Lifestyle – Country Culture

Lifestyle

Andy Haman

Posted on October 21, 2025

12 a.m., October 1. Like a flick of the switch, it arrived. We’ll still have some days that feel like summer – but by and large, autumn is here to stay. We find ourselves back on that magical roller coaster that is the holiday gauntlet of Oct. 1 to Jan. 1. This writer loves this time of year – stres...

Lifestyle

Burn candles safely for the holidays and beyond

Posted on October 20, 2025

Candles are not in short supply come the holiday season. During Chanukah, candles are an integral component of celebrating the miracle of oil that burned in the Temple for eight days. Celebrants of Kwanzaa utilize candles to represent the seven principles of the holiday. Christians light candles dur...

Lifestyle

A beginner’s guide to wreath-making

Posted on October 13, 2025

Wreaths are popular decorative items that can be customized for any season or occasion. Wreaths are particularly popular during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially when adorned with evergreen boughs and berries. Learning how to make a wreath can be a handy skill. Those new to wr...

Lifestyle

Around the Kitchen Table: Bring back the Tacky Party

Tamra M. Bolton

Posted on October 11, 2025

Going through a stack of photos from the late 1960s, I ran across some hilarious pictures of one of Mom and Dad’s many social gatherings – a tacky party. Usually scheduled for some time in October, it was our church’s answer to the more common Halloween costume party. It was the only time I remember...

Lifestyle

It’s Firewood Month: Do you know what’s in your wood?

Posted on October 10, 2025

Most people don’t spend much time thinking about firewood. If it’s split and dry, it’s good to go, right? Well, maybe not. In recognition of Firewood Month, Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is sharing some firewood facts to help you make safe firewood choices to protect your state’s trees and for...

Lifestyle

Dress up dessert with a black-tie cake

Posted on October 8, 2025

Many occasions call for cake as a centerpiece dessert. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or holiday celebration, having a go-to cake recipe on hand can ensure that guests get a slice of dessert that truly treats their palates. The good news is that homemade cake is easier than you would think to...

Lifestyle

Using paint to capture stone

Enrico Villamaino

Posted on October 3, 2025

Robert Kroeger’s latest book, “ Stone Barns of America ,” is more than just a collection of photographs and facts. It is a testament to the artistry, history and determination etched in the walls of stone barns scattered across the country. Released in 2025, this book, like its predecessors, isn’t j...

Lifestyle

Burn candles safely for the holidays and beyond

Posted on September 29, 2025

Lifestyle

Keep pets safe this Halloween

Posted on September 29, 2025

Halloween is an annual celebration that many children and adults look forward to each October. From the mysterious and the macabre to the goofy and gregarious, Halloween speaks to people in many different ways. And with the opportunity to accumulate several pounds of sugary treasure after a few hour...

Lifestyle

Tips to winterize your vehicle

Posted on September 29, 2025

The elements pose a unique challenge to motor vehicles, and that’s particularly notable when seasons change. Though the shift from spring to summer or even summer to fall may not be too significant, drivers who want to safeguard their vehicles would be wise to take certain measures to prepare their ...

Gardening Farming, Lifestyle

Beware yellowjackets

Laura Rodley

Posted on September 23, 2025

Hiking, hunting, harvesting? Going for a walk in the woods? Riding your horse? Mowing your lawn? Picking apples? Beware of yellowjackets. “Historically, they always come out this time of year to feast on aster and goldenrod,” said Mary Wigmore, owner of Ashfield, MA-based Wigmore Forest Resource Man...

Lifestyle

Over 1,200 students participate in NYS High School Clay Target League fall season

Posted on September 22, 2025

The fall season is underway for 1,252 student athletes on 95 high school teams participating in New York State High School Clay Target League (NYSHSCTL) programs. The NYSHSCTL is a part of the USA Clay Target League, which provides clay target shooting sports as an extracurricular activity to thousa...

Lifestyle

Fall fun: TurfMutt Foundation shares five ways to get outdoors this autumn

Posted on September 19, 2025

The TurfMutt Foundation is encouraging families to take advantage of autumn’s cooler temperatures and vivid scenery by spending more time in their own backyards and local green spaces. Outdoor activity in the autumn months isn’t just enjoyable – getting outside is linked to lower stress, sharper foc...

Lifestyle

Help #STOPTrackTragedies during See Tracks? Think Train Week 2025

Posted on September 16, 2025

Every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train – a devastating reminder that rail safety education remains a critical issue. Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) and Operation Lifesaver Canada are leading a joint rail safety awareness campaign Sept. 15 – 21 highlighting the importanc...

Lifestyle

What is best when it comes to home heating?

Andy Haman

Posted on September 13, 2025

Though we’re likely a few weeks from the imperative need to turn on the heat, we all know that time is coming. The afternoons may still be peaking on the heat index, but those cool mornings are quite the tease. Heating your home is always an in-depth conversation – primarily for homeowners, though i...