November 3 Buffalograss, Semi-Dormant

We have had one hard frost this growing season. The buffalograss is mostly brown, but there are still green leaf blades, so we don't dare spray Roundup on the green weeds surrounding the buffalograss yet.

Brown Buffalograss in Foreground,
Green Weeds in Background. Notice the erosion along the
base of the building.

Still some green in the Buffalograss

Buffalograss Progress

Our Legacy Buffalograss is still alive and spreading. We have had temperatures about 10 degrees above normal in our area the past few weeks. We expect below freezing temperatures in the next few weeks then our grass will go dormant. If any weeds are still green after the buffalograss is completely dormant, we'll spray them with Roundup.

Legacy Buffalograss on October 3, 2012

Individual buffalograss on October 3, 2012. It has grown quite a bit since
we planted it August 3.

Weed Problems in Legacy Buffalograss

The buffalograss was planted 41 days ago and there are many patches of a thin-bladed grass-like plant that has started growing from dry root-balls that looked innocent enough before we planted. We should have removed all the root-balls before we planted. Here's a photo of the dry root-balls and of a watered root-ball.

(Right) Innocent-looking dry dormant root-balls we left in the soil.
(Left) Grass or Sedge sprouting from a root-ball after we watered the area.

The photo below shows the buffalograss plugs on the right and the weedy grass-like plants on the left. If the root-balls dry out on the weedy grass, the grass dies back. The roots aren't very deep and have little bulbs on the ends.  We think it's a cool-season grass or (sedge?) that we hope we may be able to spray with Roundup when the buffalograss goes dormant after frost. Anyone know what plant this is and how we can get rid of it?

Buffalograss to the Right of Hose.
Weedy Grasses and Field Bindweed on Left.

We think the weedy grasses aren't growing next to our fence because we treat the area frequently with Roundup. If you have time, prepare your soil before planting your buffalograss by watering, spraying weeds with herbicide, watering again, spraying, etc. for at least a few months. It will save you a lot of trouble!

Field Bindweed (wild morning glory) is a big problem in our area and we will really have to fight this weed for a long time.

September 3, 2012 Photos of Legacy Buffalograss Plugs

Legacy Buffalograss Plugs after growing for approximately one month.

Legacy Buffalograss Plugs Sept. 3, 2012

Legacy Buffalograss, Individual Plant Sept. 3, 2012

You can see that the plants are beginning to grow stolons that are several inches long. These stolons are beginning to root into the soil at several nodes.

August 4, 2012 Photos of Legacy Buffalograss Plugs

We ordered 13 flats of Legacy Buffalograss (1274 plants in all) and they arrived on August 2. We have a fairly steep slope from our building to our neighbors' property and thought that we needed to plant grass to help prevent mud and debris from washing onto our neighbors' property during rainstorms.

We planted the plugs about 1 foot apart, hoping that they would spread fairly quickly.

Newly planted Plugs of Legacy Buffalograss August 4, 2012

Individual Legacy Buffalograss Plug August 4, 2012

Homemade Bread

I can't find bread pans with high sides, so when I make bread, I put a piece of aluminum foil (30 by 6 inch, folded in half to 3 inches) around the bread pan right after I put the bread dough in the pans. The dough rises higher and doesn't creep over the sides of the pan that way. Anyone know where to buy bread pans with high sides?

Wheat Bread Dough Rising with Strip of Foil

Bread-Making Tips for Shorter Rise Time

Homemade Sliced Whole Wheat Bread

I keep my whole wheat flour in the refrigerator to keep it fresh. When I bake bread, I put the flour I'll use in the microwave for 5-15 seconds per cup BEFORE mixing it in with the wet ingredients. This makes the flour nice and warm. Be sure not to "cook" it too long. You don't want to kill the yeast when you dump the flour in!

I measure the flour into a big glass microwave-safe bowl. Start by cooking it on high for 5 seconds per cup. Take it out of the microwave and stir it up. Does it feel slightly warmer than your skin? If not, microwave for a few more seconds. After you've done this a few times, you'll know how long to "cook" the flour for your next loaf. Be sure to stir it after microwaving, because the flour at the bottom seems hotter than the flour at the top.

I use quick rise yeast and don't need to let the bread rise twice. Immediately after kneading the dough, I put it directly in the bread pans and it rises quickly, usually within a half hour or so.

After the bread has cooled on a wire rack, I slice it with an electric knife. I put my loaves in the freezer to keep them fresh longer.

Siamese Hungry Cat - I Love You When You Feed Me

If your cat could talk, would he say this?

Cats: Look at me, I'm beautiful

Our kitty had quite an attitude.We imagine she would have said this if she could talk.

Peony Growing Instructions

Click on the picture below to enlarge.

Double-Flowered Peonies

Men and Women and Hair

Men, Women and Body Hair

I've been thinking about the different standards American society assigns to men and women. Men can be as bald or as hairy as they want and are considered perfectly presentable. Women must be almost hairless except for their scalp hair and plucked eyebrows. This is not natural or fair, is it?

However, I notice that advertisers are telling men that unless they dye their hair and use certain shampoos women won't be attracted to them. In twenty years will American society demand that men also shave their body hair and wear makeup before they leave the house too?

But Mom, You Didn't Tell Me NOT To Do It!

While my kids were growing up, they occasionally did something naughty. I came into the kitchen one day and my 2 boys were sawing away at our utensil drawer with knives. I said, “Hey, you guys aren't supposed to cut the drawer!” They replied in innocent voices, “You didn't tell us NOT to cut the drawer!” Suddenly, I felt a wave of frustration, helplessness and overwhelming hilarity all at the same time. What they said was true. I didn't tell them not to cut the drawer! Was I supposed to think of everything they shouldn't do and tell them before they did it? That was impossible!

Those 2 boys are now grown up and wonderful young men. The drawer still has the knife wounds but I think of that moment fondly now.

Planting Seeds Indoors under Fluorescent Lights

After you've made your indoor plant light, another helpful publication from Utah State Extension Service is this: Starting Transplants at Home.

Plant Light Frame

Spring is the time of year that we who live in colder climates want to start tender plants indoors so they'll be ready to plant outdoors in our gardens in a month or two.
Here is a drawing of a good durable inexpensive plant light you can make at home. It takes a total of about 29 feet of PVC pipe. It cost me just a little over $14.00, including tax, for the supplies. I didn't buy PVC cement for the joints because I may want to take it apart and store it when I'm not using it. I used petroleum jelly on the connectors instead.

Indoor Light Garden Construction

I found these instructions at Utah State University Cooperative Extension. http://extension.usu.edu/htm/publications/ Just to the left of the word "publications" in the Google search bar, type "indoor light garden construction." Click on the first search result and you'll find the detailed instructions in a PDF file.

Cloth-covered Easter basket without Easter Grass

When my children were small, I put Easter grass in their Easter baskets, but it was messy. I decided to make cloth covers instead. I used leftover scraps of fabric I already had, or you can buy cute Easter patterns.

Easter Basket without Easter Grass, cloth cover

Cut fabric out leaving plenty of room to sew a 1/4 inch hem to finish raw edges. Use buttons, Velcro or snaps to close the holes around the handles. Slip a scrap of quilt batting between the fabric and the basket (optional) to give the fabric a little cushion.

The best thing about these cloth covers is that they can be washed after the kids have eaten all their candy. I usually washed them just before Easter the next year so the candy could be put into a clean cloth cover. No more Easter grass mess!

How to Hydrate Wilted Leaf Lettuce

Green Leaf Lettuce Before and After Soaking

I was at our local grocery store trying to buy leaf lettuce (romaine, green leaf, red leaf, etc.) but everything was wilted. I bought some green leaf lettuce, sliced off all the bottom stems one inch or so with a sharp knife, and put the freshly cut stems down into a couple of inches of water in a large bowl, as if they were cut flowers. I loosely covered them with plastic wrap, refrigerated for about 5 hours and, voila!, the lettuce was not wilted anymore. It was crispy as if just picked.

After it's crispy, take it out of the water, blot off the wet stems with a paper towel and put back in the fridge.

How To Clean Muffin or Cupcake Pans

Aluminum muffin pans used many times,
still looking like new after 10 years.

I put water in my pots and pans to soak them after cooking. I don't like to put large pots and pans in my dishwasher because they take up too much room, so I wash them by hand. When I bake cupcakes or muffins, some batter will always drip around the rims and get baked on. I can't soak the  top rims of the muffin pans in water so I keep a cheap spray bottle full of water by the sink. I spray water on the baked-on batter around the rims. This just needs to soak for a few minutes while I do other dishes. Then when I clean the muffin pans, the baked-on batter comes right off without scrubbing! My muffin pans look as good as new.

Easter Egg Nest Cupcakes

This is a fun project to make with kids:

Easter Egg Nest Cupcakes with jelly beans and pretzel sticks

I made the cupcakes with a commercial cake mix then added frosting made from scratch.
Frosting Recipe
1 cup vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
Jelly beans
Pretzel sticks
Place shortening in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, one cup at time and mix with electric mixer, beating well at medium speed. Add vanilla and milk and beat at high speed until light and fluffy. Spread thinly on cupcakes, reserving the rest for the yellow nests. Sprinkle coconut on cupcakes and press down lightly. Color the remaining frosting with a few drops of yellow food color. Put in frosting bag and use Wilton tip number 32 to pipe icing in 1.5 inch circles on top of each cupcake. Press 2 or 3 jelly beans into the yellow frosting nests. Break pretzels in half and insert them a little way into each cupcake just under the nests.

14 Minute Square Meatballs Recipe

14 Minute Square Meatballs

I remember my mom making meatloaf. She put all the ingredients onto the top of the ground beef and mixed the squishy mess together with her hands. That grossed me out a little. I stir together all the ingredients except the meat with a fork, then, after it's all mixed well, I stir in the meat with the fork and then mix by hand for just a minute. This is faster and less messy.

14 Minute Square Meatballs
1/2 cup crushed saltine crackers
1/3 cup minced onion
1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt or seasoned salt (optional)
1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey

Crush saltines in glass 8- by 8- or 9- by 9-inch baking dish. Add all ingredients except meat and stir together with a fork. Add meat, stir briefly with fork. Use hands to more thoroughly mix together. Pat mixture evenly in dish. Cover dish with waxed paper or vented plastic wrap (turn back a corner of the wrap for air to escape). Microwave on high for 8 minutes or until 160 degrees in the middle. After cooking, if there is a lot of fat, stuff a paper towel in one corner. Tilt dish down slightly toward that low corner to absorb the fat. Cut into 1 inch cubes for square meatballs or cut into larger pieces and serve as meatloaf.

Kitchen Timesaver - Square Meatballs

14 Minute Square Meatballs on Spaghetti

Next time you need to make meatballs and you're in a hurry, mix the ingredients together in a glass Pyrex casserole dish, for example, 8 by 8 inch or 9 by 12 inch if you're feeding a bigger family. After the ingredients are well mixed, mash it flat so that it's level in the dish, about 1 inch high. Cook in the microwave about 8 minutes per pound of ground meat. (Read your microwave's instructions.) After it tests done, cut into about 1 inch cubes and you have square meatballs in minutes!