Look at the Wildflowers!

These are few photos of our wildflowers that I took today. Some of these may be featured over the next couple of weeks in the Medicine Cabinet and Garden, since some are medicinal and others dandy cultivated as ornamentals.
These are just a little eye candy for now and a lovely Equinox celebration! I hope you enjoy!

If we get some rain, there will be an explosion of blooms within the next few days!

eBay Buyer Guidelines

I joined the eBay back in 2000 when it was well established, but still much like a huge yard sale or flea market. Now, it is totally global and the level of unscrupulous activity has increased along with the massive increase in numbers of users. We have all heard horror stories of eBay purchases gone wrong. I am here to tell you, unfortunately most of the bad experiences I have heard about could have easily been avoided. This article is for all my friends and readers that have doubts about bidding on eBay. These are some of the things I do when checking out those "Gotta Haves" to make sure everything is legitimate and that the sale will go well. By following a few simple guidelines each eBay win can be a pleasurable experience for everyone involved.

1. READ THE LISTING. Titles can be misleading, often unintentionally. Be sure to pay attention to the details of the auction listing. If it does not clearly state desired information (condition, whether or not it works properly, etc.), contact the seller and ask. Look for shipping information and seller’s return policy. Again, if none is present, ask. Use the “Ask seller a question” link and be sure to check “hide my email.” This will keep the communication on eBay and prevent unwittingly offering spamming and phishing opportunities to the unscrupulous.
2. CHECK SELLER’S FEEDBACK. The feedback percentage, shown directly below the user ID on an auction listing, is a good indicator of a seller’s reliability. Take a look at any negatives to see what the problem was and how the seller handled it. This will tell you how professional or helpful the seller is going to be if you do have a problem.
   
3. CONTACT the seller if in doubt or they have low feedback. I have gotten some great deals from new sellers, but I seldom buy anything of value without asking some questions about the item before bidding. The quickness and quality of a seller’s response can tell you worlds about how they will handle the sale. If return emails give you pause, just don't bid.
4. BE COURTEOUS. If you encounter a problem, definitely contact the seller right away. Approach them with courtesy, not accusations. If the seller is not helpful or nice in return, there is plenty of time to get pushy if you must. Sellers are there to do business and good business comes with happy customers and good customer service. Given a chance, most sellers will try to find a satisfactory solution.
5. BE CAUTIOUS. If there is a high pressure offer to let you buy it outside of eBay or to close the auction early if you pay right now, back off quickly. If an email asking you to click a link or provide personal information appears to be from eBay, but greets you with something like Dear member instead of your name, forward it to spoof@ebay.com. Do Not respond to it in any way! Don’t let excitement overwhelm caution either. If you don’t have time fully read the listing and check out something that seems odd, don’t make a bid.
6. EBAY EDUCATION is an excellent resource of information. Take some of the courses and read the tutorials offered. Doing this will help you become, not only a more savvy Internet shopper, but a safer surfer in general.

The old saying “ if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” isn’t necessarily accurate on eBay, but it does signal a need for extra examination of the auction and the seller. Take the necessary time to learn the safety basics. By observing these guidelines with every bid, you will greatly increase your chances of each purchase being a satisfying success!

They're Ba-a-ack!

The Turkey Buzzards are back! That means it's Spring in my part of the world!

These large birds are actually classified as a vulture, not buzzard. True buzzards are a type of raptor. The Turkey Vulture's wingspan can reach up to 6 feet across and their body weight usually averages around 6 pounds. This gives them the ability to soar, gliding gracefully on rising thermals. I have seen them obviously doing this for the sheer joy of it, rising far too high for spotting a meal! Groups of them can often be seen flying into a stiff wind, rising and dipping, looking just like a bunch of surfers riding the waves. It is a glorious sight!

Most folks are a bit put off by vultures since they are carrion eaters, but they provide a vital service. Think about what our highways might look like without this clean-up crew on duty! You can readily see the adaptations nature has made for this diet by their bald head. This allows them to reach inside a carcass without getting a lot of nasty residue on their feathers. Looking at their beaks, you might think they are kin to raptors, hawks and eagles for instance, but they aren't. They are related to storks and ibis. A quick look at their feet reveals a weak, chicken-like appendage built for mere holding and walking instead of the strong carrying and tearing feet of the birds of prey.

If the Turkey Vulture is a sign of Spring, it also means that most things Internet go on hold for a couple of weeks. Their arrival signals an urgency for garden preparation!

I'm still running late on my garden re-design because the March winds began in January this year. It is just horrendous trying to build raised beds, tilling and moving large quantities of soil around in a 30+ mile an hour wind! Things seem to have calmed down now though and the rearrangement is beginning to take shape.

Here you see the beginning of the raised beds we are changing over to, using well aged railroad ties to build the retaining walls. The soil has been dug and tilled to a depth of about a foot and I have laid in a layer of straw. A good layer of goat manure will be added to this along with compost. Once the second row of ties has been added and anchored, the remaining 18" or so of top soil will be shoveled in to fill the bed. As you can see, there is much work to be done and we'd better get to it if we expect to be ready for the next good planting date!

As this project nears completion, I will be adding photos and notes to Gramma's Garden on the reasons for switching over to raised beds and intensive planting methods.