I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Enough happiness to keep you happy

During the year may you have
Enough happiness to keep you sweet.
Enough trials to keep you strong.
Enough sorrow to keep you human.
Enough hope to keep you happy.
Enough failure to keep you humble.
Enough success to keep you eager.
Enough friends to give you comfort.
Enough wealth to meet your needs.
Enough enthusiasm to make you look forward to tomorrow.
Enough determination to make each day better than the 
day before.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Sharp,

Family & Consumer Science Agent

 

Tasting Party

A special thank you goes out to all of those who helped to make our Tasting Party a success. We had over 25 dishes to sample from and raised $345. 

 

Leader Lesson

January’s lesson Mold in Your Home is a mail out lesson and is included with your newsletter.  In addition, copies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publication, “A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home”, is available for your club to use with this program. Copies can be picked up at the Extension Office.

 On January 24^th at 10:00 a.m. in the office we will have our leader lesson for February entitled “Nourishing Body & Soul”. Peggy Helton will be the teacher.

 

Weight: The Reality Series

This is a program that the Extension Office will be offering to help you get rid of those unwanted pounds gained at Christmas time. The program will run from January 7^th to March 17^th. The class will meet every Monday on the third floor of the courthouse. We will have two sessions. The morning session will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the evening session will start at 4:30 p.m.  Listed below are all the dates and topics that will be discussed for the next 10 weeks. Pick the one that best suits you and get ready for a change. Call the office at 337-2376 to sign up.

 

Jan 7…………Weigh In/Are You Ready

Jan 14………..Changing Eating Behavior

Jan 28………..Portion Distortion

Feb 4…………Weight, Movement & Joint Health

Feb 11……….Calories & Carbs

Feb 18………..Fat & Proteins

Feb 25………..Creative Cooking

March 3………Healthy Dining Out

March 10……..Weight- Loss That Counts

March 17……..Final Weigh In/Low Fat Potluck

 

Just Keep In Mind

Ladies, our KEHA State Meeting isn’t to far off and if you would like to submit poetry, memoirs or short stories,  just keep in mind they are due by February 8^th. If you are interested, call the office for rules and guidelines.

 

 

 

  

Driving in Winter Conditions

You should:

• Have your vehicle winterized before the winter storm season.  Keeping your vehicle in good condition will decrease your chance of being stranded in cold weather.  Have a mechanic check your battery, antifreeze, wipers and windshield washer fluid, ignition system, and thermostat, lights, flashing hazard lights, exhaust system, heater, brakes, defroster and oil level.  If necessary, replace existing oil with winter-grade oil.  Install good winter tires.  Make sure the tires have adequate tread.  All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions.
• Check your vehicle emergency supplies kit and replenish it if necessary.

• If you will be driving in wintry conditions, in addition to the usual emergency supplies you keep in your vehicle, be sure to keep enough of the following for each person:
  • Blankets or sleeping bags.
  • Rain gear and extra sets of dry clothing, mittens, socks and wool hats.
  • Newspapers for insulation.
  • Plastic bags for sanitation.
  • Canned fruit, nuts and high energy “munchies” (Include a non-electric can opener if needed.)

Keep in your vehicle:

• A windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.
• A small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels.
• Matches in a waterproof container.
• Cards, games and puzzles.
• A brightly colored (preferably red) cloth to tie to the antenna.
• Keep a cell phone or two-way radio with you when traveling in winter.  Make sure the battery is charged.
• If you must be on the road during a winter storm, bring warm broth in a vacuum container and several bottles of water for each person.
• Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full so you will be ready in case of an emergency and to prevent the fuel line from freezing.
• Plan to travel during daylight and when possible take at least one other person with you.
• Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.  If your vehicle gets stuck, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
• Before leaving, listen to weather reports for your area and the areas you will be passing through. Check with the state highway patrol for the latest road conditions.
• Be on the lookout for winter conditions which can make driving very hazardous.
• Avoid traveling during a winter storm.
• If you must travel and do become stranded, it is better to stay in the vehicle and wait for help.  Do not leave the vehicle to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards.  You can quickly become disoriented and confused in blowing snow.
• If you are stuck in a vehicle:
• Display a trouble sign to indicate you need help.  Hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raise the hood after snow stops falling.
• Run the engine occasionally to keep warm.  Carbon monoxide can build up inside a standing vehicle after the engine is running, even if the exhaust pipe is clear.  Running the heater for 10 minutes every hour generally is enough to keep the occupants warm.  Running the engine for only short periods reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and conserves fuel.  Turn on the engine for about 10 minutes each hour (or five minutes every half hour).  Use the heater while the engine is running.  Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and slightly open a downwind window for ventilation.
• Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.
• Do light exercises to keep up circulation.  Clap your hands and move your arms and legs occasionally.  Try not to stay in one position for too long.
• If more than one person is in the vehicle, take turns sleeping.  One of the first signs of hypothermia is sleepiness. If you are not awakened periodically to increase body temperature and circulation, you can freeze to death.
• Huddle together for warmth.  Use newspapers, maps, and even the removable floor mats for added insulation.  Layering items will help trap more body heat.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.  Severe cold can cause numbness, making you unaware of possible danger.  Keep fingers and toes moving for circulation, and drink warm broth to reduce the risk of further injury.
• Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.  Bulky winter clothing can cause you to sweat, but cold dry air will help the sweat evaporate, making you unaware of possible dehydration.  When people are dehydrated, they are more susceptible to the ill effects of cold and to heart attacks.
• Avoid overexertion.  Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart.  Unaccustomed exercise, such as shoveling snow or pushing a vehicle, can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.

Reference:  Talking About Disaster:  Guide for Standard Messages.  National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, D.C., August 2004.

Source:  Connee Wheeler, Extension Associate, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture.

 

 Charitable Goods Donation Changes

Many taxpayers have no idea how to evaluate the amount of donated goods they can deduct, so they usually understate value in order to avoid an IRS audit. The Salvation Army has a useful valuation guide to help you determine the deductible value of your items. The site lists low and high values, and it's up to you to decide the condition of items donated. However, as a result of the recently passed Pension Protection Act, you can only take a charitable deduction for donating items in “good” condition. So only donate items that are in good condition; and the value you should use is 50 percent of the average of the low and high price value, or higher if the item is in excellent condition.

Reference: IRS publication 561

Source: Robert H. Flashman, Extension Specialist in Resource Management, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture

 

Quick Chili

1medium onion, chopped

½ bell pepper, chopped

1 pound ground beef

1 (10.5 ounces) can condensed tomato soup

1 (15 ounces) can diced tomatoes

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 (15 ounces) can kidney beans (optional) or substitute other canned beans

Place onion, pepper, and ground beef into large pan.  Cook over medium heat until no pink is in the ground beef.  Drain fat. Add tomato soup, tomatoes and chili powder.  Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.  Add kidney beans. Simmer for 5 minutes. Can be served with cooked macaroni and topped with grated cheese.

Eight one cup servings

Nutrition Analysis: 330 calories, 6 g fat, 60 mg cholesterol, 39 g carbs, 31 g protein