If you are like a lot of people living in the suburbs or on a farm or lifestyle block, you probably have several 2 cycle engines such as a weed eater, chainsaw, blower, etc. Most of these engines take different mixtures 1/50, 1/32 etc. All the instructions tell how to mix one gallon, however, you usually only need a tank or two at a time, and a gallon will go bad before it is used up. Nobody needs several gallons of bad gas mixed at different ratios; the solution is to mix a tank at a time.

1 Always stabilize your gas before you start.

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2 Use a measuring device for small amounts, 2oz- 1oz- 1/2 oz and 1/4 oz.

There are many available.  You will also need small mixing containers, ¹⁄₂ gallon (1.9 L) and quart measuring cups will take care of most of your needs.

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3 If your engine calls for a 1/32 mixture that is 1 oz of oil to 32 oz of gas, or 1/2oz of oil to 16oz of gas, or 1/4 oz oil to 8 oz. gas, mix only what you need at the time.

4 Find a piece of cardboard or plywood and list all your equipment on it.

Include the ratios that they require, and the recipe for a tank of gas. Put this on the garage wall; this will keep you from looking up the manual each time you use it.

This dry winter weather is just drying my hands out like crazy!! I have been looking for an easy and inexpensive DIY hand scrub and stumbled across this one. Using this 1-2 times a day has helped my dry hands smooth right out!

What you will need:

-Dawn brand Olay hand renewal dish soap

– Sugar

– Mason Jar

– Butter knife or spoon (I find the butter knife works best)

What to do:

-Fill your Mason jar ¾ of the way full with your sugar

-Now you can add the dish soap leaving a little extra room at the top (you will need to add a little extra sugar after stirring)

-Stir the sugar and soap together at this time and if more sugar is needed continue to add it as you go until you get a pasty consistency.

– You are ready to use the hand scrub!! I would recommend using 1-2 times daily, for me I use it once in the AM and once before bed.

The pretty pink color would make this a great Valentine’s Day gift for next month! You can jazz the jar up with some ribbon or labels for any occasion really.

Beekeeping is a safe, fun, and rewarding experience that can be a hobby or a way of life. With this simple, all-in-one kit, you can begin your beekeeping opportunity the moment the bees arrive.

Are you looking for a way to prevent fuel-filters from freezing? Are you looking for a way to extend the life of your fuel injection pumps and fuel injector? Are you looking for a way to make fuel last up to three times longer?

If you answered yes to one or all of the questions above then we have the right products for you. Rural King carries multiple different fuel additives that can get the job done for you year round!

When you have a pet living outdoors, they are depending on you to protect them from severe weather conditions. During the winter, there are certain precautions you should take to make sure your dog is warm and safe in the winter months when temperatures are at their lowest.

In this rough cold season, heaven forbid,you might need to call a tow truck if you find yourself stranded due to a flat tire, car accident or mechanical trouble. There are some important steps to follow after calling for a tow. Know how to wait for a tow truck to keep yourself and your car safe.

1 Move your car.

• Move your car as far away from moving traffic and as far onto the road’s shoulder as possible if you can safely drive the vehicle. This will keep passing motorists from hitting your disabled vehicle while waiting for a tow truck and will make it easier for the tow truck driver to situate his truck near enough to your car to hook up the tow.

2 Turn your hazard lights on.

• Turn the vehicle’s hazard lights on after you’ve moved the car safely off the road while you’re waiting to be towed. The button or switch for your vehicle’s hazard lights is usually on the steering column or the dashboard. The flashing lights will alert other motorists that your car is disabled and help them see it on the side of the road, especially at night.

3 Place reflective triangles around the vehicle.

• Use reflective triangles or cones from an emergency roadside kit to cordon off the area around your disabled vehicle. Be sure to place at least one at the front and one at the rear of the vehicle and a third along the side of the car facing the road. This will help make your vehicle visible to other motorists while you’re waiting for your vehicle to be towed.

4 Organize belongings.

• Get together anything inside the vehicle that you need to take with you after you’ve been towed. This should include any valuable items and any vehicle insurance information stored in your glove compartment. Organize everything so you can leave your car quickly with everything you need.

5 Stay in your vehicle.

• Remain in your vehicle after taking outside safety measures until the tow truck arrives. This is important, because it will keep you safe from the elements and passing vehicles.

6 Use caution if approached.

• Be careful if you’re approached by other motorists while waiting for a tow truck. Lock your doors, stay in the car and crack the window an inch to talk to them instead of rolling it all the way down. Do not leave the vehicle or accept a ride if the person approaching your vehicle is anyone other than the tow truck driver.

7 Get identification.

• Ask the tow truck dispatcher for the name of the driver being dispatched to you or the identification number or license plate number of the tow truck being sent. This will help you know if the vehicle that arrives is legitimate and the driver is who he says he or she is. Verify this information before exiting your vehicle.

ITEMS TO KEEP HANDY IN YOUR CAR

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This is only my second year experiencing the freezing temperatures Illinois has to offer and I am still trying to adapt. A big thing for me last year was the slick icy sidewalks and the ice all over my car I was lucky enough to get to scrape off every morning! This year I wanted to try a few DIY tricks which should help to solve these issues for me this year.

DIY Sidewalk Salt

What you will need:

1 Teaspoon Dawn dish soap

1 Tablespoon Rubbing Alcohol

8 Cups of hot water

1 Large bucket

What to do:

• Grab your bucket and mix the Dawn dish soap and the Rubbing alcohol together really well, until completely combined.
• Add the hot water **caution** and continue to stir until everything is completely combined.
• You are now ready to use your Sidewalk salt! All you will need to do is pour the mixture over any areas that would typically freeze over with ice.

This mix will not freeze and best of all it will NOT eat away at your concrete like the salts can!

DIY Ice Melt

What you will need:

Sugar

Epsom Salt

Bucket

What to do:

Grab your bucket and ingredients

• Mix 1 part sugar and 1 part Epsom salt (You can use however much of the products needed to cover the trouble areas)
• Sprinkle over the area you wish to melt the snow/ice

** This mixture will not hurt plants, ground, birds, dogs, or cats!

   DIY Frost Proofing Your Car

What you will need:

1 spray bottle

Vinegar

Water

What to do:

• Fill the spray bottle with 3 parts vinegar and 1 part water.
• Spray down your car windows before you go to sleep or just after you get home to prevent the ice build-up on the windows!

** The vinegar contains acetic acid which will raise the melting point of water which prevents it from freezing! If you forget to do this before you go to sleep, no problem, spray the windows down in the morning and it will melt the ice away.

 Enjoy your winter a little more hassle free with this quick and easy DIY tips!

From the candy to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time for kids and parents alike. It can pose dangers to young revelers.  To help make this year’s festivity a trick-free treat, follow these simple safety tips:

Adorning Your Little Ghouls

• Choose a light-colored costume because these are easily seen at night. Add reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark tape to the front and back of the costume and to the trick-or-treat bag.
• Only buy a costume that is labeled “flame-retardant.” This means the material won’t burn. If you are making your own costume, use nylon or polyester materials, which are flame-retardant.
• Make sure wigs and beards don’t cover your kids’ eyes, noses, or mouths.
• Kids shouldn’t wear masks — they can make it difficult for them to see and breathe. Instead, use nontoxic face paint or makeup. Have younger kids draw pictures of what they want to look like. Older kids will have fun putting the makeup on themselves. Test the face paint or makeup on your child’s arm or hand before applying to make sure the paint doesn’t irritate the skin.
• Avoid colored or decorative contact lenses, unless they have been prescribed by an eye doctor for your child.
• Put a nametag — with your phone number — on your children’s costumes.
• Avoid oversized and high-heeled shoes that could cause kids to trip. Make sure the rest of the costume fits well, too, which can help prevent trips and falls.
• Make sure that any props your kids carry, such as wands or swords, are short and flexible.

Trouble-Free Trick-or-Treating

• Accompany young children (under age 12). Make sure they know how to call 911 in case they get lost. Check to make sure they know their home phone number.
• For older kids who are trick-or-treating on their own, find out the route they’ll be taking and when they’ll be coming home. Also be sure that they:
  • carry a cell phone, if possible
  • go in a group and stay together
  • only go to houses with porch lights on and walk on sidewalks on lit streets (never walk through alleys or across lawns)
  • walk from house to house (never run) and always walk facing traffic when walking on roads
  • stay away from candles and other flames
  • know to never go into strangers’ homes or cars
  • cross the street at crosswalks and never assume that vehicles will stop
• Give kids flashlights with new batteries. Kids may also enjoy wearing glow sticks as bracelets or necklaces.
• Limit trick-or-treating to your neighborhood and the homes of people you and your children know.
• When your kids get home, check all treats to make sure they’re sealed. Throw out candy with torn packages or holes in the packages, spoiled items, and any homemade treats that haven’t been made by someone you know.
• Don’t allow young children to have hard candy or gum that could cause choking.
• Make sure trick-or-treaters will be safe when visiting your home, too. Remove anything that could cause kids to trip or fall on your walkway or lawn. Make sure the lights are on outside your house and light the walkway to your door, if possible. Keep family pets away from trick-or-treaters, even if they seem harmless to you.

Gobbling Down Halloween Goodies

• Offer a filling meal before your kids head out to trick-or-treat so they won’t scarf down too much of their haul.
• Consider purchasing Halloween treats other than candy. Stickers, erasers, crayons, pencils, coloring books, and sealed packages of raisins and dried fruits are good choices.
• Know how much candy your kids have collected and store it somewhere other than their bedrooms. Consider being somewhat lenient about candy eating on Halloween, within reason, and talk about how the rest of the candy will be handled. Let kids have one or two treats a day instead of leaving candy out in big bags or bowls for kids to sample at will. Consider giving some of the treats away.

Take these quick and easy precautions to help your little ghosts and goblins have a hauntingly happy and safe Halloween.

One of my favorite things to grow during the fall and winter months is lettuce. Sure anyone can grab a bag of salad mix from the store for a couple of bucks, but if you’re a die-hard vegetable gardener like myself, you are going to need to get outside to get your daily dose of vitamin D or you’ll go nuts. Plus, we all know homegrown just tastes better!

Tips for Growing Salad Greens in Late Fall and Winter

Be patient. Lettuce germinates best in cooler temperatures, but if it gets too cold germination may slow down considerably. The ideal time to plant is two weeks before the first fall frost. Most lettuce varieties only take about 45 – 60 days to reach maturity.

Plant lettuce seeds and seedlings in containers. This way if a gust of cooler weather or a frost is headed your way, you can easily move the pots alongside your home or front porch and wrap them with a fabric cover or tuck the seedlings under a cloche.

Overseed. I consider it “insurance” for a great harvest. Be sure to sow seeds every two weeks for a good continuous crop of salad greens.


If you live in an area with harsh winters, no problem. You can still grow lettuce in the winter. Simply pick a sunny windowsill or pull out the grow lights because you can grow lettuce ANYWHERE! Indoors or out.

And last but not least, remember lettuce has shallow roots and needs good drainage or their delicate roots could freeze if left sitting in a container of soggy potting soil. 

Growing salad greens in the late fall and winter months can be a little bit of a challenge, but a homegrown dinner salad in the middle of winter… now that’s priceless.

Items you may Need:

Natura Hand Trowel

I know that I am always annoyed with where to hang my scarves. I want my closet neat and tidy but my scarves have no place to go. If I just throw them over a hanger, then they are on top of one another and it’s hard to get just the one you want without taking off ALL the scarves. I have found the perfect resolution to this annoying problem. Y’all are going to be kicking yourselves for not thinking of this. And the best part is you need only two items to complete it! Inexpensive items at that!

Supplies: Clothes Hangers Shower Curtain Rings Steps:

1. Place the shower curtain rings on the clothes hangers.
2. Place scarves through the shower curtain rings.
3. Hang in your closet.
4. Done!