If you have developed a URI, keep yourself at home for at least two or three days (you may need to stay at home longer depending on your symptoms). Keep in mind that every time you cough, sneeze, or even talk, you run the risk of infecting someone else. Because URIs are very contagious, it is important to cover your mouth and nose whenever you sneeze or cough; however, you should not do this with your hand. If possible, sneeze or cough into a tissue or the crook of your arm. The reason you should avoid coughing into your hands is because you use your hands for a variety of activities, including touching objects that others may touch, which means that you are very likely to infect others. If you do cough or sneeze into your hands, wash them with warm water and soap. Viruses and bacteria can be easily transmitted by touching an object that an uninfected individual also touches. Because of this, it is important to clean any objects that you touch while you are sick. You can use a 70% alcohol disinfectant to do this. These objects include: Remote controls, keyboards, telephones, refrigerator door, stair railings, and door knobs.

Summary: Stay at home when you know you have become infected. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Clean objects that you or other infected individuals touch.


Move plants and items to different areas of the tank. This will create a whole new playground for your goldfish to play and explore. New items, such as new plants or items at the bottom of the tank, will give the fish new things to explore and interact with. Remember to only add items that are safe for the tank though, so go to your aquarium store and buy something new. Playing with your goldfish while you feed it is a good opportunity to train it and give it mental stimulation. In fact, goldfish can even be trained to ring a bell for food.  This provides stimulation and fun for the goldfish. Interacting with your goldfish is especially important if it is the only fish in your tank. The interaction will give it stimulation that it’s not getting from other fish. In order to keep your goldfish happy and healthy, you should strive to not scare or disturb it as much as possible. Doing things like tapping on the glass or putting your hand in the tank unnecessarily scares your goldfish, which puts stress on its health. Fish that are scared will go to hiding places in their tank. If you want to see your beautiful fish swimming around, don't scare them into hiding.

Summary: Rearrange the tank during your monthly cleaning. Add new items to the tank. Interact with your goldfish while feeding it. Never purposely scare your goldfish.


If more than one seedling sprouts in the same pot, then snip the weakest seedlings with scissors. This will make room for the healthiest seedling. You can also transplant all of the seedlings into separate containers, but keep in mind that this is riskier. Once your plant reaches maturity, transplant it to a larger pot whenever the roots come out the drainage hole or press against the sides of the container. The soil should remain moist at all times, but never soggy. If the sensitive plant is in a dry room, mist it with water occasionally, or place it on a humidity tray. Sensitive plants are an invasive weed in many areas. Unless you are in one of their native habitats in tropical America, you may want to grow sensitive plants indoors. Gardeners worldwide report the plant taking over their lawns. In Australia, you are legally required to minimize the spread of mimosa pudica seeds off your property. Dilute a balanced fertilizer to half the strength recommended on the label. Apply to the soil once a week during the growing season, and once a month during winter. Since it is a tropical plant, Mimosa pudica will grow best if nighttime temperatures are 70ºF (21ºC) or higher. If temperatures fall below 65ºF (18ºC), move the plant to a warmer room or keep the plant warm in other ways. Adult plants can survive temperatures as low as 40ºF (4.5 °C), but are at risk of damage or death. Keep an eye out for yellow leaves and stems, which are signs of possible cold damage. It's normal for the stem to fall over and creep along the ground once the plant matures. Provide a trellis or sturdy plant to support it, or allow enough horizontal space for it to grow. Some sensitive plants grow more than 1 meter (3 ft) high or 2 meters (6.6 ft) horizontally, but in temperate zones they will more likely reach half this size. Mimosa pudica can survive for at least two years in tropical climates, but are usually annual plants in temperate zones. Even if your plant survives after its first bloom (usually in summer), you may have better results letting it die and collecting its seeds for next spring. To collect seeds, let the pods dry on the plant, then break them open and collect the seeds. The sensitive plant is not particularly prone to disease, but it may become infested with some common pests, such as red spider mites, mealy bugs, and thrips. These can be removed by spraying the plant with a direct stream of water or neem oil every few days. Avoid using insecticidal soaps, as these can turn the leaves of the plant black.

Summary: Transplant to other pots when necessary. Keep the soil moist. Keep the plant indoors (recommended). Fertilize regularly. Protect against cold. Provide space for the plant to grow. Watch its lifespan. Prevent disease.


A good pumpkin for painting has a smooth, even surface with no bruises, scratches, or blemishes. Pumpkins with light or very light or shallow ribbing will have the smoothest surfaces. Avoid pumpkins with too many lumps and bumps, or they will be difficult to paint. Look out for any cuts or wormholes that will cause problems, and make sure that the pumpkin is flat enough to sit upright.  Watch out for any soft spots in the pumpkin because that may be a sign of rot. You want your pumpkin to be fresh and to last as long as possible. Almost any variety of pumpkin can be painted, but the following are especially good: Baby Pam, Sugar Pie, Neon, Lumina, or Cotton Candy. Gently remove any dirt or grime using a dampened paper towel or a baby wipe. Use a soft, dry cloth to thoroughly but gently dry your pumpkin. Avoid brushing the pumpkin with a hard brush because you might bruise or scratch your pumpkin or just damage the skin. Take care not to get the stem area (top) or the blossom end (bottom) of the pumpkin wet. This can cause the pumpkin to rot. Before you start painting, you should have your heart set on a design. Almost any design can look good on a pumpkin, as long as it's not too complicated. Faces are popular, but you could also choose a black cat, bats, a haunted house, geometric shapes, or anything you like. Once you've chosen your design, lightly sketch it on a piece of paper for reference.  Let the shape of your pumpkin inspire your design. For example, a squarish pumpkin could become Frankenstein's head. Who says painting pumpkins is just for Halloween? You can paint your pumpkin to echo a fall theme, such as painting leaves or scarecrows, or just paint something completely random on your pumpkin. Have fun with painting your pumpkin and paint a self-portrait or a portrait of a member of your family. Though this is optional, applying a sealer to the pumpkin's surface before painting will help the paint better adhere to the surface. Purchase a craft-grade sealer at a hobby or craft store. Sealers are available in either aerosol cans or squeeze bottles, according to your preference.  Use a brush to apply a liberal coat of sealer evenly to the entire surface of the pumpkin, and allow to dry thoroughly. Clean this brush thoroughly if you plan on using it for painting. Give the sealer time to dry before you move on to paint the pumpkin.
Summary: Choose your pumpkin. Clean and dry your pumpkin. Choose a design. Apply a sealer (optional).