DIY Life

When it comes to protecting our families from poisonous plants, we go about things wrong, all wrong. Backwards, in fact.

Yes, you are probably already aware that a great many common garden and container plants are poisonous to humans and/or family pets. But if I asked you to identify the ones posing the greatest risk to you and your family, chances are you'd be stumped, or perhaps hard pressed to name more than one or two.

Why? Because we learn about poisonous plants from our teachers at school, from books, and from television. We see pages and pages of photographs of toxic leaves and berries. We scan ultra-long lists of poisonous plant names. The nerdier among us (Ooh! Me! Me!) have tried and failed to memorize some of this mass of information.

Silly thing is, your own yard is the best starting point for learning. Once you feel confident in your own landscape, it will be much easier to branch out and learn about less well-known species, which I'll discuss after the jump. And check out my gallery below if you'd like to see some of the common poisonous plants growing in my yard.

Now that Christmas is over and the new year has begun, it is time to face the most daunting task of the holiday season. It is time to unstring the house and take down the outdoor decorations. (If you are one of those infidels who leave up their lights all year a la' Homer Simpson you can stop here, log out and go ahead and beat yourself with a 2x4 now.)

Chances are that when the lights and decorations went up, you had "help" in the form of on lookers and back seat decorators to make sure that everything went yup just right, and that you didn't do anything silly with ladders, tree branches, etc. Now that it time to go out into weather that has become pretty nasty all across the U.S. to take them down, you are going to be flying solo out there in the wind, snow, ice, rain, and unfulfilled Christmas wishes while everyone else is inside warm, toasty, and playing with their newest acquisitions.

As you undertake this onerous task I wish you luck, and a lack of trips to the local emergency room. I have a friend who was taking down his decoration a week or so ago who ended up taking that ride to the ER and is now recovering at home with enough metal in his arm to give the TSA guys at the airport a run for their money!

Depending on where you live, winter driving can be anything from an adventure to just plain stupid. If you are going to be out on the roads there are some car preparation and driving tips that are crucial. How to Winterize your Car.....and your Brain for Winter Driving outlines important tips, from preparing your car for the season to safe driving behavior and habits in specific conditions. Along with their tips, they have a supplies checklist for a vehicle emergency pack.

Vehicle emergency pack

1. Flashlight
2. Flares
3. First-aid kit
4. Blanket
5. Warm winter clothes
6. Bag of sand or salt (to use for traction if your tires get stuck)
7. Snow-brush, ice scraper and snow shovel
8. Wiper fluid
9. Paper towels
10. Food and water

You might already have some of these things in the trunk, but have a look through and make sure everything still works. Add the items you're missing and throw them together in a backpack. Hopefully you only ever need to go in there for some sand or an ice scraper, but if you do ever find yourself needing flares or warm blankets, it could save your life.

We're heading into a week of wind warnings. Power companies are busy preparing for outages, and homeowners are anxiously bringing in their outdoor toys. There's some important preparation that you can do when you are anticipating a storm. Here are 11 steps that should prepare you for any storm right through winter.

It's important to carefully inspect your yard and the outside of your house. Unless you want your patio furniture to end up in your neighbor's yard, it's time to take them in. You'll also want to make sure that you are stocked up on flashlights, and other emergency tools. You'll want to keep snow clearing tools on hand, along with salt for managing ice buildup. Check last year's supply now and replenish what's missing.

It might seem a bit early, but each year people are caught by surprise, and it's worth being ready for the stormy seasons. Make your way through the 11 steps, modifying it for your climate and specific needs. You'll be glad you were prepared.

Since we don't have many disaster or bomb shelters anymore, it's best to be personally prepared for the day something disastrous could happen. Before you call me a pessimist, think about it for a second; are you really prepared for a natural disaster, or even a blackout?

Chrisjob on Curbly.com tells us how to be prepared in a blackout or other emergency. He gives a list of items to have on hand should an emergency occur. Matches, candles, a flashlight, water, food, a phone, and cash are essential to have in an emergency. It is also best to keep all of these items in one place so that you can access them easily and not stumble around in the dark looking for them when they are needed. An extra flashlight should be kept in a place apart from the essential supplies though, so you can light your way in the dark. Make a plan with your family so that everyone knows what to do and where to meet should an emergency situation occur.

I also think that it's essential to have a battery powered radio so you know what is happening with rescue and repair efforts. You should also have extra blankets for each family member. If a disaster happens in the dead of winter, you sure don't want to freeze to death. I am in Northern Wisconsin, so it gets super cold, and I happen to get chilled very easily, so I stay warm and cozy wrapped up in blankets when we lose power. Whatever you do to get ready for a blackout or other emergency, it is always important to remember that too much is never enough. You just don't know how long you might have to be in the dark, so make sure you have enough supplies to sustain you for the long haul.