How to Make Your Old Bellsouth.net Email work with a New AT&T U-VerseAccount

I just converted my old DSL account from Bellsouth to the new AT&T U-verse. It is much faster and I really love it - I use to connect with 1.5 mbps and now I have 12.0 mbps!! It really is faster.

However, it took me over 2 hours to get my email working correctly (after I finally noticed that something was wrong). I initially did not change any of the account settings for my email and it seemed to be working fine. But then I found out that I was receiving incoming emails ok, but any outgoing emails would not work.

The fix is easy.
(1) Go to your email client - Outlook Express, Windows Mail, etc., and edit your Account's property settings.

(2) Change your "incoming server" to inbound.att.net (POP server)

(3) Change your "outgoing server" to outbound.att.net (SMTP server)

(4) Change the incoming mail port # to 995 (POP  port)

(5) Change the outgoing mail port # to 465 (SMTP port)

(6) Check off all places that SSL is required.

I found that information at the AT&T U-verse Help website at this address: AT&T U-verse Email Server Settings

Everglades Tomatoes - They Grow Very Well in South Florida

Everglades Tomato Plant

This year I tried the Everglades Tomato plants and are they "ever" growing!!! They are a small grape tomato variety, and although they are small, they have plenty of taste.

I purchased some seeds online from Master Gardener Landscaping of Fort Lauderdale. So, I had to grow them from seed.  It was amazing, each and every seed that I planted took hold and grew.  I re-potted the small plants into pots that had an "organic top soil and cow manure" mix, and that seemed to work very well for me.

Of course our growing season may be almost over because we live in southern Florida and it gets really hot in the summer - probably too hot for tomatoes. Our normal growing season is usually from late October until May (seems crazy to me as I am originally from New England). However, I will try to get the plants to live through the summer - we'll see what happens.  I've read that the Everglades tomato can be grown anywhere in the country - so anyone can give them a try.

Everglades Tomato

Everglades Tomato and a penny

"The Natural Solution" - All Natural Hot Tub or Spa Treatment That Really Works

We own a hot tub or "spa" where we live. We love using it - but it has been problematic for us to try and find an all natural sanitizer system that is easy to use and keeps the water clean and clear.

• I don't want to have chemicals in my hot tub because human skin will absorb anything placed on it directly into the bloodstream.


• What I do want is to have something safe and natural  to relax in for hours, that does NOT contain chemicals.

I have tried out many natural and chemical sanitizers throughout the 12 years we have owned our hot tub, and the best solution so far is "The Natural Solution" for hot tubs. It is really easy to use, there is no chemical smell, and it is economical to boot!  No more rashes and chemical smells on my skin either! And this product has been on the market for 30 years as well!

                        The Natural Solution 3 Month Hot Tub Water Treatment

What is "The Natural Solution" for hot tubs?

Frugal Laptop Computers: Purchasing Theory, Extended Warranties and Making Your Laptop Battery Last Longer

I finally purchased my FIRST laptop computer!! Yeah!! (I know I'm a little behind the technology, but my budget was always holding me back from buying a second computer.  Laptop prices have really come down in the last few years and now they can really be affordable.  And, now that I use my desktop for everything including watching television,  and making telephone calls, I find that a laptop really helps shoulder the load.)

laptop computer

I ended up buying the least expensive one at a local department store.

I have a theory that I think is  very frugal when buying computers:

How I Treat a Vaginal Yeast Infection

Disclaimer: I do not provide medical advise or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your doctor before following anything you have read on this website.See my full medical disclaimer under Terms of Use.

I tend to get vaginal yeast infections.  I seem to have always gotten them even when I was younger - even in my teens.  Over the years, I have discovered that the more I eat sugar (desserts and candy) the more likely I will get a yeast infection.  And, because I know this, I try not to eat too many sweets.  However, around Halloween and Christmas time -with so much candy and home baked cookies and cakes around - I get tempted and I most likely will have a flare-up.

What is a Vaginal Yeast Infection?

It is the overpopulation of a yeast called CANDIDA which thrives on glucose and the more sugar I eat the more glucose is produced.  The candida will wipe out the normal friendly bacteria that is present in the vagina and will produce a white cheesy like discharge.

What do I do when I feel a Vaginal Yeast Infection coming on?

I take probiotics orally.  Pro-biotics are friendly bacteria that populate your stomach, gut and vaginal area. I do not insert the probiotics vaginally (tried that once, and I came down with an bacterial infection - it is not necessary).  I only  take the pills orally.

How Do I Take the Probiotics?

What I will do is to take several pills, several times a day. This is more that the recommended dosage on the bottle - but it will repopulate the vaginal area with nice friendly bacteria which will overwhelm the Candida yeast.  I just play it by ear on how many pills to take.

• If the yeast infection is just barely there, I'll take 2 or 3 pills, three times a day for 2 days.


• If it is a raging yeast infection, I may take 3-4 pills every 3-4 hours for 3 to 4 days.

I have been doing this process for over 30 years now.

How Does Anti-bacterial Soap Create Bacteria That Are Resistant ToAntibiotics?

Using anti-bacterial soaps - including liquid soaps - contributes to creating bacteria that are resistant to anti-biotics. I have heard this many years ago, and have stopped using the antibacterial soaps altogether.

How does using antibacterial soaps create germs that are resistant to antibiotics?

I just found out the answer. I read the article "The Soaps You Should Never Use - But 75% of Households Do" by Mercola.com that has the information.

1. When you wash your hands with the antibacterial soap, the antibacterial agent (usually Triclosan) goes down the drain - however the Triclosan is not strong enough to kill all the bacteria living in your drain - so the weak ones die and the stronger ones live on and become more resistant.


2. The bacteria that survives  goes into the water system, and therefore can contaminate waterways and wildlife! The bacteria that survives include strains that are resistant to antibiotics used in hospitals.  See article "Scientists Discover that Antimicrobial Wipes and Soaps may be making You and Society Sick" by Scientific American.


3. The antimicrobial Triclosan goes into the water system as well, and will also contaminate our waterways and wildlife! Triclosan has been accumulating in wildlife, such as dolphins and may disrupt their growth and development.  See article "Are Germ Killing Soaps Affecting Dolphin Development?" by Scientific American.

liquid soap

What Can We Do?

Non antibacterial regular soap and water will kill germs well enough, so that is what I use. I do also use a liquid soap that does not contain any anti-microbials - the one I usually get just says Milk and Honey.

How I Treat My Cat's Feline Mosquito Allergy, also known as Feline Mosquito Nose

I have a cat named Willow who is allergic to mosquitoes.

She loves to goes outside during the day and we bring her in the house around 9:00pm at night. Her most favorite thing to do in the world, is to go outside. She patrols our yard, looks at birds, chases anoles (which are little lizards) and takes plenty of naps. Unfortunately, she is allergic to mosquitoes, and because we live in southern Florida - there are mosquitoes year round. PLUS - we get mosquitoes during the daytime too!!!

With cats, the way to tell if they are allergic to mosquitoes is on their face - especially their nose!! When they bite them there, the cats will scratch their nose until it is raw (see photo - it can even get worse than this - like raw meat!!)

Willow with mosquito nose - not too bad

Willow with mosquito nose - very bad