Grubs!

(Cathy) Grubs. With the ban on pesticides, (with which I have no issues with) Hubby and I have noticed that most lawns this past summer took a beating. The lawns were eaten up and patchy with shallow roots. The lawn was very easy to pick up in pieces. Grubs! The grub population has soared with the ban on pesticides. As with any time there is a change to the ecosystem, good or bad, there is a consequence. As the saying goes, "time heals". If we just left well enough alone the ecosystem would balance itself out. Of course there are good years and bad, especially with the changing weather patterns. So, back to the grubs, what to do?
Nematodes:

Web definitions:

(nematode) unsegmented worms with elongated rounded body pointed at both ends; mostly free-living but some are parasitic. wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

 In very plain speak, the nematodes attack the grubs, feed on them and use them thereby reducing their numbers. The idea is to spread them on your lawn in cool weather, so in the early spring or fall. They need to be kept well watered and with luck there should be a reduction in your grub population.

Off to the garden centre Hubby went and spent about thirty dollars for a pack of "live" nematodes. The package comes with a wet sponge that has been infused with one million nematodes. Nematodes are microscopic. The directions call for us to soak the sponge in a bucket of water to release the nematodes. That very "clear" water is then applied with a pump sprayer onto the lawn. I tried using a magnifying glass to see if any nematodes (according to package directions) were left behind in the sponge. I couldn't see a thing! 
Hubby and I were laughing that this entire affair was like the emperor's new clothes!

Hubby applied the nematodes to our lawn a few weeks ago and he says he has already noticed a decline in the number of grubs per square foot of lawn. Let's hope the lawn does better next year.

Now, what do we do with an infestation of nematodes?

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Cathy) 


Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We all have a lot to be thankful for. Blessings on one and all!

Keeping in Touch - A New Normal

(Cathy) It's been a long time since we group blogged. I know we use our blog to keep in touch and the nice thing about this past summer is we kept in touch, in person! It was great to get together a few more times than normal this past summer. There has been a lot of change, both good and bad this past year. I hope in the next few weeks to catch you all up. I have news regarding my arm, Hubby's heart, the Older One off to University and the Younger One, so far, still with the Girlfriend. Our dog is great! Barks a lot, though!

I went to my family doctor this week who agreed with the specialist regarding my diagnosis of RSD. He has me off of work until March/2013! I just have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it is very possible that I might not ever be able to go back to work. I am too young for this and I intend to do whatever I can to get back. My cousin Chris's wife Sally posted on my facebook page that now is a time for me to find a "new normal". I have decided that that is now my mantra. Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself, or useless, I remember what Sally told me. It's amazing that sometimes it's something as simple as Sally's comment to me that gives me the strength to get up off of the couch and get stuff done. 

This week I have purchased a Presto Card for use on the transit system. I have also purchased a pull buggy so I can walk to the grocery store or mall to shop. My legs still work so I will use them and hopefully lose some weight in the process!

Small steps, big gain!

Cymbalta Withdrawal - Cold Turkey!

(Cathy) DON'T DO IT! 

Last week was a blur for me. It started with my appointment with the specialist who confirmed that I did have Reflex Sympathetic Syndrome. I was really not prepared to be told that I was still unable to go to work and I now have to take a "Fit to Drive" test to see if I can keep my driver's license. I was happy that my specialist told me that I could stop taking the Cymbalta cold turkey. If the pain came back in a rush I could start it again. As it did not help the pain I had no desire to keep taking it. 

Early the next morning my dad took Hubby and I to the hospital as Hubby had an appointment for a procedure. (that's a post for another day) We arrived at the hospital by six o'clock in the morning. By the time Hubby was discharged at about two o'clock in the afternoon I was starting to feel a little off centre and not sure if I was hungry or nauseous. We came home and I looked after Hubby all the while feeling like I needed someone to take care of me! Needless to say we went to bed early. I felt like I did not sleep a wink. I always dream, but these "dreams" where nothing like I have ever experienced. Strange and bizarre and surreal and made me feel sick. When I woke in the morning I thought... I cannot explain how I felt. Everything hurt, I was starved but felt like I was going to throw up. My eyes hurt to keep them open and also to keep them shut so I squinted. The worst was my head! I felt like there was someone inside stomping around and constantly ringing jingling bells. My brain felt like it was melting and oozing through my ears! I could not stay upright. I felt like hell but I had to look after Hubby. I just thought I was sick with the flu or something.

Hubby wondered if I was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. We googled: Cymbalta withdrawal, cold turkey, and a plethora of information came up:

http://www.cymbaltawithdrawal.com/topic/3498-went-cold-turkey/

 Yes, I was experiencing withdrawal. One person wrote that every time they moved their head it felt like it was zapped with electricity! We could not get a hold of our doctor so we called our pharmacist who was quite surprised that at my dose of 60mg/day I was told to stop cold turkey. Cymbalta plays with your neurotransmitters so it was no wonder my head felt the way it did. Needless to say, I started taking it again and I have an appointment with my doctor to work out a schedule of withdrawal. 

Never did I ever feel like I did and I hope that this post and all of the information available on the Internet will help other people avoid going through what I went through.

Cathy