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Are you looking to try canning at home but it seems overwhelming or are you unsure how to do it safely? Join us for a free “Essentials of Canning” demonstration on Thursday, October 13 at the Big Sandy Library from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. Topics will include equipment, safe canning methods for different foods, resources, recipes and an overview of how to can. Home canning has changed significantly since it was introduced over 180 years ago which is why it is important to use up-to-date safe canning guidelines which have been scientifically teste...
With the beginning of the holiday season comes gatherings centered around delicious and anticipated food. Let the focus be enjoying social interactions and tasty morsels of food and not about getting sick from foodborne illnesses. Below is a list of reminders to keep food safe during the hecticness of the holiday season. • Start with clean hands – wash with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling any food. Not only does this reduce the spread of bacteria, but it is also key to not spreading harmful viruses since vir...
A recent “Getting By” article included information about accessing your free annual credit report. There are some important things to look for when reviewing your credit report. One of the first things to check is your personally identifiable information, such as names, addresses and Social Security number. Next, check to make sure you recognize all of the accounts and loans listed. Incorrect or unrecognizable information is concerning. Businesses, potential employers and other parties you have submitted applications to are making dec...
I’m round and grow under the ground. My tall green tops taste good in soups and salads, but my red or golden root tastes nice and sweet. What am I? Answer: Beet For those who grow a garden, is there anyone else who just recently dug up the rest of their crop of beets? Am I the only one? Regardless of having a garden or not, fresh beets may be a favorite of some people, but others may never have eaten or prepared them. The color of beets range from dark purple to bright red, yellow or white. One variety, Chioggia and nicknamed “candy cane”, is r...
Free Annual Credit Reports Each year, I like to remind everyone about accessing and checking their free annual credit report. It is Federal law you can get a free credit report every twelve months from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). There is one official site to get your free annual credit report. It is AnnualCreditReport.com. They can also be reached at (877)322-8228. There are other look-alike sites which claim their credit reports are free. In the end, the look-alike sites claiming...
Winter Squash – Quick and Easy Prep is Possible Spaghetti, pumpkin, acorn, butternut, hubbard, buttercup are all delicious and nutritious squash varieties to include in fall and winter meals. Do you enjoy eating them but put off fixing them for a meal because of the dreaded preparation? Do you have a difficult time peeling and cutting them raw? The solution is either roasting in the oven or, my personal preference, pressure cooking. Whether you have a stove top or an electric pressure cooker, you will get the same great results. The d...
Although September is almost behind us, I could not miss my opportunity to put in my annual plug for this month being National Sewing Month. This past year brought new sewing enthusiasts into the world of sewing as well as those who used to sew back. Motivations of why people sew vary from relieving stress to a way of saving money, although many would say it is an expensive hobby. If you have not caught the sewing bug yet but have been thinking about it, here is some information to get you started. If you are worried about the cost of sewing,...
It is no new concept to say each one of us reacts differently in stressful times. When faced with tough situations, many factors control the physical and emotional responses we have as individuals. It may not always make sense to view how others are responding or feeling. We may even question our own reactions or feelings from our body. Have you noticed yourself or perhaps someone else who may be maxed out with stress levels? Are you looking for additional information, unsure if you should do anything or do not know what to do? Reaching out to...
Stress and/or keeping your body in one position for an extended amount of time, such as sitting, negatively impacts muscles by causing them to get tense and tight. Tight muscles can make daily activities such as standing, bending or walking difficult. Keeping your muscles flexible is important for maintaining mobility and independence of performing your daily activities. Our muscles can be compared to rubber bands. The longer and more elastic the rubber band, the more force it can endure and the less likely it will break. When muscles and...
Do you love making wearable items, quilts or afghans from wool fabric or yarn? If so, the Make It With Wool (MIWW) Contest is for you! If you knit, crochet, spin, weave, felt, sew or quilt, consider entering the MIWW contest coming up in November. The MIWW contest promotes the beauty, comfort and versatility of wool fabrics/yarns/fibers, encourages personal creativity, recognition of creative skills and development of life skills. Here are the details. The District 3 (Blaine, Broadwater, Cascade, Chouteau, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Lewis...
Looking forward to being outside with the sunny days we have had and are yet to come? While we all have much to keep us busy outside, we may forget the harm the sun exposure can cause. Whether you are working or recreating, long days in the sun can be a serious health hazard in the form of various skin cancers and other health concerns. Cumulative sun exposure is a major factor in the development of skin cancer. The sun’s rays are more damaging during the summer months and during the midday hours (10 am – 4 pm,) even when it is cloudy. In addit...
With the increase of outdoor cooking happening, a reminder about food safety seemed appropriate for this time of year. Preparing and cooking food safely helps prevent harmful bacteria from making us sick. Whether you are prepping the food inside or outside, the same following principles are important. - Keep everything clean. This includes hands, utensils, platters, cutting/prep boards and tables/counters. Do not use the same equipment for cooked foods that you did for raw foods. Clean between using with raw foods before using for cooked...
Who is excited about it being time to pick the rhubarb? If you could see me, you would see me jumping up and down waiving my arms. It took a lot for me to resist the urge to pick the rhubarb when it was just a few inches tall. We all have our favorite recipes, but do you find yourself struggling to decide which recipe to make first? Maybe it is just me. If you are leaning towards a rhubarb pie but looking for a quicker recipe, a rhubarb galette may be just what you want. Galette, also called rustic pie, is French in origin. It is a single...
Do you find yourself falling short of drinking water during the day? You know you should but it just does not happen. Many of us could increase our water intake. But why? What is the purpose of water in our bodies? - Water fuels muscles to keep them working by transporting oxygen, fat and glucose. Muscles contain 75 percent water so a lot of water is required to maintain and even gain additional muscle. - Water maintains good blood volume which helps cushion and lubricate joints and assists with cardiovascular health. - Water helps fight off...
The annual RECYCLING BONANZA is back this year. It will be held Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Dedman Foundation Animal Shelter at 2400 High Street in Fort Benton. We will be accepting recyclable scrap metal and appliances, household batteries (sorted by chemical type), clothing and shoes (gently used or better), paint (usable condition, all kinds), steel canned food cans (rinsed and label removed), aluminum cans, tabs removed from the aluminum cans, mixed paper including copy/printer paper, newspapers and magazines, c...
The food being promoted through Montana Harvest of the Month for April is chickpeas. Harvest of the Month is a program which showcases Montana grown foods. You will see posters and events in the schools, other education facilities and healthcare institutions across Montana. These places promote the locally grown item by serving it as a meal and/or snack along with displaying educational literature and displays. Many of your children may have mentioned during school they learned about these locally grown items and/or had a taste test. The...
There are three methods people can transfer their property to beneficiaries when they pass away. The three methods are: contractual arrangements, written wills or Montana intestate succession statutes (laws for those who did not have a written will). For this article, we will look at contractual arrangements. Contractual arrangements specifically provide for the passing of property or assets to a beneficiary and are considered transfers taking effect at death. Some examples of assets which provide the naming of beneficiaries through...
With the “spring forward” of the clocks this past weekend, it is a good reminder to give some attention to those forgotten, yet important household tasks which may be overdue. An important one to start with is your fire alarms. While testing the fire alarm with the test button is the first thing you should do, it is also important to check the date of manufacture and replace fire alarms if older than 10 years from the manufacture date. Even though the test button works, it is only confirming the battery and alarm alert system is functioning--it...
National Poison Prevention Week, March 21-27 How safe do you think your house is of poisonous household products? Poison is all around us, affecting anyone, anytime. The best preventative measure to avoid poisoning, is to take the time to look around for poisonous products which are at an accessible by height by children, use child resistant closures and use the products according to the manufacturer’s label. One household product to be are of is liquid laundry detergent packets. These contain highly concentrated amounts of the detergents. T...
Twenty-four hours, 1440 minutes or 86,400 seconds per day. Regardless of how you think of it, every day has the same amount of time. But, somehow, it feels like the time in a day decreases the more tasks and responsibilities we face in our lives. February is National Time Management Month. However, as one source cited—the term “time management” is a misnomer—you cannot manage time. You can manage the events in your life in relation to time and how you use the time depends on self-analysis, planning, evaluation and self-control. Time is both val...
Heart Disease Risk Factors Every February is American Heart Month, raising awareness about preventing heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Approximately 47 percent of all Americans have at least 1 of 3 key risk factors for heart disease – high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. In addition, other medical conditions and lifestyle choices put individuals at a higher risk for heart disease such as diabetes, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, overweight and obesity a...
Have you been hearing about mindful eating but wonder what it means? Mindful eating helps us learn to listen to what our body is telling us about hunger and satisfaction. Mindful eating helps us focus on the present moment and the sensory pleasures of eating. By incorporating the below mindful eating strategies, you are more likely to improve your relationship with food and your health. It is not about what you eat, instead, how you eat. Here are some strategies for incorporating mindfulness while you eat: 1. Before eating, take 5 deep breaths...
Do you feel like you have been hit with a heavy brick at the beginning of the year when you realize how much you spent last year? Whether it was the holiday season, or you began collecting the required documentation for completing your taxes, it can be easy to lose track of what you spent. Even if you track your expenses very closely throughout the year, the end of the year totals can still be a shock. If you are someone who does not track your expenses, maybe you are thinking it is something you need to start. While you may have the best of...
As I was doing some laundry recently, after checking the laundry tag, I was reminded how many different laundry codes there are and how puzzling they can be. If you are someone who follows laundering labels, have you noticed there are no longer any words, just symbols? How can one know what they all mean? Some of you reading this are likely saying you never check the laundry label. What is the big deal? The big deal is not all fabrics are made for laundering in the washing machine and could be ruined if the laundry care label is not followed...
During the chilly months, we rely on appliances and equipment to keep our living and work areas warm. Please be aware fossil fuel burning appliances and equipment produce carbon monoxide. Some of these include gas and oil furnaces, boilers and water heaters, and gas, oil and kerosene space heaters. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, deadly gas making it very dangerous. High concentrations can cause death within just a few minutes of breathing it in while lower levels can make you sick. When appliances and equipment are...
