By Martha Stewart
Answer: Raccoons and skunks have adapted to suburban life and love to feast on food scraps in garbage cans and compost heaps as well as on pet food and vegetables in gardens. The best way to keep the animals away is to make the items that attract them off-limits.The type of skunks that are likely to pillage a vegetable garden dig but don't climb. To discourage them, employ a low fence that has a barrier, says Russell Link, an urban wildlife biologist and the author of "Living With Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest" (University of Washington Press; 2004). Create the barrier by placing lengths of 2-foot-wide galvanized hardware cloth from a hardware store on the ground in front of the fence.New York Times SyndicateConsider purchasing individual pots and pans rather than a matching set. This way, you can select the materials and sizes that suit your needs. In general, thick, heavy pots are the most durable and distribute heat the best. When it comes to materials, choices abound.Question: How do you keep raccoons and skunks off your property?The type of skunks that are likely to pillage a vegetable garden dig but don't climb. To discourage them, employ a low fence that has a barrier, says Russell Link, an urban wildlife biologist and the author of "Living With Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest" (University of Washington Press; 2004). Create the barrier by placing lengths of 2-foot-wide galvanized hardware cloth from a hardware store on the ground in front of the fence.[copyright] Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. All rights reserved.Begin by soaking the jars in warm, soapy water, then try peeling off the labels. If adhesive remains, apply a commercial adhesive- removing solvent (available at hardware stores), following the manufacturer's instructions.Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. Questions may also be sent by electronic mail to mslletters@marthastewart.com. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Questions of general interest will be answered in this column; Martha Stewart regrets that unpublished letters cannot be answered individually. For more information on the topics covered in the Ask Martha column, visit www.marthastewart.com.Copper pots, which are lined with stainless steel or tin, heat and cool quickly, making them a good match for delicate sauces. They must be polished frequently to maintain their shine.She adds that reading animals is an intuitive skill anyone can use. She even found out about her gift a few years ago by accident and says it's easy for her to do because she's open to it.If raccoons and skunks persist, or if you often see the nocturnal creatures out during the day or acting erratically (signs they may be diseased), contact a wildlife trapper."It's a little more personal this year," said Janet Peters, a student who also rides at the stable as a mother-daughter team with her daughter, Hope, 11. "This barn, everyone here is like a big family. It's competitive, but it's more than competition today because it's for a good cause."Behind the action in the barn, girls braided their horses' hair and added the finishing touches to their riding costumes. But the thing that attracted the most excitement was the pet psychic, Roxanne Hunt.Cast iron retains heat well and is ideal for searing but should not be used with acidic foods, which can acquire a metallic flavor. It also must be properly seasoned with oil to prevent rusting and to create a nonstick finish. Cast iron coated with enamel offers the benefits of untreated cast iron but does not need to be seasoned and can be used to cook all foods. However, enamel is prone to chipping and is not nonstick like regular cast iron.Hunt, an "intuitive life coach," would converse silently with the horses and communicate what the horses were feeling to their riders. By using what she calls a keen sense of intuition, she told the riders which unique food their hoses enjoyed, detailed their temperaments, problems during competition and even concerns the horses had for their young riders.Aluminum and stainless steel are good options for everyday cookware. Look for aluminum that has been anodized, or treated to make it harder, as well as stick-resistant and nonreactive. The latter means you can use it with acidic ingredients, such as wine, vinegar or tomato sauce, which take on a metallic taste when cooked in untreated aluminum.Acetone nail polish remover, turpentine and cooking oil - such as olive or vegetable - will also remove adhesive: Dab the residue with a cotton ball dampened with any of these. Use a razor blade to scrape off any adhesive that doesn't dissolve.Store trash cans in a closed garage or secure the lids with bungee cords. Keep compost in an enclosed bin. And feed cats and dogs indoors, away from pet doors, so raccoons and skunks aren't tempted to follow the food scent inside. (If pests start using a pet door, consider switching to an electronic door that opens only when it receives a signal from a transmitter on your pet's collar.)Answer: There are several ways to go about it. The one you choose may simply depend on what you have on hand.
New York Times Syndicate
Author: Martha Stewart
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