Denton County Master Gardener Association

Patio Living

Plans for Building and Furnishing Your Outdoor Space

Sunscreen

Understanding the SPF Number

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Ahh, May…Time for hot weather to kick in, time for the last days of school, time to call our mothers for Mother’s Day.
How important is that phone call? How important is any phone call?

There was a day, once upon a time and not that long ago, when the landscape was dotted with phone booths and every home had a land line. Portable devices upon which one could speak to (and even see) the other party were the things of fantasy and comic books. Phone calls were not taken during the dinner hour, much less during a conversation with someone standing right in front of you.

And if you were driving, important calls waited until you got home and parked your car and went into the house.

Fast forward to today, when cell phones are not only a must-have device, they are appendages. Young children have them so that their parents can monitor their
whereabouts, grandparents have them so that they can receive instant pictures of their little darlings. And everyone in between has one so that they are in constant contact with every person, every happening, every opportunity to comment, communicate, or consume.

We of a certain age did without cell phones for the vast majority of our lives, but now? How many people have turned around and gone back home to retrieve their cell phone because they cannot do without it, even for an hour or two? Cell phones have become so ubiquitous that it is automatic to use them wherever you are. It rings, you answer. A thought occurs to you that must be imparted, you call.

But how important is that call when you are driving?
You’ve heard all the statistics, you’ve read that cities across the country are banning the use of cell phones while driving, you’ve listened to reports of accidents caused by
someone distracted by their call or their text.

But are you one of the majority of drivers who think they are the exception to the rule, and do it anyway? Is your justification that you use a hands-free device? (Studies show that using Bluetooth, etc., makes absolutely no difference; it is the act of carrying on a cell phone conversation that is the dangerous distraction.) Do you believe that you’re such an excellent driver that these statistics do not apply to you? (Other studies show that while 64% of drivers rate themselves as “excellent,” the reality is that, unless you drive for NASCAR, you fall in the average range. And no driver, not even Jeff Gordon, is exempt from the cognitive dysfunction caused by talking on a cell phone while driving.) Texting while driving? This ranks right up there with reading a newspaper or doing your makeup or watching a movie while operating a piece of heavy equipment. And that is what a vehicle is, a quarter-ton or half-ton or full ton of heavy equipment, hurtling down the road at 30, 50, 70 miles per hour. What school of thought would allow that typing words on a small device while engaging in such an already risky enterprise is a
safe thing to do?
(There’s a video that should be required viewing for every Driver Education class in the world. Google “texting while driving video.” Show it to your teenagers.)

While you are driving, in ten minutes, in thirty minutes, in an hour, you’re going to be where you are going, or you will find a place to pull over and talk or text. In an
emergency, there is always the shoulder.

This small column will not convince every reader to abstain from electronic communication while driving. But you? You could be one of the smart ones who takes a vow not to continue such a dangerous habit, and lets someone else be the cause of that unfortunate accident, the bearer of the guilt for their cell phone being the instrument of destruction.

How important is that phone call? Is it worth a life?

May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month. Hang Up and Drive: Watch Out for Motorcycles.

Summer is the perfect time to go through your closet and get rid of old trends to make room for new styles. It’s time to donate your oranges, silvers, and grays and stock up on yellow, gold, and red.

The 50s and 60s called, and they want their trends back. That’s right—full skirts, twin-set cardigans, and boxy handbags are out. Replace these decades with 1920s fashions resembling the Great Gatsby. Summer wear will feature flapper dresses, beading and fringing, drop-waists, and flapper headbands

While the two extremes of mini and maxi skirts are hot this summer, midi skirts should be avoided. Also, overstated baroque prints are preferred to understated baroque prints. This summer, stay out of the in-between and go for the extreme.

Giant, floppy hats are still perfect for a day at the beach, but stay away from wild and crazy feather headdresses. In fact, feathers and other folk styles are on the decline, but you can still mix and match different prints.

Other trends you might want to retire include star prints, punk tees, digital floral prints, and pleats. Replace these things with pastels, pencil skirts, and of course neons…because neon is, again, a go-to summer color, and color blocking is still a way to utilize neon, allowing all to wear the trend.

I’m profoundly touched when I hear stories about a mother’s sacrifice. A blind willingness, without question or hesitation, to donate a kidney to her kid if they needed one, or in extreme situations, lay down her life to save or protect her child. It reminds me of the countless times that my own mother gave, and gave, and gave of herself throughout my childhood.

Raised by a single mom, she was the breadwinner in the family, holding down two jobs, juggling mom duties, and raising two kids, while setting aside the simple joys in life to make ends meet. There were no extra funds for beauty parlor visits, manicures, or shopping sprees. Everything she earned put a roof over our heads, food on the table and clothes on our backs.

My life is better because of her strength, devotion, faith and love. I can honestly say she was a fighter, determined to see her commitments through, never quitting, never giving up. She by no means had a perfect upbringing, but she never let that weigh her down in her resolve to raise her own family. Kind to the helpless, good to the hurting, a beacon of hope when the world was against you, those were her trademarks in life, her heritage to her children, and now grandchildren.

Maybe you have a similar story, a moving memory of your mom, the woman who inspired, encouraged and molded you into the person you are today. If that’s the case, be sure you tell her. As a mom, we need to hear those things. It’s good to know that we’re on the right track when it comes to raising decent, law abiding, human beings.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Among all the decisions you might make while planning financially for retirement, where you choose to live can be among the most important. And you might be surprised what kind of limitations your decision can impose in the future. The area, and the home you live in during retirement, may affect the amount of savings you spend on things like upkeep on your house and transportation as you age.

There are so many factors that may influence you as you plan where to retire, like an area’s cost of living, healthcare options and whether your family is nearby, but consider the following less-obvious things as you finalize your plans.

How much is your home really costing you?

If your mortgage is paid off you might believe you’re in the clear. But it’s important to also consider how your geographic location might affect upkeep costs and taxes, which can take a significant bite out of your monthly retirement budget. The standard estimate for a home’s annual maintenance costs range from 1-3% of its original cost, then add an average of 1% of the home’s value for property taxes. Based on these figures alone, a $400,000 home would require a $12,000 yearly outlay, or $360,000 during the average 30 year retirement. If you were to scale back to a $200,000 home, you could realize a sizable savings of $180,000 during retirement.

Is your current home elder-friendly?

Few people enjoy thinking about the physical limitations that often accompany the aging process, but it is crucial to consider when you’re deciding where to spend your retirement years. Most large homes are multi-level, which can be challenging, even unsafe to navigate if it becomes difficult for you to move around physically as you age. Retrofitting your home to make it easier can range from simply adding safety railings and bars, to more extensive. While you may initially cringe at such expenses, it’s important to consider the long-term savings.

Does the area where you live meet your needs and retirement goals?

Are you close to healthcare facilities? If you outlive your ability to drive, are there stores within walking distance or that offer delivery services? Likewise, as you think about the things you want to do during retirement, it’s important to consider if your area is a good fit. For example, if you want to spend more time with family members that have moved away, you must account for travel expenses in your retirement plan.

Still not sure you have all the information or resources you need to make these and other complex decisions about retirement? Work with a financial planner who can help you prepare financially for retirement while considering your location, your lifestyle and other aspirations.

Life is busy, time is short, and fitting everything into our schedules can be a challenge. However, there’s considerable value in volunteering, even if it’s only one day a week. Your outreach can assist the people in your community, open the door for new friendships, enhance or develop skills that can pave the way to employment opportunities, strengthen your confidence and lift your spirits, as well as inspire your family to follow in your footsteps. Consider some of these value points as you delve into the worthwhile prospect of volunteering.

Value #1 – Outreach: Volunteers are like a stitch in the fabric of a community, they are the ones that hold it together. Every day a need is met because someone had the heart to help. Lives are touched, not just by the person who receives the service, but also by the one who does the serving. There are plenty of places to start. Try a local church, senior center, youth activities, city services, health related organizations, or any number of fundraising events. Keep in mind that finding your niche will have a more lasting effect if it’s something you enjoy doing.

Value #2 – Friendship: Meeting people is usually a given when you’re giving. Working with other volunteers, or even working with the people you help, is a great opportunity to expand your friend-base. Donating your time and talents to a worthy cause can be fun and self-rewarding, especially when the end result is making a new friend.

Value #3 – Careers: Unpaid, but not unnoticed. Connecting is just part of volunteering. You never know whose path you might cross, or what new skill you might learn while assisting with a charitable organization, community function, or school event. The knowledge and training you gain in the process can be a valuable asset to add to your portfolio or resume.

Value #4 – Healthy Minds & Bodies: Simply put, Volunteering is good for the soul. You feel better about yourself and about the contribution you make. Taking the focus off of your own problems and pouring that energy into something meaningful is a positive way to combat depression, anxiety, stress and fatigue. And we all know that a healthy mind makes for a healthy body.

Value #5 – A Family Tradition: Children are sponges, they absorb everything we say and do. Volunteering is the perfect time to instill good traits in impressionable young lives. Seeing firsthand the difference their parents make in giving back can start a family tradition that carries on for generations.

The list is long, the need is great, and rarely is a lending hand ever turned away. Finding the right place to volunteer depends mainly on what your good at and/or what you like to do, but wherever you land, keep in mind that there is value in what you do, not only to those around you, but also to yourself.

Let’s face it –most of us enjoyed the mild winter in Denton this year! Unfortunately, that means consequences when it comes to spring and summer allergies. Many veterinarians are expressing concern that such a mild winter will pose serious problems for our dogs and cats. The biggest threat to our pets comes from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

Fleas not only transmit disease, but they are also the top allergen that affects dogs each year, leading to painful itching, scratching and secondary skin infections. Ticks carry a variety of serious illnesses, including Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. A really bad infestation can even kill a pet. And don’t forget about the mosquito – the carrier of heartworms to your pet.

Remember, the best defense is a good offense! That statement is true for pretty much everything and when it comes to your pets – start early to protect against spring and summer problems. Fleas have a 21-day life cycle from egg to adult. A single flea can become 1,000 fleas in just a couple of weeks! Start by treating your pet. There are many choices today – topical and oral preventative treatments (such as Frontline or Advantage). Not all of them treat ticks, but most tick treatments will treat fleas. Whether you use a topical or oral preventative, be sure to read the instructions carefully. There are treatments that work on dogs but are deadly on cats. A simple visit to the vet for a heartworm test will tell you whether your dog has been exposed and allow you to begin a heartworm preventative program.

Many pet owners will treat their pets and stop there; however, not only do you have to treat your pets, but your entire domain! Your yard and house should be treated at the same time you treat your pet in order to eliminate the pest.

Fleas like hot and humid weather and ticks like moisture. Ticks are worse in wooded areas; fleas thrive in hot and shady areas. Treating your yard should not only include the grass but the flower beds and under/around your patios. But be sure to watch out for harsh or harmful pesticides. When in doubt, consult the county agent for their suggestions as to what will work in your specific area.

Please take a few minutes to make sure your pet is adequately protected against fleas and ticks. Take this time to check their vaccination records to make sure they are current and have been tested for heartworms. When it comes to your pet, an ounce of prevention is more than worth a pound of cure:
• Get ahead of the game with treatments for your pet
• Keep your lawn cut short and manicured
• Bathe your pet regularly and watch for fleas and ticks

Remember, if you have any questions, your vet is always the best source of information when it comes to the health of your pet.

Cumberland has been serving vulnerable children and families since 1904, starting in Kentucky, then moving to the present Denton location in 1932. Cumberland Family
Services, Cumberland Child Services and the Single Parent Family program sustain and equip families and children through housing, pastoral care, educational programming, life skills training, and counseling. Cumberland directly served over 850 children, teens, parents and families in 2011.

Cumberland helps children and families in residential and non-residential programs. In its residential programs, Cumberland served 61 children and 17 single parents.
Almost 800 additional children and families were served through intake and referral services, counseling sessions, or classes in our non-residential programs. Cumberland Child Services offers a home to children ages 5-17, who through no fault of their own, need to be protected from harm. Beyond providing the basic needs of nutritious meals and clean clothes, Cumberland offers safe shelter, nurturing adults and real hope for a better life. By adding spiritual guidance and counseling that builds on a child’s strengths, Cumberland helps children start fresh and develop the skills they need to lead happy, successful lives. This summer, Cumberland will open a 24/7 Emergency Shelter for children to meet a great un-served need in Denton County.

Cumberland delivers high quality, affordable mental health counseling and educational services to people in Denton and surrounding counties. In addition to the individual, family, group and play therapy offered, we offer parent training and CEU trainings for social service professionals.

Cumberland’s mission is to bring healing and hope to children and families. In order to fulfill this mission, Cumberland is supported by the generous donations of individuals and groups. Cumberland is a 501(c)(3) so every donation is tax deductible. For more information about the programs, and how you can help, please visit www.cpch.org.

On a recent long distance bike ride in a city strange to me, I got turned around in the course of trying to get back to my starting point. Without a paper map, or even the “napkin sketch” I had seen earlier in the day, I chose to try out the “Navigator” function on my smart phone. I had never had occasion before to use it but I needed it now. Fumbling with the touch screen, the first message that the smart phone had for this less-than-smart user was, “GPS function must be visible to sky.” Holding my phone out, the phone (and its owner) found its bearings from the sky/satellite and was able to then show me the way back to my starting point.

As I retraced my route (for I had made a couple of wrong turns before using my phone) and began peddling toward home base, I realized there was a connection between this experience and my larger experiences of summer vacation. Often, people plan much, do much, and spend much on their summer vacations. Yet they return feeling more drained physically, emotionally and financially than when they left. Why is that?

• Sometimes it’s because they tried to do too much in too short a time span.
• Sometimes it’s because they did not leave themselves enough time away.
• Sometimes it’s because they felt it needed to involve more money than less.
• Sometimes it’s because they felt vacation had to be more about doing than being.

And sometimes, it’s because the time is not spent being, “visible to the sky” by which we might get our bearings. For some, such time is found staring at a fire under a star-filled sky; for others, it is watching the sun set behind a mountain or beyond the ocean’s horizon. For others still, that bearing-finding time is found intentionally worshiping God with others in a chapel or a church with others from around the country or world. I know a couple who happily talk about their “other church” in Angel Fire, New Mexico. They go to that beautiful part of the world every summer when it gets just too hot in north Texas and immerse themselves in the life of the town and the life of a church there. When they return to Texas, it is always evident that they have found their bearings in that high place in the sky of northern New Mexico. There’s is an obvious energy and peace that comes with re-grounding oneself in what one knows to be true and good and right and of God.

Sometimes pastors complain to one another about their flocks, “taking the summer off” from church; we call it the, “summer swoon.” There are good reasons for that concern, but we should also be mindful that some of our people ARE in church – just not ours. Some of our people are in chapels and churches in places world-wide, seeing the beauty yes…but also “being visible to the sky” in worship and in so doing, finding their bearings in order to come back home – renewed. Thanks be to God!

by Zella Barket, Licensed Esthetician, Village Hair Salon

The SPF number tells you the length of protection time provided by the sunscreen. If your skin burns in 15 minutes, a sunscreen with SPF of 15 will provide 225 minutes of protection or 3 3/4 hours (15×25=225). For longer exposures, you’ll need to reapply the sunscreen for additional protection. This is true with all sunscreens even those that are waterproof. Sweat, environmental decomposition and evaporation will also weaken the efficacy of sunscreen. SPF 15 sunscreens filter approximately 9%-10% of UVB rays. Sunscreen with SPF 30 or more offer more protection. For additional protection, hats and specially treated clothes should be worn during long sun exposures.

Understanding The Damaging Affects Of UVA & UVB Frequencies

The SPF factor relates only to UVB frequencies. These are the shorter rays that cause the top layers of skin to burn and turn red. Most people burn at about 10-13 minutes of sun exposure. A burn makes the skin 50% more susceptible to skin cancer especially if it happens during childhood.

More than 65% of the sun’s damaging rays are UVA rays. These are longer and more dangerous since their penetration goes deeper into the dermis and the immediate tissues. Damage caused by these rays is undetectable and these UVA rays are responsible for premature aging and the more serious skin cancers.

A broad-spectrum sun block that includes Titanium Dioxide & Zinc Oxide will help to reduce the skin’s vulnerability to the damaging effects of the sun by protecting the skin from both UVB & UVA rays. These two inert earth minerals make ideal sun blocks because they are physical blocks. They are whitish in color hence giving the skin a light whitish hue. And these natural sun protectors will leave a light whitish film on the skin

Natural Versus Synthetic

In recent years there have been increasing concerns about the synthetic ingredients currently used in sun blocks. Are these ingredients more harmful to the skin than the sun itself? In time, will these questionable ingredients make the cells more vulnerable to the harmful effects of the environment and how do they affect the cell’s immune system? These are difficult questions to answer since these synthetic sunscreens have only been heavily used by the masses for the last 10 years.

The fact that both natural and synthetic ingredients can be absorbed by the skin and enter the blood stream leads some experts to believe that in the long term, the body will have some negative repercussion.

The fact that many synthetic chemicals currently used in most beauty care, laundry and home cleaning products have been proven to compromise the body’s immune system makes consumers especially cautious about the chemicals that are supposed to protect them from the damaging effects of the sun.

Natural products are always a great choice for your skin just as natural foods are for your body.