We
invite everyone to come to our next yummy Pathfinder Produce markets, at the
Village Commons, Edmeston, on Thursday from 1 to 5 p.m., and at the UMC Hall,
Morris, on Friday, from noon to 5 p.m.
We’re eager to share some of our summer greens with you … our hoop
houses are fully planted with all sorts of delectable veggie varieties!
We
also want to send our thanks to all our participants, vendors, volunteers,
donors and sponsors for our recent Splash Path … it was a perfect day and we’ve
posted some pictures at our Pathfinder Village Facebook page. Feel free to tag and share. We’re already starting to plan next year’s inclusive
family fun 5K and fun walk.
In
upcoming events at Pathfinder Village, we will host our Pathfinder School
Graduation on Wednesday, June 21, where we’ll celebrate the accomplishments of
our younger students and five graduates.
It’s a wonderful ceremony … if you plan to attend, please RSVP by June
12 at (607) 965-8377, ext. 409. And you’ll
want to mark your calendars for our 20th annual Summer Concert
Series at the Pathfinder Pavilion, which will feature some of the area’s
most-beloved bands and live performers. The
concerts are free, the public is heartily welcomed, and we invite you to wear
your dancing shoes! The concerts are
offered each Saturday night at 7 p.m.
***
Despite
the dreary weather for this holiday weekend, it was a good time to get stuff done,
remember our service members, and visit with loved ones. My tribe caught up on chores that needed to
be addressed, like mowing, organizing, and repainting a really big room.
Today,
I’ll admit to soreness from moving in ways that I normally don’t, but it is diminished
by the sense of accomplishment. The
energy expended made me feel well,
and the repainted room is brighter and less cluttered. I enjoy chores like
spackling and painting … they’re sort of Zen, and it’s always good for
homeowners to know how to tackle maintenance tasks. (You can learn a lot of stuff by watching
accomplished DIYers, reading, and watching YouTube. Over the years my go-to
reference has been the Reader's
Digest Home Maintenance and Repair Manual).
The
work was nicely balanced with homey dinners at my parents’. Dad, a naval vet
who served during the Korean and Vietnam eras (and who was an Army Reservist
during Desert Storm) spoke about the upcoming Memorial Day parade. My sister-in-law, who lives several hours away
and is also a vet, was visiting. She brought along her newest pet, a “Morkie”
named Almost (as in, Almost a dog, due to her size). The pocket pup instantly ingratiated herself
with everyone (we’re a mutt family).
While
pet ownership is a big responsibility (daily care, food, vet bills) and not to
be taken lightly, research shows us that pets offer people big
health benefits. I noticed Almost added
to the relaxing atmosphere: We all laughed
as she used her most-serious puppy growl to tell off the dishwasher as it
changed cycles. Studies
indicate pets can reduce stress, relieve depression, fill our need for social
interactions, and improve heart health and lower blood pressure.
Almost
was well-behaved as we enjoyed Mom’s delicious dinners, which included a
variety of healthy fruits and veggies. However, Mom is old-school and ends
meals with treats (think Dessert Storm).
To meet the dietary needs of a family member with celiac
disease, she’s gotten adept at making gluten-free versions of her time-tested
favorites. This weekend she offered up a
chocolate cake with maple-walnut frosting.
(Honest, I had just a small piece!)
Many
of us joke that chocolate is a vegetable … obviously it isn’t. However, I heard on NPR
earlier in the week that a current review of a long-running Danish study indicates
that regular doses of chocolate or cocoa help reduce Atrial fibrillation, which
can lead to strokes and cardiac arrest, and affects about 25% of all adults. The
NPR report said, “Researchers have found that the compounds in cocoa, known as
polyphenols, can improve vascular health by increasing blood flow. Cocoa
compounds may also help suppress inflammation.”
Based
on the Danish study, even milk chocolate appears to offer benefits; researchers
suggest eating one ounce of chocolate per day, for two to six days a week (dark
chocolate is believed to have higher polyphenol content). Further research will
be completed to determine if there are other factors influencing the reduction
in AFib rates, but it looks like the
guy who first put chocolates in red heart-shaped boxes was onto something!
Until
next time, tackle those tasks, hug your pet, and enjoy a small bit of
chocolate,
Lori
