#on the back of a large book? a decent temporary solution

[myothertardisisonthemun]

Usually my desk has my computer on it, and looks something like this

But after coming home from a minerals exhibit, and unpacking them all, it looks more like this

I need to use the computer, but don't want to end the rock show....

[achaoticeternal]

Confidentiality Agreement  [Asset Protection - Part 2]

masterlist // taglist

part 1

RANSOM DRYSDALE X READER

A/N: With so many people requesting a part 2 within the first 24 hours of the work being up, I just hade to write a part. I’m so happy you guys enjoyed my Ransom work! Lots of love!

Summary: With the Thrombey clan in quite the rabbit hole, Random and Linda decide it’s best for you to relocate. Will you adjust and stay safe? Word Count: 2.9k Warning(s): Language, Shirtless Ransom, Stalking, creepiness??

The three of you - Linda, Ransom, and yourself - sat in Harlan’s old office, attempting to discussing plans for a temporary living situation for yourself. For the past half hour, Ransom and Linda had been bickering back and forth about what was appropriate and what would work for all three of you.

“I understand that it would be efficient to have her here, but you already have one investigation going on in this house. Do you want two?” Ransom asked his mother as he si[[ed the brandy from his old-fashioned glass.

“I am not putting my secretary up in some Boston motel or hotel. The world has proven itself to be to dangerous even for a simple girl to be left alone,” Linda spoke as she scribbled words onto a sticky note, “and we still don’t know who invited that backwoods Kentucky detective.”

It somewhat surprised you that the pair could easily talk about you as if you were just another business pawn or not even in the same room as them. “Pardon me, I’m sorry, but I believe Hugh is trying to present another solution.”

Ransom’s nose crinkled slightly when you used his real name. He knew it was only because you were in front of his mother, but it didn’t settle right with him - or at least that is how he put it, “Exactly. I think that the solution is right in front of our nose and we just need to address it.”

There was a pause in the room. 

“Well, go on then,” Linda gestured at her son.

“(Y/N) needs to come stay with me. I have the room in my house, and she’s familiar with me and my habits. Ever since you put her on my tail, I’ve been more ‘behaved’. She’ll have her own room, an office, internet connection. She’ll be quite...” Ransom glanced over to you. His eyes met yours before scanning your face and returning his gaze to your eyes, “comfortable with me.”

The office fell into silence once again as Linda thought over the situation. Maybe you wouldn’t be with her directly and everything her son had said was one hundred percent true. He did come up with quite to solution.

“Fine, but you need to drive her to my office every Thursday and join her on any outings until things seem to calm down in both our current situations,” Linda’s attention turned to you and she sighed, “I guess you should go get your things gathered and pack to stay with Ransom until this all - blows over.”

                                                        -     -     -

“Mother I- I didn’t have much say in any of it. Everything just - no, I understand that, mother. You know coming home couldn’t be an option. I understand the severity of - No, she, - yes okay, the whole family needs me here still. I can’t pause my life just because some creep hid a note- Yes I understand that I was in the ER...” Your mother continued to nag in your ear as you packed your toiletries away. 

Entering your room again, you started skimming over the various suitcases and bags on your bed. Then you crossed over to your desk to make sure all your necessary technology was packed away. This routine kept looping - mother in your ear, frantically checking bags again, finding something else you mostly likely needed.

It didn’t stop until you heard a cough in your doorway. Turning, you caught Ransom leaning against the door frame, an eye brow raised in amusement at your frenzied state.

“Mother, I’ll call you once everything is settled and I don’t have a thousand emails to respond to. I love you too. Yes, tell grandmama I love her. Yes- okay. Bye now,” you hung up the phone and looked to Ransom for any relief.

He walked up to you and glanced over your face just like in Harlan's office. His eyes gave away his thought process of what to say or how to react to your current emotional and mental state. It seemed he finally made a decision when he grabbed your hand, almost in reassurance. 

Ransom opened his mouth to talk, but closed it quickly. His nose scrunched and he licked his lips before beginning to talk again, “I’ll start taking your finished bags to the car.”

                                                       -     -     -

“Do I need to give you a tour, or do you think you know your way around the house?” Ransom quipped, stepping into the modern playboy bachelor pad. Behind him, you tugged in two large suitcases, a  travel bag for toiletries hanging off one shoulder, and your laptop bag hanging off the other shoulder. Should you have made two trips to the car instead? Yes. Should Ransom also at least offered to help? Yes.

Sometimes, it seemed to slip your mind that though Ransom was kinder to you than he was to his family sometimes, he still was never the picture-perfect gentlemen. It didn’t matter if his background fit the story, Ransom never tried to be a gentleman to get further, he just learned how to manipulate things his way.

“Well, I mean, a real tour doesn’t sound bad. You’ve never given me one before and it lets you go ahead and let me know where you don’t want me to go,” You attempted to pull the suitcases over the little bump in the doorway, but they wouldn’t budge with both you and the items being so weighted down, “Can I just get a little bit of help please?”

Ransom sighed, taking both suitcases from your grip. He pushed down the extended handles and picked them up by the clothed handles. Lifting them with ease, he started walking towards the living room and you followed behind him quickly, muttering a small thank you.

“Alright, I’ll show you your room and where you can set up a small office or workspace if you happen to need it,” he set the suitcases down against the wall and you placed your bags on the couch for temporary holding. 

“Sounds good. And then dinner?”

“Sure. We can order delivery I guess.”

“Delivery? Ransom, I’m sure there’s something in this glamorous bachelor’s pad we could make,” you offered him a kind smile, “Besides, it can be some sort of payment or thank you for letting me stay with you for a while.”

The blonde smirked and shook his head a little bit, “I don’t quite mind you being here, you know that you’re one of the few people I... tolerate.”

His words caused a small giggle under your breath, “Okay, so which room will I be in?”

“Follow me,” he walked with a swagger across the floor and began to ascend the stairs. You tried to keep up behind him, but for the first time, you noticed how homey his house was. Fine pieces of art and autographs on the wall, a modern statue that fits well under the modern stairs. If there were pictures of children and a married couple as well, it could’ve been misread as a family home. Shaking your thoughts, you jogged up the rest of the stairs so Ransom wouldn’t think you were lagging behind.

“So this room,” he stepped into the first door on the right, “is my office. I really don’t use it that much, if at all. You’re welcome to set up whatever you like, however you like if you prefer a more formal office.”

“This looks like an office an author would use or sit in for hours.”

Ransom shook his head, “Harlan hopped that would be precisely why I used the office and why it’s eerily similar to his own. But I’ve been clearing out the large bookcases because I’m a man who really enjoys using his space. Let me show you the room, I think you’ll like it.”

The pair of you exited and walked across the to the second door on the left. When he opened the door, he revealed a room that looked like a hotel would book for hundreds - if not a thousand - dollars a night. The queen-sized bed had a white duvet with pillows of soft green hues.with a brass bed frame and bar headboard. A large, birch dresser was against the wall in front of the bed and had a large flat-screen TV mounted above it. One large window took up most of the wall across from the door where you stood. A brass bar lined the top and white, translucent curtains hung at either side. Outside, you could see both the woods and a lively town in the distance, yet also see the watercolor sky. It was absolutely beautiful. 

“Wow, Ransom, this is- perfect,” you were awe-struck.

“I just kind of guessed. I knew you preferred a minimalist aesthetic with a touch of chic so it kind of worked out,” He gave you a half-smile, “so, I’ll bring your bags up later, but dinner?”

“Right. Let’s go dig through that kitchen of yours and see what we can whip up?” You exited the room with Ransom on your tail.

“We?” He questioned.

You looked over your shoulder and threw him a playful smile, “Well it’s not like you’re going to be overly helpful so I’ll be cooking 85% of the meal while you help with a small 15%,” You stopped in your tracks as you looked towards his end of the hall, “Ransom, what behind that door next to your bedroom door?”

“I guess it’s what you would call a man cave. When old friends drop by and their wives are around, the guys and I hang out in there where I keep the good liquor,” he said seamlessly, “No female has ever passed through that door.”

“Ah, alrighty then,” You continued down the stairs with Ransom stalking down behind you, “I better not find leftovers that are older than a week in your fridge. Your mother will have me cleaning it out and I don’t need that.”

Both of you made your way into the kitchen. Ransom leaned against the counter by the sink and pulled out his phone. He knew well enough by now that you’d probably pick out something decent to make and wouldn’t poison him quite yet, or at least that’s how you perceived. 

“Alexa, play Two Chellos,” you called out to the AI before opening the pantry. Inside, it was well-organized thanks to one of your most recent visits. The spice rack was manageable and there was a clear distinction between his pre- and post-workout snacks. You pulled out a bag of jasmine rice and placed it onto the marble island. 

Then, you crossed to the fridge and opened its double doors. First searching through the vegetable door, you grabbed a head of broccoli for a second side to the dish. Once placing it on the island behind you, you started to search for chicken breasts, but your search came to a still. A hand rested itself on your hip as Ransom seemed to accidentally press himself against you as he reached for a water bottle above your head, “Pardon me.” 

Once he stepped away, you let out the breath you were holding in. You shook your head and took a deep breath, reminding yourself that small touch meant absolutely nothing. Grabbing the chicken and broccoli, you stepped away from the fridge and walked to the counter to begin prepping.

“Will you start cubing the chicken while I start on the broccoli and rice?” You asked, bending down to get to cutting board out of a cabinet. When you faced him again, he just seemed to look at you confused. “Never mind, just fill up a small pot with a cup of water and put it on to boil, please.” 

He set his phone face down on the counter as he pulled a small pot off one of the hanging fixtures. Then he made his way across the kitchen as you began to cut the broccoli florets from the stem. Once that was completed and the broccoli was separated into a bowl, you began trimming any leftover fat from the chicken breasts. Finally, you cubed the chicken and scrapped it into a separate bowl.

You crossed towards the sink to drop off the knife and cutting board, along with washing your hands, “Can you please get the soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and sesame seeds out of the pantry?”

“Yes ma’am,” Ransom strolled into the pantry to get the needed ingredients for the marinade. Once your hands were clean from any chicken bacteria, you went to the stove to take the rice off the heat and fluff it. Then again, you set it to the side and placed a pan onto the gas lit eye of the stove top.

Ransom returned and placed the items, along with the bowl of chicken, on the counter adjacent to you before exiting the kitchen. You hummed to the tune of the cellos as you continued preparing supper. 

As you were stirring the chicken and broccoli in the teriyaki sauce of the pan, Ransom came up behind. His hips pressed against your lower back and his left hand met your hip. The close proximity entranced you by his warmth and his scent, until he placed a glass of white wine to the right of you. His right hand traced up your arm until his fingers rested under your chin.

With ease, Ransom turned your head to look up at him. He closed his eyes, took a sniff of the food cooking in the pan, and the corner of his mouth twitched up slightly. He opened his eyes again, “Dinner smells... delicious.”

Your heart beat against your chest and you realized how close your faces were. Licking your lips, you glanced down to his and back to his eyes before taking a shallow breath. You tried to savor what you could of the moment, but it could easily escalate too quickly, so you asked, “Would you be so kind as to grab us some plates?”

                                                      -     -     -

After diner, the pair of you decided to call it an early night since the past 36 hours had been quite an en devour. All too quickly your life had changed and you barely had time to react, much less cope. So you had taken a nice warm shower, and then slipped into some simple striped, cotton pajamas. 

Everything was peaceful. The fan blowing softly, the Alexa at your nightstand playing rain sounds, and the ease of sleep was astonishing. This was all until a loud crash, like glass breaking, echoed from the kitchen. If that wasn’t enough to only wake you, the loud rev of an engine could awaken a bear in hibernation.

In record time, Ransom was in your room, “Are you okay? Did anything happen up here?” He held a long, narrow knife in one hand as he stood at the foot of your bed in nothing but a tight pair of briefs. 

“I-I’m fine,” You responded, short of breath, 

His brows scrunched together as his mind raced with various thought before, “I’m going downstairs to check,” and he exited.

“No no no, I’m coming with you,” crawling out from the blankets and satin sheets. If an intruder was still in the house, Ransom could most likely overpower them better and quicker than you could. 

He motioned for you to stay behind him, but close, as the pair of you crept down the stairs together. Each step seemed to slow down time and make it harder to breath. This is supposed to be a safe place. Somewhere to lay low and live easy.

You both stalked towards the kitchen, lights coming on with Ransom’s call to the Alexa. Everything was clear. Any intruder was gone. 

As Ransom searched around to verify it was only to pair of you in the house, you looked around the kitchen. Something felt off, but everything still looked the same. You crossed over towards the sink where dirty pans sat when a small twinkle caught your eye. 

Once you approached the sink, the twinkle was confirmed to be a wine glass - the very glass you used earlier that night - that lay shattered on the floor in a pool of red wine. Next to the spill laid a piece of paper.

“RANSOM! Hurry!!!” you yelled out to him as tears began to spill from your eyes.

His stomps echoed at the walls as he met you in the kitchen. Once he saw the you were unharmed besides your tears, he hugged you too his chest. When he didn’t feel you relax into him, he turned his head to wheres your eyes were locked on the floor.

“Fuck!” He let you go as he knelled down to snatch up the paper. He opened it and his eyes scanned the page. He folded it back before standing and pulling you back into his chest. 

No matter how many times he shushed you or rubbed circles against your back, nothing calmed. You wouldn’t be able to relax into him until you saw what the note said.

“I- I need to read it.”

Ransom let you go and opened the paper for you to read. Wiping away your tears, you read:

Maybe a change in scenery will do you some good. You can run, but you can’t hide. Many truths are sure to surface soon

Xx

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ransom drysdale taglist:

@melannie77 @heyiamthatbitch @hughrxnsomdrysdale @bval-1 @electrictaurus @princess-evans-addict @swagmonstertoes @everythingaboutnothingstuff @givemebooksorgivemedeath @widowlcver @bookgirlunicorn @wangdeasang @dumblani @anhelz @underratedmisfit @moonlightmvrvl @mrspeacem1nusone

asset protection taglist:

@thicc-daddy-evans @shygirl-00 @livingoffsavvyillusions @ms-betsy-fangirl @jessyballet @melannie77 @heyiamthatbitch @lil-lex1 @hughrxnsomdrysdale @bval-1 @electrictaurus @imsonick @princess-evans-addict @elsasshole @cheshire-salvatore-mikaelson @swagmonstertoes @everythingaboutnothingstuff @just-add-butter @insposcollective @widowlcver @sir-samus @wangdeasang @my-favorite-fics-and-imagines @underratedmisfit​ @moolightmvrvl @jianawoods @canny1902​ @aamcqueeny​

** a strike through your username means I couldn’t tag you :(

[thumbgarden]

What causes garlic leaves turning yellow

In the agronomy of garlic cultivation, there is a natural yellowing associated with the end of the growing season, which occurs causally when violations of planting rules lead to diseases or deviation from the norms of physical-biological development during the growing season due to damage by pests. To identify the causes of garlic leaves turning yellow, consider the possible causes in this article and provide positive and consistent ways to protect the crop from negative factors that affect garlic yield and quality.

CAUSES OF GARLIC LEAVES TURNING YELLOW Garlic is divided into 2 groups - spring garlic and winter garlic. Yellowing of spring leaves is more common in winter garlic. The causes of yellowing can be broken down as follows. 1. Stress factors caused by violation of agronomic cultivation techniques. 2. Infection of plants by fungal and microbial microbiota. 3. Pest infestation. Violation of cultivation rules that cause garlic leaves to turn yellow In order to identify the causes and take timely measures to protect the garlic from premature yellowing of leaves, it is initially necessary to clearly observe all agronomic cultivation techniques: 1. Soil preparation and fertilization. 2. Selection and preparation of planting materials. 3. Proper planting. 4. Care during the autumn, winter, and spring/summer periods. Consider the possible violation of agricultural techniques that can lead to the yellowing of garlic leaves. If the yellowing of garlic leaves is caused by violation of agricultural techniques, good care, timely fertilization and watering will compensate for the lack of care and the plant will provide a decent yield of garlic heads after the formation of new shoots.

1. Acidification of the soil Garlic is a crop that requires neutral soil. With the prolonged application of mineral fertilizers, the root-bearing layer of the soil becomes slightly acidified, to which garlic reacts by turning the leaves yellow, as some of the nutrients are not available through the root system. In this case, the plant uses the nutrients in the leaves for development. Before planting garlic, it is necessary to apply wood ash to the soil at a rate of 1-1.5 cups per 11 square feet of area and to re-till the soil. Keep in mind that ash applications should not be combined with mineral fertilizers. Fertilizer is applied at the time of re-tillage, ash - before planting tubers and vice versa, but the time difference is not less than 2-2.5 months. It is possible to use dolomite powder or limestone for deoxygenation. In rotational planting, it is prescribed to apply organic fertilizer under the previous one.

2. Poor quality planting material and planting errors When planting, make sure that only large and healthy planting materials are selected. Garlic cloves should be disinfected with manganese or other methods beforehand. After preparing the soil, form a bed for planting. If necessary, water over the furrows. Plant the garlic cloves at a depth of 1.5-2inch (4-5 cm). With different sizes of planting material, germination will be uneven, which will cause seedlings to respond differently to the effects of the environment. Strong plants will tolerate temporary changes in temperature and humidity. Weak ones (from small cloves) will lag behind in development and may die completely. In shallow plantings, garlic may be partially frozen by back frost, especially if there is no snow cover or if it thaws quickly. In cold soils, the root system does not work and the plant absorbs nutrients from the leaves to maintain growth and development. Externally, this stressful situation manifests itself as yellowing of the leaves. If garlic cloves are planted too deeply, the soil does not have time to warm up sufficiently for the root system to work and the leaves begin to turn yellow. To prevent weather conditions from adversely affecting your plants, you should cover your plants with film overnight in the spring until the frost period has passed. To improve the resistance of the crop to weather fluctuations, it is necessary to treat the plants with any biostimulants (epi- and others).

3. Violation of the planting date of garlic Garlic should be planted at the recommended time. Planting garlic too early promotes the formation of above-ground masses, which are more subject to weather conditions. If garlic is planted too late, the root system does not have enough time to form and the plant reacts quite painfully to any changes in environmental weather conditions.

4. Violations in garlic care in autumn and winter In southern regions, where autumn is often long and dry if necessary, it is necessary to water plants covered with mulch with a small amount of water. In winters with long frosts, it is better to cover the garlic bed with extra snow or to toss it with branches that retain snow. Positive results can be obtained by planting garlic in sumac, which plays the role of mulch - both a green fertilizer and a snow accumulator.

5. Incorrect fertilization of garlic The yellowing of garlic leaves in spring may be caused by a lack of nitrogen nutrients. To keep the nitrogen in the root-containing layer and not in the lower layers with water, you need to use ammonium sulfate or urea as part of a complete fertilizer for garlic when you prepare the soil in the fall. If no fertilizer is applied from autumn (for various reasons) and in early spring when the leaves of garlic start to turn yellow, the first fertilizer for garlic should be a nitrogen fertilizer, and once the plants start to grow, further fertilizer is applied according to the agricultural technique of this cultivation. In rainy spring, it is better to feed with nitrogen in the form of ammonium and amide (urea, ammonium sulfate).

If the weather is dry, it is more practical to feed garlic with ammonium nitrate pre-dissolved in water (20-25 g/2.6 Gal of water heated in the sun). Some gardeners use grass ashes at the first feeding in spring, 100-150 g/11 sq ft. Ash contains high levels of trace elements, including potassium and magnesium, deficiencies of which can also cause garlic leaves to turn yellow. Ash has a positive effect on the growth and development of the root system, above-ground parts, and hoarding organs. If grass ash is applied in autumn and garlic leaves start to turn yellow in spring (under all other positive conditions), this means that several elements are missing or their ratio is disturbed. In this case, it is better to make nitroaminophoska, azoxystrobin, nitrophoska in the form of a solution or other complete fertilizer at a dose of 25-30 g/11 sq ft, according to the recommendations. Method of fertilizer application. 1. The nutrient solution is applied in furrows, cut between rows of garlic, and covered with soil or mulch. 2. Some gardeners recommend applying the nutrient solution by irrigating the entire area occupied by the garlic. 3. Fertilizer applied through shallow loosening is incorporated into the soil or applied under irrigation. The method of fertilizer application depends on weather conditions and the owner's preference.

6. Garlic is not watered correctly Yellowing of the leaves of garlic may result from insufficient moisture content in the soil. Particularly severe leaf discoloration has been observed in young plants. Therefore, water regularly and adequately from April to June (depending on the region) as the plants develop and the cloves set and grow. The water must be fresh and warm in the sun. Also, garlic does not tolerate waterlogging and frequent rainfall requires drainage ditches along the garlic planting rows. After watering, the soil should be covered with mulch and further watered over the mulch so as not to expose the forming heads to the sun. If the agronomic requirements are met on time in terms of quality, but the garlic leaves are yellowing and more and more plants are covered, there is no doubt that the planting is affected by pests and diseases. In this case, it is necessary to. 1. Check carefully the stems and leaves of garlic. 2. Dig out several plants in different places and check the root system and garlic heads. 3. Use a reference book to determine the name of the disease or pest and the preparation for protection. 4. If you have diseases and pests on the same plant, prepare mixed jars of treatment plants and check their compatibility beforehand.

GARLIC DISEASES THAT ACCOMPANY YELLOWING OF LEAVES Garlic diseases that cause yellowing of the leaves include 1. White rot and basal rot. 2. Aspergillus niger. 3. Blue or green Penicillium. 4. Fusarium wilt. 5. Peronospora. 6. Garlic rust. Rust, mildew and dew are fungal-bacterial diseases. They affect plants mainly at the arrival of warm and humid or dry and hot weather, during which mycelium grows intensively in the soil and on the ground. At that time, sporangia with spores (ASCII) are formed, initiating a new infestation. Some spores survive in the soil for 25 to 30 years. Therefore, if garlic leaves turn yellow and light white-gray downy fungal growth is found at the base of the leaves, along the stems, roots, and gears, treatment should be started immediately.

1. Control measures for diseases causing yellowing of garlic leaves The yellowing of garlic leaf tips, which spreads rapidly throughout the leaf disc and increases the number of yellowing plants on-site, is clear evidence of a fungal disease affecting the plant. If the fungus is found during the dry period, it is necessary to increase soil moisture by watering. It is best to water the garlic bed with ammonium nitrate solution to increase the resistance of the plant to the infection. Fusarium, powdery mildew, and some rots can appear rapidly on garlic during humid periods with high air temperatures. To prevent it, it is necessary to loosen the soil to reduce its water content. Fertilization can be carried out, and more practically. The content of trace elements on the foliage. In order not to bother with the definition of each disease and the individual selection of drugs that protect the plant from each disease, it is better to turn to biological agents. An effective way to stop diseases is to treat plants with biological agents that are healthy and harmless to family members, animals, beneficial insects, and other small animals. Such agents include bio fungicides, including. 1. Natural biological fungicides - when affected by powdery mildew, rust, phytophthora, root rot. 2. Trichodermin - for root rot (white, gray, black) 3. Ampicillin - for powdery mildew control. 4. Mycotoxin - increases the activity of underground positive microflora and enhances the immunity of plants to diseases. The use of listed bio fungicides in tank mixtures reduces the number of treatments, improves disease resistance of garlic, and promotes the formation of sufficiently high yields of healthy garlic bulbs. Plants and soil are treated with biocides. Preparation of the tank mixture and treatment of plants and soil must be carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations.

Note! If garlic plants are infested, it will take 4-5 years to replant them.

PESTS THAT CAUSE YELLOWING OF GARLIC LEAVES Garlic is affected by a number of pests that can damage the crop if reproduction is not controlled: Ditylenchus dipsaci, Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly), onion miner, onion leaf beetle, root mite, onion flea, etc. The most pernicious pests of garlic are Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly) and Ditylenchus dipsaci.

A. Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly)

Remember! When garlic is attacked by Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly), the leaf tips start to turn white and wilt.

The pest overwinters in the soil in the form of nymphs. As Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly) begins to fly in April or early May, it lays eggs on the ground at the base of the garlic plant. Within three to eight days, the hatched larvae penetrate the young cotyledons, settle in the true stem (stalk), and begin to feed on the plant sap. Affected plants first wilt, then turn yellow and die. Preventive measures to protect the garlic from Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly): 1. Plant carrots and onions in mixed rows in a bed. Around the bed, you can plant mint, cloves, marigolds, and other plants with strong odors to repel the pests. 2. The soil is systematically loosened to a depth of no more than 1-1.5inch (3-4cm). 3. Sprinkle a mixture of 0.5 cups of wood ash, one tablespoon of tobacco powder, and 1 teaspoon of pepper (consumption per 11 square feet of area) in the soil around the plants. 4. You can sprinkle a mixture of tobacco powder and sunflower ash, or a mixture of tobacco powder and lime powder between the rows. 5. Sprinkle garlic plants effectively with a weak solution of copper sulfate: dissolve 1 tablespoon of the drug in hot water and mix it with 2.5 Gal of cold water. Take active measures to control Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly) on garlic. To avoid health hazards, the use of chemicals under garlic is not recommended. Use caution when treating plants and soil with chemicals during the vegetative phase of the crop. In the approved method of controlling Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly) on garlic, carry out. 1. spraying garlic with a solution of ammonium carbonate nitrogen salts; this treatment not only helps to protect plants from Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly), but also gets rid of powdery mildew, brown spot, and yellow spot. 2. Water the soil beneath the plant with a solution of urea; if the solution gets on the leaves of the plant, it should be rinsed with water to avoid chemical burns. 3. Mix 30 ml of ammonia alcohol with 2.5 Gal of cold water and make shallow furrows along the rows of garlic; the ammonia can be replaced by 200 g of rock salt. (Remember! Salt accumulates in the soil and can affect plants subsequently planted in rotation). In recent years, a number of biopesticides have been developed that have successfully controlled pests. Such biopesticides include biopesticides "insecticidal fungal preparations". Their use is effective when treating plants and soil according to recommendations.

B. Ditylenchus dipsaci Infestation of garlic plants by Ditylenchus dipsaci occurs most often in the humid, cool summer months. Tiny Ditylenchus dipsaci larvae settle in the tissues of infected plants. ditylenchus dipsaci disease develops. The growth of the plant begins to lag. The stems of pseudogarlic thicken and become covered with white, then brown longitudinal stripes and the leaves begin to turn yellow. A distinctive feature of garlic infested with Ditylenchus dipsaci is that the underside shrivels and the teeth of the garlic bulb become loose. The overall destruction of the garlic bulb is observed and a peculiar odor is acquired. The larvae leave the diseased, decaying plant and move rapidly to new areas.

What are the characteristics of Ditylenchus dipsaci 1. It penetrates the pseudostems and true stems (stolons) of garlic, which begin to rot; the roots are hardly damaged, but they die due to stem rot. 2. On young plants, the leaves curl into a tubular shape, turn yellow, and then fall off. 3. During a primary infestation, small cracks may appear around the base of garlic as a result of parasite larvae multiplication. 4. Dried scales of cloves turn yellow during storage; dry rot appears on the cloves. 5. Ditylenchus dipsaci hairs on garlic cloves and bulbs are not mold, but thousands of Ditylenchus dipsaci larvae. 6. Plants infected with Ditylenchus dipsaci smell like rotting onions and garlic in wet weather.

Preventive Ditylenchus dipsaci control methods 1. Plant only healthy planting material. 2. Compulsory disinfection of planting material. 3. After harvest, all residues should be burned or sent to compost; storage facilities should be disinfected with bleach or Formaldehyde. 4. Send garlic back to the same field no earlier than 4-5 years. 5. Be sure to introduce dolomite powder or other soil deoxidizers; in neutral soil, Ditylenchus dipsaci will lose its speed of movement and will freeze. 6. Some gardeners treat the soil with a 1% solution of baking soda before planting. 7. The number of Ditylenchus dipsaci in infested areas can be greatly reduced by planting trap plants (spring rape, vetch, soybeans, peas, beans, and pulses); pull out and burn adult plants along with the pest-infested roots. 8. Systematically inspect and cull diseased plants. 9. Spray the plants with copper sulfate solution. It should be noted that all preventive measures carried out against Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly) will also affect Ditylenchus dipsaci to some extent, leading to its death.

Active control of Ditylenchus dipsaci In order to keep fields free of Ditylenchus dipsaci infestation, it is necessary to eliminate it from entering the soil with infested planting material. In the vast majority of cases, the infestation of the soil occurs by planting diseased planting material. To avoid this, the planting material must be carefully disinfected. A pest control technique for planting material that does not reduce the plant's ability to germinate can be provided for your consideration. 1. Soak the planting material in a quantity of water heated to 100°F (38°C) for 1 hour. 2. Add Formaldehyde and garlic cloves to this solution. The amount of Formaldehyde added should be such that its content in the solution increases to a concentration of 1%. 3. Increase the temperature of the 1% Formaldehyde and garlic clove solution to 120°F (49°C) and incubate the plants at this temperature for 20 minutes (maximum). 4. The decontaminated planting material is washed in cool water, dried, and planted in the field.

Decontamination of garlic can also be done by ash soaking, manganese, 1% salt solution, and other methods. Kaolin or bentonite clay can be used before planting. The powdered mineral is mixed with topsoil. In this way, Ditylenchus dipsaci will escape from the treated area. Urea is applied between the rows of garlic, followed by a fine encrustation. Ammonia accumulated in the stems is toxic to Ditylenchus dipsaci larvae. Nitrogen dressing has a negative effect on larvae (not only Delia Antiqua (Onion Fly) but also Ditylenchus dipsaci). Some gardeners treat the soil under the garlic with a salt solution (200 g/2.5 Gal water) or an ammonia solution (30 ml/2.5 Gal water). After soil treatment, the plants must be washed with clean water to prevent chemical burns on the leaves.

Among the chemical methods of controlling Ditylenchus dipsaci, it can be recommended to treat the soil and garlic with biopesticides. The use of chemical agents is undesirable (even if authorized) because they can negatively affect human health if the rules of preparation of solutions and treatment of plants are violated. Among biopesticides, abamectin-C, abamectin-N, pexilomycin, and methomyl are effective against Ditylenchus dipsaci. It is important to follow the recommendations carefully when using biocides. If you deviate in dilution and application (without taking into account temperature, humidity, and other requirements), the positive effect will be negligible. The recommended material reveals only measures to control the main pests and diseases of garlic, the external manifestation of which is the yellowing of the plant. As you learned from the article, the main protective measures are preventive ones. Biological agents are effective as long as they are strictly followed. On your small farm, you can exclude chemical agents from the means of protection. Please share with our readers your "secrets" for successful control of the dreaded pests and diseases of garlic.

#ThumbGarden #GardeningTips #HowToGrow #Garlic #Leaves #Guide #Tips #Toxins #Organics #Evergreens #VegetableGarden #UrbanGarden #MediumGarden #SmallGarden #OutdoorGarden #SmallSpaces #VegetablePatch #Pests #Diseases #Fertilize #Mulching #PlantCare #Care

Author: Ms.Geneva Link: https://www.thumbgarden.com/garlic-leaves-turning-yellow/ Source: ThumbGarden The copyright belongs to the author. For commercial reprints, please contact the author for authorization, and for non-commercial reprints, please indicate the source.

[shiroe-is-my-baby]

You Have The Nerve?

Summary: Based off of the movie Nerve, an AU/crossover fic that doesn’t exactly follow the storyline but does have a similar plot and a few scenes from it. A hard breakup throws Ashley into an emotional wreck, acting out in ways that she never knew possible. When the opportunity to play a game of dares for money, she can’t help but play along. Throwing her into a spiral of dangerous games, along with meeting a few new faces and possibly falling in love yet again.

W: self-insert, romance, strong language, angst, crossover, au

Plot belongs to the movie/book. I keep some themes and scenes for humor purposes. Most of it will be twisted to my own. There will be crossover characters, with a few faves thrown in here for fun! And an OC or two. The ship is still Shirey, though.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

“And stay out you fucking prick!” I shouted, throwing the empty beer bottle into the street, flying right past the idiot.

Narrowing my eyes, I tugged my cardigan closer to my body and watched as my now ex-boyfriend, Darren, sauntered off with his bag over his shoulder. I ignored the heavy glares I was receiving from those passing by, bustling to their homes in the early afternoon. I’d gotten used to the looks having a rugged boyfriend that drove a motorcycle and didn’t care about the noise. My neighbors were used to the outbursts, which I wasn’t very proud of. But my next door neighbor is an asshole anyway. Let him give me another noise complaint. I dare him.

“You’re crazy,” Darren grumbled from his position hanging out of the Taxi cab.

“Yeah, I’m fucking psycho!”

Stomping my foot, I spun on my heels and quickly slammed the front door to the apartment complex. I leaned against the door, shivering from the sudden exposure to the cold. Even though my outer body was ice cold, the blood in my veins boiled with pure rage. It was too damn early in the morning to be dealing with this shit. Things seemed to be all going downhill this week. One thing after another seems to be happening to me. It makes me regret even moving to the city in the first place. It was all for that dumb man anyway.

This apartment was supposed to be the place that we both grew up together. Hopefully started a family. I laughed at that thought now, remembering earlier when I woke up to several texts on his phone. The same texts from the woman I used to listen him lie through his teeth about. All the nights that I spent listening to stories that they were only friends. Seems like my own stupidity that lead me to this spot. The signs were all right in front of me. I just didn’t want to see it.

Pushing off the door, I climbed up the flight of stairs towards my apartment. My boots clicked against the floor, no doubt louder now that I was practically stomping them. I turned the corner, flying down the hallway as my neighbor poked her head out. “Could you be any louder?” She asked in her snobby tone. I flashed her a narrowed eyed glare, barring my teeth as I hissed at her.

“You’re such a weirdo,” She grumbled, slamming the door behind her.

Of course, little miss perfect needs her beauty sleep.

My other next door neighbor is a pageant queen. Well, more like was. She’s now a little older than I am but can’t seem to let go of the past. She’s an internet model now, trying to work her way up to the big leads. I’ve scoured her Instagram a thousand times. She’s gorgeous. I can’t lie and say I’m not envious of her. How could I not be with pictures that good? Ones that don’t even need a god damn filter. And I don’t even want to mention how many followers she already has. She’ll be living large in no time. Or so I think. I’m not quite sure how a career on the internet works.

Shoving open my apartment door, I slammed the door shut and immediately made my way towards the bedroom. Everything that was his is gone. I’m throwing it in the fire. He got a bag of his clothes, but that was it. Everything else is mine for the taking. I spotted his computer and smirked, my fingers wrapping around it and raising it over my head. “This is going to look so good scattered across the floor,” I said under my breath, just as I heard my phone buzzing in my pocket.

My eyes seem to roll as if to say that now wasn’t the time. I figured it was him trying to call me. But it kept ringing each time I tried to throw the laptop to the floor. All I wanted was to watch something of his crumble like he had me and my heart. But with each pressing moment, I found myself unable to focus on the thrilling task. It’d have to wait. Whoever was calling me obviously wasn’t going to. With a huff, I set the computer on the desk and yanked my phone from my back pocket.

“What?” I asked, putting the phone against my ear.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“God damn it, Sae. If you’re watching me again.”

My eyes flashed up to my window, then scattering all across my room for the bug. It would be too obvious to assume that my hacker best friend left his camera out in the open for me to find. He’s too sneaky for that. To think that my privacy met anything to him would be hilarious. He’d lie and say it was for my safety, but I highly doubt it. Saeyoung Choi was nothing if not odd like that. I spun around and tried my hardest to find this damn bug, but to no avail. All I heard was the cynical laughter of the man on the other line.

“It’s nowhere you can find it,” He said, and I could practically hear the swivel of his chair as he spun around, “And I’m not watching you. Just saw the little outburst and wanted to make sure that you didn’t kill him.”

“No, he’s not dead. Unfortunately.”

“That’s too bad. I would’ve loved to see you at least give him a nice big shiner.”

I scoffed a tiny laugh, my lips tight as I looked at my reflection from the stand-up mirror in front of me.

It’s strange how much I’ve changed over these past few months. How my attitude used to be much lighter and happier. Now, I felt like a creature of darkness all most. No longer able to smile as bright and wide as I could before. My style had changed drastically too. Now that he’s gone and I’m looking at myself… I’m starting to think that my friends were right. They used to tell me how much thinner I looked. The light in my eyes now much dimmer.

Not even Sae can bring out a sliver of a smile from me.

But, to be fair, I did just catch my boyfriend cheating on me.

That’s grounds for a snarl.

“Great, now you’re giving me ideas,” I mumbled, “Isn’t there something you can do? Crash his phone, send him stupid memes until his head explodes?”

“Maybe… but unfortunately, I’m all backed up with actual work.”

“C’mon, I stopped from destroying his computer for you,” I groaned, taking another look at the lonely computer that sat on the desk.

It was a lot nicer than mine.

She probably bought it for him. She’s got way more money than I do. The perks of having a father that will buy her anything she wants. That’s probably why he left me. Which didn’t make much sense given that he can’t stand her family and their money. It’s probably because she’s prettier.

“Well, I figured you needed a rational voice to give you a better solution. Just keep it for yourself. You’ve been wanting one of those for years. It’d be stupid of you to destroy it.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. They don’t call me… what they call me… for nothing.”

“…Sae?”

“What?”

I tilted my head, waiting for his usual catch phrase to kick in.

But it didn’t.

“What’s wrong with me ag-“

“Ashley! Shhh!”

I blinked, hearing the seriousness in his tone.

Oh shit.

My eyes widened, and I sputtered a quick apology.

I had totally forgotten that he had an incident of his phone being tapped last week.

God, I was a total idiot.

Saeyoung waited a couple of seconds before he spoke again, trying to remain calm and chuckle nervously out of it. The normal way that he does.

“Anyways, now that I’ve stopped you from destroying a precious item of technology, I must be off,” He said in the most annoying accent possible.

“Fine. I’ve got other shit to burn anyway. Meet me at the diner later?”

“Sure! I could use some breakfast!”

“Sae, it’s three o’clock in the afternoon!”

“So?”

I let out a heavy sigh, putting my face in my hands.

Should have seen that coming.

Saeyoung has a habit of working himself too hard. I usually have to make sure that he’s well fed like some kind of dog. But even that is hardly possible when I can barely find him. He’s never in one spot, which is understandable given the name he’s made for himself. The things he’s done to piss people off with his hacking. Currently, he has a job that will hopefully land him a spot at some secret agency. Right now, it’s kind of a temporary thing. He can’t talk about it much, but I’ve seen how excited he is about it. Not to mention that he makes some decent cash doing it.

“Goodbye, Sae.”

I hung up the phone, breathing a loud sigh.

Now, what was I going to do?

It was obvious that I had eyes, which meant that trying to destroy other items from the jackass were going to be hard. I did feel too tired to deal with that anyway. The thought of a nap sounded wonderful, but I was even too tired for that. I never thought I’d ever turn down a nap. And it was too early to chug down an entire bottle of wine. Especially since I planned to meet Sae at the diner later. Nothing sounded good to me. I felt like a zombie, only able to feel rage in fluctuating waves. Every time I thought of earlier my blood boiled, but it would only linger for a while.

I was way too tired for this.

Heaving myself into my desk chair, I pulled my knees up to my chest and opened up the laptop. Since this was mine now, I might as well delete all of his shit and start fresh. Saeyoung had taught me how to wipe it clean, which would take a little bit. I’d have to set it up while I was gone, making sure that once I got home it would be ready for use.

But, for now, I wanted to scour the web until my mind felt numb.

Anything to get my mind off of this ridiculous day.

My thumb sat on my bottom lip, settled between my teeth as I nibbled on the skin of it. A nervous tick I picked up and never seemed to get rid of. My opposite hand brushed and clicked on the mousepad, opening a web browser and simultaneously fluttering my eyes across it. Usually, I’d binge on some videos that either made sense or didn’t or read a few blog entries or catch up on the latest gossip that I didn’t really give a shit about.

But there was one notification that seemed to pop out at me at every website.

It looked like a stupid virus that I didn’t want to click on.

But it was driving me up the wall, popping up in my face every time I closed it. Almost like it was toying with me. Trying to force me to look at it.

Originally, I thought it was Sae playing some kind of trick on me. That would make the most sense, given that it wasn’t the first time he would have done something like this. There was something about this that seemed strange. From the sophisticated look of it, to the flashing words that scrolled across the bottom. Everything about it screamed a trap.

But I ended up looking at it anyway.

‘Are you up for the challenge? Accept the dare and win cash’

“What the fuck?”

I raised an eyebrow, clicking on the link to the video underneath.

It was probably stupid, given that I could be allowing a virus onto my computer. But if that happened, Sae could most likely fix it. I wasn’t too worried as much as I was interested. That was probably not even a good word for it.

The video was nicely shot. It looked like a big production, like some kind of trailer for a movie. Just instructing how this game worked, apparently. I’d never heard of it before, and to make matters worse, it was playing off of a ridiculous middle school game. Who even does dares anymore? Stupid, moronic people that want to make a quick buck. But from this website or something, it seemed like the prizes were big. Ranging from a hundred dollars to a thousand.

How in the hell?

“You can either join the thousands of players, in hopes to make it to the finals and earn the title of champion. Or settle as an observer, making the bets and seeing just how far people will go.’

The video ended, and I was brought to a screen that flashed.

Apparently, they expected everyone to make a choice between being the player or an observer. All of it seemed ridiculous. I doubt it was even real. I’ll have to ask Sae about it when we meet up. He knows everything there is to know about these kinds of tricks. If it is fake, he’ll definitely make more sense of it than I can.

Closing the computer, I stood up from the desk and glanced down at my phone. Only half an hour had passed. I still had a little while before I was going to meet Sae. This was such a shitty day. The last thing I wanted to do was spend it inside this apartment and risk thinking about the asshole again. Saying his name was out of the question now. He was only going to be known as the asshole from now on. I quickly changed the wallpaper on my phone, making sure I didn’t have to look at his stupid face ever again.

Tapping on the screen, I sent a quick text to Sae around what time we’d meet. Then, I started to dial a familiar number and hoped to God I didn’t start tearing up the minute I heard her voice. She always seemed to bring out the emotional side of me. Even when I didn’t want to think about crying or expressing my emotions. Which seemed extremely hard to do these days. The asshole seemed to make me hard, growing an outer shell around my heart.

“Ashley?”

“Hey…” My voice sounded solid, though it faltered near the end.

I grabbed my keys and headed for the front door, shoving some money into my back pocket to avoid having to bring my purse.

“I’m coming over,” I said, “I really need some… girl time right now.”

[clockworkdryad]

Moonlit Flower - Part 2

What follows is the story of Moonlit Flower as she begins her adventuring career and strives to be a hero she can be proud of. As I write this, note that I am trying to remember events in game that happened months ago. I will endeavor to do my best to recall this as accurately as possible, but it will always be colored by my and Flower’s perceptions.

Flower’s travels began before the campaign itself. She had to find a way to travel from Maztica to the Sword Coast. She found passage on a gnomish shipping vessel, spending months on sea enjoying the company of the gnomes and learning their language. When she finally reached the new continent, she began to travel aimlessly. How she reached Fort Locke (I hope I’m spelling that right) is less important than the events that follow, for that is the start of her journey.

Fort Locke:

Flower perched atop the walls of the fort. It was not a large structure, but it gave her a decent vantage over the roads as they led to and from the fort. There was a small contingent of soldiers who guarded the fort and the roads and the surrounding farms, but recent events had pushed these soldiers past their limits. There simply weren’t enough of them to deal with the bandits that had driven half the local farmers to the fort as refugees, setting up tents outside the walls, and their captain had already taken a number of soldiers with him to investigate strange sounds at the nearby graveyard.

The soldiers were stretched far beyond what they could manage and the refugees needed help, and so Flower sat and waited, watching the road. She wanted to help, but she knew she could not do it alone. In all the stories she had heard of heroes, there had always been a group of travelers who had stepped in to stand up against villains for the sake of good. That is why Flower sat atop the wall and watched the roads: she was looking for someone who might be a hero.

She was rewarded for her efforts when Trigg and Gyda approached the fort, two travelers from the Northern Lands. They were both hardy, durable sorts; they looked strong and resourceful. Trigg was a warrior skald of his people, and Gyda a barbarian warrior of hers, though Flower only saw that their strength and confidence as they approached. She didn’t hesitate to approach them and start a conversation; warriors were needed to save the people.

Nearby, a woman with braided hair sat beneath a tree reading a book. Beside her was a ferret-like animal that followed as if it were listening in, as the three travelers entered the fort. While they spoke another traveler arrived. Garn, a half-orc bearing symbols of a noble order; Flower had never seen an orc, nor a half-orc, so she assumed he was a full blooded orc. His noble bearing and calm demeanor meant she liked him immediately. His armor and weapons meant she thought he’d be a good addition.

The ferret, it turned out, was the woman’s familiar. Fyevarra was a witch from Rashemen, trained in wizardry. She was listening in through her familiar, and eventually approached the group as well. Flower’s curiosity was instantly piqued, to see magic up close like this, and she insisted they all travel together. This group certainly would be enough to become one of those ragtag bands of adventurers that turn into the heroes of her stories! In a way, she adopted them all into her adventuring party from the sheer force of her expectations.

And now that she had help, it was time to save the day.

The refugees were hungry. Their farms had been taken from them by bandits, and many of their family members had been taken captive. In addition to this, the captain had gone to the graveyard to investigate and been gone for far too long. These issues would need to be dealt with, but they were in opposite directions. Thankfully, before the adventure even began, Gyda solved the first problem before anyone else had a chance to act.

Gyda purchased a large meal from the stores of the Fort. It was only a temporary solution, though. The true reason the cook had been reluctant to share the food was that the supply itself was low. It was only through Gyda vastly overpaying that he was willing to part with any. Straight, to the point, and overpowering; Flower would soon learn that many of Gyda’s solutions to problems took this same aggressive form.

Thus the newly formed group had to decide which of the two (arguably more difficult) problems to investigate first. If they went to retrieve the captain, perhaps the fort would then be able to spare more soldiers towards dealing with the bandits. However, given how long he’d been gone odds were he was already dead. If he weren’t, he’d have come back by now. On the other hand, the bandits were known to have taken live captives. There had been no requests for ransom, and so it was assumed they meant to sell the people off as slaves. The very thought made Flower sick to her stomach, and it gave rescuing the captives a high degree of urgency.

And so that very day, the newly formed group of adventurers set out to find and deal with the bandit threat, and to rescue the innocent farmers who had been caught up by such a terrible group.

[silkandsagedesign]

10 Small Yet Impactful DIY Decorating Changes for Smaller Budgets

We’re clearly all about DIY and home interior upgrades here. When we work with clients directly or advise our DIY students and customers, budgets vary highly. Some people are working on higher-tier renovations, and some live in rentals that they are just trying to make feel more like home. For those living in rental spaces, completing home improvements might be limited to changing up furniture paint colors and adding exciting new throw pillows as accents, versus being able to re-paint cabinets or front doors for home-owners. But trust us, as we’re current renters ourselves, there are tons of upgrades that one can do that are accessible price-wise and mobility-wise.

Here are some ideas we’ve put together for anyone on a smaller budget or living in a non-permanent space, which are all are under $200 for the average price range involved:

1) Paint your furniture to elevate your space, to make various styles feel more cohesive, and to just plain-old change up your scheme. ($45-$198, not necessarily including the furniture itself— this depends on whether you’ve owned it already or not.)

Whether you’re on a budget, have a varied collection of hand-me-down and thrifted furniture, or just love hunting older furniture with good bones, you CAN make your pieces feel updated and/or more cohesive. It’s great that these days we can find decent furniture in lower-cost ranges, including free (heck yes curb-side finds!).

images from Annie Sloan (left and center), and Farrow & Ball® (right)

With Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan, there is little to no prep involved to get your furniture ready for painting other than cleaning them well. The bonus is this paint can be worked with indoors due to non-toxic properties and no to ultra-low VOCs, so it’s especially great for those of us who don’t have a garage or outdoor space to work in. Plus you can paint over basically any material (wood, plastic, you name it) and re-create any technique and look that you see.

Follow our FAQ guide on working with Chalk Paint® (the one and only!).

images from Shed Eleven (left) and Annie Sloan (right)

2) Create removable decoupaged drawer liners for kitchen, bathroom, or other cabinets for a secret pop ($25-$68)

Many rental situations come with less than ideal kitchen cupboard and drawer interiors, like old peeling liners and gunked up stains. Such is life. However, drawer liners are a classic fix to this situation! What’s fun is that you can create temporary drawer liners that have a bit more design pop to them these days. First find some cardboard (a great way to recycle, you can find free boxes off sites such as Craigslist) and cut pieces into the dimensions of your drawers. Then decoupage your favorite wrapping paper, napkins, wallpaper, or even fancier handmade papers such as from Paper Source to the cardboard. Then you can insert them into the bottom of the drawers once dried. If you move out, you could even reuse them in your new kitchen or bathroom if the dimensions are the same (or cut them down in size).

Don’t forget to smooth bubbles in the paper out as you go, and to finish the paper with your decoupage medium or even a more water-repellent medium in case the liners need to be gently cleaned.

image from Blue Eyed Yonder

3) Add metallic gilding wax to the trims of collected frames for a gallery wall. ($11- $40)

Gallery walls have been in style for a while, and for good reason— they do serve multiple functional purposes. Large-scale artworks can be pricey, and so a gallery wall creates a large-scale scheme made up of multiple smaller parts; and a gallery wall is the perfect way to display your collection of cards, photos, prints, and more, to fit any style. A budget-friendly way to do this is by collecting frames from thrift stores and yard sales first, and then alter the frames (if desired) to be more cohesive together— because, let’s face it, if you’re collecting multiple frames from all over the place, their designs probably won’t match (although that could be a style unto itself, but that’s another story). Making them all the same color or appear to be the same material can be done in a glam way with GILDING WAXES.

Gilding waxes are magical. Choose from a few different shades, and simply apply the wax over your frame material. Hang the frames once dried. Check out this great guide from Apartment Therapy on how to decorate your gallery wall. You can rearrange your frames anytime, including if you move.

images from ehomedecorations.com (left) and Thomas J. Story via Apartment Therapy (right)

4) If you rent and have a landlord that is very encouraged by you making tenant improvements or will do rental reimbursement after ‘improvements,’ inquire about painting a bathroom vanity, or even an accent wall. ($70-$150)

Not all landlords do this, but if you’ve lucked out, use tenant improvements to your advantage. Take on smaller-scale improvements first, such as painting a bathroom vanity or painting an accent wall, and see where that takes you. Some landlords or agencies might have you re-paint a wall back to their choice color upon moving out, but if it’s still a worthwhile project for you and your space, this can work wonders! And if you own your home, this is a more budget friendly way to start repainting your interior.

Check out these lovely inspiration photos with projects done in Farrow & Ball Paints. A gallon of F&B paint typically covers way more than other premium paints out there, has more color depth, and literally cannot be matched at other paint stores. They are also no to ultra-low VOC and non-toxic in formula, so F&B paints are ideal for any home, especially for smaller spaces and rentals. For walls, check out the dead-flat Estate Emulsion for low-traffic walls, and matte Modern Emulsion for high-traffic walls like in kitchens, entryways, and bathrooms.

images from Farrow & Ball®

5) Update and/or add fabric items, including painting upholstery and dying or stenciling fabric with Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan. ($15-$150, not necessarily including the cost of the furniture or decor items themselves— this depends on whether you’ve owned them already or not.)

Add curtains for privacy and decorative effect! Add a cool stenciled pattern to revive that old jute rug of yours! Dye or stencil inexpensive pillow covers! Working with Chalk Paint® has benefits that we’ve addressed many times in this blog, but who knew you could also paint and dye fabric with it? You absolutely can. Read this simple-step blog from Annie Sloan herself on dying lace curtains to look chic as ever (you know, ones that you can find at every single flea market, yard sale, and thrift store).

images from Annie Sloan

You can even recreate painted upholstery on worn out chairs with fabrics from linen to leather (just know that this isn’t necessarily a project suited for every single upholstered piece, but chat with your local Annie Sloan stockist like us for the best advice). Hometalk has a great before and after blog post on painted upholstery with Annie Sloan.

image from Hometalk

6) If you have a patio, balcony, or yard space, paint all the various styles of collected plant pots into a cohesive color collection with Chalk Paint® . ($25-$50, not necessarily including the cost of pots themselves— this depends on whether you’ve owned them already or not.)

We’ve collected so many pots over the years with various patterns, colors, and materials. Some were found for free at the curb, and some were acquired in other inexpensive ways (don’t get us wrong, you can certainly splurge on a new pot from the hardware store or your favorite ceramicist). However if you want to tie them all together, a great way to do so is paint them all in one color for a seamless look, or mix and match complimentary colors and patterns with paint.

Chalk Paint® , again the solution for almost everything, can be used outdoors. On porous pots, you don’t even need to seal them since heat and sun will bake the clay of the paint into the pores. We enjoyed this post by blogger Nicolette Tabram on her pot-painting journey, and you should read it too.

image from Nicolette Tabram

7) Change the hardware on one or a few of your furniture pieces or cabinets. ($15-$85)

This is perhaps one of the smallest yet most impactful changes one can make without changing the finish on furniture and cabinets themselves. If you rent, keep and store the old knobs and pulls and just change them back when you move out! We here at Silk & Sage especially love the unique knobs and pulls from Anthropologie, however there are plenty of fun and budget-friendly hardware sources out there.

BONUS IDEA: change out a light fixture if you feel daring enough (and ditto, reinstall the old fixture when and if you move out).

image from Anthropologie

8) Lovingly placed plants work wonders. ($0-$75)

Choose plants that work with the amount of sunlight you receive as well as your lifestyle. Seriously, doing so will not only change your space but will also elevate your mood. If you have a green thumb, you don’t have to buy new— just watch for plant sales and browse Craigslist including their ‘free’ section, because people often let go of plants that they think are dead but have plenty of life leftover once revived with patience. Don’t forget to choose pet-friendly plant options too! Check out Apartment Therapy’s Indoor Plant Finder Guide and Guide to Indoor Plants for Small Apartments.

image from POPSUGAR.

9) Add more storage space wherever you can with good-looking DIY shelving. ($15-$65)

This is a perfect change or addition on a couple fronts: shelving adds character to your space as a design element while offering nooks for your other decor items (picture frames, crystals, books), and shelving adds more practical organization and storage for limited areas such as small kitchens.

First measure the space where you want the added shelving to gauge the best dimensions for the shelving itself. Then cut a wood board (or multiples as needed) to the correct size— most hardware stores or lumber warehouses will do this for you for no to low added cost. Then either paint, stain, or oil the shelves to fit your design scheme. Attach to the walls sturdily by resting the shelving on cool brackets (we love these from Anthropologie) or making hanging rope ties. Don’t forget your level, measuring tape, and screw anchors!

images from Anthropologie (left) and Annie Sloan (right)

10) Add a mirror to a smaller space to open it up— a tried and true solution! ($15-$195)

Home owners and renters have incorporated mirrors into their style scheme for almost any reason (do you really need an excuse?), and when used correctly, a mirror can open up smaller rooms and spaces. Just pick and choose your favorite style per your budget— and if you need to change up a thrifted or outdated mirror frame, just paint it or use metallic gilding waxes.

Isn’t this mirror from West Elm just dreamy?

image from West Elm

These are just ten of many possible changes that can make your space feel more personal, no matter if you are renting or can’t expand yet on all the changes you want to make in your home right away. Some of these price ranges may vary due to the depth of your project, what kind of painting techniques you may do, etc. Also, please note that we are not affiliated with the links, retailers, and blogs provided other than with Annie Sloan and Farrow & Ball. The other links, retailers, and blogs are just some that we have been inspired by and felt we should share with you too!