Second Careers

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2007/02/Plants.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1082;s:4:"file";s:18:"2007/02/Plants.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-768x433.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Plants-1536x866.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:866;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Plants-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-552x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:552;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Plants-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:2629036;s:14:"optimized_size";i:570797;s:7:"percent";d:78.290000000000006;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:46:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/02/Plants.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:2624297;s:14:"optimized_size";i:566117;s:7:"percent";d:78.430000000000007;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:5:"large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/02/Plants-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4739;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4680;s:7:"percent";d:1.24;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1637576625 
1171843200

 

Nine years ago, when Barbara and Fred Muenzmay began to plan for retirement, they didn’t buy a garden home on a golf course or downsize to a smaller house close to family. Instead, they bought 20 acres in the sleepy town of Rockford, Alabama,
because Barbara and Fred wanted to keep working – or at least keep busy. They viewed retirement as a time for growth and fulfillment and the extra income from opening an organic herb farm was an added bonus.

Barbara and Fred didn’t necessarily plan on owning a farm. Fred had majored in Agriculture at Penn State, but then spent 40 years in sales for the welding industry. Barbara took care of their children and taught piano lessons on the side. They had moved many times during Fred’s career in sales and both were ready to put down some roots, literally.

“I’ve always loved flowers and planting. Fred grew up working in a greenhouse in Pittsburgh and I worked in a florist shop.”

Barbara and Fred knew they wanted to stay in a warm climate and be “somewhere in the middle” of their three children who are scattered from British Columbia to Washington, D.C. to Florida. A friendly community and access to quality healthcare were also important factors.

(Fred) “I said to her, you pick the state and you can even pick the property.”

They eventually settled on land in Alabama and kept busy planting their personal garden. But the hobby morphed into something more. Today’s baby boomers are redefining what it means to grow old in the U.S. They’re living longer, have lower rates of disability, higher levels of education and are less likely to live in poverty.

The Muenzmay’s admit their farm – Eagles Roost – isn’t a big money making venture. It’s more of a passion they share. The farm was so well received by the local community, the couple has branched out and opened a small herb and gift shop in a former gas station in the heart of downtown. Barbara says she really enjoys working with the public, particularly her regulars.<?p>

“Being in the store, one of the happy times for me is when someone asks for an herb, and it’s an unusual herb, and we have it and they just about jump over the counter, I’m real pleased.”

Barbara and Fred have operated Eagles Roost for almost a decade now and there are no plans to retire any time soon. Each admits it takes a lot of work and responsibility. At any point, have they ever said, ‘What were we thinking’?

“Daily!” Fred laughs. “No, there isn’t a word of regret. We are blessed every day. You sit here on this old front porch and you look out at the cardinals and cat birds and the mockingbirds and we see that beautiful flower just opening on the magnolia. All these things are just sitting right outside your front door and it’s enough to give you initiative to have a great day.”

Fred’s advice for others who are considering working during retirement: Start by doing things you love and forget about everything else.

 

 

United Nations nuclear agency again condemns Iran for failing to fully cooperate

The resolution comes after the agency said Iran has defied demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Alabama carries out nation’s 3rd nitrogen gas execution

An Alabama man convicted in the 1994 killing of a hitchhiker cursed at the prison warden shortly before he was put to death Thursday evening in the nation's third execution using nitrogen gas.

Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general

After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.

Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth

The woman who accused then-Fox News host of sexual assault in 2017 said that she "remembered saying 'no' a lot," according to a police report. Hegseth is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense.

Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes

Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.

In Birmingham, Black men’s groups work to save young men from the cycle of gun violence

As the city inches closer to its homicide record, community members are trying to address a sense of fatalism and lack of opportunity felt by some young men.

More News Coverage