Author: louisaenright

I am passionate about whole, nutrient-dense foods, developing local markets, and strengthening communities.

Interesting Information: What About Getting the Chicken Pox and Shingles Vaccines?

Interesting Information:  November 14, 2017

What About Getting the Chicken Pox and Shingles Vaccines?

I will be 73 in March 2018.

The topic of flu shots and shingles vaccines comes up often in my network of senior citizens.

I had chicken pox as a child, but I got shingles last May.  And let me tell you that shingles is NO FUN.  I still have nerve damage and itching.

The flu and shingles vaccines are heavily promoted by doctors and nurses for those in my age range.  The “why” of that is complicated and isn’t about human health.  Doctors and nurses are now workers in an industry where actual science is often no competition against profit.  There is, also, a monopoly formation going on in medicine in which outside businesses are buying up hospitals and doctors’ practices, and they are calling the medical shots.  Big Pharma profits from all vaccines and is trying to expand its market share.  Further Big Pharma and doctors cannot be sued for any vaccine damage–and there is plenty.  The so-called “vaccine court” has paid out billions of dollars for damage incurred by individuals from vaccines.  Big Pharma has created pretty lucrative incentives for individual doctor practices and hospitals.  Big Pharma has even been able to get the US government to write laws that incentivize hospitals to give vaccines.  The higher percentages of vaccines given, the bigger payout the hospital gets from medicare.  Insurance companies incentivize individual practices.  It is a rigged system.  And if you are not aware of it, and most aren’t, you just go along, mostly because we should be able to trust our medical personnel.  They are, many times, good medical people.  But they, too,  are trusting of “the system.”  Or their hands are tied as they are, now, just workers in the system and would be fired if they do not follow the “standards of care,” which has been crafted by industry.  Let’s just remember that doctors are NOT SCIENTISTS.  They are practitioners who know only what they are taught unless they decide to research for themselves.  And most don’t.  Besides, as I said, it is a very lucrative system for them for the most part.

The link below takes you to a comprehensive GOVERNMENT study out of the National Institutes of Health that concludes that the chicken pox and shingles vaccine (they are the same thing) have created significant unintended consequences, don’t work permanently, are creating unnecessary and significant expenses for people, and are creating a cycle of treatment and disease.  THIS VACCINE SHOULD BE STOPPED.

The cycle of treatment and disease derives in part from the fact that shingles is a LIVE virus and sheds to other people from someone who got the vaccine.  Those test tube strains are most likely not the same strain as the wild virus I got as a child.  So, I was unprotected and got shingles.

Here is the conclusion from the study:

15. Conclusion

Prior to the universal varicella vaccination program, 95% of adults experienced natural chickenpox [162](usually as pre-school to early elementary school children)—these cases were usually benign. In the prelicensure era, the periodic exogenous boosting that adults received from those shedding VZV resulted in long-term immunity. This high percentage of seropositive individuals and their long-term immunity have been compromised by the universal varicella vaccination of children which provides at best 70–90% protection [142,163–166] that is temporary and of unknown duration—shifting chickenpox to a more vulnerable adult population which, as Dr. Jane Seward cautioned in 2007, carries 20 times more risk of death and 10–15 times more risk of hospitalization compared to chickenpox in children [167]. Thus, the proponents for universal varicella vaccination have failed to consider increased HZ-related morbidity as well as the adverse effects of both the varicella and HZ vaccines which have more than offset the limited benefits associated with reductions in varicella disease. The universal varicella (chickenpox) vaccination program now requires a booster vaccine for children and an HZ vaccine to boost protection in adults. However, these are less effective than the natural immunity that existed in communities prior to licensure of the varicella vaccine. Hence, rather than eliminating varicella in children as promised, routine vaccination against varicella has proven extremely costly [60,62,168] and has created continual cycles of treatment and disease.

Here’s the link:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3759842/

Turkey Tracks: Hats to Donate for Children

Turkey Tracks:  November 14, 2017

Hats to Donate for Children

I am always appreciative of and amazed with the number of donated winter hats, mittens, and scarves that our Maine local women make for our community children.

Margaret Elaine Jinno, of Coastal Quilters (Maine), came to our CQ Sit and Sew last Wednesday with this batch of colorful hats she had made for school children–hats requested by someone at the elementary school who wanted some extras to protect the heads of forgetful children:

I liked them all, but I loved this one:

Here they all are:

Go Margaret Elaine!

Turkey Tracks: Valse Brilliante Project

Turkey Tracks:  November 9, 2017

Valse Brillante Quilt Project

The block pile for the English Paper Piecing “Valse Brilliant” is growing.  This quilt is from Willyene Hammerstein’s book MILLEFIORE QUILTS.  And this work was one of the many Coastal Quilters (Maine) challenges proposed and started last winter.

There are close to 40 now.  I need just under 100 blocks I think.

My rules are brights and text fabrics, every block must have both.  Two forms of blocks emerge, one with darker color on the wide pieces and one with darker color on the narrow pieces.  When I glued block pieces, I often made both versions from the two chosen fabrics.  You can see both versions below:

 

I had fun with this block, which uses one of the Cotton+Steel whimsical fabrics with a desert motif and one of the C+S basic fabrics:

I have also used a lot of the “pearl bracelet” fabrics, both large and mini, from Lizzy House from Andover because they have such clear, bright colors.

I found an old computer laptop lap support tucked away in John’s technical supplies.  It works perfectly as a platform for English Paper Piecing blocks.

It is thicker on one side, and I put that side next to my body so my hands and arms have support.  This laptop platform saves a lot of wear and tear on arm, wrist, and neck muscles.  When I am putting on binding, I use a fat couch pillow for support.  Otherwise, I am always bending my neck over too far.

My as yet unnamed millefiori quilt (Katja Marek) is done but for one side of binding.  Pics to follow soon.  It may be my most favorite quilt ever.

Interesting Information: Mercola Post: Commercial Bone Broths

November 9, 2017

Mercola Post:  Commercial Bone Broths

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a very strong advocate for high-quality bone broths.  These long-simmered broths contain the collagen/gelatin that is, sadly, so missing from our current diets–which don’t involve eating “nose to tail” and COOKING.

Many folks I read claim that the lack of collagen/gelatin in current diets is one factor in the rampant joint failures people are experiencing.

While it is terrific that the market is now supplying bone broths BE CAREFUL with them.  They must be made from organic, grass-fed animal bones, not from the bones of animals in the Confined Agricultural Food System (CAFO).  I would also add that recent testing of the bones of animals in that system have shown that the collagen/gelatin contains glysophate.  And Mercola, below, cites other contaminants.  Pause for a moment, as well, and think about all the gel caps on current supplements you might be taking.

MAKE SURE ANY BONE BROTH YOU BUY IS ORGANIC.

Here’s a synopsis from the blog post:

Story at-a-glance

  • Dull, wrinkled, sagging skin and dry, brittle hair and nails are common signs of aging, which in large part can be attributed to the loss of collagen that occurs naturally with age
  • Your body cannot produce the essential amino acids that make up collagen, so you must obtain them through your diet. Collagen supplements have become a popular way to combat age-related loss of collagen
  • Recent testing reveals popular collagen and bone broth products contain a number of potentially hazardous contaminants, including antibiotics, prescription drug metabolites, parabens, steroids and insecticides
  • These contaminants suggest the collagen is sourced from animals raised in CAFOs. To avoid exposure to CAFO-related contaminants, make sure the product is USDA “100% Organic” and/or certified grass fed by the AGA
  • Gelatin is what you get when you cook collagen. Hydrolyzed collagen requires more intensive processing. While both contain the same amino acids, they have different chemical properties and therefore differ in how you can use them.

Here’s the link to the whole post:

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/10/23/nonorganic-collagen-products.aspx?utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20171023Z1&et_cid=DM165698&et_rid=93805854ey%20Tracke

Interesting Information: Mercola Post: Diet Sodas Are NOT What You Think

November 9, 2017

Mercola Post:  Diet Sodas Are NOT What You Think

This Dr. Mercola post about diet sodas came though on my email feed the other day.

Here’s a synopsis taken from the blog post:

Story at-a-glance

  • By lowering appetite suppressant chemicals and encouraging sugar cravings, artificial sweeteners raise your odds of weight gain. They also promote insulin resistance and related health problems, just like sugar
  • Two years ago, a consumer group asked the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration to investigate Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc. and other companies for false advertising
  • Class-action lawsuits have now been filed against Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc., charging them with false advertising for the deceptive use of the word “diet”
  • By using the word “diet” in their brands and advertising, a reasonable consumer would think the drinks are a diet or weight loss aid — a notion refuted by scientific evidence
  • Each of the three lawsuits cover a class of consumers living in New York, who between October 16, 2011, and present day purchased Coca-Cola, Pepsi or Dr Pepper brand diet beverages.  

Here’s the link.

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/10/31/soda-makers-false-advertising.aspx?utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20171031Z1_UCM&et_cid=DM164232&et_rid=103497905

Turkey Tracks: Recap: The Modern Quilt Showcase 2017 – whole circle studio

November 6, 2017

Recap:  The Modern Quilt Showcase 2017–Whole Circle Studio

Here’s a wonderful post from Whole Circle Studio about the Modern Quilt Showcase at Houston:

via recap: The Modern Quilt Showcase 2017 – whole circle studio

Turkey Tracks: Fabrics for Bonnie Hunter’s 2017 Mystery Quilt “On Ringo Lake”

November 6, 2017

Fabrics for Bonnie Hunter’s 2017 Mystery Quilt “On Ringo Lake”

I wasn’t going to do this year’s mystery quilt.

I have done four of them now, each a gem.  But, I have some other projects I wanted to finish before starting the mystery quilt.  I was just going to print the clues and make the quilt later.  Maybe.

But then, several people I know wanted to do it.

And the next thing I knew, I was pulling fabric.

For the first time, I’m substituting a fabric:  for Bonnie’s rich dark brown I am using two rich, midnight dark teals that have been hanging out in my stash for way too long.  If I buy any other fabric, it might be a third dark teal.  This dark teal does not show it’s dark richness when I try to take a picture of it.

Here you can see it provides plenty of contrast.

And here’s a pic I manipulated considerably to show the textures.

Below are pics of my aquas, corals, and neutrals:

 

I may add more neutrals.  These were pulled from my Cotton+Steel and “text fabric” bins.  On “En Provence,” I really liked the inclusion of some busier neutrals.  See?

Bring on the clues.

I’m ready!

 

Turkey Tracks: Timna Tarr’s Quilted Maps

November 2, 2017

Timna Tarr’s Quilted Maps

Timna Tarr is coming back for a workshop at Coastal Quilters (Maine) this month.

And it is not a moment too soon, as our 2017/2018 CQ challenge is making a map.  Many of us will be doing some form of Timna’s quilty maps, but the “map” category is wide open.  One could do any kind of map or map metaphor rather than a literal map.  Our efforts will hang at the state quilt show in July 2018:  Pine Tree Quilt Guild.

Here’s the kind of “Timna map” I want to do.

This quilt is one of her earliest maps, but I adore it.

Here is another:

I’m thinking this one includes more appliqué.

Timna is just finishing a map of the Mississippi river tributaries.  You can go to the gallery on her web site to see more of her work:  timnatarr.com.  And she has a blog where there are pictures of the Mississippi River Quilt.

I went to Camden’s online tax maps to get a start on my projects,  I was able to isolate what I wanted and to take a screen shot that I printed with the landscape orientation.  Next, I took those printed maps to Staples, and they blew them up further.  I asked for 20 wide by 14 deep.  The lot sizes are now big enough for me to work with them I think.

Here are my maps, printed on a kind of vinyl:

A map of the Megunticook Lake and river environs, which includes my house lot.  I am not on lake front property, but am close to the lake or river.  This river runs into Camden harbor via a dramatic waterfall.

And a map of the center of Camden and our harbor.

Where to start???

My own house lot I think–to learn the skills.  Then, if I like the work, the town.

Turkey Tracks: The INDOOR Belfast Farmers’ Market

October 31, 2017

The INDOOR Belfast Farmers’ Market

Oh my goodness!

I was totally blown away by how many vendors are at this market.

Run folks!  Don’t walk to visit.

And it’s going to go all year around.

As I entered from the back side:

Rows and rows of vendors:

And a nice area where one could eat the delicious foods they had just purchased.

At some point, when I recovered from being totally overwhelmed, I pulled out my camera:

These earrings are WOVEN:

There were booths carrying every food imaginable:  meats, cheeses, vegetables, pastas, baked goods, canned foods, ready-to-eat foods.  There were all sorts of fiber crafts.  And wonderfully smelly things involving herbs and plants and spices and…you name it.

One of my favorite booths was manned by Jet Vaillancourt of ECO TOTES.  Yes is from a farm in Swanville, Maine, and she is a woman after my own heart because SHE IS RECYCLING.

Here’s what I first saw:

She was making a bowl out of plastic bags.

Then I looked closer:

Totes, like I’ve been making:

But she’s gone much farther:

Wallets:

Open wallet:

Little zippered bags:

We had a nice conversation about ZipIT, an easy store that sells gorgeous zippers, zipper heads, zipper fobs at reasonable prices.

On our way out, the man who put this all together had a nice conversation and a nice “good-bye” for us:

Yes, many of the vendors were dressed in Halloween gear.

What a fun visit.

 

Turkey Tracks: Front Door Whimsy

Turkey Tracks:  October 31, 2017

Front Door Whimsy

We are recovering from–and I quote the radio news–“the worst power outage in the history of Maine.”

I’ve been without power since yesterday morning.

My new favorite words:  “my generator.”

It runs EVERYTHING, which means I can watch tv, wash, sew, and not worry about food going bad in freezers in this warm weather.

A day or so before the storm, I stood outside and placed drying marigolds from a gift pot (thanks Betsy and Bill) into the front door wreath.

I later found the wreath in the front yard–with a few flowers still intact.

I’ve been through lots of storms up here on Howe Hill, but I’ve never felt the house shake and tremble and groan like it did in the worst of the storm.

Mother is so not happy with us.