Getting Ready For Fall!

When September is over and the month turns to October it is cooling time. The weather is much easier to manage with lower temperatures and humidity.

Food stocking in the fall

It is a time for stocking our cupboards with cans as the colder days will mean heavier meals and soups that will brew on simmer all day long. It’s usually a great time to stock up on can goods especially beans and lentils. Sauces and pastes to make them also go for reduced prices in the fall. Canned food has the same nutrients as fresh foods, so don’t overlook them.

Lots of fruits and veggies are sold by the barrel and quite cheaply. If you can manage some canning during the season, by all means, go for it. Having food stocked up gives us peace of mind that if the weather turns on us, we will still have some subsistence to eat. This is also a great time to freeze foods if you have a deep freezer. Freezing now saves time and energy in the colder winter months.

Keeping your hands busy

The fall is also a time to start thinking about hobbies that keep your hands and minds busy during the long winter months. If you don’t have a hobby, now is a good time to think of something you would like to do. Find a series of books to read. Buy some puzzle books or find some for free online. Crosswords are a great way to while away the days as well. Arts and crafts started now can make great Christmas gifts and cost little to no money. There are many sites online for free like PINTEREST that will keep your ideas fresh and keep your mind and hands occupied.

Starting a journal

This is the perfect time to start a journal of your daily symptoms and to track the good days and the bad days. A journal creates an evidence-based record of what happened and how it happened. This evidence goes with us to the doctor’s appointments so we are not playing a guessing game about our treatment. There are many boards on Pinterest to teach you how to begin a journal. Spend some time with it each day and you will begin to gain a deeper understanding of your chronic illness.

Get your shots

Change the batteries in your smoke alarms. They may save your life. Don’t overlook your other detectors in the home. Replace and put in fresh batteries all around. It is time to talk to your doctor’s office about getting your flu shot along with your pneumonia shots. We are all living differently with this illness so only you and your doctor can decide what shots are necessary for you.

Following suggestions from Karen Hoyt's article 'Top Five Apps for COPD', some of the suggestions above will help get us through the long cold winter ahead and hopefully make it less dreary for you and your family.

Editor’s Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on January 7th, 2024, Barbara Moore passed away. Barbara’s advocacy efforts and writing continue to reach many. She will be deeply missed.