— H —" Family Living I Focus I by Schuylkill Co. I I Extension Agent [ j I Yvonne M. Szpara Healthy Practices For The Holiday Season Get Outside For Some Fresh Air And Exercise “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate cloth ing” that’s what they say in Swe den. They take their children outside to play summer and win ter even in subzero tempera tures and the children are healthier for it! Children need fresh air and vigorous exercise every day. They can’t get either one if they stay inside ail day. Most of us keep our homes tightly closed during the winter months to save on energy costs, and the air in side becomes stale. Getting out side for some fresh air renews vigor, clears the brain, and helps children function better. Exercise has the same effect as the blood reaches our brains more quickly and clears the sys tem. Children eat better, sleep Butterball Turkey Talk The Butterball Turkey Talk- every caller. Forty-eight profes- tion by calling 800-323-4848 sistance and e-mail, Nov.-Dee. Line is the source for reliable tur- sionally trained home economists (English and Spanish); 22. key information. This season, and nutritionists will provide 800-TDD-3848 (hearing- and Dates and hours are Nov. Butterball is offering a free in- holiday cooks with solutions to speech-impaired assistance); 1-22, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (ET), week stant-read meat thermometer to virtually every turkey prepara- www.butterball.com; online as- days; Nov. 18-19, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Extra Long 18* r Cord for Reach. $69 12 Gallon PRO SQQ 4.5 Horsepower 05647 iminates sconnected Hoses Onboard Cord Wrap for fast and easy storage. If it doesn't say Shop*Vac? Keep Shopping. WWW.LOWES.COM LOWE'S* is a registered trademark of LF corporation. ©Lowe's® Home Centers, Inc. 2000 For the Lowe's Nearest You Call 1-800-44-LOWES. Prices May Vary If There Are Market Variations. better, and think better when they get adequate fresh air and exercise. Children don’t get sick from being outside in cold weather they get healthy. The illness comes from viruses and bacteria, which are spread much more easily when children are in side all day in close contact with one another. One of these days, when it’s cold or rainy and you’re cooped up at home, check it out for yourself. Put on whatever you need to keep warm and dry and go outside and take a walk. I guarantee you’ll feel better after wards. Be Cautious In Decorating Your Home With Holiday Plants They can provide a festive at mosphere but many plants are also a danger to curious children and pets that may nibble upon them. Refer to the following list of poisonous greens when deco rating spaced that are accessible Powerful Vac! Cartridge Filler - Quiet! Clean up WET or Capacity Tanks DRY messes without 16 Gallon PRO 6.0 Horsepower 64467 $ll9 ijK i ' ■td*~ '\$F7A ' '”"L /W^v i and highly utilized by children hours a day, 365 days a year, and pets: The center will also respond to • Holly the leaves are very inquires about poisoned pets if toxic and eating 20 percent to 30 you cannot reach your local vet percent of the berries can be fatal erinarian. to a small child. In either case, should you de- • Ivy can cause diarrhea, convulsions, and in some cases, cause death when eaten in large quantities. • Mistletoe leaves and berries, when eaten may cause a drop in blood pressure, plus a slow down in the heartbeat. • Christmas Rose has a white flower which can cause nausea, diarrhea and a slow or weak heartbeat when eaten. • Jerusalem Cherry with its small cherry tomato like ber ries, can cause a slowing of the heart rate accompanied by a fall in blood pressure. • Yew generally grows out side but it is often brought inside for a decorative trim; has fatal berries and leaves when eaten by people and animals. • Poinsettia has a poison ous reputation, but it is one of the least toxic holiday plants. If you think your child has eaten a poisonous plant, and you perceive it to be a life-threaten ing emergency, call 911 immedi ately. In other cases, call your family physician or the Central PA Poison Control Center® 1-800-521-6110. The Poison Control Center is staffed 24 I Made I In USA 22 Gallon PRO 6.25 Horsepower 05962 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 11, 2000-815 cide to go to an appropriate medical facility for help. Bring a sample of the plant with you. Adjust Your Expectations And Concentrate On Enjoyable “Moments” Every year we get so- excited about our upcoming holidays, but somehow it never quite lives up to our great expectations. The cookies didn’t get baked, the flight was delayed or cancelled, the kids squabbled over the gifts, and old grievances got rehashed. Rather than struggling end lessly to achieve a “perfect” holi day celebration, why not modify your mental picture to more closely resemble the way it really is? Without sacrificing the spirit of the season, try to get rid of some of the excess by simplifying your plans. Get rid of the busy ness and clear the way for more relaxing time to be together with family and friends. For example, instead of worrying about the cookies you didn’t get baked, how about taking the kids to the bakery and letting them pick out their own favorites? Replace disappointments with a sense of humor. Don’t obsess about the off-kilter tree or the Improving Home Improvement™ See the entire line of the #1 selling brand of wet/dry vacs, accessories and filters. rshop'vac f THE ORIGINfiI WET/ORV Shop-Vac®, QSP®, QPV® and hang-up vac® are registered trademarks of Shop-Vac Corporation. things that don’t go right. Have a good laugh about it and embrace the season as your own unique and special celebration; it may not be “perfect” but then neither are we. Another tip is to negotiate out side commitments. The kids are coming home from college and want to catch up on sleep after exams, and then to race around seeing their local friends. You want to spend time with them and also to have them join you on visits to or with the extended family. Before they arrive home, strike a compromise about how many days and which days they’ll be guaranteed undis turbed time whether for sleep ing or visiting with their friends. In exchange, they agree to coop eratively accompany you on a specified number of outside visits and to spend a specific amount of quiet time with “just the fami ly.” Most important of all, we need to remind ourselves to “love the ones we’re with” to para phrase a favorite old song. What ever the state of our holiday plans and festivities, we need to find the peace and joy in the mo ment, just as it is. Despite burnt dinners, broken toys, and the squabbles that are a part of life with children and an extended family, embrace the day and those who share it with you. Line (ET), weekend prior to Thanks giving; Nov. 23, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (ET), Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 24-Dec. 22, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (ET), weekdays. VAC HE SHELF! Extra Large Wheels lets vac roll easily, even over doorways and obstacles. www.shopvac.com
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