American Idol 2012 (Prediction Poll for May 3)

In the past, we have done our own zRoundtable poll -- with good results in predicting winners (and contestants who might be eliminated).  For the 2012 American Idol, we are now down to the Final Five.  Please vote for your favorite Idols -- and we'll post the results before next week's result's show.

Out top five (in alphabetical order).  Please vote for your favorite Idol here.

• Hollie
• Jessica
• Joshua
• Phillip
• Skylar

Sharpening Your Cooking Knives

Are your good cooking knifes getting dull?

Make sure you "hone" your knives with a "steel" regularly....   Here's a good link on how to "hone" your knife and keep the edge sharp.
http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/culinarytools/ht/honing.htm




and sharpen your knives once in a while with a knife sharpener.  Honing ensures the micro-edge of the knife is sharp/not folded on itself (unfolded).  Periodic sharpening removes a weak edge and shapes a new, stronger, edge.



Some people prefer to use an electric sharpener like this highly-rated Chef's Choice sharpener.  However, we don't like the amount of metal that these machines remove from our good knives.



Note that knives that never need sharpening (often serrated knives) -- do, in fact, need to be sharpened.

Here is some good information on knives:
http://www.edgecraft.com/tips_myth_all.html

Gardening: Hardy Perennials

Along with lawn care, here is a list of some of our favorite hardy flowering perennials.

• Gaillardia; Blanket Flower - flowers much of summer and hardy; 2-3";   http://gardening.about.com/od/choosingperennialplants/ig/Perennials-for-New-Gardeners/Gaillardia--Blanket-Flower.htm
• Achillea; Growing Yarrow -  spreads; 6"-36" tall;  http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofile1/p/Achillea.htm
• Geranium - colorful, blooms for several months
• Pinks

http://www.perennial-garden-plants.com/pictorial-flower-guide.html