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A post card reproduced from a Charlie Russell painting called: "Charlie sees Santa; has drink."...
Christmas Tree Care There are many “tips” to caring for a Christmas tree that are suppose propose to make it last longer or stay greener. In truth, all a tree really needs to maintain freshness is adequate water. This is easily done by using the proper tree stand and keeping the water level in the stand above the base of the tree. The following tips will help to maintain the freshness and aroma of a live Christmas tree this holiday season: • Use a tree stand that holds enough water for the size of the tree. The rule of thumb is one quart of wa...
November Horticultural Tips Managing horticultural landscapes and house plants in November is important to healthy production during the growing season. Below are a few recommendations for Chouteau county gardeners. • Apply protective mulches to perennial beds. • Use a humidifier to maintain humidity for houseplants. • Prune out dead limbs of woody ornamentals. • Do not fertilize or transplant anything after Columbus Day. • Continue to water landscape plantings (trees, shrubs, and perennials) until the soil freezes. • Apply winter mulch to st...
Dale Morey was born and raised in the tiny northeastern Montana town of Opheim. You would think that would be about as far away from the United States military as one could get but there was the huge Glasgow Air Force Base in operation then so things military were certainly known to Dale. "I started my career in the Navy in 1969," said Dale. "It was because of the draft. When I graduated in 1969 I went harvesting in the south with a friend. When I got home there were several letters from the...
September Horticulture Management Managing horticultural landscapes in September is essential to healthy production during the growing season. Below are a few recommendations for Chouteau county gardeners. • The average first frost is September 15 (Carter), September 18 (Kenilworth and Highwood), September 20 (Big Sandy), September 25 (Fort Benton) and September 28 in Geraldine. All fruit and vegetables should be harvested before temperatures drop below 40° to 50°F. • Ripen tomatoes in a paper bag along with an apple, or hang the entire plant...
(StatePoint) Between work and school-year commitments, it can be difficult to carve out time to sit down at the table and enjoy a home-cooked dinner as a family, but it is well worth the effort. In addition to offering an opportunity to bond, eating together and engaging in conversation can have a deeper influence on children. Follow these tips to bring the family together and create a lasting tradition. Mark the Calendar Create a monthly calendar that incorporates a few meals a week in which everyone can be present when there are no sports,...
No longer must you choose between your lawn and saving water. Experts say there are ways to save both water and money that won’t hurt your turf. “We often see sprinklers watering sidewalks and drives, running during rain, or sending water down the drain from leaky heads,” says Josh Friell, Ph. D, senior agronomist of The Toro Company’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology. “The good news is there are simple, cost-effective actions homeowners can take to save up to 30 percent in outdoor water usage alone.” Friell recommends these lawn-care w...
Summer was made for entertaining -- from casual dinner parties to impromptu get-togethers. And what’s better than centering the entertainment on the grill? Beyond the standard burgers and hot dogs, there are an array of appetizers, main courses and even desserts that are all grill-friendly and easy to make. “Summer cooking is all about great, fresh flavors and keeping things simple and unfussy,” says Erin Madsen, executive editor of BettyCrocker.com, an entertaining resource that offers recipes, how-tos, and test-kitchen tips. This summe...
Whether you are working or recreating, long days in the sun can be a serious health hazard in the form of various skin cancers and other health concerns. Cumulative sun exposure is a major factor in the development of skin cancer. The sun’s rays are more damaging during the summer months and during the midday hours (10 am – 4 pm,) even when it is cloudy. In addition, exposure is increased when around bright surfaces such as sand, water, snow and concrete and at higher altitudes. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can res...
NorthWestern Energy has submitted its annual natural gas supply cost tracker to the Montana Public Service Commission for review and approval. The annual tracking period begins July 1 and ends on the following June 30 of each calendar year. The supply cost rate that appears on customer bills fluctuates on a monthly basis depending on market supply costs and other factors. The annual filing serves to true-up actual vs. estimated costs over the previous period and set the new benchmark for coming tracker year. The rate, when multiplied by the...
(StatePoint) Father’s Day and graduation season are the perfect opportunities to beef up your gift recipient’s garage -- and high-quality tools are a must for anyone -- from DIY novices to professional handymen. “A quality tool goes a long way toward getting a job done quickly and efficiently,” says Jon DeArment, president and COO, Channellock, Inc., a leading manufacturer of tools. “Damaged gear can slow down work and be dangerous to the user.” Here are a few gifts to consider: • Every one needs a good set of screwdrivers designed to withstand...
Q: I know you’d probably say we ought to be honest and always tell the truth, but in my experience no one really gets ahead if they act like that all the time. You have to cut a few corners if you’re going to be successful, no matter what the Ten Commandments say. A: You’ve probably looked around you and seen people who appeared to be getting ahead by being less than honest—and in the short term perhaps they were. But at what cost? In the long term they are on a dead-end road—and so will you be, if you decide to follow their example. You see,...
Gardening tips for the month of June • Gardeners who want to eliminate crab apple fruit on the lawn can use ethephon or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Spray when fruit is small. Follow label directions. • Hand thin apples to no more than two fruit per cluster. • It is impossible to kill worms in apple trees after they have penetrated the apples. To protect apples form worm damage, clean up debris around the tree and spray at 10 day intervals after the petals have fallen. Malathion works well using 1 tablespoon/gallon of water). Follow label...
A picnic is a fantastic way to gather with friends and family. Enjoy a summer breeze on the beach or host a backyard soiree -- you can make your al fresco meal as casual or as elegant as you’d like. Pack the best basket with these simple tips. Find the Right Location The first step to a successful picnic is finding the perfect spot. If you decide not to host at your home, choose a space at the park or beach with tables or a shelter to make setup a snap. If you select a location without amenities, you’ll need to bring chairs and blankets to pro...
Lawn Management and Drip Irrigation Information The MSU Extension Master Gardener program provides research based information for gardeners. Below are a few notes taken from the turf management portion of the program. • Rough bluegrass is probably the best grass in Montana for shady areas. • Kentucky bluegrass is the best grass for open sunny areas with well-drained soil. • Annual ryegrass can be used as a cover crop following vegetable production. • The standard lawn mix is 60% Kentucky bluegrass, 30% creeping red fescue and 10% annual ryegras...
(StatePoint) Too often, the kitchen is the first room of a home to suffer the consequences of tight living quarters. But there’s no need to forfeit big-scale cooking in a small-scale kitchen. Ditch the compromises and maximize the space you do have to make your kitchen work for you, and all your culinary aspirations. Cut the Fat Do a top-to-bottom inventory of your kitchen implements to assess what you need and what you can discard or donate. Sleek newer designs of certain appliances tend to take up less space than their clunky, older c...
Every January, for the last 4 years, I have written columns about New Years Resolutions. For the most part, these columns have talked about why most resolutions are unsuccessful, offered suggestions regarding strategies for succeeding at changing habits/behaviors, and looked at what the Bible says about change. This year, as I was writing my annual New Year’s column, I had a humbling realization. I will be 40 this year and I have never made a resolution or tried to change anything based on a January 1st urge to “live better this year.” I confes...
For me Easter is all about the music. It always has been. For years in the old Van Orsdel Methodist Church I thought I had died and gone to heaven when Pearl Ann Houtz sang “Jerusalem” each Easter. That is until just a few years ago I heard Tom Bede sing that same song and he all but knocked the walls off the sanctuary. At Easter I play Handel’s Messiah on the boom box each chance I get and it is wonderful. On my computer I have one of those trick scenes where a food court is all eating food until almost one at a time they break into song,...
On Monday, March 14, 2016 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Memorial Ambulance Building (810 15th St) in Fort Benton, Dr. Marsha A. Goetting, Professor and Extension Family Economic Specialist, will conduct a free presentation on estate planning. Why would one want or need to attend? One fact of life that is very difficult for most to accept is that we are all going to die someday. Something even harder to tackle is planning for what happens to your assets and property upon your death. This topic of discussion is not one that most family members want...
(StatePoint) Prom is a time-honored tradition and a rite of passage for teens. Originally inspired by graduation celebrations and debutante balls, prom today is now an extravagant, defining moment in a teenager’s life, and bears little resemblance to the promenades of the past -- especially when it comes to cost. Going to the prom can put a fairly large dent in one’s wallet. In fact, the average family with a teenager spends nearly a thousand dollars on the dance, according to a recent prom spending survey by Visa. Take a look at the bud...
(StatePoint) Tax season can be one of the most, well, taxing times of year, especially for chronic procrastinators who make up about 20 percent of the American public, according to research conducted at DePaul University. Why drag out the stress? Here are some great ways to streamline the process of preparing and filing taxes: Review Forms As you receive your W-2, 1099s and other tax forms, review each document right away to ensure it’s accurate. Then, file these forms in one place so they will be ready for you when you’re ready to file. E-F...
The theme for National Nutrition Month® (March 2016) is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” which encourages everyone to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors and social experiences food can add to our lives. It is just as important to develop mindful eating patterns that include the how, when, where and why in addition to what we eat. The following are some budget-friendly tips for healthy eating: * As mentioned in a previous article of this column, planning your snacks and meals a week or two week...
Twenty-four hours, 1440 minutes or 86,400 seconds per day. Regardless of how you think of it, every day has the same amount of time. But, somehow, it feels like the time in a day decreases the more tasks and responsibilities we face in our lives. February is National Time Management Month. However, as one source cited—the term “time management” is a misnomer—you cannot manage time. You can manage the events in your life in relation to time and how you use that time depends on self-analysis, planning, evaluation and self-control. Time is both...
The week of February 22-27, 2016 is America Saves Week. It is a national effort to promote good savings behavior and encourage individuals to assess their own saving status. It can be hard to put aside money for savings when we can be overwhelmed with our expenses. Savings can help you be better positioned when emergencies or unexpected costs arise. Or, maybe you have been dreaming about taking a family vacation or are planning ahead for college or retirement. The time is now to start putting money away for your savings goal. Even if it is a...
For the last couple of months, my family has faced some challenges as a result of illness. These challenges have put us into a position where we have strained a bit under the basic tasks of life. Perhaps the best thing that has come of this time in our life has been that folks have rushed to assist us. Last night, a couple of friends from church, while visiting, took the time to clean my kitchen and wash dishes. In addition, brothers and sisters in Jesus have brought us prepared meals, helped out with our kids, sent us cards, and in all sorts o...
