What happens during an open-heart surgery

Dr. Nicola Francalancia of Concord Hospital Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery explains what happens during open heart surgery.What is open-heart surgery? Open-heart surgery is any invasive heart procedure that requires an open surgical incision on...

Borrowing a bull to make babies

By CAROLE SOULE

If a farmer wants to breed her cows, then at least one bull is required for “natural breeding.” We like our calves to be born in April and May when it’s warmish, and grass is growing, so breeding takes place nine months before then – in July and...

Counting cows, a difficult, necessary task

By CAROLE SOULE

‘How many cows do you have?” is a seemingly straightforward question that I get all the time. But I seldom know the answer because cattle are hard to count, and it keeps changing all the time.When I meet ranchers from Utah or Texas, they don’t...

A touch of Dead Salmon?

By KIM COOK

Ever wonder how paint colors get their names? If you’re shopping for pink, say, you’ll find dozens of shades referencing roses, bubblegum and shells. There are some extra-evocative names like Calamine and Dead Salmon. And what about a pink called...

Paper planners hang on

By KATHERINE ROTH

In a digital and increasingly paperless age, fans of paper planners remain enthusiastic and steadfast.“There’s something comforting about using a planner. It’s very personal, and apart from the cacophony of screens,” says Jennie Tung, executive editor...

What is a hospital transfer center?

Concord Hospital Chief Quality Officer Dr. Christopher Fore explains what a hospital transfer center is and how it serves patients in need of critical medical treatment.A hospital transfer center is a centralized location managing all components of a...

Visiting the inspiration behind Three Pines

By ROBIN SWEETSER

Like many women of a certain age, I am completely enamored of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, the main character in the Three Pines Mystery Series by Louise Penny.Set in the fictional town of Three Pines Quebec, which is said to be located south of...

Do you know how milk is made?

By CAROLE SOULE

‘What type of cow is that?” asked Jane, a visitor to the farm, pointing to Belle.When I told her Belle is a Milking Short Horn, Jane asked, “And when do you start milking her?” Astonished by the question, I realized that maybe Jane didn’t know why...

HOLLOW HABITATS

By RUTH SMITH

As leaves are shed from broad-leaved trees, details of the forest are revealed. Bird and squirrel nests, and hives of bald-faced hornet all seem to pop into view once the foliage has fallen. Trunks and branches reveal patterns and sometimes holes in...

From the farm: Tenderloin is not the tastiest cut of beef

By CAROLE SOULE

‘I’m cooking dinner for 50. What do you have a lot of?” asked Keith Sarasin. It was the right question, and not one I get very often. That’s a chef who understands how small beef farms work. Keith is a founder of The Farmers Dinner, which serves...

On the Farm: Search for missing newborn calf ends happily

By CAROLE SOULE

The day-old calf had vanished. Yesterday the black-and-white heifer had been up and walking, and her Scottish Highlander mom, Laverne, had been cooing and fussing over her. The next day the calf had disappeared. The strange thing was that Laverne did...

Cattle can be trained to eat weeds

By CAROLE SOULE

The dandelions disappeared as my cattle munched their way across the pasture. They snatched up the yellow flowers, which they seemed to prefer over the tall, green grass. Within hours the dandelions had been all eaten up.Even though our cattle are...

Add a labyrinth garden to your yard

By LEE REICH

A labyrinth garden should not be puzzling – that’s a maze. A labyrinth and a maze were once the same, but the labyrinth has recently grown to become a totally different animal.Enter a labyrinth and every turn you make is the correct one, leading you...

Representing the real life of the chola

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS

A national Hispanic center is displaying a unique art exhibit on the chola – the working class, Mexican-American urban female often associated with gangs.The National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque opened the “Que Chola Exhibition” last month...

Southwest style brings casual warmth

By MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON

A desert storm is brewing in the design world. Renewed interest in earthy color palettes, rich textures, tribal patterns and rustic elements has sparked a revival of Southwestern decorating style, long associated with homes in New Mexico and...

Singer-songwriter Hozier stuns with sophomore album

By MARK KENNEDY

For proof that Irish singer-songwriter Hozier has hit the big time, look no further than who he’s singing with these days: Mavis Staples and Booker T. Jones.Their soaring song – “Nina Cried Power” – is a fitting opening to the Grammy-nominated...

Hay feeders can be cow traps

By CAROLE SOULE

Topper’s horns were wedged tight in the metal hay feeder. While reaching for a tasty bit of hay, he pushed his head into the feeder and turned his horns just so. Like a Chinese finger trap, the feeder wouldn’t let him back up. But he didn’t panic; he...

DNA testing for cattle

By CAROLE SOULE

When calves are born at Miles Smith Farm in March and April, it’s obvious who their moms are. They’ll be nursing, protecting and generally fussing over them. But, as sometimes occurs among humans, identifying the father can be harder.Thank goodness we...

Even cows need a nice pampering

By CAROLE SOULE

Kelsie struggled a bit in the squeeze chute as she settled in for her yearly pedicure. With a rope attached below her “dew claws,” we gently lifted her hoof, fastening the line to a bar at the top of the chute so that we could safely trim her long...

Small touches create a great master bathroom

By MELISSA RAYWORTH

It’s easy to design a gorgeous master bathroom if you have a huge budget. But with the right choices, says interior designer Gabriel Anderson, you can have an exceptional master bath without overspending.“Having huge expanses of marble is amazing and...