Ginormous Bubbles!

After reading the post on Our Best Bites about making Ginormous Bubbles we had to try making our own. It was just as much fun for the grandkids as it was for us grownups!! Once we got the hang of things, they were huge-- some of them were 15-20 feet long!

 To make the bubbles you need Dawn detergent, J-Lube, glycerin, baking powder and water. I had all of the ingredients needed except for the J-Lube. Fortunately for us I have a niece (Thanks, Megan) who is a Veterinarian. J-Lube is a powder she uses and has on hand so she gave us a little more than we actually needed.

Kate from Our Best Bites says...*J-Lube. This is both the most…unusual as well as important ingredient. It’s a polymer that helps make those giant, sturdy bubbles. It’s a veterinary obstetrical lubrication and can be difficult to find. You can order it from farm supply stores (if you live in a farming community, you may be able to find it locally) or you can order it from Amazon (the price is slightly higher, but it may offset shipping costs from other sites. Warning: some of the Amazon reviews/suggested products are a little graphic because, believe it or not, some people use it for things other than assisting in the birth of baby animals and other veterinary care. If this is something that potentially concerns you, just go to the order page and don’t scroll much further.)

You will also need two wooden dowels and about 6-7 feet of 100% cotton yarn (the thicker the better).

You are going to tie one end of the yarn tightly near the top of one of the dowels (you can notch it first to make it stay on. Run a line of yarn about 1 1/2-2 feet to the same spot on the other dowel and tie it securely. Tie the remaining end near the original knot, so you have a tight horizontal line on top and loose yarn hanging down on the bottom.

In a large clean bucket, combine the J-Lube and the baking powder. Slowly whisk in a gallon of warm water and mix until combined. Add 1 cup of Dawn and 2 tablespoons of glycerin and stir to combine completely.
 

 (Don't cross your sticks, keep them far apart.)

Dip the giant bubble wands (sticks) in the water. When you pull them out, keep the sticks as far apart as possible and start walking backwards kind of slowly. We had the gentlest breeze starting out which helped too. Later the wind picked up and then the bubbles popped quickly. A calm day works best.

Our little guy enjoyed popping the bubbles almost as much as making them! Give it a try--you'll have so much fun!
 

Wordless Wednesday

What's he looking for?

Top Secrets to Happiness

I was reading an article that listed 10 Secrets to Happiness that Pope Francis listed in an interview with an Argentine newspaper. Even if you are not Catholic I think you will agree that these are actually good ideas. They are pretty simple and straight forward. Thought I'd share some of them with you...

"Be giving of yourself to others"---He says if you don't, you will withdraw into yourself.

 "Proceed calmly in life"--Pope Francis says that as a youth he was a stream full of rocks that he carried with him; as an adult a rushing river and now in his old age is moving slowly like a "pool" of water. It has given him the ability to move with kindness and humility.

 "A healthy sense of leisure"--The Pope feels that the pleasures of art, literature and playing together with children have been lost." He says our consumerism has "swallowed up" our time so people aren't sharing it with anyone. He advises turning off the tv when families eat together and finding time for parents to play with their children. 

"Respect, take care of nature"--He wonders if humanity isn't committing suicide by not taking care of our environment.

 "Stop being negative"--To let go of negative things quickly is healthy, he feels.

 "...Respect others' beliefs"--(I find that the most interesting of all coming from him.) He says we need to have a dialogue with each other instead of always a conversation to persuade.

 "Work for peace"--(One of the most important ones I think.) He says the call for peace should be shouted! Working for peace should be proactive and dynamic.

 In a nutshell Pope Francis says that slowing down, being generous and fighting for peace are part of his recipe for happiness. I think if more people around the world followed even just these three life would be better for everyone! What do you think?
 

Wordless Wednesday

It's the little things that can bring joy!

Fly a Little Higher Book Review

I just finished reading Fly a Little Higher by Laura Sobiech. It is the touching story of Zach Sobeich, a teen who wrote the song “Clouds”. 

This book is written by Zach’s mother. She has a way with words that makes you feel like you are right there sharing their situation. Zach found out as a teen that he had osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. His mother chronicles the trials and sorrows that Zach, his family and his mother endure along with finding joy along the way. She lets you into her head and her heart as you read about their journey. 

 Zach’s mother suggests to him that he should write a sort of good-bye letter to those he will leave behind. Instead Zach gets the idea to write a song. The song, “Clouds” becomes a #1 hit after a Twin Cities based radio station hears his story and song. The “Clouds” video, which was posted on Youtube reached millions of people. 

The story is very powerful and will leave you in tears. Zach was a courageous boy who fought his cancer fiercely. His mother was beside him all the way. While not understanding why God gave their family this burden she feels that God did answer her prayers. It may not be what she originally prayed for but she feels that through Zach God brought lots of people together and beautiful things were accomplished. 

 I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a true story about how someone can choose to live their life in a powerful way using their talents to share a beautiful message. It ‘s a story that will make you think about your own life and how you want to be remembered. 

Add this to your (what's left of...) summer reading!

Laundry Day

Jerry and I just got back from a Mediterranean Cruise to the Greek Isles. It was a fantastic vacation and a photographer's dream! I just got the biggest kick out of seeing laundry everywhere we went. I had to share with you. ☺
 

Laundry day in Venice, Italy.

Laundry hanging over the canal in Venice. Not shy about what they hang out.

Laundry Day on Mykonos.

More laundry on Mykonos.

Many years ago in our second house I had a wash line. I used to love hanging clothes outside to dry. So seeing laundry on the line was fun to see.

Skin Reactions after 'Raindrop Treatments: Nonsensical Explanations

As a certified aromatherapist I often have people ask me about a certain company's oils and their recommendation of "Raindrop Therapy". I wanted to share an article that Gabriel Mojay )one of the leading experts in Aromatherapy and author of Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit ) posted on his Facebook page about this.

June 30, 2014 

Nonsensical excuses are being made to explain away skin irritation, itching and rashes caused by the dermal application of undiluted essential oils in 'raindrop technique'. The owner of the website below, on a page entitled 'Skin Reaction after Raindrop Treatment: Three Reasons', pronounces: "Experiencing skin reactions or rashes after using the oils or after having had a Raindrop Therapy done on you is experiencing a “healing crisis” (which means some physical and energy toxins is releasing out from the body)". 

http://www.teamessence.com.my/skin-reaction-raindrop-treatment-reasons/ 

 ...A "crisis" of sorts, yes... but "healing"? - no. It's skin irritation. 

The founder of the technique, who according to an inquiry made by Eva Briggs MD pleaded guilty in 1983 to the unlawful practice of medicine, offers: “If a rash should appear, it is an indication of a chemical reaction between the oils and synthetic compounds in the skin cells and interstitial fluid of the body (usually from conventional personal care products). Some misconstrue this as an allergic reaction, when in fact the problem is not caused by allergy but rather by foreign chemicals already imbedded in the tissues.” (From a booklet entitled 'Raindrop Technique', as quoted on teamessence.com.)

 ...An altogether more pragmatic explanation — simply blame it on other products, with the help of some nonsensical 'science'. Tisserand and Young discuss raindrop technique in 'Essential Oil Safety' (2nd ed) - a vital text for anyone working with essential oils - as follows (my highlights): "There are reasons for avoiding this practice, especially in vulnerable groups such as infants, children or the elderly.

 "First, the risk of skin reactions increases with essential oil concentration, and the widespread use of raindrop technique could lead to an escalation of skin allergy to essential oils. Undiluted thyme and oregano oils, for example, pose a risk of skin irritation. 

"Second, when essential oils are applied undiluted to the skin, percutaneous absorption may lead to relatively high constituent concentrations in the bloodstream, which increases the risk of systemic toxicity. Wintergreen oil, for example, is moderately-to-severely to toxic, and many basil oils are potentially carcinogenic, with recommended dermal use levels of below 2%. 

"Finally, the risk of drug interactions is increased. Topically applied methyl salicylate can increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, causing side effects such as internal hemorrhage (Le Bourhis & Soenen 1973), and wintergreen oil contains 98% methyl salicylate."

 ...Many choices in life are difficult ones, full of conflicting considerations; some, however, are easy — either believe the inconsistent and preposterous excuses of the hucksters, or accept the extensive evidence and considered judgment of those who are dedicated to accuracy and truth.

 [Feel free to share... no need to ask, thanks.] 

 Read more at Nature's Gift blog: