We all have a fantasy winter landscape in our minds. Usually this includes snow on evergreens. Evergreens are wonderful additions to any winter landscape, bringing much needed color and life. This article, however, is not about those kinds of winter greens. I want to look at winter greens that you can grow in an indoor setting to add color and nutrition to your plate. more

Paul Brown, former environment correspondent of the Guardian, wrote his final column last Friday, Nov. 21. It was short. He began with, “In 1995, when the first ‘conference of the parties’ (COP) of the UN’s climate change convention met in Berlin, the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 360.67 parts per million. He went on to say a few words about that first COP, and mentioned the book he was commissioned to write immediately afterward, "Global Warming: Can Civilization Survive?" He lamented how thirty years of COPs have come and gone and the same basic speech has been repeated 30 times. more

If you are anything like me, you may have recently lost your source for water carbonating gas tanks, or have the problem that it is a trip out of the way to exchange them. more

I’ve always been a “jeans girl,” and I still am. They’re a classic for a reason. But certain times in life require kinder, gentler clothing. And because we’re smack dab in the middle of that season — which stretches from October 31st to New Year’s Day — it’s time to talk about pants. more

More than 1,500 years before November 11th became recognized as Veterans Day, it began to be known throughout Europe as St. Martin’s Day—in memory of the Roman soldier turned Christian priest who died on that day in 397. And if you think that the early date might even be deep in the background leading to the later one, you’d be right! more

Today, the wines that offer the best value for your wine-buying dollar are coming from Spain. more

Every Thanksgiving, after the farm chores are done, the turkey is consumed and the football games have been both played and watched, I bask in the silence for just a few moments. In years past, I’ve written here about how grateful I am for the family, friends and colleagues who play such a huge role in my life. I’ve noted how blessed we have been to work in agriculture despite the ups and downs. I’ve shared how excited I am about the weeks to come with our Missouri Farm Bureau annual meeting and the holiday season that comes with the turn of the calendar. more

If you’re a regular reader, you know that our dog Charlie has been in a years-long feud with a possum that often sits on top of our back fence. Charlie is our elderly Beagle mix who grows a new lump, bump or raised mole every month or two, as if he’s decorating his 14-year-old body with interesting new doodads. Even though Charlie is old and somewhat cosmetically challenged, he has the nose of a much younger, sleeker Beagle. That’s how he always knows when the possum is back on the fence. more

Dear Editor,  “Bah humbug.” Sound familiar? In December 1843, Charles Dickens offered Scrooge’s simple and heartless rejoinder in A Christmas Carol. In our time, … more

Dear Editor,  Veterans Day 2025 was a huge success for the American Legion and VFW members who attended one or more of the ceremonies held at the Warrensburg, Crest Ridge and Chilhowee … more

I would surmise that preparations for the Thanksgiving feast are currently at top speed. As is usual with me, I am applying my lifelong philosophy of taking the obvious and turning it on its head. more

I’m a certified Northern Lights hater. Not the actual Nothern Lights, mind you. I’ve always wanted to travel to Canada and sit in the frosty night under the stars, watching the aurora borealis dance. more

The island of Sicily, which lies to the southwest of Italy, has been the recipient of more spooky tales and fables than almost any other place on the planet. more

At one time Latin was the language commonly used for science and literature. In the 1700’s, Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, produced a standardized way of naming living things, including plants. He used Latin and a bit of Greek in the system. Although Latin is no longer a common world language, Linnaeus’s system of naming, with modifications, is still in use today and can provide valuable information for gardeners everywhere. more

When you live next to a wooded lot, you also live next to critters. Over the years, we’ve seen deer, chipmunks, mice, armadillos, coyotes, woodpeckers, rabbits, and some entirely unwelcome snakes. But a few months ago, some of the neighborhood squirrels mistook our house for an Airbnb and moved right on in. more

On Oct. 13, the United States Navy threw a birthday party on its 250th anniversary. As a proud Navy veteran, I lifted a glass in its honor. more

In honor of Hallowen, we should talk about that ugly, four-lettered F-word — fear. I’m not proud of it, but fear and I spend a lot of time together. It’s the longest, most toxic relationship I’ve ever been in, yet here I am — still trying to break it off. more

Our need for wisdom is universal. Though we like to think we are pretty smart, let’s face it, we don’t know it all. We grow wise, not on our own, but with input from the wisdom of others – from our parents and friends, through literature, through experience, and of course, through the rich treasure of the Bible. more

As the government shutdown lingers into its 20th days, funds for federally backed programs have begun to dwindle. more

How did you feel when you heard of Charlie Kirk’s assassination? What has your experience been in discussing it with others? Many of you may believe that we are living in the last days. If so, the Bible tells us that evil is going to increase in the latter days. We need to have a practical response to the evil we know exists and will increase in the future. Our response should be biblically based, Christ centered. We should start by asking, “How does God see evil and feel about it? What does God do about evil and those who live in it?” God’s responses are always perfect because He knows everything and is never fooled about anything. You and I cannot claim either. So, let’s think about how we, as followers of Jesus are to respond to evil.  more