Green thumb? Get going, to the Everything Garden Expo

As Ole Man Winter tucks himself in for a long hibernation, the rest of the world is greening. Nowhere will that be more evident than at the Everything Garden Expo at the Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville March 22-23.

A bit o’ green: Ye didn’t forget, did ye? Sunday is Saint Patrick’s Day

It’s that time of year again, when anyone who has ever had the good fortune to visit the Emerald Isle is reminded of its beauty, its Gaelic language, music and people. Sunday is Saint Patrick’s Day, when Ireland’s patron saint is honored, as he is each March 17.

Creatures great and small: Cedarhill still offers sanctuary to big (and little) cats in need of a home

“Well, hello, it’s about time you woke up, girl!” Michelle Cranford calls in a sing-song greeting to Cinderella, a female Bengal tiger lazily waking from a morning bask in the sun.

Like the other 10 tigers, six lions, three bobcats, two cougars, two wolves, six horses, seven pot belly pigs, four exotic birds and almost 200 domestic cats who call Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary in Caledonia home, Cinderella has come to understand she is safe and cared for, so she is not startled.

Columbus resident publishes book of poetry and equations

William Furr believes in his work. The Columbus resident often spends his days, and many nights, writing. The most recent result is his fifth self-published book, “Mathematical Proof of Divine Creation and He Leads Me — I Follow.”

‘Sweetness follows’: Columbus native’s unique cookbook has a sweet story to tell

Cookbooks aren’t supposed to make us misty-eyed, but then, this is no typical cookbook.

“Sweetness Follows: The Story of Sam and the Treat of the Week,” by Columbus native Katy Smith Houston, is more than a collection of dessert recipes. It is a heartfelt testament, a celebration of a young man who overcame a traumatic brain injury and the loving support of family and friends that helped him do it.

Ragtime jazz festival proves the music never gets old

Stephen Cunetto is right at home in the handsomely-appointed Templeton Museum on the fourth floor of Mississippi State’s Mitchell Memorial Library. Surrounded by rare, vintage talking machines, music boxes, gramophones and graphophones, he moves easily from instrument to instrument, telling a little about each. Cunetto oversees the Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum, one of the finest collections of its kind in the country.

Baked, broiled, grilled, pan-fried — salmon has a place in your menu

When the palate gets a craving for fish, salmon is a delicious popular choice. It’s one of the most versatile — and forgiving — fish out there. It can be baked, sautéed, grilled, pan-seared, poached or broiled. You can get it farm-raised or wild-caught, and it earns bonus points for its high quality protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Wood and wings: A retired engineer ’rounded off the corners’ and found the beauty inside stumps of Tupelo gum

Bruce Hufford is a bird watcher. Not the intrepid hiker type, with binoculars and bird book in hand, but an everyday observer of the remarkable winged creatures that share the planet.

West Point filmmaker premieres new short film

Michael Williams’ latest independent film started out as a modest project. But, in keeping with its super hero theme, the characters and story soon grew beyond expectations.

Jerry Brown arts festival returns to Hamilton, Ala., March 2-3

More than 40 selected artisans, including some from Columbus and surrounding areas, will show at the 11th annual Jerry Brown Arts Festival in Hamilton, Ala., Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3.

Why not add a bit of fun to your Oscar weekend?

Some may think of Sunday’s Academy Awards show as the Super Bowl of TV events for women. And yes, there’s some satisfaction in acting as the red carpet fashion police from the comfort of your own couch. But Oscar night, with its glitz and glam, can be fun for movie buffs of both genders.

The Writers Rock: A couple of wild magnolias chat about the crossroads, where literature and music meet

Brash light filled the garage, draping weed eaters and leaf blowers in stark fluorescence. But the music reverberating around the boxy space during rehearsal would have been at home in any dimly lit venue where verse and chorus tell stories, and curious souls come to drink them in.

Magnolia Film Fest to celebrate indie filmmakers

Independent films produced in Mississippi, New York, California, Spain, Australia, France and points between will be the focus of the Magnolia Independent Film Festival Feb. 21-23 in Starkville.

Some last minute ideas for a heart-shaped holiday

So, the day of love is almost upon us. The sentimental side of you would like to bring a smile to those you care about, but you’ve put off making any special plans. Don’t fret. This doesn’t have to be complicated.

Did you know? The Lee Home’s museum holds a wealth of history, just waiting to be explored

This Valentine’s Day, sumptuous chocolates in heart-shaped boxes and scented bouquets will be in abundance. But the historic Stephen D. Lee Home in Columbus will receive a Valentine of a different kind, one far more valuable and long-lasting.

Cotton District Arts Festival issues call for juried art contest

Preparations for the 2013 Cotton District Arts Festival set for April 20 are underway. Festival organizers have issued a call to all artists age 18 and above for submissions to the Juried Art Competition, a feature of the annual festival which organizers say drew more than 42,000 attendees last year.

Noted photographic exhibit on Mississippi opens Thursday

For years Bruce West turned his insightful eye and powerful lens on rural Mississippi. The result is a candid collective snapshot of some of the people and settings that make the Magnolia State unique.

Romantic recipes: Cozy up around these recipes for Valentine’s Day

The approach of Valentine’s Day always causes me to remember a long-ago February and a card table my mother set up by the picture window in our living room. She put it there so my younger sister and I could enjoy a rare Columbus snowfall as we addressed our little Valentines. I’m pretty sure there was hot chocolate involved.

A revered historian ­– the ‘cheerful assassin’ — inspires a surprise tribute by protégés

Some of John Marszalek’s friends are pretty good at keeping a secret. The distinguished scholar’s wife, Jeanne, was even in on it.

For three years or more, unbeknownst to the Mississippi State Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus, a network of his former doctoral students worked on a tribute to the mentor who had so stirred their passion for studying the Civil War era and its influence on shaping America.

Church social means fun and fellowship … and soup, lots of soup

There was plenty of m’m, m’m good to go around Friday evening when Shaeffer’s Chapel United Methodist Church in western Lowndes County held its annual soup supper. Tables laden with crockpots of aromatic soups, plates of crisp cornbreads, salads, French bread, sandwiches and luscious desserts drew the church family and guests in from the cold for a night of warm fellowship and great food.