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Have you heard the “bored” word yet from the kids? Here are some low cost ideas you could keep handy for those times you just cannot think of suggestions for your own kids or maybe even a plan for a group event. • Visit the animal shelter • Visit a fire station • Have cooking lessons at home (bake bread, make homemade ice cream, grandma’s cookies) • Take a drive to the local historical roadside sites • Learn to knit or do needlework • Get a giant piece of paper and colored pencils and draw your dream house interior view with all the details • P...
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 addition, exposure is increased when around bright surfaces such as sand, water, snow and concrete and at higher altitudes. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can res...
No matter how hard one tries, it seems like stains on your clothes are inevitable and it is a constant battle in trying to get them out. The key to stain removal is to catch and treat the stains before they go through the washing machine and, most importantly, before drying. Quick and cautious stain removal will keep clothes in wearable condition longer and helps reduce clothing costs. The fiber content and the suggested care of the fabric will determine how you should approach removing stains. The following information is applicable to...
Whether you rent or own the residence where you live, it is very important to be aware of the link between you and your family’s health and your housing. There can be common housing issues that may affect the health of you and your family. Monitoring and maintaining a healthy home can alleviate or prevent many health-related issues such as allergies, asthma, falls/accidents, contamination/exposures and many more. What is a healthy home? A healthy home is: - Dry - Clean - Pest-Free - Safe and Accessible - Well Maintained - Contaminant-Free - W...
With the encouragement of eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, there comes the food safety concerns, especially when they are eaten raw. The Food and Drug Administration strongly recommends washing raw fruits and vegetables before you peel, cut, eat or cook with them. This reduces the bacteria that may be present on the fresh produce and is the best way to reduce the risks for food-borne illnesses/food poisoning. Here are some recommended ways to wash fresh produce for safe consumption and retained quality: 1. Start by washing your...
Chouteau County 4-H Youth Development Upcoming Events* June 3, 2016 4-H Project/Demonstration Day (all ages)—an opportunity for youth to participate in hands-on activities while learning and experiencing project areas that help them discover new interests or advance in those they have already found. 4-H members also develop their communication and leadership skills by presenting demonstrations, speeches and illustrated talks. June 6-8, 2016 4-H Junior Leadership Camp (age 13 and older), Saint Mary MT—includes fun interactive workshops and activ...
Because private wells are not monitored for drinking water quality standards like municipal water sources are, you might want to consider testing your private well water supply. Even if you do have good water quality, routine testing is a good idea to establish a water quality record. If a contaminant problem suddenly appears, it is easier to correlate what the cause is. This is where the Montana Well Educated Program comes in. A kit is available at the Chouteau County Extension Office located at 1308 Franklin St in Fort Benton or by calling 40...
VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED during the Recycling Bonanza on Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Dedman Foundation Animal Shelter parking area at 2400 High St in Fort Benton. Any amount of time you could be there would be greatly appreciated. With the annual Recycling Bonanza coming up, the theme of decluttering and organization comes to mind. With the weather having been as nice as it has been, this probably does not feel like the time to be Spring cleaning inside. However, when those spare moments arise or the weather forces y...
April is National Stress Awareness Month Seventy-five to ninety percent of doctors’ visits are for stress-related illnesses or conditions according to the American Institute of Stress. Even though it is healthy to have moderate amounts of stress in our lives, especially for motivation to getting tasks accomplished, too much stress is harmful and can become a financial burden for treatment(s) of the related conditions and illnesses. There are many ways to help manage or cope with stress. However, in order to manage stress, we need to be able t...
We all know we should do more of this but we do not seem to do it. It is to drink more water. Although there are many people who do drink water as their beverage of choice, many others could definitely increase our water intake. But why? You have heard all of these before but here they are again as a reminder. Water: - Fuels muscles by transporting oxygen, fat and glucose to keep them working. Muscles contain 75 percent water so a lot of water is required to maintain that level or even more to gain muscle. - Maintains good blood volume which...
High sodium consumption raises blood pressure which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Blood pressure begins decreasing within weeks on average when salt/sodium intake is reduced. Although we all need a small amount of sodium in order for our bodies to work properly, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests less than 2300 milligrams (mg) per day. Other possible benefits of reducing your sodium intake that are still being researched are: reduced risk of gastro-esophageal cancer, reduced left ventricular mass and preserved...
Ah, leftovers—some people love them and others hate them. If you are a fan, there are a few important recommendations for handling leftovers safely. First, it is important the meal was initially cooked to the recommended safe internal temperatures. Within two hours of cooking or after it is removed from being kept warm, your leftovers should be cooled rapidly to keep the food out of the danger zone of between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F. Package leftovers tightly and promptly for storage in the refrigerator or freezer. For big batches, l...
Under the new federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) released in January 2016, the emphasis is on the overall importance of healthy eating patterns. They are not suggesting one eating pattern that everyone should follow but, instead, improving the quality of individuals’ current diets. Half of the US population is estimated to be suffering from preventable, diet-related chronic diseases. Lasting improvements to an individual’s health can happen by shifting to healthier eating patterns. Here are some key pieces of information under the...
On Monday, March 14, 2016 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Memorial Ambulance Building (810 15th St) in Fort Benton, Dr. Marsha A. Goetting, Professor and Extension Family Economic Specialist, will conduct a free presentation on estate planning. Why would one want or need to attend? One fact of life that is very difficult for most to accept is that we are all going to die someday. Something even harder to tackle is planning for what happens to your assets and property upon your death. This topic of discussion is not one that most family members want...
The theme for National Nutrition Month® (March 2016) is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right” which encourages everyone to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors and social experiences food can add to our lives. It is just as important to develop mindful eating patterns that include the how, when, where and why in addition to what we eat. The following are some budget-friendly tips for healthy eating: * As mentioned in a previous article of this column, planning your snacks and meals a week or two week...
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 that time depends on self-analysis, planning, evaluation and self-control. Time is both...
The week of February 22-27, 2016 is America Saves Week. It is a national effort to promote good savings behavior and encourage individuals to assess their own saving status. It can be hard to put aside money for savings when we can be overwhelmed with our expenses. Savings can help you be better positioned when emergencies or unexpected costs arise. Or, maybe you have been dreaming about taking a family vacation or are planning ahead for college or retirement. The time is now to start putting money away for your savings goal. Even if it is a...
The fastest growing segment of the population in the United States are older adults. This group is uniquely vulnerable to financial scams. Con artists find them as attractive prey because older adults are thought to have a “nest egg,” have excellent credit, won’t say “no” because they were raised to be polite and trusting, are less likely to report the fraud for fear of appearing to have a weakened mental capacity because they were taken advantage or they do not know how to report it. Older adults need to be aware and prepared to protect themse...
For most families, food is one of the highest monthly expenses. How about making a “game plan” before going shopping? Having a “game plan” will help in making fewer trips to the grocery store and buying only the things you need, thus saving you money. Before you go shopping, your “game plan” will include planning your meals for a determined amount of time. First, check your cupboards, freezer, and refrigerator and make a note of what you have on hand. Next, make a list of meals that will use the items you have on hand. Begin a shopping li...
A new year brings a feeling of revitalization. Many of us may be attempting this in many different areas of our daily lives, hoping we can make an improvement by following through. One major area you may be concentrating on is your financial expenditures. However, it can be overwhelming to get started. The basic first step is tracking where your dollars go. After you have gotten into a routine of doing this, you will be able to identify the essential living expenses and then create a spending plan in hopes of spending your hard-earned dollars...
