Even with all the world crisis going on, we still have day-to-day worries and annoyances. I love summer, although since Ive been in Texas about the past decade, summers tend to consistently be a lot hotter and run more risk of sun stroke, dehydration and sun burn than in Wisconsin where I came from. Days of 100 degree are rare there, typically an anomaly. So I love being outside.<\/p>\n
As many of my readers know, I own a small ranch with goats, bees, pigs and dogs (and chickens before they met their demise by a serial killer named Roxi the guardian dog). I have a lot of things that always need to be done outside. <\/p>\n
In Texas, my allergies are severe and year-round. And chiggers! I never ever heard of a chigger until I moved to Texas. Last week I was putting up hot fence for the animals and was under attack. Another thing I deal with is the mosquitos, gnats and ticks. I keep everything in the yard poison-free the best I can and because I have bees, its even more important that whatever products Im using wont harm my bees.<\/p>\n
So, how does a hippie like me survive? Well, Im sometimes a hippie and sometimes a bit more bourgeois. So I like modern amenities, like not being eaten alive by insects, not having sunburn, and having a nice looking landscape, finding a balance between being au natural and staying healthy by not having skin damage, allergic reactions and scarred skin.<\/p>\n
Here are my tips and Id love to hear what works for you too.<\/p>\n
Tea tree oil: kind of stinky but works well if I do get bug bites<\/p>\n
Lavender: I spray it around the house, on my bed and on my body to prevent bites<\/p>\n
Avon Skin So Soft: a less toxic version of bug repellant. I do, however, use the hardcore stuff if Im going out in the woods.<\/p>\n
I wear sunscreen on my face almost every day. I try to find skin friendly versions to use.<\/p>\n
I use A LOT of goat milk and beeswax and coconut milk products on my skin to prevent dehydration and heal wounds and smooth skin.<\/p>\n
I avoid direct sunlight as much as possible. I hate tan lines and even more I hate the sun damage spots on my skin.<\/p>\n
There is a product made of geraniums my mother swears by. I am doing more research on it to see if there is any harm to my bees if I spray it on my snake boots.<\/p>\n
Burn citronella.<\/p>\n
Im trying to grow lemon grass around the yard. Im really bad about watering things so Ive had to replenish a lot. Im also adding as many herbs around the house as I can, reducing grass in the landscape.<\/p>\n
And of course drink a lot of water and if you get hot, get out of the sun. <\/p>\n
I try to approach life on my ranch and in my wellness services from a Epicurean philosophy and try to implement things I have to do to align with things I enjoy doing. Such as having a small number of goats enough to clear the brush but not so many I am overwhelmed by caring for them, while running a business and working a full-time job outside of that.<\/p>\n
The difference between hedonism, doing things just for pleasure, whereas Epicureanism is finding pleasure in simple living.<\/p>\n
Be well!<\/p>\n
Liz Jones is the owner of Liz Jones Wellness LLC, in Hunt and Rockwall counties, and is building Jones Wellness Ranch north of Greenville. She can be reached at Liz@LizJones.co<\/a> or through her website at LizJones.co.<\/p>\n We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Continued here:<\/p>\n TO YOUR HEALTH: Keeping it simple in summertime - Herald-Banner<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even with all the world crisis going on, we still have day-to-day worries and annoyances. I love summer, although since Ive been in Texas about the past decade, summers tend to consistently be a lot hotter and run more risk of sun stroke, dehydration and sun burn than in Wisconsin where I came from. Continue reading