Lifestyles
The power of one
Because it was too cold and rainy to do much outside, the hubby and I decided to go see a movie this weekend. We chose to watch ’42,’ which tells the story of how major league baseball executive Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. Robinson became the first African-American... »
To teach is to touch a life forever…
So goes the cliche, but sometimes cliches become that because they contain such truth they bear repeating. I’ve noticed that whenever a group of former schoolmates get together, the conversation often turns to teachers; there are those who helped us believe in ourselves, those with quirky habits and those who seemed to delight in making... »
Festival highlights some of Estill County’s best qualities
There was a lot to appreciate about the festival this year, including the fact that the stars of the show, the morels, were much more plentiful than last year. For the most part, the rain held off, despite some threatening skies. The attendance was good, the entertainment and food were good, and there was a... »
Perennial favorites put on a show, stir memory
After only a couple of weeks of warm spring weather, flowering shrubs and trees are really putting on a show. Never have the sight of bright yellow forsythia and fiery pink flowering quince been so welcome. They’re like old friends that only show up to get reacquainted for a couple of weeks out of the... »
Despite cold weather, I’ll take this Spring
The word “April” is said to be derived from a Latin verb meaning “to open.” I’m beyond ready for tree buds to unfurl their bright new leaves, for flower blooms to open, for more time with doors and windows open. “Bring it, spring!” That’s what I’m saying. I think that’s what the purple martins are saying too,... »
Habits: easier to replace than resist
There’s a book that’s been on the bestseller list for months now called “The Power of Habit.” The author is Charles Duhigg, and he writes about how our habits determine our health, our financial shape, the success of our careers, etc. This is no great revelation, but we often forget. For example, we don’t often think... »
Porch sittin’ weather restores the soul
Last weeks’ dreary weather had me wanting to toss all my healthy living intentions out the window and eat every junky food I could get my hands on. I did for a few days, but I’m back on the wagon now. Dark skies and too much mud have a way of putting me in a... »
An update from the farm
We know that spring is drawing near because it’s time for this reminder: Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour on Saturday night. I’m looking forward to that extra hour of daylight in the evenings. That means more time to spend outside when the days get warmer. For a complete version of this post,... »
Versatile vinegar can be used in a variety of ways
Anyone who has ever used Pinterest, the popular internet bulletin board, has probably noticed that it’s become trendy to make cleaning and beauty products out of simple staples that most everyone keeps around the house. The possibilities seem endless—and timely, too, since it’s about time to do some spring cleaning. I’ve slowly been trying to purge... »
Get strong, stay strong, for work and play
I’ll have to admit my daily exercise routine is getting stale. I’m a little bored with walking in circles on cold cloudy days. But we’ve had a few really nice ones interspersed throughout the gloom, and one of those days Hannah and I took the baby out for a nice long walk to the... »