Neighborhood Connection

Fiskars 9424 Garden Bucket Caddy: Carry Your Gardening Tools

The fiskars garden bucket best garden tools features clever, durable design to make gardening easier. In addition to its deep, large pockets for hand tool and glove storage, the caddy Gardenhas a space for seed storage to keep seeds dry and protected, as well as a beverage holder and even a cell-phone pocket. The durable cloth caddy fits snugly around a 5-gallon bucket. This tool is well thought out and well made. There are pockets sized for all your hand tools including bulb planter, a convenient "wallet" for seed pockets, a secure cell phone pouch, and even room for a squeeze drink bottle. I would also recommend getting one of Bucket Boss’ Bucket Grip.

Step2 Naturally Playful Sand & Water Center: Great Summer Toy

Below I’m going to cut and paste my first review of this toy, one I posted almost 3 years ago. My five stars still hold true although I have had some leg weakness since then (but we’ve owned the toy 6 years now and I’ve got three bigger kids–7, 5, 3–leaning on it in every direction as well as an 80 lb. labrador retriever who has taken to standing in it to look over Dthe fence, ahem…anyway). I am about to rescrew new holes in each leg and the table and fill the legs with stand to make it stable again but it is completely worth it given the joy it has brought my children. The naturally playful sand water cover is still 100% effective and the toy still looks practically brand new. I have bought one more new umbrella since my last review. So, that’s two new umbrellas and some leg maintenance in 6 years. Not bad. I’m determined to keep it because it is a great place for us to do lots of messy science experiments and activities, as listed below, that are best kept outdoors.

Radio Flyer’s Little Miss Flyer My 1st Scooter: Perfect For The Youngest Riders

The Radio Flyer toddler scooter allows your little girl to scoot in bright pink style. The two front wheels provide stable steering capabilities that make this a great first scooter. The award winning design includes an extra wide base for maximum stability so you child can develop a sense of balance, safely and comfortably. The rear wheel has a cover making this a safe ride. Little Miss Flyer My 1st Scooter has a unique tapered base that provides a better kick path for kids. Your child will ride trouble-free with the uniquely designed ergonomic grip handle. With just the push of a button, the fold-down handle will hug the base making storage and portability easy. This adorable and practical scooter is the perfect first scooter for your child. It has all the great qualities that you’ve come to expect from Radio Flyer.

Toro 51599 Ultra Variable Speed Electric Blower Vac: Tackle Big Clean-up Jobs

Powerful and effective, the Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599 makes completing yard work fun and easy. With air speeds up to 235 mph, this electric blower nevertheless is lighter, quieter, and cleaner than similar gas blowers. And with a sleek, ergonomical design, it’s a tool that is easy to use and will grab your neighbors’ attention. Tackle big clean-up jobs the right way with this powerful blower vac. A variable speed 12 Amp motor lets you select from an infinite variety of speeds between 112 mph and 235 mph. This means that you can use low speeds to clear off hard surfaces and clean up tight areas without making a mess and without sacrificing the blower’s high-speed functionality. Unlike some manufacturers, who simply reduce the size of their blower nozzles to achieve higher air speed ratings without increasing the practical value of their tools, Toro gives this blower vac the ability to balance between air speed (measured in mph) and air volume (measured in cfm) to ensure maximum power and performance.

Schylling Sock Monkey: Soft Cuddly Sock Monkey

Hang out with this special sock monkey toy – which is classic, retro and cool. It is the traditional brown, with red lips and a cute hat. It measures 20" tall. This toy isn’t meant to be educational. Fun is relative to looks, not function. This is a genuine, old-fashioned sock monkey! It is cute and cuddly, and like your favorite jeans, makes you feel good. I had one of these when I was growing up! I loved giving it to my nephew, he loves it and I think it is great for all ages. Like their parents and grandparents before them, your little one can carry it everywhere. Nicer looking than a ragged security blanket, but no less effective!

Melissa & Doug See & Spell: Spelling Fun

Place the colorful wooden letters in their proper places to spell words on the cut out two-sided wooden boards. The see & spell puzzles includes 20 playful pictures with three and four letter words to keep learning fun. Includes over 50 letters. My two and a half year old twin boys love this toy. We have owned it for a few months now and it is still a favorite. I have been surprised by both their attention span when playing with the see and spell and with the improvement in their letter recognition. It also appears to be a great introduction to some simple words. It has enough letters for them to be able to play with the toy at the same time and there are enough words for them to share. I bought this hoping to increase their interest in words and speech and it has certainly met my expectations.

Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler

The scarecrow motion activated sprinkler presents an innovative, humane way to keep pets and wildlife from disturbing your yard and garden without the use of complicated traps or potentially hazardous chemicals. The sprinkler combines a surprise spray of water with unexpected motion and noise to create a safe, effective deterrent to unwanted visitors, helping keep your garden looking its best. A huge amount of time and energy goes into keeping your yard and garden looking great, so it’s only natural that you want to protect them from damage caused by hungry wildlife or local dogs and cats. But there are lots of reasons to avoid chemical deterrents, traps, and hazardous electric fences. Whether you’re a dedicated organic vegetable gardener or a parent looking out for the health of children and pets that play in your yard, you’ll appreciate the simple, innovative, and effective water-based concept behind the Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler. It’s also a great choice for neighborhoods where fences are prohibited and for people who consider wire fences and other visual barriers unappealing.

Wireless Digital Thermometer: Monitor Temperatures Indoors And Out

Monitor temperatures indoors and out with this sleekly designed wireless thermometer from La Crosse Technology. The wireless indoor outdoor thermometer system includes an indoor display console and a remote wireless temperature sensor, though the console can receive temps from up to 3 sensors. Temperatures are displayed in either Fahrenheit or Celsius with minimum and maximum temperatures displayed with the push of a button. Bold, easy-to-read digits display time as well with both 12- and 24-hour time display options. Wall-hanging or free standing the display looks great in the hallway on the mantle, windowsill or desktop. The wireless thermometer can be stationed up to 330 feet away from the display console; easily transmitting accurate temperature data across any city lot, so you know conditions in the greenhouse, garage, wine cellar, and more.

Poulan Pro Chain Saw: With Automatic Chain Oiler

Providing cutting-edge features to help you power through jobs both big and small, the poulan chain saw arrives fully assembled, so it’s ready to go right out of the box. Great for yard maintenance and cleanup, this powerful yet lightweight tool gives you the flexibility to cut at various angles without the mess or hassle of gas. Powered by an efficient four HP electric engine, the Pro 400E is perfect for cutting firewood, pruning thick tree branches and bushes, cutting through fallen trees, and tackling other around-the-house chores. It also has a lightweight, portable design that minimizes strain on your body, even after extended use. Because the 400E is an electric saw, it doesn’t require priming pumps or gas, which can cause messes and strong odors in your yard. And thanks to the automatic chain oiler and large sight window, it’s easy to maintain the proper lubrication level while you work. The 400E also operates at a lower noise level than many other models, making yard work more pleasant for you and your neighbors.

Lawn Buddy: All Poly Construction

Ever get lonely–or disorganized–when you’re in the garden? The garden cart wagon could be the solution for both problems. It’s a rolling minicart, it’s a seat, it’s a drink holder, it’s got tool clips–and it wants to be your best friend. The folding seat doubles as a handle that can be pushed or pulled and features two molded drink holders for those long, hot days in the sun (or cold ones in the rain). The plastic seat isn’t soft or padded, but it is molded for comfort. Lifting up the seat reveals a removable organizer tray, with three storage compartments below, as well as a roomy storage area for holding plants, pots, or other tools. This could just as easily be a garage or workshop buddy, given its large, wide-set wheels; tool clips; and rustproof poly construction. Just hose it off at the end of the day and set it upright for compact storage.

Strathwood Chaise Lounge: All Weather Hardwood

The Strathwood Hardwood Chaise Lounge is ideal for lounging around the pool, back deck or back yard. The back features a 5 position adjustment for upright seating, very relaxed seating or completely flat seating. A very handy tray slides to either side or can rest below the chaise when not in use. For more comfort add a chaise lounge cushion. This sturdy chaise lounge is easily assembled with an adjustable wrench and the supplied allen wrench. The entire chaise is made of hardwood which is an all-weather wood that is dense and durable. hardwood requires no finishing and will not rot when left outdoors where rain and sun will damage other lesser quality woods. Left untreated, hardwood will weather to a soft warm shade of gray similar to the weathering of teak. Sturdy mortise and tenon construction provides the highest quality joinery that will last for many years. Original color can be maintained by applying a seasonal coat of teak oil.

Live Ladybugs: Popular Beneficial Insects

A favorite "good bug" ladybugs have been popular beneficial insects for the past 20 years. When released at sundown (because they don’t fly at night), ladybugs eat aphids, mealy bugs, scale, leaf hoppers, and other destructive pests. And they keep on eating until the bad guys are gone, laying their own eggs in the process. When new pests arrive, fresh ladybugs will be waiting. You will love them because ladybugs really work, plus they will be doing something favorable for the environment. Buy lady bugs prefer to eat aphids and will devour up to 50 a day, but they will also attack scale, mealy bugs, boil worm, leaf hopper, and corn ear worm. They dine only on insects and do not harm vegetation in any way.

Terro Liquid Ant Bait: Proven Liquid Formulation

You need something that is slow acting and the workers take it back to the nest and share their little treasures with the queen ants. All the ant baits I put out the ants basically ignore except for this product. It must be really yummy to those sweet loving ants because they go crazy for ant pest killer. And guess what, this product just uses Borax so people who are into organic gardening recommend it. If you have pets and children, you won’t have to worry with this product. So you can place this in your house where the ants are marching and within a few days, they will start thinning out. In a week, the nest is wiped out. Best bet is to place them outside your house on the house perimeter with two or three on each side of the house. That way, you eliminate the root of the problem. Terro also has another product designed for outside but it is more expensive and I find these traps work fine outside. The opening of this trap faces down so rain can’t get into it.

Perky Pet Hummingbird Feeder: Four Feeding Ports

The perky pet wild bird window feeder features 4 feeding ports, a 4-way perch and holds 8 ounces of nectar. The feeder base is bright red to attract hummingbirds. Use the included hanger to hang it from a branch or hook. For best results, use the Perky-Pet Instant High Energy nectar. This specially blended nectar is easy to use, requires no boiling and stays fresh longer! The clear, shatter-proof glass reservoir makes it easy to monitor nectar levels and unscrews easily from the feeder base for quick cleaning and filling. The feeder may be cleaned with the Perky-Pet Cleaning Mop. Remember to clean your feeder at least twice a week, more often in very warm climates or seasons. We offer the finest quality in wild bird feeding products and accessories. Perky-Pet is the leading supplier of Wild Bird Feeders and Accessories. Perky-Pet Hummingbird Feeder models are designed to attract hummingbirds using bright red to lure them to the nectarletting you discover the beauty and fascinating behavior of the elusive hummingbird.

Luster Leaf 1820 Rapitest Soil Moisture Meter: How Not To Drown Your Plants!

What I like about this rapitest soil moisture meter is that it has a wand separate from the meter itself, which you can stick into the dirt. It makes it much easier to read than the temporary replacement moisture meter I purchased at my local garden supply store that has the wand extending from the bottom of the meter. I have hanging house plants and simply could not read the meter that way. So I highly recommend this one, which also comes with a guide that indicates how much to water a variety of plants. No more checking the top of the soil with my finger, thinking the plant needed water, and killing it with over-watering.

Lodge Logic Pre Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill: A Grill Made To Last

Made with durable, even-heating cast iron, this lodge logic sportsman grill works great for picnics, tailgating, car camping, or anywhere a self-contained outdoor cooking source is needed. The unit’s cooking grate is also made of cast iron–a treasured cooking material that heats slowly yet retains its heat for long periods of time, making it far more efficient than aluminum or steel grates. The grill’s cooking surface measures 17-1/4 by 9 inches and comes seasoned and ready to use. Easily temper the cooking speed of food by rotating the grate away from the heat source. The grill has two adjustable heights, along with a draft door that regulates the heat–so in addition to frying or grilling, the unit can warm a pot of coffee or chili. Coals are accessible behind a flip-down door. Other convenient features include four steady legs, a useful carrying handle, and a simple-to-clean design–just hand wash with a stiff brush and hot water.

First Alert PIR720RN Motion Sensing Light Socket: Ideal For Home Lighting

The First Alert Motion-Sensing Light Socket quickly and easily transforms an ordinary light socket into a motion-sensing socket. This motion sensor light bulb device will automatically turn on a light when it senses movement, and it will turn off the light after movement is no longer detected. This means you can finally stop worrying about fumbling for a light switch when your hands are full or finding a hard-to-reach pull-string in the dark. Able to operate in broad daylight or pitch-black darkness, this light socket features a 360-degree motion sensor that will detect a person approaching within twelve feet when installed at an eight-foot height. To achieve maximum motion sensitivity, use the handy arrows marked on the unit to determine the strongest response, adjusting the 180-degree points to face a door or other high-traffic area as needed. With the First Alert Motion-Sensing Light Socket, you can get the convenience of automatic lighting without the expensive installation. Just screw the motion-sensing socket directly into an existing light socket, and then fasten the light bulb into the new fixture.

Woodstock Wind Chimes: Precision Tuned Using A Sophisticated Digital Analysis

The sounds of nature are sweet, but the music of chirping birds, chattering squirrels, and rustling leaves is even sweeter when accompanied by Woodstock’s Gregorian alto computer-tuned wind chimes. These woodstock percussion wind chimes play medieval alto notes inspired by the Gregorian chants of Europe. Company founder Garry Kvistad has developed an advanced method of tuning used on every Woodstock chime: each tube is analyzed digitally with a microphone under the tube measuring the frequency, and cutters are instructed to remove just the right amount of material to produce the most precise tuning possible. The result is a purer, more harmonious sound. All Woodstock wind chimes are made in the USA from nonendangered hardwoods treated to endure season after season of outdoor use. Woodstock prides itself on being a socially responsible company, explaining that "through the sale of our chimes we proudly support the arts, as well as many environmental and humanitarian causes." Add a hint of Gregorian mystery to your yard or garden while contributing to the harmony of the earth.