Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is sheltered or windswept. You’ll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts. But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow. You can alter the soil’s pH level, but it’s much easier to simply plant for the soil you have. Now you are ready to plant. Well – almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy ‘one of everything’ your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are organized, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest. Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the cente of your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers. The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value. Views: 309
Month: April 2012
Parental Involvement After School
For millions of parents around the world, the day does not end with the school bell. There are still pictures to be painted, songs to be sung and games to be played. This all adds up to keeping children happy, safe and out of trouble. But, parents have to steer away from going overboard. After school is not baby-sitting: After school activities thrive only if it is backed by sufficient parental involvement. What would a baseball game be without parents cheering their little heroes from the sidelines?. Research and choose: Instead of convenience being the decisive factor, find out things that will interest your child. Once you select a program, get the fine print and find out what you have to contribute. Free time: Many children attend piano classes, followed by ballet and squeeze in some time for play dates in between just before they rush home in time for bed. This rigor is too much for a child. So, go slow. When to quit: Often, parents enroll their child in an activity to discover that he may not be the prodigy they thought he would be. This may be the time to let go. Your child may not become the next wonder-kid. But you must allow them to finish out their obligation to the team, etc. Today to many parents will tell their children to “just quit”. Or, perhaps, the family decides it is an inconvenience for them to let the child attend practice or games. Or maybe they plan a holiday and take the child away. This only enforces a “me” attitude. I can’t count the times I had to alter plans so the children could participate in their activities. I wanted them to learn about commitment. If they have committed to be a part of something. This is the time for them to learn to fulfill their obligations. But, let him cultivate an interest that he enjoys. Remember, happiness and fulfillment are all very important. Views: 234
Teach Your Kids to Save Money
A lot of teens today do not understand the value of earning and spending money. They were not taught; that investing is necessary. Although they may still be students. Parents, you play a crucial role in this area. You should be able to teach your kids how to save money. They should be able to understand the concept of money and investment as early in childhood as possible. This will prepare them to learn money management, as they grow old. Here are some tips on how you can teach your children to save money: 1. Your children should be educated of the meaning of money. Once your children have learned how to count, that is the perfect time for you teach them the real meaning of money. You should be consistent and explain to them in simple ways and do this frequently so that they may be able to remember what you taught them. 2. Always explain to them the value of saving money. Make them understand its importance and how it will impact their life. It is important that you entertain questions from them about money and you should be able to answer them right away. 3. When giving them their allowances. You need to give them their allowances in denominations. Then you can encourage them that they should keep a certain bill for the future. You can motivate them to do this by telling them that the money can be saved and they can buy a new pair of shoes or the toys they want once they are able to save. 4. You can also teach them to work for money. You can start this at your own home. You can pay them fifty cents to one dollar every time they do extra work. I say extra work, because they should be expected to contribute to the family in some way. If you pay them for doing their regular chores, they will miss the meaning of family helping each other. This concept of earning a little “extra” money will make them think that money is something they have worked for and should be spent wisely. (As a side note, you could always deduct “taxes”. This will help them learn about how we support our government. (The “taxes” can be put into a special fund for their future use). 5. You can teach them to save money by giving them piggy banks where they can put coins and wait until they get full. You can also open bank accounts for them and let them deposit money from their allowance. I know, I know. They would never earn enough interest on their money to be able to show them any benefit to a savings account. But you can take this money and invest it in an IRA like account. Giving them the chance to learn about stocks, bonds. Mutual Funds, etc. You should always show them how much they have earned to keep them motivated. Money and saving is not something that is learned by children in one sitting. You should be patient in teaching them and relating the value of money in all of their activities. Children will learn this easily if you are patient and consistent in guiding them and encouraging them in this endeavor. Views: 391
False Advertising Or Oversight
What constitutes False Advertising ? Does anyone know. I’m sure the lawyers all have a different idea, depending on the side they are defending. I have my definition. False Advertising is the altering, omission, or just plain lying about your product. When I went to Dictionary.com, it said “ask a lawyer”. Ha Ha. Here I am only going to deal with a single product. I don’t use this product because it states one thing which is, as far as I can tell, is false advertising, But also because I can’t stomach the item it falsely claims as something it isn’t. By product name. It is Campbell’s V-8 Juice. The can states “100 % Vegetable Juice from concentrate….with added ingredients. First of all if it has added ingredients, HOW can it be 100% Vegetable Juice. Now let us look at the JUICES. Carrots. Okay I guess you can extract juice from carrots. I have never been able to. I suppose if you put it into a blender and whatever you do with it you may come up with a juice like substance. But I have never had a juicy carrot. Celery. Well I have had some celery that I would consider juicy. Beets, Yuck. But I have seen juice around beets when they are served. Parsley. I am not sure on this one. When I eat parsley it has at some point been in water, so I don’t know if that is Juicy or watery. Lettuce. Again I have never been able to extract juice from lettuce. Watercress. I don’t even know what this is. I have eaten it in my salads, but again; no juice. Spinach. Love raw spinach. Hate cooked spinach. No juice in raw spinach. But I see some slimy stuff when it is cooked, is that juice? Lets see that is 7 vegetables. But the container says V8. Suggesting there is Eight Vegetables. Let me look again. …………No that is all the vegetables listed. There is a FRUIT listed. Now we all know Fruit is where the juice is. Hello people, here we are. The folks at Campbell’s appear to count, TOMATOES, which any school child can tell you is a FRUIT. (This is the one item that I cannot tolerate). So should not the label say V7 F1. Just to be honest about the content. I think so. It would appear the Tomato (FRUIT) is the main ingredient. Or any way that is what it looks like to me. False Advertising? Most likely not. More like an oversight, or ignorance. I don’t know. If you like it drink it. But do remember it isn’t really V8. In truth it is V7F1. That Is How I See It. Views: 161
Celebrity Apprentice ?
I never watch any of the “reality” shows. However I have checked a couple of times, on the Celebrity Apprentice, (is that the name of the show). I had to see Paul Sr. from American Choppers, (I guess this one reality show I watch. Even though it isn’t as interesting as it was before they got all the fancy equipment. I enjoyed watching and learning how to do things with the tools I had). It seemed to me Paul Sr. would be so far out of his element. What I have seen, maybe a total of one (1) hour of the series, I have definitely decided the one person who would be fired the first time, is the, I don’t know how to put this politically correct, over weight woman they bill as a comedian. Sorry I don’t know her name, nor have I ever heard of her. But she is definitely the weakest contestant. I would pull my hair out if I had to work with her. She is your typical know-it-all, pushy, backstabbing, anything to get ahead ______ you fill in the blank. She would definitely have been the first one “You’re Fired”. That is my feeling. However because she is so much like Donald Trump. She will hang in there for some time. In the real world she would hang in until “The Donald” felt her to be a threat to him. He loves YES people. Most people, as he, like yes people, because they stroke their egos. Then as these yes people worm their way in they will eventually make their move to take the bosses job. They either succeed in their attempt or are disposed of. I personally have failed to see any positive she has brought to the team. But, as I said I have only watched about an hour or so of the series. I caught more of her this week when I couldn’t sleep and it was a later airing. Then I was back and forth between a better show, which happened to be about the fifth time I had seen it. Watch everyone, she is not a team player, she is an “I” player. Thus the lack of ethics. A genuine plus in “BIG BUSINESS” That Is How I See It. Views: 216
Tornado Public Service Announcement
Safety Emergency Preparation Tips When There is a Tornado From March to May of every year, the southern states are occasionally plagued by disastrous weather phenomenon known as tornadoes. For northern states, the risk comes during spring to the onset of summer. Tornadoes are considered as storms. And you know that no storm is not violent. The dangers caused by tornadoes are not due to the gustiness of the winds but by sudden and unanticipated occurrence. Unlike hurricanes, which are comparatively more powerful, the onset of a tornado can not be easily tracked. Satellite weather systems can not easily spot them because of their sudden development and their relatively smaller scale. Thus, people can only tell that there is a tornado when they actually see one. Tornadoes are massive and destructive mass of air accumulating rapidly is a circular manner. The wind is so strong that almost everything that comes to the way of the tornado is easily flown into it. How to tell if a tornado is approaching Before any safety measure, it is imperative that you be knowledgeable about the appearance and the indicators of the presence of the violent weather phenomenon. Take note that before a tornado hits an area, the wind may not be destructive minutes before the tornado hits the place. Often, before a tornado is observed, the wind may be very still. There may or may not be presence of rain. Usually, tornadoes occur at the trailing end of a thunderstorm. Thus, if there is strong thunderstorm, be prepared on the possibility that a tornado may come anytime during of before the thunderstorm ends. Because tornadoes are made up basically of strong and whirling winds, one can not easily see them. Often, reported cases indicate that the tornado appears like a cloud-like structure. Tornadoes can be seen due to the debris and dust they have accumulated while tracking their courses. You may see the debris rotating in the air in circular, whirling motion. Before a tornado hits an area, you can also hear loud roaring sound that is almost similar to an approaching freight train. The wind will also become turbulent and destructive. Safety measures before a tornado One indicator that a tornado will possibly hit an area is dark and often violet to greenish sky, which is prevalent during destructive thunderstorms. When you see and feel the indications of an approaching tornado, find a safe shelter right away. Remember, tornadoes are destructive and fatal not merely because of the strong winds but because of the debris they have accumulated. These debris vary from roof, to large rocks, to large chunks of trees. When people are hit by such debris, that is the time the tornado becomes fatal. So make sure the shelter you find would protect you from any such debris. Safety measures during a tornado Homes located in areas that are often hit by tornadoes almost always have basements. Basements offer reliable protection to people during tornadoes, so find one during an attack of a tornado. If you are in your car, just get out and find a safe shelter. Or simply lie down on sturdy structure. Lie flat and cover the head with hands. Be alert and look out for falling debris coming from the tornado. After the tornado, make sure any structure in your home is not significantly damaged. Otherwise, seek professional help all at once to ensure your safety. Tornadoes are phenomenal that one can not prevent it from occurring. However, if you know the how-to’s of being safe during such weather disturbances, you would avoid being one of the many casualties arising from such a weather turbulence. Views: 649
Fishing
Thank you Oley for your contribution: Fishing, A Family Activity. I have many fond memories of fishing with family and friends. Let me relate a few of those memories, here. My Grandpa, and Grandma, took me fishing quite often in the creek (pronounced crick in my area), that ran through their farm. Come to think of it; even though I never thought about this before, they never BOTH took me it was only one of them at a time. Depending on the time of day,and day of the week. Grandma took me during the morning when Grandpa was working, If Grandpa was not working, he took me. One time while fishing with my Grandpa, it wasn’t a good time to fish, we were just spending time together. After a couple of hours and nary a bite, Grandpa said it was time to head for the house. I began to drag my line in and met with some resistance. Grandpa said I was probably snagged on a stick or something. I resumed pulling in my line, and imagine our surprise, to find a sixteen inch, (I’m guessing at least two pounds, maybe more), Sucker on my hook. (You may have different names for these fish, depending upon where you live. Suckers live near the bottom of the creek, and some people consider them to be scavengers). Some people don’t consider them as edible, but my Grandma made them edible. The three of us had a good meal from this one. My Grandma could also make Carp taste like Bass. Another time, while fishing with a friend, we saw a Snapping Turtle, a large one, swim under a roll of fencing that had floated down to the creek during a recent flood. There happend to be a man wading the creek fly fishing. We told him about the turtle, and where it went. Would you believe he reached in there, bare handed, and pulled the turtle out. He then explained to us a turtle has seven different meat flavors. He was visiting his uncle, a man we knew who lived just around the corner from me. A couple of days later his uncle asked us over and he had prepared some of the turtle for us. (My first taste of turtle), and sure enough there were seven different tastes. DELICIOUS !!! Another time while visiting my uncle on his lakefront home, my DAD, my uncle, and I were fishing off his pier. Of course being about 13 I had to have my radio on playing good old ROCK’N’ROLL. That is when they claimed my music was driving the fish away. They got in the boat, and left me fishing off the pier. About an hour to an hour and a half later when they returned with three little Crappie, I proudly showed them my stringer full of larger Crappie. They never complained about my music playing anymore. Lastly, the laughter was on me. I was taking my sons fishing where I used to fish with my Grandpa and Grandma. They were quite small and had not learned to swim yet. I had them walking along the bank. I was wading the creek. They got a real big kick when I fell in a hole and came up completely drenched, trying to catchup to my hat. But I haven’t been fishing for a long time. The boys buy me fishing rods, that have not been out of the package, yet. What with all the pollution in the creeks today, and around here they have warnings not to eat the fish from the creeks. I have lost my taste for fish. And if I did like fish, I always have a truck load. I try to avoid bridges, when in my pickup. You see, The fish tend to jump out of the creek and into the bed of the truck. Then I have to take them out and throw them back in the water. Terrible curse I have here. But after writing this maybe I will go fishing with my boys. No. Not to catch fish, but just to spend time with them. After all I really don’t have to have a hook on my line. Weight will allow me to make the casts. They have a really nice bass boat, and enjoy fishing in contests. We will probably win. When I am in a boat the fish tend to leap in it, just like in my truck bed. That Is How I See It. PS: A friend from Texas told me our creeks are what they call rivers in Texas. And I thought “every thing is big in Texas” Views: 150
Fishing, A Family Activity
Many people love to go fishing, instead of playing tennis or golf. Others make it their primary sport activity together with their families and friends to relieve boredom and stress. Surveys say that more than 50 million Americans love to go fishing and make it their lifestyle option instead of other sports. In Alabama, fishing represents a substantial impact on the state economy. Hundreds of millions of dollars are represented and about 20,000 people list fishing as their source of livelihood. However, most people consider it as a form of relaxation and a family activity. In general, it is a lifestyle option. In the book titled “The Incomplete Psychology of Everyday Fishing;” psychologist Paul G. Quinnett dedicated an entire chapter about fishing as a source to relieve stress. In the chapter, “Ethics of Fishing” he points out that a person must appreciate and enjoy the benefits of nature. He also highlighted that fishing correct is a way for an individual to become more disciplined in his lifestyle. “Family Life First,” an organization dedicated to introducing how to spend useful family time to parents for their children, have factual data that in the past 20 years, 25 percent of a child’s playing time has decreased. Outdoor activities, where most children spend their playing time, have also declined by 50 percent, to 22 percent of family time activities have lessened proven by the study of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Any fruitful time to interact with your children is time worth investing. Fishing is a way to connect. The quality time you get is really worth the effort. The experience you get by catching fish is what makes it wonderful to enjoy and that is the important part of fishing. There are 23 public fishing lakes having plenty of fish waiting to be caught. All children can experience the excitement and adventure of fishing. You will always remember the very first time you caught a fish, and the parent who showed you how to catch it. You gain enjoyable and learning experiences from fishing that makes it a great family activity. Alabama, for example, promotes its lakes and open banks as places best for fishing. You do not even need a boat to catch fish. There are also stores where you can find what you need for fishing. You may bring your family with you and the time of being together and enjoying the fun of fishing is the best family activity you could have. Please let Wayne know if you liked this information, (I would like to write more). Views: 252
Motorcycle Here I Come
Spring means I dig my faithful steed out of the garage, and RIDE. Of course we have had a very mild winter, and I have taken a few short rides, BUT now these rides will be more frequent, and most likely a little longer. Since I last spoke of riding, I have added another motorcycle to my herd, (I don’t know if two equals a herd, but….). I ride my cruiser most of the time, but my lady friend prefers the ride of a touring bike. So late last year, I had a chance to buy a HONDA Goldwing. It may be old but, it was such a good bargain. The bike is a Silver, 1987 Goldwing Interstate. The cost of only $700.oo was too good to pass. I was looking at a Harley Davidson, similarly equipped. But, although it was a great buy, at $6,000.00 The Goldwing made more sense. I don’t know how much she will accompany me on a ride, meaning I’ll be on the cruiser most of the summer. By the way I rode that Goldwing home. A distance of 100 miles. Then we put about 800 miles on it the last month to month and a half of the riding season. No problems. Surprise. It seems to have truly been a good buy. I didn’t know what to expect for $700.oo, I figured if it turned out to be a lemon, I could get my money back selling the parts. ( A couple of years ago, I traded my Touring Bike, Trailer and all, for a pickup truck for her. In two years she drove the truck twice.) We used to ride a lot together on that old touring bike, but my riding buddies have either died or moved 1,000 miles away. (You don’t get much riding time with them when the distance is so great). Picking a group to ride isn’t easy. For us it has to be someone we both like, and have similar likes, and riding styles. By “riding styles”, I mean, we, my friends, and I, would ride a little, eat a little, frequent rest stops, etc. For example, we took a 224 mile trip, which we departed at 9 am. and arrived at 5-6pm. Like I said we stop frequently. Like, during that ride, we come across an airplane museum, so we had to stop. We stopped at Honda Dealers, for the couples riding Honda, Once at a Kawasaki Dealer, and One Harley Dealer for our Harley riders. Plus we stopped around 10 am for breakfast, and around 2pm for dinner. Not to mention the necessary stops. So here we go looking forward to a safe happy summer of enjoying the great outdoors; riding. Be sure you check your bike out. Be sure everything is tight, clean, and working properly. Take a few short rides before embarking on that long trip. And, although I have been riding for…..oh lets just say a long time. I still ride by myself a few times before I take off with a passenger. Then we take short trips, before we go on a long ride. (Of course, as I said earlier, a 200 mile trip may take us hours. Happy Motorcycling. That Is How I See It. Views: 164
GENERAL HISTORY OF DOGS
First let me thank Mr. Lawrence for allowing me to use his Blog to post this article. Hopefully he will get a good enough response to allow me to post again. There is no incongruity in the idea that in the very earliest period of man’s habitation of this world he made a friend and companion of some sort of aboriginal representative of our modern dog, and that in return for its aid in protecting him from wilder animals, and in guarding his sheep and goats, he gave it a share of his food, a corner in his dwelling, and grew to trust it and care for it. Probably the animal was originally little else than an unusually gentle jackal, or an ailing wolf driven by its companions from the wild marauding pack to seek shelter in alien surroundings. One can well conceive the possibility of the partnership beginning in the circumstance of some helpless whelps being brought home by the early hunters to be tended and reared by the women and children. Dogs introduced into the home as playthings for the children would grow to regard themselves, and be regarded, as members of the family In nearly all parts of the world traces of an indigenous dog family are found, the only exceptions being the West Indian Islands, Madagascar, the eastern islands of the Malayan Archipelago, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands, where there is no sign that any dog, wolf, or fox has existed as a true aboriginal animal. In the ancient Oriental lands, and generally among the early Mongolians, the dog remained savage and neglected for centuries, prowling in packs, gaunt and wolf-like, as it prowls today through the streets and under the walls of every Eastern city. No attempt was made to allure it into human companionship or to improve it into docility. It is not until we come to examine the records of the higher civilisations of Assyria and Egypt that we discover any distinct varieties of canine form. The dog was not greatly appreciated in Palestine, and in both the Old and New Testaments it is commonly spoken of with scorn and contempt as an “unclean beast.” Even the familiar reference to the Sheepdog in the Book of Job “But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock” is not without a suggestion of contempt, and it is significant that the only biblical allusion to the dog as a recognised companion of man occurs in the apocryphal Book of Tobit (v. 16), “So they went forth both, and the young man’s dog with them.” The great multitude of different breeds of the dog and the vast differences in their size, points, and general appearance are facts which make it difficult to believe that they could have had a common ancestry. One thinks of the difference between the Mastiff and the Japanese Spaniel, the Deerhound and the fashionable Pomeranian, the St. Bernard and the Miniature Black and Tan Terrier, and is perplexed in contemplating the possibility of their having descended from a common progenitor. Yet the disparity is no greater than that between the Shire horse and the Shetland pony, the Shorthorn and the Kerry cattle, or the Patagonian and the Pygmy; and all dog breeders know how easy it is to produce a variety in type and size by studied selection. In order properly to understand this question it is necessary first to consider the identity of structure in the wolf and the dog. This identity of structure may best be studied in a comparison of the osseous system, or skeletons, of the two animals, which so closely resemble each other that their transposition would not easily be detected. The spine of the dog consists of seven vertebrae in the neck, thirteen in the back, seven in the loins, three sacral vertebrae, and twenty to twenty-two in the tail. In both the dog and the wolf there are thirteen pairs of ribs, nine true and four false. Each has forty-two teeth. They both have five front and four hind toes, while outwardly the common wolf has so much the appearance of a large, bare-boned dog, that a popular description of the one would serve for the other. Nor are their habits different. The wolf’s natural voice is a loud howl, but when confined with dogs he will learn to bark. Although he is carnivorous, he will also eat vegetables, and when sickly he will nibble grass. In the chase, a pack of wolves will divide into parties, one following the trail of the quarry, the other endeavouring to intercept its retreat, exercising a considerable amount of strategy, a trait which is exhibited by many of our sporting dogs and terriers when hunting in teams. A further important point of resemblance between the Canis lupus and the Canis familiaris lies in the fact that the period of gestation in both species is sixty-three days. There are from three to nine cubs in a wolf’s litter, and these are blind for twenty-one days. They are suckled for two months, but at the end of that time they are able to eat half-digested flesh disgorged for them by their dam or even their sire. The native dogs of all regions approximate closely in size, coloration, form, and habit to the native wolf of those regions. Of this most important circumstance there are far too many instances to allow of its being looked upon as a mere coincidence. Sir John Richardson, writing in 1829, observed that “the resemblance between the North American wolves and the domestic dog of the Indians is so great that the size and strength of the wolf seems to be the only difference. It has been suggested that the one incontrovertible argument against the lupine relationship of the dog is the fact that all domestic dogs bark, while all wild Canidae express their feelings only by… Continue reading GENERAL HISTORY OF DOGS
