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SALSA THERAPY A SPICY WAY TO UNWIND
Agents For Life
Last summer, our garden turned into a pepper factory.
salsa at home, but that harvest pushed things to a whole new level.
If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you already know about our community garden. Working in
On some days, we’d come home from the farm
with a big bag of peppers and just stand there in the kitchen asking, “Okay, what do we do with all this?” The answer was almost always salsa. We ramped up our batches, filled the fridge, and then started freezing peppers so we could keep it going through the winter.
our little plot has been the highlight of
our summers the past few seasons. This last year was no
different, but things in the garden didn’t
Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
quite go to plan. The tomatoes were fussy, other plants struggled, and it was a hard growing year all around. But for some reason, the
After making so many batches, salsa has turned into somewhat
of a therapy for me. Some people unwind with a book or a show. I head to the kitchen and relax with some “salsa
peppers didn’t get the memo.
therapy.” It’s a minor creative outlet that allows me to go on autopilot in the best way. There’s something calming about putting on some music, gathering the ingredients,
They took off. We had jalapeños, serranos, Santa Fe peppers, habaneros, Thai chilis, and even some hotter ones we picked up on a whim. Nothing did well except the peppers, and we ended up with pounds and pounds of them. We already loved making
roasting what needs roasting, and deciding what kind of heat and flavor I want for the day. I just cook in the moment without a recipe and make
Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@seniorhealth.pro
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March/April 2026
(502) 966-7810
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whatever I’m feeling. And the result is a fresh batch of salsa everyone can dive into.
All the habaneros we had from the garden pushed us to try a roasted habanero salsa for the first time. It’s sweet, bright, and brutally hot. You can’t stop eating it, even as your eyes water and your nose runs. Friends have already asked for more jars of “that mango one,” so we know we’re on to something. Playing with salsa has also opened the door to other sauces. We’ve started working with dried chiles for enchilada and tamale sauces, and we keep talking about tackling a proper mole someday. That one feels bigger, with all the history and ingredients behind it, but it’s on our list. By the time this newsletter lands in your hands, the garden will still be sleeping, but we’ll be in the kitchen pulling peppers from the freezer and roasting tomatoes under the broiler. For us, there’s a lot behind a bowl of salsa. It’s comfort, family, culture, and even a bit of therapy in one bite.
Our family’s love of salsa has deep roots. Sierra and I both grew up with Mexican moms who made fresh salsa all the time. It wasn’t a special occasion dish. It was just what you made when tomatoes were ripe or someone dropped off a bag of peppers. If you had a cold, you made salsa because of the vitamin C, heat, and the way it clears your head. Even now, if someone in the house is sick, it’s pretty common to hear, “You don’t need medicine. You need salsa.” These days, it’s become one of our favorite ways to bring people together. If friends are coming over, we don’t really plan it. We just start pulling ingredients out of the fridge. I usually handle the roasted salsa. Sierra makes the pico de gallo, the fresh version. Whatever we make, the result is the same. Everyone gathers around the bowl with a bag of chips, and we watch it disappear faster than seems reasonable.
–Kevin and Sierra Bennett
Meet Your New Birthday Card Helper TRYING AI FOR PERSONAL MESSAGE
follow his dreams. What makes me proud: the way he loves people, his reading ability, how fast he is growing up. Make the tone: encouraging, playful, warm, funny.
Many seniors feel unsure about using artificial intelligence (AI), and that is completely understandable. It’s a new technology that many of us don’t really understand. But think of all the major technological changes in the past that were also a little scary to people at first. There was electricity, automobiles, air travel, and even microwave ovens. More recently, we saw the arrival of home computers, the internet, email, and mobile phones. AI is no different. It’s just a new technology that feels intimidating until you learn to use it. Once you start to experiment, you’ll find that it can help with a lot of things. So, we are giving you an assignment to help you take your first step into the
new world of artificial intelligence. Let’s use AI to write a really good birthday card greeting for one of your grandkids.
Step 1: Type “ ChatGPT.com ” into your web browser.
Then hit the Enter key.
Step 2: Type in words to tell AI what you want. (It’s called a prompt.)
Step 3: Choose your favorite greeting of the five and write it in the birthday card. That’s all there is to it. You’ll never again struggle to write something different and interesting in birthday cards. And you can use this same approach to write other things as well, including notes to friends and family, thank-you cards, and holiday messages. Try it and let us know what you think!
Here’s the prompt you type in, but first change the bolded words to whatever fits your situation: Give me 5 different birthday greetings for my grandson Seth . He is age 7 . He likes: Legos, dinosaurs. What I love about him: his smile and laughter. What I hope for him: work hard in school, help his mom,
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Trade Your Empty Nest for Financial Freedom THE TINY HOME TREND FOR SECURE SENIOR LIVING
intentional thought to creating communities that enable older Americans to age in place. Many have features that make our lives easier as we age. Flooring that allows medical devices to function smoothly, elevated appliances, easy- to-open shelving, motion-activated lighting, and remote-control blinds are just a few examples of the helpful elements found in many tiny home communities. The houses are usually single-level to eliminate the dangers of stairs and feature accessible bathroom designs to promote safety and more. From Oregon to Florida, tiny home communities are popping up all over the country. If you’re looking for a healthy way to age in place without breaking the bank, consider downsizing to a tiny home.
As we grow older, we start to give more thought to the idea of retirement. After working diligently for decades, many people want to step away from work to spend their senior years traveling, enjoying time with loved ones, and taking steps to ensure they can age in place. However, retirement seems more like a dream than a reality for many Americans. While there is no magic number for how much retirement costs in 2026, experts estimate that most Americans will need over $1 million to maintain their standard of living through retirement. If you haven’t poured money into your retirement accounts throughout your career, you may
be concerned about having a big enough nest egg in the future. You may worry you’ll have to continue working until your body gives out, but that’s not necessarily true for everyone. Among strategies you can use to shore up your retirement savings, one that has gained popularity is downsizing. Once the kids leave the nest and start families of their own, you may have more space than you know what to do with. While you could move into an apartment or a smaller home in your neighborhood, you may benefit from exploring the idea of a tiny home community. In recent years, home developers have given more
Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai
Of course, not everyone is able to care for a pet full time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits in other ways. Some people choose to spend time with a family member’s pet, while others like seeing therapy animals at church or a community group. Regardless of how they come into your life, sharing space with an animal can improve your day and overall well-being. ... continued from Page 4
• 1/2 red bell pepper • 3 green onions • 1 large egg • 2 cups bean sprouts
Sauce • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 2 tbsp fish sauce • 3 tbsp ketchup
INGREDIENTS Pad Thai • 2 medium zucchini • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 1/2 lb peeled and deveined shrimp • 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup roasted peanuts • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional) • Lime wedges (optional)
• 1 tsp packed brown sugar • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 tsp chili garlic sauce
DIRECTIONS 1. In small bowl, combine sauce ingredients; set aside. 2. Using vegetable spiralizer, cut zucchini into noodles. 3. Heat large pan on medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil (reserve the other half). 4. Add zucchini noodles; cook for 2–3 minutes. 5. Let noodles rest for about 3 minutes. Remove noodles, drain, then reheat pan.
6. Add remaining olive oil and garlic; cook 30 seconds. 7. Add shrimp; cook 3 minutes. 8. Add bell peppers and green onions; cook 1–2 minutes. 9. Add egg and stir until cooked. 10. Add back zucchini noodles, then add sauce, and cook for 1 minute. Then add bean sprouts. 11. Serve, garnishing with roasted peanuts, cilantro, and lime wedges as desired.
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Inside This Issue 1 Sharing the Heat, One Bowl at a Time 2 A Simple First Step Into AI 3 Downsizing to a Tiny Home Can Save Your Retirement Hopes
3 Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai 4 Companionship With Real Health Perks
A DAILY BOOST FROM ANIMALS How Pets Keep Seniors Feeling Better
If you share your home with a pet, you probably don’t need a study to tell you they are good for you. Still, researchers have found that animals can help older adults handle stress and feel less lonely. They can even improve your health. For many people in their later years, a pet is more than company. It is a daily source of meaning, connection, and energy. As life changes with retirement, kids moving out, or the loss of a spouse, it’s easy for days to feel quieter than they used to. A pet can give you reason to get up and move and help you stay engaged. Feeding, brushing, and caring for an animal creates a simple routine and sense of being needed. That feeling matters at any age, but it can be especially important in this season of life.
hello. People at the park ask about the dog’s name or age. Even short chats like that break up the day and keep you feeling part of things. At home, a pet keeps the house from feeling too quiet. It’s nice to come back to a wagging tail or a soft purr instead of an empty room. Taking care of a pet can give your energy a gentle lift, too. A short walk with a dog gets you outside and moving. Grooming a cat or tossing a toy across the room may not feel like exercise, but it gets you out of the chair. Time with a pet can even calm your nerves and lighten your mood. Some seniors also find deep joy in adopting an older shelter pet. Giving a good home to an animal that might otherwise be overlooked can be a powerful way to add purpose and warmth to everyday life.
Pets can also help you stay connected. A dog on a leash is a natural conversation starter. Neighbors stop to say
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