Home and Garden 10/07/17

Look inside for these specials and many others.

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017

Fall bulbs BRING SPRING

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SAVING SEEDS APPLE TRIVIA

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YEAR ROUND GARDENING

SAVING SEEDS•

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BY DEBRA STINTON OTHITIS, COLORADO MASTER GARDENER

hen one can go to any garden center and be overwhelmed with a plethora of seed choices, why would anyone want to bother with saving seeds from their garden? Here are some reasons why seed saving has become an important part of the gardening process for many people. First, saving seeds can save you money. It also preserves your favorite open pollinated varieties of plants, the ones you know will thrive in your particular garden. And finally, saving seeds is a fun and educational way to teach children about where their food comes from, and how it is reproduced.

Here are few terms to understand if you want to save seeds:

OPEN POLLINATED

These plants result from the combination of parent plants that are genetically similar and share specific traits that distinguish them. They either self-pollinate or are pollinated by insects or wind. Thus, they breed true to form and saved seeds will produce plants very

similar to the parent plants.

HYBRIDIZATION

Hybrid varieties result from the intentional crossing of two genetically distinct parents. Hybridized seeds are deliberately created to breed desired traits such as flavor or size or disease resistance. First generation hybridized plants express the desired traits.

However, their offspring do not breed true to form. Seeds must be purchased each year for hybrid plant varieties in order to see the same desirable traits.

In general, hybrid plants have more disease-resistance, and often higher yields than non-hybrids.

HEIRLOOM

This is any plant variety with a history of being passed down within a family or a community, and pre-date 1951 the year when the first hybrid vegetables were developed. Heirlooms must be open-pollinated, but not all openpollinated plants are heirlooms. In general, heirloom varieties are known for their flavor, fragrance and color.

SELF-POLLINATION

These are plants that do not rely on pollinators or wind to transfer the pollen from plant to plant. Self-pollinated

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plants include tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas and lettuce and they produce some of the easiest seeds to save.

Now let’s consider which seeds to save. Collecting seeds from annual plants is the easiest. Plants such as tomatoes, beans, peas and lettuce complete their entire life cycle in one growing season and are self-pollinating.

Annual vine crops such as cucumbers, squash, melons and pumpkins are more difficult to save due to cross-pollination.

Your best results will come from seeds selected from self-pollinated, disease-

free, healthy plants that produced the biggest, tastiest, most interesting or most colorful fruit or flowers this year.

Select seeds from the mature, but not over-ripe fruit. Some of the easiest seeds to save and reuse are annual flowers, such as marigolds, nasturtiums, zinnias, calendula and snapdragons. Just take the spent flower and pull out the seeds.

Seeds can be stored for at least one year in a cool, rodent-free place without significant loss of germination.

It is possible to achieve up to a 10-year storage life by drying the seeds at 100 degrees for six hours to a desired eight CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

COMING UP AT EXTENSION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

Fermentation workshop – 6-8:30 p.m. If you love sauerkraut or kimchi; we can teach you how to make your own. During our hands-on workshop learn the art and science behind fermentation.

Fall is the perfect season for learning about and enjoying fermented foods! Bonus, you get to take home a jar of sauerkraut and a glass stone weight. $30.

Registration required. Go to elpaso.extension.colostate.edu or call 719-520-7690 for more information and to register.

Take your PICK

of apple history and trivia

T METRO SERVICES

hough apples are enjoyed across the globe, many people associate apples with the United States of America. That’s in spite of the fact that the first apples were cultivated on the opposite side of the world from North

America in Asia.

There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples that produce various characteristics for flavor and appearance.

Apples are often a topic of discussion in the fall, when many trees produce their largest bounties of fruit. Autumn is a good time of year to take a closer look at apples, and explore some of the most popular varieties for picking and eating.

APPLE ORIGINS

Malus deomestica, or the common apple tree, is a descendent of apple trees that originated in Central Asia in what is now southern Kazakhstan.

Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe. The original apple tree was the wild apple, or Malus

sieversii. DNA analysis has confirmed that the wild apple is the progenitor of the cultivated apple enjoyed today.

European colonists likely brought apple seeds and trees with them when they emigrated to North America, introducing that part of the world to the apple tree.

Records from the Massachusetts Bay Company indicate that apples were being grown in New England as early as 1630.

Americans also enjoy the popular story of Johnny Appleseed, who was believed to have distributed apple seeds and trees to settlers across the United States.

While apples can be produced from seeds, nowadays many apples are propagated by grafting so that they retain the parent tree’s characteristics of flavor, hardiness and insect resistance.

APPLES AND SYMBOLISM

Apples have become the main symbols of many different stories and tales throughout history. Apples are linked to the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve and their ultimate expulsion from the Garden of Eden. However, the apple is never named in any of the religious texts as the fruit Eve picked from the tree of

knowledge.

Apples have appeared in fairy tales and folklore. The Brothers Grimm had the character “Snow White” fall ill after eating a poisoned apple. In Norse mythology, the goddess Iounn was the appointed keeper of golden apples that kept the Aesir young forever.

Apples have also played a role in science, most notably Sir Isaac Newton’s study of gravity. While myth surrounds the story of Newton and an apple falling from a nearby tree, it’s likely that witnessing an apple fall from a tree did spark something in the famed scientist.

MOST POPULAR APPLE VARIETIES

Many varieties of apple stand out as perennial favorites. In the United States, the Red Delicious is the country’s most popular grown apple. It was called the hawkeye when discovered in 1872. The Golden Delicious is the second most popular grown apple in America. The Delicious apples tend to have mild, but grainy flesh that can fall apart when cooked, so they’re best used for snacking. Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala,

McIntosh, and Macoun are some of the other most popular varieties.

Those interested in baking with apples can select among Granny Smith, Jonagold and McIntosh. These apples tend to be crisp and tart and hold up better in recipes.

Apples have been enjoyed for thousands of years. While apples are a staple of autumn, they can be enjoyed all year long thanks to their widespread availability.

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SATURDAY, OCT 7, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 3

HOW TO SAVE SEEDS TOMATOES

Select the fruit after it ripens, but before it rots. Cut the fruit and squeeze out the pulp into a container. Add a little water, and then let this ferment two-to-four days at room temperature, stirring occasionally. When the seeds settle out, pour off the pulp and spread seeds thinly to dry thoroughly.

PEPPERS

Seeds mature after the peppers have changed color. Cut open the pepper and scrape out the seeds. Dry the seeds in a non-humid, shaded place until they break rather than bend.

SAVING SEEDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

percent moisture content.

Saving your own seeds is a pleasurable and rewarding activing. It offers a sense of self-sufficiency and can save money. You might also consider participation in a seed-saver’s exchange where your extra seeds may be traded for unusual types that are not available through other sources.

Learn more about this subject from CSU Fact Sheet No. 7.602 - Saving Seed

available online at extension.colostate. edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/savingseed-7-602 When you have questions, Colorado State University Extension has researchbased answers. Get answers to your horticulture questions by visiting ask.extension.org any time day or night. Follow the El Paso County Master Gardeners on facebook.com/ ColoradoMasterGardeners.EPC

BEANS, PEAS

Leave pods crops on the vine until the pod dries. Harvest the seeds before they are dispersed.

SQUASH, CUCUMBERS, PUMPKINS

Leave these on the vine until after the first frost, and then separate the seeds from the pulp and let them dry at room temperature.

FLOWERS

(such as marigolds, nasturtiums, zinnias, calendula, and snapdragons) — Collect flower seeds when flowers fade, dry, and have dry puffy tops or dry seed pods that begin to break open.

Photo Credit: Fredricka Bogardus

COME PICK OUT YOUR HARDING NURSERY GROWN PUMPKINS FOR HALLOWEEN!

We have a variety of beautiful pumpkins in many colors, sizes and types.

30% OFF Selected Trees!

$149.99 & Up • 2 Per Customer

$5 OFF Large Pumpkins!

Harding Grown Pumpkins! Fresh from our Farm! Many colors, sizes and types.

Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer expires October 13, 2017. Limit 5.

Must present coupon at time of purchase. Offer expires October 13, 2017.

Photos are for illustration purposes only.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

60TH ANNIVERSARY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY Saturday, October 14 from 10am – 3 pm Free pumpkin painting, fun and festive photo booth, pumpkin bread and refreshments.

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719.596.5712 • 721 N. Powers Blvd www.hardingnursery.com HOURS: Mon thru Sat: 8am to 5pm Sunday: 9am to 5pm

Fall bulbs BRING SPRING

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BY SARA MARSHALL, CCNP, HARDING NURSERY

our gardening season does not have to be over just yet! Get a jumpstart on spring color by planting fall bulbs. Whether you’re a beginner or master gardener, gardening in the beautiful autumn weather is a delightful experience that yields abundant returns come spring. Bulbs are a generally easy garden plant, requiring less watering than spring bulbs; and they only need some moisture and sunlight to come into bloom when the winter fades.

The numerous varieties give many

options as far as colors, sizes and bloom times. Crocus, iris, daffodils, tulips, alliums and hyacinths are great bulbs to plant in the fall to add touches of color in the spring. Depending on the variety they can bloom anywhere from spring to mid-summer. Bulbs can be planted in various locations, but gardeners should be sure to check each variety to determine what light they would prefer.

Some bulbs are deer and critter-resistant too, such as daffodils, allium and iris.

Select quality bulbs with little to no damage and store in a cool dry place until ready to plant to ensure they don’t start to sprout. Do not put them into the ground until later in the season around the end of October going into November, usually after the first frost. This is to ensure that the bulb will stay dormant going through the winter.

Bulbs prefer soil with good drainage — adding organic matter to the area will help break up the existing soil.

Usually a mixture of one-third organic compost to two-thirds existing soil is the recommended amendment rate. The rule for planting most bulbs is to plant them two-and-a-half times deeper than the diameter of the bulb. Some tubers like iris or peony do not like to be planted deep, however, and should be placed just beneath the surface. Bone meal or bulb fertilizer should be added to the bottom of each hole at the time of planting.

Space the bulbs to make sure they will have enough room as they mature, placing large bulbs three to ten inches apart and smaller bulbs about one to two inches apart. Check the packaging to be sure to get the proper spacing for each individual type. Planting in groups

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of at least three or more will give a more elaborate display.

After planting be sure to water them in and continue to water through the fall and winter. Covering the area with two to three inches of mulch will help protect the bulb.

Once they have finished blooming, cut the flower head off leaving the leaves

and stems to die naturally. Leaving the green foliage up until they turn brown will allow the bulb to store the nutrients they will need to push their flowers next spring. Water as needed.

Visit Harding Nursery at 721 N. Powers Blvd., Colorado Springs, and browse their inventory with the help of experienced gardening staff and horticulturists.

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GOREN BRIDGE

WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

weekly bridge quiz q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠k2♥J3♦Akq865♣Aq3 Partner opens two hearts, weak, and right-hand opponent bids two spades.

What call would you make? q 2 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠AkqJ8♥932♦J3♣Ak3 SOuTH weST NOrTH eAST 1♠ dbl Pass 2♥ ?

What call would you make? q 3 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠9753♥9♦kq54♣AJ95 Partner opens one no trump, 15-17, and right-hand opponent bids two hearts.

What call would you make? q 4 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ A k J 8 ♥ q 7 3 2 ♦ q ♣ k 10 5 2

With the opponents passing, you open one club and partner responds one heart. What call would you make?

AROUND THE HOUSE

Removing musty odors

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

q 5 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠J72♥Ak762♦q765♣5 NOrTH eAST SOuTH weST 1♠ Pass 2♥ Pass 2♠ Pass ?

What call would you make? q 6 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠kJ9832♥54♦Ak86♣k eAST SOuTH weST NOrTH 1♥ 1♠ 3♥* Pass Pass ? *Pre-emptive What call would you make?

Look for answers on Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this paper or e-mail: tcaeditors@tribpub.com)

KEN MOON

Dear Ken: I want to remove that popcorn ceiling in my home. But the drywallers disagree.

One wants to remove it, the other wants to cover it with new drywall. What do you think?

– Carlos

It’s a difficult choice. If you choose to scrape it off – an extremely messy proposition – you may end up with a surface too rough to live with. In the old days the drywallers, knowing that popcorn was to follow, would skip a final joint coat application. So the seams may have to be touched up before retexturing anyway.

And remember that homes built prior to about 1978 may have asbestos in the drywall taping compounds. That makes the process much more problematic, since you’re really not supposed to discard suspected asbestos waste into landfills.

New drywall, of course, would cover up everything. Either way, it sounds very disruptive and expensive. That’s why I usually recommend leaving the acoustic ceiling in place. Simply recoat it with some watereddown satin or semi-gloss acrylic, latex paint.

Dear Ken: What product do you recommend for killing roots in my sewer pipe? Someone said copper sulfate. Is that good?

– Charles

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Copper sulfate crystals indeed will irritate and kill roots in the sewer line, but it lies in the lower third of the pipe after you flush it down the line. So the roots in the upper parts of the pipe – where most of them reside anyway – aren’t touched. There’s another solution here. Use a foaming root killer; you flush it down the toilet just before bedtime. It starts to foam when it gets wet and will therefore fill the sewer line with the chemical. The roots are killed on contact, plus, the chemicals coat the inside of the pipe to discourage re-growth for a year or two. Root-X is one brand you can find on the web, or you can have a sewer cleaning company inject it.

There’s a more permanent approach to root removal. It’s called high pressure jetting.

A rotating head with three nozzles is inserted down the sewer line; pressures up to about

3000 PSI scour out not only roots, but accumulated sludge and scale as well. It’s the most thorough and effective approach to yucky and obstinate sewer lines. Some older pipes cannot tolerate this process, so it’s a good idea to have the sewer company run a fiber optic TV camera through the line first.

Dear Ken: I have a large crawl space.

Lately there’s a musty odor in there that permeates into the living space. Do I need a dehumidifier or some other approach?

– Robert It’s usually a simple matter of ventilation.

That musty smell is stagnant air that needs to be exchanged regularly. First, make sure the dirt is fairly dry, then cover it with some six-mil black plastic sheeting. And also, make sure that there are enough vents to the outside – a minimum of four is a good number. These need to be open all summer to get rid of extra moisture from lawn sprinkling and summer storms. In the winter, you should close up the most northerly facing vents to keep the wind and snow out. Bottom line: it’s important to keep one or two of these vents open year round, especially if the furnace or water heater are in there.

For air exchanges, buy a cheap bath fan and run its duct outside through a vent cap. Wire it into a timer so that it runs for a couple of hours each morning. Adjust the timer for longer periods until the crawl space sweetens up.

One side benefit you can check out: if there is radon in your neighborhood, this air exchange setup may lower the level in the crawl space. A home inspector can help with this – or you can buy some radon canisters at the hardware and do the before and after tests yourself.

Finally, check out crawl space encapsulation. A contactor will cover the dirt floor and concrete walls of the space with a heavy-duty plastic barrier. That will quarantine soil moisture on the other side of the sheeting and so will eliminate that musty smell. Encapsulation works in “normal,” damp-ish soil conditions, but should not be used in a crawl space with standing water or perpetually saturated dirt.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m.

Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5. Visit AroundTheHouse.com.

denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

by hank ketcham

Sherman’S lagoon

PiCkleS

by Brian Crane

mr BoFFo

by Joe martin

by J. P. Toomey

by Bil keane

rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price

marmaduke

by Brad and Paul anderson

Baldo

by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

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Blondie

by dean young and John marshall

muTTS

by Patrick mcdonnell

Funky winkerBean

luann

by greg evans

PeanuTS

by Charles Schulz

by Tom Batiuk

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loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

non SequiTur

by wiley

edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

by Todd Clark

BeeTle Bailey 8 Flirt across 9 Spanish autonomous 1 Chimpanzee relative community or its capital 7 “Teen Wolf” airer 10 Little white breed, 10 One on a sting operation? affectionately 14 You’ll need a lift to use one 11 Vital circulation aid 15 “Madam Secretary” star 12 Fisherman’s knot 17 Have grand ambitions 13 Lead Clue weapon 18 Deal maker 16 Stereotypical doo-wop garb 19 Pronoun for Catherine de’ 20 Put on one’s wish list Medici 22 Outdoor lecture sites 21 Mariner’s home 23 Like some unreasonable 22 Classic requests 26 Peels off, perhaps 24 “Your noble son __”: Polonius 27 Revolutionary icon 25 Issuer of three-part nos.

28 Mideast capital once called 30 Comedian __ the Entertainer Philadelphia 31 Surface 29 Prima __ 31 They might be set in windows: 32 Lewis Black, e.g.

33 Barely a blip Abbr.

35 “American Pie” actress 34 Included in the game 37 Makes a break for 36 Canal treatment fluid 40 Zeta-theta go-between 38 Not irreg.

42 ’50s-’60s country singer 39 Made waves, in a way McDonald 41 House Lannister member on 44 How land is measured “Game of Thrones” 45 Like rakes 42 Basses’ sect.

46 Pacing, maybe 43 First period of the Mesozoic 47 Many a reggae artist Era 48 Beer case word 45 Pass for now 51 Mosby on “How I Met Your 48 Script used by ancient Mother” Minoans 53 Homework amount?

49 Oft-layered item 54 Ocean State sch.

50 Share of ownership 55 Princess’ bane 52 Renew one’s strength 56 Trial area Friday’s Puzzle Solved 57 Automaker Bugatti 58 Freezer brand 59 Stereotypical corny joke teller 60 Tin ear, to a pathologist down 1 Jamboree-on-the-Air org.

2 Accepts 3 Something in the air 4 With a hotel, avenue whose rent is $550 5 Break down 6 Request for a small delay 7 Some are named for presidents: Abbr.

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

Tundra

by Chris Browne

by mike Peters

by Chad Carpenter

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Bizarro

by dan Piraro

argyle SweaTer

by Scott hilburn

CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

by hart

ziTS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

Frazz

by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

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dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe

BaBy BlueS

by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman

PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

by Paul gilligan

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TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: I’m looking for some

wisdom: How do you have a meaningful relationship with a family member or friend when that person hurt you, continues to hurt you, doesn’t think he/she has done anything wrong, and AMY refuses to apologize?

DICKINSON Do you simply forgive without an apology, and if that’s the case, how do you open your heart again to that person?

It makes me sad to think of ending a long relationship, but the wrongs done impact me greatly and are so immoral that I can’t imagine being able to have any meaningful relationship with them, especially since the same wrongs continue.

The person’s actions are mean-spirited and disrespectful to me. They offer very selfish justifications. I can’t even be in the same room with them now because it repulses me. We talked things over, and that made everything worse.

I don’t know how to be the bigger person and forgive everything without an apology and still be able to have a meaningful relationship with them.

The hurt is too deep, and time isn’t healing any of it. I would appreciate some general guidance.

— Wounded Dear Wounded: You ask how to have a meaningful relationship with a person who has hurt — and continues to hurt — you. You don’t. A consequence of someone willfully hurting you is that your meaningful relationship is going to take a hit.

It is natural to avoid someone who hurts and repulses you. In some contexts, avoidance is also the smartest thing to do. One path to healing is to work on loving yourself more. The stronger you are, and the better you feel about yourself, the easier it will be to release the pain this person has caused you.

You should table forgiveness for now, and work on acceptance — of the other person’s flawed humanity, and the fact that you cannot change them.

Once you truly accept this, you will be able to release your own anger. Forgiveness should follow.

—

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

ADVICE

ADVICE

DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN

HINTS FROM HELOISE

Question: Why is it so hard to get back in shape and stay in shape as I get older?

I know the most obvious answer is: “Because you’re aging!” But I want to know why aging diminishes strength so I can stay strong. — Tom T., Annapolis, Md. Answer: We’ve researched how to keep your brain, muscles, heart and spirit in great shape as you age, and can offer you foolproof steps to achieve that.

So let’s look at what goes on in your body that keeps you young, or speeds up aging.

Meet your mitochondria! They’re the energy centers in every cell that drive your metabolism by taking fat, sugar and protein from food to fuel your muscles and brain. They also help maintain your immune system.

When the energy needs of your cells go up (from good exercise), you generate multiple mitochondria in each cell.

But if you’re not getting the nutrients your body needs or any aerobic and strength-building physical activity most days, your mitochondria’s internal DNA (they have their own genome) degrades. That can cause loss of energy, muscle tone, quick thinking and resistance to infection.

They age; you fade.

— Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

Dear readers: Your dog probably loves to go in the car with you. Dogs like the companionship.

They like to look around, also — some researchers think that’s why the dog wants to stick its head out the car window while the vehicle is in motion.

This is a terrible idea, though. Flying insects and litter can hit the dog, potentially damaging eyes and ears, and the dog could be struck by a sign or other protrusion in the

road.

Plus, an unrestrained dog can be injured in a sharp turn or sudden stop. By the way, this goes for dogs in the bed of pickup trucks, also.

Restrain your dog in an approved harness or crate. You wouldn’t allow your kids or grandkids to stick their heads out of a moving car — this goes for dogs, too. — Heloise Dear Heloise: With school in full swing and the weekend here, the dirty, stained laundry is piling up help! — Gina R. in Pennsylvania Gina, don’t panic. While your kids are learning their ABCs, I’ve got three S’s for you: soon, slow and several.

Get to a stain as soon as possible. Have kiddos point out any spills or splatters right off the school bus.

Work the stain slowly. Give cleaning agents time to do the work.

Tough stains may need several attempts to remove them.

I’ve compiled a collection of more of my favorite stain-removal hints. If you’d like to receive one, visit www.Heloise. com, or send a long, stamped (70 cents), self-addressed envelope, along with $5, to: Heloise/Stains, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 782795001. Train kids to empty their pockets of tissue, papers, coins, etc., before tossing laundry in the hamper. — Heloise Dear Heloise: I was watching my friend teach her cat to use the litter box. She put the cat in and used the cat’s paw to scratch at the litter — wrong!

Cats will gravitate to the litter naturally; just point them in the general direction. They are clean by instinct, so using the litter box will come easily.

If you force cats in there, they might become afraid of the litter box. — Shelley W. in Indiana —

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio TX 78279-5001.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) You’ll get further with sugar than salt. You may have an easier time getting your way if you explain your position instead of simply giving orders.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Take it with a grain of salt. Someone’s idle boasting may get under your skin but when push comes to shove they might just be blowing hot air.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) There’s no such thing as a sure thing. Don’t invest much time or effort into “can’t miss” opportunities as the only gains you make will be to your debt.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Add a little spit and polish. Put excess energy to good use by putting things in order or making some improvements around the house. Others may doubt your sincerity unless you demonstrate through actions rather than words.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Brighten your outlook by spending some quality time with friends and loved ones today. A simple backyard gathering may not cost you a thing but afterwards you’ll likely feel like a million dollars.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Adapt to change. Conditions may have shifted such that methods that have worked for you in the past may not be as effective now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Take off the rose-colored glasses. The lucrative benefits that an endeavor may yield could blind you to the potential pitfalls that are just as likely.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) A friend’s advice may be well-intended but may also be based upon incorrect information and assumptions. If an opportunity is a sure thing then why isn’t the one who told you about it rich?

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) No genie will grant your wishes. The only way that you’re going to get what you want is if you roll up your sleeves and work.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Leave well enough alone. Your desire for perfection may cause you to keep tinkering with something until you ultimately make it worse, not better.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Keep spending within the budget. Remember that nickels and dimes can add up over time so be sure to keep a careful eye on the books. Really let your hair down at social gatherings.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Others may try to put their own spin on a story but you can figure out the actual truth if you look at it logically. Satisfy your sense of adventure by visiting new places and meeting new people.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Oct. 7

You may run into a brick wall if you attempt to start a new business venture or launch a financial plan during the next five to six weeks. Keep your pennies in the piggy bank and avoid new romantic entanglements because you can easily be fooled. Networking and meeting new contacts can be a better focus for you in this time period. Use your energies in constructive activities in November while you have the competitive advantage.