How Do You Take Yours?

Someone stopped by the farm last evening, a neighbor’s cousin from out of town. We were all standing around chatting and he asked if we had visited some local attraction. And I said, “All we’ve done is work since we moved to this farm, but one day!” And he said something that went right through me and stuck to my heart and brain.

“I’ll let you in on a secret,” he leaned in to me. Then he said, “On a farm, the work is never done.”

I think he is right. When I consider everything we’ve got to do, REALLY CONSIDER IT, I realize that we’re in for the long haul. We’ll be working on it a very long time, maybe forever.

So if we wait until the work is done to have a little fun, to site-see locally, to go to festivals and cook-outs, to socialize, well, we’ll never go. Because I think that fella hit the nail on the head, the work is never done here. Ever. It’s different from an office job where you can be done for the day, go home, and leave it at the office. Here, you make a glass of iced tea and then gaze out your window and say, hey, I forgot to weed-eat that area by the maple tree and then you head out to do just that. No rest for the stewards of a farm. We are, as they say it around here “tared.” (tired)

“We start to realize that there are anodynes in life that help us through the day…..a good BUBBLE BATH……helps us solve all this stuff in our head.” Al Pacino

IKR. It not only helps us solve this stuff in our heads, but soothes our aching muscles, uplifts our sagging spirits. A bath can help the body, mind and soul. Straighten out all the knots there.

(The knots of wild grapevines growing on my fence.)

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Have you discovered the healing of a bath? If so, how do you take yours? Lots of bubbles? Oil? Fizzles?

Take your bath up a notch and make it work even harder and better- pour in the Epsom Salt! A Chinese medical doctor told me about soaking in Epsom Salts years ago. It’s good for what ails ya. (Of course, the Chinese doctor didn’t put it quite like that.)

Epsom Salts are different than traditional salts in that it is a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. These minerals have very powerful health benefits that can enhance the detoxification capabilities of the body. See, think about it. When you pour it into your bath, your body is absorbing it through all your pores. So here’s what it can do when you absorb it.

Epsom Salts can reduce your stress. Here’s how. Stress drains your body of magnesium and increases the evels of adrenaline. When Epsom Salt is dissolved in warm water, and your skin absorbs it, it replenishes magnesium in your body. Magnesium, as you might already know, helps produce serotonin. Serotonin is a good thing: it is a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. Calm and relaxation!

Research shows that magnesium also increases energy and stamina by encouraging the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) — the energy packets made in the cells.

Also, magnesium helps to improve muscle and nerve function, reduces inflammation, and improves blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body. Sulfates are necessary building blocks for healthy joints, skin and nervous tissue.

Now, don’t add bubble bath or soap to your Epsom Salt bath; they will interfere with what the Epsom Salt is doing. Instead, if you want to add some moisturizing, add olive oil or baby oil to the bath. 2 cups Epsom Salt, 1/2 cup oil.

(now, I read that people with high blood pressure or heart problems should talk to their doctor before adding Epsom Salt baths to their routine.)

What else? Well, an Epsom salt bath is known to ease pain and relieve inflammation, making it beneficial in the treatment of sore muscles, bronchial asthma and migraine headaches.

Studies have also shown that Epsom salt can help regulate electrolytes in your body, ensuring proper functioning of the muscles, nerves and enzymes. Magnesium is also known to be critical in the proper use of calcium, which serves as a main conductor of the electric impulses in your body.

Epsom salt is believed to improve heart health and help prevent heart disease and strokes by improving blood circulation, protecting the elasticity of arteries, preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of sudden heart attack deaths.

And you know what? Proper magnesium and sulfate levels increase the effectiveness of insulin in the body, which help to lower the risk or severity of diabetes.

So, with all that, you should soak in an Epsom Salts bath. I have been doing it since that Chinese medical doctor advised me to years ago.

Recently, however, my Epsom Salt bath hasn’t been very relaxing.

I have taken a bath with ticks. I think the salt must make them let go and fall off. Totally gross.

And then the other night, I’m soaking and see something swimming around. Upon further observation, I see a large black spider in the bath with me. That was SO not relaxing.

And then last night, when I pulled back the shower curtain to turn on the water, I saw a little mouse in the tub. I went to pick him up and take him outside and he ran down into the drain.

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Where was he going? Where does that drain lead? And how did he get there? And WHO else can find its way into my bath tub through that drain? Sssssssss? Oh lordy.

Maybe the mouse moved in because we are basically cat-less here. About a month ago, our sweet 17-year old kitty, Gracie, crossed the rainbow bridge and broke our hearts. She had been sick for several months and had retired from mouse-chasing.

And then this moved in. This tiny pile of fluffy preciousness. My daughter named her AnnaBelle. I don’t know how promising she is for a mouser. She’s very lazy. And spoiled.

Until next time, Friends, savor the flavor of life!

Lots of love, Rebekah, The City Farmgirl in the Country

  1. Sandy says:

    Wasn’t expecting this to turn into a how to on a relaxing bath. I enjoyed the story and will try the bath MINUS CRITTERS. Thanks

  2. Cynthia says:

    Oh Rebekah! Remember it’s life’s journey ,not obtaining perfection to the ulitmate end.We are never truly content until everything is in order, so we continually strive. But then we lose those special times of pure simple enjoyment.The farm is your little peace of heaven on this earth don’t make it a “QUEST”. Kudos to you- a tick, a spider eewwww and a mouse, yikes, I guess these will make a true farm girl out of you!
    Thanks for making me smile…

  3. Reba says:

    I believe the work on the farm can best be described like the ride on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle: “It’s not the destination but the journey.” Enjoy the journey on your new farm!! And part of that is listening and learning from the locals…which you really do well!!! I really enjoy reading about your “journey.” Thank you for sharing.

  4. Janice K. says:

    Feeling stress and anxiety seems to be a normal part of my life. My husband and I went to a vintage travel trailer rally in Roslyn, WA, last weekend (Anyone remember Northern Exposure? I even met the young couple that live in ‘Maggie’s house’!). We huffed and puffed and cleaned and watered and did everything that it takes to get ready to go. Our 1978 Ford pickup had to have some last minute repairs. We were leaving with a truck that might have some problems!?!?!? Sheesh.
    We got to the rally with NO problems, and had a super wonderful time. There’s something about hanging around like-minded folks…Moral of the story is that we came back with a renewed sense of purpose and smiles (large!) on our faces…

    Love an Epsom salt bath! I even soak my arthritic hands and feet in it if I don’t have time for the entire bath. There I’ll be on my garden patio, sitting there with my feet tucked into a basin after a hard afternoon of weeding! Nap time…

    Chances are your little mouse friend fell into your tub and didn’t come up the drain. Set some of those ‘humane’ traps in your bath room, just in case he has a family…The spiders are drawn there because of the moist and cool environment…

    • Lisa B. says:

      Janice you’ve given me a brainstorm with the epsom soak in a basin outside after gardening while enjoying looking at our hardwork! You see there are 6 of us and one, yes one tub/shower. Now I can shush off the kids while I repose with my no fuss, no muss epsom soak outside accompanied by a nice Kombucha and let them form a line outside the WC! Growing up in a big condo in a concrete jungle did a disservice to me…the learning curve of living in a small 1950’s house has been insane but I wouldn’t go back…maybe one day I’ll be fit to return to the farmlife my mom left behind…I wish I had her green thumb! great comment! Many Thanks, Lisa

  5. Meredith says:

    AnnaBelle is too sweet for her own good! My sister had a small frog crawl out of her sink drain in SC-I have never had this happen myself, but it would freak me out if it did! Try to take some time off from the to-do list this summer and visit your area- the work isn’t going anywhere!

  6. SherriBerri says:

    perfect time for me, We took time out to go to a festival this past weekend and a tractor show and i was feeling a bit guilty….but we got the fencing up we wanted to and got the chickens outside where they belong. Thanks for posting

  7. Nancy Couden says:

    I agree with the magnesium importance in our diet. We recently received a book entitled “Magnificent Magnesium” by Dennis Goodman, MD. Heard about this watching “Your Health” with Dr. Richard and Cindy Becker. Like the cover says it is the vital mineral that helps avoid heart attacks, lowers blood pressure, stops painful muscle cramps, relieves nagging insomnia and increases calcium absorption.

  8. Marge Hofknecht says:

    I love a tub bath! And I had two just last week, one night and then the other! I will try the epsom salts bath. Even though I don’t work on a farm, I work taking care of developmentally disabled women and often have to engage in some physical activity with them like lifting and transferring and supporting and so on. Lots of muscles get a daily workout and I often feel like I’m needing a good soaking bath. I usually add bubble bath but I’m going to try the epsom salts and olive oil idea. I usually read while I soak — the two activities seem to be made for each other in my case. While my body soaks, my mind really gets into my book and I enjoy it more. Thanks for article.

  9. Virginia says:

    I love tub baths – I have a jetted one, but haven’t been able to use it for the last year or so because I simply haven’t had the strength to get out. It is funny but scary to be stuck in the tub. The first time my husband and I were home alone. Both of us more
    or less handicapped, but we finally got me out. When I told my youngest daughter what had happened, she said, “Let’s practice! You get into the empty tub with your clothes on and we will figure out how to get you out”. I told her that wasn’t going to
    happen! Now my arms are stronger and I got a full length anti-slip mat for the tub, and some day when someone strong is here I will try it again. In the meantime I love the
    handicap shower my husband had built for me. Just step in, nice seat to sit on while I use the hand held shower. Still not as relaxing as my tub! I was glad to hear about the Epsom salt – we have used it in the past to soak a sprain or just overworked muscles.

  10. Cindy Tomisich says:

    Love Epsom Salt baths…healing for body, mind and soul. I love to add some essential oils to mine. A little lavender, some peace & calming, some ylang ylang. The list could go on for a while. A great space to pray and make a list of all that I am grateful for. Now the occupants in your tub….NO WAY! I know there is an essential oil that would keep away some of the bugs. Worth checking it out in your case. We only have one life, so live it well… Love following your blog.

  11. Carol in NC says:

    I buy Epsom salts two buckets at a time at Sam’s and use two cups of Epsom salts and one half cup of baking soda. The only problem is that now we are on city water and also soaking in all that chlorine and floride. I’m not sure how to remedy that. I’ve heard that adding bentonite clay can help with the chlorine but I’m lazy like AnnaBelle and hate even the thought of cleaning a tub full of silty clay!

  12. Nan Roberts says:

    My dad’s family is from Kansas. Dad said that his mom used to say, “Ah’m tahred: T-I-X-R-D.” Anybody ever heard that? Don’t know where that spelling came from, but I say to myself now when tahred enough.

    Thanks for info re Epsom Salts. I’ll try it this very night.
    Love that darling kitty.

  13. Denise says:

    I remember my husbands Pop telling us about Epsom salts, I’d forgotten about most of it until this post. It gigged my brain. I think I would’ve screamed the place down having all those creatures sharing my bath. Ugh !!
    You have inspired me to begin taking a bath now, I’m more of a shower girl, it’s faster and time is of the essence blah blah blah :). Even though I’m a town girl I can sympathize with the work is never done. Every time I sit for a cuppa or at the end of the day I look around and see other things that need doing, but I’ve chosen the concept of “Rome wasn’t built in a day” this year otherwise I’d never stop.
    Savouring the flavor of life
    Enjoy life

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