Sorted by date Results 414 - 438 of 465
Land. Since the earliest days of our country, land has been recognized as one of the assets central to the American Dream. From a quest for wide-open spaces, to the highest levels of sophistication in development, leveraging land for the best possible value is a practice with which Americans are very familiar. With the right plan, mountains are moved, and dreams are realized. However, it is not at all unusual for a family’s portfolio to contain appreciated land acquired a number of years ago d...
We move through our entire lives facing change: interests may change, relationships come and go, health problems may crop up, abilities and needs shift, relocation may become necessary, careers change, social status alters; and the list goes on. Despite all the major changes a person experiences as he or she moves through life, some things remain constant. The love a person feels for particular family members, the affections we have for the dogs that spend their short lives with us, the beauty...
Holiday seasons nowadays tend to blend together for one continuous shopping spree, starting in September when merchants feel obligated to start pushing Halloween, and lasting right through Easter the following spring. When I was a kid, admittedly quite some time ago, this behavior on the part of shopkeepers didn’t exist and we as consumers didn’t demand it. Stores began stocking shelves with Halloween treats and costumes the first or second week of October. We didn’t even begin thinking about...
Retirement can lead to a whole new life, one that allows a person to embrace dreams and develop interests. Dale Dombrosky, Sidney, discovered that fact when he retired from a long career as a plumber and turned his attention to his hobby of creating everything and anything from wood. He produces marvelous scrollwork, builds birdhouses and furniture, manufactures wind spinners, jar lid openers, key chains, plaques and signs, and creates a whole host of other specialty items. “I make a little b...
You don’t necessarily need physical strength, agility, speed or expensive security devices. You just need to be aware, not afraid. HEAR ARE SOME PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS FOR OLDER ADULTS Criminals look for the easy target. Don’t allow yourself to become a target…make it clear you are not their next victim. TRUST YOUR GUT FEELINGS…if something doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t…don’t take chances! Remember your life is worth more than your purse, vehicle or any item you are carring or possess. Mak...
Because of a new federal mandate, outreach services through the Williston Council for the Aging, Inc. (service which had been provided by Karen Froysland and Coreen Nehring, Williams County; Judy Jacobson, McKenzie County; and Lisa Fredrickson, Divide County) ended Dec. 31, 2011. The Council and other entities were not interested in contracting for the new service Aging & Disability Resource Link (ADRL) Options Counseling. NW Human Service Center’s Aging Services Unit is offering ADRL Options Counseling as of Feb. 1, 2012. Eligible consumers a...
Are you a Montanan who is 62 or older as of Dec. 31? If so, then check to see whether you qualify for Montana’s elderly homeowner/renter tax credit for 2011. If you can answer “yes” to all of the following questions, then you may be eligible for the credit: 1. Were you 62 or older as of Dec. 31, 2011? 2. Did you occupy a Montana residence(s) as an owner or renter for 6 months or more during 2011? 3. Did you reside in Montana for nine months or more during 2011? 4. Was your total gross household income less than $45,000 in 2011? Instr...
Super Bowl is just around the corner and even if you are not a football fan, you may like to tune in to watch the commercials and halftime entertainment. Interestingly enough Super Bowl Sunday is the second- largest day for food consumption in the U.S., after Thanksgiving, according to Wikipedia. Following is an article from Alice Henneman, MS, RD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator. Henneman has an excellent website on all aspects of healthy eating. Go to www.food.unl.edu for...
With the return of January, every publication in creation tackles the subject of New Year’s resolutions. When the new year dawns bright and fresh, writers, figuring this is a good way to fill blank pages, devote a lot of space discussing how and why to make resolutions, how to keep them, tricks and hints on how to follow through on those well-meaning resolves, and a host of other spin-offs on the subject of resolutions of all sorts. Personally, I shake my head at all this hoopla, and I g...
January generally ushers in the coldest month of the year. Daytime highs plummet to subzero temperatures for weeks at a time, winds howl, people only venture outdoors for short periods and only when bundled up in heavy coats, mittens, and warm boots, and those with wood stoves keep the fires stoked and blazing hot all day long to chase the gloom and cold. Animals hunker down as well, as domestic animals stay in their coops or shelters and the wild animals burrow deep into their dens or dense...
Remember when we had strength in our fingers and wrists? Peanut butter jar lids opened easily, bottle caps twisted off with a flick of the wrist, and we figured we could conquer any lid or bottle cap that passed our way. Not so, my friends. I spend more time now trying to open some jar lids than I do vacuuming the floor. Lids can present formidable problems, refusing to budge a millimeter regardless of how many little tricks I try or handy gadgets that I use on them. Sometimes this unmoving lid...
The tavern has always been an important social aspect of American life. Knowing that my great great grandfather operated a tavern/rest stop for travelers over a century ago, the history and information concerning these watering holes has always interested me. Therefore, when I saw the book, America Walks into a Bar: A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies, and Grog Shops, written by Christine Sismondo, I couldn’t resist reading it. The book did not disappoint me. Sismondo p...
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.” The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment.” He was right — our generation didn’t have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant...
Especially important for seniors -Immune systems and other organs become a bit sluggish with age. Stomach and intestinal tracts may hold food longer, the sense of taste and smell may be altered and the liver and kidneys may not easily get rid of toxins. -Today’s food comes from all over the world and nearly 50% of our food dollar buys food that others prepare. Leftovers: Cooling, Storing and Reheating -Always refrigerate perishable foods within two hours. Do not cover hot food tightly. Leave lid...
Who of my generation doesn’t remember Corporal Rusty and Private Rin Tin Tin, and the exciting adventures they shared together each week on the Adventures of Rin Tin Tin television series? My sister and I delighted in these adventures and watched avidly each week to share in the thrills experienced by a boy and his dog. So, when I saw the book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean, a flood of memories rushed back and I knew I had to read this book. As Orlean herself remarks in t...
Once upon a time in the early ‘80s, a young couple with three small children looked forward to Christmas with great trepidation. Father was out of work, Mother washed dishes at the Triangle, so the couple could barely make ends meet, never mind anticipating anything extra for Christmastime. Prospects for a bright, merry holiday looked extremely grim. Sure, they had a tree - a beat up mess salvaged from the dumpster that resembled a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Yep, they had decorations – hom...
Decorating a tree or trees at Christmastime has become a much-loved tradition for most of us. For many people of my generation, Christmas memories center around the tree and decorating its branches with cherished ornaments used year after year. Those ornaments came in all shapes and sizes, as the array of potential decorations for a tree were nearly limitless. Ornaments consisted of handcrafted items along with store bought ornaments of all colors and shapes. Decorations are limited only to...
By definition, the philanthropic spirit always finds an appropriate form of expression. We see this philanthropic spirit clearly each time we witness the desire of a child determined to give a gift to a parent or teacher. That determination will always find the perfect way to express itself. And whether it is another tie for dad to add to his collection or an apple for a favorite teacher, the value of the gift is beyond measure. Many often lament the fact that as we age many of our child-like characteristics seems to fade. Thankfully, however,...
The Richland County Health Department is saying that it is never too late to get vaccinated against influenza and that getting it now is especially important because the holiday season is here. All of our staff is encouraging Richland County residents to get their vaccine. “As families gather for the holidays, it is very important to immunize yourself and your family members.” “Everyone who has not yet received the seasonal influenza vaccine should do so before the holidays. The flu vaccine is the most effective and safest way to remain immun...
You don’t have to have the same foods over and over. Try these simple re-dos with holiday foods. Mashed Potatoes -Combine with a little chopped onion and beaten egg; form into patties and pan fry for delicious potato cakes. -Sauté green onions and puree with chicken stock and leftover mashed potatoes for a delicious winter soup. Add leftover or frozen vegetables if you like. Baked Sweet Potatoes -Mix a cup of mashed sweet potatoes into your favorite muffin or quick bread recipe. -Mix chilled, mashed sweet potatoes with beaten egg. Roll into cy...
We all look forward to Thanksgiving Day, when the thoughts of turkey, mashed potatoes, wheat bread and butter, cranberries, and corn on the cob keep us salivating for weeks. Oh, and don’t forget the pumpkin pie to finish off a meal that causes the average American to eat a day and a half worth of calories, or an average of 4500 of these little heat units, in just a few short hours. Oh, and by the way, the Pilgrims did NOT eat any of the above for Thanksgiving Day; potatoes were a little known f...
In my opinion, nothing beats a great, well-written book with believable, all-too-human characters, an intricate plot, and the clash of good versus evil culminating in an exciting ending. Feast Day of Fools, written by James Lee Burke, provides all these thrills, exceptionally well-fleshed out characters, and with plenty of villains and good guys that clash, sometimes in gruesome ways, throughout the book. The story pivots around Hackberry Holland, the sheriff of a southwest Texas county. I...
The end of daylight savings time signals the arrival of long dark winter nights with their correspondingly short winter days. The end of daylight time is as depressing as Labor Day Monday, as there is no doubt about it, darkness envelops the MonDak by 5 p.m. Even on a bright winter day, long purple shadows stretch out from their sources by 3:30 or 4 p.m. in the afternoon, letting us know nightfall lurks just around the corner. We plan winter outdoor activities during the day in increments of...
If you listen very long to (or participate in) conversations that touch on the hopes and dreams for retirement years, one thing becomes evident: the conversation is often one of those “good news/bad news” discussions. The good news is that Americans are living longer. The other side of the coin is that more years in retirement require more powerful plans for income. While you won’t find many complaining about better health and longer life, it’s difficult to find very many adults over the age...
My brother had knee surgery a few years ago and after the surgery, his doctor inquired as to whether my brother wanted crutches or a walker to use while the knee healed. My brother opted for crutches, which came as no surprise to me as not only do I know my brother very well, but I also have noticed the status we as a society apply to the use of crutches, canes and walkers. We also as a nation place a high premium on youthful attributes, and that also impacts the choices we make even on somethin...
