Bilingual life and more

So, I went blueberry picking two Fridays ago at Berry Patch Farms. It was fun, the blueberries were awesome!!!! We got 3 pounds for about 5 bucks. What an experience, and the blueberries aren’t even sprayed, meaning we can all eat them right off the bush. Emily finally likes blueberries, maybe only a few and only fresh ones, but she likes them. We went with my good friend Heike – we are two peas in a pod, not just because of the name – and her two kids, very good friends of Anna and Emily. We don’t see each other often enough, especially during the school year, because they live 45 minutes away.

I am getting off track here.

Well, not sprayed apparently also means, not really taken care off and checked that there are NO poisonous plants in there. Even though you have lots of people going through your bushes, it should be your responsibility to keep it free from any skin agetating plants, especially if 90% of people have allergic reactions that last for up to 4 weeks from it. This plant is called Poison Ivy.

Some bushes were marked, certainly the ones that were clearly overgrown with it and you could see it at the bottom. The other bushes were NOT marked and NOT taken care off.

I got poison ivy on BOTH arms and on my stomach. I did not believe it at first, but after a couple of days it became clear as day what it was. So, washing with dishwashing detergent etc. began. Then I got Burt’s Bees Poison Ivy soap, which is great, seems to help somewhat, but I was looking for something to clear up the rash quickly. The new regiment still includes the soap, but also rubbing banana peel on the rash (very interesting feeling – first cooling, then tightening), white vinegar (burning, cooling), a 1:9 glycerin + rubbing alcohol solution (calming) and then followed by aloe gel (cooling). I am pretty comfortable now. The swelling has gone completely from one spot and is receding from the elbows. Blisters have completely dried up, I can sleep at night. What a feeling!

I tell you this is as bad as the lice situation, which was over and done with at our house 3 weeks ago, but apparently not in our neighbors house. I could have screamed, well I did!, when I heard that. But no re occurrence here. Maybe it’s the teatree oil in Lilly’s hair. Hm, maybe I should put that on my rash.

NO, I will NOT post photos!

Please write with any more suggestions for my poison ivy rash. I will stick with this lengthy, but working regiment right now. I will certainly have the best taken care of arms and soooooooo soft, where there is no rash!!!