Decorating for the holidays? Sometimes less is more
There’s nothing like a Christmas home tour or a visit to a thoroughly decked-out shop to make you want to get started on your holiday decorating.
This year, why not go for a more classic approach? Horticulturist Mark Viette recommends simple themes, single colors and repetition of ornaments.
“The simpler it is, the easier it is to view it,” he said of themed Christmas trees and other holiday home accents.
Items from a yard or garden can be budget-friendly additions to your décor.
Pinecones, dried seed pods, branches from evergreen or deciduous trees, and clusters of berries can be tucked among Christmas tree boughs or into garlands, wreaths and container arrangements.
“You can even involve your children” in the gathering, Viette said, or in painting the findings with florist’s paint.
The paint is available at craft stores in a huge range of colors and metallics. Be sure to read the directions for use to ensure proper ventilation and, allow adequate drying time.
Turn a shallow cardboard box upside-down, and poke stems through it to hold pieces still while spray-painting them. Wiring pieces onto wooden picks can make them easier to use in arrangements.
Wearing a seat belt is among safest things drivers can do—and it’s the law
Buckling your seat belt is one of the safest things you can do while driving. It’s also one of the smartest. The following are research findings cited by Drive Smart Virginia:
- Most fatal crashes occur at speeds below 40 mph and within 25 miles of victims' homes.
- Death rates are more than eight times higher among vehicle occupants who are not buckled up or otherwise restrained.
- In 60 percent of fatal crashes, the victim isn’t buckled.
- Wearing seat belts can reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45 percent.
All of these numbers add up to safety; you are safer in your car when buckled in, and so are your passengers. A seat belt is the best defense against reckless, impaired or distracted drivers.
Wearing a safety belt is the law in Virginia, and adults who don’t buckle up are sending children the message that it is acceptable to not wear a seat belt.
For more information on the merits of seat belt use, visit drivesmartva.org. Virginia Farm Bureau is a founding member of Drive Smart Virginia.
Bacon Potato Chowder
From chowders to stews, soups can be creamy or broth-based. They are great meal options for meat lovers and vegetarians alike, because there are so many types and variations. Warm up on a blustery winter day with this hearty Bacon Potato Chowder.
Source: Mildred Owens, Cooking Virginia Style with Farm Bureau Women
See Recipe
Soup can keep you warm and healthy during cold winter days
We've heard that chicken soup is good for the soul, but it's good for the body, as well.
Many experts recommend soup because of its nutritional benefits, as well as its disease-fighting properties.
Many flavor-enhancing ingredients in soup, such as garlic, onions, leeks and some herbs and spices contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are plant-based compounds that have antioxidant properties. Those ingredients help defend the body against certain cancers and promote cardiovascular health.
Onions—an ingredient often found in soup—act as a natural antihistamine, which can alleviate cold symptoms.
Soup is also a great way to increase vegetable intake. Adding vegetables to soup in a variety of colors will help provide a wide range of nutrients.
A steaming pot of broth-based soup, paired with a salad and whole-grain bread, is a great way to provide a simple meal loaded with essential ingredients.
Additionally, tossing beans, peas or lentils into soup is an easy way to increase dietary fiber. They are also a good source of low-fat, cholesterol-free protein.
Try adding lowfat milk to potato soup to help increase calcium intake. And dark green leafy vegetables like collards or turnip greens provide additional calcium when chopped and added to soups.