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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...
While rushing around town the other day, hurrying so I could get out of the crowded mess and disarray of what used to be a peaceful little burg, I bumped into an acquaintance I haven’t seen for several years. When she said ‘hello’ to me, I looked at her, realized in short order who she was, and the first thought that entered my head was ‘my goodness, has she ever aged’. My next thought, following a nanosecond after my initial shocked disbelief at seeing the gray hair and other signs of age in...
The calling of cranes and the honking of geese high overhead reminds us in no uncertain terms that summer has fled, fall has arrived, and the birds have packed their bags and started their annual migrations south to warmer climates. The cawing of blackbirds as they flock up by the hundreds preparing to take flight out of this region reinforces the truth that winter will arrive sooner than we care to admit. Many bird populations travel long distances twice a year along flyways that generally...
October is National Apple Month and even though Montana is not an apple producing state I know I am enjoying the apples off of my backyard tree and the new apple crop in the grocery stores. About 2,500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the United States. The top 10 apple varieties are: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith, Rome, McIntosh, York, Idared and Jonathan. In 2008, the average U.S. consumer ate an estimated 49.8 pounds of fresh and processed apples. The old...
Change happens all the time; nothing lasts forever or remains static for very long. Some change we regard as good and embrace with open arms, while we dread and anticipate the worst case scenario when other events cause change to occur in our lives. Our outlook depends on circumstances and experience. Supposedly older people have more problems adapting to change, but I don’t believe that. Regardless of how old we are, circumstances can bring much wanted and appreciated changes which we d...
I just completed the book The Language of Flowers written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, and I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The story kept me engrossed throughout the entire book, not only because of the great prose and the plot, but also because of the different world it opened for me. The story revolves around a lonely young woman who has encased her heart in cast iron because of her life experiences. Abandoned as an infant and growing up in foster homes and group homes, her childhood experiences...
We all want to leave a lasting and significant impression on those people that are most dear to us. Planning for the future and considering the legacy you will leave is one of the most effective ways to ensure a lasting impact on the world in which you live. For many people considering their legacy, ensuring that their family members will be sufficiently cared for is of paramount importance. Making a charitable bequest is one of the easiest ways to guarantee that your legacy endures and that...
