My time in the garden is often solitary, but as I focus on a task, my head is filled with whispers. The conversation comes, unbidden — triggered by a sound, a scent or a flower. The garden is where I reconnect with people dear to me and sometimes long gone. Whenever I see the grapes […]
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Posted inThe Outdoors
Fun Facts about the Great American Eclipse — and Where You Can See It
Are you still hoping to get a peek at the “Great American Eclipse” on Aug. 21? Millions of Americans will only have to drive 60 or 70 miles to see the total eclipse, according to the GreatAmericanEclipse.com website. NASA says that the totality path, “where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s […]
Posted inAround West Sound
How to Make Your Nursing Home Visit Successful
Many people avoid visiting loved ones who reside at a nursing home. However, studies show that visits with elderly people help them stave off depression and cognitive decline and even infections and mortality. Despite these clear benefits, family members frequently confess that they would prefer to dodge awkward visits with their loved one at a […]
Posted inCommunity News
Public Invited to Ribbon Cutting Celebrating Fairground Arena Upgrades
Kitsap County Parks has completed upgrades to the equestrian arena at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds and invites the public to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon, July 30 at the north end of the fairgrounds (enter off Nels Nelson Road) during a break in the Pre-Fair Miniature Horse Show, which opens at 10 a.m. The celebration […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Enjoying Birdwatching from Aboard the Local Ferries
A ferry ride is an inexpensive way to do some birdwatching on the water. You don’t pay for an expensive guided tour. You don’t need to own or care for your own boat. Birding surprises often occur on many of the available ferry crossings throughout Western Washington’s “Inland Sea.” All ferry runs can produce good […]
Posted inAt Home
The Great Debate: What Eco-Friendly, Chemical-Free Cleaning Products Should You Use?
Spring-cleaning is more than just a phrase; it is serious business for many people. After being cooped up in the house all winter with a growing to-do list — and, for some, a case of Seasonal Affective Disorder — it can be refreshing to give your life and your home an overhaul as soon as […]
Posted inAt Home
Wonderful Washington Cherries!
It’s cherry season in Washington, and this year’s crop is better than ever! Mother Nature provided a long, cool, wet spring with warm sunshine coming just at the right time to produce beautiful, shiny, plump and very juicy cherries. Bings and Rainiers are beginning to flood the market, and this may be the biggest crop […]
Posted inAt Home
Tips for Healthy Eating
Remaining active and healthy for older adults is important. Good nutrition is vital but can diminish with age, exactly when healthy eating becomes even more paramount. Here are five tips to help keep a healthy diet as you age: Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. As we age, the sense of thirst we’re used to fades away and […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Grow More Edibles with Smart & Sustainable Keyhole Gardening
Raise your gardening efforts to a new level with keyhole gardening. You’ll increase your garden’s productivity in a smaller space, while using less water and fertilizer. This intensive technique was first used in Africa where it’s hot and dry and the topsoil is shallow. Now gardeners growing in a variety of climates around the world […]