Magic Maze

Mountain Cabin

HOME HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

DID YOU KNOW?

Parents who want to encourage their children to volunteer may find their efforts at doing so are more convincing if they volunteer themselves. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Adolescence examined the effects that parents who volunteer and talk about volunteering have on children. Researchers found that the children of volunteers were 27 percent more likely to volunteer than children whose parents did not volunteer. In addition, adolescents were 47 percent more likely to volunteer when their parents volunteered and talked about volunteering with their children.

By Fifi Rodriguez

1. MOVIES: Which animated movie includes the line, “Fish are friends, not food”?

2. TELEVISION: What is the name of the “Sesame Street” Muppet who lives in a trashcan?

3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the largest country geographically in Africa?

4. ANATOMY: What is complete heterochromia?

5. U.S. STATES: Which two states don’t recognize Daylight Savings Time?

6. LITERATURE: Which best-selling novel (1989) is set in Clanton, Mississippi?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is the national dish of Spain?

8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of leopards called?

9. HISTORY: Which two Greek citystates fought the Peloponnesian War?

10. AD SLOGANS: Which company once urged customers to “reach out and touch someone” by telephone?

Just

Perfect Picnic Popcorn

Yield: 12 squares

1 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup reduced-fat peanut butter

3/4 cup raisins

8 cups air-popped popcorn nonstick cooking spray

In large saucepan, combine corn syrup, sugar, brown sugar and peanut butter.

Bring to boil over low heat, stirring constantly; boil 2-3 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.

In large bowl, combine raisins and popcorn; pour hot mixture over popcorn and toss carefully with wooden spoons until well-coated. Spray 9-by-13 inch baking dish with cooking spray; press popcorn mixture into pan and cool completely.

Cut into squares and serve.

Why mulch?

Mulching can benefit plants around a property in various ways. Many people lay mulch because the mulch helps soil retain moisture in the summer, when temperatures tend to be at their hottest. This can help plants survive summer heat waves.

Mulch also can be used to suppress weeds. Weeds, which steal moisture plants need to build strong roots and survive summer, need light to grow. When laid correctly, mulch deprives weeds of the light they need to grow. Organic mulches can even provide homes for crickets and a type of beetle that feed on weed seeds.

Mulch also can deter harmful pests depending on the type of mulch homeowners choose. When purchasing mulch, homeowners will have to choose between the aforementioned organic mulch or man-made mulches, which may be made of plastic or rubber. While man-made mulches may repel pests, they also can have adverse effects. Plastic, for example, can heat up in the summer and cause plants to burn. Certain organic mulches can repel insects that can threaten plants. That’s because the majority of organic mulches increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in the soil, and they also increase the presence of helpful insects that do not pose a threat to plant life. Those helpful insects help keep harmful insects at bay. Compost is a type of organic mulch that may attract harmful insects. While that does not mean homeowners should shy away from using compost as mulch, they should know that they may need to employ organic insecticides to combat their unwanted guests.

“Oak trees come out of acorns, no matter how unlikely that seems. An acorn is just a tree’s way back into the ground. For another try. Another trip through. One life for another.”

- Shirley Ann Grau

What To Look For During Roof Inspections

Curled, cracked or missing shingles may prove troublesome. Inclement weather can test the strength of even the most durable roofs. Even though many roofs are designed to last up to 30 years, some may need to be replaced early, particularly when they have been exposed to harsh weather over a period of years. Individual shingles can be replaced as spot treatments, but if the damage is widespread, a new roof may be necessary.