Garden trenches are smaller in nature, usually intended to border flower beds keeping overgrowth and crowding of your flowerbeds to a minimum. Even if your trench is shallow or only a spade deep, it can unearth unexpected and unwanted surprises. You should make sure the place you are digging is free of utility lines, pipes, roots, foundation, or other obstructions. Call 811 or another utility location service before you begin. The blade of your round-point shovel will sever roots up to half an inch thick. Place the blade of your shovel atop the root and stomp on the flange of the blade to sever it. For extreme cases, you might want to consider purchasing a Pulaski digging tool. While mechanical trenching devices will usually sever roots, they may react violently or unpredictably when they encounter a thick one. Consider removing roots by hand before using a machine. A thicket of weeds can put a halt to digging quick, causing tangles with your shovel that will take time to cut through. Trimming lawn or plants as low reasonably possible Do this as you would for any other trenching or excavation project, using highly visible marking paint to establish the layout of your trench. This will help prevent you from making mistakes and wasting unnecessary effort. Stepping on your spade to drive it through the dirt at about a 45 degree angle, insert your spade about 6 inches into the soil approximately 2 inches out from your guideline. Angle your spade, so that your trench walls are slightly angled and the bottom outside edge of your trench sits beneath your guideline. You should use the same angle you did previously to leave the outside bottom of your trench directly under your guideline and your trench walls slightly angled. Wiggle your spade back and forth to further loosen the soil, and remove what you can, switching to your clear-out shovel when convenient. Using a trowel, you can pack soil along the trench walls to prevent collapse. With shears you can trim grass to more cleanly define the boundary of your trench, or you can lay plastic edging to minimize maintenance effort on your part. Typically during the change in the seasons, debris like leaves and intrusions like growing plant matter might leave your trench looking less than tidy. Take time in spring and summer to keep it maintained. Plastic edging generally installs easily, either being laid in the space you've excavated or else being laid in your trench with some light fill dropped on top to keep it in place.
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One-sentence summary -- Prepare to excavate. Clear debris and trim weeds and grass. Mark your trench. Loosen soil with your spade on one side. Apply your spade to the opposite side. Pack trench walls, install edging, and maintain.

Everybody brings their own, potentially drama-inducing imperfections to a friendship. Learn what causes you pain in a relationship and what your reactions are. For example, a friend not spending time with you or talking behind your back might prompt you to get angry and yell at them, or you might clam up and refuse to talk about it. No matter what your tendencies are, be open about them with your friends. Say, for example, "I know I have a quick temper and I'm trying to work on it. I don't want it to come between us or our friendship." If you're mad at a friend for canceling dinner plans, give yourself time to cool off and then apologize. Don't let the anger or hurt feelings fester. Your friend's action might be the source of the drama, but your reaction might not be helping either. Learn how to overcome your own tendencies and how to confront others about theirs. When an issue doesn't involve you directly, it's best to stay out of it. It's alright to offer your advice or act as a mediator, but don't let yourself get bogged down in the drama. For example, if two of your friends are fighting, agree to hear them both out and offer your advice, but don't take sides. Say, "I understand where you both are coming from and see that you're upset. I love you both equally and I want to help by telling you how I see it." The best way to avoid drama and gain perspective is to keep your own personal goals in mind. When you feel tempted to get involved in drama, take a moment to assess how much it matters in the larger scheme of your life. You may realize that it's best to leave the situation alone. For example, if a friend at work is spreading gossip about coworkers, participating or encouraging them might jeopardize your job or even your ability to find a new position. Avoid the temptation to join in by reminding yourself that this job is an important step in your career. Ignore the gossip, or politely but firmly ask them to stop.
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One-sentence summary -- Confront your own shortcomings. Own up to your mistakes, even when it's difficult. Avoid involving yourself unnecessarily. Focus on your own goals.

Right after the chocolate has finished heating, drop a tablespoon into 10 cupcake liners. The chocolate has to be warm for it to spread, so don't wait between melting the chocolate and making the cups. After pouring the chocolate, use a pastry brush or other small brush to coat the bottom and sides of the inside of the cupcake liner with chocolate. Try to evenly distribute the chocolate around the liner so that the cup has an even thickness. After spreading the chocolate, put the cups immediately in the freezer and leave them there for 30 minutes. This will allow the chocolate to firm. Melt the leftover chocolate by microwaving and stirring every fifteen seconds. Since the chocolate has already been melted, it will take less time to get warm again. Stop when the chocolate is warm and easily stirred. Spoon another tablespoon of chocolate into the chocolate cups and spread it to form another layer. Making another layer ensures that the chocolate cups are the right thickness and won't be too brittle. Put the cupcake liners in the freezer to let the second layer harden. Keep the chocolate cups in the freezer for at least one hour so they can get completely hard.
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One-sentence summary -- Spoon one tablespoon of chocolate into cupcake liners. Spread the chocolate using a brush. Freeze the cups for 30 minutes. Melt the chocolate again. Repeat the same process again to make another coat. Freeze for one hour.

In a large bowl, combine the boiling water, star anise, ginger, cinnamon stick, dried bay leaves, cloves, and salt. Stir the brine together until the salt fully dissolves. You can prepare the brine before or after frying the chicken, depending on whichever you find easier. If you prepare it beforehand, however, loosely cover it and let it sit aside at room temperature until you're ready to use it. Dunk the fried chicken feet in the bowl of chicken brine. Make sure that the brine evenly covers all the feet. Pour the rice wine and cold water into the same bowl as the brine and chicken feet, then stir gently to combine the ingredients. The cold water should be nearly as cold as ice water. The low temperature will quickly drop the temperature of the brine and the chicken feet, thereby halting the cooking process. Loosely cover the bowl and place it in your refrigerator. Allow the brine to marinate the chicken feet for at least 2 hours. After 2 hours pass, don't be alarmed if the chicken feet look puffy. This is normal and can actually improve the final texture of the dish. Pour the contents of the bowl through a colander. Set the chicken feet aside and discard the excess brine.
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One-sentence summary --
Combine most of the brine ingredients. Submerge the feet in the brine. Add the remaining brine ingredients. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Drain and discard the brine.