Elkins Dental - June 2020

Elkins Dental - June 2020

FOR A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILE

ELKINSDENTAL.COM JUNE 2020

BACK TO MY ROUTINE

Spaceships, Raspberries, and Almost-Finished Guitars

H ello there! Can you believe it’s June? Spring flew by. I’m grateful for warmer weather and sunnier days, and I know my family is too! The older kids have been working, but for the younger kids, it’s been tough to stay entertained. Now that it’s warmer, they can play outside a lot more, and I think that’s been good for all of us. It felt awesome to step back into the office and see my team and patients again at the beginning of May. I have to admit, in addition to missing everyone at the office, I was starting to miss my routine. There’s something really great about getting up early and working out first thing — it makes me feel like I’ve already gotten the day off to a successful start. It’s funny because I don't know that I ever would have told you I’d miss early mornings, or early morning workouts, before all this. But I guess that’s the thing about going through something like we all have — it makes you realize some of the things you’ve been taking for granted, and it helps you appreciate them a little more. In case you’re wondering about the status of that guitar I’m building for my friend, it’s going great! The guitar itself just has to sit for a few more weeks to let the hard coat set before I can polish it. It feels awesome to get to this point. It was a fun project to work on. Plus, there’s something really cool about making it with the intention of giving it

away. My friend is really excited for me to send it to him so he can start working on it and put in all the electronics. A guitar wasn’t the only thing I built while I was home. I also built a Millennium Falcon out of LEGOs. It turned out pretty well, don’t you think? I think Evie and Russell were right to look concerned — I would be too if that ship were coming right for me! Besides warmer weather, I’m also looking forward to the fresh produce that this season brings. Beth is usually the one who takes care of the garden in our family. (I’m more likely to run to the store for an orange than to grow one.) But I do have some nice raspberry bushes that I’ve cultivated.They’re pretty easy to plant and keep alive, and it’s really enjoyable to see the fruits of your labors come to fruition.There’s nothing like going to pick a fresh raspberry just out your back door! What are you growing this year? I hope the start of summer brings good things for you and your family. I look forward to seeing you at the office, and until then, be well and enjoy this beautiful time of year!

–Dr. Elkins

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A VOYAGE FOR THE SOUNDS OF EARTH Record Your Own Audio Time Capsule

RECORD YOUR OWNMESSAGE Take inspiration from the Voyager mission by setting out to create a recorded message with your family that can serve as a time capsule for others to enjoy for years to come. As a starting point, ask your kids what they would want to tell future generations or interstellar travelers. What does life on Earth look like to them? Your messages don’t have to be solely futuristic, either. You can record a message to loved ones and have fun sharing it with them.Think of a family member or friend who could use a pick- me-up and create a recording just for them. KEEP IT SIMPLE Most phones and computers have an audio recorder app, and this should be all you need to make a recording. Start by creating your message. You can improvise or write a script beforehand.Then, use your phone or computer to record it.This file can be shared on different platforms and sent to the people you’d like to hear your message. Have fun with this project and think of it as your chance to tell others what life on Earth means to you.

In 1977, a NASA committee led by esteemed astrophysicist and author Carl Sagan set out to record images and sounds from around Earth, which were then enshrined in two copper records that included music, languages, and natural sounds from around the world.The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft carry these records, and since the ‘70s, they have explored space and routinely sent transmissions to Earth about what they have encountered. As Sagan said of the Voyager mission, "The spacecraft will be encountered and the record played only if there are advanced spacefaring civilizations in interstellar space, but the launching of this 'bottle' into the cosmic 'ocean' says something very hopeful about life on this planet.”We may still not have definitive answers about extraterrestrial life, but that doesn’t prevent us from thinking about what we might want to tell others about life on Earth. So, why not make your own recording?

CleanWith Kalie

What We’re Doing to Keep You and Our Team Healthy

When we take a patient back for their reservation, we’re having them do a preprocedure rinse to create an even safer environment. It will just take a minute and be similar to other rinses you’ve done with us. Depending on the type of cleaning we’re doing, we may wear extra face coverings besides our masks, including face shields and, in some cases, shower caps. If you’re wondering why we look a little different during your next visit, that’s why — we’re simply taking extra steps to keep everyone healthy. Our patients are at the forefront of our minds, and we want to do our best for you. At Elkins Dental, we’ve always practiced accepted safety precautions and kept our office to the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness, and that will never change.

Well, it’s good to be back at the office! Like Dr. Elkins said, it’s nice to get back into our routines and see our patients again!

This month, I want to share with you some of the things you can expect from your next visit to Elkins Dental. While most things will look the same, you may notice some important changes. We’re taking extra precautions to keep you and our team healthy and safe during this time. Firstly, we are closely watching the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and following all of their guidelines. We are staggering appointment times so patients aren’t arriving at the same time and there are fewer people in the office. To limit the number of people in the office, we’re also asking patients not to bring in extra escorts. It’s the best thing for everyone right now. We’re asking patients to use their best judgement. If they feel they are at risk or have been exposed to the coronavirus, please keep others in mind and reschedule your reservation.

-Kalie and Caryn –Kalie

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GRILLED BASIL CHICKEN AND TOMATOES

Ingredients

Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

GOOD CHEER Beer lovers, rejoice! Idaho is the world’s largest hop producer, and more and more people are taking advantage of our agricultural bounty by opening breweries in the Treasure Valley. Share a few of these treasures with visiting family members and their only question will be “How did we not come here sooner?” 3. Heat grill to about 350–400 F. Lightly oil grates. Grill chicken until internal temperature re ds 165 F, about 4–6 minutes per side. Grill tomatoes until lightly brown d, about 2–4 minutes per side. Discard remaining marinade. 4. Serve chicken and tomatoes with reserved marinade. • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 clove garlic • 1/2 sp salt • 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves • 8 Roma tomatoes • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 oz each)

MOUNTAIN RANGES Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, we don’t have to go far to find mountaintop winter activities. If skiing or tubing is your idea of winter fun, Bogus Basin is just a short drive away, and heading to McCall makes a fun weekend getaway. ... AND RIVERS Not only are we surrounded by the Payette and Boise rivers, Idaho is also home to the deepest gorge in North America: Hells Canyon. Take that, Arizona!

Out-of-town relatives who are visiting for the holidays might wonder what makes Emmett so special. But we already know the Treasure Valley is full of gems — and we don’t just mean the rocks. Here are some additional reasons Emmett and The Gem State are great. WE’VE GOT SUNSHINE On average, we have 210 sunny days per year. Compare that to 144 rainy days in Portland and we can feel pretty happy about all our free vitamin D. 1. For marinade: In blender, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, vinegar, and basil. Cut 2 tomatoes into quarters and add to mixture. Cover and process until blended. Halve remaining tomatoes for grilling. 2. In bowl, combine chicken and 2/3 cup marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Reserve remaining marinade. Directions

JOKES DAD

"I had a dream that I was a muffler last night. I woke up exhausted!" "Why do chicken coops only have two doors? Because if they had four, they would be chicken sedans!"

DID YOU KNOW?

DONUTS VS. DOUGHNUTS The first Friday in June is National Doughnut Day, a tradition that dates back to World War I and the women who volunteered abroad on behalf of the Salvation Army.They provided food and supplies to soldiers on the front lines, and getting creative with the ingredients they had on hand, innovative volunteers made doughnuts for the soldiers, earning themselves the nickname of Doughnut Lassies. National Doughnut Day was started by the Salvation Army in 1938 to commemorate the efforts of these volunteers.

You may know the delicious treat better as “donut,” a spelling that originated in the 1920s when one doughnut company was looking to

market their product abroad. No matter how you spell it, though, most can agree that these sweet circles of heaven taste just as delicious.

Enjoy a doughnut from your favorite local bakery this month — just be sure to brush your teeth after!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Finding My Routine Again 2. Create Your Own Audio

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

3. Grilled Basil

4.

What to

Chicken and Tomatoes

Do With All

Just in Time for Summer

Time Capsule

Those Boxes

1110 S. Washington Ave. Emmett, ID 83617

Clean With Kalie

Did You Know?

Happy Father's Day From Elkins Dental

208-369-4532 Elkinsdental.com

DELIVERY BOXES PILING UP? 4 Ways to Reuse Instead of Recycle

Cut your boxes into pieces and place them in your compost pile so the carbon combines with the nitrogen from food scraps.The process helps break the pile down into nutrient-rich humus for healthy soil. TOYS OR ART SUPPLIES Kids tend to play with the box their new toy came in rather than the toy itself for a reason. Cardboard boxes spark creativity, and the possibilities are endless! Boxes can be used as forts, spaceships, building blocks, art canvases, and more. Empty boxes can provide hours of fun with a little help from a vivid imagination. STORAGE Boxes are meant for holding items, so use empty ones to organize a cluttered garage or attic or safely store less frequently used items like winter jackets or holiday decorations. If the brown cardboard aesthetic on a shelf just won’t cut it, paint the boxes or wrap them in eye-catching gift wrap, then label them. If you’re not sure how you want to use your boxes, just hold on to them until you’re ready.The beauty of cardboard is that you can break it down, store it easily, and reconstruct the boxes later when you find a use for them.

As more people opt for online shopping, the number of home deliveries is skyrocketing. Almost every item ordered comes in its own cardboard box, and nearly 20% of these boxes end up in landfills, while the other 80% require significant amounts of energy to recycle. Here are four ways to reuse those boxes instead of just tossing them out. GARDEN BED STARTERS

Because cardboard boxes are loaded with carbon and not contaminated by many other chemicals, they’re great for starting new plants or flower beds.They help reduce weeds and protect weak or young plants from the elements, and when the carbon in cardboard combines with the nitrogen in the dirt, a nutrient-rich soil emerges for plants to flourish in. COMPOST Clean corrugated cardboard — what most Amazon boxes are made of — is another great source of useful carbon.

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