Q: Before committing yourself to a reservation, check out the hotel online, where you can see rooms, location, lists of amenities and more. If you cannot use the internet, then give them a call and ask them questions about the hotel's location, noise level, walking distance to restaurants, etc. Sometimes the unexpected happens, so make sure you are okay with the hotel's cancellation policy, and keep track of what it costs. Some hotels and hostels are really bare bones, and you might have to bring things like drinkable water and your own linens, so be prepared. Print a map of your hotel's location so that you can find your way in an unfamiliar place. It's a good idea to bring both a zoomed in map and a zoomed out map with your arrival location marked. Decide ahead of time if you will take a taxi, rent a car, or use public transportation from your arrival location to your hotel. If you are driving a car, make sure to locate accessible parking ahead of time for your vehicle, and note the cost and location in your planning. Also, bring a map. If you are taking a taxi, particularly as a tourist abroad, make sure you know approximately how much the journey from your arrival location to your destination should be, so you won't get swindled. There is no reason to confirm your reservation if you have a valid booking number. However, just be sure that when you made your reservation you made it for the correct dates. , Remind the front desk of what, if any, special requests you have made, (i.e. conjoining rooms, (non)-smoking rooms, quiet rooms, a crib, etc.). **Again, this should be done at the time of booking the reservation. Just be sure that when your reservation is made you add the comments/requests. Often times guest reservations will be booked through a third-party or other travel agency (including if your travel manager books through your companies CRS channel) and the comments might never get added correctly. Confirming your reservation ahead of time prevents day-of-arrival mistakes on the hotel's part, and covers you if they do mess something up. Then you can negotiate an upgrade with a clear conscience! Nearly all hotels, and especially smaller hotels, have a specific check-in time. If you have a large gap of time between your arrival and the hotel's check-in time, call ahead and ask very politely if you can check-in early, or at least drop your bags. Then, you can go explore and check out the area! If you are checking in very late, particularly at a small hotel without a 24-hour concierge, it may be necessary to communicate your arrival time to the concierge in order to make arrangements to receive you. Mismatching names can make it difficult or impossible to check in.
A: Check it out online. Make note of the hotel's cancellation policy. Bring a map. Ask for your confirmation number when booking your reservation over the phone or save it from the hotel's website. Know the hotel's check-in time. Make sure the name on your identification, credit cards and passport match.

Q: Asparagus does best in areas that have either cold winters, during which the ground freezes, or very dry summers. It's a hardy and adaptable plant, but it's much harder to grow in areas with mild winters and wet summers, such as the Gulf Coast of the United States. Asparagus seeds require three years to grow before they are ready to be harvested. During their first season the seeds germinate and sprout, and after that they need two years to establish their long, spongy roots deep into the soil. When you plant crowns, you skip the first season and go straight to the rooting stage. This means you can lightly harvest your asparagus in the second year, in addition to a full harvest in year three. However, the seeds that do get established tend to turn into hardy plants that last longer and produce more spears than plants that came from crowns. Asparagus crowns that are marked "2-year crowns" supposedly allow you to harvest spears just one year after planting. However, the process of transplanting asparagus plants after they've already established their roots can damage them, and they typically still need two full years in the same soil before they reach full production. Since asparagus can keep producing spears for up to 25 years, choose a spot you're ready to devote to asparagus for a very long time. The area should have the following characteristics: Full sun. Asparagus does best in sunny conditions. Since it comes up early in the spring, it's ok to choose a place near trees that don't yet have leaves. Just make sure the asparagus bed isn't shadowed by a group of trees or a building. Well-drained soil. The soil should be loose and have excellent drainage. Asparagus planted in waterlogged soil will rot. Space for a raised bed. This is optional, since asparagus do fine in the ground, but it's easier to keep their bed free of weeds and completely drained when it's raised. Asparagus seeds and crowns can be purchased at home and garden stores, nurseries or online. Seeds are available all year round, but crowns are usually for sale very early in the spring, right before they should be planted. Asparagus plants are monoecious, meaning that each plant is either male or female. The female plants put energy into producing seeds, so they don't produce as many spears as the males. Some varieties of asparagus have been engineered to produce only male plants. You only need to plant half as many crowns of a male-only variety to get the same yield, since you won't need to weed out the female plants. Asparagus seeds aren't usually separated by sex, so the female plants are weeded out once they sprout. Choose a rust-resistant variety, such as one of the many "Jersey" varieties or a "Mary Washington." If you're buying crowns, pick healthy-looking crowns that are a grayish-brown color, large and plump. Buy them just a day or so before planting them. Purple asparagus and other heirloom varieties are available at nurseries. You can create white asparagus by shielding the spears from the sun with soil.
A: Find out if asparagus grows well in your region. Decide whether to start your plants from seeds or crowns. Asparagus seeds have a low germination rate, so it's more difficult to know exactly how many plants you'll end up with. Choose a planting spot for your asparagus. Buy asparagus seeds or crowns.

Q: Expect wet cast iron to start to rust pretty quickly. If you used any water to wash it out, wipe it dry immediately. To really ensure that all moisture has been removed, heat it in the oven or on the stovetop until all traces of water have evaporated. This is only necessary for water, not cooking oil. Cooking oil will actually act as a barrier to water. Give your Dutch oven a quick reseasoning. Wipe it down with a light application of more cooking oil. Then wipe up any excess with fresh paper towels. Set the Dutch oven on a burner, set the heat to high, and let it heat up until it starts to smoke a little bit. It should only take a couple minutes to start smoking at high heat. Always store your Dutch oven and its lid separately. Allow air to circulate inside it when it's not in use. For double protection, stuff a few sheets of paper towels inside so they absorb any moisture that might accumulate during humid weather.
A:
Dry it immediately. Oil it back up and reheat it. Prevent moisture from building up during storage.