Surry Living Magazine - March 2023

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a publication of top of the stairs media, llc

SURRY LIVING MAGAZINE

PO Box 125

Low Gap, NC 27024

surryliving.com • info@surryliving.com for editorial content submissions send to larry@surryliving.com

CREATIVE

LARRY VANHOOSE executive editor VIE STALLINGS HERLOCKER associate editor

SALES

TRINA VANHOOSE OLIVIA MCMILLAN

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Surry Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Surry Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Advertiser Index

Our advertisers make it possible to provide Surry Living FREE of charge. Please join us in thanking and supporting these outstanding merchants in our area:

Alpha & Omega Easter Egg Event, Page 31

Anderson Audiology, Page 10

Blue Mountain Herbs & Supplements, Page 19

Camper & Mobile Home Supply, Page 20

Cook Insurance Group, Page 10

Cooke Rentals, Page 20

Countryside RV, Page 7

The Derby, Page 20

Farmer's Mulch & Rock, Page 13

Friendly Heating & Cooling, Inc., Page 5

Haymore Construction Swimming Pools, Page 13

Hope House Missionary Thrift Store, Page 4

Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Pages 2, 11, 21

Keswick Candle Company, Page 29

Laurel Oak Farm Rentals, Page 23

Main Street Market, Page 20

The Martha Bassett Show, Page 16

Mount Airy Equipment, Page 3

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Page 10

Mullins Pawn Shop & Jewelers, Page 13

NC Cooperative Extension, Page 25

Northern Regional Hospital, Pages 17, 32

Ridgecrest Retirement, Page 19

Roy's Diamonds, Page 13

Royster & Royster Attorneys at Law, Page 20

Shelton Vineyards, Page 27

Surry Communications, Page 14

Waterlily Wellness, Page 7

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24

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15

26 Area Events: Note: All events are subject to being canceled or postponed. We recommend visiting visitmayberry.com/ and the other area venue specific websites for the most upto-date and accurate event schedules and ticketing information.

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This Little Light of Mine: Are You a Good Listener?

Joanna Radford: Gardening Fun

Sarah Southard, DVM: Happy 50th Anniversary National Ag Day!

Martha Bassett: Good Music, Good People

Kimberly Blaker: Gardening with Kids

The Sweet & Savory Life w/ Rynn Hennings: Broccoli-Cashew Salad

Carmen Long: Living Well with Cooperative Extension

&

Martha is a singer/songwriter/guitarist living and working in the Piedmont. She hosts The Martha Bassett Show, a twicemonthly musical variety show at Elkin’s Reeves Theater. Past shows are featured Saturday evenings on NPR station, 88.5 WFDD. On Wednesday nights she leads music at Roots Revival, an Americana worship service at Winston’s Centenary UMC that explores the intersection of faith and secular music. She's also a longtime scholar of the music of the Shakers. Martha has released 11 records and plays throughout the region and nation. Get more info at marthabassettshow.com.

Gloria is co-owner of The Nest & Hive Shoppe, a home décor business in Fancy Gap, VA, as well as the former host of The Vintage Southern Homemaker television show. Her musings on life growing up and living in the South have appeared in publications and on TV throughout the region. She is an expert antiques collector who grew up in the business and worked many years as a dealer in the Yadkin Valley area, where she currently resides.

CONTRIBUTORS

Carmen is an NC Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. Making quick, easy, healthy food that tastes great on a budget is a challenge. Carmen and her husband have two grown children, both of whom were involved in sports from grade school thru college. With busy careers and lots of time at sporting events, coming up with quick, healthy meals was a necessity. Carmen shares ideas and recipes to make this tough job a bit easier.

Joanna is the County Extension Director for NC Cooperative Extension in Surry County as well as the Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent with expertise in entomology, gardening, and pesticide education. Joanna began her career with NC Cooperative Extension in Stokes County in 1995 as a 4-H Agent, later switching to Field Crops and Pesticide Education in Surry County. She lives on a farm with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Sheri grew up in Mt. Airy, NC, and lives thereabouts with her husband. Together they run a couple of small businesses and plan their next vacation. A graduate of High Point University, her first job was as a writer at a marketing firm—and she’s been scribbling ever since. Sheri has several suspense novels in publication and Surry Living was proud to include sequential excerpts from one of her books in each issue from spring 2018 thru early 2021.

Rynn is a writer and designer based in the Yadkin Valley region of North Carolina. She loves to share her ideas for adding simple beauty into hectic lifestyles. More than mere recipes, her mission is to offer practical shortcuts for food preparation along with visual tips for presentation. Rynn began her career in Aiken, SC, as a newspaper reporter writing feature articles about food, living, and the arts. For more about Rynn, even more recipes, decorating tips, and much more, visit thehouseofelynryn.com

Sarah grew up at Crooked Oak in the Pine Ridge community of Surry County. Raised in the agriculture world, she went on to earn degrees in animal science and veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University. She and her husband, Adam, currently live in Statesville with Oliver the house rabbit, a few cats, Blossom the donkey, and a flock of Katahdin hair sheep.

Larry is the Executive Editor of Surry Living Magazine and Creative Director at Vivid Graphics in Galax, VA. He has 30+ years experience as a writer, graphic designer, and commercial photographer. Larry and wife, Trina, have four wonderful, grown children, one awesome grandson (so far!), and they reside on a small farm just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Grayson County, VA.

Rynn Hennings

Joanna Radford

Carmen Long

Gloria Brown

Sarah Southard

Martha Bassett

Sheri Wren Haymore

Larry VanHoose

ARE YOU A GOOD LISTENER?

My Dad used to get so mad at me. “You only hear what you want to hear,” he’d bark. As a young boy, I had to honestly ask myself if he was right. Why did it seem that I didn’t always hear his instructions, his rules, and his do’s and don’ts? Honestly, not hearing (and not acting upon) what he said to me was detrimental to my good health. He could give a pretty mean whooping if he thought you were ignoring him or being downright rebellious. My siblings and my mom never seemed to have that problem, only me. What is wrong with me? I’d ask myself on the heels of yet another of his blow-ups.

Well, as it turned out, I was diagnosed with a hearing deformity when I was about nine or ten. It’s surprising how long it took, but my mom finally noticed that I couldn’t hear her if she spoke to me while she was cleaning out my right ear with a Q-tip. Puzzled, she made an appointment and off to the doctor’s office I went. Ultimately, we ended up “in the big city” children’s hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was there that I underwent multiple tests and it was determined that I had an inner-ear birth defect – I could not hear at all out of my left ear even though the outer ear was intact; one the internal ear mechanisms on my left side was simply not there and nothing could be done. If there was any type of consistent or repetitive sound on my right side, that sound activated my hearing to the degree that I could not hear anything else. Period.

by Larry VanHoose

friends discussing that the reason they liked me was that I was a good listener. They mentioned that I would look at them and really give them my undivided attention when they spoke. Little did they know, I had to!

To make a long story shorter, let me just say that what was considered a handicap, turned out to have a positive effect on my life and relationships. While I couldn’t be a firefighter, join the military or police (you have to be able to hear and locate the sources of sound), I did find that relationally and professionally I had an advantage over most young men my age. I had learned to listen and it was appreciated by those I came in contact with. Which brings me to my point. If you really want to hear someone, to know what is important or concerning to them, even to empathize and show love and care for them, then you have to learn to be “all ears.” It’s not a given! I realize that there can be extenuating circumstances for our lack of hearing, but don’t let NOT TRYING be one of them. Even the deaf and mute Helen Keller learned to communicate when someone cared enough to make the effort and find a way to listen to her! Helen went on to become an incredible author, disability rights advocate, political activist, and lecturer.

Let me encourage you. Stop and listen… to your spouse, your children, your friends, your family, your neighbors, and most

Mind blown! I had no idea I was half-deaf. After all, I was just a kid. I wasn’t a jerk ignoring people like some (including my dad) thought. I didn't hear things like other people did. Stereo sound – no idea what that sounds like. That also explained why I couldn’t tell the direction of sound or voices without turning my head and using “volume location method.” It wasn’t that I was a bad listener after all, I was just a bad “hear-er.” There was good news though. Because of my hearing challenges, I learned to look at people when they spoke to me. If I wanted to hear everything they said, I had to turn and look at them and really be “all ears.” I even learned to read lips to some degree, although I have been known to read them incorrectly to my embarrassment. So, the good news? Believe it or not, I ultimately became known by my friends and family as a “good listener.” I even overheard (no pun intended) several conversations from

importantly, to God. As the saying goes regarding our heavenly Father, “He is not silent; we are not listening.” Be intentional and show your love to those whom he sends your way. Who knows, you might change someone’s life with the encouragement that results from seeing that someone cares enough about you to just listen and listen carefully. If nothing else, you’ll have learned to really hear who and what needs to be heard which can change your life.

“If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Mark 4:23 NIV)

“For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

(Matthew 13:15-16 NIV)

Have you heard? Surry Living Magazine is for sale!

It's true — Surry Living magazine is for sale! After five plus years of pouring their hearts into this fun and rewarding adventure, several significant changes have occurred in the current owners' other professional endeavors. Because of these new demands on that ever-so-limited supply called time, the owners of SLM have had to make the difficult, even heartbreaking decision to put their "labor of love" on the market.

If you have interest in magazine publishing or maybe just thought of having an outlet for your own creative juices, this might be just the opportunity you have been dreaming about! For more information, contact co-owner Larry VanHoose at larry@surryliving.com or message him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SurryLiving.

At SLM, we look forward to helping the new owners to grow and flourish while hopefully continuing to bring this fun and inspiring regional lifestyle publication to the Surry County area for years to come!

by Joanna Radford

GARDENING FUN

If you ask one hundred gardeners how to garden, you might get one hundred different answers. While this can be confusing to a new gardener, it can also be comforting because this also means that there is not just one right way to grow a successful garden. The fun part is trying new and different gardening practices. There are a few basics to know and then the rest, well, the rest is just plain fun!

hydroponic gardening, aeroponic gardening, permaculture, straw bale gardening, etc. Today, I want to introduce you to the “square foot” gardening method. This gardening method was created by a backyard gardener, Mel Bartholomew. It is best for gardeners with small spaces. The growing area (such as a 4-foot by 8-foot raised bed) is marked off in square-foot increments. Each square is individually managed to maximize the space. The plants are grown closer together than a traditional vegetable planting. Of course, there are pros and cons to this method, as with any of the other methods. The pros include high yields from an intensive planting, it can be set up fast and in most places with existing soil, minimum maintenance is required, and my favorite, less weeding. The intensive planting allows for competition and shading of the weed seedlings. The cons of square foot gardening may be gardening is limited to vegetables not requiring a lot of room (cantaloupe, watermelon, sweet corn may not be good options), and watering may be needed. Raised beds tend to have soil that dries out faster in the heat of the summer. Watering can be done through water hoses, soaker hoses, or drip irrigation. Adding organic mulch such as straw, grass clippings, or newspaper, to the soil surface could help to conserve moisture.

To get started with square foot gardening, you will need to mark off the area to plant in square foot blocks. This can be done with a tape measure and string, or a template can be made. There are vegetable seeding charts that list the number of seeds or transplants required for maximum yield for each square foot block. A few examples are:

A few garden basics include knowing your plant hardiness zone. Zones are important when selecting the best plants to grow in your location. The zones are based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. This data is collected from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Department of Agriculture created a map that shows the zones. This map can be found at http://planthardiness.ars.gov/pages/viewmaps. Most of Surry County is zone 7a with the southern most area of the county is zone 7b.

It is also good to know when your last frost date is expected. Gardeners in Surry County can expect the last average frost date to be April 22 (give or take ten days). For our area, I recommend waiting until May before planting vegetables outside to avoid a late frost. Knowing your planting date will help you determine when to start seeds for transplants. For example, if you have tomatoes you want to start from seed, count backwards from your estimated planting date to know when the seeds need to be sowed. If the tomato seeds take five to six weeks from seed to transplant, the seeds need to be sowed March 25.

Now is the time to think about what gardening method you will use. There are numerous options including but not limited to growing in containers, growing in raised beds, traditional row gardening, trellising, companion planting, hügelkultur gardening,

Vegetable Planting Method Plants Per Square Foot

Broccoli Transplant 1

Cucumber Direct Seed 2

Kale Transplant 2

Carrots Direct Seed 16

Radishes Direct Seed 16

Tomato Transplant 1

Square foot gardening can also tie in nicely with succession planting which is planting your crops in certain orders or waves throughout the growing season(s). It makes harvesting easier through multiple growing seasons. There are some vegetables that work better in succession planting than others. These would include green beans, greens, radishes, and carrots or any vegetable that has a short maturity date. You can plant multiple plantings throughout the spring, summer, and fall and harvest just as many times.

For more gardening information contact your local N.C. Cooperative Extension.

by Sarah Southard, DVM

Happy 50th Anniversary National Ag Day!

In March 1973, the Agriculture Council of America instituted National Ag Day to educate the public about the many different segments of the agriculture industry. March 21, 2023, marks the fiftieth anniversary of National Ag Day.

The Agriculture Council of America is an organization composed of leaders in agriculture, food, and fibers. The council’s core values are reflected in their desire that every American should:

• Understand how food and fiber products are produced.

• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products.

• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, and fiber industry.

The council shares “each American farmer feeds more than 166 people ... a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more –and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States.”

Thanks to American farmers, we can enjoy three hearty meals a day (and usually a few snacks in between.) Our pet foods are also available thanks to the hard work of American farmers. And unless we purchase only items made 100 percent of synthetic fibers, we all wear clothing made from various agricultural products.

The next time you’re perusing the meat counter at the grocery store or snuggling in your warm wool socks, take a moment to realize and appreciate just what it takes to make those things possible. The animal that provided, the farmer who properly stewards those animals, the veterinarian who helps ensure the health and safety of both the live animals and the meat products offered. And many more folks at various steps along the way.

Educate yourself about how the products you consume and use every day made it to you. Get to know your local farmers and their families. Ask them how they raise and process animals. Ask them how they grow grains and what it takes to get from the grain field to the cereal box. Ask them why they do what they do. Find ways to support your local farmers. More likely than not, you will find that they are your neighbors and friends.

You can learn more about National Ag Day at the site www.agday.org/

by Martha Bassett

researching good opener and closer songs, because I need them on every single show.

Do a little bit of weeding regularly instead of trying to do it all at once, and weed after it rains when it’s easiest. There are so many variables to gardening…and so many moving pieces to a show. If I let the work pile up, the show will suffer.

I grew up on a small farm in Mount Nebo, West Virginia. There were sheep, cattle, pigs, chickens, cats, and dogs. The larger fields were planted with corn and wheat, or were bailed for hay. But the garden that fed our family seemed enormous, mostly because of the endless, repetitive manual labor from spring through fall. I hoed potatoes, picked beans, strung beans, and shucked corn. When I grew up, I swore I’d never have a garden.

But then I grew up and as soon as I had a spot with enough sun, I started planting things. There were a few flowers and lots of herbs, but I really wanted those fresh vegetables. All that repetitive labor became meditative and pleasant exercise. Even when my crops didn’t do well, the garden always had something to teach me, especially about how little control I had over the forces of nature. Is there any better metaphor in life than a garden? For the past few years I’ve lived in a little house that I love, but which has large shade trees in front and back, with hardly enough sun for herbs. But as I think back on my time gardening, here are a few things that I learned:

Don’t grow a bigger garden than you have time to care for. So much weeding and mulching, and when it’s time to harvest, you’re up to your ears in okra, and it must be pickled or frozen. This is the hardest lesson of all—for gardens and for my career in music. I want to play all the shows and take all the opportunities that come up. But I’m learning to say no to some things for the sake of others.

Grow what you’re good at, and buy what others are good at. I spent years trying to grow good tomatoes, until I realized I could plant easy cherry tomatoes and buy the ones for canning from a local farm. So I focused on peppers and made a lot of hot sauce! That same principle applies to my music. I’m still not that good at focusing on one thing in music, but at the Martha Bassett Show (TMBS), I’m working with different varieties on every show, which fills my soul!

Spend the most effort on the crops you eat the most of. One year I canned 65 quarts of green beans. They were a variety from West Virginia that tastes like home. It didn’t take me long to eat them. This year on TMBS, I’ve spent a lot of time

Don’t plant the favorite food of deer, raccoons, and rabbits and get angry when they eat it. Similarly, plant enough that the voles get their share and there’s enough left over for you. Stop competing. There is plenty of audience for everyone. Be good at what you do, and be generous with your abundance.

Save seeds from the best crops for next season. Maintain relationships with people you love working with.

The most important job is enriching your soil. Don’t spray poison on your precious dirt. Mulch and soil additives help your plants grow strong without pesticides. If you bolster your work by practicing and being prepared, it will come back to you a hundredfold.

Accept that you have no control over the weather, the animals, the bugs, and the plants. Economies change, pandemics arise, circumstances shift. All you can do is ride the wave.

Be happy when you happen to have success and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Amen!

Family Medicine

a department of Northern Regional Hospital

Nurse Practitioner

Samantha S. Kunz

Joins Northern Family Medicine

Samantha S. Kunz, FNP-C, has joined the Family Medicine Division of Northern Regional Hospital, where she will diagnose and treat adult and pediatric patients with a wide-range of clinical conditions that require her clinical expertise.

A native of Mount Airy, 32-year-old Kunz feels that her new role at Northern – as a fully certified Family Nurse Practitioner – is the culmination of what she’s always meant to do professionally … and where she’s always meant to be. “I spent eight years as a nurse in Northern’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and loved every minute of caring for my patients and their families,” she said. “But I also realized that many ICU patients are readmissions, so I became determined to advance my studies so I could be at the front-end of the patient-care spectrum in order to help keep patients out of hospitals and ICUs.”

Accordingly, one of Kunz’s goals is to educate her patients about how they can minimize or manage ongoing chronic conditions (like diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - COPD); and advise them about current treatments and the many organizational and online resources available to them. “My treatment focus is to build a trusting and compassionate relationship with patients – so they know I will do my best to help keep them as healthy as possible and out of the hospital,” she explained.

“We are delighted to welcome Samantha Kunz to our rapidly growing primary-care practice,” said Richard Herber, MD, in announcing her appointment. “Samantha brings to our team the right combination of demonstrated clinical experience, advanced nursing knowledge, and a compassion and commitment to patients that is the hallmark of quality care at Northern Family Medicine,” added Dr. Herber.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2014, Kunz launched her clinical

career in the 10-bed ICU of Northern Regional Hospital. She reflects positively on the closeness that frequently develops between ICU patients and their nurses. “Such relationships were magnified during the height of the COVID pandemic, when visitors were not allowed into hospitals,” she explains. “At that time, we nurses were our patients’ families for months at a time.”

Kunz also served as Charge Nurse for the ICU on an as-needed basis; and functioned as Nurse Preceptor -- teaching and training new staff and nursing students. “I enjoyed that part of my job because I got to focus on the educational side of things,” she said.

It was also during her tenure in Northern Regional Hospital’s ICU that Kunz’s respect and admiration for her employer grew. “While I knew I wanted to advance professionally, I also knew I wanted to remain at Northern,” she said. “The Hospital’s leadership team has always treated nurses very well and are very respectful of our needs and concerns. When I mentioned I wanted to continue my studies, they were very encouraging, especially my manager, Patty Creed Manager of Critical Care Services.”

In August 2022, Kunz graduated from Western Carolina University’s Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner Program – after having successfully completed classroom coursework and multiple clinical rotations within several key specialties, including cardiology, family medicine, geriatrics, OB/GYN, and women’s health, and urgent care.

Currently, Kunz holds certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Advanced Stroke Life Support. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

To make an appointment call Northern Family Medicine at 336-786-4133 or visit wearenorthern.org/ family-medicine.

Gardening with Kids: Playing in Dirt isn't Just Fun – It's Healthy, Too!

by Kimberly Blaker

There's no question, playing in the dirt tops the list of fun for kids, particularly young children, despite the protests of many well-intended parents. If you happen to be one of those worried parents, you can put your fears aside.

As it turns out, dirt is actually beneficial to the long-term health of kids, according to a Northwestern University article by Clare Milliken, "Germs at four, less inflammation at forty." Studies have found that early exposure to certain germs, like those found in dirt, actually helps kids' immune systems learn to regulate inflammation better. In turn, this exposure reduces kids' risk for many diseases throughout their lives.

Getting started

First, decide where to plant your garden. Then allow a small space for your child to have his or her own garden, too. This will help build your child's enthusiasm for the garden and encourage him or her to take ownership and responsibility for it. Having their own garden can be exciting and rewarding for kids because they know that they, alone (or with minimal help), grew those little seeds into a marvelous plant.

Next, decide what to plant. For young children, consider fastgrowing plants they are familiar with. Little kids also love plants that are colorful or have strong scents.

If your kids are older, let them choose what they want to grow. But keep in mind your child's personality. If he tends to be impatient, suggest plants that are easy to care for and grow quickly.

As you proceed in planning and preparation, include your child in it as much as possible. Remember, this stage is as much fun for kids as it is for parents and helps build kids' enthusiasm. Also, let your kids help you draw up the garden plan. If they're old enough, they can also create their own shopping list.

When you go shopping for the supplies, take your kids along and let them pick out their own seeds and gardening tools. For the safety of young children, look for kids' gardening tools made of durable plastic.

Planting your garden

For that reason, a family garden is a perfect opportunity to build your kids' immune systems. Better still, gardening offers lots of other benefits to kids and families.

Through gardening, kids learn to be responsible by caring for their own plants. It's also a great way to help kids learn about and develop an appreciation for science. Another health benefit is that gardening encourages healthier eating. Not to mention, it's an excellent activity for family bonding.

So gather up your kids and gardening supplies, head outdoors, and get ready for some dirt-filled fun.

When you begin planting, show your child how to plant the seeds and how to space them apart correctly. Then have your child water the seeds as directed. To help your child take responsibility for his or her own garden, put a daily gardening task list on the refrigerator.

Also, to help your child maintain enthusiasm, suggest keeping a garden log. Kids can have fun recording the date of plantings, each day's gardening activities, when each plant sprouts, the amount of growth of the plants, and the harvesting.

Finally, after harvesting, have your child help you prepare the vegetables. Try different ways of preparing or cooking them to help your kid develop a life-long love for fresh, healthy veggies.

Books on gardening with kids

To get your family's gardening project off on the right foot, consider an age-appropriate book. This will also help build your child's enthusiasm. To help make your family garden a success, a couple of books for parents are included below as well.

• The Little Gardener by Jan Gerardi (ages 3-4)

• The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes (ages 3-7)

• Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner (ages 5-8)

• Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy (ages 4-10)

• Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden by Renata Brown (ages 8-12)

• The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun by Whitney Cohen (for parents)

Products

A WORLD TO EXPLORE, a vibrant community to come home to. A lifestyle that embraces true independence, friendships, culinary celebrations, and the safety of community. It’s time to enjoy retirement the way it’s meant to be.

OBSTETRICS

with Rynn Hennings www.thehouseofelynryn.com

Make this Broccoli-Cashew Salad Recipe Year-Round!

We eat broccoli salad year-round, even though I consider it a spring or summer salad. You can use fresh grown broccoli from your garden or buy it from your local produce market.

This broccoli salad has cashews, bacon (optional), cheese, dried cranberries, and mandarin oranges. It is a delicious salad; however, there are two tips to know before making it:

First, drain the mandarin oranges very well. Use a strainer to let most of the juice drip off the oranges, and then pat them dry with a towel. Just before serving, gently fold in the oranges to not break them. The oranges should keep their juice contained to prevent a runny salad!

The second tip is to also add the cashews just before serving because they can become soft after sitting in the dressing for a while. The cashews are best when they have a crunch to them.

Occasionally, I leave off the bacon when I make this broccoli salad to create a vegetarian salad. When a friend shared this recipe with me, she had a note at the bottom–add crispy fried bacon if desired. It was handwritten as an afterthought to the recipe, so I made a vegetarian salad for a long time. Then one day, I added bacon to the salad. It was a delicious addition! However, if you are serving this salad to a group of people, you can place the chopped bacon in a small dish on the side and let guests decide whether to add it.

BROCCOLI-CASHEW SALAD

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup mayonnaise

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

• 1/4 teaspoon mustard

• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

• 4 cups fresh broccoli, cut into small florets

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

• 1/4 cup purple onion, chopped (optional)

• 8 slices bacon, chopped (omit bacon for vegetarian salad)

• 3/4 cup cashews (whole or pieces)

• 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (can substitute cheddar)

• 11 ounces canned mandarin oranges, drained (can substitute fresh oranges)

Directions

1. Drain the oranges in a strainer.

2. Combine the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, mustard, and paprika in a small bowl. Set aside.

3. Wash and dry the broccoli. Break it into small florets and trim off the stalks.

4. Combine the broccoli, cranberries, onion, bacon, and cheese in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to mix.

5. Just before serving, stir in the cashews. Pat the oranges dry with a paper towel and then fold them into the salad. Take care not to break the oranges to prevent the sauce from becoming runny.

Savory Tips

Serve this eye-catching salad in a see-through serving dish so you can see all its pretty colors. Enjoy!

For more great recipes and tips for entertaining, visit https://www.thehouseofelynryn.com/

simply delicious

LIVING WELL WITH COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Health is a lot more than how one looks and feels. Conversations about health should include all eight dimensions or areas of wellness – mental, social, emotional, spiritual, financial, occupational, environmental, and intellectual. That’s the focus of Living Well Month, a national event in March promoting overall wellness and the education provided by Extension Family and Consumer Sciences to improve the lives of people, families, and communities.

During March, Surry Living’s theme is gardening. Gardening is one activity related to environmental wellness emphasized for Living Well Month. Start planning a garden now to work in and to enjoy this spring and summer. Gardening is a great physical activity which not only improves your environment but could also nurture your mental wellness and help families achieve a positive, healthy lifestyle.

vegetables every day. Most people need to increase their fruit and vegetable intake. Have a sliced banana on cereal for breakfast. Enjoy a sandwich loaded with vegetables at lunch. At dinner, steam some vegetables and prepare a fruit parfait with yogurt for dessert. Try new fruits and vegetables. If there’s a kind you don’t like, try preparing it in a different way. See www.choosemyplate.gov for more information about nutrition for yourself and members of your family.

4. Read, read, read. Go to the library and check out books. Keep the mental stimulation flowing throughout the year regardless of your age. This will stimulate your intellectual health.

5. Talk to a friend or start a journal to get your thoughts and feelings off your chest. Staying in check with emotional health can be tough, but it’s important.

6. Maintain a healthy home. Check that your smoke detector is working correctly and test for the presence of radon. Help manage allergies and/or asthma by cleaning and vacuuming regularly to reduce allergy triggers in the home. Avoid accidental poisonings by keeping medications locked up, and cleaning agents and other poisons out of reach of children.

7. Keep your family finances in check. Track your expenses and update your budget regularly. Eat at home often because meals outside of home usually cost more. Plan your menus and use coupons as a planning tool. Creating and sticking to a budget, along with paying off debt, are great first steps to financial wellness.

The eight dimensions or areas of wellness are connected and support each other. Evaluate your overall wellness and take small steps to improve your health during Living Well Month and all year long.

To make every month a “Living Well Month,” consider these tips:

1. Engage children in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Adults need at least 30 minutes of physical activity. Play sports or recreational games, turn on some music and dance, hula hoop, or make an obstacle course. Take a walk or a bike ride in your neighborhood. All movement counts.

2. Rethink your drink. The average adult human body is approximately 60 percent water. Water regulates every living cell’s process and chemical reactions. It transports nutrients and oxygen. Water also helps to maintain normal bowel habits and prevent constipation. Reduce the amount of soda and fruit drinks consumed daily.

3. Eat a variety of healthy foods. Eat colorful fruits and

For a quick, easy, nutritious, and delicious, colorful meal, try Minestrone Soup.

MINESTRONE SOUP

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil (canola, olive, or vegetable)

• 1 cup onion, chopped (1 medium onion)

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced or ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder or to taste

• 1 box (32 oz) reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth

• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1 can (15.5 oz) kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

• 1 ½ cups frozen vegetables

• 1 cup whole wheat pasta (uncooked)

N.C. Department of Insurance

Mike Causey, Commissioner

855-408-1212 (toll free) • www.ncdoi.com

MARCH IS

NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic (if using fresh) and sauté for 3 minutes.

2. Add broth, tomatoes, and Italian season. (Add garlic powder now if using it instead of fresh). Heat until boiling.

3. Reduce heat to medium. Add beans, vegetables, and pasta. Simmer until the pasta is tender (about 15 minutes), stirring occasionally.

Tips: Top with shredded or grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Recipe Source: spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu

Colorectal cancer is the fourthmost common cancer in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

It affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older.

Screening and early detection are vital.

Medicare covers certain colorectal cancer screening services— ask a SHIIP counselor for more information.

Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable!

Ask your SHIIP counselor for more information.

MOUNT AIRY

MOUNT AIRY EVENTS

For more information, visit www.yadkinvalleync.com/mount-airy

SATURDAYS IN MARCH: WPAQ MERRY-GO-ROUND at the Historic Earle Theatre, 142 N Main St, Mt Airy. 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM; Admission $8 (includes admission to Andy Griffith Museum) or Surry Arts Council Annual Pass. Call 336.786.7998 for details.

MARCH 8: HENRY "BOX" BROWN, "ONE NOBLE JOURNEY"

FEATURING MIKE WILEY 7:00 PM at the historic Earle Theatre, 142 N. Main St., Mount Airy, NC. Reserved Seat Tickets $10. Henry "Box" Brown was an African American born into slavery in 1816 in Louisa County, Virginia. Henry’s story demonstrates the cruelty of slavery was every bit as devastating to the heart as it could be on the body. After his family was torn apart and parceled out to various beneficiaries of the estate, Henry devised an ingenious escape plan – sealing himself in a wooden box for shipment to friends and freedom in Philadelphia.

One Noble Journey also recounts the daring and miraculous quest for freedom of Elizabeth Craft and her husband William, who were born into slavery in Georgia. Ellen Craft, who was very light skinned, disguised herself as a sickly, white gentleman traveling to Philadelphia for medical treatment and William, who acted as her slave throughout the journey, bravely traveled on public trains and steamers as they made their way up the eastern seaboard to Philadelphia. Eventually they were forced to sail for England after the Fugitive Slave Law enabled slave hunters to pursue them even in free states. For tickets, go to https://www. eventbrite.com/e/henry-box-brown-one-noble-journey-ft-mike-wiley-tickets-411560276867

MARCH 11: GHOST SOCIAL AT THE MT AIRY MUSEUM OF REGIONAL HISTORY 7:00 – 8:00 PM. Sit & enjoy treats while listening to ghostly folklore and tales at Mt. Airy Museum of Regional History.

MARCH 17: THE MORRIS FAMILY BAND 7:30 PM at the historic Earle Theatre, 142 N. Main St., Mount Airy, NC. The Morris Family Band has five members, from Davidson County, North Carolina. For the past 15 years, the band has delighted area residents with its Irish-American sounds during St. Patrick's Day festivals, at local cafes, and in shows at regional theaters. All Morris family members are trained with most stringed instruments, which comes in handy for the family's distinct, Celtic style. Tickets are $15. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/themorris-family-band-irish-tickets-411563737217 to purchase.

MARCH 25: RHONDA VINCENT & THE RAGE 7:30 PM at the historic Earle Theatre, 142 N. Main St., Mount Airy, NC. Bluegrass legend Rhonda Vincent, no known as the Queen of Bluegrass, has won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and eight Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. In 2022, Vincent was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Tickets $40-$60. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ rhonda-vincent-and-the-rage-saturday-march-25-2023-tickets-411565773307 purchase.

APRIL 1: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA 7:00 PM at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, 218 Rockford St., Mount Airy, NC. Reserved Seat Tickets $20. The new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical that tells the heartfelt tale of the girl from the cinders who connects with her prince. For tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rodgers-hammersteinscinderella-saturday-tickets-432855862537

DOBSON EVENTS

For more information on Dobson, NC, visit yadkinvalleync.com/dobson

MARCH 3: HARVEST GRILL MURDER MYSTERY DINNER

6:30 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. We need your help solving this murder mystery! Enjoy a night of suspense as you experience an interactive performance with a one-of-a-kind storyline, complete with a four-course meal prepared by our Executive Chef and his culinary team.

Dining: Dinner includes your choice of two glasses of classic wine or beer. Two beverages included.

Pricing: $85.00 per person (plus tax and service charge). If you have any questions, please call the Harvest Grill at Phone: (336) 366-3590

Email: harvestgrill@sheltonvineyards.com

MARCH 4: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - CRAIG VAUGHN

1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Enjoy our awardwinning wine and hear high-energy rock and blues music from Craig Vaughn. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

MARCH 5: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - BROWN MOUNTAIN

LIGHTNING BUGS 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

MARCH 11: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - TYLER MILLARD 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

MARCH 12: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - REGGIE JOHNSON

1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

MARCH 18: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - TONY LOW 1:00 –4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

MARCH 19: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - EMMA LEE MILLARD

1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

MARCH 25: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - ROB MCHALE 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

MARCH 26: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - CRAIG VAUGHN 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.

ELKIN EVENTS For more area info, visit https://www.exploreelkin.com/events

ELKIN EVENTS

MARCH WEDNESDAYS: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT REEVES THEATER

Sign-up: 6:30 PM, Show: 7:00 PM.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE REEVES THEATER & CAFE 129 West Main Street, Elkin. Call (336) 258-8240 or visit https://www.reevestheater.com/ for more Information

• THURSDAY, MARCH 2: THE MARTHA BASSETT SHOW WITH HEATHER PIERSON / HOLLER CHOIR / MATTY SHEETS

• FRIDAY, MARCH 4: JEFF LITTLE TRIO

• FRIDAY, MARCH 10: SYTHIAN

• SATURDAY, MARCH 11: THE REEVES HOUSE BAND PLAYS THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND

• THURSDAY, MARCH 16: THE MARTHA BASSETT SHOW WITH GIRL BLUE / KENNY ROBY / SNÜZZ

• THURSDAY, MARCH 30: ELKIN BIG BAND: LOVE & ROMANCE A benefit concert for the Reeves Downtown School of Music

Note: Visit www.reevestheater.com for the latest updates, additions, show-times, etc.

PILOT MOUNTAIN PILOT MOUNTAIN EVENTS

Pilot Mountain Tourism, 124 West Main Street, Pilot Mountain For more area info, visit www.pilotmountainnc.org

Pilot Mountain hosts many events throughout the year; some are geared towards community involvement while others are geared toward economic development.

For information about our downtown events please contact Christy Craig- Downtown Events Coordinator 336444-2016 downtownevents@pilotmountainnc.org

NOTE: There are currently no scheduled events for Pilot Mountain in March. Be sure to check www. pilotmountainnc.org/ regularly for updated information and event schedules.

NEARBY EVENTS

NEARBY EVENTS

MARCH (GALAX, VA): LIVE MUSIC ON TUESDAY (BLUEGRASS NIGHT), WEDNESDAY (JAKE COX), FRIDAY & SATURDAYS AT CREEK BOTTOM BREWING Creek Bottom Brewing, 307 N Meadow Street, Galax, VA.

MARCH 3 - AUSTIN & MORGAN DUO (7-10 PM)

MARCH 4 – VICKER SWITCH (7-10 PM)

MARCH 9 - KARAOKE W/ DJ STEVE (7-9 PM)

MARCH 10 – WILLIAM MASSEY (7-10 PM)

MARCH 11 – BILLY STEELE (7-10 PM)

MARCH 17 – STILL WATER JUNCTION (7-10 PM)

MARCH 18 – JOSH MCBRIDE (7-10 PM)

MARCH 23 - KARAOKE W/ DJ STEVE (7-9 PM)

MARCH 24 – TATE TUCK DUO (7-10 PM)

MARCH 25 – MAKENZIE PHIPPS DUO (7-10 PM)

MARCH 31 – DAN FOX (7-10 PM)

MARCH 31 – APRIL 1 (INDEPENDENCE, VA): LEGENDS OF GRAYSON OLD-TIME WEEKEND! An Annual Gathering Celebrating Grayson County’s Musical Heritage. Located at the 1908 Courthouse in Independence, Va. For info or reservations, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legends-of-grayson-oldtime-weekend-2023-tickets-362563847227

APRIL 7 -8 (HAMPTONVILLE): ALPHA & OMEGA

HELICOPTER EGG DROP (see ad page 31) Alpha & Omega Corn maze will host their 8th annual Helicopter Easter Egg Drop. More than 30,000 plastic eggs will fall out of the sky on Friday, April 7th & Saturday, April 8th. This will mark the eighth year that Alpha & Omega Corn Maze has coordinated the effort as a way to reach out to the local community and provide a fun family event. Hi tech helicopters will be offering helicopter rides between drop times at an additional fee of $25. Our very own Thumper the Easter Bunny will join us for pictures with the children. Explore this 20-acre agritourism complex with the farm consisting of: Helicopter Egg Hunt, (3 drop times for your convenience ), Corn Cob Express, Corn Box, Farmer 500, See Saws, Tug of War, Animal Acres, Pipe World, Bounce Pillow, Corn Hole, Horse Drawn Wagon Ride, Hayride, Local Vendors, Photo Opportunities & much more. Our on site restaurant Alpha & Omega Barn Grill will be serving a delicious lunch menu. Again the date is Friday, April 7th & Saturday, April 8th. The event is from 10AM until 5PM. There will be 3 egg drops each day: 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Cost for the event is $12.00 per person. Group rate of 20 or more is $10.00 a person.

Take advantage of the 2-day Special Easter Flash Sale! Get more bang for your buck and more out of your season passes. Save $5 off of Season Passes at Easter and get to use your passes all year! Regularly priced at $45. $40 with discount. Food is priced separately. Children 2 and under are free!

Check their website @ alphaomegacornmaze.com for posts & updates on special events.

Alpha & Omega Helicopter Egg Drop!

Alpha & Omega Corn maze will host their 8th annual Helicopter Easter Egg Drop. More than 30,000 plastic eggs will fall out of the sky on Friday, April 7th & Saturday, April 8th. This will mark the eighth year that Alpha & Omega Corn Maze has coordinated the effort as a way to reach out to the local community and provide a fun family event. Hi tech helicopters will be offering helicopter rides between drop times at an additional fee of $25. Our very own Thumper the Easter Bunny will join us for pictures with the children. Explore this 20-acre agritourism complex with the farm consisting of: Helicopter Egg Hunt, (3 drop times for your convenience ), Corn Cob Express, Corn Box, Farmer 500, See Saws, Tug of War, Animal Acres, Pipe World, Bounce Pillow, Corn Hole, Horse Drawn Wagon Ride, Hayride, Local Vendors, Photo Opportunities & much more. Our on site restaurant Alpha & Omega Barn Grill will be serving a delicious lunch menu.

Again the date is Friday, April 7th & Saturday, April 8th. The event is from 10AM until 5PM. There will be 3 egg drops each day: 11am, 1pm & 3pm.

Cost for the event is $12.00 per person. Group rate of 20 or more is $10.00 a person. Take advantage of our 2-day Special Easter Flash Sale! Get more bang for your buck and more out of your season passes. Save $5 off of Season Passes at Easter and get to use your passes all year! Regularly priced at $45. $40 with discount. Food is priced separately. Children 2 and under are free!