Out and About Blog by Norm Stutesman

Out and About – Week of September 12th

Five more names of things, because everything has a name: Agraffe: The wired cage that holds the cork in a bottle of champagne. Vocabbles: The “na na na” and “la la la” in the lyrics of a song that don’t have any meaning. Interrobang: When you combine an exclamation mark and question mark (!?). Columella Nasi: The space between your …

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Out and About – Week of September 5th

Three more ways to save money by making something yourself: Campfire starters: Stuff wads of dryer lint into paper egg cartons. Break up leftover candle ends and melt them over low heat. Pour the wax over the lint and let it cool. Cut the egg carton compartments apart. When you are ready to start a fire, set a compartment under …

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Out and About – Week of August 29th

I am not a big fan of bridges, especially high bridges, such as the “BIG MAC” near Mackinaw City. Every Labor Day, many Michiganders brave the heights and walk the five miles across the Straits of Mackinaw. You should be in pretty good shape and not afraid of heights as you walk across the structure that at times moves a …

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Out and About – Week of August 22nd

Because this column deals with getting Out and About, I thought it was about time to do just that. A week ago, we met my brother for lunch in Marshall, Michigan. When I think of Marshall, the first thing that comes to mind is Win Schulers restaurant. I haven’t been there in over fifty years, so I’m not sure if …

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Out and About – Week of August 15th

Last week I shared a few ways to eat more economically. Here are a some ways to save when it comes to getting Out and About: You can easily increase your gas mileage by braking less and coasting more. Don’t just steer your vehicle, drive it. Try accelerating gently and coasting toward red lights and stop signs. Let the idiots …

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Out and About – Week of August 8th

If you don’t find yourself feeling just a little depressed these days, you haven’t been watching the evening news or reading a newspaper. Prices continue to rise and there’s not much we can do about it. Thankfully gasoline prices are starting to come down a bit. Here are some ways to save when it comes to feeding your family: When …

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Out and About – Week of August 1st

COVID-19 really put our lives in a tailspin. I don’t recall anything in my that has affected our lives as much as the COVID pandemic. Over the past two years, COVID-19 has caused some rather unusual symptoms throughout our bodies and research has shown that our fingernails and toenails are not immune. Here are several of those symptoms: Changes in …

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Out and About – Week of July 25th

There’s a television show on a certain cable network titled “Hoarders”. It deals with those individuals who have difficulty getting rid of things. They aren’t really collectors of valuables such as antiques or hard-to-find things, but are people who have difficulty parting with old magazines, clothing, condiments from fast-food restaurants, or just plane trash. It’s been said that we should …

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Out and About – Week of July 18th

St. Joseph County is blessed with many lakes, ponds and rivers. Perhaps that is why Michigan is known as “The Water Wonderland”. Lakefront property can be quite expensive, not only for the style of house on the property, but because of the convenience of having access to all the water activities that come with living on the lake. Having the …

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Out and About – Week of July 11th

The Village of Centreville will be the place to be this coming weekend. The village will host their annual Covered Bridge Days Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16. If you’ve never had the privilege of experiencing Covered Bridge Days, don’t let another year slip by without taking in the family fun that our county seat has to offer. There’s …

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