It has been mighty cold lately. Doesn’t matter where you live, the temperatures have dipped. And early, too. There have been reasons given, most of them summed up with the initials c.c. (I will not get into that discussion!) But even over the past four decades, the mercury had done similar nose dives at various inopportune times. We expected after moving from Wyoming to Tennessee that such dips wouldn’t happen. After all, Tennessee has a mild climate. Oh, boy, were we wrong.

Hunting is a challenge no matter the species. There is a peacefulness and stillness in the woods. An indescribable amount of adrenaline in the body. Out of sight does not mean out of mind. The deer are always on alert and have a keen sense of hearing and smell. Frustration. Success. Skill. It pays to sit still and blend in. You just never know who is watching. See and not be seen. That is the goal. Most predators fail most of the time, that is what makes a success so rewarding.

Thanksgiving, a time to stop and truly appreciate all the people, things, and blessings in our lives. Take some time this November to be still in that moment, and sit down in your place of peace and comfort. Reflect on the past year, find delight in those moments that you were blessed with, and rejoice in those that shared your laughter. Thank God for the many things that have come into, or maybe drifted out of, your life this year. Be grateful going forward into 2020 and do not take your loved ones and good things in your life for granted.

A good way to maintain your health is to eat nutritiously. In fact, even a few simple changes in your diet can have a positive impact on your health—and may prevent a variety of chronic health problems in the future. As part of their extensive education, chiropractors are trained in nutrition and wellness promotion, and they can offer you dietary counseling as well as lifestyle tips to get you moving in the right direction. Start today to make better choices that will fuel and strengthen your body. Here are some simple suggestions:

The day had finally arrived and I was giddy with excitement. I can still remember standing in the long line outside the Civic Coliseum as we waited to get inside.

It was winter 1977 and my parents had bought tickets to an ice skating show. It was a treat for me since I loved to watch people ice skate. It fascinated me how they performed all those jumps and twirled around on a thin blade as they glided over ice.

Being the klutz that I am, I have never attempted to ice skate. I had and still have no desire to wear a cast for a few weeks.

I recently conducted six professional development sessions on homelessness in a single day. I was sent the written comments from the evaluation forms, and I am thankful that they were all positive. At least I assumed they were. From what was visible on the email, it appeared one person wrote, “Ronnie is the dud” (the printed version of the email did read “dude”). Thank goodness for the power of positive thinking!

I was eight years old in 1936 when this school picture was taken. We moved around so much in those days that I was only at two schools at picture taking time, the first grade and this one when I was in the fourth grade. I started school when I was four so I was always younger than the other kids in my class. Let's look at the picture.

I’m still studying a book called Smoky Mountain English, which is a dictionary of mountain dialect. I was blessed to be around my grandparents quite a bit growing up and heard a lot of phrases and word pronunciations that aren’t used much today. But some of it is still hanging around and I find myself using it without thinking about it, which my granddaughters find puzzling. So what follows is my latest list of words in the book that I personally have heard used sometime in my lifetime. I’m sure you will find many familiar as well if you’re from around here.

Does everyone in your family prefer white meat? A turkey breast is a better buy than having all the bony parts of a whole bird that only winds up being leftovers that no one wants. I found this recipe about 10 years ago. If you haven't tried to make a brined turkey breast as of yet, this is a good one to test your turkey skills. There are so many recipes for "Turkey Day". Don't think this is just another one to ignore. It does take overnight space in the fridge that could be used for jello or such.

I love the mix of pumpkin pie spices. There is something about that combination that makes me think of autumn leaves and Thanksgiving. My mother made the best pumpkin pie. She only made it around Thanksgiving time. Why wait before leaves fall before filling the house with that comforting aroma. I make pumpkin pie whenever I want to do something nice for my daughter, Anne. It is her favorite pie. For myself, I prefer Pumpkin Pie Cake. There are several ways to make it. Here is one.