THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM On Sunday, November 4 (the first FALL 2007 NEWSLETTER
Sunday in November) at 2 a.m. Fun Fall Activities-The fall can be a time for foliage trips, apple picking and pumpkin carving. Here are some links to assist you planning your activities. www.foliagenetwork.com providing foliage reports and foliage information. www.yankeefoliage.com- the premier Web site for New England fall foliage and other fall events. www.pickyourown.org - One page that lists all of the known pick-your-own apple orchards in Massachusetts. www.mass.gov/agr/massgro wn/apple_pyo.htm- Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources. Preserving Okay, they're dry, now what? Now that you have dry leaves, there are a few things you can do. You can either leave them as is or add a bit more protection. This can be accomplished by placing the leaf between two pieces of wax paper. Place a dish towel over the wax paper and press with an iron (on medium heat). Press on each side for approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove leaf from wax paper. You will notice a fine coating of wax which will preserve your leaves. Breakfast Apple Pie A recipe from the Old Granite Inn, Maine Ingredients: 1 cup cornflakes 1 9-inch pastry shell, five large tart apples (unpeeled) 3 tablespoons maple syrup The Topping-¾ cup flour, ½ cup sugar, white or brown, 7 tablespoons butter in small pieces, ½ teaspoon cinnamon Preparation: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place cornflakes into one baked 9-inch pie shell. Then add five large tart apples, unpeeled, sliced thin, sprinkled with maple syrup. Combine flour, sugar, butter and cinnamon in a small bowl using a pastry blender or your fingers, work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles irregular bread crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over the apple slices. Bake pie for 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and continue to bake for about 35 minutes or until apples are tender and bubbling. Serve warm.
On Sunday, November 4 (the first Sunday in November) at 2 a.m., Daylight Saving Time ends in the United States. Remember to turn your clocks back. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Symptoms of winter SAD usually begin in October or November and subside in March or April. Some patients begin to slump as early as August, while others remain well until January. Regardless of the time of onset, most patients don’t feel fully back to normal until early May. Depressions are usually mild to moderate, but they can be severe. The usual characteristics of recurrent winter depression include oversleeping, daytime fatigue, carbohydrate craving and weight gain, although a patient does not necessarily show these symptoms. Additionally, there are the usual features of depression, especially decreased sexual interest, lethargy, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, lack of interest in normal activities, and social withdrawal. If your symptoms are mild – that is, if they don't interfere too much with your daily living, you may want to try light therapy or experiment with adjusting the light in your surroundings with bright lamps and scheduling more time outdoors in winter. Light therapy if properly dosed can produce relief within days. Antidepressants may also help, and if necessary can be used in conjunction with light. If your depressive symptoms are severe enough to significantly affect your daily living, consult a mental health professional qualified to treat SAD. He or she can help you find the most appropriate treatment for you.
Leaves: Using the Microwave-Start by laying the leaves between two paper towels. If possible, set your microwave's power setting to medium. Now run the microwave between 30 and 120 seconds, depending on the dryness of the leaves (less time for drier leaves, more for those with more moisture). This will remove the moisture from the leaves, allowing the colors to remain as they are. Using a Book-First, find a big book, and one that you are not too attached to (this method may discolor the pages). Place the leaves (don't overlap them) between paper towels or blotting paper (this will absorb the moisture from the leaves). Allow at least 20 pages between the leaves for best results. Keep the leaves in the book for about 7 days, replacing the paper towels on day 2. This should nicely dry the leaves and also keep them flat.
The EAP is just a phone call away. Please call us at: Taunton 508-822-2151 Brockton 508-584-6627 Plymouth 800-974-6778