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- Monday, May 20, 2013 DAWSONVILLE, GA
Archive By Section - Lifestyle Columnists
Control ladybugs in the home
We are well into November, and the weather is becoming chillier by the day. Nothing feels better than coming home to a warm, comfortable house after a cold day at work. Unfortunately, insects feel the same way.
Spring-flowering bulbs
Flowering bulbs can be a great addition to any garden. Bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinths and tulips are usually the earliest flowers to bloom in spring. Many bulbs will grow for several years with little care, while others are treated as an annual and planted for only one season. They can be placed almost anywhere in the home landscape, including flower beds, pots and even in the lawn.
Man walks into a grocery store alone ...
I am not sure what it is about men and grocery stores, but those long mysterious aisles seem to present a conundrum to a lot of men. Or maybe it's just my husband. I joke that his idea of Friday Night Date Night is taking me to the grocery store, where we spend 'quality time' together.
Winterizing fertilizer
If you have watched television or listened to radio in the past few months, chances are you have heard at least one commercial from Scotts brand fertilizer. Their television ads feature a rugged, red-bearded Scotsman named, of course, Scott. Scott informs us that fall is the best time to fertilize your lawn to help grow new roots for survival during the long winter ahead.
How Mama gets things done
I am a simple girl really, I don't need to have to have a lot of fancy things. I would definitely enjoy them and be giddy if I had fancy, but I don't have to have a lot of bells and whistles. Case in point: When we moved to the mountains years ago, our cabin didn't have a dishwasher. I swore after spending the first 25 years of my life without one, I would never, not have a dishwasher again.
Moss control in lawns
Have you ever noticed masses of light-green, plant-like material growing in your lawn while mowing your grass? These are probably patches of moss or algae. Most people notice moss during the summer months when they are actively cutting the lawn. However, winter months, between December and March, are the best time to control your moss problems.
There’s something about Halloween
Halloween - the night that begat all fun-sized candies is upon us and with it, the magic and lore of that night. "Mama, did they do trick or treating when you were a kid?" Cole asked.
Fall berry color
When most folks think of gardens in the fall, leaf color change is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Another aspect of fall and winter gardens that is often overlooked is ornamental berry production. As the leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs drop, certain plants will reveal their showy clusters of brightly-colored berries.
Never underestimate the power of a hissie fit
In my office, high up on a shelf, sits a pretty dainty little plaque that has survived numerous moves without being lost or broken. I am not sure who gave it to me -- I have had it so long, that I forgot. But whoever it was, they evidently know me very well because the pretty, girlie plaque declares: "Never underestimate the power of a good hissie fit."
RuPaul, Mama Gaga, Great Pumpkin
"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: Religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." That's what Linus said in the Charlie Brown Halloween special more than 40 years ago.
Why leaves change color
One of nature's greatest spectacles is the array of colors presented during autumn in the mountains. Most of us are lucky enough to live within driving distance of a deciduous forest, allowing us to take in the beauty of the color change.
Mama’s factual bits of truth don’t bare repeating
There's a window of opportunity as a parent, probably from a child's age of 2 to about 11 where any and every thing we say is gold. Once they hit the 12-year-old mark, any words that come out of our mouths sound very similar to the teachers on the Charlie Brown cartoons.
Always my baby, no matter what
Being the parent of an only child I willingly admit he is a little bit spoiled. Not necessarily with material things, although his room would beg otherwise. He on the other hand, would tell you a tale of how deprived he is because at 8 years of age, he doesn't have his own iPhone or tablet. But when it comes to attention, Cole is pretty rotten. "Mama, tell me about when I was born again," he asked as his 8th birthday neared earlier this week.
Protect plants from cold damage
We are now officially into fall, which means it is time to start thinking about how to protect our ornamental plants from cold damage. Daylight hours are getting shorter and nighttime temperatures are dropping. Plants are starting to move in to a state of dormancy, or rest, as their growth hormones slow down.
Prepare for disaster
Most of us are fortunate to live fairly comfortably in our everyday lives. We are lucky to live in a stable society that allows most of us to never worry about our food supply. We all have access to electricity, and all of the comforts and entertainment that comes with it. Have you ever thought about what you would do if a natural disaster stuck? What if you no longer had electricity, water and access to the grocery store for extended periods of time?
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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