All Articles by Corky Lorenz

You can connect a garden hose to most utility sink faucets by removing the aerator and threading on a faucet-to-hose adapter. This only works if your faucet has a removable aerator, which exposes the standard threads needed for the adapter to screw into place.

The orange clamp connectors in the photo are Wago lever connectors, which are used to join RV ceiling wires during a rooftop air conditioner removal or installation. They keep the copper covered, prevent shorts, and make it easy to reconnect the new AC unit without cutting or twisting wires.

These are Ōpae ula shrimp, also called volcano shrimp. They live in small brackish-water jars and stay healthy for years with almost no maintenance.

Acrylic paint will stick to fabric, but it isn’t durable and can crack or peel with regular washing. For shirts, screen printing ink or fabric paint holds up better and can be heat set for long term use.

A new sprinter van by Thor, on display in the GO RVing exhibit hall, at the RV Hall of Fame

The RV Hall of Fame quietly switched to a brand new website this week, and the old site appears to be fully suspended with no migration in place for redirects, SEO or backlink preservation.

The Northern Indiana Event Center at the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart IN is a venue for conventions, expos, industry events and receptions.

When sewing cloth menstrual pads, the sewing line is the exact line you stitch on, while the seam allowance is the extra fabric outside that line. Drawing and sewing directly on a marked line gives more consistent, accurate shapes than relying on fabric edges as your guide.

Bamboo terry fabric is a rayon based, knit fabric with one smooth side and one looped side. It’s highly absorbent, soft, and often used in cloth pads and diapers.

The Monstera Thai Constellation grows best in bright, indirect light with moderate watering and chunky soil. Avoid harsh southern windows or over-potting since variegated leaves can burn easily and excess moisture causes root rot. Let it get a little root-bound before repotting and it’ll do fine in normal house conditions.

Yes, turtles are reptiles. They are cold-blooded, air-breathing animals with scales and four limbs, belonging to the order Testudines, the same reptile group as tortoises and terrapins.

Fernwood Lights runs from November 28, 2025, through January 2, 2026. Adult tickets cost $14 on regular days or $16 on peak days, with discounts for members and reduced pricing for kids.

Crested geckos can live 5 to 15 years in the wild, and up to 20 years in captivity with good care. They do best in environments with stable humidity, low stress, and proper nutrition, which I learned after meeting the vendor Critters, Khaos & Creations.

BLN Reptiles is a small-scale breeder specializing in western hognose snakes with unique color morphs and healthy genetics. They were at the Goshen Reptile Expo showing a range of juvenile snakes with striking patterns and calm temperaments.

A helmeted iguana was displayed by Ginkgo's Exotics at the Goshen Reptile Expo. The reptile’s distinct crest and calm temperament made it a standout among the animals shown at the event.

The next NARBC Tinley Park Reptile Expo will be held March 14–15, 2026, at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Illinois. It’s one of the largest reptile shows in the U.S., featuring vendors, breeders, and reptile enthusiasts from around the country.

Sometimes a hognose snake will finish shedding its body but still have old skin left on the head or eyes. This is normal and usually clears up on its own once the snake has access to a little extra humidity.

They have fruit pies and hot food pies! Inside the visitor center is the Fernwood cafe, where you can find treats and food made to order.

Follow the trail to the Sims Education Center. It's the grey building with plants on some parts of the roof. Inside, you'll find bird watching stations.

Thomas Greenhouse and Gardens is a returning favorite at the Tinley Park Reptile Expo, known for rare tropicals and affordable Hoyas. Their displays always stand out, colorful, vertical, and packed with hard to find plants.

Yes. Bamboo fleece is soft, absorbent, and works beautifully as a cloth pad topper, whether you use the fuzzy side or the smooth knit side facing up.

Several vendors sell rare houseplants alongside reptiles, including terrarium starters, carnivorous species, and collector-grade foliage plants like Thai Constellations and variegated philodendrons.

Bamboo fleece and bamboo terry fabric need to be pre-shrunk before sewing to prevent the final pad from becoming warped after washing. Wash and dry the fabric on hot three to five times, measuring shrinkage between cycles to know when it’s ready to sew.

Sundown Reptiles stood out at the Tinley Park Reptile Expo with their orchids and beautifully designed reptile enclosures. Their professional display and active online presence show a clear dedication to both reptiles and presentation.

There was so much variety to see among vendor booths! I was also impressed by the number of vendors I recognized from the previous two visits to this NARBC expo location.

This is the third time I have seen this vendor, and I was happy to see their collection again! Bugs and large frogs were a crowd favorite.

As I was passing the display, for Josh’s frogs, at the Tinley Park Expo, I noticed a delightful interaction. A chameleon happily catching drops of water from a paper towel being squeezed.

If we met in person and I took your photo, it will be uploaded in 2-3 days.

For tie dye, mix 1 cup of powdered soda ash (sodium carbonate) with 1 gallon of water. It dissolves faster with warm or hot water. Enjoy a soda ash poem below.

Getting crisp lines without blotchiness requires making the ties really tight and properly spaced.

It makes the fabric ready to grab color. The soda ash raises the pH so the dye will chemically bond to cotton instead of just washing out later.

This is a technique meant to produce a smooth watercolor look on thin fabrics. It’s done by placing polyester fleece behind the thin fabric before bunching.

There was one remaining Hot n' Now location in Sturgis, MI, but recently a second location has been opened, in Wayland, MI.

Most of my dye is from Dharma Trading Co, but I also like Jacquard Products. There are several more small shops to get powered dye from.

Start rinsing with cold water to remove excess dye and soda ash, then switch to hot once the water is mostly clear. Blue takes the longest to rinse out, and any leftover color will wash out in the machine.

Fabric paint is usually set by letting it dry completely and then applying heat, which bonds the pigments to the fibers. You can heat set it with a clothes dryer, an iron, or a heat press depending on the fabric and the paint instructions.

African bullfrogs usually live ten to fifteen years in captivity when kept with proper heat, humidity and food. Some males can reach twenty years or more, especially the large pixie frogs often seen at reptile expos.

Admission covers the full museum, parking is free for regular vehicles, RV parking is first come, and mobile tickets scan in quickly at the check-in desk.

The RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN usually hosts the RV Supplier’s Show, the annual Induction Dinner, and other industry gatherings, but as of November 15, 2025 there are no major events scheduled until spring 2026.

A look at the RV Hall of Fame Museum in Elkhart, Indiana, with notes from a local visit and what you’ll actually see inside.

These settings work on recent iPhones and help pull in the color and structure of the aurora, even when it looks faint to the eye. This image taken on an iPhone 12 Pro Max by Robin Ravenscroft. Near Paw Paw, MI, around 9:45pm, Nov 12 2025.

The northern lights were faintly visible over Elkhart, Indiana around 10 pm tonight, though not bright to the naked eye. When photographed with a Canon R6 Mark II and a 24 mm f/1.4 lens at ISO 500 for 2.5 seconds, subtle bands of green and violet appeared in the sky.

When sewing reusable cloth pads, pinking shears are used to trim the seam allowance before turning the pad right side out. The zigzag edge helps reduce bulk and allows the seams to lay flatter inside the pad after turning.

For the first few washes, wash tie dye items separately or with other dark colors to avoid dye transfer. Once excess dye has rinsed out after several washes, they can be washed normally without risk of bleeding or fading if professional fiber reactive dyes were used.

Adult crested geckos usually grow to about 8 inches long from head to tail, though some reach up to 9 or 10 inches. Their body without the tail is roughly 4 to 5 inches, about the size of an adult’s hand.

The Tampa RV Show, also known as the Florida RV Super Show, runs January 14–18, 2026, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. RecPro will be there meeting with creators, guests, and vendors, with two booths showcasing RV furniture, recliners, and upholstery samples.

Vendor Rambows and Friends shared that her female tarantulas can live up to ten years, while males usually live a few years less. After reaching maturity, most males live for only about two years.

Yes, tarantulas make webs, but they don’t spin the big wheel-shaped kind. Amber, from Amber Arachnid says they fill their space with silk that they use for walking, sensing, and catching food.

Making your own cloth pads can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be. You can fold a washcloth for a quick, no-sew option, or sew layered pads with fabric, snaps, and waterproof materials for long-term use.

The Sims Education Center at Fernwood Botanical Garden is a library and event space. It focuses on nature education, with books about plants, wildlife, and conservation. It also includes bird watching stations, hands-on learning areas for children, and rooms available for community events and private gatherings.

Even after the flowers fade, Fernwood Botanical Gardens stays alive with color. The trails are lined with bright leaves, textured bark, and a few late blooms that prove how well the gardens are cared for.

There are two different train displays at Fernwood. One is inside, in the building where you buy your tickets. The other is a short walk from the entrance, on the trail.

It might try to eat it. A little vinegar on a q-tip can help the snake let go without harm.

Yes. Acid dyes bond beautifully to wool, producing vibrant, saturated colors, especially the fluorescent shades from Dharma Trading Company, which seem to glow under natural light.

Sewing patterns designed for getting a custom fit to suit your needs. Mix and match the ends to get the cloth pad length and shape you need.

Rhonda Whitledge creates hand-sculpted fantasy figures that feel alive, each with expressive faces and detailed clothing. Her booth at Rebel Art Fest drew steady attention from visitors.

The best absorbent fabric for sewing cloth pads depends on what your goal is. My favorite, for being thin and soft, is 400 gsm bamboo fleece.

Hognose snakes can make good pets for people who appreciate their dramatic, hissy personalities. They’re harmless, expressive, and a little theatrical, which some people find charming and others find annoying.

This vendor brought an impressive variety of boas. The patterns and colors were striking. I was happy to be able to walk up and observe this boa up close.

Attendees and vendors interact at the North American Reptile Breeders Conference.

A hot soak is a shortcut for ice dyers who want to see their results faster. Instead of waiting 24 hours at room temp, you soak the item in hot water to set the dye faster.

When they are first hatched, and are very small, they can eat cut chicken hearts. As they get bigger, they transition to eating pinkies. Feed a hognose like most other pet snakes.

The most important elements of bright tie dye color are: using natural fiber shirts, presoaking in soda ash, using enough dye, and letting it fully set.

It’s a style of tie dye that ends up resembling a sliced agate or geode. Artificial sinew is wrapped around fabric and pulled tight to resist dye and create lines.

There are 2 main ways that people get the AC lifted up to the roof. When it’s available, they use a forklift. Most people use a ladder and help to slide the box up.

For the first time, The Mishawaka Farmers Market was held at night. Vendors and guests enjoyed the overhead string lights along the riverwalk.

After visiting last night, for the "Under the Lights" event and seeing about 30 dogs, I would say yes. The Mishawaka Market and riverwalk seem very dog friendly.