You Got a Friend

I was coming down a road in Smicksburg, PA and came upon these intimidating, steel eyed cows wading in a small pond on a ninety degree day. I stopped for a roadside picture and got more than just wading! A Cowbird came along and began eating and knocking off the flies on the cow's nose. This was a first for me!

Check out the video:https://youtu.be/qibAQIUxuyE

Trumpet Vine-Destructive and Invasive Weed

When we first moved into our house a vine attached to our wood shed from our neighbors fence and before you could snap your fingers it was huge and out of control. We were so busy with remodeling that we just let it go. In the heat of the summer it bloomed beautiful flowers and yep looked like trumpets. We noticed hummingbirds enjoyed the flowers. We loved the thought of these birds hanging around. In the Fall they get giants seed pods like bananas.

This growth is just from this season!

If we only knew the destruction and relentlessness of this classified weed. We started hacking at it in the Fall.  It pulled the paint off our shed and got up underneath each wood board on the siding. It intertwined through the neighbor's chain link fence. It's woody branches/trunk are tough and 2-4 inches wide. It was hours of work cutting it back and putting in a burn pile. We tried to be so careful to not get any pieces on our grass.
The picture above is our neighbor's fence this year. This weed is back but, luckily not on our shed. It took us 4 years of cutting it off our shed to stop it however the fence is so close I am sure it will be back.

I have read to use a weed killer and it may take a couple applications. I learned from working at a large lawn company there are some weeds that just need dug up and removed. However if seedlings fall you will still have a mess.
I'm shocked to find this vine for sale online. Some weeds are pretty flowering native plants however the trumpet vine is down right destructive. I have read recommendations on planting in sandy poor soil where nothing grows and control it with something like a trellis. Good luck! Those seeds hit the wind and you are in trouble!!!

If you see this at a community park let your township know about it. It will take over anything in it's path.

Pasta Salad Success!

I'm sure most of you know pasta salad basics. It's noodles, italian dressing and veges. Sounds easy enough...until you have some bland stuff at your neighborly camping potluck.

Where do people go wrong?
They don't cook the main ingredient correctly. The pasta must be al dente. It should be slightly firm. This firmness will also not get weighed down by the dressing and become mushy or taste like gluten. I like spirals because it captures ingredients inside. Use a hefty noodle. Angel hair or thin spaghetti won't hold ingredients and can break up a lot. Like any pasta, salt the water and since this is a cold salad rinse the noodles in cold water and let drain for five minutes.
I actually blanch my cauliflower, carrots and broccoli. I then use this vege water to cook my noodles. Once noodles are drained I add to a large mixing bowl. I toss with salt to bring out ingredients.
The salad dressing. Add enough dressing. Pick a zesty italian but! Look at the bottle. The ingredients separate in the bottle. Pick one with low amount of oil. Oil does not give the salad taste. For one pound of pasta I use one large family size bottle. I also toss and add several times McCormick's Salad Supreme herbs. I personally can't imagine pasta salad without it. I usually dress down my noodles with half the bottle so marinated while I chop vegetables.
Vegetables. I think this is a big miss too. Don't make veges too big because you want a mixture in each bite. Don't make too small either or will be at the bottom of the bowl. A little smaller than a quarter will do good. You need to load up on veges. If you see mostly noodle in a scoop then you need more. I've had salads on my plate with a little tomato and pasta, yuck!

I use fresh carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber with hulled seeds, zucchini cut in match sticks, cherry tomatoes and green or black olives sliced in half.
Cheese. Use a firm cheese or will become mushy. Make small square chunks. I use swiss. Do not use muenster or farmers cheese. Both are too soft. I would not use anything pungent or like herb or garlic cheese.
Remember this a pasta salad and not anti pasta. Do not use additional herbs to mix as they may take over the salad. Unless it is a family choice don't add onions or garlic as it will also take over the salad.
Add your ingredients and toss. Add remaining dressing. Taste. You may need more salt to bring out ingredients. Cover the bowl! Otherwise it will taste like your refrigerator. Let marinate for at least a few hours otherwise the salad will not have an overall good taste.

I feed my rabbits and lawn with cuttings. I don't suggest if close neighbors or raccoon issues :)