Violet Veil's Profile

To the people doubting the need for ear plugs/phones--you should be wearing them more often than you realize--while blow drying your hair, running the blender, on an airplane, mowing, etc. Once your ears have been damaged, that's it. Both my eardrums burst when I was a teenager so I value and protect the hearing that I have left. I recommend getting an sound meter app on your mobile--I think you'll be surprised at how loud some things are.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/what-causes-hearing-loss/

Why do the same questions keep showing up?
Your bathroom is fabulous, including the toilet and vanity! Put some bricks (in ziplock bag) in the tank to save water. Get some storage to go next to the vanity. Regrout if needed. Get kitschy/period appropriate shower curtain, rug, towels, and lighting (can't see it in the picture).
http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/
Seriously, read it.

I was always under the impression that Margherita pizza shouldn't have sauce, just the San Marzano tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. But I can never seem to find it that way at a restaurant here...

Looks amazing!
http://www.wildflower.org/explore/ for the people looking for info on what's native to their area.

I think if you go with sunflower for high heat, it needs to be refined. Spectrum makes an organic one.

@sarahbru - I'm in east Dallas...and yeah, if you have traditional, non-appropriate plantings, as most do in Dallas, especially north Dallas, they will not do well in this heat and drought. Native and adapted plants are the way to go. My yard is in full bloom! Yarrow, Autumn Sage (red, white, and pink), Mexican Milkweed, Bee Balm, Cat Mint, Basil, Red and Yellow Yucca, Four Nerve Daisy, and some others that I can't remember now.

I like my guacamole to be all about the avocado so I don't use too many ingredients
Avocados
Salt
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper
Fresh Lime Juice

Oh, I'd also recommend finding a local beekeeping club! Ours in Dallas is www.tvbees.org

We just had someone come out to our beekeeping club to talk about integrated pest management in the garden and he said buying ladybugs is a waste of money because they will fly away--that they are usually taken from California and have an urge to return home. He said that if you have aphids, you will get your own local ladybugs eventually. Aphids show up first and then the predatory insects will follow, provided that you have an organic garden.

t.u.h - I always thought that top bar hives require less inspection/management than a typical langstroth hive. But I don't have a top bar hive so not the expert by any means.