When I was a kid, I always used to wonder how in the world my father worked outside in the winter without a coat. It could be minus 20 degrees centigrade and there'd be Dad, removing snow, or perhaps chopping(砍) some wood — his coat thrown aside — wearing a shirt, a cap, and a pair of gloves.

    “Aren't you cold, Dad?” I'd ask. “No,” Dad would reply. “I'm not cold—working too hard to be cold.”

    Many times I wondered whether my father was an extremely tough man, or whether he was foolish.

    One time when I was quite young, perhaps five or so, I went ice fishing with Dad. It was a bright, clear day—and bitterly cold.

    After we'd been out on the ice for a little while, my feet started getting cold.

    “Daddy, my feet are cold.” I said.

    “Yeah, it's cold out here today,” he replied.

    “Tell you what,” he said. “Walk around. Make some circles in the snow. See how many different patterns you can make. That will get your feet warm.”

    I was just a little girl at the time but I remember thinking, “How in the world will walking around in the snow make my feet warm? Dad must be out of mind.”

    But he was my father, after all. I made circles in the snow. I made squares. Pretty soon I was having so much fun making patterns in the snow. I forgot about my feet being cold.

    Now, all these years later, I know, too, from personal experience how my father was able to take his coat off and work outside in the winter wearing just a shirt, a cap and gloves. Because I do it, too. “Aren't you cold?” my husband asked one winter day. “No,” I replied. “I'm not cold—working too hard to be cold.”

    I hope my husband has decided I'm both tough and smart. But I guess quite a bit of the time he thinks I'm foolish.

    Wherever Dad is on that great big farm in the sky—I'm sure he can't help but smile whenever I take my coat off while I'm working outside in the winter.

    A good hiking trip should be planned out ahead of time. Whether it is a hike on a mountain trail or through the woods, an enjoyable hiking trip can easily turn into a dangerous situation if safety is not considered well. North Mountain State Park recommends hikers consider the following tips before hitting any trails:

    Make a copy of your itinerary to give to a family member or a friend. Make sure that someone close to you knows where you are and how long you will be gone.

    Wear a good pair of hiking boots or strong athletic shoes. The right shoes will keep you safe, warm, and comfortable.

    Prepare for various types of weather conditions. Check the forecast before you leave; take along sunglasses and extra clothing (e.g., a hat and /or a jacket for a day hike).

    Pack plenty of food and water. Consider how long your hike will be and pack accordingly.

    Pack basic and necessary supplies. Bring a first-aid kit, a flashlight, a pocket knife, a map of the area (if available), and a compass. You may need other supplies, such as matches, depending on how long your hike will be.

    Determine what time the sun sets. This information is available in most local newspapers. Most people become lost after nightfall, so it is important to know this information.

    Stay on properly marked trails. Stay on established trails to decrease the chances of becoming lost. Staying on established trails also lowers the risk of doing harm to rare and endangered plants.

    Carry a whistle(哨子). Using a loud whistle is a good way to call attention to your location if you get lost.

    Keep an eye out for wildlife. Do not approach animals in the wild, even if they seem friendly.

    The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (WSPRC) manages a diverse system of more than 120 parks. The 90-year-old park system, which receives nearly 48 million visits a year, ranks 4th nationally in day-use attendance, 10th in overnight attendance, and the WSPRC has a smaller budget than most states.

    Children's books are everywhere. New ones, old ones, made-into-movie ones. It seems as if the children's publishing industry is developing rapidly. Here are some books every young child should have in their book diet.

    The Peter Rabbit books by Beatrix Potter

    It's best to have a copy of the original stories, with the original drawings done by Beatrix Potter herself. In The Tale of Peter Rabbit are the delightful tales of Peter Rabbit. Included in the series are also cute little stories about mice. These books have sweet stories that teach lessons.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

    Dr. Seuss is, of course, the master of children's literature. Dr. Seuss teaches children to play with language and have a good time reading. The pictures are wonderful and inspire lots of fun questions. Big kids will like re-reading Dr. Seuss along with their younger sisters and brothers.

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

    The story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard is shown by simple pencil drawings that help children use their imaginations. The story explores the city of Boston as the Mallards look for a place to get their ducklings safely across the city. Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack are good examples of obedience(顺从) as they follow Mrs. Mallard through the city.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar(毛虫) and other books by Eric Carle

    The Eric Carle books have delightful pictures, full of bright colors and interesting detail. In The Very Hungry Caterpillar, children see the life cycle of a butterfly through the eyes of a caterpillar that is hungry. The children will laugh at all the food the caterpillar eats and be overjoyed by the beautiful butterfly at the end. All the Eric Carle books are fun for kids and parents, with simple ideas and beautiful art.

    There are many children's books available, and this list is only the beginning. However, these are all essential to a good children's library.

    Believe it or not, we all have an inner-child living inside of us. One of the greatest problems is people's desire to silence the inner-child. Instead, welcoming this voice to the conversation can be very beneficial and help you in many areas of your life.

    Why is it so important to listen to your inner child?

    Do you remember you wanted to be an adult more than anything else when you were young? But now you're an adult, and do you ever find yourself thinking, "I wish I were a kid again?" That's where your inner-child comes in. That's the voice inside of you telling you to have fun, be silly and let loose. Adult life is full of important responsibilities, but once in a while you just have to let go and have fun like a child. It's healthy and good for the soul to not take things so seriously all the time.

    We can tell bad choices and mistakes of the past, but unless you help your inner-child heal and recover, planning for the future will always be difficult. The inner-child will relive these painful experiences until you learn to accept them, forgive and let go. We must show love and acceptance to our inner-child, as this is the only way to heal, move on and not continue to suffer from the pain of these unpleasant times. This is the opportunity to go back in time and let you know just how wonderful, beautiful and special you truly are.

    One of the most common times your inner-child is likely to appear is when you're facing a decision you are unsure about. Naturally, when we were children, doubt and uncertainty scared many of us. So, it's no surprise that when faced with these moments as adults, the inner-child decides to show up. Don't let this scare you; instead, listen to that voice as it is trying to guide you in the decision-making process. Ask it questions, speak with it.

    When you can start to see your inner-child as your partner who helps guide you through this crazy life, it's amazing what can happen. Don't fight it. Go with it and see how it changes your life for the better.

    LONDON­Britain prepares for a vote Thursday that will decide whether it leaves the European Union. The debate has centered on immigration and economic security. Both sides have lowered the tone of their arguments after a three­day suspension(暂停) of campaigning that followed the murder of an anti­Brexit lawmaker, an incident that polls(民意调查) suggest has shocked many previously undecided voters who now say they will vote to remain.

    These are uncertain times in a nation whose economy is the second largest in the European Union. The risks are huge. There are warnings that leaving the 28­member group may cause the British pound to lose 15 percent of its value and bring the resignation(辞职) of David Cameron, the country's prime minister; his stay or not depends on whether Britain listens to him and votes to remain.

    For months, the Leave campaign has been hitting the streets. Its arguments are based largely on immigration, and the belief that Britain has handed control of its borders(边界) to a European super state: "The U.K. has lost control over migration. We have to accept anyone into this country if they have an EU passport, no matter if they have a criminal record or not. We are not allowed to say 'no' to people and that is damaging for the security of the U.K., but it is also putting pressure on jobs and opportunities for young people," said Tom Harwood, a Brexit campaigner.

    The murder of Jo Cox, an anti­Brexit, pro­immigrant lawmaker by a far right extremist(极端分子) with a history of mental problems had a serious effect on both campaigns, and on voters.

    Polls since the June 16th murder showed the Leave camp losing ground, but with both sides still very close on a referendum(全民投票) that many believe could change the course of European history.