FREE Thanksgiving Dinners 2011

Wednesday 11/23/11

“Thanksgiving Meal with all the Trimmings”

Presented byJamestownYouthCenter & SierraBibleChurch. This annual event will take place in the Jamestown Community Hall,Main Street,Jamestown at 6.00pm. on Wednesday November 23rd.  A Thanksgiving Dinner with all the Trimmings. Fellowship and Food open to all the community.

______________________________________________________________

Thursday 11/24/11

SonoraAlano Club Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner

Starts at 12:30pm at theSonoraAlano Club. (BehindSearsShopping Center)

You told your kids, that you ate all their Halloween candy?  CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Country Music stars are people too!  They like to play just as much as we regular folks do…check out some their scariest Halloween Costumes by Clicking HERE or The Kellie Pickler Pic

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month…and country music star Martina McBride has released a song  in honor of all that have lost the battle or have been touched in anyway by cancer.  CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

STRESSED OUT?

Ladies’ Home Journal offers these quick stress cures:

Talk to someone — Bottling things up is for brewers. A trusted friend or a trusted trained professional who will listen to what’s bothering you without judgment or mockery will help you unload your problems and may also help you solve them.

Laugh – Read comics, rent a funny movie, go to the circus. A hardy belly laugh decreases stress hormones in the bloodstream, relaxes muscles and, let’s face it, feels good all over.

Cry — Hey, assuming you’re not running for president, go ahead and sob. Research shows women cry up to four times more often than men, and when they cry, they cry harder. According to William H. Frey III, Ph.D., author of Crying: The Mystery of Tears, our waterworks may have evolved to remove chemicals, possibly stress hormones prolactin and ACTH, that build up during stress.

Put fun on your “to-do” list — Write down everything you think you need to do for the next month. Work, errands, chores, everything. Then remove 5% of the items. You’ll drop tasks that aren’t truly critical and gain valuable free time to spend on something fun for yourself.

Eat more fiber — Find it in legumes, nuts, vegetables, whole grains and fruit. Fiber keeps your digestive tract happy, less stress on your body and helps absorb toxins and bacteria. It also stabilizes blood sugar levels, ameliorating mood swings.

Eat oatmeal — Oatmeal helps your body release serotonin stores in your brain, too little of this neurotransmitter may lead to depression. Nutritionist Keri Glassman recommends eating a bowl of oatmeal no later than an hour before going to bed to alleviate stress and help relax.

Ditch toxic people — Everybody has that person in her life who only makes everything more stressful. You can’t always duck him or her entirely, sometimes you’re related but you can limit your exposure. And when you do have to be together, set a specific time period and include others so that you don’t have to handle this person yourself.

Play with your pet — It’s virtually impossible to stay stressed when you’re tickling your dog’s belly. Or dangling string in front of your cat or bird, for that matter. Unless it just poked a hole in your sofa cushion, of course.

Eat almonds — It’s possible, just possible, that almonds are a perfect food. They’re loaded with immune-boosting zinc and heart healthy vitamin E. And they help stress because you really have to chew almonds in a “get the aggression out” sort of way.

Breathe deep — When under stress we tend to take quick, shallow breaths. Deep breathing slows the stress response by getting more energizing oxygen to your body. Take 10 to 15 minute “breathing breaks” throughout the day, suggests Frank Lipman, M.D., an integrative physician in New York City who combines Western and alternative therapies. Find a quiet space and be conscious of your breath going in and out. Think about your belly rising and falling with each breath. Relax.

Fantasize about something wonderful — Whatever happy place you choose is fine. Take a visual vacation. Closing your eyes quiets the brain by eliminating the myriad visual stimuli that tax your body.

Stretch — We hold tension in the soft tissues of our body’s muscles. When soft tissue gets tight, it squeezes nerves and blood vessels, creating poor circulation and pain. Spending a day trapped behind the wheel or a desk makes things worse, humans were built to move, not sit. Fifteen minutes of gentle stretching at the end of a day can be enough to restore flexibility and mobility.

Sleep — Getting shut eye provides time for biochemical housekeeping, replenishing energy stores, reducing the level of stress hormones.

Fill the tub — Can’t remember the last time you reclined in your bath? Before the shower was invented, the Romans and Turks had the right idea. Being immersed in warm water encourages, nearly forces, your muscles to relax.

Play a board game — Unwinding and stress relief were the top reasons people play “casual” games such as cards and board games, according to a 2006 Harris Interactive poll. Playing is also a relaxing way to connect with family and friends.

Practice yoga — Other hand the release of stress hormones that comes with any exercise, yoga is a way to quiet the head. We all suffer from “monkey mind” jumping from thought to thought all day long, says Dr. Lipman. Yoga forces the mind to start focusing on breathing, moving and staying still.

Turn off your PDA — Power down at least once hour twice a day to give yourself and your family a break. When it’s on, make sure the new e-mail notice is not set to vibrate or beep every time you get a message.

Treat yourself — Whether you enjoy spoiling yourself with a haircut, a cup of coffee and your favorite magazine or sneaking in a midday movie, doing something that’s pure pleasure for you is a great way to decompress and de-stress.

Wet your wrists — Place them under cold running water for 60 seconds while breathing deeply. Your wrists have a large number of small blood vessels and the cold water helps cool and calm you, according to Julie Rosenzwig, Ph.D., a psychotherapist in Lake Oswego, Oregon, who specializes in stress cures.

Take the chocolate cure — Dark chocolate is a potent antioxidant and may increase your serotonin levels, as well as lower blood pressure and bad LDL cholesterol. Milk chocolate is not as powerful as the dark type.

Turn off the TV for a whole week — Watching TV can add stress to our already overstimulated brains. And it doesn’t help that so much of the news that’s on the tube is scary.

Crank up the music — It doesn’t matter what type of music you choose, clear the floor, turn up the volume and let it rip. Losing yourself in music and, better yet, dancing to it is a great full body stress reliever.

It’s Brain Awareness Month, so here’s a few ways you can start increasing your intelligence today!

Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.

Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.

1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.

Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.

When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.

2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.

3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.

Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.

4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.

If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.

5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.

I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.

Conclusion – I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.

If you’re still hungry for more, check out the follow up post: 5 More Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence.

Today is National Crab Meat Day!  Yes…theirs a day in which we celebrate the crustaceans of all shapes and sizes!  Here’s a few delectable dishes that you can really get your pincher around!

Pickled Dungeness Crab
Mirliton, Choyote Or Vegetable Pear Casserole With Crabmeat
Peppery Stuffed Crab
Thai Crab Salad Phyllo Cups
Stir-Fried Crab Curry (Poo Pad Pong Garee)
Corn And Crab In Pastry
Cape Cod Crab-Stuffed Tomatoes
Chili Crab
Crab Quiche Squares
Mini Bagels With Crab Spread
Creole Spiced Blue Crabs With Green Onion Dipping Sauce
Bite Sized Crab Or Tuna Fish Balls Northern Neck Stuffed Crab
Crab A La King
Crabmeat Curls Appetizers
Crab And Avocado Cocktail
Crab Crepes
Crab Stuffed Poblano Chiles With Mango Salsa
Crab Crepes With Shrimp Sauce
Colorful Crab Appetizer Pizza
Creamy Crab On Corn Pancakes
Grilled Crabmeat Flautas
Crab Waffle
Crab Stuffed Jalapenos
Connecticut Crab Puffs

Today is International Women’s Day!   Click Here for the official page  in celebration of women all over the globe!

Scientists at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation analyzed 51 different frozen foods regularly found in grocery stores and supermarkets. Their research proved that foods retain their nutritional value during freezing. Substantial and highly beneficial amounts of no less than 21 essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients were found in these products. Freezing, per se, does not injure vitamins. Air exposure is much more destructive, particularly to volatile nutrients such as vitamin C and thiamine.

If you’re like me sometimes you put stuff in your freezer and forget to cook it. Is it still safe to eat?

How long will frozen food keep?

• Frozen dinners — three to four months
• Ground beef and turkey — three months
• Bacon, unopened — one month
• Roasts — six to twelve months
• Whole fish — five to six months
• Fish fillets — four to five months
• Shellfish — four to six months
• Whole chicken or turkey — twelve months
• Chicken or turkey pieces — nine months
• Cooked poultry — four months

All I can say is OMG! You have to see this woman, click here

With all the power outages lately, here’s some tips that might help if it happens again.

What to do When the Lights Go Out

Power Outage

How can I survive a power outage?

• Never use open combustion units (gas or charcoal barbecues, hibachis) inside the home.
• If traffic lights go out, treat all intersections as 4-way stops. It’s required by law for safety.
• Minimize driving to conserve fuel. You cannot refill the tank during a power outage.
• Stay away from downed power lines and sagging trees with broken limbs.

What’s the first thing I should do when the lights go out?

Turn off lights and electrical appliances except for the refrigerator and freezer. Even if it is dark, turn light switches, buttons on lamps or appliances to the “off” position.

• After you turn the lights off, turn one lamp on so you will know when power is restored. Wait at least 15 minutes after power is restored before turning on other appliances.

What should I do if a power line falls down?

• Don’t touch or get near any fallen lines.
• Stay away from objects or puddles in contact with downed power lines.
• Notify the utility company.

Will my gas heater work?

No. Thermostats, furnace fans and blowers all run on electricity.

How can I stay warm?

• Wear extra layers of clothes and use several layers of blankets.
• Do not get wet if there is no way to get dry.
• Drink and eat enough to preserve health.
• Close off all rooms that are not in use and do not need to be heated.
• To keep rooms warm, close curtains, shades or drapes. Cover doors and windows.

How can I safely use alternate heat sources?

• Do not burn anything inside your home without adequate ventilation to the outdoors.
• Have enough fuel available for alternate heat sources, such as wood for a wood stove.
• Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues, and most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating. These units use oxygen and create carbon monoxide that can cause suffocation.
• Before using an alternate heat source, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have firefighting materials: dry powder, fire extinguisher, heavy tarp or blanket, water available.

How should a portable generator be used?

• Use generators only as independent power sources. Keep them outside and run a cord inside. Don’t connect generators to main service panels. This could injure or kill utility workers trying to restore power.

How do I keep food safe?

• Use foods that spoil rapidly first.
• Keep cold food cold. Use dry ice or an ice chest. In winter, store food outside.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to conserve cold air.
• If food is cold to touch, it is probably safe to keep, use or refreeze.
• Discard meat, seafood, dairy products and cooked food that are not cold to touch.
• Fruits, vegetables and food in undamaged cans are safe.
• Food that needs no refrigeration: jelly, butter, margarine, ketchup, mustard, pickles, relish.
• If in doubt, throw it out.
• For information on food safety, call your health department or cooperative extension service.

How do you treat contaminated water?

If the water from your tap is clear:

• Boil it for 3 minutes. This kills disease-causing bacteria and parasites,
  OR
• Add 1/8 teaspoon household bleach per gallon of water. Let it sit for 1/2 hour.

If water is cloudy –

• Pour it through a coffee filter and boil it for 3 minutes.
• If you cant boil it, filter it and add 1/4 teaspoon of bleach per gallon. Let it sit for 1 hour.

How do I operate my electric garage door opener?

• Operate the door by hand. Read the owner’s manual or call the manufacturer.

Are there special considerations for people with chronic health problems?

• Yes. Talk to your doctor about an emergency supply of prescription medicine. Keep a 30 day supply in your emergency kit. Be aware of the expiration date on the medication and rotate a fresh supply into the kit on a regular basis. If you are on life support, please fill out UEC’s Life Support Notification Form, and have a backup power supply on hand.

What do I need to prepare for the next power outage?

Well here we go with the kick off of week number 4 on my Gettin Thin In 2010″ plan!   Well the weigh in went better than expected and this morning I lost 6 more lbs!  Which brings the total weight loss so far to 19 pounds!  Here’s the latest profile pics!

Plus this morning it looks like another fun day with the weather in the foothills.  Be sure to keep checking these links often this morning.

School Delays

Weather

Don’t forget to send in your email for Friday’s Friend!  Our first guest will be coming in just 2 weeks!  So get your email to us today in 93.5 words or less and tell us why you want to be Friday’s Friend!  Good Luck and Thanks for listening to The Cabin!

Popcorn was very popular in the United States from the late 19th century through the middle of the 20th century. It was available in parks, from street vendors, and near theaters.

During World War II, when sugar was rationed, Americans changed their snacking habits—they ate three times as much popcorn as they had before. Perhaps the favorite place to eat popcorn was at the movies. When television took off in the 1950s, popcorn sales dropped for a while.

Today, the average American eats nearly 70 quarts of popcorn a year. But the United States isn’t just a land of popcorn lovers—it’s also the land of popcorn. Most of the world now gets its popcorn from Nebraska and Indiana.

The oldest popcorn ever found was discovered in the “Bat Cave” of central New Mexico. It is thought to be about 5,600 years old. In tombs in Peru, archaeologists found ancient kernels of popcorn that are so well preserved that they can still pop.

Europeans learned about popcorn from Native Americans. When Cortes invaded Mexico, and when Columbus arrived in the West Indies, each saw natives eating popcorn, as well as using it in necklaces and headdresses.

Native Americans brought a bag of popped corn to the first Thanksgiving. A common way to eat popcorn at that time was to hold an oiled ear on a stick over the fire, then chew the popped kernels off it. Natives throughout the Americas also made a popcorn beer. Some made popcorn soup.

After learning about the fluffy food, colonists began enjoying the first puffed breakfast cereal—a bowl of popcorn, served with cream or milk.

This was shot in Sonora California at the local Walmart.  Just how bad is the economy? For one, you’ll notice how quiet it is (very few shoppers) and then two…The birds in the area have given up flying.