Company to donate $50 for each mixer purchase

Company to donate $50for each mixer purchase
It's not easy to pull off pink. But the new Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer ($249) shows the color in all its glory. And couldn't be prettier.
Among the various kitchenware items in the new Williams-Sonoma spring catalog is the mixer, which features planetary action and a tilting head that allows for easy removal of the bowl and beater. And though the mixer comes in an array of colors, if you buy it in pink, Kitchen Aid will donate $50 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Other novel items in the spring catalog include the Rose Bundt Pan ($29), for baking a rose-shaped cake, and nonstick Farm Animals Pancake Molds ($16).
Items are available online at www.williams-sonoma.com or at Williams-Sonoma stores. Call (877) 812-6235 for more information.
Wilting clematis plants are too young or have malady
Q. I have tried growing clematis three times, and each time the plant dries up and dies back to the ground just as it's ready to bloom. The plant looks healthy up to that point, but then it dies suddenly. What's wrong?
A. There are two likely explanations, said Bill Bird of the International Clematis Society: Either the plants were too young, or they suffered from a mysterious malady called clematis wilt.
Sometimes small, bare-root clematis plants are sold to the public before they're ready for the garden, Bird said. Those young plants should be grown in a pot for up to a year before they're transplanted.
The other possibility, clematis wilt, is a condition with an unknown cause that seems to be associated with a fungus, he said. Other theories involve damage from snails, slugs or burrowing animals, or a genetic weakness due to hybridization.
Whatever the cause, clematis wilt causes the stems to die suddenly, as yours did. Usually the plant comes back eventually, sometimes up to a year later, Bird said. There is no known cure or preventative measure, so Bird recommended choosing wilt-resistant cultivars, including the popular Jackmanii group. He will send a list of his recommended cultivars to anyone who e-mails him at diveanddigaol.com. (Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening?)
Hand-held shower headsprovide flexibility
A shower head attached to a flexible hose not only makes bathing easier, but is also handy for cleaning the tub or shower. A hand-held shower provides greater flexibility than a standard spray head by letting you control the direction and height of the spray.
The key to the versatility of this shower is a vinyl hose, usually 50 inches to 60 inches long, with threaded fittings at each end. A handle and spray head are attached to one end. The other end connects to the shower arm -- the curved pipe that holds your current shower head.
Hand showers generally are sold in kits that contain the spray head, hose and a mounting bracket. If the hand shower is to be installed in addition to the existing spray head, you'll need to purchase an in-line diverter. Hand-held showers come in a variety of styles and spray patterns. With all the choices available, you're sure to find something that will meet your needs and your pocketbook.
Things to think aboutbefore wallpapering
Thinking about wallpapering your walls? Here are some tips from F. Schumacher & amp; Co. Interior Design Group:
UTry nature-inspired and botanical designs for an outdoorsy feel in a sitting room or library.
UUse scenic and mural designs in large areas to fill and best use the space.
UGo for color. Vibrant colors energize a room. Deeper shades exude warmth.
UBe sure your wallpaper and furnishings complement each other and don't compete for attention.
Precautions on pesticides:Always keep them outside
Many homeowners annually do battle with pests around the garden. Reckless use of poisonous pesticides can be harmful to your health, your family's health and the ecosystems of local streams and rivers.
When working with pesticides, wear rubber gloves and protective clothing, and never spray on a windy day. When you're finished, gloves should be rinsed in the garden, and tainted clothing should be allowed to air-dry in the sun. Simply tossing them in the clothes washer will send pesticides into the sewer and ultimately into fresh-water systems. The same is true when cleaning up spray applicators. They always should be rinsed outside, and not in a sink.
Finally, many pet shampoos contain pesticides. Therefore, when it comes to washing your pet, do it in the yard rather than in the bathtub.
Barriers keep the heatfrom hurting efficiency
The LP company has introduced roof sheathing called TechShield, designed to reduce the amount of the sun's radiant energy entering the attic.
When this energy hits the roof, the surface heats up, and the heat radiates into the attic, where it is conducted through the attic floor into living areas. Air-conditioning ductwork in the attic also is heated, reducing cooling efficiency.
LP says TechShield prevents up to 97 percent of the radiant energy from entering the attic, leaving attic temperatures up to 30 degrees lower. That cuts the amount of energy needed to keep the house cool.
Since the invention of aluminum foil in the 1930s, researchers have developed dozens of uses for radiant-barrier materials.
NASA researchers developed "metalized plastic" materials to protect spacecraft from extreme temperatures in outer space.
In health care, radiant-barrier blankets are used to warm patients by reflecting their own body heat.
And radiant-barrier materials are being used in agriculture to extend the growing season for high-value crops.
For more information, visit www.lpcorp.com on the Web or call (800) 648-6893.
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