Seasonal maladies

The year is winding down now. Christmas is a day and a half away, and the new year rolls in in about a week. Spring is just around the corner...I wish.

It's actually rainy and cold here. We may even be getting some ice by Christmas Eve. At least I don't have to worry about allergy relief for a few more months.  But I really really hate ice and snow!

The rain and dark skies have left me a little depressed. I can handle cold sunny days OK, but when there are several  overcast days in a row, I wind up gloomy and non-productive.

Ah, well, This too shall pass.

Technorati Tags: winter

Beating the winter blues

Winter is definitely a season of long, dark, cold nights and short, often cloudy days in our part of the country. This can lead to depression in some folks. I myself tend to have the winter doldrums if I don't stay active indoors on inclement days.

This seasonal sadness can wind up making us sleep too much, eat too much, or drink too much if we let it. I have my own ways to combat it, though without calling upon North Carolina health insurance plans for medication.

One thing is to turn ON the lights! Yes, I said it out loud. As much as I like saving money on electricity, the truth is that since I use only CFL bulbs in my home, I can actually turn them all on and use only the same amount of power as one 100 watt incandescent bulb. (My fixtures only accommodate one bulb each,) So, I feel comfortable keeping a few lights on in the rooms I'm frequenting during my day or into the evening. I only use about 60 to 75 watts for them, so it's really not bad at all.

Technorati Tags: electricity,compact fluorescent bulbs,cfl,winter

Upcoming tax season

I just got my first Christmas card of the season. It was from the folks who do my taxes! They had already given me a call a few days ago, saying they hadn't raised their rates. This makes, I think, four years in a row that they haven't raised the prices on their tax preparation fees. This kind of assurance and stability in pricing saves me a ton on wrinkle cream - I don't frown and worry so much!

I've been using this local company for about 10 years now. They've always done a good job for me and offered tips about how to save on taxes the next year. They have their office open year 'round in the small town where I work and do most of my other business. If I need to, I can drop by and have them call up any records I need from previous years.

They are a husband and wife, Christians, and treat their clients with respect. They don't try to help anyone cheat on taxes - just get the best refund possible or at least owe a lower tax bill.

A couple of years ago, they were even able to get Son's refund for him. A refund that one of the national chain tax services (you know them, they had failed to pay their own income taxes that year!) had said they'd submitted, but Son never received it. A phone call to the IRS settled the mistake and it was sent within a few days.

This local service has also bought out that national tax service office and has it right next door in the same building, if anyone's interested in using in. Personally, I'm sticking with the folks I know!

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Down time

I was off work Monday, worked Tuesday, and am off work Wednesday and Thursday. I prefer two days off in a row. I really feel like I've had days off then. See, every so often I need some down time. I'm sure you do, too.

So, Wednesday became my "down time day". It's dark and rainy outside, and the weather service is predicting some light snowfall today. It won't stick, but it will add a wintry look to the outdoors.

In the meantime, it's raining but the aroma of the granola in the oven offers warmth to this otherwise dreary, chilly day - pumped throughout the house by the Minka Aire turning lazily overhead. After it's done, I'll indulge in a serving of it. I'll also fix myself a little pot of Earl Grey tea - such a warm, sensuous taste to enjoy on this dark day.

I'll get a few things done as far as housework, but I'm not going anyplace today. That means I can read my magazines, listen to music, and maybe work on a craft.

Just relaxing and being in the moment is enough for me today.

Technorati Tags: winter,tea

Granola

As I write this, I have a batch of granola in the oven. Granola is a comfort food for me, plus it's packed with things that are good for the body. There's no real recipe for it - I just toss it together with what I have on hand. But here's a list of what I'm putting in it today.

• Old fashioned oats (large box)
• Honey
• Wheat germ
• Canola oil
• Cinnamon
• Chopped pecans
• Brown sugar

All this gets mixed, then put into a large pan. You get a feel for how much oil and sweetening to add. You need enough oil to help the oats toast, and enough sweetening to make the taste delicious. I put it in the oven at 350 degrees F., stirring it occasionally, until it's all toasted nicely. When I get it out, I'll let it cool for awhile, then add:

• Craisins
• Raisins
• Dark chocolate chips
• Chopped dates

I'll mix these in and store it all in an airtight container. This granola is tasty eaten out-of-hand, cooked like oatmeal, eat it like cold cereal, or sprinkled on ice cream or yogurt. It's got lots of fiber and antioxidants, plus vitamins and minerals. I don't know that it's a good wrinkle treatment, though, since it makes you smile really big when you eat it!

It's pretty economical to make, and you can add your own favorite dried ingredients. The last four items I listed go in after it's cooled so that they don't get rock hard or, in the case of the chocolate chips, don't melt.

I have put in coconut, other dried fruits, sesame seeds, sunflower nuts, and pine nuts in other batches of it. It just depends on what I have in the pantry.

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