I’ve been noticing a lot of Christmas tree allergy questions coming up on social media in the last few weeks. For people with chemical allergies, the winter holidays aren’t just a time of celebration – they’re also a time of avoiding cinnamon-scented products, scented candles, holiday shopping crowds, and even Christmas trees. I found myself […]
I’ve been trying to figure out how to write this. I don’t want to upset or offend anyone, but I myself was upset and offended, so it’s hard to explain without some of that coming through. My trip to western Canada was enjoyable, but it also had some ugly sides, particularly when it came to […]
I’ve encountered a certain subset of people over the years – people who have allergies or who might have allergies and don’t care. I’ve seen family members, friends, acquaintances, and strangers who seem almost apathetic of their allergies or possible allergies. As someone who suffers from rather severe but atypical allergies, it’s a bit disconcerting. […]
My grandfather is ill and dying, and I sit here, at home, writing. I sit because I’ve been searching in despair for three days for some kind of vehicle that might help me travel 10,000 km, across mountains and plains, forests and straits, and not have my skin peel off or my throat close up. […]
Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. It’s been a very stressful week. Back before Christmas, my husband received a very casual offer of job seven hours’ drive from our current location. It was an area that we wanted to move to, but the offer was for an entry-level position and my husband is […]
I have been spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to adjust my clothing use and my wardrobe to reduce my allergic reactions. My daughter and husband can still wear polyester, even though my propylene glycol allergy means that polyester and possibly spandex are off the table for me. More than half […]
We’ve all seen the antibacterial designation on hand and dish soaps. You may even have seen the same on packages of shower curtain liners or athletic wear. But what does this mean? To the company who produced the product, it means that antimicrobial agents have been impregnated into the fibres or substance of the product […]
Last week, with my revelations that I was likely reacting to polyester and spandex, my short-term sewing list expanded. I went from having a week and a half to sew a coat, tunic, and veil to also having to sew pants and shirts to replace the polyester- and spandex-laden Under Armor shirts and yoga pants […]
I’ve been thinking lately about hard water. Some people may think we must have a water softener if we have a water filter, but no, when we purchased the water filter, chlorine removal was on our minds, not hardness. I’ve never really had to think about hard water. Since detergents work so well in both […]
My daughter is gifted and sensitive. I don’t say this be be elitist, because frankly it’s usually far from a walk in the park. I think most of the world sees being gifted as doing well in school, learning quickly, and being easy to deal with. The dictionary defines “gifted” as “having exceptional talent or […]
When I visited California, I spent a great deal of time with people learning about natural dyes. One of the most interesting and challenging types of dyeing involved the use of fungus or lichens to dye fabric. Lichen is a delicate symbiosis of fungus and algae, which requires moisture, sunlight, and good air to grow. […]
Our daughter has allergies. Not ones like mine, where she has to be wary of anyone she touches or spends time near, but furry pets give her eczema. And we have a cat. A fuzzy, meowing, ball of allergies. Our cat is adorable. He loves people, loves attention, and even comes when he’s called. Our […]
← Having House Guests Who Don’t Have Allergies, Part 1 My husband’s parents have now arrived and we’re about halfway through their visit. Although things were a bit uncertain at first, they seem now to understand the adjustments that need to be made to their regular routine. I’m sure it hasn’t been easy for them, […]
My in-laws arrive this week from halfway across the country. They know about my allergies, but I don’t think they realize yet how much little things affect me. Nonetheless, they really are trying to make as little impact on my health as possible, a fact I wholeheartedly appreciate. Having guests in our house has been […]
When you find out you have allergies, making a few life changes is not so much an option as a necessity. When you have reactions so bad that they affect how you think and act every moment of the day, you’re almost excited to make changes and relieve the discomfort. The problem is, your family […]