Running on Red Dog Book Review

 

   Running on Red Dog Road and Other Perils of An Appalachian Childhood is an interesting read. The story is set in the 1940’s.The author, Drema Hall Berkheimer’s memoir of her childhood in West Virginia won first place in nonfiction in the 2010 West Virginia Writers competition. 

    The book starts with Drema’s account of how her father lost his life in the coal mine when she was just five months old. To make ends meet her mother travels to New York to find work. The author’s grandparents come to stay with her and her older sister. She has a brother that is deaf and lives at the West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. 

     Her Grandfather is a devout Pentecostal Minister. This colors her life with church revivals, “The Rules”, Grandmother’s belief that you shouldn’t ever draw attention to yourself and lots of prayer. However, once in awhile she has a chance to do some things like playing cards with her Methodist best friend-hoping her grandparents won’t find out. 

      There are stories about her encounters with gypsies, snake handlers, hobos and moonshiners. The stories are charming and keep you wanting to read more. She draws you in and you almost feel like you are right there with the family. I enjoyed reading it also for the historical background of the time around World War II.

Happy Mother's Day

A little Mother's Day humor. 

Skin Care for Kids

Our last post was for teens but we can't forget the little ones! A skin care regimen for kids is important to protect them from the sun and bugs, as well as to ensure they are properly cleaning and moisturizing their skin. (Some of this is just using common sense.)

Following are tips on skin care for kids: 

Sun Care 
Apply sunscreen daily to all children 6 months of age or older. Keep infants out of the sun. Use a sunscreen designed for kids - one that contains a sun blocker such as titanium oxide or zinc oxide. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen for older kids - one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays - with an SPF of 15 or higher. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to exposure, then re-apply every 2 hours. Lead by example and be a role model for your kids by applying sunscreen to yourself to teach healthy habits.

Bug Protection 
Apply insect repellent to all children 12 months of age or older. (For babies it is recommended to spray a blanket.) If you are in an area with a high concentration of mosquitoes dress or pack appropriately. The best protection is from clothes, like long sleeves, pants, a hat and sunglasses. Extra clothing can also help protect against poison ivy and poison oak. 

Bath Time 
Use a fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic, cleanser. Limit your usage of bubble baths and bath products with fragrances and colors as these tend to dry out children's skin. Avoid scrubs and cleansers with exfoliants. These tend to dry and irritate children's skin. Apply a thick moisturizer just after bathing, to seal the remaining moisture into the skin for better hydration. 

Hand Washing 
Washing hands correctly will help protect against many bacteria and viruses. Start by washing hands in warm water for at least 15 seconds. Using soap, rub hands together vigorously, paying particular attention to the areas between your fingers and under your fingernails. Dry hands with a clean dry towel. If you're in a public restroom, use a paper towel to turn off the taps and open the door. 

Bruises
Act quickly to reduce the severity of a bruise. Bruising is caused by broken blood vessels under the skin. Applying ice as soon as your child is injured can help reduce the bleeding and swelling. 

Burns 
Don't put anything on a burn except cold water. Ointments and other lotions may increase your risk of infection. Also, leave the burn uncovered. This will help it to heal faster. 

Cuts and Scrapes
Most minor cuts and scrapes will quickly heal with proper care. But for those that won't stop bleeding, that have debris in the wound that you can't remove, or that are on the face, you should seek medical advice. (A little Witch Hazel poured on small bleeding wounds will make the bleeding stop.) 

Excerpts taken from an article by Hilary Basile.( she is a writer for) http://www.myguidesusa.com and from an article at skincareguide.com

Wordless Wednesday

Even Elmo gets a headache sometimes!

Skin Care Tips for Teens

Now that I have two granddaughters who are almost teenagers I thought I would put together some teen skin care tips. It's never too early to start thinking about the importance of a good skin care routine. 
     One of the most important things to remember about teen skin care is that what you put into your body is more important than anything you put on your face. The appearance and condition of your skin is also influenced by genetics, hormones, your lifestyle and your skin care routine. It's a good idea to start with the basics and experiment until you find the skin care products that suit you and your skin best. 

Cleanse 
It's rare for teens to have dry skin, so usually the best cleansers are the oil-free cleansers.  Choose one that doesn't dry your skin out. Lather up, concentrating on the oily T-zone area, then rinse away with warm water. 

Tone 
If you have normal or oily skin, use a toner.  Facial wipes are an easy and quick way to clean your skin in a pinch. 

Moisturize 
Even oily skins need moisture, but in hot, humid weather you may wish to skip moisturizing in the morning and use an oil-free sunscreen instead. In the evening, choose a light moisturizing lotion, particularly in areas that tend to dry out, like your cheeks. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer with a higher oil content at night— Products used on the face should generally be unscented. 

Masks 
Pore-cleansing, exfoliating masks are a great skin care product for teens as they clean and purify open pores and rid the skin of dead skin cells.   

Taken from an article at Savvy-women-magazine.com

I'm thinking that starting a good skin care regimen now for my granddaughters will keep their skin looking good for a very long time!

Be A "Green" Goddess

Earth Day is almost upon us. Time to think "green". (If we aren't already.)  If we all make one small change it would have a tremendous impact on our planet! 

Here are some ideas for you. Take one and make a difference!! 

Turn off your lights. 

Spend more time outdoors. It will remind you of what's at stake. 

Pass on the paper towels at home--use cloth instead. Think of the trees you're saving. 

Find new uses for old things. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Even my second graders get this. 

Use cloth bags instead of paper to carry your groceries. My local store just started offering some pretty cool ones. 

Unplug charging devices when you're not using them. 

Start gardening. (I love it!) You'll raise nutritional food and cut down on petroleum-based fertilizers and cross-country distribution use of fuel. 

Walk (or bike) instead of drive whenever you can. Also car-pool.

Clean your fridge coils for better productivity.

Wash clothes in cold water. 

Buy things that will last. 

BYOB of water. 

 Get the picture? I could list so many more but I think I've given you enough to get started. Try making "green" your favorite color!

Wordless Wednesday

Getting ready to start her 5K. (84 years young!)