Ice Cream on the Today Show and a Bad U-turn
Regarding the many wonderful comments about coffee shops, I just want to thank Lucy Page for telling us about her coffee shop in Centralia WA, Cameron Castro for describing the cafes she frequents in Brooklyn NY, and to Jeremy for telling us about Intelligentsia in Chicago - I will try it next time I'm there.
On the Today show this week, I demonstrated how to make your very own ice cream from a recipe that appears in the June issue of Everyday Food. You might be surprised to know that making your own ice cream is 60% cheaper than buying a good quality brand. Plus, you can use all-organic ingredients, making it a much healthier dessert. Homemade ice cream is quite an easy task, providing you have an ice cream maker. Plus it's really fun to create your own flavors or flavor combinations.
Yesterday, I mentioned on Twitter that there was a little incident at my home involving a truck and a U-turn. Where I am grateful that no one was injured and that property damage was minimal, occurrences like these are simply annoying. I think it would be fun to hear from you about little mishaps you have experienced, such as this one.
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Home-made ice cream is great, but I'm addicted to (Pinkberry style/tart/fresh-tasting) frozen yogurt. Sooooooo yummy and soooo easy!
Two (2!) ingredients! One qt high quality nonfat yogurt + 3/4 cup sugar. That's it. Stirred together and processed in an ice cream maker, topped with fruit---the perfect summer dessert. I'm telling you, Martha, it doesn't get any better than this. Try it and let me know what you think!
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | June 19th, 2009 at 1:11 am
PS> That David Gregory is one cute and *very tall* guy. And I hear he is the world's greatest father!
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | June 19th, 2009 at 1:18 am
I know that at the begin I was not a happy camper when it came to you miss Stewart because of the stock troubles you have years ago and I was upset because I owe shears in LU like you did at the time and what turn me around and started to support you was in part and credit goes to my wife Michelle. One day committed about your legal troubles in front of my wife, she told me "If you talk so much about her, maybe cause you really care about her". I was taken a back I started to think that my wife may have a good point there. And I told my wife I guess you are right.
Posted by: Alberto Candelaria | June 19th, 2009 at 1:24 am
I watched the video and though that Meredith Viera appeared to be quite rude to you. I enjoyed the photos of the ice cream making - just need an ice cream maker. I think I would make the chocolate one, or one with mixed berries.
Have a good weekend Martha.
Pru
Posted by: Pru | June 19th, 2009 at 3:51 am
After 15 years of careful driving, I hit a potato truck! I skidded instead of stopped on a muddy country lane. No one hurt but annoying because it was my fault and I had to pay the excess for my insurance of #350. Would rather have spent that money on a new TV.
Posted by: Tanya | June 19th, 2009 at 5:34 am
What a mess! I hope the trucking company is going to be responsible for the cost of the clean up.
My last mishap was I just picked up my new Lexus and my husband and I were in the city for dinner and valet parked the car. During dinner the manger came over to us and said our car had been in an accident. Come to find out the parking attendant ran into another car and damaged the front passenger side. Several thousand dollars later and an inconvenience to us the car was repaired. The Valet Company did pay for the damage.
As for the drivers of those large trucks they need to be more careful. I drive the NJ Turnpike a several times a month for business and it's scary. They drive so fast and are right up your butt. I'm doing 75 - 80 mph and they are passing me! The other nuts are the police. They'll run you off the road if you don't get out of their lane. The thing they don't realize is that there are 18 wheeler trucks next to you and you have no where to go. I feel like I take my life in my hands every time I drive that road
Good luck with the clean up.
Ann
Posted by: Ann | June 19th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Lemon verbena ice cream sounds fantastic. We made vanilla ice cream with the ice cream ball while at a concert on the New Haven green this weekend. Perfect on a sunny day with the children.
Posted by: Lee @ foodie plus 4 | June 19th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Well Martha at least you have rain water to keep the grass growing. Try living on 5,000 acres of dry grasslands with gas well activity. If you think one truck getting lost is bad, we deal with that with semi trailors every day. And the grass does not come back.
I also have pictures.
And for Meridith. where was her apron?
Posted by: Margie | June 19th, 2009 at 9:12 am
A few weeks ago, a big branch broke off our hackberry tree and fell in the middle of our backyard. It wasn't even during a storm. It was just a somewhat windy day. Luckily, the branch fell exactly in between our little loquat tree and a large Meditarranean fan palm and caused no damage. We did, however, have to spend an entire weekend cutting it into pieces to dispose of it. Little accidents, even with no real damage, do end up causing a lot of unplanned work.
Posted by: lisaiscooking | June 19th, 2009 at 9:22 am
I have five kids and three dogs. What backyard. The front is perfect since my husband works on a golf course and the kids are not really allowed to play too much on it. The back never recovered after my husband put a tent up on it.
Posted by: Marcia | June 19th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I live on a cul-de-sac and every winter the snow plows do a number on the grass at the end of my driveway!! Most of the time it comes back on its own. Right now I'm dealing with some brown spots - where the green used to be weeds!!!
Have a great weekend Martha!
Posted by: Anne | June 19th, 2009 at 9:33 am
my mishap was not of my own doing...my saab died (for about the 500th time) in my driveway. The AAA guy who was sent to tow it to the shop took a huge gash out of a pine tree that flanks my driveway with the bumper of his truck (and then left with out saying anything). The pine tree is quite large (2+ ft in diameter) -- not sure if it is going to make it so since it leans towards our house, we are having to have it taken down. UGH!
oh- and I loved your ice cream piece.I have been making my own ice cream for 11+ years now with a maker that I received as a wedding gift...at least a batch a week all summer...we have done coffee, vanilla and strawberry...and used food coloring to make it all sorts of colors that my little people love.
Posted by: rochelle | June 19th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I think you were actually quite lucky. Better to have to replace the decorative grasses than the substantial stone wall! Whew!
Posted by: Will | June 19th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I have systematically removed all grass from my home. Apparently, it's a hazzard.
Posted by: Pam | June 19th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I have a corner lot in a mobile home park. In the past few weeks someone drove over my St. Augustine grass TWICE in exactly the same place. The first time we were in a drought and the grass was broken and turned brown. A few weeks later after several days of rain, they drove over my lawn again and this time left deep tire tracks. A neighbor who works on road construction, gathered about 15 large, weathered rocks and placed them along my lawn right next to the street. No one will drive over my lawn again!
Posted by: toodygoodshoes | June 19th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I can't believe you're still harping on your little "annoyance." With your money and influence, you should have had it fixed by now and moved on. Geesh.
Posted by: Jo | June 19th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Yes, a person came to my parent's home, and they cut the grass before the sun had fully risen, and later that day, all the grass in the front and back yard had turned brown, all over. A second lawn care company came out to the house, and told my daddy that: "The lawn had been burned because the grass was cut before the sun had dried the dew or wetness of the grass, and that the grass had gotten shocked because it was cut to early, and the sun had burned the roots of the lawn.
My daddy put new grass seeds down, and then he fertilized the yard until the grass was green and good as new.
iQonz
Posted by: iQonz | June 19th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I used to own a townhouse on a very narrow street. I only had about 2 feet of grass between the street and my landscaping. Every single time a neighbor would have company, someone would end up parking in my grass. It was very frustrating, especially when it eventually killed the grass. I often threatened to put nails at the edge of my grass, but I never did. Now, I live in a house with a much bigger front yard...and a curb. There's plenty of room on the street for parking, if needed. Now, if only I could convince mother nature to stop sending ice storms that DESTROY all of my trees!!! Waking up at 2:00 am to find your 30ft pear tree in 2 pieces on the lawn, your 8 ft southern magnolia snapped like a toothpick, and your dogwood destroyed by the crash of the pear tree can move one to tears. My Crimson Queen Japanese Maple survived it all. That little tree is tough as nails. Just like a strong southern woman!
Posted by: jackiesue | June 19th, 2009 at 9:40 am
You asked on twitter (follow me at readyaimorganiz) if anyone has damaged my grass. I think it's safe to say - my husband!
Good luck.
Posted by: Theresa, Ready Aim Organize | June 19th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Martha!
You scream! I scream! How could that truck driver (knowing that he was going to ruin someone's landscaping) run over his own conscience? I suppose he and types like him (my neighbors) *have* no conscience!
So, I say NO ICE CREAM FOR THEM!!!
Loved 'The Today' people's sweet smiles. You and David look really good together!
But to answer your question, yes, there are many of these mishaps that I experience on my property but as mug-doggin' four wheelers, and big, loud, ill mannered truck drivers go, all of the damage done is intentional and unfortunately no one is ever charged.
It's kinda funny though, that trucker f-er had no idea just 'whos' grass he was destroying and just how 'green' it really is! Ha!
I'm hoping one day to catch some mud loving scum with their vehicular weapon 'stuck firm' in my gooey wetland while they await charges for trespassing and destruction of private property...I've been waiting eleven years...Law enforcement really should have sited that trucker for your property damage as well, but at least he didn't get away with it and his 'right to remain silent'? Good luck! And WELCOME! To The Martha Blog!!!
10-4 Good Buddy!
Posted by: tinay | June 19th, 2009 at 9:43 am
me and my grandma make home made ice cream every year i love home made rocky road.
are some peaches and cream ohh that sounds good.my fav.has to be cookies and cream we crush up the oreos our selfs it is sooo good.
Posted by: shane falls | June 19th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I have had people run over my lawn twice! Both in the winter (missed the driveway!) and when spring came it was time for repair. My husband treats our lawn better than me sometimes
and was more than annoyed!!!! As you know you have to patch seed it, but it takes a full season until you can not notice it.
I put it in the "what are you going to do" column, but it still is not fun.
Posted by: NJFun | June 19th, 2009 at 9:44 am
I accidently backed up onto my ex husbands grass while picking uup my children. I got stuck pretty good and made a huge rut in his lawn. It was very wet out, and it was no problem to even out the yard and throw some grass seed on the problem area, over the next few weeks, you could not tell I had been stuck.
Posted by: carole | June 19th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Yes Martha, last year a truck either made a u-turn or an emergency turn right onto my front lawn, leaving enormous gashes in the grass. We weren't there when it happened but it was expensive to refill the ditch and reseed grass.
We had planted a beech hedge there five years ago and luckily the truck did not go into it, but it worries me that some day a car will crash into the hedge - it took a lot of work to get those baby beeches to grow into a hedge!
Posted by: Mario | June 19th, 2009 at 9:46 am
We had a similar incident happen to us here in Maine. My husband and I recently went to our lakeside camp to open it up for the upcoming weekend. Upon our arrival, we noticed that a truck had run over our plants that we had planted near the driveway. Our hostas, lilies, ferns, and various other plantings were crushed or broken off. We don't know who the culprit was, but our guess is the electricity meter-reader truck. I just wish they were considerate of other people's property!
Martha, at least you know who did the damage to your grasses, but it still doesn't make it any easier to repair the damage.
Jane
Posted by: Jane | June 19th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Hi Martha,
I try to always watch your segments on the Today Show so I did see this on Wednesday. I can't believe all the preparations you have to make for a less than 5 minute spot and I'm going to agree with Pru, Meredith does get rude sometimes. I just wonder why every minute of the 5 minutes can’t be to your advantage without any interruptions or complaints.
As far as mishaps go, our house faces another street which has a stop sign that people ignore. Most cars race up to the corner without stopping and then there are the ones who decide to make a u-turn without giving themselves enough room and so they drive all over our swale and leave ruts in the grass. One driver knocked over our mail box in the middle of the night and of course didn’t leave a number to call so we had to replace it ourselves for over $200.00. We have uniform fancy looking mail boxes in our development which I unsuccessfully voted against so now every time someone knocks one over, it costs that much to replace it. At one time we had some Century plants in the swale that grew quite big and did a great job of slowing traffic but then we didn’t plan on anyone having a heart attack. The elderly gentleman that suffered one luckily survived, but also knocked over the wooden post holding up the mail box and then ran over the Century plants. What a mess that was to clean up and we had to replace the sod too.
This is probably a dumb question but what do you mean when you say grasses? I always thought grass was just grass, already plural like fish. Do you have several kinds of grass maybe? Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 19th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Concerning the U-turn - such is life, Martha. At least you have groundskeepers to clean it up. You don't have to do it yourself like most of us would have to.
Posted by: Denise | June 19th, 2009 at 9:52 am
We have frequent deliveries. The narrow driveway leading to our studio is lined with lush pachysandra and ferns. A few delivery trucks have driven over the plants and flattened them completely! But they always grow back because the roots were still in the ground. Some plants are resilient!
Posted by: Katheen Greco | June 19th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Yes, at the moment my husband is trying to retrain the mail deliverer by putting branches where he or she is not to drive. Also, we live near a school and overflow crowds think they can park on our grass. Football season is a challenge, but my husband got a neighbor to assist in putting up police tape to block their parking on our grass. It's a hassle, but it works.
Posted by: Dotty Gunby | June 19th, 2009 at 9:55 am
We have suffered damage to our lawn. 2 years ago, in the early spring, someone drove across our lawn in the middle of the night. We figure they must have been going to fast to make the corner and went over the yard 3 feet from the corner of our house and between to large Maple trees. The yard was soft and the ground was soaked. The tires just tore it up. We had to fill in over 50 feet of tire marks and re-seed them. It was just awful! Good luck with your yard Martha.
Posted by: Michele | June 19th, 2009 at 9:56 am
When we moved in to this home we were so excited because of all of it's space and because of the neighborhood's 'reputation'. In the short few months we have been here we have discovered we have some of the most hideous neighbors that one person could have. The neighbor immediately next to us has their drainage directed to our yard so even the slightest rain floods our patio area and seeps in through our patios doors. We have suffered not only sever plant loss (grass and newly planted garden) but indoor damage as well. It has been a nightmare! Our youngest son, and our dogs, cannot enjoy our yard due to the constant standing water from their drainage spouts and pool run-off.
Posted by: Jody | June 19th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Yes!! Last year had a new driveway put in. The guys rinsing off the paver machine and unfortunately all the stuff was rinsed off right onto my lawn. There are 3 large black patches and I've tried everything, including digging it all up and starting over. Nothing is growing in those 3 spots. Not even weeds!
Posted by: Deb | June 19th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Hi Martha, I too watched the video, what was up with Meredith, she was rude. anyway the Ice Cream was awesome, can't wait to try some, perfect treat for these hot Florida summer days!
Was that truck driver blind! could he not see he could not make that turn around? this is the second time a truck driver has ran onto your property! Get'em Martha, make them pay for the repair. Very annoying
Good Luck,
Suze
Posted by: Suze Way | June 19th, 2009 at 10:05 am
My neighbors and I both have a stone wall that runs along the front of our property along the street. There is ample amount of yard between the stone wall and the curb, wide enough for a car to park. However my neighbor has a tiny amount of land to the side of their driveway, appoximately enough for one car to park. Whenever they have parties, several people park on the grass, many of them probably assume that the land belongs to them when in fact it is mine. I recently planted three boxwood bushes in that general area and plan to augment my landscaping in an effort to both decorate my property and to discourage people from thinking that it is a parking lot!!
Posted by: Christine E | June 19th, 2009 at 10:07 am
The house I grew up in was on a corner, across the street from a church and school. Every time there was a church or school event, people would cut the corner too sharply to avoid parked cars and drive over the corner of our yard. After MANY years of this, and of a beautifully landscaped yard with a sad looking bald patch, my father finally dropped a metal post into the corner. So then we had a beautifully landscaped yard with an unsightly metal post in the corner. But somehow, after that, everyone managed to make the turn fine without coming into our yard!
Posted by: Cheryl | June 19th, 2009 at 10:13 am
We have a mail person who delivers our mail every day. He has decided that because we are having some problems with our lawn, that it is OK to drive over the lawn each time he delivers the mail. My husband is very upset, since we are trying to get the lawn back to looking beautiful. We have been in a draught for awhile now and the lawn has suffered. My husband now stands out there every morning and waits for the mail delivery so he can ask him to stop. When he is out there the mail person goes the other way. Why can't he do that all the time?
Posted by: Mary Weimer | June 19th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Martha,
Reading your blog and seeing the pics of your homemade icecream - I am reminded of summers as a child. We lived in Detroit, but my parents and I spent one month every summer on the family farm in Western, KY. All the aunts and uncles would come over and my parents would get the wooden barrel hand crank ice cream maker going - no worries about using raw eggs back then. We'd all sit in the shade of the big old trees and have fresh vanilla ice cream and watermelon, then the kids would race to catch fireflies in an old mason jar. Fond childhood memories!
Posted by: Marc Fountain | June 19th, 2009 at 10:16 am
No. Since I live in Arizona, I do not have grass.
We have a lot of sun here, not much rain.
However,in Arizona it is legal to use gray water to water ones plants, good for Citrus but not veggies.
So my citrus trees get a soapy drink a couple of times a week courtesy of my washer.
The nearest I have to green is drinking a cup of green tea.
Posted by: Mary Elizabeth Evans | June 19th, 2009 at 10:17 am
My husband would claim that all our neighbors are damaging their grass by cutting it too short.
The worst damage to our lawn was when the previous owners of one of our homes decided to see what was in a bucket by pouring it on the lawn -- thus killing a nice patch of it.
Posted by: Jenifer | June 19th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I am very frustrated that 1) I can't view the Matha Stewart Show in my area. The local channel in my area (WBGN)has been discontinued by the cable monster (Comcast). For a while I was able to watch THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW on the Fine Living Channel - but no more! When I put my zip code (15216) into your SHOW FINDER it comes up with WBGN ----- AND IT IS NOT CORRECT. I am upset and fuld frustrated and I would like someone to contact me concerning this matter! Thank you, Jane
Posted by: Jane K | June 19th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I am fascinated with your stone wall...would like to see a post someday on all your stonework - walls, walks, patios, etc. Many thanks.
Posted by: Susie Spaulding | June 19th, 2009 at 10:31 am
I have had well people, septic people and one person who accidently ran over my grasses and lawn, but in no way do I blame them for ruining part of my lawn,. After all I would be glad no one was hurt in your accident. Grasses are replaceable people are not!
Posted by: Ana | June 19th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Is this where you wanted me to post having a problem with grass?
Well, I don't have grass, but my sister does. And she just had her roof redone and found a HUGE square of grass in her back yard burned.
She thought it was them laying the supplies down, but when the man came back to do her gutters, he was shocked and said, that was where they layed the tarp....to protect her yard from their work and equipment.
apparently the plastic tarps got so hot, or magnified the sun to burn the grass in her yard.
So, that's my grass story.
Posted by: Linda | June 19th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Yes, I have had my lawn torn up. A lady fell asleep at the wheel and jumped our driveway, and drove the nose of her vehicle into out lawn and ended up 20 feet in front of my home office window. It was a 6 foot gouge in the lawn about 3 feet wide and a foot and half deep. Quite exciting at 2 a.m. in the morning!! This was in Northern Maine, 6 hours north of your Bar Harbor Home. Hope your lawn was not too damaged. Was this at your Maine home?
Posted by: Natalie K | June 19th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I would recommend the Bakery on the Common in Natick, Massachusetts to you when you visit Boston next. I do not have room for an ice cream maker. Do they come smaller than the one that you used on the Today show? I make the ice scraping dessert recipes from Living. I love them. Mishaps remind us of the potential for horrible events. Unsettling feeling. Good luck to the grounds crew! My experience with a truck has led to a permanent neck injury that gives me helmut-like migraines. The mechanic was testing his repairs on the truck. While attempting to get into the exit lane - not seeing me, he side swiped my Honda Civic Hatchback on I-93 a major highway pushing me into the right rail guard. I did keep control of my steering wheel; thus I believe saving my life -- my car stayed in the side lane instead of bouncing back into moving traffic. The state trooper came immediately. He kept me calm. What an experience! Truckers do have a different mentality about the road and a difficult job. But there is not enough enforcement capability for the amount of trucks on the road. That is why it is good that we support our police on road safety. Good citizens can make a difference.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | June 19th, 2009 at 10:42 am
@MarthaStewart I didn't damage anyone's grass but I just recently rented a house for a year in North Florida and I swear it had about 50 varieties of weeds...it was not-so-fun trying to take care of a lawn that had been neglected for so long BUT a good learning experience for when hubby and I purchase our own home.
Posted by: Jen breaux | June 19th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Well this wasn't a driving incident, but our grass was damaged by that thing we call IKE. But we just laid a couple pallets of new grass yesterday!
Posted by: Anna | June 19th, 2009 at 10:52 am
yes i have had my lawn damaged. i am having issues with neighbors who don't want change we are american italian and are not welcomed so one of the neighbors has called the town trying to get us in trouble for differnet issues all unfounded and as we cut our grass which we in nov just laid down new sod we found that there were numerous pee stains all over, upon further investigations we found that the neighbors we suspect was seen letting his dogs go all over our lawn. this is great . what should i do.
Posted by: pat | June 19th, 2009 at 11:00 am
organic goats milk ice cream is the best. made it with my boys and they loved it too!
accident- just grateful no one died, life can end at any moment and whatever was lossed were just things that can be replaced.
Posted by: stephanie davis | June 19th, 2009 at 11:04 am
The drama. Thank goodness he didn't hit your lovely stone wall. That would have been worth an F bomb or two. The grass worth no more than an "oh well" or two. Your daily life is so interesting.
Posted by: Chad | June 19th, 2009 at 11:06 am
After I finished moving into my new house I had a garage sale. One of the ladies there had come in a big van and when she pulled around the circle drive she got off the pavement. The grass had just started to come in and we had been having a very wet spring so she dug a huge muddy hole in the grass. Since then the grass is so nice and thick I don't have too much trouble except in the winter when they snow plow! We have one guy who gets the blade too low and the digs up along the edges or hit the stone trim on the edges of the landscaping. I try to keep reflector poles on corners in the winter to mark any areas they need to avoid but you know how men are! lol
Posted by: Laura McNeilus | June 19th, 2009 at 11:10 am
A few years ago some unsavory people rented a house next to us. They had thrown some kind of poison onto my front lawn, and over my back fence. It killed more than half the grass in the front yard, as well as some of the grass and my prized hostas in the back yard. They even left footprints which killed their grass all the way back to their back door. We were instructed to call the police. I never felt so bad for someone than the detective that showed up to investigate. I'm sure that dead grass wasn't what he was thinking of doing when he took that promotion. LOL!
It took time but you can't tell it now. Thankfully, those horrid people are gone now.
Posted by: RavenScout | June 19th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I was moving from Santa Fe and was donating some items to a local organization who sent their truck for pickup. My casita was in an old narrow street in the historic district. When the truck backed out of the street it caught one of the hanging electrical cables. The wires were connected to the casita across the street - and the truck kept backing up not aware that they had the cables hooked. The trucked pulled the cables completely out and off the building cutting the power to the house - of a quite elderly woman. The truck driver came and told me what happened and then he left before I had a chance to get him to call for help. Well of course I tried to help since the truck had picked up from me, but this was of all things late Friday afternoon. I ended up calling this organization's HQ in Albuquerque demanding they get some help for this poor woman and get the repairs made. Everything worked out and the repairs were made that night, but holy mackeral, I couldn't believe that had happened, and the truck driver to leave like he did.
Posted by: Kathleen | June 19th, 2009 at 11:23 am
We had our septic tank replaced last fall and our yard has still not recovered. We have huge ruts from the equipment and the grass seed we planted over the tank has finally taken hold.
Posted by: MarthaAndMe | June 19th, 2009 at 11:38 am
My husband sprayed our grass with weed killer. Come to find out it was weed AND grass killer. Needless to say we have a completely dead lawn despite the heavy amount of rain we have received this past month. We have some weeds growing back and we won't kill them 'cuz they provide some greenness to our yard! It is SO embarrassing!!!
Posted by: Keri | June 19th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I live in an apartment complex, so I don't really get a chance to maintain my grass in anyway, and it's been pretty much destroyed by dog urine and people who don't pick up after their dogs (I do!) anyway, so it's not really much to look at. I imagine I would be quite upset if I had a nice lawn and someone ruined it though because then my dog wouldn't have a nice environment to play in.
Posted by: Tomoka0013 | June 19th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Had to comment on this when I saw your Tweet, Martha-
Talking about damage to a lawn... I worked for a homebuilder who built beautiful equestrian estate homes. In one subdivision, our landscaper was trimming the grass of one of the inventory homes. They hit a rock with the lawnmower, it sparked and sent the higher grass patches up in flames. To our amazement (and later amusement) the landscapers spent more effort trying to save the lawnmower from going up in flames rather than the multi-million dollar home! Alls well that ends well- the majority of the damage was contained to some fencing and the burnt patches of grass!
Posted by: Crystal | June 19th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
This week's Today Show looked like a lot of fun, in front of AND behind the cameras! (They always do!) Gee whiz, that ice cream recipe sure is simple and versatile, to create several flavors right from the simple base recipe! While you're on hiatus this summer from your regular show, I guess I can get my 'Martha-fix' thru catching you on TheTodayShow videos you post right here on your blog, Martha.
...Moving right along regarding the U-turn...Oh Martha! - I picked up right away on those muddy ruts left in your grasses before we even saw the close-up view! (And) You don't have just grass...you have ornamental grasses, there alongside the road! A quick 'patch' isn't the solution like I originally tho't but a full-fledged fill-in of the ruts plus some replanting of potted replacements! Yes, it's good that noone was hurt, but I would find it irritating as well, just like you! From my perspective of the photos, it was too narrow a place to do a 'u-ey'! So the guy got hung up on a guy wire?! - hmmm, I didn't know that 'til today, either!
Thankfully, I've not had any third-party mishaps at my house, but if I did, I know I'd be very perturbed. My property has to be so-so, just like yours, and any infringement just sends me over the edge. What I experience routinely is trash being thrown in the yard by certain neighbors and sometimes passersby, and if you'd have ANY inkling, this is simply something I cannot tolerate. (Over the edge I go!) To remain calm here, as I write, I'll leave things at that - no more discussion, lest I get upset! [half-giggle] I will say, tho', that when I was in third grade, I signed this petition saying that I'd never litter (this obviously was a lesson-learning exercise), and I've gotta say that I have remained true to my commitment and am passionate to this day about anti-litter - anywhere! (Folks! It's YOUR neighborhood...it's YOUR community...this is where you live! Just bend over and pick it up! Use your head and don't place your not-heavy recycle bin for plastics at the curb on a windy night, please! - if you happen to do this, please then clean up what blew across the street - you know, your empty spring water bottles with your initials on it, or even your cardboard boxes with your name and address on it!) [Okay, there I just went, right down over...]
I feel better now...um, I think...
=^..^=
"The very act of planting a seed in the earth has in it to me something beautiful. I always do it with a joy that is largely mixed with awe."--Celia Thaxter
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | June 19th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Regarding Grass. When new neighbors moved in across the street with a lot of cars, it ended up forcing people parking by my house to have to park up on my grass. It upset me a lot to be honest, (and still does sometimes) but I am trying to "go with the flow."
Existentially...I feel like it is ultimately best for me to give up some of my grass for their needs.
ps. I think you are awesome...Creative, with the extra sensitivity that comes with that. Grass matters.
Posted by: Lydia | June 19th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I hope I never get so old that I worry about grass
Posted by: Tanya | June 19th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Hi again Martha,
Oh, okay, you have decorative/ornamental grasses. I've been reading the comments and then took another look at the picture. We don't have that in South Florida that I know of. The hot sun would burn them up unless it was St. Augustine or Flora Tan. I think we have something like wheat grass that lasts for a little while but I've never planted any.
I found out it pays to come back and check the comments. Thanks, Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 19th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Martha,
come on martha I am sure with all of your workers they will plant the grass... geee lets get back to normal here please i am a fan but come on !!!!!!!!!
Posted by: garrett kyker | June 19th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Upon returning home from a Holiday party I found 2 police cars in front of my home. Turns out that a very young, inexperienced, somewhat irresponsible teenager was speeding down my street and in order to avoid hitting my across the street neighbor's car, he swerved and plowed through my front yard instead. Fortunately, he missed my garage by just a few inches and no one was hurt. He did however take out a small tree, a sprinkler head, and ruined my front lawn. My family was upset because this also damaged our holiday light display. To make matters worse the family was a bit uncooperative in paying to fix the damage. But eventually we did get paid and were able to "redo" the yard. And now we get compliments from passersby on how lovely it looks. In the end this was truly a blessing in disguise.
Posted by: Li | June 19th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
.
Family of Friends,
Let me reiterate what I said to the Twit-Pickers, and now others who don't speak nicely when values differ.
---Injury to body AND property, though of different scopes, is distressing. Be it fishing pole, grasses or granny's chandelier, not relishing wreckage is standard among us. Polite respect when we vent to one another over irksome messes is good humane stuff.---
The great Leonardo da Vinci, it is said, would muse over a SINGLE BLADE of grass! An admirable man he was, passionate for beauty conserved, whether the faintest sfumato or the grandest star of the sky!
I BELIEVE WE ALL ASPIRE SIMILARLY.
Respectfully Yours,
A and the W's
.
Posted by: andreaandweims on Twitter | June 19th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Martha
I wish you luck with the lawn issues.** Confessions on the Martha Stewart Blog!!
I'll take you back to 1992 and after a evening out with friends, and I had been at some local establishments. It was late, and it started to snow, It was a little slick. I was on a back road, and then out of the blue my car was under the control of the elements. I then was off the road and landed square into the middle of some ones lawn. It was on an embankment so I had to pull up the emergency brake, and In doing so dug up the lawn, and the tire popped so needless to say the tow truck had to pull me out doing more damage. It was a strange night, and haven't made that mistake again. Life Lessons when one is only 23.
Posted by: kristin svens | June 19th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Hi Martha, I missed your appearance on the Today show and I want to thank you for including it on your fantastic blog. They sure don't give you much time any more, but you still do a great job and include everything that you feel we need to know. You are the best! Your wonderful ice cream sounds delicious. Will have to try it soon. Finally got your Cupcake book at Costco and it is fabulous!!! As far as the mishap is concerned, I have had similar problems with the grass below the rockery on my driveway. People sometimes use the botttom of my driveway to turn around and leave big ruts in the grass, especially when it is wet from raining. I stopped them from driving on the grass by putting plywood sheets over the ruts and now I have moles digging in the area. I guess you just can't win! Have a great weekend. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 20th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Several years ago when I moved back to my home town two cars collided in front of my house (no damage to the lawn except for stray car oarts strewed about) what a noise. When I ran outside one of the passengers was staggering around the intersection. - quickly grabbed him and made him lay flat on the lawn(I had taken industrial first aid and was eager to take control of this thing)poor guy, it was pouring rain, I sent my son off for the golf umbrella and I'm laying there on my stumach doing C-spine when the ambulance shows up and the ambulance attendant was an old school friend that I hadn't seen for 15 years so there we were catching up in the pouring rain, I'm laying on the mudding front lawn doing c-spine on an accident victim and he's trying to appologize for not asking me to prom like he was supposed to and my three kids are standing around (they were teenagers so I was probably embarrasing them)and all my new neighbors are listening to this conversation not to mention three accident victims. I quess you had to be there let's just say I held a grudge because this gerk didn't ask me to prom so I didn't get to go.....I was bitter
Posted by: chez la mere | June 20th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Yes, I have had an incident with a moving van
when some neighbors moved in across the street.
The moving van was from Chicago, and made deep
ruts in our yard. When it was brought to his
attention, he said he thought everybody in
Tennessee parked in their yard...which added
insult to injury. We do not park in our yard.
Anyway, I'm not picking on Chicago, it is just
a fact of what happened. The mover did pay for
repairing the yard, so all is well.
Thanks for your photos, I enjoy them.
Posted by: Vivian Price | June 20th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Martha,As adult's, it is our responsibility to make certain that every member of the younger population has all the information that they can get, to make healthy, positive decision's in their lives. I have created a program or tv show that is designed to modify the way we feel and think about life and each other.To encourage people to be their best and do for other's.It's not what you think you are,but,"what you think, you are". We all have different belief's and different feature's. When it comes to being human, we are all the same.I know that you will be interested in my idea's.Hopefully, I will be able to type to you some day.
Posted by: Shawn Bellamy | June 20th, 2009 at 11:11 am
I found your article on making your own ice cream quite interesting. I knew a person could make their own ice cream but did not know how.After the first stage of making the ice cream I plan on putting different things like nuts,pineapple and more delicious ingredients. This is making me hungry.
Kenneth Young
Posted by: Kenneth Young | June 20th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
While on Nantucket last week, a construction vehicle drove down a narrow lane with cars (one was our) parked on both sides. My husband had just gotten out of the car and was speaking to one of the 'Sconset gardeners who do a GREAT job at keeping the privet hedges pristine. BOOM! The driver went right on through and took off our rear view mirror! I am sure this happens all the time on the quaint Nantucket cobbled streets, but it is not so fun when you contemplate driving back to CT without a much needed mirror. The only car dealer in town is Ford but they were so nice and fashioned a temporary mirror and we are home safe and sound. We always have our Cavalier spaniel Clementine wave to Francesca and Sharkey when we drive past! Bonjour!
Posted by: Jayne Rogers | June 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 am
P.S So when we returned from nantucket, we found huge tire prints in our lawn in CT. Our daughter tells us it was the truck that was repaving the street across from us. They parked there in all that rain - so what do I do now? I just wonder how people can be so insensitive - making a neighbor's street look so nice, while totaling ripping up my lawn! Go figure, as they say.
Posted by: Jayne Rogers | June 22nd, 2009 at 6:58 am
Tucked away on a short one way street in the Millstone area of Franklin Township, Somerset County you can find the most delicious ice cream. A gentleman there is living his dream creating small batches of homemade ice cream. The Millstone Valley Creamery offers a variety of different flavors however, our favorite is the Fresh Mint. My husband and I just love the flavor that the fresh herb lends. You simply have to try it. What's more is you can pick some up and eat it while strolling by the canal path or walking around my lovely, lovely neighborhood.
Posted by: Sasha | June 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Dear Martha
To Tanya, post of June 19 @ 4:58 PM, I am 60 years of age and deary, it has nothing to do with how old you are to worry about grass. When I was 21 and had purchased my first "new" vehicle, a drunk driver, with NO drivers license and NO insurance hit my new car in the middle of the night. No one was hurt. He pushed my vehicle across my front yard into my neighbors hedge. He was released on his own recognizance (oh, by the way, he had been released from prison earlier that week) and was out driving the next day. It took my neighbor several months to repair his hedge. I didn't get my vehicle back from repairs for 8 weeks and at the expense of MY insurance company and myself. So sorry for all the inconsiderate people that you (and the rest of us) have to deal with Martha. Anyone who has pride in their property, no matter their age, shouldn't have to put up with stupid a..holes. Maureen
Posted by: Maureen E. Murphy | June 22nd, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Damaged Grass -
I'm living it now. I recently had a large pear tree branch fall, just grazing the house. So no real damage there, but I had to take the chain saw out and remove it so my wife and I could get out of the garage. Well the it took my tree guy a week and a half (due to rain) to get over to my house and remove the tree and the chopped debris that was positioned on the side of my house. See here: http://ff.im/3mN82
Well the debris sitting on my grass for a 8 days killed my grass. I then laid sod (which is very hard work for the weekend gardener). So 10 days later, right before the big dinner party we were having (which is why my wife wanted the grass to look extra good), the delivery truck bringing the food rights off the driveway and onto the sod. Ugh!!! What a pain in the neck!.
Posted by: derikp | June 24th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Thank God, he did not hit the stone wall or take down the telephone pole. I live next to the Duke Estate, where there are narrow roads and people make illegal u turns all the time. It is extremely dangerous because of the windy roads and leads to erosion.
Posted by: Bea Trainer | June 24th, 2009 at 1:18 pm