October is my favorite month, the most scenic time of year if you are lucky enough to live on a lake in northern Wisconsin. The end of summer brings not only fall colors but new rhythms of life as Mother Nature prepares for a long winter nap.

Menominee elder Sylvia Wilber taught me that there’s a truism behind the motivations about the United States’ Native American policies: “It’s all about the land.”

Bring a little fall color indoors by adding a croton to your indoor garden. Their colorful leaves echo many fall colors in the landscape, including red, yellow, orange, green and purple.

Croton leaf shapes can vary, adding to their ornamental appeal. They can be broad or narrow, shaped like an oak leaf, twisted like a corkscrew or somewhat pinched in the middle. You may decide to buy a few to place throughout your home.

Rachel Pyne, owner of Raising Pynes, is a homesteading mom of three, surrounding herself with chickens and garden beds.

Opening her store more than two years ago June 4, 2024, she is intent on bringing her knowledge to the Shawano area.

“I want to help others to grow confident and more self-reliant on our life’s journey,” Pyne said. “And it’s not a one-size-fits-all.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ovarian cancer is the second-most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, and it causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.

For children and teens ages 1 to 19, motor vehicle collisions are the second leading cause of death.

For younger children, improper use of car seats and booster seats can increase the risk of serious injury in a crash. The good news is that parents and caregivers can help protect children by ensuring they are properly secured in a car seat, booster seat or seat belt that is appropriate for their age and size.