March 2020 Vol 2 Issue 1

This month is all about creating tasty side dishes to share or enjoy yourself! Join us on Facebook each Saturday at 11:00 A.M. to get the weekly recipe!

We are starting off with your new favorite side: Bacon Double Cheeseburger Stuffed Mushrooms! Definitely to be a crowd pleaser!

Poisons. We're surrounded by them. In our homes. But most of the time we don't realize it or recognize them. They're in many of the household products we buy; they're in the materials used to build our homes; and they're unwelcome components in the food we eat and the air we breathe.

Scientists know what they are but what none of us truly know is what long-term damage all these toxins combined cause to our health. However, experts say every one of us has hundreds of uninvited chemicals in our bodies. They may be the unidentified cause of many illnesses including hormonal imbalances, extreme fatigue and nerve disorders. Others are considered harmless.

That's why it makes sense to learn about them and to do what we can to rid ourselves of those that we can.

According to the environmental website eartheasy.com, the most common toxins include:

Ø  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Chemicals that turn to gas from household furnishings like carpets, plastics, cosmetics and even plywood. You can't avoid them, but keeping your home well-ventilated, especially after buying new furnishings can help. So will low temperatures and low humidity.

Ø  Pesticides. Up to 90% of them can cause cancer. Tests have found them in more than half of food products. And, of course, they're in many garden treatments. Buying fresh, organic produce, avoiding chemical-based pesticides and leaving outdoor shoes outside can help reduce these risks.

Ø  Molds and fungus. Main causes of many allergies and found in damp areas, especially where temperatures vary a lot. Also in particles from heating and ventilation  (HVAC) systems. Avoid by treating damp, keeping humidity below 60% and keeping HVAC filters clean.

Ø  Phthalates and PVC. Hard to pronounce but easy to encounter in many plastics and cosmetics. Reduce risk by checking plastic product labels for "phthalate-free" wording. Recycling code 3 indicates presence of PVC.

Ø  Others include dioxins (in animal fats), heavy metals (like lead in water) and PBDEs (in flame retardants).

For more, see https://tinyurl.com/eartheasy-guide 

If an animal has ever jumped out in front of you while you're driving, you already know it can be a terrifying test of your reflexes. You may be a good driver and you may be fully aware of the risk of a highway animal encounter, but do you actually know what to do when it happens?

It turns out that one of the toughest things to do when an animal runs into your path is to resist the automatic tendency to swerve to try to avoid it. Even if this tactic works, it could be at a high human cost, especially if you swerve into another lane or even go off the road.

The correct action, according to automobile association experts, is to firmly apply your brakes, releasing them just before impact, and remain in your lane.

Most animal collisions happen at night, of course, especially around dawn and dusk and in rural and forested areas. To reduce the risk, say the experts, you should use high-bream headlights if there's no oncoming traffic (remembering to dip them if a vehicle does appear).  Use the brighter lighting to scan the road and shoulders, bearing in mind that, if you see one animal cross, there's a good chance it will be part of a group and that others might follow. Honk your horn and slow down.

If you know you're in an area with a high wildlife population, take that into account by slowing down your driving speed, whether it's daytime or night.

If you're unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision with a wild animal but it's wounded rather than killed, safety experts advise against moving or even touching it. Some animals are rabid and wounded ones can behave unpredictably, so call the police instead.

Likewise, if the victim animal is a small urban one, such as a fox, or a domestic pet, or you spot an injured animal, you should call the police rather than trying to deal with it yourself. They can summon the appropriate professional help and, if it's a pet, track down the owners.

Finally, for your own peace of mind, make sure you're fully insured against the cost of damage to your vehicle or injury to you or your passengers in the event of a crash. If you're not covered against this risk, or if you're not sure, please contact us.