086- SAD Experience

Oh, wait... that should be SAD Experiment! (But I couldn't resist that title!)

Any-way, since moving to Utah I've had some problems with SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Two winters ago was the worst, mainly because the winter was so long.

As winter began I was concerned about not having another one of those winters. I wanted to avoid those winter blues or cabin fever. I cooked on ideas of how to avoid SAD. On New Year's Eve day I ended up basking on the deck after working like a dog removing snow. That got me to thinking... what if I conducted a [not so scientific] experiment. I wrote about that back in January. I quickly realized that basking on the deck really only works if a) there is no wind and b) I'd been working like a dog to build up body heat. That was when I discovered that I could move my swanky $10 red folding chaise lounge (covered with a folded quilt for warmth) into the dining room and catch the rays through the French doors. Many a morning has found me [and Harley the hound of the Baskingville!] basking even before oatmeal! Hey, you gotta catch those rays while you can; the weather here is so changeable.

Now, since this has been a very unscientific experiment coupled with an El Niño winter I'm not sure how conclusive my results are... but I've had a much easier winter. I've felt better; I suppose that's all that really matters.

So today after mowing the lawn** I decided that it was warm enough to do some on-the-deck-basking! It was gorgeous! It was probably only in the high 50's but the wind was calm. I took a good book out and read for a good hour to hour and a half! Talk about heaven!

And look what I saw while I was outside! Popcorn Popping On My Apricot Tree!!! What a nice surprise!



Now if I can just count on more mild El Niño days I will have a nice apricot crop. We've only gotten 1 crop in the last 5 years! Usually the tree blossoms early, like this year, and then gets snowed on and freezes. Sad, sad, SAD!

** How can I convince Harley to spread his fertilizer around more evenly on the lawn? I have all these nice green spot all over the back lawn.