Walk on
Monday, Aug. 25, 2008
One of the highlights of a recent tour of Charlene and Rodney Loyd’s St. Joseph garden were the lotus plants. Delicate pink flowers surrounded by enormous green leaves.
While most people will focus on the flowers, it’s the leaves that will leave a lasting impression, especially when they are turned into stepping stones.
Does having pets really matter in an election?
Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008
Leroy Chihuahua has an opinion about presidential candidate Barack Obama not having pets and shares it in his column on Petthevote.com. According to the diminutive doggie, “... As much as I appreciate a human who loves pets as much as my humans do, I gotta say I hope people don’t decide who to vote for based on the number of pets that candidate has. That’s a pretty silly reason to elect someone as President, if you ask me!”
Pack it
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008
Deciding between the Spider-Man, Batman or the Incredible Hulk lunchbox was a chore. But figuring out what snacks to put in that lunchbox can be a trial. Will they eat what you pack?
Avoiding toddler traumaSunday, Aug. 17, 2008
Heading off to preschool can be a frightening experience for a toddler. It means leaving the familiar and stepping into the unknown.
Mix and munchWednesday, Aug. 13, 2008
A brand-new kitchen overflowing with high-end Viking appliances is something a lot of cooks dream about. Debbie Dance Uhrig is getting to live the dream.
The kitchen isn’t located in her new home in Branson, Mo. The former Platte City, Mo., resident will be cooking up a storm in the Viking kitchen at Silver Dollar City.
You read that correctly — Silver Dollar City, the well-known turn-of-century theme park just outside of Branson. That high-end kitchen is located in the theme park’s new Silver Dollar City Culinary and Craft School, which will open to the public in September.
Pretty, practical and peaceful
Monday, Aug. 11, 2008
Jaws isn’t ready for his close-up. No matter how much fish food Charlene Loyd tosses in her backyard pond, the king koi doesn’t want to surface.
“He’s got an attitude,” Mrs. Loyd says. The coy Jaws isn’t the only one with attitude. St. Joseph homeowners Rodney and Charlene Loyd’s attitude when it comes to their backyard is pretty, practical and peaceful. And the pond meets all those requirements. Featuring four levels (the deepest is 5 feet deep), the pond juts out along one side of the backyard fence. Rocks that Mr. Loyd dug up from the yard form a decorative border.
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008
Barack, you’re the man. At least according to the “voters” who visit the St. Joseph Museum’s “Buttons, Banners and Flags: Electioneering in America” exhibit.
So many cats, so few homes
Monday, Aug. 4, 2008
Hillcrest Village Apartments resident Cookie Rock can’t resist a stray kitten or cat. But she would like to. “I don’t want to do this,” she said, “but I can’t just walk away.” So, she brings the three kittens hiding in a bush in front of her apartment building into her home, hoping that she will be able to find them homes. The kittens are only a few of the strays roaming the St. Joseph apartment complex, Ms. Rock said, adding that in the year-and-a-half that she has resided there, she has taken in about 40 strays.
Townhouse treasure
Monday, July 28, 2008
Driving through Sharon and Tom Rachow’s St. Joseph neighborhood, one townhouse blends into another. That is, until you reach the Rachow residence. The townhouse resembles the rest, but it’s the flowers, greenery and the statuary that make the Rachow house stand out, that gives it a “look-at-that” appeal.
What do you see?Sunday, July 27, 2008
Look through a child’s eyes and you may be surprised at what you see. Or don’t see.
An estimated 10 million children suffer vision problems, according to the National Parent Teacher Association. And Prevent Blindness America reports that one in 20 preschoolers and one in four school-age children have vision problems.
But even if little Johnny or Jenny can’t see, they’re unlikely to say so.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sylvia Pettit rests a bag of Oreos next to a glass of peach tea. The familiar blue-and-pink packaging proclaims the cookies’ double-stuffed goodness.
It’s the perfect compliment to a hot summer day at her home just north of St. Joseph.
Too bad there are no cookies.
This Oreo bag is actually a purse, complete with a fabric liner featuring a variety of pockets and two blue handles. And while it might not be food for the stomach, it has fed Sylvia’s creativity.
Some like it hot
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Jason Follmer had a hunch that his wife’s salsa would satisfy the judges in the recent News-Press Salsa Recipe Contest. “The first time I had it, it was the best I ever had,” he says. But Laurie Follmer wasn’t so sure her salsa would sway the judges. When told she was the winner of the contest, the St. Joseph resident was skeptical, “You’re kidding... seriously?” Yes, Laurie, you’re the winner.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Salsa recipes
Searching for angelsMonday, July 21, 2008
If the New Nodaway Humane Society in Maryville, Mo., can find 100 angels, they will be in heaven. At least, for a while.
Tote-ability makes Klein bag a keeperMonday, July 14, 2008
I’m in love — with a tool tote.
To be more precise, the Klein canvas 18-inch tool tote with reinforced vinyl bottom. It won me over with not only its style, but its functionally.
Box or bag?
Monday, July 14, 2008
When purchasing tools, men and women can spend a lot of time searching for the perfect ones. They compare brands and debate the pros and cons before making a buy. If only they gave that much consideration to how to store those tools. According to Lowes.com, proper storage can keep tools from getting damaged and make them easier to find when you actually want to use them. Juan Ribero, marketing coordinator with CableOrganizer.com, which features Klein Tools, and Ginny Vernon of Fairfax, Mo., a consultant for Tomboy Tools (www.tomboytools.com), offer tips on what to consider when choosing tool storage options.
Hello, dolly
Sunday, July 13, 2008
A room at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion hums with the voices of girls and women. Grandmothers with granddaughters and moms with daughters filter in through the door and find a place to sit at one of four long tables. Jackie Doyel, her daughter, Lauren, and Olga Zaviareika settle at the corner of a table in the back of the room. Lauren, 8, carries a doll modeling an outfit that her grandmother made from a colorful flour sack. Olga, 12, cradles Elizabeth, a borrowed American Girl doll who, in her long pink dress, represents the American Revolution era. Elizabeth is the doll that Olga has back home in Belarus, the one she knows her little sister is playing with while Olga is in the United States with the Project Restoration group.
Today, Olga is just another doll-loving girl, and Elizabeth is just another doll. The main attraction waits alone at the front of the room.
Friday, July 11, 2008
When the New Generation Singers take the stage at First Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. Sunday, Hanna Long will be part of the ensemble. Along with her fellow singers, she will lift up her voice in song and praise the Lord.
Putting taste to the test
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
If commercial beverages were considered a royal court, bottled water would probably be the jester. It keeps you entertained, but it just doesn’t have the muscle to rule. Soda is still the supreme ruler in the court of thirst. But the jester is getting serious about seeking the crown. According to the International Bottled Water Association, bottled water ranked as the number 2 most-consumed commercial beverage in the United States in 2007. Consumption last year surpassed 8.8 billion gallons. That’s bottled water, not tap. While tap water still quenches, it is its bottled cousin that’s going places — to ball games, hikes, walks in the park and picnics on the patio. People like the convenience and, yes, the taste, of bottled water. And many have their favorites. For some, it’s Aquafina, for others it’s Evian. And most swear that they can tell the difference. So, we decided to test four brands of bottled water — Aquafina, Dasani, Evian and Nestle Pure Life. Just for fun, we also had our eight testers take a sip of tap water.
What a gasSunday, July 6, 2008
With the price of gas going up and up, the family vacation is getting cut for many would-be travelers.
That scenic drive to Yosemite or east to Maine seems too cost prohibitive. But rather than stay home, why not take a look at one site in Missouri that is a popular tourist attraction with those coming from out of state?
“We are one tank of gas away for 6 million people in the United States,” says Tim Jacobsen, executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau. (The lake is located about 192 miles southeast of St. Joseph.)
Centrally located in the heart of Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks is a playground for those who want to shop, golf and, of course, get out on the water.
The big bang
Monday, June 30, 2008
Here’s a quick question to go with your morning toast and coffee: What extremely popular firework can reach temperatures of well above 1,000 degrees? Don’t know? Here’s a hint: It’s one that we often give our children. If you’re thinking that surely it can’t be sparklers, think again.
Tiny dancerSunday, June 22, 2008
Sydney Price lunges forward and then leaps. She looks like she’s doing the splits as her body hangs in mid-air.
But what goes up soon comes back down, and when Sydney lands, her pink flip-flops slap the concrete floor with a loud thud.
Ah, the life of an 11-year-old dancer who is demonstrating some of her moves.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A dog’s life can be a real treat when your human mom owns a gourmet dog bone company — and you’re its mascot.
Brandi Duis’ dog, Dub, whom she calls “a handsome mutt,” is the four-legged taste tester for Chew, a doggie divine delicatessen.
“He gets as many as he wants,” Ms. Duis says.
So does Tori Spelling’s dog, but don’t tell Dub.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Giving a dog a bone seems like such a simple concept. Considering what most dogs will put in their mouths, it shouldn’t be that hard. Unless, you’re talking about two of the three dogs I own.
When Brandi Duis offered the chance to do a taste test of her all-natural Chew gourmet dog bones, I thought, why not? This should be a breeze.
Four medium-size bones came in one package, and I kept two for my dogs and gave the others to two co-workers. They had no problem conducting the taste test. Their dogs actually knew what to do with the bones. That would be to chew them.
Fresh and fabulous
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sometimes when growing plants, you have to seek out the sun, and for Kathy Young, it was in her bathroom. Flooded with sunshine, it provided the perfect light for the tomato seeds she planted in a container during the colder months. When they sprouted, the St. Joseph resident transferred them to individual Styrofoam coffee cups.
“They started growing so fast that I didn’t know what to do with them,” she says. “I was giving them away.” Like strawberries, homegrown tomatoes also are a warm weather staple. People look forward to growing, picking and eating them. Ms. Young says she usually buys a few tomato plants to grow outside, but decided to try the seeds this year. Becky Schweizer of Schweizer Orchards says the orchard grows six to 10 different varieties of tomatoes and also is growing several different test varieties.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The black oval-shaped bowl is sleek and simple. It looks like it could hold a large bouquet of flowers or freshly-popped popcorn rather than toast, bagels or the occasional frozen chocolate chip waffle.
The bowl is actually a toaster, an everyday item that has artistic form and yet is functional. It decorates a counter with a shape that draws the eye as it fulfills the duties for which it was purchased. It will never rival fine art, but it’s artistic enough to make the everyday interesting.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
It’s Oprah verses Carrie Bradshaw when it comes to summer sandals.
The “Sex and the City” character probably balances on more heels that the talk show queen, but whatever Oprah endorses turns to gold.
And Oprah loves her FitFlops.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Sally Buckner scans the rows of plants in one of the greenhouses at Moffet Nursery and Garden Shop in St. Joseph. She’s looking for a “thriller,” a showy plant that will anchor the flower box that she is assembling.
“It’s the big wow,” she says.
She settles on two Vanilla Butterfly plants, with large, white daisy flowers and yellow centers. The height and color will contrast nicely with the “spiller” and “filler” plants that also will go into the flower box.
Flower boxes aren’t all that difficult to plant. However, you need to consider the following: will the flower box be in shade, full sun or a mixture of both; will it be attached to the house or displayed on the ground; and are you willing to take the time to water the plants at least once, maybe twice a day?
If so, you’re ready to begin.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Blues/jazz performer Roddy Barnes has worked with an uppity blues woman and the Indian of the Village People.
But neither will be present at his performance at Cafe Acoustic at 9:30 a.m. tonight.
“I much prefer blues and the stuff I do to the pop music,” he says. But he had fun helping write music for Felipe Rose’s (yep, he’s the Indian) album.
As for that uppity blues woman? Well, Barnes still works with her. He and Gaye Adegbalola, who was in the group Uppity Blues Women before a name change christened them Saffire, recently returned from a concert tour in Africa. The pair perform classic blues from the 1920s and 1930s.
But tonight, it’s Roddy, all Roddy.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Watermelon is probably the fruit that most people associate with the summer season.
A backyard barbecue, a summer picnic in the park or a lakeshore adventure doesn’t seem complete without a juicy watermelon to end the meal.
For all its sweet taste, watermelon also is loaded with health benefits, says Leslie Coleman, director of communications for the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Find bargains at Weston’s community garage sale
Lesson planSunday, May 25, 2008
If the light is on in the Community Early Care and Education Resource Center at the YWCA, but Jean Martin isn’t present, it doesn’t mean she isn’t there.
She’s probably in a basement restroom washing a toy with a mixture of bleach and water.
It’s a routine that the retired teacher does three times a week and the first Saturday of the month at the resource center located in the basement of the YWCA in St. Joseph.
Monday, May 19, 2008
With its graceful flight and colorful wings, the butterfly has become one of the more universally beloved of all insects.
“They are a charming insect,” says Joe Norton, director of The Butterfly House in St. Louis.
There’s no fear factor, no urge to smash a butterfly beneath a shoe. The butterfly is welcome in our homes. And it’s one insect that many people want to attract to their gardens.
The butterfly is an attraction in itself. People wanting to learn more about the insect visit butterfly sanctuaries, such as Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Mo., the Kansas State University Butterfly Garden in Manhattan, The Butterfly House in St. Louis and the Butterfly Palace in Branson, Mo.
Friday, May 16, 2008
A little girl dressed in white holds a small American flag in her dainty hand. Ruffles touch her elbows, and the hem of her dress falls to her knees,
She is the “4th of July Girl’ and is one of artist John Vanderpool’s favorite paintings. She was one of several people in an old photo, circa 1912, but it was her face that captured Vanderpool’s attention.
“I look at a photo and see something there,” he says.
Visitors to the Muchnic Gallery in Atchison, Kan., can take a look of Vanderpool’s paintings and see what they see there because the gallery is showcasing an exhibit of his work through June 29.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
When seasoning the food we eat, many Americans are stuck in a rut. A lot of us reach for salt and pepper — and usually it’s more salt than pepper.
“If it doesn’t taste salty, we tend to think it doesn’t taste good,” says Sheri Caldwell, Hy-Vee in-store dietitian.
But for a tasty and nutritious way to season food and promote good health, shake the salt habit and start using herbs and spices.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The sun is shining and you want to go out and play. Perhaps you’re taking your boat out onto the lake or you’re headed out to the ballpark. Maybe you just want to lounge by the pool.
While you gathering the gear that will see you through any outdoor activity you love, don’t forget to grab one of the most important items on any list — a pair of sunglasses.
Monday, May 5, 2008
A rainbow of color is drenching the aisles of nurseries, garden centers and big-box stores at this time of year. Flowers of every shape, size and color are in bloom.
All a gardener has to do is decide which ones to take home.
Should it be the annuals or perennials? Or how about a mixture of both?
For some of us, perennials are the way to grow. After all, you only have to plant them once, but the flowers and plants re-bloom every year. A dream come true for those of us with less than a green thumb.
Annuals, on the other hand, last only one season. You have to buy new ones and replant them every year.
Umm, why would anyone want to do that?
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Molly the Golden Retriever doesn’t want to balance the Milk Bone dog treat on her nose.
She’d rather eat it.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Molly’s owner, Deb Wenzel, coaxes her 7-year-old furry companion.
And Molly, all golden fur so soft you just want to sink your hand into it and pet her forever, truly tries to wait. She sits as asked, her tail sweeping across the floor in front of the carpeted stairs that lead to the second-story of her Savannah, Mo., home. Her eyes are focused more on the treat in her owner’s hand rather than her owner.
“Wait...”
Three treats later, Molly still hasn’t demonstrated her skill at balancing dog treats on her nose. But she has gotten to eat them. Her waiting has paid off.
Friday, May 2, 2008
You know a director is having fun with his latest production when he breaks into song while on his cell phone.
“It’s time to put on makeup, it’s time to light the lights,” Mike Swymeler, director of “Nunsense 2: The Second Coming,” sings, referencing “The Muppet Show” theme. “Nunsense 2” opens tonight at Robidoux Landing Playhouse.
No doubt, Kermit and the Muppets would approve.
But the veteran director’s songbite isn’t meant to honor a beloved old show. It’s a nod to the Little Sisters of Hoboken, who stole audiences’ hearts by ticking their funnybones in the original “Nunsense.” And now, those rollicking, righteous ladies of the habit are back for another song-filled frolic.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
There are a lot of adjectives that can be used to describe strawberries — juicy, sweet, delicious, sour, squishy and moldy.
Those last three are the ones you hope you don’t have to utter when it comes to the fruit that many consider the mascot of spring. Strawberries shouldn’t be sour, squishy or moldy.
And while the fruit signals the coming of warm weather for many, it’s still too early in this area to pick your own. That should come around the end of May, says Cory Schweizer of Schweizer Orchards (that’s when the orchard is set to open).
“It all depends on the weather,” he says.
But strawberries are in the stores, and with a few tips from the pros, you can avoid picking a pint that will be less than pleasing.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Kyle McLaughlin picks up a silver X-Acto knife. Beneath his hand, small pieces of balsa wood rest on the slanted cardboard box he has placed on the rectangular table in the back of teacher Earl Sharp’s classroom.
Holding the thin blade steady in his hand, the Robidoux Middle School seventh-grader leans forward and scores a small piece of the wood.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Repeat after me, “I will not touch the wildlife babies that may show up in my yard.”
With the arrival of warm weather, nature also is unveiling its newest residents, the baby bunnies, squirrels, raccoons, birds, fawns, skunks and foxes. Oftentimes homeowners may encounter the little ones in their own yards, alone without mama nearby. And the urge to help kicks in.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Laura Simon, field director for the Urban Wildlife Program of the Humane Society of the United States offers the following tips to help homeowners discover whether a wildlife baby needs help.
Take in a showFriday, April 18, 2008
Nathan Martinez is headed for the House of Mouse. That would be Mickey Mouse.
“I got a job with the Disney Design Group as a creative assistant,” he says.
But before the Missouri Western State University senior and Elwood, Kan., resident says so long, he’ll showcase his creativity in a senior art show in Potter Hall Gallery 206.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
He’s the tiger who has raised his paw from the box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes for decades. But is Tony the Tiger really as grrreat as he thinks he is?
Does his cereal truly bowl over kids and adults at the breakfast table? Or is a generic brand just as tasty?
There’s only one way to find out.
We put Tony — as well as Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats — up against generic brands of frosted flakes and frosted mini wheats. The idea came from a recent taste test that Consumer Reports magazine conducted. That test concluded that Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and Frosted Mini Wheats and some of their generic counterparts both satisfied morning munchers.
For our taste test, participants weren’t told which cereal was the national brand and which was the generic.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sometimes when arranging a taste test things just don’t go the way they should.
The cereal taste test that Consumer Reports magazine conducted also pitted General Mills’ Cheerios against Malt-O-Meal, a smaller private label brand. Malt-O-Meal manufactures versions of several popular cereals.
For our taste test, it was easy to find the Cheerios at a local grocery store. And the Malt-O-Meal version called Scooters also was easy to locate — except for the plain kind. The store was out.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
In one of his dreams, Barry Claywell is on a bus. He isn’t sitting in one of the seats — he’s standing behind the bus driver.
While that dream may not sound like anything out of the ordinary, it was a life changing dream for Mr. Claywell.
“I worked the dream,” he says.
By doing so, he discovered that the dream was actually a message, his body’s way of trying to tell him something.
Dreams, he says, are “like a message from yourself to yourself.”
Monday, April 7, 2008
The ice and snow have melted and the temperatures are rising. Spring has finally blossomed.
And gardeners can’t wait to get outside and plant. While many have their favorite flowers and vegetables, there are new varieties to consider. Some are being introduced this year, and others, although introduced in the last year or two, are just now catching the attention of gardeners.
We sampled several local nurseries to find out what blooms and vegetables gardeners may want to take note of this season. Of course, to learn more about what plants would work well in your garden, don’t be shy about asking the advice of nursery, garden center and landscape personnel.
Friday, April 4, 2008
A Sunday gospel brunch at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club served up more than a tasty meal for Allen Bailey.
It served up inspiration.
Clips of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were being shown during the event, and one segment made a lasting impression.
Bailey says the quote from Dr. King — “We can all be great because we can all serve” — inspired him to found the Harlem Gospel Choir in 1986.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
You can almost hear the mini Oreos calling to you from their 100-calorie pack.
Go ahead, eat me...
Of course, if you don’t like Oreos, then how about the 60-calorie peach-flavored Light & Fit 0% Plus yogurt, the Healthy Choice turkey dinner, the mini rice cakes drizzled in chocolate or the Campbell’s soup with natural sea salt? All promise to help you manage you weight in a low-calorie, tasty way.
But is there such a thing as weight-management foods?
- More Headlines
- Recently Discussed
Content © 2008, NPG Newspapers Inc, St. Joseph News-Press
Services: Privacy Policy / Subscribe / Forms / Contacts / Feedback / Contacts / Profiles / Careers / Newsstands
Affiliates: St. Joe Live / St. Joe Now / NIE / Atchison Daily Globe / Hiawatha Daily World / Green Acres
