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Posts Tagged ‘gardens’

10 travel tips: Comfortable senior travel

Monday, April 15th, 2013

These 10 travel tips will help you stay comfortable on your next trip. My dad always said, “lessons are presented until they are learned”…..and I learned some good lessons on my recent travel to Los Angeles. Now I present 10 travel tips to you, so you don’t have to learn them yourselves! Actually, you’ll find boomer travel tips 6-10 on the next Maine Senior Guide blog, but here are the first five:

Travel has changed a lot in the last few years.

1. Airports are huge. Make sure you know what gate you’re going to, and if it seems far away, check for a shuttle. I walked around two concourses in Newark Airport last week before I discovered a shuttle that runs between the terminals at the gate entrances.

2. Wear slip-on shoes. Travelers are required to remove their shoes during the security check. I was amazed at how many people traveled in lace-up shoes that required a bench and a rest-stop to redress. This is one of the most frequently overlooked travel tips! Do pack some comfortable walking shoes, however, which will make exploring places like Huntington Gardens in Pasadena easier. (Orchids from the Garden conservatory.)

3. Remember the 3-1-1 rule. No more than 3 oz. containers of liquid, in a one quart zip-lock bag, one to a person. Baby formula and some medications can be exempted, but check with your airline BEFORE you show up. (This is for items in your carry-on. Checked bags can have full-size liquid containers.)

Travel Tips Include Pack Some Food

4. Pack some food. I didn’t get so much as a package of nuts on my trip. (When I made the same trip out west nine months ago, at least I got pretzels.) This was one of the travel tips I learned the hard way! You can buy various food items (credit cards only) and non-alcoholic drinks are free, but the lady next to me had a sandwhich and a salad from home. If you have the room and the time, you can bring non-liquid food, have something good to eat, and save a bundle.

5. Think twice about your carry on. Since they started charging for luggage, everyone on every flight has a gigantic carry-on plus a huge handbag. If you’re one of the last groups into the plane, it’s possible the overhead bins will be full, and you’ll be hefting your carry-on overhead several times, trying to find a place where it will fit in. You might consider the $25 bag check fee money well spent. And secondarily, make sure your luggage, carry-on or otherwise, has wheels. Borrow a wheeled bag if you don’t travel often. Believe me, the airports have gotten larger, gates are further apart, and flights are closer together. When you’re rushing from point to point, you simply must have wheels. You can’t count on getting a luggage cart. I have the last carry-on bag in America without wheels, and it’s being retired because of my experiences on this trip.

Tags: Activities, fun, gardens, travel
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Migratory Bird Act: Happy 100 Years

Monday, March 4th, 2013

I’m celebrating the Weeks-McLean Law, passed 100 years ago today, commonly referred to as the Migratory Bird Act. Today, I’m also celebrating what would have been my dad’s 86th birthday. Malcolm Dennison McLean, this one’s for you.

The Migratory Bird Act, passed in 1913, makes it illegal to kill or transport migratory birds for their feathers or any other reason. Imperiled snowy egrets, whose feathers were used to decorate lady’s hats in the period after the Civil War, were the poster birds for the Weeks-McLean Law, but they weren’t alone. In 1886, there were 50 different species of birds in the US being slaughtered for their feathers for the hat trade.

What connection does my dad have with birds and the Migratory Bird Act? His wider connection, as a forester, was with the great outdoors. But on top of that, he was an eminently sensible man. He wouldn’t see the benefit in leaving nests full of baby egrets to starve, even if their mom’s feathers brought lots of money. He didn’t like waste or vanity. He enjoyed nature right where it was, outside.

My dad was a hunter, but only of what he could eat. And that changed. When we were kids, we enjoyed many a woodcock pie. (Woodcocks are elusive little game birds. Game birds are not covered by the Migratory Bird Act.) When dad noticed that the early spring didn’t bring as many whistling displays, he stopped hunting woodcock. He didn’t hunt harder, to get the last few birds. He changed.

Change came to the plume trade in the form of irate ladies of wealth. It took about 17 years for two Boston cousins, Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall, to lead the boycotts and protests of feathered hats. They were reformed fashion icons themselves, as members of Boston’s upper crust, and the club they formed to protect birds was called the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Audubon societys sprang up in many other states around the urgent need to protect birds from the plume trade.

It’s amazing to think that 100 years ago, people had the courage to stand up to London and New York businesses that were making fortunes in feathers, and insist that the traffic stop. They did that both by law and by fashion, by making the wearing of feathers a careless and vulgar expression of tasteless vanity. They didn’t wait until every single egret was slaughtered.

Happy birthday, Migratory Bird Act. Happy birthday, Weeks-McLean Law. The world is a much better place because people saw something they didn’t like, and took action. And happy birthday, Mac McLean. You brought an interest in nature and the outside to our family that is going strong in the third generation.

Tags: gardens, hot weather, pet care, preserving memories, senior wisdom, travel
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Egg Carton Greenhouse: here comes spring!

Monday, February 25th, 2013

This egg carton greenhouse project is the perfect way to welcome spring. Karen Vachon of Insphere Insurance Solutions has put together a little egg carton greenhouse video to show people how it’s done. Now’s the time to gather some seeds, a little potting soil, and a plastic egg carton so you can make your own egg carton greenhosue and get seedlings ready to go into bigger pots before they’re transplanted outside.

What seeds work best in an egg carton greenhouse? I’d go for the ones that need warmth to start but can be out in the garden in May. Many flower seedlings are perfect for starting in an egg carton greenhouse (or transplanting into intermediary pots before they go in the ground.) Sunflowers, pansies and violas, sweet william and other carnations, asters and other annuals work well. I’d avoid long tap-rootedplants like lupines and poppies. They don’t transplate very well. Peppers and tomatos would be good choices for vegetables, as well as squash, pumpkins and cucumbers if you’re willing to do some intermediate pots.

Good luck with your egg carton greenhouse. If you’re using leftover dirt from another project, spread it on a baking sheet and bake it in the oven for 20 minutes at 300 degrees to kill off any spores. Go to the local recycling center to see if you can snag the clear plastic egg cartons Karen uses in her video. Otherwise, you should put the word out among your friends and start eating eggs from the 18 egg size cartons.

When the time comes to put your seedlings into intermediary pots, or out into the garden, very tenderly use a plastic spoon or a popsicle stick to wiggle them out of the carton. You’ll see the tiny rootlets throught the plastic of your egg carton greenhouse; you don’t want to damage the roots.

Tags: Activities, fun, gardens, hot weather, senior exercise
Posted in Estate Management, Health and Wellness, News, Senior Communities, Social Seniors | No Comments »

Maine honey bees: State Apiarist Jadczak Speaks at Food For Thought

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013

Maine State Apiarist Anthony Jadczak is Lewiston-Auburn Senior College’s FebruaryFood For Thought luncheon speaker. He will present at the 11:30 luncheon on Friday, February 8. His topic is “The Value of Honeybees to U.S. and Maine Agriculture.”

Honey bees and bee keepers have been the focus of research scientists in recent years as commercial migratory bee keepers along the East Coast have reported unusual hive mortality. Populous honey bee colonies suddenly dwindled to a “handful” of honey bees or had completely vacated their hives. The syndrome was named “colony collapse disorder” or CCD.

Jadczak will present an overview of honey bee biology, the importance of honey bees to agricultural production and the challenges confronting honey bees and beekeepers. Managed honey bees serve a vital role in the production of approximately 90 agricultural crops that include high-value fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and certain field and forage crops.

The economic value of pollination services provided by managed bees to US crops is estimated to be $14.6 billion annually. Crops such as almonds, blueberries and cranberries are almost totally dependent upon insect pollinators for successful production and literally require millions of hives to produce a crop.

Jadczak has been keeping bees for 40 years and works with beekeepers, growers, and the general public concerning honey bee management, crop pollination and nuisance situations with respect to bees and other stinging insects. His responsibilities are both regulatory (licensing and certification) and extension (education.)

He is a graduate of Rutgers University and majored in entomology. Following graduation he worked at Rutgers as a research technician managing the university apiaries located at various fruit and vegetable research farms around the state. He assisted in blueberry and cranberry pollination research.

Jadczak is past president of the Eastern Apicultural Society of North America and served on the association’s board for many years. He is a member of the EPA’s Workgroup on Pollinator Protection.

Lewiston-Auburn Senior College, now in its 14th year, presents the monthly 11:30 luncheon program in the Function Room 170 at USM LAC. The cost, which includes lunch, is $7 with advance reservation or $8 at the door. Reservations must be made by noon on February 7 by calling 753-6510. Any late callers will be considered “at the door.”

Tags: Activities, food, fun, gardens, pet care, work
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Gifts for Seniors: senior holiday ideas

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

Still looking for gifts for seniors? Stretch your imagination! Sometimes gifts for seniors are waiting at the grocery store, in the sewing aisle at your local home goods store, or even on-line.

First, check out your local garden center, grocery store or a place like Reny’s for bulbs. Amaryllis bulbs make great gift gifts for seniors when you plant them in a nice pot. Put three of a kind in a small window box for a fabulous display. They don’t take up much room, can survive a wide temperature variation (but not freezing), don’t need much watering, and grow slowly and reliably, giving weeks of pleasure. And the blooms last for several weeks. Or make a calendar garden. Start with narcissus in a clear pot with gravel for January. Get a hyacinth or two in little water jars for February. The amaryllis will bloom by March. Add a pot of daffodils kept in a cool location and your senior will have early spring flowers.

While pets can sometimes make great gifts for seniors, they require a financial commitment and care. If a cat, dog or bird is too much for your senior, consider Beta (Siamese fighting fish). They don’t require much care, live in a regular sized fish bowl (rather than an aquarium) and come in a striking array of colors. They do best in a fairly warm house. Make sure you include fish food.

Gifts for Seniors Can Include Services

Give a service. Gifts for seniors could include time with a loved one doing something special. Make up a little manicure kit with clear nail polish and other necessities, and supply a gift card for monthly manicures and a nice visit. Mark it on the calendar so you’ll both remember. Home made gift cards for snow shoveling, foot massages or specific household tasks are appreciated. Or supply an event: movie tickets, theater tickets, a trip to the Gray animal farm, or a lighthouse tour with lunch might be a great gift for someone who wants companionship and time with you. Or offer garden tilling with some seeds, or car washes with a new sponge.

Check out senior gifts for more ideas.

Tags: Christmas gifts, fun, gardens, gifts, holidays
Posted in Health and Wellness, Home Support, Information You Can Use, News | No Comments »

West Nile Virus in Maine: avoid mosquito bites!

Monday, August 27th, 2012

West Nile Virus has found its way to Maine after a hot and humid summer. Elders and infants are most susceptible to serious illness, though most people who get West Nile recover from it. How does it spread, and what can you do to protect yourself from this mosquito-borne illness?

West Nile Virus is not spread by person-to-person contact. It’s actually spread most effectively by birds. Mosquitoes carry West Nile. When they bite an infected bird, it contracts the disease and flies someplace new, and gets bitten by another mosquito, who then can carry the virus to other birds (or humans). While some mosquitoes only travel a few hundred feet, most of the species that bite us can travel 1-3 miles from their breeding pool. Birds can obviously travel all around the state, and spread the disease along their flight paths. West Niles Virus has been in New England all summer and was recently found in mosquito breeding test pools in York and Cumberland counties.

How can you avoid West Nile Virus? keep from being bitten!

Avoid being outside during the big mosquito meal times of dawn and dusk.
Wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts in light colors.
Don’t wear perfume.
Use insect repellent (Deet) in 10% to 30% concentrations, depending on how long you’ll be outside. Oil of lemon-eucalyptus is nearly as effective as Deet.
Use yellow lights (not incandescent, which attract insects) on your deck.
Set up a fan on your deck to take advantage of the mosquito’s weak wing power. Blow them away.
Mosquitoes are fairly weak flyers, and fly about 1-1.5 mph, so keeping a brisk pace during your walk should help.

Prevent Breeding

You can’t keep birds away, but you can control mosquito breeding. Clean up any water-containing items around your property, empty standing water in old plant pots, and turn over the kid’s wading pool. Empty and refill bird baths every few days. Put holes in the bottom on recycling bins, so that they’ll drain. Cover your rain barrel so mosquitoes can’t get into lay eggs. Make sure there are no pools of water in the boat cover, on the tarp over the woodpile or the covers of lawn furniture or the barbeque.

Disease Symptoms

Although no vaccine exists for West Nile Virus, the symptoms can be treated. There have been more than 25 deaths out west (mostly in Texas) but so far, we haven’t had anyone in Maine with a verified case of West Nile.

Symptoms include fever, headache, rash and conjunctivitis, but can be more severe to include high fevers, headache, still necks and disorientation and weakness.

West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses are worrisome, and you should take sensible precautions. But don’t let the worry keep you from enjoying the outdoors! In fact, tick-borne illnesses is much more prevalent in Maine, and insect repellents like Deet will keep ticks away, too.

Tags: gardens, hot weather, travel
Posted in Health and Wellness, Information You Can Use, News | No Comments »

Heat Rash: how to soothe or avoid heat rash in hot weather

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Wow, temps are supposed to hit 90 degrees in the next few days, and that might bring heat rash, heat stroke or heat exhaustion to a senior near you. Every summer, people suffer from these heat sicknesses. Today, let’s talk about heat rash.

Heat Rash

Heat rash happens when we sweat, but the sweat can’t get to our skin surface because our sweat glands are clogged. Heat rash (also called prickly heat or milaria) is uncomfortable, although not dangerous. More to the point, heat rash can be relieved by giving yourself a good scrub in a warm (not hot) shower, which can also cool you off. Seniors who may not shower much because of fragile skin or safety issues can enjoy warm water wash cloth rinses that will stimulate skin, unclog pores and perhaps prevent heat rash. Any skin inflmations with fragile seniors can be worrisome, so it’s far better to prevent heat rash, and more comfortable, too.

Heat rash often shows itself as red bumps under the skin, or sometimes little blisters, clustered together and mildly itchy. Keep skin uncovered as much as possible so that circulating air can help dry your skin and keep you cool.

Since heat rash might be caused by moisturing skin lotions, body power or talcum powder, or even baby powder, keep a special eye on skin creases and folds, and wear loose, unrestrictive clothing. Babies often get heat rash. While infants get heat rash partially because their sweat glands are immature, seniors on the other end of the age spectrum might get heat rash because they aren’t as able to regulate their body temperature as easily as younger people.

How to avoid heat rash

There are some easy ways to avoid heat rash.

take warmish showers and clean off any sunscreen or body lotions
stay cool. Work in the garden or exercise in the coolest part of the day.
stay hydrated, so that you can sweat freely
use a fan to circulate air and cool your skin
keep skin uncovered as much as possible to allow air to circulate
use a wet washcloth on your neck, underarms and inside elbows during the day to cool off and keep sweat glands clear

Tags: gardens, heat rash, heat stroke, hot weather, patient information, senior exercise
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Lyme Disease in Maine: Lyme Disease Prevention Month

Saturday, June 2nd, 2012

Lyme disease is the most common insect-carried disease in Maine. Ticks are already out and we expect the number of Lyme disease cases to increase as the weather continues to get warmer, said Dr. Sheila Pinette, Maine Center for Disease Control Director and Dr. Stephen Sears, State Epidemiologist. They say that Anaplasma, Babesia and other tick borne diseases are also increasing in Maine, though Lyme disease is the most frequent tick borne illness.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is carried by the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. Cases of lyme disease increased over the last five years in Maine, and occured in all 16 counties. Lyme disease is most common among adults aged 45 – 64, but school age children 5 – 14 also have high numbers of cases. Most infections occur during the summer months. As the weather continues to get warmer, more ticks will be out in the open, and we are likely to see more cases of Lyme disease. Over 1,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported statewide in 2011, which is a record high for Maine. Over 100 cases have already been reported so far in 2012, and that number will continue to rise as we enter the summer months.

You get Lyme Disease when you’re bitten by an infected tick. Ticks like tall grass but can be found in any area. Tuck pant cuffs into b0ot or socks, and closely inspect your clothing and body for ticks after every stroll around your garden, at the playgrounds or playing fields, or after every walk in the woods. Inspect pets as well. Ticks have to bite you for 24 hours before they pass the disease, so showering and scrubbing with a wash cloth after spending time in the garden is a good idea before bed. Most tick bites will not result in Lyme disease, but read on for symptoms.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

The most common early symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding red rash that occurs at the site of the tick bite within 3-30 days after being bitten. Fever, joint and muscle pains may also occur. Lyme disease is treatable, and the majority of patients recover after receiving the right therapy.

Lyme Disease Treatment: What to do after a tick bite

Remove the tick properly, ideally using tweezers or a tick spoon.
Identify the tick and the engorgement level, or how long it was attached to you. Tick identification is available through the Maine Medical Center Research Institute and more information can be found there.
Clean the area around the bite, and watch for signs and symptoms for a whole month.
Testing of the tick is not usually recommended because even if the tick tests positive for Lyme, that does not mean it was attached long enough to transmit disease, and even if the tick tests negative that does not mean that was your only exposure, and that does not eliminate the possibility of Anaplasmosis or Babesiosis.

Tick Bite Treatment

Treatment after a tick bite is not routinely recommended, but can be considered under specific circumstances including:

Tick has been identified as an engorged deer tick that has been attached for over 24 hours
Exposure occurred in an area where there is a high rate of infected ticks. Areas south of Bangor have the highest rate of infected ticks in the state. There is limited data from the more northern counties on the rate of infection among ticks.
Preventive treatment can be started with 72 hours. Even if preventive treatment is used, watching for symptoms for 30 days is recommended.

Other tick borne diseases

Other diseases that are carried by ticks in Maine include Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. Symptoms of Anaplasma include: fever, headache, tiredness and body aches. Symptoms of Babesia include: extreme fatigue, aches, fever, chills, sweating, dark urine, and possibly anemia.

In 2011, doctorss reported 26 cases of Anaplasmosis. Doctors have already reported seven cases in 2012. In 2011, doctors reported 9 cases of Babesiosis. No cases have been reported so far in 2012. Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are all reportable in Maine.

For more information on tick borne diseases including Lyme visit this section at the Maine state website.

Tags: Activities, fun, gardens, hot weather, travel
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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: Buying for Seniors

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

Mother’s Day is next Sunday, May 13. Traditionally the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day became an official holiday in 1914. Mother’s Day gift ideas often center around spring and it’s an especially fun holiday to celebrate and shop for.

Here are a few Mother’s Day gift ideas that might inspire you!

The traditional Mother’s Day brunch or lunch, with a nice card
Flowers or a blooming plant
Seeds or plants for the garden, and a gift certificate for some planting help
Blossom-scented soaps and lotions
A pretty spring-colored cardigan
Flower-themed cards or stationery, and stamps
a gift in her name to a favorite non-profit or organization
Alter flowers in her honor at church
a basket of favorite foods
a card filled with gift certificates for help around the house or yard or road trips to favorite place
movie gift cards, or perhaps a NetFlix subscription
Tickets to a concert or summer theater or trip to the Maine Botanic Gardens
an appointment for a multi-generational family portrait

Experiences and time count for alot, but it you’re far away, helping your mom enjoy something that’s special to her is one of the great Mother’s Day gift ideas. Does she finally have time for painting lessons? Has she always longed to learn how to hook rugs, play the piano or learn French? Italian or Chinese cooking classes? An exercise program?

One of the best Mother’s Day gift ideas is simply to write a long letter, detailing a few favorite memories, and thanking mom for the time she spent raising you.

Tags: fun, gardens, gifts
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