The Garage Plan Shop Blog

For many of us the backyard is our home away from home, or more specifically our home outside our house. Many of us will be spending a lot of time in our yards this summer and keeping things safe is just as important in the backyard as it is inside the home. Here are some reminders for backyard safety this summer and throughout the year.

1. Grills – Keep your grill at least ten feet away from the side of your house, and keep it away from decks and shrubs. Never use it inside garages or under porches for cover. Keep children and pets away from the grill while in use, and always extinguish the coals before leaving it unattended.
2. Decks – Waterproofing will help keep your deck in good shape. Then if you are working with timber decking then you need to use a top-quality rubber decking to hold it all in place and that’s easily the best we have ever used. Inspect it for cracks and splinters, as well as for screws or nails popping up through the wood. Test railings for sturdiness.
3. Plants – Choose plants carefully for your landscape to prevent any interactions like rashes or worse. Likewise inspect existing plants and know what poison ivy looks like and how to remove it safely. If it’s time to replace your plants, check out the list of the best and delicate house plants to grow at https://www.laweekly.com/11-best-house-plants-to-purchase-durable-and-delicate-plants-are-for-everyone/. You might also want to consider using a high-quality topsoil for your landscaping project.
4. Pools – Follow existing guidelines and local laws for fencing around a pool. If you’re thinking of fence installation for your pool or your  property as a whole, this vinyl fence company has extreme dedication to quality fences. Store chemicals in a safe place and out of reach from children. Check that the drain cover complies with established safety standards. Establish house rules for the pool including, “No one swims alone.”
5. Pests – If you’re living in Australia, you can hire a specialist at pest control Hobart to help you with your pest problem. You can keep the mosquito population down by eliminating sources of standing water. Change the water in birdbaths and fountains frequently, The PestPro Thermal Systems Bed Bug heaters include a do it yourself kit.  Do not overuse weed killers or pesticides and be aware of their potential dangers for humans. If you have a big pest infestation, you can contact Team Veterans Pest Control to get rid of it, they serve all of Charleston.
6. Play Sets – Check frequently for the effects of use and weather like loose bolts, splinters, rust, etc.  Provide a soft cushion like wood chips around equipment. Supervise young children while they play.
7. Underfoot – Eliminate dangers in the yard that may cause tripping like sticks, rocks, tree stumps and uneven terrain. If you want to remove those tree stumps, you can find services online or you can immediately check here.
8. Mower -The spinning blades of power mowers can make dangerous projectiles out of sticks, stones and even toys. Keep everyone inside, especially children, when mowing the lawn.

Tags: backyard safety, lawn and garden tips, safety tips

Pita breads are those delicious rounds of bread with a pocket that you can stuff with sandwich fixings. Here is a recipe that is especially easy for the beginning baker. The hardest part, is cutting the pocket which if you find too challenging, just skip it and fold the round in half when making your sandwiches. Or just as tasty, skip the sandwich and spread some butter on them while still warm and enjoy. You can also visit https://goodfoodblogph.com for the best kitchen gadgets.

Pita or Pocket Bread

Ingredients – Group A

2 ½ cups of flour

1 ½ tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

Ingredients – Group B

1 ½ tsp sugar

1 pkg of dry yeast

1/8 cup of vegetable oil

1 cup of warm water

In a large bowl, mix together the ingredients group A. Then make a depression in the middle of the mixture and add the rest of the ingredients in Group B to it. Stir it together starting at the center and work your way out to the edges incorporating all of the ingredients. Knead it with your hands for a minute or two until it’s a nice doughy ball. Cover the bowl with a clean damp towel and let it rise for 30 minutes. Divide into 8 pieces and roll or press out dough on a floured surface. Rounds should be about 6 inches in diameter. Place rounds on greased cookie sheets and let them rise again for 15 to 30 minutes. Place sheets on bottom rack in oven. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-11 minutes.

To cut a pocket, carefully poke a serrated knife in the edge of the bread pointing toward the center and carefully cut through half of the bread.  You will usually hit some air pockets that will open the bread up nicely to hold whatever you decide to stuff it with.

Tags: Recipes