Benjamin Franklin left a legacy of accomplishment as a printer, innovator, author, public servant and statesman. Two centuries later, we still consider this founding father as one of the greatest Americans. Yet, at his passing, Franklin left behind something in addition to a life of great work. In 1789, just before his death, Franklin revised his will, leaving 2,000 sterling pounds – the equivalent at the time to about $9,000 – to be distributed as low-interest loans to tradesmen in Boston … [Read more...] about Understanding the Lasting Impact of Legacy Giving
Columnists
Giving Your New Pet Time to Adjust
People seem to think that when they adopt a new dog or cat and bring it home that it’s going to be like a Hallmark movie, and they will fit in right away! Sometimes they do; sometimes they don’t! One of the hardest things is seeing a dog or cat be adopted and so happy to go home and then one or two days later, they are brought back because that animal “wasn’t what we expected” or “didn’t fit in.” It can take up to three months for them to feel like they are home! That’s why it’s so important … [Read more...] about Giving Your New Pet Time to Adjust
Living a Life of Gratitude
Grateful people are happier and healthier. It may seem cliché but there’s research to prove focusing on the good in life improves your physical, social and emotional well-being. It helps you unearth more meaning in your life, sleep better and cope positively with stress. What is Gratitude? Gratitude is a positive, but complex, emotion with several interpretations. Some say it’s the action of saying thank you when someone gives something. Others say it has a biological and societal … [Read more...] about Living a Life of Gratitude
Supporting Youth Mental Health
Earlier this month, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated that young people are facing overwhelming mental health effects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation. This 53-page report noted that the pandemic intensified already widespread mental health issues. Dr. Murthy issued an urgent call to address the youth mental health crisis. The Surgeon General also recognizes what we know to be true: that mental health cannot be treated separately from our overall … [Read more...] about Supporting Youth Mental Health
Growing Edible Plants
It’s the start of a new year, with new plant deliveries already arriving for the season. This is a rather interesting list of plants used to dress up and decorate the garden - and they are surprisingly tasty. Indigenous people have known many of these plants since the beginning. Here is a listing of some edible perennials that may surprise you and favorites for the backyard. All are available at Watters Garden Center or are being shipped in a few weeks. Bamboo Panda bears enjoy munching … [Read more...] about Growing Edible Plants
Staying Resilient as We Age
What is resiliency and can it help us as we age? Being resilient means you bounce back after a challenge in your life. A few examples of these challenges are: hearing bad news about a loved one, a death or illness of a loved one, a change in your health, a big change in life such as retirement or moving from where you live. Being resilient does not mean you do not feel all the emotions, because you do! You feel it all, and that is actually a part of being resilient: being open and honest … [Read more...] about Staying Resilient as We Age
How to Recognize a Scam
Let’s say you receive a call like this: “Hello, I am Agent Smith from the IRS. You owe $2,368 plus interest. If you don’t pay immediately, we will issue a warrant for your arrest!” Then the caller proceeds to tell you to go get prepaid gift cards and send them to some P.O. Box. Well, if you have gotten a call like this, there is good news! It is not the IRS and you are not in any trouble. The bad news is that it is a scam. I hope you did not fall for it! Have you ever received a call … [Read more...] about How to Recognize a Scam
Anticipating Another Strong Seller’s Market
The real estate market outlook for 2022 is for a strong year on most accounts but a year that may seem quite boring compared to 2021. The projections call for a continued seller’s market, but with less frenetic activity and competitive bidding than we experienced in 2021. To get an idea of the overall national real-estate market, typically we sell about five-and-a-half million homes across the country each year. Last year, close to seven million homes sold. In 2022, that number is projected … [Read more...] about Anticipating Another Strong Seller’s Market
Eating Healthy Food is Part of Self-Care
When you hear the term “self-care,” what comes to mind? For many years, I have thought that self-care involved getting a massage, receiving a luxurious facial, hiking in our beautiful forests, attending a fancy retreat, relaxing in a bubble bath, reading a good book and listening to jazz music with some lighted candles. Through the years, I have found that self-care was holding my grandsons and rocking them to sleep after storytime or sitting on the porch and watching deer walk through the … [Read more...] about Eating Healthy Food is Part of Self-Care
Is Cheaper Feed Really Cheaper to Feed?
There are several factors that go into what you choose to feed your horses. With commodity prices on the rise, price per bag is probably high on the list – but when you break it down, the cheapest bag you can buy might not actually be the cheapest way to ensure your horse gets the nutrients he needs.The three types of formulas are constant nutrition, fixed formula and least-cost formula. Constant nutrition formulas use the same nutrition in every bag. This means all the ingredients in a bag with … [Read more...] about Is Cheaper Feed Really Cheaper to Feed?