Move More Month” is on a mission to stop the slow and get individuals moving everyday this April
Did you know that one in three adults over the age of 50 gets no physical activity outside of work? The month of April is recognized as “Move More Month” with a mission to stop the slow …
The eclipse path enables 31.6 million people to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event without traveling
Unless you have been living underneath a rock, there is a chance you have heard about an impending, once-in-a-lifetime event happening Monday. On April 8, 2024, parts of Illinois will darken as the …
They say that money is the root of all evil, an unexpected human creation that can either make or break a person. It’s what our country runs on, it’s a subject of every household in every …
You have heard it said before, whenever possible, shop at local businesses instead of big-box stores or online retailers. Where you choose to spend your hard earned money can help keep the local …
The celebration and observance of Lent is full of special cultural traditions and practices
At one time, when all church windows were stained glass and Bibles were all handwritten, Lent was a very serious and certain matter.
Lent, that time each year that many Christians dedicate to a …
Saturday is the full moon called the Snow Moon. Our next full moon will be on March 25 when we will see a blood-red lunar eclipse. That will be two weeks before the total eclipse. Almost every solar …
A trip to Kansas City treated the Patchetts to award-winning wood fire pizza
For those of you interested, Shaggy, our Granddog, is adjusting to his new life in Missouri. He is on sabbatical for a year while my son Matt and Andrea his wife are exploring Southeast Asia and …
Valentine’s Day can become more than just a cookie-cutter commercial holiday
According to Hallmark, about 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every year. Americans spent approximately $24 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2022 alone. That is a lot of red …
A personality test based in animal temperaments SHINES new light on THE NATURE OF people
Created by Kristen Shroyer in 2012, Feb. 3 is National Golden Retriever Day.
The creator of the celebratory day selected the particular date because it was the birthday of her own Golden, …
I rarely meet a food that I don’t like, and I, a self-proclaimed adventurous eater have tasted several unexpected and perhaps unconventional bites of food around the country.
I attribute …
Cooking tasks can be accomplished by children of all ages
Getting children involved in the kitchen should be a possibility for every single child, regardless of age, special needs or academic abilities. The easiest way to involve different kids with …
Ruth Patchett has several grandchildren, her favorite is a dog named shaggy
The end of the year is a time for taking care of business that comes up and needs to be addressed. One of those recent items was my subscription renewal of The Prairie Press.
Since I needed to …
This Christmas, a broken car door proved less is more during the holidays
In recent years, I have found it difficult to get in the Christmas spirit. I could not tell you when it happened, but the warmth I experienced every December as a child started to dissipate – …
Quick, Easy Recipes to Add to Your Dinner Rotation
Making time for meals together can have a positive impact on the well-being of families, including children and adolescents. In fact, regular meals at home can help reduce stress and boost …
Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas is nearly gone, the holiday season is speeding by faster than a sleigh drawn by magical, flying reindeer. In celebration of the upcoming holiday, and in an effort …
This holiday season, many Americans will be decorating Christmas trees, lighting Hanukkah candles, building gingerbread houses and savoring time with family and friends.
And across the country, …
Children can, and should, learn to cook.
After all, cooking is a basic life skill, and being comfortable enough in the kitchen to pull a few ingredients into a simple meal is something everyone …
Simplify holiday hosting from start to finish
Hosting a major holiday event is no small effort. It requires close attention to detail from planning, cooking and cleaning to entertaining guests on the big day. Fortunately, just like any good …
Soup is the ultimate comfort food
I’ve found the older I get, the more I find comfort in a good soup – even in the summer. We’re lucky in Edgar County because there are great homemade soups in many of our …
The chilly temperatures of the past weekend certainly helped Edgar County residents realize autumn has arrived. The leaves on the trees lining the streets and throughout the countryside will soon …
Walnut Point offers a hidden gem for the foodie
Where does the time go? The seasons change so quickly, and we are already in autumn. Not everyone has the time to take a week or two away so if the schedule is tight, try what I like to call a Mary …
The Illinois Extension office in Paris has a new team member.
Brittany Smith is Edgar County's new 4-H program coordinator, filling a vacancy that has existed since April.
Smith, originally …
Portable breakfast help with a busy week
Some of us need TLC for our relationship with breakfast. Perhaps the morning meals are forgettable at best or get skipped entirely in favor of a big cup of coffee during the rush to get to the office …
Edgar County claims several natives and/or residents who appeared in major motion pictures over the years including Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer from the “Our Gang” comedies, …
As a society food is taken for granted as always being what it is, but there are some dishes with origins dating back to ancient Roman times that we still feast on today.
One delightful treat …
Patchett's transatlantic journey continues
The adventure continues for us. We took a transatlantic voyage in May with good friends we met on a previous cruise.
It was a repositioning cruise for Celebrity Cruises’ two-year-old ship …
Visiting the D-Day battle area is moving experience
Le Harve, France, located in the province of Normandy, was a port of call during the 15-day transatlantic cruise we took in early May.
Passengers had the option to visit the beaches of Normandy …
Cooking meals to bring loved ones joy is often objective Number One, but creating those flavorful favorites on an appropriate budget is an important aspect of well-rounded, family-friendly recipes. A …
Savory delicacies help celebrate historic date
On May 5, 1862, 8,000 French soldiers converged on the city of Puebla, Mexico. General Ignacio Zaragoza led his Mexican Army of 4,000 soldiers into battle against the French. When the battle ended, …
A love of art is something that should be passed down from one generation to the next, and that is exactly what is happening in Edgar County.
The Link Art Gallery’s Annual Edgar County …
Historians disagree on the origins of bread. Some say the Natufian hunter-gathers made flatbread between 11,600 and 14,600 ye. Others believe Egyptians made the first breads 10,00 years ago around …
Pineapple casserole is a delightful, versatile dish
Anyone who lives in the South for any time at all will quickly dis- cover there are casseroles which are served at nearly any kind of occasion.
If any region has perfected the art of casserole …
Easter is about coming together with loved ones, enjoy- ing beautiful spring weather and eating the family’s favorite foods. The kids will be playing, adults will be chatting and all will be …
The Paris Public Library has launched a seed library and a fishing pole program with a goal of better serving the community.
“We are hoping people can take advantage of both programs,” said …
Competition was palpable as five spirited teams vied in the third year for the Edgar County 4-H Cooking Challenge.
Mary Liz Wright, coordinator of the event, explained the competition rules to the …
If healthier eating holds a prominent spot on your list of goals, you may feel it’s necessary to eliminate some of your sweetest favorites. However, committing to a nutritionally friendly way …
Grocery store shopping can be a real shock. Prices have increased and not just in the egg department.
Most of us have been told wages have increased significantly, but how many have received …
With Christmas and Thanksgiving in the rear-view, many have accepted the post-New Year lull in holiday cheer. However, Saturday, Jan. 28, marked a celebration building enthusiasts should not …
In honor of National Wear Red Day, Horizon Health hosted a luncheon at Betty Jane’s Kitchen. Wear Red Day is a feature of American Heart Month, and the goal is to raise awareness in women about …
Food is something that always brings a community together.
Before handwriting became prevalent the only way to know how to make a dish was by oral tradition. Eventually, people started writing …
Before the late October cruise Tom and I took to the Panama Canal, I had a premonition. It was brought on by Carol King’s song “Sweet Seasons.” For some reason I kept singing (off …
