In this time of turmoil, anticipation of what is to come, and uncertainity of the complexion of our lives, we wonder. We wonder about the kindness and consideration of people who show us how to live under normal circumstances and in times of unusual stress.

My friends and I are in the almost “empty nest” stage of life. Our children are either in their final years of high school or have recently graduated and are moving on with their own lives.

The majority of Tennessee Valley Authority developed recreation areas and six dam reservation campgrounds reopened Friday. The areas were closed in March as part of the overall federal and state response to slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

I’m not quite sure from where the motivation came, but years ago one of my goals, when I began to seriously make the professional speaking circuit, was to make a speech in each of the 50 United States.

I wouldn’t make it. I am so positive of this that I’ve instructed my husband that if an apocalypse befalls, he is to cut me loose. This is not an act of martyrdom. This is the cold, hard truth of accepting that I’m not equipped to handle a Jupiter Effect, Zombie, Interplanetary Contamination…

We sat in the rocking chairs at Saddlebrook this past week and the conversations varied in many directions. Who is moving in or who is moving out? Where did you get your mask and it matches your outfit.

From staff reports

As the weather gets warmer and the sun shines longer, many of us are spending more time outdoors. While that bright sunshine has a positive impact on your mood, it has a negative impact on your skin. The sun’s rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. It’s important to protect yo…

Frequent questions from pond owners often reveals a bad decision by someone in the past. People unintentionally harm pond environments by releasing inappropriate fish, dumping aquarium organisms, transferring water from a river or using contaminated equipment. Inappropriate organisms, or the…

Since there are many people learning the experiences of gardening this year, let’s focus for a few weeks on flowers.

In last week’s column I wrote of how, in the face of our being required to practice social distancing due to the coronavirus, we have, in fact, been becoming more distant socially in the post-modern era for quite some time now.

Each morning I wake up with the usual aches and pains. I remove my CPAP and start my day. I wash my face and try to control the bozo the clown look of my hair due to the result of wearing the CPAP. I fill my tissue with the pills I need to take this morning and wrap them carefully as not to …

This will definitely be a “victory garden” year and it’s easy to see that fact with the lack of seeds, plants, and garden supplies in our local stores.

Perilla mint causes more cattle deaths in Tennessee than any other toxic plant. Also known as: beefsteak plant, common perilla, purple perilla, purple mint, shiso, Chinese basil, wild basil, blueweed, Joseph’s coat, wild coleus, and rattlesnake weed, Perilla mint is very poisonous to cattle …

There is something in the human spirit that leads us to ways to survive. This is an example of how mankind shows it ability to reach out and find the ways to communicate our love and concern for each other. During these past weeks it has been illustrated in many ways.

My parenting style has evolved with each child. In the beginning, I thought it was my job to protect my children in such a way that nothing bad would ever happen to them. When my oldest was born, any signal of discomfort was catered to. It wasn’t long before that little boy knew exactly what…

Robert Fulghum wrote an interesting book a few years ago titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” As best I can recall, one of the lessons he learned in kindergarten was How to Follow Directions. I learned that lesson in kindergarten. So, as we continue to fight the coro…

Mention crabgrass as a good summer forage for livestock and you will often get a laugh. Even though it has a reputation as a lawn weed, crabgrass is a high quality, very palatable grass that is excellent forage for grazing livestock. It is a summer annual grass that germinates in spring, gro…

Many people are receiving an economic stimulus check. What are you going to do with your money? Sit down together with your family and prepare a plan. It’s a proven fact that managed money goes further.