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- Wednesday, May 22, 2013 DAWSONVILLE, GA
Archive By Section - Lifestyle Columnists
Don’t mistake caffeinated for perkiness
One morning on Facebook my friend Lori and I got in a conversation about why we were up so early. For me, 5:30 a.m. is normal. I declared myself a morning person.
A moment of silence for victims on 9/11
Last Tuesday marked the 11th anniversary of one of our nation's saddest days: 9/11/01. I don't think anyone will ever forget that day nor should they. People all around the nation, not just in New York, were paying tribute and memorializing for those who perished. For some, it was a ceremony. For others, it was a moment of silence.
Control fruit flies
Summer and fall are the most common times to find fruit flies in your home. Although they may occur year-round, the usual abundance of ripening fruit in many people's homes in the summer and fall tend to attract more flies. Fresh fruit is an important part of a healthy diet, so don't let fruit flies deter you from eating right.
A colossal diet fail
Like a lot of women, I worry about my weight constantly. I was a chubby kid and no matter how many pounds I lose, I always have that chubby ghost lurking in the back of my head. Mama never had to worry about her weight when she was younger. She was a skinny kid, all elbows and knees. As an adult, she was thin, probably because nicotine and coffee were her two major food groups.
Boxwood culture, care
Boxwoods (Buxus sp.) are a well-known garden shrub frequently planted in Georgia. They have been used for many years in English formal gardens where they gained the reputation as a must-have for upscale, magisterial landscapes.
I’ll tell you when you’re older
Parenthood comes with a unique set of challenges. Are you teaching your children the right things? Are they getting the right foods, the right education? Are they involved in the right extracurricular activities? Are you scarring them for life? But children are resilient people. They seem to go with the ebb and flow of life much easier than adults. Some of the things we worry about, they don't even notice.
Bigger than Bieber
"Elvis is going to be reincarnated as a blue-eyed blonde this year," Mama announced to me when I was pregnant with Cole several years ago. "Sylvia Browne just said so on 'Montel' this morning." Now Mama being as quirky as she is loves her some Sylvia Browne and never missed an episode of Montel Williams' show when the psychic was on.
West Nile Virus and mosquito protection
Recently, national and local news stations have been filled with stories of West Nile Virus outbreaks in several states. As of the time of writing, there have been 21 confirmed cases of the virus in Georgia, three of which were fatal. With cases like this, it is important that residents learn the facts and become aware of how to best protect themselves. West Nile Virus was first confirmed in the United States in 1999 in ...
Fall webworm control
Late summer and early fall is the time when you will begin to notice trees containing unsightly, light-grey webs. These webs often contain the fall webworm, a perennial pest of several trees all across North America. Fall webworms have been observed feeding on more than 85 species of trees in the U.S., according to UGA Extension Horticulturist Bob Westerfield.
The problem with being a team player
It seems like everything lately is focused on teams and it's not about upcoming SEC play either. Work has become team-based as well, and I am not quite sure how I feel about that. My first experience working with a team of any sort was in college.
Who would win? Dirty Harry or Walker, Texas Ranger
There has been a great debate in my house recently. It does not involve anything political but something much more profound. Who would win in a showdown - Clint Eastwood or Chuck Norris. "Chuck Norris rules," was my answer.
Reseeding tall fescue lawns
Tall fescue is one of the most popular turf-type grasses in north Georgia. People love tall fescue for its dark green color in fall and spring. It is also easy to plant by seed, making it popular with DIY, or do-it-yourself, homeowners. Because it is a cool-season grass, meaning it prefers the cooler temperatures of fall and spring, it often becomes thin during the summer. Don't be alarmed. This is the grass's natural method of protecting itself during the hot summer months.
Summer pruning
Each plant in the landscape has a particular purpose or growth habit that dictates specific pruning requirements. Often we prune to direct the growth or train plants into a certain form or to fit within a certain space, such as a formal hedge.
The only thing wrong with women
"I am so glad I am not a woman," one of my guy friends commented recently. "You have to 'heehee' and 'ooo' over each other. All y'all do is talk all the time. That's what's wrong with all of y'all." True, women talk. Some of the things we talk about are not necessarily that important and most men would deem it gossip.
Eco-friendly insect control
I have received many calls to the office from people wanting to control landscape and insect pests without the use of conventional pesticides. There are some options available for those opting to use less harsh chemicals. Many of the pest insects we find in our landscapes and gardens can be controlled with one of three environmentally-friendly products - Horticultural Oils, Insecticidal Soaps and Bt Products. Horticultural oil is especially formulated for use on plants. It ...
Articles by Section - Lifestyle Columnists
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.
Use berms for looks, function
Berms, or raised areas, can be used in the landscape to add visual interest to flat or dull areas of the yard. Berms are simply mounded hills of soil that are constructed to serve a purpose in a landscaped area.
Forsythia signals the arrival of spring
Early March can be one of the blandest times in the landscape. It can be downright depressing not being able to see any green leaves or any signs of colorful flowers. However, as the month moves on, March soon becomes one of my favorite times of the year. Seemingly out of nowhere, small clusters of bright yellow flowers begin to pop up on shrubs all over town. These flowers belong to one of the most revered shrubs in our area - forsythia.
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