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The
Finer Points of Living: April Reimnders from Martha Stewart
This article contains valuable
information for the month of April. This website is dedicated to articles
from, for, and about Martha Stewart, from recent and relevant to the bizarre
and nonsensical.
And now...
Gentle Reminders
From “Martha Stewart Living,” April 2005
Important Dates
1 APRIL FOOLS’ DAY
3 DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS
8 NEW MOON
24 FULL MOON
23 PASSOVER BEGINS
Hungry Plants
As days lengthen and light increases at this time of year, houseplants
are resuming active growth, which means they should be fertilized. Choose
a soluble food that contains nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. If
you have flowering plants, look for one that is higher in phosphorous
to promote bud set and bloom. Apply according to package instructions.
In Season
• Morels: These wild mushrooms are highly prized for their deep,
earthy flavor. With tall honeycomb-shaped caps, morels look a little unusual
to the uninitiated but taste delicious stewed, simmered, or sautéed
in butter. (Never eat them raw, since they contain small amounts of toxic
helvellic acid, which is destroyed during cooking.)
• Onions: Sweet spring varieties, such as Vidalia and Maui, are
in abundant supply this month. These onions have tender, juicy flesh and
much less of a bite than mature storage types. Their mild taste, even
when raw, makes them the perfect choice for topping burgers and sandwiches.
Indoors
• Don’t forget to play April Fools’ Day pranks! Make
them harmless and fun.
• If you don’t use them year-round, pack up room humidifiers
for the season. Before storing, drain and clean the machine’s tank
(follow the manufacturer’s instructions) to prevent the growth of
bacteria and fungi.
• To ensure your tax return reaches the Internal Revenue Service
on time, use Certified Mail with Return Receipt for mailing and delivery
records. If you file electronically, you should print and keep the confirmation
you get. If you plan to file for an extension, do so by April 15.
• Prevent lint buildup in and around your clothes dryer; it can
cause the machine to overheat. Clean the screen or filter after every
use. While the dryer is running, check that exhaust is coming out of its
external vent. If not, you may have to disconnect the exhaust duct to
remove blockage. Be sure to remove accumulated lint from behind the dryer.
Outdoors
• To reactivate outdoor faucets, remove any insulation around them,
then turn on the water supply. Hook up hoses and test them. Patch any
holes with a patching kit (plastic and rubber hoses require different
adhesives, so be sure to buy the proper kit), or replace the entire hose.
Have your sprinkler system serviced.
• Start cool-season planting in USDA Zones 5 to 7. Take seedlings
of crops, such as cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and onions,
and transplant them outdoors. Plant colorful cool-season annuals, such
as snapdragons, pansies, primroses, sweet peas, and calendulas, while
the soil is cool and moist.
• Have your lawn mower serviced. This is essential to maintaining
a healthy lawn, as raggedly cut blades of grass invite disease.
Get In The Habit
Make certain your home is not at risk for an electrical fire. Check outlets
and light-switch faceplates—if they are hot or discolored, call
a professional for an electrical-system inspection. Also, call an electrician
if lights dim or flicker often, circuit breakers trip or fuses blow frequently,
or buzzing noises come from the outlets.
Have You Done It Lately?
Get your gas grill ready. Wash the outside with dish soap and water; rinse.
Scrub burners with a grill brush; clear clogs with a pipe cleaner or needle.
Spray the interior with a grease-cutting solution made of one part distilled
white vinegar and one part water. Close lid, and let sit for at least
an hour; scrape gently with a putty knife.
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