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THE GREAT JULIAN PIE ADVENTURE
Agents For Life
Every fall, a wave of nostalgia sweeps over me, carrying me
motorcycle gang” along the way — nothing like a group of 50 bikers in formation to remind you that your family sedan isn’t quite as cool as you thought. And if you’re going too slow for their liking, get ready for a deafening roar of bikers racing right past you. Now, the main event: the pies. Walking into Julian was like entering a fragrant bake-off, where the scent of cinnamon waged war with apple and butter in the best possible way. The town boasts two prodigious pie producers: Julian Pie Company and Mom’s Pie House. Sierra and I are die-hard Julian Pie Company fans — no family feuds here, thankfully. She’s all about the Boysenberry Apple Crumb, with its layers of boysenberries and tart Granny Smith apples topped off with a crisp crumble topping. Meanwhile, I will
back to Julian, California — a place where pie is practically a competitive sport and the leaves dare to change, giving Southern Californians a taste of real autumn. Living now in Kentucky with my own family, I find myself regaling them with tales of this mythical town where apples seem to fall from the sky and pies are a form of currency. Julian is this charming little dot on the map right at the edge of San Diego County, a stone’s throw from the sprawling Anza Borrego desert. It’s our perfect little slice of fall, complete with a scenic drive-through landscape that belongs in a John Wayne movie. Picture this: meandering roads, majestic oaks, and local cattle giving you the stink eye as you pass by. The journey there was half the adventure. My wife, Sierra, and I would always play “spot the
Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
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Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@seniorhealth.pro
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(502) 966-7810
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mission to devour pie and ice cream for breakfast. The whole family would wander through family-owned orchards to pluck apples or meander through quaint shops seeking out vintage treasures. Sometimes they were lucky enough to toss snowballs instead of apples, a rare treat before they journeyed home, their car laden with extra pies and cinnamon-sugar- dusted pie dough cookies. Surprisingly, a curious historical tidbit ties our Kentucky home to Julian’s past. Back in 1869, a Kentucky native named Fred Coleman, once enslaved, struck gold in Julian’s creeks. This sparked a 60-year gold rush and laid the foundations for a community that would cultivate not just precious metals but prized apples.
While we could have Julian’s perfect pies delivered to us (which, let’s be honest, carry a “luxury tax” once you factor in shipping), there’s nothing like the real deal. It’s been over a decade since our last visit, but Julian is calling us back. I’ve promised the kids a trip to the land of eternal autumn and pies. After all, who wouldn’t want to see their dad in his element, waxing poetic over pastry in the crisp mountain air? So, someday soon, we might just find ourselves loading up the car for a pie pilgrimage. Because some things, like the pursuit of the perfect pie, are worth traveling for.
always pledge allegiance to the Apple Mountain Berry Crumb, which I believe is an upgraded version, with its bountiful blend of raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries instead of boysenberries. Eating pie in Julian brings everyone down to earth — even the burliest, beardiest biker who zoomed past you just an hour ago can be seen savoring a slice with a dainty fork, temporarily forgetting the roaring road. Sierra’s own childhood stories paint a picture as vivid as the season’s hues. Every autumn, her father would wake her up at dawn — not for chores or errands, but for a sunrise
–Kevin Bennett
Relax and Recharge
Creative Ways to Enjoy Retirement
Retirees are the envy of their peers; they have the time and ability to pursue their hobbies and interests unhindered by a 9-to-5 work schedule. However, retirement can sometimes feel a bit empty. How do retirees fill their newfound spare time in a rewarding and interesting way? Luckily, there are some wonderful hobbies that can help them explore their creative side. From planting seeds to saying “Cheese,” here are some hobbies for retirees. Gardening While this is not a hobby many would traditionally consider “creative,” gardening is actually a great way for homeowners to express their creative vision and bring a yard from merely maintained to vibrant and spectacular. It also helps maintain physical and mental wellness, by focusing on a task that requires both knowledge and skill with your hands to do well. Best of all, the exercise is low-impact, and you get to witness the positive evolution of your yard while growing healthier yourself. You can see
as the seeds you’ve buried, the water you’ve poured, and the branches you have pruned contribute to an active, growing, and successful yard-sized environment. Sculpting There are few things more satisfying than turning an inert block of clay into a work of art. Sculpting is a great way to work with your hands and develop a skill that allows you to create your own decor, cups, plates, and other crafts. It can be adapted to fit your own personal needs or to make memorable gifts for friends and family. Photography In retirement, you finally have time to soak up the air and chew on the scenery. Photography allows you to display your appreciation of the world around you while capturing your perspective through a camera lens. Whether you are taking shots of wonderful natural vistas or engaging portraits, the photos will bear your personal touch and bring still images to life.
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Although the holiday season often enables us to reconnect with friends and loved ones in person, maintaining that spirit of tangible togetherness all year can often be a struggle. Sure, social media is fine for “likes,” but nothing beats sitting down with people whose company you enjoy. If you’re looking for a new way to stay connected with family members, friends from college, old work colleagues, or anyone else within a reasonable travel distance, starting a dinner club may be perfect! TIPS FOR LAUNCHING YOUR OWN DINNER CLUB Gather, Savor, Repeat
interest you also love (classic movies, model airplanes, etc.), or you have a group of old friends you’d love to catch up with over a great meal. The trick is to be mindful of your club’s membership size. Ideally, it should be large enough for guests to connect with several friends or new people but small enough to ensure intimacy. Choosing Your Dinner Destination Determining the best settings for your dinner club gatherings is key to their success. For example, hosting them at members’ homes on a revolving basis (with the host or other members doing the cooking) would help the invitees avoid cramming into a noisy restaurant and having to shout at each other while seated at a long table. Matching Mood and Menu Coming up with interesting themes for each meal adds a thrill to the festivities. Maybe one of your members would like to give cooking a vegan meal a try. Perhaps another member would love to share an amazing recipe they picked up while vacationing in Mexico. The possibilities are endless! No matter how you structure your dinner club, the goal is to have fun and spend time with wonderful people. Bon appétit!
Conceptualizing Your Club There are no hard-and-fast rules to creating and
maintaining a dinner club. You could start by giving your club a fancy name and deciding how often it should meet. From there, think about the people you want to invite. For example, maybe you know people who share a particular
Spinach, Lentil, and Roasted Beet Salad
DIRECTIONS
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1. Preheat oven to 400 F and grease a rimmed baking sheet. 2. To a small saucepan over medium- high heat, add lentils and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20–30 minutes uncovered until all liquid is absorbed. Set aside. 3. Add leeks and beets to the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake 15–20 minutes. For crispier beets, bake for an additional 10–15 minutes. Set aside. 4. In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients until combined. 5. In a larger serving bowl, combine
outdoors, or at the gym, and it is adaptable, so it can meet your strength and fitness level. Pickleball Pickleball is a low-impact sport that is exceedingly popular among older adults. It is similar to tennis but with a lighter ball and racket. Like chess, it is easy to learn but difficult to master. It can be played in singles or doubles, so you can exercise with a partner! The best thing about pickleball is that its difficulty is based on your opponent, and it’s a great way to make friends.
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup green lentils, rinsed • 1 cup vegetable stock or water • 3 medium leeks, chopped • 1 medium beet, quartered • 1–2 tbsp olive oil • 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper • 4 big handfuls of spinach Dressing • 1/4 cup tahini • 1/2 medium lemon, juiced • 2 tbsp maple syrup • 3–4 tbsp olive oil • 1 pinch each salt and pepper
spinach, beets, leeks, and lentils. Add dressing and toss to coat.
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Inside This Issue 1 Discover Flavorful Fall Pies in SoCal Town 2 Enjoy Retirement Creatively 3 How to Make a Meal a Lasting Memory 3 Spinach, Lentil, and Roasted Beet Salad 4 Fun and Easy Exercises
FUN FITNESS EASY EXERCISES TO KEEP YOU MOVING
The importance of regular exercise — especially for the older folks among us ― cannot be overstated. According to research published in BioMed Research International, physical activity improves mental well-being and quality of life. On top of that, being physically fit helps protect us against heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. None of that changes the fact that exercise can be grueling, miserable, and generally inconvenient. However, there are fun ways to exercise that reap the same benefits.
Here are some fun, engaging activities to help you stay physically active and mentally fit.
until you are on your tip toes, then slowly lower yourself back down.
Toe Lifts This simple exercise helps
Farmer’s Walk If you want to make strides toward being physically fit, then the farmer’s walk may be the perfect exercise for you. Best of all, it is simple and easy to do. While holding dumbbell weights in each hand, walk forward slowly. Then, turn around and walk back. You can do it at home,
strengthen your ankles and improve the strength of your leg’s tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Also vital, it can help strengthen your Achilles tendon, which is the largest and most important tendon we have. To do toe lifts, simply hold onto a chair, stand up slowly, and place your feet hip-width apart. Raise your heels
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