For several days my arms were red and quite itchy. In all fairness, David did comment on them and asked if he should find some lotion for me. I slapped some aloe gel on the irritated spots and tried to ignore them. It was at church that a mother-like comment was made by a person who grew up in Brooklyn, of all places. Neil asked, “Is that poison ivy?”
Bingo! Why didn’t I think of that? I know why. Beth pointed out several poison ivy plants, and I stayed far away from them. There must have been others that I didn’t see. The internet suggested making a paste of equal parts baking soda and water to apply to the affected areas. My arms now look like a clown face with stark white makeup. Whether white or red, my arms could be the laughing stock of any gathering. Thank you, Mother Neil, for a correct diagnosis.
I didn’t take a photo of David while we ate lunch, so I got down on the floor for a selfie as he half-reclined in a chair.
Mehrling Muse 
Poison Ivy can be sneaky. We all need motherly advice now and then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poison ivy came to mind as I started to read this. Hope your homemade remedy is working. There is always calamine lotion if you need it.
LikeLike
I’ll bet diligent daughter Lise checked all our medications and threw out older ones. Surely there was calamine lotion in the lot. Old or not, I would have used it. I’m applying baking soda when I get itchy. Not sure it helps, but I get busy and forget about the itching.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s how it is here. Some meds you only use after it expires. I would use it too because how bad can calamine lotion get? Good luck with your rash.
LikeLike
I’m itching to get rid of this rash.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can’t believe you said that! 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vinegar helps fight the itch, too. Sorry you are dealing with that, but glad it’s diagnosed. Love those lovely smiles!
LikeLike
I shall try vinegar next.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your smiles are contagious. Every time I see you doing so, it makes me smile. Hope your itching is better soon. I have to be careful here–poison ivy is every where!
LikeLike
Evidently poison ivy is lurking everywhere here, too. I haven’t had this since we left Long Island 8 years ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
All kinds of stuff taking over the planet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anne, I don’t know how/why I missed the last posts from you. I am all caught up now and must ay your brother is a winner and a keeper.
LikeLike
Daughter Lise showed some of her friends videos I had taken of brother Bob. They couldn’t believe he is 82. He gets up off the floor better than I do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve found you can put everything on the rash but basically there isn’t anything to get rid of it, just minimize the itching.
LikeLike
I’m ready for the rash to go away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ughhh I HATE poison ivy. The itch is absolutely awful. Praying hard for you. There’s a plant named Jewel that you can grow which is a fast poison ivy remedy. My husband and I blend the leaves into a paste and store it in the freezer.
LikeLike
We have lots of Jewel along the road in our neighborhood. Do you add water to the leaves before blending? I just woke up to scratch, and I’m going back to bed.
LikeLike
I think you do add some water. It probably won’t cure you at this stage however it should soothe it and speed up the healing process
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice blog head , “I Need a Mother! Hoop your itching is better soon. Be careful! Nice smile with son.
LikeLike
The itch is still there! Ugh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A cool compress for about 15 minutes to the itchiest area may help relieve some of the itching. It gave me a little relief when I battled some on my lower arms about two years ago. The good news is … the rash is not here to stay and will go away! 😊
LikeLike
Thanks for the cool compress idea. I will try that .
LikeLike
Oh I hope it gets better soon. I never had poison ivy but the very thought of it makes me itch
LikeLike
I’ve had poison ivy several times, none of them overly pleasant. Hope it will go away soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m quite late replying to comments. How is your poison ivy now?
LikeLike
The rash still itches at night. I’m ready to be rid of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s some advice from a poison-ivy expert…me. I have had it to various stages most of my life. The best thing to do is wash off the residue from the plant immediately with strong soap and water. Once a rash that is more than a bit of an annoyance appears, go to the doctor…or ask a pharmacist who has had poison ivy themself. Some people are allergic to it and need professional medical care. My oldest son when he was about 16 reported frantically that he had poison ivy “everywhere.” We got him in to the family doctor, who started him on medical treatment including some kind of shot.
I will not give specific “do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do” tactics for fear of wrath from the medics.
Burt’s Bees makes a great poison ivy soap. IF it itches don’t scratch it… but if you do… rinse the poison (from the little postules or blisters) off with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide helps greatly.
The good news: whatever one does or doesn’t do, the poison ivy infection clears up in 10 days.
LikeLike
Poison ivy must be kin to the common cold, because both can’t be cured and will eventually go away.
LikeLike
The worst case of poison ivy I ever had was when my oldest daughter was about a year old. My arms and legs were covered, and very painful. I was so afraid the baby would get it, but she didn’t, or at least she just had maybe five postules on her stomach.
My late husband never got poison ivy, which is remarkable in that he farmed at least eight acres and the toxic weed is rampant. Had he known that he was apparently immune he could have pulled it out. The maple trees along the road have it, but they are in the right-of-way, so the city will have to handle it if and when necessary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am out of the Covid lock-box at the hospital, and with the new stent I feel like a new woman.
LikeLike
That is tremendous!! I’m so happy for you. What a boost! I’m celebrating with you.
LikeLike
I’m glad they discovered the blockage before it did any serious damage.
LikeLike
Yes, indeed! It’s good when medical problems are caught early.
LikeLike
I hate poison ivy, but it doesn’t show in that cute picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch! Hope you are done itching soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then I’ll be up to scratch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣
LikeLike
If you want to clear up your poison ivy, buy some Tecnu. It is amazing. It removes the oils that cause the itching and clears up the rash. We had to buy some for Bruce earlier this summer.
LikeLike
I’ll have to look for that next time. Thanks for the tip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You and David both look relaxed and happy. Sad to hear about your poison ivy rash! How long did it take to clear up? That baking soda sure is a big help, eh?
LikeLike
I still have the rash, but it isn’t as itchy as it was at first. I read that it could take ten days to clear up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so far behind here at Reader that the poison ivy is likely over with and just a memory now (hopefully).
LikeLike
I’m still wearing calamine pink. A few days ago I spotted some poison ivy leaves and zapped them from a distance. Still don’t know where I came in contact with the awful stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do remember calamine lotion through the years, though I’ve never gotten poison ivy, probably just bad mosquito bites. That stuff dries and it’s difficult to scrub off unless they have changed the formula.
LikeLike
As far as I can tell, nothing had changed about calamine lotion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no….that pi is worse than math.
LikeLiked by 1 person