I don't know how long it's been since I quit. I can't remember. I just know it's been a long time. I don't think I would ever want another one again. I'm certain my COPD would never allow it.
Enter At Your Own Risk
- Thread starter GoodEnuff
- Start date
Stepped outside with the doggies yesterday evening and noticed the little old shih tzu was holding up his left front paw. It isn't unusual for either dog to get a spruce needle in their paw, which is pretty easy to remove. Well, this old guy hates anyone touching those front paws; doing so is a declaration of war. When I managed to get my hands on his foot, the battle began. It wasn't just a spruce needle. It was a small pebble covered in tree sap. No way I was going to get that out by just pulling on it as it was stuck in there like super glue!
I picked him up, brought him inside, went into the paint storage area, grabbed the can of acetone, poured a couple tablespoons into a small bowl, placed him on the counter with him standing with his foot in that bowl of acetone. I was hoping it wouldn't burn his skin but I know of no other way to remove that pine sap. It worked! Washed his foot and lower leg with dawn dish soap and warm water afterwards. I see no after effects.
This is why I keep small dogs these days. I win!
I picked him up, brought him inside, went into the paint storage area, grabbed the can of acetone, poured a couple tablespoons into a small bowl, placed him on the counter with him standing with his foot in that bowl of acetone. I was hoping it wouldn't burn his skin but I know of no other way to remove that pine sap. It worked! Washed his foot and lower leg with dawn dish soap and warm water afterwards. I see no after effects.
This is why I keep small dogs these days. I win!
Hey! I know this! Spray Pam or some cooking oil. When I make a grave blanket.. that was so sticky. lol Grandmas told me.
I too am also trying to quit that shet.
Today, I am going to work on the small front garden. I cleared it out last fall in preparation for planting clover seeds to create a place for dogs to walk/rest that is easy on their paws. I have the seeds. However, I see that there are patches of some very low growing wild clover around the property so I will try transplanting it instead of seeding. It seems to be very hardy: full sun, full shade, never watered except for when it rains. We shall see how this works.
I managed to transplant some clover into a small area of the front garden yesterday. This wild clover grows flat on the ground spreading out from one central root system, which I did not know until I dug it up, and it blooms tiny yellow flowers. It's scattered around the property. I think it will be perfect for this area if it survives the transplant. So far, so good. No signs of stress yet. It is growing in areas of rocky, hard-packed soil (paths) so it should do well, right? I will do more today.
The seeds I have are from a mini-white clover that will grow high enough that it may need mowing. Am reconsidering it. Perhaps plant it in a different area?
The handle of my favorite shovel broke! OH NOO!!! It's a trenching shovel and is so much easier for me to use. Will try to find someone who may be able to repair it for me. Or buy a new one, which may be cheaper than repairing this one.
The water level in the creek has risen so the little "creeklet" that branches off from it is now running, too. The main creek is very rocky with boulders everywhere, steep banks, rushing downhill, white water. I will try to clear the leaves, grass, etc., from the creeklet so when the grandsons (10 and 12) come, they can play in it if they want. The main creek is too dangerous when it's this high and it will be higher later in the summer.
The seeds I have are from a mini-white clover that will grow high enough that it may need mowing. Am reconsidering it. Perhaps plant it in a different area?
The handle of my favorite shovel broke! OH NOO!!! It's a trenching shovel and is so much easier for me to use. Will try to find someone who may be able to repair it for me. Or buy a new one, which may be cheaper than repairing this one.
The water level in the creek has risen so the little "creeklet" that branches off from it is now running, too. The main creek is very rocky with boulders everywhere, steep banks, rushing downhill, white water. I will try to clear the leaves, grass, etc., from the creeklet so when the grandsons (10 and 12) come, they can play in it if they want. The main creek is too dangerous when it's this high and it will be higher later in the summer.
gruntlabor
Well-known Member
- Location
- Last Frontier, Age 84
Suggestion(s) box: 1. When your resident clover (yellow sweet clover?) is in full bloom, try picking and stomping it into wherever you want it.
2. Sweet clovers contain coumarin so shouldn't be brewed for tea.
Thank You for that info. I looked up yellow sweet clover and the blossoms are not at all the same, at least not yet since it's early spring here. And also for the tea warning. I am not much of a gardener nor do I have knowledge of plants so I avoid consuming anything that grows wild, except for the spearmint growing by the creek. No way one can mis-identify that, lol.
1. When your resident clover (yellow sweet clover?) is in full bloom, try picking and stomping it into wherever you want it.
2. Sweet clovers contain coumarin so shouldn't be brewed for tea.
Thanks again for the info.
Edit: Maybe it isn't clover? Sure looks like it, though.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
we were talking about cigarettes on this forum just a week or 2 ago.. and did you know that B&H are about £18.00 for a pack of 20 ?
I can't believe how people can afford to smoke cigarettes. None of my neighbours smoke .. except the one family of Eastern European tenants next door.. and they smoke like chimneys??.where do they get the money ?
In May 2026, a standard pack of 20 Benson & Hedges cigarettes in the UK typically costs between £15.20 and £19.41, depending on the specific variety and the retailer.
Pricing across popular supermarkets and retailers varies as follows:
- Benson & Hedges Gold: Around £18.95 to £19.41 at stores like Tesco and ASDA.
- Benson & Hedges Silver: Around £17.45 per pack.
- Benson & Hedges Blue / Sky Blue: Around £15.20 per pack Tesco.
- Benson & Hedges Dual / Blue Dual: Usually priced between £13.37 Trolley and £15.55 ASDA.
It's kind of funny that I am intentionally planting a "weed" in the garden area. Flatlander city girl now in the high country mountains has certainly changed the way I think about everything. At first it was clothes, then roofing and siding and insulation and heating, now planting weeds in the garden because they survive quite well and some are actually pretty in a strange sense. No solid screen or wood fencing because I want to see what wild animals are on the other side and wood rots in just a few years with the snow for long periods so no wood posts anywhere, always galvanized metal.
Cigs here are from $8/pack to $11/pack. Very highly taxed. The only reason I can afford them is because I live way below my means.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
$8..or even $11... is £5.95... and £8.00 sterling.. which is incredibly cheap.... and haven't been that price here for many years...
£19.00 per pack of 20 here in the UK...... is approx..$25.50 USD....
Could you afford that ?...
ETA just to put that into perspective.. the minimum wage is £12.44.... so it costs 2 hours of work for one pack of cigarettes. and if someone smokes a pack a day.. then 14 hours a week, just for cigarettes....
I quit tobacco 26 years ago. I quit cold turkey. I always made it a point not to date smokers because I knew if I did, I wouldn't quit smoking. It's kind of like an alcoholic trying to quit drinking but can't because they go out with drinkers. My main motivation was that my dad died of cancer of the lungs when he was 65 years old and I was afraid I might end up that way. He had a horrible death.
I could but I wouldn't.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
the fact is most people cannot afford £19.00 for a pack of cigarettes.. and still live a normal life.. like my tenant neighbours, who have all the material things, children are immaculately dressed....... don't go without anything as far as I can see.. several holidays a year...yet only low paying jobs...
If these are the nice people that bring you those great plates, they certainly eat well.
A knowledgeable SF member suggested this "clover" is Black Medic. I looked it up and checked more closely what I have and sure enough, that is what this (not) clover is. It's in the legume family, an annual that grows in hard packed low nutrient soil. It may not like its new home so I will not plant more, plus I would prefer a perennial. Back to the planning board. Seemed like a good idea at the time, lol.
Meanwhile, last night the little spaniel suddenly ran to the front door and started crazy barking, a bark I have never heard from her before. It wasn't just an alert bark or a "I gotta catch that squirrel!" bark, it was a danger danger threatening bark. I turned on the outside flood lights, looked out windows, etc., and saw nothing, but the thick vegetation blocked much of the view. She did this twice in about ten minutes. After we went to bed, she barked two more times, more of a "I think I heard something bark".
The last time, I got up, grabbed my pistol and cruised through the house, checking doors/windows/closets/garage, turned on floods, etc., but saw nothing. She was quiet but did lay at the foot of the bed where she can see into the hallway. She wouldn't come up and snuggle as usual. I laid awake for a while; nothing more after that. Was it a bear or some other animal? Or a person (which would surprise me)? Took a while to get to sleep.
Meanwhile, last night the little spaniel suddenly ran to the front door and started crazy barking, a bark I have never heard from her before. It wasn't just an alert bark or a "I gotta catch that squirrel!" bark, it was a danger danger threatening bark. I turned on the outside flood lights, looked out windows, etc., and saw nothing, but the thick vegetation blocked much of the view. She did this twice in about ten minutes. After we went to bed, she barked two more times, more of a "I think I heard something bark".
The last time, I got up, grabbed my pistol and cruised through the house, checking doors/windows/closets/garage, turned on floods, etc., but saw nothing. She was quiet but did lay at the foot of the bed where she can see into the hallway. She wouldn't come up and snuggle as usual. I laid awake for a while; nothing more after that. Was it a bear or some other animal? Or a person (which would surprise me)? Took a while to get to sleep.
I didn't hear anything and sometimes I think the dog barks at wind. IDK.