Odessa American

01/18/2026

People grow houseplants for all kinds of reasons. They provide a connection to nature and can make a room feel more inviting. They’re also pretty. And if pretty is what you’re after, I’ve got some lookers for you.

Some of the most striking houseplants are succulents with unusual leaves. Unlike blooms that fade, unique foliage can steal the show year-round.

By JESSICA DAMIANO The Associated Press People grow houseplants for all kinds of reasons. They provide a connection to nature and can make a room feel more inviting. They’re also pretty. And if pretty is what you’re after, I’ve got some lookers for you. Some of the most striking houseplants ar...

01/18/2026

Brighten your home’s décor and elevate your mood by adding a few flowering plants to your indoor garden. You may be surprised to find a wide array of flowering plants that will bloom when they are grown indoors. Match the plant to the growing conditions and your maintenance style for ease of care and greatest success.

By Melinda Myers Brighten your home’s décor and elevate your mood by adding a few flowering plants to your indoor garden. You may be surprised to find a wide array of flowering plants that will bloom when they are grown indoors. Match the plant to the growing conditions and your maintenance style...

01/18/2026

Gardeners use lots of abbreviations, and we have previously written about a few of them: NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium); IPM (Integrated Pest Management). But I am coining a new one for my 2025 gardening year: NQR or Not Quite Right. And I am using what I observed in my 2025 garden to plan for my 2026 gardening year.

By Emmy Ulmschneider Permian Basin Master Gardener Gardeners use lots of abbreviations, and we have previously written about a few of them: NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium); IPM (Integrated Pest Management). But I am coining a new one for my 2025 gardening year: NQR or Not Quite Right. And I am...

01/18/2026

I have written before on the topic of Facebook, and why it’s a bad idea to respond to those posts that solicit a prayer for some poor child, or that challenge you to name a song without some letter in the title. In fact, I.G.T.M. Issue #500, one of the most popular of the column’s past issues, dealt with this subject in some depth. Like all issues, it is still in the archives on my website, and it’s worth a read, even though I’m going to cover much of the information in today’s issue.

I have written before on the topic of Facebook, and why it’s a bad idea to respond to those posts that solicit a prayer for some poor child, or that challenge you to name a song without some letter in the title. In fact, I.G.T.M. Issue #500, one of the most popular of the column’s [...]

01/18/2026

Flash, a 1-year-old male Great Dane mix, needs to be adopted into a good home. To adopt Flash or any of the other pets at the Humane Society of Odessa, stop by 2230 W. Sycamore, call 432-257-4311, visit www.odessahumanesociety.org or leave a message at facebook.com/humanesocietyofodessa/. The Humane...

01/18/2026

Tigger, a 4-year-old male lab mix, needs to be adopted into a good home. To adopt Tigger or any of the other pets at the Humane Society of Odessa, stop by 2230 W. Sycamore, call 432-257-4311, visit www.odessahumanesociety.org or leave a message at facebook.com/humanesocietyofodessa/. The Humane Soci...

01/18/2026

Meet our Pet of the Week, Covey! Covey is a truly special guy looking for a soft place to land. At 11 years young, Covey is the definition of chill: calm, gentle, and overflowing with love. This very orange, very fluffy gentleman adores cuddles and is just as happy giving affection as he is receivin...

01/18/2026

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair were brought together by football, but it is a relationship forged by faith.

Anderson, a Christian, and Al-Shaair, a Muslim, didn’t let religious differences divide them. Instead, they leaned into their shared piousness to build a bond through faith that has paid dividends both on and off the field.

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair were brought together by football, but it is a relationship forged by faith. Anderson, a Christian, and Al-Shaair, a Muslim, didn’t let religious differences divide them. Instea...

01/18/2026

God made Abram some promises and they belong to us too. All who are born again are sons of Abraham because we were grafted into the Olive Tree [Romans 11]. We can claim all of the promises God gave to Abraham.

By Jannie Linney God made Abram some promises and they belong to us too. All who are born again are sons of Abraham because we were grafted into the Olive Tree [Romans 11]. We can claim all of the promises God gave to Abraham. “Now, the Lord said to Abram: Get out of your country, [...]

01/18/2026

Memories of my school years bring back nightmares of boredom. Bored was not a word I would have dared use. Had it been, an immediate task would have been issued to end that awful condition!

By Van Yandell Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Memories of my school years bring back nightmares of boredom. Bored was not a word I would have dared use. Had it been, an immediate task would have been issued [...]

01/17/2026

It’s usually a “ho-hum” thing when my Uncle Mort calls. If it’s about business, I make sure to “think monkey” in front of it.

Recently, his “jabber” included details of his “blind hog luck” while fetching groceries from the thicket’s general store. His visit coincided with the arrival of the bread truck, this time with a trainee.

It’s usually a “ho-hum” thing when my Uncle Mort calls. If it’s about business, I make sure to “think monkey” in front of it. Recently, his “jabber” included details of his “blind hog luck” while fetching groceries from the thicket’s general store. His visit coincided with the ...

01/17/2026

Crowded cities get bumped down the wishlist as travelers trade packed itineraries and constant pings for dirt trails and open skies. Nature-based travel keeps winning over Americans craving real rest, from farm stays that tie meals to the land to hikes that leave room to wander without an exhausting checklist. For many travelers, nature now doubles as the best spa on the map, no reservation required and no phone signal in sight.

By Jennifer Allen Crowded cities get bumped down the wishlist as travelers trade packed itineraries and constant pings for dirt trails and open skies. Nature-based travel keeps winning over Americans craving real rest, from farm stays that tie meals to the land to hikes that leave room to wander wit...