Do you tend to be less active during the winter months? It may be time to give that another thought. Exercise is one of the most beneficial ways to boost health and strengthen the immune system, and benefit your mental health as well. And being outdoors getting fresh air and sunshine helps with this as well. But wintertime exercise isn’t limited to just the outdoors. There’s plenty we can do Continue Reading
Photo tour: A winter hike at Blackwood Farm Park in Hillsborough, NC
Today, my son and I took the opportunity of a beautiful, mild Saturday morning to visit one of Orange County's newer parks, Blackwood Farm Park. Located next to I-40 between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, N.C., the park is 152 acres of forest trails and open spaces situated on an historic farm property. There are currently four miles of hiking trails, a picnic shelter with tables, and a pond Continue Reading
A winter walk at North Carolina Botanical Garden
Yesterday, my son and I took advantage of an exceptionally warm winter day (in the 70s!) to get outdoors and take in some nature at the N.C. Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. Owned by the University of North Carolina and located near campus, the display gardens are part of a 1,000-acre collection of gardens and natural areas. I've visited the Botanical Garden in the spring, summer and fall, Continue Reading
100 things to do other than mindless eating during the snow
When you're house-bound because of a snowstorm or other bad weather, it's easy to let boredom or stress get the best of you -- and mindless eating ensues. To make matters worse, being at home means easy access to all the goodies you have on hand. Is it any wonder that over-snacking goes hand-in-hand with storms? There is no magic pill to cure that, but distraction and staying busy helps a lot. Continue Reading
A winter hike at Hanging Rock State Park
Earlier this month I enjoyed hiking to the top of the mountain at Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, N.C., with my daughter and son. This is one of my favorite parks in North Carolina, and we've visited numerous times. It's located in the northern part of the state, about 30 minutes north of Winston-Salem. There are several different trails in the park, some with wonderful waterfalls to Continue Reading
VIDEO: Snow days and my first Periscope chat
Were you affected by "Snowmageddon 2016" like we were here in North Carolina? It started on Friday and we received a lot of sleet plus a few inches of snow, and the roads were terrible. They still aren't totally clear yet by my house. A snow day on a Friday is not a bad thing in my book, but, the weather did cause many cancellations. One of them was something I was really looking forward to Continue Reading