Thank God for Facetime

BY TARYN JEREZ

My nearly one-year-old son can be playing in a world of his own with a toy in either hand, but when that familiar “beep beep beep beep” alert sounds from my smartphone, suddenly nothing else matters. The toys waving in the air come to a halt, and his eyes widen, excitement taking over his chubby cheeks. He knows that on the other end of that robotic ringing sound is a familiar face ready to sing songs, blow kisses, and “ooh” and “ahh” over every little thing he does.

Living hundreds of miles away from family and having a baby born in the midst of a global pandemic, our little family has experienced fewer resources more precious than “Facetime.”

In a world where we often feel the burnout from technology and social media, Facetime has continued to be the one app that I’m grateful for, day-in and day out. Of course, our family isn’t the only one who has come to appreciate and adopt Facetime as a means to stay in touch. Apple first released the iPhone-only application in 2013, and has kept families and friends connected for the last eight years, allowing real-time video calls to make the distance feel a little less difficult to bear.

Picking up the phone and seeing the other person on the screen has become second nature—so much so, that it’s pretty evident that the novelty has worn off for most of us. It’s easy to forget how incredibly inventive it really is and that there was a time where movies like Back to The Future gave us a glimpse at the same type of technology. But back then, it was almost laughable to really imagine! There have been many moments where my Grandma back home in Florida gets overwhelmed seeing my son (her great-grandson) on Facetime, and reminds me just how special it is that we can do this. “I live for these calls!” she tells me each week when she gets to see little baby giggles in real-time. Hearing her tell me how amazing it is and how she would have given anything to have this option when my big sister and I were little and still in New York really helps keep things in perspective.

From being able to watch my nieces and nephews in Florida blow out their birthday candles to having my Mom and Grandma see our little boy crawl for the very first time, Facetime gives me the ability to create really special memories I would otherwise be robbed of due to living out of state. Does a video chat app take the place of real, in-person communication and memory-making? Of course not! Does it make all the difference and help us share our sweet baby with those we love most in the world when we can’t be in person? Absolutely!

If you are looking to embrace Facetime more with your loved ones, the last year has taught me a few things to get the most out of these calls.

Schedule Calls Regularly - It can be easy to let time march on and realize it’s been weeks since the last time you saw each other. Try picking one day a week or month that you’ll aim to “Facetime” together. Life happens, so if you need to reschedule or cancel, that’s definitely okay; at least now, it’s on your calendar. Keep Them Short - This is especially important if you have little ones! Phone calls are better suited for longer conversations; keep Facetime calls to a minimum to allow both parties to focus and enjoy the time before going back to whatever they need to do.

Use a Phone Stand or Tripod - Go handsfree, so you can focus on enjoying the conversation and move around freely. This is very helpful for older family members who may have difficulty holding their cell phones at a good angle to see themselves, and improve comfort for them on the call.

Give the Child the Phone - I know it may sound risky, but there’s something really fun and endearing about seeing the world from a child’s perspective. If they run around with the phone, let them for a little while. The grandparent or aunt on the other end may get a little dizzy, but it will make a fun memory.

Prioritize Special Moments & Milestones

- Holidays, birthdays, and special celebrations are difficult to miss out on, so Facetime on those special days to feel a little less “apart.” If there’s an exciting milestone happening, surprise your loved ones and phone them, so they can see the big moment!

Remember Who Treasures It Most - It can be easy to feel like Facetiming is one more thing to add to your to-do list. Try to remember, even if it’s a short and sweet call, that seeing faces and getting to talk with family means so much to your elderly family and friends, or those who may be having a tough season.

Walking and Sitting Moves

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Ellen Knight, looking ahead to her 65th birthday, noticed a sharp pain in her lower back. She found mobility, moving from a sitting to a standing position or climbing and descending stairs, more complex. Doctors explained the difficulty. Knight received a diagnosis of irreversible stenosis and osteoporosis in two hip points. For three years, she practiced yoga and increased sessions to three times weekly. Knight writes, “Seven years ago, I received the diagnosis. Exercise strengthened my core and flexibility. I no longer avoided movement; instead, I decided to stop using the elevators and escalators and start moving. I climb stairs and park at a distance to walk to my destination. My greatest joy is holding the balance of standing poses.”

AGING AND STRENGTH Muscle strength is a physical skill that helps us get out of bed and proceed through daily actions. Whether the movement is walking, lifting, raising arms, or crouching low, strong muscles help protect the joints from enduring weight and pressure. Without daily exercise and intentional movement, muscular weakness can compromise the body and increase the risk of maintaining balance.

What impacts the 640 muscles in the body? • A sedentary lifestyle, job, and diet. • Body type, race, ethnicity, and natural bone density. • Hormonal changes before and during menopause. • Muscle diseases, such as joint injuries, arthritis, and stroke. • Conditions affecting the nerves and blood, such as diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. • Sarcopenia, an advanced stage of skeletal muscle atrophy, impacts individuals at an advanced age or time spent inactive due to an illness. TRY YOGA Studies suggest yoga benefits those who suffer from lower back and neck pain, weight loss, and menopausal symptoms.

It begins with breathing. Without pushing or straining, the body opens, “lets go,” and then relaxes. Not many forms of exercise allow you to understand the power of the breath, teach awareness of the body, and know how the culmination releases emotions. Yoga teaches, “Just by changing the rhythm of our breathing, we can change our mood.”

SITTING MOVES Connect with the mind and spirit by engaging in short exercises to add energy or gain flexibility. The following poses are ideal for beginners.

1. EASY SITTING POSE: (Warning:

Avoid this posture if you have a severe knee or hip injury.) Start by sitting on the floor or using a firm bolster pillow, lean against a wall.

If it’s comfortable to sit crossedlegged, do so. Keep your hands on your knees. Relax your whole body by exhaling, dropping your shoulder, and breathe. Maintain the position as long as it is comfortable. 2. SEATED TWIST: Seated on the floor (always on a carpet or mat) with legs crossed, extend your hand to the floor behind your hip. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. The posture offers a great stretch while relieving tension. 3. COBBLER’S POSE: Seated, place the heels of your feet together and hold on to your ankles. Hold for 30 seconds to two minutes. The position targets the hips and groin muscles, allowing you to straighten your back when sitting. WALKING MOVES One of the best ways to energize, build your fitness level, burn calories, and enjoy the outdoors is walking. Without stretching first, you may risk tightening hips, hamstrings, and the lower back. Try the following yoga positions to complement your walking workouts.

1. CAT POSE: Kneel on all fours with your hands placed under your shoulders. Lift your tailbone toward the ceiling and inhale. In the exhale, lift the back like an angry cat. Repeat five times. This posture loosens your back after the compression caused by walking. 2. CRESCENT LUNGE POSE: Start with one leg forward, ensuring the front knee is at a 90-degree angle. The feet should be shoulderdistance apart. Press through the heel of your back leg and flatten out the tailbone until you feel the lower back lengthen and the abs draw inward. Hold for 20 breaths. The posture helps relax the hip flexors. 3. FORWARD BEND POSE: Start by inhaling and lifting your arms overhead. In the exhale, slide your hands down your legs. Stop at the knees or extend down to the feet. The stretch impacts the sitting bones at the hamstrings. If flexible, you can flatten your back and either bend the knees or keep them firm. Try and hold the pose for 20 breaths.

Without yoga, many lives would be limited; instead of fearing the pain, you can find an exercise, whether it’s yoga, pilates, walking or biking, to build your core strength!

Give Heartfully and Artfully Homemade, Handcrafted Gifts to Our Veterans for America’s Birthday!

BY SUSAN B. B. SCHABACKER

Celebrate America’s Birthday, July 4th, Independence Day, with fun with family and friends, getting creative, artsy, and crafty.

Whether you’re sitting outside on the lawn, at poolside under an umbrella, or keeping cool in an air-conditioned house sipping iced tea or lemonade, enjoy making your own gifts, decorations, and wearable accessories to visually reflect your patriotism.

And, let’s remember that the freedom, independence, liberty, justice, and patriotism we commemorate on this special holiday are not limited to just one day. Let’s never forget to thank our veterans who spent years of their lives to defend and protect our human rights and freedoms. We Enjoy these ideas for offering handwritten cards and handcrafted gifts as a special and memorable way to thank our veterans for their contributions.

SNAZZY STORAGE - Use red, white, and blue acrylic paints to “patriotize” up-cycled baby food, Mason jars, and small bottles, and turn them into vases or storage containers for paintbrushes, makeup brushes, utensils, or chopsticks. Want some sparkles? Adhere glitter, confetti, and rhinestones!

PATRIOTIC RIBBON WANDS - Cut red, white, and blue satin ribbons to desired lengths and lightly burn the ends to keep from fraying. Hot-glue to a wooden dowel or chopstick and knot to secure. Wave festive ribbon wands and celebrate while waiting for the parade or fireworks to start.

FOND OF WORD ART? You can also share American ideals and virtues, to live by and be inspired by, on cards and wall art which can be framed and decorated, or montaged and découpaged onto jewelry boxes or hand-printed vases. Handwrite words or cut them out from magazines. Adhere with glue and embellish with painting. Allow your word art to evolve as you piece it together, like a puzzle, and reflect, as you go, on what each word, phrase, and quote means to you as a patriotic American.

GRATITUDE CARDS - Fold a piece of paper or cardstock to use as the base of your card, or cut out a heart shape. Choose your medium (crayons, markers, paints, or magazine clippings) to create gratitude cards. If you’re tired of the same ol’ brushes, you can use leaves, pom-poms, and damp sponges for different effects.

PATRIOTIC FRESH FRUIT KABOBS are a fun, nutritious, and delicious snack or healthy dessert. Rinse blueberries, strawberries, and peel a banana. Cut the strawberries and banana into rounds, then string all three fruits on skewers, alternating as you go. Prefer a patriotic bowl of fruit for dessert? Top it off with some whipped cream and/or pair it with vanilla ice cream.

SEASHELL PATRIOTS - Make the most of the seashells you collect from your summer beach trip! Splash on some red, white, and blue paint, then hot-glue shells onto barrettes, earring backs, rings, and headbands. Some shells come with natural holes and are ready to be attached with twine. Add beads and/or charms for embellishment and use needle-nose pliers to secure a jump ring, so the shells turn into dangly earrings. For the younger kids and kids-at-heart, get some googly eyes and glue them onto clam and oyster shells for cute seashell creatures!

Healthy, Nutty, No-Bake Red, White, and Blue Cookies

Ingredients: 1 cup ground nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, or

pecans), ½ cup flax meal, ¼ cup hemp seeds, ¾ cup rolled outs, 3 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey, 1 Tablespoon vanilla or

almond extract, 1 Tablespoon coconut oil, 4 ounces Greek yogurt, ¼ cup strawberries, and ¼ cup blueberries

Instructions: Mix all ingredients except the yogurt and berries in a bowl and roll into small balls. Flatten with the palm of your hand or a spoon, then top with yogurt and fresh berries. Refrigerate, serve, and enjoy.

Recipe adapted from: fruitsandveggies.org/recipes/patriotic-no-bake-sugar-cookie/

Don’t know any veterans? Do a search for local veterans’ organizations, gather your gifts like Santa Claus loading his sleigh, and get giving! You’ll make this a special and memorable Fourth of July by sharing artful reflections of patriotism, fashioned with the feelings of your heart.

THE Fancy

BY LAUREN SEPHTON

Welcome to The Fancy Fork! Your hub for seasonal produce insight and farm-style recipes that are made to satisfy.

As you stroll through the local farmers’ markets, you may notice them lined with baskets that’re overflowing from the vibrant summer harvest, or that your home garden is beaming with sweet scents. You may spot racks bursting with cucumbers, strawberries, zucchini, Swiss chard, tomatoes, green beans, corn, cantaloupe, watermelon, and today’s special highlight, arugula.

Fork

Fresh arugula leaves have a distinctive spicy kick that will enhance the flavors in a variety of salad, sandwich, and pasta recipes; however, the amount of robust flavor will depend on its maturity. Often, baby arugula or arugula sprouts are milder and more delicate, while mature arugula is more peppery. But they’re not only a tasty addition to your meal; they also provide wonderous health benefits for the body. They deliver vitamin K and calcium to keep your bones strong, they protect your heart, may help with controlling weight, reduce cancer risk, help with digestion, and may assist in regulating blood pressure.

How to cook with arugula? Its bright notes make for a tasty alternative to spinach in lasagna, or as a simple side salad. When paired with pine nuts and basil, it can be pureed into a delicious pesto to be served with pasta and fresh peas. It can be sautéed for a ramen noodles dish or with garden vegetables, added to crostini, chicken noodle soup, and of course, our crispy parmesan crusted chicken! With only 10-minutes of prep time, you’ll have the crispiest chicken without the mess of frying.

Oven-Baked Parmesan-Crusted Chicken + Lemon Arugula Salad

INGREDIENTS For the Chicken: 2 Chicken Breasts 2 large Eggs ½ cup Parmesan, grated ½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs 2 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil ¼ tsp. Salt ¼ tsp. Black Pepper For the Salad: 2-3 cups Fresh Arugula 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice, about 1 lemon Zest of 1 Lemon 1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tbsp. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar ¼ tsp. Salt ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 425F. Prepare your baking pan by placing a wire rack in the center. 2. Whisk the eggs in a medium-sized bowl, then set aside. In a similar-sized bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, salt, and black pepper. 3. Pound the chicken breasts out to ¼” thick, then generously dip into the egg bowl, then the coat into the breadcrumb mixture, and place onto the wire rack.

Repeat with the remaining chicken. Pat any extra breadcrumb mixture onto the chicken breasts. 4. Lightly spray or drizzle the chicken with olive oil, then bake for 10-12 minutes.

Remove from the oven to flip, then lightly spray or drizzle the other side with olive oil, as well. Bake an additional 8-12 minutes, or until fully cooked. (You can also broil for 1-2 minutes towards the end for extra crispiness.) 5. Allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes, while you toss together the salad. 6. In a large bowl, whisk together the raw apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Add in the arugula, then toss until evenly coated in the dressing. Enjoy!

Now that you’ve mastered the art of curating an exquisite meal around fresh arugula leaves, it’s time to grab your fork and enjoy the blossoming summer season delights!