Lifestyle

July is when we celebrate “Red, Blue and You!” This celebration happens not only as a Nation but in our homes. I was reminded that July is National Blueberry and Watermelon Month. The beautiful colors of red and blue mixed cause the food products to look like all American Dishes for the whole month of July. Fresh blueberry muffins with cream cheese and cold watermelon slices are one of my favorite summer breakfast menus. There are endless ways to love blueberries this summer including the classics: adding blueberries to our cereal and salads, as well as, snacking on them throughout the day.

The bald eagle has been the national bird of the United States since 1782, when it was placed with outspread wings on the Great Seal of our country. It appears in many government institutions and on official documents, making it the most pictured bird in all of America.

VA Geriatric Scholar Aaron Sampson and colleagues from the Greenville VA Health Care Center launched a home exercise program that combines strength-based training with education on the benefits of physical activity to improve quality of life for older Veterans.

Eureka Springs is a city steeped in natural and cultural appeal in the extreme northwest of Arkansas. It’s a resort city named after the abundance of surrounding mineral pools. The same therapeutic properties that attracted Indigenous cultures and settlers to this Ozark Mountains hideaway still attract tourists today, and visitors of all ages often appreciate the history here.

Have-A-Heart Pet Shelter Fayetteville — Amanda Cheatham, APRN, recently joined the Washington Regional Hospitalists group, where she evaluates and treats hospitalized patients. Cheatham earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith.

Every garden season is filled with beautiful and tasty surprises along with a few challenges. One challenge gardeners face each year is managing insect pests while keeping the pollinators safe. Fortunately, only a very small percent of insects in our landscapes are harmful. The rest help pollinate plants, feed upon, or parasitize bad insects, or help decompose plant debris.

This week we are taking a trip to some parks and caves in Branson. Be sure and visit websites of the places you would like to go and look for discounted tickets to make your trip more economical friendly. Some of these are also free to the public.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, Bull Shoals Library has a new book for you. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth book in the Harry Potter series. It is a two-part play written by Jack Thorne based on an original story by J.K. Rowling. Thorne, Rowling and Director John Tiffany collaborated to continue the Harry Potter story in play form rather than in book form.