Features

When was the last time you built your own sundae? Drop whatever you’re doing on Saturday, July 24, and join the Heritage Association of San Marcos from 2-4 p.m. at the quaint, historic Charles S. Cock House to chill out with an ice cold favorite. The great thing about ice cream is that it makes people smile and connects us as we sit back to relax with others. The Cock House is home to the Cottage

‘Good Golly Miss Molly How Beautiful You Are’ is just the response one of my Facebook followers wrote upon seeing my post. This was a statement of awe about one of the best butterfly bushes in the market and not my incredible photo of a Pipevine Swallowtail feeding on it. But that is OK Pat I agree with you!

What parent hasn’t heard their child utter the familiar phrase “I’m bored” at some point? Despite a seemingly vast array of toys, electronics and other items at their disposal, children can be quick to sulk and say there’s nothing to do. Parents can counter “I’m bored” with these eight boredom-busting activities that are certain to help pass the time in entertaining and sometimes educational ways.

Q. Are bumble bees and honey bees the same? What’s the difference? How can I learn more about bees?

My journey this week took me to Jim Baker, a follower of Jesus and old friend, who presently resides in Johnson City. I quote some scriptures he gave me about this week’s subject — poverty.

It can be easy to forget to apply sunscreen when a sunny summer day beckons you to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. But forgetting to apply sunscreen before spending time in the sun is a potentially deadly mistake. According to the World Health Organization, one in every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer. In addition, the Skin Cancer Foundation notes that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. The discomfort of a sunburn might seem relatively harmless, but the relationship between sunburns and cancer risk is significant. The SCF notes that having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma, a type of skin cancer that often and quickly spreads to nearby lymph nodes. Perhaps that’s one reason why the American Cancer Society reports that the number of new invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually increased by 47% between 2010 and 2020. Avoiding sunburn by applying and reapplying a broadspectrum sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 should be a priority for anyone spending time outdoors.

My wet-weather creek has finally dried up; it was nice while it lasted. If we’ll get about a five-inch downpour, it will burble again.

There may be little time in the schedule to prepare homemade breakfasts and enjoy a leisurely morning meal on weekdays. But once the weekend arrives, home cooks can experiment with tasty treats that fill homes with decadent aromas and rouse late sleepers from their slumber.