Garlic Infused Oil Ingredients

1 head of garlic

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil (Read this article to learn about the different grades of olive oil.)

Directions

1.  Peel the garlic cloves and smash them gently with the side of a knife.  (If you’ve never seenthis, you have to check it out.  Martha knows how to peel garlic.)

2.  Put the garlic into a medium pot and cover with the olive oil.

3.  Heat over medium-low heat until bubbles start to form and you hear a sizzling sound (about 3 minutes).

4.  Let the oil and garlic cook for 10 minutes over low heat.  (If the garlic starts to brown, turn the heat down.  The garlic should continue to stay white for most, if not all, of the cooking time.  It will turn a light golden color as it sits in the oil following the cook time.  If the garlic cooks too long, it will get bitter.

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For the rest of the article, visit … http://www.untrainedhousewife.com/how-to-make-garlic-infused-oil

You may not know who he is, but you’ve probably seen his artwork. For many,  he captivated what was the call of the wild. He allowed many to live vicariously through his paintings. Every doctors office you would go to, there, proudly displayed, was his works. Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, and Winchester Repeating Arms Company are a few of the notables who used his artwork. I’m talking about Philip R.Goodwin.

Goodwin was born in Norwich, Connecticut in 1881. At age 11, he sold his first illustrated story to Collier’s

Goodwin illustrated Jack London’s ”The Call of the Wild” in 1903 at the age of 22. He later illustrated Theodore Roosevelt’s African Game Trails. Goodwin opened a studio in 1904 in New York City, and became well known for his illustrations in numerous magazines and commercial items, such as posters, calendars, and catalogs. Some of the magazines in which his work appeared include:Collier’s Weekly, Outdoor Life, Outers’ Recreation, Scribner’s Magazine, The Popular Magazine, and McClure’s Magazine. He also did several covers for The Saturday Evening Post.Magazine. Goodwin studied art at the Rhode Island School of Design, the Art Students League in New York City, and the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry (now Drexel University) in Philadelphia under the well known Howard Pyle. He later followed Pyle when he opened his own Howard Pyle School of Illustration Art.N.C. Wyeth, Thornton Oakley and Frank Schoonover were contemporaries of Goodwin who also studied under Pyle at that time.

Goodwin’s style is epitomized by The Surprise, currently in the collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The museum describes the painting:

“… a photographer is coming upon a mother bear and her two cubs. The painting exemplifies Goodwin’s open color palette, use of distance and atmosphere, and sense of humor. He painted many wildlife, hunting, fishing, and western scenes, often composed from behind the subject’s shoulder.”

He produced what was known as “cabin art,” which often depicted hunters, cowboys, Indians, fishermen, and the camping life. His art was published as calendars, magazine illustrations inNational Sportsman, Saturday Evening Post, and others, and was seen in gun and ammunition advertisements, including those by Winchester.

Goodwin is well represented in many private collections and museums featuring western and outdoor themes, including the American Museum of Natural History, the Brandywine River Museum, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Charles M. Russell Museum, the Glenbow Museum, the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and the Gilcrease Museum.

I know every time I kick back, smoke a cigar and stare at one of these images I am instantly transformed into a world of outdoor wonder.

The Asiatic encompasses the the dogs of Spanish origin too with perhaps the exception of the Galgo for the Ibizan is in reality but a Pharoah Hound, a dog really of African descent so not really Asiatic latterlly but certainly not Celtic just the same.

The wolfhound of Russia, the Borzoi, the slower Afghan Hound, over in India the Ramphur hound and the Iranian  Saluki the Persian Greyhound and its sister blood the smooth Sloughi.

For complete article… visit http://redhunta.webs.com/longdogssighthounds.htm

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cover photo courtesy http://kauaun14.edublogs.org/other-sighthounds/

With summer upon us and outdoor activities kicking into high gear, it is important to understand the delicate relationship between having fun and becoming victim to heat injuries.

The three stages of heat injuries.

Heat Cramps are the initial stages to the onset to a more serious form of heat injury, though cramps don’t necessarily have to manifest, they are a common occurrence and therefore should be watched for. They can be painful, brief,  intermittent, or persist. Seeking refuge from the heat, resting, and fluid and electrolyte replenishment are vital to keep from progressing into something more serious.

Heat Exhaustion is a very severe form of heat injuries and should be considered life threatening. Some of the more common signs and symptoms are:

The most common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Confusion
• Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration)
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Pale skin
• Profuse sweating
• Rapid heartbeat

If you, or anyone else, has symptoms of heat exhaustion, it’s essential to immediately get out of the heat and rest, preferably in an air-conditioned room. If you can’t get inside, try to find the nearest cool and shady place. Rapid cooling is essential to

Other recommended strategies include:

• Drink plenty of fluid (avoid caffeine and alcohol).
• Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing.
• Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
• Apply other cooling measures such as fans or ice towels.

If such measures fail to provide relief within 30 minutes, contact a doctor because untreated heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke.

Heat Stroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is a medical emergency. If you suspect that someone has heat stroke — also known as sunstroke — you should call 911 immediately and render first aid until paramedics arrive.

Heat stroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Although heat stroke mainly affects people over age 50, it also takes a toll on healthy young athletes.

Heat stroke often occurs as a progression from milder heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting), and heat exhaustion. But it can strike even if you have no previous signs of heat injury.

Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures — usually in combination with dehydration – which leads to failure of the body’s temperature control system. The medical definition of heat stroke is a core body temperature greater than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, with complications involving the central nervous system that occur after exposure to high temperatures. Other common symptoms include nausea, seizures, confusion, disorientation, and sometimes loss of consciousness or coma.

The hallmark symptom of heat stroke is a core body temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. But fainting may be the first sign.

Other symptoms may include:

• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Lack of sweating despite the heat
• Red, hot, and dry skin
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering
• Seizures
• Unconsciousness

If you suspect that someone has a heat stroke, immediately call 911 or transport the person to a hospital. Any delay seeking medical help can be fatal.

While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, initiate first aid. Move the person to an air-conditioned environment — or at least a cool, shady area — and remove any unnecessary clothing.

You may also try these cooling strategies:

• Fan air over the patient while wetting his or her skin with water from a sponge or garden hose.
• Apply ice packs to the patient’s armpits, groin, neck, and back. Because these areas are rich with blood vessels close to the skin, cooling them may reduce body temperature.
• Immerse the patient in a shower or tub of cool water.

It is paramount to understand, once a person has ever experienced heat exhaustion or heat stroke, they are, for the rest of their lives, predisposed to heat injuries. I’m not saying that they will suffer from another heat injury, rather the likelihood of anyone suffering a heat injury is that person who has suffered from one before.

This definitely is a case where an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.

Now that you know what to look out for, you are better prepared to identify and treat this life threatening injury, not only in you, but that of a loved one. With kids especially, it is important, because many times they don’t know how to articulate what they are feeling and they tend to be the most active.

Stay safe and have fun!

Artemisia vulgaris is easily recognized by its leaves which grow from a single stalk — Deep shiny green on top and silvery white underneath. The leaves tend to be deeply lobed, but can also grow without the lobes. Typically, this plant grows to a size of about three feet, but I have run across it much taller than that. The aroma and leaves are a dead giveaway, however.

In China, Japan, and Korea Mugwort is known as Moxa and is used in moxibustion. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means “acupuncture-moxibustion.” The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health.
Mugwort has a long history of use in folk medicine. Research has shown there is evidence that it acts as an emmenagogue ­ that is, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. This could explain its use in treating breech births and menstrual cramps.

In Mexico, Mugwort is known as estafiate and is used as a tea to treat digestive disorders. It is also believed to ward off bad spirits, when there is reason to believe someone has been cursed.

It is said Mugwort is probably the most used herb in the practice of Witchcraft, though I couldn’t tell you from first hand experience.

Across Native American cultures, Mugwort was revered for it’s many uses:

• The Karok used it as an analgesic used by women to ease pain after childbirth. It was also used as a cold remedy
• The Kiowa used it as medicine to dispel intestinal worms
• The Miwok wore the leaves in the nostrils for headaches, as decoction for rheumatism, rubbed leaves on the body to keep ghosts away, was warn as a necklace to prevent dreaming of the dead.
• The Paiute made a poultice to treat colds, as an decoction applied to gonorrheal sores, and as an aid for female back pains.
• The Pomo used it to stop excessive menstruation among women.
• Chumash chewed the leaves

  to relieve tooth aches and gum pain

Oh there are many uses for this wonderful plant, including the use in making beer, and promoting of vivid dreams, but for me, the most common use is  as an exceptional long burning tinder, which smells better than incense. In fact, the burning of mugwort in my home is a regular occurrence.

What this book isn’t

If you are looking for a good reference to identify plants, this book is NOT for you.— It has no pictures, illustrations, or descriptions of what the plant looks like.

If you are looking for a reference on plants you can look up by common name, this book is NOT(with a but) for you, because the plants are listed by their botanical name. If you’re willing to do the extra work, however, you can use the index in the back of the book, look up the common name and get a cross reference to the botanical name which you can then flip to the appropriate page and get the information you seek.

If you are looking for a low cost reference book, this book is NOT for you. This book has a suggested retail price of 79$.

What this book is

This book is an enormous tome, with over 900 pages of content. It will describe how a plant was used by various tribes, from food, to medicine, to functionality; say fire, glue, hand drill, etc.

Furthermore, you can look up a certain ailment, in the back of the book, and it will show you which tribe used which plant to treat that ailment.

There are over 2500 plants listed in this book, so it does a great job in covering the United States.

Sure not every single use is covered for all plants, but it does do an amazing job for what it is.

If you’re serious about taking your plant use knowledge to the next level, I highly recommend this book

Gather Garlic Mustard now for pesto or it may disappear presto… well… maybe not immediately but if one university succeeds Garlic Mustard will become hard to find or extinct in North America.

It all started on this continent sometime around 1868 when Garlic Mustard, a native of Europe, was found on Long Island, no doubt brought over before then for food and medicine. It’s leaves are rich in vitamin C and A and medicinally was used for treating gangrene and ulcers. Garlic Mustard spread slowly across the country reaching Oregon by 1959. It wasn’t a severe problem until about 40 years ago. Then it began to proliferate alarmingly. It went from taking over an estimated 366 square kilometers a year to 6,400. In the last four decades it’s become a significant pest, a dreaded “invasive.” Why? My guess is deer. The deer population has also dramatically increased in numbers during the same for decades. They prefer to eat native plants rather than Garlic Mustard. However, if you have more deer eating the native plants to the ground it gives prolific Garlic Mustard chance and space to get going. Once it does it drives out other plants including trees.

For the rest of the article check out… http://www.eattheweeds.com/garlic-mustard-jack-by-the-hedge-sauce-alone/

One of the more common wild flowers we have is the Encelia farinosa, or Brittlebush. Known as “Hierba del Vaso” (Herb of the cup) by the Spanish, Brittlebush was used by native tribes and pioneers for medicinal and other purposes:

• The O’odham and Seri used it as a glue for hafting, to hold points on arrows and harpoons.
  
• A different sort of resin is collected from the upper stems, is more gummy and generally a clear yellow. The Seri use this to seal pottery vessels.
  
• Early Spanish friars learned that the resin made a highly fragrant incense, akin to frankincense in odor.
  
• Tohono O’odham children use upper stem resin as a passable chewing gum.

For the rest of the article, visit … http://outdoorselfreliance.com/brittlebush-encelia-farinosa/

In a time where survival and preparedness shows seem to reign supreme, with the exception of Survivorman, starring Les Stroud, I’ve never liked any of them. So, when Naked Castaway aired on Discovery, I wasn’t expecting much. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it and found it quite the departure from all the survival shows currently airing… Discovery, you hit a homerun!

From the Discovery Website:

Former British Army Captain Ed Stafford was the first person ever to walk the length of the Amazon River, but surviving completely alone on a deserted island is his biggest adventure yet. Can he last 60 days on an uninhabited Fijian island with absolutely nothing? No survival tools, no rations, no clothes, no film crew. It’s a daunting challenge and nobody’s ever done it before.

In fierce tropical heat Ed has only hours to find water before dehydration ends his attempt before it’s begun. He must master the island – and his fears – to find food and water, light fire, build a proper shelter, and progress from mere survival to the point where he could stay forever.

Filmed entirely by Ed himself, there’s never been a more authentic survival series on TV.

The last sentence in the above statement is so true.

The episodes show Ed experiencing all the highs and lows of a survival situation. From the emotions of crying, sadness and desperation, to the physical tolls of dehydration, weakness, sickness and hunger. Of course you also see him experience the overwhelming joy of simple achievements.

I’m always amazed at how people constantly put down inexpensive knives by saying things such as, “I want a knife that I can depend on when my life is in jeopardy” As if that is some sort of justification for that 300 dollar knife purchase they made. Here we are with Ed Stafford, a man who by what is depicted on the show only seems to have basic skills, yet he is left to fend for himself, using nothing more than stone tools which he uses to fell trees, make a bow, start fire and more. And while he does make the statement how he would like a knife, it did not prevent him from moving forward in his situation. When he split a piece of wood for a hearth, using nothing more than stone tools, his excitement was overwhelming.

The voice over really ties together what couldn’t be captured by the video as he’s performing some of the tasks. He’s not afraid to share his emotions, including crying, which is really refreshing and adds to the shows realism.

The show does an exceptional job of depicting Ed’s life over a period of 60 days on a deserted island, with nothing more than his camera gear and his wit.

If you haven’t seen the show yet, do yourselves a favor and do so

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/naked-castaway/episode-guide.htm

Good Job Discovery! After some of your other debacles, you hit a home run

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Some 18 generations ago — 600 years ago give or take a few centuries — some Natives Americans stopped cultivating a particular crop and may have moved on to maize. About 150 years ago — five generations — American farmers were raising crabgrass for grain when they, too, moved on to corn, the descendant of maize. So what crop did the Indians stop growing? Ragweed, the most hay-fever causing plant in the world. No one alive knows why Ragweed fell out of cultivation though the development of maize is a prime guess. And Ragweed certainly is not  favored by farmers now who view it as a vile invader that chokes domestic crops. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider Ragweed.

The grain is some 47% crude protein and 38% crude fat. That’s an energy powerhouse despite the size.

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For the rest of the article, visit

http://www.eattheweeds.com/ragweed/