Musings From The Farm Comfortable living in your own skin

In a previous blog I shared an article about preventing the norovirus and how biofilms protect it. I recently read this article that talked more about biofilms and how essential oils can help combat resistant diseases. Personal Care Truth is a great resource for real information, backed with research and facts not scare tactics. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I’m watching the goats, I know, what else is new right? They are all huddled in the calf hutch. That’s a white plastic thing, like a dog igloo that is made as a shelter for baby cows. So I’m wondering why they are all taking shelter this time of the day, it’s not snowing or raining. Then I see them stretching their necks out and upward to watch a sinister silhouette flying above in the sky. It’s a bird- it’s a plane it’s… yeah it’s a bird!  Actually  it’s just a hawk, not sure what kind, too small to be a red tailed hawk. But even if it was the larger red tail, it is still no threat to these full grown fat and happy goats! Silly goats ~ I’d love to know what they are thinking!

Although the flu is still widespread this season, it has at least started to peak in some areas.  But now we seem to have a particularly virulent strain of the norovirus. This year it is the sydney strain that was first detected in Sydney, Australia

“The best way to avoid the norovirus is to wash your hands often using soap and water,”
said Mary E. O’Dowd, state health commissioner. “Alcohol-based hand cleansers are not effective against this virus because of their special lipid shell.

“Noroviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses and are highly infectious, requiring as few as 10 viral particles to infect, Dr. Blaney pointed out. They are stable in the environment and are spread by the fecal-oral route.

Noroviruses spread quickly in crowded, closed places like long-term care facilities, daycare centers, schools and colleges, hotels, hospitals, restaurants and cruise ships. Basically, any place where food is prepared or handled by others, officials said.

This year’s strain,  causes the familiar agonizing symptoms — vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. It may also cause low grade fever, chills, headache, body aches, and fatigue. It typically lasts between 48 and 72 hours and is not associated with influenza.

Patients with norovirus are contagious from the moment they get sick to three days after they recover and possibly longer if they have a compromised immune system. The virus is found in the stool and vomit of infected people and is easily transmitted when proper hygiene is not used.

While ill, patients should sip clear liquids to prevent dehydration and when they can tolerate solid food, start with the BRAT diet — bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

The view from my window is not pretty and I am very upset with my goats, although I don’t think they are all guilty. Poor Fasci is the victim of bored goats or more accurately her tail is. What was once a beautiful long flowing tail is now shortened by about 30 inches! I have no idea what made the goats decide she needed a bobtail, but they tackled the job with enthusiasm and finished the job all in one night. Fasci looks so different with the new do and it does really show off her well muscled hindquarters. I may have to use bitter apple spray if they continue to chew. Horses use their tail to help swish away flies in the summer. Hopefully she will grow a few inches of new tail before fly season. One thing for sure, bored goats ~ never a good thing.

So you may be wondering why use a body scrub? Should I use a sugar or a salt scrub? Can I make it myself?  The good news; it’s easy to make it yourself for a fraction of the cost of buying one. Here is why you might like to try a body scrub: some folks, especially mature woman, find they have dry rough patches on various parts of your skin no matter how good your skin care routine. And this time of year, when it’s really cold (like this morning;  -5) it only compounds the problem. This is when body scrubs can be particularly helpful. Body scrub ingredients helps to exfoliate the rough skin and moisturize at the same time. The scrubbing part is usually sugar or salt but sometimes grains like ground oats or almonds can be used too. The moisturizing part is often Sweet Almond oil or Olive oil, or any moisturizing oil.

Scrubbers; Sugar is finer then salt and dissolves more quickly which makes it the perfect all around exfoliate. If you prefer something courser use salt but it is too abrasive for your face or sensitive skin and stings if you have a break in your skin. For something less abrasive try ground oatmeal, it is very gentle and is also a humectant but it won’t dissolve in your shower, so you may need to make sure it all goes down the drain.

Moisturizer: You don’t have to stick with Almond or Olive oil. I like them because they are both very stable and have a long shelf life and are good for your skin.  If you use virgin coconut oil it smells really yummy!

TO MAKE a body scrub simply measure out 1 part oil and 2 parts sugar, mix well and store in a wide mouth jar. You can add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil.

TO USE:  Step into your shower with the water off and apply it to dry skin (remember the sugar will dissolve in water). Being careful not to get water into your jar, take a small amount in your palms and rub onto your skin where needed. Rub for a minute or two and then turn the shower on to rinse off.  After you towel off you can still apply your favorite moisturizer as usual. I apply the large Shea Body Butter to the problem areas. I find doing this at least once a week keeps those areas in check this time of year.