Onions: Eradicating Cold & Flu Viruses & Eliminating Fever

ONIONS ERADICATE BACTERIA AND VIRUS

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu.. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser. She said that several years ago, many of her employees were coming down with the flu, and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

Now there is a P. S. to this for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Thanks for the reminder. I don't know about the farmer's story...but, I do know that I contacted pneumonia, and, needless to say, I was very ill... I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put it into an empty jar, and place the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs...sure enough it happened
just like that...the onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

ONIONS AS A MEANS OF ELIMINATING FEVER

Cut and onion in half and place the cut side against the soles of the feet. Place a sock over each foot and rest. The onion should draw the fever out of the body into the onion overnight.

DO NOT REUSE ONIONS OR STORE AFTER CUTTING. THEY ARE POISONOUS BECAUSE THEY ABSORB BACTERIA.

Lots of times when we have stomach problems we don't know what to blame. Maybe it's the onions that are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria is the reason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu and is
the very reason we shouldn't eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cook the next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

ONE ANOTHER NOTE: MAYONNAISE

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers of mayonnaise. Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.

Ed, who was our tour guide, is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the summer picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table, and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says that, when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the ONIONS, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!). Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

ONIONS ARE POISONOUS TO DOGS, AS THEY CANNOT METABOLIZE THEM.

As a small child, I had pneumonia 6 times. My Great Grandmother took an onion and pealed it, than sliced it and put it in a pan with enough water to cover the onion. She let it boil until the onion was transparent. She added a cup of white sugar and I had to drink it as hot as I could stand it. Than I was made to get into bed and sweat all night. The next day I took a hot shower and than a cool shower to close my pores. This is the only thing that saved my life.

Using Natural Plant Dyes to Dye Wool

Using natural plant dyes to dye wool brown, yellow, orange, or green with different natural dyes made from plants. How to correctly determine the amount of alum mordant to use.

If you enjoy working with wool, either spinning, weaving, felting, knitting, or other crafts, sooner or later you will want to dye some of it a different color. White and natural-colored fleeces are lovely to work with, but it is possible to get bored quickly with the lack of bright colors. While it is very easy to dye your fiber and yarn with chemical dyes it is a lot more fun to collect plant material from your yard or nearby fields and make your own dyes.


Which Plants Will Make Dye


Many garden flowers will make beautiful dye. Most plant dyes are in the yellow, orange, and brown families, but these can be very different and combined to excellent effect. The easiest colors to get are yellow and brown.


Collect the nuts when they fall from the trees in the fall. They will still be bright green. Wear gloves whenever you are dealing with black walnuts or you will have brown-stained hands. Collect a bushel or so of nuts and put them where cars will run over them for a few days. Every day, collect the broken husks and husked nuts. When you have enough to fill a 12-quart or larger pot about two-thirds full you are ready to start. Cover the nuts and husks with water and let sit overnight. Put the pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Boil for an hour of longer, replacing water as necessary, until the liquid is very dark brown. Allow to cool and strain out all the nuts and husks (the nuts can now be cracked and the meats will be easier to remove after the boiling).


Black Walnuts - One of the very best browns comes from the husks of black walnuts. This is a multi-purpose project, as you can eat the nuts and use the husks for dye. Walnut husks produce a substantive dye, which means that you will not need to use a mordant to make it permanent. Brown from black walnuts is very light-fast and will not fade over time.


Fleece can be dyed before spinning and does not even have to be washed first. In fact, if you dye unwashed fleece it will be much easier to clean later and the boiling will improve its handling characteristics. Wet down the fleece before adding to the dye pot. Pull it apart as for regular scouring and do not put heavily soiled or vegetation-contaminated fleece in the pot. Bring to the boil and simmer for an hour or more. When working with fleece, do not stir it too much or you will felt the fibers. Try to move it gently in the dye solution with a wooden paddle, pressing and pushing rather than stirring. Allow to cool in the dye solution and rinse as for yarn. Spread out to dry in the sun.


If you are going to dye yarn, tie the skeins at several places and wet thoroughly. Place in the dye pot and bring back to the boil. Simmer the yarn, stirring often so that they color evenly. Allowing the yarn to cool overnight in the dye bath will intensify the color. Expect to get a rich chocolate brown. Rinse the yarn until the water runs clear and hang to dry.

Goldenrod - There are many species of Goldenrod (Solidago Sps.) and all of them will produce a beautiful permanent yellow dye. You will need to use a mordant to make the dye "take." The easiest and safest mordant to use is alum with tartaric acid and both can be purchased from craft shops that specialize in fiber preparation. Do not use the drug store alum, this is a different chemical and will not work. Supermarket cream of tarter is tartaric acid and works very well. Check prices, sometimes it is cheaper from the supermarket.

Collect a paper grocery bag full of goldenrod flowers when the are almost in full bloom to get a good golden yellow. A greenish-yellow can be produced with flowers that are just starting to open. Do not get leaves in with the flower heads. Boil the flowers until the dye bath is a rich golden yellow. Strain out the flowers and add your alum and tartaric acid. Determine the correct amount to use by weighing the dry wool. Use 10% alum and 5% tartaric acid of your dry wool weight. Using more alum will make your wool sticky and this will never wash out. Old dye recipes call for much more alum, but it is not necessary to use more than 10% to get excellent colorfastness.

Wet down your yarn or fleece as for the walnut recipe and add to the dye pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for an hour or more. Stir yarn often but treat fleece gently. Allow the fiber to cool in the dye bath and remove and rinse. Dry in the sun.

Onion Skins - Onion skins will produce a beautiful orangy color with alum and tartaric acid. You can usually get the produce manager to save them for you if you ask nicely and are sure to come back when you say you will. A paper grocery bag full of skins will dye many pounds of wool, depending on how dark a shade you want. Boil the skins as for goldenrod flowers, add your alum and tartaric acid and fiber. Simmer for an hour or more, rinse and dry as above.

Zinnia, marigold, and coriopsis flowers will all produce yellow or orange dye with alum and tartaric acid. These flowers can be used separately or mixed in the same pot if you don't have enough of a single kind. The method is identical for all the plants discussed in this article.

Other Plants to Try

There are two plants that will give you green without over-dyeing. Both of them must be collected in the spring. The easiest one to find and identify is ragweed. Collect young ragweed plants before they start to form buds; once the buds form they will only produce yellow. Treat as above and use alum with tartaric acid. Expect to get a good sage green.

Fiddle head ferns will give you a softer, clearer green. Fiddle heads are also edible, so you may want to save them for food and forgo the dye experiment, especially as they are considered a gourmet treat. However, if you have lots of them growing and would rather have green wool than a vegetable course by all means boil up a pot-full. Use them the same as ragweed.

It is possible to get a brilliant magenta color from poke berries. Collect a bucketful of berries and cover them with white vinegar for a day or two. Mashing the berries will help the dye run. Strain out the berries and make your dye bath as above. Be forewarned, however, this dye is NOT permanent and will fade within a few years, turning a brassy orange-brown. Additionally, the dye bath has a horrid smell and is poisonous.

Exhaust Dyeing

Don't throw away that pot of dye after only one batch of wool. You can continue to dye wool until it no longer takes color. Keep adding more alum and tartaric acid, about half as much for each new batch of wool. You can play this one of two ways. Keep each batch of fiber separate and you will have a range of shades or blend it all together in the carding process. Generally you will not notice the different shades after the wool is carded but they will add life to the finished yarn. If you are dyeing yarn, you will have to keep the different batches separate as they will not match exactly and the difference will show up in the finished garments.

Some dye plants produce huge amounts of pigment, goldenrod and walnuts for example. Others vary from plant to plant and with the seasons. This is part of the fun of working with natural dyes as you will never be absolutely sure what shades you will get.

Five Ways To Fix Scratches In Wood Furniture

Nothing ruins a  piece of wooden furniture like a big, unsightly scratch. 

Check out some easy DIY ideas for fixing scratches in wood with items you already have on hand:

Nuts: 
If you are dealing with a scratch that has penetrated beyond the finish, rub pecan or walnut gently across the surface of the scratch. This should fill the wood naturally and cleanly, and the natural oils from the nut will ensure that the solution lasts

Pour on the Mayo: 
If the wood is cracked, and not simply scratched, try a little Mayonnaise. Smooth enough mayonnaise over the crack to fill it, then wipe away the excess and let it sit for one to three days. The protein and oils in the Mayonnaise will help the wood to swell and will actually fill that crack. When the crack has swelled sufficiently, wipe off any remainder and polish to a shine.

Make It Up: 
Try using an eyebrow pencil of a similar color to fill in small surface scratches. When you're done, just fill in the crack and buff it out.

Ashes to Ashes: 
It's hard to believe, but cigarette ashes are the turn to ingredient to repair water rings or spots and surface marks. Make a small paste of ash and water and gently rub into the affected area, then wipe clean. Toothpaste also works in a pinch if you don't happen to have any ashes on hand.

Raid the Coloring Cabinet:
Manufacturers actually make special wood crayons for this purpose, but why pay extra when you can use what you have on hand? Find a brown crayon around the same shade as your wood and simply color it in. Smooth any excess with a soft cloth and polish to a beautiful,
scratch-free shine.

The Death of Common Sense

An Obituary printed in the London Times..... Absolutely Brilliant !!

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;   - Why the early bird gets the worm;   - Life isn't always fair;   - And maybe it was my fault.              Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).               His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.               Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.               It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.               Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.               Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.               Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.               Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.                          He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;             I Know My Rights             I Want It Now             Someone Else Is To Blame             I'm A Victim              Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Words of Wisdom

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born. A Death Certificate shows that we died. Pictures show that we lived! Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly. I Believe... It matters not the year of our birth It matters not the year of our death The only thing that has any relevance  is the time between those two dates. I Believe... That just because two people argue, It doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, It doesn't mean they do love each other. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if We understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over The longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe... That you can do something in an instant That will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time To become the person I want to be. I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words...  It may be the last time you see them. I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what We do, no matter how we feel. I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you. I Believe.... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I Believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. I Believe... That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. I Believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up. I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.. I Believe.... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I Believe... That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.. I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, But, we are responsible for who we become. I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find Out a secret. It could change your life Forever. I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same Thing and see something totally different. I Believe...... That your life can be changed in a matter of Hours by people who don't even know you. I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help. I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. I Believe... That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in, I just did. 'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything!'

An Old Farmers Advice - Still Good For Today

Old Farmer's Advice:

 Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

 Keep skunks and bankers at a distance. 

 Life is simpler when you plow around the stump. 

 A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

 Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled. 

 Meanness don't jes' happen overnight. 

 Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads. 

 Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you. 

 It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge. 

 You cannot unsay a cruel word. 

 Every path has a few puddles. 

 When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty. 

 The best sermons are lived, not preached.

 Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway. 

 Don't judge folks by their relatives. 

 Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 

 Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time. 

 Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none. 

 Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance. 

 If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'. 

 Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got. 

 The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'. 

 Always drink upstream from the herd. 

 Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

 Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in. 

 If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. 

 Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.

Words For Mature Humans

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history when you die. 2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. 3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger. 4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. 5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? 6. Was learning cursive really necessary? 7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. 8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. 9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. 10. Bad decisions make good stories. 11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. 12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again. 13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to. 14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. 15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. 16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay. 17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option. 18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger. 19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said? 20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters! 21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever. 22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is. 23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important. Ladies, Quit Laughing.