The celebration of Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar.

When hungry and hurried, I’ve been known to three-bite a McDonald’s chicken wrap. I don’t often eat like that, but I can. Thankfully, despite the ability to practically unhinge my jaw, I’ve never choked.  But after last week, I’ve slowed way, way down at mealtime. That’s because I administered my first Heimlich.

But when it comes to diet and diabetes, diabetes educators say the amount eaten is as important as what is eaten.

Oscar parties have been around for years, but for those without invitations — or those of us who’d rather not don tuxes and create themed potluck dishes (steak “Avatar”-tar, anyone?) — missed out on the fun. But this year, people around the world watched the Academy Awards within arms’ reach of a laptop or phone, participating in an ongoing conversation about the telecast on the micro-blogging service Twitter.

Weekly religion rail, with items on the pope's travel plans, getting to know the Seventh-day Adventist Church founder, and more.

In the spring, the animals come alive and make new little animals, some of which must rely on the care of animal rehabilitation professionals if they're found injured. There are a few things humans can do to keep animal families together until the babies grow up and move and on out of the way.

Next week, potato recipes will be dusted off once again for St. Patrick’s Day. Unlike the day’s traditional cabbage and corned beef, potatoes remain crucial to our cookery. Worldwide, we eat about 73 pounds per capita per year, more than any other side dish.

Leeks are one of the oldest Irish vegetables, and they combine well with other foods of the Emerald Isle, including cheese, potatoes and fish.

No matter what is affecting your son, you can help him find a reason to smile each day, starting first thing in the morning.

This week’s suggestions: Watch the X Paralympic Winter Games, check out one of the new movies, get ready for the time change, prepare for Selection Sunday and start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

Did you know that we recently celebrated National Blueberry Popover Day, Oatmeal Nut Waffles Day and National Crabmeat Day? Just about every type of food has a commemorative day, week or month.

Most of us are familiar with the cypress in the swamps, with woody knees poking out of the shallow water. Pond cypress, contrary to what you might think, doesn’t produce as many. Neither produces the knees when planted in the typical landscape where water doesn’t stand. Unlike the larch, the needles of the bald and pond cypress aren’t soft — though not as tough as Scots pine, blue spruce or the Douglas fir.

Weekly family rail, with tips on holding a frugal family night, a review of “Alice in Wonderland” and more. 

Weekly home rail, with tips on spring cleaning digital devices, how to update your decor for spring, what to know before painting the exterior of your home, and more.

Once so lightly regarded it was relegated to the backyard, bathrooms have come a long way since the days of outhouses and rain barrel tubs. Today the bathroom — especially the master bath — is treated as a coveted living space, and perhaps the most indispensable room in the home.