I have a planted aquarium that uses a DIY CO2 generator to provide a carbon source to the plants....essentially yeast in a bottle. The sugar/baby formula mixture is converted to alcohol and more yeast over the course of about 2 weeks. I have 2L's of spent yeast every week and normally slosh it around in the front yard as a supplimental organic fertilizer. So I see no reason why (in moderation) alcohol could not be used in the compost pile. Now dumping a 1/2 keg on a small pile is probably not the best thing to do, but flat beer/wine/malt beverages are just fine. Unfiltered wheat beer is probably the best beer to use in a compost pile since the yeast is high in B vitamins and the beer is generally pretty high in sugar/calories. I just can't bring myself to waste a beer on a compost pile, but more power to you. A flat beer is a common ingredient in compost tea recipes. HTH

I have grown Crassula ovata for the past 20 years recently. Take them out of the pots and examine the mix and roots. Cactus mix is not good for Succulents or Cactus. It holds too much water, and I am going to repeat my self, Succulents are from Africa, they grow on rocky outcrops, they do not like water, unless it drains fast. How much white stuff is in your mix? any rocks, if not put some stream rocks into the mix. "Jade" grow by the thousands on Rocky Hills sides, so the rain goes down rapidly through the rocks, they grow into the cracks. They do not get the care that you are giving them. In the summer they lose leaves, they don't like the heat they are winter growers. I have a wonder full book from Charles Glass and if you don't know who he is your are a beginner. Fianl words from his book. It's just plain common sense. "There is an illusiion of comfort in rules such as 'Water when dry" (what is dry?") 'Full sun" CA sun or New York Sun. African Sun'" Water ever two week, in CA we must water once a week. We have low humidity except this week. here are no rules concerning good culture which may not and and occasionally whould not be broken; there are principles and guide-lines which when followed with interest, Common Sense is the most important factor in growing plants." CActi and Succulents for the Amateur. Jade leaves are not supposed to crack, the plants are not supposed to ooze. I use Saffer's Soap, which is nothing but soapy water, and not detergent, with maybe some alcohol added. You can wash off the spider mites, if you water on a regular schedule, and get rid or soil mealies. When was the last time you changed the soil, perhaps the roots need to be cut back 1/3 and theh plant topped 1/3 not now but the first of October, just remember rules are just guide lines and use them as such. How large are your Jades ? When is the last time they were trimmed, soil changed? Does your hair fall out. So do their leaves, are they getting good air circulation? Are they getting cool nights and plenty of air circulation. I wash mine down once a week because it makes sense to me. I follow how the Huntington Gardens takes care of their plants, it workds for them and it has always worked for me since I was a child. We use no pesticides for the 100,000 plants that we have documentated growing in one green house and outside on benches with no heat. The proof in in the plants. The above suggestions are excellent I would listen if I were you. All of us have tricks in growing. Good luck, love your plants and they will love you. Randy I didn't even need to look at the photo, you are right on and so are the rest of the suggestions from others. Norma

You probably already know this, but when you're flambeeing something the easiest way to get it to catch is to heat up the sauce, take out a little of the sauce in a metal spoon, heat THAT up and flame the spoon's contents, then return the flaming spoonful to the pan to ignite the rest of the sauce.

When it gets really cold out I mix up orange or other juices, cinnamon stix, spices and heat it up with whatever liquour is opened. That is usually a leftover bottle of wine, maybe peach shnapps. I wouldn't do it with scotch of course. Heating burns off most of the alcohol but it seems like a nice fireside drink late at night during the winter, especially if you have a cold. If I am microwaving asparagus I might add 2 tablespoons of sherry to the water. I use leftover bourbon in BBQ sauce maybe 1/2 cup ; by the time you boil the sauce and then put it over the spareribs, there isn't much alcohol left but it cuts the sweet taste. My husband adds dried red peppers to a bottle of sherry, lets it sit a week or two; and a tablespoon or two of that in a frittata or omelet will curl your hair. I have a recipe for 2 lbs. of chicken wings that you boil with 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup soy sauce and 1/2 cup sake, bourbon or gin and 2 T of brown sugar, 1 tsp 5 spice blend, a piece of ginger; Cook it slowly and that gives you a terayaki glaze thats amazing. The wings cook in the liquid and gradually it boils off leaving the glaze. You can skip the 5 spice blend if you can't find it. We do have leftovers of other liquour because I don't think people drink as much as they used to. Bottled water sparkling and plain was surprisingly popular at our last party.