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Issue #1075
Including:

Russ
Nova Scotia Sus
Carol
The Ontarion

Hey There,

Well, it seemed a bit touch and go at times but it looks like we actually made it all the way to the end of this year. It was a struggle but here we are. And, fittingly, this is the last issue for this year. I want to thank everyone for their involvement and support of this noble news letter. You may all take the rest of this year off, get rested up, and come back roaring to go for next year and next year’s letters.

A short while ago Carol mentioned some of the retail stores that are no longer in existence and probably the most popular with any of us who lived in the east end of the KW area way back then was, as she mentioned, the Highway Market. That place had everything including those squeaky wooden floors. It had started out as a grocery store but had become the best ‘department’ store around. Once I was old enough to buy my own stuff it was the place for me to go whenever I needed anything. I bought my cloths there, by outdoor boots and coats, hardware items and so on. But, earlier, my brothers and I would walk to the Highway Market on Saturday evenings for our ‘big’ night out.

It was at the corner of Weber St and Fergus Ave. As kids, we’d walk to the Highway Market on a given Saturday evening, any time of the year, just for the fun of it. We were about 8, 10, and 12 years old for this particular memory. We had nothing better to do, and it was during the winter with it’s cold and storming weather. I have vivid memories of the 3 of us heading out into the storm, perhaps even using a length of rope to tie ourselves together so we wouldn’t get lost in the snowdrifts or blowing snow. We didn’t bother with the long way of following the road, we took the direct route which meant cutting across the grandparent’s place, across the field behind their house and then finding and following the old wire fence that would lead us out onto the end of Fergus Ave. We’d have to fight our way through deep drifts, half swimming through the snow. Once we reached Fergus Ave the walking became easy as it was a plowed road and up ahead there were even some street light. We’d trudge along, shedding the snow that would be packed onto or coats and boot. Then, after crossing what in those days was a fairly quiet Weber Street, we’d enter the Highway Market and head for the lunch counter where we’d each buy a chocolate sundae, which probably cost us about 5 cents each. Then, it was back out into the fridge-ed winter night for the long trudge home. Interestingly, our parents never once questioned the fact that 3 kids were out in the cold dark winter night, and gone for several hours. Thats just the way it was back then. We had it so much better than kids these day.

One other little memory from when we were kids…. Mom use to make a chocolate cake that she’d then ice with home made fudge. If you happened to like cake with fudge icing you were in heaven with a piece of her cake. She was more likely to make pies (which I actually prefer) but she sure could make a good cake.

Well, moving forward many decades, Sue usually makes me a birthday pie as like I just said, I prefer pie and she sure can make them good with apple or strawberry rhubarb being her specialty's. This year she decided to make a chocolate cake with fudge icing and boy, did it turn out good. Each bite took me back to eating a piece of mom’s cake. It made for a pretty nice birthday even though we actually waited until the 27^th as that’s when the kids could come up from Maple Ridge. And now, the girls know what a good fudge frosted chocolate cake tastes like.

*

On a sad note, I sat down with my guitar and played all the old Ian Tyson songs I could remember. He was one of the best. RIP Ian.

doug

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From Russ

Chicken soup anyone?

The last day of the year 2022 seems a fitting time to write my last 'report' on Old time home remedies. Here it is: There is nothing like a warm bowl of home-made *chicken soup when you're sick - and it turns out, this remedy is backed by science.

"Chicken soup works for me", Dr. McGee says. "On top of making me want to watch cartoons and take a nap, there is actually a small amount of prostaglandins in chicken soup that can help fight infections"

Lemon for motion sickness? As a kid I suffered from motion sickness whenever our family took a long car-ride, but was never offered a slice of lemon to suck, hence I can't vouch for this one. Let's see what the experts have to say.

"Motion sickness causes one to produce excess saliva, which can upset one's stomach and trigger a nauseated feeling" Palinski-Wade says, "Sucking on a lemon, which causes one's mouth to pucker from the sour taste, can reduce the production of saliva, which in turn can help prevent the nausea associated with it"

Duct tape for warts? Weird or what! Haven't had a wart since I was a kid, but seems most of us developed warts occasionally. My brother Howard, who we all thought might some day become a dentist, as he volunteered to pull any teeth which needed 'yanking-out', used to tie a fine thread around the tooth in question, and with a sharp pull, out-it-came! Painless! For our warts he tied a 'slip-knot' tightly around the wart, again using a fine thread. This cut off the blood circulation to the offending appendage choking it to death!

Never tried duct tape (as it was not invented until WWII), but apparently the American Academy of Dermatology endorses the use of duct tape for removal of warts!

When I told my Daughter-in-law about using duct tape for warts, she wasn't at al, surprised saying,

"My brother used duct tape every time he grew a wart"

Now, I ask you - have you ever? And wouldn't any adhesive tape do the trick?

*Apple for cleaning teeth? We've all hear that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", you may also add it keeps the dentist away!

"When one eats this fleshy fruit, it scrubs the teeth - think of apples as a natural toothbrush", says Nancy Rosen, DMD. She continues, "The skin of the apple, which is extremely high in fiber, can scrub against your teeth, helping to remove plaque and stain". But when I asked my dentist about this home remedy he explained, "Apples contain acids and sugar which can damage teeth - the benefits may outweigh the negatives - swish your mouth with water to rinse them".

*Baking soda - it's multi-uses around our home way back then: good for brushing teeth (we couldn't afford tooth powder); also stops BO (never even heard of commercial products); good for 'acid indigestion' (I still prefer it to commercial "Pink stuff"), and finally our mom used baking soda in some baking (what is was actually made for!)

*Cod liver oil for inflammation. YUCK! We kids were 'force-fed' this junk and never quite sure, why! Old time remedies like swallowing cod liver oil may naturally relieve the pain of arthritis. Plus, this fish oil has other health benefits,

"This oil, extracted from cod fish, provides a rich source of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, which are the primary omega-3's you need to support heart health, brain health, eye health and maternal health" Palinski-Wade says.

If you are like me - sworn-off cod liver oil for life - I try to have an "oily fish" once a week. No, I've never tried 'fish oil supplements' - do they work?

*Ice for head aches: My 'significant other' suffered from migraine for years, but never tried ice (except in her Brandy) A study from the University of Hawaii says "for migraine sufferers place the cold pack on the neck over the carotid artery". Worth a try?

*Milk of magnesia for 'canker sores': Ever had a canker sore in your mouth? They say sores are a sign of an upset stomach - so, maybe that's why they recommend milk of magnesia. Try rinsing your mouth with milk of magnesia four times daily. (Sure, go ahead and swallow it!)

*Ground flax seed for constipation: Yup! I can vouch for this remedy - just don't use too much at a time, or you'll get diarrhea!

And now, to save your reading time, and my hemorrhoids, the following remedies will not be given an explanation, merely an asterisk * indicating those I've tried, or am still using.

Cucumbers for eyestrain (fresh-cut and cool). Lavender oil for foot odor. Cherries for gout (available in capsule). Sugar for hiccups (but not for diabetics). Green tea for pain (2 or 3 cups daily). Beer for home perms (what a waste of good beer!). Horehound tea for sore throat. Clove oil for tooth and gum pain. Black pepper in boots to keep feet warm in winter (ground, dried garlic works too, but who want stinky feet?) Raw hen's eggs for treating MANY health issues: chronic fatigue, anemia, and mental exhaustion; cataracts and macular degeneration, cholesterol, heart disease and heart failure.

Dr. Chase's Old-Time Home Remedies was the "other Bible" at our home in the 1940's to 1950's. A classic collection of Original Medical Remedies and household recipes.

"About the Author: Dr. Alvin Wood Chase, born 1817. Traveling physician, salesman, author, and self-made man. He dispensed remedies all over North America during the late 19th Century, collecting recipes, and domestic tips from the people he met along the way. He wrote, and self-published multiple books in his lifetime, which eventually became revered in US and Canada as 'best sellers' and were the household bibles of their day. He passed away a few months after completing this book in 1885"

I hope you have enjoyed reading my last four weeks of Old-time Remedies as much as I've enjoyed writing them. I've learned a lot about home remedies above and beyond what transpired in our family back then.

Russ.

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From Nova Scotia Sus

I decided to take a couple of weeks off over Christmas and New Years. I did the same last year too. Semi retirement is great no need to work hard. Most of my clients are totally retired and can pretty much come anytime I say. It's the best time in my life to work. No pressure just pleasure.

I was in the mall today looking to buy some warm socks at Mark's. I nearly fell over at the price but was desperate so I paid it..nearly $10. per pair. I guess I've been buying cheap socks up till now. No wonder my feet were cold.

As I was leaving the mall I peeked into the barbershop to see if my barber teacher was still working. Yes he is still at it and going on 80 years old.

We had a great Christmas and now enjoying some quiet time. Still not much snow. Makes life easier. Happy New Year everyone.

Sus

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From Carol

Happy New Year everyone, at least to those who follow the Gregorian calendar. If you were following the Chinese calendar then our January 22nd, 2023 would be your New Year Day for the year 4721. The Chinese calendar, like the Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar system using positions of both the moon and sun to calculate the date. Both are a 12 month calendar except for leap years when they have 13 months so the normal year is 353 – 355 days. This is why the date of Easter changes each year as it is based on when Passover happens (as you will recall Jesus died while celebrating Passover). January 1st was declared New Years Day when Julius Caesar made a new calendar in 45BC. Of course it wasn’t called 45BC then as the year 1 was calculated by a monk, Dionyslus, in the early 6th century based on when he calculated the birth of Jesus to be. The Julianus calendar was used in England & America until 1752 and is still used in the Orthodox church, which is why Christmas and Easter are different for them. The ancient Egyptians counted their years by when each Pharaoh started ruling so each time a new person sat on the throne they started over at 1. The difference between the Gregorian and Julianus calendars are the Gregorian calendar counts 365.2425 days in a year and the other 365.25 days. It may not sound like a lot but by the time Britain changed to the Gregorian calendar they had to drop 11 days. As you know September, October, November, December translates, from Latin, to 8th month, 9th month, 11th month, 12th month. The New Year was once celebrated in spring, which seems like a much better time to me. Of course that would make it difficult for Karin & Karl as their spring is opposite to ours, mind you it is already tomorrow in Australia so we are already out of sync.

And that was your history lesson for today. Anyway I wish you a happy and healthy 2023. May the year bring all the blessings all of you so richly deserve.

Carol

****

The Ontarion

Hello everyone!~

Before I go any further, I’ll wish each and every one of you a Very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It’s going to be a happy one for most of us while many who knew and loved not only the man Ian Tyson but also his music! He passed away from difficulties with his heart on Thursday morning. Apparently he had bypass surgery in 2015 and has had health problems ever since! It’s always sad when a famous person passes away not to mention a beloved family member! We all have to experience this situation in our lifetimes but it’s still always a difficult time to process! With Ian, his music was blown not only across Canada but across the rest of the world by “four strong winds” and I’m sure he’ll be remembered for many years to come!

*

Well, this past week was supposed to be filled with a terribly heavy winter storm here in Ontario after it moved across the west and most of the United States as well! However as it turned out, the storm was mostly a dud here in southern Ontario! We only got a smidgeon of the snow amount predicted but had some violent winds that accompanied the winter storm from the west! With that said, our weather is now settling down and the snow we did have is melting with temperatures above 0c that are supposed to last for the next 20 days. Hopefully this will be an indicator of what the rest of this winter will be like and things will be mild for the next few months!

We had a lovely Christmas and true to our tradition that we inherited from Carole’s Irish background we’ve already taken down and put away all of the Christmas decorations to make sure we have a tidy and clean house before the New Year sets in! It’s funny how people have different traditions to follow at special times of the year! I know that when we were kids we hated to see the tree come down and the decorations put in boxes again for another year. The saddest sight was always the one where the withering and browning Christmas trees were strewn along the street waiting for the Garbage trucks to pick them up and deposit them in the local dump. At least nowadays many of the trees are donated to farms that feed them to their animals! It’s not surprising that the tradition of erecting real natural Christmas trees is losing it’s popularity and trending toward the artificial type! We’ve had an artificial tree for all of the 50 years that Carole and I have been married! We lived in our first apartment on Lincoln Rd in Waterloo that was across the road from the Towers Plaza so we did a lot of our shopping at the Towers Store and consequently we purchased our first tree from that store! I think we’ve had a total of three different artificial trees over the span of that 50 years so, just think of how many real trees would have been saved had everyone done the same during their life time of buying real trees!

The planet would be much greener if they had!

Well, here’s to having our manufactured tree for another 50 Years! LOL!

I doubt we’ll last as long as our phony tree but it’s something to look forward to indeed!

That’s about it for this week folks!

I sincerely wish you all a Happy New Year again and enjoy your celebration whatever and wherever you have it tonight! Stay healthy in the coming year and hopefully we’ll see an end to this terrible Covid-19 Problem world wide!

All the best in the New Year…… Greg

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