, tie one end of the ball of twine to the end post, 12 to 18 inches above ground level.
Stretch the twine past the tomato plants, weaving it between plants, to the next post. Wrap the twine around the post and pull tight. Repeat this to the end of the row.
Wrap the twine around the end post, pull tight, and continue unrolling the twine down the other side of the row, wrapping it around the posts as you go. Tie off the twine at the end post.
Continue this process of adding twine every 12 inches until the plants either reach the top of the stakes or stop growing.

Want more advice on how to grow healthy tomato plants? Watch Farmer Tracie demonstrate this method of trellising and get more great tips for tomato plants.

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Homemade Silver Cleaner | Polish Silver without Harsh Chemicals

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Longtime former Yankee contributor Earl Proulx had a simple solution for practically everything — including household chores. A woman once wrote to him asking how to clean a sterling silver spoon she had left soaking in bleach, causing it to turn “black as an ace of spades.” She’d tried cleaning it with silver polish, but with no luck. He suggested she try the electrolyte method, and gave her instructions to make a homemade silver cleaner that’s easy, uses common household staples, and doesn’t require gloves or messy chemicals. She wrote again to tell him how well the method worked for her. Before she tried it, she thought the spoon was ruined. Note: This method should be used as a last resort. The electromagnetic reaction that removes the tarnish may also remove the patina, leaving the silver looking flat. Do not use this method for cleaning silver on pieces that have a raised design or on cemented pieces. For help with cleaning valuable pieces of silver, we suggest contacting a silversmith.

HOMEMADE SILVER CLEANER | DIY ADVICE

Ingredients for Homemade Silver Cleaner:

1 quart of hot water
1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 sheet of aluminum foil
non-aluminum dish

Our homemade silver cleaner (the best method we’ve found yet for how to clean tarnished silver) includes baking soda.

Instructions for Making Homemade Silver Cleaner:

Line bottom of non-aluminum dish with a sheet of aluminum foil
Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a quart of hot water
Soak for a half hour — time may vary depending on degree of tarnish
Buff with clean, dry cloth

The subject: a heavily tarnished spoon.

The process: soak tarnished silver in a water/baking-soda bath.

The result: a silver spoon free of tarnish.

Do you have any tips for natural silver cleaner or advice for how to clean silver? Let us know! This post was first published in 2011 and has been updated.

SEE MORE: Tips for Polishing Silverware Get Scratches Out of Wood Remove Candle Wax from Fabric Remove White Rings from Wood Furniture

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Get Rid of Skunk Odor | Methods to Deskunk Your Dog

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Tomato juice isn’t the only (or best) old-time remedy to get rid of skunk odor from a dog. Keep these common household ingredients on hand and never live with the stink of skunk again!

How to Get Rid of Skunk Odor

Try dousing a skunked dog with about a cup of vanilla extract mixed in a gallon of water to get rid of skunk odor, says Hazel Christiansen, a longtime professional groomer and former president of the American Grooming Shop Association, in Lewiston, Idaho. Let the dog soak in the solution for about 10 minutes before applying dog shampoo and rinsing.

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For the vinegar remedy, mix 2 parts water with 1 part apple cider vinegar, and set the solution aside (the total amount you’ll need to mix depends on the size of your dog). Thoroughly wet your smelly dog’s coat with water. Now, work the vinegar solution through the fur. Let the solution sit for about 5 minutes; then rinse thoroughly. Work carefully and be sure the solution doesn’t drip into your dog’s eyes (it would sting).

If neither of the concoctions above seems to work, here’s one last skunk-odor removing remedy that’s been passed on from one generation of dog lovers to the next. Mix 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1 teaspoon dish-washing liquid. Apply this mixture in the same way you would the vinegar solution. The quantities listed should make enough deskunking solution for a medium-size dog (30 to 50 pounds), so use less or more as needed for the size of your dog.

The best way to eliminate skunk odor is to avoid it altogether. Believe it or not, skunks hate strong odors. You can keep them out of your woodshed or other outbuildings by hanging a bar of strong disinfectant or room deodorizer in the space.

Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints, written by the editors of Yankee Magazine and brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing.

This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated.

See More:
How to Keep Squirrels Out of Bird Feeders
How to Keep Raccoons Out of Garbage Cans
How to Free a Stuck Skunk

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How to Clean a Wool Rug with Snow

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 11:00:00 +0000

A beautiful wool rug can be be the major design element in a room, but like anything subject to foot traffic, it needs regular cleaning to stay in tip-top shape. Wondering how to clean a wool rug naturally? We have a creative method using snow. Old-time New Englanders swear that the best way to clean wool rugs or blankets is with snow—it doesn’t make a big mess or require chemicals that could strip the wool of its natural oils, and it turns a cleaning chore into a game kids will enjoy. (Do not try this technique on any rug that is marked “dry clean only.”)

How to Clean a Wool Rug with Snow

HOW TO CLEAN A WOOL RUG WITH SNOW

On a cold, clear day (25°F or colder), with at least several inches of fresh powder snow, take the rug outside and leave it for a couple of hours until it has frozen. Lay the stiff carpet in the snow and whack the exposed surface with a broom. Shake the rug out, turn it over on a fresh patch of snow, and beat the other side. If you wait for a cold, dry day, the rug will barely become wet when you clean it this way, but before returning it to the house, brush off any visible snow. Then leave it outside for another hour or so to let sublimation—the cold-weather process whereby snow or ice transforms directly from solid to vapor—do its work. By nightfall, the rug should be clean and dry (but don’t return the rug to its place until it is completely dry). Do you have a preferred method for how to clean a wool rug or other wool rug cleaning tips? Let us know! Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints, brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing. This post was first published in 2012 and has been updated.

SEE MORE: How to Clean China | Polishing and Coffee Stain Removal Tips How to Polish Pewter How to Clean Brass | Old-Fashioned Methods

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How to Treat Bee Stings and Other Bug Bites

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Learn how to treat bee stings and deter bees in the first place with these handy expert tips.

Treat Bee Stings and Other Bug Bites
Photo Credit : Pixabay

One of the downsides to summer, bee stings can be pretty painful annoyances. And there are plenty of other flying attackers ready to zap you when you step outdoors in the summer, too. “The stinging insects that can cause reactions are the honeybee, the bumblebee, the yellow jacket, the yellow hornet, the white-faced hornet, and any of several varieties of wasp,” says Wilfred Beaucher, M.D., an internist, allergist, and immunologist in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and Nashua, New Hampshire. The honeybee—a brownish, hairy creature—usually loses its stinger when it gets you. The other stinging insects, which have stingers that they can withdraw from your flesh, can attack repeatedly. We failed to mention the killer bee, didn’t we? Actually, killer bees are a breed of African honeybees that have interbred with American varieties to form an unusually aggressive insect. Africanized bees defend their nests zealously, and people who come too close occasionally get multiple stings. The bees are widespread in Arizona and Texas and have entered California. The best protection from their sting is to stay away from bees’ nests in general, doctors say. If you have been stung and the reaction hasn’t spread to the rest of your body, here’s what you can do to treat bee stings and relieve the pain and itching.

How to Treat Bee Stings and Other Bug Bites

How to Remove a Bee Stinger

The first thing you should do after you’ve been stung by a bee is to try and extract the stinger and venom sac, says Edward Kent, M.D., a pediatric allergist with Timberlane Allergy and Asthma Associates in South Burlington, Vermont. “The venom sac looks like a tiny bag,” Dr. Kent says. “If the bag is in place, you probably have a honeybee sting. Don’t squeeze or smash it—you could end up injecting more poison into yourself. Instead, take a credit card and flick the sac away with a light scraping motion.”

Put Ice On a Bee Sting

“Once you’ve made sure the stinger is out and the area is clean, put an ice cube directly on the sting for a few minutes,” says Ronald Lentz, M.D., medical director of the Block Island Medical Center in Rhode Island.

Benadryl for Bee Stings

“To treat bee stings, take an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine—the active ingredient in Benadryl—to reduce the itching and swelling of a bee sting,” Dr. Kent says. Diphenhydramine is available over the counter at drugstores.

Ammonia for Bee Stings

Here’s an old-time bee sting remedy: ammonia. Ammonia is alkaline, making it counteract the acidic toxins in insect venom. “It works,” Dr. Beaucher says.

Don’t Be Attractive to Bees

How do you avoid a bee sting? “If you are going to be outside where bees are, wear non-floral-print clothing,” Dr. Beaucher says. “Bees are attracted to flowers. They’re also attracted to pictures of flowers.” Avoid wearing such flower-like colors as yellow, red, orange, and green. “Pink, blue, and white are good to wear,” he says. “Bees don’t like those colors.” Be careful not to smell too nice, either. “Don’t wear perfume or scented products like hair spray,” Dr. Beaucher says.

Mud for Bee Stings

If no other bee sting treatment is available, one of the simplest old-time treatments is a handful of mud. Just scoop up the mud and hold it on the sting until the mud dries. Excerpt from Home Remedies from a Country Doctor – brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing. This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated.

SEE MORE: Flowers That Attract Bees What’s the Difference Between Bees and Wasps? How to Care for Houseplants | Get Rid of Insects & Bugs

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Restore Wood Furniture with Wax | DIY Instructions

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Wed, 27 May 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Are you fed up with dull finishes and scratches on your wooden furniture? The old-fashioned—and highly effective—way to solve these problems is to restore wood furniture with wax. Classic furniture wax products, such as Butcher’s Bowling Alley Wax, fill tiny scratches in wooden furniture. They can help you to restore shine and protect the piece from future wear. You can use this type of wax today the same way it was used in the late 1800s. (Check the instructions from your furniture manufacturer, though, to make sure that they don’t advise against this type of restoration technique.)

Restore Wood Furniture with Wax | DIY Instructions
Photo Credit : Pixabay

Restore Wood Furniture with Wax | DIY Instructions

Materials to Restore Wood Furniture

Murphy Oil Soap or other mild soap
Superfine (0000) steel wool (available at hardware stores)
One container paste furniture wax
3 or 4 clean, soft cloths

Instructions to Restore Wood Furniture

Step 1. Gently wash the wood surface with a solution of mild soap and water and allow it to dry. Step 2. Dampen a piece of steel wool and rub it on the surface of the wax so that a small amount of wax adheres to the steel wool. (If 0000 steel wool is not available, use a soft cloth. Do not use any other type of steel wool.) Now rub the wax over a small area of the surface using small circular motions. Step 3. Let the wax sit for 5 to 10 minutes, until it hazes over. Then gently wipe off the excess wax with a cloth.You should not be able to streak the surface of the wood after wiping. Step 4. Buff the surface again with a new clean cloth. Don’t wait too long, or the wax will be more difficult to remove. Step 5. Apply another coat and repeat Steps 3 and 4. — The best way to keep waxed furniture shiny is to clean it with a feather duster or a damp rag. Don’t apply furniture polish over the wax. Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing This post was first published in 2011 and has been updated. Other furniture restoration troubles?

SEE MORE: Remove White Rings from Wood Furniture | Repair Stains, Dents & Rings How to Refinish Wood Furniture How to Clean Wood Furniture

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How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs & Cats | Natural Remedies

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Sun, 03 May 2020 12:00:43 +0000

HOW TO GET RID OF FLEAS WITH GARLIC

Even as a kid, Roger Valentine, D.V.M., now a veterinarian in Santa Monica, California, relied on a fresh clove of garlic a day to make his dog less appetizing to fleas. Now, with his holistic training, Dr. Valentine understands more about the powers of garlic. “Will garlic keep fleas off a dog — or cat? No, but it can make them less appealing,” says Dr. Valentine. For chowhounds that gobble up anything, you can just crush the clove and stick it in the food bowl with their meal. For picky eaters, you may need to opt for sprinkling a teaspoon of garlic powder into the dry food and adding some water for gravy.

HOW TO GET RID OF FLEAS WITH LEMON

Some homemakers in the late 1800s demonstrated the value of lemon in keeping a fresh-smelling house by reaching for a lemon and squeezing the juice for use in cleaning their sinks, according to The Household Guide or Domestic Cyclopedia (1892) by Benjamin Jefferis, M.D., and James Nichols. Turns out that lemons have a repellent effect on fleas and other pests, too. lemon contains d-limonene, a natural flea-killing substance. Holistic-minded animal herbalists have relied on lemon skin tonic to keep fleas from feasting on their Fidos.

Make Lemon Skin Tonic to Prevent Fleas on Dogs

To make some, thinly slice a whole lemon, including the peel. Add it to 1 pint of near-boiling water and let it steep overnight. The next day, sponge the cooled liquid onto your dog’s skin and let dry. Use this homemade tonic daily for a few days to combat fleas. Say goodbye to your pooch’s scratching! Another option for fighting fleas is to wash your dog with a pet shampoo that contains d-limonene, a natural extract from citrus fruits that will kill fleas with minimal side effects on dogs. Just be sure not to use this ingredient on cats, because it can be toxic to them.

How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs

HOW TO GET RID OF FLEAS WITH HOMEMADE SHAMPOO

Make a Homemade Flea Shampoo for Pets

“You can make old-fashioned insect-repellent shampoo simply by adding a few drops of essential oil of rosemary, pennyroyal, or eucalyptus to a bottle of natural pet shampoo,” says Richard Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D., a holistic-minded veterinarian in practice for more than 45 years. Dr. Pitcairn cautions pet owners to be careful not to apply these oils directly onto a dog’s skin, because the oils can be too irritating and may cause rashes.

HOW TO GET RID OF FLEAS ON DOGS

Make a Homemade Flea Herbal Rinse for Pets

Since Colonial times, people have looked to their herb gardens for all kinds of remedies for common ailments. Picking the right herbs to grow can also keep your pets from scratching up a fuss when summer arrived and the fleas are thriving. Here’s an easy herbal recipe to fight fleas on dogs. In a saucepan, bring 1 pint of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain out the herbs and allow the rosemary “tea” to cool to room temperature. Pour this mixture over your dog after her final bath rinse. Rub in and towel dry without further rinsing. This herbal flea shampoo will work on cat fleas as well as dog fleas.

How to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats

HOW TO GET RID OF FLEAS ON CATS

Even indoor cats are not immune to flea visitors. Pet-friendly herbalists recommend this natural way to discourage fleas from setting up house in your cat’s coat.

Make a Homemade Herbal Flea Powder for Cats

Combine one part each of as many of these herbs as you can find: eucalyptus, rosemary, fennel, yellow dock, wormwood, and rue. Put this mixture in a shaker-top jar (like the one you use for parsley flakes). Apply the herbal flea powder sparingly to your cat’s coat by brushing backward with your hand or a comb and sprinkling the herbs into the base of the hairs, especially around the neck, back, and belly. Do this several times a week. Your cat will purr with gratitude. (It won’t harm your cat to ingest the powder, so don’t be concerned if she licks herself after you apply it.) Do you have a favorite tip for how to get rid of fleas on dogs and cats? Excerpted from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints: Timeless Bits of Household Wisdom for Today’s Home and Garden by the Editors of Yankee Magazine (Skyhorse Publishing, 2011). This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated.

Get Scratches Out of Wood | Practical DIY Advice

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 08:00:00 +0000

Over the course of time, furniture that gets a lot of use starts to show wear. Before you strip it down to refinish it — or worse — get rid of it, here are a few tips on how to get scratches out of wood. Try these quick fixes to cover up small scratches and imperfections in your wood furniture.

How to Get Scratches Out of Wood | Practical DIY Advice

HOW TO GET SCRATCHES OUT OF WOOD

Repair Scratches in Wood with Tea

Scratches in wood can make a piece of furniture look junky, even if it is an expensive heirloom. Fortunately, repairing scratches is as easy as brewing a cup of tea. Place a tea bag (use black tea, not herbal or green tea) in a mug and spoon a few tablespoons of hot water onto the bag. Let it steep for 2 to 3 minutes. The longer the tea steeps, the darker it will be, so gauge steeping time to match the shade of the furniture that needs a fix. Dab the tea onto the scratches with a cotton swab, then quickly wipe away the excess with a paper towel to prevent the wood around the scratches from being stained. If the wood is a medium-dark color, you may need to apply the tea more than once.

Get Scratches Out of Wood with Iodine

Uh-oh. Someone just left a big scratch in your favorite dark-wood coffee table. Don’t spend your hard-earned money hiring a professional refinisher. First aid for a scratch in dark wood is just like first aid for a scratched finger: Break out the iodine. Use a cotton swab to apply the iodine to the scratch. Use a paper towel to wipe away the excess so it doesn’t stain the wood around the scratch. [text_ad]

Rub Out Surface Scratches

You can rub out surface scratches in your wooden furniture with a paste made of mineral oil and pumice (available in powder form at hardware and paint stores). Use extra-fine-grade steel wool to rub the mixture into the scratched area. Then wipe it off and buff with a dry cloth.

Cover-Up Scratches

Sometimes you can cover up a furniture scratch rather than actually removing it. Choose a wax crayon that matches the color of the finish on your scratched furniture. Color in the scratch, then rub the spot with your finger to blend the crayon with the finish. Another way to hide scratches is to cover them with an oil-based craft or artist’s paint (from a tube). Choose a color that’s darker than the finish on the furniture. Rub a little into the scratch, and the scratch will appear to blend in with the finish. (This will not work on furniture with a polyurethane finish.)

Blend Scratches with Paint

To hide scratches in varnished wooden furniture, apply watercolor paint to the affected area, using an artist’s brush. Once a scratch is concealed, fill it in with varnish. Another solution for a scratch mark in wood is to “paint” the scratch with a brown felt-tipped marker. When the ink dries, cover the spot with wax or varnish.

Cover Scratches with Instant Coffee

If your scratched wooden furniture has a dark stain, use instant coffee to cover the scratch. Make a thick paste of the coffee granules and water, then rub the paste into the scratch.

Fill the Scratch with Walnut Meat

Use the oil from a walnut to conceal a surface scratch in wooden furniture. Crack the walnut and rub a piece of the walnut meat into the scratch. Polish the area with a soft rag, and the scratch should become invisible.

Polish Off Scuffs and Minor Scratches

To freshen up wooden furniture that is scuffed or scratched, sand the damaged areas lightly with extra-fine-grade steel wool. Then apply one of the oil-based colored furniture polishes available at hardware stores. Allow the polish to dry completely (so that the oil can soak into the damaged area). If necessary, sand again lightly with the steel wool to feather in or soften the color. Do you have any other tips on how to get scratches out of wood? Let us know in the comments! This post was first published in 2013 and has been updated.

SEE MORE: Remove Candle Wax from Fabric How to Clean and Repair Wood Floors | DIY Advice Remove White Rings from Wood Furniture | Repair Stains, Dents, & Rings

The post Get Scratches Out of Wood | Practical DIY Advice appeared first on New England.

Flower Meanings | Learn the Language of Flowers

The Editors of Yankee Magazine — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Did you know the many kinds of flower meanings? When you learn the language of flowers, you can be thoughtful, mysterious, and creative all at once when you share a nosegay that you’ve arranged according to the Victorian-era “language of flowers.” Suitors in that era would pick certain flowers according to their “flower dictionary” definitions, and the recipients might spend days decoding the floral message.

Flower Meanings | Learn the Language of Flowers

Today, you could give a theme bouquet as a special treat for a friend, family member, or romantic interest, along with leads for deciphering your meaning. For example, a friend facing a job interview could be the recipient of a posy made of chamomile (energy in adversity), hollyhock (ambition), and basil (good wishes). Or you could present tickets for a date to spice up a longtime relationship, and present a small bouquet of fern (fascination), hyacinth (sport, game, or play), and chickweed (rendezvous) alongside. Best of all, many of the most meaningful flowers are blooms you can cultivate yourself or find in a vacant lot, so you can indulge often—and the arrangements are far more original than most anything you’d find at the florist. Here are 20 flower meanings from Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers (1885).

FLOWER MEANINGS | LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

FLOWER		MEANING
Alyssum, sweet		Worth beyond beauty
Amaryllis		Pride, timidity, splendid beauty
Azalea		Temperance
Basil, sweet		Good wishes
Carnation		Woman’s love
Chamomile		Energy in adversity
Chickweed		Rendezvous
Chrysanthemum (white)		Truth
Columbine (red)		Anxious and trembling
Coreopsis		Always cheerful
Daffodil		Regard
Elm		Dignity
Fern		Fascination
Hibiscus		Delicate beauty
Holly		Foresight
Hollyhock		Ambition, fecundity
Honeysuckle		Generous and devoted affection
Hyacinth		Sport, game, play
Ivy		Fidelity, marriage
Lilac (purple)		First emotions of love
Lily of the valley		Return of happiness
Moss		Maternal love
Nasturtium		Patriotism
Periwinkle (blue)		Early friendship
Primrose		Early youth
Rhubarb		Advice
Sage, garden		Esteem
Shamrock		Lightheartedness
Sweet pea		Departure
Tulip (red)		Declaration of love
Tulip (variegated)		Beautiful eyes
Tulip (yellow)		Hopeless love
Violet (blue)		Faithfulness
Zinnia		Thoughts of absent friends

How many of these flower meanings did you know?

Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints—brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing and the editors of Yankee Magazine.

This post was first published in 2011 and has been updated.

SEE MORE: The Handkerchief Flirting Code Valentine’s Day Guide to Roses Make Flower Arrangements Last Longer

The post Flower Meanings | Learn the Language of Flowers appeared first on New England.

The Editors of Yankee Magazine – New England

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Get Our FREE Yankee Best New England Vacations Guide!

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Restore Wood Furniture with Wax | DIY Instructions

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Make a Homemade Flea Shampoo for Pets

HOW TO GET RID OF FLEAS ON DOGS

Make a Homemade Flea Herbal Rinse for Pets

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Make a Homemade Herbal Flea Powder for Cats

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Get Scratches Out of Wood | Practical DIY Advice

HOW TO GET SCRATCHES OUT OF WOOD

Repair Scratches in Wood with Tea

Get Scratches Out of Wood with Iodine

Rub Out Surface Scratches

Cover-Up Scratches

Blend Scratches with Paint

Cover Scratches with Instant Coffee

Fill the Scratch with Walnut Meat

Polish Off Scuffs and Minor Scratches

SEE MORE: Remove Candle Wax from Fabric How to Clean and Repair Wood Floors | DIY Advice Remove White Rings from Wood Furniture | Repair Stains, Dents, & Rings

Flower Meanings | Learn the Language of Flowers

FLOWER MEANINGS | LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

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