Q: While you don't have to seal your wood, it's definitely recommended if you want your piece to last a long time and stay durable. Protective coats like polyurethane work well and can be found at hardware stores or online. Use a wooden or plastic stick to gently stir the finishing coat, using slow, gentle motions. Protective finishing coats have a range of sheens, from matte to high gloss. Avoid shaking the can of finishing coat to prevent unwanted bubbles. After using a sealant, you can't easily add additional layers of stain to your wood, so be sure it's the color you want. Dip your brush into the can of sealant, brushing it onto the wood going in the direction of the grain. Cover the entire piece of wood evenly using a thin layer of the protective coat. Feel free to test your sealant out on your test piece of wood before applying it to your project if desired. If you let the protective coat dry for 4 hours and you think it's done, awesome! If not, use 220-grit sandpaper to gently sand the top layer before wiping away the dust with a clean cloth. Brushing on additional coats will add protection and shine (depending on your type of sealant) to your wood. Repeat the process of brushing on the sealant, going in the direction of the grain and applying it in an even, thin layer. Wait another 4 hours for it to dry, and decide if it's finished or it needs another coat. Most people add two coats of sealant onto their wood. Once you decide your piece of wood is finished, wait 48 hours for it to dry completely before using it.
A: Choose a finishing coat to protect your wood by sealing it. Use a natural bristle brush to apply the sealant to the wood. Wait 3-4 hours for the sealant to dry before sanding it again, if desired. Apply a second coat of the sealant and let it dry completely.

Q: There are several reasons to prune spirea. These reasons include: Maintaining the height and spread of your Spirea Shrub, and to preserve an attractive shape. Removing any diseased or damaged branches and any dead growth. Encouraging a second flowering. Removing suckers and prevent the plant spreading via suckering. Some varieties of spirea produce suckers. Suckers are shoots that emerge from the roots of the plant. Suckers are eventually capable of producing independent plants of their own; suckering is one of the ways that spirea reproduces. Pinch or prune these off if you don't want your spirea to spread in your garden. The specifics of how to do this will be covered in the next section. Dead, diseased, and broken branches should be removed at any time of the year but you should only prune healthy plant growth at the right time. If you have Japanese or Bumald Spirea, prune them in early spring before the flowering season starts. Other varieties of Spirea should be pruned after the flowering has finished. For varieties of Spirea that bloom in spring, that will usually be late spring. For varieties of Spirea that bloom in summer, that will usually be late summer or fall. Pruning after flowering allows the maximum amount of time for the plant to grow fresh growth after pruning before the flowering season starts again the following year. It isn't a disaster if you delay pruning, and this won't harm the plant, but your spirea will offer less of a display in the next flowering season.
A: Understand why you should prune spirea. Be prepared to prune some suckers. Know when to prune your specific variety of spirea. Understand why pruning after flowering can help your plant to grow.

Q: Insect bites itch because of the body's autoimmune reaction against the anticoagulants in the insect's saliva. This prevents your blood from clotting as the insect drinks. After the insect is gone, a small amount of the saliva remains in your skin. Use a pea-sized amount of an antihistamine cream and smear it into the bite until it is fully absorbed. Take a non-sedating oral antihistamine such as 10 mg cetirizine once daily to help with symptoms. Use of both oral and topical antihistamines at the same time is not recommended. Hydrocortisone takes longer to start working, but once it does, the relief will last longer. 1% hydrocortisone creams can be purchased over the counter and will reduce the inflammation. Put a pea-sized amount on your finger and rub it into the bite until it soaks in completely. This will help draw out the fluids that have gathered under the skin making the bite puffy. Lotions that pramoxine will also help. Reapply the lotion according to the manufacturer's instructions. The lotion will dry out the bite and remove any chemicals from the bug's saliva that are irritating your skin. If the bite is painful and swollen, pain medications should help. Put a topical anesthetic on the bite to get immediate relief from the discomfort. A 2% Xylocaine Gel works well. If a topical pain reliever does not help, try an over the counter oral painkiller such as paracetamol (not available in the United States) or ibuprofen.
A: Use an antihistamine to combat the allergic response. Apply a hydrocortisone cream to the bite to soothe the itchy, red, puffy skin around the bite. Dab calamine lotion on the bite. Use pain relieving medications as necessary.

Q: Using wet hands will help the rice not stick to your fingers.
A:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230C) and spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the brown rice, cheese and egg. Place 1/4 cup of the brown rice mixture into each muffin tin cup. Using clean wet hands, press the rice mixture against the sides and bottom of the muffin cups. Bake the rice-lined tins in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the crust has browned. Remove the muffin tins from the oven and allow the crusts to cool to room temperature before proceeding. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160C) and make sure that you've positioned your oven rack so that it is in the center of the oven, about 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3cm) over the burner.