Most Americans trade an hour’s sleep this weekend for more evening sunshine to enjoy after work.
Officially the change to daylight saving time occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time, though most folks set their clocks and watches ahead an hour before going to bed on Saturday.

I was talking with my dad about gardening because I started reading the book: Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening: How to Grow Like a Pro, Save Money, and Eat Well by Turning Your Back (or Front or Side) Yard into an Organic Produce Garden, and I read that members of the Allium family (onions, chives, garlic, leeks, shallots and scallions) can prevent many bug pests by planting them around the perimeter of your garden. I knew this about marigolds, but not these items. I told my dad and he said he knew there were a bunch of tricks, but he didn’t know that many. At the same time my sister sent me a link about broccoli that said Sage, thyme and rosemary all deter cabbage fly, which can harm broccoli plants. So I got thinking that maybe we could use a resource to find out some of these organic gardening tricks. Below is just one of the charts I found. I compiled a few charts into a .pdf document (CLICK HERE) that we can all print and use (a few more charts are included in there like what other veggies to grow together and NOT to grow together).

Natural Herb & Plant Pest Deterrents – Vegetable Companions Planting Chart

From http://www.all-things-emergency-prepared.com/vegetable-companion-planting.html

The Missouri Governor, Jay Nixon decreased school revenue by $87 million. As a result of eroding tax bases- schools in the Kansas City area (Kansas and Missouri) are seeing MAJOR cuts. Kansas is worse than Missouri (they are broke!)

• Shawnee Mission- $9-11 million in cuts
• Blue Valley- $6 million
• Kansas City Kansas- $15 million
• Olathe- $19 million

Over in Missouri we have seen:

• North Kansas City- $9.3 million (8 social work jobs cut)
• Liberty-$4 million- (counselors and middle school social workers)
• Raytown- $4 million

The most recent was the closing of 28 of 61 schools in the Kansas City Missouri school district with 700 positions cut. The district needed to cut $ 50 million to prevent bankruptcy.

All these cuts are for the 2010-2011 school year. Park Hill is facing $500,000 this year but we were told that during the 2011-2012 school year we would face the same situation other districts are facing today. Yes, they cut non- teaching positions (me) but we will wait and see. Good luck leaving no child behind with this siution on the horizon. Where is the bail out for our kids? Oh…I know, after sixteen months after Freddie and Fanny were seized to prevent their collapse, the companies remain wards of the state, running a tab that has now exceeded $125 billion in what has become the single costliest component of the federal bailout for the financial system. We are going to hell in a hand basket!

Well some are moving quickly along so I have updated the next Book of Mark.

March 14: Mark 1-3
March 15: Mark 4-5
March 16: Mark 6-7
March 17: Mark 8-9
March 18: Mark 10-11
March 19: Mark 12-13
March 20: Mark 14
March 21: Mark 15-16

I have another excellent recipe for a salad that we recently saw on the Martha Stewart Show! This is what the Obama’s eat and the executive chef from the White House shared it. We did not include the fennel, and we just used a mixed organic greens that we get from Sams, but you can add whatever you like… I always add cucumber and cherry tomatoes to every one. This would make an excellent seasonal salad for the restaurant with the orchards right there, and you could probably use romaine lettuce.

(Click on the picture to go to the recipe and watch a video of them making it)

Salad:

• 1 pound mixed winter greens, such as chicory, frisee, tatsoi, spinach, or arugula
• 1/2 fresh fennel bulb, thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 Granny Smith apple, julienned
• Spiced Walnuts (we used pecans)
• White House Honey-Apple Cider Vinaigrette
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 shallot, minced
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Spiced Nuts:

• 1 cup walnut halves/pecans
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon store-bought Cajun spice mix (we used cinnamon and nutmeg instead)

____________________________________________________________________________

1. Make spiced nuts: Toast nuts in a medium skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar and cook, tossing nuts, until sugar is melted. Season with Cajun spice; remove from heat and let cool.
2. Make vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, vinegar, lemon juice, and onion. Slowly whisk in olive oil to form an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Put it all together: Place greens, fennel, apple, and nuts in a large bowl; add vinaigrette and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Serves 6

This movie was fun and I thought it had better 3-D than Avatar. It’s great for the kids too. We saw it on IMAX so the picture and sound were great. There seems to be a lot of new films coming out in 3-D (it’s the new thing) and this movie made $116.3 it’s first weekend. Go see it!

The Clyde Savannah Varsity Basketball team (with many of Kenny’s JV kids) are in the sectional finals Friday night. Let’s wish’em lots of luck!

We will read New Testament then Old Testament- therefore starting with the Book of Matthew. If you don’t have a Bible- read it on line- links provided.

March1: Matt 1-4
March2: Matt 5-6
March3: Matt 7-8
March4: Matt 9-10
March5: Matt 11-12
March6: Matt 13-14
March7: Matt 15-17
March8: Matt 18-19
March9: Matt 20-21
March10: Matt 22-23
March11: Matt 24-25
March12: Matt 26
March13: Matt 27-28

Here is the first two weeks- add discussion points, questions, confusions, points to ponder- that is how we learn and grow- together.

Enjoy!

We had our soup and Panini party this weekend. YUMMY. A panini press is a phenomenal tool! We had many cheeses (brie, colby, jalapeno pepper , mozzarella) and many meats (pancetta, turkey, ham, salami) with fresh french loaf bread and croissants. What I really want to talk about was the dessert. We took croissants- spread on Nutella, placed dark chocolate chunks, fresh strawberry’s and banana’s them placed it on the press- we scooped ice cream with fresh hot fudge sauce (like Nana used to make)- died and gone to Panini heaven! Next meal- brunch!

• Olympics are done… Go USA!     View the vancouver2010.com medals’ table.

• Karen & Linda got a new car, sad to see the old Honda go- 12 years old, she was a “good thing”.

• Mom, Kris & Matty went to the beach this past weekend and painted the wall “Terra Cotta”.

• Mom heads back to New York Tomorrow. Be Safe! Edited: Home Safe & Sound!

• Karen has a bad head/chest cold with fever…Delaney told me to “take it easy and get better” – thanks my love!

• Kay started Delaney’s room this weekend- Delaney helped.

• Katie turned 18- YEAH!

• New York got LOTS of snow- schools closed Friday, Kay said about a foot and 1/2 of snow.

• What’s up with you?