Back to School Prayer Gathering

Prayer leaders for the Back 2 School First Annual Prayer Rally for Anna stand together August 21 in Slayter Creek Park just before calling the event to order. From left are Matt Wood, pastor at Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church of Anna, Lafe Angell, Pastor at Grace Point Family Church, Mark Wyatt Campus Pastor at Christ Fellowship Anna and Chris Jones Pastor at Crosspoint Church of Anna.

Anna Residents Gather to Pray for School Year By Joyce Godwin Photos by Xaviar Jukes and Joyce Godwin

Laura Hawkins told the group gathered at the Slayter Creek Park pavilion that she had been concerned about the Anna children starting their school year and the very best thing she could do for them was to pray. From those heartfelt moments developed a call out for others to join in prayer.

The notices posted to announce the event read “Let’s unite as a community and join in prayer for the health and safety of our students and teachers. Wear your purple and white and show your coyote pride. Let’s get ready to pray and believe for a GREAT school year for all our students and teachers.”

“As a parent of a first grader in the Anna ISD district, I had been feeling a roller coaster of emotion with back-to-school coming up, Of course, the biggest feeling being fear,” Hawkins said after the event. “One day I felt God telling me not to live in fear! God doesn’t want me or anyone to live in fear. Then I felt Him reminding me that neither should our children. Our Children should understand and see through example the power of faith and prayer. They shouldn’t be living in fear right now either.”

She recognizes the importance of the children experiencing the excitement for a new school year to begin. “There is power in prayer and the bible says in Matthew 18:20 ‘For where two or three gathers in my name, there am I with them.’ That is when I felt led to not just pray alone, but that God was saying pray with

others, unite with the community as a town taking a stand to not live in fear, but to step out boldly in faith.”

And that is what happened during the community prayer session. The group led by four Anna pastors, Matt Wood at Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church of Anna, Lafe Angell at Grace Point Family Church, Mark Wyatt at Christ Fellowship Anna and Chris Jones at Crosspoint Church of Anna.

The group was led to pray for students, teachers, district administrators as well as city of Anna officials.

“I am so thankful to the amazing pastors that led the events prayer that evening,” wrote Hawkins in an email. “I am so thankful to the mayor and the city of Anna for allowing this event and supporting this event. I am thankful for those that attended and stepped out in faith with us and prayed over this upcoming school year. That night was truly special and God was there.” Then she cited the Bible verse, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’ Isaiah 41:13”

Crossing Cultural Boundaries

One of the most wonderful passages in the New Testament of the Bible is in the fourth chapter of John. It tells of the time that Jesus reached across cultural boundaries to care for a group of people that no one would have ever expected. Jesus was traveling through a region called Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jewish people had been bitter enemies for centuries.

On his journey, he stopped at a well in midday to rest. While he was there, a Samaritan woman came to draw some water. She came in midday because she was an outcast, even among her own people, for past mistakes that she had made in her life.

5 “In Samaria Jesus came to the town called Sychar, which is near the field Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his long trip, so he sat down beside the well. It was about twelve o’clock noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

She was surprised that Jesus would even speak to her because she was a Samaritan. For the story tells us the Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans.” (John 4: 5-7)

As Jesus engaged her in conversation, he was breaking barriers with those his culture said were his enemies. He not only engaged somebody who was supposed to be his enemy, but someone who was an outcast in their own society. But why would he do such a thing? After all, one would think, Jesus had a reputation to uphold. What would his followers think? But he really didn’t care about that. Jesus demonstrated that he really didn’t care about the past disputes his people had had with her people. He did not care that she had made mistakes in her life. He just cared about her and her people.

She was quite shocked that as a Jewish man he would even talk to her or ask her for a drink. However, Jesus paid no attention to the past animosity between their two cultures. His conversation with her soon moved beyond a well and water to spiritual things.

He told her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life.” ( John 4: 13-14)

Jesus treated the Samaritan women with kindness and grace, and as a result she became a follower of him. Not only did she believe in Jesus as the savior of all, her entire town came to hear him and also believed and became followers of his. Just think of it. Jesus came into that region which was full of age-old animosity, but his compassion changed his enemies into his devoted followers.

Jesus came to give life to all who will come to him and trust him with their lives and he was willing to reach across the cultural boundaries of his day to do that. The very reason Jesus came at all was that he would make his enemies the friends of God and that they would have everlasting life.

If someone is a follower of Christ, it’s important that we follow his example.

Christ Fellowship Anna meets every Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Anna Middle School.

We would love to have you join us. God bless.

MARK AND MELISSA WYATT Mark Wyatt is Campus Pastor at Christ Fellowship Anna, 1201 N. Powell Pkwy., Anna, TX 75409; 972-547-7000; www.cfhome.org.

Over a year ago, a dear friend of mine encouraged me to read Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff. I read the synopsis and was immediately intrigued. I downloaded the book onto my kindle and got about a quarter into it and for some strange reason, I stopped reading it. Life happens and sometimes you get sidetracked. I don’t let these things stress me out. A few weeks ago, a mutual friend mentioned this book and I immediately realized that I could use a book like that right now. With the wackiness of 2020, I have purposely moved away from the mystery/psychological thrillers that normally pique my interest. This time I would make this book a priority.

There are certain people in the world that you would love to meet. For me, they are

normally not celebrities. I have dabbled already in the entertainment business and I have found that I don’t have the mindset to kiss people’s butts. I treat everyone the same, regardless of who they are. I would, however, like to meet Bob Goff.

Bob seizes the day and lives life to the fullest. He sees an opportunity and moves forward. I am sure his Sweet Maria wants to wring his neck at times because he can be so spontaneous, but there is something so infectious about being around someone who has that whimsical charm. Sure, Bob takes life seriously when he is fighting for the rights of children in war-torn Uganda, but when he has the ability to do other marvelous things that have absolutely nothing to do with being a lawyer, he does them. It doesn’t mean that Bob doesn’t have his faults or failures, because we all do, but he figures it is all part of God’s plan. Is this a religious book? No, not in the traditional sense. It is about having faith and a spiritual relationship with God that goes beyond sitting in a pew. It is about finding what makes you excited and then giving it all you’ve got. You don’t need to have a lot of money to make a difference. You just need to have the passion. Just give Bob a call and ask him. He will tell you all about it. There are a lot of “Bob’s” out there in the world. Of course, not all of them are actually named Bob, but they radiate the same infectious enthusiasm. You want to bottle it up and give it away on the local street corner in hopes it will make the world a better place. I have had the pleasure to meet such a person a couple months ago. I can’t say a lot about him, except to say that he is working his magic to make our community library truly a reality. Actually, a lot of people are. They don’t always get the kudos they deserve and often they don’t want it. We know who we all are and we give each other a nod, a handshake, a hug and the occasional text, phone call or email. We aren’t flashy and that is perfectly fine. We have kept our heads focused on the ultimate goal which is to open a permanent, accredited library that our residents can enjoy for generations. Since this isn’t Uganda, there is a lot more red tape, planning and hoops to jump through. We can’t be as spontaneous as Bob Goff, but we definitely have the passion. I am excited to have another person on our team who is just as passionate, if not more. Look for a more in-depth update about our future library in the next issue of Anna Living Magazine.

As a writer/poet, I am always writing. Sometimes I write a couple poems a month and other times I take a bit of a hiatus. Some writers are adamant that you must sit down at a desk by a certain time every day and just sit there, even if you aren’t inspired to write that day. That doesn’t work for me. The oddest situations, comments, and ideas inspire me to write.

It has been over a year since my book Bohemian Swan was published and I am thrilled to announce that an audio version of it is being recorded. One of my dearest friends, who writes under the name Avian Skye, is the narrator and it makes my heart smile to hear her voice. I am also working on three additional books simultaneously. One is a currently untitled book that is pairing similar themed poems with Avian Skye. The second is a book of poems about women. The third book is a collection of love poems currently called Torture and Other Fantasies. Soon I will be going into the first editing phase of that book which is incredibly exciting. Avian edits all of my work and often I edit hers so it is truly a collaborative process.

ALEXIA SWANEPOEL is the President of the Friends Of Board of the Anna Community Library and a published writer. Join her writing page and learn more about her book Bohemian Swan by visiting bit.ly/2JwWHNO.

Fur babies run the home

Joplin and Kitkat, accompanied by their “dad,” explore the lush green grass of an Idaho rest area.

Kids come in two varieties - the two-legged kind and the four-ormore-legged kind. Other than the extra limb thing, there’s not much difference aside from not having to send the fur kids to college and being in complete control of their curricular AND extracurricular activities if you catch my drift.

Four-legged (and a few two-legged) kids have been a part of my life from day one. Though I loved them all, a few wiggled their way into a special place in my heart.

Thanks to my first constant, faithful companion, Teddy, a pit/boxer mix, my folks had their hands full, especially in the potty training department. Children follow by example, right? Teddy was house-broken. So was I. That particular corner of the yard is still prolific in producing grass and weeds.

There were Wilbur and Wilma, my adorable, bottle-fed pigs who were two of the best conversationalists and listeners I’ve ever met.

Hank, the three-legged, drama-king Min Pin, needed serious therapy for his unhealthy attraction to chew bones bigger than he was. He also taught me that if a dog has only one back leg and goes swimming he only spins around in circles like an out -of-control boat with a broken rudder.

Granny was my two-pound, toothless, 20-plus-year-old poodle cross who would fight a brick wall and win, even when she had a hip cast on. She could be downright scary.

Prince and Froggy, feline cuties, were abandoned at birth and found under an old building. It was evident that little Prince wasn’t quite “right,” a condition I’ve been accused (accurately, unfortunately) of sharing with him. Until their deaths of natural causes a week apart at the age of 18, Froggy guided and comforted his somewhat confused brother. Talk about a life lesson.

I can’t forget the full-grown duck who refused to go into the warm chicken coop and ended up with frost-bitten feet. He moved into the house where he immediately discovered the recliner and TV. He’d quack until somebody would stretch out the chair and turn on his favorite Animal Planet shows. He also enjoyed warm baths in the garden tub. He’d have made a great profile for duck dating websites.

There was even a bunch of chicks I helped hatch in a big incubator. Folks, I kid you not, the games of “chicken bug ball” (when I’d throw

a June bug into the incubator with them) made the toughest, roughest football games you’ve ever seen look like child’s play. Those little suckers are violent!

At present, I and my long-suffering partner, Warren, have three fur kids. Kitkat, Joplin and Molly — all rescues. Anyone who doesn’t believe fur kids can be like non-fur kids just needs to spend a little time with our family.

Kitkat, the eldest, calmest and smallest of the three, is an 11-year-old rat terrier and the ruler of the family. Her exasperation at her two younger sisters’ antics is evident, especially when she gives them (and us) the “look.” Joplin, a five-year-old wire-hair terrier mix, and Molly, a two-year-old feline, learned early on to run or roll over and play dead rather than face their elder sister’s wrath. So do we.

Joplin, much like my beloved Prince, isn’t exactly a candidate for the world’s smartest pet. We’re convinced she is actually a 3-year-old little girl reincarnated. Her exuberance has landed her in all kinds of trouble such as almost being buried alive in a giant snow drift she dove into or trying to imitate an airplane by going airborne off things way higher than even our heads. She cries, pouts, gets jealous, screams (used for everything) gets scared, excited, happy and all the emotions a little child can have and you can see it all in her soulful eyes and actions.

Then there’s Molly. Rescued as a week-old kitten by Warren, an avowed cat hater. She’s all about her adopted daddy and to heck with her adopted mama except when treats are involved. When Warren’s home, I dare not come too close if I want to keep my body parts intact. She back talks, screams and cries (like Joplin), and throws temper tantrums which usually

Molly crawling out of the top rack in the truck.

end in something destroyed or blood shed. Otherwise, she’s a sweet howbeit sometimes annoying fur baby.

All are well-traveled, having been aboard the semi-truck for months, going across country with Warren and me. It was a lot like those Chevy Chase vacation movies. Just like human kids, they fought over who got to sit or sleep where, who got to look out the windows, who got the most treats, who got to sit in our laps, who got out of the truck first, and everything in between. They experienced the joy of chasing ground squirrels in Wyoming, rolling and romping in the lush grasses of Florida, Mississippi, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, catching snowflakes on their tongues and feeling the cool, nighttime dessert breezes in their ears. Of course, there was the Joplin and Kitkat versus the lizard and a big cactus incident in New Mexico. Unfortunately the

lizard and cactus won and the girls resembled well-worn pin cushions as we spent almost two hours digging out the remains of the battle from their skin.

As parents to this motley crew, we spend our time loving, playing with, attempting to train, disciplining, explaining and/or reasoning with, usually to Joplin, (Yes. They understand English very well, but haven’t mastered their annunciation of same.) and all the same things parents of human kids go through. We doctor boo-boos, soothe hurt feelings, calm ruffled fur and ease fears - except for Joplin’s fear of Mockingbirds, that is. She learned the hard way that if you mess with a Mockingbird, he or she can dive bomb one’s head with the accuracy of the best weapon in our military’s arsenal, even in the dark. Now, getting her to go potty in the yard takes an act of congress as she’s so busy ducking and weaving she forgets what she’s out there for and usually runs into something to boot.

All that being said, we wouldn’t change a hair on any of our three critter-kids’ bodies. They are as unique and individual as twolegged kids and maybe even a little more loving sometimes. Plus, they never ask to borrow the car or money!

LYNETTE GEORGE is the former editor and some times reporter for the Herald Democrat (Denison-Sherman, TX) for about 20 years. Her sometimes zany outlook on life gives her an enviable sense of humor like no other. She lives in Denison and her love of animals prevents her from ever passing an animal in need. She may be reached at nettiegeorge79@gmail.com.

Learning to Cope

“LIFE is not the way it’s supposed to be… It’s the way it is… The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference.” — Virginia Satir

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.” — Elizabeth Edwards

Coping is defined as contending with toms including loss of energy and depression. difficulties and overcoming them. 4. Make room for mental rest. Practice mindWith all that is going on in the world fulness and journaling. Increasing awareness today, COVID, isolation, working from home, of one’s feelings promotes our ability to stratvirtual learning — the changes and challenges egize around coping. Apps such as Headare endless. We do not have a choice in space and Calm are helpful in guiding deep terms of WHAT difficulties we face, but we breathing as well as positive visualizations do have choices in terms of HOW we cope. which helps to allow one to make thoughtful Resilience, the ability to recover from or adjust decisions. to misfortune or change, determines the long 5. Maintain a daily work schedule. Boundaries term impact. are essential to coping and having a desig

Regardless of if you are facing anxiety, nated time to work and rest will help mainfeelings of sadness/depression, loss, or tain healthy functioning. Designating time to transition/change there are some essentials accomplish and complete tasks will decrease that will increase your ability to maintain your stress and prevent becoming overwhelmed. physical and mental health. 6. Maintain contact with friends & family. 1. Maintain a regular sleep pattern. During Meaningful connection is part of what helps times of stress it can be tempting to sleep us through difficult times. Using the variety more/less. Stress often brings about changes of means now available such as phone, text in schedules that promote disruption of and video chatting , we are able to participate typical routines and changes in sleep can in most of our normal interactions. Sharing negatively impact concentration, productiviour struggles especially during times of stress ty, physical well being and mental health. is essential. 2. Maintain healthy eating habits. To mentally In dealing with stress with the goal of buildand physically cope, our bodies require fresh ing resilience it is important to build a toolbox fruits and vegetables as well as protein. of coping strategies. Applying these to daily life 3. Get exercise & sunshine daily. Often the first will have a positive impact on your sense of well part of our routine to disappear is exercise. being and increase your resilience.

Our bodies need to move and be exposed to 1. Take a pause. Wherever you are, stop and the sun for natural Vitamin D. Remaining take a break. Grounding oneself is essential. indoors can often bring about negative sympPay attention to your five senses. Feel the feeling of your feet planted firmly on the ground and press your hands on your knees or together. Name in your mind what sounds you hear and what you smell and taste.

Identify three colors you see. Engaging one’s senses helps distract from the stressor and ground in the present. 2. Breathe. When stress occurs our mind often goes in many directions at once. Breathing in (1, 2, 3, 4) through your nose and exhaling (1, 2, 3, 4) out your mouth three times is beneficial. It reduces the cortisol levels in your brain immediately so that you can think more clearly and focus. Essentially you are tricking your body to not enter flight or fight mode. Force your mind to find and focus on a first step you can take, even if it is what you can refocus your attention on in the moment. 3. Be aware of “self talk.” Self talk is the internal thinking that we all have. Is yours negative?

If so pay attention and focus on shifting your negative self talk to positive statements. “I am able” vs “I can’t/never.” Increasing the positive internal dialogue you experience goes a long way toward increasing your resilience as well as your positive self perception. 4. Connect. As identified earlier, connecting with others is critical. In most cases it is helpful to connect with someone outside of your immediate situation to offer perspective.

Our emotional investment often clouds our judgement but trusted friends and mentors can help us feel grounded when our personal circumstances contribute to our feeling overwhelmed.

Regardless of the circumstances in our personal lives or the world at large, we will benefit from increasing our coping skills. By building a toolbox of coping skills and living a healthy lifestyle, we will often find that our resilience is increased. As a result, we are better prepared for the challenges we all experience in our daily lives.

JENNIFER SEXTON, MSW, LCSW is a Yale Medical School trained clinician devoted to her work in mental and behavioral health for 25 years. After receiving her Master’s degree Jennifer was chosen for a competitive fellowship program at Yale Medical School. This training has aided significantly her ability to provide treatment to clients & develop/work collaboratively with other professionals across a variety of settings and with various concerns. Currently Jennifer is an individual therapist in Frisco and also acts as the Executive Director of Clinical Services for Anam Cara of North Texas, a 501c3 non profit devoted to supporting families with special needs.

Some say Mel Brooks is to blame — or simply responsible — for dumbed down comedy. A more acceptable tag might be low brow comedy.

The campfire scene in the 1974 movie “Blazing Saddles” was somewhat shocking at the time (although viewers found it impossible not to laugh), but, after all, it was Mel Brooks. He and the Monty Python sextet would pretty much go anywhere for a laugh as they shaped the look of comedy in the 1970s.

So starting about that time, the black comedy of Stanley Kubrick (“Lolita,” “Dr. Strangelove”) or the intellectual avenue taken by Woody Allen (“Annie Hall,” “Manhattan”) gave way to the easier access of “Caddyshack” (1980), “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983), “Dumb and Dumber” (1994), “Tommy Boy” (1995), “Big Daddy” (1999), “Old School” (2003), “The Hangover” (2009), and “Ted” (2012).

It isn’t to say those movies were not funny — only a different kind of comedy. And meanwhile more mainstream laughers like “Tootsie” (1982), “Broadcast News” (1987), “Get Shorty” (1995) and so on were mixed in. John Hughes’ teen-age stories were major hits in the 1980s and into the ‘90s.

This all stems from a thought about the different types of comedy films. Fans over the years have flocked to and howled at slapstick, screwball, satire, political, romantic, musical, or farcical pictures. It can even be broken down further into sex, situational, surreal, etc., but there’s no reason to get too crazy.

With streaming what it is these days, most films can be found and viewed somewhere. For example, the movie “Juke Girl,” a 1942 drama starring Ann Sheridan (a native of Denton, TX) and Ronald Reagan popped up recently in a conversation. A quick search showed it to be available, free of charge, on YouTube. Go figure.

Getting back to the business at hand, here’s a rundown on some good choices in some of these comic genres: • Slapstick, or exaggerated physical comedy, has been around since movies were invented.

Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Cops were huge draws during the silent days. The

Marx Brothers and Laurel & Hardy carried it into the talkies, and “I Love Lucy” was a great example in early television. Today the animated series “The Simpsons” carries on.

The Chaplin silent “City Lights” is filled with slapstick and rates among his best works • Screwball, actually a subgenre of romantic comedy, was popularized in the 1930s and all but disappeared by the end of World War II.

It was characterized by a strong female presence, and she usually took great advantage of the man involved. “Bringing Up Baby” (1938) starring Katharine Hepburn and

Cary Grant is often offered as the best example. However, “My Man Godfrey” (1936),

“His Girl Friday” (1940) and “Ball of Fire” (1941), the latter with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper, are great examples. Also, just about anything written by or directed by

Preston Sturges can fit there. • Satire, the exaggeration of issues, contemporary or historical, is among the more enduring genres. “Blazing Saddles” took Westerns to town, just as “Office Space” (1990) took on 9-to-5 desk jobs. “Tropic Thunder” (2008) takes down the film industry. But

Terry Gilliam’s “Brazil” (1985) has to be the poster child for this genre. Called “dystopian science fiction,” it takes aim at all things contemporary.

• Political comedy was a specialty of director Frank Capra in the 1930s and ‘40s. His “Mr. Smith

Goes to Washington” (1939, with

Jimmy Stewart) and “Meet John Doe” (1941, with Gary Cooper) are great examples. More contemporary are

“Dave” (1993), giving fits to the office of President, and “Election” (1999), which is a great takeoff on high school politics. • Who could possibly try to name the best romantic comedy, or musical comedy as well? There isn’t enough space here to list all the good ones, and each generation is going to have a different favorite.

As for musical comedies, here is a recent one that shouldn’t be missed: “Yesterday” (2019), built on the premise that only a few people in the world have ever heard of The Beatles, and one young musician becomes famous with their music. • Farce, or completely improbable situations handled as if all is normal, is a good place to close this out. Just about anything by Mel Brooks fits; along with the Monty

Python films; those written by Wes Anderson, a young Texan who is turning out some of today’s best in the genre; and such old stars as Chaplin and the Marx Brothers.

It becomes obvious here that a lot of these comedy types overlap. “Some Like It Hot” (1959), an all-time great farce, is also a romantic and music comedy and it features plenty of slapstick. Movie fans not familiar with Anderson’s films should check out “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014), and most likely, after viewing, they will follow it up with his others.

While it’s impossible, due to space, to go into any depth in describing these movies, readers can easily get more information from the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) or Wikipedia (wikipedia.org). Happy viewing.

DON ELDREDGE is the retired editor of the Herald Democrat newspaper (Sherman-Denison, TX) and resides in Sherman. E-mail him at eldredgedon@gmail.com.

Think Like A Pro And Plan Now

Fall planting: your plants will thank you next spring!

Professional gardeners and landscapers know an important “trick of the trade”: Fall isn’t the end of the growing season, it’s the beginning! And here’s why you should be thinking about your planting game plan right now!

COOLER WEATHER AHEAD

If you were the proud parent of an infant who was just a few months old, would you take her or him outside in their baby carriage under a blazing sun? Or do you think she would be more comfortable enjoying the open air on a cooler, less scorching day?

Think about your “plant infants” in the same way. In most parts of the nation, planting in spring means the tender little gals or guys are soon exposed to the scorching heat of the sun and must endure it throughout the summer during a crucial time in their development.

However, fall planting is far less stressful on your plants. Shrubs and trees planted in the fall have the advantage of a cooler environment above, and perhaps something even more beneficial, out of sight below ground. Roots have the perfect opportunity to grow and establish themselves without the need to concentrate on providing nutrients as well.

In fact, the root systems of fall-planted plants can continue to grow throughout autumn and into winter, usually becoming dormant only when ground temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Essentially, planting in fall, instead of waiting until spring, gives your plants a head start of several months. By next summer they will be sturdy, resilient adolescents instead of vulnerable, tender babies, and far better prepared to take on the rigors of a hot, and possibly very dry, summer.

SAVE WATER

Did I mention “dry”? Most trees and shrubs planted in spring require regular watering during this vital “establishment” phase of their development. Summer’s heat makes this even more critical.

But in the fall, you will not need to provide your new plants with nearly as much water. As you might imagine, evaporation is much less of a factor in the autumn, so water loss is greatly reduced. Additionally, a plant’s water requirements are considerably diminished when the natural process of photosynthesis slows down as the days become shorter.

Another water-related benefit is that in the fall you are unlikely to be faced with any municipal watering restrictions that might affect your new plantings during a long, hot summer. Nothing is more depressing to a garden lover than to see new, young plants dying because of lack of water.

LOWER PRICES

We all like to grab a bargain and smart gardeners can take advantage of sales and clearance-priced plants at this time of year. If you’re buying from a reputable nursery, the plants now on sale have probably been cared for throughout the summer by knowledgeable professionals and should be ready for fall planting… but at a much lower price than prime time spring! They also like to clear out inventory for new fall inventory.

It’s worth asking an expert at the nursery, or at least carefully reading the plant’s tag, to be sure of the best time to plant as this can vary from zone to zone. In Anna we are best suited for climate zones 7 and 8.

FORGET THE FERTILIZER

Plant in the fall and forget the fertilizer until next spring. Why? Fertilizing new plants at this time of year could force new growth that would then fall victim to frost damage during the winter before it has time to harden off. Buying and using fertilizer is an extra step and an expense you won’t need to worry about, at least until spring! By then I will gladly advise when and what type is best suited for your planting. Feel free to email me at the address listed below.

MORE FUN, LESS STRESS

Many customers tell me that they find fall planting more enjoyable. The reason, they say, is that they can concentrate on the planting in the slower-paced ambience of fall. With so much to do in a spring landscape, it’s easy to be distracted from the joy of planting. And let’s face it, the more therapeutic, the better, right?

Question: Jimmie, what do you consider the best tree for me to plant in a low wet area on

THINK LIKE A PRO continued on page 27

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THINK LIKE A PRO

continued from page 26

my property? I really would like some shade there however I have killed 3 nice Red Oak trees trying? Any thoughts? I really appreciate your time.

Richard L. in Anna

Answer: Hi Richard, I can see why you might have run into problems with your previous efforts. Red Oaks are notoriously known for not liking “wet feet”. We always plant them “high” or on the top of root ball at grade level. A few varieties of trees we even add a 3-5-inch base of gravel for extra drainage.

A much better option for your unique situation would be a Bald Cypress or River Birch tree. Both will thrive with wet feet. Growth rates are similar but foliage is way different as well as overall canopy so check them both out. As long as your fundamental criterion is correct with your choices then each variety that fits into those criteria becomes a personal preference.

Question: Jimmie, Please help!!! I have no idea what I just found on my bush outside. day before yesterday the bush was fine, but I saw the almost 1 1/2 to 2 in. things hanging from it that looked sort of like a pine cone...I just thought it was something new growing on the tree/bush. This afternoon, I went out to water the plants, and the whole side of the bush is almost gone, turned brown. I looked at the things I thought were growing on it and saw that they moved!! I ran inside and got garden spray and they seemed to be worms trying to come out of them. This has really freaked me out. I want the bushes gone. I have always loved them because they grow like a tree; they look a little like a pine but with flowing needles that are really soft. They are a light green in color. I do not know what kind of bush it is. Please tell me what those things are, and what will get rid of them until I can get someone to cut them down for me. I don’t even want them in my yard now. That one looks ruined anyway.

Thank you so much for your time. You have been a great help to me and friends of mine!

Stephanie in Anna

Answer: Hi Stephanie, Thanks for the kind words. It sounds like what you have are Bagworms. They are common to the plant you are describing the Arborvitae. What is needed is to remove them, put them in a little bag, and then burn them. After you have done this you will Need to spray your plants with Malathion (or similar product follow directions on the label). You should do this about once a month during the growing season. This is of course if you decide to keep them. Perhaps a better alternative to consider would be Eastern Red Cedar (they are more native to our area) Hope this helps. Until next time…Happy Gardening!! Jimmie

Send your landscaping and gardening questions to Jimmie Gibson Jr. at http://www.absolutelybushedlandscaping.com or jimmie@absolutelybushed.com or in care of the Anna Living Magazine at joyce@annnalivingmagazine.com.

JIMMIE GIBSON is a Prosper resident and the owner of Absolutely Bushed Landscaping Company, an award winning, family and veteran-ownedand-operated business created in 1980 to provide the highest quality custom outdoor renovation available to homeowners in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. Look for his columns in each issue of Anna Living Magazine.

After a long day at work, or

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef • 24 oz jar spaghetti sauce • ½ c shredded mozzarella, divided • 8 oz part skim ricotta • 1 egg • ¼ tsp garlic powder • ½ tsp Italian seasoning • 2 Tbsp grated parmesan • 1 package wonton wrappers

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. For the meat mixture, heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add ground beef and cook, while breaking up, until no longer pink.

Drain the fat from the beef and return meat to the pan. Remove from heat. a long day of taking care of the kids, usually the last thing we’re wanting to think about is what to cook for dinner. However, because our family has to eat (every single day...ugh), like it or not, we are forced to come up with a plan and then put that plan into action. You may be totally different from me and you may LOVE coming up with that weekly meal plan. You might also love getting the perfect grocery haul to make your meal plan dreams become a reality.

Do you know what’s worse than doing all of that prep work? Doing all of that prep work and then being greeted by a picky eater who has no interest in the meal you’ve planned out and for them. Surely you have at the meat, stirring to combine. Set aside. cheese, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parmesan in a medium size bowl. Mix well. two wonton wrappers, slightly overlapping, to make a cup that will fill the muffin tin. the bottom of each cup. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture. Finish with another 2 tablespoons of meat mixture and remaining ¼ cup of mozzarella. cooked and cheese has melted. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

least one in your life. Oh man, that pickiness drove me nuts, because I knew it only made my difficult meal planning job that much harder.

I decided to try and make some of the same ol’ same ol’ foods we regularly ate just a little bit more interesting. One of my favorites had me a little nervous as it went into the oven, but it sure was a crowd pleaser when it came out!

These Lasagna Cups were not only easy to make but they put a fun spin on a routine lasagna dinner night. The best part is they only need 15 minutes in the oven to cook and you’re ready to go with an easy dinner or a lunch that’s ready to take with you! You can also bake and freeze these for later. I hope you

Lasagna Cups

3. Add spaghetti sauce and ¼ cup mozzarella to 4. For the cheese mixture, combine ricotta

5. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin. Then place 6. Place two tablespoons of the meat mixture in 7. Bake 12-15 minutes until wrappers are enjoy it as much as my picky eaters!

I’m JAMIE ROUBINEK and I’m the girl behind this little corner of kitchen inspiration. I find great pleasure in always learning something new. I was never confident in the kitchen but I love learning new things and trying them out. Doing that experimenting has led to a lot of happiness around the kitchen table at my house. Fortunately, the key to my husband of 13 year’s heart is through his stomach and he is easy to please. With our five kids, on the other hand, that hasn’t always been the case. I love fine-tuning recipes and making adjustments to make everyone smile. I hope that I can help you see how easy it can be to bring that same happiness to your kitchen table! Submissions and suggestions from readers are welcome. Send to jroubinek@ yahoo.com.

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08/15/2020 08/31/2020 Located in Anna