No Fooling!

A lone flower growing in the Badlands. A wee bit of sunshine in a dry and hard land.

 

Hello Friends,

My discussion with you today has to deal with my word of 2022. This is the first year that I have chose a word for the year. I decided on Sunshine.

Sunshine ~ brightness or radiance, cheerfulness or happiness

a source of cheer or happiness

Sadly, this world of ours is getting more angry everyday. I can feel like that flower above that I found growing in the dry, hot and hard earth in the Badlands during a past trip.

Recently our family has been caught up with some angry people. 

The first happened to my husband while he was checking out at the hardware store. The cashier had to change the tape in the machine, so my husband could get his receipt. While he waited, he was slammed by a shopping cart from behind by an older man. The man hit my husband with his shopping cart and yelled, "Move, I want to check out!" My husband explained he needed his receipt.

The older man continued to HUFF AND PUFF. He turned his cart away and pulled his wife with him to find a different check out. And as he did so, my husband walked on with his receipt in hand. 

Word of advice to the old guy.. if you would have just waited patiently you would have been next to check out.

 The next story happened to my son.. who recently was robbed. 

He and his girlfriend went to see Batman. During the first 25 minutes of the film, six people where causing a disturbance. Talking loudly, making rude remarks and other bodily noises. Other guests started to leave. Sam and Catie were just about to leave, when management came and escorted the six adult hooligans out of the theater.

My son was so upset he gave me a call and simply asked me, "What is going on with people mom?"

So I ask you my dear friends. What is going on with society? 

A friend of mine recently shared that while visiting with family, many mentioned how angry and rude people are getting, in fact it seems worse every day. She thought perhaps the pandemic has some to do with attitude of people. Other's have blamed Trump! Some blame Gas Prices. The current war, social media .. the list goes on.

 REALLY?

I wonder, have those of us who extend grace.. maybe do it too much. I think I might be in that boat. My husband too. He did not say anything to the older man who hit him with the shopping cart, but should have he? Should we start to say, "Yo, this is not how we want our society to look like, angry, impatient and full of hate." Do we start to say something? Will it help?

 I recently read the following in regards to the hate during this time..

If we allow ourselves to start thinking again and engaging with the world and engaging with each other. Be committed to each other and to a life of the mind and body.

 

"If we are to better the future, we must disturb the present."

 Catherine Booth

And so I will continue to do my best to spread SUNSHINE one step at a time.. the best I can even in a hard, dry and hateful land.

A reminder how not to go mad in a mad world, "And when the world seems to be falling apart around you, create something, put a flower in a vase, bake a pie, draw a picture, knit socks."

Susan Branch

 

The Five W's and H

 Hello Friends,

Back in the day, we learned how to report a story with the Five W's and H.

A recent article in our Barron News Shield, Wednesday, March 16, 2022 grabbed my attention, the headline, Moths are a danger in Barron County.

As a gardener and having a business selling fresh cut flowers, I  am well aware of pests to our gardens, shrubs and trees. I also am well aware of the poisons that are used to kill these pests. The poisons are what I want to know about. 

The below article shared with me in four paragraphs how the DANGEROUS moth in Barron County got a name change. Yep, that is right, four paragraphs to let me know that previous name of the moth "gypsy moth"  was removed due to its use of derogatory term for the Romani people.

Right.. that is fine with me. Change the name of the moth.

BUT... where is the information regarding WHAT is going to be used in the spray to kill off the dangerous moth? What are the ingredients?

When? When will my area be sprayed?

Where? Where are you spraying?

What? What is in the spray? 

Do we need to keep our pets inside during the spray campaign? Young children, older adults, those who have respiratory problems?

Target of spray campaign.

 The article did provide a ten word long site to type in to find more information. When I typed it in my computer, triple checking that I had all of the ten words correct it said..

 PAGE NOT FOUND!

And by the way, the new name for the dangerous moth is spongy moth, which refers to the moths sponge - like egg masses.

March Article for the Cameron Chronicle

 

Hello Friends,

Here is my latest article for the Cameron Chronicle..  

"The Little Paper With Personality."

Seed Starting 101

 

Seed Starting 101

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

There is nothing more rewarding than starting your own seeds. The thought of that little seed, growing into a seedling, planting it out in the garden and later harvesting from it, truly is a rewarding feeling.

I will be sharing a few tips for a successful seed starting season.

You will need seed trays, leak-proof bottom flats that support the trays, seed starting mix, clear dome lids or plastic wrap and a sunny window.

Step 1. Moisten your seed starting mix until it is thoroughly damp but not dripping wet.

Step 2. Fill seed trays or pots to the top with soil. Tap them as you fill so that the soil settles and there are no air pockets.

Step 3. Label the tray or pot with the name of the variety you plan to sow and the date planted.

Step 4. Make a shallow hole in each cell using a pencil or chopstick. A general rule is to plant the seed twice as deep as its longest side.

Step 5. Drop 1 seed into your hole.

Step 6. Cover newly sown seeds with a dusting of seed starting mix. Be careful not to bury the seeds too deep. Lightly mist the soil.

Step 7. Set in a sunny window and cover the trays with a clear dome or plastic wrap.

Step 8. Check seedlings daily and water as the soil appears dry, which can be every day or two. When the soil starts to become dry, add water to the bottom of the leak-proof tray, the seedlings will soak up the water from below.

Step 9. Check the trays daily. Once 50% to 75% of the seeds have sprouted, remove the domes or plastic wrap.

Step 10. Check seedlings daily for water. Seedlings can dry out very quickly in a warm sunny window.

Step 11. If seedlings begin to outgrow their trays/pots before you are ready to plant them outside, repot them into larger containers.

Step 12. It is important to harden off young plants before putting them out into the garden. Your plants can be shocked by the sudden change of temperature. To harden off, set trays in a sheltered spot outside, increase the amount of time they are out each day, starting with 2 to 3 hours, then increasing the time outside slowly over the course of a week or two.