Autumn Pick Me Ups

I love the change of seasons, in particular the spectacular display of color as the leaves change from green to yellow, red, and orange. While I revel in the beauty of creation, it is also a time of realizing that another year is nearly gone. I like winter until Christmas then I am ready to move to the tropics! I am not a winter person. The older I get, the less I like the cold weather. I try not to let the anticipation of that dreaded season get the better of me, keeping me from enjoying autumn, so I have learned to appreciate special things about this season. Maybe these suggestions will get your creative juices flowing, so that you can have a super fall season.

 

Spend more time outdoors. Take advantage of the cooler temperatures to ride your bike, hike, take a walk, go on picnics, fish, plant fall flowers in your yard, or anything else that you like to do outside. The fresh, cool air is invigorating. You will find you have more endurance to do things now then you did in the heat of the summer.

 

Go to a festival It isn’t hard to find a festival, street fair, or county fair to attend in the autumn. Schools, churches, and civic organizations have fall festivals. In our area, we have the National Storytelling Festival the first weekend of October. Storytellers from around the nation converge in the little town of Jonesborough, Tennessee, with several thousand attendees, to tell tall tales from their heritage. Folk lore, ghost stories, tales from the Appalachian Mountains, both true and homespun is all part of the festival.

 

Go to a football game So what if you’re not a football fan. Support your local high school or college football team. The games are outdoors, so you get fresh air. Grab a banner and you might find that you’ll get your rah rah on! Besides, you can get warm with a cup of hot cocoa.

Have a party Parties and barbeques aren’t just for summer or Halloween. There are so many neat themes you can do for an autumn party. Pumpkins, mums, candles, buckets, hay, fodder, and gingham are great to decorate with. Hearty stews and soups served in a bowl carved from a pumpkin, or gourd, are decorative and fun. String up the lights on your deck, trees, anywhere you want. Make a campfire and make S’ Mores. It’s fun for everyone. There’s just something about the aroma of wood smoke filling the air that refreshes the spirit. After dark, gather around and tell stories, or show an outdoor movie.

Curl up with a good book. What a great time to read! Cover up with your favorite afghan, cozy up to the fire, and break open a new book. Keep some popcorn close by, and enjoy your day.

 

Autumn doesn’t have to be a time of depression and adjustment. It can be fun and care free, too.

Image courtesy of http://www.freerange.com

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Help for Heartburn

Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, is a very common ailment. It causes a burning sensation in the chest and throat. Some people experience extreme episodes, where the symptoms resemble those of a heart attack.

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid washes from the stomach to the esophagus, irritating the tissue of the esophagus. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious problems, such as esophageal cancer.

I have been blessed with the ailment for several years. Here are some things I have done to control it. Maybe they will work for you, too.

1. Elevate the head of your bed. We put 4” blocks under the headboard, to slightly elevate our heads above our chest. This will avoid the unpleasantness of having acid reflux, while lying down.

2. Avoid eating trigger foods or drinking trigger drinks. I know from experience that when I eat a lot of chocolate that I am going to suffer from acid reflux. Drinking sodas, particularly with caffeine is a no can do for me. Orange juice and other acidic drinks will bring on the acid. Spicy foods can contribute to heartburn as well.

3. Control your weight. Losing a few pounds will go a long way to reducing stomach acid backwash, as the stomach won’t be so trapped in the layers.

4. Don’t overeat. Exactly where do you think that excess acid is going to go, once you have stuffed your stomach full? Eat smaller meals, and stop before you feel full.

5. Take a dose of white vinegar. A tablespoon down the hatch! That’s right! My sister-in-law does this regularly, and she no longer has acid reflux/heartburn. I’m working on getting up the nerve to try it. I hate the taste of vinegar!

If after trying these remedies, you still have frequent bouts with heartburn, please see your physician for closer examination and medication.

Image by FreeRange

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