In elementary school I can remember writing a story entitled “What Autumn Means to Me.” At that point it meant collecting colorful leaves, thinking meals in the field were fun and riding my bike as much as possible before the snow came.
For many of us, autumn now means going back to school or work, long hours of harvesting, beginning service club meetings and driving the kids to after-school activities. We become very busy and there never seem to be enough hours in the day. Here are some suggestions to help overcome the stress.
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- Find time to be alone regularly. This will allow you to identify your goals, values, needs and wants. Listen to your heart and your instincts.
- Learn a relaxation technique to revitalize, such as deep breathing. Proper breathing requires deep abdominal breaths. Many of us breathe inefficiently, taking shallow breaths from the upper chest cavity. Put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe a few times and see which hand moves with your usual breathing. By taking deep abdominal breaths, your body is able to associate with the deep sleeping state, a good way to reduce stress. I remember vividly learning to breathe deeply in prenatal classes.
- Do something each day that you love to do, something that is refreshing.
- When something is bothering you, talk to someone trustworthy or write down your feelings. You will feel a sense of relief.
- Get some exercise.
- Be assertive, learn to say no effectively.
- See the positive side in everything you do.
- Learn that change is a part of life we must accept and adapt. Remember the saying “Accept the things that you cannot change, and change the things you can.”
- Get in touch with nature. Watch a sunset, listen to the birds, watch the clouds rolling by. (Farmers are experts at this.)
- Do not put off unpleasant tasks like filing mail or doing dishes. These chores have to be done.
- Focus your attention by doing one thing at a time.
- Never be afraid to admit you do not know something. Asking for help shows you are open-minded, honest and willing to learn.
- Delegate responsibility since you cannot do everything yourself.
- Be an active listener. Accept other people’s views and never judge.
- Choose a creed to live by. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything.
- Learn to laugh and learn from your mistakes. A sense of humor goes a long way.
- Be realistic and flexible when setting your schedule.
- Moderate sugar, salt, alcohol and caffeine intake.
- If you are at a point where there is no light at the end of the tunnel, seek professional help.
- Use color to enhance your environment. For example, blue evokes calmness and is perfect for a bedroom, green gives a sense of comfort, relaxation and quietness and is good in the study or den, while yellow stimulates the memory.
- Listen to your favorite music.
- Live in the present and dream of the future. There is nothing you can do about the past.
I’ll conclude with a quote from my grandfather: “A lifetime is a short experience.” So have fun, laugh and live each day to the fullest. Have you heard anyone thinking back over their lives saying “I should have spent more time at the office?”
Canning corn
Dear TEAM: I am looking for a recipe on canning corn that is put in the oven to bake. – Innisfree, Alta.
Dear Reader: This is a delicious recipe that my mother-in-law makes each year.
Strip 18 large cobs of corn to half fill a medium size roaster.
Add one pound (450 g) of butter, two cups (500 mL) of cream milk and 3Ú4 cup (175 mL) of sugar to the corn. Mix and bake covered in 350 F (180 C) oven for 90 minutes. Stir occasionally. Cool and freeze.
Magic rocks
Dear TEAM: Could you please print a recipe for homemade magic rocks for kids? – Y.M., Yorkton, Sask.
Dear Y.M.: TEAM has located many recipes for magic rocks, also known as a coal garden, coal flowers or a crystal garden. Thank you to all the readers who phoned and sent recipes. We really appreciate your participation.
Coal flowers
Put coal pieces into a glass dish. Mix:
1 tablespoon red 15 mL
ink
1 tablespoon bluing 15 mL
2 tablespoons salt 30 mL
3 tablespoons 45 mL
ammonia
3 tablespoons cold 45 mL
water
Pour over coal. Every second day, add one tablespoon (15 mL) of water and one teaspoon (5 mL) salt.
Recipe wanted
Dear TEAM: I wonder if someone would have a recipe for pickled eggs? – E.P., Medicine Hat, Alta.
Dear E.P.: This is a recipe my mom makes. As a child I thought pickled eggs were terrible. I pinched my nose each time someone opened the jar. I have now acquired a taste for them.
Pickled eggs
Place eggs in a pot filled with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and when the eggs have cooled, peel off the shells. This process will keep the yolks from going dark.
Place eggs in the desired container and pour over them one of the following solutions:
Solution 1
Use equal amounts of water and vinegar to cover eggs for a mild solution.
Solution 2
6 bay leaves 6
1Ú2 teaspoon 1 mL
peppercorns
4 cups vinegar 1 L
1 cup water 250 mL
1 tablespoon sugar 15 mL
2 teaspoons salt 10 mL
1 medium onion 1
(optional)
Simmer the above for five minutes and cool. Pour over eggs and let stand for 24 hours.
Preserves
Here are some of my favorites.
Pickled beets
Use sliced or whole small beets.
Cook and peel beets and add the following:
2 cups water 500 mL
2 cups vinegar 500 mL
2 cups sugar 500 mL
1 tablespoon 15 mL
cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves 5 mL
1 teaspoon allspice 5 mL
1 tablespoon salt 15 mL
juice from one lemon
Simmer 15 minutes and bottle.
Sunset jam
2 pounds pears 900 g
chopped fine
1 cup crushed 250 mL
pineapple
3Ú4 cup drained 175 mL
chopped maraschino cherries
juice from one lemon
71Ú2 cups sugar 1.75 L
Mix well and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Boil hard for one minute while stirring. Remove from heat. Add two pouches of Certo. Skim the top for five minutes and seal. Makes six pints.
