Hoarfrost

A few weeks ago my husband and I were driving from the Minneapolis, Minnesota area to Rochester, Minnesota.  It was a beautiful morning and I was admiring the frost on the trees and commented about how breathtaking the countryside was.  My husband (who is king of useless information) said "Oh, you mean the hoarfrost."  I had never heard that term so I looked at him with my "special - what are you talking about" look, and he went on to explain to me what hoarfrost is.  I was still skeptical about whether he really knew what he was talking about or was just trying to pull one over on me until everyone we ran into in Minnesota commented on the hoarfrost. 

Each time someone would use the term "hoarfrost", my husband would just glance over at me and shrug his shoulders with HIS "special - see, I do know what I'm talking about" look, and we would kind of chuckle.  I did my own personal study and it seems that everyone in Minnesota knows what hoarfrost is but very few people in Illinois had ever heard of hoarfrost.  The only other person that I ran into in Illinois who knew the term hoarfrost is my son-in-law (who may know more useless information than my husband).

So, for those of you who have never heard of hoarfrost - here is the definition:  Frozen dew that forms a white coating on a suface.  It is one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see!

Proper Foot Care for Walkers and Runners

My husband and I were on a couple of long fitness walks this weekend and he was complaining of toenail problems. He has a tendancy toward ingrown toenails so I was surprised he hadn't been more careful. It reminded me of how important proper foot care is for walkers and runners.

Common foot ailments of walkers and runners:

Athlete’s Foot: A fungal skin disorder that causes dry and cracked skin between the toes, itching, inflammation and blisters. You can prevent and control it by regularly washing your feet and carefully drying between your toes. I also switch my running shoes every other day to allow them to thoroughly dry after a run. Check out the latest in socks made of synthetic material instead of cotton. And if problems do appear, apply over-the-counter ointments.

Toenail Problems: My husband gets ingrown nails and they can be very painful. They can cause inflammation and possible infection and are usually treated by cutting the corner of the nail with sterile clippers. Longer distance walkers and runners can get black toenails. This happens when a blood blister forms under the nail. The usual treatment is to just let the nail fall off by itself. Toenail fungus appears yellow, brown or black and sometimes are irregularly shaped and thick toenails. The best treatment is an oral anti-fungal medication.

Foot Odor: There are more than 250,000 sweat glands in the foot and as much as one pint of perspiration can develop on each foot. Daily hygiene along with regular changing of shoes and socks are best for controlling sweat and odor. Avoid wearing cotton socks and walking or running without socks. Try foot powders, aerosol antiperspirants and vinegar soaks.

Blisters, corns and calluses: One of the more common foot injuries. The best treatment is prevention but sometimes they're unavoidable. The most important treatment is to reduce friction and look for the cause. Look for friction from shoe stitching, crumpled socks or improper shoe fit. Never pop blisters unless they are larger than a quarter or are painful or swollen. Any blister that has redness, streaking or pus may be infected and you should see your doctor immediately.