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Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15510

PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 18 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You're not the only one Dpack. Every time one of us gets a tick there is a worry about Lyme disease.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2498
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 18 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well, it is not Lyme that Mr Jam Lord has. Follow-up visit yesterday and it is now thought to be infection due to who knows what - swollen area, red, hard. But since they outlined the area with a marker when he first went in, it can be seen that it is somewhat smaller now. So continue with antibiotic and keep a watchful eye on it.

Nuisance because it is just where leaning back in a chair puts pressure on it and makes it uncomfortable.

More rain yesterday. Hopeful that today will be better as this afternoon there is a corn festival and barbecue at a farm stand, to benefit local volunteer fire department. Last year was very good so we're looking forward to it, and a couple of friends are planning to meet us there.

I am now bringing the bird feeder in at dusk to deter the raccoon. Country living.

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 18 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well, it is good that he doesn't have Lyme. Nobody wants that. Perhaps if it is something new they will call it Jam Lord's Disease!


Henry

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15510

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 18 7:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Glad it isn't Lyme disease. In the UK we usually associate Lyme with flu like symptoms as well as the 'target' shaped reaction.

We don't suffer from racoons I am glad to say, although squirrels will go through a fair bit.

Had our first significant rain for ages overnight, sadly accompanied by strong winds. No doubt the rain will do the garden good, but we can do without the wind.

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 18 10:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mistress Rose wrote:
Glad it isn't Lyme disease. In the UK we usually associate Lyme with flu like symptoms as well as the 'target' shaped reaction.

We don't suffer from racoons I am glad to say, although squirrels will go through a fair bit.

Had our first significant rain for ages overnight, sadly accompanied by strong winds. No doubt the rain will do the garden good, but we can do without the wind.



Don't speak too soon, MR


www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/8404497/Raccoon-Bushy-tailed-bandits-ready-to-go-native.html

Henry

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2498
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 18 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Black bears are more of an issue. When there was one on our road some years ago, and a neighbor who refused to bring in the bird feeder at night, it just bent the pole right over.

When Mr Jam Lord had a midday dentist visit a week or so ago there was a black bear sauntering across their parking lot an hour or so before his appointment. Free standing building across the road from a highway entrance ramp, parking lot facing the road.

Lyme disease may / may not have flu-like symptoms. The two times I have had it I did not, and one time had the bull's eye rash but not the other time.

Texas lone star tick (which is moving north) can cause an allergy to red meat from a sugar called alpha-gal. Reaction is not instantaneous, not anaphylactic, comes in 4 to 6 hours and causes hives, low blood pressure / fainting, gastrointestinal issues. Cute, huh! No beef or lamb, but chicken, pork, and fish are safe to eat.

Cornfest was lots of fun. Live band, and food options included barbecue ribs, pulled pork sandwich, burgers, hot dogs. All with roasted ears of corn, some meals also got tomato cucumber salad as a side, and hand cut fries (chips, to you) were also available. Nice family event, benefits the volunteer fire department.

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8562
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 18 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

part of the Countryfile programme on BBC TV was about Lyme disease..there could be a better blood diagnostic test within three years, with Scottish research.
The sooner the better!

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2498
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 18 9:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Need to have the infection for several weeks before a test is practicable.

There is ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test which checks for antibodies your body has developed. Better test is Western blot test - splits certain proteins in your blood into patterns. This is then compared to the pattern of people known to have Lyme disease. At least five band matches means that you have Lyme disease.

Around here if you have had an embedded tick (24 hour minimum) and other physical symptoms - bull's eye rash, Bell's palsy, joint pain, diziness, short term memory issues, etc - doctor may decide to start you on treatment based on symptoms and the likelihood you’ve been exposed to ticks.

It's not the false positives that are an issue. It's the false negatives.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15510

PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 18 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think they use the same test here. The test they are developing in Scotland seems to use a different method and will work even if the antibodies haven't developed. Should be very useful as it can diagnose far faster. Some doctors here will give antibiotics if there is a reaction or any symptoms, but not all. The Countryfile programme was useful in raising awareness I think.

Your cornfest sounds good and glad you enjoyed it.

It rained all day here yesterday with strong winds, so we just went out to a garden centre and caravan place for a while, but nothing outside at all. I made the bramble jelly and got 4 jars. Thought I was going to get more, but I will be freezing blackberries again so can make more later if I need to. As I have plenty of bramble wine on the go I don't think I will need to make any of that for a long time.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Jul 31, 18 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I know very little abut Lymes disease, except that it is no fun, and serious. I hope all progresses well for Lord Jam. You have got me worried now as my short term memory is hopeless! I spent about 2 hours looking for my keys at Bridgnorth on Friday afternoon-went through all my clothes and those waiting for the wash; my vehicle was locked so not in there;. Then I remembered the washing I had put out and that I went for a shower straight afterwards, so I found the keys in my dressing gown.
I would not be happy to know there are black bears in my garden or anywhere near my fields either-a degree of panic would set in and i would be moving away from the area! I hope cornfest raised lots of money for your fire service. Are all the fire service men all volunteers, or are there full time paid employees as well?

The visitors came on Saturday. The little lad-six-was much better behaved than last time when he was awful. Indeed he has grown up enough to be in 'company' without having to be the centre of attention and constantly being told "don't". The weather was good so the washing dried outside quite quickly and got folded straight off the line so no ironing, a task I don't understand well.

It has just gone very overcast outside, looks like rain.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2498
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 18 12:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The Quakertown (NJ) fire company is entirely volunteer, Gregotyn. Here's a link to my writeup of the event, which has a link to the fire company's home page.

Cornfest at Cervenka Farm

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15510

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 18 6:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Looks like a good barbecue and a good write up Jam Lady. Sounds as if it was fun.

I don't think my corn is going to do anything this year somehow as it is still very small. However after the rain we had the other day, by beans are doing better, although the frame is somewhat bent as we also had high winds. They also brought down a large branch across a footpath in the wood, but there is an easy and quick way round. Son and some friends are going to take the rest of the tree down today as it doesn't look too good.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 18 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Barbeque and some there Jam Lady. What a good do and all for the cause. Here in the UK it is a national thing. All the services are provided and paid for by taxes-police, ambulance and fire brigade. I am not sure how well they would be supported if it was left to personal contributions. The young would think 'it won't happen to me'; and many of the elderly would be short of money if they had to contribute. Pensions vary so much here in the uk, Usually the more you earn the greater the contribution you make to your own national pension. The wise put more by for that time when they need it.

We have had a good growing season for our agricultural corn-maize-for cattle fodder. One or 2 grow corn and this is the first year that it has grown so high so fast. It is over 4 feet high-1.2m-and got there in less than 6 weeks from drilling. I will be asking what the variety is as it may be a possibility higher up the hill for my farmer friend, who has ground facing south but at around 900ft., whether he has sufficient soil depth, I don't know.

I have my brambles coming into fruit now MR and will be picking a few for a pudding tonight. A small pot of cream-not allowed-will be smuggled into the house and I will exclaim where did that come from and get stuck in before I change my mind. Having been to my friends' at the w/e, I have already over indulged.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15510

PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 18 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

An alternative to cream is either creme frais, which you can get in low fat version, or low fat yoghurt. Not quite the same, but doesn't have to 'appear' in the house.

The maize in the fields seems to be growing all right but mine isn't. I don't think it is getting enough light as there is a tall hedge with trees to the south side of our garden and the beds nearest don't get much light. Even though we are in the sunny south of England, I think in the UK light is as much the limiting factor in growing things as anything else.

Had our first fully filled firing in the charcoal kiln yesterday. Finished at about 8pm, but as it didn't get lit until gone 11 am that wasn't too bad. Husband and son had a log load to deliver at quite a distance first, and that destination always takes a long time because of the traffic. Anyway, they will see how it comes out today, as they will have to use some of it for charcoal bag orders. I have food bank today, so don't go to the woods.

The mosquitoes are horrible at the moment. Getting bitten in spite of using insect repellent.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 18 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I had forgotten creme frais. I have yoghurt, but the normal stuff. The low fat stuff is a bit too runny for me and also if I remember correctly I wasn't too keen, I being a fussy eater. I was a nightmare as a child

Keep lighting the fires and stand close enough to keep the insects off you, MR; the downside is that you probably become ill from carbon dioxide poisoning, it's the plants that will like the co2! I'm only joking about the being close to the fire-don't do it!

That was a good firing for the kiln only 9 hours maximum. The machine looks as though you will get much more done long term. I seem to remember that when I was at that demo in the Brecons a few years back he had to light it late the previous evening in order to get the change of smoke to be when they thought there would be most people there to see it, as I think it was an 18/20 hour burn total time.

When I see the farmer growing the maize I will ask him what variety it is and is it suitable for human consumption. He is on comparatively low ground to me, at around 250 feet. He is also on a river side, so has extraction rights, for irrigation.

I have had a stroke of luck. A farmer I know has an agricultural shop and stores and sells, amongst other things, firewood-logs and sticks. He came to my work one day, this week and I loaded him with a sawbench. But we couldn't find the pto shaft. My boss came back and showed me the pto and I delivered. But when he fetched the saw he said he would be prepared to cut my wood through his processor-pocket money for the youngsters of the family. And with my arm as it is, this could be both a serious bonus in time saving, but also wear on my arm, which Bowen has failed to correct on the left side and moved to the chopping arm as an added incentive to get this friend to mechanically chop wood for me! I will net the stuff up and find a couple of dumpy bags to fill with blanks/chopped wood. Just got to get it into motion!

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