Watch Out – Killing Pets with Painkillers
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) This one reliably kills cats. For some reason, I’ve had some clients give their cats this medication to help bring down fevers. The problem is that this drug causes liver damage and methemoglobinemia (damage to the red blood cells). A single tablet given to a cat can cause death within forty eight hours. For dogs, it can be used, but overdosing is an issue. A regular strength tablet (325 mg) can seriously harm a 14 pound dog. Intensive treatment and specialized medications are required to counteract the toxic effects of this drug. Ibuprofen (Advil) The number one...
Read MoreWEAR PURPLE on June 15th, for “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day”
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. In addition, WEAAD is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action acknowledging the significance of elder abuse...
Read MoreObesity – Why it is so BAD
If your dog is 10 percent over his ideal body weight, he is overweight. If he’s more than 30 percent over his optimal weight, we call him obese. Unbelievably, obesity strikes more than 30 percent of dogs, and the incidence is rising. Obesity is partly due to ignorance – owners not making the right choices about diet and exercise for their canine friends. However, even owners that recognize their dogs are obese often do not think it is an issue. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Fat isn’t just a layer under the skin. It is in every crevice of the body. If you were to cut a fat...
Read MoreShare your good news.
Please let us know what beautiful things you are involved with that you would like to share with other island women.
Read MorePunishment Without trial
I was, and remain, outraged to learn of the additional, mental and physical hardships women prisoners are faced with on the Island because there are no holding facilities here for women. The women we are talking about here are awaiting trial, they have not been convicted of anything. They are being taken away from family, friends and any support they may have here to await trial. They are being unduly punished by the lack of facilities for women on the island caused as the result of economic cut backs by a heartless, mean spirited provincial government. This is wrong and should be rectified...
Read MoreMiso Marinated Ling Cod
I came across this fish dish working for Oceania Cruise Lines, We originally used Black Cod, it was the second course in a 5 course promotional luncheon put on for the Italian press in Venice that visited the ship while in port – Yes Cruise Lines promote their ships when ever possible. I really liked it because of its simplicity, the Miso marinade really complements the Fish’s natural flavour. In the original it was served wrapped in a banana leaf with Sticky sushi rice as a side Miso Marinated Ling Cod & Spiced Vegetable Couscous for 4 Ingredients 900gr Fresh Ling Cod filet...
Read MorePainting parties
I have been hearing more and more about painting parties – brushes, canvas… and wine! Has anyone tried this? Best hosts/locations?
Read MoreCongratulations.
Seven Island-based organizations have received grants to help them support the professional advancement of women. PowHERhouse Performance Strategies, Inkwell, Ladies Learning Code Central Vancouver Island, Fortress Foundation, Westshore Soroptimist Society for Women & Families, Island Women in Technology and WillStep Coaching & Facilitation will all receive funding from the Catalyst for Growth project. The initiative of Women’s Enterprise Centre aims to increase the impact of women on the B.C. economy by supporting women in senior leadership, as...
Read MoreSuccessful Doctor Visits
When my mother had stomach cancer, I flew back to Toronto to give my siblings a reprieve and support my mom post-surgery. The procedure to remove her tumour was long and very painful. Post-discharge, my mom experienced severe stomach pains, difficulty sleeping and digestive problems. Heavily medicated (not me, her!) to reduce the pain, I drove her to a follow-up appointment with her physician. My mom thought it was a good idea to have me sit in on the appointment with her. Pen and paper in hand, I was ready to be my mom’s advocate! I nearly fell off the chair when my mom smiled and told...
Read MoreHomeless women.
The pending explosion of homeless single women on Vancouver Island is very real. It is not a question of if, it’s a question of when. For many it’s already here. The most at risk section of society to homelessness are women 60 plus living alone. Women living alone that have no private pension plans, or other sources of income, will be totally reliant on Old age Pension, Canadian Pension Plan if they are eligible, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Rents on the island are so high now that over 50% of income that these women receive will be used to pay their rent. By the time...
Read MoreLawn to Food
It’s a very unsuspecting location to find Lynda Smith’s business. In the middle of a Comox neighborhood where homes sit on lots not much larger than a quarter acre, an active vegetable farm is in production year-round. Lynda, founder and operator of Lawn to Food, is immersed in a small business that not only brings fresh, organic and plentiful food to her family’s table, but allows her to educate and coach others to do the same all while sharing the fruits of her labour for others to enjoy. “We had always gown food but I was always the one doing it and the one preparing it and I...
Read MoreSigns our body is giving us
How can we overcome the fear many aspects of our life are causing in us? Unfortunately there are many things in our world that are affecting our health negatively. Only to a certain degree we can protect ourselves from ElectroMagneticFrequencies – Chemtrails – Genmanipulated (GMO) food – Herbicides, Pesticides and Toxins. During my studies I learned from the MD Mary Lynch the vibration of DNA is nearly the same as the vibration of LOVE. This means when we are experiencing LOVE our DNA is better able to repair itself. JOY, LOVE, and PEACE have nearly the same...
Read MorePregnancy and Reflexology
Woman have come for treatments looking to conceive, to support their bodies throughout pregnancy and finally to induce birth. After care treatments also remain an important element in bringing mom’s body back to equilibrium. Pregnant women have found reflexology helped with: Headaches Constipation High blood pressure Shortness of Breath Tiredness Heartburn Backache Sleeplessness Anxiety Oedema (fluid retention, often in feet) Morning sickness It’s amazing what this gentle form of massage and acupressure can do. I have worked with women applying reflexology...
Read MoreWhy a Retirement Community?
Are you are no longer enjoying cooking? Not eating properly? Or maybe you’re lonely and having a hard time getting out of your home to visit. Are you feeling isolated…or bored? As a ‘tour guide’ for a seniors’ home, I find that many people have at least one of the above concerns. Another big concern for some people reaching the age where they are considering a down size is what seniors homes used to look like. They are remembering the facilities that used to care for their own grandparents or parents. Thankfully we have come a long way and there really is very little, if any,...
Read MoreAn Accidental Pilgrimage
Rose Spit was on our list of adventures, and we were running out of time. A few days before, we were blessed to have been two, of a dozen hearty souls who shared a zodiac expedition through Gwaii Hanaas to the site of Sgang Gwaay. But that is a story for another day. My traveling companion, and sister, and I had been asking around Massett for a couple of days, hoping to find a ride out to the spit. There were a few possibilities, but nothing actually firmed up. We were told that Rose Spit was a 15 km return walk. We could see it in the distance. How hard could it be? We would be challenged,...
Read MoreVancouver Island, 1941
There were four crockery barrels on our back porch. I was four years old. We all had jobs. My job was to get things from the crocks. One held eggs preserved in water-glass; one was filled with oolichans (eels) in salt; one, my mother’s concoction of lye, oil and I don’t know what, which was the soap used for dishes, the floor, the laundry, the dog and our Saturday night baths in the tin wash tub; and one, goose grease, the salve of all bad things from cut fingers to leg-aches and whooping cough. When I see an episode of the TV show, “Survivor,” featuring people touching or...
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