My mom would be so proud of me....

My mom, born in 1920, grew up on a farm during the depression and even when the depression was over, things were financially challenging. Mom was practical, frugal, creative and hardworking. Since summer is upon us my chores turn to mowing (the manor as it is lovingly called) which is an all weekend event. The front lawns aren't so bad but mowing around all those apple trees with their lovely draping of poison ivy is another story.

I thought I was being very very careful but apparently I wasn't because come Monday morning I had itchies up and down my arms and I was starting to see little bumps beginning to appear which I knew would soon become blisters etc etc. Since I wasn't going to spend the week scratching - a big no-no and I certainly wasn't go to spend money on some sort of concoction at the local pharmacy, I turned to my ever present knowledgable one - my APPLE - she always has a good answer.

 What I found really surprised me and that is what brings me back to my dear mom. You see when ever my sister or I stepped on a nail, or got stung with a bee, or had a few too many black fly bites or fill in the blank she would get out the gallon jug of CLOROX. Yes sir, that was her cure all for just about everything. So, while researching remedies for my itchies, one of them was to wash the affected area with straight CLOROX.

 My first response was, come on, don't tell me my mom was right all along. But with the itching getting to the unbearable stage I was ready to try anything. And guess what..... ta da.. it worked. Once at night and then again in the morning and well the itchies are history. Now I know that one time doesn't make good scientific evidence but I know what I'll do the next time I get caught in the ivy patch.

Following is a nice web site so I won't hear,  "but I didn't know it was poison ivy."

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has a nice web site with photos and great descriptions about poison ivy and poison oak.

Some other plants we have learned to stay away from through our many travels.

This is HOGWEED.  It really is a beautiful looking plant.  Big leaves and large white flowers.  And that's what I thought we we gathered the seeds from it on our way home from Old Forge one year.  Spread them in the back of the orchard and then......found out what they really were.  Not a good idea. 

You might not recognize this plant but if you have weeded a garden and ended up with itchy buring stinging fingers you have found STINGING NETTLE.  Dried and encapsulated it has tremendous healing properties but in its natural state it a touch me not no no plant.

Another nice flower that grows along the roadside and looks pretty in a wildflower bouquet is WILD PARSNIP and can be really nasty to some people, leaving blisters and then brown marks that can last for weeks or months.  We found out about this nasty little weed when one of my boys was playing outside shirt less.  Three weeks later when he went for a well child visit the doctor looked at the marks quite suspiciously.  You see they were little 1/4" circles that looked like cigarette burns scars.  Fortunately, he believed my explanation of what caused them.

NPR says it all

As you may or may not know but will - I have a huge heart for my refugee friends. When I heard that NPR was doing a radio episode I was quite excited. Take a chance to listen to the broadcast and learn more about the city I have called home for 58 years and where my family has lived since 1820 themselves coming as immigrants from Wales (1800) and Germany (1850)

CULTURE COMPLICATES REFUGEE CARE

TRAFFIC SAFETY CLASS FOR REFUGEES

TABERNACLE BAPTIST WELCOMES BURMESE AND KAREN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREA ARTZ - who visited Utica and while here photographed many of the families who came here as refugees.

Amina Osman, A Somali woman resettled in USA, in a supermarket in Utica, New York


State of the Re:Union
Utica, NY – City with a Warm Heart
A couple of decades ago, Utica, New York, was dying, by even its residents diagnosis: a popular bumper sticker in the ‘90s read “Last One Out of Utica, Please Turn Out the Lights.” Once a bustling textile city perched on the edge of the Erie Canal, Utica lost its mills in the mid-20th century, and has been losing population ever since. But something has changed in recent years, with a surprising influx of refugees to this part of snowy, cold upstate New York—the newcomers have given Utica hope for a second chance.

Memorial Lawn Day

A nice ending to a wonderful weekend. I spent three days mowing the lawns --- aka the manor. I only ran out of gas three times and had to be pulled out of the "ponds" twice. Good thing James was around with the truck. Can't believe how wet it is in the fields.

Odors anyone

I decided to make my own natural deodorant - again. Back in the early 70's we used just plain baking soda but I received complains from certain family members - to gritty etc etc. So we switched back to commercial ones for a few decades. Now, being a little more concerned with what gets put on my skin, after all it is our largest organ, I am back to making my own. This time it's a little more upscale.

Thanks to my soap making I have all the ingredients needed. It's just a matter of "doing it".

1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch or arrow root powder
MIX WELL TOGETHER

Melt in a glass measuring cup 1/4 cup coconut oil - I prefer the 92 degree one.

Add to coconut oil essential oils of your preference.
I used rosemary, lavender, and orange. a few drops of each.

Now add your dry ingredients to the melted oil. Mix well.

Containers: You can use an empty twist up deodorant container. I use a small cosmetic container and apply with my fingers. The reason I like the container with a screw on top is because I don't need to keep it refrigerated during the warm weather. With the twist up container you would need to keep it cold because the coconut oil will soften at either 76 or 92 degrees, depending on which one you used.

Utica - Adult Learning Center

You would think because I grew up in North Utica and work in the city of Utica I would know a lot about this small but great city. Well, tonight I came across this web page while looking for images of Utica Parks.

Utica - Adult Learning Center popped up and I was pleasantly surprised to see many of my friends from clinic. I have to tell you that I am proud to say I live in a city that so warmly embraces our growing population of refugees. If you have never had a chance to meet and chat with recent arrivals who make this city their home you have missed a lot.

These are the hands

These are the hands that taught my daughter how to make a vest without a pattern. But this wonderful and giving women gave the young ladies she taught so much more.

I will always remember the first time we went to her house. She had this gorgeous little city garden behind her house. There was a tall utility pole and she would adorn it with handmade bird houses. What a shock it was to see Kati's bird house amidst them. She made it as part of JK lumber company project and then JK sold the houses after for a charity. We knew Kate was meant to be there and she learned so much from Marcella.

See more of Marcella's creations here

I remember Anna

I have been drawn to Alaska's mystic since I was in grade school, I've followed the Iditarod since it's beginnings cheering on such racers as Libby Riddles, Susan Butcher and Dee Dee Jonroe and I have the blessing to have owned my own Husky. Her name was Anna and she was by far my favorite. Loyal and faithful she would know just what I was saying. She would sleep in a chair next to my bed every night EXCEPT those nights we were having thunder storms. Then she would get as close to me as she could get. My woodchuck killing speedy dog was terrified of these storms.
The Last Great Race

I live in New York Stete and will probably never visit Alaska but I dream.

Just looking at a Husky you can tell that behind those eyes is a whole lotta smarts.

and when there is a prediction of northern lights you will find me outside searching the sky for their splendor.