Features

It is hard to beat Texas when it comes to birding. Although we are no longer the largest state (hello, Alaska!) we are one of the birdiest, with a whopping 648 species.

My journey this week takes me to the subject of change in our culture. At my age, I have experienced many changes. One example from my childhood will illustrate: After his retirement, my paternal grandfather, Dr. Lanning, built a house in Arkansas with essentially four rooms. The kitchen was small, and not all the family could be seated together for meals. His custom was for the adults to eat first; afterward, the children ate the “leftovers”. This was very upsetting to my Houston-born mother and strange to me. However, it was normal for a man, even an educated man, who grew up in an agrarian southern culture where in rural farming communities, men ate first, followed by women, and then children. Older “Boomers” have memories of how different life is for them vs how it was for their grandparents. Change is a part of living,

Campaigns to “shop local” are often rooted in encouraging locals to support the small businesses in their communities. Consumers no doubt recognize that such support is vital to the survival of small businesses, but they may not realize just how much thriving local businesses benefit their communities. According to the Small Business Economic Impact Study from American Express, an average of two-thirds of every dollar spent at small businesses in the United States stays in the local community. That support can be especially valuable as the world tries to work its way out of a global recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment rates rose significantly within a month of the World Health Organization declaring a pandemic as the COVID-19 virus rapidly spread across the globe. While large international corporations were in better position to avoid layoffs, small, locally owned businesses faced an uphill battle as they tried to remain in operation and retain their staffs. That’s another way shopping local can benefit local communities. The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies reports that, for every $10 million spent locally, 57 new jobs are created at local businesses. That’s an important factor to remember as the world tries to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What parent hasn’t heard their child utter the familiar phrase “I’m bored” at some point? Despite a seemingly vast array of toys, electronics and other items at their disposal, children can be quick to sulk and say there’s nothing to do. Parents can counter “I’m bored” with these eight boredom-busting activities that are certain to help pass the time in entertaining and sometimes educational ways.