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It’s The Winter Season Once Again - “ Go Ahead …. Let It Snow” by Bonnie P Carrier
The Holidays - Thanksgiving & Christmas - have come and gone, hopefully everyone had a festive time with family and friends. Another New Year has begun, which  means it’s January. This also means we are now officially in the Winter Season.
Now for some of us - particularly here in New England - this particular season after the holidays can be a real drudgery, what with below zero temperatures, a wind chill that make it feel even colder and snow, oh the snow.
But it doesn’t have to be, a dear friend once told me "Things in life are what you make them". Oh, wise grasshopper what does that have to do with shoving snow?
OK, let’s get serious here; I’m the first to admit a little winter goes a long way. The thought of going out into a cold morning and cleaning off my car or having to dress like I’m crossing the tundra just to take my dog out for a walk doesn’t exactly excite me.
But winter comes every year at this time and there really is nothing you can do about it, so instead of looking at just the negative let’s try looking for some positive aspects that can help us enjoy this season.
If you are not one of the winter sports people - you know the ones - who ski, ice skate, snowmobile etc. you will more than likely be spending more time indoors.
This can be the perfect opportunity to spend more quality time with your family. Playing games, watching movies or just plain talking can be a great pass time on a snowy weekend, add even more fun by making popping corn and hot chocolate.
Now, if outdoor sports are your family’s pastime, spend quality time with loved ones doing whatever activity your family enjoys. Take off for the weekend and go skiing or maybe something simple like going to the local skating rink on Saturday night.
The point is, spending time together is what’s important. After all life can be so rushed during the week with jobs and school why not take advantage of some down time and create some wonderful memories.
So, what does winter and home decorating have to do with each other? Well, if you haven’t already done so pile on a few extra pillows, bring out those warm throws and light warm scented candles for a real cozy feeling.
Accessories with winter themes can be fun, how about oversized mugs for coffee, hot chocolate or soup. Inexpensive dinnerware with snowflakes or snowmen can make ordinary meals special
Tip: Snowflakes and snowmen themes for accessories are a good choice as they can be used all winter long and not just on a particular holiday.
An speaking of meals, how about adding a few cold weather dishes to your weekly menu. For example: Soups, Beef Stew, Macaroni & Cheese, Shepherds Pie even roast another turkey, it’s not just for thanksgiving.
Shepherds Pie, is a dish my mom made quite often during the winter when we were kids. For any one not familiar with this dish here’s the recipe.
- Ground Beef - amount depends on your families size, there are four of us and one LB works well.
- Corn - can be canned or frozen, and again the amount is up to you, I use one bag of frozen for four people.
- Mashed Potatoes - make from scratch if time allows, but instant will work just as well.
Brown the ground beef and drain. Put into the bottom of a round baking dish. Add corn to top of beef. Top with the mashed potatoes. Add a few pats of butter on top of potatoes, cover and place in 325 oven for about half an hour. Remove cover and continue heating until top of potatoes have browned slightly. Served with a small salad it makes a great meal for a cold night.
When your local weather says chance of snow, put on some classical music, get your mug of hot liquid, curl up under a warm throw with a good book or put on an old movie and say “Go ahead, Let it Snow”.
One last thought, on those occasions when you do need to venture out keep in mind that this season only last a few months and before you know it the temperatures with warm up and things will begin to bloom again.
About the author: Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating - The Information Center. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. www.savvy-home-decorating.com
This is a share ware article. Give this article away fro free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2000 bonnie carrier
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