Centerpiece ideas for your wedding, baby shower or party.

Your Questions About New Sunflower

Posted by Susan | Under Centerpiece Ideas Tuesday Mar 27, 2012

Maria asks…

What am I doing wrong?

next monday will be a month since i started a new work out plan and i feel like i’m wasting my time because i haven’t lost any weight. i get up at 5:30am 5-6 days a week, haul my bike down 4 flights of steps and go biking, most of the time i’ll do about 10 miles or i’ll just ride for an hour. my eating habits aren’t bad, i basically eat boneless skinless chicken, turkey, tofu, shrimp, fish, smoothies, nut mixes, veggie chips, sunflower seeds, salad, steamed or raw carrots and brocolli, the only soda i drink is ginger ale occasionally, i eat red meat maybe twice a year, i haven’t ate fast food in about 2 years and i drink almost a gallon of water a day. i’m going to start alternating between kickboxing and lifting weights in the evenings because i feel like i’m not doing enough.is there anymore i can do or am i buggin out over nothing? any advice?

Susan answers:

First…if you are biking at a moderate pace it will just keep you regulated at what you already are. You need to push yourself with the cardio. Make sure you are breaking a sweat and keeping your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes….at the end of the 30 minutes you want to push yourself to the max and then cool down. Also, and what most women arent aware of is you need to lift weights. Most people think this will bulk you up and it is absolutely not true. If you life weights at a not too light but not too heavy weight this will tone you up and help you lose weight. You want to do 3 sets of 15 reps. Switch up body parts…for instance I do chest and tris one day..back and bis another day and legs another day. This will give your muscles time to heal. Do 3 excercises per body part. Next is your eating…it sounds like you are eating well but make sure you are watching your portions also…eat 5 smaller portions per day instead of 3 larger ones. This will help in the breaking down of your food faster and help lose weight…drink lots of water and be aware of carbs, salts, and things high in calories. I could go on but I dont want to write you a book. So if you have any other questions feel free to email me good luck!

Nancy asks…

Kitty is scratching wool rug?

My otherwise well-behaved cat is scratching my new wool rug (while I sleep, because I sleep like the dead.) I’ve tried sprinkling black pepper on it to no avail. I’d be ever so grateful if anyone has a tried and true method of deterring my cat from doing this, since I haven’t the means of replacing it anytime soon; please help!
Thank you in advance!
China >^..^< Sunflower

Susan answers:

Try putting bits of tin foil on or spray cat repellent

Carol asks…

Don’t worry about the World Series?

Whenever the series resumes don’t worry. 2 weeks later a whole new season starts again, then they play 738 more games then 3 months of playoffs, then the world series again. Yes im being sarcastic, i guess the point im trying to make is the baseball season is too long, and boring, a few seconds of action and the rest of the time players eatin sunflower seeds in the dugout. I used to love the game, now alot has changed and Selig is killing the game I used to love. Anyone else agree?

Susan answers:

You are lost my friend. This game is the best game there is. It is long, yea of course it is long it is baseball. If you really enjoy baseball you would not think it is boring, because baseball is far from boring. Maybe you just dont understand the game. Selig has done lots of things that alot of people dont agree with or like, but get over & just root for your team & watch some games.

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Your Questions About New Sunflower

Posted by Susan | Under Centerpiece Ideas Tuesday Mar 27, 2012

Ruth asks…

Floppy sunflowers/ impatiens?

Hey, I’m trying to start some sunflower and impatien seedlings. The first ones that came up looked very healthy and grew for a while, but then they got floppy and died. I think I’ve been watering them enough, what can be causing the floppiness? I have some new seedlings coming up and they’re all looking very healthy, how can I keep them this way?

Thanks.

Susan answers:

Your plantlets suffered from a condition called ‘damping off’. It is a fungal disease that attacks young plants. Make sure your new plants have a good air circulation (obviously not a breeze) and that they are kept evenly watered. It is known that this condition can be caused by uneven watering, letting the plants dry right out and then flooding them.
Use fresh compost for the new plants because the fungus will be in the old compost.
Here’s a link to show you I’m not making it up – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damping_off

Maria asks…

repotting sunflowers?

i repotted my sunflower plants…but i lost quite a bit of their root system..will they still live? or will they die? i tried to put the roots as far into the new piot as possible..but now their starting to droop. but will they come back to life?

Susan answers:

I don’t have any experience with sunflowers in pots–I’ve always planted mine outside. But any plant that has transplant shock will benefit from constantly moist (not soggy) soil, and diffused light until it recovers. Cut the tips off the leading shoot(s). Try not to disturb them any more than necessary. Gook luck!

Susan asks…

Cockatiel Diet, help!?

so about a month ago i got a 16 week old hand tame cockatiel. he’s an adorable sweet little thing that loves to be petted a cuddled. The one problem i have is that when i got him, he was fed an all seed diet that was actually parakeet seed. i know that’s not healthy so i got him this new cockatiel food that has corn, sunflower seeds, seeds, and pellets, and other things. he does eat it but he looks for the seeds. And when he picks up anything else he tries to eat it but it’s too hard for him to crack and eat, so he drops it back in and looks for seeds to eat. what should i do? i don’t want to continue feeding him just seeds. or when will his beak get stronger, since he’s just a baby right now.

Susan answers:

I don’t think it’s that he’s dropping it because it’s too hard for him to eat or crack. It sounds more like he’s tasting the food you’re giving him. This is a good thing! Not many tiels are prepared to try new strange foods.

The easiest way to get a tiel to a healthier diet is to offer the foods that are the most natural to them, sprouted seed, leafy dark greens, grasses, grains, herbs etc. Tiels are not often attracted to things like fruit because it is not a natural food. They do tend to be more attracted to their grassy leafy type foods so it’s easier & healthier to try & convert to those.

Human food is perfectly fine for your cockatiel as long as it is natural, no salt, fat/oils, sugars etc.

Egg should NOT be an occasional food for them. It should be offered regularly as an animal protein which is important for tiels.

Seed, canary & budgie mixes or your own mixes that don’t contain sunflower seed is better. 24 hour soaked seed is also more nutritional than dry seed.

Pellets are great for those that won’t eat a varied diet.

I feed my tiel all veggies on this list, not fruit as he won’t eat it. At the bottom of that page is also cooked foods which he loves

http://eclectusparrots.net/nutrition.html

Sprouts

http://www.eclectusparrots.net/sprouts.html

Herbs

http://eclectusparrots.net/herbs.html

edible flowers

http://eclectusparrots.net/flowers.html

Eucalyptus

http://eclectusparrots.net/flowers.html

These sort of foods are perfect for tiels.”

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Your Questions About New Sunflower

Posted by Susan | Under Centerpiece Ideas Monday Mar 26, 2012

Lizzie asks…

Questions about Ring Necked doves?

I’m new to doves. I have two siblings, born on 12/24/06

One is fat, eats and drinks like a horse, but has eyes that buldge WAY out from its head. It’s also not overly active.

The second is much thinner. The vet said a little too thin, but active. Normal eyes.

Wondering what could cause the eyes to buldge? Vet is stumped.

Also how do I fatten up my dove? They eat harrison’s organic birdfood supplemented with organic shelled sunflower seeds.

Last, they seem to fight a bit when they swoop down to feed. The fat one pecks at the thin one. All other times they are best friends.

Just looking for some insight.

Also, they get 45 minutes a day to exercise in a spare room. Thin dove flies all around, fat one just hangs out on the sofa and pecks the fabric.
Thanks.

Susan answers:

It may be a infecteion behind the eye and i to used to have a dove and mine really like baby food like the carrots the peas so maybe you could try that for your babys

Sandy asks…

What would go with this ?

http://m.kohls.com/kohlsStore/living_room/whats_new/PRD~837117/Croft+and+Barrow+Sunflower+Welcome+Wreath.jsp

My aunt got me that as a housewarming gift for my fiance and I. I really like, its cute.. My problem?
I would like to do the kitchen in an sunflower theme, but I got an open kitchen and living room floor plan and I really don’t want to do an sunflower theme through the entire living room/kitchen and I don’t want 2 seperate themes. so what do you think?

Susan answers:

That’s cute. If it were me I would paint the kitchen and living area the same color. Mount this plaque either outside your door or just inside the front door. For the kitchen keep your “themed things” simple and easily replaceable… Like towels and pot holder and maybe a picture or two. Display the towels prominently and threaten the hubby with bodily harm if he wipes hands on them. (lol) Don’t go overboard with the theme… You don’t want to look like you bought out a sunflower shop. Just accent the room here and there.

If you paint the rooms in the same or similar colors it will flow.

Laura asks…

help i don’t know what to plant!?

Hi im a very new gardener im that new that my grass is only just coming, anyway I’ve dug out a border and i dont know what to plant and were i have a few bushes well there twigs now but I’ve been told they will be bushes and I’ve planted some Lilly’s but i want it really full and colourful oh i live in the u.k (hull) oh and i was growing sunflowers inside and when i transfred them outside they died immeditaly. why?

Susan answers:

Your sunflowers died because it was too cold. The garden centres are full of annual plants, and it is very temping to buy early, but you can still get a frost up to the end of May. That will kill them, garden centres love that as you go back and buy more. If you buy annual plants (they will give you the colour you want) wait a while. Busy lizzies are good, allyisun is easy, and the french marigolds. You could sow some seeds directly into the ground. Pot marigolds, Californian poppy are both easy. They self seed and come back the next year. Markets are also a good place to buy plants, usually cheaper, ask the seller what plants are easy and if they like sun or shade. Most annual plants like sun. Lilies are greedy so give them plant food. Good Luck.

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Your Questions About New Sunflower

Posted by Susan | Under Centerpiece Ideas Monday Mar 26, 2012

Ruth asks…

Please offer your opinion it really matters…!!!?

A silent drama
A silent cry
Fate was the director
The actors were too shy?

Why did he lose?
This round against fate
Plan A didn’t work
Plan B has to wait

It’s a feeling after all
It has no taste
He should have waited for growth
He should not have made haste

If it were to evolve
It would look like a rose
A dainty figure
Like her I suppose

Its fragrance would be just like her
moving as the sun to sunflowers
as new aromas emerge
maturing with april showers

That touch of this feeling…
so sensual and fragile
demanding a touch
to sculpture her smile
—————-

The acts themselves
were black and white
not crystal clear
but two emotions that fight

One scene, however,
Defies all doubts
The actor connected, then
He displayed what he was about

His feeling was clear
but it pulled him off the track
he was a different person
A feeling she liked he now lacks?
Yet, he would glance at her
And try not to be caught
He would gaze at her
But she’d want him to stop

Here is the dramatic irony
everyone doubted his chances
because he couldn’t figure out two and two
that she did not want his glances

One day a warm smile
the next the coldest shoulder
she made it so confusing
Yet he didn’t want it to be over

But once told
he knew what was to be done
He will never forget her
She is more than just someone

Hope she’s out there
reading what I have to say
You’re too nice, Thank you
Have a nice day

But perhaps
he should leave with one more try
its not over until you
say goodbye

So he says:

Hey
you wanna light up my candle
cause this sudden blackout
is too much to handle

No response:

Curtain calls
and candle’s out
she won’t light my fire
so I Take a bow

Susan answers:

You have some really great lines in this poem, such as sun to sunflower, to sculpture her smile. The only error I find with this,. And I must say it is a big one, is that this poem is too long for the style you chose, and the fact that it is very abstract makes the reader lose interest as they read. I get a vague idea of what you;re talking about, but it is disjointed , as the poem reads like I am an outsider looking through a window, seeing the gestures a family makes at the dinner table, but not hearing their words. You sound like you have a firm grip on vocabulary and sentence structure, but just need to organize your ideas better and use more imagery to give the reader an experience.

When I first started reading this, I pictured an actor getting chosen during rehearsals to play a part. Then to me it sounded as if he didn’t start off doing such a great job, then it jumps to a female, sculpted, sensuous, but who is this female? My guess, (and it’s only a guess) is that she is the actress in the play, and the two of you are doing a scene? There is a slight inference that you have feelings for her, but again, there is not enough in the poem to tell me this. Just short lines that only you can understand. I hope I helped.

Betty asks…

How to add object to an array?

Assume Plant class with subclasses (below) is already defined
Flower >> Sunflower
Bush >> Thornbush

Plant class contains
private String name;
public Plant(){
name = “Default”;
}
public Plant(String name){
this.name = name;
}

//all subclasses have a no arg constructor and String name parameter similar to Plant class
ex. Sunflower(){
super();
super.setName() = “”;
}
Sunflower(String name)

DIRECTIONS:
Create an array with variable “plantae” that can reference these 5 Plant objects.
Plant object with the name “Tropical Species”
Bush object with the name “Shrub”
Flower object with the name “Hydrangea”
Sunflower object with the name “Tall Sunflower”
Thornbush object with the name “Short Thornbush”

use a loop to reference each object in the array to call some methods
for each Plant object in array plantae output:
Call the move method
Call the myColor method
Call the getName method and append “-organic” and call setName method with this new name
Call the getName method and output the new name
if the object is Sunflower, call the countSeeds method
if the object is Thornbush, call the countThorns method
output a blank line
End of for loop

I’m so confused. How do I add the objects to an array.
And I don’t understand when creating the objects is the name the string parameter or variable?

For instance would it be
Flower Hydrangea = new Flower();
OR Flower Hydrangea = newFlower(“Hydrangea”);

and as for the array I’ve tried
Collection plantae = new ArrayList();
plantae.add(new Plant(“Tropical Species”)); //sample object1 of 5 objects required
for(Plant i : plantae){
//how to call move(), getColor(), getName() etc for each individual object?
System.out.println(i);

//Having difficulty on calling methods and other directions for the loop body
Thank you so much blackcompe for taking the time to really help me and provide links. Yes I am still a novice programmer still learning and practicing ^_^ everything you said has been really helpful and the links are great! Again thanks so much!

Susan answers:

Here’s a small example:

class Plant {
String name; //this is called a class member or attribute; it’s like the field of a database table
Plant(){} //no-arg constructor, you can call this and create a Plant object without specifying it’s name
Plant(String s){ name = s; }//call this constructor when, you want to specify the objects name
void setName(String s) {name = s;} //method is used to set name after calling no-arg constructor
String getName(){ return name; }
}

//so you have a choice, call the no-arg constructor and call setName() when your ready
//or immediately use the constructor that requires the name of the plant

Plant p1 = new Plant(“rose”);
Plant p2 = new Plant();
p2.setName(“rose”);

Both methods essentially produce the same thing, a Plant object with a attribute called “name” with a value equal to “rose.”

Ok, so the array part. If you have a look at the ArrayList documentation in the Java API, you’ll see the description of the “add” method: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/java/util/ArrayList.html#add%28java.lang.Object%29.

I suspect that your new at Java programming and should probably focus on the non-generic collections first. The generic version isn’t hard, it’s hard to just jump into advanced concepts. But whatever, just a thought. I’ll use a non-generic example, first:

ArrayList list = new ArrayList();

Without a bound object, the list assumes your adding an “Object.” That is an instance of any Java class, since they all are subclasses of the class “Object.” This means you can place anything in the list.

List.add(new String(“One”));
list.add(new Integer(1));
list.add(new Plant(“rose”));
list.add(new Plant());

What is a bound object? When your using the generic version of a collection (list, map, set), you must bind an object to it. That object will be what the list expects you to add. It won’t accept anything else.

ArrayList stringList = new ArrayList();
stringList.add(new String(“One”)); //no error
stringList.add(new Plant()); //compile-time error

Here, the bound object is a String. So, it will only expect that you’ll add a String object to it. Using generic collections, you can guarantee what goes into and out of the list. It’s refer to as “type safe.” So, when you call the “get” method of your collection, you don’t have to cast, because your absolute that all the object’s are whatever the bound object is.

ArrayList list = new ArrayList();
list.add(new Plant()); //OK
String s = list.get(0); //compile-time error because of needed cast, OK, let’s try casting
String s1 = (String)list.get(0); //run-time error (ClassCastException), a “Plant” is not a “String”
If you feel like your ready to use generics, then see the latest version of the API: http://www.j2ee.me/javase/6/docs/api/java/util/ArrayList.html#add%28E%29. Generics were added in Java 5.

Let’s try with generics:

ArrayList stringList = new ArrayList();
stringList.add(new String(“One”));
String s = stringList.get(0); //no cast needed, because we know all the objects are type “String.”

Much cleaner and error free. Using generics is what enables you to use the advanced for loop.

For(Plant p: plantae) { System.out.println(p.getName()); }

If you used the non-generic collection, that for loop would throw a compile-time error. If you do decide to use the non-generic form, you must remember to cast, when you call the “get” method.

You can call an object’s method using the “dot operator.”

Plant p = new Plant();
p.setName(“rose”);
String name = p.getName();

Mandy asks…

Dwarf hamster diet question?

I got my dwarf about 3 days ago. I’ve had hamster experience but for some reason this one won’t eat veggies or fruit. She smells it and then ignores it. She only ate sunflower seeds from me a couple of times. Other times I hAve to leave the seed on the bedding and she will then eat it. Is this because she is new to me or because she doesn’t like he fruits and veggies I’m trying to give her? Thx.

Susan answers:

Its prolly just that she isnt use to eating them. Get her some rat pellets, most pet stores have them, and some regular hamster food and see how she eats those. keep the fruits and veggies available, and she might warm up to them.

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Your Questions About New Sunflower

Posted by Susan | Under Centerpiece Ideas Sunday Mar 25, 2012

Mandy asks…

How do i do this?

how do i extract genetic material (information in genes like hair color,eyes color,how tall,dark skin light skin etc.) from one seed(corn,bean,sunflower or wichever is easist) and put it into another seed to make a new kind of plant(or animal(dont worry i wont test it in animals))
what material do i need polease be specific about this
ahhh i already have the lab and materals i just want to know if i have the right ones

Susan answers:

An individual can not do what you are asking to do outside of a laboratory where there is very specialized equipment, and then only if the individual has very specialized training. In general terms what you are speaking of is “gene transference.” The process does not “make a new kind of plant or animal”…when properly done, it enhances the make-up of the existing organism…leading to (GMO) – genetically modified organisms. Some commerical plant varieties have been genetically modified in the hope of obtaining higher crop yields.

Hybridization (controlled parentage of plant and animal individuals) has been in existence since the beginnings of mankind and agriculture. This is genetic modification in a very broad sense. Most of the things we enjoy eating today are the results of hybridization.

Hope this helps!

Maria asks…

Do you believe this?

I got this email reply from Mcdonanld regarding their fries. Should I believe it?
Thank you for your recent email regarding our menu items and the food we serve at McDonald’s. In answer to your specific enquiry, I would like to assure you that the French Fries served here in the UK contain no traces of animal flavourings and are not precooked.
McDonald’s French Fries are cooked in a new non- hydrogenated blend of sunflower and rapeseed oil, making them 100 percent vegetarian-friendly. You may also be interested to know that our French Fries are fully approved by the Vegetarian Society.
A full listing of ingredients for all our Menu items is available at www.mcdonalds.co.uk.
Please refer to the ‘Eat Smart’ section and follow the links for the ‘Ingredients List’ for further information.

Should you require any further clarification on our menu items or on any other aspect of
our business then please do not hesitate to revisit our web site or alternatively telephone
us on the number below.

Regards

Christine Coleman
Internet Response Team

McDonald’s Customer Services Department
11 – 59 High Road
East Finchley
London
N2 8AW

Tel: 08705 244622

http://www.seedlingshowcase.com/corporate/product.asp?id=50301

I just found this.
I dont know what to believe now but the fries and Banana Milkshake are on the approved products list on the vegetarian society website.
Should I start eating them again?

Susan answers:

If they’ve gone to that amount of trouble to reply to your email enquiry, then I see no reason why you shouldn’t believe them. And if they were to lie then it’d be on their heads, you wouldn’t be blamed for eating something that wasn’t deemed halal.
I’m sure they wouldn’t lie like that either, they’re like a massive international business, no joke, so shouldn’t be lying. So rest assured and enjoy the fries and milkshake.

Sandra asks…

What do you think of this poem? It would mean a lot for your opinion…?