Is it safe to try on clothes at a store?

When it comes to clothes shopping, nothing can replace the in-person experience of trying on an item in the changing room. But are fitting rooms safe in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? Some major retailers, including Nordstrom and Macy's, have released details on how they will keep fitting rooms safe and clean as they slowly reopen.

Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Notes

Prep and assemble the pie up to 24 hours ahead of baking. Stash covered, in the refrigerator and plan to bake it a 5 to 8 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean since it will be chilled.

This recipe has been on the Bisquick  mix box for years, and it is still one of the most-requested Impossibly Easy Pie recipes of all time.

Let a straight-forward cheeseburger pie can be the beginning for a diner-inspired dinner: top the pie with crumbled bacon and sliced avocado, fried onions and mushrooms, a California-style shredded lettuce and tomato, dill pickle chips, or pickled red onions! The sky’s the limit

Use a wire whisk to beat up a baking mix batter and make it lump-free it works like a charm.

Injured Turkey Is Taking His First Steps Thanks to Custom Wheelchair - the First of Its Kind!

Bill the turkey is on the road to recovery, thanks to his one-of-a-kind wheelchair!

You've Been Storing Cheese Wrong Your Whole Life 🧀

Do you make a beeline to the charcuterie board at parties? Are you always the first person to schedule wine and cheese nights? Do you drool over videos of ooey, gooey, stretched cheese? Then it's confirmed: you're a cheese fanatic. But despite your love of all things cheese, we're sorry to tell you that you've probably been storing cheese wrong your entire life. The good news is that it's not a big deal, because I’m about to teach you how to store cheese properly so it lasts longer, maintains flavor, and doesn't have to end up molded in the garbage.

5 Side Effects of Drinking Too Much Coffee

For many people, their morning cup (or three) of coffee is prime motivation to get out of bed—it gives you an energy boost, it tastes good, and the ritual of sipping from your favorite mug sets the tone for the day. But then you make another cup, and soon enough, it's time for your afternoon Starbucks to ward off the 4 p.m. yawns…
If that sounds familiar, 85 percent of Americans are right there with you enjoying their caffeine. Even though drinking coffee isn't necessarily bad for you—in fact, it has some health benefits—there is such a thing as sipping too much java. Caffeine is still a drug, and over-consuming can trigger adverse reactions in your body.
Kelli McGrane RD, for the calorie counting app Lose It!, reveals five signs of excessive coffee consumption. If you're experiencing them, consider this your wakeup call that maybe it's time to cut back. And, to keep the rest of your habits in check.

The new takeout rules you need to know

A guide to ordering food during a pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has given everyone a lot of food for thought on whether or not it's safe to order food for takeout, delivery or pick-up. The short answer is yes, it's safe – but it's better to take a few extra steps to be sure. From the best way to order and tipping to proper packaging handling, here is a list of practices to follow.

7 Myths About Reopening You Need to Stop Believing

Myths about the coronavirus have been circulating since it first emerged. And as states start to reopen and lockdown orders begin to lift, more myths and misconceptions are coming to light. Are things just going to go back to exactly how they were before quarantine? Will everything reopen at once? Can businesses or states be forced to reopen? This is the truth behind the reopening myths you need to stop believing. And for more things you should expect as places reopen.

1. Everything will go back to normal immediately.

According to an April Azurite Consulting survey, while some industries may rebound pretty quickly, it is not expected that business conditions will return to the same level they were at in Dec. 2019 any time soon. In fact, there are some things many Americans say they won't do, even as reopening starts, until there is a coronavirus vaccine. In the survey, 41 percent said they won't go to a theater, opera, or concert until there is a vaccine; 28 percent of frequent gym-goers said they would wait for a vaccine; and 24 percent of Americans said they won't return to a sit-down restaurant before a vaccine is available. And for more changes to prepare for, check out these 7 Things You Won't See at Retail Stores Ever Again After Coronavirus.

2. Prices will be the same as they were before.

If restaurants open up in your state, your dining experience won't be the only thing that might change. That is, don't expect the prices at your favorite restaurant to be the same. Delish reported that while this will vary by restaurant, many establishments are adding a temporary fee (around 5 perfect) to help offset rising food prices and limited seating capacity. Others are simply "adding" the tax into increased menu prices. And as long as it's disclosed to customers before.

3. Everything will reopen at the same time in your area.

Just because your state has reopened some businesses doesn't mean they're all open. Most states are reopening in phases, or just reopening partially. However, many people expect that if they can go to one business in their area, they can go to them all. According to The New York Times, Idaho's stay-at-home order started lifting May 1, but nightclubs and movie theaters remained closed. And Massachusetts reportedly opened houses of worship and golf courses on May 18, but won't allow hair salons or beaches to open until May 25. And for places to avoid when things reopen, learn which 7 Places You Shouldn't Visit Even If They're Open.

4. The federal government can force states to reopen.

It's confusing to know exactly who is in charge of lifting lockdowns. Can the federal government just come out and say that everyone has to reopen? As David Swindell, an associate professor of public affairs at Arizona State University, wrote for The Conversation, that can't happen. State and local governments are responsible for regulating the businesses within their borders, and the federal government can't order them to reopen their businesses, he says. However, the federal government can decide to give more federal money which goes to a variety of programs, like criminal justice, education, and highways to those that follow federal requests, and potentially cut funding for states that don't, so they do have a significant influence.

5. Businesses can defy ongoing shutdown orders.

Businesses also can't just decide to reopen for themselves. If their state governments still have shutdown orders, they have to follow suit. According to Snopes, there was a rumor that citizens and businesses could defy shutdown orders and win damages in court if they were arrested for defying, on the premise that the Constitution supersedes lockdown orders. However, on May 6, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with Pennsylvania's shutdown order, refusing to lift the order for businesses (which included a golf course, laundromat, timber company, real-estate agent, and political committee) that claimed their constitutional rights were being violated by the shutdown order. And for more intel on life after lockdown, check out these 10 Weird Ways Life Will Be Different After the Coronavirus Lockdown.

6. Public hand dryers can kill the coronavirus.

As businesses reopen, the rumor that the automatic hand dryers in public restrooms will kill the coronavirus has surfaced. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls this a myth. According to the organization, hand dryers do not kill the coronavirus, and people should still be frequently washing their hands with soap and water.

7. Wearing a face mask will prevent you from catching the coronavirus.

While many reopened businesses are recommending or requiring that people wear face masks to enter, the face mask isn't preventing you from catching the coronavirus. Instead, it's keeping everyone safe from you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cloth face coverings prevent the person wearing them from spreading droplets when they talk, sneeze, or cough. And even if you don't think you have the virus, you could be asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) and spread it without realizing. When people in a business wear face masks, they're helping protect everyone else in the building. And for more tips on staying safe, make sure to avoid these 9 Mistakes You Shouldn't Make During Reopening.

Rare white squirrel seen hopping around backyard in Bloomfield Twp.

Squirrel in my back yard

 Before I start this article let me first show you what was living in my back yard in south east Texas, not albino because the eyes was not red. This squirrel came every day to get acorns on the ground so I know it lived near by. I would go out back each day just to check on the little squirrel because there was many stray cats that would get in my yard to hunt lizards, the little squirrel I suppose is still living there even though I sold the property last year.

Here is the article by: The Free Press

Squirrel in Bloomfield township

A woman in Bloomfield Township just found a fresh upside for sheltering in place: getting to know who’s in your backyard. In her case? A white squirrel. Like the occasional white deer, they're rare. Meredith Meyer said the comely creature was easy to spot.
“I was taking my dog out in my yard and I caught a glimpse of it. It’s really noticeable because it’s really white. I took my dog inside because I wanted to grab my new camera. It had relocated to another tree but I spotted it right away,” Meyer said.

“I’d be interested to know if anybody else has seen one of these. He was really, really cool. Just for the record, I did not use Clairol on it,” she said, chuckling.

The Free Press is sending Meyer to the white-squirrel pages of UntamedScience.com, in case she wants to report her sighting. The website tracks sightings around North America. A map shows several sightings around metro Detroit and also half a dozen towns in eastern and central U.S. where white squirrels are downright numerous. But their closest haven to Detroit is Exeter, Ontario, northeast of Port Huron, which bills itself “home of the white squirrel”  at least in Canada.

The website echoes just what Meyer said: That her squirrel, because it has dark eyes, is not an albino, which is even rarer and possesses red eyes. Instead, hers is a “white morph.” Both morphs and albinos are freaks of nature but they're natural mutations, according to wildlife experts.  
Meyer said she spotted her backyard visitor at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“I trespassed into my neighbors’ yard, in my pajamas, because I wanted to catch it” on her camera  a recent gift.

“I think during quarantine, I’ve seen so many of my friends posting pictures of wildlife. We’re all spending more time at home. We’re enjoying our homes a lot more. That’s why my family bought the camera for Mother’s Day. I would not have gotten those pictures with my cell phone," she said.
She hasn’t seen the white squirrel since, even after planting herself on her patio. No one else in the neighborhood has either  at last, none chimed in on Facebook about it. She’s hoping the furry newcomer is safe in woods at the back of the family’s big yard.

“My only worry is, we have had a coyote sighting, and because he’s white, they say the white animals are more vulnerable to predators,” she said.

More: Rare white deer roams Kensington Metropark near Milford
According to online nature sites, white squirrels are an easy target for hawks as well.

How to Incorporate Fresh Garden Herbs Into Cocktails

We’ve always been big fans of cocktails. But without bars and restaurants to lean on for our fix, our appreciation for quality homemade mixed drinks has increased exponentially in the past who-knows-how-many-weeks.

Can Dogs Eat Cat Food?

Dogs will eat any food they can find. Whether it's dog food, cat food, something you dropped on the ground while eating dinner, or garbage they find on their walk, they don't discriminate. We can assume that the garbage your dog finds on the road isn't healthy for him, but is it bad if your dog occasionally eats the leftovers your cat left in her bowl? Can dogs eat cat food? If your cat is the pet in your house that loves to eat, learn if cats can eat dog food.

What is a good summary of the entire series of Lost?

During my downtime I re-watched this all time popular series for things I had maybe missed the first time I watched Lost, if you have not ever watched Lost you can binge watch every season on Amazon Prime, but it is worth watching a second time too. I recommend this series

The show contains elements of supernatural and science fiction, and follows the survivors of a commercial jet airliner flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, after the plane crashes on a mysterious island somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean. The story is told in a heavily serialized manner.
First episode date: September 22, 2004
Final episode date: May 23, 2010
Writer: Abrams, J.J., Adam Horowitz
Genre: Drama

How to Tell If Potatoes Are Bad (and How to Keep Them Fresh in the First Place)

Whoever dubbed it the “humble” potato forgot how versatile, not to mention delicious,the spud can be. And when you consider that potatoes can last in storage for months (months!), they’re basically a pantry hero. Still, if you bought a bag weeks ago and now you think they might be past their prime, it can be a little murky. Here’s how to tell if potatoes are bad, plus how to keep them fresh in the first place.

What Every Gardener Should Know About Topsoil

What Exactly Is Topsoil?

Topsoil is the top portion of the soil consisting of minerals, organic matter and microorganisms. It can range from a few inches deep in some areas to a few feet deep in the Corn Belt. Topsoil has accumulated over millennia, but erosion is a serious problem. Erosion can deplete topsoil quickly, which is why it is important to cover bare soil with mulch or a ground cover plant.

What's in Topsoil?

Topsoil is made up of sand, clay and silt. The proportions vary. An ideal topsoil, called loam, is soft and crumbly and has roughly equal parts sand, clay and silt (a fine, dust-like sediment of rock and mineral particles). However, many gardeners struggle with less-than-ideal topsoil that tilts towards heavy clay (slow draining and less oxygen available to plant roots) or sand (fast draining but less able to hold moisture and nutrients). Surprisingly, compost can improve clay and sandy soils.

Topsoil vs. Dirt

Topsoil is for growing things. Dirt is for filling, which is why it's often called fill dirt. Some people erroneously use "dirt" interchangeably with "soil."

Topsoil vs. Garden Soil

Available in bags at your favorite nursery or big box store, garden soil is a topsoil that's been screened and amended with compost. It's too heavy for use in pots, but it's well-suited for garden beds and lawns ready to be reseeded.

Topsoil vs. Potting Soil

Topsoil is used for planting in the garden, potting soil (also called potting mix) is used in containers. It is a lightweight, soil-less mixture of peat moss and perlite. Some mixes also contain wetting agents to help the peat moss absorb moisture, as well as slow-release fertilizer and moisture-holding crystals.

Potting Soil vs. Raised-Bed Soil

With the popularity of raised-bed gardening, suppliers have introduced raised-bed soil. It is lighter than topsoil but heavier than potting soil/potting mix and may contain compost and wood fines (small pieces of wood that are already composted).

How Can I Improve Topsoil?

Amend topsoil regularly by digging compost into the top six or eight inches. Compost supplies nutrients and beneficial microorganisms to create a "living soil" that is better for plant growth and health. Sound like too much work? Then start mulching with shredded leaves. They will be food for earthworms, who will aerate the soil with their tunneling and add to its fertility with their castings (waste).