First Sunday of Advent

First Sunday of Advent today and the winter is here to stay.

The first Christmas decoration is in place and the snow keeps falling.

Today it is the eighth day of constant snowfall, and the small chaos created at some parts of Sweden, is getting bigger.

Watching the snow falling while enjoying a warm glass of glögg creates such a wonderful feeling!

Skål!

More snow

Fourth day of non-stop snowing and the a small chaos has been created in some areas.
It looks like a rather harsh winter is on its way, with the temperature falling steadily few degrees every day.

Wild is the wind

The first real winter day has dressed our town square in white.

The strong wind is washing violently happy the snow from the rooftops, and at the local hospital they are kept busy taking care of twisted legs and other seasonal... phenomena.

The time for a hot Lapsang cup of tea and cookies - and change to winter tires - has come!

Mosquito Bites: how to stop them from itching

When worst come to worst, and the bloodthirsty mosquitoes have partied on your skin...

Be patient. Before doing any of this- remember, no matter what you do, the itch will not fully go away until the scab or sore has healed.

Thorough washing

1. Go inside and thoroughly wash the affected area with rubbing alcohol before anything else.
2. Pat dry (rub it).

Scotch tape

1. Put a piece of Scotch tape (or similar) onto the bite. Leaving it there will make the itch almost entirely go away.
2. After a few hours, remove it. This will help remove some of the toxins that cause the itch.

Bath

Take a nice, relaxing hot bath.

Fingernail

1. Use your fingernail to press "sunbursts" around the mosquito bite. This is a good method if the mosquito bite has popped.
2. Use your fingernail to press an "X" into the bite. This disperses the protein and stops the itch for a while.

Scalding

1. Dip a wash cloth into scalding hot water, but not so hot that it burns your skin.
2. Press the wet part of the cloth against the bite.
3. Hold it there until you feel the bite tingle.
4. Repeat once or twice. Your nerves will be confused and the itching will vanish for hours. The heat causes all the histamine (the protein used by the body to initiate immune responses, which include irritation and itching) in the skin surrounding the bite to be released at once.

Fluids and creams

Rub any of the following fluids and creams on it:

• Baking soda and water paste
• Lemon or lime. Cut into pieces and rub gently on the affected area, or just squirt a bit juice on it
• Nail polish. Preferably clear and be sure that the bite is not raw from scratching
• White or apple cider vinegar. Make sure it is not an open wound. Brush the vinegar on with your finger
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antihistamine and water. Rub a little onto the bite and cover with a band aid
• Vicks Vaporub. Keep applying Vicks to the area, especially if it rubs off
• Aloe Vera
• Saliva
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste

Oils

• Melaleuca oil (also known as tea tree oil)
• Lavender oil
• Oil and vinegar

Water

Rub on with a cotton ball or q-tip.

• Ice or cold water
• Saltwater

Soap

• Bar soap pieces

Other

• Oatmeal
• Mud
• Banana peel. Rub it against the affected area.
• Common Plantain. Either roll leaves of common plantain between fingers to extract juice, or chew on common plantain leaves a little bit, then rub the juicy leaf over mosquito bite. The itch goes away in less than a minute.
• Put a bit of white vinegar on a tissue and press on the bite.

Spittle

Dab some spit onto your finger and rub it onto the bite. Then blow. This will cool the bite an stop the itching.

Calamine lotion

Put calamine lotion on it, then put a band aid or tape over it.

Rubber band

Take a rubber band and give yourself a "spider bite", or put two fingers in the rubber band, put the fingers on either side of the bite, pull the rubber band back and snap it on the bite. This will numb the nerves so it doesn't itch.(Not permanently!)

Ink

Draw a circle around the bite with a ballpoint pen. Sounds crazy, but it works.

Remember

1. It will eventually stop itching.
2. Dry skin may make you itch more, so, applying some protection lotion could help too.
3. See your pharmacist, who can help offer advice on the use of antihistamine.

Warnings

1. Do not pick the heads off of the bites as they will get infected.
2. If you feel you must scratch, try patting or (if it really itches,) slapping the area nstead. Dermatologists will verify that patting or slapping stimulates the same nerves without damaging the skin.
3. Whatever you do, don't scratch or rub your bites. This will make the itching worse

Good luck!

CNGVGSDBEGAH

Mosquito Bites: how to prevent them

Have you been attacked by swarms of mosquitoes, while enjoying a magic sunset by a lake? If the answer is yes, then join the club...

I’ve found a big list of recommendations and home remedies for mosquito repellent suggestions. A few things to note first:

• You pretty much have to stop breathing to not attract the attention of a mosquito, a big attractor for them is the carbon dioxide from your breathing.
• It also seems mosquitoes are attracted by scents like perfumes, sweat, body odour as well as body heat. Unless you stop using shampoos, soaps, deodorants and detergents–it’s hard to be scent free.
• From what I understand, DEET has proven to be the most effective mosquito repellent. DEET is pretty crazy stuff though, so if you’d like to try less harsh solutions, there are plenty of tips below for you to give a shot.

Something to keep in mind: Since some people seem to be a mosquito magnet while others around them don’t get a single bite, I have the suspicion that there could be a personal body chemistry factor involved. And that could explain why a remedy that works for one person, may not work for another.

I suspect that’s why some people swear by the Bounce sheet method, or the Avon Skin So Soft solution, while others have a different experience. Bounce nor the Avon SSS did a thing for me btw, but I did include them in the list below. I know a few people who SWEAR by them.

Basics for Mosquito Bite Prevention

• Wear light coloured clothing, mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothes
• Keep your body covered as much as possible (including wearing a hat), although mosquitoes can find their way through the fabric–it does cut down on bites

Mosquito Bite Prevention Home Remedies & Tips

• Vanilla Extract: A few different recommendations for this one, each contradicting the other. Some say to dab Vanilla Extract on your pulse points, others say to rub it all over your skin & dab your clothes. Some say the cheap stuff is what you have to use, others say the real, pure Vanilla is the only thing that will work. Some say to apply it full strength, others say you can dilute it with water and spray it on. Play around with Vanilla to see what gives you best results–there are plenty of believers for this one as a mosquito deterrent so I think there’s something to it.
• Garlic: This isn’t a favourite thing to do day-to-day, but if you’re going camping or hiking through heavily mosquito infested areas, try a garlic powder and water paste. Apply to pulse points, behind knees, on shoes and ankles and a dab or two on your cheeks or somewhere on your face and neck. Remember–keep out of eyes. And maybe stay out of public places too ;) .
• Essential Oils: Mix choice of essential oils with rubbing alcohol, or witch hazel, or distilled water and spritz on body or directly on cloth to rub on body (shake before each use). Or add a few drops in baby oil or olive oil then rub on skin. You can also apply drops along a strip of fabric (cotton) and tie around wrist. Make sure to avoid mouth and eye areas when using essential oils.
• Citronella oil
• Lavender oil
• Catnip oil
• Eucalyptus oil
• Pennyroyal oil (seems to be strongly recommended)
• Tansy oil (seems to be strongly recommended)
• Basil oil
• Thyme oil
• Cedar oil
• Tea Tree oil
• Peppermint oil
• Lemon-grass oil

Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

Break off leaves and crush them roughly, rub them all over your clothes and skin. Toss the bruised leaves around the perimeter of your deck or patio. Also plant these in pots and arrange them around the patio. You could also infuse these in water and then use that as a spray.

• Citronella
• Lavender
• Basil
• Catnip
• Pennyroyal
• Tansy
• Marigolds

Commercial Products That Repel Mosquitoes

• Mygga (available at the Pharmacy)
• Djungelolja (available at the Pharmacy and Super Markets)
• Listerine (mixed 50/50 with household vinegar then sprayed all over body)
• Vicks VapoRub
• You can purchase citronella torches to stand in the ground or set on table tops

Household Hack

• Spray garlic powder and water all over the yard and bushes. Use a fertilizer hose attachment. Will need to be done bi-weekly (approx) or after a heavy rain.

Items to Eat Daily

Apparently the smell that comes out of your pores from a steady diet of the below deters mosquitoes. The items aren’t meant to be combined, they’re just different suggestions.

• Garlic
• B1 Vitamins
• Brewers Yeast
• Lemons

The next post will be about Mosquito Bite Itch Relief

Longest day of the year

Today it was the longest day of the year!
Sunrise 03:56
Sunset 22:15
This picture was taken without flash and only few minutes ago at 23:14.
The sun has set, but there is still plenty of light.
Midsummer is on the 26, but as per usual, all the festivities will take place on the eve.

Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland

Scientists warn that Eyjafjallajökull - the volcano in Iceland that caused quite some problems recently - will erupt soon again.

There are at least three web cameras in the area, and with a bit of luck, you can have a good look at the smoking volcano. Depending on the weather conditions, how busy the server is and the maintenance status of the cameras, it can take up to several minutes before you can actually see something.

Here are the links.

Camera in Thorolfsfelli
Camera in Hvolsvelli
Camera in Valahnjuk

(The photo has been taken from http://www.hotelskogar.is)