First Snow of Winter on December 1st

Winter has shown its face here in Central Illinois. Last night lots of wind and rain blew through our area and continued into the morning, with temperatures dropping enough for us to get a small amount of snow, not even enough to cover the lawns as of 11 a.m.

Made me glad I had taken advantage of Fall's last hurrah on the weekend. Got my daffodils in the ground and some other needed work done around the house.

Now that we will probably be indoors for the duration, it is a good time to think about ways to promote health while trying to keep warm.

Especially if you have a well insulated house, it's important to make sure there is enough fresh air coming in. Check furnaces, water heaters, vent pipes, to make sure everything is working properly. Installing a carbon monoxide moniter could literally be a lifesaver.

I find diffusing "Clear Air," a blend of several essential oils, including eucalyptus, oregano and lemon, to not only freshen the indoor air, but help as a preventative for catching and transmitting colds, flu and other air bourne illnesses.

While you're trying to keep warm, remember, you don't have to blast the heat. It's cozy to curl up on a couch or in a chair with a throw blanket around you, a cup of hot tea and a good book.