It’s hard these days to put aside all of the political rancor and the effects of COVID-19 on our society. These things seemingly have taken over our lives in a way that I never thought possible. However, and it’s a big however, I look at life as a glass three-quarters full rather than half empty. There are truly silver linings under all of these clouds. One of these is the re-dedication of our attentions to the simpler things in life, a commitment to getting back to the basics in our … [Read more...] about How Healthy Animals are Part of Healthy Communities
Considering the Health Benefits of Pet Ownership
We live in a stressful time. Between our jobs or, perhaps, being out of work, our families, and all the time spent on our computers and social media, it is important that we take time for ourselves! For a lot of us, that involves spending time with our furbabies… instant relaxation for us and for them! For most of us, but especially for our veterans, a dog is sometimes a lifeline. Many soldiers return home with battle scars that are both seen and unseen. Dogs provide companionship, … [Read more...] about Considering the Health Benefits of Pet Ownership
Making Thanksgiving Safe for Pets
Thanksgiving is a special holiday, full of home cooking, visitors and gratitude, but it can also have some hazards for pets. I would like to share some tips with you to keep your pets safe and healthy through this holiday so everyone can have a good time! Overindulging in food isn’t good for humans, but for pets, it can be even worse. Fatty foods are hard for animals to digest. Poultry bones can damage your pet’s digestive tract. And holiday sweets can contain ingredients that are poisonous … [Read more...] about Making Thanksgiving Safe for Pets
Animal Rescue Volunteers Sharing a Titan-Sized Success Story
Sometimes it’s the size of a rescue organization’s network that can make all the difference in a homeless dog’s life. In this case, it was one of a rescue’s foster volunteers that alerted the rescue to a lost dog. One of the Yavapai Humane Trappers (based in Prescott) foster volunteer’s mothers lives in the Tucson area and had found a Pitbull mix that had wandered onto her property and was hiding out under her car. She immediately called her daughter, who is the foster volunteer. Katrina Karr, … [Read more...] about Animal Rescue Volunteers Sharing a Titan-Sized Success Story
Ease the Stress of 2020, Make Holiday Gift-Giving Easier
I think we can all agree: 2020 has been a long, stressful year and a year we are ready to put in the books and move forward to 2021. It is both hard to believe how quickly this year has passed and, at the same time, how long this year has been. For many, the thoughts of the approaching holiday season are both welcomed and met with some level of “I just can’t handle any more stress.” We all know the holidays can be filled with the joys of fun, food, family, friends and gifts. Yet, these same … [Read more...] about Ease the Stress of 2020, Make Holiday Gift-Giving Easier
Welcome to Hearing Aid Paradise
Advancements occur at a quick pace in the realm of hearing aids. Manufacturers are constantly developing new solutions to patients’ hearing needs, so that each successive model provides an even more natural sound quality. Phonak, one of the world’s largest hearing aid manufacturers, recently released its newest platform: Paradise. Paradise offers multiple innovations aimed at improving patient satisfaction. Sound Quality When surveyed, hearing aid users stated that their biggest concern … [Read more...] about Welcome to Hearing Aid Paradise
Up and Away: YRMC Soars to New Heights
With the drop of a beam, Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) crossed another milestone in its long-term commitment to expand and enhance medical services throughout the region. This beam, the last structural beam to fall into place, seals the framework for a new Health and Wellness Center on the campus of YRMC West in Prescott. A recent ceremony marked the event’s significance. YRMC President and CEO John Amos, along with other hospital leadership and staff, took the opportunity to sign … [Read more...] about Up and Away: YRMC Soars to New Heights
Figuring the Cost of a Home
Welcome to “At Home With Tom and Sandy.” As I always like to say, “sit back, relax and enjoy.” Several months ago, Tom and I began to introduce you to our community/industry partners so you can get to know them better, and what fun that has been. You have met Steve Simpson of Blue Line Designs; Jim Reed of Reed Brothers Construction; Christie Board, our local certified kitchen & bath designer with Board By Board Design; Tom Liuzzo, a registered land surveyor for Granite Basin Engineering; … [Read more...] about Figuring the Cost of a Home
Transitioning into the Empty Nest
In 2010, my oldest daughter, Lindsay, packed up her little Toyota Corolla and headed off to California to create a life for herself. I wept for months. She was the first to leave the nest. My youngest daughter, Stephanie, left the nest in 2014 with a short drive to Prescott Valley. This wasn’t as difficult as Lindsay’s move. I knew Stephanie was close, and it was comforting. Fast forward to present time, we have three wonderful grandsons with our daughters and their families. For an extensive … [Read more...] about Transitioning into the Empty Nest
How to Have a Very Merry Christmas Without the January Hangover
Every year, many folks head out for Christmas shopping and do not have a plan. They whip out old faithful, their Visa or MasterCard or some other preferred credit card, and spend like drunken sailors. Then, January comes. The credit card company sends you a delayed Christmas card with a price tag! Now the hangover begins. You reach for that bottle of aspirin and your stomach hurts. You feel sick. Well, Christmas does not have to end this way. It can be merry and the memories can be … [Read more...] about How to Have a Very Merry Christmas Without the January Hangover