Columns

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 NKJV When David wrote this psalm he was repenting of sins he committed against God, the people he hurt and against himself. David is giving us two words that are essential for our daily walk with God. These words should be an integral part of our conversation and walk with God so we keep ourselves from falling into repeated sin and crushing our spiritual life. Why is it so important for us to stay away from sin? Why is it so necessary that we stay focused on the things of God? Because we know that the moment we step out of the boundaries that God has set for us we will experience consequences that are not be beneficial to us or others.

What can people that are down and out, nobodies, and people who are dying offer to the rest of mankind that will help them with their lives and perhaps save lives? That is what this lesson is about for 2 Kings, Chapter 7.

“And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate and they said one to another, why sit we here until we die? If we say we will enter into the city, then the famine, is in the city and we shall die there, and if we shall sit here until we die here. Now therefore come and let us fall to the Syrians, if they save us alive, we shall live if they shall kill us, we shall but die.”

DeSoto Extension Agent

The Root of Gardening Success Starts with the Soil

The foundation of our gardening success lies in our soil health. Soil is, of course, the root of all things good in the garden. This is the place where plants anchor their roots, and it is a dynamic ecosystem that impacts the growth, health and vigor of our plants.

Soil health is crucial for providing plants with the necessary nutrients, water and physical support they need to grow and thrive. When the soil is healthy, plants are healthier, more productive and better equipped to resist pests, diseases and other stressors. Soil helps plants be more resilient to environmental stresses such as extreme temperatures, heavy rainfall and drought.

Out of Box

There are days we run across a recipe that puts you on the fence. It sounds intriguing, but at the same time, you question whether it will really be good or not. Do you make it? Or keep searching for something else for dinner? What about when you are invited over to a friend’s house for dinner, and you are served a dish you have never tried, but it looks amazing. So you put a small spoonful on your plate, taste it, and immediately ask for the recipe – it is just that delicious. I am always looking for something different to serve for the holidays. When searching for something last year, I remembered going to a friend’s house one Sunday after church. Her mom was pulling a dish out of the oven that looked amazing, and I couldn’t wait to try it. After I had the first bite, I knew I wanted the recipe.

It has been said, “Don’t ask a question that you don’t know the answer to”. Historical buffs who follow this article like to read history that they know but certain parts of it had slipped their mind – especially dates. Mansfield’s history is one of the writer’s favorite things to reminisce about.

The Birdfeeder Campaign

You may know that Great Battles are made up of different “Campaigns” or attempts to get a victory over the other side. WWII had D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, Vietnam had the Ten Offensive; even the Civil War had the Red River Campaign that was snuffed out by our own Confederate Troops in the Battle of Mansfield. Today I offer you the Birdfeeder Campaign following right on the heels of the Attic Campaign that are both victories by me in The Squirrel Wars of Laura Street. Before we break down the tactics by both sides let me give you an update on my improved version of the Baja Shrimp recipe I told you about last week.

DeSoto Extension Agent

‘It is really tragic’: Wildres wipe out income for Louisiana forest landowners”

In west-central Louisiana, where wildfires have ravaged thousands of acres of drought-stricken forests in recent weeks, more has been lost than just trees.

For many people, the towering pines that define the landscape of this rural region represent family inheritances, years of investment and hopes for the future. Growing trees takes a long time, but the cash they bring in when cut is worth the wait.

This summer’s fires have dimmed those prospects for some — adding insult to injury in an area still dealing with storm damage from three years ago.

All my life I’ve looked at people with multiple dogs and thought, why? Why would anyone want twice the shedding, twice the vet costs, twice the mess? Then I bought my first dog, and I discovered just how needy dogs are.

John says dogs have owners and cats have staff. He’s not wrong. Cats live their own lives, granting their owners—uh, excuse me, staff—access during certain windows. No one knows when these windows open, including the cats. But at those magical times the cats allow humans to shower them with attention. But not too much attention.

(Webster’s Dictionary) Caper: to skip or dance around in a playful manner; OR those awful Dog Tick looking lumps in alot of Mediterranean Dishes.

Many of you may remember some older columns of mine where I eliminated Capers or subbed them with olives saying that “I hated them”. Well, I now know that was na ve and ignorant on my part. Shades of when I as a picky eating kid and used to turn my nose up at anything that didn’t look right: Kiwis – nope; Cauliflower – no way; even Strawberry Jam (What?!) – my Aunt had to threaten to spank me if I didn’t at least try a taste.