Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Patrice Powers-Barker

Life is a Journey. So is a Labyrinth.

A labyrinth might look like a maze from a distance, but closer inspection reveals that a labyrinth has a specific pattern and no dead ends. Unlike a maze that makes you concentrate and retrace your steps, the labyrinth is not a game or puzzle to figure out. Although labyrinths can follow different designs, the most […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension, Lucas County, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator

REVIEWED BY: Amy Stone, OSU Extension Lucas County, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Megan Arnold, PhD, OSU Extension Lucas and Wood Counties, Area Leader

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Patrice Powers-Barker
  • Printable labyrinth from https://www.worldlabyrinthday.org/resources/finger-labyrinths

SOURCES:

  • Butcher HK. A Unitary Caring Theory Perspective of Labyrinth Walking Research. Nursing Science Quarterly. 2023;36(2):116-125. doi:10.1177/08943184221150258
  • Daffodil Labyrinth. (2013). University of Connecticut. https://news.extension.uconn.edu/2013/05/03/daffodil-labyrinth/
  • Directions to Make a Labyrinth. (2023). The Labyrinth Society. https://labyrinthsociety.org/make-a-labyrinth
  • Finger Labyrinths. World Labyrinth Day. https://www.worldlabyrinthday.org/resources/finger-labyrinths
  • Gersbach J. (2008). Labyrinths Find Their Way onto Hospital Grounds as Paths to Healing. The Permanente journal, 12(4), 77–80. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/08-045
  • Griffith, Janith (2002). Labyrinths: A pathway to reflection and contemplation. In: Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 6:5, Sept/Oct, pp295-296.
  • Labyrinth and Iris collection, (2022). UT – The State Botanical Gardens of Tennessee. https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/labyrinth-and-iris-collection/
  • Lizier, D. S., Silva-Filho, R., Umada, J., Melo, R., & Neves, A. C. (2018). Effects of Reflective Labyrinth Walking Assessed Using a Questionnaire. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland), 5(4), 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5040111
  • Lois B. Small and Gladys B. Hamilton Labyrinth Garden. (2023). Ohio State University https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/lane-avenue-gardens/labyrinth-garden
  • McGee, J. S., Katzenmeyer, C., McElroy, M., Boddie, S. C., Meraz, R., McElroy, & Wood, S. (2022). Collective labyrinth walking leads to connections and insights for contemplative activism in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and other social concerns. Manuscript in Preparation.
  • New to the Labyrinth? (2022) Veriditas. https://www.veriditas.org/New-to-the-Labyrinth.
  • World-Wide Labyrinth Locator. (2023). Locate at local labyrinth: https://labyrinthlocator.com/home

Perennial Optimist

Years ago, when my children were young, they picked out a gift for me. It was a t-shirt that had a picture of flowers and the words, “Perennial Optimist.” They didn’t know what perennial optimist meant, they just thought I would like the flowers on it. Perennials are the plants that come back in the […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension, Lucas County, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, OSU Extension, Perry County, Family and Consumer Sciences

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • pixabay

SOURCES:

  • Degges-White, S. (2022). Ditch toxic positivity for tragic optimism. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/202205/ditch-toxic-positivity-tragic-optimism
  • Harmon, M. (2023). Hope is a strategy. Live Healthy Live Well. Ohio State University. https://livehealthyosu.com/2023/02/02/hope-is-a-strategy/
  • Kaufman, S. B. (2021). The Opposite of Toxic Positivity. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/08/tragic-optimism-opposite-toxic-positivity/619786/
  • Know the life cycles of plants — annuals, biennials and perennials. Oregon State University Extension. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/know-life-cycles-plants-annuals-biennials-perennials
  • Leung, Mega. (2019). Tragic optimism: an integrative meaning-centered approach to trauma treatment. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 32. 1-19. 10.1080/09515070.2019.1633497. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334043933_Tragic_optimism_an_integrative_meaning-centred_approach_to_trauma_treatment
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2021). What’s Wrong with Positivity? Live Healthy Live Well Blog, Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/04/08/whats-wrong-with-positivity/
  • Princing, M. (2021). What you need to know about toxic positivity. Right as Rain. University of Washington Medicine. https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/mind/well-being/toxic-positivity
  • The Life of Victor Frankl, The Victor E. Frankl Institute of America. https://viktorfranklamerica.com/viktor-frankl-bio/

A Time for Learning: Black History Month and FCS Educator Day

Some may question the val­­­ue of recognizing only one month or only one week or only one day to be aware of different groups or causes. I appreciate that annual recognitions remind us to continue learning. Carter Woodson is known for his role in promoting what we now celebrate as Black History Month. Almost 100 […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Candace Heer, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Morrow County and Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • The Ohio State University Photo Archives, Home Management House 1937

REFERENCES:

  • About Du Bois. (2022). W. E. B. Du Bois Center. http://duboiscenter.library.umass.edu/about-du-bois/
  • Black History Themes. (2022). Association for the Study of African American Life and History. https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/
  • Bunch, L. (2015). Knowing the Past Opens the Door to the Future: The Continuing Importance of Black History Month. Smithsonian. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/knowing-past-opens-door-future-continuing-importance-black-history-month
  • Carter G. Woodson. (2021). National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/cawo/learn/carter-g-woodson-biography.htm
  • Chenoweth, R. (2017). 45 Graduate Didn't Let Obstacles Hold Her Back. The Ohio State University, College of Education and Human Ecology. https://ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/45-graduate-didnt-let-obstacles-hold-her-back/
  • Dr. Booker Taliaferro Washington. (2022). Tuskegee University. https://www.tuskegee.edu/discover-tu/tu-presidents/booker-t-washington
  • Home Ec students fight against exclusion. (2013). From Woody’s Couch. The Ohio State University Libraries. https://library.osu.edu/site/archives/2013/02/12/home-ec-students-fight-against-exclusion/
  • Mack, F. (2009). Gladys Kidd Jennings (1925- ) https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/jennings-gladys-1925/
  • Margaret Murray Washington. (2005). Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame. http://www.awhf.org/washington.html
  • Margaret Murray Washington, Educator & Suffragist. (2020). Alabama Department of Archives and History. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXvAcPbsYIA
  • Reed, W. (2018). Being Best. Washington State University Magazine. https://magazine.wsu.edu/2018/08/06/being-best/
  • State, ex Rel. v. Trustees, (1933). https://casetext.com/case/state-ex-rel-v-trustees-2
  • Steward, T. (2012). “All I Want is Opportunity”: Doris Weaver, Wilhelmina Styles, and the Pursuit of a Professional Status. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0zw2c7ks

Salad Toss Up

Salads can be designed in so many ways that we could eat a different combination each day throughout National Salad Month. Although lettuce might be the most common base, don’t forget pastas, fruits and potato salads. The UC Davis Department of Nutrition shares ways for families to enjoy salads with these easy tips: Welcome creativity […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • pixabay

REFERENCES:

  • Celebrate National Salad Month! (2021). Produce for Better Health. https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/celebrate-national-salad-month/
  • Celebrate National Salad Month! (2019). Center for Nutrition in Schools (CNS), UC Davis Nutrition Department. https://cns.ucdavis.edu/news/celebrate-national-salad-month
  • Create a Salad, (n.d.). Create better health, SNAP-Ed, Utah State University Extension. https://extension.usu.edu/fscreate/ou-files/2020-22-staff/Create_Salad.pdf
  • English, E and Miller, B. (2020) Salads and Dressings. https://scotland.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/05/salads-and-dressings/
  • Henneman, A. (n.d.). 12 Tasty Salad Toppers. University of Nebraska Extension. https://food.unl.edu/12-tasty-salad-toppers
  • How to make salad dressing, (n.d.). Spend Smart Eat Smart. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/jasper/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/jasper/How%20to%20Make%20Salad%20Dressing%20-%20May%20%2714.pdf
  • Lobb, J. (2018). Spring Salad. Live Smart Ohio, Ohio State University Extension https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/food/lobb-3osu-edu/spring-salads/
  • Salads, (n.d.) University of Maine, Cooperative Extension https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/recipes/salads/

Questions about CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture)

The sun is shining brightly but there is still snow on the ground in Northwest Ohio. It is the end of February and while my grocery shopping list includes lettuce and other fresh vegetables, we also eat a lot of frozen and canned vegetables right now. Considering our food shopping and gardening patterns, I can […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Powers-Barker, P.

SOURCES:

  • Local Food Directories: CSA, USDA https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5593
  • Using a Community Supported Agriculture Share to Plan Family Meals, Ohio State University Extension FactSheet https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5593
  • What's In Season? Ohio Farm Bureau https://ofbf.org/whats-in-season/

Lessons from a Flopped Pie

Usually, we can anticipate certain life events and traditions every year like celebrating at birthday parties, or joining cookouts in the summer, or hosting gatherings for holidays. Because of Covid-19, this year has not followed typical expectations. When families experience significant unexpected events, they are called nonnormative transitions or unanticipated transitions.  Examples include job loss, […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County and Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Patrice Powers-Barker

SOURCES:

  • Brinkman, P. (2016). Eating Healthy During Stressful Times. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5244
  • Eva, A. (2017). Why we should embrace mistakes in school. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_we_should_embrace_mistakes_in_school
  • Heer, C. & Rini, J. (2016). Stress Coping Methods. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5242
  • Leonard, J. & Cofer, J., (2020). Pumpkins: Not Just for Jack-O-Lanterns and Pies. NC Cooperative Extension. https://randolph.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/pumpkins-not-just-for-jack-o-lanterns-and-pies/
  • Lindberg, E. (2019). Practicing gratitude can have profound health benefits, USC experts say. University of Southern California. https://news.usc.edu/163123/gratitude-health-research-thanksgiving-usc-experts/
  • McGinnis, D. (2018). Resilience, Life Events, and Well-Being During Midlife: Examining Resilience Subgroups. Journal of Adult Development. 25(3): 198–221. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6105201/
  • Mindfulness Practices. Wexner Medical Center. Ohio State University. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/integrative-complementary-medicine/resources/mindfulness-practices
  • Myers-Walls, J. & Willis Hepp, B.(2019). Overview and Introduction. NCFR Report: Nonnormative Transitions. Winter 2019. https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/winter-2019
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2015). Spilt Milk – To Cry or Not to Cry. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/powers-barker-1osu-edu/spilt-milk-to-cry-or-not-to-cry/
  • Tonseth, C. (2018), Anticipated and Unanticipated Transitions as Triggers for Adult Learning. Creative Education. 9(2). https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=82379

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