All in Columns

Reece Gardner: Animals are a blessing!

Today I want to talk about how we are blessed by animals around us and how we need to let them know we care. Joe Exum put the organization "Friends of Man's Best Friends" together a few years ago and great numbers of animals have been given quality lives as a result of his effort, and the efforts of his dedicated associates who give freely of their time, money, and expertise in the promotion of this noble cause.

Tammy Kelly: Don’t Toss Your Fall Decorations – Cook Them!!!

I love Fall decorating, the colors, the use of fresh materials, all of it, but it’s really sad that one of the most nutritious fall vegetables is often only used for decoration and often overlooked for a healthy addition to your menu!! Besides being great for decorating, and the only vegetable that is carved and lit up, this low-calorie squash is rich in potassium and loaded with beta-carotene (a powerful antioxidant), and its natural sweetness brings flavor to baked goods without any added guilt.

Cooking with Tammy: The Teal Pumpkin Project

Celebrating Happy Halloween next week means a week full of sweet treats and candies. Certainly, one night a year it’s okay to splurge, but if you are hosting your own Halloween party here are some spooky treats that will make Halloween safe for those suffering from severe food allergies!

Reece Gardner: Everyday is a gift

Today I want to talk about TIME, which is a very interesting thing. We can't stop it, slow it down, turn it off, or even adjust it, and we certainly can't bring it back. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is uncertain. We may look ahead to a full year's block of time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it.

After attending funerals, my mother used to say, "Give me my flowers while I live." I came to understand that she meant to treat her with love and kindness and respect while she could hear and see her flowers. The loved ones lying in the caskets could not see all the beautiful floral arrangements stretched across the front of the church or chapel.

Reece Gardner: Count your blessings

Life is a gift, so before we say an unkind word we need to think about those who can't speak; Before we complain about the taste of our food, we need to think about those who have nothing to eat; Before we complain about our companion, we need to think of someone who is crying out to God FOR a companion; Today, before we complain about life, we need to think about someone who went too early to Heaven; Before we complain about the distance we have to drive, we need to think of someone who has to walk that distance;

Mike Parker: CSS Neuse II holds ‘Breakfast’ on Saturday, October 16, 2021

For the second time this year, the CSS Neuse Foundation is hosting “Breakfast on the Boat.” The event will begin around 7 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the CSS Neuse II, the replica gunboat. As usual, “Breakfast on the Boat” features scrambled eggs, bacon, link sausage, grits, biscuits, and a beverage. All foods except biscuits are prepared on the grounds next to the CSS Neuse II. Tables will afford social distancing.