Poinsettias are truly the “Christmas Plant,” but when Christmas is over, you can keep your poinsettia thriving in its entire holiday splendor for many years to come. Poinsettias are native to Mexico and in their native surroundings are a large, leggy shrub. Therefore, if you intend to keep your poinsettia for years to come, then you will be nurturing a...
My buddy Orville could sell you a bridge
The last time I saw Orville Middleton was at the war museum at the Nutana Legion on Louise Street in Saskatoon. That was in the fall of 2019, a few months before COVID hit. He was there to do an interview for a documentary that was being made on Canadians and Americans fighting side by side in the Second World...
Is Saskatoon one of the best places to live?
U.S. News announced in late 2023 that Canada is the second-best country in the world, marginally behind Switzerland. This is an American media company, established after the Second World War, known for its rankings of various things like schools, hospitals, and yes, countries. Because they used an index, our primary competitor came in with a score of 100, while we...
Baked Apples with Coconut and Crumble Topping
Servings: 8 6 Envy Apples 3/4 cup dark chocolate 1/2 cup chopped roasted hazelnuts 1 cup instant or rolled oats 1/2 cup dried coconut 2 tablespoons flour 1/3 cup butter 2 tablespoons brown sugar maple syrup or honey, for serving Core apples then score skin around apple a few times. Cut small slice from top and bottom to make apple...
Ken Noskye’s Memorable Stories: Change a child’s life: Donate a Christmas Gift
When Ken died in February 2021, we had an outpouring of messages from readers, with many telling us how much his columns meant to them. In light of that, we thought we would go back through our files and re-publish some of them. Ken would be flattered by the kind words readers expressed. We miss him as a friend and...
Canucks shine in topsy-turvy NHL
In the National Hockey League, ‘V’ stands for victory. ‘V’ also represents two of the best teams in the Western Conference — the Vancouver Canucks and the Vegas Golden Knights. The Canucks, a team that in recent years has been an also-ran and a playoff non-contender by mid-November, are a near juggernaut in the early going of the 2023-24 season....
Recognizing signs of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that gets worse over the time. People experience a gradual decline in memory and other important mental functions. It occurs when the brain changes due to deposits of certain proteins. This causes the brain to shrink and brain cells eventually die. The early signs of this disease include forgetting recent conversations or events. There...
Give Thanks for these 15 Fitness Facts
Our neighbours to the south recently celebrated Thanksgiving. Any time we think about gratitude, most people often put their health high on the list. And not much boosts your health quite like healthy habits — including regularly exercising, eating right, sleeping well, and managing stress. It’s always a good time to express gratitude. And here are a few more items...
Best books for Christmas
FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING: A MEMOIR BY MATTHEW PERRY Published: 2022-11-01 So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew,...
Top Reasons Why You Should Shop Local
STIMULATING THE LOCAL BUSINESS ECONOMY When you make a purchase from a local business, that business owner will often make purchases locally. A locally owned business will typically purchase goods and services from other local businesses. In the case of chain stores, the management typically purchase product centrally, in a faraway city or country. Many of the outside business-related services...