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Archive By Section - Lifestyle Columnists


Brown Patch lawn disease

Early summer is a time eagerly awaited by many homeowners. As temperatures rise, lawns begin to green up.

June 06, 2012 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


I’m clearly not the boss around my house

As many parents, including my mother, have done, I have pulled out the "I am the Mother" card as my carte blanche reason for many decisions. I also pepper mine with: "I'm the boss, I call the shots, what I say goes."

June 06, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


My son, the future president of 2038

The first grade class voted a few weeks ago and it was announced during awards day that the "Most Likely to be President of the USA" was my child. Cole's teacher, Mrs. Robin even declared that Cole would be one to get things done if he was in the White House and she'd vote for him tomorrow if he ran.

May 30, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Fire blight on fruit trees

Backyard apple trees are popular in this area of Georgia. Many people see the apples being grown just down the road in Ellijay and assume it should be easy to grow them at home. While home fruit trees can be rewarding, they also require a lot of work. One reason for this is the prevalence of diseases.

May 23, 2012 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


An open letter to Mr. Black Bear

Dear Mr. Black Bear, Allow me to introduce myself; I am the owner of the trash you so enthusiastically dismantled and scattered all over my backyard recently. Several times actually. I'd like to have a few moments of your time if possible.

May 23, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Screen tree alternatives

The Leyland cypress tree is one of the most popular plants used in the landscape as a natural screen. Unfortunately, increasing disease problems, improper plant placement and the sheer prevalence of Leyland cypresses have all contributed to the need for alternative plant selection. Leyland cypress trees are susceptible to a number of diseases, such as Seridium canker, Botryosphaeria dieback and Cercosporidium needle blight.

May 16, 2012 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


We’re gonna just ‘bless it’

Part of our Southern heritage dictates that before or after we say anything disparaging about anyone, we should add a "bless their heart" to it. I knew this early on; in fact, I would bet good money the first words I uttered after the dog's name were tagging a blessing onto someone.

May 16, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


What I share with my mama

I recently read an article in a magazine that talked about how the physical features you share with your mother reveal similar personality traits. Similar eyes meant you both were optimistic. Lips meant you both were openhearted; noses, equally trusting. The article offered some keen insights that I am sure for many, rang very true. But not for me, because unfortunately, I don't share any physical traits with my mother. My Mama has always ...

May 09, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Contents of a woman’s purse

"What is in here?" Lamar will ask as he tries to move my bag to the floorboard of the back seat. "Stuff I need," I reply.

May 02, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Control poison ivy

Poison ivy is a weed that affects almost every gardener and outdoor lover in Georgia. It is found in nearly every outdoor environment, and most folks can tell you not so fondly of the after-effects of a poison ivy encounter.

May 02, 2012 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Too bad life doesn’t come with an ‘edit’ button

I am beginning to think me and microphones don't mix well. It seems like if I am around one, you better hope like the dickens there's a way to edit afterwards. Starting as a small child in my first of only two pageants, Mama made the mistake of telling me what every mother tells her child backstage.

April 25, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Annual 4-H rabies clinic set Saturday

Because of strict vaccination laws, rabies outbreaks have become much less prevalent since vaccination programs began in the 1940s. However, this does not mean that rabies is no longer a threat in our community. According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, there were more than 6,000 reported cases of animal rabies, and two reported cases of rabies in humans in the United States in 2010.

April 25, 2012 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Adult friendships can bring disappointments

As a child, the start of the school year brought a lot of trepidation. Would I still be friends with the same children from the year before?

April 18, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Starting a vegetable garden

With our traditional last frost date, April 20, soon approaching, many folks are getting ready to start planting summer vegetable gardens. Home gardens can be an enjoyable way to stay active and provide your family with fresh produce throughout the summer. However, a productive garden takes a lot of work and proper planning can greatly increase a garden's success.

April 18, 2012 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


Mama said there’d be days like this

Spring has sprung in all of its bright colorful splendor and that means one thing. No, not the beautiful array of flowers blooming everywhere but in my yard.

April 12, 2012 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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Page 6 of 31

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.

May 15, 2013 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

May 15, 2013 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

May 08, 2013 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

May 01, 2013 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


When to prune azaleas

Azaleas are a staple of traditional southern landscapes.

May 01, 2013 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

April 24, 2013 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

April 17, 2013 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

April 17, 2013 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

April 10, 2013 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

April 10, 2013 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

April 03, 2013 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

April 03, 2013 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

March 27, 2013 | By Sudie Crouch For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

March 27, 2013 | By Clark Mac Allister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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.

March 22, 2013 | By Clark MacAllister For the Dawson Community News | Lifestyle Columnists


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