This morning our baby-Holmes experienced a rite of passage. He lifted his leg. He’s 8-1/2 months old and I had hoped all the “big boy” activities would wait a while longer, but it was not to be. His dad exhibited this big-boy behavior when he was 7-1/2 months old, so I should be grateful for the extra month. I think the top dog syndrome will be in effect as soon as I bring Chase home from Colorado Springs this weekend. I am so dreading the top dog face-off. Why can’t they stay little and sweet?
. . . Just as a p.s. — I am on a number of tracking lists. Fleas and ticks are always an issue in the fields. One of the trackers indicated she has used a mixture of a few drops of geranium oil (natural foods store) in distilled water as a spray to repel fleas and ticks. This morning, I sprayed the three that are at home. It is so clean and fresh smelling that I almost don’t care if it repels anything. . . . just thought I’d pass it along.
Watson’s been a leg-lifter for 3 months now. I think he got tired of Fig lifting his leg on HIM! They’re like two boys with water pistols. 😉
We were tracking on the ranch a few days ago, and ran into (literally) the first rattlesnake of the season. Scared the pants off me (thankfully, not literally). Poor Watson though, I grabbed him by his harness a ran holding him like a six-pack of beer.
I use a mixture of citronella oil, lemon grass, peppermint and eucalyptus(sp) in witch hazel. It dispurses the oils better then water and is good for the skin.
I use it on all the dogs when we go to teach 4-H classes as we have skeeters that can carry a small yorkie away. It works great, smells great and is much safer for humans and dogs then deet products.
Hi Cindy,
Could you please give me the recipe for your wonder spray? We’ve had an unseasonally wet spring, and the bugs are horrendous.
Can I find all the ingredients in a health food store?
Thank you,
Alden
Sure can! 1 bottle of witch hazel–should be enough to fill a nice sized sprayer bottle. To which I then put 15-20 drops of each oil in the spray bottle/witch hazel. Usually the lemon grass, citronella, peppermint and then a little of the eucalyptus. Also you can add in marigold if you can find it or lavender. Some even suggest rosemary. Shake well. Best to shake before each use.
I find all the oils either at our local health food store, food co-op or out in Iowa at the Health Market section of the grocery store, Hy-Vee.
Now if you want to use a smaller spray bottle, just pour out a TBLS or so of the witch hazel from it’s original bottle and mix there, then pouring into the sprayer of your choice.
FYI-the essential oils can loose power of time. Best to use mix in smaller quantities and keep in a dark cupboard. Also, many times I will go out and harvest from the herb garden, put springs in the witch hazel and let it sit in the sun-kind of like brewing your own sun tea aka bug begone tea!
Great topic…the natural sprays. I have used Skin-so-soft from Avon mixed with water and shaken well on the horses and donkey for years. Has a nice scent and helps the skin too…but can draw plenty of dust. Better for them to be bug free than spanking clean.
BTW Cindy … when you mention “bottle” of witch hazel…what size would that bottle be? Thanks!
I posted this on Cindy’s blog and will add it here too. Last year was a very bad year for bugs here and I had the dogs on Advantage. After we finally got rid of the bugs chemically, I have had the dogs on Bug Off Garlic from Springtime Inc. with great results. We are in a HIGH tick area and I only pulled 2 ticks off the dogs all spring!
http://www.springtimeinc.com/product/bug_off_garlic_d/dogs
I wish I had stock in the company!
I keep my dogs on Garlic/Brewer’s Yeast tablets year round because we are out tracking so much. We’ve not had a single tick — garlic is wonderful stuff even if you’re not Italian!
Penni
Thats a disgusting habit. Boys ar so yukky I gess thats wair the saying “Boy germs” kums from. that’s wy Mummy & Daddy got a gerl poodle hoo is me. We just go owtsyd & wee in pryvasy
I got a tick on my back once when we had been out the bush (forest) for a hike. I freaked out when my son spotted it as I took my shirt off after we got home… Yikes!!!