As a kid, I always wanted something fun like this tepee.  Back in those days (the 80’s) my mom was part of the local community garden. And we would go help her pick some vegetables and water the plants. And maybe hide behind the bamboo trellis with climbing long beans, Japanese cucumbers, and morning glories.  Thinking back, it wasn’t such a bad way to spend the weekends.  Especially when you get to munch on fresh and cool cucumbers on hot summer days.

This tepee is not as covered, but still looks very pretty with the climbing nasturtium.  These orange and yellow flowers and the leaves are also edible.  It has a slight peppery taste and are great in summer salads.

These tepee look like more work, both the set up and the clean up.  But it would be fun for the kids and nice to have one of these in the backyard.  It’s such a cheerful purple and green climbing plant.  Hyacinth bean vine (Dolichos lablab), a prolific bloomer, covers this tepee formed by bamboo poles.

Both tepee ideas and photos are from Sunset magazine. Read the rest of this entry »

Now that spring is just around the corner, I have been searching for a good sunscreen.  Springtime in California can be pretty bright and sunny.  It’s not that I need to protect myself from sunburns or anything, it’s actually to prevent more freckles on my face.  I know freckles can be cute on some people, but just not on me.  At least not now and I’m trying to minimize future ones.

So it’s been suggested that SPF 30 was the best sunscreen for this reason.  I have used many other sunscreens in the past, but have not been really attached or impressed by anyone of them.  From drugstore brands such as Nutrogena to Eucerin.   They were either too tacky or left my face too white.

I’ve also tried the botanical line such as Alba Hawaiian Sunscreen with Green Tea.  I do remember I did liked it on my arms and the smell was nice. I just didn’t like how it felt on my face at all.  I would probably get it again, but just for my arms and legs.

At the moment I am using Boots SPF 15 and they don’t make anything in the SPF 30 range.  The other sunscreen I have tried is DHC White Sunscreen SPF 25.  This one being more expensive at $23 for 1 oz.  I originally bought it because of the impressive claims including being  “chemical-free.  Other megastar ingredients in White Sunscreen include alpha-arbutin, one of the strongest nonprescription brighteners available, and antioxidant vitamin C to up the radiance quotient.”  So it was suppose to help fade away freckles as well as protect you from the sun.  I used it for my face last summer and it gave me an unnatural coloring.  It  made me look ghostly white too.  But I did like the texture and smell, it was very light and not tacky at all. Read the rest of this entry »