Get Ready For Summer Fun--NATURALLY!

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Photo by Todd DeSantis on Unsplash

Summer is just around the corner and that means FUN IN THE SUN!!!

That also means, bumps, bug bites, sprains, scratches, sunburns, and all sorts of owies! Just goes with the territory.

So, I thought I would let you know my recommendations for an all-natural first-aid kit. 

Miracle Skin Salve from Beeyoutiful is awesome at promoting healing and restoration of all those little scratches and bug bites. It works for sunburn, chapped lips or skin, minor burns (if in doubt, please seek medical attention), cuts & abrasions, and so much more.

Ow! Ease I love this for sprains, strains, bruises, and so much more.

Activated Charcoal--

• Capsules--These are an easy way to swallow the charcoal for tummy upsets or for possible ingestion of poisons. Please call the Poison Control Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 before administering an antidote.
  This is also easy transportation for charcoal used externally. Just open a capsule to make a poultice for stings and rashes. There is an informative book, Charcoal Remedies, here. 
• You can also buy activated charcoal in larger sizes 10 ounces and one pound.

Shoo those pesky insects away!!!

• Jungle Fierce
• Bug Me Not

Essential Oils--

• Peppermint is a medicine chest of its own! It helps with tummy issues, headaches, motion sickness, nausea, and when mixed with a little water and spritzed on the body, it helps the cooling down process. 
• Lavender will help that over-excited child fall asleep, calm someone down after an injury, sooth the itching of bug bites. (Please remember to properly dilute in a carrier oil before applying to the skin. Beeyoutiful has this already diluted, in a roller ball.)
• Relieve It is a blend of essential oils that is the best thing going for instant, long-lasting relief of itching from insect bites. I have found it also works well for that itch that comes along as other owies are healing up. 
• Tea Tree Oil is a natural disinfectant. Keep it handy not only for cleaning wounds (never "neat" only properly diluted.) and for using to clean up around the campsite, boat, etc. 
• Chamomile is a soother, sleep aid safe for use on even small children (when diluted), aids digestion, good for skin care, relieves pain, reduces anger, helps depression. 
• Rose Geranium is a tick repellant. I apply it to pants hems, shirt hems, and sleeve hems. Just one drop in each place. It doesn't take much. This also gives the added benefit of aromatherapy of calming.
• You can obtain the Lavender, Tea Tree Oil and Chamomile essential oils, already diluted, in rollerballs here.
  

Don't forget plenty of fresh water and the aloe gel of your choice.

You simply must stay hydrated in the heat of summer. 

Aloe gel is a cooling (keep it in the ice chest) for those that are overheated or have gotten a touch of sunburn. 

Disclaimers: Nothing I have written here should be considered medical advice. Always, always consult your healthcare provider. 

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Photo by Andrew Ruiz on Unsplash

Today's Events

Today has been fairly productive. I made some Butter Cookies using strawberry flavoring instead of vanilla. They have turned out a pretty red color and as delicate and melt in your mouth as ever--with a delicate strawberry flavor! Pat on my own back for such a great, yet simple idea.

Made some Christmas Balls using orange juice and fresh orange zest instead of rum or brandy. They are fairly good also. I do prefer using the Hershey Special Dark cocoa powder as opposed to regular flavor.

MRS came over to sit with his Mom for a bit while I ran to the local "dig store"-Helping Hands of Lyles- to grab some clothes for the grand kids. They are not open Saturday, so had to go today. The blessing was today was half price day so I just went down the wall of children's clothes and grabbed stuff. With this many grands, all of it will be used.

Have been working on my Etsy store and my Facebook Fanpage. Both are looking good-now to get some things made up and ready to sell.

MRS's friends are coming over in the morning to have a squirrel breakfast. I had planned to sleep in but got a message that the grandbaby that is visiting has a dental appointment at 9 a.m.

Off to get a little bit of reading done.

Help Heal Phoenix

UPDATES ARE ADDED AT THE BOTTOM.

Phoenix and his twin brother Malachi were born prematurely by emergency c-section. Their Mother discovered her pregnancy when she went to the doctor for missed periods and he told her that as she had undergone a tubal ligation and was using back-up birth control she wasn't pregnant. After an exam the doctor said she had a "missed miscarriage" and wanted to do a D&C. 

Misty refused. She preferred to wait to see if her body would do this on its own. Weeks later she was told was pregnant-one baby. She planned a weekend retreat to tell the Daddy. Before that weekend came, he was killed in a car wreck .Now she is told she is expecting twins. She chooses names. Though her heart is breaking, she has other children and these two wonderful Gifts from God on the way. She must go on. Now the news is that the babies are sharing not only an amniotic sack (bag of waters) they are sharing the same placenta.(Learn more about MoMO Twins here.) This makes it nearly impossible for both babies to live to birth. As a matter of fact, she was told no less than three times that Phoenix was dead. 

She is put on bed rest. During this time my husband was nearing the end of his walk on this earth. Misty had offciated at our Wedding. He asked for her. She came. Sat with us as much as she could. When he passed, she was there to bless the gound and perform his last Ceremony.

A few weeks before the birth Misty was told Phoenix had a "small hole" in his heart. Nothing bad-they would give him some medication for 24 hours after he was born and all would be well. I got there right after the Cardiologist left--Phoenix indeed had a small hole in his heart-along with several other heart defects. There was a name for it-Tetrology of Fallot. He would need to be kept calm at all times. No crying. Several surgeires throughout his life. For the first few months he would have to be fed very small amounts around the clock as to not stress his heart. He also had to gain weight slowly so his damaged heart could keep up.

Fast forward five months. He goes in for surgery. They find another hole in his heart. He has been splayed open, fixed temporarily until he grows so much more surgery is needed. He has complications but is sent home. Now he must not be exposed to many people and definitely no germs for six weeks. his Mom and God-Mother take up residence in the master bedroom of the family's apartment to keep as isolated as possible.

Misty has not been able to work in months. She has a family to support. Times are tough.

Please, consider making a donation to help this family make it through these times.

There are three ways to donate--if you are in the Nashville, Tennessee or Dickson, Tenneessee area just go to a Cornerstone Credit Union Branch. Tell them you need to make a donation to the Phoenix Garrett Account. Or you may send a donation through PayPal to twinphoenixboy@gmail.com. any amount, no matter how small is needed. Small actions will add up to something big. Or you can go to Indiegogo by clicking here or on the box to the upper right.

UPDATES

Sept. 3 2012 Phoenix is still having crying spells that last up to an hour. The doctors warned this could happen. It happens around the clock. His heart rhythms still are not correct so they are now saying another surgery soon to put in a pacemaker. 

This will entail another blood drive. His blood is B negative. The doctors do not want to tax his already taxed body by giving him O negative. If you are B Negative and can get to Nashville be on standby and contact Misty below at her Facebook page so she can set the appointments up when the time comes. 

No matter your blood type, but especially if your Rh factor is negative, please donate blood on a regular basis.


Sept. 5, 2012 Phoenix saw his Pediatric Cardiologist yesterday. His heart is still out of rhythm. She wants to do a 48 hour test on him but the stickers have to go where his scar is. She wants to wait until that his healed so as to not risk irritation that could lead to infection. It does look as though he will be needing a pacemaker. 

He has also lost his appetite so the doctor has decreased his lasix dosage (this is to move the excess fluid from around his heart and lungs). He is already on 22 calories per ounce of intake and may need to go to 24 calories ounces per ounce.

Here is the link to the first story done by Fox17 Nashville.

Misty can be contacted through her Facebook page.

I can be contacted through my Facebook page.

Lots Of Things

This day was productive.

I made several bead rings. These will be offered for sale at Pau Wau this year. 

My hubby's friend went with me to the paid storage building and we got the sewing machine, lots of cloth, and a few odds and ends.

We came back and straightened up the storage building here--hoping that will be a full fledged Craft Room by January--hint, hint Honey. (My birthday is in January.)

Then, we realized we had to go back over to the paid storage building as my jewelry making supplies were not here. Note-It was starting to storm outside. Luckily the rain held off a few hours.

Brought a box in the house that needs to be gone through. Bet most of it can be trashed.

Sat down and watched "Every Which Way But Loose" while I beaded "Dakota" in pale yellow with a pale green background.

Yes, it is very hard to read. I believe it will be made into a choker for her. She's still too small for a bracelet with her name. Little bugger, she pulls her earrings out then tries to take her Mom's out!

Giorgianna and I went to Linden, Tennessee the other day. Stopped at the Cane Creek Market. Bought a new mortar and pestle, Farmer's Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, bologna, and oil based natural flaorings to use in some of my products.

Nothing like shopping at a true country market!

Hubby has been sickly the last few days--seems to have bronchitis, but you know these hard headed men!!! Refuses to go to the doctor. Of course going to the VA can be a true pain at times.

Had a pattern made to make Ms. Robbie some jumpsuits that zip up the back--she has an annoying habit of taking her Depends off and then wetting herself. She also has developed a habit of tearing them apart and flushing them down the toilet.  That gell just swells and stops it up. A friend snaked the toilet for us last week.  She will also play in the poop in the toilet--this was the best way I could figure to stop these activities.

I will be working on getting at least three made this week.


Here are some pictures one is the bead work for Dakota's choker and the other some of the bead rings:

Yellow Outfit for Dakota Dream

It's a bad photo but I am so proud of this. It is so pretty! I cannot wait for her to put it on.

Kimberlee Came to See Unci

Okay, Unci is the Lakhota word for grandmother-go here to hear the proper pronunciation.

Through the efforts of the American government, Christians and other well-doers, the Waccamaw (and many if not most Nations and Tribes) lost their original languages over the years. We do know that our language was Siouan based.

I'll not go into a history/language/culture lesson here, as that is not what this post is about. Suffice it to say that I choose Lakhota to learn and teach the grandchildren for a reason.

Kimberlee's parents, my Virgillia and her husband Ivy (also father to all 3 children), are divorcing. As usual, it is hard on the children.

IJ, the three year old boy, came to stay with me a week, two weeks ago. Now, its Kimberlee's turn.

We made my camping cot (which never gets used anyways) out in the living room. She usually sleeps on the couch but I decided that making it a bit more special this time would be nice under the circumstances.

We got it out and went and found a foam bed overlay that had been brought out for Mr. Bob, but never used. She helped me get that on it and then we folded a comforter in half and put on it. Then a set of new sheets and a comforter to cover up with. All nice and fluffy now.

She really did not want to go to sleep, which is actually unusual for her--bedtime is bedtime and Unchi does not believe in "spoiling" the grandchildren. Loving re-enforcement of the home rules is the way to go.

Kimberlee said she missed her Mama and would she come get her tonight? I reminded her she brought her clothes to stay and we read a Bible story. I did sit on the couch and crochet until she fell asleep. Which did not take long since she had been yawning for an hour!

She insisted on having her doggie pillow, a little stuffed doggie and the blanket her Mama made for her.

Today we are trying on clothes a friend sent over for all the grands. All she is really interested in is the shoes--she has always loved shoes!

We may bake a cake in little bit. Poor Man's cake with chocolate and cake spice. Yum-Yum!

Dakota Dream's Baby Blanket

Here is Dakota's baby blanket!

The main color is a yarn I found nine skeins of at Goodwill. The Coffee was some I had for an afghan my husband wants and the pink on the edges is one I received in an exchange I was involved in once.

Latest Sewing Project

Sat up last night and cut out this pattern for my granddaughter Dakota Dream.

Making view "A"- the one in the center. It's a dark yellow what a lot of sports teams use and call gold.

She is a true Indian baby with a round face and pretty dark skin. She will look very cute in this (and no Unchee does NOT have a biased opinion! LOL)

This will be her Christmas present.

Pictures coming when it is done. Right now I have the hardest job of all-finding a zipper and bias binding that will match the cloth color.

Been Sewing Again!

Well, I have been at the sewing machine again. Here is what I have so far and there will be more from the Jayme Bodice - one for each of the Granddaughters.

The first is a Tear Skirt for Kimberlee.

The dress with the bunny skirt is for Dakota Dream.

The two denim dresses are for Kimberlee and her sister Di'Chariah.

Still have to make for Nikole and Makenzie.

More photos to come!

Expecting A New GrandBaby!

I will have a new granddaughter in April. She's due the ninth but I'll bet my bottom dollar my Mom is praying for her to be born on the twelfth--Mom's birthday!

As with all births there is some apprehension along with all the excitement! All babies are welcome, but G. had complications during the pregnancy and birthing of her last child--a beautiful boy.

G. is in an expedited nursing program and will be graduating in April about two weeks after the babies birth. She'll be a bit strapped for about four weeks but she is conservative with her money and a good pre-planner.

Actually, she pushes herself much too hard sometimes.

Right now G. has a cold that has turned into an ear infection and is spending her Christmas break trying to rest and recover.

Found Some Pictures

I was organizing some pictures on my hard drive and found some pictures of things I have made.


Hope you enjoy.

This is the blanket I made for my granddaughter Di'Chariah.

This is my Regalia. I made all but the cocunut shell belt and my son, Pistol Ball gifted me the raccoon skin.

Baby Outfit & Bookmark

I finished the outfit for my grandson Isaiah. He's 6 months old. I'll see him Friday & Saturday of this week and hopefully get pictures of him in it.

And here is my first ever filet crochet. It's a bookmark. Probably will thread a ribbon through the center and give to my Mom for her 71st birthday next month. She is still very active. She works two jobs, travels and reads a lot!

Finished a Baby Blanket

Finished a baby blanket!

This is 100% wool purchased from Yarn Treehouse on eBay. The color is CK21.

It's the first time I have worked with 100% wool. I wish I had bought more of this as it would make a beautiful sweater!

It took four skeins and just a touch of a fifth.

The pattern I used can be found at Lacy Small Afghan Pattern. I recommend only doing 131 for the beginning chain. About.com recommends in many patterns to just do a chain, then cut off the extra after doing the first few rows. I think that would make it more likely to unravel. (I have noticed this in several books now also.)

For the edging I just did a 3dc shell around, doing a shell in each corner.

Granddaughter's Easter Outfit ON HER

We got it on her!!!!

She was a bit feisty about it--see her Daddy works on the road and he had just gotten home that day and she is most undeniably a Daddy's Girl!!!

But I promised pictures when she got it on so here is the one we were able to get.

Isn't she just adorable??????

Handmade Easter Outfit

I was waiting on a friend to have surgery and of course, although it was a simple surgery, it was an all day thing.

I had obtained a pattern called "Sweetie Dress"(click the title to be taken to the pattern), intending to make it for my 3 year old granddaughter.

The pattern printed on four pages. After crocheting for a while, putting it down umpteen times to talk with doctors, nurses, etc. and picking it back up, I thought I was on the last page and finished the dress off.

Uh-oh!!! I was only about half way through.

Time for the thinking cap!

It became a top. I decided to get some denim and make her skirt to wear with it.

So I proceeded to Wal-Mart to get the required denim. While I was browsing through the yarn (after having obtained the denim) I noticed this plain, pink cowgirl hat discarded in the yarn bins.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Kimberlee loves hats. So in the buggy it went.

Then I had to get something to dress it up, so through all the spools of yarn rick-rack, and everything else to decide what to trim it with. Purple and white.

This entire thing is totally handmade. I have sewing machines, but nowhere to set one up. (We have two Alzheimer's patients in the house and that is another story.)

So here is the resulting outfit. I am going out to visit next week and will take pictures of it on her.