"BTW - history completely contradicts your belief in soil testing. Almost nobody gets soil tests now and they weren't even available to homeowners until recently. Like a lot of modern technology, it can be a useful tool. However, people got along just fine without them in the not to distant past." What does that even mean? History contradicts your belief in soil testing? How does history contradict a belief in soil testing? That sentence is an example of making up something that sounds intelligent but has no basis in fact. Soil testing is an extremely important part of all the crops growing in this country. If we had a better understanding of soil science earlier in the 20th century then the dust bowl probably wouldn't have happened, or at least it wouldn't have been so bad. Turfgrass, like any crop, has its ideal soil conditions. The closer you can get to the ideal, the healthier the grass. How would you know if you need lime? Let's say you need lime, which one would you use? What about a phosphorus deficiency. Most fertilizers have little P, so are you supposed to guess if you have deficiencies? Andy's plan is the right way to do it. Sure you can do a renovation by omitting steps, but if you want the best results you will do it the right way. Rushing it will usually result in doing it again next fall.

"To get sweet pea flowers for Christmas, plant the seeds on Labor Day". That's the old saying. And it works. Also, sweet peas can be planted anytime bewteen end of October (I like to wait until the Santa Anas pass) and into January. Freesias (and other South African and most "Mediterranean" bulbs) are best planted in fall. If you're talking about bearded iris (rather than bulbous iris such as Dutch iris), it's best to move them or plant them 8-12 weeks after they finish blooming. Or, if you're faced with the reality that dormantlike bulbs are available in the fall only, you plant them in the fall. Joe

I am out of town visiting our littlest (7 months old) granddaughter and I brought a favorite recipe along with me since I knew I'd have the soup course this week. Not knowing what the rest of the menu would bring, I just took a chance and brought this nice summertime cold soup recipe (which I plan to make tomorrow night when we're having crab cakes for dinner). I'm honestly not positive that I would have chosen this to go along with a spaghetti dinner, but its really tasty and as a soup course, pretty far removed from the pasta and bolognese part of the dinner! GL I think it could be a good idea to give the progressive dinners a rest. Traditionally the cooking and recipe forums slow down in the summer and pick up again when the weather turns colder with thoughts of fall and winter foods. TYLER FLORENCE'S WATERMELON GAZPACHO Prep time 20 minutes Serves 6 6 large tomatoes, chopped 8 ounces fresh watermelon, seeded and cubed 1 serrano chili 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons red onion, minced 1 cucumber, seeded and minced 2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced, plus more for garnish salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese Puree tomatoes, watermelon, and chili in a blender Add vinegar and olive oil, pulse Fold in onion, cucumber and dill Sprinkle on salt and pepper to taste Pour into shot glasses (or small bowls) and garnish with extra dill and feta Serve at room temperature

What is with all these kids suddenly thinking 'if I can't have my own way I wanna go to foster home' and finshing up the line with 'I hate livng here'? Feeding pizza to a 10 yr old (in front of family no less)? What was your DH thinking? Yeah, the SS might be feeling a bit misplaced because of a new baby and all that (DH working seconds and SS being in school really limits the time he has with his father), BUT treating the SS like he was the baby is not going to 'help' the problem. Your Dh needs that 'boot' your title mentions to be a big heavy one. I wonder what SS would think if Dh told SS he'd be coming to school to hand feed the child (not that he really would). No one 'feds' SS at lunch at school. No one comes by the table and makes sure SS loves what is beinf offered and no one there gives a crap if the SS actually picks up his fork and sticks it in his mouth. The kid either eats it because he likes it, carries a sack lunch, or goes hungry that meal. Pizza would have been my offering. If SS really really hated the pizza (and not just didn't want to eat what he usually likes) he might have gotten one different choice. if that was not suitable, he'd be reminded it's a long time to breakfast and he could eat or go hungry...his choice. And at ten it would not be me running out into the kitchen and fixing SS the second choice. It would have been something he could 'zap' and or fix (safely) himself. In your case, I don't think it's the food, it's the attention from Dad he is seeking. Perhaps Dad needs to find a bit of time on his evenings/days off to appoint to the son. With five kids giving each one a few individually is going to be tough, but DH needs to make the effort no matter how tired he is. Each one of the kids needs to feel they are 'special' and loved by Dad and that Dad is there for them. Feeding the kid pizza by hand isn't that. Does SD have someone on the team she's friends with that could do the practice running? She's being deliberately childish and self centered on the 'staying late' thing. Dh playing sick to take her is about as silly as him feeding the SS pizza. I don't know why she is feeling so defiant on this, but in my house she'd get three choices 1)come directly out after practice 2)find a friend she can ride with or 3)she's no longer on the team. I realize SD tossed Dh for a loop with the 'I hate it here, I wish I could go to a foster home', but he needs to discuss with her her feelings and he needs to remind the SD that even fosters homes have rules and expectations. it is unrealistic to think she'd have everything all wonderful, that whoever her foster parent/s were they'd let her do what she pleases blah blah. There would be rules and expectations just like there is at Dad's house. Nobody at her age gets to make their own rules and do as they please...she's out of luck if she thinks 'just the perfect foster home exist where the child gets to call all the shots and suddenly her life will be all rosy'. Talk to your DH, but do it when things are calm. He'll be more willing to really listen to your viewpoint. In the heat of the moment everybody gets upset and defensive and can't really stand back and see and hear things like they really are. You have a housefull, you two have got to find a way to be on the same page and support each other. It's five to two, you/Dh have to find a way to show them you two are a strong standing team. Congrats on the baby! Having a new one in the home is bound to be big adjustments for everybody. It's another reason that it is important that DH do his share of really parenting these kids (instead of just giving in to them)even when it comes to defiant kids acting out threatening to 'hate' you/him (or not eat) if they don't get their own way. You have seven people in the home, you have to have rules and expectations and you and DH have to support each other.