When we got married in 1975, our wedding florist gifted us with a lush philodendron, winding its way up a two-foot piece of bark, planted in a woven basket. Back then, I knew very little about what it takes to keep houseplants happy.
It is almost 8:30 on this cool Monday evening. The temperature is already down to 60°. Our house actually feels chilly. A sign that autumn is just around the corner. Today sister Verena helped me can 22 quarts of vegetable juice (V8). We cooked a variety of peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, onions and garlic together until soft enough to put through my Victoria strainer. Usually I put in celery but I didn’t have any on hand. You can pretty much add whatever you want. I don’t like to add potatoes as I don’t think it’s as good for my husband Joe with him being diabetic. These ingredients already make a good flavor. Saturday was a busy but enjoyable day for our family. Our day started early. We gathered at daughter Loretta and Dustin’s house by 2 a.m. to start grilling a thousand pounds of leg quarters. The chicken was seasoned with a combination of seasonings, then sprayed with a mixture of butter, vinegar and some other ingredients. They mixed it up the night before so I’m not sure what was all in it. No sauce was added but it had a really good flavor. Thirteen grills were set up with Joe and I, son-in-laws Tim, Dustin and Daniel, daughter Verena and Daniel Ray, son Joseph and Grace, and Jake (a brother to Dustin, Daniel and Grace) all helping. We had good teamwork going and less than five hours later we were done. At 7 a.m. son-in-law Ervin, nephew Ben and Crystal, Tim’s sister Dena and Sam came to help deliver the chicken door to door. Daniel Ray and Verena with our friend Jodi also headed out with a cooler of steaming hot freshly grilled chicken to deliver. In three hours the chicken was sold out. This was all for a benefit and donations went to daughter Elizabeth and Tim. Tim and Elizabeth have made living quarters in their garage since they were told by experts to move out of their house. They were all having respiratory issues with Timothy (TJ) needing an inhaler constantly. Since moving out he has rarely needed it. If he goes back into the old house for a few minutes to get something he starts coughing again. Everything they can salvage has to be treated and disinfected a certain way to not drag it into their garage. They weren’t able to keep a lot of their belongings. They had around 5 toxic molds in their house. It’s surprising how fast this mold spreads. We thoroughly cleaned their house for church services one time and a few months later their box spring under their bed was layered with mold. It is nothing fun to deal with. I had no idea what health problems it can cause until seeing this. Tim’s have several air purifiers running in their living quarters now. We have several dehumidifiers in our house run by our solar power. Especially in the basement where it tends to get damp quicker. When the humidity gets high it makes a higher chance of dampness.
Some crop diseases are intensifying and being enhanced by current weather conditions. Cool night time temperatures (below 700 F), humid conditions, and wet leaves enhance tar spot in corn. Tar Spot is often helped by August and September weather conditions. Red Crown Rot in soybeans is also being found in Ohio.
John 1: 8-10 “ John was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”
Labor Day provides an opportunity to enjoy one last long weekend with fun in the sun, barbecues, pool parties, and vacations. Although summer officially ends on Sunday, September 22, 2024, Labor Day typically marks the unofficial close of the summer entertaining and recreation season. As individuals and families prepare to fire up the grill or float in the pool one last time, they are reminded to heed key tips to stay safe and healthy.
You can feel it. Summer is coming to a close. No, we are not done with hot weather yet – September can be brutal some years – but that local, temporary “climate change” has begun.
Today, August 14, ten years ago, we prepared for our firstborn’s wedding. What a change it was to have the first of our children move away from home. As a mother, I relied a lot on my oldest child, and I could always depend on her. I had a hard time accepting this change. I am truly thankful she married a loving, kind man who has brought her much joy and happiness in the five years they dated and then ten years of marriage. They were blessed with four sweet children, Abigail Elizabeth, age 8 (9 on September 10), Timothy Josiah, age 6, Allison Lovina, age 5, and Andrea Ruby, age 3. Happy anniversary, Tim and Elizabeth! May God grant you many more happy, healthy years together!
On July 1, 2025; Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a new bill refunding the Ohio H2O Program. However, the 2024-2025 budget was for 270 million dollars. The new bill authorizes only $165 million dollars for the 2026-2027 time period, a 40% overall decrease. The Ohio H2O program will continue but expect major changes and possibly lower rates of compensation.
Hello readers! This is Lovina’s daughter Verena. Daniel Ray is outside weed whacking and I have all my work caught up so I decided to write Mom’s column.
The series drew audiences from across the region, with some guests traveling over 150 miles to enjoy the live performances. This reach underscores Van Wert’s growing reputation as a cultural hub and highlights the power of music to unite communities.