Once you’ve carved out your design, fold a piece of 150-grit sandpaper and rub it over the surface of your wood. Focus on any areas that still have sharp points or rough textures that you want to get rid of. The sandpaper will leave a smooth texture on the wood when you’re finished. You may not need to use sandpaper if you used a diamond bit in your Dremel tool. Many people who carve wood create a pitted or textured background to make the design more visually interesting. Use a ball-shaped fluted bit in your tool and lightly press the bit into a recessed area to leave a circular mark. Continue pressing the bit into the background of your design in a random configuration for the background. You don’t need to texture the background if you want your design to have a clean, smooth finish. A wood burner has a heated iron on the end to leave burn and singe marks on wood to make it look more interesting. If you have specific areas that you want to darken, plug in the wood burner and allow it to heat up completely. Press the hot end of the burner into the wood and slowly pull it in the direction you want to make your marks.  You can buy a wood burner from your local hardware store. Don’t touch the end of a wood burner while it’s running since it can cause severe burns. Once you leave a burn mark on the wood, you will not be able to remove it. Choose a stain color that you want to use for the entire piece of wood. Use a natural-bristle paintbrush or rag to spread the stain on the surface of the wood in a thin layer. Leave the stain on the wood for about 15 minutes before wiping it off with a clean rag to check the color. Let the stain dry for 4 hours before adding any additional coats. The stain may look darker in areas you carved out and lighter on raised edges. Look for a polyurethane finish or another type of clear coat to use on your wood. Mix the clear coat with a stir stick to make sure it’s thoroughly combined. Use a natural-bristle brush to paint a thin layer of the clear coat onto your design. Leave the clear coat to dry for 24 hours so it has time to set. Don’t shake clear coat before applying it since you could get bubbles in it that will leave an uneven finish.

Summary: Sand around your carving with 150-grit sandpaper to smooth sharp edges. Add texture to the wood with a fluted ball bit if you want. Use a wood burner if you want to darken areas of the wood. Apply a coat of stain to the wood if you want to recolor the wood. Put clear coat or finish on the design to help preserve it.


Yellow jackets are most active between 10 am and 4 pm. It’s therefore easiest to find them flying the paths between their food sources and nests at this time. If it’s very hot or very cold, keep in mind that this timeframe might be shortened, as yellow jackets tend to be less active during extreme temperatures. Yellow jackets tend to build nests partially underground, usually in old gopher holes. They can also build nests in wood piles and dense vegetation. Walk your property, looking for holes, as well as other ground areas where nests might exist. If you see yellow jackets flying near such areas, or a large number of yellow jackets crawling around protecting a certain area, you’ve probably found a nest. Regardless of where their nests are located, wasps will fly in a straight line from their nest to their food sources. Stand still near where you’ve seen the yellow jackets, and look across the part of that area that’s in full sun. Look for any insects flying quickly by in a straight line – they should stand out in the direct sun. Keep looking if you see one – if you see more, you’re probably seeing them emerge from or going back to their nest and you can track the nest that way. If you can’t spot any yellow jackets flying, you can try luring them with food and then following them back to their nests. Place the food in a shallow dish near where you think nests might be, and then watch the food trap. Yellow jackets should eventually show up near the food. Once they do, follow their path back to their nests.  You can use protein-based baits, including tuna-flavored canned cat food, chicken skin, cold cuts, and ground meat. In the summer, sugar baits might work better. Try fruit juice, grenadine, ice cream, or a bit of fruit jelly. As you find the nests, mark them. Spray painting an “x” near the location is best, since you can do it from a distance away and the paint will eventually wash off of your yard or any buildings. Don’t try to mark the nest directly – spraying it or poking a marker flag into it can upset the colony and cause the yellow jackets to swarm and attack you.

Summary: Start your search after 10 am. Search for holes in the ground of your property. Look for yellow jackets flying in a straight path. Lure the yellow jackets with food. Mark nests as you find them.


Stop fertilizing the carnations during winter.

Summary: Fertilize the carnations once a week with 20-20-20 all-purpose plant food at half strength.


Before you leave on your trip, start gradually shifting your sleep schedule to one that's in line with the place you're going. For instance, if there's a four-hour time difference between where you are and where you're going, starting shifting your sleep in that direction.  If you're going east, you'll gradually be going to bed earlier. For instance, if you live in New York and you're going to Scotland, that's a five-hour time difference. If you normally go to bed at 10 pm, that's 3 am in Scotland. Try shifting your bedtime 30 minutes earlier, and go to bed at 9:30 pm, which is 2:30 am in Scotland. The next night, try going to bed at 9 pm, and so on, until you get closer to your normal bedtime in the place you're going. If you're traveling west, it can be a bit harder to shift your schedule if you have to work at a certain time, because you'll be staying up later and later. If you have other conditions, such as diabetes or a breathing problem, it helps to have it under control before you leave. Be sure to take your medications and follow your doctor's orders. If you've been having trouble, talk to your doctor. If you're not feeling well, jet lag may affect you more, which could lead to mild depression. It can be easy to get dehydrated while traveling, since you're out of your normal routine and the air in airplanes is fairly dry. Dehydration can worsen the effects of jet lag, so make it a point to drink enough water. Buy a bottle of water when you get past security or take an empty bottle to fill up at a water fountain.  Take the drinks offered on planes, though stick to water and juice instead of alcohol, soda, or coffee to maximize hydration. Make sure to drink up before you leave home, as well. You can also try eating hydrating foods, such as watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, oranges, and soup. If you eat junk while you're traveling, you may end up feeling worse. Of course, you don't want to deviate too much from your normal diet (that can upset your stomach), but you should try to stick to healthier choices to increase your overall sense of well-being. If you know jet lag affects you particularly badly, try taking a slower form of travel, such as train or ship. Alternatively, stop over a few days somewhere halfway to where you're going. Taking it more slowly can help you adjust.
Summary: Start shifting your sleep schedule. Make sure your health problems are under control. Drink enough water. Eat a healthy diet. Take a different means of transportation.