In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 21st, I thought it would be appropriate to think about the many different colors, varieties, and types of flowers, plants, trees, weeds, and other living things that make nature so diverse and so wonderful to appreciate. In the spring, a walk in the woods or the park is filled with tons of colors, scents, and variety. How boring would it be if we saw only daisies on the side of the road or if green grass was the only plant that grew in our yard, in the forests, and in the fields. Think of the fall and the vibrant picture that the colorful leaves paint for us.

Even animals come in many shapes, colors, and varieties. Take note of the many different song birds that visit your feeder or can be seen from afar.

We’ve all heard the saying “variety is the spice of life.” Life and nature is more interesting when you experience more, see different things, and when what you see changes often. Perhaps we should take a few minutes and think about how lucky we are to live in a country where diversity in people and culture exists. How boring would life be if we all looked the same, ate the same foods, and observed the same holidays and traditions.

This week take a few minutes to honor the inspirational efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Monday, January 21st, in honor of Dr. King, why don’t’ you try a different food from another culture, read about a tradition of someone from a different race or culture, or go out of you way to help someone less fortunate. Spread the idea that kindness and actions speak louder than violence and harsh words. Through your actions, you may realize that diversity is the spice of life.

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by sduncan
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Winter is definitely here and in many areas the snow is piling up. But in others, where snow is a good possibility in the winter, there hasn’t been as much as say the Farmers’ Almanac’s home state of Maine (man do they have snow!). So at our house, we’ve been doing the SNOW DANCE.

My eight-year-old daughter, has decided on a nightly ritual that’s supposed to help bring on a snow day. It’s not really a dance but it’s definitely a ritual. This is what she does: Wear pajamas backwards and inside out, place ice cubes in all toilets in your house, and sleep with spoons under your pillow. So far it’s worked in that we have a few inches on the ground, but alas not enough to call off school. She suggested that maybe we need to share this snow dance with more people, thus I’m sharing it with you …in case you want to try.

If you do have snow in your area, what are you doing to cope with all the extra clothes and boots you have to wear? In the 2006 Farmers’ Almanac, freelancer Jean Grigsby shared the following fun idea:

Make Layering Fun:
This winter make a contest out of dressing for the cold. Who is wearing the most colors? Who has on the most clothes? Who’s most covered up? Who is unrecognizable?

What to do:
If snowy conditions aren’t in your forecast and you still would like to enjoy winter fun, head to an ice skating rink! Lots of fun for the whole family. Or take a trip to a winter wonderland.

There’s something magical about snow, and yes even a snow day when it brings you back to a day of having nothing to do. Or better yet, pick a day and designate it a snow day – and do nothing but family fun things.

See when the next snow may be predicted in the Farmers’ Almanac here. Enjoy and let us know if the Snow Dance works for you!

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by sduncan
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Cold weather and wind can quickly dry out your skin and lips. Here are a few helpful ways to avoid dry, cracking skin this winter:

Dry Hands?
Try soaking your hands in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes (enough time for your skin to absorb the water). Pat your hands dry and immediately apply a thick layer of an occlusive moisturizer to seal in the water. An occlusive moisturizer has an ointment or cream base rather than the thinner lotion base, such as petrolatum (more well-known as Vaseline).

You may want to try wearing a pair of light cotton gloves to bed after you moisturize. This will help reduce water loss.

Tips to Prevent Dry Cracked Lips:

Do not lick or bite them. When lips start drying out, your first instinct is usually to add moisture to them by licking them. Don’t! Licking actually enhances the drying, and biting your lips makes them even worse.

Do apply lip balm (or lipstick) before going out into the elements. Reapply it several times while outside.

Use a lip balm with sunscreen in it.

Make sure your diet includes enough vitamin B and iron, as a deficiency of these vitamins can play a part in the scaling on your lips and the cracking at the corners of your mouth.

And don’t forget to drink your 6-8 glasses of water a day.

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by pgeiger
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