Do Your Clothes Turn Orange!

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Well, Sunscreen is the culprit.

Especially one ingredient in almost all sunscreens.

It's the Avobenzone.

(And most moisturizers that have a sunscreen in has this too!)

If you read carefully, it says "May stain some clothing"!!

Well when I was younger, I didn't wear sunscreen or I chose like a number 4!!

Of course, this past year, I had to have some small skin cancers removed so then I started wearing nothing less than a Broad Spectrum SPF 30 or higher.

These are what I was using.

That's when my clothes started turning orange when I would wash them.  Especially around the neck and on the sleeves.

It was driving me nuts.

I was totally bleaching the heck out of my white shirts.

You can only do that so many times before they fall apart!!

As you can see, the higher the SPF, the more Avobenzone and the oranger my clothes were getting!

But why my clothes and not my daughters!!

Well it so happens that it is the chemical reaction that happens between 

the Avobenzone and iron which is in harder water.

Like WELL WATER!  That I have!

I have a water softener but there must still be more iron in my water than city water.

I had to find a sunscreen without the Avobenzone.

There are just a few and they are made with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.

You know . . . like Desitin ointment!!!!

Well, let me tell you one thing.  It certainly is waterproof!!

 You can hardly even wash it off with soap!

But if I have to be uncovered in the sun, I guess I'll have to wear it.

At least it doesn't smell like the old Desitin.

Remember that smell?

Sort of like fish oil!

Well, my clothes haven't turned orange for the past month.

So I guess that's a good thing.

If anyone knows of a more pleasant sunscreen without the Avobenzone, let me know!

Shirley

  

Yesterday I Saw A Monarch

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It was the first one I've seen this year.  She caught my eye fluttering past the window in my front garden.  I went out and quietly sat on the front porch.

I have several milk weed plants out there by the gate.

Last year I had one plant and this year 4 or 5, so I'm happy that they do multiply pretty easily.

That one plant, the milkweed, is the only thing that the Monarch caterpillar eats.  

The ONLY thing.

SAVE MONARCHS FROM DOW'S CHEMICAL ASSAULT!

Industrial agricultural giant Dow Chemical unveiled its newest toxic herbicide, Enlist Duo, which would destroy milkweed plants that monarch butterflies need to survive. And monarch populations are crashing from nearly 1 billion butterflies 20 years ago to just 57 million last winter. Tell Dow's CEO to shelve the company's plan for selling this potent chemical cocktail — before it wreaks more destruction on monarchs.

Wouldn't it be tragic if we were the last generation to even get a glimpse of this beautiful creatures.

The Monarch yesterday was going from leaf to leaf scoping out my plants.  I'm hoping she will lay her eggs there.

Monarch butterflies go through four stages during one life cycle, and through four generations in one year. It’s a little confusing but keep reading and you will understand. The four stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle are the egg, the larvae (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. The four generations are actually four different butterflies going through these four stages during one year until it is time to start over again with stage one and generation one. - See more at: http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/#sthash.b2aDnG0T.dpuf

Stop using herbicides and pesticides!

There are nature things you can do in your gardens that won't kill off everything!!

This is from an article on eHow:

Advantages of Natural Products

• Organic herbicides and pesticides have no toxic or poisonous chemicals that can harm wildlife, sources of water or humans. They also decompose quickly, leaving no residue on plants or in the soil. You might also save money when you choose natural alternatives.

Natural Herbicides

• A mixture of white vinegar and essential oil of orange can be an effective remedy against certain weeds. Select 10 percent acidity white vinegar made from grain alcohol. Combine 1 gallon of vinegar with 1 oz. orange oil, pour into a spray bottle and apply to weeds on a warm, sunny day. Repeat the application every few days until weeds wilt and die.

Natural Pesticides

• Many natural pesticides exist at local gardening centers. For aphids and other soft-bodied insects, use insecticidal soap. For snails and slugs, purchase iron phosphate granules. For caterpillars and other worms that eat plant foliage, purchase bacillus thuringiensis.

Last year I don't think I say any Monarchs!

I remember when I was young, you saw them in your gardens all summer.

Think before you spray!!

Shirley

Do You Zentangle?

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Well, I learned about something new.  Well, apparently it's not new but I never heard about it before last week!

Zentangle

Norma, a friend of mine, told me about it and when I looked it up on Google and Pinterest . . . . . .

Oh my goodness.

I took to it right away!

It's sort of like doodling on steroids!

Look it up on Pinterest.  There's hundreds of patterns but it's really where ever your imagination takes you.

Here are my very firsts.

 The part that looks a different color is were I started with the wrong kind of pen.

(Don't use a Sharpie)

These are the types of pens to use.

Zentangle is like yoga for the brain.

It is good to relieve stress, good for the memory, helps to make brain connections and helps with focus!

(Now, who can't use help with those things!!!!)

It's good for relaxation and has meditative elements.

It's easy to learn and is self soothing.

Teaches you to own your mistakes because it is done in pen and there's no erasing.  You work your "mistakes" into your pattern.  That makes it good for creative problem solving.

Who knew that this "beautiful doodling" could be so good for you!!

Go ahead, go look it up on Pinterest or Google.

You'll be amazed.

So . . . Do you Zentangle?

Shirley

A Late Monday Daybook

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For Today:  July 13, 2015

Outside My Window:  Darkness.  I'm a little late with my daybook!  It's 11pm!

I Am Thinking:  That I didn't pay enough attention to my finances.

I Am Thankful:  For my new financial advisor.  Also thankful that I found a good house sitter.

In The Kitchen:  There's a few dishes in the sink waiting for me to empty the dishwasher.

I Am Wearing:  Black running pants, yellow t-shirt and a flannel over shirt.

I Am Creating:  (Or working on) my July budget.

I Am Going:  To bed soon!

I Am Reading:  (Or listening to) "C is for Corpse" by Sue Grafton, an audio book in the car.  I love mysteries and this is a good one.

I Am Hoping:  That I can stick to a budget!

I Am Looking Forward To:  Going to my sister's this weekend.

I Am Hearing:  The TV going in the family room.

Around the House:  There is dog hair all over the floors.  I've got to sweep good tomorrow.

In the Garden:  I can see some baby butternut squash growing on their vines.

I Am Pondering:  Whether it will really rain AGAIN tomorrow.  I want to put up some deer netting around my veg. garden that the deer have found!!

One Of My Favorite Things:  Selling things on eBay for a little extra money!

Quote of the Day:  

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  Help my handyman tomorrow if it doesn't rain.  (And sweep these floors!)  Wednesday, make turkey burgers and use up the last of the green beans from row 1.  Thurs. is massage day  : ))  Friday, get ready for the weekend.  

Photos to share from the week:

         

Hope it was a good Monday for everyone.

Linking to Simple Woman's Daybook

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Shirley

Blueberry Scones

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Today I did a Periscope broadcast on baking Blueberry Scones.

It will only be on for 24 hours after I broadcast it.

You can see it on  https://twitter.com/hoofprints

So here's the written recipe for whoever wants it.

It's from Allrecipes.

It says the flour they used was spelt flour but I just used regular unbleached flour 

because that's what I had.

Here are mine coming out of the oven.

Some little hints about these scones:

Don't over bake or they'll be too dry inside.
Scones aren't real sweet so you can add more sugar if you want them sweeter.
If you're making them for tea time.  I cut them each in half again so they are a little more dainty!
These are a little big for tea : ))

If you're looking in from Periscope, thank you so much for visiting.

And for sure, the best thing I ever made from blueberries are these muffins!!
http://shirleys-world.blogspot.com/2012/08/to-die-for-blueberry-muffins-repost.html
Try them too!!

Shirley

Found an Old Reminder

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My husband and I owed an antique store for about 15 years.

It was called Woods & Goods.

I was looking for something in a deep desk drawer last night and came across this little flyer.

On the back of it I had copied something out of what looks to be the Country Home Magazine

from Dec. 1991

It says:

"Mend a quarrel, find a forgotten friend, share some treasure, keep a promise. 

 Find the time, forgo a grudge, forgive an enemy.  

Apologize if you were wrong, think first of someone else, laugh a little, laugh a little more.  

Decry complacency, say a prayer, welcome a stranger, gladden the heart of a child.  

Take pleasure in the beauty of the earth.

Speak your love, speak it again, speak it still once again."

Some good words to live by!

Happy Saturday.

Shirley

OK, Who Hasn't Heard Of Periscope??

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If you haven't heard of Periscope and you are even a little social media savvy, you must be living under a rock!

Periscope is an app that is owned by Twitter.

It is a free live broadcasting app that you can put on your IOS or Android device.

You can listen and watch live broadcasts from all over the world.

Or YOU can broadcast yourself!

People are doing live broadcasts about every thing possible.

It's fun and interesting.  Sure there's a lot of nonsense on there but some really good and educational things too.  You've just got to sort it out.

People are finding it's a wonderful media to promote their businesses.

If you want to broadcast, you type in a topic that you plan on showing or talking about, then hit "Broadcast" and you are live all over the world.

No editing.  It's just like live TV!!

After the broadcast, it is kept on replay and on your Twitter page for just 24 hours.

Then it's gone unless you upload it to YouTube.

Warning!

It is very addicting!!

It's the reason I haven't been blogging since June 22nd!

I've done about 6 or 7 broadcasts!

Yes . . . me!

73 year old ME!

I think I hold the honor of, for sure, being the oldest one on there!!

I don't care, it's fun.

I'm promoting my blog.

(So I guess I'd better keep writing!)

So far I've "scoped" about gardening, chicken keeping, my other animal routines, and 2 cooking programs!!  I'm still trying to find my niche.

You are getting live feedback in the way of comments the whole time you're broadcasting.

Don't worry, you can block any mean people or idiots immediately and they can never come back onto your broadcasts. 

So give it a try.

Let me know if you get adventuresome!!

By the way my Twitter name is hoofprints.

Shirley Corwin @hoofprints.

Some good people to follow and watch to find out more about how you can use Periscope:

Alex Pettitt

Mark Shaw

Scott Williams

Robert C. Stern

Alex Butler 

(young and hilarious especially if she's cooking!)

That's just a few to get you started.  There's hundreds more.

Periscope is only 16 weeks old.

It's going to be BIG!

Go get your free app from the app store.

Shirley