Friday, July 1, 2011

Don't Try This at Home!

Please, come on up and join me on my front porch. 
I have a story to tell you. 




It's a story that taught me some lessons.

See this beautiful, innocent jalapeno pepper? 
 If you look closely you will see what looks like dew drops on it.  But really? They're tears.



The tears are for what its brothers and sisters did to poor me this week.  Being so proud of the bounty from my little square-foot-garden, I gathered up all the full-grown pepper pods from my two plants and carried them into my kitchen where  I washed them, cut them open, took out the seeds and membranes, then chopped them into tiny pieces for the freezer.

A little voice in the back of my head said, "Sherry, when you were a little girl, didn't your mother have a bad encounter with a sink full of peppers?"  Searching back through my memories, I remember coming into our house one summer day and finding Mama fanning her hands around and groaning because they were burning so bad after having them submerged in a sink full of peppers and water most of the morning.

"Oh yes," I said to the little voice, "but she had them in a sink full of water and mine aren't in water, and anyway it won't happen to me.  Besides, I cut them up all the time with almost no burning." 

And back to work I went. After chopping all the peppers up and putting them in a freezer bag, I washed my hands.   
That's when the trouble began!  Such intense burning!
I sluffed it off, put my bag of peppers in the freezer and fixed a sandwich for my lunch.  But wait!  Now my face is burning!  My lips are on fire and I haven't even touched them!  I did, however, touch the sandwich that touched my lips.

I'm thinking I may have a real problem now, so what do I do?  I Google it!  I found much advice, and was comforted (just a little) to know that I am one among many sillys that have cut up peppers without heeding the warning to WEAR GLOVES. 

I found one very entertaining blog post with almost 300 comments full of advice. I tried MANY of them: rinsed my hands in alcohol, rubbed them with a baking soda paste (this helped my burning lips but not my hands), slathered them with calamine lotion, washed them with very HOT water and dish soap (TORTURE!), rubbed them on stainless steel, rinsed them in lemon juice, soaked them in milk, rubbed them with aloe gel, and poured witch hazel over them (my own idea). I drew the line at peeing on them~yes, one of the commenters on the blog was adamant that it would help, but I never found out. 

Nothing I tried helped. Finally giving up on the treatments, I just laid my hands on an ice pack for rest of the day to wait it out.  In fact, I melted down several ice packs we had stashed in our freezer. 
Sweet hubby cooked supper for the family while I groaned. 

Oh, and did I mention, our air conditioner had quit and had been out for two days when this happened?  The Alabama heat and a sweltering house didn't help cool my hands any.

I was afraid that I would be up all night cradling my ice pack.  This burning lasted about twelve hours, then it slowly subsided. So sweet!  Finally, I was able to fall into a peaceful sleep, with an ice pack on my nightstand ~ just in case.

At least I learned some lessons from my pepper encounter:
  • Listen to others' advice to wear gloves when chopping up even ONE hot pepper.
  • Never think, "It won't happen to me."
  • Listen to that little voice in the back of my mind.  God put it there for a reason. 
  • Appreciate any day without pain!
Thank you for sticking with me through this story. 

Now, with a little help from my plants, I want to wish you all a very happy

Red, White, and




Blue Independence Day weekend,


our blueberry plants


with a big splash of Pink thrown in for my Pink Saturday friends!



Enjoy!

~Sherry~







34 comments:

  1. I feel your pain Sherry! Been there, done that! I like to can hot pepper relish... ouch! Glad you're feeling better-Happy July 4th Weekend:@)

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  2. My husband did that once. He went to store in the middle of the night and got a bunch of different soaps to try and help and nothing did.

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  3. I'm so glad you posted this. I have peppers growing and now I know to have my hubby cut them. Yes with gloves on. Blessings, DE

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  4. Oh, Sherry! Enjoyed the story on your inviting porch so very much! I never knew that about hot peppers - but, since i don't partake of them as a rule, I would never expect to have such an encounter. But, good stuff to know. I remember having this type of a problem eating shrimp with Old Bay and getting it in my eyes and YOW! That was nasty!
    Visit me over at The Writer's Reverie! Happy 4th with your beautiful family!
    Joy!
    Miss Kathy

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  5. So sorry for your pain, but I will take your advise. I have cut peppers up with no trouble, but I agree with you, why take that chance. Thx for sharing. I hope you & yours have a happy & safe holiday.

    HPS

    LL

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  6. This is terrible, I feel awful for you. Thanks for sharing this info, maybe you'll prevent others from going through this. Happy Pink..........

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  7. Oh my word - you must have been ready to scream! What a fiasco. I've never done it and thanks to you won't try it without gloves.

    Enjoy your 4th!
    Leann

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  8. What a great story. I was glad to visit you.Happy pink Saturday

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  9. Ow! I did that once too and it burned for days. I wish that I could remember what someone told me to do - honestly, I think that they brought grease over or something to put on my hands. It was something "special". Yes, I now know to handle them differently and to listen to "the Voice".
    Happy Pink Saturday and Happy 4th of July!

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  10. Ah, Sherry, what an ordeal for you! I will remember to wear gloves if I ever cut up peppers. Thank you for your visit and a Happy Pink Saturday and Fourth of July weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  11. What a terrible ordeal you went through. Good thing you did not rub your eyes, or you would really have had fit.

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  12. Oh how awful! You poor thing! I love peppers in a sauce but I'm glad I buy them instead of making them. And thanks for the good warning! Have a cooler and happy holiday weekend. :)

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  13. Good advise...but I am safe...I am extremely wimpy when it comes to hot peppers and use of. I don't grow nor buy hot peppers because I am wimpy....LOL... :-)
    Have a pinkishly beautiful Independence Day weekend

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  14. Pretty photos. How lucky you are to have fresh blueberries at your home. happy 4th of july.

    Danielle

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  15. Glad to hear in the end all is well. Yes I too always learn lifes lesson the hard way.
    HPS
    Michelle

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  16. Happy Pink Saturday Sherry Sweetie...
    Oh my goodness sweetie, I have never heard of this before. Of course I have never cut up that many peppers either. Oh dear me, I could just feel the pain for you. OWWWWW. I am so happy to hear that this situation has passed and next time you will be wearing some gloves to protect yourself.

    Thank you sweetie for the beautiful red, white, blue and pink share today. I so enjoyed myself. I love your porch photo as well. Could come right on up, sit down for a spell, and swap stories and shares, along with a Mason jar of ice tea. Thank you sweet friend for sharing. I love stopping by to say hello. Have a gorgeous Pink Saturday and a Happy 4th of July. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

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  17. I know this is not in any way funny, but reading all of those remedies you were trying almost sounded like an episode of I Love Lucy! I've never heard of this happening, and in fact I used to make our guacamole from scratch, and it never happened to me. But after reading this, I'm not taking any chances, and I'll continue using guacamole mixes!
    Happy 4th of July Weekend!
    Carol

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  18. Oh Sherry, I am crying for you sweetie. I learned a long time ago from watching hours of Food Network that you have to wear gloves. If not for that, I would have done the same thing. Always listen to the little angel on your shoulder, now you know. ha
    I did enjoy your story, and I am sorry for your tears.
    I hope you have a wonderful 4th, Char

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  19. LOL...You're not alone! I love making homemade salsa. Years ago, when I first learned how, I chopped all the jalapenos (sans gloves) LUCKILY my hands felt just fine, however, when I wiped my eye (much later that evening) I "cried" for days. My poor eye just keep tearing! Yes, I keep a box of gloves in my kitchen at all times.
    Wags, Niki

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  20. Oh, how awful for you. I have never chopped hot peppers but if I do I'll listen to your advice. Your list of remedies cracked me up. I am sorry you had to suffer so much.

    Hugs, Jeanne

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  21. Oh my goodness, that sounds so painful! I had no idea that ones hands could hurt from cutting up peppers.

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  22. Oh, Sherry! I am so sorry you had to suffer through this ordeal. I appreciate your advice and think it applies to many areas of life. Very amuzing to read the remedies! Thanks for sharing this story with us! Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend! Twyla

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  23. Ooooooo....What misery!!! Not only having to endure the pepper pain, but even worse.....no A/C!!! You poor girl!!! Now I know why I don't mess with hot peppers! ;)

    I hope you have a wonderful Independence Day....without any pepper re-occurrences! :) HPS!!

    dana

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  24. Goodness me! I dont think we have anything like that in the North East of Scotland. I am trying to grow chilli peppers am just about to pot them on, but am now looking a them with a jaundiced eye!

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  25. I can relate a little. Once I was eating in a cafeteria with my family. After eating a jalapeno, I rubbed my eye! That's all it took. I nearly ran to the ladies room where I spent the rest of my cafeteria visit soaking my eye with water. Happy July 4th!

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  26. I found you through Pink Saturday. I had this same problem once before with hot peppers. None of the advice really seemed to work for me, so I also resorted to ice and complaining. The pictures of your blueberry plants are just gorgeous, by the way. -Lola at Dharma Killed Dogma Buddhist Blog

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  27. Ouch - that's a painful story. Hope you're feeling better now.
    Happy 4th of July and PS!

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  28. Oh Sherry
    What HEAT you had to endure OMG girl friend.
    I stay away from any kind of HOT peppers. My mouth can't take any kind of heat... but we have been having beautiful hot summer days.
    I just had a midnight swim. The stars were spectacular.
    Happy 4th dear Sherry
    xoxoxoxoxo

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  29. This was a great story..I have done the same thing! Thanks for posting!
    Blessings,
    Shirley

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  30. So glad to find a blogger from Alabama. I found you from Happier than a Pig in Mud.

    I sympathize with your problem with the peppers. Must have been awful. Nice to meet you.

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  31. Sherry, I am over here just getting caught-up on your blog. Poor you!!!!!! It is funny, but one of my husband's colleagues who is an ER doctor was talking about a guy they treated (in Cullman, AL) who had been chopping peppers, and he then went to the restroom....

    We were eating Cajun food at the time.....

    Please let us know what remedy actually worked!

    (((hugs))),
    Ricki Jill

    PS I hope your air conditioner is fixed soon!

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  32. Sherry, I am over here just getting caught-up on your blog. Poor you!!!!!! It is funny, but one of my husband's colleagues who is an ER doctor was talking about a guy they treated (in Cullman, AL) who had been chopping peppers, and he then went to the restroom....

    We were eating Cajun food at the time.....

    Please let us know what remedy actually worked!

    (((hugs))),
    Ricki Jill

    PS I hope your air conditioner is fixed soon!

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  33. I learned that VERY painful lesson one day many years ago...I chopped jalapenos and then camped out that night. I spent the night in a sleeping bag in a tent with my hands in a bowl of water...fussing at myself all night long! I've NEVER repeated that mistake!! At least it was October, which is still rather warm in Louisiana, but I can only imagine what it must have been like for you in the summertime with no air conditioning. Hopefully you've got your air back by now. LOVE your blog!

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  34. Just catching up on your blog. David and I are laughing out loud. We hate that you had so much pain from "the pepper incident" but the story was hilarious! Your blog ALWAYS makes me happy!!! We love you!

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I'm so happy you're leaving me a comment! ~ Sherry