Kelly Reilly’s back on TV tossing her bangs and slinging curse words, and that’s a sure a sign as any that Yellowstone has returned to rule the Nielsen ratings. As of Nov. 13, the hugely popular Montana-set drama by Taylor Sheridan has returned for its massive fifth season, which comprises two parts and 14 episodes total. But the show’s orthodox deals with Paramount Network and Peacock make tuning in without a cable subscription a bit tricky; to catch up with all the drama in the Dutton family, here’s what you need to know.
New episodes of Yellowstone drop simultaneously on the Paramount Network app (not to be confused with Paramount+) and website at the same time the show airs on Paramount Network, at 8 p.m. EST on Sunday nights.
While previous seasons of Yellowstone are currently streaming on Peacock, season 5 won’t be available on the NBC streamer until after the entire season has run its course. If you want to watch Yellowstone season 5 as it airs, you’ll need to have a cable package that allows you access to Paramount Network, or you’ll want to purchase a live TV streaming service such as Philo, Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV. You can also pre-purchase the entirety of season 5 on Amazon Prime for $39.99, allowing you to stream each episode as it drops on Sundays.
How many episodes are in Yellowstone Season 5?
Season 5 will be split into two seven-episode parts, for a total of 14 episodes.
When does the next episode of Yellowstone Season 5 come out?
Episode 1, “One Hundred Years is Nothing,” streaming as of Nov. 13
Episode 2, “The Sting of Wisdom,” streaming as of Nov. 13
Episode 3, streaming Nov. 20
Episode 4, streaming Nov. 27
Episode 5, streaming Dec. 4
Episode 6, streaming Dec. 11
Episode 7, streaming Dec. 18
Air dates for episodes 8-14 are yet to be released, but will likely run in early 2023.
Compost is decomposed organic material. Compost is made with material such as leaves, shredded twigs, and kitchen scraps from plants. To gardeners, compost is considered “black gold” because of its many benefits in the garden. Compost is a great material for garden soil. Adding compost to clay soils makes them easier to work and plant. In sandy soils, the addition of compost improves the water holding capacity of the soil. By adding organic matter to the soil, compost can help improve plant growth and health.
Composting is also a good way to recycle leaves and other yard waste. Instead of paying a company to haul away leaves, you can compost the leaves and return the nutrients to your garden. Instead of buying peat moss, save money and make your own compost!
photo credit: coloradostateu
The composting process
The composting process involves four main components: organic matter, moisture, oxygen, and bacteria.
Organic matter includes plant materials and some animal manures. Organic materials used for compost should include a mixture of brown organic material (dead leaves, twigs, manure) and green organic material (lawn clippings, and fruit rinds).
Brown materials supply carbon, while green materials supply nitrogen.
The best ratio is 1 part green to 1 part brown material.
Shredding, chopping or mowing these materials into smaller pieces will help speed the composting process by increasing the surface area.
For piles that have mostly brown material (dead leaves), try adding a handful of commercial 10-10-10 fertilizer to supply nitrogen and speed the compost process.
Moisture is important to support the composting process. Compost should be comparable to the wetness of a wrung-out sponge.
If the pile is too dry, materials will decompose very slowly. Add water during dry periods or when adding large amounts of brown organic material.
If the pile is too wet, turn the pile and mix the materials. Another option is to add dry, brown organic materials.
For most efficient composting, use a pile that is between 3 feet cubed and 5 feet cubed (27-125 cu. ft.).
Oxygen is needed to support the breakdown of plant material by bacteria. To supply oxygen, you will need to turn the compost pile so that materials at the edges are brought to the center of the pile. Turning the pile is important for complete composting and for controlling odor.
Wait at least two weeks before turning the pile, to allow the center of the pile to “heat up” and decompose.
Once the pile has cooled in the center, decomposition of the materials has taken place.
Frequent turning will help speed the composting process.
Bacteria and other microorganisms are the real workers in the compost process. By supplying organic materials, water, and oxygen, the already present bacteria will break down the plant material into useful compost for the garden. As the bacteria decompose the materials, they release heat, which is concentrated in the center of the pile.
You may also add layers of soil or finished compost to supply more bacteria and speed the composting process. Commercial starters are available but should not be necessary for compost piles that have a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio (1 part green organic material to 1 part brown organic material).
In addition to bacteria, larger organisms including insects and earthworms are active composters. These organisms break down large materials in the compost pile.
How long does it take?
The amount of time needed to produce compost depends on several factors, including the size of the compost pile, the types of materials, the surface area of the materials, and the number of times the pile is turned.
For most efficient composting, use a pile that is between 3 feet cubed and 5 feet cubed (27-125 cu. ft.). This allows the center of the pile to heat up sufficiently to break down materials.
Smaller piles can be made but will take longer to produce finished compost. Larger piles can be made by increasing the length of the pile but limiting the height and the depth to 5 feet tall by 5 feet deep; however, large piles are limited by a person’s ability to turn the materials. You may also want to have two piles, one for finished compost ready to use in the garden, and the other for unfinished compost.
If the pile has more brown organic materials, it may take longer to compost. You can speed up the process by adding more green materials or a fertilizer with nitrogen (use one cup per 25 square feet).
The surface area of the materials effects the time needed for composting. By breaking materials down into smaller parts (chipping, shredding, mulching leaves), the surface area of the materials will increase. This helps the bacteria to more quickly break down materials into compost.
Finally, the number of times the pile is turned influences composting speed. By turning more frequently (about every 2-4 weeks), you will produce compost more quickly. Waiting at least two weeks allows the center of the pile to heat up and promotes maximum bacterial activity. The average composter turns the pile every 4-5 weeks.
When turning the compost pile, make sure that materials in the center are brought to the outsides, and that materials from the outside edges are brought to the center.
With frequent turning, compost can be ready in about 3 months, depending on the time of year. In winter, the activity of the bacteria slows, and it is recommended that you stop turning the pile after November to keep heat from escaping the pile’s center. In summer, warm temperatures encourage bacterial activity and the composting process is quicker
Using compost in the yard
Incorporate compost into your garden as you prepare the soil in the spring. Cover the area with 3-4 inches of soil and till it in to at least the upper 6 inches of soil. Add compost to soil in vegetable gardens, annual flower beds, and around new perennials as they are planted. You may also use compost as mulch around flower beds, vegetable gardens, or around trees or shrubs in landscape beds. Apply a 3-inch layer. Be careful not to apply mulch close to the main stem or trunk of the plant.
Source: From Composting in the Home Garden, Illinois Extension
You wake up one morning feeling off—your throat feels scratchy, your face is a little hot, and you could spend at least eight more hours in bed. Nearly three years into the COVID pandemic, you know what to do: take an at-home test.
You’ve had rapid tests stored in your closet for months, but now they’re all past their expiration dates. But is it OK to use an expired COVID test—even one just slightly past its use-by date—in a pinch?
GETTY IMAGES
“The short answer is no,” Ryan Relich, PhD, medical director of the division of clinical microbiology at Indiana University Health, told Health. But that answer depends on the true expiration date on the rapid test—and it may not be the one printed on the side of the box.
Here’s what to know about expiration dates on COVID rapid tests, and when you may be able to still use one that appears expired on the box.
Determining the True Expiration Date of COVID Rapid Tests
When COVID-specific rapid antigen tests were first approved, they hadn’t been around long enough for manufacturers to study their long-term shelf life, according to Sanjat Kanjilal, MD, MPH, associate medical director of clinical microbiology at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston and instructor at Harvard University.
Because of that, test manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—the agency in charge of approving and monitoring such health devices—erred on the safe side. Those initial expiration dates are printed on the tests’ packaging.
But now, the tests have been around long enough to measure their accuracy in the long term, and the FDA has continued to collect data about the tests’ true shelf lives. In some cases, it has approved extensions on the expiration date for a number of brands.
That’s when you can use what appears to be an expired rapid test—if the FDA has extended its expiration date, according to Relich.
Before you use a COVID rapid test, it’s wise to first check the expiration date, and if it’s past its shelf life, check the FDA website to determine if your particular rapid test’s shelf life has been extended.
The FDA has compiled a list of 23 different at-home COVID tests along with their most accurate and up-to-date expiration dates. The iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, for example—the one sent via mail by the government—has an extended shelf life of 12 months. The FDA now says that if the box of that specific test has an expiration date of August 2022, you may now safely use it until February 2023.
But the FDA is the final word on whether a rapid test is still OK to use.
“If the test is older than the expiration date on the FDA website, I would not use it,” said Dr. Kanjilal.
Expired Tests Lead to Unreliable Results
COVID rapid tests typically contain two components that are subject to expiration: vials of liquid and testing strips.
Over time, those components of the rapid tests can break down, making the test less sensitive and less reliable. The degradation of these tests is why results from expired antigen tests shouldn’t be wholly trusted.
“If a person chooses to use an expired at-home test device, the results should be confirmed with a test that is not expired,” said Relich.
According to Dr. Kanjilal, this goes for both positive and negative test results. “We feel less confident in both directions, it’s just hard to say,” he said.
The most important factor is the probability a person was infected with COVID before taking the test, he added: “If they have symptoms or had a known close contact, then a positive test is more believable than if it appeared in someone with no known exposures.”
According to Dr. Kanjilal, if you have a positive at-home test but no symptoms and no known COVID exposure, you should definitely follow up with a PCR. If you have symptoms but have a negative at-home test, you should confirm the result with a PRC, which is more accurate, but can take a few days to produce results.
If you can avoid it, don’t use an expired test at all, Dr. Kanjilal advised. Instead, go right for a fresh rapid test or PCR.
There are already a lot of variables that contribute to when and if a person tests positive for COVID. “When you add the extra variable of an expired test, the pathways become even more uncertain and complex,” said Dr. Kanjilal.
If you have expired tests at home that have not had their expiration date extended, you can dispose of them in your normal trash and replace them with new ones.
The Greek-born, Emmy-nominated actor was a staple on the NBC soap opera for over 30 years.
John Aniston as Victor Kiriakis in Days of Our Lives. Frank Carroll / NBCUniversal via Getty Images
John Aniston, who starred as Victor Kiriakis in nearly 3,000 episodes of “Days of Our Lives,” died on Friday, Nov. 11. He was 89.
The Greek-born, Emmy-nominated actor was a staple on the NBC soap opera for over 30 years, also appearing on daytime serials “Love of Life” and “Search for Tomorrow.”
In 2022, Aniston received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on “Days of Our Lives.” In 1986, the role earned him two Soap Opera Digest Awards — for outstanding actor in a leading role and for outstanding villain on a daytime serial.
He was also the father of Jennifer Aniston, who wrote on Instagram Monday morning, “Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston. You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now.”
He first appeared on “Days of Our Lives” as Dr. Eric Richards in 1969 but departed the show after one year to work on “Love of Life” and “Search for Tomorrow,” at CBS and NBC. In 1985, Aniston returned to “Days” as the now iconic crime boss Victor Kiriakis.
With the holidays rapidly approaching—along with long airport security lines—enrolling in TSA Pre-Check can save travelers time and headaches this holiday season. Staples TSA Pre-Check enrollment process offers an easy “lifehack” for travelers.
OLENA YAKOBCHUK/SHUTTERSTOCK
Here’s how Staples made your next trip through airport security a breeze.
What is TSA Pre-Check?
No one likes waiting in long security lines at the airport. It can be a hassle to take off shoes and layers and rummage through bags. That’s where TSA Pre-Check comes in.
TSA Pre-Check offers an accelerated security process for travelers. The option allows travelers to keep their “shoes, jacket and belt on… laptop in its case; 3-1-1 compliant liquids in your bag; and enjoy a better overall travel experience,” according to the Staples website.
For frequent travelers, those flying with kids or anyone who simply wants a stress-free travel experience, TSA Pre-Check can be a lifesaver for both domestic and international travel.
How can I enroll in TSA Pre-Check at Staples?
Typically, enrolling in TSA Pre-Check requires travelers to go to designated locations like the airport. But as Mackenzie says, “If you’re looking to get TSA and you’re like ‘I don’t want to go to the airport,’ all you have to do is sign up on Staples the night before and go to your local Staples.”
On the TSA Pre-Check enrollment process, Mackenzie says “they took our fingerprints, took a mug shot, we confirmed our address, typed in our social security number, and we were out of there” with the entire process taking around “three minutes.”
According to Staples website, it really is that simple. All travelers need is to follow these easy steps:
Search for the closest participating Staples to your location by typing in your zip code on the Staples TSA services website
Head to the government website to begin the enrollment process
Once on the government website, look for a “located inside Staples” option to confirm you are enrolling at the store that is closest and works best for you
With those three easy steps, you’re ready to head to Staples for a process that takes less than five minutes. Talk about our new favorite travel hack.
What are the benefits of TSA Pre-Check?
TSA Pre-Check costs $78 dollars to enroll in. However, the upgraded security screening lasts five years! Bonus: according to the TSA website, in October 2022, 91% of TSA Pre-Check travelers waited less than five minutes in line going through security. With lines like that, we’re planning our next trip already.
Yellowstone Season 5 is going to be one threat after another for Gil Birmingham’s Rainwater. Not only does frenemy John’s new role as governor endanger his uneasy alliance with Market Equities — more on that here — but cutthroat attorney Angela is back on the scene. The chairman of the Broken Rock Reservation had hoped to weaponize her… but may have gotten more than he bargained for.
“There’s some history there between Angela and Rainwater,” the actor tells TVLine. “He was a little hesitant to bring her in in the first place, but she’s got such a strong will and focused drive to get things done. He feels like if he can just rein that in, he could utilize that.
“But she’s a bit of a wild card, and he’s experienced that before,” he adds. “She could be an opportunist, you know? She could want to be a little more militant than Rainwater is prepared to go to.”
Angela could go so far as to try to sway Rainwater’s right-hand man, Mo. But even suggesting that he could turn on his boss crushes Birmingham. “Wow, that just breaks my heart,” he says. But “I don’t have that sense about Mo. He’s such a loyal individual, and he really adheres to the value system of indigenous people that love, compassion and understanding are where the strength of the culture comes from.
“And we’re both understand the importance and connection to the land that we have,” he continues. “That’s why I feel so secure, for the time being, that we’re on the same page with what we’re trying to achieve.”
Yellowstone Season 5 premieres Sunday at 8/7c on Paramount Network with back-to-back episodes.
Not much is known about season 5 of Yellowstone. Everyone involved is notoriously hush-hush about the most-watched drama on television, but one star opened up and let fans know a little bit of what they can expect with the show returns on November 13. And we’re hanging on to every word.
Forrie J. Smith plays ranch hand Lloyd Pierce. Forrie is a real-life cowboy and stuntman who began competing in the rodeo at age 8. And like his character, the actor doesn’t mince words.
When asked by KPRC2 Houston what fans can expect from season 5, he gave one word: “Surmising.” He continued by saying, “Everybody’s gonna be going, ‘what the hell’?”
Well, that sounds on-par with what we’ve come to expect from Yellowstone. Executive producer David C. Glasser gave fans a bit more to obsess over in an interview with TV Insider. He said, “Episode 1 will immediately surprise everybody—where our story starts and what has happened.” Season 4 ended with Beth and Rip’s wedding, Kayce’s vision, Jamie shooting his biological father, and Jimmy heading off for Texas. Will season 5 begin with a time jump?
Yellowstone released an intense teaser that has Kevin Costner’s John Dutton saying, “We’re going to show the world who we are, and what we do” paired with the message, “All will be revealed.”
All of these cryptic messages have us in a fever-pitch over season 5. The show returns on Paramount Network with two all-new episodes on November 13. If you’re wondering how to watch the first four seasons, you can stream them now on Peacock.
While autumn’s weather remains relatively mild, spend some quality time caring for your home and yard. Read on for reminders on which tasks to tackle this time of year.
If you live in a cooler climate, plant your spring bulbs in October. If you live in the South, plant in mid- to late- November.
Clear Out the Vegetable Garden
After the growing season has finished, be sure to pull everything out of your garden so there’s no decaying plants left behind (they can harbor pests and diseases).
Aerate the Lawn
Rent a lawn aerator (or hire a landscaping contractor) to punch holes into the soil and extract plugs of dirt so that water, oxygen, fertilizer can reach the grass’s roots faster. Patch any bald spots with grass seed.
Clean Pots
Scour pots with a stiff-bristled brush and rinse. Try to find one with a solid-wood handle and palm fibers.
Stack Pots
Once clean, turn your terra-cotta pots upside down to prevent them from filling with water, freezing, and cracking. Stack them to save on space.
Cover Plants
To keep hardy container container gardens, such as these succulents, from freezing, cover them with a tarp. Be sure to bring delicate potted plants inside.
Stow Hoses
Don’t let your garden hose spring a leak! Empty it of water and keep it safe from the elements. (Remember to turn off outdoor water sources.) A hose pot or storage bench helps keep it neat.
Store Garden Tools in One Place
Isolate space in the garage or a separate structure, such as a shed, to hold tools, pots, and soil amendments. Cleaning and stowing tools in one place saves precious time when the busy spring season begins.
Learn how to overwinter geraniums in just a few simple steps and you can protect your pelargoniums from the winter weather
(Image credit: Claire Gainey/Alamy Stock Photos)
How to overwinter geraniums is one of gardening’s most asked questions because so many of us grow them.
These tender perennials, also known as pelargoniums, are indispensable when planning your garden thanks to their pink, red and white petals that make them one of the best plants for long-lasting summer color in borders and planters.
They are easy to cultivate, happy in most soils, undemanding and relatively problem-free. But because they are tender, they need extra care during the colder months.
I live on the relatively mild south coast of England, which gives me enviable versatility when it comes to winterizing geraniums. Larger ones can risk staying outside in a sheltered spot, while I move smaller plants into the frost-free greenhouse for the colder months.
But not everyone is this lucky and if you live in colder or more exposed regions, you will need to protect your plants from frost and give your geraniums some extra winter care.
SIMPLE TIPS FOR HOW TO OVERWINTER GERANIUMS SUCCESSFULLY
Overwintering geraniums is not difficult as long as they are kept safe from frosty conditions and spend the cold weather in a healthy, well-lit and well-ventilated spot.
Depending on where you live and whether you grow your pelargoniums in pots or in the ground, there are several things to think about when considering how to overwinter geraniums. Here, I’ll talk you through the main methods, which should help you see your plants safely through the coldest months.
1. CUT BACK YOUR GERANIUMS BEFORE WINTER
Cutting back the summer’s growth is a good idea before overwintering geraniums as it helps keep them healthy, and smaller plants with shorter branches take up less room so you can fit more of them into your greenhouse or on a windowsill.
Using a sharp, clean pair of pruning shears or secateurs reduce the branches to 4-6in (10-15cm). If you’re wondering whether to use bypass vs anvil pruners for this job, bypass designs are your best bet.
If you fancy, you can also use the off-cuts as softwood cuttings. Taking cuttings from plants is a very simple form of propagation and acts as an ‘insurance policy’ if any of your mature plants die in winter.
2. SHELTER YOUR GERANIUMS OVER WINTER
It’s important to provide some sort of shelter or protection from cold temperatures over winter and there are a couple of ways you can do this.
The first option is to lift your geraniums from the soil and pot them up in multi purpose compost before storing them in a greenhouse, sheltered mini greenhouse or a cool, light windowsill indoors.
The second is for gardens in warmer zones where you may have large showcase plants as a part of your summer container ideas. If the planters are too large to move into a greenhouse, relocate them to a sheltered area of the garden.
Raise them up on feet so excess water can escape and be prepared to cover them with horticultural fleece(opens in new tab) or freeze protection(opens in new tab), both available from Amazon, on very cold nights. Remove it when temperatures rise the next morning, otherwise it may trap condensation which can cause molds and rotting.
Do bear in mind that the risk of losing tender plants is always greater if they are left outside.
3. PROVIDE ONGOING CARE OVER WINTER TO KEEP THEM ALIVE
Once they are potted up and moved somewhere sheltered or frost-free for winter, overwintering geraniums is easy as long as you avoid a few pitfalls.
Watering: Water geraniums when you pot them up, but after that they shouldn’t need watering again through winter because they are dormant and not growing. You can water plants to give them a small drink if they start to go limp, but this is unlikely to be necessary until late winter or early spring.
Feeding: Fertilizing plants isn’t necessary until spring when they start to grow again. Then give them a solution of general-purpose liquid fertilizer in water.
Good airflow: Make sure your plants stay well ventilated through winter to keep fungal diseases such as Botrytis cinerea at bay. Open greenhouse doors and windows on milder days and close them at night when it starts to get chilly.
Pests: A key part of knowing how to overwinter geraniums is to make sure you regularly check plants for pests that like to hang out in the warmth of a winter greenhouse. Be especially alert for aphids and mealybugs. Squish small colonies with your fingers or use an organic spray on larger infestations.
Pinching out: Geraniums may start to grow again and even develop flower buds during mild spells and towards the end of winter. Unfortunately, flower buds take a lot of energy to produce and leaving them to open can deplete the plant of resources needed for summer growth, so pinch them off when you spot them.
Article by Ruth Hayes Gardening editor, Amateur Gardening magazine
Source:How to overwinter geraniums: expert tips for cold weather | Gardeningetc
Whether you want to make your Christmas cactus bloom in time for the festive season, or simply want to know how to make it bloom if it seems to have stopped producing flowers entirely, we have expert advice below.
Usually, Christmas cactus, also known as Thanksgiving cactus or holiday cactus, blooms from November to January, but if you know how to grow a Christmas cactus, you will also know that getting it to bloom again will depend on getting both room temperature and light levels right. Plus, can you ‘force’ the plant to bloom again?
We’ve rounded up top tips on watering, lighting and the perfect temperature below so you can enjoy your Christmas cactus’ blooms again.
How to make a Christmas cactus bloom
The Christmas cactus can be made to bloom again if is subjected to:
The right light conditions – a week’s worth of short days and long nights. A typical northern hemisphere winter will give you approximately 8 hours of daylight and 16 hours of darkness. Put it on a windowsill in a room that’s rarely used, since even artificial lights will confuse it.
The right room temperature – Christmas cactus likes cool temperatures, no higher than 60ºF.
Keira Kay, Bloom & Wild plant expert, explains how to make a Christmas cactus bloom: ‘For a second flowering, you will need to reduce the amount of light it’s subject to each day, ensuring it’s in the dark 12-14hrs, and stored in a cool room, with a temperature around 50-54ºF (10-12ºC).
Rachel Martin, of Patch Plants, adds: ‘Christmas cactus likes quite a cool temperature and will produce more flowers if kept below about 68ºF (20°C), so keep her well clear of radiators.’
The right level of watering – ‘You would also need to cut back on watering, being careful to only water the top inch, and only watering again when it’s dry to the touch, this change in conditions will force the plant into a dormancy period – which is vital for new spring flowers.’
The right fertilization approach – knowing when to fertilize Christmas cactus is important: the quick answer is to do so in growing season, from spring to fall.
If you do all this you should make your Christmas cactus bloom again.
When does the Christmas cactus usually bloom?
The Christmas cactus is a winter-bloomer and comes into flower from November through January.
How many times a year will a Christmas cactus bloom?
The Christmas cactus will bloom typically once, however, you can prompt your plant into flowering again in spring with the correct conditions, for example by ensuring it has a short-day, long-night environment and cool room temperatures.
Article by Ruth Doherty for Homes and Gardens
Source: How to make a Christmas cactus bloom – from Thanksgiving onwards (msn.com)
