Wouldn’t it be so easy to get depressed at this time of year?
Thanksgiving and Christmas were such a buildup coming into the holidays, and then suddenly, BOOM, it’s over, and now it’s left me with a need to clean from top to bottom and make everything look different. My husband dislikes this time of year because of my reactions of restlessness, and of course of the cost of my mood changes.
This year I have decided I will make changes to our country house at the Circle S. This house is just right for us, small but big enough, not as much for me to keep orderly, easy to heat and cool, really big kitchen, and the most important thing to him, he’s close to all his heifers!
Sometimes change is a good thing, but sometimes things are hard to let go. We have debated about selling our big house in town, where my children grew up and we have lived for 35 years. I believe one of our children might take it if we decide to “turn loose.” There’s just so many memories that are sheltered in that house; this situation would make it lots easier for me to let it go.
I surely don’t like change unless it’s underclothes, so this would be a majorly big step for me. I am a person of habit. I buy groceries at the same store I have bought from all my life. I have a set of meals that I always pull from, same thing. Wash my hair on the same day, wash clothes on same day, watch the same television shows, and still sleep on the left side of the bed. Don’t like change.
But, as a reasonably rational and sensible woman, I realize everything changes, nothing stays the same. I still inside feel the same as I did in my 20s, but somewhat a little wiser, I hope. But when I look in the mirror sometimes, I barely recognize myself even with these feelings inside. It seems that the woman looking back at me is a stranger as to the younger person trapped inside. But as a wiser person I too realize that I am abundantly blessed to have made it to this age in life as so many of my family and friends have already gone home. So, I’ll take the changes, make the best of them, even applaud the modifications, and keep on tramping through this gloomy time of the year and eagerly await the beginning of spring, which is only two months away, and as my daddy used to say, “You can hold a bear for that long.”
Some doctor/dieticians believe some things we eat are brain foods, like seafood, greens, nuts and beans. I’ll give you a recipe to help you feel refreshed!
Baked Salmon
4 salmon filets
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried tarragon or a little dill
Mix the spice, olive oil and lemon juice, and brush over salmon and salt and pepper. Put on a parchment-covered sheet pan 15 minutes at 400. Goes great with seasoned rice. Let me know if you feel smarter!
