Tuesday, 30 October 2018

Eleven Ways To Increase The Light Through November's Windows

1. Light a Candle  to your Favourite Saint


What better way to begin the darkest month of the year than by lighting a candle to your favourite saint in a beautiful church on a dark November afternoon? 

We begin the month with All Saints' Day or All Hallows' Day on November the First; although the Eastern Orthodox church celebrates this festival on the first Sunday after Pentecost.  We are in the season of All Hallowtide and many countries remember their departed loved ones - saints and sinners! - in this month. Many families attend church together and lay flowers and candles on the graves of family members.


LIGHT A CANDLE TO THE DEAD: VISIT THE LIVING.





2. Light a Bonfire to a Notorious Sinner


'Remember, Remember the Fifth of November' so the rhyme goes. But how many people really know exactly what happened 400 years ago on the fifth of November 1605? Who led the plot to kill the king and blow up the Houses of Parliament? Why did Guy Fawkes not succeed in lighting his gunpowder? What happened to the plotters? If you are interested in knowing answers to these questions in a fun way, I'd recommend https://youtu.be/EMLHau_rBJ8 or  https://youtu.be/mQI-I3qbCZ0.  

With or without the history, you can take the occasion to rid yourself of all that did not bring light and life into 2018; detritus that you need to ditch before 2019. The year is drawing to a close. Take stock of the old and  plot the new . 

LIGHT A BONFIRE: CLEAR OUT AND MOVE ON!



3. Relish the Dying of the Light



 At the end of October   the clocks go back. For some this can trigger the renewal of SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder. We  all rely on sunlight to set our internal clocks.   However we can change our daily routines. We can maximise our exposure to light. Walk to take in the  beautiful afternoon sunsets.

 WATCH THE  LIGHT DIE: HEAD FOR HOME.





4. Light Up and Tingle Your Taste Buds 

Gingerbread Cake with Orange Icing

Ingredients

For the cake

For the orange icing

Method

  1. Line a 23cm/9in square cake tin at least 4cm/1½in deep with baking parchment.
  2. Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.
  3. Place the butter, sugar, golden syrup and black treacle into a pan and heat gently until the mixture has melted evenly. Set aside to cool slightly.
  4. Sift the flours, ground ginger and stem ginger into a large mixing bowl and mix gently. Pour the cooled butter mixture into the flour. Add the eggs and milk and beat with a wooden spoon until well combined.
  5. Pour the cake batter into the tin and level the surface with a palette knife or the back of a spoon. Bake for 50 minutes, or until the cake has risen and is golden-brown and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Set aside to cool slightly in the tin, then transfer the cake to a wire rack and set aside to cool completely.
  6. Meanwhile, for the orange icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Add about two tablespoons of the orange juice and mix to a smooth paste. Add more orange juice, as necessary, until you get a smooth icing of the consistency you desire.
  7. Pour the icing over the cooled cake and spread lightly, allowing it to ooze over the edges. Sprinkle over chopped orange zest and set the cake aside until the icing has set. 

ADD SOME SPICE AND BRIGHTEN A DULL AFTERNOON!


5. Lighten  and Brighten into your Livingroom


Elle Décor recommend:

'A large, colorful area rug is not just a solution for defining a specific area in a home. It can also be used to energize a room and show off your aesthetic.'


Other cheap solutions include new cushion covers, throws in jewel colours and new curtains. Ebay and Gumtree offer low cost accessories. 
INJECT SOME LIGHT AND COLOUR INTO YOUR LIVING SPACE!

6. Bring Light and Hope into an Animal's Eyes 

 The RSCPCA is an excellent organisation to go to if you feel you can offer an animal a new home this winter. They give the following advice:


'Adopting a pet is all about ensuring you're matched with the perfect pet for you, so that you and your new pet can have a fantastic life together. From finding each other online, to bringing your newest family member home, we've got all the information you need to help you find each other.

Five easy steps to your rescue pet

Step 1 - Find each other online
Step 2 - Complete an application form
Step 3 - Visit your local animal centre
Step 4 - Meet one of our adoption support volunteers
Step 5 - Bring your new family member home'
 LIGHT UP  AN ANIMAL'S EYES: MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME! 

7. Pack a Shoebox: Light Up a Child's Eyes 


Samaritan's Purse is an aid organisation that helps disadvantaged people in a number of ways. One of the best known is by organising the delivery of shoeboxes of gifts to poor children at Christmas:

'A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing children’s lives all over the world in Jesus’ name through the power of a simple gift with Operation Christmas Child.  See the impact a simple shoebox gift packed and sent with love, has on a child and how it reaches into a community.'

Its something  easy to do that can make a big difference to a child's Christmas.


 https://youtu.be/mFO7RusjC5Y

 PACK A BOX:  CREATE A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS!

 8. Lighten Your Load and Get Fit


* Avoid dark baggy clothing

* Opt instead for new smart leggings

* Pick jewel coloured jumpers to energise

* Arrange a programme of regular outings 

*   Make a batch of  healthy soups and freeze

*   Bake  some Daisy Lowe low fat sweet treats












Jamie Oliver's Winter Salad

Ingredients
  • ½ a red cabbage
  • ½ a white cabbage
  • 2 large carrots
  • 4 spring onions
  • a few shoots from winter cabbages, such as kale or cavolo nero , optional
  • 300 ml milk
  • 4 anchovies, from sustainable sources
  • 6 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tesapoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 handful of mixed seeds, such as poppy, sesame and sunflower
  • ½ a bunch of fresh mint 






















Method


  1. Quarter and finely shred the cabbages, peel and finely slice the carrots and trim and finely slice the spring onions.
  2. Place in a large bowl and if you’re lucky enough to have any other interesting winter cabbages leaves, you can add those into the mix too.
  3. Put your milk in a pan on a medium heat with the anchovies. Peel and add the garlic, then bring to a simmer.
  4. Let it cook for 10 minutes until the garlic cloves are soft, then pour everything into a liquidiser.
  5. Add the vinegar, oil and mustard and blend for a few minutes, then stop and have a taste. You want it to be quite acidic, but if it’s too acidic add a bit of oil for balance.
  6. Add good pinches of sea salt and black pepper, then pour it over the sliced veg.
  7. Use your hands to toss and dress everything and get everyone around the table.
  8. Heat the seeds in a dry pan for a few minutes until warm, then scatter them over the salad. Pick and tear over your mint leaves, then eat it immediately.



  LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD: SHAPE UP FOR CHRISTMAS

9. Lighten the Christmas Workload



Time Management Strategies to Reduce Christmas Stress
Updated December 11, 2017

'For many, the holiday season is the season of stress. There are just so many things to do, and limited time to do them in. Working people may feel especially harassed, trying to cram Christmas activities into their already limited "leisure" time.'

1. Make a list

It works for Santa, and it will work for you. Divide a page into two columns. List the things you have to do to prepare for the holiday season, such as gift shopping, on one side of the page and the things you want to do, such as special holiday baking, on the other side of the page.

2. Pick and Choose Your Christmas Activities

Many of us do what we do during the holiday season just because we always have, turning the entire month of December into a mad whirl of non-stop Christmas preparations and activities. If the things on your list that you have to do outnumber the things that you want to do, it's time to make your list more manageable by eliminating some of these holiday activities.

3. Break the Christmas Gift Shopping Gridlock

You don't have to take the time to drive anywhere to shop if you don't want to. Reduce stress by shopping and buying Christmas gifts online. In many cases, your gifts will then be delivered right to your home - or to the home of the gift recipient if you prefer.

4. Call Ahead Before You Shop Offline

Why go six places looking for that one Christmas gift when you could just make a few phone calls, go to one place and pick it up? You can even call ahead and reserve a turkey for Christmas dinner from the local grocery store in many places.

5. Avoid Rushing Around in a Holiday Frenzy

To reduce stress, pre-plan and coordinate your journeys. You can easily combine running errands with Christmas shopping, for example, so why make separate trips? And why go Christmas shopping ten or twelve times? Use your list and make your calls to cut down on the hours you need to spend shopping.

6. Turn Chores Into Events

Everyone finds some holiday season activities that have to be done drudgery. Make whatever it is you find drudgery more enjoyable by making it special and different. For example, make the Christmas baking a family affair or invite some friends over for a tree-trimming night.

7. Slow Down

For instance, you don't need to buy, put up, and decorate the tree all in the same day. At my house tree trimming is an ongoing event. We buy it, put it up, and set out the ornaments. Then whoever wants to hangs a few ornaments on the tree when they feel like it. Sometimes it takes two weeks, but we always have a beautiful, fully decked Christmas tree by Christmas Eve. 

8. Build Time to Relax and Enjoy the Festive Season With Your Schedule

Take the time to drive around and enjoy the incredible displays of Christmas lights, attend a special holiday concert, make snow angels with the kids, or just take a long hot bath. Your Christmas stress will drop considerably.

9. Plan Ahead for the Next Holiday Season

Christmas supplies, such as decorations and gift wrap, are often available at discounted prices in the week after Christmas, and they don't go bad! It's easy enough too to buy Christmas gifts any time of year; all it takes is some planning.

 LIGHTEN YOUR WORKLOAD: CREATE MORE TIME TO SPARKLE!

10. Brighten Up Your  Own Advent 


The Telegraph recommends the best Advent calendars for 2018: 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/0/best-advent-calendars-christmas-2018-chocolate-lego/

My particular  favourite is :

LED Wooden House Advent Calendar

£20, Hobbycraft

 LED Wooden House Advent Calendar
Dark mornings and darker afternoons will be brightened by the glow of LED lights in this wooden design and you'll have as much fun filling the drawers as your children will opening them.

          11. Remember Those Who Died To Bring Light

'They Shall not grow old as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them not the years condemn

At the going down of the sun and in the morning 

We will remember them'

Remembrance Day 2018 11/11/2018
  100 years since the guns stopped firing 
on the battlefields of World War One



ADD A SPARKLE AND BRIGHTEN YOUR DECEMBER!





So over to you now!

You can share your windows for  December with me below

or on Twitter- Sara Particco

I look forward to hearing from you

Bring on the light!







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