Nl january 14

...for discerning weeders CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pucker Up!

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Lucky Greens

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Keep Updated

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Events

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The Good, The Bad but Never Ugly

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Heavenly?

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Walk on the Wildside

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Christmas Party

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Weeds Please

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Book Review

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Last Word

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In 2014, in Florida and across the nation, Cooperative Extension celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act by looking back on Extension's record of service and educational outreach and by looking forward to the many challenges facing us over the next 100 years.

Where did it all begin? The Morrill Act of 1862, also called the Land Grant Act, gave states tens of thousands of acres of land; proceeds from the sale of these lands were to be invested in an endowment fund that would provide support for colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts in each state, known as land grant colleges. In Florida, this school was Florida Agricultural College, established in Lake City in 1884. The 1887 the Hatch Act provided for experiment stations at Land Grant Colleges to conduct research aimed at solving each state's agriculture problems.

In 1905, the Florida Legislature passed the Buckman Act, which consolidated Florida Agricultural College, the East Florida Seminary of Gainesville, the St. Petersburg Normal and Industrial School at St. Petersburg, and the South Florida Military College at Bartow to form the University of the State of Florida, which was moved to Gainesville. The school was renamed University of Florida in 1909.

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established the Cooperative Extension Service, which was unique in that it set up a shared partnership among the Federal, State, and County levels of government. Cooperative extension education allowed for professional educators to be placed in local communities in order to improve the

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By Linda M.

lives of their citizens. This allowed us all to benefit from the knowledge and research of our land grant universities. Extension has helped millions of Floridians by tapping the latest information from the research of the University of Florida and Florida A & M University and converting it into practical knowledge we use every day.

Let's also look back at our county's history.

Northwest Florida was an untamed wilderness and after the Civil War it became home to a handful of hardy homesteaders. They made their way south on foot, ox carts, boats, and mule wagons to establish small sustenance farms. These resourceful settlers made ends meet by fishing, hunting, and trading. Small outposts sprang up and served as gathering places for these isolated pioneers. They gathered often to exchange ideas, goods and news. Soon, these trading posts became small towns, which in turn, grew into the cities and towns we recognize today.

The formation of Okaloosa County can be closely tied to Laurel Hill resident and State Representative, William Mapoles. It was Mapoles who introduced a bill to the Florida House of Representatives which passed on June 3, 1915, that called for the creation of a new county from the existing counties of Santa Rosa and Walton. Mr. Mapoles named the county after a steamboat called “The Okaloosa� which was named after a Choctaw word meaning black water. This Okaloosa steamboat brought passengers up and down the Blackwater River from Milton to Pensacola. A temporary county seat was established is Milligan until a special election was held in 1917 and Crestview was chosen as the new permanent seat.

Tracing back out county Extension history, the earliest Agent we have record of was Mr. R. J. Hart who served as Agriculture Agent from 1917 (just two years after we became a county) until 1928. continued on page 2 January, 2014

CENTENNIAL The first Home Economics Agent was Bertha Henry who served from 1921-1930. We are unsure as to when the 4-H Program actually started here, but we know that 4-H Camp Timpoochee, the first 4-H residential camp in the state was established in Okaloosa County in 1926.

In the early years the Agriculture and Home Economics Agents had dual responsibilities and helped coordinate the 4-H program, both closely working with farm families and their youth. Recollections from past Agents tell us that early 4-H community clubs met in the rural areas of the county and were popular in Baker, Escambia Farms, Holt and Laurel Hill. Boys and girls clubs met separately, boys concentrating on agricultural projects that related to the family farm and girls learned homemaking skills such as cooking, sewing and canning.

In the 1950s we found that the offices of the Extension Service were located in the basement of the Okaloosa County Courthouse in Crestview and that in the early 1960s moved to a new facility on Old Bethel Road. At one time the fairgrounds were located behind the Old Bethel Road facility and the storage room that was called the “barn” located off the auditorium, was where the livestock were originally housed.

Today, the Extension Service in Okaloosa County has grown to also include two Horticulture Agents, a Marine/Sea Grant Agent, and active volunteer groups. And on November 5th, 2012 we celebrated the open house of our new Extension facility on Airport Road, in Crestview.

And what about the history of Extension and the Master Gardener program? In 1972, an innovative Extension Service Agent in the State of Washington reasoned that well trained volunteers could respond to many of the everyday homeowner questions,

continued from page 1 thus freeing him and his colleagues for more technical and difficult problems. Volunteers, such as Extension Homemakers and 4-H Leaders, had always been a part of the Extension Service, but volunteers had never been used in the area of environmental horticulture. This Extension Agent selected, trained, and certified volunteers as Master Gardeners. The volunteers soon succeeded in meeting his desired objectives-in fact, they exceeded his expectations. And so it was that the Master Gardener Program began.

Since that time, the Master Gardener Program has grown and is now active in over 45 states. Florida's program began in 1979. It has been a tremendous success and is active in 56 of Florida's 67 counties. The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) of which the Cooperative Extension Service is a part, sponsors the Master Gardener Program in Florida. In 1995 Larry Williams, Horticulture Agent of Okaloosa County graduated his first class of volunteers in the Okaloosa County Master Gardener Program.

Established in 1914, today the Cooperative Extension educational system includes professionals in each of America’s 1862 land grant universities in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Micronesia, the District of Columbia, in the Tuskegee University and sixteen 1890 land grant universities...and we, as volunteers who play an integral role in this unique educational system, have a lot to celebrate!

Sources of information: UF/IFAS Solutions For Your Life The Board of Okaloosa County Commissioners website The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida “Okaloosa 4-H History”, researched and written by Linda Meyers

Hungry heron.

Officers for 2014 Bob B., Treasurer; Karen K., Secretary; Linda M., President-Elect; and Stacey T., President

Courtesy of Dick H.

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PUCKER UP! (or not) Here is some information with pictures of what to look for when purchasing Japanese persimmon trees for home fruit consumption. Since Japanese persimmons do not require fertilization, there is no need to buy more than one tree. One drawback is that, if there is an American persimmon tree in the area, they might cross-pollinate, causing the Japanese persimmon fruit to develop seeds. The seeds don't hurt anything but you must be much more careful when eating the fruit!

by Lee V. six to eight per fruit, and the fruit itself may vary slightly from the parent tree. Seedlings are said to be more susceptible to root nematodes.

Non-astringent cultivars, such as Fuyu, do not contain tannins when firm, and can be eaten like an apple, or can be allowed to go to any stage of ripeness, including to the jelly-like stage.

These non-astringent varieties are considered to have a less complex flavor.

I have never had a real problem although occasionally one or more fruit may have a couple of large black seeds.

Lowe's in Ft Walton Beach had the trees, around four feet tall, a few weeks ago. If you find a source of trees locally, be sure you read the label carefully. If the label does not state "astringent" or "non-astringent", better not to buy it until you can research the variety on the internet. There is nothing wrong with the astringent fruit but they must be soft and dark orange before they are palatable. They probably have better flavor but, in my estimation, are not worth the wait.

Commercially and in general, there are two types of persimmon fruit: astringent and non-astringent.

The Japanese cultivar 'Hachiya' is a widely grown astringent cultivar.

The non-astringent persimmon is squat like a tomato and is most commonly sold as fuyu. Non-astringent persimmons are not actually free of tannins as the term suggests, but rather are far less astringent before ripening, and lose more of their tannic quality sooner. Non-astringent persimmons may be consumed when still very firm, and remain edible when very soft.

One traditional misconception is that persimmons are to be ripened till rotten. This is a confusion of the processes of controlled ripening with the processes of decay, possibly arising from problems of translation from Asiatic languages onto English. Rotting is the action of microorganisms such as fungi, and rotting persimmons are no better than any other rotting fruit. Sound persimmons should be ripened till they are fully soft, except that the carpels still might be softly chewy. At that stage the skin might be splitting and the calyx can easily be plucked out of the fruit before serving, which often is a good sign that the soft fruit is ready to eat.

The heart-shaped Hachiya is the most common variety of astringent persimmon. Astringent persimmons contain very high levels of soluble tannins and are unpalatably astringent (or "furry" tasting) if eaten before completely softened. However, the sweet, delicate flavor of fully ripened persimmons of varieties that are astringent when unripe, is particularly relished.

Astringent varieties of persimmons also can be prepared for commercial purposes by drying. Tanenashi fruit will occasionally contain a seed or two, which can be planted and will yield a larger more vertical tree than when merely grafted onto the D. virginiana rootstock most commonly used in the U.S. Such seedling trees may produce fruit that bears more seeds, usually An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

Astringent: ‘Dōjō hachiya,’ Gionbo, ‘Hachiya,’ ‘Kōshū hyakume,’ Hongsi, Ormond, ‘Saijō,’ Sheng, Tanenashi , ‘Hiratanenashi,’ ‘Tone wase.’

Nonastringent: Dan gam, ‘Fuyū,’ ‘Hanagosho,’ ‘Izu,’ ‘Jirō,’ ‘Sōshū,’ ‘Taishū.’

Ed note: If you are at a meeting and Lee has his ‘preserves’ available, don’t miss your chance to sample!

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January, 2014

LUCKY GREENS!

by Karen H.

Stop what you're doing right now and consider your first meal of the New Year. If you haven't already consumed it by the time you read this, there's still time for you to get to the market and pick up the ingredients you need to prepare THE meal that will ensure your health and wealth in 2014. One of those ingredients should be collard greens and, yes, being a gardener you could have grown your own and been prepared for this in advance. We will discuss that below. But, first, why are collard greens considered to be one of the foods that bring us luck if consumed on New Year's Day? There is actually a trinity of foods that should be involved and these are hog jowls, collard greens and cornbread. Black-eyed peas should probably also be thrown in for good measure as they're also known to bring luck if eaten on New Year's Day. Collard greens (and cabbage as well) represent "green" money in New Year's tradition and the idea is that each bite of greens you eat will bring you $1,000 in the New Year. Now, you may not be overly crazy about collard greens but if this legend is true you could probably force down a pretty hefty helping! The additional explanations behind why hog jowls and corn bread are favored are provided in this article: http://tinyurl.com/osfqye8 but I'll give you the quick low-down.

The idea is that the bigger and fatter the pig you consume is, the fatter your wallet will be. And the gold color of the cornbread represents coins. So gluttony on New Year's Day may be considered a good thing and you should worry about those New Year's resolutions later. There are of course many good reasons to grow collard greens besides having them handy for New Year's Day. They're really good for you from the standpoint of nutrition! Details about that here: http://www.nutrition-andyou.com/collard-greens.html

through February. In our mild climate they are much easier to grow than cold-loving cabbage and you're far more likely to have them ready for your New Year's meal than that finicky head of cabbage that is more likely to bolt to seed than ever form a head.

And, according to legend, collard greens are perfectly acceptable for fulfilling that 'good luck/green money' role. Here is a good, brief article from IFAS on the culture of collard greens: http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mv053 And this is the IFAS plant ID: http:// tinyurl.com/njwdbg2 Here (from a lady who should know) is a classic method for preparing collard greens: http://tinyurl.com/6ewp58 This is the Epicurious gourmet (read: less caloric) version: http:// tinyurl.com/cep357 And here is a collection of recipes to try (and with recipe names like “The RIGHT Way to Cook Greens” and “Southern As You Can Get Collard Greens” it is obvious that this is a subject that stirs passion among southern chefs): http://tinyurl.com/pxy4xz4 Some collard green trivia: http://www.foodreference.com/ html/f-collard-greens.html http://www.allfoodsnatural.com/vegetables/collardgreens.html So if you're not already growing collard greens in your garden, consider making space for them in the coming months. If you get the seeds started towards the end of summer, you should be able to harvest your very own luck in the next New Year!

Collard greens are easily grown in the South, especially during the cooler winter months and can be grown from August

UPDATES AND INFO

Here are some of the latest updated publications and interesting links provided by our members and from EDIS.

Conversions of parts per million on soil test reports to pounds per acre http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1229

Eastern Bloodsucking Conenose (oh I Spanish Moss, Ball Moss, and Lichens: sooooo want to look this one up! NOT!) Harmless Epiphytes http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1018 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep485 Bark beetle and the price of coffee. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr382 What is urea-triazone nitrogen? http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1233

Gardening Solutions—UF/IFAS video series http://www.youtube.com/playlist? list=PLbnrETfHgIug6UuUaAlevLinrq9wAIxT

Seed Sources for Florida Home-grown Vegetables http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep486

A new television show will start on January 4th on WUFT Channel 5 and will include UF/IFAS food topics.

Identification and Control of Coral Ardisia: A Potentially Poisonous Plant http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag281

Florida’s All-Purpose Plant: the Saw Palmetto (article)

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January, 2014

ARBOR DAY TREE GIVEAWAY JANUARY 16TH CRESTVIEW EXTENSION OFFICE ON AIRPORT ROAD MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 29TH @ 9AM 3098 AIRPORT ROAD CRESTVIEW 5

January, 2014

THE GOOD, THE BAD BUT NEVER UGLY The use of anthropomorphic terms to describe bamboo is strictly a misnomer as only the way we use it should be known as good or bad. I will try to dispel some of the widely held opinions of this most beneficial group of plants and provide basic information regarding this evergreen, virtually worldwide, member of the grass family.

First in order of concern are the types of growth patterns. The two main types are Leptomorph ( running ) and Pachymorph ( clumping ). It would seem running bamboo is the source of most misinformation and fear or this plant. As seen below, in diagram #1, it is easily recognized by the characteristic of its root structure. Notice the culm buds ( new shoot growth area) are widely dispersed along a thin fibrous rhizome. There is another less intrusive way to identify the runners. As a general rule there will be a flat area extending longitudinally between the nodes on the culms.

by Ed S.

the edges of the clump with an occasional one within the clump.

Running bamboos can be beautiful, decorative and easily maintained when grown in containers. Restraining them when yard grown requires barriers as deep as three feet with at least an eight inch above surface partition. Another would be a foot deep trench around the planted area. Unless these barriers are installed, a good mower will be needed when the new shoots begin.

Transplanting time is variable with January and February, the dormant months, being the recommended periods for both types and a requirement of extra root moisture for four to six weeks minimum. New growth periods are different for runners and clumpers and can be used as another good identifier. Leptomorphs normally shoot in the early spring and the Pachymorphs will shoot in the hotter weather of late July or August. The growth rate is phenomenal with a foot a day not being unusual.

Another interesting characteristic of the new growth shoots is noticed in the diameter. Each year as the plant gets older the diameter of the culm will be larger and taller than its predecessor until it reaches maturity. Also the base diameter of each culm, as it emerges from the soil, never increases resulting in a growth pattern much like the old fashion expanding telescope.

The range of climate conditions in which bamboo grows is simply amazing. Among the approximately 1,450 known species they cover nearly 100 degrees of latitude and range in height from a few inches to 100 feet. Within this vast expanse of geography and climate can be found everything from the mundane to the exotic. The increase in world travel has exposed more people to the wide range of solid culm color as well the availability of those with culm variegation.

The Pachymorphs or clumping type as seen in diagram # 2 are also very easy to identify by the close knit cluster of bulky rhizomes. There is also an alternate identifier on the culm. The entire area between the nodes is smooth and round with no flat sections. Knowing these easy identification keys can be useful when helping a client or making a personal selection.

The information provided here is very limited but I hope I have encouraged you to look further into the desirability of bamboo.

On your next trip to Gainesville a visit to the bamboo groves at Kanapaha Gardens on Archer Blvd. can be enlightening. The American Bamboo Society provides a wealth of information on their website, http://www.bamboo.org. Check it out and see what you have been missing.

The limited ground surface distribution of the clumping bamboos provides the average homeowner an opportunity to enjoy a wide variety. From the initial planting the entire clump will gradually expand in a circular manner similar to the growth rings on a tree. New shoots most often appear on An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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HEAVENLY? NOT!!

by David S. As we walk the neighborhood this time of year the variety of plants is amazing. One of my favorites is the tall shrub with bright red and green leaves and a wonderful display of red berries. It signifies the cooler winter month to me and for a brief moment seems like a sign of the holidays that have come and gone.

Imagine my feeling when I discovered that one of my favorite plants of winter Nandina domestica is considered an invasive by many states including Florida! http://www.fleppc.org/ list/11list.html Nandina domestica, also known as Heavenly or Sacred Bamboo is not what it appears to be. There is nothing Heavenly about this plant. It is not even a true bamboo but rather a member of the Berberidacea family (Barberry).

Originally from China and Japan this plant was introduced to the United States around 1804 to be used as an ornamental in landscaping. Nandina is an evergreen woody shrub growing to heights of 6’-8’. It produces the bright red berries in early winter. The plant will tolerate growing conditions from sun to full shade. Very little maintenance is required for successful growth. The plants are spread mainly by birds, but can be moved around by small animals as well. This plant also colonizes by rhizomes and suckers.

This characteristic makes it very difficult to control.

Allowed into the wild the plant can form dense groves that over time will begin to displace the natural vegetation.

Even though this invasive may be available for sale in some nurseries you should avoid it, there are cultivars currently being hybridized that do not produce seed. One recommended by the University of Florida is “Firepower”. This cultivar is considered one of the dwarf varieties’. It does not flower or seed and is a good alternative for your landscape. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep381 The dwarf varieties can stand alone for their color and texture or be used as a groundcover in the garden space.

Nandina is listed as a Class I invasive species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council which means that it is "actively disrupting plant communities". http://www.floridata.com

WALK ON THE WILDSIDE

by Linda M.

Let’s start the new year enjoying the wildlife around us and their winter behaviors. Also, if you had a live Christmas tree you can use it to start a brush pile near your bird feeder. It will provide good cover for birds and take up a lot less space in our county landfill.

MAMMALS: Gray foxes, bobcats, and raccoons begin courtship and breeding this month.

Deer reach the peak of the rutting season in north Florida.

Black bears in North Florida are inactive or in dens.

BIRDS: Male cardinals begin territorial singing later in the month.

Nesting activity begins for ospreys, some herons and egrets, hawks, owls and Black Vultures.

Look for red-tailed hawks perched in trees and on billboards along highways.

Huge clouds of tree swallows should be visible around sunset roosting over large marsh areas.

Cedar waxwings and robins are eating fruits such as holly berries.

Don’t forget, now is a great time to watch our over-wintering populations of ducks and geese.

FISH: Striped bass and sunshine bass move into open water to feed on shad.

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Hmmm, someone has been using my knives!

It wasn’t me!

The groaning board!

A Down Home Christmas!

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January, 2014

WEEDS PLEASE

By Linda M.

Questions? Questions?? Questions???

seed heads covered in distinct fine, white "wooly" fibers. Some species only have this hair on the undersides of the leaves, & other cudweeds have this hair on all surfaces. Overwinter as small basal rosettes & in the spring will grow an upright stem.

Weeds and control.

If asked for control measures, many variables come to your mind. Exact identity of weed, invasiveness of weed, specific area (lawn-type of grass, beds, next too-?, time of year, life cycle of weed, and category (grass, broadleaves, rushes), have weeds occurred there before (recordkeeping).

http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Glossary.aspx http://www.ipmcenters.org/pmsp/pdf/SouthernTurfgrass.pdf http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/turfid/ http://www.turffiles/ncsu.edu/turfweedmgmt/ http://www.weedcontrolguideforFloridaLawns/

Photo courtesy of Linda M.

From an Article written by Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Bay County Horticulture Extension Agent 1; http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/ Cudweeds: Gnaphalium spp. (Sunflower Family: Asteraceae) Some cudweed species are annuals and currently growing in my yard. I thought they were gone for the winter! With the weather getting warmer, then cold, sometimes freezing and now raining instead of just getting colder and dryer, the cudweeds are just staying around. The species can be perennials.

Comprised of many species, they have basal rosettes, leaves and

BOOK REVIEW

A lot of us enjoy growing herbs and we all know that there are special challenges when it comes to growing some of these plants in our Florida climate. Herbs and Spices For Florida Gardens by Monica Moran Brandies is an excellent reference book you will want to have in your library.

necessary warnings on using the plant medicinally is included. With the increase in using ‘natural’ remedies, it’s a good reminder that not every herb is made to be consumed.

My only negative was the lack of color pictures, especially when it came to using these plants in the landscape. There are some simple black and white drawings but the fact that this book is loaded with so much great information makes up for the lack of pictures.

A great book for the experienced gardener and an even better gift for someone who has just moved to the area or who is new to the herb/spice growing hobby.

by Marg S.

224 pages that list the pros Combine this book with Florida’s Best Herbs & Spices by and cons of growing herbs Charles R. Boning and you’ll have a reference library you’ll and spices in north, central turn to again and again. and south Florida. While the common names are Just imagine all the great scents included, botanical names are also used. There is a big difand culinary adventures you’ll be ference between French tarragon and Mexican tarragon. To able to grow and enjoy in your make matters easier, there is a great cross reference of comown garden! mon and botanical names in the back of the book.

Both books rank a solid four There is a mail-order and resource directory along with a list cinnamon sticks. of places to visit, local herb societies as well as plants that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. You’ll also find plants listed that grow well indoors and those that may be used as ground covers.

I especially like the fact that at the end of each description

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January, 2014

Marg S.—Editor Shari F., Karen H. and Linda M.—Co-Editors

Have pictures or an idea for an article?

Send it in!

Articles and pictures are always welcome.

Your member site: www.ocmgamembers.org

The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....An equal opportunity institution.

LAST WORD In a few more hours 2013 will be behind us and we’ll be starting in with a new year.

Personally, one thing I dearly love about moving to the Central Time Zone...I can watch the ball drop in Times Square at 11pm and still yell Happy New Year with a clear conscience and then go to bed!

Right now, I’m desperately trying to finish this article and get everything done before the clock strikes 12 (or 11).

Hard to do when there is a football game on and you have to stop every few minutes. I’m rooting for Duke...hey somebody has to do it.

One cat is busy applying cat hair to any and all flat surfaces possible and the other is on the back of the couch hoping that more tortilla chips are forthcoming. Yes, I have a cat who likes tortilla chips. Actually, he’ll eat anything that hubby is eating. But remember, I’m the one who spoils the cats.

Yeah right.

Almost time to make those resolutions. I decided to keep my list simple.

Just two things: (1) to take one day at a time and (2) unless my hair is on fire, there will be no stress. Okay three things: (3) I will not say ‘oops’ while cutting hubby’s hair.

Number one will take some doing.

Classes start back up in a couple of weeks and there’s life in general...but, one day at a time. Can’t change yesterday, who knows what tomorrow will bring...today—that’s what gets the attention.

Number two may be hoping for a bit much. I figure if I can stick to Number one, it will be a whole lot easier. 2013 had more than enough stress.

Number three requires a bit of explanation. Hubby decided that since I have hair trimmers I could take over cutting his hair. This wouldn’t be a problem except that he has two cow

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By Marg S. licks instead of one and I do believe that his hair is on a personal mission to mess with my mind. There are 3 different trimming heads and his hair requires the use of all 3...in different areas. The trick is to remember which head to use in which area. This little memory trick I have failed a couple of times...thankfully we didn’t have to go anywhere for a couple of weeks and the oops wasn’t too bad. Read that as the offending cut was on the very back and he couldn’t see it.

Maybe I should remove the stress resolution from my list if I’m going to continue with the hair cutting.

So much for the resolutions. I did get a nifty Christmas present. A spirograph. Remember those? I had the Super Spirograph when I was little. Hubby surprised me with a new spirograph under the tree and I’ve had a ball with it. Just gears and pens. But they make pretty designs. I did notice that they no longer trust folks with the push pins to hold the main wheels down. Now you have what they call ‘spiro-putty’ to attempt to hold the wheel in place.

I thought it would be neat to check and see if there are any of the super spiros out there. I found them...didn’t know they were gold plated! Should have kept my old set—it would have paid for at least one college class!

I also discovered that spiro work and cats don’t mix. You have a helpful kitty who thinks the wheel going around is a personal challenge for target paw pouncing. You end up trying to catch a cat who has managed to get ink on their paws as well as ‘spiro-putty’ attached to body parts.

Yes, definitely removing Number 2 from my resolution list. Just going to leave Number 1 and Number 3.

Here is wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous 2014! By the way— looks like Duke is going to lose.

January, 2014