Getting outside in winter reduces stress, improves mood and helps with social connection and physical health for both people and pets, reminds the TurfMutt Foundation. But TurfMutt, which champions the year-round care and use of backyards, public parks, school yards and other green spaces, urges pet...

Want to learn more about gardening specifically for our fine feathered friends? Plan on joining this webinar on Jan. 13 from 7 - 8 p.m. “Gardening for Birds” shares some of the interactions between birds and native plants and provides ideas for improving properties of all sizes for birds. Presenter ...

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but grandmas don’t look the same as they used to. My paternal grandmother, Ma, was short and stout – think “I’m a little teapot.” Her bosom was ample enough to enfold and comfort a weeping child or provide a nestling place for a sleeping baby. Ma’s hair was past her h...

As the new year begins, many of us resolve to eat healthier, cook more at home or reduce food waste. One resolution that often gets overlooked but protects everyone at the table is food safety. Foodborne illness affects an estimated 48 million Americans every year, leading to hospitalizations, misse...

Dear Paw’s Corner: I’ve made a resolution that I hope will resonate with many of your readers. My cat, Gerard, is six years old and has become very overweight. I can barely pick him up! Since October, I have been working with Gerard’s veterinarian to manage his weight, and things are turning around....

Exercise is an important component of overall health. Experts say that adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise each week, along with muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week. Some believe h...

Here we are, ready to wrap up another year. And there’s a new one just around the corner. What can we learn from this year to help us in the next one? Many seniors have had a rough time financially, and it doesn’t look as though things are going to get better soon. Grocery costs have been a big part...

An average of 1 million tons of additional waste are produced each week during the holiday season. Whether it’s packaging materials, items that can’t be donated or single use items, we can all work to reduce our waste this time of year! Recycling Reminders Wrapping Paper – Wrapping paper is usually ...

Planners are my weakness during this time of year, when my thoughts are leaning into the annual calendar flip on Jan. 1. I drool over the expansive versions with pages of tiny reminder stickers, pockets for birthday cards and invitations, elegant pages with witty quotes, empty lines waiting to be fi...

The Virginia Egg Council used the American Egg Board’s 2025 campaign, “Meant to be Broken,” in this year’s search for the best egg recipes that would be appropriate for holiday entertaining, gifting or enjoying. Sixteen local fairs across Virginia hosted preliminary competitions throughout the summe...

What better way to welcome in the new year than with fresh air and the peacefulness of the great outdoors? On Jan. 1, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation is hosting its annual First Day Hikes celebrations at state parks, historic sites, natural areas, canal trails,...

Have you ever had this candy? It goes by lots of names. Growing up in Oregon, we’d visit a candy shop in Cannon Beach that called it “seafoam.” My British mother called it “cinder toffee.” I’ve heard sponge toffee, golden crunchers, hokey pokey and fairy food, but “honeycomb candy” seems to be the m...

“My husband has a lot of tools at home. Do you have any ideas on what I could get him?” I’ve heard this so many times as a hardware store sales associate. Why does it have to be so hard to find great gifts for the people we’re closest to? Country Culture has your back! We’ve compiled an extensive id...

The holiday season often means a full calendar and even fuller grocery lists, making meal planning more important than ever. Whether you’re planning a full menu for the celebration of the season or repurposing leftovers, the “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand, funded by beef farmers, has the reci...

The holiday season has officially begun, which means many of us are about to jump on a month-long juggling act involving gift lists, grocery lists, guest lists and the occasional existential crisis in the snack aisle. (Or is that just me?) But here’s the good news: Holiday entertaining does not have...