How often do you read or hear about how what was old is new again? Many gardeners research new plants or techniques to try on their property. That research can reveal something completely new or something that has reappeared after a generation or two. My recent web searches on new garden ideas found some interesting results. After you read each idea, see whether you think of yourself as trendsetter or you have been ahead of the curve for quite some time. • Bright and bold colors. A very popular color for walls and floors inside the home is gray. Gray…
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We have a crisis that has visited every community in America, from the largest to the smallest, called opiate addiction. People are looking to fill a void in their life, or escape the pains and stresses in this life, so they turn to mind-altering substances to do this. I remember running my share of these calls when I was on the job, but I believe that the problem has become exponentially bigger. Opiates, cut with other drugs like Fentanyl, seem to be more available than ever before. There have been numerous cases, in the recent past, of a rash of…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Hope everyone had a very nice Mother’s Day…as for me,, things were a bit rough around the edges. For one thing I sprained my left wrist…how, you ask?? [ I was really kind of hoping you would not ask that question..lol. ] I sprained my wrist flushing the toilet…no lie! No idea how it happened…something I do daily without thinking twice about it, but somehow I over-extended my wrist…and ouch!! Now, that is the same hand where I have the lingering “jar-thumb”…so not sure if they are related events…but…
To the Editor Last week, The Washington Post published a major expose of the U.S. dairy industry concluding that mega dairies scam consumers into paying extra for “organic” milk that isn’t. The timing, a few days before Mother’s Day, could not be more appropriate. Dairy cows, world-wide symbols of motherhood, never get to see or nurture their babies. The newborn calves are torn from their mothers at birth and turned into veal cutlets, so the dairy industry can sell their milk. The distraught mothers bellow for days, hoping in vain for their babies’ return. Instead, they are chained on…
THE LASHLEY'S STRAW BALE GARDEN
Spring is in full swing, and along with allergies it brings us longer days, warmer temperatures, and the perfect time to plant for summer. The Lashley family has always been ambitious when it comes to gardening (notice I did not say successful). We plant at least 12 tomato plants every year, along with cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, herbs, cantaloupes, watermelons, and strawberries. We love the thought of growing our own food, and we are big on canning. Unfortunately, last year was a huge disappointment. Our tomatoes were scraggly at best, producing just enough for our family to eat. The cucumbers were…
Last week, I was traveling south on Harrowgate Road. I was in the school zone, just passing Harrowgate Elementary, when a teenager on a bicycle was riding towards me. I noticed that he was looking down and I realized that he was looking at his phone. Just as I was about to go by him, his front tire hit the side of the road and his bicycle jumped into my lane. He immediately jerked the handle bars back, maintained control, and went on by me. It could have turned out much worse, but thankfully it did not. I try to…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Another holiday is rapidly approaching along with Father’s Day, Grandparents Day, and a host of others that are just too many to mention. Again, nothing wrong with showing our appreciation on a certain day but at the same time it should be a lesson to all of us that we need to show our appreciation every day, and it would not hurt on an occasion to send a nice card, or make time for a phone call, or even a small gift..flowers…candy….a little stuffed animal. It is not the…
How often do gardeners ask other gardeners “what did you plant over the weekend?” This past one certainly was warm, and I suspect many of you planted both ornamentals and vegetables. I spent part of this past warm weekend writing nutrient management plans for Chesterfield County Cooperative Extension’s Grass Roots program clients. Grass Roots is one of several programs and services offered by the Cooperative Extension Service. Many of you may not be familiar with the CES and its purpose for the citizens of Virginia. It is often said that knowledge is power. The purpose of the CES is to…
We never know what lies around the next corner. I remember being on duty in the fire station,several years ago and getting dispatched to I-95. It was the epitome of mayhem. A tractor trailer driver was in the lane, closest to the median, minding his own business. As he rounded the curve, he saw a vehicle wreak ahead. He could have barreled through and hurt or killed many people. Instead, he swerved to miss them, causing his truck and trailer to jackknife. His truck would bust through the concrete median, causing his truck to catch fire. The burns that this…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Not much is happening of late….things are pretty much in a boring routine…which in many cases that would not be a bad thing but when you are trying to build and sell a house which is struggling ..that is not such a good thing. Got to find a way to get on the right side of this circle…hopefully soon. Speaking of getting on the right side of things, there is a lot of talk about the first 100 days of the presidency. I am not sure who came up…