Columns

Feathers, Miracles, and Rain

We’ve often gone through difficult storms in life, when we begin to wonder if things will ever get better.

I remember when a literal storm came through late in the evening. I sat in the dark, watching out the windows at the light show. Thunder shook the walls, wind tossed the skeletal branches of the trees, the rain pounded the ground.

Far off in the distance, I saw a small round orb of golden light. It was a security light in the yard of a house that normally couldn’t be seen through a thick wall of trees. It made me think of the glory of God, as if He was watching the miracle of rain He performed, just as I was.

Several days later, we had another storm pass through, this one during the late morning. I stood at the back door watching as the drops splashed on the steps, the bricks, and the grass. And I smiled as each drop I watched seemed to twinkle, as if filled with something other than water.

Get It Growing Calendars return gardening tips, pictures to shelves for 2025

The LSU AgCenter is once again releasing a Get It Growing calendar for 2025, giving gardeners and plant lovers a new horticulture resource with tips on gardening and sublime pictures.

The AgCenter has released a calendar since 2005, every year with new and exquisite photos of local trees, flowers and other flora, said Elma Sue McCallum, of AgCenter Communications.

“Louisiana gardeners await the arrival of the latest Get It Growing Calendar every year. The 2025 calendar has arrived and, as always, it is a wonderful resource for the home gardener,” said Mc-Callum, who serves as the calendar’s coordinator. “It’s also a great gift for gardeners or anyone with an appreciation for beautiful photographs of flowers, plants and gardens.”

When Northwest Louisiana is mentioned the mind immediately thinks of the right angle of the state joining Texas and Arkansas. It has always been that way even before Caddo was organized out of Natchitoches Parish. There were at least two times the Northwest three parishes (Caddo, DeSoto and Bossier) were close to becoming Texas. As a reminder, Caddo was taken from Natchitoches parish in 1839, DeSoto was formed with the northern half from Caddo and southern half from Natchitoches in 1843 and Bossier was formed a few months later that same year in 1843 from Claiborne Parish and all were endangered to remaining in Louisiana.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” 1Timothy 2:1-2 ESV Every year in our country we all have the responsibility to vote. I believe a Christian has the duty to vote in every election. Jesus demonstrated in Matthew 17:27 that as Christians we also have the responsibility to obey the laws of our government as long as there is not a genuine conflict with the Word of God.

“And there came to me one of the seven angels… and talked with me saying, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife…’ and he showed me that great city the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21:9-11) At an earlier time in my lie I was privileged to visit New York City. I didn’t have a car at the time so I hailed a cab! To me that was the worst thing you could do in New York City. I don’t remember where we were going but the ride was terrible! That driver was either half asleep or drunk and he drove fast. When I think of that I never want to go to New York City again.

The twenty-first chapter of Revelation describes what Heaven is like. I am looking forward to going there again. I went one time before but was called back. One of my dear friends, Linda Hinson, got to go there this week. I had the privilege of visiting she and Randy at their home in Stanley and having prayer with her recently.

As Louisiana approaches its 213 + birthday, let’s direct our thoughts to one important phase of Louisiana history, her Capital location. Baton Rouge first comes to mind but it was not the first capital city. In 1722 when three commissioners were sent over from France to look into the affairs of the Louisiana Colony Bienville favored a location up the Mississippi River from the coast. He favored changing the seat of government to the new settlement of New Orleans. The previous seat was Biloxi but the water was so shallow the ocean going vessels had to unload at Shop Island come 15 miles off shore. Bienville obtained their consent; therefore, we can trace the first capital of Louisiana to that time and place.

It’s almost squirrel season y’all!!!

Let’s get shakin’ and head to the woods… My favorite time of year growing up, squirrel season! I got to spend quality time with my dad, he would even surprise me at school to check me out early for an afternoon hunt. As bad as I was, I highly doubt my teachers minded (a few might have looked forward to me leaving.)

Opening weekend and usually the next included, my daddy’s friends around a fire talking about the hunt and how much work still needed to be done before their next outdoor adventure, deer season.

These fall weekends are when I first saw open-fire cooking first hand and I loved every minute of it. Today, looking back I smile realizing those guys were more interested in the hunt and eating than sanitation. Sometimes these camps didn’t have water much less soap. The squirrels were usually eaten with the same knife that skinned them only hours before. It was southern, it was country and it made memories.

Prune Roses Soon To Reinvigorate Plants And Promote Fall Blooms

As we enter the waning days of summer, many of our plants are just plain tired after enduring months of heat — and they’re showing it.

Roses are no exception. They tend to get a bit leggy and overgrown this time of year, and you’ve probably noticed their blooms are smaller and less colorful. There’s an easy fix, though, and now is the time to do it.

We’re talking about pruning — trimming away excess growth to shape plants and control their size as well as removing dead and damaged canes. Doing so will refresh your rose bushes and encourage a burst of flowers this fall. It also increases airflow in plants, which helps ward off diseases.

DeSoto Regional Health Introduces Commemorative Brick Campaign

Dear Editor and Readers:

We recently celebrated a significant milestone for DeSoto Regional Health System, as we broke ground on a monumental project. This development includes a 57,000-square -foot hospital and a 40,000-square foot medical office building, which will house a Rural Health Clinic, Hospital Administration, Cancer Services, Specialty Clinic Space, and Sleep Study Services. Once completed, these new facilities will modernize healthcare delivery and expand the capacity to serve the residents of DeSoto Parish, marking a transformative step forward for the community.

Containers: An easy solution to many gardening conundrums

Expansive, in-ground flowerbeds and vegetable gardens aren’t for everyone.

Maybe you want to grow just a few plants — either because of limited space or a desire for a minimal gardening commitment. Or perhaps you want to dress up a courtyard, patio, deck or apartment balcony where planting directly into the ground isn’t possible.

Growing in containers can solve all of these problems. It also has its share of benefits. Potted plants can easily be switched out and moved around, offering the flexibility to update your space as often as you like. You have more control over the soil you use, and containers tend to have fewer problems with weeds. And they can be moved into protected areas during freezes — a feature that is especially important for tender tropical plants and citrus trees. With containers, you have the freedom to decorate your home or office with plants, too.