Wild Cat Wednesday #2

When one bed just isn't big enough....

(photo origin unknown)

Uses for salt around the house

Salt isn't just for putting on your food. It has many safe and effective uses around the house too. Here's somethings you can do with salt:

Laundry:
* soak stained hankies in salt water before washing
* boil clothes pins in salt water before using them and they will last longer
* eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt
* soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line
* likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent clothes from freezing
* fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash
* boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched
* cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cold water later
* to remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol

General cleaning :
* rub salt on your pancake griddle, and your pancakes won't
stick
* clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made from salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
* pour a mound of salt on an ink or blood spot on your carpet; let salt soak up the stain
* clean your iron by rubbing some salt on a damp cloth on the ironing surface
* clean piano keys with a mixture of salt and lemon juice
* rub any wicker furniture with salt water to prevent yellowing
* freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water
* mix salt with turpentine to whiten your bathtub and toilet bowl
* soak enamel pans in salt water overnight, then boil salt water in them the next day to remove burned-on stains
* sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean
* soak discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains
* clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt
* use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot
* sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor
* salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator
* salt and cinnamon will remove offensive odors from the stove
* salt and lemon juice removes mildew
* remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt and water
* polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look
* if a pie bubbles over in the oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spill. It won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust you can easily wipe away when oven in cool

Personal hygiene:
* soak toothbrushes in salt water before your first use; they'll last longer
* dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher
* mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. gargle with warm water for a sore throat
* use equal parts salt and soda for brushing your teeth
* rinse a sore eye with a little salt water

Miscellaneous use:
* sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks or cracks where you don't want grass to grow
* to fill holes in your plaster walls, use equal parts of salt and starch with just enough water to make a stiff putty
* sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away
* for a longer life for cut flowers, add a little salt to the water

Mad Dog Monday #2....a little early

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS
If your dog is in the dangerous breed category
and you have a small child in your home, please
don't leave your dog alone with the child
under any circumstances. It only took a moment
for the following to happen:




THANK YOU!
The Dog

The Friday Funny....stupid 911 calls

Dispatcher : 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I have on a blouse and slacks, why?

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller : Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich.
Dispatcher : Excuse me?
Caller : I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen table and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher : Was anything else taken?
Caller : No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it!

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I' m trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one.
Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart.
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!

Dispatcher: 9-1-1
Caller: Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath. Darn....I think I'm going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before you started having trouble breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police.

(courtesy of Linda Anderson)

Precautions to take before surgery

The following is a guest post written by Adrienne Carlson.

"There are worse things in life than surgery, but going under the surgeon’s knife is definitely not a pleasant experience. And if you’re not prepared or haven’t taken the necessary precautions, you’re going to feel worse than ever and fall prey to other complications as well. If you’re scheduled for surgery, here’s what you need to do in the way of precautions:
• Quit smoking: Anyone with a little sense would know that smoking is injurious to health. But they persist with it because they’re addicted. When you smoke prior to a surgery, you risk reducing your oxygen supply to vital parts of the body. Anesthesia and the strain of surgery take a toll on your body, and when you smoke, you compound the problem further and pave the way to complications.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions: When you’re scheduled for surgery, you’re normally asked not to eat or drink anything for a few hours before, depending on the complexity of the operation. If you don’t follow this order, complications could arise with the anesthesia. You are likely to be beset by nausea and vomiting, and other worse complications as well.
• Inform your doctor about your medication: If you’re taking aspirin or any other drug that thins blood and prevents it from clotting, you must inform your doctor about the same. They will advise you to stop taking the drug for a day or so before the surgery. If you fail to tell your surgeon this, you are at risk of bleeding to death because your blood will not clot after the surgery.
• Take your medication as prescribed: You will be prescribed antibiotics before and after the surgery to prevent infections and other complications, so take them as prescribed in order to avoid extending your stay at the hospital unnecessarily.
Surgeries are both emotionally and physically tough, so make things easier on yourself by following instructions and taking the necessary precautions."

By-line:
This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of pharmacy tech certification . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com.

_______________________________________________________________________________
I would like to add that you should research your surgery and educate yourself on the procedure and what will happen both before and after the surgery. You need to take control of your own health, and that means reading all you can find on your illness and discussing any concerns with your doctor. Find out if there are any supplements that you can take ahead of the surgery to build up your body's immune system and help prevent complications and speed healing. And if something doesn't seem right while you're in the hospital, ask questions.

Mad Dog Monday #1

Us long-legged gals have a problem with couches not being deep enough. Poor doggie.

(photo origin unknown)

Our Recommended Natural Pet Food List

My cocker spaniel Abby had terrible skin allergies most of her life up to the age of 7. She had been diagnosed as having seasonal allergies and took the steroid Prednisone. After a while however, it wasn't really helping her so I started investigating whether she could have a food allergy. After feeding her a grain-free natural formula along with supplementing it with a raw food mixture, she began to improve. After 2 months, she no longer needed any medication, and has remained itch-free for more than 2 years. I'm convinced it was the chemicals, preservatives, grains and poor sources of protein in her previous food (Eukanuba) that caused her problems.

After researching the subject for many months, I compiled a list of my "Recommended Pet Foods". I'd love to hear from you if you use a pet food that fits the criteria below and you don't see it listed, so that I can add it to my list. Some companies make several products, some fit my criteria while others don't. So please be specific when listing your pet food.

My Recommended Natural Pet Foods (in alphabetical order):
Barf World Raw patties
Blue Buffalo Co.
Bravo Raw Diet
Evangers
From Family
Halo Purely for Pets
Holistic Blend
Horizon Pet Food
Merrick
Nature's Variety - Instinct - canned
Newmans Own Organics Premium
Petcurean
Primal Pet Foods
Sojourner Farms (Sojos) dehydrated mix
Solid Gold: Hund-N-Flocken, Katz-N-Flocken, Millenia, Wolf King
Stella and Chewy's Pet Food
Wagalicious Natural Pet Food
Wellness by Old Mother Hubbard

Criteria for the list:
* First ingredient must be a specified meat such as "chicken".
* No by-products
* No corn as it's hard to digest and one of the prime causes of allergies in pets
* Fat should be specified, such as "chicken fat," not just "animal fat"
* Preservatives should be natural and not chemical, for instance Vitamin E

On the subject of "chicken meal," according to Wikipedia, the quality of the protein from "chicken meal" as an example depends on the type and amount of meat in the mixture, and although it's better than "chicken by-products," it's generally a lesser quality protein source than "chicken meat." Chicken meal can only be the meat from the chicken, whereas chicken by-products can be all parts of the bird, including beaks, feathers, feet, intestines, etc. If your food has chicken meal as the first ingredient, be sure it's a manufacturer you trust to use only top quality meat.

On the subject of "fat," if the product doesn't specify the animal from which the fat was taken, and is labeled simply "animal fat," the contributing animal is not known, and the resulting oil is very low in linoleic acid which is essential for skin and coat health.

The pet foods that list meat as the first ingredient tend to be the most expensive, and I know that we can't all afford the top of the line pet foods. There are many other good pet foods out there where the first ingredient is for example "chicken meal," but my goal here was to list the very best pet foods. One trick I use is to mix a top brand with a less expensive yet all natural brand to help keep the cost down and make it go further, yet my pets still get the benefit of the high-end food. I also feed raw food for one meal a day to assure they are getting the best quality high protein diet I can give them. For premium content and convenience, nothing beats BARF World frozen raw food patties. For less expense but very convenient, try The Honest Kitchen's dehydrated raw mix and just add water and meat. You might also consider making your own raw food mixture, which I posted about previously HERE. I know it takes a bit more time, but it can be done cheaply and raw food is the best food by far for your dog or cat.

Thank you everyone for any foods you contribute to the list.

Relief for a bee sting

Well, it's that time of year when anything you do out in the yard angers the bees. Friday as I was finishing up mowing the lawn, I felt that familiar hot pain just under the tongue of my shoe. I limped into the house and applied a paste of vinegar and baking soda for about 15 minutes and I got almost instant relief. But by evening my foot started swelling and by bedtime the itching was driving me crazy. Over the weekend I kept an ice pack wrapped around my foot, and the relief was heavenly but a bit awkward for moving around.

If you've ever had a bee sting, you know that the symptoms last about 4 days. With the weekend coming to an end and my foot still red, swollen and itching whenever the ice wasn't on, I decided to see if there was something else that would give me relief while I was at work on Monday. I found a wonderful site written by William Brantley, an adventurous sole who allowed himself to be stung several times in order to test the many so called cures for a bee sting. Good old ice and my vinegar and baking soda remedy were among his favorites but I see I should have added some meat tenderizer -it may have stopped the swelling from progressing if I had done it right away. The following is a recap of what he found worked well and not so well:

Pharmaceutical products
Excellent - Caladryl, and Calamine lotion with analgesic
Good - maximum strength hydrocortisone cream
Bad - Benedryl Extra Strength Itch Stopping Cream, Skeeter Stik, Ban Roll-on

Home Remedies
Best - Ice, Toothpaste
Excellent - Vinegar/baking soda/meat tenderizer mixed into a paste
Good - honey
Bad - slice of raw white onion, tobacco

If you'd like to read more on his experiment or more details of these remedies, here is the link to his article: Sting Operation

Blondes and the bus ride....

Two bowling teams, one of all Blondes and one of all Brunettes, chartered a double-Decker bus for a weekend trip. The Brunette team rode on the bottom of the bus and the Blonde team rode on the top level.

The Brunette team down below was really whooping it up and having a great time when one of them realized that she hadn't heard anything from the Blondes upstairs. She decided to go up and investigate.

When she reached the top, she found all the Blondes in fear, staring straight ahead at the road, clutching the seats in front of them with white knuckles. The brunette asked, "What the heck's going on up here? We're having a great time downstairs!"

One of the Blondes looked up at her, swallowed hard and replied, "YEAH, BUT YOU'VE GOT A DRIVER!"

(contributed by David Taylor)

12 food additives to avoid

With the threat of diseases such as cancer and all of the new super germs out there like the H1N1 and MRSA viruses, it's important to keep your immune system functioning at it's peak and to be aware of what's in the foods you're eating. For your health and safety, the following 12 food additives should be avoided:

1. Sodium Nitrate (aka Sodium Nitrite) a preservative, coloring, or flavoring added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, lunch meats, corned beef, and linked to cancer

2. BHA & BHT - common preservatives in cereals, gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils. They are oxidants that can cause cancer

3. Propyl Gallate - a preservative used with BHA and BHT found in meat products, chicken soup base, and gum, and is linked to cancer

4. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)- an amino acid used to enhance soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen foods and restaurant food. It causes headaches, nausea, and possible nerve cell damage.

5. Trans fats - proven cause of heart disease found in many restaurant foods.

6. Aspartame (aka Nutrasweet & Equal) artificial sweeteners found in diet foods, and may cause cancer and other neurological health problems

7. Acesulfame-K - a new artificial sweetener in baked goods, gum and gelatin desserts. Not much is known yet, but some studies have shown cancer concerns

8. Food Colorings: Blue 1,2; Red 3; Green 3: Yellow 6 - all linked to cancer and are still on the market

9. Olestra - a synthetic fat in some chips that can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps and gas. It inhibits vitamin absorption from fruits and vegetables.

10. Potassium Bromate - additive to increase volume in flour, breads and rolls, known to cause cancer

11. White sugar - found in baked goods, cereals, crackers, sauces, processed foods, sold pop etc, and promotes bad nutrition

12. Sodium Chloride (aka salt) used to enhance flavor. Ingesting too much leads to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

This information is courtesty of MSN Health and Fitness

And that's how the fight started....#4

A man and woman were watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while they were in bed.

The man turned to his wife and said, 'Do you want to have sex?'

'No,' she answered.

He then said, 'Is that your final answer?'

She didn't even look at him this time, simply saying 'Yes.'

So he said, 'Then I'd like to phone a friend.'


And that's how the fight started...

Herb - Goldenrod

Goldenrod is a perennial herb that can be found growing wild all over North America, with some varieties in South America, Europe and Asia. Bright golden flowers bloom in late Summer and are often blamed for allergies. However Ragweed which blooms right along side Goldenrod is the main culprit and is pollinated by wind, whereas Goldenrod is pollinated by insects.

Goldenrod is used to make tea and considered a good luck charm by some cultures, while others regard it as a weed. It's also widely used in decorations. The Goldenrod variety Solidago virgaurea is used in herbal medicine as a tonic for the kidneys as it counters inflammation and irritation caused by bacterial infections or kidney stones. Solidago odora is used for mucus, colds, digestion, and kidney/bladder cleansing and stones.

Goldenrod is the state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska and the state wildflower of South Carolina. Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora) is the state herb of Delaware.