Product review: Plantskydd Animal Repellent - Repels Deer, Rabbits

The good:
1. It appears to repel rabbits and deer
2. It can be used on edible crops

The bad:
1. The spray leaves very unsightly red bloodstains on the plants, which eventually turn black and still unsightly
2. The Plantskydd seems to have damaged my young tomatoes and cucumber plants (many of them wilted right where the blood spots were, the leaves that did not have spray did not wilt).  The plants on the deck, which I did not spray did not wilt. Strawberries were fine and did not react badly to the spray.
3. Flowers did not wilt, but I did not like how the leaves looked after the application
4. The spray mechanism leaks when I spray.  The first time I used it my hands were covered in blood-colored liquid.  I did not expect it.  I just stood there staring on my bloody hand, it looked like I stabbed someone.  From there on I learned to wear old garden gloves which are now quite stained.
5. Amazon description does not state it, but on the Plantskydd web site under "How should I store" it states "Ready-to-use Liquid—use within 3 months of opening."  So if you buy it in the spring, you need to use it that summer or it will go bad.
6. Requires care after each usage.  From To Plantskydd web site: to prevent sprayer from clogging after each use, you need to remove the sprayer, flush with water, and replace lid with original cap.

Bottom line: after a few initial applications I was reluctant to use the spray on any plants other than strawberries. However, now that the strawberries have fruits the instructions said to stop spraying...  so the spray was used for a short period of time with mixed results.  I will not be able to use the entire bottle before it goes bad.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Wireless Microphone Set, KIMAFUN 2.4G Wireless Headset Microphone and Lavalier Lapel Mics

This microphone works using audio ports on the devices (i.e. it does not use a digital connection). The receiver and transmitter communicate via 2.4G radio signal.  The receiver and transmitter need to pair to each other before use (they do so after both units are turned at the same time after about 2 seconds).

I tried this microphone with three devices: Android phone, Linux laptop, and Linux desktop.  Instruction mention the need to use the splitter in the setup.  For the devices I tried, the mic worked when it was plugged in directly into the phone and laptop, and did not work when I used the Y-splitter.  I am including a recording of playback from the phone as well as the original sound for comparison.  I also tried the microphone on the Webex call that ran on my laptop (Redhat 7 distro). I was told that I sounded fine.  On the third device, I tried, the Linux desktop running Fedora, the microphone did not work, the desktop did not recognize it.  


When I was using the mic on the Webex call, I could not hear anyone unless I unplugged the microphone from the audio port.  It took me a bit of troubleshooting to figure out the issue. It turns out that this is because my laptop does not have a board necessary for this type of use.
 
If you want both the microphone and speaker on the desktop/laptop to work at the same time you need to use use a USB adapter. To use the adapter you need a USB sound card with two 3.5mm sockets. My laptop does not have this sound card, so I connected the mic directly to the headphone jack. In this configuration, the microphone occupies both audio input and audio output, and this means the output (the speakers) do not work. You need an adapter that can separate them.

Both receiver and transmitter have built-on lithium batteries that are charged via USB. The receiver and transmitter take 4 hours to fully charge, and they can run for 8 hours recording.

This set includes two microphones (headset and lavalier mics), transmitter and receiver that plug into an audio port, dual USB cable so you can charge both transmitter and receiver from one USB charging port, Y splitter, foams, and 6.35 adapter if you want to use this microphone with a PA system.

This microphone is best for doing video voice-overs and other applications when you only need the microphone and not microphone and speakers at the same time like Webex and Zoom video conferences.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review
  

Product review: Ortho Deer B Gon Deer and Rabbit Repellent Concentrate

The bottle contains 32 oz of the concentrate solution.  The instructions call for 1 part concentrate to 9 parts water.  The mixed solution has a pleasant (to me) cinnamon odor, but it seems to keep critters away.  I use Chapin 2000 Garden Sprayer to spread it, and the solution works well without gumming up the sprayer.

I have a problem with rabbits, deers, and groundhogs eating the flowers just as they about to open.  After applying Deer B Gone for the first time in several years I am able to enjoy the flowers in the spring.  The instructions say to apply every 30 days or if you see new nibbles.  To be safe I have been applying once a week for the last three weeks.

Be aware that this spray should not be used on edible plants or vegetables according to the instructions.  It is only for decorative plants.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★
 

Product review: Chapin 20000 Garden Sprayer 1 Gallon Lawn

I use this Chapin sprayer to spread Ortho Deer B Gone solution.  The sprayer works well.  It generates a steady spray without me having to pump the spray, I can control the stream of the spray.  I really like the funnel top of the sprayer, when I add liquid to the bottle it does not spill.  The spray goes about 3-4 feet away from the nozzle. The spray amount feels just right, not too much, not too little.  When the sprayer does not spray it means the pressure is too low and I need to pump the handle to build up the pressure.

I am very pleased with the sprayer, however, a few things could have been better:
1. The measuring markings on the side of the bottle are white on white and practically impossible to see
2. Instructions for assembly are not well written, images do not cover every step, and overall I thought instructions could have been better.  I show assembly steps in my videos.
3. This sprayer does not have a relief valve. The pressure is relieved by unscrewing the top and needs to be done very carefully to avoid getting splashed by the content spray.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: The Company Strore Ripple Stripe Bath Towels

After not being satisfied with the towels I bought on Amazon, and not satisfies with colors available in the local store, I turned to a high-end linens store called The Company Store. The prices on the web site are pretty high, but every now and then they run discount sales. Over the last several months, I made five purchases with discounts between 25% and 50%.


The quality of everything I bought is excellent. I am picky about towels: I don't like them either too thin or too thick. The Company Store towels (I know bought three different sets so I feel I can generalize) thickness of the towels is precisely how I like it.

The design of the towels in this review is called "Orange Ripple Stripe Bath Towels." The primary colors are orange, red, and beige.  The reverse side is mostly orange.  The towels are very soft and very absorbent.  We have been using these towels for a while and this set has become my favorite. The first washing generated quite a bit of lint, but now after three weeks, they don't produce all that much lint in the dryer. The towels are colorfast. Once I saw they were colorfast with a color catcher sheet I now wash these bright towels together with the white ones and have no problems.

You can find the store by following this link and get friends and family $50 off discount.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: V medium roast flavored coffee French Vanilla

Victor Allen French Vanilla is medium roast coffee. I use using the pour-over method and it is mellow in flavor.  One scoop gives me good flavor without bitterness. The vanilla flavor has a bit of a strange after taste and overall it is not a coffee I will be buying again.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Wolfgang Puck, Soup Classic Minestrone Organic / Whole Foods home grocery delivery

This my first order of Wolfgang Puck Minestrone Soup. I like the flavor of this soup and was impressed by how many vegetables were in the good tasting broth. I will be buying it again.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★