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Packing Up My Office Castle

Packing Up My Office Castle
Greeted daily now by my co-workers as “short-timer,” I began on Monday to sort through all the stuff I had accumulated in 22 ½ years on the job, deciding what to haul home and what to pitch. I had procrastinated long enough.  I snapped a photograph from every view.  I knew this would not be an easy task. And it is indeed slow and tedious.  I find myself spending far too much...

Anasazi Beans and Elvis Bread

Anasazi Beans and Elvis Bread
So what is it that Anasazi Beans and Elvis Bread have in common?  Not a thing to my knowledge, other than both were recently prepared by Nana for the very first time.  They are not intended meal companions, but were extremely good and will be prepared often henceforth in Nana’s kitchen. Anasazi Beans were one of the few crops cultivated by the Anasazi (Native American)...

Nana Will Be Trekking

Nana Will Be Trekking
“Trek for a Cure” will be Nana’s mantra through January 14 as I enlist as many members as possible to join our Friends of the Parks’ team in support of the Susan G. Komen Race for Breast Cancer Cure fundraising event being held at Tiger Town Stadium. A special team t-shirt was designed before I left last Friday for Indy.  It was a whirlwind four days, including travel time,...

Say “Merry Christmas”

Say “Merry Christmas”
Like you, Nana receives a zillion e-mails every day.  Personal e-mails received at home are usually the kind urging a forward to all my other friends, often with the promise of good fortune to follow or just the opposite – a fate beyond comprehension. Even at the risk of doom, I rarely forward an e-mail.  The e-mails which suggest a lack of belief, conviction or that I might be...

Fresh is Always Best!

Fresh is Always Best!
I was looking for a quick and easy recipe, utilizing chicken breasts I had on hand, for an after work “eat and run” meal.  My son Norm and my grandchildren, Cameron and CayLeigh, had a very narrow window as there was tree decorating to be done back at Norm’s that same evening before his flight back to Alexandria the next day. I had a couple of days’ notice, but I had...

Sweet Success!

Sweet Success!
The smoked turkey recipe I found online at the Master Built website offered two “cooking time” options; but I knew our appointed grill master, my son Glen, would not want to be smoking a turkey for 9 ½ hours – the longer cooking time!  The recipe suggested a 19 pound- turkey; Glen smoked a turkey weighing only10 pounds following the same directions, thus reducing the...

Smoked Turkey and Yams!

Smoked Turkey and Yams!
My younger son Glen is getting an early Christmas gift (not a surprise) from Nana and his big brother Norm – a Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smokehouse.  Early because someone needs to smoke the turkey for our clan’s Thanksgiving feast and a smoker was already on Glen’s wish list.  Our option would be to order a smoked turkey as we’ve done in the past from Sonny’s...

Nana’s Wheelbarrow Bog Garden

Nana’s Wheelbarrow Bog Garden
I was pleased to help fellow master gardener Kathleen Sabatino show the little ones attending our recent Backyard Gardener’s Festival how to make a miniature bog garden.  She had done a fantastic job of putting the program together for our Dirt Day clinic at Bok Tower in September, so I knew in advance it would be an activity the kids would enjoy.  The display board she created...

Edible Landscape Plants

Edible Landscape Plants
Eat the leaves of a hibiscus?  I was so intrigued by the exhibit on Summer Salads at our Polk County Master Gardeners’ Backyard Garden Festival and Plant Sale this past weekend that I asked a friend who called me from the plant sale area to look for two of the display suggestions – a small Cranberry Hibiscus (I got the last one) and a couple of Okinawan Spinach plants. Although...

Backyard Gardener’s Festival is To...

Backyard Gardener’s Festival is Tomorrow!
Rain or shine, Polk County Master Gardeners will hold their annual Backyard Gardener’s Festival & Plant Sale beginning at 9:00 a.m., tomorrow, Oct. 29, at the Polk County Extension Service Campus.  Better known as the Bartow Ag Center to local residents, the campus is located at 1702 U.S. Highway 17 & 98 South in Bartow.  You will have until 2:00 p.m. to purchase plants,...

The Nature of Health

The Nature of Health
As we age, our health becomes our most important concern – above all else.  In too many cases, a lifetime of abusing our bodies can make our retirement years less than enjoyable as many ailments are directly related to all the wrong things we’ve done, and sometimes still do. Excessive this and that contributes to some serious health conditions that cannot be reversed in our...

RSVP No Shows Missed Incredible Event

RSVP No Shows Missed Incredible Event
An Evening with Thomas Brooks & Friends You can imagine my anxiety as I was helping Magnify Credit Union set up for last Friday’s fundraising event with “Thomas Brooks & Friends,” which they graciously and generously hosted.  Four horrendous downpours throughout the day halted the stringing of lights along the boardwalk and other preparations.  Rain, rain go away –...

Thomas Brooks Fundraising Event Tonight

Thomas Brooks Fundraising Event Tonight
Ethel Burge would have been proud.  Or so I thought until I looked up her name on the Internet.  Funny how your recollection of people and events becomes cloudy over the years!  I remembered correctly that she was a motivational speaker with the Dartnell Corporation and approximately when it might have been that I heard her speak.  I was curious about any other details that would...

Our Parks Belong to YOU

Our Parks Belong to YOU
Where but in America can an apartment dweller own millions and millions of acres of land?  True, not exclusive ownership; and sometimes there is a minimal fee for access and use of what is referred to as our public lands.  Nonetheless, of a total land area of nearly 2.3 billion acres in the United States, nearly one-third of the country belongs to its citizens – no other nation...

Christina Park Helpers

Christina Park Helpers
Nana had plenty of gardening chores that needed her attention this past weekend.  Instead of trimming a total of six cascading blue plumbago and shaping snow-on-the-mountain to hedge-like, Nana headed off to Christina Park to meet some willing helpers for a clean-up.  Nana’s Garden could wait one more weekend. I was anxious to talk with Annette Rising, a scout leader affiliated...

Celebrate the Outdoors!

Celebrate the Outdoors!
  Local naturalist and wildlife artist Thomas Brooks is a special friend to Polk County’s parks.  He stars in a commercial promoting our all-volunteer Friends of the Parks Foundation in which he touts the importance of preserving our parks, especially for our children.  In three weeks he will be center stage again in a fundraising meet the artist exhibit and reception benefit for...

Cat Naps and Makin’ Hats

Cat Naps and Makin’ Hats
Cat naps are not just for cats, of course.  Humans take cat naps, too.  We most often take our cat naps (also called power naps) in the afternoon or early evening while cats tend to nap around the clock. In general, cats sleep off and on for short periods.  However they may take long naps if they become bored.  There is no pattern of recommended sleep for cats, like the good...

Rattlebox Not a Good Choice

Rattlebox Not a Good Choice
Just because you can purchase them at a Lowe’s or Home Depot Garden Center (or elsewhere for that matter) doesn’t mean the plant you’re contemplating for your garden is a good choice for our environment. Take the Chinese Rattlebox for example.  I saw containers of this small bushy tree that grows to 15 feet for sale at Lowe’s this past week for $49.  I considered buying it...

Make the World a Better Place

Make the World a Better Place
We have two outdoor nature destinations in Polk County that make me extremely proud to live here – Circle B Bar Reserve and Bok Tower Gardens. My personal relationship with Bok Tower goes back to my early days as a county employee.  As the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s tourism publicity specialist, I then worked closely with Bok’s marketing staff to help promote its...

Last Month to Root (Poinsettias)

Last Month to Root (Poinsettias)
Who among us has not purchased or received a Christmas poinsettia?  Hoping to preserve the ones gifted by special family and friends, after the holidays Nana has been planting them in the garden since moving to Florida.  Cautioned not to bother if living in colder climates, I’ve actually heard they can grow to shrub heights in the tropics. Few of mine have survived over the...

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