sfharper’s blog

My friends Kal and Amy sponsored an annual Thanksgiving Day hike. We joined in several years although on a couple years we skipped due to the rotten weather. The nice thing about a Thanksgiving Day hike is you get some exercise so that by the time dinner is ready you are actually hungry enough to eat it. It often relieves any post-work-week stress and puts you in a happy mood that helps make the holiday pass with loads of cheer.Thanksgiving Day Hike Tip # 1 : Plan the Thanksgiving Day Hike Ahead of TimeSelect a route that last no more than 2.5 hours which is about 4 miles. Send an email invite to all your friends telling them the selected spot, the place and time to meet, and any relevant information about the hike i.e. if the trail is muddy, has large amounts of uphill, etc. Select a time like 8:00 a.m. so you are back in time to cook. Take RSVP's so you have a good count of the number of people planning to come so you don't leave anyone behind. Get a map showing the route for the day of the hike especially if the location has alternate routes.Thanksgiving Day Hike Tip #2 : Set up Your Dinner TableOften I had to figure out how to fit 20+ people into a small room by fitting two smaller tables together with plywood and then covering the tables with table cloths. Chairs had to be collected from many rooms. Dishes can be stacked on the table ready to be used along with silverware and napkins. Building the centerpiece the day before also took out some of the stress.Thanksgiving Day Hike Tip #3 : Prepare the TurkeyThe night before Thanksgiving (Wednesday) make sure your turkey is thawed, clean and dry and ready to stick in the oven. Prepare the stuffing mix (but don't put inside the turkey. Figure out how your timed bake works if you have a small turkey or chicken so the turkey doesn't over cook.Thanksgiving Day Hike Tip #4 : Do the Dishes and Empty the DishwasherIf you clean up any dishes from the preparation work and get them all washed and put away, the dishwasher ...

Raw foodists believe their diet is healthier by eating only raw foods. To help a loved one who is a raw foodist and support their diet and life style, consider these items as gifts for the holidays. They are likely to enjoy them.Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #1 : NutcrackersA nutcracker will help your favorite raw foodist extract those precious raw nuts straight from the shell with one easy motion. Put it in an attractive bag with a mix of fresh nuts. What says Merry Christmas better?Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #2: JuicerJuicers help create variety in raw foodist diets by providing fresh squeezed juice straight from the fruit or vegetable. Raw cabbage juice is supposed to be terrific for healing the innards.Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #3: Salad SpinnerRaw foodists like their salads and a salad spinner helps remove that extra water. Pack self-sealing storage bags inside to add a special I care message.Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #4 : Herb Garden or Vegetable SeedsProvide a few small pots and a packet of herb garden or vegetable seeds and they'll know you care. Think basil, mint, radish and carrot.Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #5 : Mushroom GardenA mushroom garden can help your raw foodist have a fresh mushrooms right from their home garden starting Christmas day.Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #6: Coffee GrinderI know this sounds odd, but flax seeds are quite a favorite and a hand-sized coffee grinder can chop flax seeds into small edible pieces that are more easily digested.Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #7: Odd UtensilsCarrot peelers always wear out, but other utensils like a nut pick, shellfish knife and fork, garlic crusher and the like can help your raw foodist as well as others at Christmas.Inexpensive Raw Foodist Christmas Gift #8: Oil and VinegarUpscale salad dressings and dips can be the perfect addition to the raw foodist's daily diet, although you should check first to see if they use the...

With Children in School, Adults Can PlayParents and non-parents alike may take advantage of the lower costs in fall to take a break for recreation and get a break on the price. Where's the top places to visit in Fall?#1 Octoberfest in GermanyOctoberfest in Germany is wonderful because the weather is still sunny and warm and the beer is excellent. Watch the train stations as they can get pretty packed and pre-book your hotel, you wouldn't want to be caught without reservations. Try Frankfurt for the best fare, but Munich isn't much more.#2 Gulette in TurkeyRent a gulette and cruise through the islands offshore Turkey while the Mediterrannean waters are crisp and blue and the weather is not quite as toasty. Try Marmaris for a Turkish bath and a trip through the market. Ferries run from either Turkey or Greece.#3 Martha's Vineyard, MassachusettsArriving and leaving Martha' Vineyard can take you through some scenic fall color, find you empty beaches and gain you a taste of their applewood bacon. We found a flight through Providence was less than through Boston and netted us a visit to two states instead of one. Ballymeade Golf Course will challenge any player.#4 Hiking in Seattle, WashingtonAlthough the Washington big leaf maple trees don't compare with the brilliance of east coast sugar maples, the Seattle area has plenty of decidious trees with plenty of color. Bumpershoot held every Memorial Day Weekend is a music treat for young and old. The blue skies usually last until the end of October when the rains begin. Try one of these popular hikes--click here.#5 Always Reliable Beach in Kauai Island, HawaiiHawaii needs no excuse to visit any time of year. In October you have the pleasure of the whales.#6 Dry Season Wildlife in PeruIf you plan to visit the rainforest in Peru, September and October can provide more comfort with dry trails. See the glorious mountains, historic Machu Piccu, and count photographic coup on at least 5 species of monkeys, at least that is what...

Sending a Western Christmas card can tell all your friends and family something about your hoe down Joe or barbecue babe Barbie personality and share some of the best in regional flair. Select Your Western Christmas Card TemplateDepending on what software you plan to use to make and print your Western Christmas Card, you will likely need to select a template.  If you're using MS Word, click here to get how-to printable greeting card information if this is your first time. If you're using Greeting Card Deluxe from Nova Software, click here to get how-to information if this is your first time. Your template should match a standard card stock size that you purchase from an office supply store like Office Maxx, Office Depot, or Staples or from a craft supply store like Michael's.Select Your Western Christmas Card Text FontChoose a font like Baveuse for a chatty styled Western Christmas card. Choose a font like Bernard MT Condensed, Broadway or Footlight MTLight for a billboard saloon style Western Christmas card. And if you're going for a humorous Western Christmas card, try Boopee.Select a Western Christmas Card Photograph or Clip ArtWestern Christmas card photographs and clip art can showcase typical seasonal colors of red and green or white and blue. They can feature western scenery—cactus, buttes and adobe, western style— cowboy hats and boots or hunter wear, and western decorations—chilis, tile, stylized Native American patterns. Snowy scenes, night time color, local plant life can help establish the mood of the season. Make sure the clip art you use is not protected by copyright.You may need to reduce the quality of your photograph.Select a Western Christmas Card BorderYou can add a Christmas card border if you prefer a simpler card with message or minimal picture. Use the same thematic material to convey that western Christmas card look. I've found a border detracts from a photograph and makes the card look cluttered. Clip art pictures can be reduced to a smal...