Minute Magazine Dec Jan 09

1Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire. DEC 2009 / JAN 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:DEC 2009 / JAN 20102



A few of the places to see and be seen in Louisiana and South Arkansas. To have your event listed in our Calendar of Events, call Jackie Lewis at 318.382.1900.

West Edge Artists Fine Arts Marketat the Louisiana Boardwalk in Boss-ier City will be held on Saturday, De-cember 19th. This one-day event will feature regional artists selling fine art in various mediums.

AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl will be held on Monday, December 28th, at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

Mansfield’s Annual Christmas Pa-rade will be held on December 12th, 2009 at 2PM.

Krewe of Aquarius Mardi Gras BallJanuary 30th, 2009 from 6 PM un-til midnight at the Logansport Fire House.

2nd Annual River City Fest will take place from April 30th to May 2nd, 2010 in Logansport.

Lincoln Square Christkindl Market, from December 4-6, 2009.

The Benton Christmas Festival Pa-rade on December 12th, 2009 be-ginning at 1 PM. Will begin at the Benton Town Square

Hands-on Adventures in Glassblow-ing. Now through January 31st, 2010. 10 AM - 4 PM. Mon-Sat in 2 hour increments. New Orleans Art-works at New Orleans Glass Works & Print making Studio, 727 Maga-zine Street - Great activity during

holidays for families to get together and make ornaments

Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on December 5th, 2009. Be-gins at Old Springhill High School Building on Church Street and Hwy 371. This parade will feature Santa and afterward “Santa in the Park” PLUS “Storylady” and other chil-dren’s activities.

The Krewe of Artemis Springhill Grand Mardi Gras Ball on January 16th, 2010. Will be held at the Sprin-ghill Civic Center. This is the largest gala in Webster Parish, with good food, fun, and entertainment.

Magnolia’s Christmas Parade on December 3rd, 2009, beginning at 5 PM. This year’s theme: Celebrating Christ Around the World Peace, Love, & League to be held on February 20, 2010 at 7 PM until 12 AM at the Magnolia Country Club. Magnolia Junior Charity League’s annual fundraiser, a 70’s themed party, will include an auction, food, & DJ with dancing.


this issue...JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM

Owners/PublishersRegional Editors Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEYSales Manager

ALLISON KATE BARRONNew Orleans Sales

JENNY REYNOLDSFounder

Circulation & Distribution:James “Shay” CallenAllison Kate Barron

CIRCULATION OF 20,000READERSHIP OF OVER 50,000

Contact Information:Office Phone: 318.382.1900

Ad Sales: 318.548.2693

Mail: 512 Fort Avenue, Minden, LA 71055

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright 2009/10. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permis-sion. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for

unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of

journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors

and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views

of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don’t count every hour in the day- make every hour in the day count!

This bi-monthly maga-zine is FREE! How-ever, you can have it mailed to your home or business for $20 a year to cover postage and handling. Call 318.382.1900 or send your check and mailing address to The Minute Magazine, 512 Fort Avenue, Minden, LA 71055.

INSIDE

Contributors:Michelle Anderson

Donna ArenderAllison Kate Barron

Dorothy BowdenTiffany Byram

Vicki CaskeyChristine DittmannElizabeth Drewett

Anita GoodsonDorothy GrantCindy IngramJackie Lewis

Jason McReynoldsLela Robichaux

Clyde StanleyMargaret Timmons

Melissa TeouletGalen White

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR VISIT WWW.

THEMINUTEMAG.COM TODAY!

The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, DeSoto, Red River, Natchi-

toches, Webster, Lincoln & Orleans Par-ishes in Louisiana and Columbia County,

Arkansas. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a

refreshing, enlightening “minute.” For a list of locations near you, viwit

www.theminutemag.com today!

7 To Forward or Not by Dorothy Bowden

8 For Good Memories by Margaret Timmons

10 Cowboy Christmas by Jackie Lewis

16 Sofia Brandon by Jackie Lewis

20 Christmas Diversity by Jason McReynolds

23 TOATS by Allison Kate Barron

25 New Year, New Take on Cabbage by Melissa Teoulet

26 Crowning Moment by Michelle Anderson

28 Adventures at a Hidden Jewel by Dorothy Grant

30 On the Spectrum by Lela Robichaux

36 To the Fullest by Tiffany Byram

40 The White Elephant by Galen White

44 When the Sun Comes Up by Clyde Stanely

46 Antique Junkie by Donna Arender

56 Confessions of a Hormonal Woman by Elizabeth Drewett

60 Weeder’s Digest by Anita Goodson

The cover shot was taken by Jackie Lewis at the lunch coun-ter of the Heflin Store in Heflin,

Louisiana. Cody and Heith DeMoss, PRCA Bronce riders,

proudly call Heflin home. He-flin is nestled in south Webster

Parish. Visit Heith DeMoss’ Facebook Page for more infor-mation about the DeMoss men

and their careers.




FOR GOOD MEMORIES, WE ARE THANKFUL

Mama and Daddy bought the old farm in Homer somewhere around 1971. On this old farm were 80 acres of land and an old two-story house that sat back off the road. Out in front of the house was a tall brick chimney that was the only thing left of the cotton mill that the German town community had built back in the 1870’s. There were about three acres of land around this old chimney. Daddy decided that this small patch of ground would make a good hay meadow.

Although we had a ten-acre farm at the end of the East Road in Cullen, we really weren’t big time farmers. We had a couple of cows and a little

tractor-tiller that Daddy used to work our garden.

Behind our house and across a little creek was a five-acre hay meadow. Daddy always had someone else bale the hay that grew there.

I suspect that, deep down inside, Daddy had an urge to someday be a big time farmer and drive one of those tractor monsters. Then he would be able to bale his own hay and do his own work.

Somehow, about the time we bought the farm, Daddy got his wish. ‘It’ was an old “Poppin’ John” tractor that had a hand turned crank on the front. The only trouble was, it didn’t come with any equipment… per say. Daddy was blessed enough to have three son-in-laws, the Bailey brothers, who loaned him an old mule drawn sickle blade mower and a hand fed square baler. When I think back, I don’t know if it was a blessing or a cursing.

The old sickle blade mower worked fine. Daddy would hook it up behind the old Poppin John tractor. Mama would climb up on the old rusty metal seat of the mower, hold on for dear life, and away they would go! They were fun to watch. None of us had ever had enough dealing with hay baling to realize the mortal danger Mama had placed herself in.

Daddy would boogie across the field in HIGH gear, the sickle blades clicking and slicing through the tall grass, sticks, and small trees, like

sliding through warm butter. I don’t know if it registered on anyone else but Mama, that perhaps, it would slice through flesh and bone just as easily. So Mama held on as best as she could, until they came to the little ‘dip’ down by the land.

We would all hold our breath as the big old Poppin John tractor dipped and rose from the ditch. We could see Mama grit her teeth and tighten her grip on the old seat as she disappeared into the canyon. Seems like an hour later, up she’d pop with a clearance of at least two feet between Her seat and the seat of the old mower. She’d flash us a quick grin, and re-adjust herself for the next round.

After the hay was cut and properly dried, it had to be raked into ‘wind rows’. Without the luxery of a proper hay rake, we did as we often did and made do! Daddy fitted ach of us kids with a hand broom and placed us in a line across the meadow. We were to rake the hay into neat little rows that could easily be drawn into the old baler. Of course, no one told us that hay meadows tend to grow in direct proportion to the heat of the day and the supply of stagnant, lukewarm drinking water. Therefore, I could have sworn that the little three acre meadow had suddenly become at least thirty!

Daddy had trouble with the baler from the start. Much to our amazement, he wasn’t pleased with the size of the bales. We, on the other hand,

couldn’t see anything wrong with a bale of hay being the size of a hatbow and weighing two pounds. After all, wouldn’t it make sense that they would be easier to HAUL and put away that size? But NO! Our ‘efficiency expert Dad’ had to keep fiddling with perfection until he had it spitting out bales of hay 20 feet long and weighing just under four tons each! I guess the ‘efficiency’ of it was that you weren’t supposed to have to stoop so often to pick up more bales. Yeah, Right! So now, unto this very day, some of us have a permanent ‘hunch back’ from trying to lift those ‘more efficient’ large bales!

Did I mention what we did after the hay was finally cut, raked, baled, and tucked securely in the barn? Well, let me tell you! We all went into the old farmhouse and found either a sack or apron with very big pockets and returned to the hay meadow.

“Did you have a picnic or a party?” you ask?

“Nay!” I say, “Nay!”

We simply walked all over the meadow trying to retrieve our guts that we had worked and spilled while balin’ Daddy’s hay!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



When you first meet pro-fessional bronc riders Cody and Heith DeMoss, a few things are obvious. Number one, they’re cowboys. Real, tough, bronc-breaking cowboys. Their boots aren’t just for show- these two brothers are the real deal, ready to strap themselves on to the back of a wild horse and see how far along they can get in eight seconds.

The Minute Magazine had the opportunity to meet up with Cody and Heith in their home-town of Heflin, Louisiana just before they left for the much anticipated 2009 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their careers, which have bought them both fame in the pro rodeo circuit, might be taking them to Vegas- but it all began here in northern Louisiana years ago.

Heith was 14 when he began looking up to his big brother, Cody. And that’s when the rodeo bug first bit him. At 16, he rode his first bronc and stayed on a full eight seconds. But, as Heith puts it, “it was another 100 head before I got the full eight seconds again.”

Cody DeMoss’ career began when he won his first title at 2X4 Ranch when he was twelve. He won $106 dollars that day, and confesses that he’s “been hooked ever since. When I was old enough to walk, I was ready to get on something. Our Daddy rodeo-ed, and he was a 2 time championship high school bareback rider. Everybody we looked up to were cowboys, so we just fell right into it.” The DeMoss men are originally from Crowville, Louisiana, “down around Winnsboro,” says Cody. Their grandfather had some cows, but the most exciting time of year for them was when the rodeo came back around.

Heith was 17 when he began high school rodeo. But he didn’t instantly know it was what he wanted to do as a career. “Dur-

ing those first few rides, it was too much of a blur for me to understand bronc riding. After my first broken wrist and then a broken collarbone I didn’t know if bronc riding was for me,” he confessed. But during his senior year of high school, after landing a few better horses, Heith realized that bronc riding was calling his name.

Cody rode his first bronc when he was in high school, too. But he decided he didn’t like it, and stuck to roping and bulldogging. That all changed during his junior year when he tried riding a bronc again. During his senior year, at the state finals in his second go-round, everything clicked for him and he saw things in a different light. From then on, it was bronc riding for Cody. After more than a dozen broken bones, hundreds of cross-country rodeo trips, and long-distance phone calls back home to their families, rodeo is as necessary to the DeMoss men as breathing. The pro-rodeo lifestyle might be difficult, but it’s one that Heith and his brother Cody embrace.

So what’s it like to saddle up and hang on to a bucking bronc? Heith promises that it’s not as rough as it looks, but keeps the reality in check. “It’s really dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.” We’ll keep that in mind during the first few weeks of December while we’re watching Cody and Heith kick up the dust on ESPN.

“50% of the ride is your horse. If you don’t have a good horse, you’re out of luck. This year I’ve been lucky to get on lots of good horses. If you’ve got a good one, it doesn’t matter what you’ve got because you can always make it into something. This year has been full of a lot of confidence because I’ve got good travel-ing partners, and we’re upbeat and positive. As long as you’ve got someone that’s positive, it’s easy,” says Heith. With his enor-mous grin, natural cowboy charm and enthusiasm for all things rodeo, Heith is nothing if he’s not optimistic. But he doesn’t take all

of the credit- Heith is proud to ad-mit he owes much of his career to his big brother’s example.

Cody has been in rodeo for more than ten years now.“It’s a rough sport, and you’re gonna get hurt. But me and Heith both have had a pretty good career and we’re going to keep on keeping on.”

Cody watches Heith every time he rides, because “you never know what’s gonna happen with him. It could be good, or it could be something crazy. That’s why everybody watches Heith ride.”

Heith’s rodeo coach, Chad Henry, always drills the same words into Heith’s head before every rodeo: “The two keys to success are preparation and determination.” That’s a motto that Heith lives by. “As long as I’m prepared and dang sure determined, I can get it done. If there’s one thing I can tell everyone, it’s as long as you’re determined you can do anything. Even if you’re more determined than you are talented, you can get it done.”

But Heith’s not the only one with a lesson to teach the readers of The Minute Magazine- Cody has plenty of advice for anyone chas-ing their dreams. “Don’t worry about what other people think. That’s the biggest downfall you can have- worrying about what everyone else is going to say. That don’t matter. God is going to put in your heart what you need to be, and you need to fol-low it and not worry about what everyone else thinks. I think that’s the number one advice I can give anybody.”

Heith met his wife Hallie at her parent’s 2X4 Ranch Camp in He-flin. They began dating in March of 2008 and were married in No-vember. They will be spending their first anniversary in Vegas for the rodeo, and Hallie hopes to bring home a hefty purse when they return. And there is a big possibility for them to do so.

“I’m excited about Vegas. I

just got new stuff put on my saddle, and I’m ready. We’re headed to Dallas first to get the jitters off before we head out,” says Heith. And there’s a reason for him to have the jitters- there’s a lot at stake for Cody and Heith in Las Vegas. With prize money increasing at rodeos across the country, it’s not unusual for the best cowboys to bring home a $50,000 to $100,000 check per major event. And Las Vegas has quite the payout for bronc riders.

But don’t expect these two broth-ers to be too affected by seeing their names up in lights. Unlike most professional sports, profes-sional cowboys have to pay their entry fees, expenses, and hope they draw a good horse and have a good ride. “It’s not just handed to you. It’s all hard work and a lot of luck,” says Cody.

“Paying those entry fees keeps you humble,” Heith adds. “No matter how high you finished the previous year, you’re no more im-portant than anyone else.” That’s a big difference between rodeo stars and movie stars. There is no glitter and glam in the arena when a horse is staring you in the eyes and getting ready to tear it up. “I get nervous all the time. Anytime that I’ve got a good horse, I’m a little bit on edge. If I’ve got one that’s been to the finals, and I know I’ve got a shot to win some money, then I know I’ve got to make it count. It’s a lot of pressure, because I know that I’ve got to make it work.”

If you’re a fan of Cody and Heith DeMoss, stop by the Heflin Store and talk it up with the locals. This tiny ‘one horse town’ is proud of the DeMoss family, and you can bet your bottom dollar that everyone will be tuned in for the finals on ESPN.

Written by Jackie

Lewis


When you first meet pro-fessional bronc riders Cody and Heith DeMoss, a few things are obvious. Number one, they’re cowboys. Real, tough, bronc-breaking cowboys. Their boots aren’t just for show- these two brothers are the real deal, ready to strap themselves on to the back of a wild horse and see how far along they can get in eight seconds.

The Minute Magazine had the opportunity to meet up with Cody and Heith in their home-town of Heflin, Louisiana just before they left for the much anticipated 2009 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their careers, which have bought them both fame in the pro rodeo circuit, might be taking them to Vegas- but it all began here in northern Louisiana years ago.

Heith was 14 when he began looking up to his big brother, Cody. And that’s when the rodeo bug first bit him. At 16, he rode his first bronc and stayed on a full eight seconds. But, as Heith puts it, “it was another 100 head before I got the full eight seconds again.”

Cody DeMoss’ career began when he won his first title at 2X4 Ranch when he was twelve. He won $106 dollars that day, and confesses that he’s “been hooked ever since. When I was old enough to walk, I was ready to get on something. Our Daddy rodeo-ed, and he was a 2 time championship high school bareback rider. Everybody we looked up to were cowboys, so we just fell right into it.” The DeMoss men are originally from Crowville, Louisiana, “down around Winnsboro,” says Cody. Their grandfather had some cows, but the most exciting time of year for them was when the rodeo came back around.

Heith was 17 when he began high school rodeo. But he didn’t instantly know it was what he wanted to do as a career. “Dur-

ing those first few rides, it was too much of a blur for me to understand bronc riding. After my first broken wrist and then a broken collarbone I didn’t know if bronc riding was for me,” he confessed. But during his senior year of high school, after landing a few better horses, Heith realized that bronc riding was calling his name.

Cody rode his first bronc when he was in high school, too. But he decided he didn’t like it, and stuck to roping and bulldogging. That all changed during his junior year when he tried riding a bronc again. During his senior year, at the state finals in his second go-round, everything clicked for him and he saw things in a different light. From then on, it was bronc riding for Cody. After more than a dozen broken bones, hundreds of cross-country rodeo trips, and long-distance phone calls back home to their families, rodeo is as necessary to the DeMoss men as breathing. The pro-rodeo lifestyle might be difficult, but it’s one that Heith and his brother Cody embrace.

So what’s it like to saddle up and hang on to a bucking bronc? Heith promises that it’s not as rough as it looks, but keeps the reality in check. “It’s really dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.” We’ll keep that in mind during the first few weeks of December while we’re watching Cody and Heith kick up the dust on ESPN.

“50% of the ride is your horse. If you don’t have a good horse, you’re out of luck. This year I’ve been lucky to get on lots of good horses. If you’ve got a good one, it doesn’t matter what you’ve got because you can always make it into something. This year has been full of a lot of confidence because I’ve got good travel-ing partners, and we’re upbeat and positive. As long as you’ve got someone that’s positive, it’s easy,” says Heith. With his enor-mous grin, natural cowboy charm and enthusiasm for all things rodeo, Heith is nothing if he’s not optimistic. But he doesn’t take all

of the credit- Heith is proud to ad-mit he owes much of his career to his big brother’s example.

Cody has been in rodeo for more than ten years now.“It’s a rough sport, and you’re gonna get hurt. But me and Heith both have had a pretty good career and we’re going to keep on keeping on.”

Cody watches Heith every time he rides, because “you never know what’s gonna happen with him. It could be good, or it could be something crazy. That’s why everybody watches Heith ride.”

Heith’s rodeo coach, Chad Henry, always drills the same words into Heith’s head before every rodeo: “The two keys to success are preparation and determination.” That’s a motto that Heith lives by. “As long as I’m prepared and dang sure determined, I can get it done. If there’s one thing I can tell everyone, it’s as long as you’re determined you can do anything. Even if you’re more determined than you are talented, you can get it done.”

But Heith’s not the only one with a lesson to teach the readers of The Minute Magazine- Cody has plenty of advice for anyone chas-ing their dreams. “Don’t worry about what other people think. That’s the biggest downfall you can have- worrying about what everyone else is going to say. That don’t matter. God is going to put in your heart what you need to be, and you need to fol-low it and not worry about what everyone else thinks. I think that’s the number one advice I can give anybody.”

Heith met his wife Hallie at her parent’s 2X4 Ranch Camp in He-flin. They began dating in March of 2008 and were married in No-vember. They will be spending their first anniversary in Vegas for the rodeo, and Hallie hopes to bring home a hefty purse when they return. And there is a big possibility for them to do so.

“I’m excited about Vegas. I

just got new stuff put on my saddle, and I’m ready. We’re headed to Dallas first to get the jitters off before we head out,” says Heith. And there’s a reason for him to have the jitters- there’s a lot at stake for Cody and Heith in Las Vegas. With prize money increasing at rodeos across the country, it’s not unusual for the best cowboys to bring home a $50,000 to $100,000 check per major event. And Las Vegas has quite the payout for bronc riders.

But don’t expect these two broth-ers to be too affected by seeing their names up in lights. Unlike most professional sports, profes-sional cowboys have to pay their entry fees, expenses, and hope they draw a good horse and have a good ride. “It’s not just handed to you. It’s all hard work and a lot of luck,” says Cody.

“Paying those entry fees keeps you humble,” Heith adds. “No matter how high you finished the previous year, you’re no more im-portant than anyone else.” That’s a big difference between rodeo stars and movie stars. There is no glitter and glam in the arena when a horse is staring you in the eyes and getting ready to tear it up. “I get nervous all the time. Anytime that I’ve got a good horse, I’m a little bit on edge. If I’ve got one that’s been to the finals, and I know I’ve got a shot to win some money, then I know I’ve got to make it count. It’s a lot of pressure, because I know that I’ve got to make it work.”

If you’re a fan of Cody and Heith DeMoss, stop by the Heflin Store and talk it up with the locals. This tiny ‘one horse town’ is proud of the DeMoss family, and you can bet your bottom dollar that everyone will be tuned in for the finals on ESPN.

Written by Jackie

Lewis


Two brothers from Heflin, Louisiana have made it big-time in the pro-rodeo circuit. clockwise, beginning top: Heith and Cody DeMoss at the counter of the Heflin Store, their favorite local hangout. right: Cody, his wife Margie and their two chil-dren Darbi and Wyatt. bottom, right: Cody and Heith in front of the Heflin City Hall. bottom, left: Heith, Hallie and their son Gavin.

Join Heith’s Facebook Page today!





Have you ever needed to fit your life into a backpack? Sofia Brandon did. She squeezed her basic necessities into a small bag and struck out on a journey to explore the world. And after ten years, seventeen countries and hundreds of healthy and delicious recipes, Sofia is ready to share her experience with you.

In her first book, The Adventure Cookbook: A Transformational Food Journey from the Australian Bush to the Vines of Provence, Sofia Brandon (a native of Minden, Louisiana) grabs you by the hand and takes you all around our small world.

When I first picked up a copy of Sofia’s cookbook, I hoped to gain a few extra recipes to add to our family’s meal rotation. But in her book, recipes are only part of the journey. After reading the first few pages, I was pulled into Sofia’s witty, humorous writing style and found myself so intrigued that I could not put the book down until I finished every single chapter! Sofia has the ability to giggle at herself, and before I realized what was

happening I was with her in a foreign land and laughing, too.

Faraway countries, exotic fruits and herbs, and foreign cultures all greet you warmly as your immersion into Sofia’s life begins. And I would expect nothing less from a woman that proudly confesses she isn’t afraid to make her own yogurt. (And, by the way, she teaches her readers how to do it, too!)

What does it take to make a grown woman decide to uproot her life and travel the world? For Sofia, it was a series of startling discoveries. The corporate world, the former center of her universe, suddenly lost its appeal when Sofia realized that she hadn’t been truly living. So, in her own words, Sofia ‘pushed the eject button and started over.’ That’s something that we can all identify with in one way or another. We’ve all had those moments where life crashes in around us and leaves us feeling as if we’re missing out on the bigger picture. Sofia bravely left behind her old way of life and, in the process, is inspiring others to do the same.

In The Adventure Cookbook, Sofia’s spirituality peeks through and demands that you pay attention. Sofia travelled the world in search of answers to many of life’s questions, and when you read The Adventure Cookbook it is easy to realize that you can find yours, too. Sofia is a

voice of reason in this fast-paced world. Her deep appreciation for a simpler way of life will make you take a deep look into the way that you are living your own.

If you have ever dreamt of leaving everything behind and beginning a journey to “find yourself” on foreign soil, then Sofia’s book is for you. Everything about The Adventure Cookbook is fresh, energetic, and served up with a side of inspiration.

Author Sofia Brandon has the almost magnetic ability to pull you into her simple and honest lifestyle. And her recipes, with their clean and fresh crunch, sound so delicious and easy to make in the pages of The Adventure Cookbook that the concept of eating healthy suddenly becomes anything but a hassle. Sofia Brandon has found a way to transform healthy eating into an art form.

Once inside the pages of The Adventure Cookbook, you’ll follow along behind Sofia through Australia, Asia and the Mediterranean. And you’ll have the

option to stop and taste a few of the treasures she uncovered along the way. Try her Pumpkin Soup with Pistou, Tartine with Fresh Figs and Goat Cheese, and savor her homemade Apple Tart. Explore the North Indian mountains, run from wild boars in an Italian olive grove, and search for edible mushrooms on the grounds of a French chateau.

In Sofia’s ‘Improv and Rescue’ chapter, you’ll learn how to correct dishes that you’re certain can’t be saved. Sofia will teach you that by adding a dash of this or a pinch of that, you can transform a meal into a four-star dining experience.

Sofia’s two journeys, one spiritual and the other culinary, melt together in a way that leaves you craving more. But don’t take my word for it- go out and read it for yourself. And send me an email at [email protected] to let me know what you think!

For more information about The Adventure Cookbook, visit www.lifeinprovence.com/thebook or go to www.amazon.com for reviews.


Have you ever needed to fit your life into a backpack? Sofia Brandon did. She squeezed her basic necessities into a small bag and struck out on a journey to explore the world. And after ten years, seventeen countries and hundreds of healthy and delicious recipes, Sofia is ready to share her experience with you.

In her first book, The Adventure Cookbook: A Transformational Food Journey from the Australian Bush to the Vines of Provence, Sofia Brandon (a native of Minden, Louisiana) grabs you by the hand and takes you all around our small world.

When I first picked up a copy of Sofia’s cookbook, I hoped to gain a few extra recipes to add to our family’s meal rotation. But in her book, recipes are only part of the journey. After reading the first few pages, I was pulled into Sofia’s witty, humorous writing style and found myself so intrigued that I could not put the book down until I finished every single chapter! Sofia has the ability to giggle at herself, and before I realized what was

happening I was with her in a foreign land and laughing, too.

Faraway countries, exotic fruits and herbs, and foreign cultures all greet you warmly as your immersion into Sofia’s life begins. And I would expect nothing less from a woman that proudly confesses she isn’t afraid to make her own yogurt. (And, by the way, she teaches her readers how to do it, too!)

What does it take to make a grown woman decide to uproot her life and travel the world? For Sofia, it was a series of startling discoveries. The corporate world, the former center of her universe, suddenly lost its appeal when Sofia realized that she hadn’t been truly living. So, in her own words, Sofia ‘pushed the eject button and started over.’ That’s something that we can all identify with in one way or another. We’ve all had those moments where life crashes in around us and leaves us feeling as if we’re missing out on the bigger picture. Sofia bravely left behind her old way of life and, in the process, is inspiring others to do the same.

In The Adventure Cookbook, Sofia’s spirituality peeks through and demands that you pay attention. Sofia travelled the world in search of answers to many of life’s questions, and when you read The Adventure Cookbook it is easy to realize that you can find yours, too. Sofia is a

voice of reason in this fast-paced world. Her deep appreciation for a simpler way of life will make you take a deep look into the way that you are living your own.

If you have ever dreamt of leaving everything behind and beginning a journey to “find yourself” on foreign soil, then Sofia’s book is for you. Everything about The Adventure Cookbook is fresh, energetic, and served up with a side of inspiration.

Author Sofia Brandon has the almost magnetic ability to pull you into her simple and honest lifestyle. And her recipes, with their clean and fresh crunch, sound so delicious and easy to make in the pages of The Adventure Cookbook that the concept of eating healthy suddenly becomes anything but a hassle. Sofia Brandon has found a way to transform healthy eating into an art form.

Once inside the pages of The Adventure Cookbook, you’ll follow along behind Sofia through Australia, Asia and the Mediterranean. And you’ll have the

option to stop and taste a few of the treasures she uncovered along the way. Try her Pumpkin Soup with Pistou, Tartine with Fresh Figs and Goat Cheese, and savor her homemade Apple Tart. Explore the North Indian mountains, run from wild boars in an Italian olive grove, and search for edible mushrooms on the grounds of a French chateau.

In Sofia’s ‘Improv and Rescue’ chapter, you’ll learn how to correct dishes that you’re certain can’t be saved. Sofia will teach you that by adding a dash of this or a pinch of that, you can transform a meal into a four-star dining experience.

Sofia’s two journeys, one spiritual and the other culinary, melt together in a way that leaves you craving more. But don’t take my word for it- go out and read it for yourself. And send me an email at [email protected] to let me know what you think!

For more information about The Adventure Cookbook, visit www.lifeinprovence.com/thebook or go to www.amazon.com for reviews.












Set on a hill on the outskirts of Minden, Louisiana, is a somewhat hidden jewel…the Minden Recreation Center. For five years I have been blessed to teach water exercise classes at the indoor pool there. It has been an adventure!

For three years I taught Water Aerobics, which is low impact but focuses on getting one’s heart rate up through vigorous exercise in the water. After two ankle surgeries I was no longer able to manage all the jumping and running involved in Water Aerobics. In searching for an alternative I eventually came up with a really great workout that I’ve taught for the last two years. The routine includes some Water Yoga, some Tai Chi and a mix of stretching and gentle conditioning exercises. I added music to the mix, using both traditional Yoga and classical music. I think this adds to the experience and helps folks relax in the water.

Let me share with you why I am passionate about water exercise and its benefits. Water exercise is low impact (easy on joints and feet). The water both resists and supports a person: the resistance of the water increasing the amount of calories burned from exercise, the support of the water enabling one to perform many movements not possible out of the water. The Yoga positions performed in the water greatly enhance a person’s balance. The gentle exercises build strength and flexibility. Being in the (heated) water itself is soothing, and refreshing. The exercises are performed in chest-deep water so no one has to get their head under water (a consideration for many ladies!) Plus, group exercise is pleasant and motivating for any age: I’ve had students from eighteen to over eighty!

From the Yoga discipline, I drew on the importance of learning to breathe correctly. So many adults with a sedentary lifestyle have the habit of shallow breathing. Our bodies need more of that good oxygen! The natural tendency when doing a stretch or exercise is to hold your breath. So my classes hear “Keep breathing,” a lot! We laugh a lot, too…which also helps with the oxygen!

One of the most exciting parts of

teaching water exercise is seeing older people (some who have NEVER been in a pool) bravely get in the water and begin a new adventure in what their bodies can do. As children, all of us were very connected to our bodies…as adults we often “live in our heads” and learning to reconnect with our bodies is a challenge. Watching folks go from being terrified, wobbly and frail to confident, steady and fit is so rewarding! For the students there is a great sense of accomplishment. Other benefits include weight loss and a general feeling of well-being.

The dynamic of a group of strangers becoming a group of friends is also a pleasure to behold.

If my enthusiasm is contagious and you are blessed with access to an indoor pool (or an outdoor pool in the summer,) give water exercise a try! There are books and videos for those who want to try water exercise on their own. For residents of Minden and the surrounding area, come join us! (For information, call 318-371-4241). You’ll find it’s a great non-strenuous way to get or keep in shape!

Adventures at a Hidden Jewelwritten byDorothy Grant



The hardest lesson I’ve had to learn on this journey is having to recognize when I can’t do it alone. All my life, I have lived by the mantra “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” I have always had problems relinquishing control of things important to me. When you live with autism day in and day out, and you let it build on your shoulders, you not only bend under its pressure; you will break. It will take you apart, piece by piece, stomp on your resolve and leave the bits scattered. You try to put them together the best you can. I felt like I was going crazy, especially in the earliest stages. I felt out of control and my life was spiraling away from me. Fast. Offers of help came – from friends and family; but I had never in my life asked anyone for help. This was my child and wasn’t I supposed to be the one to deal with his issues? Besides, they didn’t truly understand. We could tell them our stories, try to open a door to let them peek in, but unless you are living it, you will never understand it. Autism is 24/7 – it does not take a break. Even in the

wee hours of the night, you will find it lurking in the shadows. When we slept, after fighting to get my son calm enough to rest, the fear of what we would find upon waking was always there. For years, there was always something to deal with when we woke. Most mornings, the entire contents of my refrigerator would be spread from one end of the house to the other. And when we locked the refrigerator, the next time it was the contents of the pantry. One by one, every door of my home ended up with a lock. Once that lock was mastered, we moved on to ones more complex. Child gates were useless. He figured those out almost from the first day we used them. We were stacking one on top of the other, and in the mornings, the top gate would still be there while the bottom one would be lying over on the ground. We faced two very scary moments when we woke to find the front door wide open, all five locks mastered in only a matter of hours. And all of these incidents before he was three years old. I was sleep-deprived, exhausted from the hectic pace, and feeling my grip on reality slipping fast. And we didn’t know that it was autism yet. We didn’t know that we were going through anything that much different from other parents. We knew we had a smart kid, we just didn’t know that this was only the beginning. A couple of more years passed and we faced new challenges as we went through day cares and pre-schools. I

spent most days on the edge of my seat at work, waiting for the phone to ring. I was spending more time playing referee with them than I was actually working. The beginnings of a feeling that not everything was right with our world were nagging at the edges. For most people, these things would cause huge rifts in their relationship. My husband and I looked to each other for comfort and to support the other when they seemed to need it most. I counted on my husband to take over when things would get too much for me and I had to get away. He counted on me to keep a level head in times when his was threatening to shoot through the roof. It was when my son was five that I realized we have to find out what’s going on here. We’re going to drive ourselves insane and if we don’t stay mentally stable, how can our family survive? We tried to reach out to doctors. Most of them would say, “Oh, he’ll outgrow that.” Or they would want to put him on the newest medication on the market. We finally found our savior, our hero who came in and listened to our words and believed us when we told our stories. And when he looked at me and asked, “What do you think is going on?” I knew we had found the person who would help us. At this point we had an answer to what was wrong, but no clear paths to follow to help our son. You don’t get a lot of answers unless you ask a lot of questions. No one tells you that you

need therapy or that you should get your child help in speech. You have to make these discoveries on your own. I spend countless hours of countless days on the internet and in book stores researching Asperger Syndrome and autism. I thumbed through the phone book and looked for local agencies to guide us in the direction we needed to be headed. I knew at this point, that this was much bigger than us. I found the help I needed so that I could help my son, and also help my husband understand and learn with me. But I never found the time to help myself accept the role I had to play. The caregiver. A caregiver tends to lose a part of themselves every time they tend to someone else. It’s like you give up a part of you to help heal the one you love. After a while, you’ve lost so much you don’t know who you are or where you were headed in the first place. I’ve recently taken the steps to regain the parts of me that made me feel good. The parts that made me who I am and gave me the uniqueness that makes me special. If you don’t keep yourself happy, you’ll never succeed in providing the care that your family needs. It’s healthy to ask for help. There is no shame in knowing your limits. I always felt like I should be strong enough to handle this; after all, this is mine for a reason, right? If I can’t handle it, then I am a failure. But you’re not a failure. You’re human.











The White Elephantby Galen

White

===========================

Some of my fondest memories were created during the holiday season many years ago. Of course, most everyone can say the same thing; after all, if you were ever a kid (I don’t know anyone who wasn’t!) you very well remember Santa Claus after he had visited your home Christmas eve night. Well, that is, you remembered what he brought you even if it was a bag of switches.

You know, even the reference to a bag of switches reminds me of days long ago. Specifically, of just how much I worried that Santa might, indeed, leave me a bag of switches and nothin’ else! Man! How would I ever live that one down! Obviously, I argued with myself tryin’ to convince me that I really hadn’t been that bad a young ‘un. Maybe once or twice, but the whole YEAR? No way! Surely the times I was good outnumbered the times I was bad.

The good thing about it all is that Christmas day always proved I was right. Still, the days before ol’ Santa ran his route sure played havoc with my consciousness.

There was nothing more enjoyable during those years than when my nieces and nephews would visit. Brenda, Suzy, Mike, Patty, Tommy, and Bobby, were more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Now, I have other nephews, Richard and Rusty, but they came along later and missed out on some really good fun. Too bad for them.

Most of the time the girls did girly stuff, which us boys wouldn’t do for anything in the world! No way would we ever live to be teased about

playin’ with dolls and stuff. We were MEN! And men just didn’t do such things.

On occasion, however, the girls would join us in boyish fun such as “fallin’” from the top of a stack of baled hay. We’d all go out to the hay barn where my dad had stacked square bales of hay for the cows during winter, take turns climbin’ to the top of the stack where we’d pretend to get shot and would tumble, head over heels, down the bales of hay. Each one of us tried to out-tumble and “out-die-in-agony” the other.

Come to think of it, I very well remember thinkin’ that I’d be a movie stunt man when I grew up. Obviously, I didn’t make the movies, but I have pulled a few “stunts” since those days.

Yes, sir, those were the days, for sure. No worries other than that of gettin’ a bag of switches from Santa or a whuppin’ from my dad for tearin’ up bales of hay in our climbin’ and fallin’. You know how it is with kids, though; the fun, by far, outweighed the other worries.

I very well remember one particular Christmas eve when us four boys decided we would find out if there really was a Santa Claus or not. Although it was a fairly cold night, we finagled our parents into lettin’ us spend the night out in the same ol’ hay barn.

Now, you might first think that was foolish with it bein’ winter and all, but trust me; an old blanket wrapped around you and you snuggled into the hay…, well, we were as toasty as….well, toast. Besides, cold just doesn’t affect kids the way it does us old folks.

Anyway, we managed to stay awake until we thought ol’ Santa might be gettin’ close. Then we slipped outta the barn and up to the edge of the dirt road that ran in front of my house. There, we took our seats on the ground and began our vigil. It was a crystal clear, cold night, and stars glistened everywhere as we scanned the heavens, lookin’ for somethin’ movin’ ‘cross the sky that

just might be ol’ St. Nick. I honestly don’t believe I’ve ever seen a night like that since.

Now, we were maybe fifty feet from our house, which had a large picture window in front. My folks had not pulled the drapes, so we had a clear view into the livin’ room so we could watch Santa as he entered the house. And since we didn’t have a chimney, we fig’erd this was gonna be a sho’ ‘nuff sight to see!

Well, much to my dismay, didn’t much happen for a while. In fact,

that “while” turned into a longer “while”. After sittin’ there for an hour or so, our bottoms began to feel the cold ground and the cold night air began to wrap around us, we decided it better to let ol’ Santa do his thing without four knarly-headed boys spyin’ on ‘im.

We unanimously decided findin’ out if Santa was real or not wasn’t as important as findin’ out what he left for us after his visit. We may have been young and inexperienced, but we weren’t dumb. At least, we weren’t dumb when it came to Santa Claus. Who, in his right mind, would risk losin’ such a good thing?

As I look back, I’m almost saddened by the loss of such adventures. No longer can my imagination fuel such anticipation and excitement. On the other hand, I get to see the same anticipation and excitement in the faces and eyes of kids everywhere; especially in the eyes and faces of my grandkids. It’s a wonderful feeling, too.

Next time you are shopping, stop and take a gander in the toy section. Watch kids as they look in awe upon things that they are hopin’ Santa has picked out for them. If you can’t smile when seein’ that, you need to lighten up a bit.

To all, here’s my wish for you and yours to have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!



Written by Jackie Lewis

Just outside of a sleepy little historic village in northwest Louisiana is a welcome sign that sums up a sweet little philosophy: Life is Grand in Grand Cane. And we want to take you inside of the village limits, where it’s easy to see that their motto is true.

The History:In Grand Cane, Louisiana, life is beautiful. But things in this beautiful little village have not always been so cheery. There was a time, only a handful of years ago, when Grand Cane was struggling. Like thousands of rural towns across the nation, The Great Depression was particularly hard on Grand Cane. After the loss of their Railway in the 1950’s, they saw the closure of their public school (which had been the very first accredited public High

School in the state of Louisiana.) Add to these factors a complete economic collapse in the downtown business district, a common problem in rural towns throughout Louisiana, and you’ll paint the picture of a tired little village that felt like it had been choked by the cruel hands of time.

The Vision:But that all began to change in 1993, when Grand Cane received a Rural Development Grant from the State of Louisiana and began transforming their tired little village into something remarkable. Much of the village’s success is a direct result of the hard work from members of the Historic Grand Cane Association. The Association members figured out the secret formula when they realized that by celebrating their village’s past, they could usher in a successful future.

The Question:In rural Louisiana, like much of the nation, progress is certainly welcomed. But all too often, historic buildings are razed to make way for cinder-blocked chain discount stores and strip malls. And though these businesses are crucial to the development of our small, rural towns, new business construction is often at the root of a very disturbing question that is being asked time and time again: how much is your history worth?

Grand Cane has answered that question. “It’s priceless,” says Kelly Rich, former member of the Historic Grand Cane Association. And Kelly is right. As she gave me the grand tour of her former hometown, her eyes beamed with pride- especially when she pulled up in front of her first restoration project. “This is the house that I restored a few years ago.” Kelly smiled from ear to ear as she happily pointed out the

architectural details that made the house special. And her story is only one of the many restoration projects that have put Grand Cane back on the map of ‘places to go.’

With hot-spots such as Back Alley Theatre (a hub for the local acting community) and Cook-Hill Bed and Breakfast (owned by the Historic Grand Cane Association), Grand Cane has become a role model for other communities seeking the good life. Well, technically, they’ve become a role model for the grand life. And we should all follow their lead by honoring the rich history in our own communities.

The Destination:So head on over to Grand Cane, where history is alive and doing well. There’s plenty to do in and around the village, so plan a nice, relaxing weekend trip and then sit back and soak up the history. Shop for

antiques, see a play, or take a lazy afternoon stroll and remember the good old days. Because in Grand Cane, that’s easy to do.

The Schedule:(Back Alley Theatre)

December 4,5,11,12,13, 2009- A Tuna Christmas

March 27, 2010- Pickin’ and Grinnin’ Blue Grass and Country Show

May 14,15,21,22, 2010- Arsenic and Old Lace

Clockwise, beginning top right:Grand Cane’s historic business

district is an antique lover’s paradise; the old cashier window in the historic

Bank of Grand Cane; this barn is located only a few blocks away from

the historic downtown business district; Back Alley Community

Theatre combines the village’s rich history and culture, and has become

a gathering point for residents.

Only a few miles down the road from Grand Cane, you’ll find the site where The Battle of Mansfield (The Civil War) took place. Also nearby is the Veach-Foshee Memorial Library Collection at the Mansfield Female College Museum. Go

od to

Know

:


Written by Jackie Lewis

Just outside of a sleepy little historic village in northwest Louisiana is a welcome sign that sums up a sweet little philosophy: Life is Grand in Grand Cane. And we want to take you inside of the village limits, where it’s easy to see that their motto is true.

The History:In Grand Cane, Louisiana, life is beautiful. But things in this beautiful little village have not always been so cheery. There was a time, only a handful of years ago, when Grand Cane was struggling. Like thousands of rural towns across the nation, The Great Depression was particularly hard on Grand Cane. After the loss of their Railway in the 1950’s, they saw the closure of their public school (which had been the very first accredited public High

School in the state of Louisiana.) Add to these factors a complete economic collapse in the downtown business district, a common problem in rural towns throughout Louisiana, and you’ll paint the picture of a tired little village that felt like it had been choked by the cruel hands of time.

The Vision:But that all began to change in 1993, when Grand Cane received a Rural Development Grant from the State of Louisiana and began transforming their tired little village into something remarkable. Much of the village’s success is a direct result of the hard work from members of the Historic Grand Cane Association. The Association members figured out the secret formula when they realized that by celebrating their village’s past, they could usher in a successful future.

The Question:In rural Louisiana, like much of the nation, progress is certainly welcomed. But all too often, historic buildings are razed to make way for cinder-blocked chain discount stores and strip malls. And though these businesses are crucial to the development of our small, rural towns, new business construction is often at the root of a very disturbing question that is being asked time and time again: how much is your history worth?

Grand Cane has answered that question. “It’s priceless,” says Kelly Rich, former member of the Historic Grand Cane Association. And Kelly is right. As she gave me the grand tour of her former hometown, her eyes beamed with pride- especially when she pulled up in front of her first restoration project. “This is the house that I restored a few years ago.” Kelly smiled from ear to ear as she happily pointed out the

architectural details that made the house special. And her story is only one of the many restoration projects that have put Grand Cane back on the map of ‘places to go.’

With hot-spots such as Back Alley Theatre (a hub for the local acting community) and Cook-Hill Bed and Breakfast (owned by the Historic Grand Cane Association), Grand Cane has become a role model for other communities seeking the good life. Well, technically, they’ve become a role model for the grand life. And we should all follow their lead by honoring the rich history in our own communities.

The Destination:So head on over to Grand Cane, where history is alive and doing well. There’s plenty to do in and around the village, so plan a nice, relaxing weekend trip and then sit back and soak up the history. Shop for

antiques, see a play, or take a lazy afternoon stroll and remember the good old days. Because in Grand Cane, that’s easy to do.

The Schedule:(Back Alley Theatre)

December 4,5,11,12,13, 2009- A Tuna Christmas

March 27, 2010- Pickin’ and Grinnin’ Blue Grass and Country Show

May 14,15,21,22, 2010- Arsenic and Old Lace

Clockwise, beginning top right:Grand Cane’s historic business

district is an antique lover’s paradise; the old cashier window in the historic

Bank of Grand Cane; this barn is located only a few blocks away from

the historic downtown business district; Back Alley Community

Theatre combines the village’s rich history and culture, and has become

a gathering point for residents.

Only a few miles down the road from Grand Cane, you’ll find the site where The Battle of Mansfield (The Civil War) took place. Also nearby is the Veach-Foshee Memorial Library Collection at the Mansfield Female College Museum. Go

od to

Know

:


• One in four females will be assaulted by the time she is eighteen. • One out of every three women will be raped in her lifetime.

• One out of every three students is bullied in school. • Fifteen to seventeen percent of students are bullies• One of six kids does not want to go to school because of bullies.• Victims of bullies are nine times more likely to commit suicide.

DID YOU KNOW......

Written by Clyde Stanleyof Minden,Louisiana.

Photo, page opposite: Clyde Stanley

• Criminals al

ways have a

plan. You n

eed one too!

Always B

e aware of

your surroun

dings.

• Wear clothe

s and shoes

that will a

llow you to

run.

• NEVER , EVER

leave with

a bad guy,

even if they

have a gun

.

(This is

also known

as a second

ary crime s

cene.)

If you do

, You probab

ly will not

be back..

• Attract atte

ntion with

your scream

, whistle, or

car horn.

• Have the cor

rect key in

hand when

leaving for

your

home or c

ar.

• The points o

f your knee

s and elbow

s are very s

trong

and are

great weapo

ns.

• Your number

one target

should be

the eyes. O

ne

grain of

sand can b

lind an elep

hant.

Clyde's Safety

Tips

Everymorning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. So it doesn’t matter if you are a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you’d better be ready!

People train in the martial arts for many reasons. Some are interested in losing weight, gaining strength and flexibility, improving their cardiovascular system, or relieving stress. Some want to gain focus, concentration, self-discipline, and self-control for work or for better grades in school. Others want to make new friends, become a part of something special, or just have fun.

In the beginning, I had no idea of all these wonderful benefits that I would soon enjoy. The reason that I began my training was strictly for self defense.

I found out years later that effective martial arts training gives a person confidence. Mean guys are just like mean dogs. They can tell if you are afraid. They are always looking for the easy target and they rarely attack confident people. In today’s violent society, reality-based self defense classes are booming. Besides the obvious self defense skills, our students learn street smart ways to avoid conflict. They become “hard targets”.

Common misconceptions about martial arts training include:

“It is just for kids”.

“My son has a bad temper and I don’t want to make it worse”.

“My child is too shy to take the classes”.

“I’m too old.”

“I’ll look stupid”.

“I’m afraid I’ll get hurt”.

“I need to get in shape first.”

Here are the facts:

We have separate classes for

children and adults. When I started my training, there were no kids taking classes. It was only after the “Ninja Turtle” and “Karate Kid” type movies came out that children started joining in droves. There is nothing better for kids than martial arts, but it was definitely not created for them in the beginning.

Martial arts have the opposite effect on aggressive personalities. They become more tolerant and gain self control.

Pediatricians and educational professionals routinely recommend our school for shy and timid children. It gives them confidence to raise their hand to ask a question in school. Before you know it they will be in front of the class leading warm-ups.

One of the great things about martial arts is that you are never too old to participate. It is a lifelong activity that anyone can do in one form or another for their entire life.

You won’t look “stupid” or be embarrassed! You won’t have to get in front of the class or be called out. New members are always made to feel welcome and comfortable by our instructors and fellow students. Adult classes are laid-back and our instructors are very gentle and helpful.

Safety is “number one” at our school. You are far more likely to be injured playing golf or tennis.

Everyone works out and learns at his or her own pace. You don’t have to keep up with anyone else. Unlike riding a treadmill to nowhere, it is a fun, safe, and stimulating way to lose weight and get into great shape. We have had unbelievable success in life changing transformations.

Knowledge prevails over strength. The more you learn and the more skilled you become, the less likely you will become a victim. Training in the martial arts is the best health insurance anyone can have.

Remember, anyone can be a martial artist. It will improve your life. Call us today at 377-5333 for a free trial class.

When the sun comes up, will YOU be ready? If not, you need to take steps now to make sure that you’re headed in that direction.


• One in four females will be assaulted by the time she is eighteen. • One out of every three women will be raped in her lifetime.

• One out of every three students is bullied in school. • Fifteen to seventeen percent of students are bullies• One of six kids does not want to go to school because of bullies.• Victims of bullies are nine times more likely to commit suicide.

DID YOU KNOW......

Written by Clyde Stanleyof Minden,Louisiana.

Photo, page opposite: Clyde Stanley

• Criminals al

ways have a

plan. You n

eed one too!

Always B

e aware of

your surroun

dings.

• Wear clothe

s and shoes

that will a

llow you to

run.

• NEVER , EVER

leave with

a bad guy,

even if they

have a gun

.

(This is

also known

as a second

ary crime s

cene.)

If you do

, You probab

ly will not

be back..

• Attract atte

ntion with

your scream

, whistle, or

car horn.

• Have the cor

rect key in

hand when

leaving for

your

home or c

ar.

• The points o

f your knee

s and elbow

s are very s

trong

and are

great weapo

ns.

• Your number

one target

should be

the eyes. O

ne

grain of

sand can b

lind an elep

hant.

Clyde's Safety

Tips

Everymorning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. So it doesn’t matter if you are a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you’d better be ready!

People train in the martial arts for many reasons. Some are interested in losing weight, gaining strength and flexibility, improving their cardiovascular system, or relieving stress. Some want to gain focus, concentration, self-discipline, and self-control for work or for better grades in school. Others want to make new friends, become a part of something special, or just have fun.

In the beginning, I had no idea of all these wonderful benefits that I would soon enjoy. The reason that I began my training was strictly for self defense.

I found out years later that effective martial arts training gives a person confidence. Mean guys are just like mean dogs. They can tell if you are afraid. They are always looking for the easy target and they rarely attack confident people. In today’s violent society, reality-based self defense classes are booming. Besides the obvious self defense skills, our students learn street smart ways to avoid conflict. They become “hard targets”.

Common misconceptions about martial arts training include:

“It is just for kids”.

“My son has a bad temper and I don’t want to make it worse”.

“My child is too shy to take the classes”.

“I’m too old.”

“I’ll look stupid”.

“I’m afraid I’ll get hurt”.

“I need to get in shape first.”

Here are the facts:

We have separate classes for

children and adults. When I started my training, there were no kids taking classes. It was only after the “Ninja Turtle” and “Karate Kid” type movies came out that children started joining in droves. There is nothing better for kids than martial arts, but it was definitely not created for them in the beginning.

Martial arts have the opposite effect on aggressive personalities. They become more tolerant and gain self control.

Pediatricians and educational professionals routinely recommend our school for shy and timid children. It gives them confidence to raise their hand to ask a question in school. Before you know it they will be in front of the class leading warm-ups.

One of the great things about martial arts is that you are never too old to participate. It is a lifelong activity that anyone can do in one form or another for their entire life.

You won’t look “stupid” or be embarrassed! You won’t have to get in front of the class or be called out. New members are always made to feel welcome and comfortable by our instructors and fellow students. Adult classes are laid-back and our instructors are very gentle and helpful.

Safety is “number one” at our school. You are far more likely to be injured playing golf or tennis.

Everyone works out and learns at his or her own pace. You don’t have to keep up with anyone else. Unlike riding a treadmill to nowhere, it is a fun, safe, and stimulating way to lose weight and get into great shape. We have had unbelievable success in life changing transformations.

Knowledge prevails over strength. The more you learn and the more skilled you become, the less likely you will become a victim. Training in the martial arts is the best health insurance anyone can have.

Remember, anyone can be a martial artist. It will improve your life. Call us today at 377-5333 for a free trial class.

When the sun comes up, will YOU be ready? If not, you need to take steps now to make sure that you’re headed in that direction.


written byDonna Arender

the true confessions

of an

ANTIQUE JUNKIE

Remember back in your child-hood years, how Christmas seemed to be a magical time of year? I don’t know what it was about Christmases of my youth… but they seemed to have something that I just can’t ex-plain. The first Christmas that I can really recall was when I was about 4 years old. We were living with my grandparents at the time, and it was there that I remember the magic. I remember waking up on Christmas morning with so much excitement. You know, the kind you can only get when you are a kid!

It was always fun to me because of my older brother, David. He was my hero back in our youth. Even though we fought like cats and dogs when we were teenagers, we did have a special bond. I was his shadow. No matter what David did, I usually did it too. Even if it meant getting into trouble. And Mama didn’t mind using switches on us either! Sometimes it was a fly-swat or whatever else was handy. Of course, that’s not to say that we probably didn’t deserve the punishment we got. I’m sure we got away with a lot more than we got corrected for. Overall, we were fairly good kids. We lived in the country so we played outside a lot. We climbed

trees, rode our bicycles up and down that old dirt road, built forts, and played cowboys and Indians in and around the old barns.

But back to that magical Christmas. David and I jumped out of our beds and went running to the living room to see what Santa had left under the tree. And boy was Santa good to us! There was a big shiny red bi-cycle, a B-B gun and a Hot Wheels racecar set for David. And there was a ballerina doll and an Easy-Bake-Oven waiting for me. Besides the toys Santa brought, there were also our big red stockings. They seemed to overflow with goodies like candy canes, small surprises and the big-gest juiciest apples and oranges I’ve ever seen. Over 40 years later and Mom still has our stockings tucked away in her cedar chest along with a few other keepsakes.

Even more than the toys and the stockings, I vividly remember the “magical feeling” that I got in the weeks leading up to the big day. The weather would turn cold, and Pap-Paw would build a fire in the

fireplace. At night, I would snuggle with Granny in her favorite chair. It was so warm and cozy to just sit and watch the embers glow and listen-ing to the crackling of the fire. During the day my Mom would drag out her old LP Christmas albums and play them on the RCA record player that sat in the living room. I could prob-ably sing almost every word to all the Christmas songs. Bing Crosby, Elvis, Brenda Lee and Berle Ives were a few of Mom’s favorites. We sang everything from “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer”, “Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me”, to “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”

And speaking of Christmas tree… that was another special event. Pap-Paw would go into the woods and find the “perfect” tree, cut it down and bring it home. We would decorate it with those big bright lights, colorful ornaments, tin rope, and or course, silver ice cycles for the finishing touch. Then we would put out a few other decorations here and there to give the house a festive look. Aunt Janie had a little gumdrop tree that she always sat on the dining room

table. And Granny had a little ceram-ic Santa candy dish with match-ing candle hold-ers that sat on the coffee table. Mom said she remem-bers Granny dec-orating her dress shop with them back in the late 50’s. Then Gran-ny passed them along to Mom, and Mom passed them along to me after I was grown and married. I proudly display them each year along with other family keep-sakes.

More than any gift or toy, I just remember the feeling of LOVE. That’s what made the magic happen. The gifts under the tree and the stock-ings filled by San-ta just wouldn’t be the same if we weren’t surround-ed by the ones we love. In my adult life, we’ve con-tinued old fam-ily traditions and started new ones of our own. Some of my favorites with my children

have been our annual Christmas coloring contest, baking cookies for Santa, making a birthday cake for Jesus and singing happy birthday to Him on Christmas morning, and our annual trip to see the Natchitoches Christmas lights with Nana and Paw-Paw.

As I reflect back on those wonder years of my youth I know now that Christmas really is about love and about giving. God loved us so much that He gave us the greatest gift of all. I hope you find the magic in your holiday season, as we celebrate the birthday of Christ our king. May you be surrounded by family and friends, while continuing old traditions and making new ones.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Arender Family.









Each year the Louisiana Delta Ballet strives to

bring family oriented shows that our community can embrace. We want the families to have something to build into their tradition. The Polar Express will be December 15 thru 19 at the Monroe Civic Center. The production will be available to schools with a 50 minute version beginning on the 15th and then December 19th will be the full scale Gala for The Polar Express. “This is an all new original ballet based from ideas from the popular

children’s book written by Chris

Van

Allsburg. The Gala and school shows

will be a magical journey to the North Pole with beautiful costumes and elaborate sets, stated Crain.” The Polar Express tells the story of a child that is awakened Christmas Eve

by a steam train that pulls up to his house and takes him

and other children to the North Pole. The visuals for this magical train ride are beautiful and will delight both children and adults. “Each year, La Delta Ballet strives to bring to the area a show, so families can build on the tradition of attending a cultural experience together. The dancers and the choreographers work hard to make the story flow along with the creative style of the ballet, said Crain.” “ We

want to both delight and keep the children’s wonder and also show the heart of the story for the adults. This story has touched millions and we are proud to be able to bring it to Louisiana. The enormous cast of 75 dancers works day and night to prepare for this week. We want to have a great crowd to applaud their body of work, explained Mike Downhour; board chairman this year.”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Missy Crain Dance Studios and also at The Fashion in Ruston, La. Tickets are $25.00 for the Gala performance, school packages for the day outings are available. Buy your family tickets now, so they will not miss the beautiful pageantry of attending a Ballet performance. “We encourage families to plan for an evening of enjoyment, December 19th and prepare to be amazed, stated Downhour.”

The upcoming February production of Happy Days are Here Again will be coming at Valentines and blends the talent from the ballet with the live music from the Monroe Symphony Orchestra. This arts effort is a perfect romantic evening, since it is planned the day before Valentine’s Day. This exciting event will feature music from “The Great Depression Era.” These are just a few of the breathtaking performances that will be coming to the stage.



Confessions of a Hormonal

Woman:Hair Today,

Gone Tomorrow.

by Elizabeth Drewett

I love a good birthday card. Maxine cards are my favorites -- you know, the little old lady with the purple hair. I even have some Maxine slippers with purple hair that my sister-in-law gave me when I turned 40. My kids think they are hilarious.

Well, I found another hilarious birthday card at the Beehive the other day. I just have to share it with you. It’s not a Maxine card, but it shares the same sarcastic view of life-as-an-aging-woman. “These aren’t chin hairs...they’re stray eyebrows!” is the comment on the front of the card. Those words are decoratively written on a sign held by an obviously-more-mature-but-trying-to-look-younger lady wearing a sash that says “Miss Optimistic.” Inside the card are the words “Happy Birthday to an ageless beauty.”

What is ageless beauty? And how about those stray eyebrows? I’ll save the ageless beauty column for a rainy day, but sister, we are going to talk about those stray eyebrows.

One of the most difficult parts of growing older is hair. And hair is one of those outside garnishments which envelopes the self-esteem of every self-respecting, card-carrying Southern woman! You know, we already have the challenges of heat and humidity around here. But there are also internal challenges that wreak havoc on our pursuit of a “good hair day”.

Did you know that hormones, the body’s communication system, can greatly affect your hair? Two years ago, I was suffering from a great amount of hair loss due to an undiscovered thyroid issue. Handfuls of hair, I’m telling you! Clean out my hairbrush every day kind of hair loss. And to make matters worse, I was

growing hair in places I didn’t want it -- my ears, my face, my chin, etc.! That was due to an e l e v a t e d testosterone level. After having my h o r m o n e s tested and discovering how out-of-whack my hormone levels were, I tried bioidentical hormones, achieved a better hormone balance and the hair started staying on my head instead of jumping off my head and into my hairbrush! Plus, the random hair growth in unwanted places decreased dramatically!

So why am I bringing up a subject we’d rather not talk about? Especially in the holiday/New Year issue of The Minute Magazine? Well, here’s my answer. ‘Tis the season! We’ve got to look good for our holiday parties. And then there’s that whole issue of “New Year/New You” for 2010. With holidays and New Year resolutions approaching, there’s no time like the present to talk about hair!

Hair Tip #1: Hormone Balance

It doesn’t matter what you do, if you don’t solve your body’s mysteries, you will just have to continually deal with this problem. So let’s start with hormone testing. If your doctor doesn’t test hormones, then find one who does. And make sure that you are retested on a periodic basis. Hormones can become unbalanced again due to stress or other events in your body. So this is a constant

monitoring process. You and your

doctor should have an ongoing dialogue about your hormone levels. And moms, this can affect your teenagers, too. As their hormones fluctuate, hair growth can result. Hormone testing can be beneficial for teenagers, too.

Hair Tip #2: Waxing

Waxing is a method of semi-permanent hair removal which removes the hair from the root cause. Almost any area of the body can be waxed, including eyebrows, face, bikini area, legs, arms, back, abdomen and feet. New hairs will not grow back in the waxed area for two to eight weeks. I’ve used this method of hair removal since I was a teenager for my brows and lip. It works well, is relatively inexpensive, and available at most salons.

Hair Tip #3: Waxing with Epilar Treatment

This treatment begins with waxing, followed by application of an inhibitor gel and an activator gel. This treatment works on all skin and hair types and can be used on all body parts. The procedure targets

hair follicles left empty after waxing, specifically hairs that are active and in the growth phase. Epilar application will also increase the intervals for depilation and leave skin smooth and soft between treatments. I haven’t personally tried this, but I know it is very effective for women who might have a lot of hair on their cheeks and would just prefer to have smoother skin.

Hair Tip #3: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

FDA approved for permanent hair reduction, intense pulsed light is fast and very effective in eliminating large areas of unwanted hair. Light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair and converted to heat in the follicle. The heat damages the follicle and disables it from growing new hair. IPL is excellent for areas such as the lip, under arms, or even the bikini area. This treatment lasts only 10 to 15 minutes, works best on darker hair, and is usually recommended in a series of four to six treatments. I have had IPL treatments under my arms. And yes, I rarely have to shave there anymore. This is truly one of my small joys in life! No more itchy, scratchy, five-o’clock shadow in my pits!


by Elizabeth Drewett

Hair Tip #4: Electrolysis

FDA approved for permanent hair removal, electrolysis is a procedure in which individual follicles are destroyed with chemical or heat energy. The hair is then removed with tweezers. Once the follicle is destroyed, it can never reproduce hair. Electrolysis can only be performed by a Licensed Electrologist. Electrolysis works on all hair and skin colors and is great for small areas that can’t be treated with IPL like ears, eyebrows, and for white-blonde, red or gray hair. Many factors influence hair growth, so the number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from an area will vary. Treatments typically occur once a week and last 15 minutes to one hour. Electrolysis is on my list of things to do. I’d like to never see a hair on my big toe again! Can anyone relate to that? This is also great for those “stray eyebrow hairs” that show up on your chin!

Whew! That’s it. Four tips for hair! And none of them involved

cutting, highlighting, styling, weaving, extensions, horse shampoo, or other strange products. While this conversation has been geared towards my lady friends, it applies to our men as well. The ear hair that you would like to see disappear from your honey’s ears (this will help him actually hear the honey-do list you so lovingly give him) can be permanently gone, not to mention the nose hair. I do recommend that you LOVINGLY and DELICATELY talk to your honey about getting his coiffure in order PRIOR to the company’s Christmas party! After all, guys are as sensitive about their hair as we girls are. They just use fewer products -- hair gels, straighteners, hairspray, to name a few. This is the moment when you can educate your man about hair removal. And after you make your own appointment, make him an appointment, too!

If you’re looking for some recommendations on where to address your hair issues, visit my column Confessions Of A Hormonal Woman at www.seasonswc.com. In the meantime, girls, let’s put our best hair (and hair removed) forward!


Angel Ministries was founded by Linda Condrey Tripp in 1998 to dem-onstrate Christian charity throughout Ouachita Parish and the State of Loui-siana. In 1997, Linda’s son, Taylor, was struck by an automobile while rid-ing his bicycle. He could have easily been taken, but God spared his life by sending an angel to save him.

To honor God’s great mercy, Linda founded Angel Ministries . It is a non-profit foundation that exists to glorify God and to demonstrate the love of

About us...Christ through service to others.

We serve persons throughout Louisiana with disabilities, the elderly, and people without access to public assistance—essentially, our mission is to serve those who “fall through the cracks.”

We help by providing personal care at-tendants to care for them in emergency situations. Angel Ministries relies on the goodwill of others through dona-tions and volunteer work to fulfill its mis-sion to the community.

The umbrella which covers all our vari-ous companies carries our ultimate phi-

losophy, “Sharing the Caring.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel Ministries also has a food pro-gram available which brings high quality foods and greater variety than ever before. This service is available to everyone with no restric-tion or qualifications. You can come by our office any day Monday thru Friday and place your order.

Deadline for ordering is Decem-ber 14 with pickup December 21-23 from 9-5 PM. Call 318-388-5100 for more details.

Finding Hope at Angel MinistriesHyperbaric Solutions

The mild Hyperbaric

Chamber

written byJudy

Wilson

Our mild hyperbaric chamber treatments are making a difference in the lives of area residents, and we want you to hear what they have to say. An-gel Ministries can help you, too. Maybe you’re ready to make a do-nation to our non-profit organiza-tion, where you know your money will be used to help improve the lives of people in northern Loui-siana. Or maybe you’re someone that needs help. Either way, we’re happy to be “Sharing the Caring.”

MEET CANNON.

Cannon, my son, is Developmentally Delayed in all areas. He also has a seizure disorder. Cannon has been

in therapy since he was 8 months old. I had read about mHBOT a couple of years ago and knew there was not anyone around here that had one so when I received a letter in the mail that Angel Ministries was having a training on mHBOT I was excited. Yes, you listen to what all mHBOT has done for children in the past and as a parent I will do anything that might help my child.

So we started mHBOT 4-28-09. Ev-eryone was asking after the 1st week if I had noticed anything. I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high and then be disappointed. I started writing down when we went to the chamber and how Cannon was each day:

1st visit to mHBOT, had seizure that night. No I do not think mHBOT caused it. (We were having seizures every nite). After about a few visits – rested well at night.

5-8-09 – babbling more on his own saying “A, E, I, O & U. never said before.

5-13-09 one of Cannon’s therapists said Cannon was much calmer and moved about more purposefully.

5-14-09 no whining in therapy. Crawled through a tunnel for the 1st time ever. Got out of foam pit with no assistance.

Stopped opening and closing doors (this is a good thing!) Can now undo Velcro on shoes and take them off.

5-15-09 Started with some different behaviors: pinching, scratching fin-ger nail on concrete (never did this before) I read up on this: it can hap-pen around dive 7 or 14. It states do not stop mHBOT it should pass – it did!

5-20-09 seizure. Notice they are not every nite!!! Will hug and kiss now!!! When I ask. WOW! Talk about priceless. Hugs and kisses from my 4 ½ year old that has never

cared about hugs and kisses!!!So on our trips to mHBOT I will have to say YES, I do feel that it has helped. And even if it’s the small things- well let me just say the small things have become huge in our life!

P.S. OH MY, we haven’t had a sei-zure since 6-6-09! So the seizure activity has slowed down! WAY DOWN!!!

MEET LAKIN.

Lakin was involved in a motor vehicle acci-dent Jan-

uary 11, 2009. He was diagnosed with a tramatic brain injury. Lakin started mild hyperbaric treatment at Angel Ministries in April 2009. Since he has began treatment he has improved in the following ways: memory improved, able to communi-cate better, gained social skills, less aggressive, showing more emotions. He has better b a l -

ance and does not shuffle his feet now. He is also overall calmer and more content. He loves getting in the chamber!

MEET WANDA.

I suffer with arthritis in my right knee and ankle. In March, 2009, I had surgery to do some repair work on my knee. This did little to relieve the pain. My doctor told me that I would defi-nitely have to have knee re-placement surgery at some point. I was always limping due to the pain in my ankle. Then in July, I was for-tunate enough to begin treatments at Angel Ministries in the Hyper-baric Chamber. I must admit, I was

skeptical about all of the “miracle stories” that I had heard. But

after the first treatment, I was almost pain free

and no longer limping. Amazing does not

even come close to describing my

experience. The more treat-

ments that I

have, the better I feel. I thank God and Angel Ministries every day for the opportunity to use the Hyperbar-ic Chamber.

Angel Ministries wants to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thank all of our volunteers and supporters of our services, the mild Hyperbaric Chambers, the food program, and our services for the elderly, dis-abled, and the people who have “fallen through the cracks”. For further information about these services call 318-388-5100 or go to www.sharingthecaringnetwork.com

Thank you to all who have donated toward purchasing the chambers to help us be able to provide this service to the area with no charge for treatments. A special thank you to Hub and Dorothy Donald for their donation of an entire chamber.

Cannon recieves treatment in AM’s mild hyperbaric chamber.

The Angel Ministries Network provides personal care attendants to care for persons in emergency situations. For every $100 that is do-nated to the agency, we can provide approximately 10 hours of care. We also provide assistance to displaced persons in need of cloth-ing, household items and other goods through our Community Closet. Each year, the Angel Ministries Network has several fundraising opportunities to help provide these services. Please check out all of the programs on this website to find out the different functions that we offer in order to give back to the community. We are here to provide a hand up to those who are doing all they can to survive. While we cannot prevent financial difficulties from occurring, TOGETHER we can provide a beacon of hope. With your help we can make sure that if and when the need arises there will be a place for all in need to find help.

Lakin

Wanda is treated at AM for arthritis.

318-388-5100 509 North Second in Monroe, La.photos by

Barbara Cook Photography


Angel Ministries was founded by Linda Condrey Tripp in 1998 to dem-onstrate Christian charity throughout Ouachita Parish and the State of Loui-siana. In 1997, Linda’s son, Taylor, was struck by an automobile while rid-ing his bicycle. He could have easily been taken, but God spared his life by sending an angel to save him.

To honor God’s great mercy, Linda founded Angel Ministries . It is a non-profit foundation that exists to glorify God and to demonstrate the love of

About us...Christ through service to others.

We serve persons throughout Louisiana with disabilities, the elderly, and people without access to public assistance—essentially, our mission is to serve those who “fall through the cracks.”

We help by providing personal care at-tendants to care for them in emergency situations. Angel Ministries relies on the goodwill of others through dona-tions and volunteer work to fulfill its mis-sion to the community.

The umbrella which covers all our vari-ous companies carries our ultimate phi-

losophy, “Sharing the Caring.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel Ministries also has a food pro-gram available which brings high quality foods and greater variety than ever before. This service is available to everyone with no restric-tion or qualifications. You can come by our office any day Monday thru Friday and place your order.

Deadline for ordering is Decem-ber 14 with pickup December 21-23 from 9-5 PM. Call 318-388-5100 for more details.

Finding Hope at Angel MinistriesHyperbaric Solutions

The mild Hyperbaric

Chamber

written byJudy

Wilson

Our mild hyperbaric chamber treatments are making a difference in the lives of area residents, and we want you to hear what they have to say. An-gel Ministries can help you, too. Maybe you’re ready to make a do-nation to our non-profit organiza-tion, where you know your money will be used to help improve the lives of people in northern Loui-siana. Or maybe you’re someone that needs help. Either way, we’re happy to be “Sharing the Caring.”

MEET CANNON.

Cannon, my son, is Developmentally Delayed in all areas. He also has a seizure disorder. Cannon has been

in therapy since he was 8 months old. I had read about mHBOT a couple of years ago and knew there was not anyone around here that had one so when I received a letter in the mail that Angel Ministries was having a training on mHBOT I was excited. Yes, you listen to what all mHBOT has done for children in the past and as a parent I will do anything that might help my child.

So we started mHBOT 4-28-09. Ev-eryone was asking after the 1st week if I had noticed anything. I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high and then be disappointed. I started writing down when we went to the chamber and how Cannon was each day:

1st visit to mHBOT, had seizure that night. No I do not think mHBOT caused it. (We were having seizures every nite). After about a few visits – rested well at night.

5-8-09 – babbling more on his own saying “A, E, I, O & U. never said before.

5-13-09 one of Cannon’s therapists said Cannon was much calmer and moved about more purposefully.

5-14-09 no whining in therapy. Crawled through a tunnel for the 1st time ever. Got out of foam pit with no assistance.

Stopped opening and closing doors (this is a good thing!) Can now undo Velcro on shoes and take them off.

5-15-09 Started with some different behaviors: pinching, scratching fin-ger nail on concrete (never did this before) I read up on this: it can hap-pen around dive 7 or 14. It states do not stop mHBOT it should pass – it did!

5-20-09 seizure. Notice they are not every nite!!! Will hug and kiss now!!! When I ask. WOW! Talk about priceless. Hugs and kisses from my 4 ½ year old that has never

cared about hugs and kisses!!!So on our trips to mHBOT I will have to say YES, I do feel that it has helped. And even if it’s the small things- well let me just say the small things have become huge in our life!

P.S. OH MY, we haven’t had a sei-zure since 6-6-09! So the seizure activity has slowed down! WAY DOWN!!!

MEET LAKIN.

Lakin was involved in a motor vehicle acci-dent Jan-

uary 11, 2009. He was diagnosed with a tramatic brain injury. Lakin started mild hyperbaric treatment at Angel Ministries in April 2009. Since he has began treatment he has improved in the following ways: memory improved, able to communi-cate better, gained social skills, less aggressive, showing more emotions. He has better b a l -

ance and does not shuffle his feet now. He is also overall calmer and more content. He loves getting in the chamber!

MEET WANDA.

I suffer with arthritis in my right knee and ankle. In March, 2009, I had surgery to do some repair work on my knee. This did little to relieve the pain. My doctor told me that I would defi-nitely have to have knee re-placement surgery at some point. I was always limping due to the pain in my ankle. Then in July, I was for-tunate enough to begin treatments at Angel Ministries in the Hyper-baric Chamber. I must admit, I was

skeptical about all of the “miracle stories” that I had heard. But

after the first treatment, I was almost pain free

and no longer limping. Amazing does not

even come close to describing my

experience. The more treat-

ments that I

have, the better I feel. I thank God and Angel Ministries every day for the opportunity to use the Hyperbar-ic Chamber.

Angel Ministries wants to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thank all of our volunteers and supporters of our services, the mild Hyperbaric Chambers, the food program, and our services for the elderly, dis-abled, and the people who have “fallen through the cracks”. For further information about these services call 318-388-5100 or go to www.sharingthecaringnetwork.com

Thank you to all who have donated toward purchasing the chambers to help us be able to provide this service to the area with no charge for treatments. A special thank you to Hub and Dorothy Donald for their donation of an entire chamber.

Cannon recieves treatment in AM’s mild hyperbaric chamber.

The Angel Ministries Network provides personal care attendants to care for persons in emergency situations. For every $100 that is do-nated to the agency, we can provide approximately 10 hours of care. We also provide assistance to displaced persons in need of cloth-ing, household items and other goods through our Community Closet. Each year, the Angel Ministries Network has several fundraising opportunities to help provide these services. Please check out all of the programs on this website to find out the different functions that we offer in order to give back to the community. We are here to provide a hand up to those who are doing all they can to survive. While we cannot prevent financial difficulties from occurring, TOGETHER we can provide a beacon of hope. With your help we can make sure that if and when the need arises there will be a place for all in need to find help.

Lakin

Wanda is treated at AM for arthritis.

318-388-5100 509 North Second in Monroe, La.photos by

Barbara Cook Photography


Winter Gardening in the South

------------------------------------------------“ Nature does nothing Uselessly.” ~ Aristotle------------------------------------------------

s winter really here you may ask yourself? It is December, what needs to be done in Louisiana gardens?

After consulting The “Grier’s Almanac”, Winter begins; 12:47p.m., Dec 21st. I don’t know if you buy an almanac every year but I remember one always being at my grandparents house. Older folks believed in the Almanac. You find the month and plant your crops by the moon calendar. The “Grier’s” I have has a Garden Calendar, month by month, to plan out which dates to plant above ground crops, what dates for root crops, and the time for seed beds, transplants, and flowers. Also, what and how to kill plant pests & perform those garden chores.

It even recommends what day of the month to set your eggs. (As in let your hen begin setting on her eggs to hatch.) If I hadn’t raised chickens, I would not have known what this statement even meant.

What is the younger generation gonna do? A lot of them don’t know where bread comes from except the store. I found this out volunteering for the 4-H in the Spring a few years ago at Ralph and Elsie Hock’s place

where more than 400 kids attended 4-H day camp every year. The Webster Claiborne Farm & Garden Club would help the LSU Ag Center teach those young people how to plant seed in rows. We also made sure they planted a seed in a cup to take home with them at the end of the day. I hope at least a few of those seeds made it to maturity. This was truly enjoyable.

Here are some folklore planting pointers from Grier’s:

- Planting is best done in the fruitful signs of Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, or Cancer. Never plant in the barren signs of Gemini, Leo, and Virgo as they are only good for trimming, deadheading or destroying.- Plow, till or cultivate on the fire sign (dry) of Aries.- Plant flowers in Libra, an airy sign that represents beauty. - Plant all things that yield above ground while the moon is increasing in size and plant all things that yield below ground (carrots, turnips, etc,) while moon is waning.- Harvest crops and pick fruit when the moon is decreasing, as they will keep longer and are usually better. - Dig root crops for their seed in the third quarter. - Cut timber while the moon is decreasing as it will season better and not warp, decay, or snap when burning. Set eggs to hatch in a fruitful sign. Then chicks will mature faster and be better layers.

Do you remember the old fashioned idea waste not, eat not? In these tough economic times it is necessary to not fritter away anything, food wise. You can save a ton of money by recycling your leftovers. Not just reheating last nights supper but making an entirely new meal out of your refrigerator. The re-created dish will taste entirely different with a lot of

recipes from the original dish. This is just common sense during tough times. If you grow your own food it is to hard to just throw it away. It is easy to make stuffed bell peppers with left over hamburgers, taco meat, or even hamburger helper along with rice, onion, cheese, and salsa. This is an easy fix for working folk, it doesn’t take as long to re-make. This is one good way to use all those peppers when they come in.

Our ancestors believed in the Almanac for advice on when and what to plant in the garden, when to go fishing, or take as remedy for their health. Something must have helped because we always ate from the garden and we’re all still here. You can believe an almanac or not, but I always pick up one to read every year.

The Garden Calendar for December:

Most of us have messy gardens in late fall and early winter. A few simple tasks need to be performed to transform your out-of-control garden or past-its-prime flower garden into a restful looking scene. Tidy up the garden on warm days by cleaning up those mushy perennials hit by the frost. Collect any seed you want to keep for next year. I like to save hyacinth bean, cosmos, and marigolds. Lay them out to dry, soon the seed pods will crack open. Clean out the seeds and store in a dry cool place labeled for next spring.

Chop down the tall plant stems and place them in the compost pile. Pick up trash that has accumulated by the wind. Mow or rake up all those leaves that have fallen and add to the compost. I don’t like burning them. Some people ask what to do with them. My daddy would rather mow the leaves all up with the

lawn mower. This benefits your soil by adding nutrients back that would ordinarily be put into the compost, burnt, or bagged and hauled away. I think it is a whole lot easier on the back. This is a great way to spend some alone time, get exercise, & take in some sunshine. (Think Green)

Pull out spent annuals, mulching with either pine needles or non floating bark will add splashes of

color for the eye to follow. I like to plant my whiskey barrels in front of the garden with violas and cabbage. Be sure to trim back tall grasses. Water all your plants well if we are not getting enough rainfall. This will ensure from freezing.

December is a great time to plant cabbage, shallots, spinach, mustard greens, kale and turnips in your vegetable garden. In the flower category; plant ornamental cabbage, pansy’s and violas. Something neat to try would be to plant evergreens in containers. This will add green color, fluff, and interest to your garden. They are also durable in our winter climate. Some suggested plants are junipers, holly, spruce, false cypress, and cryptomeria.

Herb of the month: Rosemary. It is a wonderful herb to grow. Native to southern Europe, it has aromatic gray green needle-shaped leaves. It is very easy to grow, loves full sun, and dry ground. I would recommend buying a plant to start off with. Then, when it has a good start you can try your hand at rooting. Rosemary takes quite a while to root so be patient. You can cook with it, but be careful, using only a small amount. Its leaves are very pungent. You only need a little on the grill with chicken. It also works great in home made bread used sparingly.

Have fun looking at all those new seed catalogs from your mailbox and dream of what your are going to plant this upcoming spring. Happy Gardening. If you have any comments send them to “The Weeders Digest” at The Minute Magazine.

------------------------------------------------





Documents

Minute Magazine Dec Jan 09