Beekeeping Tools

It is a must for every profession or craft to undergo serious training and to have tools within our hands. They make our work load easy, precise, accurate and on time. The same is true with apiculture or beekeeping. In fact, business-minded people are looking for beekeeping schools, wherein they could learn more to translate this beekeeping hobby to an income generating resource. Once, you enrolled you will definitely encounter the following beekeeping tools.

First, we need something that will pacify our insect friends during monitoring and harvesting the smoker. Basically, it looks like an airpot or a tall kettle with a small opening or inlet to let steam or smoke out.

Second, we need something that will help us lever up the frames in our Langstroth hives, the hive tool. This is made up to two parts: the wedge and the body (handle). It is used to detach stuck frames and remove propolis within the man-made hive.

Third, we also need brushes to gently push away the bees to check if the honey is ready to be harvested.

Fourth, when we see that the honey is ready to be collected we now use the uncapping fork. It appears to be a wide flat fork with several points or it is like a comb with a handle.

Finally, we need to have a hive stand; this will prolong the life span and freshness of honey. A few elevation from the ground will keep the hive ventilated and will prevent direct absorption of the earth's heat.

However, these are just some of the tools needed. You should consider clothing, venue, gardening to ensure the productivity of your apiculture investment.

Candidiasis and Yeast Free Diet

Candida Albicans are microscopic fungal organisms that resemble yeast-like properties which are naturally found in warm, moistened mucous membranes such as the mouth, vagina, and intestinal tract of able-bodied people. Factors that affect growth of candida are regular consumption of processed meat products that contain food preservatives, use of oral contraceptives, chronic use of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), unhygienic or multiple sexual practices, immune-compromised patients (having diabetes or AIDS), and stress, or any other causative factor that may weaken the body's defenses. However, an overproduction of such microorganisms may cause pathological diseases such as Candidiasis.

Candidiasis is an infection characterized by painful, inflamed, burning-like pruritus (itching) accompanied by white exudate (or cheese-like discharge), peeling, and easy bleeding on the affected site. Drug of choice for this type of disease could be benystatin or clotrimazole. For severe cases, amphotericin B or fluconazole may be given through oral, topical or anal drug administration.

In contrast, yeast free diets are used in conjunction with drug therapy to enhance treatment and prevent further spread of the harmful fungi. In other words, sticking to non-processed food varieties that includes all sorts of vegetables, refined vegetable oil, unprocessed seeds and nuts, eggs, whole grains, all kinds of beans, and uncured meat products. Likewise, yogurt can either be consumed orally or can be applied to affected areas to alleviate itch and burning sensation.

Nevertheless, certain dietary restrictions include foods that contain yeast - like plain and wheat breads, pastries, rolls and cookies. Moldy foods are also prohibited in this diet such as canned tomatoes, mushrooms, peanuts and pistachios, all forms of cheese, soy sauce, cured bacon and the like. Moreover, foods that contain sugar are also banned from this diet. Whereas, starchy food intake (corn and potatoes) may be limited to about 3-4 times a week the most.

Toddlers and Sleep: Waking at Night

Naturally, toddlers are seemingly hyperactive little creatures for they love to explore things around their environment. They are fond of mimicking adult tasks such as feeding and putting baby to sleep, serving tea, and cooking. However, children age 2-3 years tend to wake in the middle of the night when everyone falls in deep slumber.

One of the reasons why a child gets up after two hours of sleep in the evening is because of over-stimulation during the day. Kids go overboard and got overfatigued with nonstop tagging along with toys or other children; making it hard for them to fall asleep at night. Hence, here are some factors that might stimulate unnecessary waking at night and how to deal with them:

• A night lamp may help ease discomforts of the child's perception towards dark rooms and monsters. You may use lights with changing colors for it fosters relaxation and sleep. This will reassure the child that there is nothing scary with the dark.
• Change diapers before going to bed so as to avoid untimely waking up due to leaking diapers.
• Be sure to tuck your child with blankets to keep him warm throughout his sleep.
• When your baby wakes up at night, he may be thirsty or hungry. You can offer him water, cookies or milk (depending on the child's preferences) to help him go back to sleep afterwards. Most doctors would say that milk should not be given to children who get up at night for it would cause tooth decays. Drinking water after eating would best do the trick.
• Different noises may also cause sleep disturbance. When you opt to watch late shows on TV, be sure to keep the volume low to prevent your tots from getting up from sleep.
• Perform comforting activities that would help him calm through the night. You may read story books or sing nursery rhymes together, or teach him to count numbers until he falls asleep.

Settling baby to a Sound Sleep

Are you having a hard time putting your baby to sleep? If your answer is yes, then that's alright since infants do not have fixed sleeping pattern in the first three months after birth. That's because they still need to establish what is night and day but most of all it is frightening for them to be separated from us. And settling baby to a sound sleep is quite a daunting responsibility for new parents. So it is important for parents to understand about infants sleeping pattern.

It is now easy to find articles about infant sleep patterns and on getting baby to sleep. The cyberspace makes it handy for everyone but let me remind you one thing, there's a lot too that gives conflicting information and advice. And if that's the case then don't forget that the best advice that you can get is the mother's instinct. Mothers know better than anyone else for each baby is unique so it is best to find what works for your baby instead of trying to fit your baby to the pattern.

Here are some tips that may be of use to you:

Create a relaxing environment by making the room quiet and switch off the lights or you can use baby light. Also don't forget to make your baby's bed warm. Make sure your baby's clothing is not too warm and not too cold.

Establish a bedtime routine. Always change your baby into bedtime clothes; this will somehow give a signal for them that it's time to sleep. It's another way also of starting to establish their sleeping pattern.

Give your baby a warm bath. Warm bath is relaxing but again this may not be relaxing for others.

The techniques that I mentioned may not work for your baby but remember, babies simply need parental support and always follow your instinct.