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- Friday, May 24, 2013 DAWSONVILLE, GA
Archive By Section - Lifestyle Columnists
Mama said there’d be days like this
I've never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. Sometimes, I wish I could be - to be able to get caught up in the romance, the pink and red heart-shaped everything, the cards covered with sugary rhymes professing love.
Landscape work for the month of February
Some people may think February is the slowest month of the year to work with your landscape, but really it's not. February is a good month for doing dormant pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs (with the exception of spring-flowering plants that are pruned after they bloom).
Mama said there’s be days like this …
The Food Network's reigning queen of butter recently announced she has had type 2 diabetes for three years. The next thing we knew, people were bashing her for hiding it and some even said it was no surprise given the way she loves her fattening fare.
Fertilizer key when growing pecans
A common question I am asked is: Do pecan trees need fertilizer and, if so, when is the best time to apply it? Fertilizer is one of the most important things needed to produce pecans.
Decide which plant to buy
Buying landscape plants can be confusing. Most garden centers offer about any size, color and shape of landscape plants. But which plant is right for your landscape?
Nobody can do things like Mama
There's some primal instinct that kicks in as soon as mothers hear those words: "Mama, I'm not feeling so good..." After placing my hand on my child's forehead to see if it's worthy of breaking out the ear thermometer, I always know what to do.
Mama said there’d be days like this
Miss Rose had been older than Moses when I was a little girl and there were times I fully believed she never missed a church service because she was making sure the preacher was getting the story straight - since she had undoubtedly been there when it happened. So when Granny called my cell a few years ago to tell me the news, I was surprised to hear it, but not for the reason Granny thought. "Are you sitting down, Sug'?" she asked.
Overwintering houseplants
During winter months, many homeowners try to overwinter potted plants inside. Others enjoy inside plants year round, but there can be problems. Low light, low humidity, dry air and too much soil moisture are the primary culprits that can weaken and destroy our indoor plants. Proper management of these growing factors, of course, is essential to your maintaining healthy, vigorous houseplants.
Learn garden terms
Sometimes gardening terms can become confusing and lead to wrong cultural practices. For example, the term bulb is used to apply to a number of different plant structures which are planted and propagated on their location and make-up. Above ground bulblike structures are called crowns, and the below-ground ones are bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers.
The spirit of giving isn’t just for Christmas
This column is being written on Christmas Eve, although it is intended for January. How can someone have time to write on Christmas Eve?
Mama said there’d be days like this …
I have never been a big couponer. I tried it when I was younger during grocery trips with Granny. My attempts to save money cost my budgeted-to-the-penny Granny an average extra $34. I was ordered to never try to save Granny money again.
Mama said there’d be days like this
My child has wanted a family game night for months now; the only problem was we didn't have many games. So under the tree from Santa, amongst the Transformers, Redekais and Bakugans was the board game classic Monopoly.
Plant what the deer don’t like
I wish I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how to keep deer from eating landscape plants. As the Dawson County population increases, natural areas are being replaced by homes. Homeowners soon realize nuisance deer are difficult to control in residential areas.
Liming the garden
Proper pH of the soil is very important to plants. If the pH is low, lime may be added any time of the year. However, since lime is slow to react, applying lime as soon as possible is important.
Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This …
As I have gotten older, birthdays have become less of the big deal they were when I was younger. Of course as a child, birthdays were eagerly anticipated and I was proud to show how many fingers old I was. The birthdays in my 20's were full of frivolous fun that included surprise parties and dinners that spanned for hours and consisted of dessert.
Articles by Section - Lifestyle Columnists
Calibrate weed sprayers
I have answered many calls at the extension office in the past few weeks dealing with weed control in home lawns.
It truly takes a village to raise a child
"I don't like change," Cole said solemnly one day. "I'm like a cat that way."
The legend of my first cat, Callahan
"Mama, do you like cats?" Cole asked one day. This was shortly after I had brought the latest puppy home a few weeks ago.
Prevent termites
I have had several cases within the past year of people coming into my office, handing me a plastic baggy or jar filled with small, winged insects and saying: "Tell me those are flying ants!" Unfortunately, more often than not, they turn out to be termite flyers.
Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes the bug
Everyone has disappointments. It's a part of life and sometimes those disappointments can offer us many learning experiences.
Mama in Wonderland
One of my biggest pet peeves is someone being late. So why I am constantly late getting my child to school, I have no idea.
When to prune azaleas
Azaleas are a staple of traditional southern landscapes.
What causes pollen
Spring is a beautiful time of year. Longer days, green grass and leaves reappearing on the trees really brighten up my mood.
Controlling moles
Have you started noticing mysterious raised tunnels forming seemingly overnight in your lawn or garden? If so, you probably have a mole infestation. Don't worry, you are not alone. We have received many calls in the past week regarding tunneling activity.
My manifesto of life to my darling son
Children learn a lot more by what they see us doing than what we tell them. I can tell Cole all day long the things he shouldn't do, but it's my example he's watching. I don't want him to follow my example, but to be better than I am at this game of life.
Take pictures for diagnosis
We have all heard the saying "April showers bring May Flowers." Rainfall in April helps replenish our plants as they gear up for another growing season. However, this precipitation also brings unwanted consequences to our landscapes - disease.
Running with the big dogs
It had been a long time since I had a puppy and I forgot how much work they are. Middle of the night feedings and potty outings, crying incessantly. I think comparing them to a newborn would be reasonable. I was on night five of no sleep - Angel the parking lot pup would wake me up at 1 a.m., wanting to play after sleeping all day. I was exhausted.
Annual 4-H rabies clinic scheduled for April 13
Dawson County 4-H Club, All Animals Veterinary Hospital and Dawsonville Veterinary Hospital will be hosting an annual rabies clinic on April 13. It will be held at several locations throughout Dawson County. Because of strict vaccination laws, rabies outbreaks have become much less prevalent since vaccination programs began in the 1940s.
Once you name the puppy, it becomes yours
There was an unspoken law at my house growing up for every stray critter that managed to find its way in our yard. Once my uncle Bobby named it, it was ours. If the animal made it to day two without Bobby sticking some name on it, we were safe according to Granny. Of course, no animal made it beyond a few hours, let alone two days.
Middle of a mid-life crisis
I think when I turned 40, something happened. Not to my posterior either - that happened a long time before I hit the big 4-0.
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