Lifestyle

Ask anyone worthy of the title of herbalist to vote on most drool worthy cinematic kitchen, and we’ll all chime in with the same answer. Did you like how I did that? Yeah, so I’m no herbalist. True, I did recently locate my copy of Odena’s Texas Herb Book from Odena Brannam’s Lavender Hill Herb Farm in Pleasant Grove. If you weren’t fortunate enough to accidentally trip upon Ms. Brannam’s home on Quinn Drive in the early 90’s, you really missed a whole mood. From the surprise appearances of her hilariously witty septuagenarian roommate/brother, Audrey, to a passel of odd stray cats, to a black snake deemed both welcome and friendly, all sorts of crazy things happened on the farm with its front room serving as equal parts cash register and apothecary. Like I said, it was a whole mood. But, we’ll devote another column on another day to Odena’s place. We’re here to talk about dream kitchens for those of us who love random tree branches resting on upper cabinets where bundles of herbs and roses hang to dry. Because, if you know your way around a good peppermint tincture and your favorite doctor is named Bombay, there’s only one kitchen you want to stock with your limes to put in your coconuts. It’s gotta be the kitchen from the iconic Practical Magic house.

I have always enjoyed reading about the mountain men that were the first white men to explore and eventually open up the western United States. I’ve often ‘pondered’ upon what they ate and how they lived in an often hostile environment. We have all read about how they would shoot a buffalo or deer and enjoy an evening meal of fresh meat cooked over an open fire but I’m sure even those hardy souls did not live on meat alone. I’ve read accounts from journals that included ‘wildfowl’ eggs, berries, roots and just about anything else they could find to supplement a steady diet of meat.

Donuts are beloved breakfast staples. A glazed doughnut to go with morning coffee on the way to work is a morning ritual for many people.

Powerful thunderstorms full of lightning can occur at any time of the year, but they are most prevalent when the weather is warm. Moisture and warmth are crucial to thunderstorms, and they form when the air is unstable.

Our backyards are some of the best places to spend the summer months, especially if you’re practicing social distancing and are tired of being cooped up indoors. Fortunately, it’s possible to transform your outdoor living space into a secluded, open-air retreat.

Warm weather beckons people outdoors to enjoy days at the beach, bike rides in the park or hours in the pool. However, when the weather gets too hot, prolonged time outdoors can adversely affect overall health. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke pose significant threats to anyone who spends ample time outdoors in hot weather. The Mayo Clinic says symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, rapid pulse, dizziness, fatigue, moist skin with goose bumps, muscle cramps, nausea, and headache. When someone suffering any of these symptoms does not immediately move into a cool location, they may develop heatstroke. Heatstroke arises when one’s body temperature climbs to 104 degrees, according to Penn Medicine. A body at this temperature may experience damage to the muscles, heart, kidneys, and brain. Flushed skin, altered mental state and rapid breathing may occur when suffering from heatstroke. A notable symptom of heatstroke is that perspiration stops completely. Rehydration, cooling the body and loosening tight clothes can help prevent serious consequences.

Since 1971, a special group of law enforcement officers have been responsible for the safety, security and protection of the natural jewels in Texas and those who visit them. In 2021, Texas State Park Police celebrate a half-century of serving these special places and the 10 million state park annual visitors.

When I was a child, after the laundromat my father owned turned first into a pool hall & next into an appliance repair business, my father drove a van. It was a retired Sears & Roebuck repair van of a certain blue-green color, almost/not quite, a pastel – way before Tiffany’s was on my radar. Call it turquoise or light teal or, when I attempted to present him with a Crayola van rendering, sea green layered over cadet blue, his van was my first experience with the serene, relaxing Tiffany hue. Turns out, that’s a big no-no in the commercial vehicle auction process. Sears required him to paint the van per terms of the sale. So, in Ted fashion, he turned to his BFF, local Seagoville wrecker operator Charlie Ballard, for a remedy. Charlie reckoned they could paint it themselves. Why, he even had a professional automotive paint sprayer at his garage. And, paint it, they did. I’ll never forget the time my mom went on a girl’s trip to Memphis with her mom & sister. While they were touring Graceland and snapping roughly 200 triple exposed pictures of the Peabody ducks – to this day when I see articles on those ducks, I envision duck world domination – my dad was left behind to care for me, his 10-year-old kiddo. That included taking and picking me up from school. Technically, there was a bus that ran right by my house, but I was a painfully shy kid. The year before, the bus driver couldn’t remember my name. She also couldn’t remember where I lived on the rural route road. Her solution was to pump the brakes, bring the bus to a screeching halt, and yell, “Ted, where’s your house?” I suffered from bus PTSD from that day forward. So, color me Crayola red violet when the all new, Ballard & Stilwell rendition of the Sears van pulled up to Central Elementary School one fateful afternoon. I mean, I heard Mrs. R. Jones (never to be confused with Mrs. S. Jones) going on and on about a red van, but I was too busy stressing out about the upcoming field day & how mortified I was when I learned they were forcing us to compete in at least one activity. I had reluctantly chosen the lemon twist marathon, since at least it did not require running. That’s when I realized there was a vaguely familiar noise that sounded equal parts like a sick goose, a model T Ford, and the cartoon character whose eyes popped out when a pretty lady walked by. “AhhhhhhOOOOOOOOga, AhhhhhhOOOOOOOga,” went the noise. Snapping out of my movie reel daze of my mangled ankle wrapped in a lemon twist while a gaggle of mean girls screamed “Ted, Ted” at the tops of their lungs, I looked across the parking lot. There, parked illegally in the bus lane, no less, was the brightest, glossiest, candy apple-est RED VAN I had ever seen. And, right down the middle, ran a stark, white horizontal stripe. A girl who shall remain nameless, no doubt someone who’d signed up for the 100 yd dash, sashayed by me with a disdainful look on her face. “Does your dad drive a Coca Cola van or something?” Oh, the shame.

Chicken drumsticks or angus beef burgers may be the stars of summertime grilling, but classic side dishes can enhance any meal.

Pets are beloved members of many families. In the U.S alone, about 85 million families own a pet. According to the American Pet Products Association, many of us also drive with our furry friends, from quick trips to the veterinarian’s office to longer road trip adventures.

Children have a seemingly endless supply of energy. Channeling that energy into something positive can benefit kids’ minds and bodies.

Who hasn’t been spending more time at home lately? Many families have perfected the balance of managing a household in which kids may be engaged in virtual learning while Mom and Dad are putting in a full day’s work from the home office. At several points during the day, families need to recharge. Having nutritious snacking choices on hand can tame hunger in a healthy way.

Experts predict allergy season to be exceptionally severe this spring, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network. Rising global temperatures and a forecast of warm, dry air this spring after a winter of heavy snow could significantly increase pollen production. This comes after a year many people spent mostly indoors in quarantine.