Civil War uniforms
Southern soldiers were to wear gray uniforms, but lack of supplies forced many men to use captured Northern blue clothing and equipment as well as locally purchased material dyed a butternut brown color. Pictured left to right: soldier, first lieutenant, and drummer boy. Recent auction prices: Keen Kutter match holder, $15; small wood pitchfork, $95; water can, $15; wood bucket, $55; slat sled,...
The Autumn Blues
I am not sure why back to school time brings back that knot-in-the-pit-of-my-stomach feeling. I have been through oodles of back to school seasons, 17 of my own, and 11 of my childrens. Each one brings its own panic attack of excitement mixed with complete and utter fear of what lies ahead. The earliest I remember was kindergarten, though my memory is somewhat fuzzy on that one. I do remember...
How to prevent falls
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you write a column on fall prevention tips for elderly seniors? My 81-year-old father, who lives alone, has fallen several times over the past year. What can you tell us? Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Falls are a big concern for millions of elderly Americans and their families. In the United States, roughly one-third of the 65-and-older population will suffer a...
Service dogs in the school setting
Andrea is a teenager with separation anxiety disorder. John was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. Service dogs can assist both these students at school. Q: What is a service animal? A: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires schools to provide access to individuals with disabilities. Service animals sometimes help make schools accessible. The ADA defines service...
Take study findings with a grain of salt
I heard about a study that questioned the link between sodium and high blood pressure. Im skeptical. Whats the story? Skepticism was a common reaction to that study, for good reason. The study was conducted in Europe and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers tested urine samples of nearly 3,700 participants to measure sodium levels, then followed up...
Reading them to Neverland
Most parents agree that a consistent bedtime routine is crucial in the attempt to get children abed and asleep with minimal frustration. With one kid, this doesnt present too much of a challengewell, it seems like a challenge at the time, but in retro (two-more-kids) spect, it was fairly simple. We did a nightly bath, brushed teeth, read some stories, said a prayer, and ... well ... Okay...
Forget Wall Street and Capitol Hill; We just want to get through the day
Well, the stock market went on a wild ride last week. Congress is still debating who to put on its first-string debating team; you know, the people who are going to spend more time arguing about debt and whats getting cut and whose taxes wont get raised. The decision by Standard & Poors to lower the countrys bond rating threw the global markets into a tailspin. The GOP Presidential...
A Midsummer Night's Screed
Its a helpless feeling, really. I mean, there are no good options available. You either bite the bullet or risk one being fired into your brain. Well, thats a bit of an exaggeration, but the feelings true. Say that a widget has gone all bad on your car. Say that replacing the widget is beyond your skill set. Say that your car cant run without a new widget. Say that the widget costs...
School Days School Days
I remember my back-to-school days. I can still hear my Grandma Barton singing in her kitchen the old tune, school days, schools days, dear old Golden Rule days. She loved to play the piano and wouldnt you know it if she wasnt humming it, most certainly loud enough for us to tune in or singing the song as she cooked about her kitchen, we could hear her tapping on the keys in a much grander...