In 2009, I called this blog “Living Well” because that’s what I hoped would be the outcome of the information I shared.   Here’s what I said in my very first post–

Together we’ll explore a variety of topics that will range from “what’s new” to “tried and true” and much more in between. We’ll look at seasonal items that are most meaningful at certain times of the year, we’ll dig into topics of current interest and we’ll review the basics that grandma may have known but which today’s generation may have missed. I’ll also keep you updated on local Extension educational classes and workshops that may help you connect with other learners.

It is my sincere hope that over the years I delivered on that original promise.   I hope that the information from K-State Research and Extension has helped to improve your life in some small way.  My goal has always been to link information with life experience to help people improve their lives, their families and their communities.

 I thank you for the support you’ve given “Living Well” over the years.  Good luck and many blessings to all of you.  Thanks and farewell!

After all, mistletoe promotes wintertime fun — and perhaps a bit of romance.

In parts of Europe, stealing kisses “under the mistletoe” has been a tradition for 500 years. The harvested plant is now part of North Americans’ Christmas décor, too. It may be the ribboned sprig atop an entry door or the “kissing ball” under a chandelier.

“That’s probably one reason Americans have so few mistletoe problems,” said Jennifer Smith, K-State Research and Extension horticulturist. “Where it grows in the wild, mistletoe can literally suck the life out of a tree. It may pose a problem for livestock. You need to keep it under control.

“But, where mistletoe is holiday décor, its toxic leaves, berries and stems typically end up well beyond easy reach – particularly for our shortest family and friends.”

U.S. trend studies have found children and pets are at greatest risk for accidental poisoning, Smith said. Their body mass is small. Plus, a toddler or pup may chew on almost anything that attracts its attention.

“For safety’s sake, you need to sweep up and dispose of mistletoe pieces that happen to fall to the floor,” she said.

Fortunately, the same studies suggest U.S. mistletoe isn’t as hazardous as previously thought.

U.S. Poison Control Centers get more than 100 mistletoe-related calls each year (1-800-222-1222). North America’s varieties contain chemicals that can cause gastrointestinal distress, a slowed heartbeat and more serious reactions.

As likely as not, though, the great majority of U.S. reported cases will develop no symptoms. Extreme reactions will be rare. And, the death count will likely be zero.

“The two Americans known to have died from mistletoe poisoning since 1960 had used it to brew tea,” Smith said.

Source:  K-State Reseach and Extension

(NOTE: For more on mistletoe, see the related story: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/story/mistletoe_stranger121411.aspx.)

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

Linda’s farewell reception is set for Monday, December 19 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Finney County Extension Office, 501 S. 9th Street in Garden City.  It’s open to anyone who would like to attend.

Linda has been the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Finney County Extension Office in Garden City, KS  for nearly 16 years.   She is going to be deeply missed as she has worked closely with the community all those years.

She has accepted a similar Extension FCS Agent position in Ellis County and will begin her work in Hays, KS on January 23.

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

It Happened to Us….

It happened last week in a local restaurant where my husband and I were enjoying a meal at the end of a long, busy day. The waiter had brought our bill and as we were finishing our meal, another server stopped and picked the bill up.  But when she didn’t return it, we asked her about our check. It was then that she told us that another customer had already paid for our supper.

We were amazed and confused– we hadn’t seen anyone we knew in the restaurant that night. We wondered if it was someone who somehow knew us– maybe from my work or our community activities? But no, the server told us the customer admitted she didn’t know us, but just wanted to share the holiday spirit by paying for our meal. What a wonderful and uplifting gift!

What a great way to get into the holiday spirit and spread it to others! My husband and I have marveled at how wonderful it felt to receive an anonymous gift of kindness when we were least expecting it. And, we’ve been inspired, too, to look for ways we can spread the joy and touch the lives of others with the holiday spirit this month.

Share the Holiday Spirit

How about you? You may be able to lift someone’s spirits with your own small act of kindness. It doesn’t even have to cost any money to surprise and delight someone with your thoughtfulness. If you need inspiration, the internet is full of ideas, stories and surprises that can jog your imagination and creativity.

A great place to get started is the list of kindness ideas at the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation website. Check it out at www.randomactsofkindness.org.

As we embark upon the Christmas season, I encourage you to look for ways to share kindness and love with others– those you know and those you don’t know. It will make our world a better place to live during this holiday season.

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

Three representatives shall be elected for each of the Extension Program Development Committees. Information about each candidate will be available at the election.

Candidates are:

Agriculture: Michael Burch, Doug Mai, Jake Price

Family & Consumer Sciences:  Alice Banning, Carol Deaver, Brenda Drees

4-H & Youth Development:  Amanda Hands, Karen Murrell, Tara York

Economic Development: Barbara Jensen, Jill Wessels, Dean Zemp

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

Fall brings seasonal decorating opportunities for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. But you don’t have to devote a lot of money or storage space to different decorations for each occasion. At the October Knowledge at Noon program, Debbie Wharton from Wharton’s for Every Bloomin’ Thing will show creative ways to customize holiday decorations that can change with the season.

Knowledge at Noon, sponsored by the Finney County Extension Office, will be Thursday, October 6, from 12:05-12:55 pm, at the Finney County Public Library, 605 E. Walnut Street in Garden City.

The public is invited to attend this program. Bring a lunch if you wish; coffee and tea will be provided.

For more information on the Extension Knowledge at Noon programs, please contact the Finney County Extension Office at 620-272-3670.

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

The 23rd year of Extension noon-hour programs begins on September 1 with a series of eight monthly topics.

Extension Knowledge at Noon programs are held on the first Thursday of each month at the Finney County Public Library, 605 E. Walnut in Garden City, KS.  Each program begins at 12:05 p.m. and ends at 12:55 p.m.  Bring a lunch if you wish, coffee and iced tea are provided.

2011-2012 Extension Knowledge at Noon programs

• September 1, 2011-  “Putting MyPlate on the Table”
• October 6, 2011- “Boo, Gobble Gobble, Ho Ho, Happy New Year!”
• November 3, 2011- “Holiday Breads”
• December 1, 2011- “Selection and Care of Fine Jewely”
• January 5, 2012- “Penny-Pinching Pointers for Frugal Families”
• February 2, 2012- “New Foods in the Produce Department”
• March 1, 2012- “The Celiac Attack: Control It With a Gluten-Free Diet”
• April 5, 2012- “Vegetable Gardening For Succes in SW Kansas”

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

The 2011 Finney County Fair will be held in Garden City on July 28 to July 30.  The official fair book gives all the details– from event schedules to competition categories and all the information you need to get involved! 

Pick up a fair book at the Finney County Extension Office, 501 S. 9th Street at the entrance to the fairgrounds, or watch for them at sponsor locations around town. You can also learn more at the official website of the Finney County Fair which is being updated daily.

Here are just a few of the highlights of the Finney County Fair:

Thursday, July 28-

1. Free hamburger feed- 6:00 pm
2. Texaco Country Showdown state championship- 8:00 pm
3. Party on the Plaza with Streetside (following Showdown)

Friday, July 29-

1. Amateur Truck Pull-  6:00 pm
2. Western Kansas Truck & Tractor Pull- 8:00 pm

Saturday, July 30-

1. Outlaw Demolition Derby- 8:00 pm

Sunday, August 2-

1. Kid’s Pedal Pull- 12:00 noon

Join the fun at the Finney County Fair!  It’s great family entertainment for a great value!  Get tickets to each of the evening attractions at Dillons East in Garden City or on the fairgrounds during the fair.

Besides the grandstand entertainment, there’s lots more to see and do at the Finney County Fair.  The Pride of Texas Carnival will be open July 27 through July 31.  The 4-H Cowboy Olympics will be on Wednsday evening in the rodeo arena. The Farmer for a Day booth will be open during the day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Exhibition Building.  Also be sure to visit Hedricks Exotic Animals and look for Professor Farquar and his side-kick Polecat Annie strolling the grounds throughout the fair to delight you with magic tricks, juggling and games of skill.

So, stop by the Finney County Extension Office and claim your Finney County Fair book soon.  It’s your passport to all the fun of the 2011 Finney County Fair!

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

As a gift to my daughter, I contacted Emily’s grandparents, aunts, uncles and some family friends and asked them to share their best advice for a new graduate. These adults have accumulated years of experience and wisdom to create some advice worthy of passing along. Even though many teenagers might think they already know it all, I’m exercising my parental prerogative to offer the Class of 2011 a few life lessons gleaned from friends and family who have gone before them.

Here are some thoughts for my daughter’s graduation, along with quotes from wise adults who care about her happiness and her future:

* Stretch your mind. “To function in this fast-paced world you will need to constantly learn new things. Just as when I graduated from high school I could not imagine what life is like today, you cannot imagine what life will be like for you when you reach my age.”

Learn about things you don’t think you’ll ever need to know. That doesn’t mean filling your mind with useless garbage. Instead, seek opportunities to gain knowledge and more importantly, to develop wisdom. The world is very complex and few things are as simple as they seem.

*Choose role models you appreciate. “You can learn a lot by watching people you admire and analyzing how they approach life.”

Don’t strive to be a copycat of someone else, but instead identify attributes of their character that you respect or would like to improve in yourself. Observe how they conduct themselves and make decisions. When you are faced with situations that you’re not sure how to handle, ask yourself how your role model would handle the matter.

* Cultivate friendships. Keep old friends but make new ones. Make friends of people who are not like you– different ages, different ethnicities, from different income levels, different schools and different areas of the country and from different kinds of families. Remember that people are more important than things. Never diminish the importance of each person.

“Keep in mind that the true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.”

* Love well and wisely. Family, friends, special places, pup-pups, fat white kitties, little blue fish. Love them, appreciate them, spend time with them, hold onto them. But, be brave enough to let go when it is time for them– or you– to move on. “Relationships and friendships are important.  However, make life your own so that you are always happy, even when you’re by yourself.”

Class of 2011, I wish you the very best! I hope you have a life in which you live well, laugh often, and love much! “Enjoy college, but be careful and be safe!”  Congratulations and good luck!

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.

This program will be held on Monday, April 11th at 12:00 noon at the Finney County Extension Office, 501 S. 9th Street on the fairgrounds in Garden City. Bring a lunch to enjoy during the program. Dessert and drinks will be provided.

A minimum attendance is required to hold this program, so pre-registration is requested by Friday, April 8 at the Finney County Extension Office, 620-272-3670 or email to lbeech@ksu.edu.

“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.