Poetry in the Panhandle

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Yesterday was Poetry Break Day. Poetry Break Day is a celebration of the poet inside all of us; humanity has been producing poetry for well over 4,000 years. Celebrate by writing your own poems, reading your favorites, or exploring new poetry. Want to celebrate Florida poetry? Check out the authors and/or collections below:

  • Current Florida poet laureate Peter Meinke(1)
  • Panhandle Poet: ~solitude~ by Marc Livanos
  • Songs of the Wind on a Southern Shore, and other Poems of Florida by George E. Merrick
  • In the Eye of the Storm: Stories of Survival and Hope from the Florida Panhandle by Jennifer N. Fenwick
  • And one of our favorite short poems: “Hiking the Florida Panhandle in March” by Robin Chapman

Cutting Your Energy Costs

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Today is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! First established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance, it’s an annual day of awareness designed to help homeowners conserve home energy and save money. Did you know that homes account for 22% of the energy usage in the United States (according to Energy.gov)? Yet there are a few simple changes that can be made to help you cut excess waste.

  • Take shorter showers
  • Unplug unused appliances & chargers
  • Do laundry in cold water
  • Switch to LED lights
  • Weatherize your house to optimize insulation

 

Winter Veggies

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Despite the cold nights, it’s not a bad time to plant certain herbs and vegetables. Some herbs thrive in the cold weather; consider planting parsley, dill, garlic, and cilantro. The list of cold-hardy vegetables is shorter but there are still some great choices: English pea, cabbage, radish, beet, and broccoli.

Now is also a good time to start planning your spring garden, especially if you would prefer to start from seed. Beginning now gives you the time to choose your plants, secure seeds, and start them indoors. Most vegetables are more successful if they are transplanted rather than sown directly in the garden. Some good warm-season crops to start inside are tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. 

National Bird Day 2024

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The Avian Welfare Coalition makes use of the annual National Bird Day to bring attention to the harm caused by keeping birds in captivity. These glorious, free creatures are often stolen from their homes, have their wings clipped, and sent to be sold in pet stores or to the highest bidder. An estimated 60% of wild-caught birds die before they even reach international markets; this increases the number of birds that are stolen, devastating local ecologies and irreparably damaging bird populations.(1)

Even those exotic birds who have been bred in captivity experience devastating effects. The deprivation of their natural behaviors (for example; flying, flocking, nesting) is an inescapable component of captivity; no matter the size, a cage can never give them the space their instincts call for – the wide open sky. Confinement in cages can lead to neurotic behavior, excessive screaming, feather plucking, self-mutilation, and other destructive habits.

So, this National Bird Day, consider helping bring awareness to the plight of those birds caught in the global bird trade. Talk about exotic birds, do some research, take your kids out to see native bird populations, support reputable bird sanctuaries, or watch a documentary on the wild bird trade, birds in captivity, or the intelligence of birds.

New Traffic Law Alert

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The current “Move Over” law (Fla. Stat. s. 316.126) requires drivers to slow down to 20mph OR merge when law enforcement, wrecks, or other emergency vehicles are stopped with their hazards flashing. The updated “Move Over” law will require drivers to move over or slow down for ANY vehicle that is disabled, using warning lights/hazards, using emergency flares, posting emergency signage, or if there is one or more persons visibly present. The updated law was effective as of January 1, 2024. The fines for breaking the law range from $60-$158 (according to the numbers posted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office). When in doubt, move over. 

Pensacola Poultry & Farm Animal Swap

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The Farm & Nursery Mart is hosting a Poultry & Farm Animal Swap for Pensacola and surrounding areas on January 6th from 8am-Noon. Located across from Five Flags Speedway, the event occurs on the first Saturday of each month. The Swap is a free event with vendor set up being first come, first serve. The Mart invites you to bring chickens, turkeys, bunnies, goats, quail, ducks, and small farm animals to sell, buy, swap, and trade with your fellows. There will also be plants, herbs, honey, and homemade jams to obtain. 

For more information, contact Rick Lipham at 850-287-2103. Farm & Nursery Mart is located at 7460 Pine Forest Road in Pensacola. 

GO Month

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Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to the first day of Get Organized Month (GO Month)!

Resolutions often fail but getting organized can be an attainable goal for the month. The National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO) created GO Month to help allow individuals and families to make daily life easier by organizing life’s chaos. See some tips and tricks for maximizing GO Month without burning yourself out. Remember: it’s okay to try something, find it doesn’t work, and try something else. No one can tell you how best to organize your life; find what works for you!

  • Rather than bite off more than you can chew by trying to organize your entire house, decide to give 10-15mins to organizing once a day or twice a week – however often you feel you can manage! 
  • If you like to-do lists, try keeping them short and to the point. Put 3-5 simplified tasks on an index card; this will help you feel more productive than never reaching the end of an ever-growing to-do list. You can also use a whiteboard to create focus tasks for the day; focus tasks are the handful of things you absolutely MUST do with perhaps 1-2 things you’d like to do. 
  • Stop holding on to insignificant items. Batteries you’re not sure work, charging cords to old phones, letters or cards that don’t hold emotional significance, dishes you never use but ‘might need to one day’, and more! 
    • Have items that hold emotional significance but don’t necessarily want to keep them? Try taking photos! This is great for everything from childhood trophies (do you really need your 3rd-place bowling trophy from 6th grade?) to letters from family members and more. This also keeps them safe from being destroyed in unexpected disasters. 
  • Get a ‘clutter-companion’ or body double. Invite a friend or family member to hang out with you while you de-clutter and organize. Cleaning out a kids’ bedroom is more fun with a friend, some music, and a glass of wine!
    • This can also be a chance to delegate and get your kids/roommates involved. If you share a living space, it can be very important to make sure everyone agrees when getting rid of things, changing how an area is organized, and more. Make it a day of fun by ordering take-out or doing 30 minutes of cleaning with 10mins of fun-time to break it up. 
  • Identify areas that aren’t working in your life. Maybe you use a hook for your car keys but often fail to hang them up because you set them down with your wallet. Get rid of the hook and invest in a catch-all bowl by the door; anytime you leave or come home, you can empty your pockets into the bowl. 

These are only a few of the thousands of suggestions you can find online to learn more about getting organized. So if none of these resonant or work for you, definitely look for organizing tips on your favorite browser or ask friends and family for their favorite tips-n-tricks. Good luck!

New Year’s Eve!

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Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! Be sure to celebrate responsibly and safely. Heading to a New Year’s party this evening? Check out some fun facts below to break the ice and wow your friends/family with your holiday knowledge. 

  • The first gathering in Times Square for New Year’s started as a party to celebrate the opening of the New York Times building in 1904. Over 200,000 people attended. The success grew and grew until the Times Square celebration we know today; approximately 1 MILLION people attended in person last year.
  • The first ball drop wasn’t until 1907. Prior to the ball drop, fireworks were used. However, they frequently dropped embers on the crowd and were considered too dangerous. 
  • Instead of a ball drop, Miami, Florida rings in the new year with a rising orange. The raising of Mr. Neon, a 35-foot, sunglass-clad metal fruit, has been a tradition for over 30 years.

National Resolution Planning Day

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Did you know that the failure rate of New Year’s Resolutions is estimated to be 80%?! Most people lose their motivation by the end of January at the earliest or mid-February at the latest.

Warren Holleman, who has a Ph.D. in Behavioral Science, says, “It takes a lot more than a resolution to change. It takes a self-understanding, skills, strategies, and support.” Rather than create a simple, yet daunting, list of resolutions, choose one or two things to focus on. Then, strategize. Break each goal into achievable tasks.

For instance, if your goal is to exercise more. The first thing to do is figure out what ‘exercising more’ means to you. Say you’ve taken a break from exercising for the last few years. It doesn’t make sense to immediately expect yourself to work out 5 days a week. Instead, create an action plan where you gradually build up the amount of exercise you do. Try to find a friend to workout with or choose activities that feel less like exercise and more like fun; try hiking, swimming, or playing a sport. Even if ‘exercising more’ means adding 5 minutes of walking to your day, go for it! Small changes create a ripple effect that makes it easier to make bigger changes into lifelong habits. 

 

Wakulla River Manatee Viewing

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Join Harry Smith Outdoors and fellow paddlers on a leisurely trip down the beautiful, spring-fed Wakulla River in search of manatees! The trip will be a 3 mile, 2.5 hour float perfect for families, beginners, and seasoned kayakers alike. For the price of $60/person, you get a knowledgeable guide, transportation (if needed), shuttle service, sit-on-top kayaks, a paddle, and a life jacket.
The trip begins at the “upper” bridge along Shadeville Highway and continues 3 miles down to the “lower” bridge where the shuttle will be waiting to transport everyone back. Please note: we recommend avoiding cotton in the cooler months. Additionally, we recommend bringing:
  • Water/weather-appropriate clothing & footwear
  • Wide-brimmed hat or ball cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water or your drink of choice. There is plenty of room in the kayaks for a small cooler. Alcohol is not allowed.
  • Lunch and/or snacks depending on the length of trip
  • Waterproof camera
  • Small dry bag (Ziplocks work great!) for personal belongings (ie. keys, wallet, phone, etc.)
  • Any personal items you may want and/or need (ex. medication, inhaler, etc.)

We look forward to guiding you on a unique, enjoyable, safe, and memorable experience! Have questions? Contact the event host, Harry Smith Outdoors, by phone – (850) 559-3400 – or email at hsoutdoors@hotmail.com. 

Visit the Facebook event page to learn more or message Harry Smith Outdoors, LLC via Facebook direct message.