3/21 Fort Campbell Area Retiree Life

A look inside...

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5 Green Living Guide

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11 Retiree Spotlight

April Fools Day Pranks

Gourmet Coffee at Home

13 Homemade Dog Treats

Editor

Dave Marshall

Contributors

In this issue as we transition from winter to spring we take a look at ways to make our community cleaner, by beginning the recycling process.

Publisher

In addition we bring you outstanding coffee recipes and fancy latte art that you can do at home and avoid the long lines at your nearest coffee cafe.

Creative Director

Our spotlight this month features FSG(R) Michelle Lowe. She talks about her military career and her transition to civilian life.

CynDe Clack Alex Zapetis Creative ink Sears Hallett

Advertising

Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com

Photography Paula Hallett

We also have some harmless April Fool’s Day pranks to pull and some homemade dog treat recipes.

Enjoy the change of the season coming and don’t forget that Daylight Savings happens on March 14th.

Deposit Photos: Cover, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14

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By CynDe Clack

What is Green Living? Green Living (aka Sustainable Living) is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s use of natural and personal resources. You may think that you can’t live green because the cost is prohibitive - but there are ways you can “green up” your lifestyle without having to spend a lot of money you don’t have or live off the grid.

One of the first and easiest things to do is to stop your junk mail. Did you know that the average amount of junk mail sent to your home each year can be as much as 69 pounds? Opt for e-newsletters, online catalogs and paperless billing whenever possible. Visit www.DMAchoice.org for details on how to stop receiving direct marketing junk mail; www.optoutprescreen.com to stop receiving pre-approved offers from credit card companies; email: abacusoptout@epsilon.com and include your full name and current address to help control the number of retail catalogs you receive; and for all others, simply contact the company. So, until your opt-out choices start working, what can you do with all the junk mail? Recycle it, compost

it (avoid the glossy stuff and any envelopes with plastic) by putting it through the shredder first, mulch it and use around plants, use it as packaging material by crumbling or shredding, use it on the bottom of your bird cage or as bedding for your hamster, or let your kids use it for craft projects.

Another easy thing to do is drink tap water. Did you know that bottled water is not required to meet the same standards as municipal water? When you buy bottled water – you don’t really know what you’re getting. Nearly 30 billion plastic water bottles are sold annually in the U.S. with less than 20% of them being recycled. Choose a safe stainless steel refillable water bottle instead. Be sure to select a stainless steel bottle and not an aluminum one. Look on the inside. If it’s aluminum, it will have a plastic liner.

If it’s stainless steel, the inside will be smooth metal.

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is a term that we’ve all heard but what does it really mean? Reducing the amount of waste you bring in and the amount of trash that goes to the landfill is an important part of any green lifestyle.

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Eliminating waste usually leads to an elimination of harmful chemicals as well.

Reusable items save us money - constantly replacing disposable items costs money!

Besides cans and glass bottles, there are all kinds of items that can be recycled.

Now that we know what the terms mean, how do we do it? A couple of easy ways you can reduce your waste products are first by purchasing reusable items, then by purchasing items that contain less packaging. When you purchase a small number of items or large bulky items – tell the cashier that you don’t need a shopping bag. You already know how about reusable bags and refillable bottles, but have you thought about “Upcycling”?

Upcycling is taking something old and crafting it into something new that can be enjoyed again and again. When you plan for recycling, don’t forget about things like books (you can sell, donate or shred and compost), and items like furniture, shoes, clothing, and baby gear can be recycled through both on post or local shelters. Don’t forget to recycle your electronic items that you no longer use.

This is known as “e-cycling”. Products such as computers, cell phones and other

electronics are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass – all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. In the U.S., mobile phones account for the largest quantity of used electronics. For every one million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.

Growing your own vegetables and buying organic products is another option that is always mentioned when talking about Green Living. Gardening gives you a chance to consume healthier foods, spend time outdoors (alone or as a Family), get some exercise, and reuse items that most people simply throw away.

There are a number of ways that you can repurpose items as alternative garden pest control methods.

• Create a garden slug trap by taking an old aluminum pie tin and bury it up to its lip in the garden. Fill it with stale beer (which the slugs love). The slugs will crawl in for a drink and never crawl out.

• Garden slugs, snails, cutworms, caterpillars and other types of crawling

garden pests can also be kept away by spreading crushed eggshells, nut shells, or even used coffee grounds on the surface of the soil surrounding the plants. In addition to keeping the creepy crawlers away, all of these items add nutrients to the soil and naturally decompose.

• Protect young stems such as tomatoes from pests by making a collar to place around them. You can use repurposed aluminum foil, newspaper, a cardboard toilet paper tube, or even a tin/aluminum can with both ends opened. The collar should not be touching the stem so it can grow freely.

• Anyone who has ever had aphids attack their plants will know that they can kill a plant quickly. Chopping up banana peels and mixing them into the soil around the plants will deter aphids and add potassium to the soil.

• You no longer have to sacrifice your most comfortable pair of jeans and favorite shirt in order to make a scarecrow. Anything that will flash and flutter in the breeze will do the job.

Try strips of repurposed aluminum foil, strands of old video/audio tapes, aluminum cans or pie plates, or even

old CD’s. Just string them together and fasten them where they can catch the breeze.

• Old pantyhose can be repurposed to cover fruits and vegetables – like melons, apples, pears, cucumbers, and zucchini. It keeps insects and birds away from your produce. Just cut an appropriate length of pantyhose, tie it at one end and slip it over the fruits and veggies while they grow.

• Many areas have a healthy deer population. How do you keep the deer away from your garden? Human and pet hair scattered around the plants will help. Or you can tie slivers of soap in a worn out length of pantyhose and hang it from trees and shrubs.

These are just a few of the tips that I found for Green Living. Many thanks to these websites for the information I found - check them out: www.epa.gov, www.sustainablebabysteps.com, and www.thedailygreen.com.

Specialty coffee drinks are all the rage. At Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts you have to drive through lines wrapped around the building. But no one can blame you for wanting that delicious treat. It is a great way to get a pep in your step and start your day. Unfortunately, daily Starbucks trips are expensive and time-consuming. If you are looking to save some money this winter, give a few of these at-home recipes a try!

Peanut Butter Mocha 8oz freshly brewed coffee 1 ⁄4 cup milk of choice 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 1 1⁄2 teaspoon peanut butter 2 tablespoons of French Vanilla Creamer Brew your coffee and set it aside.

Blend your milk, peanut butter, and cocoa powder.

Add your creamer into your coffee, and then add your coffee mixture into the blender.

Blend for a few seconds, and then serve.

S’mores Iced Coffee 1

⁄2 cup of very strong coffee ⁄4 cup marshmallow fluff 1 ⁄2 cup milk of your choice 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup 1 ⁄2 tablespoon granulated sugar Whipped Cream Graham Crackers 1

In a bowl, pour your hot coffee over your marshmallow fluff and stir until combined.Transfer your coffee mixture into a blender, and blend it with the chocolate syrup, milk, and sugar. Add in a handful of ice cubes to cool the mixture down, and then blend again. Pour the coffee into a cup with more ice cubes, and then top with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and crushed graham crackers.

Caramel Chai Latte 4 cups of water 1 cup of whole milk 10 chai-flavored black tea bags 1 ⁄3 cup caramel flavoring syrup Whipped cream Caramel sauce In a large pot, bring the milk and water to a boil. Be sure to stir occasionally. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add in your teabags.

Allow to simmer for 10 minutes, and then remove from heat.Remove teabags.

Add in your desired amount of caramel sauce to achieve your preferred level of sweetness.

Serve hot, and top with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

In addition to having a tasty cup of coffee, presentation is everything. After all, we eat with our eyes first. If you are wanting to surprise your spouse with a cup of coffee with a heart on top, here are a few cool design ideas that you can give a go!

Latte Art Latte art is a beautiful process that can take a little bit of practice to master. If you would like to impress your honey with your latte art skills, there are a few things you will need to run to the store and purchase first. Do not forget, practice makes perfect.

1. Grab some whole milk. The thicker and creamer the milk, the better. You will need about 3 ounces.

2. Froth up your milk. You can do this by sticking it in the microwave for 60 seconds in a microwave safe pitcher.

3. Next, you will need to put the milk in an empty French press.

Your freshly brewed espresso coffee should already be in the mug. Use your French press pump to foam up the milk. Be sure to not over-pump the press or the milk will become too thick.

4. Swirl around your froth, and gently tap it on the counter to release the air bubbles.

5. Tilt your cup to the side and pour about 80 percent of the mixture into the cup.

You are doing this to create the foundation. This prevents your art from sinking right to the bottom.

6. When it is time to create the heart when pouring, bring the pitcher down so it is pouring close to the surface of your coffee. Move the pitcher quickly from side to side, to create a round shape.

7. Finally, when the froth looks rounded, pull the pitcher in a straight line down the middle, pushing away from you. Tada! You have your latte heart.

Cocoa Heart Now, we understand that creating the latte heart may be a little too time consuming for all of our readers, which is why I have a super easy alternative. The Cocoa Heart!

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Top your coffee with a nice thick layer of whipped cream.

Use a spatula to create a smooth surface with the whipped cream.

Use a piece of construction paper to create a heart stencil.

Place the stencil over your whipped cream topping and dust your cocoa powder over it.

Pull away your stencil to reveal your cocoa heart!

FSG(R) Michelle Lowe This month we had the pleasure of sitting down with Michelle Lowe for our retiree spotlight. Michelle holds the title of Montgomery County’s Diversity and Training Officer. We got to learn some exciting things about her military past, as well as her current position within Montgomery County.

Can you tell me a little bit about your professional background?

“Currently I am the Montgomery County Diversity and Training Officer and I have been doing this right around a year. I love it. I fell in love with diversity while I was in the Army. I went to an equal opportunity advisory school, and that kind of made my passion for it. This is my dream job.”

What is your military background?

“I was Active-Duty Army for a little over 20 years, but it was a total of 22 years with Army Reserve and Active Duty. I was stationed in Germany, Korea, Virginia, Texas, and Colorado.

I was deployed to Guantanamo Bay for Operation Safe Harbor. That was helping the Haitian migrants trying to come into the US, but many of them were ending up in Cuba. I was also stationed in Austin at the Military Entrance Processing Station. When I retired, I retired out of South Dakota as a First Sergeant of a Military Entrance Processing Station.

Could you tell me what your transition out of the military was like?

“My transition out of the military was an adventure in itself. I really did not know what I was going to do. Someone told me to think of things that I did while I was in the military that I loved. The only thing that kept coming to me was that I loved training people and teaching people. That is how I ended up in the training arena again. Before I started working in my current position, I worked at Workforce

Essentials for 9 years. In that position, I helped women and men overcome some of their big barriers. I ended up becoming the training person for that program and when I left there, I was the Director for the Dixon County American Job Center. I retired from there, but I ended up applying for my current position and ended up getting it. Prior to this position, I had told people that if I could find a job that if I could get a job teaching and talking about diversity, I would take it in a heartbeat.”

What would you say is the number one local spot that a fellow retiree needs to check out?

“I would say Rotary Park, the Bourne Nature Center, and the Greenway. A lot of the outdoor things are amazing. I am more of an outdoors person.

Those areas would be my top picks. Downtown Clarksville has a lot of history around there, and the buildings tell a story about Clarksville. “ What makes the Clarksville area unique and special?

“100% perfectly honest, it would be the diversity.

Clarksville is just filled with so much diversity and there is so much culture here. There are so many different people groups, and there is a ton of things going on pre-Covid.

There is always something to do for everybody. The growth of Clarksville has been pretty awesome, but it is still very family orientated. You can always find something for the whole family to do.”

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Are you wanting to play a few harmless pranks on your family members this April Fool’s Day? If so, we have a few funny ones to try out on the 1st! Nothing beats a hilarious prank every once in a while. These 10 pranks are quick, easy, and safe. Do you see one that you want to give a go?

1. Replace the doughnuts in a Krispy Kreme box with carrots and celery. Surprise, no sweet treats for you.

2. Place bubble wrap under the rug. They will be confused about what that popping sound is for hours. Pop pop pop!

3. Freeze a bowl of cereal and milk with the spoon submerged the night before.

They will be wondering why they cannot get the spoon out.

4. Place confetti on your ceiling fan! There will be a surprise when it is turned on.

The shinier the better.

5. Replace family photos around the house with photos of celebrities.

How long do you think it will take them to notice?

6. Hide a walkie talkie somewhere in the house and randomly make weird noises into it throughout the day.

7. Announce you made brownies, but instead place brown E’s made of construction paper all in the baking pan.

8. Stuff random shoes around the house with toilet paper and tie the shoestrings together.

9. Tape a fake bug inside of the lamp shade. The bigger the fake cockroach the better.

10. Run in and tell them they are late for school or work, even when they are right on time.

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Homemade Dog Treats Our furry friends play a big role in our households. They bring us so many laughs and memories. Pets can truly make a house feel like a home. Due to this, we sometimes find ourselves with the urge to spoil them. Animals have many different nutritional needs and allergies than humans, so we cannot just bake some of Grandma’s cookies. Instead, you can make them some special friendly treats the next time you find yourself in the kitchen.

Two Ingredient Pup Cream This first recipe is super simple and can be prepared in seconds. While you are chowing down on your ice cream, your furry friend can have a bowl of their own!

4 Frozen Bananas ½ Cup Peanut Butter 1.

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Peel your bananas and freeze them.

Place them into a blender and blend until smooth.

Add in your peanut butter and continue to blend.

Scoop and serve!

Peanut Butter and Coconut Oil Treats Did you know that coconut oil is amazing for your pets? It can help make their coats shiny and soft, as well as assist with any stomach issues. Giving your furball one of these treats once a day will have them feeling good as new in no time!

1 Cup Peanut Butter 1 TSP Coconut Oil Silicone Molding Tray 1.

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Melt down your coconut oil in a saucepan so that it is in its liquid form.

Add in your peanut butter and stir until it is nicely combined.

Pour into your silicone molds and place into your freezer.

Once solid, remove them from your mold and place them into a freezer safe container.

Keep stored in your freezer.

Pumpkin Cookie Treats Are you looking for a more shelf-stable option that you can take on the go with you? Then this is the perfect recipe for you! Ditch the store-bought bagged treats and replace them with these homemade goodies.

1. 4 Cups of Oat Flour 2. 1 Red Apple 3. 1 Large Egg 4. 1 Cup of Canned Pumpkin 1.

To begin, you will want to pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Next, grate your apple. Be sure to remove the seeds and core.

3. Combine your oat flour and apple into a large mixing bowl.

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Add in your egg and pumpkin.

Mix well.

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Roll out your dough on an oat floured surface and cut out your desired treat shapes.

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Transfer onto a greased or wax paper-lined baking sheet.

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Bake for 14 minutes, or until crispy.

Allow to cool completely before feeding them to your dog.