Petunias and How I Accomplished This Abundance

Petunias they say, easy to grow, and I would have to agree with them.  This is a picture of one of these Petunia plants I grew at least a couple of years back. Now if I go with the same logic I used this year, I bought a flat full of certain colours of Petunias, just tiny individual plants.

I am a haphazard person when it comes to growing flowers, I don't put a lot of science behind it. I make sure I have some fresh soil and a bit of fertilizer and then I water them in well after planting. 

One thing, next time I do this I must remember to loosen up the roots of the starter plant better, I saw when I pulled them out this year some where still in the same conical shape. Regardless the plants as a group still did very well. 

As my petunias grow throughout the summer I do have a habit at taking a look daily and pinching off any of the dead blossoms, even if a branch of the plant is not doing well I will pinch that off as well. Why do I grow them as I do, well for the look of them, for the bees and all other creatures that like flowers and depend on them for their life. I love to see them looking pretty, I do grow more than just petunias as well, on a side note I find the petunias do better, for me, if they don't have full sun all day, mine get the later sun of the day, after noon and on, they do get at least a few hours, but they are not getting backed all day.

I'm in the Okotoks area, if you have any ideas on other plants that are easy to maintain in this area let me know. 
 

A Crash Course in DaVinci Resolve Soung Magic

Echoes in the Edit Bay: A Filmmaker's Crash Course in DaVinci Resolve Sound Magic

Once upon a glitchy midnight dreary, while Alex pondered edits weak and weary, there came a knock from the digital ether: DaVinci Resolve, that beast of a beast, whispering secrets of sound effects free and fierce. Our hero, a wide-eyed indie director fresh off a drone crash (literal and creative), stared at a timeline as silent as a forgotten fridge. "How," Alex wailed to the glowing screen, "do I summon the whooshes, booms, and tinkles to make this drone footage sing?" Fear not, fellow frame-fumblers—grab your coffee and cue the tutorial tale. Here's how to wrangle downloadable sounds into Resolve's Fairlight lair, step by whimsical step.  

 

Chapter 1: The Freebie Heist (Blackmagic's Sound Library Loot) Alex fired up Resolve (version 18 or later, free edition's fine, no wallet wounds required). Switched to the Fairlight page, that audio wonderland where waveforms dance like caffeinated snakes. Top-left corner? A sneaky "Sound Library" button. Click it, and poof: a portal to Blackmagic's vault of 1,000+ gratis goodies. Categories galore, impacts, foley, ambiences, like a sonic candy store run by elves. Search "explosion" or "*" for all, then hit download on your faves. They nestle into your project's library faster than you can say "royalty-free." Drag 'em to the timeline, tweak with EQ (Fairlight's mixer is your fairy godmother), and voila—your silent skies erupt in glory.  

 

Chapter 2: The Wild Import (Taming Third-Party Treasures)
But what of the siren songs from Freesound.org or Epidemic Sound hauls? Alex, ever the scavenger, zipped a pack of whooshy winds home. Back in Resolve: Media Pool's your gateway drug. File > Import > Media (or drag-drop like a caveman with files). Select those WAVs or MP3s—Resolve's chill with most formats—and watch 'em populate the pool like eager extras. For eternal glory, right-click a clip in the pool > "Add to Fairlight Sound Library." Now they're searchable, sortable saviours. Pro tip: In Preferences > Audio Plugins, add custom folders for auto-magic scanning. No more hunting; sounds surface like loyal hounds.  

 

Chapter 3: The Mixdown Masquerade (Making It Yours)
With sounds summoned, Alex layered them under the drone's hum: a low rumble for tension, a crystalline chime for reveal. Fairlight's timeline? A playground—mute, solo, automate volumes like a DJ deity. Bounce to the Deliver page for export, and suddenly, Alex's short film wasn't just seen; it was felt. The moral? Resolve's not a tool; it's a time machine, turning flat footage into symphonies from scavenged scraps.And so, our editor emerged from the bay, project pulsing with pilfered percussion. Moral of the story: Download boldly, import brazenly, mix madly. Your audience will thank you—with goosebumps.Suggested Keywords

• DaVinci Resolve sound effects
• Import SFX Fairlight
• Free audio library Resolve
• How to add sounds DaVinci
• Video editing audio tutorial
• Blackmagic sound downloads
• Custom SFX import Resolve
• Indie filmmaker audio tips
• Fairlight page basics
• Royalty-free sounds Resolve

Happy Halloween

 

Mag's Midnight Query

On the fringe of a fog-shrouded suburb, where jack-o'-lanterns grinned like riddles etched in rind, Mag perched on her porch swing, legs tucked under a threadbare witch's cape she'd sewn from thrift-store curtains. It was Halloween, 2025, and the neighbourhood thrummed with costumed chaos—tiny vampires demanding tribute, ghosts trailing bedsheets like existential veils. But Mag? She wasn't handing out Snickers or spectral sweets. No, she was Mag, the neighborhood's perpetual "why-girl," the one who'd once halted a block party to interrogate the physics of piñatas: How does candy defy gravity until betrayal? Tonight, her pumpkin wasn't carved with triangles for eyes. It bore a single, wobbly question mark, lit from within by a tealight that flickered like doubt. A sign dangled beside it: Trick or Query? In Sharpie scrawl, she'd added footnotes: Why orange? How does fear ferment into fun? When did masks become alibis?As the doorbell chimed—ding-dong like a hesitant oracle—a cluster of pint-sized superheroes clustered on her stoop, capes askew, expecting the usual haul. Mag leaned forward, her silver-streaked bob catching the porch light like a comet's tail. "Happy... what, exactly?" she mused aloud, tilting her head as if the words were a puzzle box. The kids blinked, buckets poised. One tiny Batman furrowed his brow beneath the mask. "Uh, Halloween? Candy?"Mag's eyes sparkled, not with mischief, but with that insatiable spark—the one that unravelled yarn balls of certainty. "Ah, but Halloween. Why this night, of all three hundred sixty-five? Is it the veil thinning, like onion skin between worlds, or just capitalism's clever cloak for excess?" She rummaged in her cauldron (a repurposed stockpot), emerging not with Milky Ways, but with handwritten cards. Each bore a riddle: When does a shadow whisper your secrets? (Answer: At dusk, if you're brave enough to listen.)The kids exchanged glances—equal parts bewilderment and glee. A fairy with glitter-dusted wings snatched one, giggling. "This is better than Tootsie Rolls!" Emboldened, Mag pressed on, her voice a velvet hook. "And how do we say 'happy' to a holiday built on haunts? Does joy chase the goosebumps, or do they dance together?" She doled out the cards like contraband wisdom, watching their faces light up as questions bloomed. No sugar crash here—just the sweet sting of curiosity. As the troupe scampered off into the mist, trailing laughter like comet dust, Mag settled back, swing creaking in rhythm with the settling fog. Her own bowl, untouched, held a single treat: a mirror shard wrapped in twine. For seeing the ghost in the mirror, she'd noted on the tag. Why you? Because when's the best time to question yourself? Now. From the shadows of her gingko tree, a figure emerged—her neighbour, old Mr. Hale, in a fedora that screamed "detective from a bygone noir." He'd skipped the block's bash to lurk, as always, nursing a thermos of spiked cider. "Mag, you gonna scare 'em straight into philosophy majors?"She smirked, handing him a card: How does one wish 'happy' to the unquiet dead? "By asking, Hale. Always by asking." He chuckled, pocketing it. "Well, then—happy unravelling."As midnight tolled, distant and mocking, Mag whispered to the empty street: "Happy... inquiry?" The question mark pumpkin winked in agreement. In a world of pat answers, her Halloween wasn't a shout. It was a summons. And tonight, the night had answered.

How To Make Hungarian Goulash

Hearty Hungarian Goulash: A Steamy Stew Straight from the Kitchen

Ah, goulash, that soul-warming Hungarian classic that's equal parts comfort food and flavour bomb. Born in the 9th century as a simple herder's stew of beef, onions, and paprika, it's evolved into a paprika-packed powerhouse that screams "winter's here, let's eat." If you're craving that rich, tomatoey depth without the fuss, look no further. And big shout-out to KassDays for that killer YouTube Short —a no-fuss visual feast that had us drooling but left us hunting for the deets. We've got you covered with an easy, home-cook-friendly recipe inspired by their demo. It's straightforward, uses pantry staples, and simmers up in about an hour. Serves 4-6 hungry folks.Easy Goulash Recipe: IngredientsGather these bad boys—nothing fancy required:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cubed (chuck or round works great)
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil (or olive oil for a twist)
• 3 tbsp sweet paprika (the star—don't skimp!)
• 2 bell peppers (one red, one green), sliced
• 3 medium carrots, sliced into rounds
• 4 ripe tomatoes, diced (or a 14-oz can if fresh are hiding)
• 4 medium potatoes, cubed
• 4 cups beef broth (or water in a pinch)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish—optional but pretty)

Step-by-Step: Whip It Up in 60 Minutes

1. Heat things up: Grab a big pot (Dutch oven vibes if you've got one) and warm the oil over medium-high heat. Toss in the chopped onions and sauté 'em for 5 minutes until they're soft and golden—like KassDays shows, all translucent glory.
2. Beef it up: Add your cubed beef. Brown it on all sides, stirring for about 7-8 minutes. This seals in the juices and builds that deep flavor base.
3. Spice squad: Stir in the minced garlic and paprika. Let it bloom for 1 minute—watch that red magic happen without burning. Pro tip: If it sticks, splash in a tiny bit of broth.
4. Veggie party: Dump in the bell peppers, carrots, and tomatoes. Give it a good stir to coat everything in that paprika goodness.
5. Liquid gold: Pour in the broth (or water) until it just covers the mix. Crank the heat to high, bring to a boil, then drop to a simmer. Cover and let it bubble low and slow for 20 minutes.
6. Potato power: Add the cubed potatoes now—they'll soak up all the yum without turning to mush. Simmer uncovered for another 20-30 minutes, until the beef is fork-tender and the stew thickens. Stir occasionally; add a splash more liquid if it gets too thick.
7. Taste and triumph: Season with salt and pepper—start light, taste as you go. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with parsley, and dig in. Pair with crusty bread or egg noodles for ultimate carb heaven.

There you have it: Goulash that's hearty, healthy-ish (veggies galore!), and way easier than it looks. Thanks again, KassDays, for the silent inspo—your visuals nailed the cozy chaos of cooking. Now go simmer some history in your pot. What's your twist on this stew? Hit the comments!