“When is the turkey going to be ready?” someone asked. I opened the oven and admired the glistening, nicely browned bird proudly. I planned to make some gravy from the drippings. With a little help, I lifted the turkey onto a serving tray. The turkey was clutching its wings to its ...

Forcing spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinth is a great way to brighten up the dreary days of winter. Forcing bulbs does require planning, though, because the bulbs need a cooling period that imitates the cold conditions bulbs would experience outside during the ...

Due to the pandemic, several events have been crossed off our fun-for-fall list. We certainly missed attending Minot State Homecoming, Hostfest, and various fall suppers. When fall comes calling, we note on the calendar several church bazaars that we would enjoy attending. Darting about to the ...

Would you like to get closer to nature? Put up a bird feeder. Birds are wonderful to watch, especially in winter. Our feathered friends provide bright flashes of color, wonderful songs and curious movements. It’s a fun activity for everyone in the family. Now is the time to take action. ...

The other day I was wrapping my collection of snowman salt and pepper shakers. Yes, my snowmen witnessed the spring and summer seasons of 2020. In some ways, time has stood still during our pandemic. After eight months of ...

Since 1992, there has been a First Lady Cookie competition. It was renamed the Presidential Cookie Poll a few years later. This contest has been a popular event in the past seven elections; and if you don’t think cookies have pull, guess again. This contest correctly predicted the election ...

Pumpkin is not just for dessert. Consider using this low calorie, flavorful vegetable, botanically classified as a fruit, in any of the courses of your fall or holiday meals. The beta carotene that gives pumpkin its orange color is an important antioxidant. Increasing the beta carotenes in ...

I heard our dogs yipping at 4:30 a.m. They were persistent. I went downstairs to see what they wanted. They did not want to leave the warm house to investigate our backyard. They sat near the table looking up at a box of chewy, teeth-cleaning treats. They barked until I got the ...

I have a confession to make. Every fall, I’m hypocritical in regard to tree care. Generally, I don’t pamper trees; I’m tough on them. If they’re going to survive our challenging climate in the northern Great Plains, they’re going to have to do it on their own. Well, mostly. But in ...

“Wow!” I said as I pulled a huge carrot out of the ground. “Now that’s a carrot!” My daughter and I harvested our raised bed gardens the other day. The gardens are about 3 feet tall with ample room for vegetables to grow. I appreciate not needing to bend or use a shovel. Some of ...

As the seasons change, we adjust our gardening tasks and plantings to match. Animals also make changes this time of year, often changing their eating habits and dining locations. These adjustments can impact your gardens. Reduce the risk of damage by starting in fall to protect your landscape ...

Each year, families make the pilgrimage to the pumpkin patch to purchase the perfect specimen for carving jack-o’-lanterns. How did this Halloween tradition originate? A long and interesting history on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean underlies this tradition. According to Irish folklore, ...

“Do you want to go see the cows?” my grandpa asked me when I was a young child. Well, of course, I did. I was halfway out to the barn by the time he finished his sentence. I especially enjoyed interacting with the calves that licked my hands with their silky smooth tongues. I wanted ...

Have you noticed the bright shade of blue that is painting majesty above the golden harvest in early evening? It is easiest to distinguish right before twilight bids night—her evening shade of bold midnight blue. This bright shade of blue at some moment is 19-4052 Classic Blue which is ...

One day I was writing my “Prairie Fare” column at my desk when the phone rang. The gentleman identified himself as a retired lawyer and mentioned the topic of a recent column I had written. He had read it in his local paper. I missed the part about him being a “retired” ...

The gardening season is pretty much done for this year. It is time to put away all the cute yard ornaments, clean up and store tools, and do the last few garden maintenance items. A couple things you might not think of – make sure to have hoses drained before it freezes and have flower pots ...

Frost came early this year for some and not so early for others. After a hard frost I cannot wait to get out there a yank all the dead plants out. By now, I am so tired of yard work and knowing I have about two weeks’ worth of work of clean up in the beds, I just dread fall! But wait, there ...

Frost came early this year — much too early for most of us. After a hard frost, our natural tendency may be to put our gardens to bed. But wait a second. We still have a few things we can plant now, including garlic. A little effort now can lead to amazing flavors in your meals next ...

“Mom, we forgot to bring the apple picker,” my older daughter said as we stood on tiptoe next to the tree on a sunny autumn day. An apple narrowly missed bouncing off my head as it dropped out of the tree. Yes, the apple picker would have come in handy. We were trying to reach plump red ...

Hopefully, it is not too late to bring your houseplants in. That cold snap we had over Labor Day weekend really threw a curveball at us. Even though I was warned, there were a few plants that did not get brought in or at least set in the garage. Perhaps, I was in denial. My houseplants ...