As Seen In Print Wednesday, May 2, 2012
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Thank you for picking up MyConnection. Look for your copy delivered free to your home from The Newnan Times-Herald each Wednesday. You’ll find entertainment and travel news, as well as upcoming events, easy-to-make recipes, and things that matter to you and your family.
inside Cinco de Mayo Recipes ➤
Family Features
O
ver the years, Cinco de Mayo has become a great way to celebrate the fantastic flavors of Mexico. This year, why not host your own Cinco celebration? With the easy recipes pictured here and fun tips like these from Sandra Lee, you can say sí with style. Here’s how you can set the stage for the perfect fiesta with some creative tips from Sandra Lee: n Centerpiece: Fill a tall can with sunflowers and center it on a large platter. Arrange produce, such as fresh mini sweet peppers, long red peppers, bell peppers,
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avocados and jalapeños around the can. Once your party is over, you will have fresh ingredients for other meals. n Favors:
Tie a length of raffia around small terra-cotta pots, then place a mini cactus into each one. These plants are a nice gift for your guests.
n Place
Cards: Turn extra votive candles into mood-enhancing place cards. Use a cookie cutter to cut colored paper into ovals. Write the guests’ names on the front and punch holes on both sides. Thread a ribbon through the holes and around the votive, tying in the back.
Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa
Osteoarthritis Affects Millions of Aging Men and Women
Perennials
are a Gardener’s Friend There are perennials for every season, soil type and sun exposure
Though exercising when pain from osteoarthritis is significant might seem counterintuitive, exercise is actually great for the joints.
W
hile there are many benefits to getting older, few people associate the aging process with all the good things that occur as a person approaches their golden years. Instead, aging is more often associated with aches and pains than grandkids and trips around the world. Though such associations are unfortunate, they are rooted in the reality that aging often comes with a few ailments. One such ailment many older adults deal with is osteoarthritis, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, affects more than 12 million men and women over the age of 65 in the United States alone. In Canada, one in 10 adults has osteoarthritis, proving this most common form of arthritis does not discriminate based on geography. But as prevalent as osteoarthritis might be, the millions of men and women currently living with the condition are proof that it doesn’t have to ruin a person’s golden years. In fact, learning about osteoarthritis, its risk factors and prospective treatment op-
tions can help those men and women currently living with the condition or those concerned about developing it down the road.
What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis, or OA, is also referred to as degenerative joint disease. The most common type of arthritis, OA occurs when cartilage begins to wear away. Cartilage is an essential part of each joint, helping to absorb shock and enabling the joint to move smoothly. OA most often occurs in the body’s weight-bearing joints, which includes the hips, knees and spine. When a person has OA, the cartilage in a joint stiffens and loses it elasticity, which makes it more susceptible to damage. Joints will be stiff in the morning, a stiffness that can last roughly 15 to 20 minutes. As the day progresses and the joints are used more and more, the pain can intensify and swelling can occur. This is typically because, as the joint’s cartilage continues to deteriorate, the tendons and ligaments are stretching
and causing pain.
Are there symptoms of OA? There are symptoms of OA, but these can vary greatly from individual to individual. Some people experience few symptoms of OA even if X-rays indicate their joints have undergone significant degeneration. In addition, the pain associated with OA isn’t necessarily constant, and some people can go years without experiencing any OA-related pain. Such instances are most common among people with OA of the hands and knees. Those who do exhibit symptoms of OA can do so in a variety of ways. Men and women with progressive cartilage degeneration in their knee joints might become bow legged or develop a limp, which will worsen as the cartilage continues to degenerate. OA of the spine often causes pain in the neck or lower back. Severe pain can be caused by bony spurs that form along the spine, and numbness and ➤ SEe OSTEOARTHRITIS, PAGE 6
Gardening is often seen as an art form to men and women with a green thumb. Once the landscape is designed, homeowners may not want to change much from year to year. That is where perennial plants can be an advantage. Designing a landscape and keeping the garden looking beautiful can take a keen eye. It also may require a lot of time and commitment. If home gardeners have to replant items year after year, gardening can become time-consuming and expensive. Turning to perennial plants and flowers to serve as the anchor for a home garden can make the process easier. Perennials are plants that live indefinitely. In terms of flowering plants, perennials will bloom every year. In essence, they have the staying power of shrubbery but are more delicate in nature and often appealing to the eye. There are perennials for every season, soil type and sun exposure. Perennials come in a wide variety of blooming flowers or attractive foliage. Chances are if a homeowner wants to add perennials to the garden, there is a variety available that will fit his or her needs. Here are some perennials that can be added to the garden: • lavender • ornamental grasses • asters • chrysanthemums • irises • poppies • milkweed • goldentufts • anemones
• columbines • daylilies • peonies • hostas Once perennials are in place, there is relatively minimal maintenance that is required. The tune-ups that may be needed are some deadheading to promote new and stronger growth and some cleaning up after winter before the new blooming season takes place. Once the early spring season arrives and the ground is not too muddy or rainsoaked, clear out any leaves and debris that have gathered around where perennials are located. Gardeners can also till the mulch or soil in these areas to aerate the planting beds. Using shears, cut down any dead grasses, stems and stalks from spent perennials that overwintered. Remove any dead wood and broken branches. Be careful not to trim spring-blooming shrubs because some flowers bloom on year-old stems and this can cause the plant not to flower. Perennials that aren’t flowering as well as they used to or have dead centers may need to be divided to promote stronger growth. This should be done in early spring before the plant blooms or late fall before the winter arrives. Dividing plants and replanting not only grows the garden, but also it is a healthy revitalization for the plant. Gardeners who prefer to take a laidback approach to gardening may appreciate the ease with which a beautiful and easy-to-maintain landscape can be created with perennials.
inside Grass-Free Landscaping ➤
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