Lavender appreciates slightly closed quarters, so dig a hole just large enough to contain the roots, and no larger. If you're planting lavender in a pot, you want to use a pot that's not much larger than the lavender's root ball. If you're planting more than one plant, leave one to two feet between each hole, since the plants will grow quite large. Sprinkle about half a cup of composted manure or bone meal into the hole to fertilize the lavender. This will help it get off to a good start. Mix it in with the soil at the bottom of the hole, then cover with a light layer of soil. If drainage is a concern, you can also mix in a handful of pebbles so the water drains through more easily. Prune off any dead or decaying parts of the plant so that it gets good air circulation and the plant's energy will be directed toward new healthy growth. Shake excess soil from the roots and remove any that are torn or damaged. Place the lavender in the hole so that the roots are nestled against the bottom and sides. They should not be directly touching the composted material; rather, make sure there's a layer of soil over the compost before you place the lavender in the hole. Fill in the hole with soil and pat it around the roots.

Summary: Dig a hole large enough for the roots. Place fertilizer in the hole. Prepare the lavender plant. Place it in the hole.


for yourself. It’s great to identify how much weight you want or need to lose over the long term, but short-term goals are important, too. Try to focus on how much you want to lose in 1 month and what you need to do to achieve that. Creating sub-goals to get you to your bigger goals will help to ensure that you stay on track. For example, you might start by setting a 1 month weight loss goal of 8 pounds, which would require losing about 2 lb (0.91 kg) per week. This means that you’ll need to burn an extra 1,000 calories per day to achieve this goal, which you can do by cutting calories from your diet and exercising regularly. Counting calories is an effective way to ensure that you’re reducing your food intake enough to lose weight. Your doctor can help you to identify a healthy calorie goal or you can calculate it yourself. Aim to cut between 500 and 1,000 calories from your diet per day with a combination of diet and exercise. Record everything you eat and drink using a food diary or calorie tracking app. For women, a healthy amount is usually between 1,200 and 1,500 calories per day, while it’s usually around 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day for men. Fruits and vegetables will fill you up while adding fewer calories than other foods, such as bread, chips, and candy. Eat 1 to 2 servings of fruits or vegetables with every meal to keep yourself satisfied for fewer calories. Some great options include:  Salads made with fresh romaine lettuce, spring mix, or spinach and tomatoes and cucumbers. Steamed veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, and summer squash. Fresh cut melon, berries, apples, and pears. . Intermittent fasting is a way of eating where you consume all of your meals within an 8 or 10 hour window during the most active part of your day. For many people, this is between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. However, you can designate a time frame that works for you. Just make sure to keep the same time frame each day so that you’ll have 14 to 16 hours between your last meal of one day and your first meal of the next day.  For example, you could eat breakfast at 7:00 am, lunch at 11:00 am, and dinner at 3:00 pm if you want to maintain an 8 hour eating window with a 16 hour fast. Or, you could eat breakfast at 9:00 am, lunch at 1:00pm, and dinner at 5:00 pm to maintain a 10 hours window with a 14 hour fast. Both of these eating strategies may help you to lose weight because they will restrict your calories through your available food choices. Therefore, it’s more important to choose a diet that you can stick with over the long term. If you like low-carb foods, such as eggs, bacon, cheese, and non-starchy veggies, then a low-carb diet may work well for you. However, if you can’t live without fruit, bread, pasta, and rice, then a low-fat diet may be a better choice. Remember, what’s most important is that you cut calories and create a deficit. You won’t lose weight if you’re not reducing your overall caloric intake. Water has zero calories and it provides your body with the hydration it needs to function properly. You don’t need to drink anything else. Drink mostly water every day to reduce your overall caloric intake.  Avoid sugary soda, alcoholic drinks, and anything else that’s high in calories. Try adding a lemon or lime wedge to your water to flavor it. Or, you could toss in a few fresh berries or a cucumber slice for something even more exotic. Eating mindfully is a way to become more aware of your body and the experience of eating so that you will eat less as a result. Some strategies you might try include:  Turning off the TV or computer, or putting away your phone while you eat. Eating with your non-dominant hand or using chopsticks. Focusing on other aspects of your food to help you slow down. Inhale the scent, notice how it looks on your plate, and chew slowly to savor the flavors and texture of the food in your mouth.

Summary: Set a realistic weight loss goal Identify your caloric needs and count calories to lose weight. Fill up on nutrient-rich foods that are lower in calories. Look into intermittent fasting Try following a low-carb or low-fat diet. Drink more water than other beverages. Practice mindful eating strategies to slow yourself down.


You can redeem EE, E, and I savings bonds 12 months after you purchase them. However, you will pay penalties and lose accrued interest if you redeem them before they fully mature.  Redeeming an I or EE bond before it is 5 years old will result in the loss of the last 3 months of accrued interest.  I and EE bonds earn interest for 30 years if you don't redeem them. All bonds are guaranteed at least their face value by 20 years. If you are cashing in a savings bond issued in April 1997 or earlier, then you need to redeem it in the correct time of year to make sure you don't lose interest. These bonds accrue interest every 6 months, so if you redeem it near the end of the 6 month period, you will lose that 6 month period's interest. Determine which month the bond was issued in. Redeem the bond in that month or 6 months from the issue month. For example, if your bond was issued in January, you want to redeem the bond in January or July. If the bond was issued in October, you want to redeem it in either October or April. To redeem a savings bond, you must be the owner, co-owner, or entitled individual. An entitled individual includes someone with Power of Attorney or a Legal Guardian.  If you are a beneficiary for someone deceased, you must bring a death certificate to provide proof you can cash the bond. If you are a parent or guardian, you must bring a birth certificate or other identification materials if you wish to cash the bond for your child.  An owner or co-owner can cash the bond without the knowledge of the other person.
Summary: Make sure the bond is eligible for redemption. Redeem the bond at the correct time of year. Determine if you are eligible to redeem the bond.