By: Bryce Angell

I drove to Sportsman’s Warehouse. Thought I’d buy a brand-new cap. My mistake was walking through the doors. They had me in their trap. I’m not talking ‘bout a mouse trap. Snares his nose and won’t let go. I’m alluding to the shopping trance. Why couldn’t I say no?
I grabbed a cart and made a beeline to a hat filled crate.
But switched gears to a sign that read, “Fifty dollar bag rebate.” Below the rebate sign were sleeping bags hung in a row.
One sleeping bag was rated down to 45 below.
The floor attendant tempted me. “It’s the best sale of the year!”
I had to have the 45 below with all my gear.
The bag was extra heavy. Totaled nearly twenty pounds.
But I stuffed it in my shopping cart. I had to make more rounds.
I was feeling so elated with my brand-new sleeping bag.
I wasn’t checking prices. That would surely raise a flag.
I pushed on past the hats and caps. Found a Levi coat to wear.
I didn’t need another but it’s good to have a spare.
I bought a pair of mittens that I doubt I’ll ever use.
I’ll save ‘em for my wife in case we take a winter cruise.
I purchased ammunition. That is when I heard the cue.
I had too many bullets for a single .22.
So, I bought another rifle. What the heck, it’s just one more. Then I moved on with my frenzy, hadn’t covered all the floor. Aha! My eyes beheld a sight designed for all to see.
A brand-new shiny wall tent that would soon belong to me.
I grabbed a wood stove for my tent to sleep warm through the night. Then I realized my purchases were climbing out of sight.
We totaled up my plunder. I was surely caught off guard.
Two thousand fifty dollars, I said, “Put it on my card.”
I’d spent a ton of money with no permission from my wife. Should I give my wife the rebate? Fifty might just save my life. Although I’ve never learned to save, for sure a shopping sap. But, this time I saved ten dollars ‘cuz I didn’t buy a cap.

By: Norman Winter | Horticulturist, Author, Speaker

The Garden Guy was a scaveola guru when scaevola was not cool. Well, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, let me explain. The year was 1997, and your humble columnist was the coordinator of the Mississippi Medallion Award program whereby we selected outstanding plants for promotion, based on how they performed in trials. That year, we chose Proven Winner’s New Wonder scaevola as one of the Mississippi Medallion Award Winners.

It just so happens that Louisiana chose New Wonder scaveola as a Louisiana Select Award Winner and Georgia chose New Wonder scaveola for their Georgia Gold Medal Award program. Louisiana and Georgia still recognize outstanding plants but under different names. This little flowernamed after a Roman hero Mucius Scaevola may now have a star associated with his name.

Gardeners may not know or even wish to know that this hero decided to show his bravery by burning his right hand off and showing no pain. Thus, scaevola, a fan shaped flower reminiscent of a hand, later became a prized flower. Now however, still botanically named Scaveola aemula, the flower has evolved to a star as the Stardiva series makes its debut under the Proven Winners label in 2025. It is funny as the tag says, Stardiva fan flower, even though it is now a star.

To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

By: Andy Anderson

It’s August, which means hunting season is right around the corner. Hunters will soon begin to venture back into the woods to start prepping. Part of this annual ritual is checking out the deer stand, camp area and to getting things cleaned up. This is dangerous and will make you scream for your mamma if you are not prepared!

A few weeks ago I was clearing some fence line out. I had just cut the wire and kicked the wire fence to push it out of the vegetation and away from the T-post. It was then I realized I had just entered into a very painful situation. Now, I’ve been stung by honey bees, wasp, hornets, ground hornets and more, but what I had just angered was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

As I stepped back to move down to the next post, I heard a buzzing sound and the all too familiar bug flying around my face. I gave a quick swat of a hand, a swat that seemed to kick it all off. All of a sudden, BAMM! Before my mind could catch up and process what was happening, I had been hit four or five times in the head. As I turned to run, two more hit me in the back and right above my belly button.

To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.